West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #5
Ins and Outs
An emergency meeting of the Avengers has been called after Wonder Man went on national television to admit to his past crimes.[1] Hawkeye is furious, as a potential scandal could ruin the reputation of the newly formed west coast team.[2][3] Wonder Man insists that he needed to do this in order to continue his career as an actor and an Avengers with a clear conscience. Tigra defends Simon’s decision, pointing out that Hawkeye has his own criminal past. Iron Man interjects, saying that Clint was actually manipulated by the wrong woman.[4]
Outside the meeting room are Hank Pym, the Thing, and Firebird — all guests of the Avengers — who can’t help but overhear the argument.[5] With the media gathered outside, Hawkeye decides to give out a statement. He commends Simon for his service in the Avengers and having the strength to admit his past crimes. Simon also tells the gathered press that he will accept whatever repercussions that come out of his public admission. After Wonder Man leaves to spend time alone on the Avengers private beach, he is approached by Tigra who tells him that she will stand by him through whatever happens. The two then begin kissing as the tide begins coming in.
Back inside the compound, Mockingbird and Hawkeye get into an argument over Clint’s treatment of Wonder Man. Bobbi wants him to cut Simon some slack and when her husband defends his actions, causing Bobbi to get frustrated and she storms out on him. That’s when the Thing and Firebird come to say goodbye, but Clint is still hoping to convince Ben to join the West Coast Avengers.[6] Having no interest in joining another team, the Thing grabs Firebird by the hand and makes a hasty departure. As they depart on Ben’s motorcycle, the Thing goes on a tirade about why he won’t join the Avengers. Hearing all this, Firebird begins to wonder what would have happened if they asked her to join instead.
Meanwhile, Mockingbird goes down to the beach to blow off some steam. She is greeted by a frantic Tigra who tells her that she attacked Wonder Man while they were making love. She is worried that the feline side of her personality is growing out of control and Bobbi promises that the team will help her find a solution to her problem.[7] While back inside, Iron Man meets with Hank Pym to apologize for his inappropriate relationship with the Wasp — Hank’s ex-wife — shortly after they got divorce.[8] Hank doesn’t blame anybody and has moved past it because he has other worries on his mind. He then excuses himself when the phone begins ringing again. It’s another call from his Ultron who has been making threatening calls to his “father”. Hank refuses to be threatened and tells the robot to come after him and get it over with.[9] After hanging up, Hank is visited by Tigra then throws herself at Hank, telling him that she isn’t really interested in Wonder Man after all. Wonder Man then walks past the window unaware that the pair are making out on the couch.
Soon, tensions in the mansion begin to subside as Iron Man has Hawkeye listen to a radio report about Wonder Man’s public confession. Opinion polls have been done and people are in overwhelming support of Simon, much to Clint’s relief. Hawkeye then makes up with Mockingbird and with the rest of the team arriving, Bobbi suggests they help Tigra with her problems. Recounting the events that Greer was transformed into Tigra, wherein she was irradiated by Hydra, she notes that there was a werewolf involved. Tigra figures that tracking down this werewolf might get them some answers, suggesting that her old friend Jessica Drew — a private detective and formerly Spider-Woman — could help them track her down.[10]
Meanwhile, in the city, Firebird asks the Thing to drop her off on the street as something has drawn her attention. This sensation brings her to a nearby occult bookstore and suspects the owner could help her learn the truth about Master Pandemonium. When he acts like he doesn’t know the sorcerer, Firebird threatens to burn his books. The shop owner begs for her to stop and suggests that she can find the answers in the Book of Darkhold, saying a copy of it can be found in the possession of a man named Jack Russell.[11]
As it so happen, the West Coast Avengers have arrived at the home of Jack Russell where they are greeted by Dr. Michael Morbius. Remembering that Morbius was once a “living vampire”, Hawkeye prepares to attack, but the doctor quickly explains that he has been cured of his bloodlust and welcomes them inside.[12] Morbius explains that Jack Russell is unavailable because he is being restrained as it is the evening of a full moon, the time when he has no control over his werewolf form. As Tigra inspects the heavy wooden door that bars Jack’s cell, the werewolf picks up her scent and smashes through it. It grabs Greer and carries her outside.
The Avengers follow after the Werewolf and in the ensuing fight, Iron Man is forced to retreat after the Werewolf managed to get its claws through the eye and mouth slits of his helmet and cut his face. Hawkeye’s incendiary arrows keep the creature at bay until Firebird arrives and uses her power to create a circle of fire around the monster, allowing Wonder Man to knock him out. In the aftermath of the battle, the Avengers are disappointed that they had to knock the Werewolf out as they won’t get immediate answers about Tigra’s problems. Overhearing them talk about the Cat People who gave Tigra her powers, Morbius tells them that he might be able to help.[13]
While back at Avengers Compound, Hank gets another call from Ultron. However, instead of threats, the robot has explains that he has had a change of heart and wishes to reconcile with his creator.
Recurring Characters
West Coast Avengers (Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Iron Man, Wonder Man, Tigra), Thing, Hank Pym, Firebird, Ultron, Michael Morbius, Werewolf by Night
Continuity Notes
Before becoming Wonder Man, Simon Williams was caught up in an embezzlement scandal, as seen in Avengers #9. After dying and being resurrected in Avengers #151, Simon never really faced punishment for his crimes. For years, he allowed his criminal brother — Eric, aka the Grim Reaper — take the blame until the guilt became too much. Since Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #2, Simon has embraced the truth and admitted to his past crimes last issue.
The Vision is referred to as Simon’s “brother”. When Ultron created the Vision he used Simon William’s brain patterns to create his personality. See Avengers #57-58 and 134-135.
Hawkeye also mentions that the Vision put him in charge of the West Coast Avengers. While chairman of the east coast team, the Vision decided that a new branch of the Avenged needed to be created and put Hawkeye in charge. See Avengers #243.
Hawkeye’s own criminal past was brought up. He was manipulated by a Russian spy named the Black Widow to help in her espionage operations, leading to many clashes with Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #57, 60, and 64. Clint later joined the Avengers in Avengers #16 in order to redeem himself and make up for past crimes.
The Thing briefly wonders how the Invisible Woman is doing and dismisses the idea. This is a brief call back to Ben Grimm’s recent falling out with the Fantastic Four. It’s complicated:
During Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #1-12, Ben discovered he could change between his human and Thing forms on Battleworld and decided to stay behind. His extended stay was covered in Thing #11-22. He had to sacrifice this ability to return to Earth.
When he returned to Earth in Fantastic Four #277, he discovered that the Human Torch was now apparently dating his long time girlfriend Alicia Masters and quit the FF in Thing #23, particularly after learning that Reed knew Ben could change form without needing to be on Battleworld, but kept it a secret. This isn’t the real Alicia, who had been replaced by a Skrull spy in Fantastic Four #265, a fact that won’t be revealed until issue #358 of that series.
Hawkeye has been trying to convince the Thing to join the Avengers since last issue. He will eventually wear Ben down, who joins up in issue #9.
Tigra was transformed into a literal cat-woman in Giant-Size Creatures #1. Since West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #1, Tigra has been struggling to keep her warring personalities in check. It’s odd that Tigra says she attacked Simon here, since when we next see him he has a big smile on his face. What she probably meant was she fucked him for no reason, but you can’t say that in a comic meant for kids.
The Wasp divorced Hank after he struck her in Avengers #213. Not long after this, in issue #224, Tony Stark started dating Janet. When Janet found out Stark was also Iron Man, she ended the relationship as it was inappropriate.
Ultron has been making harassing phone calls to Avengers Compound since West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #3.
Bunch of references being dropped here:
Tigra’s transformation. Another reference to Giant-Size Creatures #1.
Jessica Drew encountered the Werewolf herself, as Spider-Woman, in Spider-Woman #6. Drew is referred to as the “former” Spider-Woman. She lost her powers in Avengers #240-241. Her powers will fade off-and-on for years until they are completely restored in Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1.
Iron Man wonders if this is the same werewolf he encountered in the past. It is. He fought Jack Russell in Werewolf by Night #42-43.
This is old news. Per Werewolf by Night #3, Jack had a copy of the Darkhold for quite some time. However, Jack relinquished possession of the book in Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #62.
Trying to cure himself of a rare blood condition, Morbius accidentally transformed himself into a psudo-vampire in Amazing Spider-Man #101. He was cured in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #38. He will remain cured until Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #10. The footnote here references Fantastic Four #267, which was Michael’s previous appearance, not when he was cured.
Morbius had a previous encounter with the Cat People back in Fear #22.
Topical References
It is stated that Wonder Man went on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson to make his admission. This should be considered a topical reference as Carson’s show ended its run in 1992 and he subsequently died in 2005.
After seeing Hawkeye’s speech to the media, Mockingbird compares him to Ronald Reagan. Reagan was the President of the United States from 1981 to 1989, around the time this comic was published. This should be considered a topical reference now that Reagan’s term is long over and he subsequently died in 2004.