Order #3
Title: "Ultimatum: Avengers!”
Writers: Jo Duffy and Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Matt Haley with Luke Ross
Inker: Dan Panosian
Colors: Gregory Wright and Tom Smith’s Color Arts
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Papa Hagg holds up string puppets of the Order. Hagg says that they dance in their fine and frightening new clothes. He says that they are no more the good men you knew, and that their human sides are locked away. He says that they call themselves the Order and that they order the world to obey their rules. Hagg says that they can’t even order themselves anymore and that their dark emotions and thoughts rule them. Nighthawk asks Papa Hagg if he thinks that he can snap them out it. Nighthawk says that the curse imbalanced them. Hagg says that he hopes that he can do it, but that it isn’t for him to say but for the mystic loa to show him. He says that he hopes the loa will show him what is out of order with the Order.
Reginald Parrington sits upon Aragon and asks if the horse wouldn’t prefer an English saddle. Malicia tells Reginald that right now she is showing Samantha why she was ladies fencing champion at Bryn Mawr. Val says that she appreciates their suggestion, but that Aragon is fine the way he is and that while Samantha is not a Valkyrie that she is. Val says that she is quite experienced at swordplay. Val swats the foil out of Malicia’s hand. Malicia says that she supposes it felt good to hurt her that way. Val says that she challenged her and that she was quite insistent. Malicia starts to lecture Val, but suddenly Papa Hagg tells Val and Hellcat to stop whatever they are doing. He says that he thinks that he knows how to help the others, but that they have to depart at once. Val, Hellcat, and Aragon disappear and Reginald falls to the ground from his seat.
The Order stands on a mountain top, Strange finishes the spell he began earlier. He says that if Yandroth’s curse is going to compel them to protect the earth that at least now it will not unduly inconvenience them. Strange says that the people of the planet already serve as their eyes and ear because of the spell that he cast upon the United Nations, and that now the energies he is releasing now will alert them to trouble from other realms and worlds. Surfer and Namor compliment Strange. Hulk says, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Greatest spell since sliced bread. But we’re s’posed to be doin’ this to give us more playtime, remember? Not less.” Hulk says that he wants to get back to the Citadel and kick back when a voice says that none of them are going anywhere. The Order turns to see the Avengers floating on a platform before them. Captain America stands with Scarlet Witch, Vision, Quicksilver, Iron Man, Warbird, Yellowjacket, Wasp, and Wonder Man. He tells the Order to surrender immediately. Hulk says, “Hey look! It’s Captain America and his amazing friends! What, did Dubya crack the whip… send you to bust up out little reindeer games? Well, the bunch of you can get stuffed!” Surfer says that however uncouthly that the Hulk speaks for all of them. Cap says that he thought so and tells the Avengers to attack.
In Atlantis, Valkyrie suddenly appears before Namorita as she lounges on a chair. Namorita says that these are private quarters and asks about knocking or ringing the bell. Val apologizes but says that the sorcery that transported her didn’t permit that. Val asks if she is Namorita. Nita says that is her and says that she takes it that she is the new Valkyrie. Val says that she is and that she is one of the Defenders. She says that she is a friend of her cousin Namor. Nita says that Namor isn’t exactly bringing glory to the family name lately. Val says that is why she is there. She says that Namor has gone mad and that she is sworn to cure him and all those in the Order or die trying. Val says that the wizard that guides them says that she is also needed. Nita says to let her get a regent to “babysit the throne” and they can go.
Wasp stings Namor. She says that he has to
stop this and that he was an Avenger. Namor asks what that ever
got him or Atlantis. 
Wasp says that
it got him what he earned like everyone else. She says that if
only he would show that he could be trusted. Namor says that she
means if he would only “play the obedient lap dog to assuage
their fears! I say no! I choose the path of strength! Their fear
means nothing to me… just as your Wasp’s stings mean
nothing to one who can absorb such power… and like the
electric eel, cast it forth again… against my foes!”
Cap blocks the charge with his shield. Yellowjacket grows to
giant-size and says that if Wasp is too small for Namor that he
should try him on for size. Hulk grabs Yellowjacket’s foot
from behind and trips him. Hulk asks why they would try him on
when he can’t even stand up. Namor tells Hulk that he
didn’t need his help, but thanks him just the same.
Strange starts summoning dark and potent magic’s when Quicksilver runs by and causes a wake of snow to hit Strange in the face. Quicksilver says that it is hard to speak spells with a face full of snow. Strange hits Quicksilver with a bolt of Balthaak. Wanda thanks Quicksilver for distracting Strange long enough for her to approach unseen. Wanda blasts Strange and he screams in pain.
As Iron Man blasts Hulk, Captain America, Wasp, and Quicksilver advance on him. As the others fight below, Surfer is fighting with Warbird. He says that she cannot hope to match his power. Warbird says that maybe not, but that she can keep him busy while the others stomp his teammates... “or at least... while they try.” Warbird watches Hulk hit the ground and drive back Iron Man, Wasp, Quicksilver, and Captain America. Vision emerges from the ground behind Hulk and tells him to face one that he cannot dislodge so easily. Surfer says that as long as he can outspeed his opponent that his power will assure that Vision does nothing. Surfer blasts Vision.
She-Hulk and Triathlon are working out at Avengers mansion. She says that she just dropped everything to come help the Avengers with the Order and Cap says that she can’t do anything. Triathlon dodges the five bowling pins that She-Hulk just threw at him and says that he thought Cap said that he wanted a second team of Avengers standing by in case the first team went down, and that he wanted some real powerhouses in the backup squad. She-Hulk flips Triathlon into the air and says that they aren’t backups they are bench warmers. She says not to even try and pretend that it isn’t because a member of the Order is her cousin. Hellcat appears out of thin air and says that is why she has come. Triathlon asks She-Hulk if she still thinks that they are on the bench. Hellcat leaps over them as they try to grab her. Hellcat reminds them that she is an inactive Avenger and that she has Mansion privileges. She-Hulk says that she is also an active Defender, like the Order, and asks how she knows she isn’t there as a saboteur. Hellcat asks who was just complaining about guilt by association. She-Hulk says that she has a point and that she can talk. Hellcat says that the big guys are the Order, but that the rest of the Defenders aren’t down with it. She says that she, Nighthawk, and Valkyrie are trying to stop the Order without taking them head on. She says that they are trying to fix things at the root of the problem and that they have a plan. Hellcat says that it is something that only women can do and that they need She-Hulk. She-Hulk says that she has heard the opposite of that often enough to like the sound of it. She-Hulk agrees and tells Triathlon not to wait up and she and Hellcat disappear.
Vision says that his internal electric command transmissions have been interrupted. Wonder Man says that he will help him, but Surfer blasts him in the back and says that he will not. Surfer says that his power cosmic can modulate the ionic energy that powers him and throw him out of phase just as it did to his electronic counterpart. Cap says that they have to start working as a team instead of letting them deal with them one on one. Wasp and Warbird attack Surfer to keep him off Vision and Wonder Man, but that someone had better do something for them fast. Yellowjacket says that he is guessing that they just need a jolt, like defibrillation, to reset them. Yellowjacket uses his bioelectric stings on Wonder Man while Iron Man jolts Vision with straight electricity. Vision and Wonder Man are restored to their normal selves. Wonder Man says that they are playing for keeps and that they have never done anything like that before. Iron Man says that they have to take the kid gloves off as well, and that he has an idea of how to wipe out the Surfer.
Wanda says that Strange isn’t so high and mighty now. Power flows out of the Eye of Agamotto. Strange asks her how she is controlling it. Wanda says that she isn’t and that she isn’t near good enough for that. She says that she is only freeing it from his control. She says that the Eye serves light, truth, and justice. She asks him what it says about him that it doesn’t want to serve him.
Namor flies at Captain America. Cap throws his shield at Namor and says that they go back all the way to World War II. Namor blocks the shield and Cap says that even though they had their differences that when real menaces appeared that they put their differences aside. Cap kicks Namor in the face and knocks him to the ground. Cap asks Namor what has changed him to go so wrong. He says that the Namor he knew “might fight others to protect his sovereignty or as retaliation for wrongs, but that he would never seek to subjugate an entire world.” Namor says that perhaps he is not the Namor that he knew. He says that perhaps he is the menace that threatens all Cap holds dear, but that if he is that he doesn’t care. Namor tells Cap to get out of his way or he will leave him broken and bleeding in his wake. Cap murmurs that Namor can’t mean that.
Hulk is screaming. He says to tell him that he is “not partnered up with a bunch of candy-asses who’d let themselves get slowed down by chicks with pretty light-shows, or a flag-waving politician!” Quicksilver starts buzzing around Hulk and says that they will see what it takes to mess him up. Hulk says that if he were stupid, or the least bit nice, that what Quicksilver is doing might stand a chance of working, but that as it is Quicksilver can “eat shockwaves”. Hulk claps his hands and knocks Quicksilver over.
Yellowjacket says that he hated to cannibalize the stealth-skimmer, but that these rigs should let Vision and Wonder Man to tap into their own internal power stores and deliver the same kind of modulating effect that the Surfer used on them. Vision and Wonder Man blast Surfer together.
In a Dark Dimension ruled by magic, people eke out a miserable life “championed by a resistance led by a woman who long lived upon Earth… who shared the hearth and the heart of Dr. Strange… a sorceress herself, and blood-kin to her demonic foe.” The resistance’s general is telling Clea that their forces cannot stand another day. Clea starts to respond, but Gonzah breaks in and says that if he wishes to surrender to Dormammu that he can, but that they are fighting to the death if need be. He says that at least they are secure there and that no one uninvited can enter by magic or might. Suddenly Hellcat, Valkyrie, Nighthawk, Namorita, and She-Hulk appear. Nighthawk asks if they came at a bad time. Gonzah says that it is a good time for him to die. Clea stops Gonzah and says that these are dear friends. Nighthawk says that he is glad to hear that because they, Strange, and the Earth all really need her help. Nighthawk tells Clea the story. Clea says that she is sorry, but that they have suffered their own losses and that she can’t just leave the others. She says that this is her home and that these are her people. She says that they are as precious to her as Earth and humanity are to them. She says that there are so few to stand against Dormammu, and that though she will always love Stephen, that she can’t abandon her fight for someone that hasn’t helped them in their time of need. Hellcat says that she will make a deal with her. She says that if she comes now that the Defenders, including Doc, will return here to help her. Clea asks if she can promise this. Val says that they haven’t been able to get Strange to do anything lately. Hellcat says that if they win this that Strange will help, but that if they fail that none of them will be coming back alive and that Clea knows it. Hellcat promises. Clea says that for her world she will stand with them. Clea says that she will return as they all vanish.
Wonder Man, Vision, Warbird, Iron Man, and Wasp are all blasting Surfer.
A giant Yellowjacket tries to hit Hulk, but Hulk catches his fist. Hulk says, “So, Big Bug… it’s me and you, huh? You really think this is gonna take long?”
Wanda feels that Strange is weakened and more out of harmony with the powers than she had thought. She says that she can’t believe that she has kept him off-balance this long, but that she also knows that she can’t keep it up much longer.
Namor tells Cap that it seems that their
teams are at a stalemate, and that he guesses that it is up to
him to break it. Namor kicks Cap in the stomach and then hits him
in the back of the neck. Namor says that while he will never use
the shield as well as its owner he is sure that he can use it
well enough. Namor pegs Yellowjacket in the face with the shield.
Hulk says that was his fight, but Namor says that there is plenty
more to do. Hulk says, “Yeah, yeah. Be all practical why
don’t you?” Hulk tells Surfer that there is a hole on
his right and leaps onto Iron Man. Surfer thanks Hulk and says
that with their attack out of balance that he is more free to
act. Surfer says that he is going to pay it forward and blasts
the Scarlet Witch for Strange. Strange says that at last he is
freed and can complete the spell he began earlier. Strange traps
all the Avengers, except Yellowjacket, in energy cocoons. 
Surfer says,
“And so even the mighty Avengers learn. Valiant, cunning,
brave… it matters not. No one stands against the Order. No
one.” Hulk looks at the cocoons and says, “Little
corpses all in a row”. Strange says that they are not dead,
but that the energy cocoons will keep them warm until they regain
consciousness when they are safely away. Strange says that it is
a chance to show the world that though their rule is absolute
that they are not monsters. Hulk says, “Don’t say
‘monster’ like it’s a bad thing Strange.
You’ll hurt my feelings.” Hulk says that speaking of
feelings he thinks that Yellowjacket will feel this one in his
sleep. Hulk strikes down the struggling to rise Yellowjacket.
Hulk tells Strange he has another one for him. Hulk says,
“So, we done here? I mean, maybe you want to waste time
savin’ jerks that’ll just come back after us… but
me, I want to get back to the Citadel. We got all those
bird-people who used to live there on ice, after all. An’
I’m all for thawin’ out a few of the better
lookin’ honeys, if you know what I mean… or parts of
them anyway!” Hulk leaps away. Namor says, “I…
realize we chose to transform the Hulk into this form to render
him more in sympathy with our goals than the green idiot…
but did he just suggest…?” Surfer says that he thinks
that they may have to do something about the Hulk.
Nighthawk, Val, and Hellcat return with Clea, She-Hulk, and Namorita. Papa Hagg says that Earth needs women and presto they bring him the women. Nighthawk says that they got three of them anyway, but that Hagg said that they needed a female analogue for each member of the Order. He says that they can’t just mail order the Surfer a bride from Zenn-La. Hagg says that will be the tricky part.
The Order’s mandate: 9 out of 10
Fantastic issue from both a story and art standpoint. I have to admit that I’m a bit partial to the Defenders, but I love that the Order defeated the Avengers. I’m also very interested in Hagg’s plan with the female equivalent of the Order. Haley and Ross do a great job pencilling in the action. Great style and decent storytelling.
RETURN TO DR. STRANGE'S DEFENDERS