Three Angels Fallen!

Yellowjacket has been expelled from the Avengers for his conduct and has gone missing.[1] Captain America is taking the decision hard and vents his frustrations in the Avengers’ training room. Watching this is Tigra and Jarvis. Tigra can’t understand why the rest of the team is taking it so hard, as she thinks they did the right thing. This is because, since she joined the team, Hank Pym has made a bad impression. Jarvis points out that Yellowjacket was a founding member of the team with a long standing history with the group. He tells her that despite his errors in judgement of late he is still a good man.

Meanwhile, at the World Trade Center, Tony Stark and Don Blake meet together to talk about Hank’s expulsion.[2] Tony in particular wants Don’s medical opinion on Hank’s mental health. Don admits that Hank had some problems but they will be expensive to treat. Tony is willing to foot the bill, but they worry that Hank will be too proud to accept any help.

At that same moment, the Wasp is at home trying to focus on her fashion work when her butler informs him that Yellowjacket has returned home to see her. Hank wants to apologize for the way he has been acting recently and that he hit her, giving Janet a black eye. Unfortunately, Janet has had enough and tells Hank that it’s over and that she has filed for a divorce. She tells him that she had the butler pack his things and tells him to leave and never come back. Hank tries to put on a brave face, and rejects her offer of giving him money to live off of. He tells her that he still has money from his inventions and patents, however this is a lie and all he can afford is a cheap room in a sleazy hotel.

Back at Avengers Mansion, Captain America continues to vent his feelings in the training room. When he takes a break, Jarvis comes in and has a heart-to-heart talk about what happened to Yellowjacket. Jarvis reminds Cap that only Hank can pull himself out of the trouble he has found himself in and that beating himself up over Yellowjacket’s failure isn’t going to help the situation.

Meanwhile, in New Mexico, Johnny Blaze laments over his lot in life particularly since he lost his world championship title.[3] Spotting a custom made sports car racing by, Johnny envies the man driving. Giving in to his anger, Blaze changes into the Ghost Rider and follows after them. Little does Johnny know, the passengers are Warren Worthington III and his girlfriend Candy Southern. Warren recognizes Ghost Rider since — as the Angel — he was teammates with Johnny Blaze on the Champions.[4] He tries to reason with the Ghost Rider, but the Spirit of Vengeance drives them off the road. Finally recognizing Warren, Johnny challenges the Angel to a race. Warren agrees but quickly turns against his former teammate. The battle is short lived when Ghost Rider uses his hellfire on the Angel and races off. The injury puts Worthington in a coma. Once the Angel is hospitalized, Candy puts in a call to the Avengers for help.[5] Captain America fields the call and mobilizes the team to help catch the Ghost Rider.

The next day, Johnny Blaze — having reverted back to human form — has taken a job working at a service station. Having realized he was acting like a jerk, he feels bad for hurting Warren and decides to stick around until Worthington comes out of his coma and is released from the hospital. During his time working at the service station, Johnny has befriended Kim, a young boy from town who is a huge fan of super-heroes. When the Avengers arrive and begin looking around town for the Ghost Rider, Kim is really excited. The stupid kid decides to put on a cape and climb up onto the local water tower. Seeing Kim in danger, Johnny changes into the Ghost Rider to save the boy. However, Iron Man manages to save Kim.

As Ghost Rider blown his cover, he is pursued by the Avengers. Blaze fends off most of the team with blasts of hellfire, but the demonic flames have no effect on Thor due to his godly nature. Ghost Rider then flees the scene, and as the Avengers regroup Tigra admits that she is terrified of the Ghost Rider. Captain America tries to convince her that fear is only natural on the job and tells her pull herself together. When the Ghost Rider returns to finish them off, Tigra freezes in battle. However, this time the rest of the Avengers are ready for him and fight him off. That’s when the Angel — having awoken from his coma — arrives on the scene and confronts the Ghost Rider. Warren theorizes that Blaze’s emotional state affects the level of control he has over the Ghost Rider and that Johnny lashed out because he is unhappy with his life. The Ghost Rider insists that he is merely seeking vengeance, but when Angel tells the Ghost Rider to strike him down, Johnny reverts back to human form and tells them to leave him alone.

Since the Angel doesn’t want to press charges against Johnny, the Avengers decide to let him go. Seeing parallels between the Ghost Rider and Yellowjacket, Captain America tells Angel that the only person who will be able to pull Johnny Blaze back on his feet is Johnny himself.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Tigra), Ghost Rider, Yellowjacket, Angel, Edwin Jarvis, Candy Southern

Continuity Notes

1. Yellowjacket got in the hot seat when he inadvertedly prolonged their battle with the Elfqueen in Avengers #212. He was court martialed last issue.

2. Tony and Don mention how they confided in each other by revealing their secret identities to one another. Tony and Don deduced each other’s alter-egos in Avengers #113.

3. Blaze lost his title to rival stunt cyclist in Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #58.

4. Angel and Ghost Rider were teammates from Champions #1 through 17.

5. The reason why Candy calls the Avengers for help is because she believes the Beast is on the team. Hank McCoy and Warren were friends dating back when they joined the X-Men back in X-Men #1. Hank had been a member of the Avengers from Avengers #137, but recently left the group in issue #211.

Topical References

• This story depicts the original twin towers at the site of the World Trade Center. This should be considered a topical reference as the towers were destroyed during a terror attack on September 11, 2001 and has since been replaced with the Freedom Tower.

• Additionally, it is stated that Tony and Don meet at the Windows of the World restaurant. Windows of the World was located at the top of the North Tower. It was, obviously, destroyed on September 11. While there were plans for it to re-open when the Freedom Tower but those plans fell through due to the cost involved. It’s reference here should be considered topical.

• Warren Worthington is stated as driving a custom made Ferrari. This should be considered a topical reference since this is a real world car.