Avengers (vol. 2) #2
First Blood
Following their first mission as a team, the Avengers have recruited the recently revived Thor into their ranks.[1] This angers Henry Gyrich, the Avengers government liaison as this was done without his approval and demands to be put in touch with Nick Fury at SHIELD.
Meanwhile, in Hank Pym’s lab, Captain America has some tests run to find out what the limits are to Thor’s strength. As they run these tests, Hank expresses his concerns about Thor after the thunder god wondered when they would plunder a village.
The Vision and Hank’s robot Ultron — who just upgraded himself — are examining Thor’s enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, and determine it is made from a material that is not found on the periodic table of elements. Eventually, Thor has enough of the tests and threatens violence, prompting Cap to call an end to the examinations.
At that same moment, Janet Van Dyne has taken the Scarlet Witch and Hellcat out shopping for some new clothes. Their shopping expedition is cut short when people start running through the street in a panic over an apparent invasion. The two Avengers then depart to investigate. While back on Avengers Island, Hawkeye and the Swordsman are in the middle of a training session when they notice that something has blotted out the sun. This turns out to be a massive futuristic ship that has materialized in the sky over Manhattan. Its appearances prompts Nick Fury to call Captain America and orders the hero to gather the Avengers to investigate the mysterious ship.[2] When the Avengers arrive in the city to investigate the ship they are attacked by its occupant, Kang the Conqueror, a warlord that has traveled to this ear in order to conquer it.[3]
Elsewhere in a limbo beyond time and space, Loki has found the Enchantress and the two agree to form a union. Amora agrees to help Loki destroy Thor and the Avengers in exchange for the Enchantress getting the Scarlet Witch to use as she sees fit.[4] At that same moment, Agatha Harkness is back at her home in New Salem, fetching some milk for her familiar, Ebony. Suddenly she is struck with a sensation warning her that Wanda is in grave danger.
Back at that scene of the battle, the Avengers try to attack Kang but he is protected by a high tech force-field. Ultimately, they manage to shut it down thanks to one of Hawkeye’s trick arrows that contains a payload of water, which shorts out the field. Annoyed at having one of his weapons taken down by something so primitive, Kang activates the weapons on his ship with take down all of the Avengers in a single blast, all save Thor. When the thunder god tries to attack Kang directly, the time master has his ships tractor beam put the Asgardian in stasis and bring him aboard the ship. Watching this all unfold, Nick Fury orders a call to be put out to the Fantastic Four for help. Unfortunately, the heroes are busy elsewhere and are unavailable.[5] With no other choice, Fury mobilizes his SHIELD agents to attack Kang’s ship directly.
Inside the futuristic vessel, Kang has trapped the Vision and the Avengers weapons in a stasis field, while the heroes themselves have been locked away in stasis chambers. Gloating over his victory, Kang explains that he has done all of this out of love for his consort, Mantis.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Swordsman, Hellcat), Kang the Conqueror, Mantis, Loki, Enchantress, SHIELD (“Nick Fury”), Hank Pym, Janet Van Dyne, Ultron, Henry Gyrich, Agatha Harkness, Ebony, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing)
Continuity Notes
This happened last issue. It should be noted here that everyone other than Captain America, the Vision, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Hank Pym, and Janet Van Dyne, are constructs of Franklin Richards’ pocket dimension, as explained in Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4. The Earth-616 Avengers were transported here to save their lives after they sacrificed themselves to destroy Onslaught in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1. They will have no memories of their past until much later. The real Thor also won’t appear until Avengers (vol. 2) #9.
This is not the real Nick Fury but a Life Model Decoy planted within SHIELD by the Sons of the Serpent as we’ll learn in Captain America (vol. 2) #11.
In case you haven’t figured it out, this story is a reimagining of the Avengers first battle with Kang the Conqueror from Avengers #8.
Last issue, Amora claimed that the Scarlet Witch was her daughter, hence her interest in Wanda. This is later revealed to have been a lie as explained in Avengers (vol. 2) #12.
A footnote here states that the events of Fantastic Four (vol. 2) #2. However, according to the Chronology Project, this story actually occurs following the events of Fantastic Four (vol. 2) #3. Which makes more sense because in the 2nd issue of Fantastic Four (vol. 2), the team had just recently established itself and wasn’t operating in an official capacity. That didn’t happen until after issue #3.
