Avengers #232
And Now… Starfox!
The Avengers have just liberated a SHIELD facility that was invaded by plant-based impostors. In the ensuing battle, Hawkeye broke his leg and is now being treated by the Avengers’ resident doctor, Donald Blake. After getting Hawkeye in a leg cast, Blake excuses himself so he can privately change back into Thor. He makes this transformation in front of the two active Avengers who know his secret, Captain America and the Wasp, who admit that knowing Thor’s secret is a lot to process.[1]
It’s here that the Wasp tells them that she is considering resigning as Avengers chairman, as she is struggling to come up with a suitable replacement after Iron Man abruptly announced his resignation.[2] Thor and Cap suggest that the Wasp stick with it and the pair come up with a solution: Come up with an Avenger-in-training position and have Eros join the team. Janet likes this idea and gets on the phone to get the Titan the necessary security clearance. Soon the meeting is called, and Eros is asked to make his case for Avengers membership.[3] The only one who is overly critical of his application is Hawkeye, who is afraid he’s being replaced on the team. After convincing the team of his value and assuaging Hawkeye’s fears, the team agrees to enlist Eros as an Avenger-in-training. Although Eros is security cleared, the Wasp mentions how the government is a little concerned about someone with a precative name like Eros, so the Wasp has come up with a new codename for him, Starfox.
Starfox’s first mission with the team is to assist Thor and Captain Marvel in tracking the mysterious submarine that was detected during the botched attack on the SHIELD facility. While the trio take off to meet up with a Navy ship tracking the sub, Captain America and the Wasp depart to handle some personal business. This leaves Hawkeye in the care of the She-Hulk, much to his chagrin. As Thor and the others make their way to the ship, Captain Marvel asks Starfox to talk about her predecessor, the original Captain Marvel. Eros talks about how honorable his late friend was and how he was worthy of his rank and name.[4] This immediately embarrasses Monica who suddenly feels unworthy of the title, and she flies ahead to announce their arrival.
Soon they arrive on the ship and begin tracking the submarine. The undersea vessel is piloted by Plant-Man, who is trying to evade capture after he unsuccessfully tried to ransom the President of the United States. With the Navy ship catching up to him, he uses his powers to animate some nearby seaweed to restrain the military vessel. When the three Avengers try to free the ship, they discover that the seaweed is stronger than it appears. As Thor dives in to try and rip up the plants, both Captain Marvel and Starfox are grabbed and pulled into the water.
Back in New York City, Tony Stark drunkenly tinkers on a better remote control for his TV after his current one has broken. That’s when Captain America and the Wasp arrive to find out why Tony abruptly quit the team. They are horrified to discover that Tony has started drinking again and that he is pretty tanked already.[5] Tony doesn’t recall calling them and everything starts making sense when Iron Man arrives. Tony explains he gave up his alter-ego and someone else will be Iron Man from now on, assuring them that the Avengers can trust his replacement. Captain America and the Wasp are deeply concerned by Tony’s drinking, but he refuses any help and eventually tells them to leave him alone.[6] By this time, She-Hulk has dropped Hawkeye off at his apartment and he tells her to give him some space. Not wanting to sit around with his bum leg, Hawkeye puts in a call to one of the R&D boys at Cross Technological Enterprises.[7]
While back out at sea, the three Avengers fight free from the seaweed and continue their pursuit of Plant-Man’s sub. Fearing capture, the villain activates an escape pod that was built into the vessel by his benefactor, the Wizard. The pod shoots high into the air. This triggers a pre-recorded message from the Wizard who explains that the escape pod wasn’t to save Plant-Man from capture, but jettison him into space to suffocate after failing his mission as he has outlived his usefulness.[8] When Captain Marvel penetrates the pod in her energy form, he agrees to surrender if she saves his life. She then blasts open the pod’s catch, causing Plant-Man to be sucked out by the decompression and into the arms of Thor. Witnessing all this Starfox believes that being an Avenger is going to be fun.
Back in the city, She-Hulk returns to Avengers Mansion and is annoyed that Hawkeye has a palatial penthouse apartment while she has been struggling to find accommodations since relocating to New York City. Hearing Jennifer’s grumbling, the Wasp offers to go out with her to find a suitable apartment. As they look around, they suddenly see a frightened mob fleeing from midtown, driven away by some unseen danger. When She-Hulk rushes off to investigate she runs into an invisible barrier that is slowly growing. Although the two women cannot penetrate the barrier, they refuse to give up stopping it.[9]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Wasp, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Starfox), Plantman, Iron Man, Tony Stark, Wizard (voice only)
Continuity Notes
It is mentioned here that the only Avengers who know Thor’s double identity are Iron Man, Captain America, and the Wasp who learned his secret in Avengers #113, 216, and 220 respectively.
The Wasp outlines Iron Man’s resignation and talks about some past Avengers and what they are up to at the time of this story:
Iron Man abruptly resigned last issue. What the team doesn’t know is that Tony Stark has fallen off the wagon again in Iron Man #167, prompting Jim Rhodes to take over the role of Iron Man in issue #170, and it was Jim they spoke with.
Janet states that Hercules is off doing “God knows what” (pun intended, I guess). Hercules was last on the Avengers between issue #173 through 181 during the Korvac crisis but was one of the members cut from the team by Henry Gyrich. He briefly return in issue #211 during a team re-organization, but since he was manipulated into coming by Moondragon opted not to join. He will return to the team following the events of Avengers #249/Thor #353.
Wonder Man is said to be pursing an acting career in Hollywood. He left the team in issue #211.
It is stated here that the Beast joined the Defenders recently. He also left the Avengers in issue #211 and immediately joined the other team in Defenders #103.
Lastly, she references the Vision and the Scarlet Witch. They also resigned in issue #211 so they could have some quiet time together.
Eros reminds the team how he helped them battle his evil brother, Thanos. This was during the Thanos War which took place in Captain Marvel #25-33 and Avengers #125.
At the time of this story, the original Captain Marvel had just recently died of cancer in Marvel Graphic Novel #1. Eros tosses shade at Monica here, but he later comes to believe she has earned the right to call herself Captain Marvel in Avengers #250.
Tony has had a history of abusing alcohol and went sober in Iron Man #128. As I said above, that didn’t last very long. Captain America and the Wasp learned Tony’s secret identity in Avengers #216 and 224 respectively.
Here the Wasp expresses her concern by saying she doesn’t want to see Tony throw his life away like her ex-husband, Hank Pym. Hank — aka Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, and Yellowjacket — was a founder and long standing member of the Avengers since the very beginning. His most recent stint on the team began in issue #211 and ended abruptly by issue #213 due to misconduct and slapping Janet in the face. She promptly divorced him and he later was framed for stealing government Adamantium in issue #217, landing him in jail. Hank had just recently redeemed himself in issue #228-230, but ultimately decided to retire from costumed heroics.
Hawkeye has been working as chief of security at CTE since Avengers #189.
Plant-Man and the Wizard broke out of prison together circa Avengers #227.
This barrier was created by Annihilus in Fantastic Four #254.