Iron Man, now SHIELD Director, is must deal with the sudden arrival of the World War II-era Invaders in the modern world. Ms Marvel tells him that the consequences of the time paradox could be disastrous and once again tries to persuade him that Cap’s death was not his fault. He still can’t convince himself though and he calls out the Mighty Avengers: Wasp, Sentry, Black, Widow, Wonder Man, Ares, Ms Marvel and himself, to locate the missing heroes—with strict orders to keep them from harm lest the Avengers never exist….
The confused Invaders regroup at the Brooklyn Bridge and try to figure out what’s going on. A newspaper claims that it is the year 2008 but they don’t know whether they have traveled in time or the Nazi gas is causing them to hallucinate. They don’t have time to explore further as the Avengers arrive and Iron Man call on them to surrender. The Invaders respond with violence. Ms Marvel easily takes down Bucky while Human Torch is defeated by Wonder Man (and a distracted Toro seconds later—loser). Iron Man tries to talk sense into Captain America but the patriotic her will not listen. Iron Man hoists him into the air but Cap manages to punch him out—but Wasp enters his ear and renders him unconscious. Namor, having clobbered Ares and Wonder Man (or, more accurately, clobbered Ares with Wonder Man) hurls the former’s axe at Iron Man and flies off to seek refuge. A photo of Iron Man with the battle axe wedged in his chestplate makes the front page of the Daily Bugle. The new Captain America, Bucky Barnes, sees it and recognizes his old partner Steve Rogers—and the younger version of himself….
Meanwhile in Manhattan, the displaced young Paul Anselm looks up his contemporary self, and we discover it is the old man seen at the modern-day battle in issue #1. After introducing himself, the two sit down to talk….
In the Helicarrier brig, Iron Man tries to assure the captive Cap that they are in custody for their own safety—and the safety of the world.… In a special cell where the sprinklers are on constantly, Human Torch cannot burst into flame. A SHIELD agent enters to speak with him and Torch responds with a spark to the chest which should render him unconscious—except the agent is a Life Model Decoy and it shorts him out…. In a lab, Toro, still believing he is a prisoner of the Nazis, wonders why they are examining him and what they mean by "mutant"…. Bucky removes the plastic explosives concealed under fake skin on his arm and blows the door to his cell, heading out in search of Cap….
At Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, the New Avengers decide on a course of action: free the Avengers from SHIELD custody….