In The Avengers #181
(cover date March 1979) The Avengers were up to 23 members and assorted guests,
prompting a revocation of their priority status and an intervention by Henry
Peter Gyrich. The result? A much diminished membership of 7, and one very
pissed off Hawkeye - rejected in favour of The Falcon and equal opportunities, a
federal government requirement for The Avengers priority status to be
reinstated.
It was an audacious twist on the Old Order Changeth theme, written by David Michelinie and superbly
drawn by John Byrne (inks by Gene Day), that gave us a series of classic reaction
shots, not least Hawkeye’s. Say it again Clint…
