Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Previously:- Luke Cage had a heart attack when Jonas Harrow used his power drainer on the New Avengers. Last issue the team allowed him to surrender to Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn) and the Dark Avengers because they needed Osborn to get Harrow to use the drainer again to let surgeons operate on Luke's otherwise invulnerable body. The surgery was performed.
Now Cage wakes up to be offered a 'deal' by Osborn and his right-hand woman, Deputy Director of H.A.M.M.E.R. Victoria Hand. They tell him he's under arrest. But they won't arrest his wife and child if he'll tell them where to find the rest of his outlaw team. He has until midnight to comply.
But the Avengers have a plan which Captain America (Bucky Barnes), Mockingbird, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), Ronin (Clint Barton), Spider-Man, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) and add-on Jessica Jones, Luke's wife, are explaining to their guests. The Avengers will create a diversion drawing the DAv away while the others rescue Cage. These guests are Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Doctor Voodoo, Hellcat, Iron Fist, Misty Knight, Thing and Valkyrie.
We learn the plan in more detail as the action unfolds, initially in voiceover.
1st they have to *find* Luke. They assume he's not being held in Avengers Tower because Osborn can't be sure they don't know ways of entry that *he* doesn't. So they figure Luke is on the HAMMER helicarrier. Drs Strange and Voodoo investigate in astral bodies. After passing scenes including DAv'ers Hawkeye (Bullseye) and Ms Marvel (Moonstone) kissing they locate the patient and report back that he's alive and recovering. DrS cast a healing spell while he was there.
Iron Fist (Danny Rand) warns them that Osborn may have tech that could detect their astral visit. He's heard about such, and it's probable Tony Stark bought or duplicated it. And Osborn now has all Stark's toys. They also have to assume Osborn has his own mystic-powered minions. All during this conversation Jessica Jones has been getting more frantic with worry.
The next stage is for the 6 New Avengers plus recently-ex member Iron Fist to attack Camp HAMMER the HQ of Osborn's Initiative. The boss Taskmaster calls Norman for help. He and Hand are reviewing footage showing strange energy readings near Cage. They obviously *don't* have specific magic-detectors but suspicious Norman orders Cage moved to another secret location. At that point he gets the message and leads the DAv out to defend Camp HAMMER, assuming that the NAv think Cage is *there*.
Left on the helicarrier Victoria Hand organises the transfer of Cage via helicopter. But when the troops get him to the chopper a huge werewolf leaps out at them (actually a magic mirage). Jessica Jones and the 'guests' (including Iron Fist(!) but not Misty Knight) are waiting for them. Hand realises what's happening, grabs a big gun and leads a charge of more troops up to the deck where she finds the original bunch unconscious and the guests loading Luke into the 'copter.
Iron Fist stays behind as a delaying action while the helicopter takes off. His Iron Fist Punch sends the helicarrier into a nosedive, and he is retrieved from the tilting deck by Valkyrie on her flying horse. It turns out Misty is flying the plane. And Jessica has her husband back.
When the DAv (without Ares) get to Camp HAMMER the NAv are long gone leaving more HAMMER troops strewn around the place. (There's no sign of the Initiative super characters in this battle.) Hawkeye takes a rise out of Taskmaster who sends him literally flying with a haymaker. Osborn gets the news of Cage's rescue, but he's not perturbed because he has a Plan B.
The NAv are watching from nearby in their cloaked quinjet. They too get the news of the rescue. So they fly home.
Everyone (except for some reason Misty Knight) gathers in the NAv's secret HQ. They're all glad Luke is OK. But we see Plan B - a tiny device attached to his heart.