Synopsis / Summary / Plot
This issue opens with a scene mirroring the cover image - Taskmaster facing Thor in the battle of Asgard. But his thoughts find time to review his life (which is presumably flashing before his eyes, as they say).
Tony Masters discovered he had photographic reflexes when he was still a kid. He used that ability to excel in sports at school by just watching *others* train, but didn't fancy it as a career. He thought about becoming a supervillain (there wasn't any money in being a superhero). But instead he hit upon a scheme to make the money without the risks. He'd use his skills to train low-level criminals and then hire them out as the ever-necessary henchmen to the real supervillains. Some of his alumni became well-known villains in their own right. He envied them their success but consoled himself with the money.
After Civil War I he joined the Initiative as a trainer (#8). Norman Osborn took over after Secret Invasion and he made TM boss of the training camp (#24) and started filling the ranks with other supervillains. Then Norman promoted him to be a member of his Cabal. But now that's brought him to this moment.
Now we have an actual flashback to the HAMMER helicarrier en route to Asgard (in Broxton Ohio). We see a mixture of Initiative and Dark Avengers members. Masters reunites with his friends Constrictor and Diamondback. Frank Schlichting is pissed that Tony's letters (that he wrote from his hospital bed after Dr Doom blasted him at a Cabal meeting in Siege: Cabal) didn't warn him more explicitly about the invasion of Asgard. He and Diamondback (his lover) could have made a run for it. TM says Osborn would have sent his Dark Avengers to hunt them down.
Constrictor thinks attacking gods is suicide. Quicksand overhears and says Thor was easy when *she* fought him (Thor #392-393 & #402-403). Her fellow Women Warriors Asp and Black Mamba heard differently, but they also think the rest of the Asgardians are nowhere as tough as Thor. Diamondback points out that they have the Sentry on their side who can handle Thor.
Frank takes Rachel Leighton aside to say he's worried about her. She has no superpowers - she's just "a gymnast who throws fake diamonds at people". DB points out she was trained by Captain America. Schlichting also knows his girlfriend is really a spy for the Avengers Resistance, so he wonders *why* she wants to fight the Asgardians. She replies that she hasn't been able to contact them but the Resistance will need someone on the inside when they make a move.
Tony and Frank then have *their* personal chat. Masters says he's had a revelation after being part of the Cabal. The guys at the top of the ladder aren't *like* Frank and him, they're larger than life, they do crazy things. He tries to persuade Schlichting that the invasion of Asgard is *their* chance to *be* somebody. Frank doesn't really buy it. (And it doesn't jibe with Tony's letters to Frank at the end of last issue.)
The next scene is mid-invasion. We see Terraformer of the Force Of Nature cut in half by Heimdall (as a plant being he could possibly survive that but he's never seen again), and Warbow of Heavy Mettle cut down by a hail of arrows. Taskmaster begins to feel like he's made the wrong decision. But he pulls himself together, tackles 2 Asgardians, causes 1 to kill the other and finishes off the other 1.
But it's time for a visit to the Avengers Resistance. Justice, Tigra and Ultragirl catch up with the news on TV and hear about the disaster at Soldier Field in Chicago where a clash between the Asgardian Volstagg and the U-Foes killed thousands. The U-Foes claimed they were on Initiative business and the deaths were Volstagg's fault. This is being likened to the Stamford disaster involving the New Warriors which triggered off the Superhuman Registration Act and Civil War I, and eventually led via Secret Invasion to Norman Osborn achieving his current position of power.
Night Thrasher joins them having discovered (in an epilogue last issue) that Osborn had paid the U-Foes a lot of money. Incensed Justice (a New Warrior who wasn't involved in Stamford) puts 2 and 2 together and deduces that Osborn staged the Chicago disaster for his own reasons. And then breaking news on the TV shows them the invasion of Asgard by Osborn's forces, and they have the punch line.
Justice sends Ultragirl to get the rest of the Resistance, and Tigra to try and contact the New Avengers or Hank Pym's Mighty Avengers. Night Thrasher sends the info they've gathered to news outlets. But while most of the Initiative are in Asgard the Resistance will raid their base at Camp HAMMER.
Back in Asgard Constrictor is trying to keep Diamondback out of trouble, which annoys her. She can't get through to the Resistance. They and Taskmaster see the arrival of Thor, who is immediately attacked by Sentry. Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn) orders all heavy hitters (not the Initiative team of that name) to pile on Thor. Tony Masters decides to include himself in that list. Frank goes to find Rachel but finds that she's gone the same way, to do what she can to ensure that Thor survives.
Various chars including the U-Foes and Taskmaster attack Thor. Diamondback doesn't know what to do. Iron Patriot gets in the last blow. And Thor is down.