- Writers: Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage
- Pencil: Steve Kurth
- Ink: Drew Hennessy
Being a post-Skrull Invasion issue, this is a must-read for the Dark Reign saga. This is the springboard for many of the succeeding issues in this Saga, most notably, Might Avengers, Skrull Kill Krew, and Thunderbolts.
So let's get on with it:
Synopsis
Gauntlet and his convoy could not pass through the gates of Camp Hammond where a lot of civilian protestors are blocking the way. Using his powers, Gauntlet pushed aside the people and his convoy enters the campgrounds. After these, several scenes follow:
Post Skrull Abduction Readjustment. Meanwhile inside the base, Doc Samson and Alicia Masters are debriefing all of the former Skrull prisoners for their "post-abduction readjustment". Of them, Dum Dum Duggan, had the hardest time being a part of the group, who would rather go and take command of the grounds, being a former SHIELD subdirector.
Gauntlet in Charge. In the War Room of the grounds, the Gauntlet and the rest of the Initiative discuss Hardball's defection. They managed to trace his location but, unfortunately, is in foreign soil. As such, they needed deniability which means it's the Shadow Initiative's job. As it turns out, the highest-ranking officer who is 'mentally fit' on the entire base is Gauntlet himself.
Hank Pym and Jocasta. Hank Pym is dealing with the loss of Janet Van Dyne with the help of the android Jocasta -- whose brainwave patterns were based from those of Janet. In the conclusion, they both leave for good. (Hank Pym's storyline continues in Secret Invasion Requiem then continues on to Might Avengers #21).
Tigra and her litter. In the cafeteria, Hellcat found out about the pregnancy of Tigra who then promptly went to her appointment with Trauma. Tigra's baby is fathered by the Skrull-Hank Pym and is terrified of what her baby/babies is/are gonna be like.
The old and New Skrull Kill Krew. 3D-Man is released from the stockade and cleared of any wrong-doing -- the killing of Gauntlet, a Skrull Initiative member. Althrough cleared of all charges, Gauntlet's former team are not happy with it. Only Ryder is happy to see him and is the only one sympathetic to him. Before they go, they bury the heads of the original Skrull Kill Krew and, after being told it's alright to let go, Riot reverts back to her human form and dies as well. 3D-Man and Ryder set off, intent on tracking down and killing all remaining Skrulls on Earth.
Shadow Initiative briefing. Being the big brass on camp, he meets the Shadow Initiative for their next target: Hardball. Long story short: the (irredeemable) Ant-Man gets transferred to Thunderbolts (Thunderbolts #128), TaskMaster and Komodo, aka GF of hardball, become a part of the Shadow Initiative -- at least for this mission -- Komodo due to her intimate knowledge of the subject, and TaskMaster confirms who Mutant Zero really is -- the well-known Daredevil villain Typhoid Mary!
Start of Avengers Initiative Disassembled. As revealed in the last pages, the Skrull-Hank needed to enter a failsafe code every fifteen days. When this is not entered when the time elapses, his Operation: Final Strike commences: Ragnarok aka Clone of Thor aka Clor awakens.
Review/Reaction
It seems like a logical starting point for many of the tie-in issues for the Dark Reign saga (such as Mighty Avengers) while still having a story of its own (with the return of Clor). It's a little cramp, though, jamming all of that into one twenty-two page issue -- but it still delivers. Short, sweet, and quite straight to the point.
Maybe it would have been better if it was explained in detail what Norman Osborn plans on doing with the Initiative -- aside from reassigning Ant-Man to the new Thunderbolts team. No doubt he's planning something big for this -- the number of Initiative cadets alone should be reason enough to keep this program afloat.
Well, maybe in the next few issues... Guess I just can't wait what will happen to the heroes.
Now with Clor back, well, the Skrull tricks just won't end now, would they? Hehehe. It still feels weird calling him Clor. Oh well, Spider-Man fan here. :)) Anyway, although this plan is something Hank Pym would do -- or to be more accurate, what Skrull-Hank Pym would do -- I hope this is the last time we see Clor. For cryin' out loud, just him off already.
Then again, maybe the life of Clor would not be complete until the real Thor arrives and deals with him (*hint* *hint*).
Also, can't help but note that Stingray has been consistently making appearances lately. He's been making small cameos since Civil War. Will he come to the spotlight anytime soon? Your guess is as good as mine.
Same goes for Hellcat, btw. Tigra's making waves with the baby-thing. Why not these two, right? :)
I'm still wondering, though, about the extent of the Initiative's role in the Dark Reign saga. Will they be just on the sidelines like the Young Avengers these days? Or will they step up and go head-to-head with and against the likes of Avengers, Galactus, and New Warriors? (Huh? New Warriors?)
Oh well. Avengers Assemble!
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