Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #40
After 24 MODOC Storytellers have gone missing, Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini has decided to hire outside help. To that end, she has her men bring the mercenary known as Deadpool (Wade Wilson) to her so she can offer him the job. Aside from his wisecracking, he is only interested in the fact that she wants to hire him and accepts the job without question.
Some of these Storytellers have been taken by Ms. Marvel (Karla Sofen, aka Moonstone). Not long after she stashed them in Avengers Tower she was attacked by a female form comprised of pure energy.[1] Knocked out the building, Karla quickly recovers and flies back to the “babies” while she uses her Moonstone to change her ruined street clothes into her Ms. Marvel costume.
Inside, Karla’s fellow Avengers — Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn), Captain Marvel (Noh-Varr, aka Marvel Boy), and Spider-Man (Mac Gargan, aka Venom) — have arrived and are engaging the intruder. However, the entity can absorb and redirect energy and fends them off easily. When Ms. Marvel returns their similar powers cause a massive explosion when they collide. While Karla is disorientated, the entity makes off with the Storytellers, with Sofen trailing behind. However, Norman comes up with a means of dealing with the intruder. Catching up to the two women, he orders Karla to stand down while he tries to encase their attacker in a negative energy field. Unfortunately, the strange being shorts out the Iron Patriot armor, causing Osborn to fall out of the sky. Karla is then forced to save her boss, but manages to catch up with the entity before it can make off with the babies. She then throws Norman’s body into the intruder, causing its energy body to dissipate.
With the battle over, Norman orders a meeting with his Avengers and demands answers from Karla. She is forced to explain how she saved the Storytellers from AIM. When Hawkeye (actually Bullseye) suggests they destroy them, Norman has another idea. He orders the Sentry (Bob Reynolds) to relocate them to Thunderbolts Mountain to be stored away.
Not long after, Deadpool arrives to recover them for Monica Rappaccini. However, after breaking inside he discovers that there are only 12 of the 24 missing Storytellers. It’s then that he is caught by the soldiers guarding the facility.
Meanwhile, back in New York City, the energy being has reformed itself and tracked down the real Spider-Man (Peter Parker). When she confronts him, she burns something into the side of a building that catches his attention. Not far away, at the New Avengers hideout, Wolverine (Logan) is entertaining Dani Cage, daughter of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones when the entity enters the room. After Luke gets Dani to the safe room, the entity burns something into the floor. It is the stylized lightning bolt insignia worn by the original Ms. Marvel!
Recurring Characters
Ms. Marvel, Storytellers, strange entity, AIM (Monica Rappaccini), Dark Avengers (Iron Patriot, “Captain Marvel”, “Hawkeye”, “Wolverine”, “Spider-Man”, Ares, Sentry), Deadpool, New Avengers (Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Wolverine), Dani Cage
Continuity Notes
Unidentified here, this energy form is a portion of the original Ms. Marvel (aka Carol Danvers), who seemingly died when her powers flared out of control in Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #37. See issues #43-46 for details.
