House of M #5: Review

This issue shows the aftermath of 2 tie-in mini-series which fit between #2 and here. In Iron Man: House of M as well as being a successful businessman Tony Stark takes part in televised armoured gladiatorial games. His father Howard plans to use a mutant-killing genetic invention, that Hank Pym was seen discussing in #2, to kill Magneto. Armoured Tony stops him, and is feted as heroic Iron Man. (Despite this he won't use his armour in the following issues.) In Spider-Man: House of M Peter Parker is successful at everything including being a superhero, in large part because he claims to be a mutant. But the lie has been eating at him, and he takes on the role Green Goblin to expose himself as a fraud. This has to happen currently because in #2 he was still the idol of millions, but now he's in hiding after being exposed. There is a 3rd tie-in which very definitely fits in this issue. In The Pulse #10 Kat Farrell is investigating the Red Guard chasing Wolverine. Hawkeye pops up and tells her about the 2 realities now in his head, and how he's going to Genosha after Magneto and Scarlet Witch. (This is the only example I know of the 2 realities physically manifesting simultaneously. Hawkeye holds the news report of his death in Avengers Disassembled that he will pin to Avengers Mansion in #8, but Kat sees it as a different article.)

I think Luke Cage's group consists of Black Cat, Bob Diamond, Cloak, Hawkeye, Iron Fist and Moon Knight. Abe Brown, Misty Knight and White Tiger were left behind last issue when Sentinels attacked. They seem to have dropped Lin Sun and Lotus Shinchuko since last issue too. The last of the Sons of the Tiger, Bob Diamond, probably doesn't continue into next issue either. Peter Parker faked his suicide in Spider-Man: HoM #5 after he lost all public support, and he and his family are supposed to be in hiding. But someone in the crowd here easily recognises him and cheers him. In this reality he is married to Gwen and they have a son. Uncle Ben is still alive. Peter was a famous scientist, actor and wrestler (as Spider-Man). Mary Jane Watson is a film actress. I don't know why Daredevil is chosen for enlightenment. He's not an Avenger, having turned down the invite in New Avengers #3, and he won't do much in the following issues. It can't be just because Matt Murdoch was talking to Jennifer Walters when Layla awoke She-Hulk's memories. Jessica Drew is actually a Skrull imposter. New Avengers (2005) #45 will show that the Skrulls actually knew about Wanda's reality change as soon as it happened. So Layla doesn't really enlighten her here.