New Avengers (2005 series) #58

Last issue the New Avengers escaped from the Dark Avengers and Hood's gang (under new management) who had them weakened by a power drainer. They've recovered but Luke Cage had a heart attack. The super-community's Night Nurse couldn't help because of his unbreakable skin. They needed the power drainer, now in the possession of Norman Osborn, to make him vulnerable so he could be operated on. At that point Iron Patriot (Osborn) and his Dark Avengers tracked them down and demanded they surrender. Luke gave himself up as his only chance.

Now read on.

Ares tries to get Cage some help. Patriot spots Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) flying away and gives chase, telling his own Ms Marvel (Moonstone) in charge with orders to kill any other New Avengers who try to escape. His deputy Victoria Hand calls from H.A.M.M.E.R. control advising him to stay with his team as their leader. But he's too interested in catching his prey until she turns in mid-air and knocks him down into the Hudson River, telling him he was stupid to abandon his team like that.

Ares smashes a way into the building. Daken's senses detect a life sign on the 3rd floor and more lower down. Moonstone heads up, the others go in low. She finds just Night Nurse (Linda Carter) on a laptop, who tells her she's just e-mailed Ben Urich, editor of Front Line, explaining how Luke Cage is very ill so she let him surrender to Norman Osborn knowing that he *of course* would receive the necessary treatment. And that she herself is now surrendering although she has committed no crime. And in response to MsM's question she claims not to know where the rest of the NAv are.

Daken is leading the DAv's Hawkeye (Bullseye) and Spider-Man (Venom (Mac Gargan)) after them through the sewers, which is interfering with his power of scent. But he suddenly hears a noise nearby, just in time to get Captain America (Bucky Barnes)' spinning shield slicing into his face. Spider-Woman zaps Venom with her venom blasts. And the real Spider-Man's webbing stops Bullseye from firing an arrow at her.

Cap urges his team to leave because he hears Ares charging towards them. But Ronin (ex-Hawkeye Clint Barton) can't help whacking his imposter. And Mockingbird gets in a kick on Daken. Then Ares' axe hits Cap's shield. The Greek God of War stands over his fallen foe, but Bucky empties a clip into his face. Even Ares will need a little while to shrug that off.

In the Hood's lair his cousin and lieutenant John King is startled when Parker Robbins materialises with his lover Madame Masque. John tells Hood that Jonas Harrow told his gang that they were really working for Osborn. He had invented (mended really) a power drainer and they used it as leverage to strike their own deal with Osborn (#55-57). But now the news says Norman's arrested them.

Osborn and Moonstone have taken Cage to the HAMMER helicarrier but their surgeons of course can't operate. They can't even get a pulse until Norman uses his IP armour to administer a large electric shock. He knows he can't let Cage die for PR reasons, and he knows what it will take for the doctors to operate. So he reluctantly sends for Jonas Harrow.

Luke's wife Jessica Jones and their baby Danielle Cage are in the NAv's secret base. Jessica's adoptive mother is nagging her about being an outlaw. But Jessica counters that she brought her up to stand up for her principles, and Mrs Jones has to back down. But they're both worried about the baby.

Then the 6 New Avengers walk in with the bad news about Luke. Jessica uses her flight power for the 1st time in a while to go to her husband, but Carol Danvers flies after her and stops her. She says this is the only way Luke can get the help he needs. And they have a plan for afterwards.

Harrow brings the power drainer and the surgeons operate on Cage. Osborn tells his Avengers that he has a use for Cage afterwards.