Avataars: Covenant of the Shield

Avataars: Covenant of the Shield
Avataars: Covenant of the Shield #1 Cover art by Oscar Jimenez and Eduardo Alpuente
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Publication date	September-November 2000
Number of issues	3
Main character(s)	Champions of the Realm
Creative team
Writer(s)	Len Kaminski
Penciller(s)	Oscar Jimenez Javier Saltares
Inker(s)	Eduardo Alpuente Chris Ivy Walden Wong
Colorist(s)	Joe Rosas

Avataars: Covenant of the Shield is a three-issue comic book mini-series, published by Marvel Comics in 2000. The series is written by Len Kaminski and pencilled by Oscar Jimenez and Javier Saltares.

Set in a sword and sorcery version of the Marvel Universe Earth, it features alternate versions of Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Doctor Doom and the X-Men.

Publication history

Avataars: Covenant of the Shield was initially intended as a twelve-issue project featuring the established Marvel characters in a fantasy setting, but the story that was originally planned was never published. Marvel was in financial trouble at the time, and a twelve-issue series was not considered viable, so the creative team instead produced a three-issue prologue to the main saga, an unsuccessful attempt to generate sufficient interest in a longer story.^[1]

Plot

Eurth

The series begins with the formation of the planet Eurth by the Shaper of Worlds under the supervision of the Living Tribunal, Eternity and Infinity. Their purpose is to create a planet that is an alternate version of Earth in order to further understand the heroes that inhabit that world.

Covenant of the Shield

The overall plot involves the kidnapping of the son of Captain Avalon (Captain America) by forces employed by the Dreadlord (Baron Zemo). Various heroes become involved in the rescue efforts, most of these being members of the Champions of the Realm (the Avengers).

Characters

Avataars features a large cast of named characters, many of whom are obvious counterparts to existing Marvel Universe heroes and villains. Many of these characters only make cameo appearances.

Champions of the Realm

• Captain Avalon (St'vaan, King of Avalon) is Eurth's Captain America
• Blackthorn is Eurth's version of Hawkeye
• Bloodraven is Eurth's Falcon^{[citation needed]} (with elements of Red Raven)
• Idol (Symon) is Eurth's version of Wonder Man. He dies and is reborn as an energy being named Phantazm, based on both Wonder Man's status at the time and the Vision.
• Ironheart is Iron Man's counterpart.
• Merman (Manor) is Eurth's version of Namor the Sub-Mariner
• Nighthowl is possibly^{[citation needed]} Wolverine
• Skorch is Eurth's version of the original Human Torch
• Greenskyn Smashtroll is Eurth's version of the Hulk. Once a great champion, Smashtroll lost his wife and unborn child and has since become a rowdy drunkard with "the strongest thirst there is". He is generally considered to be a menace, although Captain Avalon is quick to speak up for him.
• Witchfire is Eurth's version of the Scarlet Witch

A number of other Champions of the realm make cameo appearances, but do not play a major part in the plot.

• Ch'll may^{[citation needed]} be based on the Golden Age character Jack Frost
• Faery Queen (Jhan) is Eurth's version of the Wasp
• Bluestone is Eurth's version of Blue Diamond
• Apollyon is possibly^{[citation needed]} Eurth's version of the Destroyer
• Avalonia may^{[citation needed]} be Eurth's version of Ms Marvel
• Behemoth is Eurth's counterpart to Giant Man
• Nosferata seems^{[citation needed]} to be the Black Widow, with the mystic aspects of the Golden Age version
• Swift is Eurth's version of Quicksilver
• Warmaker is Eurth's version of Thor^{[citation needed]}.

The Champions whose counterparts are Golden Age heroes are later shown in flashback as having fought in the Worldwar.

Other inhabitants of Avalon

• Duke Ctranj, court wizard of Avalon, is an alternate version of Doctor Strange.
• Nicholas, Regent of Avalon, appears to be Eurth's version of Nick Fury. He makes a cameo appearance at the very end of the miniseries.
• Prester John
• Sharaan, King St'vaan's wife, seems to be an alternate version of Agent 13

Heroes of other lands

• Webslinger is Spider-Man's counterpart. As a boy he was fascinated by spiders and so the Widow of the Web blessed him with power - but stated that he must not use it for personal gain. When Webslinger later protected his uncle from a brigand, he broke that bargain. As a result the Widow has cursed him, appointing him as the outcast guardian of Webwood. His appearance is no longer human, but a mix of man and spider. It is unclear whether or not this was another result of the Widow's curse.

• The Four Fates - Lord Nimbus, Count Crag, Lady Aqua and Prince Morningstar - are counterparts to the Fantastic Four. In this world they are all siblings, and were intentionally given their powers by their father Lord Nathaniel.

X'Changlings

• Seer is an alternate version of Professor X and leads one faction of the X'Changlings. He seeks peace between his people and the humans. Unlike Professor X, Seer seems to be unable to telepathically locate non-mutants.
  • The Seer's followers are Eurth's version of the original X-Men: Redeye (Cyclops), Brutus (Beast), Icemaker (Iceman), Whitehawk (Angel) and Psyche (Marvel Girl)

• Simon Magnus is Magneto's counterpart. A self-proclaimed messiah, he teaches that the X'changlings are destined to replace humanity.
  • Magnus' followers are Eurth's versions of an early incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: Aura (Unus the Untouchable), Hop-friend (Toad), Humongous (Blob) and Illusio (Mastermind). It is mentioned that Witchfire and Swift are former members.

Dreadlord and his minions

• Dreadlord (Zymo) is Eurth's counterpart to Baron Zemo. He swore revenge on Captain Avalon after his Z'axis forces were defeated in the Worldwar. His minions are based on various incarnations of the Masters of Evil and the Lethal Legion.
• Black Blade is Eurth's version of the evil Black Knight
• Darkwater is Eurth's version of Hydro Man
• Deathlight is Eurth's version of the Living Laser, with elements of Blackout
• Deathmaster is Eurth's version of Taskmaster
• The Green Death is Eurth's version of Radioactive Man
• Ill Wind is Eurth's version of Whirlwind
• Iron Cross is Eurth's counterpart of Crimson Dynamo
• Moonchild is Eurth's version of Moonstone
• Savagri is probably Eurth's counterpart of Titania
• Scarabus is probably^{[citation needed]} Eurth's counterpart to the Beetle
• Scorpius is Eurth's version of the Scorpion
• Scythe is Eurth's version of Grim Reaper
• Skreech is Eurth's version of Klaw
• Slag is Eurth's version of Molten Man, possibly combined with the Melter
• Swashbuckler is Eurth's version of Swordsman
• Titan is Eurth's version of Goliath
• Von Blüdving is possibly^{[citation needed]} based on Baron Blood

Other villains

• Doomsmith is Eurth's version of Doctor Doom, an enemy of the Four Fates. His fortress is close to Castle Bakstur. Doomsmith only makes a cameo appearance in the miniseries.

• The Goblin King guards the road through Webwood, harassing travellers. The character is visually based on Spider-Man archvillain the Green Goblin, but he only appears briefly in the miniseries and his abilities and background are never explained.

• The Six Most Sinister work with the Goblin King and are Eurth's version of the original Sinister Six - Webslinger describes them as his "deadliest foes". The six are Mysterium (based on Mysterio), Talon (based on the Vulture), Huntsman (based on Kraven the Hunter), Jolt (based on Electro), Tentaclus (based on Doctor Octopus) and Sandstorm (based on the Sandman).

References

1. ^ Brevoort, Tom (July 28, 2006). "Friday, 9:26". Marvel.com. http://marvel.com/blogs//entry/350. Retrieved January 10, 2009.