Avengers vol. 3 #43Avengers vol. 3 #43
Title: "Global Presence”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Alan Davis
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Months ago, the Presence and Starlight
materialize right before the glass coffin. Starlight reminds
Presence that they must hurry because they still cannot remain in
populated areas long without infecting people. Presence says that
they must remain quantum shifted so that the guards do not see
them. Presence laments seeing his son lying deceased. Starlight
says that they are honoring him as a hero. Presence says that he
is still a dead hero. Presence says that he sacrificed his
humanity for power, and that cuts him off from everyone except
Starlight. He says that for all his power he cannot stop his
country from falling from greatness into chaos. He says that he
cannot even save his own son. Presence says that it is not enough
to have power he says that he is going to act. Starlight says
that the guards are innocents, but Presence tells her to be
silent. He says that he is not going to go on some rampage.
Presence alters himself to become microscopic and enters his
son’s body. Presence finds power within Vanguard and keeps
adding and adding his own power to Vanguard’s until Vanguard
wakes up and crashes through the glass coffin he is in. Presence
was left so weak that he was forced to remain within Vanguard for
months. While inside Vanguard, Presence studied power and how it
permeates matter and makes a discovery. Months after he entered
Vanguard’s body, Presence emerges near Starlight. She says
that she thought he has died, but Presence says that is not
important now. He says that the nation faces economic collapse
and cultural pollution from the West. He says that he is going to
save his nation just like he saved his son. Presence says that he
can make his people a new people, a nuclear people. He says that
they will not need anyone and they will be a strong proud people
again. 
Presence starts
to pour power out.
Today, Thor, Captain America, Black Knight, Quicksilver, and Firebird fight against the glowing skeletons of the Winter Guard and others. Thor tells them that they must fight these creatures back or they will overtake the world. Firebird says that she is being surrounded. Quicksilver speeds in and grabs Firebird away. Quicksilver says that they aren’t accomplishing anything in this fight. Quicksilver says that to fight them effectively they must get at the Presence, but that they have to get through them to get to him. Quicksilver says that there must be anti-radiation foam back at the sentry station at the borders. Cap says that is good thinking and tells Pietro to go. Thor says that Quicksilver’s time with the Inhumans’ militia has served him well making him a good leader. Quicksilver says that he was becoming a good leader while being a failure as a husband and a man.
Prince Edward Island, the Avengers there are fighting Attuma’s Atlantean forces and a gigantic Torg. Wasp tells them to fight against the monster and that he is the key to driving them back. She tells Triathlon that they will focus on the troops. Jack of Hearts says that Torg is a big guy, but that if he really opens up it could endanger the Canadian troops. Scarlet Witch tells him to pull back and she will try to attack his mind. Torg swats Jack of Hearts to the ground. Wanda asks where Hank is, and says that they could really use Goliath’s strength right now. Hank shows up, but instead of being Goliath he shows up as Yellowjacket. Yellowjacket flies up to Torg and says that he is going to save the day with a bio-disruptor blast. Torg isn’t effected and swats Yellowjacket. While the Avengers are fighting Torg and the troops, Attuma and Serestus are standing off away from the fight below the cliff on the water. Attuma says that Torg fights well, and that it is a good thing that they found him and the control pearl that keeps him a mindless slave in the frozen north. Serestus asks for silence and says that it is difficult to control Torg and he needs to concentrate.
In China, She-Hulk, Silverclaw, Vision, Black Widow, and Warbird are fighting the Deviants. The Deviants are retreating and say that they need to regroup. Once the Deviants go back underground, Warbird says that they will have to go in under them. She asks Black Widow to tell the Chinese troops that they are here to coordinate with them. Vision asks Carol how she is doing. Warbird says that the team has no experience together, but that they seem to be doing well. She says that they need a plan now. Vision says that he meant more about how she is doing with Scarlet Centurion’s appearance. Warbird says that Vision is a good friend, but that she is fine. She says that she was just a little shocked. She says that it is nothing, but then she thinks of it for a second. Vision asks if it really is nothing. Warbird says no. She-Hulk tells Silverclaw that she had been doing depositions all week when Jan called, and that it feels good to break things.
Khystym, Quicksilver’s anti-radiation foam seems to be working. Black Knight reminds them that these beings are the Winter Guard and innocent scientists. Quicksilver says that they are surrounded by deadly enemies and that they are worried about their opponents’ safety. He says that it is good to be an Avenger again. Suddenly the anti-radiation foam canisters explode as the Presence heats them from inside with microwaves. Presence asks how the Avengers still live. He says that he thought his followers would have disposed of them by now. Presence says that they are unclean invaders, but that can be dealt with. Starlight says that they are not Russians and suggests sending them home to serve as a message to the rest of the world. Presence says that he had only intended to share his gift with Russia, but that he figures that they won’t be truly safe until there are none to oppose them. Presence releases more power.
Prince Edward Island, while fighting Torg, Yellowjacket spots Attuma and Serestus in the water with the pearl. He tells Triathlon to check it out. Triathlon bounces down to the water and grabs the pearl out of Serestus’ hands. Torg suddenly becomes aware. He asks what he is doing there. Jack of Hearts flies into Torg’s face and says that right now he is taking a refreshing dip. Torg falls backwards into the water knocking Attuma and Serestus off their ship. Later after the Atlanteans retreat, Wasp is talking with the Canadian troops. Wasp says that Attuma will probably be back, but that she hopes that they might be able to cover this with fewer Avengers. Yellowjacket walks into the tent and asks where the sugar is for the king. Wasp says that Yellowjacket did fine, but asks why the identity change. She says that they needed strength today. Hank says that he just felt like a change and says that it worked out. Wasp says that they need to talk, but not right now. Wasp turns to talk to Jack of Hearts, and Yellowjacket holds his stomach and says that he needs some air. Wasp welcomes Jack to the Avengers and says that she will tell the press and get him his credentials as soon as she can. Everyone congratulates Jack. Triathlon stands behind him and quietly says, “Hmph. Big welcome for the new guy… this time anyway.” A troop tells Wasp that a Dr. Newell radioed ahead and says that he will be there any minute. Wasp goes out and greets Stingray as he flies out of the water. Wasp tells Stingray that they want to try and cut Attuma’s supply lines and that she thinks that he is best suited for that.
Kang and Scarlet Centurion watch Wasp and Stingray on one of the many screens in Damocles Base. Kang says that the Avengers have changed and are much more suited to global emergencies. He says that they still have to deal with AIM in Africa, Wizard in Sao Paolo, and many armed uprisings. Centurion says that it does not seem honorable to let others do their fighting for them. Kang says that honor is a man’s greatest possession and must be protected, but says that honor is personal while war is fought through surrogates or it would only be a duel. Kang says that a true commander uses all factors that influence the outcome of a battle. Kang says that he doesn't want to exploit the Avengers’ weaknesses, but that he has no problem creating weaknesses. Kang says that they are the ones who caused this problems, and as a result their defenses have been spread thin. Kang says that the next step is a worldwide message looking for recruits to his cause. Centurion says that they already have an army waiting in the future. Kang says that against an invading army a populace unites becoming stronger, but against their own they hesitate, choose sides, and inevitably become lost. Kang tells Centurion to go do it. Centurion obeys.
In China, the Avengers there are going underground after the Deviants. Black Widow says that the Chinese think they are insane going after them, but that they aren’t going to stop them. Widow says that they have no love for her, and that they’re all guilty by association. Suddenly a gigantic earthquake hits and the ground for a quarter mile in every direction collapses inward. Silverclaw says that earthquakes don’t work like that, but Warbird explains that it was the Deviants. They look up to see that they are surrounded on all sides by hundreds of Deviants.
In Canada, Wasp is on a holographic image call with Duane Johnson. Duane says that the government wants the Avengers to concentrate on Kang and launching an attack on him as soon as possible. Wasp says that Duane is their liaison, and that they will let the feds make that call, but that they are stretched a little thin right now, and that they will attack as soon as they can. Duane says that he only hopes that it is not too late. Wasp is called from outside and is told to hurry. Outside the tent, Yellowjacket has collapsed on the ground. They turns Hank over, and Wasp sees that Hank’s hand is becoming transparent. She says that he is fading away.
In Russia, Firebird struggles to her feet.
She is surprised to note that she is alive. She suddenly
remembers another time that she should have died, but was not
effected when she drank an excessive amount of poison. She sees
Thor and calls out to him. Thor says that he is glad to see her
healthy because he knows that he could not be effected, but that
if Firebird is well then the others must be as well. Firebird
says that she isn’t so sure. Thor spots Cap’s shield
rising and says that it must have protected him. 
Suddenly
Cap’s hand reaches out and grabs Thor’s throat. Cap,
Black Knight, and Quicksilver have all been transformed into the
green glowing skeletons.
At Damocles Base, Kang laughs as he watches. He says that it is such joy in a campaign so successful.
Avengers Files ratings: 9 out of 10
Another triumph for Kurt and Alan. The great part of this issue to me is that it deals directly with the Kang storyline without making Kang tired or overused. This type of inclusion into the story helps give the Kang story an “epic” feel. This is honestly as good as I think the Avengers have ever been. To my chagrin this is the last issue with Alan Davis. He does such a good job I wish he would stay. He should be one of the greats instead of one of the obscure.