With Two Beside Them!

This story continues from Daredevil #99…

Magneto has defeated the Avengers and the X-Men using a new ability. Able to use his magnetic powers to control people through the iron of their blood, the Master of Magnetism shows off this ability by forcing the Scarlet Witch to dance for him. When his minion, the Piper, points out that three of the Avengers are still free and may attack anew, Magneto boasts that he will be able to defeat them again just as he did earlier.

Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers — Thor, the Black Panther, and the Vision — have just returned to Avengers Mansion from San Francisco where they recruited Daredevil and the Black Widows assistance. They wish they were able to convince Hawkeye to accompany them, but the archer was still sore from being rejected by both the Scarlet Witch and Black Widow and leaving the Avengers.[1] Blaming herself for Hawkeye’s uncooperative behavior, the Black Widow excuses herself while the others try to figure out Magneto’s next move.[2] “Reading” the headline of a newspaper with his fingers, Daredevil learns about an atomic energy conference that is being held that day. Everyone agrees that Magneto might target those involved since atomic energy has been linked to the creation of mutants. Elsewhere in the mansion, the Black Widow looks at a picture of Hawkeye and wishes things could have been different between them and feels like she failed Clint.[3] Her thoughts are interrupted when the Black Panther enters the room and tells her that they are getting ready to mobilize.

Back in San Francisco, Hawkeye sits atop the Golden Gate Bridge thinking about how he really put himself in this situation. However, he refuses to go crawling back to the Avengers and rededicates himself to making a name for himself without the help of others.

It is evening on the east coast when Magneto uses the enslave X-Men and Avengers to attack the meeting of atomic experts. When the other Avengers arrive to stop them, they hold back so as not to harm Captain America, Wanda, Iron Man or any of the X-Men. When Magneto escapes in his ship, Daredevil tries to climb aboard. However, the hull of the ship is electrified and the Man Without Fear is jolted off during take-off. When Thor tries to follow after them, Iron Man is ordered to threaten to drop Captain America out of the ship. Not willing to sacrifice any of his friends the thunder god is forced to retreat. While trying to figure out where Magneto’s hideout is, the uncaptured Avengers remember that their foe first attacked them with dinosaurs outside the X-Men’s mansion. These prehistoric creatures have a unique scent that the Black Panther can track with his enhanced senses.

Meanwhile, Magneto has taken his new prisoners to his hideout. There he explains how he will use their knowledge of atomic energy to create a new breed of mutants that will be loyal to him. He details how he came up with this scheme not long after his defeat at the hands of the Inhumans.[4] However, his powers were deeply hampered prior that encounter and, while operating as the Maker in the Savage Land, tricked the Angel into wearing a brand new costume of his own design.[5] This costume soaked up mutant energies from the Angel and when the time was ripe, Magneto knocked the avian mutant out and took back the costume, using the stored energies to restore his diminished powers. Taking down the X-Men and three of the Avengers became child’s play. However, these scientists refuse to comply and forcing Magneto to use his powers to enslave them as well.

That’s when the other Avengers arrive with Daredevil and the Black Widow. In the ensuing battle, the Vision slips away and uses his phasing powers to take control of the Piper. While Magneto is distracted, the android then forces his own captive to knock the Master of Magnetism out from behind. With Magneto down, the enthralled members of the Avengers and the X-Men are freed from his control. In the aftermath of the battle, Professor X and his students thank the Avengers for their help but notice that the Angel has been absent this entire time and leave to go looking for their missing comrade.[6]

Meanwhile, Captain America offers both Daredevil and the Black Widow spots on the Avengers. While Daredevil declines the offer due to his life on the west coast, the Black Widow accepts so she can have some space to sort out her feelings between both Hawkeye and Daredevil. Unaware of this, and hurt, Daredevil takes off leaving Natasha to hope that Matt will eventually understand and forgive her.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, the Vision, Black Widow), Daredevil, X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel (in flashback)), Magneto, Piper, Edwin Jarvis, Hawkeye

Continuity Notes

1. Hawkeye is throwing a tantrum because the women he loves doesn’t love him back. He used to date the Black Widow circa Tales of Suspense #57 until he broke it off with her for good in Avengers #76. He threw a fit when the Scarlet Witch chose a romance with the Vision over him and rage quit the Avengers like a god damn pussy in Avengers #109. The team’s recent encounter with Hawkeye was in Daredevil #99.

2. Daredevil mentions the last time he encountered the Avengers, which was back in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3.

3. Natasha mentions how she was once married to Alexi Shostakov, aka the Red Guardian. This was detailed in Avengers #43-44.

4. Magneto’s battle with the Inhumans took place in Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #9-10.

5. Magneto’s time as the “Maker” was chronicled in X-Men #62-63 and X-Men: The Hidden Years #2-5.

6. Unexplained here, Angel is one of many mutants that have been captured by the Secret Empire. For more on this see Incredible Hulk #150, 172, and Captain America #172-175.

Topical References

• Dated pop-culture references: The Flying Wallendas, The Ed Sullivan Show, Henry Kissinger