Many Brave Hearts…

In the Atlantic Ocean, Walter Newell — aka Stingray — is testing out the latest modifications to his diving suit. When he returns to his wife Diane aboard their ship she hands him the latest edition of the Daily Bugle. It features a front page story about the Avengers having their FAA clearance revoked, forcing them to try and find a new location for their Quinjets.[1] Walter finds this story very interesting and thinks that he can do something to help the Avengers out.

At Avengers Mansion, the Wasp brings the news to Captain America and Hercules who are in the training room. She is not happy about the Bugle’s reporting, particularly since they are suggesting that Cap might be leaving the team. This is because Steve has set up a new toll-free number for people to call him for help and apologizing for not making his intentions clear during his press conference.[2] They decide to put aside the news and see how the Black Knight is faring with a device that should allow them to track the Beyonder’s energy signature. Unfortunately, since their last encounter with the omnipotent being, the device has not worked leading Dane to believe that the Beyonder must be masking his presence on Earth. As everyone is discussing the situation, Captain Marvel can’t help but notice that most of the Avengers address each other on a first name basis and wonders if she should tell them her real name.

That’s when Jarvis arrives with a stack of mail that the team has received. The news of the Avengers FAA situation has prompted a flood of correspondence from people offering to provide a home for their fleet of Quinjets. The Avengers then get down to the arduous task of going through all of their mail.[3] This process takes two whole days with no suitable solution in sight. That is until the Wasp comes across a letter from Walter Newell. Upon reading it, Janet believes that they finally have a solution.

Meanwhile, at a maximum security prison, rogue scientist Maris Morlak languishes in his cell following his recent arrest. However, he is soon broken out of his cell by his fellow Enclave member, Carlo Zota, who uses one of their transfer grids. This allows them to escape to the apartment used by their ally, Wladyslave Shinski, however the device shorts out just as they get through to the other side. Although they are free, the Enclave finds themselves shot on resources. They mourn for the days when they were outfitted with a secret laboratory that allowed them to create the perfect artificial man. Unfortunately, their creation — called Him — turned against them and when they attempted to recreate that experiment their second creation also turned on them. Things took a further turn for the worst after their disasters alliance with Maximus the Mad leading to their capture by the Avengers and the Inhumans.[4] Now fugitives from the law, Shinski managed to scrounge some resources to for their latest breakthrough. Opening a wooden crate, he reveals a mysterious glowing object, impressing both Zota and Morlak.[5]

The following afternoon, the Avengers fly a Quinjet to Hydro-Base, the artificial island owned by Walter and Diane Newell. The team is welcomed and given a tour of the facility, which the Avengers find a promising solution to their Quinjet problem, particularly since the artificial island can be moved closer to the shores of Manhattan for easier access. It’s during this tour that the Sub-Mariner arrives, leading to a tense moment with the Avengers. However, Namor is not looking for a fight and wanders off to be alone. Diane explains to the Avengers that the Sub-Mariner has come to live on the island after the people of Atlantis forced him to abdicate the throne.[6] As the Avengers continue their tour of Hydrobase, Hercules can’t get his mind off how pitiful Namor looks sulking over the loss of his kingdom. Having had enough, the Olympian then attacks the former Atlantean ruler.

The two begin pounding on each other until the other Avengers split them up. It’s here that Hercules instigated the fight to show the Sub-Mariner that he was still worthy. Pausing to think about Herc’s logic causes Namor to laugh out loud and he thanks the demigod for his unorthodox method of getting him to see past his recent loss. That evening, the Avengers join Namor and the Newells for a clambake. It’s here that the Wasp decides to accept Walter’s offer to station their Quinjets on Hydrobase. While the others are enjoying the evening, Captain America pulls the Sub-Mariner aside to talk about Namor’s next move. Captain America still remembers how the Sub-Mariner fought alongside him against the Axis Powers during World War II and offers him a spot on the Avengers. Namor is reluctant to accept the role, reminding Steve that in more recent times he had made himself an enemy of the surface world. Cap then tells him that the Sub-Mariner is still capable of good, reminding him of a time, a few years ago, when he attacked a tribe of Inuits. The Sub-Mariner remembers how he tossed a chunk of ice they worshiped into the nearby waters and wonders what that has to do with anything. Captain America then reveals that he was the person frozen in the ice and that Namor’s actions caused Steve to thaw out after decades in suspended animation and was later recovered by the Avengers.[7] It’s because of Namor that Steve is now alive and walking around and he owes him for that. Hearing this convinces Namor and he agrees to join the Avengers.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Black Knight, Hercules, Captain Marvel, Sub-Mariner), Encalve (Maris Morlak, Wladyslave Shinski, Carlo Zota), Stingray, Diane Newell, Edwin Jarvis,

Continuity Notes

1. The government has been restructuring their clearances with the Avengers after the Vision briefly took over the world’s computers circa Avengers #255. Their FAA clearance was revoked last issue.

2. At the time of this story, Captain America had just set up a 1-800 number for people to call him for emergencies in Captain America #312.

3. One of the letters that Captain Marvel reads suggests the Avengers relocate to Detroit, she scoffs at the idea. This is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Justice League of America over at DC Comics. Around the time of this publication, the JLA had recently relocated to Detroit in Justice League of America Annual #2. The JLA would remain in Detroit until the events of Justice League of America #261.

4. The Enclave go over some of their career highlights:

   • Their first creation, Him, turned against them in Fantastic Four #66-67. Him later went on to become Adam Warlock.

   • Their second creation, originally dubbed Paragon, was created in Incredible Hulk Annual #6. It also similarly turned on them and later changed its gender identity and started calling herself Her.

   • The Enclave had been working with Maximus as far back as Fantastic Four #207, however their involvement wasn’t fully explained until Fantastic Four #240 and Avengers Annual #12.

5. Next issue it is revealed that this glowing substance is some kind of new compound Shinski had developed.

6. Namor was ousted as rule of Atlantis following the events of Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4. Namor will regain his rule of Atlantis in Namor the Sub-Mariner #40.

7. The Sub-Mariner encountered Captain America’s frozen body in Avengers #4. Per the Sliding Timescale those events happened about 7 years prior to this story.

Topical References

• Here, the tribe that Namor encountered back in Avengers #4 are referred to as Eskimos. This should be considered a topical reference as the term is no longer accurate and is considered by some to be racist. The proper term for these indigenous people is now Inuit.