Avengers #420

The Old Order Changeth!
by Scott Harris

"Avengers Assemble!" Cap shouts to start off the issue; all the Avengers are sitting (and standing) around a conference table (Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Beast, Wonder Man, Wasp, Hank Pym, Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Namor).

"You don't have to shout Cap, we're all right here" says Hawkeye.

"I know. It feels good to yell it though." Cap goes on to explain that, now that they've finished debriefing everyone about their missions against Kang and Dormammu, it's time to figure out who's going to be on the team and who wasn't. He starts by turning to Hawkeye who's sitting next to him.

"Well, Cap, I..." Hawkeye's words trigger a flashback to a few hours earlier, as Cap and Hawkeye take a break from the debriefing to talk over the new roster. Hawkeye tells Cap that the meeting with Dormammu had him thinking down lines that he hadn't thought down in awhile; thoughts about his wife Mockingbird. He had put off thinking about it, but he had an odd feeling that some part of Mockingbird was still trapped in Mephisto's realm (Did you see the hints in Avengers West Coast #100? --Inquisitive Scott). Now it was time to do something about his notion.

Cap immediately offers to spearhead an Avengers mission to look into it, but Hawkeye declines; the Avengers are his family, but this is too personal for even the Avengers to be involved with. He has to do it himself. Cap then says, well, no Avengers then, but I'll come along. Hawkeye thanks Cap but reiterates that he has to do it himself. Cap reluctantly agrees...

,,,bringing us back to the present, where Hawkeye surprises most of the room by announcing he wont be staying on the team; he cites personal business as Cap gives him a little nod. Cap then continues around the table to Iron Man, who sends us into another flashback; its a break in debriefing (we can see Cap and Hawkeye stroll off into the background as they start their own conversation) and Thor and Iron Man have decided to go for a short fly around the city to work out the cramps. While they fly, Iron Man reveals to Thor that he'll be leaving the team; events at Stark combined with the recent murder of the Mandarin demand his full attention (it happened in Iron Man #347...or did it?! -- Strangely Suspicious Scott). Thor offers his understanding, as he too is rather busy, what with the odd sickness that has layed low the mighty Frost Giant and the wedding of Sif; he too will be leaving the team (And none to soon; he's going to be battling the Psycho Man in Journey Into Mystery #533 next week! -- Page-Pumping Plexico). They both express their faith in Cap and his ability to hold the team together...

...faith Cap finds perhaps a bit premature as both Iron Man and Thor announce their departure. "What, is anybody going to stay?" The Beast quickly answers him. "You can count on me, Cap. i mean, I've got to hide from the Sentinals somewhere."

"Well, that's two of us. Captain Marvel?" Monica declines to rejoin the team, citing her responsibilities as head of her own boutique in New Orleans. Quicklilver also pipes up, saying he has already tarried too long and must get back to his New Men posthaste. Cap acknolwdges him and calls a brief recess. Iron Man, Thor, Captain Marvel and Quicksilver quickly make their departure and agin the team breaks up into small groups to talk things over.

...Meanwhile, in a run down, dirty apartment, a mysterious figure is watching TV, aimlessly flipping channels when he suddenly comes accross "Avengers in Turmoil: A Hard Copy Special". Stopping to watch, the figure sees a short rundown of prior membership changes and a panel then begins debating what a new lineup would look like, as well as the recent battle in Baltimore. But our mysterious figure is no longer paying attention. "The Avengers... maybe... maybe I should try again. This time they'll remember.. they have to!" He lurches to his feet and leans against the wall, clutching his head with one hand. "God help me, they have to remember..."

Back in Avengers Mansion, Namor and Ms. Marvel are consulting over a cup of coffee in the kitchen. Carol expresses a new urge for her to remain on Earth; while she still has no strong emotions about the planet or her prior life (thanks to Rogue) she thinks that perhaps she is starting to feel those connections once again, and she wants to explore the possibility at least. She owes it to herself...and she owes some other people on Earth a thing or two as well. Namor listens to this mostly in silence, finally offering that the Avengers are worthy people and asking Carol what her plans are. But we won't find out quite yet, as instead our attention is turned to the Vision and the Scarlet Witch.

The two of them are in the study. The Scarlet Witch is staring morosely out the window. While she wants to at least make an effort at working things out with Vision, she tells him, she also feels a need to persue her own agenda. The recent battle with Chthon and her discussions about it with Agatha Harkness have reawakened in her a desire to continue her mystical studies. The Vision states that he understands that but isn't sure what the Witch expects him to do; he has no aptitude at magic and would be of no help were she to engross herself in mystical study. The Witch sighs and agrees, finally suggesting that maybe they should spend some time apart while she pursues her witch career. Unhappily, the two agree to take their seprate paths...while in the hall beyond we see the concerned Wonder Man listening in. What he is thinking, though, no one can say for sure.

In the laboratory, Hank Pym and the Wasp are loafing around; Hank as usual is in the middle of an experiment and Wasp is perched, watching. While he works the two of them banter about the team. Wasp says she's a bit out of sorts; it's been a while since she was a regular member without being the leader and she's not sure she can get used to it again. Hank, on the other hand, expresses the opposite, saying he's more than happy to be on the team full time again as long as he doesn't have to assume a leadership role; he's too busy with his side experiments to put in the full-time effort to be a leader and besides, he trusts Cap to do a better job anyhow. Wasp briefly discusses joining the Defenders to ogle that "hunk Colossus" and the two of them break down giggling, remembering the old days of the original Avengers. The two share a smile but anything further -- if anything further is possible between these two -- is cut off as Cap signals a reconvening of the meeting.

Interlude 2: the Black Widow is standing in semi-darkness, peering at a computer screen that is illuminating the room Suddenly she lets out a sharp hiss. "The Thunderbolts -- as I suspected, they're..." Suddenly the door opens, revealling Techno and MACH-1.

"They're what, Widow? Right behind you?" Techno says. Widow leaps at him and he returns with a salvo of force beams...but that's the end of interlude #1 (check out events in Thunderbolts #29 -- On sale now! -- Citizen Van).

Cap bangs his gavel down and starts the meeting again. "Well, Vision, whats it going to be?" "I shall remain with you, Captain America. After all, where else would I go?" Cap isn't sure how to respond, so he continues on to the Witch who expresses her need to continue her studies with Agatha Harkness; she will be leaving in the morning. Cap ackowledges her with a nod, then continues on.

"Wonder Man? How about it, Simon?" Wonder Man, though, seems a bit out of sorts and declines to join the team for no specific reason, much to the chagrin of the Beast who had been counting on a reunion team up. It's hinted that Simon perhaps has an interest in leaving the team to pursue Wanda...or perhaps that's just the Vision's paranoia speaking. Cap can't convince him to stay on. Continuing on, Cap asks Ms. Marvel if she has any interest in rejoining the team on a permanent basis, and she says "I'd be honored to. It has been too long since I stayed here on Earth for any length of time."

"I too will be staying with the team, Captain." Namor announces. Cap is delighted that his old pal will be on the squad. "That's five, with just Jan and Hank left. You two going to make it a round seven?" Hank agrees he'll be willing to stay on the team, but in what identity he's not sure; Namor and Vision have the market on super-strength pretty well covered. Still, he's sure he can come up with something. Jan, though, declines membership for the time being, though she syas she'll hang around for a little while in case they need her and to let Cap try and change her mind. Officially, though, she decides not to join. Cap nods and syas "Well, let's go meet the press." who have been more interested in the Avengers than ever after Onslaught. Flinging open the font doors, Cap gives the Avengers Assemble! cry for the gathered throng and introduces the new team to the public (Cap, Vision, Beast, Namor, Ms. Marvel and Hank Pym). The issue ends as it began, with Cap yelling the immortal words...

Or rather, it would end except for the Postlude: Lilandra, Shi'ar Majestrix is seated in a council meeting when an assistant hurries in with an urgent message. Lilandra reads it in silence, then stands to give orders. "Word has come from my sister Deathbird that one of our royal cruisers was destroyed when they attempted to collect Our rightful tribue from a subject planet. I hereby place that planet under injunction and declare it outlaw: let fly the ships of war and subdue this upstart planet of...

"Galador!"