New Avengers #25: Review

Oct 2006

Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Cheung

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Story Name:

New Avengers: Disassembled Part 5

Review & Comments

Rating:

New Avengers #25 Review by Rob Johnson (September 9, 2014)

Jim Cheung is the artist for this issue. And he also does the cover, unlike the other Civil War issue covers which were by Adi Granov. This is Kenny's only appearance. Since Jarvis here is really a Skrull, I wonder how good his simulation is when they come to treat his bullet wound. Maria Hill says here she was just an agent in Madripoor before being made Director of SHIELD. I think this is the 1st bit of backstory she's been given since appearing full-blown as (Acting) Director in #4. Tony Stark has already turned down the job of SHIELD Director in Iron Man #13. But he'll take the reigns in Civil War #7.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

New Avengers #25 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

A man called Kenny uses tech to freeze the armour of the Capekillers guarding Avengers Tower, and Tony Stark's password to get to the top floor. Unfortunately he's spotted by butler Jarvis, who sets off an alarm before Kenny shoots him in the shoulder and then turns the alarm off.

In the SHIELD Helicarrier, Director Maria Hill is informed that something happened to the Tower guards, but when questioned they respond that everything's OK. Further examination reveals the guards lying on the ground, and the response is an automated message. Hill scrambles some jets.

Meanwhile Iron Man has found Kenny, but the intruder has disabled his armour too with a codephrase. It turns out Kenny works for Tony Stark, and he designed the Capekiller armour. But he never expected it to be used against heroes like Captain America. He feels betrayed.

Kenny comments that since the Civil War heated up Tony Stark has stopped appearing outside of the Iron Man armour (not completely true). He figures Stark isn't proud of what he's doing and he's hiding from it. But he takes Tony's helmet off so he can see what happens next.

Maria Hill has arrived outside the Tower, and learned that Tony Stark can't be contacted. There's also no answer from the Tower, and it's proof against surveillance stuff. And SHIELD have no prepared plan for breaking in to it.

Hill decides to go in herself (Nick Fury-style). She's given some James Bond-type gadgets (and of course they all turn out to be exactly what she needs):- A spray that turns a wall to foam for 10 seconds. A watch that's a cloaking device (but don't have it switched on while walking through the foam). Anti-grav shoes. And a handful of little balls that will dampen an explosion. They have also detected that the building's security system has been switched off.

If they don't hear from her in 1 minute then SHIELD will storm the building, led by Ms Marvel.

Maria goes through a wall into a stairwell, turns invisible, and uses the anti-grav shoes to shoot up to the top floor.

Meanwhile (again) Kenny has produced a pocket-sized antimatter generator that will power a matter reversal process that will cause Avengers Tower to collapse to nothing. Only he and Stark will die, and unfortunately Jarvis (the rest of the building is strangely empty). He's told the Internet what he's doing so the Resistance won't be blamed. He's hoping his action will bring the country to its senses and end the Civil War.

At this point Maria Hill enters the room and shoots Kenny. But the antimatter device is still powering up. So Hill throws her balls at it, which smother the explosion so only a bit of the room vanishes. SHIELD troops burst in with Ms Marvel and Sentry. But it's all over.

Later Hill has a chat with Stark. She tells him she believes she was given the job of Director of SHIELD (to replace disgraced Nick Fury) instead of many better-qualified people because she was only supposed to keep the seat warm until a real candidate took over. And that candidate in her opinion should be him.

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