Synopsis
New Avengers (2005 series) #41 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
This issue centres around a flashback showing another view of the SHIELD vibranium mining operation in the Savage Land from #5-6.
But it begins with a scene from Secret Invasion #2 as a dinosaur interrupts a fight in the SL between 2 sets of heroes.
The Mighty and New Avengers have come to the SL to investigate a crashed Skrull spaceship. The other side came out of it claiming to be real Earth heroes who have been captives of the Skrulls for years. They include Captain America (the current version now dead), Thor (the current version restored to life but keeping out of current affairs) and Iron Man (the current version and his armour suffering from a Skrull virus that attacks StarkTech). Both sides claim to be the real deal, and so the other side must be Skrulls.
The dinosaur rampages among them. The current Spider-Man (who also has a duplicate here) climbs onto the dino's head, but it tosses him away - a long way away.
The chronology of SI suggests that he is stunned for a while. But then he finds himself confronted by Ka-Zar, Shanna, Zabu and representatives of various SL tribes. Spidey thinks they're all Skrulls (KZ says to Shanna "I told you so"), supported by that fact that the female thinks she's called Shanna when everyone knows it's Sheena. They deny it and KZ says they are at war with the aliens. He tells a tale ....
Several months ago Ka-Zar, Sheena and Zabu awake to gunfire. They discover SHIELD agents forcing SL natives to work in the vibranium mines. Apparently UN laws now prohibit mining vibranium which can be used to make 'Tony Stark' weapons. Nick Fury head of SHIELD (they obviously don't know he's been thrown out) promised KZ he'd uphold this ban.
They capture a female SHIELD Agent. Shanna hits her too hard and she dies, turning green and developing pointed ears and a corrugated chin. KZ recognises her as a Skrull, but Shanna's never heard of them. Shanna dons the SHIELD uniform and infiltrates the camp.
Contessa Val de Fontaine appears to be inspecting the site, but she's trying to reassure the guy who presumably runs it. She dismisses the modern humans (ie Shanna and Ka-Zar) who may be nearby, and tells him not to worry about Avengers or X-Men visiting. She says they have agents inside the New Avengers (ie Spider-Woman and Edwin Jarvis). She brushes aside his question as to whether the Skrull Queen knows what they're doing down here.
But now Shanna's disguise is rumbled. So she shoots her way out - but doesn't quite make it. Then Zabu attacks while Ka-Zar commandeers a jeep and drives them away to safety.
Later Ka-Zar suggests contacting Nick Fury. But Shanna says the aliens have infiltrated SHIELD and the Avengers - so a better plan is to recruit a Savage Land army and deal with the situation themselves.
They do so. But before they can attack the New Avengers beat them to it - a team they've never seen before, with old hands Captain America and Iron Man joined by Spider-Man and Wolverine and others.
And then a SHIELD helicarrier appears and destroys the site.
... end of Ka-Zar's tale.
Spidey confirms that the New Avengers were there, but they never realised the SHIELD Agents were Skrulls. Afterwards SHIELD refused to tell them what was going on. Captain America thought that it was a rogue SHIELD faction.
Shanna still isn't sure Spidey is the real Spider-Man but Ka-Zar's instincts tell him to trust him. But Peter still thinks KZ and gang might be Skrulls too, especially when his Spider-Sense goes off. But it's the other Captain America who now attacks them all.