New Avengers (2010 series) #31

This issue opens in New Orleans as Daimon Hellstrom (aka Hellstorm/Son Of Satan) tries to mystically contact Dr Strange to consult him about disturbances in the astral plane. If DrS is behind them then that's OK but it's worrying without a current Sorcerer Supreme. He gets a visit from Victoria Hand, Captain America's liaison with the New Avengers. She says Cap wants to know if he's sensed anything arcane happening. He shows her a mystic map of the astral plane and tells her that someone is really messing it up and he fears it might spill out into our reality. Having established that he doesn't know who's doing it she manifests an energy spear and stabs him through the chest saying "It was me".

In Avengers Mansion in New York the New Avengers are having a meal. The Avengers Vs X-Men event is over and Luke Cage and his wife Jessica Jones are back in residence, at least temporarily. The most recent recruit Daredevil is surprised to learn that Luke owns the place. He explains that Tony Stark sold it to him for $1 to use as the team's HQ, but he and Jess don't want to raise their baby daughter Danielle in these dangerous surroundings so they're quitting. Mockingbird is shocked by that. Jess asks if anyone wants to buy the place off them, and Iron Fist (Danny Rand, the rich CEO of Rand-Meachum and ex-partner of Cage in Heroes For Hire) jokingly offers $5, a 400% profit. Wolverine claims to have 'grown up' in a place like this and he's fine (but surely he was an adult when he joined the X-Men). Carol Danvers enters the room in her new superid/costume as Captain Marvel. Spider-Man explains what's going on and ups the bid to $13 cash. Carol is also shocked and asks if this is the end of the team. Dr Strange, Squirrel Girl (Danielle Cage's nanny) and Thing are also present but keep quiet.

Meanwhile in Miami Victoria Hand is beating up sorceress Jennifer Kale, saying she needs to get her out of the way. Kale knows Hand is possessed and demands to know who the possessor is. But Hand just stabs her with her energy spear, destroys the body and magics herself away.

We next see Dr Strange and Iron Fist in the Mansion grounds among the shattered statues of Avengers (broken during the Avengers Disassembled event). They're supposed to be meditating but Danny can't stop mulling over Luke's decision to leave. He considers him the heart of the team, and also can't help remembering when Cage and himself were a team and Luke wouldn't have made such a decision without talking it over with him. Stephen Strange assures him that he and Luke will always be friends. Danny changes the subject by saying he's going to buy a Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and asks Stephen if he wants 1 too.

Carol cuddles baby Danielle while Jessica continues packing for the move. Jess worries whether she's *making* Luke leave the Avengers. Carol assures her that she gave him the space for him to realise it was the right thing to do. She explains about her new super-id and Jess says she never liked the name Ms Marvel anyway. Carol reminds her *she* used to call herself Jewel. But Jessica is still blaming herself and thinks she's causing the team to disband. Carol reminds her the team's future is Captain America's responsibility. Carol continues to be supportive.

Outside Luke is carrying a box to the removal van when he meets Victoria Hand who's surprised to find him moving out. He says he hasn't told Cap because he wanted to go via her as official liaison, but she's not been around. She suggests he could live elsewhere but stay on the team but he says he needs to make a clean break. Just then an FBI Agent turns up and says Hand is wanted for questioning. Other team members are showing up to see what's going on, and DD says that by law he needs to explain what it's about. The Agent mentions the disappearance of Jennifer Kale, and DrS of course recognises the victim's name. Them Maria Hill, Director of SHIELD, jetpacks in to remind the Agent that SHIELD specifically told the FBI to keep out of this. Carol suggests the rest of them go in the house and leave the FBI and SHIELD to their argument. Victoria exchanges glances with Carol and then appears confused and collapses unconscious. Carol picks her up and carries her inside, and we see a strange expression on her face.