Avengers vol. 3 #63Avengers vol. 3 #63
Title: "Standoff: Part III”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Alan Davis
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colors: Avalon Studios’ Dave Kemp
Editor: Tom Brevoort
THIS STORY IS CONTINUED FROM IRON MAN VOL. 3 #64
At the end of World War II, Captain America
is sent flying from an explosion. He fell into the water and was
frozen by the cold. Cap says that it didn’t matter. He says
that he helped win the war and that the Allies won. Cap says that
the Allies would always win as long as they fought together. He
says that when he awpke decades later that the first thing he
heard was a deep, jovial howl- Thor’s laughter. He says that
there was then another voice. An educated, proper voice, but it
was hollow as if spoken through a metal pipe. Cap says that they
were the future- the Avengers. Tony Stark, Iron Man: billionaire,
industrialist, who despite all his weaknesses proved to the world
that he had a heart that wouldn’t die. Thor, God of Thunder,
who was always trying to live up to his father’s
expectations. Cap says that now, years after they forged their
alliance, that it has come to this… World War III. Cap looks
on as Thor and Iron Man clash and the power explodes outward. He
starts to get up. 
Thor hits Iron
Man in the chest plate. Iron Man strikes back at Thor. The people
run as the power vibrations continue outward.
Iron Man asks Thor if he really thinks that he can fix everything with his fists. Thor asks Iron Man if he is proposing that they save his followers with Iron Man’s beliefs. Thor rips the right arm off of Iron Man’s exo-suit. He says to look at Iron Man cladding himself in gold and putting his faith in money and technology. Captain America pushes his way towards the two of them protecting himself with his shield. Cap shouts for Iron Man to stop, but Thor continues, “You dare to power your armor with the gift of gods? The might you stole is yours no longer!” Thor destroys Iron Man’s exo-suit. Captain America shouts for Thor again. Thor stops and sees the American tanks advancing. Thor says that they are nothing to him. He says, “These mortals are nothing!” Thor throws Iron Man aside. Iron Man’s exo-suit explodes revealing Iron Man’s regular suit inside. He tells Thor that he isn’t through yet. Captain America dives and tackles Iron Man. Cap says that yes Iron Man is done. Iron Man says that together they can take Thor. Cap tells Tony to shut up and turn his brain back on. Thor says that Captain America saw the camps from World War II and that his fellow Avenger understands that there is avenging to do. Captain America says that this isn’t about vengeance. He says that it is about the people and to look at how he has “protected” them. Thor sees all the destruction his fight with Iron Man has caused.
Doom sits watching the encounter with a glass of wine. He says, “I do love a good wine. And a good war.” Doom pushes a button and activated the cannon that was a gift from Latveria to Slovokia.
The Slovokian commander asks what his troop is doing, but the troop says that he didn’t touch anything. The cannon fires and hits where Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America were standing. Thor says, “You hear them. They continue to cry for punishment. We shall bring it to them!” Thor calls down Balder and the Warriors Three. Cap notices the soldiers’ face and realizes that they have no idea what happened. He asks who gace th Slovokians the weapons. Stark helps Cap up and says that it was Doom. Iron Man says that he just intercepted a tactical alert and that a fleet of Russian Blackjack bombers have been ordered to lay waste to the entire area if the US gets involved. Cap tells Iron Man to intercept the bombers and stall them. He tells Iron Man to cool off. Tony starts to say something, but Cap just tells him to do it.
Cap leaps towards Thor and tells him to put his hammer down. He says that they didn’t fire the first shot. Thor tells Cap that he is either stands with him or not at all. Thor swats Captain America aside. Cap lands in front of the American tanks. Their commander is telling his troops to prepare to advance. Cap tells them to stop. He says that he knows the man is the commanding officer, but to stop being an armchair general. He says that they are all being played and that if they go in that they justify the Russians’involvement. Cap says that lots of people are going to die. He tells them to stand their ground. The commanding officer says that he has his orders directly from the President and repeats for his troops to move out. Cap says, “Stand. Your. Ground.” The troops all stop. They salute Captain America.
Cap leaps onto Thor’s back and hits him
in the neck with his shield. Cap says that Thor isn’t
thinking this through. Cap says that maybe he has nad that is why
he is lashing out in frustration. Thor swings and misses Cap. Cap
says that Thor can’t stay there and protect the people
forever and that he can’t kill everyone that threatens them.
Cap says that Thor can’t win this way and that even his
father couldn’t have won this way. 
Thor says,
“My father left his throne to me! I will do whatever is
needed! For I am their GOD!” Thor hauls off and hits Captain
America’s shield. Cap is sent hurtling. Thor is snapped out
of it as he sees the flying Captain America. He says that he
didn’t mean to. Iron Man catches Cap. He looks at Cap’s
shiled and sees that it is dented. Cap asks Thor if he remembers
what he said about the camps. He says that he never will forget
them, but he asks Thor if he think that if they had dropped an
A-Bomb on Berlin that the hate would have stopped. He asks if the
Jews would have been safe then. Cap says, “Dropping a nuke
on a problem… this isn’t the Avengers’ way.
Thor.” Thor says, “I… I am no longer an
Avenger.”
Doom watches as the hostilities stop. The Russian and American forces are pulling out. Suddenly Iron Man’s face is on the screen. He compliments Doom on the remote controlled weapon and says that he has one for Doom now. Stark says that he just finished uploading a friend of his named Friday and that it is a particularly nasty version. He says that it will eat every zeroand one in his entertainment center. He compliments Doom on his taste in wine and says that he will be seeing Doom…anytime he wants. Doom raises his glass as his screens go static, “Touche Avenger.”
Thor is banging Cap’s shield back into shape. He says that the power of Odin is stronger that one might think. Cap says that he can see that. Thor says that Cap still stands tall despite his wounds. Cap says that they all can and that they don’t have to part this way. Thor hands Cap his shield and says. “Your shield. If but everything could be so easily mended.” Thor and his forces fly away.
At Avengers Embassy, She-Hulk, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and Ant-Man watch the news. They’re saying that hours after all forces withdrew that General Stoykovicz was assassinated by rebels. Latveria has annexed Slovokia and promised them aid and religious freedom. Doom made the statement, “We thank the Avengers for their bravery and service in saving the people of Slovokia and delivering them to us.” Stark and Cap stand by the window. Stark says that is why he likes playing the stock market because he knows if he won or lost. He says that Doom got exactly what he wanted. Cap says that they did the best they could. He says that they fought a war with only one casualty. They looks out the window at Asgard high above.
In Asgard, Balder tells Thor that they laid down their arms too quickly and that there are still those that pray for his help. He starts to say that Odin never would have done that, but Thor snaps, “My father never knew mortals such as the Avengers, Balder. Now take your leave. All of you. Thialf, Amora, Balder, Sif, and the Warriors Three all walk out. Thor looks at a picture and then tosses it aside to the ground. The broken picture of Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man lies on the ground.
“It takes twenty years or more of peace
to make a man;
It takes only twenty seconds of war to destroy him.”
-Baudouin
Avengers Files rating: 10 out of 10
Fantastic story told and fantastic artwork to help get the job done. Legendary fight between Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. The big three of the Avengers is broken apart as Thor does what he feels he has to. The full extent of Thor’s power remains to be seen as he does the impossible by denting Captain America’s one of a kind shield. Doom’s abilities really shine in this story as even when he loses he gets what he wants. Alan Davis really does a nice job with the artwork and makes the issue as visibly stunning as possible.