The Avengers, Vol. 1 #274A (Marvel Comics 1986)

The Avengers, Vol. 1 #274A advances Marvel’s 1986 “Avengers: Under Siege” crossover as Part 4 of the “Divided We Fall!” storyline. Originally printed as a Direct Edition with a cover price of $0.75, this 36-page issue marks the moment the Masters of Evil secure tactical dominance over the Fifth Avenue headquarters.

Creative Credits & Core Details

• Script: Roger Stern
• Pencils (breakdowns): John Buscema
• Inks (finishes) & Cover: Tom Palmer
• Active Roster: Captain America, Captain Marvel, Hercules, the Wasp, and Black Knight
• Issue Length: 36 pages

Stern structures the narrative around simultaneous breaches that isolate team members across New Jersey and Manhattan. After the Black Knight falls first and Captain Marvel is dispatched by Blackout, Captain America, the Wasp, and Hercules converge on the compromised mansion. When darkforce barriers repel the Wasp and physical force takes down the captain, Hercules becomes the final line of defense against Goliath, Mister Hyde, Tiger Shark, Bulldozer, Piledriver, Thunderball, and the Wrecker operating in unison. The dialogue explicitly benchmarks Hercules’ survival odds against historical victories involving multi-headed adversaries and captured legendary beasts.

This volume captures a deliberate contraction of the Avengers lineup before broader team expansions later in the decade. Buyers assessing this direct-market printing can reference the stated $0.75 cover price and 36-page count as baseline metrics for verifying the original press run. Readers following the chronological progression of the Under Siege arc will find this issue essential for tracking the escalation phase before the counteroffensive arc concludes the event.