#7 - Revelation!
"The Siberian Connection, Part Four"

By Jeff Melton

What Has Come Before: The Invaders and the Soviet Super Soldiers, aided by the enigmatic Vision, fought the powerful Russian gods who called upon the Kajis to lay waste to a small Siberian village--the reasons for which are cloaked in secrecy. As the battle raged, the Super Soldiers disappeared, just as a tremendous explosion made everything turn black…

Stribog, Chernobog, Koshchei the Deathless, Leshy, Vahgn, and Rusalki!

An eerie smoke fills the air, so thick that it could not be penetrated by the keenest eye of the hawks who used to fly with great regularity over the small village that lurks below the deep black layers.

As the dark smoke slowly dissipates, leaving traces of mists in its wake, the sight that gradually comes into view is a lifeless one. The impossible sight of a forest of burnt trees, with traces of icicles burned into their surface, fills the ravaged landscape stretching an area of fifty square miles. Beyond that point, small traces of vegetation can be found, although much of it is scorched from the heat of the explosion.

At the epicenter of the explosion, there is a huge crater, measuring a circumference of two miles, and with a depth of 150 feet. Although smoke trails out of the dark crater, nothing can be seen within its depths.

Cold air struggles to return amid the unnaturally heated "ground zero" area. The 50-mile radius around the blast is an area of no climate, although the heat from the explosion still permeates the air, where temperatures surpass 250 degrees in the area immediately surrounding the crater. The temperatures trail off quickly beyond the crater, but even at the edge of the fifty-mile radius, the temperatures range above the sub-zero temperatures normally found in Siberia this time of the year.

The sky is dark, with dark gray clouds filling the sky. In the immediate area of the blast, the clouds are unnaturally crimson, with traces of black swirling around the gray clouds, as if with lives of their own.

Smoke continues to rise out of the large crater with greater frequency, as the visibility increases. Deep underneath the crater, the ground starts to shake, as a serious of smaller explosions erupt deep underground.

The skies start to light up with savage fury. Flashes of lighting crack across the sky, illuminating the dark clouds with traces of light. Suddenly, the clouds erupt with intensity as the already devastated landscape explodes with several lightning strikes a second!

Stribog levitates out of the crater, his eyes burning with sparks of lightning, as a stern look crosses his bearded face. Across his shoulder is the unconscious body of the Supreme Soviet, his shirt tattered and his pants ripped in several places.

As Stribog flies out of the crater, he lifts Supreme Soviet from his shoulder and tosses him ignominiously on the ground in front of Koschei the Deathless, who is even now rising from the ground to greet the lord of the storms before him.

"The humans have resorted to treachery," Koschei comments, as the mists continue to swirl around them, smoke continuing to rise from the ground. "I fear that you are I are the only ones who remain."

"This fool survived the blast, although he was weakened by it," Stribog returns, as he levitates above Koschei nodding down towards the unconscious form of Supreme Soviet, lying prone on the ground beneath them, his massive arms crossed against his chest, as he looks down upon the eerie leader of their group. "However, I finished him with but three blows."

"His blows," Koschei silently considers, although his face does not betray any astonishment, "they shook the very foundation of the earth…like unto earthquakes!"

"Where are our allies," Stribog asks, he eyes scanning the area around them. "And, for that matter, where are our enemies—the Americans and the Russian traitors?!"

"Our allies," Koschei returns, "were all rendered unconscious by the blast. Our enemies, it seems, have fled the area. I sensed that the Vision opened an inter-dimensional portal prior to the Americans' departure. They have fled to another dimension."

INTERLUDE

The Yellow Claw's castle lies hidden amid the mountains of mainland China. No one has dared come near it for decades, not even the two forces that had been competing for dominance of China prior to the Japanese invasion. Yellow Claw is content with this for the moment, guarding his privacy until the time he decides to make his presence felt again in the outside world.

Within the walls of the castle, in a large meeting room that normally houses one of the Yellow Claw's favorite diversionary room for his west wing harem, Lady Lotus is overseeing a meeting of potential allies.

The room is an architectural marvel. On the north side of the room a small waterfall empties into a pool that covers 1/3 of the room. There are large plants that have been planted within the hardwood floors, sprouting out all around the pool, which is constantly maintained at 70 degrees. The room has one door, on the opposite end of the room, and columns runs along the walkway leading to the pool. All around the perimeter of the room are found native flora, which are fully in bloom due to the Yellow Claw's finest botanists' ceaseless efforts.

Lady Lotus was given a large, heavy oat meeting table that is notably out of place amid the surroundings. Seated around the table are Master Man and Warrior Woman, Baron Blood, U-Man, and the mysterious Agent Axis.

Lady Lotus is uncomfortable with the surroundings, fully aware of the room's normal use. If there was any doubt in her mind, the psychic emanations she has gotten since first entering this room would put an end to any such doubt. She knows that the Yellow Claw's loaning of this particular room to her was a deliberate act. He has reminded her at every occasion that he is in control of the situation, and this is just another such reminder.

"Why have you called us here, woman?" Baron Blood demands.

"Indeed!" U-Man responds sharply, sitting forward on his chair, his elbows propped up against the heavy table. "After you led us to defeat *, none of us would be here had we not been made a very unusual promise."

[*In Invaders #41…Jeff]

"Which she has not kept," Agent Axis replies. His voice is very unusual, having traces of three separate accents, blending together in a very bizarre way.

"Well, Lotus?!" Warrior Woman demands, getting abruptly to her feet and slamming her right fist against the table, which does not even buckle under her blow. "When are you going to deliver on your promise?!"

"Calm down, my…" Master Man offers, reaching up to touch Warrior Woman on the arm. She recoils quickly, glaring down at him.

"Get your hand off me, fool!" Warrior Woman utters in disgust. Master Man merely shakes his head, and then lowers it once more.

The arguments shake Lady Lotus out of her thoughts, and she realizes that the scene is quickly deteriorating. She steps forward, leaning against the table in a way that gets Master Man and U-Man's attention.

"I have called you here because I am prepared to avenge our past defeat," she starts. Warrior Woman shakes her head, holding her whip in her hand as she glares at Lady Lotus.

"How do you propose to do this?" Warrior Woman insists, also leaning forward, challenging Lady Lotus' authority. "You lead us to defeat last time—despite your grand promises—so why should we follow you again? Perhaps it is time that you stepped aside and let someone else lead?"

Lady Lotus is enraged. She has never liked Warrior Woman's tone. Even though she needs her and the others, she is not prepared to take such insubordination from the German woman. She is about to speak, about to unleash her powers against Warrior Woman, to bring her to her knees. But, she does not get the chance.

"I quite agree," comes a voice from behind them. As they turn back, they see the Yellow Claw walking down the marble walkway between the columns, until he comes to a stop before them, looking over the table, where the Super-Axis has been sitting. Despite herself, the sight that greets her stuns even Warrior Woman. She has heard the legends of the Yellow Claw, which has reached well into Germany, but to actually see this legendary figure…it stills even her tongue.

"Be seated," Yellow Claw says with a commanding tone that is natural to his voice. Everyone—including Lady Lotus (although it is clear that she is not happy about it by the look on her lovely face)—immediately sits down to listen to Yellow Claw. "We have much to discuss."

END OF INTERLUDE

Meanwhile, in Siberia, a dimensional portal opens, revealing the Invaders, who are all held within a protective bubble supplied by the Vision, whose mystic powers have brought them back to their own dimension. The sight that greets them is one of utter desolation.

Koschei and Stribog stand before them, and they see that the other gods are scattered around the immediate area, all unconscious, as is Supreme Soviet. There is no sign of their Russian counterparts.

"What happened here?!" Captain America asks, looking around in horror.

"All life in the immediate area has been completely wiped out," Blue Blaze remarks, with a slight shudder. Somewhere in his mind's eye, he is aware of one other such occurrence at a time when he was still sleeping, and the picture sends a chill up his spine.

"You still do not know?" Koschei says, smiling a deep, sinister smile. "your allies are indeed keeping the truth from you."

"A great explosion, my friends," the Vision answers. "By a device that was created by one of your world's greatest scientists."

"yes, and your treacherous allies were prepared to let you die here with us," Koschei comments, "ignoring for a moment their supreme arrogance to think that they were capable of destroying us. This village was a testing ground for the device."

"How do you know all of this?!" Human Torch replies, still taking in the sight of such destruction. Like Blue Blaze said, there are no signs of any form of life native to what was once a thriving village.

"why do you think we are here?" Koschei simply states.

"I don't know, but it sure wasn't to save the village!" Bucky enthusiastically chimes in. "We saw what you did to it!"

"Save the village?" Stribog comments, shaking his head. "This village was created to be destroyed, though the villagers were unaware of it. The Soviets were interested only in re-creating Tesla's experiment."

"Such horror!" Union Jack comments, stunned. "Who were they going to use it on?"

Neither Koschei nor Stribog makes a reply to that. Koschei merely laughs a cold laugh that chills the bones.

"perhaps you can rest in the knowledge that they were forced to detonate the device prematurely," Koschei responds, "and now have no means of using it in the future."

"Somehow I don't find much comfort in that," Spitfire replies, holding herself to hold back an unnatural chill.

"Tesla," Whizzer comments, nodding his head. "This is all starting to make sense now."

"this is not the result we desired," Koschei says, as he gestures towards his fallen allies, using his powers to levitate them into the air, "but it is sufficient for now. We do not have the weapon…but neither do the soviets."

"What about the Americans…," Stribog asks, then looking at the Vision, "…and others?!"

"what of them?" Koschei asks, looking away from the Invaders, facing Stribog, as their allies continue to levitate around them. "what would we gain from engaging them right now? We have additional planning, and our allies must recover from their wounds. The time will come…and soon…for us to meet again."

"I can't believe this!" Toro exclaims. "They're talking about us like we weren't even here! I can't believe they're ignoring us!"

"They'll not ignore the prince of Atlantis for long!" Namor proclaims, stepping forward. But, a red-gloved hand on his arm stops him for a moment. He whirls around to find that the hand belongs to Captain America.

"As much as I hate to say it," Cap says, looking at Namor, "Koschei is right. We'd accomplish nothing by fighting them now."

"What I want to know is this: Did the Russians detonate that thing, thinking we'd be caught in the middle of it?!" Miss America asks rhetorically.

"I'd like to ask them that myself!" Human Torch fumes.

"We can ask them," Whizzer replies, "but something tells me that is one of the many questions we'll never get a straight answer for…at least not from the Soviet Super-Soldiers, and certainly not from the government they serve!"

"I'm ready to head home, guys," Human Torch offers. "This whole thing has left me stunned."

"I agree," Cap says, as he stands around the others. In the background, Koschei and Stribog, along with their unconscious allies, are disappearing from view, teleporting to a destination that only they know. "Vision, get us out of here."

EPILOGUE

Thirty minutes later, after the Invaders have been teleported back to America by the enigmatic vision, a single bolt of lightning seems to split the very sky itself. As it continues on a downward path, it hits the ground, separating on each side, opening up a portal.

From out of the portal walk Svarozic. He is immediately followed by Red Guardian, Devana, Ivan Petrovitch, Crimson Dynamo, and Alexi Bruskin. Alexi holds a small early version of a Geiger counter, which is registering traces of radiation.

"We cannot remain here long," Alexi comments. "There is too much radiation."

"I still have much work to do to repair my armor," Crimson Dynamo thinks to himself. "I have managed to repair it sufficiently to stand upright and make small steps, but I am certainly not prepared for battle."

Svarozic walks over, picking up Supreme Soviet. He tosses him over his shoulder, and then returns to the others. "He seems largely uninjured, merely unconscious."

"I doubt that," Ivan argues. "He was dead center of that blast."

"Did it work?" Alexi asks. "I do not see any sign of Koschei and the others."

"No," Stribog returns quickly, looking around. "They were here. All the detonation accomplished was getting them to leave…at least for the moment."

"What about the Americans?" Crimson Dynamo asks, moving his armored head slowly, surveying the area. "I see no sign of them either."

"I suspect we will find out soon enough their fate," Red Guardian returns. "That is not our concern. We merely follow orders."

"How long before we start to question those orders?" Crimson Dynamo asks silently, shaking his head, "I have to wonder…what did happen to this village? I cannot believe that our government would slaughter its own citizens."

"Let us return to Moscow," Red Guardian commands. "I am not looking forward to my report to the premiere, but it must be done."

Crimson Dynamo takes one more look at the destruction wrought by the explosion, and wonders if anything will ever live in this area again. Then, he steps into the portal with the others, and soon disappears from view.

We slow things down a bit, as we take some time off from the action, and get a glimpse of the private lives of the Invaders. Be here for that! But, lament not, action lovers! You know I cannot long keep the action scenes from coming!

Author Notes

Welcome to the final part of the Siberian storyline. Don't worry, though. The Invaders will continue their world tour, and we'll see some more sights of World War II Europe, and the rest of the world as well. Ah, but that would be telling.

War Correspondence

For now, let's take a look at the letters we've seen thus far…

I recently finished reading your entire run of Invaders and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Your love of the Golden Age characters shines through. I was a little leery of your introduction of some of the new characters, but I found that they fit right in. Keep up the good work.

Bob Gansler

Thanks, Bob. Coming from such a fine writer as you, that's quite a compliment. Bob has written quite a bit of material over the years. Some of his finest work, IMO, is found in his excellent Avengers 1958 series.

I don't hesitate to say that INVADERS is, bar none, my favorite ongoing title at av2000. Jeff's work here is stellar

Barry Reese

Thanks, Barry. It's a lot of fun to write this title, and I won't forget who made that happen. J I appreciate your support and your kind comments. Barry, by the way, has too much stuff out for me to give justice to. He's currently doing work here on the Pendragons Imprint.

It seems that I'm going to have to do some catch up reading. I've never been overly interested in the series set in the past, but I'm making the effort to do Reviewlets for each issue that comes out, so I read Invaders #6.

I have to say that this was an excellent read. I don't know all these characters - especially the Russians - but the pace of the issue drew me in.

It's definitely an action issue, but that doesn't stop Jeff from giving insights into characters and building an intriguing plot.

Des Davies

Thanks, Des. Let me know if I should be putting more bios or such information in the letters pages. I prefer to do that, as opposed to trying to force it into the stories. If I'm not doing it enough, let me know. Des, by the way, is doing some great work at Avengers 2000, including Ironman and Warbird.

Invaders #1-6
By Jeff Melton

Summary:

While World War II rages on, a very well-rostered Invaders team battles the Nazi menace of Baron Zemo for the life of the President. After their narrow victory in that matter, and the induction of obscure hero, Blue Blaze, the team heads off to Russia to battle first the Soviet Super-Soldiers, and then a pantheon of Slavic gods.

Thoughts:

You gotta figure that this title would be Jeff Melton's dream book. I mean, there's a strong Golden Age bent in all of his MV1 work (Captain America and Original Human Torch)... and those titles take place in the present day! You know he's gotta be having a blast on this title.

And that fun shows in every paragraph. Whether he's introducing us to incredibly obscure Golden Agers (like Blue Blaze and Dynamic Man), forging new characters with carefully thought-out links to present-day characters (as in the case of his incarnation of the Soviet Super-Soldiers... easily my favorite guest-stars in this book so far), or just regaling us with his knowledge of WW2 history, there's a whole lot of love in this title.

In the first issue, lots of individual words in dialogue were bolded, mimicking the same practice in real comics. Jeff seemed to intentionally tone this practice down as the series progressed, at the suggestion of one letter writer (can't remember who that was). Well... I LIKED the bolded words. It adds to the endearing pomposity of these stories, mimicking the feel of those comics of yore if not necessarily their style (I mean, how many comics set in the present day could get away with its main villain walking around with a "death ray"?). The bolded words not only add a unique look to these stories, but add to the ambiance as well. I say bring 'em back, Jeff, and go wild with 'em this time!

A couple of minor criticisms, just so you don't think this is turning into a love-in:

Jeff's storytelling is occasionally mussed by distracting and easily-avoidable grammar mistakes. In #3, for example, he calls Russian heroine and goddess Devana both a "him" and a "her" several times in the same paragraph.

Jeff excels at superhero action - I figured that out reading his MV1 books before I even came to Av2000 - but he tends to short-change the hero's private life. It's particularly noticeable in this title, as I really know so little about its main characters (outside of the Cap/Torch/Namor triumvirate, of course). Don't get me wrong, I don't want this book to turn into a "home with the heroes" book, but I would like to see the faces behind the masks every now and again.

Also, IMO, the gathering of six Russian Gods who attacked in #5 and #6 should have been whittled down to two or three members. Six gods with strange names were just too many to keep track of and, consequently, I don't remember any of their names

The Verdict:

A solid Golden Age series with a lot of nifty characters from that time, as well as some cool original characters. I'm totally impressed by Jeff's research and planning in regards to this series, and think it comes off even better than his Cap or Torch solo books.

Russ Anderson

What a review, Russ! Thanks for the kind comments. As to your concerns, I agree that this series hasn't given me the opportunity to do much with the heroes' private lives…yet. And I agree that this needs to be done. I'll make an effort to do more of that in future issues. This is particularly necessary for characters so unknown by many readers, as you pointed out.

You might also have a point about the Russian gods, but I wanted to have a sufficient threat for these two powerful teams, and the Russian gods fit nicely into the story. Hopefully, the bios I put in the letters pages were some help in keeping a score card?

Russ, by the way, does some fine work as well. He writes Ironman for Marvel 2000 and Silver Surfer for MV1. I can certainly recommend those titles without hesitation.

With that, we draw another issue to a close here in 1942. Be here next issue for more developments as the heroes return to America.

Jeff Melton

As always, your comments are welcome at jx2melton@hotmail.com.

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