Avengers #402
End of the Line
Onslaught continues from Iron Man #332…
After Onslaught unleashed a powerful electro-magnetic pulse, the entire island of Manhattan has completely shut down.[1] With commuters trapped in the subway, the Avengers — Captain America, Thor, the Wasp, and the Scarlet Witch — head down into the tunnel and pull the stranded subway car to the next station so people can safely evacuate.
However, safety isn’t so easily come by as the streets above are in utter chaos as people try to flee the area in a panic. When Cap and the others get to the surface they see a mob of people trying to swarm the Black Widow and pull her to safety. Natasha becomes deeply concerned the chaos is going to affect Captain America’s resolve. Still, the try to keep people calm and help the innocent bystanders get to safety. In Times Square, they run into Giant-Man, Quicksilver, and Iron Man who are on their way back to headquarters with psionic armor that should protect them in the final assault on Onslaught.[2]
The Avengers are then ambushed by two of Onslaught’s lieutenants — Post and Holocaust —who have been dispatched to destroy the psi-armor before it can be used against their master. As a battle erupts, Captain America stands on the sidelines watching as his comrades struggle against their foes. At first, everyone thinks that Cap has finally given up hope. In reality, he has been strategizing the battle and determines that they cannot stop the two villains together.
He confronts Post and then tosses his shield at the villain, hitting his cloaking device and activating it. The shield then bounces off Holocaust’s armor, getting his attention. Unaware that his ally is standing between him and Captain America, Holocaust is goaded into unleashing an energy blast. This ends up striking Post, taking him out of the fight. With one enemy down, the Avengers pile on Holocaust and beat him into submission as well.
In the aftermath of the battle, the bystanders cheer the Avengers on. That’s when Onslaught appears on one of the giant screens in Times Square. He tells the Avengers to enjoy their victory while it lasts as soon he will wipe humanity from existence.
… Onslaught continues in Fantastic Four #416.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow), Onslaught, Post, Holocaust,
Continuity Notes
Onslaught unleashed his powerful EMP in Uncanny X-Men #336.
The designs were taken from the Xavier Protocols, a database compiled by Chuck himself on how to take down each of the X-Men in the event they ever went bad. The protocols were collected by the X-Men in Excalibur #100 and brought to America in X-Men (vol. 2) #55. Iron Man then used the information therein to create the psi-armor in Iron Man #332.
Topical References
The Avengers battle with Post and Holocaust take place in Times Square as such there are many billboards displaying advertisements for Coca-Cola, Canon, and Sony. These should all be considered topical references as they are real world products.
Onslaught Reading Order
Onslaught: X-Men #1, Uncanny X-Men #335, X-Factor #125, Excalibur #99-100, Cable #34, Incredible Hulk #444, Wolverine (vol. 2) #104, X-Men Unlimited #11, Avengers #401, Fantastic Four #415, Generation X #18, X-Men Unlimited #12, X-Men (vol. 2) #55, Green Goblin #12, Amazing Spider-Man #415, Spider-Man #72, X-Man #18, X-Force #57, Excalibur #101, X-Factor #126, Uncanny X-Men #336, Cable #35, X-Force #58, Generation X #19, X-Man #19, Punisher (vol. 3) #11, Incredible Hulk #445, Iron Man #332, Avengers #402, Fantastic Four #416, Wolverine (vol. 2) #105, Thor #502, X-Men (vol. 2) #56, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1
