File:Champions Vol 1 4 001.jpg

Description
Hercules and the Black Widow are stretching their legs on a Malibu beach when they are attacked by an old man. Strangely, he has the strength and speed of someone a quarter his age. Hercules manages to take him out, but several goons arrive to take the man away. When Hercules then defends him, the goons zap both Hercules and the Widow, and take them to San Marino State Hospital. There, an insane genius named Dr. Edward Lansing explains that the man they fought was his prototype super-soldier. He has been trying to replicate the original serum that created Captain America, in order to create a race of great warriors. The man they fought was his first success after numerous failures. Hercules tries to fight Lansing, but the doctor threatens to kill the Black Widow if he struggles. He then brainwashes the two heroes, and sends them to kill their three teammates, in order to complete the brainwashing process. They attack Angel and Iceman, who are relaxing at Warren’s house with Ivan Petrovich. They are joined by several more mutates controlled by Dr. Lansing. During the struggle, they realize their friends are under some kind of control, but this doesn’t make them any easier to stop. Soon, Ghost Rider appears, and he joins the struggle. Fortunately, the Black Widow’s mental toughness shines through, and she manages to break her programming before she kills Ivan. She manages to take out Dr. Lansing, and breaks the control box he is using to order them around. Lansing makes a run for it, but he fails to realize in time that his control box means he has no control over his mutates. They murder him without mercy. By dawn, the police are on their way, and Angel makes an impassioned speech, reminding his colleagues that the world needs people like them - the Champions.