New Avengers (Vol. 1) #36

Background

Last issue we saw how The Hood formed his gang, and how they used Deathlok to rob a bank. While they celebrated the news showed the Mighty and New Avengers fighting an army of symbiotes...

Story Details

Luke Cage is explaining to Jessica Jones what happened earlier that day, how everything living in New York except him turned into symbiotes. They didn't know at the time but someone dropped a chemical bomb on the city which caused everyone to change. Both the Mighty and New Avengers teamed up to stop the symbiotes while Iron Man worked on a cure. Once everyone was cured both teams worked together and helped the city get back to normal. Luke and Wolverine noticed that Spider-Woman was with the Mighty Avengers too. Back in Dr. Stranges' house Luke and Jess are discussing the Skrull situation when Jess freaks out at Lukes' paranoia. Jess wonders what Spider-Woman told Stark, Luke says they'll know soon as Wolverine's gone to have words with her.

At the Avengers Tower the Mighty Avengers are preparing to invade Latveria as they have discovered Dr. Doom was behind the symbiote chemical attack on New York. Ms. Marvel tells them they have an hour to get ready so Jessica Drew decides to grab a shower. While in the shower Logan appears behind her. Jessica apologises for venom blasting him in Chicago. Logan tells her not to try it here and he wants to know what she's told Stark. She gave him the Elektra/Skrull body and told him about the Skrull invasion and he freaked out, she hasn't given the New Avengers up to him. Jessica tells Logan the only person she knows isn't a Skrull is her and she didn't turn her back on her team as the human race is her team. Logan asks if she knows who the Hood is, Jess says she doesn't, Logan tells her that he has a Deathlok and he's on his way to attack them. Jess says he isn't, Logan asks what she knows about it and Jess tells him to watch the news. Black Widow walks in and Logan jumps out of the window and is caught by Spider-Man. Later the New Avengers are in Jersey checking the damage The Hoods gang did earlier, amongst the wreckage is a broken Deathlok. Logan has The Hoods' scent and the team decide to stop him. When they find The Hoods base Dr. Strange uses a spell to see who's inside, the team is outnumbered and decided its best to call for backup.

Inside The Hoods base his gang ware watching the news when Cage breaks the wall down. They are if he's alone and he says "Hardly" in the background we see both Avengers teams as well as the Fantastic Four and various other Marvel heroes.

General Comments

Ok the main thing here is that we have the NA point of view for the symbiote bomb, but currently we don't know the MA version of what happened, once the MA book gets back on schedule everything should be cleared up.

One thing I don't understand is how can someone be turned into a symbiote? Since the concept was introduced no-one that I know of has ever been turned into a symbiote, they're an alien race not a virus, hopefully this will be cleared up soon too.

Overall Rating

4 webs again – solid stuff all round just the last page bugs me, this story takes place before World War Hulk, and Thor returned after so why is Thor on the last page, (even though its obvious he's an illusion) wearing his new armour here?

Footnote

It should be noted that during the conversation between Luke and Jessica, Jess was asking about MS. Marvel a lot. From Marvels solicitations it appears Ms. Marvel may be a Skrull, and with their child possibly being a Skrull it appears that Jessica Jones may be a Skrull.