Avengers World #4: Review

Mar 2014

Jonathan Hickman, Stefano Caselli

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Story Name:

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Avengers World #4 Review by Rob Johnson (March 23, 2014)

Sebastian Druid is the son of Dr Druid, and was a member of Nick Fury's Secret Warriors from the start in Mighty Avengers #13. At the end of that team he and the other survivors were taken on by SHIELD, and he's been seen working for them in Secret Avengers (2013) #1. I mentioned the Cult of Entropy in my comments on #2 about the Entropic Man. This is the 1st time we hear that they are centuries old. They debuted in Giant-Size Man-Thing #1 led by Yagzan who would later become (sort of) Entropic Man, now 1 of AIM's leaders. The Cult resurfaced with a different leader in the Man-Thing (1997) series. I don't know how Morgan Le Fay got in this situation (although we may find out in later issues). She was brought back to life at then end of the Fearless Defenders series, although previously she wasn't known to be dead, just sent back to 1 Million BC in Dark Avengers #4. (In between an alternate reality version cropped up in Age of Ultron.)

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Avengers World #4 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

#1 set up 3 simultaneous trouble spots for the Avengers to investigate, working for SHIELD. #2 took us to AIM Island while #3 focussed on Madripoor. Neither of these situations are resolved, but now we'll look in on what's happening in Velletri, Italy.

Hawkeye, Nightmask, Spider-Woman and Starbrand found the town deserted, but when Starbrand touched a strange stone object the 4 were transported underground to a City of the Dead, and Kevin started hearing voices.

Now they find an oil-like canal flowing through the city, and menacing beings form out of it. But as the other 3 fight their attackers, Kevin Connor dazedly wanders off, following a familiar voice. He finds (apparently) an old classmate Kelly Overton. But then he finds himself in his old high school surrounded by teens who ignore him. The school that was destroyed when the White Event turned him into Starbrand in Avengers #7.

On the SHIELD helicarrier Iliad Bruce Banner is haranguing Captain America about having no magician on the Avengers team who might be able to figure out what was going on in Velletri (and in Madripoor). But Maria Hill brings in Sebastian Druid to help. (It's actually a projection because he's in Nepal - it isn't stated whether this is a SHIELD hologram or an astral form.) Cap brings him up to date on what's happening (they still have patchy communication to the underground team). Druid immediately requests a plane to bring him from Nepal.

Starbrand realises this is the moments before his transformation and tries to warn everyone. But they continue to ignore him, as they basically did while he was plain Kevin. Kelly is the only 1 who talks to him. But she blames him for not being able to control his power when it was given him - killing them all. Then all the other students turn on him.

Meanwhile Druid explains that the Cult of Entropy built several of these Cities of the Dead in Europe in the Middle Ages. They trap souls who can't or won't move on. There are defences (eg the oil-beings) to keep people out and the spirits in. No sorcerer has ever found a way to open the cities and set the souls free.

But Starbrand discovers that someone has gained control of at least this city, as his classmates dump him at the feet of Morgan Le Fay.

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