The fifth and final issue of Avengers: Armageddon and just as Marvel has been teasing for months, it’s changed the status quo of the Marvel Universe for the foreseeable future.
When Tony Stark (Iron Man) led the Avengers on a mission to stop Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk) from taking over Latveria, he unknowingly triggered a chain of cataclysmic events. Ross decided to invade other countries, but was ultimately kidnapped by Russian Minister Maxim Milyukov and the Winter Guard. David Colton went rogue and dismantled most of the world’s nuclear arsenal, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to an attack from Russia. When the Avengers confronted Colton in Russia, they were ambushed by Ross who’s been turned into a literal ticking time-bomb that detonated at the end of issue #4….
The Aftermath
Things open on a grim note over in Plesetsk, about 600 miles north of Moscow. The explosion killed at least 9,000 people. Russian officials blame the U.S., but evidence points to Russia accidentally setting off one of its own weapons. This disaster comes right on the heels of Russia launching nearly a dozen nukes at the American East Coast, so politically speaking, a U.S. strike would have been seen as justified anyway.
On the ground, heroes like T’Challa (Black Panther), Sam Wilson (the Falcon/Captain America), and Logan (Wolverine) assist hazmat-suited rescue teams. Russia officially protests the “illegal entry” of foreign medical aid, but they don’t push the issue because they are terrified of picking a fight with the superhero community. Wolverine carries a wrapped body out of the wreckage while Sam holds the metal arm of Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), who was seemingly killed when Red Hulk blew himself up.
Everyday People Pay the Price
In New York, Peter Parker is heading to Bernie’s Diner for something to eat while he listens to a report about Plesetsk from the Morning Bugle. Years of constant, world-ending battles have led to widespread fear of super-powered individuals. Now there are rumors the U.N. is preparing a major crackdown.
When Peter enters the diner the owner, Jimmy, explains that one of the waitresses Anya took the week off. Her nephew worked near the Plesetsk blast site. Peter visits Anya later, bringing her some homemade lasagna to comfort her. Anya is completely devastated. She says her sister cries every time she calls her and she can’t fly back to Russia.
Peter admits the disaster happened because people with superpowers were fighting until thousands paid the price. He compares these battles to high-speed police chases, where an overriding drive for justice often ends up harming innocent bystanders.
“I’m sorry. You don’t want to…you must hate super heroes right now,” Peter says. “I shouldn’t even be…”
“No, no. It’s okay,” Anya says to reassure him. She shares a personal story about how Spider-Man once took a heavy hit to save her from falling debris during a Doctor Octopus rampage. She says she can’t be angry at those risking everything to help, and she doesn’t doubt the Avengers are like Spider-Man. Even though Peter can’t cook, Anya thanks him for being there.
Backlash from the United Nations
Over at the U.N., delegates denounce “self-appointed superheroes,” arguing that both heroes and villains cause massive destruction with zero oversight or accountability. Watching from the gallery, Sue Richards (Invisible Woman) and her brother Johnny Storm (Human Torch) fear a vote banning unsanctioned superheroes is likely to pass, though the United States plans to abstain.
Sue spots Nick Fury Jr. chatting up the Secretary-General. This raises red flags, especially since T’Challa claimed Fury was giving Security Council members anti-power technology. On comms, Reed Richards tells Sue they will deal with Fury after the dust settles.
Later on in the issue, Sue uses her force field to lift Secretary of State Brooke’s SUV over New York traffic so he can make his flight. She says she appreciates how the U.S. abstained from voting on a global ban on super-power usage but Brooke explains the U.S. didn’t abstain out of respect for hero freedoms. Around 80% of the world’s super-powered population lives in America, making any ban impossible to enforce. The government is terrified of what could happen if heroes push back, but he makes it clear that could change in the near future.
Brooke boards the jet where he speaks with Nick Fury Jr. Turns out, the U.N. plans to fund S.H.I.E.L.D. so it can help member countries enforce the Superpowers Resolution. Fury doesn’t want to play world cop again, but he sees it as the only way to prevent total war between humans and superhumans. “If there’s a war coming between us and them, we need to win it,” Fury tells Brooke.
Heavy Burdens
Back at the Fantastic Four’s lab, Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) is laying on a diagnostic scanner. She tried to absorb the blast to save the people of Plesetsk, but the sheer energy overloaded her system. Reed reassures her that her quick thinking saved countless people, but the power drain is severe. The fatigue she feels will fade, but her powers are diminished. Carol’s abilities are now roughly ten percent of what they were before. She still has her strength and can use her photon blasts if she paces herself, but her ability to fly remains uncertain. Haunted by those she couldn’t save and what her sacrifice costs her, Carol silently puts on her jacket and walks out.
Logan is enjoying drinks in a Russian bar near Plesetsk. The bartender asks if he’s American (Logan corrects him by saying he’s Canadian) and asks if he’s here to help. Logan sniffs something that’s in the air, and puts a tip on the bar as he leaves. He walks out into the snow and finds David Colton hovering in the air.
Colton begs Logan to “do what you’re good at,” since he doesn’t know what he is or whether he can be killed. Colton thought he died when Ross exploded, but this new body has “more” of his powers, and all he had to do was “say the word” to be whole again. He doesn’t think he should have this much power because he isn’t a god, but he can’t bring himself to end it all.
Logan refuses to kill him. “I ain’t your Kevorkian!” he yells at Colton. Logan admits that while Colton wasn’t solely to blame for the crisis, he helped set the stage. Living with your mistakes means nothing unless you fix them.”And if they can’t be fixed, find the problems that can be.”
Meanwhile, General Elliot demands Tony Stark help rebuild America’s destroyed nuclear arsenal. Tony refuses, stating he’s “not in the bomb-making business anymore.” General Elliot warns that public opinion is turning, that Tony and his “super-powered cowboys” better fall in line before the government forces them to.
Once the general leaves, we find that Spider-Man was hiding on the ceiling this entire time. Tony says he’s going to fly out to work on a private project, but Spidey objects. Carol is injured, Steve Rogers is in a coma, and Sam Wilson is taking Bucky’s death really hard. Spidey argues that the world needs the Avengers now more than ever. Tony counters that ordinary people just see an unregulated army doing whatever it wants.
Besides, Tony believes that his true superpower is creation, not destruction. “I’m just trying to see what the world needs from me and to fill that void. To make a better future,” he tells Spidey before flying off with a fleet of drones.
“But…the world needs the Avengers,” Spidey mumbles to himself.
Some Shocking Discoveries
Reed Richards is analyzing the Origin Box that gave Colton his godlike abilities. The box came from another universe, but its powers were duplicated from the mainline 616 universe, specifically this version of Earth. There are other powers that are accounted for except Colton’s, so someone on Earth has those exact abilities.
During their conversation, Tony finds Doctor Doom’s probability machine inside Colton’s cabin. The machine displays every alternate universe created through its use and can simulate new realities. Tony proposes simulating one universe to see where current behavior leads. But as the simulation runs, Tony freezes in horror at a vision of a demonic red figure that looks a lot like Mephisto holding a battered Spider-Man.
“What do you see,” Reed asks Tony.
“Nothing, Reed, just…” Tony struggles to get the words out. “.. .the key to everything.”
Elsewhere in a medical facility, a bedridden Steve Rogers weakly whispers Bucky’s name.
Thirteen days after the explosion, skeletal remains lie on the snowy ruins of Plesetsk. Slowly, its flesh and tissue regenerate until the man is whole again. It’s Bucky Barnes! He’s alive again, but how is this possible?
We don’t get a chance to dwell on this because a shadowy figure is standing over Bucky in the falling snow. “Well #$&%, Bucky if you ain’t a miracle.” It’s the original Nick Fury Sr., Nick Fury Jr.’s father. He tells Bucky to pull himself together.
Naturally, the grand finale of Avengers: Armageddon leaves more questions unanswered. What’s going to happen now that the world is wary of all superhumans regardless whether they’re good or bad? How did Bucky survive that explosion? Where did Colton’s powers come from? And why is Spider-Man getting beat up by the devil the “key to everything?”
It’s obvious that Armageddon was written to lay the groundwork for the new line of comics Marvel will release over the next several months. But that kind of writing makes the Armageddon event feel disjointed and its ending leaves a lot to be desired.
