Avengers (vol. 3) #14
Hi, Honey…. I’m Hooooome!
Times Square is under attack by a new villain calling himself Pagan. As he rampages in the street, the NYPD are called in to deal with the situation. However, the villain proves too strong prompting the officer in charge to put in a call to the Fantastic Four and Avengers for help.
Before this scene can unfold any further, the story is interrupted by writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Pérez. Kurt wants to tell another part of the story first and assures George that they’ll get back to Pagan in a bit…
The scene then changes to Avenger Mansion, where the Beast has returned to welcome his old friend Wonder Man back to the land of the living.[1] Hank’s return to the mansion was unexpected as everyone believed that he was busy trying to find a cure for a mutant illness called the Legacy Virus.[2] Hank explains that he left the computers on Muir Island running some simulations and had some free time to come out and see his old friends and hang out for a bit. The Beast wants to go on an night on the town with Simon and invites the Scarlet Witch and Vision to accompany them. The Vision turns him down right away, and Wanda tries to convince Simon they need to stay after Lord Templar has been sighted in Washington.[3] However, Captain America is back and tells the couple to go out and have fun with the Beast, saying that he’ll call if they’re needed.
Simon takes his friends out to a local jazz club, where he tells them that he was a huge fan since he was a kid and how he’d sneak into jazz clubs until they threw him out. As he and the Beast talk about music, Wanda sees someone across the dark bar that looks like the Vision. Going to investigate she finds an ordinary man. However, it turns out to be the Vision after all. He explains that he regularly comes to this jazz bar, using an image inducer to appear as a regular person he calls Victor Shade.[4] Wanda insists that Vision join them at their table and the android joins their conversation about jazz and why he likes it. Simon then decides to talk about something slightly more serious. He is deeply concerned about some of the actions he committed before his death and resurrection.
He recounts how, during a trip to hell to fight Mephisto he was daunted by his dead mother even though his mom is alive and well and still living in New Jersey.[5] He is also disturbed about the time he threatened the other Avengers, including Wanda.[6] His three friends are forgiving, pointing out that both Wanda and the Vision had moments where they had briefly gone mad as well.[7][8] Still, Wonder Man mentions the time he killed the creature Angkor and the leader of a street gang.[9] Wanda points out that an investigation was done and it was determined that Simon was acting in order to save lives. Simon doesn’t buy it, he still feels guilty over what he has done, just like when he embezzled money from his family company so many years earlier and let his brother take the blame.[10] He isn’t sure if he is worthy of being an Avenger anymore and asks the Beast and the Vision for their advice. The Beast points out that he has every right by the fact that he is bringing up the moral dilemma of his past actions. The Vision, on the other hand, wasn’t listening as he was distracted by the music.
From here, Busiek and Pérez change the scene to Nugent Technologies in Old Tappan, New Jersey. There, Hank Pym is hard at work on a his latest invention, a means of using insects as part of a massive communications network. As he explains the application of such technology to a lab assistant, he is unaware that he is being observed by Ultron who moves to prevent anyone from interfering with Hank’s invention until its finished.[11]
While in Washington, DC, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Firestar, and Justice visit with government officials to determine if Lord Templar’s claims that he is working for the government are true. The official speaking with Captain America tells them that they can find no proof that Templar is working with any government agency, leading Cap to wonder if this is some kind of media manipulation.[12] Justice, meanwhile, pulls Firestar aside and talks about the second thoughts he has been having about being an Avenger. He has been doubting himself, particularly after fighting alongside their old friends in the New Warriors recently.[13] Angelica reminds Vance that he is well suited being an Avenger, reminding him that he has held his own against such threats as Terrax and the Juggernaut.[14] The trip to Washington is cut short when Wanda sends out a priority call to deal with Pagan, who is currently rampaging in Time Square.
While the rest of the team races back to New York, the Scarlet Witch, Beast, Wonder Man, and Vision try to contain Templar to Times Square. However, the massive brute is able to shrug off all of their attacks and has the strength to send Wonder Man flying with a single blow.[15] During the fight, a news story about Lord Templar’s appearance in Washington comes up on one of the massive TV screens in Times Square, prompting Pagan to vow to destroy Templar. Wanda is surprised to hear that the two entities seem to know each other.[16] Captain America and the others soon arrive and the Avengers fail to form a cohesive plan of attack. Mocking the Avengers, Pagan then escapes by burrowing deep underground. This is the second time a villain has gotten away from them in recent history and Captain America doesn’t like it. Neither does the Scarlet Witch, who believes something needs to be done.
Back at Avengers Mansion, Captain America reports back to their government liaison, Duane Freeman, to tell him what happened and promises that they will capture him next time. After Cap signs off, the Scarlet Witch suggests that they have a talk. While upstairs, the Beast is saying his goodbyes because he needs to get back to his Legacy Virus research. He has some party advice for Simon before he goes regarding his current moral quandary: Hank recounts how he was quite morose after he was first transformed into his furry form and after a lot of soul searching he decided that the answer to his woes wasn’t an intellectual one, but an emotional one. From there he started defining his life by who he felt on the inside and tells Simon that with a little work, he can come to terms with who he really is as well.
Concluding the story George Pérez wonders if the Beast will be back again, “You never now, George, you never know” responds Kurt.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Giant-Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wonder Man, Justice, Firestar), Beast, Lord Templar, Pagan, Duane Freeman, George Peréz, Kurt Busiek, Ultron (unidentified)
Continuity Notes
Hank joined the Avengers in issue #137 shortly after Wonder Man rejoined the group in issue #151. The pair formed a strong friendship during their time on the group until they both decided to leave the team in Avengers #211. Since that time, Wonder Man had been killed in action circa Force Works #1 and had just recently been resurrected in Avengers (vol. 3) #11.
The Legacy Virus was an illness created by the mutant terrorist known as Stryfe as his final revenge on the world. It was unleashed in X-Force #18 and at the time of this story was a long running plotline in the X-Men books that had long overstayed its welcome. Hank will eventually develop a cure in Uncanny X-Men #390.
The Avengers fought Lord Templar last issue.
The Vision was started using the image inducer and Victor Shade named back in Avengers Spotlight #40.
Simon was tormented with the image of his mother when fighting Mephisto in Hell in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #22. Other than this statement here she is seen again in Avengers Two: Wonder Man and Beast #1. Obviously, Mephisto was using some kind of trickery to make it look like his mother was dead.
Wonder Man attacked the West Coast Avengers, and Wanda specifically, in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #16. The why is somewhat complicated: Simon’s powers and personality were thrown out of whack when he was caught in a Nega-Bomb explosion during Operation: Galactic Storm as seen in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #9. This imbalance affected his behavior until he was restored to normal in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #25.
For the Vision, it was when he was hooked into the world computer of the Titanian Eternals named ISAAC. It convinced him to force world peace by taking over every computer on Earth. The Avengers however stopped him, as seen in Avengers #251-254 (this story incorrectly attributes it to Avengers #255, the story after the Vision’s plan was defeated) In response, the government disassembled the Vision in West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #42-45 in an effort to prevent him from doing the same thing again. This stripped the Vision of his ability to feel emotion for a time, it was eventually stored as seen in Avengers Spotlight #40.
The Scarlet Witch was turned evil after a series of tragedies: The disassembly of the Vision, followed by the annihilation of their children from existence in Avengers West Coast #51-52. Secretly being manipulated by Immortus, Wanda rejoined Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in issues #56-57 and 60 before being kidnapped by Immortus. When the Avengers freed her, she reverted back to normal. See Avengers West Coast #61-62.
Wonder Man killed Angkor in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #12 and the gang member in issue #16. Both of these instances were while Simon was being affected by the Nega-Bomb explosion mentioned above.
As explained in Avengers #9, Simon was caught in an embezzlement scandal, but he never faced punishment for his crimes. The revelation that his brother Eric took the blame was revealed over the course of West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #2 and Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #2. He publicly admitted his guilt in West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #4, and was forgiven by the public for his past crimes.
This is setting things up for Ultron’s latest attack on humanity, which will be chronicled in Avengers (vol. 3) #0 and 19-22.
Cap recounts that he recently dealt with this kind of conspiracy recently. He is talking about a Skrull invasion that he thwarted in Captain America (vol. 3) #4-7.
Justice and Firestar were founding members of the New Warriors in New Warriors #1. They had just recently joined up with the Avengers after proving themselves capable in Avengers (vol. 3) #4.
The New Warriors fought Terrax in New Warriors #1-2 and the Juggernaut in Thor #411-412.
Wonder Man states here that he hasn’t been hit that hard since he fought Count Nerfaria. He is referring to the events of Avengers #165-166.
What the Avengers don’t know is that Lord Templar and Pagan are operatives of Jonathan Tremont’s Triune Understanding a religious cult that is preparing for a world ending threat. This will be revealed next issue. The threat they are preparing for is an invasion by Kang the Conqueror as seen in Avengers (vol. 3) #41-45 and Annual 2001.
Topical References
This story features writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Pérez breaking the fourth wall by crafting the story as it happens. Since this is a narrative device and not real life people interacting with fictional ones this wouldn’t be a topical reference. Regardless, Marvel Comics creators who do appear in story are usually exempt from the topical reference rules when it comes to real life individuals. They exist in the Modern Age in the relative prime, even in the event that said creator has died as is the case of George Pérez.
Wonder Man rhymes off a number of jazz musicians he saw live as all of whom are now either very old or dead. They include: Miles Davis (died 1991), Tommy Flanagan (died 1981), Dizzy Gillespie (died 1993), and Thelonious Monk (died 1982). All these name drops should be considered topical because Simon is stating that he saw them live, something that would become increasingly impossible due to the Sliding Timescale.
When the Beast sees Pagan he makes a quip about this being an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about the Hulk. This should be considered a topical reference as this is a real world person who is 74 as of this writing.
One of the billboards in Times Square is advertising Minolta cameras. Minolta used to be a huge name in the photography business. However, they eventually got out of the camera business in 2006, selling that portion of their business to Sony that year.
