Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers #3
In "The Bitter Taste of Defeat!", the Avengers are disbanded, leaving Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch adrift—until the Ringmaster recruits them for a dangerous job. Framed for a circus robbery and on the run, the trio's plight takes a surprising turn when Captain America uncovers the truth behind the scheme. With the City Council’s order revoked and the team’s return on the table, Captain America’s decision to walk away from Hawkeye marks a turning point that reshapes the Avengers’ future. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Don Heck, with inks by Wally Wood and letters by Artie Simek, this pivotal issue features a cover by Jack Kirby and Dean White.
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Forced to disband the Avengers, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch cannot find work until the Ringmaster hires them. Unable to control them, he tells the police that they tried to rob his Circus. Suddenly the three are on the run. While working on his own, Captain America is able to pin the whole scheme on Enchantress and Power Man. Enchantress bails back to Asgard. Power Man, deprived of his lady love, surrenders. The City Council withdraws its order: the Avengers may assemble again. But Captain America has had enough of Hawkeye and refuses to rejoin.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).