Avengers vol. 4 #3

Title: “Breakout! Part three”

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Penciller: David Finch

Inkers: Danny Miki with Allen Martinez, & Victor Olazaba

Colors: Frank D’Amarta

Editor: Tom Brevoort

On the SHIELD helicarrier, Tony Stark tosses Steve Rogers a bagel. He says that they didn’t have any sesame seed. Steve says that this will be fine. Iron Man says that last night was one for the record books. Steve asks if they know how many total escaped. Stark says that it was forty-two and counting. Stark says that they kept forty-five of them on the island, but that they officially half-assed that. Steve asks if they know why it happened yet. Tony says that it was an electric mutant or Electro or something. He says that Intel suggests that it was a prison break. He says that they don’t know who, or what, or why yet. He says that they will know in an hour. Steve asks when the city is getting power again. Tony says that when they do they do. Steve mentions the forty-two again. Iron Man says that there will be no vacation for them this year. Steve says that he wants to talk about what happened last night. Tony says that he thought they were. Steve says that he wants Tony to think about what they were witness to last night.

Last night, Purple Man tells Cage to kill his hero friends and then kill himself. Purple Man says that Cage being there to greet him as he is freed from prison is proof to him that God loves him. He says that he knows that God wants this to happen, and that he doesn’t even believe in God. Purple Man promises Luke that he will take very good care of Jessica Jones and the bastard baby she is carrying. Cage’s brow furrows. He tells Purple Man that his mind control powers aren’t working because they drugged him all to hell when they locked him up there. A look of panic comes over Zebediah’s face. Cage punches Killgrave. He hits him again and says that what he has done to him and his life. He threatens his kid and says it to his face. Cage hits him again and again and again. Blood starts to fly. Cap grabs Luke’s arm and says that is enough. Cage looks down at the bloodied Purple Man. He says, “Okay. Okay.” Cap says, “Good man.” Cage thanks Cap for stopping him. Iron Man tells everyone that if he were them that he would go back to their cells. Peter asks if that is all they had to say. Cap says that they need to wrap this up and call it a night. Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Man, and Captain America fight back the escaped convicts.

Sentry floats in front of the SHIELD helicarrier radiating light in the night sky.

Back at the SHIELD helicarrier, Steve asks Tony if he sees what he is getting at. He asks if he knows what last night reminded him of. Tony asks if it is a bad recurring nightmare. Steve says that it reminded him of how the Avengers first got together. He says that it was on out of control situation that none of them could handle alone, but that the group was assembled by fate. He says that they are people that you would never think to put in a room together, people willing to toss aside how much they have on the line, people who instinctively doing what they do best, and that just when you weren’t sure which way the fight would go… the team comes together and it’s done. Tony asks if Steve is saying that he wants to assemble a new team of Avengers. Steve says that he is saying that the team already assembled itself. Iron Man says that it is over, but Steve just says that they came together on its own just like the original team. He says that there are things to be done, forty-two of them and counting, and that they need to do it together. Tony says that they don’t even know these people. Steve says that they do. Steve says that there is a balance to the city, to the country, and that when they ended the Avengers they threw that balance out of whack. He says that a team needs to be in place for things like last night. He says that if the old Avengers don‘t want to do it that they can try these new ones. Tony says that he told Steve that he can’t afford to rebuild the mansion or finance the team. Steve tells him not to. He says that there doesn’t have to be a salary or technology. He says that they never needed it. He says that they just need a place to meet. Tony mentions the politics of it all. Steve says, “No more politics. Just us. No UN. No governments. Just us helping people that need help. The big problems.” Tony says that Steve really shocked him with this. Steve says that he knows. Tony tells Steve to let him think about it. Steve says that he will go assemble the team.

Outside PS108, Steve calls out to “Mr. Parker”. Pete is surprised and Steve asks how the arm is. Peter says that it hurts a lot and asks Steve how he found him. Steve tells Pete that he has a SHIELD file, and that he lost his mask in the fight. Pete tells him not to remind him and thanks God for his average looks. Steve asks if he didn’t take the day off. He asks if he went there straight from the fight. Peter says that kids need a teacher even if it is one hallucinating from pain and sleep deprivation. Peter asks if he is in trouble. Steve asks why he would be. Pete repeats, “Am I?” Steve says that he isn’t. Peter asks him what he is doing there. Steve says that he came to make Pete an offer. He says that last night was inspiring, but that it also created a dire situation. He says that they have lots of work to do and so they are putting together a new Avengers team. Steve tells Pete that he wants him on the team. Peter asks why. He says that he isn’t a team guy, and that people hate him. He says that he doesn’t belong on a team. Steve asks how the “not being a team guy” thing is working for him. Peter says, “Well…” Steve says that every time he has fought beside him that he has been amazed. Peter says, “Really?” Steve tells Peter to come with him on this one. He says that he can leave if he doesn’t like it, but to give it a try for him. Pete says, “But if I don’t like it?” Steve puts his hand on Peter’s shoulder and says, “Good man”. Pete says, “ow” and then says that he can’t believe he is saying yes to this. He says that in all honesty that he could really use the money. Steve says that there is no more money. Peter says, “Ugh. That is so me it’s not even funny.”

Jessica Jones comes to the door and tells Steve that he gets a hug. She hugs Steve and says that Luke told her what he did for him last night. Steve says that he didn’t do anything. Jessica thanks him. Steve asks if Luke is there. Jessica says that she has been asleep all day. Steve says that it was quite a night. He asks how the baby is. Jessica says that she is still in there. Steve asks if it is a girl and Jessica puts his hand on her stomach. Jessica says that she thinks it is and that the doctors say that they may have a super baby like the Fantastic Four. Steve feels a kick and says, “Wow”. Luke comes into the room and tells Steve to get his hands off his woman. Steve says morning to Luke. Luke asks what time it is. Steve says that it is four in the afternoon. Luke asks what is going on and asks if he did something wrong. Steve says that he came there to ask Luke to be a member of the new Avengers. Luke is stunned. He asks who else he is asking. Steve says that it is everyone from last night. Luke says that they did kick ass. Steve says that is his point. Luke says that it never occurred to him to bother with groups and teams, but that he wouldn’t mind his little girl growing up and hearing that her dad was an Avenger once upon a time. He says that he wouldn’t mind that at all. He says sure. Steve says that’s great and they shake hands. Luke says that he is going to want to be heard. He says that there are things he is going to want a group like this to try… a new way of doing things. Steve says, “done”. Luke says that there is no way in hell Matt Murdock is going to say yes to this.

Daredevil says no. Steve says that everyone else has said yes. Daredevil says that when he asked him to be part of the old Avengers that he told him his life as Daredevil is a disaster. He says that he has been outed in the press. Steve says that he knows. Daredevil says that he doesn’t get a free pass in the media the way the Avengers do. He says that he is in a lot of trouble that he can and will fight, but that at this point he would never knowingly create a situation that would put Cap and his reputation on the line. Daredevil says that he knows Steve doesn’t care, but that he does. He says that he respectfully declines. Daredevil says that to be honest he doesn’t know where he would find the time. He says that when he looks at all the things Peter Parker does in a month that he has no idea how he gets it all done. Daredevil realizes that he just used Peter Parker’s real name. He asks Steve if he knows who Peter is. Steve says that he does and that Peter is on the team. Daredevil asks Steve not to tell Peter that he slipped up and used his real name. Steve tells Daredevil to think about it.

Jessica Drew hits a heavy bag and asks Steve if he is serious. Steve says that he is and asks if she is in. Jessica says that she was yanked off her SHIELD assignment. Steve says that he knows. She says, “Total assignment failure’ Seems they think I did an awfully bad job keeping the Raft intact and secure.” Steve says that it wasn’t her fault. Jessica asks whose fault it was. Steve says that is the first thing on his to do list. Jessica says that she thought she was going to be kicked out of SHIELD and asks Steve if he is the reason she wasn’t. Steve says that they are going to need a go between with SHIELD every once in a while. He says that will be her. Jessica asks if Fury is on with this. Steve says that he doesn’t care what Fury thinks. Jessica asks if they are rebuilding the mansion. Steve says no. Jessica asks if they are going to have a cool clubhouse though. Steve smiles.

At Stark Tower, Jarvis says good evening to Steve. Steve is excited to see Jarvis. Jarvis tells him that he is looking well. Steve says that he is so glad Jarvis is there. Jarvis says that he is overwhelmed. Steve says that he tried to contact Jarvis, but Jarvis says that he was on holiday. He says that he hadn’t taken one is several years, and that Mr. Stark insisted that he make the most of it. He says that for the first time he can see the value in “laying about”. Spider-Man’s head pops in. Steve tells Jarvis that he is so glad Tony called him. Jarvis says that it seems his unique services are once again required. Stark asks everyone to come into the main room. Stark says that he has been building this building for four years. He says that it is one of the dream projects of his life. He says that the top three floors were going to be his home, but that they are his gift to them. He says that this is where they will meet and plan. He says that he won’t lie to them and that he isn’t completely sold on this new team. He says that isn’t meant as an insult to them, but that the last team didn’t end well and that it is still under his skin. He says that he has learned to listen to Captain America’s gut instincts and that if he wants this team then he will help any way he can. Tony says that first they should talk about last night. Spider-Man say that before they get into that he has like 76 questions. Steve says that Jessica Drew isn’t there yet and that they should wait for her.

Jessica says that she had a day. An unseen voice says that he heard. She says that she was fired from her SHIELD post and asked to be an Avenger all in one day. The voice says that is a hell of a day. Jessica asks if they promise that they had nothing to do with what happened at the Raft. The voice says that wasn’t them. Jessica says that she almost died last night on three separate times. The voice says, “If we wanted to kill you…” Jessica interrupts and says that is nice. The voice says that her new situation is very interesting. Jessica says that she is going to be an Avenger and asks who would have thought it. The voice asks if it will be the same deal as before. Jessica says, “Uh-uh. No. No. This is going to cost you. This is an entirely different situation. You want me to report back to you on this and on SHIELD? That’s going to cost you.” The voice asks how much.

Avengers Files rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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