By Barry Reese

July Year 3

Van Plexico Presents:

The Hypno Hustler was scared -- bad scared. His afro was dripping sweat and his heart was hammering. Behind him he could hear the steady thrum-rum of his pursuer's vehicle. He rushed into an alley, realizing too late that it was a dead end. He turned to the alley entrance just as the car moved into view. It shone a bright light on him and the Hustler was suddenly frozen in the image of the Spider-Signal. The Spider-Mobile had him trapped.

Spider-Man stood up in the modified dune buggy and shook his head. "How many times do we have to do this same song and dance, disco king? I've captured you so many times your music schtick is getting old..." He pressed a stud on his gloves and webbed up the Hustler. It was another day in the city.

The Mighty Avengers moved through the crowd of onlookers, moving to stand on the podium beside the mayor of New York. Cheers broke out immediately. The Avengers' current line-up was made up mainly of the new breed of hero -- the heroes who were making the headlines again and again. Their leader was the Vision, his android mind compensating for the many disparate personalities in the group. His wife the Scarlet Witch was the other old-guard member, but the rest of the team were newer heroes -- Luke Cage, the former convict known as Power Man; the alien android Omega the Unknown; Ms. Marvel -- one female who always fought back; and the former stuntman turned superhero the Human Fly.

The mayor shook the Vision's hand and then moved to the microphone. "Welcome one and all to the unveiling of the all-new Avengers Mansion!" Applause broke out and Luke Cage grinned. It was a lot nicer being on the receiving end of cheers than being locked away in prison. "As you all know, the old mansion was destroyed during the big three-way battle between the Avengers, the Shogun Warriors, and Godzilla...but in respect for all the Avengers have done for us over the years, New York is more than glad to replace their damaged headquarters!" Overhead jets flew as New York paid their respects to their heroes...

Sam Wilson looked down over the ghetto that he called home, his heart filled with righteous anger. He could hear the cheering for the new Avengers Mansion far away in the distance. He and Luke Cage had had a disagreement over the Mansion not too long ago. Why should the city pay for the mansion, when Tony Stark could foot the bill for a new one. Luke had tried to explain about Stark's worsening alcohol problem but to Sam all it came down to was that there was plenty of tax money available to rebuild the Avengers HQ and not much at all for affordable housing in the slums. Sam Wilson -- the Falcon, former partner of Captain America -- landed on the rootop of a building he called home. Waiting for him was T'Challa -- the ruler of an African nation called Wakanda -- and the man who had designed the glider wings Sam used as the Falcon.

T'Challa was dressed in the ceremonial garb of the Panther, though Sam had argued that as hot as it was, wearing a full bodysuit -- especially a black one -- was suicide.

"Did you pay a visit to the dedication ceremony, Sam?" T'Challa's voice was strong and sure -- the voice of a man used to leading.

Sam shook his head. "Nope. Nothin' of interest to me over there."

T'Challa frowned beneath his face mask. "It is long past time that you put aside your problems with Captain America. He is a good man and you know it..."

Sam bristled. "There ISN'T any more Captain America! Ever since that crap with the Secret Empire, Steve's been running around in that blue and yellow zoot suit and callin' himself the Nomad! Just when people -- ALL people -- need him the most, he's on some sort of 'man without a country' kick!"

"Steve Rogers will work his way through this, Sam. He is the finest man I have ever met -- more decent and caring than any human being has a right to be."

Sam frowned. "Uh-huh. Whatever." The Falcon looked about and then smiled. "So how much longer you plannin' to spend in this hellhole, huh? Don't you have a kingdom to run?"

T'Challa nodded. "I am unsure of how much longer I will stay in the United States. Ever since the incident with Klaw..." T'Challa paused.

Sam leaned forward. "What incident with Klaw? You haven't fought that turkey in almost two years -- not since you helped the FF beat up on the Frightful Four."

"No, that's not right, Sam. I have memories of having fought him -- recently. He was fading away* and was seeking to use vibranium to restore himself. I tricked him...M'swa was there."

(* This occurred in BP # 7-8, Wearin' His Bell Bottoms Barry)

"M'swa? Who's that? Are you sure the heat isn't getting to you?"

T'Challa shook his head. "I am sure, Sam. It is strange -- suddenly I feel out of place here. Your costume itself is all wrong -- you have a newer one."

Sam placed a hand on T'Challa's shoulder. "We better go inside, pal. I've only had two costumes -- my old green one and this one."

"That can't be -- " T'Challa stopped suddenly. "That noise -- the ground shaking -- what could it be?"

Sam glanced about and gasped. "Over that way, Panther!" Both men glanced to the east and saw a huge, hulking shape moving towards them. Rising from the depths, forty stories high -- was

Godzilla!

Sam frowned. "Damn! That big fella hasn't been seen since the Shoguns and the Avengers took him down...we better take to the air, buddy!" Sam launched himself into the air, holding the Panther aloft. Redwing -- Sam's trained falcon -- flew at their side.

Howard the Duck quacked in alarm. He was out shopping for foot ointment (he'd gotten one HECK of a blister campaigning for president...) and now he found himself in the direct path of a giant green dinosaur! Who would have thought a talking duck couldn't even shop without getting stepped on by radioactive monsters? Sheesh!

Just as Howard was scampering to safety, the cavalry was arriving in the form of the Shogun Warriors, lumbering into view. In addition, the Defenders (Dr. Strange, the Valkyrie, Hellcat, the Hulk, and Nighthawk) were also on the scene.

T'Challa and the Falcon landed near the Defenders. Strange greeted them. "Ah, it is good to see that we are not alone in this. Perhaps this time I can weave some sort of spell to contain this behemoth."

T'Challa felt his heart seize as he looked at the approaching Godzilla. More memories flooded him -- the entire continent of Africa had come under assault by this beast -- and the villainous Headmen as well! He remembered the one called Ruby Thursday spraying him with something...could this all be a halluicination?

Sam nodded. "Hope so, Doc. That critter looks like it wants to have all of NYC for lunch!"

The first of the Shoguns arrived, blasting its fist through the air. It connected with Godzilla's back, throwing the beast forward. Buildings crumbled and Dr. Strange found himself weaving protective spells around those caught in the path. The Spider-Mobile whizzed past, carrying the web-slinger closer to the scene. Overhead, T'Challa saw the Fantasti-Car as well, carrying Reed Richards, Medusa, the Thing and the Human Torch -- dressed in a red costume, rather than a blue.

The Defenders launched themselves into the fray, but T'Challa remained where he was. Sam looked at him with concern. "Maybe you should sit this one out, T'Challa."

"Perhaps I should. Be safe, Sam." The Falcon nodded and took to the air. T'Challa sighed, clearing his mind of all thoughts. If this was a drug-induced hallucination, he believed he could bring himself out of it. He slowed his breathing down, trying to focus on what he remembered last.

The Avengers' quinjet roared past, its door open. Power Man stood in the doorway, grinning. "Sweet Christmas! Would ya look at the size o' that thing! Well, hold on, Godzilla baby, here comes a Power Man special!" Cage threw himself from the quinjet, landing hard on the beast's head. He began pounding the monster.

T'Challa ignored the sights and sounds around him...he saw the Avengers reserves arriving -- Nomad, Hawkeye, Yellowjacket, and the Wasp, among others. He saw a crippled man pound a cane to the ground and be replaced by a Thunder God. He saw Spider-Woman, Daredevil, She-Hulk, Dazzler...heroes all, many of whom were long gone. This entire era -- created as it was from the memories of T'Challa himself -- began to fade. Soon, it was gone.

T'Challa opened his eyes. He was lying on his back, M'swa looking down at him. Smoke drifted by in the background. "What happened, M'swa?"

She touched his face. "The Headmen attacked, with Godzilla in tow. They were out to establish their own rule...but you managed to defeat them. Once their control over Godzilla was broken, he returned to the sea. I was worried about you -- you spoke nonsense."

T'Challa rose. Wakanda was a shambles, but it was victorious. It would rebuild and grow stronger. It was the way of his people. It was the way of the Black Panther.

Author's Notes

Hope you enjoyed this look back at Marvel's past. It was a blast to write. Hope it brought back some fond memories for you. You'll notice some of the continuity is all jumbled up -- that's because my intent was to cram as much in as possible that 'felt' like the 70s Marvel Universe. Hope it worked. Thanks, all.

Barry