Avengers: The Initiative #20
Acceptable Losses
The Skrull invasion of Earth has been thwarted, and the survivors are not recovering from their ordeals.[1] When Gauntlet (Joe Green) arrives at the gates of Camp Hammond, there are protestors outside calling for the place to be torn down.[2] Angered at the lack of respect after he helped save the world, Joe uses his high tech gauntlet to crate a hand out of energy to shove the protestors out of his way.
Inside, a support group of those kidnapped and replaced by the Skrulls has been organized by Doc (Leonard) Samson. He has called in Alicia Masters to help as she has had experience having her life upended by a Skrull impostor.[2] Dum Dum Dugan in particular doesn’t think he needs this counselling, but Samson explains that he will not be allowed to return to active SHIELD duty until he completes his therapy.[4]
Meanwhile, Gauntlet meets with senior staff including Tigra (Greer Grant), the Gargoyle (Isaac Christians), Taskmaster, Hellcat (Patsy Walker), Physique, and Baron Von Blitzschlag. He informs them that Initiative graduate Hardball (Roger Brockridge) has defected to Hydra.[5] He wants to get the Shadow Initiative on the task of bringing Brockridge to justice. However, it isn’t immediately clear who has that authority after Gyrich was ousted, War Machine resigned, and Yellowjacket (Hank Pym) was revealed to have been replaced by a Skrull.[6] Deciding to defer this to the real Hank Pym, Tigra informs them that he is currently busy.
This is because Hank Pym is in his quarters having dinner with his dead ex-wife, Janet Van Dyne.[7][8] She tells him to pretend that she isn’t dead for just this evening and to ask her any questions that are on his mind. She confirms that she didn’t have relations with the Skrull that posed as him, but says that he ended up in a fling with Tigra, which comes as a shock to Hank.[9] She also tells him how the phony Hank created the G.I. Ant-Man armor for the military,[10] built the 50-State Initiative, and created a Thor clone that has been code named Ragnarok. Hank heard about this last one, and how it killed his best friend Bill Foster during the civil war.[11] When Hank blames himself for this, Janet reminds him that the man who killed Bill wasn’t him.
In the cafeteria, Hellcat comes looking for Tigra and finds her sitting down to a bowl of pickles and strawberries. When Patsy asks about them, Greer tells her that she has been craving them because she is pregnant.[12] When Patsy offers to talk about it, Greer turns her down, saying that she knows who she can talk to about it.
Meanwhile, Gauntlet has gathered the Shadow Initiative — Taskmaster, Bengal (Doc Noh Tranh), Constrictor (Frank Schlichting), Mutant Zero, and Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady). Joe is glad to see that they are no worse for wear after being held prisoner by the Skrulls. He tells them that they have been gathered for a new mission. All of them, except for Ant-Man who is being reassigned to the Thunderbolts.[13] When Mutant Zero gets up to return to her Zero Room, Gauntlet tells her that she isn’t dismissed and orders her back in her seat. He then tells them that Taskmaster and Komodo (Melati Kusama) for their next mission, particularly Melati because they are going after her ex-boyfriend, Hardball. Intel has revealed that Hardball and his Hydra faction have relocated to Madripoor. While they nation was friendly while Tony Stark was Director of SHIELD, the local government is not happy that he is being replaced.[14] Komodo agrees to assist on this mission, but only if she can help bring Roger down. When everyone is dismissed, Taskmaster has a pretty good idea who Mutant Zero is, but intends to confirm his suspicions with a little fun.
Back in Hank Pym’s quarters, Janet goes over all of the popular culture that Hank missed out on while he was gone.[15] They are then interrupted by a knock at the door. When Hank goes to answer he finds that the caller is Trauma (Terrence Ward) the camp councilor. He had come looking for Tigra who has a session scheduled with him. Hank tells him that she isn’t in his room and goes back to talking to Janet.
At that moment, 3-D Man (Delroy Garrett, Jr.) has been cleared of any wrong doing after he killed Crusader (Z’Reg), an Initiative recruit who was secretly a Skrull.[16] However, the other Initiative recruits — Annex (Alex Ellis), Batwing (Jimmy Santini), Geiger (Delilah Dearborn), Prodigy (Richie Gilmore), and Red 9 (Wallace Jackson) — are none to happy with him as they actually liked the Crusader. Delroy doesn’t care and he rejoins Ryder of the Skrull Kill Krew to bury the severed heads of Catwalk, Dice, and Moonstomp who sacrificed their lives in the final battle. They are being buried by Riot (Heidi Sladkin) who is also fatally ill. After she buries her comrades, she begins to die and reverts back to human form. She asks Ryder if she did a good job and he tells her that all the Skrulls are dead so she can die in peace.[17] Ryder then tells Delroy that there are still Skrulls out there that need killing and both men agree to work together to make that happen.
Meanwhile, in the gym, Mutant Zero discovers that Taskmaster has been following her around. He engages in a fight with her so his photographic reflexes can examine her fighting moves. However, its only when he smashes the opaque faceplate of her helmet that he confirms that Mutant Zero is Mary Walker, aka Typhoid Mary!
Elsewhere, Trauma finally has his session with Tigra where he makes her face her fear. She is afraid that her relations with the Skrull posing as Yellowjacket and her ware-cat nature will lead to her birthing a litter of Skrull children. Now that she has faced this fear, she decides that she is going to terminate the pregnancy. Mostly because she thought she was in a relationship with Hank, and the idea of being in a committed relationship with him after his last marriage failed she doesn’t want to add to her problems.[18]
Back in Hank’s room, Janet finally asks him the big question: When was Hank replaced by a Skrull, More specifically, was it a Skrull who struck her all those years ago. Hank tells her that, no, that shame was all his. After hearing that, Janet walks out of the room. That’s when Hank calls out and asks if that’s what the real Janet would have done. As it turns out, the “Janet” he was speaking too was actually the robot Jocasta wearing a holographic disguise. Jocasta reminds Hank that her brain patterns were based on Janet’s and that is exactly how she would have reacted upon hearing that news.[19]
He thanks Jocasta for her honesty and asks her to do one more thing. Soon, the two are leaving the base. When Gauntlet says that they could still use him on the base, Hank reminds him that he doesn’t know any of them and as far as he is concerned he was never here, and leaves.[20]
Back in the lab, as Baron Von Blitzschlag dozes off, a fifteen-day failsafe is not activated triggering a pre-programmed operation left behind by Critic Noll, the Skrull who posed as Yellowjacket. It is his final parting gift in the event his people were defeated and it activates the Thor clone known as Ragnarok!
Recurring Characters
Initiative staff: Gauntlet, Baron Von Blitzschlag, Doc Samson, Gargoyle, Hellcat, Physique, Tigra, Trauma, Stingray
Trainees: Annex, Batwing, Diamondback, Geiger, Prodigy, Red 9
Shadow Initiative: Taskmaster, Bengal, Constrictor, Komodo, Mutant Zero
Yellowjacket, Jocasta, Ant-Man, Alicia Masters, Dum Dum Dugan, Equinox, Frog-Man, Mockingbird, Razorback, Revolutionary, She-Thing, Thor Girl, Edwin Jarvis, SHIELD, Thor clone/Ragnarok, corpses of Catwalk, Dice, and Moonstomp
Continuity Notes
The Skrulls attempted to invade the Earth, primarily in Secret Invasion #1-8. Its impact on the Initiative was covered in Avengers: The Initiative #14-18.
Protestors have been outside of Camp Hammond since its opening in Avengers: The Initiative #1. It was because it was viewed as insensitive because the town was still recovering from the Stamford Disaster from Civil War #1. One of the protestors has a sign that reads “Cap Was Right!” referring to Captain America’s opposition of the Super Human Registration Act (SHRA) that was passed in Civil War #3. It will remain on the books until Siege #4.
In the infamous Fantastic Four #357 it was revealed that Alicia Masters had been replaced by a Skrull spy named Lyja sent to spy on the Fantastic Four circa Fantastic Four #265. This had a major impact on her life due to the fact that that Lyja married the Human Torch in Fantastic Four #300 to maintain her covert operations. Alicia Masters states here that she was abducted for well over a year. Fantastic Four #265 was published in April, 1984, while Fantastic Four #358 (the issue she was rescued) was published in November, 1991. Based on the Sliding Timescale, issue #265 happened in the later half of “Year Six”, while issue #358 in the first half of “Year Eight” of the Modern Age. As such, her assessment should be considered factual rather than topical.
The Skrull abductees include:
Dum Dum Dugan: His abduction was depicted in Secret Invasion: Prologue #1, his abduction happened circa Captain America (vol. 5) #25.
Edwin Jarvis: Was revealed to have been replaced by a Skrull in Secret Invasion #1. New Avengers #42 revealed that he replaced the real Jarvis sometime prior to New Avengers #1.
Equinox (Seen with his powers deactivated here): Was revealed to have been replaced by a Skrull in Avengers: The Initiative #18. The Appendix Update in the softcover revision of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #4 reveals that Sorenson was replaced prior to joining the Initiative. That same appendix confirms that Equinox was indeed the person sitting in this group.
Razorback: Was revealed to have been replaced by a Skrull in Avengers: The Initiative #19. His profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #9 explains that Razorback was kidnapped shortly after he joined the Mavericks team.
Mockingbird: Bobbi was one of the earliest Skrull abductees, having been replaced circa Avengers West Coast #91, as will be explained in New Avengers: The Reunion #2.
Thor Girl: Tarene was revealed to have been replaced in Avengers: The Initiative #18. Her profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #12 explains that she was replaced prior to Avengers: The Initiative #1.
She-Thing: Was revealed to have been replaced in Avengers: The Initiative #16. Her profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #12 explains that she was abducted sometime during the Civil War event, likely during her last appearance in Fantastic Four #543.
Frog-Man: Was revealed to have been replaced in Avengers: The Initiative #19. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #10 states that he was replaced sometime prior to Avengers: The Initiative #7.
Revolutionary: This is the only appearance to date (July, 2024) of the real Revolutionary, who was revealed to have been replaced in Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1.
There is also a character in a blue costume that hasn’t been seen prior to this as far as I know. If you can identify him shoot me an email.
Brockridge was roped into working for Hydra in Avengers: The Initiative #4, and later defected to the terrorist organization in Avengers: The Initiative Special #1.
Regarding the changes in authority at the Initiative, the following changes happened:
Henry Gyrich, War Machine, and the Skrull posing as Yellowjacket were all part of the Initiative chain of command starting in Avengers: The Initiative #1.
Henry Gyrich was ousted after his poor handling of the KIA rampage that took place in issues 8-12.
War Machine was last seen as part of the Initiative during the Skrull invasion, however he left to fight the Skrull armada in War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #33-35.
The Skrull posing as Pym took his place prior to House of M #1, as told in Mighty Avengers #15 and New Avengers #45. It was killed in Avengers: The Initiative #19.
The Wasp seemingly died in Secret Invasion #8. In reality, she was shunted to the Microverse where she will be trapped until Avengers (vol. 4) #30-34.
There are a number of things one of Hank’s tables that show off a bit of his history. They include:
A photo of the Avengers on the day they revived Captain America. This is taken from the cover of Avengers #4.
We also see action figures of most of Hank’s past identities including: Ant-Man (Tales to Astonish #35), his original Goliath costume (Avengers #28), Yellowjacket (Avengers #59), and Hank’s second Goliath costume from Avengers (vol. 3) #29.
We also see a number of Janet’s (many) Wasp costumes. Her original from Tales to Astonish #44 and lastly the costume that she wore in the original epilogue to the Avengers: The Korvac Saga trade paperback.
Tigra and the fake Hank Pym started a romance in Mighty Avengers #3. Why this is so shocking to Hank here is odd, considering he previously had a fling with her from West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #7 to 16. It didn’t end very well. Perhaps Hank is merely shocked by how blunt “Janet” has put it.
The G.I. Ant-Man suit was created in Irredeemable Ant-Man #1 and was stolen by Eric O’Grady, who is the current Ant-Man at the time of this story. However, it was the real Hank Pym who created it, not the Skrull spy as Irredeemable Ant-Man’s origin takes place prior to Pym being swapped out by Criti Noll. One could assume that since Jocasta isn’t sure when Hank was kidnapped she is merely assuming that it was created by the Skrull. Given Hank’s state of mind, it seems reasonable to accept that he doesn’t correct her, particularly if he knows how much of an embarrassment O’Grady is, I mean, wouldn’t you not want to own up to such a piece of shit using your invention?
The Thor clone was created and killed Bill Foster in Civil War #4-5 before being taken down. It has been locked away at Camp Hammond since Avengers: The Initiative #1. As of this writing (July, 2024) Bill is still considered among the deceased. He and Hank had been friends as far back as Avengers #32.
The fake Yellowjacket was seen eating pickles and strawberries in Avengers: The Initiative #14. According to Z’Reg (another Skrull) it is the closest flavor combination to a fruit native to the Skrull homeworld.
Ant-Man mentions that the leader of the Skrulls was disguised as Spider-Woman. Veranke took the place of Jessica Drew circa Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1, per New Avengers #42. His assignment to the Thunderbolts will happen in Thunderbolts #128.
Tony Stark endeared himself to the ruler of Madripoor in Iron Man: Director of SHIELD Annual #1.
She mentions Who Wants to be a Thunderbolt? A reality TV show that was seen in Thunderbolts #112.
Crusader was killed last issue because Delroy didn’t know he had defected when he originally came to Earth. For more on that see Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #20-25 and Avengers: The Initiative #15. As of this writing (July, 2024), Crusader is still considered among the deceased.
What happened to the OG Skrull Kill Krew is a bit complicated, bear with me: Back in Fantastic Four #2, Mister Fantastic used hypnosis to trick some Skrull invaders into thinking they were cows. These cows were then accidentally made part of the food supply in Fantastic Four Annual #17. Some of the beef made by these cows were consumed by the future members of the SKK in Skrull Kill Krew #1. They made it their life mission to eliminate all Skrulls. As revealed in Avengers: The Initiative #16, this had a degenerative effect on their bodies. In particular, Catwalk, Dice, and Moonstomp’s bodies failed and their heads were preserved in cryogenic suspension until they were used as Skrull detectors in Avengers: The Initiative #18-19. As of this writing (July, 2024) all of the members who die here are still considered among the deceased, except for Riot who will turn survive as seen in Skrull Kill Krew (vol. 2) #1.
The reason why Greer doesn’t want to be in a serious relationship with Hank Pym is because she was on the Avengers at the time he struck his former wife, Janet Van Dyne in Avengers #213. This led to Hank and Janet’s divorce after being married for years (starting in Avengers #60). Despite her assertion that she wants to terminate the pregnancy, she eventually goes through with birthing the child in Avengers: The Initiative #35 (Because you never want to have a serious discussion about abortion in comic books!) and the child (later named William Nelson) will be left in the care of the Cat People. Avengers Academy #7 will reveal that since the Skrulls involved in the invasion used DNA from the people they were replacing to imitate them at a cellular level, Criti Noll did not pass on Skrull genetics because they were human on a biological level at the time.
When Jocasta was created by Ultron, he used Janet’s mind as a template for her personality. See Avengers #162.
From here, Hank and Jocasta will go on to form a new team of Avengers, as seen in Mighty Avengers #21-23.
Topical References
“Janet” makes a number of dated pop culture references that were popular at the time this story was published. These should all be considered topical references:
The Journeyman was a sci-fi series that lasted only 13 episodes before being cancelled in 2007.
She says that she has the series on DVD. While that was a popular video format at the time of publication, it is slowly falling out of common use due to the advent of newer formats and online streaming.
Project Runway is a long running reality TV show that started in 2004. This should be considered topical as it could eventually end its run at some point in the future.
She complains about the media being obsessed with celebrities who don’t wear underpants. She is referring to in incident where actress Lindsay Lohan was candidly recorded by paparatzi’s in 2006 and it was revealed that she wasn’t wearing underwear, earning her the nickname “fire crotch”. This was amplified because there was already a lot of celebrity gossip focused on her friends pop singer Brittaney Spears (who was suffering from a mental break at the time) and hotel heiress Paris Hilton. It was all very gross behavior, but that was the 2000s for you.
She then sarcastically states that “there aren’t any wars going on”, she is referring to the then on going “War on Terror” enacted by the United States in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This led to an invasion of both Iraq and Afghanistan at the time.
She also makes reference a reference to the 2005 neo-western romance Brokeback Mountain, which gained notoriety because it was a major film that focused on a gay relationship between two cowboys.
