Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The previously page reminds us again how in New Avengers #3 Captain America couldn't condone what the other Illuminati were planning to do to save the Earth and its timeline from the 'incursions'. So Dr Strange made him forget all about it. But last issue Cap remembered, and confronted Tony Stark accompanied by Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hyperion, Starbrand and Thor. Then the Time Gem appeared and shattered, and these Avengers were sent 48 years into the future.
The previously page didn't mention that Stark had suited up and attacked the other Avengers along with a bunch of AI-run Iron Man armours. This would have helped explain the following pages.
1st we see the Time Gem reform. Then we see the Avengers continuing to fight the Iron Men, so the drones have obviously been brought through time as well. The AIs are able to deduce how far they've been projected into the future. All during the fight they try to persuade the Avengers to isolate themselves from contact with the future. (Worried about paradoxes?)
While Steve Rogers continues to confront Tony Stark, the rest of the Avengers polish off the drones. But Starbrand takes time out to marvel at the advanced civilisation, and his senses detect 3 colonies on the Moon. Then the Avengers all turn on Iron Man. Tony removes his helmet. He apologises for keeping them in the dark about the incursion threat, but not for what the Illuminati have been doing. And he points out that the world seems to be doing alright, so his plan must have worked.
The group is suddenly surrounded by a bunch who call themselves the Avengers Union, who turn out to be older versions of Black Widow, Hawkeye and Hyperion, plus a Captain America type who never speaks, a Valkyrie type ditto, and Starbrand's female successor.
Future Starbrand complains to old Hawkeye that the Avengers have got here a week earlier than he said. Old Hawkeye's excuse is that it *did* all happen to him nearly 50 years ago. Young Hawkeye refuses to believe it's his future self, until they engage in a bow and arrow duel which the old guy wins. Young Clint Barton asks if he evr gets his dog back. Old Clint says yes, but his kids hate him.
Old Hawkeye then greets the Cap from the past. He says there's 2 things he's supposed to do - the 1st being to pass on some information. Soon the Time Gem will take them further into the future, bigger jumps each time. And he relays a message from Steve Rogers - not to expect a warm welcome, even from their friends. And his final message is just whispered to Cap.
Meanwhile future Starbrand tells our guy that he will pass the brand on to her when he dies a glorious death. And future Hyperion advises his counterpart that his place is out in the void between universes (where AIM retrieved him from after his timeline was destroyed in an incursion).
Old Clint Barton then moves on to the 2nd thing he has to do - he attacks Iron Man. As he beats on his face he blames Stark for all those who will die because of his actions, and for those who live to suffer the aftereffects. Clint tells Tony that the device implanted in his hand that warns of impending incursions and takes him there (all the Illuminati have 1) can also take IM back from this future. On the previous pass Stark didn't go back in time to prevent the disaster, but he can do it if he leaves now. Tony clicks his palm and disappears.
Then the Time Gem reappears. Somebody asks old Hawkeye where (when) they're going next. He answers that he doesn't know because he never went that far. The gem shatters and they're 422 years in the future. A huge US space-ship(?) is sitting in the middle of New York, and large cubes float in the air.