Avengers #221Avengers #221
Title: “…New Blood!”
Plot: Jim Shooter
Writer: David Micheline
Penciller: Bob Hall
Inker: Brett Breeding
Colors: Christie Scheele
Editor: Jim Salicrup
Avengers mansion early evening, Iron Man says that they are all agreed then and that the Avengers need new blood. Wasp says that they have been in agreement about that, but that they just haven’t found any time to do anything about it. Captain America says that they had better take advantage of the peace and quiet then since they never know how long it will last. Wasp says that as chairperson she opens the meeting to suggestions in order to reach their goal of six Avengers. Wasp asks if they should just bring back some old members or go after new blood. She asks Thor what he thinks, but Thor doesn’t answer. Wasp calls to Thor. Thor asks Wasp to forgive him. He says that his mind was elsewhere. Thor says that what he proposes is that they proceed with great caution. He says that the last time they sought to alter the membership that they were being controlled by Moondragon. He says that those that chose not to be Avengers may not have done so alone. He says that recently she also forced them to do battle with each other, and that no action in the last few weeks can absolutely be claimed to have been their own. Cap says that Thor is right. Cap says that they should start fresh and judge members on their current qualifications. Wasp says that sounds good, but asks what kind of qualifications. Cap mentions someone that can work in a team. Iron Man says someone with technical expertise and is good with weaponry. Thor says that he thinks that they have enough strength, but that courage is important as is a noble heart. Wasp says that she thinks that this group needs more girls. Jarvis enters and tells Wasp that her chauffeur is outside and mentioned something about a “tavern”. Wasp says that she almost forgot. She says that they are showing some of her fashion designs at Tavern on the Green and that she has to be there. Wasp tells them each to think about who they would like as Avengers and that they will decide at the regular meeting next week.
As they’re leaving, Cap tells Iron Man that he has been thinking of Hawkeye. He says that he works well in a team, and that he took pride in being an Avenger. Iron Man says that is a thought, but as he flies off he says that he was thinking about the Wasp’s suggestion and that having a few more ladies around might be nice.
Thor sits in the mansion reading Time magazine. Jarvis serves Thor his mead at precisely 78 degrees. Thor asks Jarvis if he had his pick who he would choose to fill the Avengers’ ranks. Jarvis says that he hasn’t given it much thought, but since Thor asked he said that he always thought that some of the best Avengers started out as the most unlikely candidates. He says that those with independent and strongly individual natures seem to have worked out well. Jarvis says that he is no expert, but hopes that he has helped. Thor thinks about what Jarvis said and then looks at the cover of Time where there is a picture of Spider-Man. Thor thinks that Jarvis has been a big help.
Later in the day, Tony Stark calls Steve Rogers, but says that it is Iron Man calling Captain America. Steve tells him to call him Steve when he is off duty. Tony says that he has been thinking about Hawkeye and thinks that it is a good idea. He says that he thought they would go and see what Hawkeye thinks. Cap says that he is free tomorrow.
At that moment at the Van Dyne residence in New Jersey, Janet says that she invited most every super-powered female in the country to brunch on Friday, but that she can’t even find the She-Hulk. Her assistant Sally apologizes, but says that the processors were set up to analyze fashion not hard news. She says that all she has been able to find is that She-Hulk is usually seen in California. Jan tells Sally to take out full page ads in all of the major West Coast newspapers. She says to also contact the networks about buying some commercial time and that she will do the spots herself. She says that she is dying to show off her new pantsuit design.
As twilight approaches Thor flies over Central Park looking for Spider-Man. Three robbers are running into a tunnel after holding up a pawn shop. At the end of the tunnel however they find Spider-Man waiting for them with the end of the tunnel webbed up. Spider-Man asks them if they want to give up, but the men turn to run. Spider-Man thinks to himself that he knew they would do that. Thor is waiting for them on the other side and summons a storm with great winds to blow them all, including Spider-Man, over. The robbers say that they will surrender if Thor just stops the waterworks. As the police lead the robbers away they say that they can always count on Thor. Spider-Man goes up to Thor and asks if he knows what it is like to have to run around in wet tights. Thor apologizes but explains that he was actually looking for him. Reporters start running towards the scene. Spider-Man asks if they could talk somewhere else. He says that he doesn’t want to wind up on the news wearing soggy pajamas. Thor and Spider-Man head to the ledge of a building to talk. Spider-Man asks Thor what his problem is. Thor says that Spider-Man doesn’t need to be so defensive. He says that he just came to offer him membership in the Avengers. Thor says that Spider-Man has “a spirit and pluck that would suit us mightily”. Spidey says that like he told the Avengers a few years ago that he isn’t much of a joiner. He says that he will think about it and let him know. Spidey thanks Thor as he swings off.
The next day, Captain America and Iron Man visit Hawkeye at his security job at Cross Technological Enterprises. Hawkeye is sitting with his feet up looking at a Playboy. He sees two people and asks them how they got past the guards. Cap says that he never leaves home without his Avengers Priority card. He says that they have come to offer it to him. Hawkeye asks if they expect him to come crawling back to them after the way they kicked him out. Hawkeye says that he is the head of security there. Iron Man says that they understand, but tells him to consider it and let them know. As Iron Man and Cap walk out Hawkeye shouts after them not to hold their breath. As soon as they walk out the door into the hallway Hawkeye wonders if he has gone out of his mind. He rips a page out of his magazine and attaches it to an arrow. He fires it down the hall towards Cap and Iron Man. The arrow sticks in the wall and Cap and Iron Man see that there is a giant “YES” written on it.
On Friday, Wasp’s driver Carruthers
drops off Invisible Woman at the Van Dyne residence. Susan
Richards says that it is a very beautiful house. Down the street,
the Mechano-Marauder is setting up his equipment. He says that he
will teach the 
Avengers not to
laugh at him and toy with him. He says that he is going to attack
their weakest member while the others aren’t around and that
she will be helpless. Back at the house, Jan lets Susan in. Jan
introduces the other “maybe” Avengers: Alison Blaire
the Dazzler, Spider-Woman, and Natasha Romanoff the Black Widow.
They all say hello. Dazzler says that it has been a long time
with no see. Susan says that jokes like that she doesn’t
need. Spider-Woman “compliments” Dazzler on acting like
a real professional. Dazzler asks if crawling on walls like an
insect is professional. Spider-Woman says that she stings too.
Dazzler says that she knows that they had some problems when
Spider-Woman tried to help her find her mother, but that it is no
reason to get catty. Spider-Woman says that it is better than
being mousy. Black Widow says that she would like a sweet roll,
but when she bends over she tells Dazzler and Spider-Woman that
she wants a truce between the two of them as well. The doorbell
rings and Jan asks Martin if he would answer it. Martin opens the
door and asks who he should say is calling, but he doesn’t
get to finish his question as he stares in amazement. She-Hulk
introduces herself and says that she was invited. Wasp says that
she didn’t know if She-Hulk was going to make it. She-Hulk
says that she saw Wasp’s ads. She tells Jan that she looks
darlin’ in pink and then asks where the food is.
Outside, Carruthers is sitting against the car. He is thinking about what a good job it is being Jan’s driver. He says that the hours are casual and the pay if good. He says that things get slow sometimes, but that’s the way it goes. Carruthers sees something and goes running into the house. He tells everyone to hurry out of the house. Carruthers in his haste knocks over She-Hulk’s “snack”. Dazzler thinks to herself that her snack was her sixth helping of Eggs Benedict. Carruthers tells Jan that “he” coming for her. Suddenly a giant metal fist crashes through the window and grabs Dazzler. Wasp yells at Fabian Stankowicz to get that thing out of her living room. Black Widow asks who Fabian is. Jan says that he is just some guy that fought Iron Man a few days ago and wants to build a name for himself by defeating the Avengers. Widow says that they will help save Dazzler. Dazzler says that she doesn’t really need saving. She says that he is just holding her as opposed to squeezing her. Invisible Woman just puts up an invisible shield around them. Fabian charges them, but bounces off the force field. He starts banging on the field telling them to let him in. Dazzler says to heck with this. She blinds Fabian with a burst of light causing him to drop her. She-Hulk catches Dazzler. Dazzler tells Wasp that this isn’t for her. She says that she is a singer and not a fighter. Susan says that she is a little to busy being in the Fantastic Four, but thanks her anyway. Wasp thanks them for stopping by. Spider-Woman blasts the Mechano-Marauder with a venom blast. The servo-claw starts to malfunction from overheating. Widow wraps a cable around the armor’s legs and causes it to fall over. After the Mechano-Marauder falls over Spider-Woman and Black Widow say that they can’t join the Avengers right now. Jan says goodbye to them as they go. The Mechano-Marauder jumps up and says that now he is angry. She-Hulk tells him to shut up and punches the armor into pieces. Fabian ejects from the machine and says that he designed this escape armor for himself. When Fabian hits the ground he sinks right in because the armor is too heavy. She-Hulk says that one more punch ought to finish this, but Wasp tells She-Hulk to let her handle this. Wasp concentrates her sting and creates a tiny hole in the armor. She shrinks down and flies into his armor and helmet. Fabian asks if Jan is going to hurt him. Jan says maybe a little and blasts him in the face and his helmet pops off. Fabian drops over and Wasp grows back to normal size. She says that will teach him to wreck her party.
A few days later, Jarvis phones in to get security clearance for two new Avengers. Wheels are set in motion that go to Henry Gyrich’s office to the White House. The President signs the paper clearing Hawkeye and She-Hulk.
The next day, Hawkeye is riding in the back of a cab to Avengers mansion. He says that it will be tough holding down two jobs, but that he missed the excitement of being an Avenger. Suddenly Hawkeye’s cab is cut off by a pink Cadillac. Hawkeye hops out of the cab for a second and fires an arrow into the caddy’s taillight. The arrow fries the car’s electrical system. As Hawkeye is hopping back into the cab pleased with himself for teaching the road hog a lesson, the driver gets a look of horror on his face. Suddenly the cab is flipped over and leaned against a building. Hawkeye asks if they were just hit by a truck or something. The cabby says that he wishes that they were because at least his insurance would cover that. The cabby says that no agent in the world is going to believe this. Hawkeye gets out of the cab and spots a giant green woman carrying the pink Cadillac on her shoulder like a sack of kitty litter. Hawkeye decides that he must have a concussion.
Soon after Hawkeye is given a clean bill of health, he arrives at Avengers mansion. Jarvis says that it is good having Hawkeye back and Hawkeye says that it is good to be back. He walks in and says that he is there and that life can go on. Iron Man says that it is about time and that they were wondering what happened to him. Hawkeye says that some freaky amazon was trying to play dominoes with his taxi. She-Hulk asks if it was a green amazon. Hawkeye says that she can’t be the other new member, but She-Hulk says that she is afraid so. Iron Man whispers to the others that something tells him that this could get interesting. Hawkeye thinks to himself that he hasn’t quit his security job yet. Wasp welcomes Hawkeye and She-Hulk to the Avengers.
Avengers Files rating: 7.5 out of 10
This is a cute story. Pretty straight forward with no real swerves. She-Hulk becomes an Avenger and meets Wasp for the first time. Hawkeye comes back to where he belongs in the Avengers. The art tells the story, but isn’t real long on style. One of the things that drives me nuts about this issue is that the colors weren’t printed particularly well and everything looks a little off.