Avengers West Coast #93
Pax Demonica Part One: Demonica Calling
Kuroko of the Pacific Overlords has come to the Avengers West Coast for help, telling them that her former master — Doctor Demonicus - has gone mad and plans to destroy the world. She explains that since he rose the island nation of Demonicus from the ocean floor, things started off smoothly. Demonicus had established legitimacy of his new domain by offering to share its mineral resources with other members of the United Nations.[1] Soon, they were accepting immigrants and developing the island.
It all changed the day when a cave was discovered on the island. Demonicus wanted to explore it by himself and when he came out of it his behavior suddenly changed. He soon started treating the new workers like slaves. Once the island’s airport opened there was a sudden influx of immigrants of questionable backgrounds leading to criticisms from the UN. Demonicus renounced the organization and soon sent the other Pacific Overlords to attack a UN prisoner transport aircraft leaving Wakanda. Boarding the plane they clashed with Wakanda’s Panther Posse and rescued Klaw and brought him to the island where Demonicus offered him asylum and made him Vice-President of the country.[2] This caused Kuroko to start to doubt her master and tried to convince Kaine help her investigate what’s going on.
Kaine agreed to look into matters, but later Kuroko followed him as Demonicus led him down into the mysterious cave. There she discovered that the cave was home an an ancient mystical alter and as a ritual took place and a small metallic talisman was placed on Kaine’s forehead. Kain instantly screamed in agony and soon became unquestionably loyal to Demonicus and his plans. Kuroko was so shocked that she briefly became visible and was spotted by her master who unleashed a winged creature which gored her face before she could swat it away. Turning invisible again, Kuroko fled to the airport where she stole the Pacific Overlord’s jet and fled to California. More of the winged creatures were sent to take down the plane. Luckily, she was able to make it to California before that happened and rushed to the Avengers for help.
Hearing all this, the Scarlet Witch wants to help but explains to Kuroko that she needs to check with the United Nations to verify some of her claims.[3] That’s when US Agent notices that someone just came into their ruined mansion and has been lurking in the shadows.[4] However, it is not an enemy, but the novice hero Darkhawk.[5] Spider-Woman tells the others that she invited him out to help out for a bit now that the team is short staffed following the death of Iron Man.[6] That’s when Darkhawk tells them that Iron Man is actually alive and that the news is covering his battle with battledroids at Stark Enterprises that is going on right this minute.[7] Shocked by this revelation, the Avengers turn on the television confirming what Darkhawk has already said. This angers US Agent because this is the second time that Tony Stark tricked them into thinking he was dead.[8]
However, before the Avengers can decide which crisis to deal with first, they are attacked by Klaw and another new recruit into the Pacific Overlords, the Russian nationalist known as Morning Star.[8] The surprise attack is merely to re-capture Kuroko and once the pair have succeeded in this task, they make a hasty retreat. The other Avengers want to go after them, but the Scarlet Witch insists that they clear it with the United Nations first. However, when she tries calling the hot line she gets the answering machine. While Wanda stays behind to try and get through to the UN, the other Goliath, Mockingbird, and US Agent head off to Stark Enterprises to claim a much needed Quinjet.[9][10] When they arrive, they are shot down by the battle drones and get into a quick fight. With the robots destroyed, the team presses forward to claim what they came for.
Meanwhile, over the Pacific, a commercial airliner heading for Hawaii passes over Demonica’s airspace. Seeing this as an aggressive act, Doctor Demonicus sends Cybertooth and Kain to seize control of the plane and take it back to the island.
Recurring Characters
Avengers West Coast (Goliath, Scarlet Witch, “Mockingbird”, US Agent, Living Lightning, Spider-Woman), Darkhawk, Pacific Overlords (Doctor Demonicus, Klaw, Morning Star, Jawbreaker, Cybertooth, Irezumi, Kuroko, Kain), Iron Men (both Rhodes and Stark)
Continuity Notes
The Avengers previously clashed with the Pacific Overlords in Avengers West Coast #70-74. This was all part of a plot by Demonicus to prematurely raise a newly forming island to the surface and make it his own nation.
Klaw was being deported from Wakanda following his defeat at the hands of the Fantastic Four and Black Panther in Fantastic Four Unlimited #1.
The woman who appears to be Mockingbird here is actually a Skrull spy named H’rpra who took Bobbi’s place between issues #90 and 91. This is all part of a years long plot by the Skrulls to invade the Earth. However, nobody will not learn this until many years later in New Avengers: The Reunion #2. The real Mockingbird will be rescued from the Skrulls in Secret Invasion #8.
Avengers Compound was severely damaged by Ultron in Avengers West Coast #89-90.
Darkhawk recently helped the AWC during the Assault on Armor City event which took place in Darkhawk Annual #1, Avengers West Coast Annual #7, and Iron Man Annual #13.
At the time of this story, everyone was convinced into thinking that Tony Stark had died in Iron Man #284. In reality, he faked his death to go into cryogenic suspension while he waited for a cure for his health condition at the time and…
Tony was cured in Iron Man #289 and his fight with the battle droids seen on the news here was chronicled in issue #290 of that series.
This is indeed the second time Tony Stark led the Avengers to believe he had died. The first time was when he went to war against those who were illegally using his Iron Man tech, which made Iron Man a wanted fugitive. Since Stark’s double identity was a secret to the general public he faked Iron Man’s death and then tricked everyone into thinking he hired someone new to wear the suit, as seen in Iron Man #225-232. He even attempted to maintain this ruse with his fellow Avengers, but ultimately gave up the pretense in Avengers West Coast #72.
The AWC previously fought Morning Star along with her fellow nationalists the Bogatyri in Avengers West Coast #87-88.
The Avengers lost two of their Quinjets during their battle with Ultron in issues #90-91.
US Agent mocks Goliath for going back to using his bow and arrows. Goliath had recently dropped his Hawkeye identity in issue #90 to give the team extra power during their fight with Ultron.
