Wings and Arrows!

Following their battle with the Arsenal robot, Thor is departing from Avengers Mansion to return to his personal affairs. As he leaves, he wonders if he might enlist the Avengers aid in his current conflict with the Celestial.[1] His departure coincides with the Falcon’s arrival at the mansion. Thor zips by without so much as a word. Upon arrival, Falcon informs Iron Man how his investigation into an embassy murder.[2]

Entering the mansion, the Falcon is welcomed back by the rest of the team, with the exception of Hawkeye. The archer is still unhappy that the Falcon has been chosen to remain on the Avengers while he is stuck on reserve status.[3][4] When Falcon tries to talk to Hawkeye about it, the archer snubs him and storms out. Yellowjacket then takes off after a phone call with the Wasp to assist her in Las Vegas.[5] Also leaving is Wonder Man who is glad his tour of duty with the Avengers is over so he can focus on his acting career. Captain America and Falcon then go to the communications room to inform Henry Gyrich of the roster change over. That’s when the Vision and the Scarlet Witch enter the room so Wanda can announce that she is extending her leave of absence.[6] Gyrich is against this idea and tells the Avengers not to go anywhere until he can get down there in person.

Meanwhile, Clint Barton returns to his apartment to find that all of his job applications have been rejected. Needing steady income, he looks through the paper and finds a classified ad looking for a head of security at Cross Technical Enterprises. The following day, Hawkeye proves his worth by breaking into the office of K.H. Keeshan, despite all the security. Hawkeye is hired immediately and soon he is watching over the facility that evening. The facility is then broken into by the alien known as Deathbird, who is seeking technology that will help her return to her homeworld.[7] Despite her ability to fly and her high-tech weapons, Hawkeye manages to easily defeat Deathbird and hands her over to the authorities. Adding insult to injury, Hawkeye kisses Deathbird goodbye, something that is not received very well.

Back at Avengers Mansion, Jacosta returns home and is welcomed in by Jarvis. He tells her that her arrival follows Henry Gyrich who is arguing with the Avengers in the next room. Iron Man is fed up with Gyrich’s constant interference, particularly since he will not allow the Vision and the Scarlet Witch to go on leave. Gyrich is also at his wits end and threatens to disband the Avengers if they don’t do what he says.[8]

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Yellowjacket, the Wasp, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, the Vision, the Beast, Wonder Man, Jacosta, the Falcon), Deathbird, Henry Gyrich, Edwin Jarvis, Redwing

Continuity Notes

1. Thor has been investigating the Celestials and their potential threat to humanity at the time of this story. See Thor #283-301.

2. The Falcon was investigating this murder in Marvel Premiere #49.

3. The Vision and the Scarlet Witch are discussing her brother’s and sister-in-law’s baby announcement. See Avengers #188.

4. Hawkeye was forced onto reserve status by NSA liaison Henry Gyrich who insisted on Falcon being part of the team to fill an employment equity quota. See Avengers #181.

5. The Wasp in Nevada clashing with Omega the Unknown with the Defenders. See Defenders #76-77.

6. Wanda had been on leave to investigate her connection to Django Maximoff in Avengers #185-187. She wants to take time off to try and have a baby with the Vision. Something they will magically (literally) succeed at in Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #3.

7. Hawkeye recalls how Deathbird recently fought Ms. Marvel. This was in Ms. Marvel #9-10 and 22.

8. Gyrich has been interfering with the Avengers since Avengers #168.

Topical References

• Cross Technological Enterprises is depicted having reel-to-reel data storage which is obsolete.