Avengers #228
Trial and Error!
It is the first day of Hank Pym’s treason trial and the story is the top story on the evening news. After explaining to the audience that Pym is a long standing member of the Avengers, the anchor turns it over to reporter Geraldo Jiminez to recount the first day of trail.[1] Watching the news coverage from Avengers Mansion is the She-Hulk, and the sensationalization of Hank’s trial upsets her to the point where she puts her fist through the TV.
Restless, She-Hulk goes to see what the other Avengers are up to. In the training room she finds Captain America running through a drill with Captain Marvel. Marvel’s skills impress both Captain America and She-Hulk. She-Hulk is also impressed by how Cap is able to hold his own without any super-powers. Marvel points out that Steve Rogers has faced even the most powerful foes saying that she has been learning a lot about the Avengers history from their computer files.[2] Needing to get back to her home in New Orleans, Captain Marvel then turns into her energy form and takes off at the speed of light.
That’s when Thor and the Wasp return from the first day of Hank Pym’s trial. Janet thanks Thor for being there for her and begins to cry over what has happened.[3] However, she quickly composes herself and reminds herself to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past. She-Hulk observes this and wishes Janet could let it all out and gets upset over the media’s constant coverage of the trail once again. Realizing that she is about to lose her temper, Jennifer decides to go for a run to blow off some steam.
Later that day, Captain America pays a visit to Iron Man at Stark International because they haven’t heard from him in a few days.[4] This is because Tony Stark is busy working on a device he hopes will determine if Hank’s actions were of his own free well. Stark has begin to wonder if Hank’s mind had been tampered with, reminding Cap how they were all manipulated by Moondragon in the recent past. This is only a prototype, and Tony intends to miniaturize it once he has it working.
Meanwhile, the country continues to watch the on going media coverage of Hank Pym’s trial. This includes people from all walks of life, and former Avengers such as the Scarlet Witch and the Vision. The couple feel bad about everything that has happened to Hank and Janet,[6] and the pair wonder if they should come out of retirement to assist the Avengers in some way.[7]
At that moment, scientist Chen Lu arrives at an unassuming home on Long Island. This is the secret hideout of Egghead and his Masters of Evil. Pleased that Dr. Lu has arrived, Egghead welcomes him in. When Chen asks about the reports of Egghead’s death, the mad scientist explains that he survived being blown up by Cobalt Man thanks to a built in teleportation device that allowed him to escape.[8] The meeting is interrupted when the Beetle, Tiger Shark, and the Shocker come crashing through the ceiling. Tiger Shark and the Shocker have gotten into a scrap during their mission to steal materials for Egghead’s recent scheme. Moonstone steps in to try and break up the fight. However, when this doesn’t work, Chen Lu transforms into the Radioactive Man. The transformation intimidates the two enough that they stop fighting.
The following day, Hank Pym’s trial enters its fourth day and the rest of the Avengers are on hand to watch the proceedings. Just as Hank is called to the stand and sworn in, the Masters of Evil attack the court house. They have come to nab Pym to make it look like he hired them to free him. After protecting the rest of the spectators from falling debris, the Avengers rush out and try to stop the Masters from kidnapping Hank.[9] The addition of Radioactive Man onto the team gives them the edge needed to hold off the Avengers as Chen Lu is able to use his powers to revert She-Hulk back to her human form and deflect Thor’s hammer. As such, the Masters of Evil successfully nab Pym and escape in a hidden craft. However, the Shocker is left behind and when the Avengers question him, he tells them that Hank Pym arranged for them to free him.
Later, at Egghead’s hideout, the madman reveals to Hank Pym that he intentionally allowed Shocker to be captured and brainwashed him to accuse Hank for staging the break out. Egghead then gloats that Pym’s credibility has been completely shattered and that if he wants to live any kind of life at all, he will join the Masters of Evil. Realizing he has no choice, Hank agrees to join.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel), Masters of Evil (Egghead, Moonstone, Radioactive Man, Tiger Shark, Shocker, Beetle, Hank Pym), Vision, Scarlet Witch
Continuity Notes
The news anchor and reporter go over Hank’s many identities over the years and his recent troubles:
Hank first started his career as Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35, and helped found the Avengers back in issue #1.
He later became Giant-Man in Tales of Suspense #49.
He changed his name to Goliath in Avengers #28.
Lastly, he changed his identity to Yellowjacket and has used it almost consistently since Avengers #59.
Recently, Hank was expelled from the Avengers for poor judgement and hitting his wife in Avengers #213, leading to the Wasp divorcing him. Later, he was forced into stealing Adamantium for Egghead and was framed in issue #217, leading to his arrest.
Captain Marvel lists some of the super-powered beings that Captain America was able to hold his own against. They are:
Dragon Man: Captain America first encountered Dragon Man back in Avengers #42. However, at the time of this story he had just recently fought Dragon Man on his own in Captain America #249.
Mister Hyde: Captain America first fought Mister Hyde alongside the Scorpion in Captain America #150-151. At the time of this story, Cap had also just recently fought Hyde in Captain America #251-252.
The Hulk: Captain America has fought the Hulk many, many times. His earliest encounter with the gamma-spawned monster was actually during World War II when the Hulk and She-Hulk went back in time in Incredible Hulk #284. In modern times, he first faced the Hulk alongside the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #25-26. The Hulk is referred to here as She-Hulk’s cousin. Their relation was first revealed in Savage She-Hulk #1.
Janet thanks Thor from coming all the way from Chicago to be there for her. At the time of this story Thor had just recently relocated to Chicago, as seen in Thor #319.
Iron Man’s absence isn’t fully explained here. The only clue is the fact that his face is stubbly and he’s sweating a lot. Tony has a long history of alcohol abuse and at the time of this story he has just fallen off the wagon again, as seen in Iron Man #167.
Moondragon has manipulated the Avengers quite a bit in recent history. This story references the instance in Avengers #211, when the team was re-organizing their roster. However, she also manipulated the team in issues #219-220 when she was using her mental powers to enslave the entire Bi-Bani race.
When Wanda comments that Hank and Janet had an ideal marriage, the Vision points out that their marriage wasn’t the most conventional. He is referring to Hank’s mental break down which led to his becoming Yellowjacket. In this new identity he convinced Janet to marry him. See Avengers #59-60. Huge red-flag.
The Vision and the Scarlet Witch had recently retired from the Avengers in issue #211. They will be called back to active duty in issue #233.
Egghead was reportedly killed by Cobal Man in Defenders #43.
Tiger Shark mentions the Masters of Evil’s earlier clash with the Avengers that happened in issue #222.
Topical References
There are a number of statements in the news report that should be considered topical:
The news anchor states that there is a protest planned for Indian Point. This was the name of a former nuclear reactor that was located in Westchester County, New York. It was the subject of many protests at the time due to people’s fear of a environmental risks associated with atomic energy. This should be considered topical as the Indian Point power plant was slated to be shut down in 2015 and as of 2021, the facility is no longer in service and is being dismantled.
He also talks about the an upcoming New York Yankees game. This should be considered topical because the Yankees are a real-world team.
Lastly the television itself is depicted as a CRT television with a knob for a power switch. All of the televisions in this story are depicted as similar technology. This should be considered topical because it is old technology that has long since become obsolete.
The people watching the news also drop some specific references:
A man at the ACLU states that this is the biggest treason case since the United States vs. Rosenberg. This is a reference to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were accused of being spies for the Soviet Union in the 1950s. They were convicted in 1953 and imprisoned. Their family and others insisted they were innocent, but de-classified Russian documents revealed that, yup, they were spies. Is it still the biggest treason case in American history? It depends on how you measure “biggest”. There are certainly more contemporary examples in the last 20 years since the start of America’s “War on Terror”.
One of the views wonders who the guest is going to be on the Merv Griffin Show. At the time this story was published Merv Griffin was a late night television host. This should be considered a topical reference as the show ended its run in 1986 and Merv Griffin himself passed away in 2007.
Egghead’s cab fare from Nassau to Long Island cost $27.50 in this story. This price should be considered topical due to inflation and the changes in how cab fare is determined in the New York City area. A quick Google search online shows me that at the time of this writing (August 2021) a similar trip would cost between $60 and $70.
