New Avengers (2010 series) #22

The New Avengers have returned to Avengers Mansion (from their clash with the Dark Avengers and the Thor clone Ragnarok) to find Government troops have taken over the place and now want to take them for questioning about allegations made by Norman Osborn. Luke Cage protests that the Mansion is *his* house (although bought with Danny Rand (Iron Fist)'s money). But more importantly he insists on being allowed through to check on his wife (Jessica Jones) and baby (Danielle Cage). And he shows his insistence by ploughing through the troops, ineffectually restrained by IF, Daredevil and Wolverine. But a shot from a special big gun propels him back from whence he came.

The DAv are watching it live on the News. Barney Barton (Trickshot) claims it's all part of Osborn's plan. (In Avengers #23 we saw his HAMMER/Hydra forces 'persuade' the government to take this step.)

Meanwhile we see that Dr Strange has spirited the NAv away to his Greenwich Village Sanctum Sanctorum to regroup and plan. But Cage still wants to check his family are OK. However Wong (presumably transported with them) tells him that they left the building (last issue with Danielle's nanny Squirrel Girl), and he hands him her phone (indicating she doesn't want to be contacted) because she asked him to. Luke leaves to hunt for them.

In her apartment Victoria Hand is frantically packing to get out. But Wolverine blocks her escape and Mockingbird socks her. DD, DrS and IF join them. They accuse her of being a mole in their organisation for Osborn, and they throw her out of a window to fall multiple stories to land on a car ...

... but that's all an illusion cast by Stephen Strange. We now see Ms Marvel and Spider-Man are there too. They insist that she takes them to Norman, but she insists that she's *not* working for *him*. And Daredevil's enhanced senses tell him she's speaking the truth.

Meanwhile in HAMMER HQ Gorgon and Madame Hydra meet up after their separate missions (with the DAv discrediting the New Avengers in this series and getting the government to send troops to take over the Mansion in Av#23). She tells him it's almost time for Hydra, his Hand and AIM to abandon Osborn and strike out on their own. She shows him the captured Captain America but won't let him kill him. She predicts that the US will convict Cap as a war criminal. And then Gorgon can kill him.

Back with our team, Victoria Hand (no relation to Gorgon's Hand organisation) explains that when her old boss Osborn called her she informed Cap and he told her to play along. He made her his liaison with the NAv who didn't trust her because that would make Norman trust her more. She was running now because she can't get hold of Cap so she's on her own. DD and Logan confirm that she's telling the truth. But Spidey's still suspicious of her former link to his old nemesis Osborn (Green Goblin) so suggests she might be a ninja who can control her heartbeat. Danny Rand agrees and makes to hit the traitor with his blazing Iron Fist ... but stops just short, and DD and Wolvie confirm that she's no ninja.

Carol Danvers suggests Victoria call Norman and say she needs extracting. Osborn takes the call while hovering over a site of destruction (where the big battle in the last 2 issues took place?). He says he'll send someone to pick her up.

At HAMMER HQ we see the DAv boarding their plane. Superia (as Ms Marvel) tells them Osborn is sending them to where the NAv are. Gorgan (as Wolverine) lets slip that Hydra has Cap here in the basement. This causes Skaar, son of Hulk, to shout "Avengers Assemble" and attack the others.