Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Outside Avengers Mansion, demonstrators and counter demonstrators face one another warily as the police stand by to prevent violence. The issue is the Sub-Mariner’s membership in the Avengers: supporters cite his heroism on the Allied side during World War 2; opponents point to his frequent attacks on the surface world since the War. The US State Department reiterated that Namor was granted a blanket amnesty for all criminal acts as a condition of Atlantis’ application for membership in the United Nations. Watching on television is a consortium of insurance firms, headed by Leslie Farrington; he sees this as the right time to strike against the Sub-Mariner….
Inside the Mansion, Jarvis watches on television as the newscaster asks why the Avengers have not issued an official confirmation if Namor has joined the team; Jarvis knows it’s been because the Avengers have been missing in time…
…and suddenly they have returned, courtesy of Immortus. Namor and Hercules are offended at Immortus’ casual treatment of them. Captain Marvel confesses to Black Knight that she was surprised when Kang’s Darkforce immobilized her and wants Dane to help her understand her powers better. Jarvis fills them in on the ruckus outside. Hercules offers to thrash the protestors soundly but Wasp orders him not to—which Herc quietly resents. Captain America briefly explains freedom of speech and assembly. Meanwhile, Namor himself easily understands the opposition to him….
Outside, a woman in widow’s weeds tells the crowd that her husband was a longshoreman killed by the Sub-Mariner, stirring them to anger. But overhead in a helicopter, FBI Agent Derek Freeman recognizes the widow as Karla “Moonstone” Sofen, recently escaped from prison. A riot breaks out; Captain Marvel appears in a flash of light, asking everyone to return behind the barricades. She informs the protestors that Namor is indeed an Avenger, proposed by Captain America himself. Cap confirms this but when asked about the widow’s claims, she is nowhere to be found. Wasp relays a report from Agent Freeman that Moonstone is in the crowd. To distract attention, the villainess causes a fire hydrant to burst; CM uses her powers to weld the hydrant shut so Moonstone decides on a better distraction: she blasts the copter’s tail rotor, causing it to spin dangerously. Namor leaps into the air, seizing the copter and bringing it down safely. But Wasp spots Moonstone as she phases into the sidewalk. Wasp follows her through a hole she drills into the street and pursues her into the sewers. Moonstone, having changed into her armor, ambushes Wasp who has called for help. The sidewalk collapses under them with Hercules rescuing endangered citizens….
Black Knight descends into the sewer and is attacked by Moonstone who is groggy from a gas main explosion (not shown). To his surprise, BK’s Ebony Blade absorbs Moonstone’s energy blasts and he is able to hurl them back at her. Wasp arrives unharmed, having stopped to fix the gas leak….
Namor and CM show up with the injured occupants of the damaged copter, Agent Freeman and the pilot. Some in the crowd hail Namor as a hero while others claim the whole rescue was faked. The captive Moonstone is brought to the surface and Cap unmasks her to show the crowd she was the phony widow who incited the group to violence. She is placed in a power-dampening harness and put in the back of a police van—where the two cops guarding her reveal themselves to be Absorbing Man and Titania, who have an offer for her [to join the new Masters of Evil]. Meanwhile, Namor is handed a summons….
Later, lawyer Michael Costello explains that, while Namor has amnesty from criminal charges, he can still be sued in civil court and that’s what is happening. The insurance investors led by Farrington are suing Namor for two billion dollars for damage to properties they owned or insured during his various rampages. Costello suggests settling out of court but Namor insists on facing his accusers and receiving justice….
Later, Namor receives a visitor from Atlantis, Byrrah, who tells him Attuma rules Atlantis and is setting a trap for him with Marrina as bait. He intends to take care of this himself; Black Knight offers his support but Hercules recognizes that there are certain trials a man must face alone and Namor departs….