Avengers #190
Heart of Stone
A meteor enters Earth’s atmosphere and crashes in Brooklyn’s Jamaica Bay. However, this object is more than just a meteor but a vaguely humanoid being with some kind of propulsion device on its back.
In the city, the media is abuzz because the Avengers are being brought to trial because of a subpoena enacted by Henry Gyrich, their government liaison.[1] When the team arrives they are swarmed by reporters who have all sorts of questions. However, Captain America has no comment. Inside the courthouse, they are joined by a team of lawyers which include Jeryn Hogarth, Emerson Bale, and Matt Murdock.
As the trial begins, the strange creature from space enters a subway terminal and begins going on a rampage, before fleeing down the tunnel.
Later that morning, Emerson Bale addresses the court and brings up the many times the Avengers have helped save the world such as when they took down Egghead’s orbital platform, saved the United Nations from Ultron, and more recently when they saved the city by Graviton.[2] Bale explains that the Avengers were only able to do this because they were unimpeded by government interference. While the judges aren’t questioning the Avengers track record, they ask Gyrich to present evidence that the Avengers need government oversight. Henry calls on Lt. Dwight Stanford, a SHIELD agent who will testify against Captain America. He tells the court how Captain America and the Falcon interfered in their investigation on a west coast crime cartel. Falcon interrupts the testimony to point out they helped expose double agents within SHIELD during that operation.[3]
As the proceedings continue, the creature in the subway is found by the SWAT team who are unable to stop the monster from exiting the subway and returning to the surface. Back at the courthouse, Gyrich is in the middle of explaining how he was able to infiltrate Avengers Mansion on multiple occasions.[4] That’s when the team gets a call from Jarvis who tells them about the creature that is on the rampage. That’s when one of the judges turns on the television to discover that the Avengers butler is telling the truth.
Although Gyrich protests it, the judges rule to go on a recess so the Avengers can deal with this threat. Gyrich is forced to grudgingly allow it and the Avengers race into action. Jeryn Hogarth and Emerson Bale are both convinced that this crisis could do more to support their argument than anything else. That’s when they notice that Matt Murdock has disappeared. That’s because the blind lawyer has slipped away to change into Daredevil so he can lend the Avengers a hand.
By this time, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have caught up with the creature and during their battle they discover that the form they are fighting is some kind of stone space suit of some kind. Ultimately, the combined might of the Vision and Iron Man shatters this suit. Daredevil races in to warn them of danger but both he and Iron Man are suddenly turned into stone. This is because the foe they are facing is none other than the Grey Gargoyle.[5]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, the Vision, the Beast, Ms. Marvel, the Falcon), Daredevil, Grey Gargoyle, Henry Gyrich, Jeryn Hogarth, Emerson Bale, Edwin Jarvis, Dwight Stanford
Continuity Notes
One of the reporters mentions the last time the Avengers were taken to court was during H. Warren Craddock’s alien affairs commission. See Avengers #93.
The Avengers took down Egghead in Avengers #63-65, Ultron in #66-68, and Graviton in #158-159.
Captain America and the Falcon took down the Corporation in Captain America #228-231.
Gyrich outlines the times he broke into Avengers Mansion in Avengers #168 and 172.
The Gargoyle was trapped in space following his previous battle with Thor in Thor #257-259.
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