Synopsis
New Avengers (2013 series) #22 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Sub-Mariner has just destroyed the Earth of the Great Society, thereby saving his Earth and both universes. This was after the other Illuminati, especially Black Panther, couldn't bring themselves to do it.
The other Illuminati aren't happy, despite the fact that this is what they planned to do. They conspired to build the anti-matter bomb that did the job, and the trigger which Namor now tosses away - the trigger which allowed them to set the bomb off while they were safe on their own Earth.
Subby says they're all guilty. Dr Strange seems to agree, saying that he chose the path that led here. T'Challa agrees with that, but says he made his final choice when he refused to press the button. And now Namor has disregarded that choice.
The repressed anger Panther has had for Sub-Mariner since he tried to drown Wakanda in Avengers vs X-Men now boils over. He attacks Namor with a power glove that suddenly appears on his arm, The Atlantean responds with his mutant strength. Mr Fantastic has to pull them apart.
Angry Namor berates them all as fools who've been deluding themselves that they'd never have to use the weapons they've built to protect Earth and its universe from the incursions. They should thank him for taking the choice out of their hands this time.
Panther's response is to stagger the Prince of Atlantis with a couple of little bombs, and then attack him again, this time with 2 power gloves. He has Namor at his mercy when they are separated again, this time by an earthquake caused by Hulk, who just says "Enough".
Reed Richards tries to pull the team together. He wants the Illuminati to put this behind them, and rededicate themselves to finding a better solution, 1 that will end the threat of incursions forever.
But Namor derails this by dropping a bombshell. He tells them that he sent Thanos' forces to attack Wakanda during Infinity. At the time Atlantis was in ruins after a Wakandan assault. The Black Order were seeking the Infinity Gems, and the vengeful Atlantean told them they were in Wakanda (although he knew they'd been lost in #3).
Subby rants that he's tried to destroy Wakanda twice, and he won't rest until the Wakandans are all dead. The other Illuminati have to hold T'Challa back, as Tony Stark banishes Namor from their ranks. His parting shot is that the others will eventually reveal themselves to be monsters too. Panther swears to kill him.
The subdued team disintegrates. Dr Strange magics himself away. Hulk leaps off and Black Bolt flies. Beast uses the teleporter each has built into a palm. Mr Fantastic hands the trigger device to Iron Man, who teleports too. Only Reed and T'Challa are left, when the signal devices in their palms tell them another 8-hour incursion has begun.