Avengers vol. 3 #66Avengers vol. 3 #66
Title: "Red Zone: Part Two- Infections”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Olivier Coipel
Inker: Andy Lanning
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Within two hours, five hundred people have been infected. Normally with a flesh eating bacteria, symptoms take days to form, but this strain only seems to take minutes. The skin starts to be eaten away immediately upon infection. Without treatment death is a certainty. The scientist looking at a sample says that even with treatments, such as debridement of the infected area or amputation, that there will still be complications like toxic shock or Lumphedema. He says that this isn’t a fluke of nature. He says that this is a weapon, and the worst bio-terrorist attack in history. The scientist asks Iron Man if they know who is responsible yet. Iron Man says that only an organization like Hydra, Al-Qaeda, or AIM could be responsible. Iron Man says that they already have Avengers on the scene and asks how they can help there. The scientist says that everyone is working to find a way to neutralize the cloud. He suggests that as Tony Stark he could buy more antibiotic cocktails and start some outside testing. He says that the boys in Washington are moving slow and that he doesn’t know why their requests aren’t being treated with more urgency. Iron Man says that they can come to an arrangement. Black Panther says that they can do more than give them money. He says that there have been several cases of necrotizing fascilitis in his country, and that they have been developing an enzyme that kills group A streptococci on contact, though it isn’t perfected yet. The scientist asks why his country hasn’t shared that kind of information. Iron Man says that isn’t the way Black Panther works. Black Panther asks when the last time Stark Enterprises opened all their doors for the benefit of mankind. He asks when the United States has done so. Panther says that every institution has its secrets, but that in times of emergency that Wakanda is always available to those in need. Dell Rusk, accompanied by Gyrich and two agents, enters the room and tells Black Panther and Iron Man to leave. He says that the Avengers have no business there. Rusk says that Gyrich was supposed to tell him when the Avengers needed access, but that he failed to do so. Gyrich says that he did try to reach his office. Iron Man says that Rusk must realize the seriousness. Rusk tells Iron Man that he is trespassing, and that because they are no longer sponsored by the United States that they aren’t guaranteed access to any of their facilities. Iron Man says that protocol can’t be a priority now. Panther adds that people are dying. Rusk tells the agents to escort Iron Man and Black Panther out. Panther says that he has had enough. He floors the two agents, and then stares Rusk in the face and says that they will let themselves out. Panther tells Dr. Foster that the enzyme files will be available momentarily and that he apologizes for the delay. Rusk tells Gyrich that they should talk. Gyrich remains behind.
Up on the roof, Iron Man asks Panther why he is antagonizing Rusk. He says that Panther will be lucky if they don’t bring him up on charges. Panther says that they can’t. Iron Man asks why that would be. Panther explains that he is a diplomat. Iron Man says that is nice. Panther says that he uses everything to his advantage, but that Stark has to admit that he comes through. Panther holds up a sample of blood Dr. Foster was examining. Panther says that he will send it to Wakanda. Iron Man snatches the vial and says that he will take care of the second opinion. Iron Man says that they can’t let it fall into the wrong hands and flies off. Panther holds up another vial of blood and says, “So predictable.”
Six miles south of Mount Rushmore, Warbird asks Dr. Chu how much time they have. Dr. Chu says that the cloud may have slowed, but that it is picking up again. Warbird asks General Feaster when the choppers are arriving. The General says that not all of them are coming. Warbird says that they need to start getting these people to real hospitals, and that they are overloaded. Feaster says that most hospitals are refusing any Red Zone patients since they don’t know how contagious it is. Warbird says that he guesses that she can’t blame them. She says that they aren’t prepared for anything like this, and that they are scared. One of the patients reaches up and touches the General. He asks for help. Feaster starts freaking out. Hawkins tells him to calm down. Feaster decks him and says that if it can eat through skin that it can eat through the suit. Warbird lets off a blast and knocks Feaster onto his butt. Warbird asks if he is all right. Feaster asks what she did to him. Warbird says that she sterilized his cellular structure and that he is going to be fine. She tells Feaster to go find some hospitals that will help them. Dr. Chu says that he had heard that she can absorb and redirect energy, but that if she can sterilize Feaster why can’t she just go to the Zone and do the same. Warbird says that it is because that was just for show. She says that she just redirected some sunlight to settle him down. Hawkins says that he knows that she said they were safe outside the cloud, but he asks what if she is wrong. He asks what if the General really is infected. Warbird starts walking away and says, “Then so are we.”
At Mount Rushmore, Captain America, She-Hulk, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Jack of Hearts, and Ant-Man walk through the Red Zone. Vision looks down and sees the dead. He feels the sadness. Wanda puts her hand on his shoulder and says that she knows it is hard, but that they have to move on. Vision says that all this death frightens him. He says that disease is ravaging the Earth and leaving him, as an android, alone. Captain America says that the satellite images aren’t coming in very clear, and that they must be close to the source. She-Hulk asks Cap if that isn’t American technology at its best. Cap says that they are actually Russian, and that they have a better view of America than they do. She-Hulk says that UN membership has it’s advantages. She staggers for a minute. Ant-Man asks if she is all right. She-Hulk says that she feels nauseous. Jack says that she does look a little green. She-Hulk collapses. Ant-Man says that was nice. Jack says that he was joking. Cap rushes to see her. She-Hulk flips out and knocks them all away from her. She-Hulk apologizes and says that she is just feeling claustrophobic in the suit. Jack tells her to take it off. He says that the air smells bad, but that her body is probably as immune as his is. Wanda says that may not be wise, and that they still don’t know what they are up against. Wanda notices something and Vision asks her what it is. Wanda says that the trees are too structured, and that they are hiding something. Wanda uses her powers and clears the red mist and the trees. They look down and see a giant door. She-Hulk says that she has it. Cap tells her to be careful not to tear her suit. She-Hulk rips the doors open to reveal some descending stairs. Cap leads the way. At the bottom of the stairs, Cap sees a dead soldier. He says, “No.” Ant-Man asks him what it is. Cap says that this didn’t come from any terrorist. He says that it came from them. Cap looks at the door that reads, “UNITED STATES BIO-WEAPONS LAB 13”
Avengers Files rating: 5.5 out of 10
Well the plot just kind of treads water here for the most part. I enjoyed Panther being Panther, since no one is really being him in his own book. And the “big shocker” is fine, though not much of a shocker for those that saw through the “Dell Rusk” misnomer. Coipel does an adequate job, but I couldn’t even find one picture to pull for this review that I thought was exceptional. 2.5 out of 5 for art.
Review by The Leader