New Avengers (Vol. 1) #19

Background

Last issue the Spider-Man figured out who and what Michael is. After being taken into space by The Sentry Michael is on his way back to Earth.

Story Details

This issue starts with Iron Man flying into space. He tells Spidey to politely excuse himself from the S.H.E.I.L.D. helicarrier and tells Cap to pick him up. Spidey tells Iron Man that Michael has the powers of all the mutants who lost their mutant gene during the House of M. Iron Man tells Spidey to take the vision and get of that ship as he can't trust anyone in that room. Spidey notes that they are on a secure line, Iron Man tells him that S.H.E.I.L.D. have psychic agents reading his mind. Hill asks "What is the House of M?" And then arrests Spidey, Spidey tries to leave with the Vision but is told to sleep by a psy-agent called Hook. Hill tells her to dig into his mind so they can take the info they require, Hook tells Hill that they need him awake otherwise his mind will make its own imagery. The Vision has been shut-down, Hill tells her team to strip as much info as they can from him too. Hill is informed that Michael is heading back to Earth.

Iron Man tells Cap he has lost contact with Spidey, and Hill is jamming the signal, as she thinks they are holding out on her. Cap says he will speak to her in a minute in person. Iron Man can see Michael but The Sentry is missing, Ms. Marvel warns him that Michael ripped his armour off last time, Iron Man tells her that happened because he was not ready for him. Michael collides into Iron Man, he's OK as he was able to neutralise the energy Michael is using but he's not sure how many times he can use that trick. Michael is about to attack again when The Sentry returns and grabs Michael. Iron Man theorises that Michael uses the energy fields of the de-powered mutants, so he may be an energy absorbing mutant in the wrong place at the wrong time, or maybe one of those fields is sentient and Michael is the host? Cap, Spider-Woman, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine and Cage have arrived at the S.H.E.I.L.D. helicarrier.

Next we see the original Sinister Six, it was in Spideys head. A S.H.E.I.L.D. agent placed that image in his head so he would wake up. Hill asks about the House of M. The Avengers have landed and are asking where Spidey and The Vision are. Spidey tells Hill she's out of her mind, Hill mentions once the Superhuman registration act is passed he'll probably be working for her. Spidey tells her that Michael is attacking but Hill still asks about the House of M. Hill tells him they are done and for him to put his mask back on. She tells him she knew he would not say anything but the psychics next door took what they needed. Cage smashes through the wall, Cap tells Hill her actions are completely unacceptable and he will speak to the president. Hill tells him to go ahead, she's sure he can take one minute away from drafting the superhuman registration act to take his call. Hill checks if Michael has landed yet, he hasn't, she's happy and notes that some Avengers know where they are needed.

Iron Man contacts The Vision and asks what happened to them. They tell him that they have been "hacked", Iron Man tells them she shouldn't have sent them there. Spidey calls him "Some futurist". Now that whole House of M business is known to S.H.E.I.L.D. Iron Man asks them to share their intelligence. A S.H.E.I.L.D. agent tells them to stop attacking Michael as their attacks are making him adapt and make him use more of his powers, and for them to just let him go. Iron Man asks what if he's heading towards to the White house? The agent asks what if he's heading towards Wanda Maximoff? Iron Man stops The Sentry and takes him away from Michael. Michael doesn't follow them and starts to head back to Earth. The Avengers, both in space and in the air are following him. Michael lands in Genosha...

General Comments

First off this issue has been debated by the staff here at Spiderfan. It looks like Spideys spider-sense disappears when S.H.E.I.L.D. try to capture him. I have to agree, but I also believe Spidey is faster than he's shown here but he's not faster than a thought, that's why he was captured, and surely The Vision could have phased away?

Another good point is that S.H.E.I.L.D. have psy-agents, even though most mutants lost their powers during House of M. Psychics should be counted as mutants but I guess the guys at Marvel found that inconvenient. Anyhoo this book was great, more action plus more on the character of S.H.E.I.L.D. Director Hill, she's no Nick Fury but she is getting the job done. The art in this book was more of the same, but that's no bad thing I love Deodato art on the Sinister Six.

Overall Rating

Yup 4.5 on this - Great art, drama plus a great image of the Sinister Six - Ok its one image but it's great!