New Avengers (comic book)
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- For the TV show, see The New Avengers (TV series).
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New Avengers is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, the writer behind the Avengers Disassembled storyline, the series depicts a group of superheroes that form a new team of Avengers, regularly referred to in the series as the "New Avengers", and following 2006, "The New New Avengers'.[1]
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[edit] Overview
New Avengers was launched in November 2004, written by Bendis and drawn by David Finch. With the Avengers team disbanded, and the Fantastic Four and the X-Men unable to act, supervillain Electro shut down the S.H.I.E.L.D Raft installation, a "maximum-maximum security" prison for super-powered criminals. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and Luke Cage, already at the Raft, were joined by Captain America, Spider-Man and Iron Man, as well as helped by a seemingly insane Sentry. The riot was quelled, although some forty-two inmates escaped. Captain America decided that fate had brought this group together, just as it had the original Avengers. All but Daredevil accepted the offer to reform the Avengers as a result. X-Men member Wolverine joined the team following a trip to the Savage Land.
Iron Man sought approval from such pillars of the superhero community as Professor Charles Xavier, Doctor Strange and Mister Fantastic and headquartered the new team in Stark Tower.
The team's ongoing mission is to capture the remaining super-powered criminals who escaped during the riot that brought them together. The emergence of the Young Avengers is also a matter of concern and the team find themselves divided in what actions they should take. Also, there is the growing sense of unease with S.H.I.E.L.D. after the disappearance of Nick Fury. The new team was not well received and certain governmental bodies, unsure of the New Avengers, sent the Thunderbolts to remind them of their place.
It has been announced that the New Avengers team in 2007 will include Echo[2], a new Ronin[3], Doctor Strange[4], Wolverine[5], Spider-Woman[6], Spider-Man [7], Iron Fist with Luke Cage[8] as the leader of the team. Writer Brian Michael Bendis has said that these characters are Avengers because Captain America said they were;[9] this statement is later repeated when the New Avengers, believing that Captain America is alive, decide to rescue him. Spider-Man claims that if they get Captain America back, they can call themselves Avengers again; Luke Cage contends that they are Avengers already. [10]
[edit] Storylines
[edit] Breakout (issues #1-6)
This storyline introduces the new team, and focuses mostly on the events that bring them all together. Electro causes a mass supervillain break-out, releasing almost ninety supervillains from their cells. Forty-two escape, but the remaining criminals are contained thanks to the intervention of Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Jessica Drew, Spider-Man and Matt Murdock. Concluding that fate has brought together this new team like fate originally brought the first five Avengers together, Cap convinces Iron Man to join a new team of Avengers, inviting the other four heroes who were present at the riot to join; Daredevil declines, but the other three accept. Having contained Electro, the Avengers discover that S.H.I.E.L.D is holding something back about the enigmatic man named Karl Lykos- the man who, it is revealed, Electro was hired to specifically break out, while everyone else just took advantage of the chaos. Lykos's files are restricted even to Spider-Woman and Captain America. Their quest takes them into the Savage Land where they are joined by Wolverine and soon discover Karl Lykos' alter-ego, Sauron, as well as being nearly shot by the second Black Widow.
[edit] Variant covers
[edit] "Young Guns" variants
A selection of "incentive" variant covers, each based on a segment of a sketch by Joe Quesada of the assembled Avengers team by an artist Marvel was pushing as part of its short-lived "Young Guns" promotion, caused controversy when it was announced that the number of variants retailers would be allowed to order would be dependent not only on the number of "normal" versions of each issue (by David Finch) ordered, but on the shop's orders of the prior issues of the arc [1]. As a result, this was quickly revised to be dependent only on orders of the particular issue, in decreasing ratios as the arc went on [2]:
- #1 - Steve McNiven (Spider-Man) - 1:20 (ratio in the form 1 variant:number of "regular" issues a shop was required order to be allowed to order one variant)
- #2 - Trevor Hairsine (Sentry) - 1:19
- #3 - Olivier Coipel (Wolverine) - 1:18
- #4 - Jim Cheung (Ronin) - 1:17
- #5 - Adi Granov (Luke Cage and Spider-Woman) - 1:16
- #6 - Bryan Hitch (Captain America and Iron Man) - 1:15
[edit] Other variants
The Quesada image which formed the basis for the "Young Guns" covers was also made available as a cover for issue 1 in its own right, not tied to orders of the standard or Young Guns cover for the issue [3].
Issue 1 was also reprinted twice after release - with the same interiors as the earlier versions, but a cover by David Finch originally solicited for issue 2, and as a "Directors' Cut" with a partially-coloured version of the original cover art and additional "Behind the Scenes" material.
[edit] The Sentry (issues #7-10)
Captain America and Iron Man try to discover the origins of the Sentry, a man shrouded in mystery, who saved their lives many times during the outbreak on the Raft. He was a voluntary prisoner, distraught after killing his wife, though his wife appears to be alive and well... Meanwhile, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Luke Cage and Wolverine track down The Wrecker and after a dangerous battle, they manage to subdue him. One down, forty one to go... The Sentry is cured, finally, although he still sometimes cannot handle the stress of his arch-foe's manipulation of him.
[edit] Variant covers
[edit] Startling Stories featuring the Sentry covers
Incentive variants released in a 1:15 ratio, featuring "Startling Stories" logos and "retro" trade dress [4] [5]
- #7 - Neal Adams (originally announced as a Dave Cockrum cover [6])
- #8 - John Romita, Sr
- #9 - Marie Severin (originally announced as a Herb Trimpe cover)
- #10 - Sal Buscema (NB: Arc was originally three issues long)
[edit] Ronin (issues #11-13)
The enigmatic Ronin, recommended by Matt Murdock, joins the team on an expedition to Japan to seize the Silver Samurai. Ronin has not spent much time with the team since, staying in Japan to monitor the Hand, while the Sentry still suffers from his own identity problems, giving him "good days and bad days."
[edit] Spider-Woman (issues #14-15)
Now that Spider-Woman is an Avenger, Hydra has her right where it wants her. Fortunately, she does the right thing in talking to Captain America. Cap is true to form in confronting Jessica about her duplicity, and she bravely endangers her life by telling her story. The New Avengers reveal their existence to the world and receive a mixed reception. Ms. Marvel returns to be told that she is, and always will be, an Avenger, though she turns down Captain America's invitation, preferring to re-establish her own solo career as a superheroine first, and the team must face their greatest foe yet: J. Jonah Jameson.
[edit] The Collective (issues #16-20)
In Alaska, Michael Pointer is hit by the Collective, a massive amount of energy from depowered mutants, a result of the House of M event. He seemingly kills Alpha Flight, and when the Avengers arrive to stop him, Spider-Man discovers that the Collective has the power signatures of the powerless mutants.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. telepaths read Spider-Man's mind, and find out what happened to reality. The Avengers arrive to free Spider-Man, right as he is released from custody. Collective, meanwhile, arrives in Genosha, home to many depowered mutants, including Magneto. After learning of the Collectives location the New Avengers including Carol Danvers, the Vision and a multitude of SHIELD operatives invade Genosha to destroy the now empowered Magneto. It is also learned that the entity was really Xorn, who was hellbent on liberating mutants.
[edit] Civil War--New Avengers: Disassembled (issues #21-25)
When the junior super-heroes called the New Warriors, starring in their own reality tv show, raided a supervillain safehouse in Stamford, Connecticut, provoking one of the villains, Nitro, into exploding, killing countless civilians, Congress, with the support of superheroes such as Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Yellowjacket, passed the Superhuman Registration Act, or SHRA, which required all people with superhuman abilties to register with the federal government, revealing their secret identities, and receive proper training in law enforcement. Many superheroes, such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Sentry, and She-Hulk, comply with this law, but other superheroes, led Captain America, oppose the law on the grounds that it violates civil liberties. This leads to a superhero Civil War, in which all superheroes are forced to choose sides.
Luke Cage refuses to register, comparing the act to both slavery and Jim Crow laws, and he later joins Cap's side after a squadron of S.H.I.E.L.D. "cape killers" attack Cage immediately after the act becomes law (at 12:01 am), despite his sitting at home, watching T.V., and not using his powers since the act went into place. The Sentry registers but doesn't choose a specific side, though feels more compelled to join Iron Man than a rebelling Cap. Iron Man, never trusting Spider-Woman's triple life, betrays her and informs S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill about her status which causes Jessica to run for her life. Eventually, Jessica located Captain America and his team's whereabouts and was allowed to join their ranks. Wolverine, whilst officially taking a neutral stance on the war with the rest of the X-Men, hunts down the man responsible for the Stamford disaster, and states his opposition to the law during a brief stint in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. After the death of Goliath in battle, and learning of the nature of the Number 42 complex in the Negative Zone, Peter decided to leave Stark's side. Spider-Man publicly denounced the registration act on live television, and joined Cap's side.
The battle broke the New Avengers up for good, and Civil War ends with Captain America surrendering after a huge battle in Times Square, New York, realizing that such a battle is what superheroes are supposed to prevent. He is eventually assassianted via a fatal gunshot wound to the stomach while entering a federal courthouse. Luke Cage assumes leadership of the now underground Avengers, followed by Spider-Man, and Spider-Woman. The war also has Iron Man and Sentry taking their place in the Mighty Avengers, a government-sanctioned team of registered heroes, officially leaving the New Avengers.
[edit] Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch (issue #26)
Set many months ago at the moment of reawakening after the House of M, Hawkeye awakes, returned from the dead a second time. Finding the Avengers mansion abandoned and dilapidated, Clint Barton seeks out Dr. Strange to find out if his return from the dead was real. Clint asks what became of the world since the House of M, and what became of the Scarlet Witch. Learning she has disappeared, Hawkeye decides to seek her out, for what he calls "closure". He travels to Wundagore Mountain, the birthplace of Wanda Maximoff and her brother Pietro Maximoff. He helps a woman catch a purse thief and the woman is revealed to be Wanda Maximoff. Clint, upon suddenly facing her, faints. He awakes in her care at her home. He asks her questions and it is revealed that Wanda has no memories of her previous life, telling Clint that she has lived in Wundagore Mountain her whole life. Unable to cope with what he is hearing, Clint breaks down in front of Wanda. The two share an intimate moment, Wanda kisses Clint, and the two spend the night together. Hawkeye awakens the next morning, and remembering Wanda's mention of her "Aunt Agatha", who was supposedly asleep in the next room, goes to investigate. "Aunt Agatha" is most likely a manifestation of, or reference to Wanda's former mentor, the witch Agatha Harkness, who Wanda had supposedly killed during her descent into madness, prior to the events of "Avengers : Disassembled" & "House of M". However, as he touches the doorknob, something happens to make him stop. He removes his hand and it appears that his fingers have been burned, exactly where they touched the knob.
Whether he ever looked inside to see "Aunt Agatha", or if Wanda's powers are still somehow subconsciously active, remains to be seen.
[edit] New New Avengers
In the aftermath of Civil War, it has been announced that the New Avengers team in 2007 will include Echo, a new Ronin, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man [7], Iron Fist, and Luke Cage. Luke Cage is the confirmed leader of the team, and their base is Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, magically disguised as the location of a future Starbucks. The team will also face a tougher, more connected version of The Hand.
The New Avengers' most recent mission, and the first for the new team, was to rescue Maya Lopez from the clutches of Elektra Natchios and the Hand, who had been preparing to forcibly make her one of their assassins.
After rescuing Maya, the New Avengers teleported out of the Hand's secret complex. Elektra then told the Hand that they are not to let the New Avengers leave Japan.
After seeking Refuge from the Silver Samurai (who still holds a grudge against Wolverine for the loss of his hand), the New Avengers explain how they got to this point; Spider-Woman had been told by Carol Danvers that Captain America was still alive, a fact confirmed by Dr. Strange in his astral form.
However, upon going to the Raft, where the body was supposedly being held, Wolverine smelt that it wasn't the real Steve Rogers. The team were then confronted by their Pro-Registration Nemeses, the Mighty Avengers, who explained that it had been a 'Dirty Trick'.
The story is interrupted when Wolverine turns, having sensed something strange, and is nearly beheaded by the Samurai. After he is felled by the New Avengers, Wolverine reveals what had distracted him: Elektra is approaching with thousands of Hand Ninjas following close at hand.
[edit] Transformers Crossover
During the New York Comic Con, a New Avengers/Transformers crossover was announced to be released on July 5th. The crossover will take place between the first two story arcs of New Avengers.
[edit] One Shots
[edit] New Avengers: Illuminati
- Published the same month as New Avengers #17
New Avengers: Illuminati is a one-shot, published as part of the "Road To Civil War". It documents the founding of the Illuminati; Iron Man, Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Professor Charles Xavier, Black Bolt, Prince Namor of Atlantis and Doctor Strange. Years later, the Illuminati meet to determine the fate of the Hulk. Deciding that there is no hope for Bruce Banner, all but Namor agree that exiling him in space is the best and most humane way of dealing with him, leading to Planet Hulk. The final time the Illuminati meet is prior to the passing of the Superhuman Registration Act. The group becomes even more divided as to whether to support the act or not. Iron Man suggests they should support the act, and Richards agrees, but Namor, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt all disagree and leave (Professor Xavier was MIA due to the after-effects of House of M, and was not involved); with most of the members gone, it implied that the team was over, with Mr. Fantastic telling Iron Man that it "was fun while it lasted" before leaving.
The issue also contains a preview of Civil War #1.
[edit] New Avengers Annual #1
- Published the same month as New Avengers #18, but follows #20 and leads into #21.
In the New Avengers Annual, Yelena Belova, the Black Widow is given the powers of the Super-Adaptoid by agents of HYDRA for her to use against the Avengers.
She attacks a meeting of the Avengers just as Jessica Jones announces her agreement to Luke Cage's proposal, absorbing first the powers of the Sentry and then the rest of the Avengers including Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel. She is defeated by Iron Man's use of automated versions of his suit and the Sentry's apparent command of the Void persona to overwhelm her mind.
This leads to her HYDRA controllers engaging a self-destruct device so she can't be traced back to them.
The book ends with the marriage of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, officiated by someone who bears a striking resemblance to Stan Lee.
[edit] Hardcover/trade collections
The issues are collected in hardcover format, later released in trade paperback format.
Volume 1: Breakout (New Avengers #1- #6)
- Hardcover: ISBN 0-7851-1814-4, August 17, 2005
- TPB: ISBN 0-7851-1479-3, January 18, 2006
Volume 2: The Sentry (New Avengers #7- #10, New Avengers Most Wanted Files)
- Hardcover: ISBN 0-7851-1938-8, February 8, 2006
- TPB: ISBN 0-7851-1672-9, July 26, 2006
Volume 3: Secrets and Lies (New Avengers #11- #15, and the lead story from Giant Size Spider-Woman #1)
- Hardcover: ISBN 0-7851-1939-6, March 15, 2006
- TPB: ISBN ?, September 6, 2006.
Volume 4: The Collective (New Avengers #16- #20)
- Hardcover: ISBN 0-7851-1986-8, October 4, 2006
- TPB: ISBN ?, March 2007.
Volume 5: Civil War (New Avengers #21-#25)
- Hardcover, February 28 2007
New Avengers Annual #1 was collected in The Pulse Vol. 3: Fear and New Avengers: Illuminati will be reprinted in a Civil War trade paperback.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Named by Spider-Man, New Avengers #27
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 1: Echo
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 2: Ronin
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 3: Doctor Strange
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 4: Wolverine
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 5: Spider-Woman
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 7: Spider-Man
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers Day 6: Iron Fist & Luke Cage
- ^ Meet The New New Avengers: Epilogue
- ^ New Avengers #28
[edit] See Also
| The Avengers | ||
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| Teams |
The Avengers • New Avengers • Mighty Avengers • Young Avengers |
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| Characters | ||
| Locations | ||
| Animation | The Avengers: United They Stand • Ultimate Avengers • Ultimate Avengers 2 | |
| Other topics | ||
