Synopsis
Avengers, The (1963 series) #232 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Last issue Hawkeye broke his leg. Now back at Avengers Mansion Dr Donald Blake has set the bone and put the leg in plaster. When he's alone with Captain America and Wasp Blake turns back into Thor. And Jan asks them if she should resign as chairwoman.
She's lost Iron Man who resigned last issue. Luckily they could promote trainee Captain Marvel to take his place. And she doesn't know how they'll (at least temporarily) replace the injured archer. She can't think of any ex-members who they could bring back. Her fellow core team members assure her she's doing a good job. Thor thinks they should accept the membership application of Eros of Titan (last issue again). CapA is doubtful. But Wasp decides they can make him a trainee like CapM was, and contacts the President for permission.
Jan convenes a meeting including the rest of the team (CapM, Hawkeye and She-Hulk) to discuss the matter. Clint Barton is incensed about being replaced, but has to admit he can't go into action with his leg in a cast. Eros says he wants to join for the adventure. Some of them have seen him in action before so they know his abilities. Thor points out that that was when his brother Thanos threatened the universe, but Eros counters that by mentioning Loki. And Eros' charm wins over the ladies.
Wasp declares the matter settled. But the President had demurred at having someone named Eros on the team. So Jan suggests a code name - Starfox because he's a foxy guy from the stars.
For his 1st training exercise Jan sends him with CapM and Thor to help the navy track down the submarine that was involved with last issue's kidnap of the Pres. CapA and Wasp leave together on some other business. Leaving Hawkeye with She-Hulk.
As the trio fly to their destination under their individual powers, Monica Rambeau demonstrates a new twist to her ability to travel as light. She's worked out how to create an image of herself during the flight. She also takes time to ask Eros about his deceased friend the original Captain Marvel. The Titanian praises Mar-Vell as someone worthy of the title hero. And is surprised when the newbie chooses to streak ahead to their destination.
The others arrive soon after her and the Navy Captain explains that they tracked the submarine to a deep too far down for frogmen. And it seems impervious to depth charges. At the moment the Navy are awaiting their own subs.
We know that the occupant of the sub is Plantman. His technology enables him to detonate depth charges before they get too close. But he doesn't fancy tangling with a Trident submarine. So he takes the offensive by firing a ray at some kelp, which grows to giant-size and attacks the ships on the surface. Thor dives into the ocean to combat the threat, as strands of the seaweed drag his companions under.
Now we find out where Janet Van Dyne and Steve Rogers went to. They have been worried about Tony Stark's long absence, and weren't satisfied with Iron Man's abrupt resignation by phone last issue. They track him down to 1 of his Manhattan apartments and find him drunk. He also denies having made the resignation call. His friends are even more confused when Iron Man flies in through a window and says that the caller was him. After all they both know that Tony is Iron Man.
Stark slurs an explanation that he's decided to stop being the Golden Avenger. He's hired someone else to do the job, making his previous cover story a reality. This guy has just been out on his 1st test flight. The new guy (who readers of IM's mag know his his pilot and friend James Rhodes) explains that his inexperience makes it risky for him to be an Avenger - that's why he resigned this morning. The helmet's computer made his voice sound like Iron Man's, and he didn't know that these 2 Avengers knew of his boss's double identity.
Tony brings him up to speed about Thor knowing the secret too, and has another drink. He refuses to take help or advice from his Avenging allies, and orders them out of his home.
Back in the Atlantic all 3 Avengers have their own ways of surviving underwater. Then CapM blasts her way free of entangling kelp, and helps Starfox break free too. Meanwhile Thor is ripping kelp away from the ships. Then they go after the submarine. Plantman uses more of the advanced weaponry his silent partner equipped him with, sending out anti-personnel torpedoes that the Avengers deal with easily. Then they smash and blast their way into the sub. But Plantman pulls an emergency lever supplied by his friend. And the walls of the control room encase him in a metal ball which ejects skyward.
Elsewhere She-Hulk has carried the injured Hawkeye to his penthouse apartment supplied by his other job as security chief of Cross Technological Enterprises. Embarrassed by his disability he ungratefully tells her to go away. Then he calls the company with a plan.
As his escape pod rises into space Plantman gets a recorded message from his partner, who turns out to be the Wizard. The tech-savvy villain gave Planty the gizmos as thanks for helping him escape prison. But he knew Plantman would be a liability as a long-term partner, and pretty soon he would find the need for the last-resort handle. Wizard's signature anti-gravity devices will take the other into orbit, where he'll soon die from lack of oxygen.
But of course the heroes rescue the villain. CapM zips through the wall and solidifies inside. She then blasts a hole in the wall, and Plantman is sucked out into the upper atmosphere. Monica transformed back into light to avoid the same fate. And Planty is caught in mid-air by Thor.
In an epilogue Jan goes out with Jennifer Walters to help her find her own place to live. But they find trouble instead as they come across crowds running from something. And then the duo run into an invisible barrier.