Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The 3 threats that have dominated this series continue:- AIM's futuristic city on Barbuda; The giant dragon with Madripoor on its haed attacking Shanghai; Morgan Le Fay, based in the City of the Dead under Velletri in Italy, raisng the dead beneath Europe's capitals; plus the 4th added trouble-spot as AIM's troops attack Washington DC defended by the major heroes Captain America, Captain Marvel, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor.
Maria Hill is coordinating defence from SHIELD helicarrier Iliad. She's currently watching the situation in Shanghai. As Black Widow, Falcon and Wolverine help the citizens, and China's Ascendant team fight Hand ninjas overhead, an extremely giant-sized Shang-Chi (courtesy of Pym particles last issue) takes on the dragon itself. He rips away the Madripoor building containing Gorgon and throw it out to sea. Without Gorgon to control it the dragon is easy to defeat, and Shang-Chi drags it back to its submerged resting place holding up Madripoor island.
Hill's attention is next drawn to Velletri where Hawkeye, Spider-Woman and Black Knight's Euroforce are being overwhelmed by Le Fay's zombies. Clint Barton reports that Sebastian Druid was killed (#12). But Druid's spirit belies that by rising from his body. It was all a cunning plan. As a dead person he can now use Morgan's spell against her. Magical feedback (it looks like) disrupts her control of the risen dead in Berlin, London, Paris and Rome (and other cities). It also leaves her vulnerable to a concerted physical attack by the assembled heroes (I thought she'd moved to London in #12). It's all over, as Nightmask appears supporting Starbrand who had been captured in #8. Even Druid seems to be alive again.
The Sigkill that Maria's secret agents the Next Avengers delivered to AIM Island in #11 has crippled their defences. Cannonball, Hyperion and Sunspot start to trash the place. AIM's Scientist Supreme sends Messenger to oppose them. But her lover Sam Guthrie brings Izzy Dare back to her self. And AIM's city blows up (I thought it did that in #11).
And the 5 heroes defeat AIM in Washington.
Later Cap compares notes with Maria Hill, and asks her what the Sigkill was that wrecked AIM Island. She avoids telling him it was a computer virus from the future brought back by the Next Avengers, sons and daughter of some of the Avengers including himself. We also learn that the kids are staying in the present.
The last pages suggest that Cap thinks that the Avengers idea has now expanded to include the Ascendant, Euroforce and Sebastian Druid. (But it's symbolic as it includes the Next Avengers and the future Jocasta who he doesn't know about).