This may be the first instance I can think of of a trend that is coming to Marvel comics with totally, absolutely sucks, and that is artists not being able to finish their runs. This is the end of the out of control train that has been this title’s story for 11 months, and Leinil Yu drew all of it… but he can’t do this. Marvel will start routinely pulling artists off books near the end of their run to go launch some fancy new #1 and leave all their hard work to be paid off by someone else. It sucks so bad. It’s not quite unusual to see an artist finish their story. Recently (as of this writing), writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Marco Checchetto actually got to finish their run on Daredevil, and it’s the first time I can think of that happening in a long time. Anyway. While Leinil doesn’t get to finish his thing, into his spot steps Carlo Pagulayan, an artist I’ve always thought does cool things, but who’s almost never drawn a book I was reading. So at least there’s that. He’s joined by inker Jeff Huet and colorist Justin Ponsor. We open with Maria Hill being informed that everyone they picked up in NA 37 has been broken back out of the Raft, and now they don’t know where they are. But, having learned nothing, Bendis puts them here:
Now she’s NUDE as they assault her, how great. Justice for Tigra. Meanwhile, the Avengers return to Dr. Strange’s house, where Jessica Jones and Night Nurse are chatting. Wong is about to get very upset by Wolverine going in the kitchen when everyone notices Strange seems to be in a bad way.
He has to “go home.” Where’s that? The fleabag motel or Aunt May’s hospital room? Meanwhile, the Hood’s gang, now back to the full strength it was at that first meeting, are massed outside Dr. Strange’s house, considering what to do. Wrecker mentions the Master of Evil did something like this once (The famous Under Siege storyline Tom DeFalco butted into in ASM 283). Hood can see the through the illusion with the power he gets from the demon it looked like he lost in the fight, and Madame Masque asks when the rest of the teams gets let in on his deal with a devil. While they’re arguing…
The Avengers, having really not gotten Spider-Man’s message (He couldn’t have said “the Hood’s gang?”) are caught completely off guard. The Hoo himself even gets into Strange’s room and shoots him a few times. Man, this book is mean to Dr. Strange. Stabbed AND shot. As battle rages in the house, we find Jigsaw lining up Danielle Cage in a sniper scope, until said scope is covered in web.
Outside, some SHIELD guys in a van who’ve been staking out Strange’s report things are getting weird there. Back inside, battle continues. There’s actually even more goons than before, including the U-Foes and the Brothers Grimm. Remember those goofballs? The Hood is about to shoot Iron Fist from behind when Tigra comes flying through the window and slices him one. But only one, she’s immediately incapacitated. No justice for her. Meanwhile, after Night Nurse pronounces him dead, Strange’s eyes snap open glowing red, and he staggers out into the battle.
Razorfist, even!
The Incredible Strange! Pagulayan will do some Hulk work at some point. That big burst took out everyone, hero and villain alike, and Strange sinks to his knees and Wong asks him what’s happening. Wong runs for a book and casts a spell that seems to wake the good guys up.
I think this spread means this comic takes place after the next event, but I ask you: How? The team was apart for a single day. And then the book lined up with Mighty Avengers. Neither book could have possibly allowed something else to happen. The event is already over by the time this sees print, but again, where would it fit in these 12 months of publishing? Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, every member of these 2 teams who had their own title at the time were literally in 2 places at once (Wolverine more like 3, Spider-Man more like 7), and now we’re meant to think they were in yet another. Marvel continuity is broken, and will only get worse.
Gasp! Things are looking difficult for the New Avengers. Lost their base, lost their transportation, and now Jessica’s run to the enemy. And that leads us to the minievent.