Synopsis
This issue again contains a sequence of flashbacks interwoven with the main story. Last issue's flashbacks had Tony Stark and Carol Danvers choosing the new team and recruiting Ares. This issue's flashbacks show them recruiting the rest of the mob. I'll deal with the flashbacks 1st.
Simon Williams' acting career is going nowhere, and his agent wants him to star in a reality show based around his superhero life. So he jumps at the chance when Iron Man and Ms Marvel ask him to be an Avenger as Wonder Man.
In the Watchtower on top of Avengers Tower Bob Reynolds is having 1 of his awkward conversations with his wife Lindy. He's still in therapy to integrate his Bob/Sentry personae, and still worrying about how to prioritise things that need Sentry's attention. Lindy is not happy when IM and MsM come recruiting. Carol is also worried about Bob's mental state in battle.
Natasha Romanoff is teaching unarmed combat in the SHIELD helicarrier, and easily beats the whole class at once. She's actually taking out on them her frustration at being taken off SHIELD field operations because she was too close to the disgraced Nick Fury. So Black Widow too is happy to become an Avenger again.
Fashion designer Janet Van Dyne is ignoring her ex-husband Henry Pym's phone calls and despairing over her latest designs when Carol comes calling. She tries to resist the call to arms, saying it would be running away from her problems. Carol rewords it as returning to the thing she's best at, and Wasp doesn't need more persuading.
In the main story Mole Man had attacked Manhattan with Moloids and giant monsters because something had devastated his underground kingdom. Meanwhile the world is awash with natural disasters and extreme weather. During the battle last issue Iron Man changed into seemingly a naked female.
Team leader Ms Marvel restrains Ares from attacking before they know what their foe is. Wasp thinks it's a copy of herself. The woman admits to being accidentally responsible for the underground destruction, and Mole Man sends his monsters against her. Carol tells Sentry to protect what is presumably Tony Stark's body, but he's frozen in confusion.
Ares won't hold back any more. So MsM reluctantly commits the whole team to follow him into battle. Ares and Sentry get there 1st, but the woman hits them with a lightning strike. And then she emits a wave which melts Moley's monsters.
Mole Man and his Moloids retreat underground. Black Widow discovers that comms with SHIELD's helicarrier is down. Carol orders everyone to stay back as she goes forward to talk to the woman. But BW takes aim with a sniper rifle.
The woman ignores everyone else and chooses to goad Ares into attacking again. But she effortlessly stops him with 1 hand, and snaps his axe with a thought. Then she sends an energy bolt through his chest. Sentry pulls him away, but their foe just redirects the bolt through both of them.
Ms Marvel orders a retreat until they can figure out a plan. But Wasp takes her turn to chat with the woman who looks like her. The woman is still not forthcoming, except to claim that she isn't Tony Stark/Iron Man. She says she's using Jan's features because she loves her.
Wasp returns to the others and says they'll have to contact Hank Pym, because that woman is his creation Ultron.