New Avengers (comic)
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See *Marvel Comics *List of Marvel Comics teams and organizations *Avengers
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'.Named by Spider-Man, New Avengers #27
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.
The current New Avengers team includes Echo, Ronin, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Iron Fist with Luke Cage as the leader of the team. They are assisted in their efforts by Wong, Night Nurse and Young Avengers Hawkeye and Patriot. Writer Brian Michael Bendis has said that these characters are Avengers because Captain America said they were;Meet The New New Avengers: Epilogue 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.New Avengers #28
Storylines
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 at the supervillain prison the Raft, 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, unwilling to tarnish the reputation of the other heroes due to the disaster that his life has become after his identity was revealed to the media, 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.
Variant covers
"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]:
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.
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. After it is revealed that he has been manipulated by his Void persona and the deceased Mastermind, the Sentry's mental problems are cured, finally, although he still sometimes cannot handle the stress of his arch-foe's manipulation of him. Afterwards, Emma Frost helps Sentry to unlock the mental blocks placed on his memories and powers, and he joins the new Avengers to regain his original heroic status, although all memory of his past has been forever wiped from the world.
Ronin (issues #11-13)
The enigmatic Ronin, recommended by Matt Murdock as a replacement for him- the team currently requires a member with experience in confronting the Hand, and with Wolverine busy Cap asked Murdock, who went on to recommend Ronin-, 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"- today being a bad one where he refused to even leave the tower to help his teammates.
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 after the House of M showed her the full scale of the potential she possessed, and the team must face their greatest foe yet: J. Jonah Jameson.
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 and the Vision discover 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 during the House of M crisis. 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 Collective's location, the New Avengers- still minus Ronin, but 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 and assumed Magneto's persona as mutants would listen to him. In the aftermath of the fight, Magneto's body vanishes when the helicopter he is being transported in explodes, and Michael is taken away by S.H.I.E.L.D., although Iron Man suggests he has the potential to become a great hero.
New Avengers Annual #1
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. However, after Spider-Man, she realises that she can only absorb the powers of one specific hero once, she is defeated by Iron Man's use of automated versions of his suit- essentially meaning that she's facing multiple Iron Men when she only has the space to copy the powers of one- 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 marriage of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones is officiated by someone who bears a striking resemblance to Stan Lee.
Civil War: New Avengers: Disassembled (issues #21-25)
After the Stamford, Connecticut incident, Congress passes the Superhuman Registration Act which requires all superhumans to register with the federal government. Many superheroes comply with this law, but others, led by Captain America, oppose the law on the grounds that it violates civil liberties. This causes a split in both the superhuman community, and The New Avengers.
After a squadron of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Cape-Killers" attack Luke Cage, he joins Capitan America. The Sentry registers but doesn't choose a specific side, though he feels more compelled to join Iron Man than a rebelling Captain America. 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. Jessica is forced to flee, she later joins with Luke and the others.
At first, Spider-Man is on the side of Registration, but later defects after the death of Goliath at the hands of Tony's robot-clone of Thor.
Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch (issue #26)
After the end of the House of M, Hawkeye awakes, revived a second time. Finding the Avengers mansion abandoned and dilapidated, Clint Barton seeks out Doctor Strange to find out if his return from the dead was real. He 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". In his travels, he helps a woman catch a purse thief and the woman is revealed to be Wanda Maximoff. After fainting, he awakes in her care at her home. During questioning, it is revealed that Wanda has erased her old life, giving herself the peacefulness she now enjoys. Unable to cope , Clint breaks down in front of Wanda, and the two share an intimate moment. 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. 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.
New New Avengers: The Revolution (issues #27-31)
At some point in the past, Maya Lopez, acting as Ronin, was killed by Elektra. Afterwards, she was resurrected by The Hands magics, and her will was bent into servitude of Elektra. After the Civil War, Jessica Drew reveals that Captain America isn't dead,New Avengers #28 a fact Dr. Strange believes to be true after investigating in his astral form. The New Avengers, divided over whether it is a trap, conclude that either way, they can't risk leaving Captain America behind. In the end, it proves false as the team is ambushed by the Mighty Avengers.After they escape, The Mighty Avengers got to the Sanctum Sanctorum to find The New Avengers, who are, and remain, hidden by Doctor Strange.
The next day, The Mighty Avengers decide to interrogate Danny Rand about Iron Fist's involvement in the attempt to rescue Captain America. Afterwards; Dakota North, from Nelson and Murdock, brings a package from Matt Murdock. Inside is the Ronin outfit, and a letter from Echo that was addressed to Matt, asking him to save Ronin and that if she is dead, to avenge her.New Avengers #29 The New Avengers then decide to accept Matt's request and go to help save Echo. After deciding that Doctor Strange is hiding The New Avengers, The Mighty Avengers enlist the help of Brother Voodoo to try and see if they still reside at Strange's old home. After The Mighty Avengers leave, deciding that they are not there, Clint Barton returns to let Doctor Strange know he is okay. After some tension, Doctor Strange casts the Spell of Tartashi on them, to test for purity of intent. When they all are revealed to be pure, Clint agrees to join them, as the new Ronin, to Japan.<ref name="NEWAveng30">New Avengers #30
The New Avengers arrive to rescue Maya, with Spider-Man carrying her to safety. Once the two are reunited with the group, Doctor Strange teleports them out of there; and they then seek out the Silver Samurai for refuge. Spider-Man's spider-sense alerts them of Elektra and thousands of Hand Ninjas. Before a fight escalates, Luke Cage attempts to negotiate, but during the negotiations, Echo wakes up, and wounds Dr. Strange with an enchanted sword.
Strange contacts his home telepathically for aid. While a nervous Jessica watches; Wong, Dr. Strange's servant, assists Strange in freeing himself. Strange then forcibly clears Echo's mind, who then kills Elektra. As the Hand retreats, Elektra's body transforms into that of a Skrull. Secure inside Dr. Strange's home, Jessica Jones receives news her husband is alive. A close up shows her baby's eyes show an unnaturally green tint. <ref name="SECRETq">BRIAN BENDIS SUPER HAPPY FUN HOUR
The Trust (issues #32-37, Annual #2)
With the hero community divided, The Hood plans to form a supervillain community that relies on one another for help and with the identities of half of the hero community available, they realize that they can kill the heroes spirit, before actually killing the hero. They also decide to stop heroes from even attempting to harm them, and by threatening her mom, they get Tigra to cooperate.New Avengers #35 Spider-Woman suggests taking the Skrull to Iron Man, but Luke Cage, in particular, points out that Tony Stark is a prime candidate for being a Skrull, given his actions over the last few months. After the plane loses powerNew Avengers #32Mighty Avengers #1-6 , Spider-Woman takes the body to Tony Stark.
When Iron Fist asks Doctor Strange for help with his "Iron Fist" powers (which others have been tapping into), Strange reveals that just as they obtained their positions from predecessors, there will inevitably be a new, younger Iron Fist and another Sorcerer Supreme, and to try to hold onto their positions would be folly. The group reorganizes, trusting each other due to a revelation spell by Strange. The group decides to stop the Hood's plan to attack Stark Tower. This goes badly, with one of many symbiotes taking over Echo.New Avengers #34
In Stark Tower, Spider-Woman attends a briefing with the Mighty Avengers, having apparently defected to their team. When she retires to her room, Wolverine confronts Jessica about the Skrull body; she convinces him that what she did was right with the argument that it is more important then their problems with Iron Man. Wolverine escapes Stark Tower and rejoins the rest of the New Avengers. The team seeks out and confronts The Hood at an abandoned warehouse. Dr. Strange creates illusions of many heroes to confuse the Hood's gang while the Avengers attack.New Avengers #36 However, after he is confronted by Dr. Strange, the Hood transforms into his demonic form and escapes. Leaving the villains for the police, the Avengers celebrate their victory while Dr. Strange criticizes their foolish attack. Later, the Hood attacks the Raft and breaks out the rest of his syndicate, rallying them to take revenge against the New Avengers.New Avengers #37
Breaking into Tigra's home, The Hood learns that the team is hiding out inside Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. The element of surprise is nearly lost when Spider-Man, having gone out for a swing, spots the Hood's crime syndicate across the rooftops, and returns to the team in a panic. The New Avengers are caught off guard when the Hood's forces attack, leading to an all-out brawl in the Sanctum. Suffering from the after-effects of ingesting the demon Zom in an attempt to defeat a vengeful Hulk during World War Hulk, Doctor Strange is easy prey for the villain, who shoots him several times before Wong intervenes. The Hood is intercepted by a vengeful Tigra, who prevents him from shooting Iron Fist and joins the fight alongside the New Avengers in retaliation for the Hood's intimidation.
After the battle, Strange confesses that he has been calling upon darker forces than he normally would lately and has begun to lose control. Telling them that he needs to set things right again. After Strange teleports away, The New Avengers are confronted by Ms. Marvel, who gives them an opportunity to escape. The only villain to escape is the Hood. Jessica Jones later arrives at Stark Tower with her baby, begging to be taken into safety in return for registering.New Avengers Annual #2
Secret Invasion (Issue #38 and onwards)
Luke confronts Jessica about her signing the S.H.R.A., who then tries to convince Luke to sign. When the Mighty Avengers arrive and Black Widow insists upon arresting Cage, Ms. Marvel lets Luke go, claiming that he is thinking about registering. During this conversation, Cage refers to Stark as a Skrull, causing Black Widow to ask Spider-Woman what he was talking about. She merely states that it is classified S.H.I.E.L.D. business.
Iron Fist sets the New Avengers up in a large apartment in a building owned by his corporation but technically leased to one Samuel Sterns.New Avengers #38
One shots
New Avengers: Illuminati
See Illuminati (Marvel Comics) New Avengers: Illuminati is a one-shot, published as part of the "Road to Civil War" in the same month as New Avengers #17. 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 the events of 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 and Dr. Strange disagree and leave (Professor Xavier was MIA due to the after-effects of House of M, and was not involved. Black Bolt initially backs Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic, but his stance changes due to the events of Son of M #5. (The U.S. claims the Terrigen Mists from Quicksilver and refuses to return them to the Inhumans. Black Bolt declares war on the United States -- and apparently humanity in general). 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.
Appearances Outside New Avengers
World War Hulk
When Iron Man flies into space to sort out some satellites due to the approach of the Hulk and his allies, Dr Strange appears to him in astral form offering the New Avengers' services as long as he doesn't arrest them. Iron Man accepts his offer and tells Dr Strange that he will give them amnesty if they assist and surrender afterwards. However, Luke states that they're all on the same side only against their common foe. Luke Cage and Spider-Man are among the heroes who aid in the evacuation of New York as the Hulk returns on a mission of vengeance. They are later joined by Spider-Woman, and all three are defeated in a showdown with the Hulk's Warbound. Hulk had already confronted Wolverine during his 'mission' to question Professor X about his role in the decision to exile the HulkWorld War Hulk: X-Men #1-3. Later, Hulk's allies Hiroim and Elloe attempt to infiltrate the Sanctum Sanctorum and are confronted by Iron Fist, Echo and Ronin who are all handily dispatched. Dr. Strange, however, invokes the power of the demon Zom and defeats Hiroim before leaving to confront the Hulk. After a brutal match with the Hulk, Strange is defeated, even with the power of Zom, and taken to Madison Square- converted into a gladiator arena- where he is pitted against the rest of the Illuminati.
In World War Hulk: Aftersmash. Luke Cage and Spider-Man face off with Hiroim, Brood, and Elloe once again. The New Avengers gain the upper hand but abandon the fight when they realize the Warbound do not wish to fight any longer. While the Warbound leave to help prevent the destruction of New York, the New Avengers continue to aid in the relief efforts.
New Avengers/Transformers
Taking place between the first two arcs of New Avengers, New Avengers/Transformers chronicles a mission to Latveria by Captain America, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, and Wolverine to prevent a war between Latveria and the neighboring country of Symkaria. Former Avengers Ms. Marvel and The Falcon also make guest appearances. Along with Optimus Prime and other stars of the Transformers movie, the heroes must deal with Dr. Doom and the Decepticons led by Megatron. *New Avengers/Transformers
Bibliography
The New Avengers has been collected in the following trade paperback:
| Title | Material collected | ISBN | Date Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume 1: Breakout | The New Avengers #1-6 | January 18, 2006 | |
| Volume 2: The Sentry | The New Avengers #7-10 | July 26, 2006 | |
| Volume 3: Secrets and Lies | The New Avengers #11-15 | September 6, 2006 | |
| Volume 4: The Collective | The New Avengers #16-20 | April 4, 2007 | |
| Volume 5: Civil War | The New Avengers #21-25 | September 5, 2007 | |
| Volume 6: Revolution | The New Avengers #26-31 |
New Avengers also has been collected in the following hardcovers:
| 1 | The New Avengers #1-10; New Avengers Most Wanted Files; New Avengers: Custom #676: Army & Air Force | December 5, 2007 |
In other media
In the videogame Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, New Avengers are considered a team bonus if the player has any combination of Captain America, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and/or Spider-Woman on a team. See Marvel:Ultimate Alliance Store listing
