EARTH-Avengers became pawns of the Scarlet Centurion, but eventually defeated him
Earth-8110 (see comments)

Type: alternate/divergent Earth

Environment: Earth-like

Usual means of access: Vibrational attunement

Dominant Life Form: Humanity

Significant Inhabitants: Avengers (Giant-Man, Hulk, Iron, Thor, Wasp), Baron Mordo, Baron (Heinrich) Zemo, Beetle (Jenkins), the Black Panther, Black Knight (Nathan Garrett), Blob, Cobra, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Strange, "Dum Dum" Dugan, Electro, Enchantress, Executioner (Skurge), Fantastic Four (Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic, Thing), Nick Fury, Grey Gargoyle, Hawkeye, Gabe Jones, Magneto, Mandarin,  Melter, Mister Hyde, Mole Man, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Professor X, Quicksilver, Radioactive Man, Red Ghost, Red Skull (Shmidt), Ringmaster, Sandman, Scarlet Witch, Space Phantom, Spider-Man, Unicorn (Masaryk), Vanisher, Yellow Claw, X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl), and a few others I can't identify (see comments)
    the Scarlet Centurion visited this reality and plotted its takeover, but was not native to it (see comments)

First Appearance: What If I#29 (October, 1981)

History:
(What If I#29 (fb)) - As the Hulk considered quitting the Avengers following their battle with the Space Phantom, the Scarlet Centurion appeared to them, convincing them that he would cure the world of famine, plague, pestilence, and all other evils that faced mankind, if they would right a cosmic imbalance caused by the presence of too many super-powered beings. Desiring to resolve the problems the Centurion had offered to resolve, the Avengers then captured and imprisoned every superhuman or costumed adventurer on Earth. They then issued an edict to the governments of the world that no further atomic tests would be performed, so that no further superhumans would be created. The Scarlet Centurion then told them that five more beings would soon appear, and that once they, too, were defeated, the balance would be corrected, and he could fulfill on his promise.

(What If I#29) - The Scarlet Centurion told the Avengers that the five beings they must vanquish were themselves. At that, the Hulk became tired of taking orders from the Scarlet Centurion and decided to leave, but the other Avengers decided that the Hulk was a threat to the golden age they were trying to accomplish, and so they fought him. Iron Man used a dazzling light to change him back into Banner, and the Scarlet Centurion then transported Banner to be amongst those previously captured by the Avengers. Deciding to follow through with the Scarlet Centurion's plan, the four remaining Avengers retired, and Thor traveled back to Asgard.

   However, shortly thereafter, the Scarlet Centurion arrived in Washington, D.C., revealing his true goal by demanding that the governments of Earth surrender to him, or he would destroy them. Hearing this, Tony Stark re-donned his Iron Man costume and joined back up with Giant-Man and the Wasp in opposing the Scarlet Centurion. The time-traveling villain managed to overpower the trio, but Thor then arrived, separated the Centurion from his weapons, and incapacitated him. After this victory, however, Thor elected to return to Asgard, and Giant-Man and the Wasp, feeling foolish over allowing themselves to be so easily manipulated, decided to retire as well. Only Iron Man was left to lament the glory that could have been the Avengers.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Don Heck, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta.

    I had originally included this reality in a Marvel Project that revealed a number of numeric designations, but it had to be cut for space. In the interest of clarity, I will refer to this reality as Earth-8110, though it has not yet had an official designation. However, if an Avengers Encyclopedia comes out, you can bet I'll define it there.
It was identified ast Earth-8110 in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 instead. --Prime Eternal

    This reality diverged from Earth-689 (the designation I'll be using for the reality seen in Avengers Annual#2) at the very beginning of Avengers Annual#2, or possibly during a BTS appearance of the Scarlet Centurion in Avengers I#56.

    As the story in What If? I#29 was specifically stated to be a reality diverging from the events of Avengers Annual#2, one can assume that any being seen in that reality was also present in this one. Amongst those seen imprisoned in stasis cells is Popeye...can't miss those forearms.
    Also not identified would be Rick Jones and Loki, and anyone else from Avengers I#1, plus anyone else from Earth-616 prior to the conclusion of Avengers I#2.

    1968 was way before the age of miniaturization, and so really powerful computers were gigantic in the sci-fi of those days, sometimes even spanning whole cities.

Profile by Snood.

Clarifications:

The Scarlet Centurion seen on Earth-8110 should be differentiated from:

Scarlet Centurion

Real Name: Nathaniel Richards

    Diverging from the events of Avengers Annual#2, he chose not to bring the Avengers of Earth-616 to the Earth he was intending to conquer, instead convincing them to retire on their own. The Hulk resisted, but the other four Avengers subdued him, and the Scarlet Centurion added him to the ranks of those he held in stasis. However, when he announced his true plot to conquer the world, the Avengers reformed to oppose him. He was defeated by Thor and presumably imprisoned.

    The Scarlet Centurion possesses advanced technology, enabling him to travel through time, cross dimensional barriers, fire energy blasts, and affect the thoughts of others.

 --What If? I#29

    It remains uncertain whether this is the same Scarlet Centurion who later showed up on Earth-712 to manipulate the Squadron Supreme. I vote yes!

 

 

images:
What If I#20, cover
    p7, panel 5 (Scarlet Centurion)

Appearances:
What If I#20 (April, 1980) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Sal Buscema & Alan Kupperberg (pencils), Bruce Patterson (inks), Denny O'Neil (editor)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First Posted: 07/26/2004
Last Updated: 10/11/2005

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