General Thunderbolt Ross has
conquered Latveria and renamed it New America, with Democracy City as the
capital. Disgusted by what he considers the USA’s weakness toward dictators and
empires. And so he has a plan to remedy all that….
Reed Richards is summoned to the office
of Renata Riani, Secretary General of the United Nations. She shows him the
message Ross sent out to the world, promising to end all authoritarian regimes
and those masquerading as democracies, to give them back freedom. And Ross has
been sighted leading his army toward Symkaria. Reed offers to help and she
replies that he is to do nothing about this as she sees superheroes as part of
the problem, dealing with international troubles with no authority and no
concern for consequences. Riani blames the FF and their ongoing feud with
Doctor Doom for his decision to conquer the world. She insists the UN will
handle the problem with Ross and orders him out of her office….
Winter Soldier visits the comatose
Captain America (Steve Rogers) in the hospital and stands quietly by his old
friend’s bed when Captain America Sam Wilson tells him it’s time to go. He
carries Bucky to a meeting of the FF and various Avengers. Reed informs the
group of the Secretary General’s orders while Sub-Mariner sneers at the United Nations
that has always rejected Atlantis’ petition to join. Tony Stark arrives with
the IronAlert system, which he is using the monitor the entire world for
impending threats while maintaining a semblance of respect for privacy rights.
Tony blames himself for letting Doom’s takeover happen; he notes that Ross is
using something that makes him incredible powerful, he guesses predictive
technology….
Meanwhile, Red Hulk leads his
hulked-out squad on an invasion of Symkaria and quickly captures it, facing the
world’s armies….
Tony Stark visits New Orleans to
appeal to the X-Men to join the mission. Rogue confesses that they need to
concentrate on keeping mutants safe. Tony mentions that Cyclops and his group
said the same thing. Wolverine suggests they look up a guy he met recently
(revealed later to be Dave Colton, former Captain America)….
The United Nations Security
Council votes to allow member states to use all means necessary to repel
invasion by the terrorist group, New America, supported by Amara Azikiwe,
delegate from Wakanda, approved by Black Panther….
Dave Colton arrives at the Pentagon
where he receives hostile intentions from suspicious guards; he tears down the
gate and walks in, searching for Dr. Saraf, responsible for giving him his
powers. Colton pushes through the soldier and reaches the lab but then Captain
Marvel and Vision arrive to rescue the scientists. But Dave Cap surprises Carol
by being much more powerful than she expects, even overpowering her. He clobbers
Carol and tells her he is shutting down Super-Soldier programs. Sam Cap and
Logan tell him there’s a bigger fight at hand. So Dave Cap wrecks the lab and joins
the team, asking what his next target is….
At home, Bucky and Namor put aside
their varying opinions of war, forged together and vow to fight for Steve
Rogers. Spider-Man asks Tony Stark if he should be part of the team because he’s
more of a street level, local problem hero. Tony tells him to stay if he wants
to and introduces him to Dave Cap who is a fan of Spidey. Secretary Riani
contacts them, telling them that a five-nation military force is on its way to
confront Ross and that if the superheroes interfere they will be judged the
enemy too. Tony Stark’s reaction: “Avengers assemble!”
Give that special marvelite a timely gift