Solo Avengers #14Solo Avengers #14
Title: “When the Widow Calls!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciller: Al Milgrom
Inker: Jose Marzan
Colors: Janet Jackson
Editor: Mark Gruenwald
Black Widow hits one AIM agent in the face while kicking the another. More agents spot her. Widow says that she was hoping to take the two of these agents out so she could salvage her mission, but that it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. She says that there are only four more, but that there must be more on the way. Widow handsprings kicks into two of the agents and then spins up to knock the other two out with punches. Widow says that she has bought herself some time. She thinks how she needs more than the local authorities to handle AIM, but that all recent reports indicate that SHIELD is falling apart at the seems. She thinks of who to call. Moments later, AIM agents appear behind Widow and blast her unconscious. They wonder if she got off her transmission. Since they can’t tell they decide to prepare in case anyone shows up.
Inside the West Coast Avengers’ compound, Clint stands before the mirror. He says that he may be the world’s greatest archer and the idol of millions, but that he can’t even tie a tie. He thinks that he hopes he and Mockingbird can straighten out their problems at dinner. Suddenly the distress call siren starts to go off. Hawkeye says that Mockingbird will never forgive him if he misses the date. He hopes that maybe it is a wrong number and that someone misdialed the Fantastic Four.
Mockingbird drives up just as Hawkeye flies off. Mockingbird is at the front door talking to the butler Carlos. She asks what he means about Hawkeye not being there. She says that he called her about this date. She says that she wants to know what is going on. Carlos says that he received a call from the Black Widow. Mockingbird storms off. She says that they are barely separated and that he is looking up old girlfriends. Carlos tries to tell her that it was business, but Mockingbird says that it was monkey business.
Hawkeye says that Widow’s coordinates put her inside a shopping mall. He says that her tastes are too uptown to be caught in a tacky mall like this. Suddenly Hawkeye’s ride is blasted out of the air by an AIM agent. Hawkeye rolls as he hits the ground. As he sits up he fires arrows at the Aim agents.
Elsewhere, Widow is strapped to a machine. Cables are hooked from her into a large robotic looking creature. Widow asks what this machine is and why she has been attached to it. The agent there says that she is still trying to gather information and that old habits, like spies, die hard. He tells her not to distract him, and that the transference process is difficult enough. He tells her that human motion is directed by bio-electrical pulses that can be artificially duplicated. Widow asks who he is. The man says that he is a third level AIM scientist. He says that there is an entire hierarchy in AIM that is unknown to outsiders. He says that it will remain unknown as soon as he gives his android her speed, agility, and reflexes and disposes of her corpse.
Hawkeye is still fighting with the AIM agents when he sees one of them leap into a hole in the ground. He decides to follow. Hawkeye yells after the agent that he has a few questions for him. He asks where the Widow is and asks if he knows anything about ties. Another AIM agents is right around the corner with a gun aimed at Hawkeye. He wonders what his superiors will reward him with for killing Hawkeye. Suddenly he is struck down by Mockingbird’s fist. She says that no one gets to blast her “babe’s buns” except her. She thinks how Hawkeye is lucky she checked the Avengers monitors and tagged along. She thinks that she must remain hidden and that she can’t let him know that she was jealous of him and the Black Widow.
Widow screams in pain. The AIM agents compliments her threshold for pain and says that she is surprised she is still conscious. Suddenly he hears a loud crashing and an AIM agent comes crashing through the wall. The level three AIM scientist reaches for an electro-blaster, but as he turns an arrow flies into the barrel and causes it to explode. Hawkeye helps Widow off the table and asks if she is all right. Widow says that she has been better, but adds that it is good to see him again. She asks where the other Avengers are. Hawkeye says that he was the only one there. He asks why she would take on AIM all by herself. Widow says that she had no choice. She points to a shipment of canisters. She says that she doesn’t know what is in them, but that they are very valuable to AIM and can aid them in overthrowing the government. Hawkeye opens one up. He looks inside and then throws up. Widow looks inside and sees a preserved human brain. Hawkeye apologizes and asks what they are doing saving brains and where they got them from. Suddenly the android comes to life and starts to attack Hawkeye and Widow. Hawkeye tells Widow to get some cover as he draws an arrow.
The Imperial Council of AIM watches on a monitor. Number Three asks Number One if he thinks that it was wise to activate the attackoid before testing its combat functions. Number One admits that it wasn’t, but that they had to do something. He says that the two of them know too much and that the operation could be jeopardized. Three says that would deay their time table for world conquest. One says that is why they have to take an active role, and that Hawkeye and Black Widow must die.
Avengers Files rating: 3 out of 10
Much as I respect Tom DeFalco this issue was pretty much a stinker. It’s cool that Hawkeye and Widow are together again, but that’s pretty much the extent of the “cool” here. I’ve never been a big fan of Milgrom’s art, but this is worse that his usual stuff. A 1 out of 5 for the art since there is some storytelling that doesn’t completely stink.
Title: “Court Costs!”
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Alan Davis
Inker: Josef Rubinstein
Colors: Paul Becton
She-Hulk waits outside in the hallway as she prepares for the pinnacle of her lawyering career… arguing a case in front of the Supreme Court. The case is Handel vs. United States, the first substantive challenge to the recently-enacted Mutant Registration Act. She-Hulk is appearing for the plaintiff. She is tremendously nervous as she is informed that her case has been called. She wants to run away, but Terry Handel and many others are counting on her. She-Hulk thanks Mr. McVicker and asks if there is time for a quick bathroom break. McVicker says that it won’t help, and that everyone asks that their first time. He says that she will do fine. She-Hulk wonders if she should even be there as she walks up to the judges. She says that she is out of practice as a lawyer, and that even when she wasn’t that she was a criminal lawyer, not a constitutional one. She decides that maybe her special circumstances mean that she is suited to argue this particular case. After her credentials are presented, She-Hulk states that she is appearing on behalf of Theresa Handel, who was convicted of refusing to register under the terms of the Mutant Registration Act. She-Hulk says that American citizens are to be tested for being a mutant, and then registered with the justice department if found to be one. She says that the government states that this is necessary on the grounds of national security. She-Hulk is about to get into her argument when she hears “ahem!” She-Hulk looks behind her to find Mr. McVicker. He says that he is sorry to interrupt, but that she is needed urgently. She-Hulk asks the judges to excuse her, but that she has to uphold her duties as an active Avenger. The judges say that they understand. McVicker says that he wouldn’t have asked unless it was completely necessary. The judges call for a brief recess.
She-Hulk walks out of the court and asks why it has to be her. She asks where Freedom Force is. McVicker says that they are on a mission. Jen says that she didn’t wear her costume under her clothes and that she needs a place to change. McVicker asks if a phone booth will do. She-Hulk says that a ladies’ room would be better. McVicker says that none are close by. Jen says that she had better not see anyone peeking. As Jen is changing, a cop tells the gathering crowd that there is nothing to see there. One man says, “That’s what you think, buddy!” The cop spots Jen and shouts, “Wow!” Jen pokes her head out and asks if he minds. The cop meekly says, “nope”. Jen says that Beth is right and that all men are pigs.
Jen walks outside wondering to herself why
she bothers. Jen sees Titania and says that this just makes her
day. Titania is shredding apart police cars. 
She-Hulk taps
her on the shoulder and asks Titania is she remembers her.
Titania says, “Of course I do, Shulkie, that’s why I…”
Titania is cut off as She-Hulk punches her into the air. Jen
turns to a cop and says that Titania should come down on the
other side of the Potomic in Virginia. She suggests sending
someone to pick her up. The cop thanks her for the assist.
Jen is back before the Supreme Court. She has barely managed to restart her stance when McVicker “ahems” behind her back again. He says that he is sorry, but that she is still needed.
She-Hulk strides outside back down the stairs. Titania says that she isn’t getting rid of her that easily. She-Hulk asks if Titania wants to bet.She-Hulk hits Titania on top of her head and drives her into the ground like a tent peg. She-Hulk walks back up the stairs. She tells the cops that she has done her job and for them to do theirs.
She-Hulk stands before the Supreme Court again. She is aware of a run in her stocking and notices how all of them are looking at it. One of the judges points to his watch. He says that they have a crowded calendar with a limited schedule for oral arguments. She-Hulk says that she knows, and that it won’t happen again. Jen tries to talk herself down from her anxiety. She starts reading her prepared words, but the judge tells her that she read that part already. Jen starts up. She starts to get on a roll and mentions that the Mutant Registration Act is an abridgement of rights solely on account of race. McVicker “ahems” behind her again. She-Hulk crumples her paper in her hand as she winces.
She-Hulk punches Titania through a nearby
car.
She rushes back to court adjusting her clothes, but when she gets back to the courtroom she sees that the judges are all gone. McVicker “ahems” and Jen turns to him and asks “WHAT?!” McVicker says that court is adjourned for the day and that they just coulodn’t wait anymore. He says that her case has been postponed until next term. She-Hulks says that she blew it. McVicker says that it was his fault. Jen says, “Poor Terry. How’ll I tell her?” McVicker says that it isn’t her fault. Jen says that it was her case and her responsibility. She says that she should have known that the superhero side of her life would ruin this, but that she wanted this case.
As She-Hulk walks out of the courthouse, she says that the problem is that she won’t be the one to pay for her failure. Titania asks if she wants to bet. Titania slams a van onto She-Hulk. She says that the first time they met that she beat her to a pulp, and that she is going to keep on doing it every chance she gets because it is so much fun. She-Hulk walks out of the wreckage of the van. She asks Titania if she knows how her cousin gets stronger as he gets madder. Titania says that she does. Jen says that she isn’t called the She-Hulk for nothing, and that right now she is peeved. She-Hulk beats on Titania until she is holding her up by the neck with one hand. Jen asks if she has had enough. Titania says that she has. Jen asks if she has learned her lesson and will go back to jail. Titania says that she will. Jen says that if she ever bothers her again that it will be the last time.
Titania has the power manacles on as she gets in the back of the paddywagon. She says that she has never seen her like that and wonders if she meant it about their rematch. One of the cops says that if she has any smarts at all that she won’t try to find out.
Jen looks back at the Supreme Court. She says that she was hoping that this would be the proudest day of her life. McVicker “ahems” behind her back. She-Hulk asks McVicker if the term “pushing your luck” means anything to him. McVicker says that there will be other days and other chances to plead her case. Jen says that there will probably be other disasters to go with them as well. McVicker offers Jen a Lifesaver. Jen takes one and says that her dad used to pull this stunt on her too. She says that it worked more often than not. McVicker says that it is a special power that dads have. He says that it isn’t as flashy as hers though. Jen says that she is feeling better already. McVicker says, “In that case… ahem…”
Avengers Files rating: 7 out of 10
I give Claremont points for bringing She-Hulk and Titania back together and starting She-Hulk’s greatest rivalry, but I’m kinda annoyed when he includes that the madder She-Hulk gets the stronger she gets. I don’t buy it. Hulk is the only one that demonstrates this ability. I understand wanting to punch someone when you’re mad, but that doesn’t make you physically stronger. Alan Davis, in what must be one of his earlier efforts, gets points for style though one can see how far he has come since then.
Review and pictures by The Leader
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