The Pacific Overlords Part IV: Demonica Rising

While investigating the Pacific Overlords in Japan, Tigra was injured and forced to abandon her teammates Iron Man, and the Wasp.[1] Flying the Quinjet to try and get to the her other teammates, Tigra struggles to not black out from blood loss. Unfortunately, she does and when she snaps back awake she finds herself flying somewhere over Australia. Realizing that she is in no shape to fly, she tries to land the jet somewhere on the Outback. Unfortunately, she blacks out again and crashes anyway. Surviving the crash, Tigra crawls out of the Quinjet and falls into a raging river. Luckily, she is rescued from drowning by one of the local Aboriginals.

Meanwhile, at the Pacific Overlord’s undersea base, Doctor Demonicus is showing his newest recruit — the Living Lightning — around the facility. The Lightning, aka Miguel Santos, is grateful to Demonicus for building a costume that allows him to control his electrical powers and retain his human form. With his greatest achievement on the cusp of realization, Demonicus then leaves to continue planning his latest scheme with Kain, his advisor. After the Doctor is gone, his loyal minion Kuroko comes by to give Miguel a stern warning. Although Demonicus has given him the illusion of freedom he can control Miguel’s containment suit. Kuroko warns him that their master can easily take away what he has given.

In Australia, Hank Pym, the Scarlet Witch, and Wonder Man have arrived outside a warehouse to investigate its connection to the Pacific Overlords. Upon their arrival they are surrounded by security who demand to know what’s going on. Wonder Man tells reminds them that Tony Stark called ahead to announce their arrival but when this falls on deaf ears, the three Avengers realizes that they aren’t getting by without using force. After Wanda and Simon scatter the guards, Hank uses his Pym Particles to shrink the pair down to size so they can slip past security and continue their investigation. As they make their way to the main complex, Wanda notices that Simon is no longer acting bitter about her decision to break up.[2] Simon admits he wasn’t happy when she ended their brief relationship but he liked his jilted behavior even less and decided to lighten up and move on.

Once inside the complex, the pair resume their normal size and try to get the jump on someone operating a security console. However, this man — a cyborg named Cybertooth — is aware of their presence and turns to confront them. He then shows off his cybernetically enhanced teeth which are strong enough to chew through stone. When Wonder Man steps in to engage their foe he is ambushed by another Pacific Overlord named Jawbreaker, who had already knocked out Wanda while Simon was distracted. However, Jawbreaker proves to have a glass jaw when Simon rips off his chin brace and lands a solid punch. Cybertooth then charges at him but the maniac’s sharp teeth are incapable of piercing Wonder Man’s skin. Unfortunately, when Simon tosses him aside it is into the just arriving Hank Pym, knocking him out. Cybertooth then lands near the unconscious Scarlet Witch and capitalizes on this mistake. Opening his mouth impossibly wide, Cybertooth threatens to bite off Wanda’s head unless Wonder Man surrenders. That’s when Jawbreaker sneaks up behind Williams and knocks him out. The two Overlords then load up the captive Avengers into their own Quinjet to take them back to their hideout.

By the time Wanda recovered she discovers that she and the other Avengers — Hank, the Wasp, Iron Man, and Wonder Man — are all being held in stasis cylinders alongside Taifu, a former member of the Overlords who turned against them. Doctor Demonicus gloats over his defeat of the Avengers. When Iron Man mocks the Doctor for being the only member of the Pacific Overlords to wear a mask, Demonicus decides to indulge him as to why. Explaining that he contracted a rare form of cancer during his studies into genetic mutation. Pulling off his mask, Demonicus reveals that his face has been deformed by his illness into a form that resembles his mask complete with horns and a partially sealed mouth. This revelation fills everyone — even the other Pacific Overlords — with revulsion.

Kain then informs their master that their final preparations are nearly complete. Suddenly, the entire complex begins to shake. It’s at that moment that Pele — Taifu’s wife — shakes off her brainwashing and tries to lash out at her captors. Luckily, Jawbreaker is able to knock her out from behind before she can cause any real damage. Demonicus explains to the everyone that his master plan was to prematurely raise a newly forming island to the surface to make his own nation state. As the shaking intensifies, the Scarlet Witch is able to use her hex powers to weaken the glass of her prison and break free. Unfortunately, before she can free her teammates she is knocked out by Kuroko.

That’s when the ground under Demonicus’ lair breaks loose and floats to the surface. Once there, Doctor Demonicus pronounces the new island his own country, Demonicus, and from here he will begin his plan to dominate the Pacific Rim and then the entire world.

Recurring Characters

Avengers West Coast (Iron Man, Hank Pym, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, Tigra), Taifu, Pacific Overlords (Doctor Demonicus, Living Lightning, Jawbreaker, Cybertooth, Irezumi, Kuroko, Kain, Pele)

Continuity Notes

1. The AWC have been investigating the Pacific Overlords since Avengers West Coast #70 and have split up into two groups, one investigating a lead in Japan and the other in Australia. Tigra’s team ran afoul of Irezumi last issue, leading to Tigra getting sliced open by a sword, forcing her to flee and go looking for help.

2. Wonder Man discovered that he was in love with the Scarlet Witch back in West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #45. Not long after this, Wanda was abandoned by her husband who left for the east coast team in Avengers #312. The pair began dating around Avengers West Coast #62, but Wanda didn’t feel right about it and ended it in issue #69. Simon didn’t take it very well.