"And So It Begins!"
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciler: George Perez
Inker: Al Vey
Colorist: Tom Smith
Letterers: Richard Starkings, Wes Abbott
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor-In-Chief: Bob Harras
The story begins in Chicago. The Windy City. A man walks into a bar...and no, this is not the setup for a joke. This man, Victor Shade, is a bit of a regular here. He likes the atmosphere there. It's very...homey. Not to mention it has a dartboard, and he likes to play chess and darts with the barflies.
He overhears two men discussing a major meeting in town, and armed with this information...the Vision flies again. We then next join members of the Avengers checking out one of their own, a Henry "Hank" Pym.
Due to events in Iron Man's book at the time, Tony's had to return to an older model. The suit he was wearing at the time (The Model 16, aka the Renaissance Armor) was becoming sentient and trying to take over his body. The older suit he's wearing is the Model 4, which first appeared in Iron Man #85 (April 1976), and it's become one of his most iconic suits.
The testing has shown that Hank's perfectly fine. No problems with him or his shrinking powers whatsoever. Pym can confirm this, as he solved the issues with Pym Particle-based growth serum years ago. Shortly after he left the West Coast Avengers (remember them? I talked about them a bit here.), he had some extra time on his hands. So, he got to work improving and refining the serum.
He wanted to perfect it not just as a point of pride, but also to prepare if anything happened to Janet Van Dyne's powers, or anyone else who had used them in the past. Remember, by this point, it wasn't just Hank and Jan that used Pym Particles. Scott Lang had used them as the second Ant-Man, Bill Foster had as Giant-Man II/Black Goliath, Erik Josten was using them at the time as the Thunderbolt Atlas, and finally Rita DeMara had use them when she was active as Yellowjacket II. Hank Pym's superhero identities tend to get passed around like candy.
He managed to finish his work shortly after he rejoined the Avengers in Avengers #366. As a result of his tinkering, his powers had been altered slightly. He could shrink and grow again, but he couldn't do the same to objects unless they were specially treated. Janet Van Dyne is still a bit worried, but Hank assures her he's fine. Meanwhile, they're being observed by what looks like...another Hank Pym, this one tiny and acting like he did back during his days as the cocky Yellowjacket.
Having had enough of Hank and Jan's romance, he decides to go out and get some air. The Avengers Mansion's security systems didn't register him as a threat. After all, is he not Henry Pym? Meanwhile, let's have some fun. Carol Danvers, who was going by Warbird at the time, watches She-Hulk and Triathlon [You may remember our triple-athletic buddy from my reviews of Avengers #8 (September 1998) and Avengers #15 (April 1999)] play a game in the Avengers' training area that looks like handball on steroids. The former Olympic athlete may not be able to match the Green Glamazon on raw power, but he's got some moves of his own.
Using skills he learned hustling pool for money during his college days, he's able to get the ball into the goal by making a bank shot off of She-Hulk's head. Elsewhere in the Mansion, the Scarlet Witch has gotten a call from the former Avenger and X-Man known as Beast. He wanted to talk to his old friend Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man. You know, catch up, have some drinks, that kind of thing.
Wanda points out that Simon was in Los Angeles. Beast was supposed to have been with him then. Beast points out he was. He saw Simon off to New York at LaGuardia Airport...a week earlier. He was going to go straight to the Mansion when he arrived. Wanda is confused by this. If he had returned to New York City a week earlier, why didn't he call her or any of the Avengers?
Wanda's train of thought is derailed by the Vision making a call. He's discovered that there's a major Maggia meeting in Chicago. The Maggia is essentially the Marvel Universe version of the Mafia. Wanda wants to know where he's been the last few weeks. You see, he left the team back in Avengers #23 (December 1999). Vision doesn't answer, just telling her to meet him at the Okanaga Building.
The trip there does give us some nice character moments. Duane Freeman suggesting that tackling organized crime will be good for the team's image, and Warbird pointing out the...complicated relationship with Wanda and the Vision to Triathlon.
In Chicago, the Grim Reaper has gathered the heads of various Maggia branches because he wants to make like Marlon Brando in The Godfather and make them an offer they can't refuse. He's functioning as a representative for someone who has a vision for the Maggia. They're normally a loosely-allied group of crime families, keeping out of each other's way. But the one behind the Reaper's scythe sees a greater vision for them.
Some of these characters are more significant in the MU than others. Edward Lavell is also known as the second Eel. Fans of the Spider-Man mythos may be familiar with Silvio Manfredi, aka Silvermane. Ceasar Cicero first appeared alongside Silvermane in Amazing Spider-Man #73 (June 1969), as Silvermane's lawyer. Pierre Fresson was also known as the third Cyclone. But yeah, this meeting shows just how wide-spread the Maggia's activities are. They're even active in other countries, as we got Ishihara speaking for the Pacific Rim and Fresson speaking for Europe.
The Wasp, Triathlon, and Vision are easily able to take down the guards protecting the meeting. Inside, Madame Masque makes it clear she wants no part of a united Maggia. She fears it will put her in a position of vulnerability, and she has plenty of enemies as it is. However, the Grim Reaper reminds her that this is an offer she can't refuse. It's at this moment the Avengers bust in. Madame Masque, has come prepared for this.
Its's the Dreadnoughts combatants originally created by HYDRA. The Maggia heads try to make their escape. After all, the Avengers will be too busy trying to keep the Dreadnoughts from wrecking everything to worry about them. The Dreadnoughts brought some backup, but they're dispatched by the Scarlet Witch.
The Grim Reaper manages to hold Madame Masque hostage, his scythe to her throat. He admits to her that yes, this whole thing was a strike against her. You see, someone wants her, and the Reaper was sent to bring her to the man that hired him. Madame Masque then spots Iron Man and states this to her.
"She still loves you, Iron Man. And she needs your help."With a clench of her jaw, Madame Masque explodes.
And with that, Madame Masque is seemingly dead. The Grim Reaper takes advantage of the Avengers' confusion to escape. Despite that, the night isn't a complete loss. Three Maggia chieftains have been captured, so a big blow has been dealt to the organized crime syndicate.
There is one final thing to touch on in the story. You see, Vision had left the team due to some emotional issues that he had with who he is. He's been taking stock of his life, and he's realized that for much of it, he's been seeking validation for his existence in other people, but he really has to find it within himself. He has come to realize over the weeks he's spent in Chicago.
This little character moment is interrupted by Iron Man. This whole thing has left him with a ton of questions: Who was the Grim Reaper working for? What was up with the fake Madame Masque? Why did she say what she said? Who was she talking about?
Well, the Armored Avenger wants some friggin' answers! So the Avengers are going to get them!
As I have said in the past, this era of the Avengers is some of my favorite comic books of all time, and this issue is no exception. The only real issue I have with it, is I feel it can't really be read as a standalone. But that's not really the comic's fault, it's serialized storytelling. Busiek is clearly fond of the whole Vision/Wonder Man/Scarlet Witch love triangle saga, as he's explored it a bit in his run. We got some great action with the Avengers battling the Dreadnoughts, and an intriguing mystery with the fake Madame Masque.
My favorite scene is She-Hulk and Triathlon playing Handball on Steroids. Downtime is always a great device for showing character development, and we see here that Triathlon is starting to gel with his new teammates and is letting his hair down a bit. And of course, George Perez turns in spectacular art.
You know, maybe next time, we should explore the mystery of Madame Masque. So yeah, let's do that. If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2012 trade paperback Avengers Assemble Vol. 3. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, spread it around! Take care of yourselves, and each other. Stay healthy, stay safe, stay home, and wash your hands often!
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