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EARTH-355

Type: Alternate Earth;
Core Continuum Designation: Earth-355

Environment: Earth-like

Usual means of access: Vibrational attunement

Dominant Life Form: Humanity

Significant Inhabitants: Avengers (Captain America/Steve Rogers, Coal Tiger/T'Challa, Giant-Man/Henry "Hank" Pym, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Iron Man/Anthony "Tony" Stark, Sersi (presumably, see comments) ).

First Appearance: Avengers I#355 (late October, 1992) 

History:

(Avengers I#355 (fb) - BTS) - On Earth-355, just like on countless other alternate worlds, a group of heroes assembled to combat evil, collectively becoming known as the Avengers. Taking a Manhattan brownstone as their headquarers, the Earth-355 incarnation of the team consisted of Captain America, Coal Tiger, Giant-Man, Hawkeye and Iron Man, though the enigmatic Eternal Sersi might also have been allied with the Avengers (see comments).

   On August 29th, 1992, Earth-355 was struck by a planet killing disaster that was caused by unknown forces, but actually started in Avengers Mansion. The incident took the Avengers by complete surprise and during the initial assault, Giant-Man, Hawkeye and Iron Man were killed through unrevealed ways.

(Avengers I#355 - BTS) - On Earth-616, Proctor learned of Earth-355's impending destruction. Observing that reality's Avengers, he decided to add Coal Tiger to his forces and sent the Gatherers to collect him. He told them that Sersi, like on so many other worlds, was the one responsible for this destruction (see comments).

(Avengers I#355) - The Gatherers, using Magdalene's powerlance, arrived on Earth-355 via a spatial portal. Moments before they showed up, Captain America had stumbled out of Avengers Mansion, near death and ranting that they hadn't seen it coming. The Gatherers entered the mansion where they discovered the bodies of Iron Man, Giant-Man and Hawkeye. Seeing his old friend, albeit from another reality, shocked the Swordsman. However, Sloth quickly picked up the Coal Tiger's scent but before he could alert his fellow Gatherers, T'Challa struck from the shadows, believing these mysterious strangers were somehow connected to the tragedy. The Gatherers managed to overtake their agile assailant, moments before they monitored a massive electro-magnetic wave heading their way, signalling the imminent destruction of the planet. Once again opening a spatial portal, Magdalene returned her team and their unwilling recruit to Earth-616 even as the world around them succumbed to destruction.

Comments: Created by Bob Harras (writer), Steve Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks).

Alternate reality Avengers and their worlds are commonplace nowadays, if not more than a little overused during Jonathan Hickman's Avengers run. But back in the early 90s, the notion of the Gatherers was truly exciting to me, not to mention their mission: recruit Avengers from dying planets. In those days, I thought the name Gatherers was ever so clever, it being an obvious take on the classic "Avengers Assemble!" rallying cry.

The original story noted that the destruction of Earth-355 took place on August 30th, 1992. It could be that in that particular reality time moved differently or that the "modern age" as we know it on Earth-616 simply started decades later. That would explain why so many of the Avengers were still in their (comparatively) early outfits.

It's also not been made clear if the Sersi of Earth-355 was an actual member of the Avengers. Proctor made it seem as if she was to blame for all the dying Earths he sent the Gatherers to on supposed rescue missions. Maybe she was part  of the team, but knowing how insane Proctor was, he could have simply lied about her involvement in whatever caused Earth-355 to be destroyed.

Incidentally, when the issue was published in Dutch (in Vergelders I#49, for you completists out there), translator Olav Beemer changed the date from August 30th, 1992 to September 20th, 1994.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-355 and its inhabitants have no known connection to

   

Captain America

Very little is known about the Captain America of Earth-355, except for the fact he was a member of the Avengers when the Earth was destroyed on August 30th, 1992. Unlike his 616-counterpart, this Captain America wore a mask that covered all of his face and wielded a shield with a slightly different design than the one used by the 616-Steve Rogers. He lasted considerably longer than his teammates Iron Man, Hawkeye and Giant-Man, eventually succumbing to whatever was causing Earth-355 to destroy itself moments before the Gatherers arrived.

--Avengers I#355




Giant-Man

Very little is known about the Giant-Man of Earth-355, save that he was a member of the Avengers when the Earth was destroyed on August 30th, 1992. Unlike his 616-counterpart, this Giant-Man wore a costume that also contained elements of uniforms he wore as both Ant-Man and Goliath. Surprised by the unknown disaster that struck the Earth and hit New York, Giant-Man died in Avengers Mansion, along with Iron Man and Hawkeye. His body was later discovered by the interdimensional band of former Avengers known as the Gatherers, who had come to Earth-355 to retrieve the Coal Tiger.

--Avengers I#355


 

Hawkeye

Very little is known about the Hawkeye of Earth-355, save that he was a member of the Avengers when the Earth was destroyed on August 30th, 1992. Unlike his 616-counterpart, Clint Barton did not wear a face mask and sported a bright blonde beard. Surprised the unknown disaster that struck the Earth and hit New York, Hawkeye died in Avengers Mansion, along with Giant-Man and Iron Man. His body was later discovered by the interdimensional band of former Avengers known as the Gatherers, who had come to Earth-355 to retrieve the Coal Tiger. Seeing the body of Clint Barton, a man he'd been close to in his own dimension, rattled the Swordsman.

--Avengers I#355

 

Iron Man

Very little is known about the Iron Man of Earth-355, save that he was a member of the Avengers when the Earth was destroyed on August 30th, 1992. Unlike his 616-counterpart, this Iron Man still wore what appeared to be his original grey Mark I armor. Surprised by the unknown disaster that struck the Earth and hit New York, Giant-Man died in Avengers Mansion, along with Giant-Man and Hawkeye. His body was later discovered by the interdimensional band of former Avengers known as the Gatherers, who had come to Earth-355 to retrieve the Coal Tiger.

--Avengers I#355

images: (without ads)
Avengers I#355, p1, pan1 (destruction of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p1, pan2 (destruction of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p1, pan3 (destruction of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p1, pan1 (Captain America of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p4, pan2 (Giant-Man of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p4, pan2 (Hawkeye of Earth-355)
Avengers I#355, p4, pan2 (Iron Man of Earth-355)

Appearances:
Avengers I#355 (Late October 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steve Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Last Updated: 06/30/14

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