Synopsis / Summary / Plot
In Avengers Mansion Scarlet Witch wakes from a nightmare.
In Washington DC Wasp and Yellowjacket admire the White House, rebuilt since the Kang Dynasty War. They've been discussing security protocols with Congress, who now complain about the 'security risks' they worked with during the War. Janet Van Dyne has been trying to get Henry Pym to broaden his gustatory horizons but he's turning his nose up at a takeaway plantain meal. He dumps it and they get small to fly to the Corcoran Art Gallery where she expands his horizons in a different way by showing him a painting "City Night" by Georgia O'Keeffe. After admiring it Hank and Jan re-express their love. Then the tranquillity is broken by what feels like an earthquake. As they try to protect citizens they see some kind of storm outside, and then a starry blackness engulfs them.
Back in New York Captain America and Falcon are hunting down Mr Hyde. Apparently in his day job Sam Wilson is now an urban planner and 1 of his engineers was beaten up by her boyfriend Calvin Zabo (Mr H's civilian id). Along the way Sam tells Steve Rogers he's given up the armoured costume he's been wearing recently because it alienated the ordinary citizens he protects. Falc is watching through his bird Redwing's eyes as Zabo buys some heroin. The bird swoops down and slashes the villain, followed by Falcon's fist and Cap 'arrests' him.
But Zabo has already taken a dose of his transformation serum and becomes Mr Hyde who boasts that he's gone toe-to-toe with Thor himself. However that's why Cap has brought along some friends - other Avengers Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision and Warbird (Thor is busy being Lord of Asgard). Hyde runs and Cap sends IM, Vizh and WB to fly after him. Steve notes Wanda Maximoff is coughing but she says she's OK. MrH wades through a taxi rank, throwing some of the vehicles at the heroes. He has 1 cab over his head dripping gasoline on him when the Witch arrives and hexes it alight. Aflame he slams the car down and a jagged metal fragment cuts Wanda's arm deeply. Angry Vision slams into him at the same time as Cap's shield, and the villain is down.
Edwin Jarvis calls them back to the Mansion and Falcon goes with them to get the news that Washington has been replaced by a dark void, and Wasp and YJ were in there. Steve asks Sam to stay and help. The butler has called in a few reserves he could contact. We see Ant-Man (Scott Lang, who happened to pick up the emergency signal via his helmet), Jack Of Hearts and She-Hulk. JOH and Ant-Man don't hit it off and Cap has to separate them. Carol Danvers reminds Jack that Hank Pym told him he *mustn't* lose his temper (we'll find out why in later issues).
News comes in that more capitals have been swallowed by 'black holes' - London, Islamabad and Doomstadt (in Latveria of course). Black Panther arrives to say that a chunk of Wakanda has gone too. He's followed by Henry Peter Gyrich who used to get up everyone's nose as their government liaison a long time ago and has recently been annoying T'Challa as *his* liaison. HPG announces that many of the world's capitals have disappeared, taking their leaders with them, and he offers his political experience to help the team handle the fallout. Tony Stark reluctantly agrees. And then they get a call from the UN Secretary-General asking the Avengers to assume world leadership in this crisis.
Wanda is in her room, arm in a sling and still coughing, toying with some Tarot cards (which contain some Avengers-specific images) when 1 of the cards displays a city-killing void and a face appears within asking for help.