Avengers #27

Issue Details

Synopsis

NEW ORDER The Avengers are forced by an outraged public to make a line-up change. Government liaison Duane Freeman wrestles with the core members to create a new lineup that is politically sensitive. Iron Man can't shake a gut feeling that the Triune Understanding is behind this entire event, but can't find any proof. Disgusted with this attempt to please the media, Thor leaves the active roster. Firestar and Justice exit as well in hopes of spending more time with each other. Wonder-Man also steps down as an active member. The lineup of Goliath (Henry Pym), Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, She-Hulk, Triathlon, Wasp, and Warbird is revealed to the public. FIVE DOOMS TO SAVE TOMORROW! The Avengers are on hand to maintain security during a highly publicized match between Sporadik, a Russian chess champion, and a chess-playing computer called Nimrod. In the middle of it, Sporadik collapses from an apparent (fatal) heart attack. While all eyes are on the chess champ, Thor sneaks away and transforms into his alter ego, Dr. Donald Blake, in order to attend to him. He discovers that Sporadik was poisoned. The Avengers deduce that his chess pieces were coated with a poison that could be absorbed through the skin.  Later that night, Leonard Tippit (the man responsible for the poisoning) attempts to sneak out of the building. He spent the day hiding inside the Nimrod computer in order to avoid being connected to the murder. His plan is foiled by the Vision, who stayed behind to investigate. The seemingly mild-mannered Tippit exhibits superhuman powers and easily defeats the Vision. But Captain America arrives on the scene as well and knocks him out. Tippit's powers allow his unconscious form to escape, however.   A short while after the encounter, the assembled Avengers are jolted by a strange energy and made aware of the origin of Tippit's super-powers: two nights prior, Tippit was visited by Uatu the Watcher who informed him of an impending nuclear holocaust that would destroy the entire human race. Giving Tippit vast cosmic power, the Watcher told him of five individuals in the present who would one-day birth children, all of whom would play a crucial role in causing the prophesied nuclear holocaust to occur. Uatu tells Tippit that the only way to stop this impending doom is to kill all the parents of these future children. With his new godlike power, Tippit knows every thought of the five individuals he must kill and knows that they are good people. But ultimately, Tippit resigns himself to his fate of killing these people so that he can save countless millions of lives in the future.   With the trip into Tippit's past over, the Avengers decide that killing innocent people is still morally wrong no matter the circumstances and determine the best course of action is to try and stop Tippit from achieving his goal. The Avengers break up into teams and travel to the locations of each of the remaining four victims. Each time, however, they either arrive too late or are overpowered by Tippit and unable to stop him from killing his targets. During all of this, Iron Man is devising a control helmet to immobilize Tippit.   With the last victim killed, the Scarlet Witch stuns Tippit with a hex bolt long enough for Iron Man to put the control helmet on Tippit. The Watcher then arrives and informs them all that this was all a plot to stop Tippit who was the real menace all along. The Watcher convinced him to go on his killing spree in order to alert the attention of the Avengers whom the Watcher hoped would find a way to subdue him. The ensuing battle weakened Tippit enough for the Watcher to capture him and take him away.   Tippit laments that his actions were all in vain. Not wanting to be as unimportant a person in death as he was in life, he tells the Avengers that he wished he had one moment to be an important person. Taking pity on him, the Avengers promises to let him be known as the man who saved the world before he is whisked away by the Watcher. The Avengers to left to ponder the strange events of the past day. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! Yellowjacket and Wasp have returned from the hospital and have arrived to find a large crowd and the media at the front door of Avengers Mansion. Confronted by the news, they learn that the Avengers have just announced that they are finally going to decide who will be part of the next line-up, something that Jan is thankful that they are finally getting around to it before being admitted into the Mansion by Jarvis.  As news coverage recounts the illustriousness origin of the Avengers, Hank and Jan meet with the rest of the group in deciding which members will stay and if Beast, Moondragon, and Hellcat have what it takes to be part of the new roster of Avengers. Thor announces that he has decided to leave the group for a time feeling that he needs to focus on more godly affairs. When Iron Man decides to stay on with the group, Thor passes on the chairmanship of the group onto the Golden Avenger.   The news report then recounts how the Hulk left the group early on, how Captain America was revived and brought into the group, their battle against the Masters of Evil and Wonder Man, and their short involvement with teenager Rick Jones. When the report recalls back as to the first time the Avengers changed their roster, it leaves to speculation how the group was formed. What follows in this issue is a reprint of the events from Avengers #16...   Iron Man, Wasp, and Giant-Man consider who to choose for the new group when they are confronted by Hawkeye, a former foe of Iron Man who wishes to join the group and redeem himself. They next attempt to contact the Sub-Mariner and offer him membership in the group, but Namor refuses.   When the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver read about the Avengers looking for new members, they decide to travel to America and petition for membership in hopes of redeeming their past with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. While Stateside, Iron Man announces the departure of Giant-Man and Wasp from the group and announces Hawkeye's joining the group. As the Avengers sort through their mail, Captain America, and Rick Jones are battling through the jungles of South America trying to find a way home following Cap's battle with Baron Zemo. They rescue a man from a leopard attack and he offers to drive them to the nearest seaport.   Back in the States, Tony Stark meets with Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch and takes them to Avengers Mansion to "meet" Iron Man (whom neither knows is in reality, Tony Stark himself.) When Captain America and Rick Jones finally arrive home they come to a large press conference that is about to begin. Entering the room Captain America learns that Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Wasp all intend on leaving the group and they are placing the new recruits: Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch into Cap's leadership. Although Captain America is uneasy about the idea and accepts the responsibility. Shortly thereafter, Cap and the new Avengers present themselves to the world. AT LAST: THE DECISION! Round the clock news coverage about the Avengers' line-up change continues, gaining the attention of everyone including the Fantastic Four's Thing, Robert Frank, the Champions, and a mysterious foe whom is vowing revenge against the Wasp for spurning his love. As the coverage continues, the Avengers continue to deliberate who will be part of the new roster. Captain America decides to stay with the group along with Iron Man.   When Wanda questions if Hawkeye is going to be with the group, Thor explains that Hawkeye previously decided to leave with the Two-Gun Kid so that the 19th Century hero can get accustomed to 20th Century living. The Vision and Scarlet Witch agree to remain with the group. When it comes to the Wasp and Yellowjacket's turn to answer if they are going to stay, the Wasp agrees to stay with the team, but to her surprise, Yellowjacket declines.   When they ask Moondragon if she will join the group, she declines to join due to wanting to explore her birth world some more but tells the other Avengers that they have her as an ally. When they ask the Beast, he glowingly accepts to join the group without question. So does Hellcat, however, Moondragon steps in and tells Hellcat that she has a greater destiny and asks her to join her in training. Hellcat agrees to join as long as she can retain the offer of membership in the Avengers for a later date. Just then Yellowjacket enters the room and confesses that he cannot pass up being a member of the Avengers and agrees to stay on with the group.   With the roster sorted out, Thor, Moondragon, and Hellcat depart and the others address the public as the newest line-up of Avengers. During the press conference, nobody notices a giant crate has been delivered to Avengers Mansion until it smashes open revealing Wonder Man, once thought long dead by the Avengers. The weakened Wonder Man then accuses the Vision of stealing his mind, shocking everyone there. DAY THE STRANGERS CAME