West Coast Avengers
# 31-40

April 1988
West Coast Avengers # 31: "The Friday Night Frights!" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Mike Machlan
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
Arkon makes his way to the Earth dimension to challenge Wonder Man who's starring in a movie that's being made in Arkon's name. After a fierce battle which Wonder Man comes out on top, Arkon agrees to let Wonder Man deal with the movie studio to change the offending material. Meanwhile, the ghost of the Night Rider haunts a guilt ridden Mockingbird.  Also, the Avengers are forced to kick Iron Man off the team after his behavior during the Armor Wars adventures.

May 1988
West Coast Avengers # 32: "Buried Monsters!" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
The Wasp pays a visit to the West Coast to check up on the team dynamics. Mockingbird does a bit of research and locates the Night Rider's only living relative and drags the rest of the team out on a vacation. She distracts them by unleashing a mutated pre-humanoid called Yetrigar and confronts Hamilton Slade. Unfortunately, Slade doesn't known anything about the Night Rider because he's being subconsciously controlled by the ghost.

June 1988
West Coast Avengers # 33: "Tales to Astonish Part 1" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Mike Machlan
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
Dr. Pym learns that his first wife, Maria Trovaya may be still alive. The team rockets off to Hungary and Dr. Pym reminisces about his past. However, his past is brought quickly to the forefront as several of his old foes have prepared him a warm welcome. Despite their best efforts, they're captured and discover that the Vision and the Scarlet Witch are also prisoners.

July 1988
West Coast Avengers # 34: "Tales to Astonish Part 2" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Mike Machlan
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
The Hungarian government are forced to release some of the Avengers, but the Avengers won't go quietly without their teammates. They learn that the Vision and Scarlet Witch were captured by Quicksilver who has allied himself with the Hungarian government. Mockingbird tells part of the team (Hank Pym, Scarlet Witch, Wasp, Moon Knight, and Vision) of her choice not to help save the Night Rider's life. Meanwhile, the Night Rider's ghost convinces the other part of the team (Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Tigra) that she willfully killed him. The team regroups and escapes, but their Quinjet is shot down over Latveria.

August 1988
West Coast Avengers # 35: "The Voice of Doom" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Mike Machlan
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
The West Coast Avengers find themselves the "house guests" of Dr. Doom who's trapped in Kristoff's body and seeks to ally himself with the Avengers believing that an impostor has gained the support of the Fantastic Four. Hawkeye and Mockingbird have it out over the killing of Night Rider, while Doom puts Tigra and Moon Knight through his own unique form of "testing". The Avengers free themselves and Doom allows them to leave.

September 1988
West Coast Avengers # 36: "Return of the Ant-Man" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
The Avengers return to Hungary eager to get some answers. However, the villain known as the Voice overwhelms them and pits them all against Dr. Pym. Dr. Pym actually fares well against his teammates who attack individually and finally makes his way to a secret area where he finds his first wife Maria. However, she's been the subject of a brain expanding experiment. Pym vows to restore her to normal and takes a leave from the team.

October 1988
West Coast Avengers # 37: "Avengers Disassemble!" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Layouts: Al Milgrom
Finished Art: Mike Machlan
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
Hawkeye and Mockingbird continue to butt heads and finally decide to end their marriage. Mockingbird quits the Avengers and Moon Knight and Tigra decide to stand by her. Mantis then shows up and begins to attack them. Hawkeye realizes that she's being controlled and takes out the Voice who was brainwashing her. Mantis needs the Avengers' help to restore her memory.

November 1988
West Coast Avengers # 38: "-- Redemption  " 
Writer: D.G. Chichester/Margaret Clark
Penciller: Tom Morgan
Inker: Dave Hunt
Jay's Rating:
J
Jay's Notes:
  • A terrible fill-in issue unworthy of being summed up.

December 1988
West Coast Avengers # 39: "Upset!" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Art: Al Milgrom
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:
The Avengers collect some clues in their bid to help Mantis restore her memory and travel to the Vietnamese temple where she grew up. The Cotati animated body of the Swordsman mysteriously comes to life and attacks Mantis. Despite the best efforts of the Avengers, the Swordsman mortally wounds Mantis. However, the true body of the Mantis awakens as the energy from the plant simulacrum returns to its proper place and restore her memories. Meanwhile, Moon Knight, Mockingbird, and Tigra are confronted by the ghost of Night Rider, and the spirit of Khonshu drives him off.

January 1989
West Coast Avengers # 40: "" 
Writer: Steve Englehart
Layouts: Al Milgrom
Finished Art: Joe Sinnott
Jay's Rating:
JJ
Synopsis:

Jay's Notes:
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