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The Crossing continues from Iron Man #323…

In a place outside time and space, Mantis looks up at the stars and is growing concerned about her beloved who appears to be running late. Her thoughts are interrupted by Neut who tells her that the master is returning with news from the borders. Soon a temporal ship emerges from a time portal and docks with the massive citadel that Mantis and her family call home. Their master turns out to be Kang the Conqueror himself. He has ill tidings from the war effort as events continue to work against his family’s control over time. After sending Neut off to aid in securing his borders, Kang holds a private council with is wife. He tells Mantis that sending their children Tobias and Malachi to capture the Cotati could have worked against them as it may bring their enemies to their doorstep. When the two sons come to greet their father, Kang instructs them to return to the present day as they will need to recover their operative before he is captured by the enemy.[1]

On present day Earth the Avengers — Giant-Man, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, the Wasp, Swordsman, Black Widow, Crystal, Vision, and Hercules — have all just discovered that Iron Man is the one responsible for the recent string of murders that have happened at the mansion.[2] As the Avengers try to subdue their comrade,[3] Tony Stark fight back and in the ensuing clash the Wasp is shot in the chest by one of Iron Man’s repulsor rays, seriously injuring her. Although Tony is horrified by what he has done, this doesn’t stop him from continuing to fight with his former friends. Seeing Janet cut down enrages Giant-Man who tries to subdue Iron Man. Unfortunately, he is too late to stop Kang’s minions from teleporting Stark to safety. In the aftermath of the battle, Hank Pym believes he can save Janet’s life and races her down to the lab.

Hawkeye reports back to his allies about the situation and how Luna could hold the key to everything.[4] Crystal and Quicksilver decide what to do with their daughter Luna, since it is no longer safe for her at their temporary headquarters as well. Tuc reappears and uses his power to knock out Quicksilver and Crystal and kidnaps Luna.

Meanwhile, Giant-Man uses the same machine that first turned Janet into the Wasp in the hopes of healing her injuries. However, something unexpected happens and Janet suddenly weaves a protective cocoon around her whole body.[5] That’s when the Vision hears an aircraft heading their way, prompting the Avengers to go outside and investigate. There they find Quicksilver and Crystal laying on the ground and an aircraft falling out of the sky. The quickly revive their comrades and get to safety as the plane suddenly crashes. The pilot is miraculously able to walk out of the wreck alive. It turns out to be the mysterious Masque, who tells the Avengers that she needs their help to stop Tony Stark.[6]

…The Crossing continues in Force Works #19.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Giant-Man, Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Hercules, Vision, Crystal, Swordsman), “Kang the Conqueror”, “Mantis”, Anachronauts (“Tobias”, “Malachi”, “Neut”), Iron Man, Luna Maximoff, “Tuc”, Masque, Edwin Jarvis

Continuity Notes

1. If none of this is making sense to you in any way at all, don’t worry. It’s later revealed in Avengers Forever #8 that the entire Crossing event is all bullshit created to Immortus to distract the Avengers so he can continue manipulating their destiny. The “Kang” in this story is actually Immortus posing as his past self. Mantis, Neut, Tobias, Malachi, the Cotati, Tuc and the adult Luna Maximoff are all later revealed to be Space Phantoms posing as these characters. It’s further explained that Immortus brainwashed these Phantoms so they believed themselves to actually be the characters they are representing, which is why they remain in character even when there are no Avengers around to fall for it.

2. Iron Man killed Luna’s nanny Marilla and Yellowjacket at Avengers Mansion back in Avengers: The Crossing #1. His involvement was revealed in Iron Man #323.

3. Hercules’ dialogue is written without his usual Olympian affectation here. He stopped speaking in this matter starting in Avengers #390. The offered explanation is that he no longer speaks that way after Zeus stripped him of his immortality back in issue #384. However, Hercules starts speaking in his trademark fashion again in Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed #1, suggesting that this was more of a conscious effort on Herc’s part rather than anything to do with the magic that stripped him of his abilities.

4. Because of bad story telling, its not very clear just who Hawkeye is talking to. It’s most likely War Machine and US Agent. Earlier, Hawkeye was framed for the murders of Marilla and Yellowjacket in Force Works #17. He was later freed in War Machine #21 so he could uncover who the real killer was.

5. Janet was first turned into the Wasp way back in Tales to Astonish #44. When she hatches from the cocoon next issue she will have been transformed into a more insectile form. This will remain Janet’s status quo until she is restored to her human form following the events of Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 as seen in Avengers (vol. 2) #1.

6. Masque has been involved with stopping Tony Stark since she first surfaced in Iron Man #320. Although she is said to be Bethany Cabe in Iron Man #323, it is later revealed in Avengers (vol. 3) #32-33 that she is actually a bio-duplicate of Whitney Frost, aka Madame Masque. It’s later explained that her difference in personality and motivations were due to the fact that the imprinting process that would have made her an avatar for the real Madame Masque was interrupted and incomplete.

The Crossing Reading Order

Avengers #390, Iron Man #319, Avengers: The Crossing #1, Force Works #16, Iron Man #320, Avengers #391, Iron Man #321, Force Works #17, Avengers #392, War Machine #20, Iron Man #322, Force Works #18, War Machine #21, Iron Man #323, Avengers #393, Force Works #19, War Machine #22, Iron Man #324, Force Works #20, War Machine #23, Avengers #394, Avengers: Timeslide #1, Iron Man #325, Avengers #395, Age of Innocence: The Rebirth of Iron Man #1