The Avengers #130
Published and © by Marvel, December 1974
Title: “The Reality Problem!”
Synopsis: The Avengers lay the Swordsman to rest in Vietnam – where they run afoul of the Titanic Three!
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist (layouts): Sal Buscema
Artist (finishes): Joe Staton
Review: Steve Englehart’s run on The Avengers helped establish the template for many Bronze Age series: superheroic adventure mixed with sociopolitical relevance and soap-opera subplots. But the complexity of his ongoing tales could make this book nearly impenetrable. In this issue, a backstory recap of the Mantis/Celestial Madonna storyline is a head-scratcher for Hawkeye. Same, archer, same. But there’s definitely a sense that there’s a BIGGER story going on that invites readers back for more. On the art side, Sal Buscema’s art practically defined the look of the middle-of-the-road Marvel for this era. A solid-but-unspectacular example from the Englehart run.
Grade: B-
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: The Cold-War-influenced Titanic Three concept has some potential …
Not-so-cool factor: … but that name has got to go.
Character quotable: “This one is no Madonna!” – Mantis, seemingly as confused by the storyline as this reviewer
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue. … Beware, this issue contains Marvel Value Stamp (Series A) #96 (Doctor Octopus).
Editor’s note: This review was written April 22, 2026.
