Synopsis
New Avengers (2005 series) #22 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Iron Man and Ms Marvel have come to visit Luke, Jessica and baby Danielle Cage at home in Harlem, to ask them to register before the Superhero Registration Act becomes law at midnight. Otherwise they'll be criminals.
Jessica says she has long ago given up using her powers, and has no intention of using them for the government, or anyone else. Tony Stark indicates that she'll have to do what she's told, but as a new mother they won't send her against tough opponents.
Luke won't tell Stark what he intends to do - they'll have to wait until midnight to find out. IM says SHIELD will come for him at midnight. Cage likens it to negro slaves being dragged from their homes in the 60's.
Cage doesn't trust the future Stark is creating. Tony tries the old ploy "If you join us you can help ensure we do it right", but Luke isn't falling for it. Even the deep friendship between Carol Danvers and Jessica Jones is no help in swaying them. So IM and MM leave them to it.
The plan is for Jessica to take Danielle to Canada. But Luke is staying to make a point. They'll have to drag him fighting from his home. And he'll just bust out of any jail they put him in.
When they say goodbye, a local kid asks Cage if he's going to sign. Luke says no - he'll just sit at home not causing anyone any trouble, and they'll see what happens.
At the stroke of midnight SHIELD Capekillers show up at his door, led by Gabriel Jones. Cage comes out fighting, and they have to call in reinforcements. And the local kids are filming it all. The reinforcements are armed with a genetic paralyzer which finally takes Cage down. But a neighbour fires a gun at them, and then the whole neighbourhood erupts with Molotov cocktails and such.
The SHIELD Agents don't want to shoot at civilians. But then the situation changes as they are struck by a billy-club and a shield. Captain America and 'Daredevil' are here, alongside Falcon. (Cage expresses surprise because he thought Daredevil was in jail.) The Capekillers are all defeated, and to rub it in Cap's squad escape with Cage in a SHIELD assault vehicle (which they later abandon), and put in a cheeky call to SHIELD Director Maria Hill.
In a minimart in Canada Jessica sees TV news of Luke's rescue.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Danielle Cage, Daredevil (
Danny Rand).
EnemiesPlus: Capekillers, Gabe Jones (
Gabriel Jones).