Synopsis / Summary / Plot
As with the last 2 issues this 1 has scenes in Asgard that closely parallel Siege #3. But the 1st half of the book follows the events in Camp HAMMOND. In both parts we pick up where last issue (and Siege #2) left off.
The Avengers Resistance have invaded the Initiative training base Camp HAMMOND now that most of Norman Osborn's forces are engaged in Asgard. Tigra is attacking the defenders' leader Hood in revenge for what he did to her in New Avengers #35. Hood has promised Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor) to use his magic to restore his brother Dwayne to life in a clone body. The price is betraying his teammates, and Hood orders him to begin now by killing Tigra. Donyell decides to do what his brother (the 1st Night Thrasher) would have done, and hits Hood instead. Hood shoots his magic guns, and NT and Tigra team up against him. But Parker Robbins unleashes the power of the Norn Stones on them.
Robbins already used the Stones to enhance the powers of his gang. Badd Axe is able to cut Ultragirl's super-body, and Ringer's rings are able to constrain Justice, Boomerang takes down Scarlet Spider, Man-Killer punches out Rage and Living Laser is getting the best of Gauntlet. The only 1 still having some success is Slapstick facing Scorcher. Vance Astro fears that he's led his unprepared team to death, just like the New Warriors died in Stamford after he left them for the Avengers.
Unknown to him 1 of those dead Warriors is alive here as the totally-masked Penance, who is confined to quarters because Osborn and Hood don't trust his loyalty. 2 H.A.M.M.E.R. guards shoot at him with guns that fire SPIN Tech darts that will take away his superpowers. But he stops the darts in midair and blasts his way out of his cell. He then breaks free 3 of the Shadow Initiative (Batwing, Bengal and Butterball) also suspected of being good guys.
Outside things have switched around some. Justice is free of the rings but is under attack by Hood and Scorcher. Then an explosion separates them (caused by Penance), and Hood is just missed by a dagger (from Bengal) pinned through a note which is (at least symbolically) their resignation. Penance unmasks as Speedball to his ex-New Warriors friends. With renewed heart the heroes fight back.
But just at that moment Hood gets a message from Osborn via Loki (Osborn is seen sending the message in Siege #3). Norman wants Hood and his gang in Asgard. Robbins rounds up the members of his New York gang (we see Brothers Grimm, Griffin, Mandrill and Ringer) and sends them through a magic portal. He's leaving the Initiative recruits (like Badd Axe, Boomerang, Man-Killer and Razor-Fist) to do whatever they can with their enhanced powers. Tigra's not happy because Hood's escaped her, but the tide is now turned.
Meanwhile in Asgard Captain America (Steve Rogers) has led New Avengers (Captain America (Bucky Barnes), Luke Cage, Mockingbird, Ms. Marvel, Ronin, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman), Young Avengers (Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hulkling, Patriot, Vision (Jonas) and Wiccan) and Nick Fury's Secret Warriors (only Stonewall is actually seen here) to help the Asgardians against Iron Patriot (Osborn).
At then end of last issue Constrictor, Diamondback and Taskmaster saw Steve-Cap's shield heading for Iron Patriot. Now it rebounds to Cap's hand. Tony Masters decides to kill Rogers. If Osborn wins the day he'll have to be grateful, and if Norman loses then it will up TM's CV when he returns to being a mercenary. But 1st he has to use his own shield to deflect bullets from Bucky-Cap's gun.
There's a 1-panel scene in Siege #3 where Taskmaster challenges Steve-Cap to a rematch but Cap claims not to remember who he is. That scene is repeated here and then expanded. TM is caught between the Cap's. He uppercut's Steve's jaw with his shield and throws his sword to knock Bucky's gun out of his hand. Then he and Steve close in for a fight. Cap gets the upper hand but then tells Bucky to deal with him because TM has studied Steve's moves with his photographic reflexes. Bucky strikes with TM's own sword. Then TM realises he knows *Bucky*'s moves too from WWII newsreels, and gets his sword back.
Just then Hood ports in with his reinforcements (we see Brothers Grimm, Griffin and Mandrill plus Cutthroat and strangely Living Laser and Razor-Fist). But the US Airforce is also attacking the HAMMER helicarrier (the President ordered in the armed forces in Siege #3 to defeat and arrest Osborn). And Iron Man joins Steve-Cap in attacking Iron Patriot.
Meanwhile Constrictor saves his lover Diamondback from an Asgardian. Frank Schlichting thinks they should take the opportunity to quit the conflict. But undercover agent Rachel Leighton (which Frank knows about) moves to join the heroes. Frank turns away thinking she's ditching him, but Rachel says she can tell the good guys he protected her, and that she loves him (which she's never said before).
Facing defeat Osborn contacts the Sentry (currently in the evil Void persona) and initiates a scorched Earth policy. Sentry rockets through the heart of Asgard (which is hovering above the ground outside Broxton, Oklahoma). The city starts to crumble and fall to the ground.