2009, THE WORLD AT WAR! From the ashes of long dead Soviet Russia arises a new threat. Its
mission? World domination! One by one countries have fallen in line behind the flag of the one
globe, through either force, coercion, or bribery . The United States and its few remaining allies
are pushed into a corner, but our first line of defense, as always are The Mighty Avengers,
Earths Mightiest Heroes! This is their story in the worlds darkest hour! This is
(Splash page of a Nuclear explosion)
Narrator: And so it began, no one expected it, least of all Victor Von doom. It was his first ,
and last major error. The Nuke came from deep within Russia, flying to Latverian airspace in
minutes. Dooms sensor web had detected it and plotted its course within a half second.
Immediately Dooms protective devices went into effect, a satellite laser aimed and fire on the
missile before it had left Russian air space, so confident was Doom that it did not matter to him.
Page 2 & 3:(Scene of utter destruction , two page splash. burned out and leveled buildings
bodies half seen total destruction.) An incredible force shield surrounded the entire nation from
border to border. Dr Doom while anything but modest, did have reason to be proud of his
achievements..Until now that is. As the space laser tore towards the missile it suddenly became
intangible, and thus unaffected. Again the laser fire, again the same result.
Page 4: (Now we see the missile in flight , approaching the glowing dome.) To his credit Doom
did everything he could to defend his homeland. the truth is , it wasn't enough. None of Dooms
protective devices could stop this threat. It pierced the force shield like water through a strainer,
effortlessly.
Page 5: (Doom at his master control panel) Stoicly Doom sent all this information to his greatest
foe, the one person alive he knew would re-evaluate and go over Dooms own data as he had
done those many years ago. he was correct then, Doom bitterly recalled perhaps the same
tenacity would prove right for him this day. The information was sent with a two word message
attached the words were "Avenge me."
Page 6: When Reed Richards read the message , his blood ran cold. as he received it , his own satellite sensor system began to blare countless warnings and emergency signals. Without looking he knew what it meant. Latveria was no more.
(Reed walks towards a window and looks out over the quiet night sky)
Page 7: Doom changed in the last few years, thought Richards, he had not attempted any more
world conquest schemes or any more personal attacks against the Fantastic Four or any other
heroes. Some attributed it to age and maturity, others claimed he was merely biding his time.
Reed knew the truth.
Page 8: Latverias' economy was destroyed by Dooms constant attacks. No one would deal with
the small Balkan nation anymore. All of Dooms vast knowledge was now unwanted by the rest
of the world. So Doom turned his great mind inward, and concentrated on making his nation
survive. It was his last attempt at anything. He died trying to protect his beloved homeland. A
monster to some , a beloved savior to a very few. (scenes of Doombots building homes and
generally helping the populace)
Page 9: No one in Russia accepted responsibility for the attack. the government disavowed any
knowledge of it, saying it was terrorists or a fatal mistake by a low ranking officer. the denials
changed tone every day.( The preceding is pictures of politicians screaming at each other, both
here and in Russia.)
Page 10: In the intervening two years things slowly began to happen, the Iranians and the Iraqis
suddenly became the best of neighbors, the Afghan people slowly and inexplicably began to die
of some stranger heretofore unknown plague, wiping them out almost to a man. (scenes of
starvation and death)
Page 11 : One of those things to change was the face of Israel and Egypt. Both capitals were
destroyed on the same day, at the same moment by suicide terrorists using small somehow
undetectable Nukes. Some theorized the weapons were made intangible, as was the Doom
missile as it was now called. either way both nations were now leaderless and easy pickings
when the black garbed forces materialized out of thin air and began slaughtering civilian and
soldier alike. (Black garbed flying men firing lasers and such into helpless running people.)
Page 12: Within a week both nations , as well as several lesser powered countries ceased to exist
they were now part of something called "The One Globe." The UN did all their usual useless
posturing as tensions grew. Other nations, some seemingly very willingly joined the Globe.
Others were dragged kicking and screaming into it. Sanctions were placed against all the nations
involved, but this growing mass of dangerous minds laughed. (more scenes of destruction and
misery.)
Page 13: But they hadn't struck here , not until a year ago. We were ready. a clear Autumn morning found our early warning defense system screaming of hundreds of incoming missiles. the entire nation was targeted. Whoever fired these had meant to annihilate every living
breathing man , woman and child in the United States. In space our defense systems hummed to
life, as Dr Dooms had years earlier. Only these , empowered by the genius of Reed Richards and
Anthony Stark worked. The missiles went intangible , but the space arrays countered, by
opening dimensional breaches in front of the speeding missiles, effectively shunting them off
through a type of dimensional rift which exited in another direction, the direction of the Sun,
where they would harmlessly be destroyed.
Page 14: Some did get through though, as was expected. But we had one other line of defense,
the youth known as Franklin Richards. He and his companions in the New Fantastic Force (Luna
Maximoff, Katy Power (otherwise known as "Gravitizer") Sting, (who some referred to as the
mysterious Spider girl,) Leech and Artie as well as Brutas who rounded out the recently
reformed team) were at the exact center of the country when the seven missiles got through the
defensive screen. Using all his untapped might Franklin threw a dome of pure thought across the
entire nation . the missiles could not compensate quickly enough and impacted against the dome.
Page 15: But this had a devastating effect, one radioactive fallout was now ready to come tumbling down upon us, two Franklin was rendered catatonic from his exertion.
Enter Dr. Strange the Sorcerer Supreme. Using his mystic might Strange shunted the radiation to
a dimension of pure radioactivity, and saved us all from a slow debilitating death. But now the
die was cast. Russia closed off all communications with The rest of the world and claimed
kinship with the One Globe. Troops were sent through the Bearing straight into Canada as were
others through the savage land and into South America. These mysterious black garbed warriors
were met by savage resistance at our borders.
Page 16: (Scenes of the Avengers as well as many other heroes and soldiers fighting off and beating back the One Globe forces , Captain America in the forefront) And they were rebuffed. Whoever had set this chain of events in motion had not reckoned with us withstanding their first assault. this brings us to the present. the year is 2009 four years after the destruction of Latveria and one year into ................. THE WAR !
END PROLOGUE
PAGE 17: Captain America wakes up , his eyes opening slowly at first then quickly as he is
aware of his surroundings. Slowly he turns and sits up in his bed, looking at himself in the full
length mirror on his wall. He had not changed in the intervening years, the super soldier serum
had kept him young and vital. He looked at his clock at the 4:30am glowing back at him. he
smiled inwardly as he walks into his shower and begins to ready himself for another day.
Page 18: Cap is in the kitchen eating his breakfast as Jarvis enters, carrying a tray of just baked
sweet rolls. A little grayer, a little heavier. but still unmistakably Jarvis. the clock on the wall
says 5 am.
Jarvis: "Good Morning captain. how are you this morning?"
Cap A: "As well as can be expected old friend have any of the others awakened yet?"
Jarvis:"Madame Wanda has arisen as well Captain, and master Clint has been in the battle
range for over an hour now. He seems to be testing some new arrows he's been working on
before he heads back to the West coast and the team there."
Page 19: Cap frowns at this, and looks up at the blank wall before him
Cap A: "Computer, show me Hawkeye."
The wall shimmers before his eyes and a scene of mayhem appears. Hawkeye is seen
notching and firing arrows almost faster then the eye could follow , as the Radioactive
Man and Titanium man bare down on him.
Cap A: "That damn fool!"
Jarvis gasps at the seen still being played out as Cap leaps over the table, he sprints into the
Battle range, pulling his mask into place above his head.
Cap A: "Computer, open this damn door NOW !"
The door hisses open as Cap readies himself to leap into battle
Page 20: The sight that greets Cap is not what he expected. Hawkeye standing on the unmoving Titanium man, a smoking crater in his back. nearby the form of the Radioactive man lies just as still.
Cap A: " You're still a hotheaded fool Clint, we don't need you trying to kill yourself
against simulations. We need you ready against the real thing ."
Hawkeye: "Steve, what do you think I was doing here? I have to test these new arrows out
here, because against the real thing I may not have a second chance."
Cap A: " That's all well and good mister, but you didn't have to test them against a team simulation."
(Cap turns towards the wall) "Battle range off"
The villains disappear, Cap turns back to Hawkeye.
Page 21:
Cap A: "I know you don't need me nurse maiding you Clint, but that battle sim was for four Avengers, not one. your West coast team needs you alive and well to lead them. You've proved over the years your a more than capable leader and deserve that position, but we need you breathing to fill that position."
(the two walk slowly towards the Kitchen, as they do The Vision rises up through the floor
and keeps pace with them.)
Vision: "Good morning my friends"
Hawkeye: "Morning Vizh."
Cap A: " Morning old friend."
Vision: "The morning reports have begun to filter in. Alpha Flight reports that the Enemy
has tried yet another border crossing at Lake Michigan. they have dealt with it expediently
as always."
Page 22:
Hawkeye: " Must be tough for Mac and the others, knowin' their own country is in the
enemies pocket."
Cap A.: "No tougher then during WW II for the french people or countless others who had
to live outside their homelands while they rotted from within. Don't worry Avenger, we'll
get those countries back into their rightful Gov'ts hands."
The three Heroes make their way to the communication center, there they see several more
wall panels, all showing different parts of the country. In Florida the Defenders are seen
battling against the Wrecking crew.
Page 23: Nighthawk leaps upward as Bulldozer races underneath his now flying form and
right into a huge punch from the Hulk that smashes him backwards into Piledriver. Hulk
walks over and slams their heads together, making sure they're not getting up anytime
soon. Valkyrie cuts through the Wreckers defenses and stabs him through the chest,
dropping him permanently. Thunderball is all that's left. He backs away from the heroes
and right into Namor who emerges from the shadows and slams Thunderball to the ground
with a savage blow. Instantly they all disappear, being teleported away by Dr Strange,
from the Defenders base , at the former riding academy on Long Island.
Page 24: Cap turns away, obviously pained by what he just saw.
Hawkeye: "Hey old man, I know what you're thinking. I wish we didn't have to be so damn
final about things myself, we all do. Ask anybody on that strike team we just watched, but
tough times require tough measures. You know that."
CapA: " I know Clint. I just don't like seeing Americans killing Americans."
Hawkeye: "Cap, the Wrecking Crew were working for the other side, you know it.
Whoever this guy is who's orchestrating this war is a tactical genius. He had them hit and
running weapons manufacturing plants up and down the coast. "
Cap A: "Yes Hawkeye I know, and with their Asgardian based powers they were able to
teleport in and out of an area before any team BUT the Defenders could get to them."
Behind them in walks the Wasp and Yellow jacket, arm in arm.
Page 25:
Yellow jacket: "Morning crew. Anymore bad news we need to know this morning? "
CapA: "No Hank, nothing beyond the ordinary amounts of daily death."
Wasp: "Steve, enough! We all feel it as well as you do. None of us ever thought we would
be living like this. no one likes war. No one !!"
CapA " Jan, I realize that. After all the living I've done in my very strange life, I'm just
tired of all the constant fighting. It's finally getting to me I think. I have no intention of
quitting Jan , it's just tough to always be the perfect soldier, but it's something I'm very
good at."
The room is silent for a moment, all try not to look at each other when suddenly Hawkeye
yells out
Hawkeye: " Heads up people! We've got a massive spike in flux wave energy down by
what's left of the South street seaport . Looks like it's my chance to try those new arrows
against the real thing Cap. It's Titanium man, Radioactive man and the Crimson Dynamo.
Page 26:
Cap A: "Okay People, you know the drill, Avengers assemble! "
Cap, Hawkeye, Yellow jacket, the Wasp and Vision race down the corridors, joining them
halfway to the Quinjet landing area is the Scarlet Witch. Gray now streaks Wandas
beautiful hair, but if anything it makes her all the more desirable. They sprint down
hallways to the Quinjet hanger.
Cap A: "Hank, you've got the chair. Vision, when we get within a mile of that area
dropout and reconnoiter, take the Wasp with you. The rest of us hit the ground running,
they'll be ready for us as soon as they see the Quinjet approaching."
The Quinjet rockets out of it's underground hanger, and for the first time we get to see the
outside world. The grounds where Avengers Mansion once stood are leveled, carnage is
everywhere. NY city looks like Beirut more then anything else, burned out and overturned
cars amid the wreckage of leveled buildings and constantly burning fires.
Page 27:
Hawkeye: "Glad I got these new toys of mine now. Time to give 'em a real live field test."
Wasp: "Clint, you and your "toys" I just hope they work as well in reality as they did
against those constructs in the Battle Range."
Hawkeye: (Smiles boyishly as he pulls his mask into place) "We'll both find out Waspy, in
about 30 seconds.
Vision: "We are leaving now Captain."
Both the vision and the Wasp disappear, Vision dropping intangibly through the floor and
the wasp shrinking down and flying out a small open vent.
Page 28
the Vision engages the Titanium man silently, his eerie demeanor enough to send a chill
down the spine of whoever is wearing the armor now. Vision solidifies and punches
Titanium man with a devastating blow, then going instantly intangible as Titanium Man
tries to counter with an energy blast.
Crimson dynamo: " Do not worry my friend, the machine can not stand against both of us
alone."
He blasts at the Vision who again goes intangible, the beam going through his body and
knocking back the Titanium man.
Off panel voice : " Who said he's alone?"
Page 29 Suddenly a familiar red white and blue shield careens off first a stanchion for the
railroad trestle , then off the Dynamos' head, then the ground, then right into Titanium
mans mid section and finally back to Caps hand.
Page 30
Dramatic seen of the Avengers standing amid the rubble, Hawkeye with arrow notched and
aimed , Cap receiving his shield back, Vision phasing up through the ground Yellow jacket
and Wasp in flight and ready to fight , the Witch standing on the Quinjets exit ramp , hands
glowing.
Hawkeye: "Welcome to the party boys, let's play"
CapA: "Surrender now gentleman, you get one chance and that's it."
Radioactive man: "Never American dog, now we rid the world of your foul presence!"
Radioactive man fires a blast of radiation at cap, who catches it on his shield, as he leaps aside.
Page 31
Yellow jacket: "Alright Mister, you had your chance. Now it's our turn. "
YJ Fires his disrupters into Radioactive man, as Hawkeye fires several arrows into
Titanium mans chest . Vision fires his solar eye beams at the Dynamo who returns fire
back.
Scarlet witch: " Don't leave the ladies out of all the fun boys, we like to play too."
Wanda hexes the el train platform above the Dynamos head and instantly it ages a
thousand years, crumbling in a heap of steel on top of the Dynamo.
Wasp: "Really guys, we don't want to be left out just because we're the fairer sex."
Page 32
Wasp zips around Radioactive man who clutches at the air trying to catch her. Finally she holds still as Radioactive man runs full tilt after her and as he gets close she unleashes a point blank full power bio-sting right in his face
Zark!
Radioactive Man: "Arrgh"
Vision rises up out of the ground and phases his hand through Radioactive Mans chest. But
suddenly he is the one screaming in pain !!
Radioactive man: "Idiotic robot, I am composed of pure radiation! YOUR powers are
ineffectual against me.
Vision lies on the floor writhing in some sort of shock
Page 33
CapA :Hawk, Yellow jacket take him out now!"
All three heroes attack radioactive man, Hawkeye fires several different types of arrows,
an explosive arrow, a type of expanding plasma arrow which covers the villain from head to
toe with a viscous membrane and then a high voltage blast arrow , all in rapid fire
succession. Cap leaps upwards into a double somersault and kicks the Radioactive man in
the chest with both feet, knocking him backwards. then YJ and Wasp both blast him
nonstop until he's unmoving..
Hawkeye:" Yeah! Now that's teamwork people. "
Cap A: " Not so fast Hawkeye, we've still got two foes left and Vision is down."
Page 34
Scarlet Witch: :"Make that one Cap."
As she speaks Wanda throws another hex at the Crimson Dynamo, who has since pulled
himself from the wreckage .This time her power turns all the Dynamos energy cells to mush
, effectively rendering him helpless and powerless.
Titanium man :" Bah, these fools are not true warriors,( He gestures at the Dynamo and
radioactive man) now you face the true warrior among them ."
he turns towards the assemblers and raises his hands for an attack as they all take up
defensive positions
Off page voice: " Not so fast you green plated garbage scow!"
Page 35
Suddenly Iron Man shimmers into view from seeming invisibility, blasting Titanium Man
with his ultra enhanced pulse bolts. Titanium Man screams once, then fades from view as
he disintegrates.
Iron Man lands next to Cap
CapA: "Damn it Shellhead, there was no reason to KILL him , he couldn't beat all of us, we
could've gotten some answers from him"
Iron Man : "Cap, after what he did to Pepper and Happy all those years ago, he deserved
this. You know I don't take killing lightly, but there are times when it's warranted. This
was a long time in coming and it was just."
CapA: "Just? JUST? Who appointed you judge jury and executioner? ."
Both men walk closer to each other, voices raising
Page 36
Iron Man:" NO ONE APPOINTED ME, BUT IT'S IN THE NAME. WE ARE THE
AVENGERS DAMMIT, I WAS AVENGING MY DEAD FRIENDS, AS I WOULD DO
FOR YOU IF I HAD TO, WHICH I HOPE I NEVER DO!"
Hawkeye walks between them, arms spreading them apart
Hawkeye: "Guys, enough!! Can it. Hanks got Vizh re-booted. Let's get out of here. and by
the way Shellhead, nice threads."
Page 37
Iron man nods in acknowledgment of his new armor and without another word takes to the
sky Cap turns silently and walks between Hawkeye and Vision as Yellow jacket looks on.
Once inside the Quinjet they take to the air quickly, Dynamo and Radioactive man in stasis
collars.
Scarlet Witch: " Are you alright Vision? "
Vision: "Yes my love, I am well now."
Wasp: "Is there any other problems we should know about while we're out and about?"
Yellow jacket:"None that I can determine now Jan. But I think we should all get back to
the Bunker and get checked for radiation , especially you Cap. you took one heck of a
chance mister getting close enough to kick him like that."
Page 38
CapA: "We can't think of only our own safety anymore Yellow jacket, not when the stakes
are this high."
Moments later the Quinjet re-enters the underground hanger and lands, the heroes
disembarking in silence.
Later....
Wasp:"Mmmmm that shower was delicious lover, I'm glad we had the time to unwind
before the next emergency."
Yellow jacket: I know honey, I'm a little worried about Steve, I've never seen him so tense
in all the years we've been together.
Page 39
Wasp:" Well Hanky , he's been through a lot in recent years, his marriage to Sharon, then
a year later she gets killed on a Shield mission, this time for real. Then this whole war thing
starts, plus unlike you and I he doesn't seem to be aging. the super soldier serum in his veins
is keeping him looking about 30, while in reality he should be in his 80's."
Yellow jacket "I know Jan. I guess sometimes we just take things for granted and some
things just wear a person down. He was the oldest among us at one point, now he appears to
be the youngest."
he turns towards her
Yellow jacket: "Speaking of marriage, I ever tell you you've made me the happiest man
alive, twice in one lifetime?"
They embrace
Wasp: "Only about a gazillion times, but do it again. I NEVER get tired of hearing it."
Page 40
Cut to the command center
There Fabian Stankowitz (balder, but lighter then he had been) and Michael O'Brien (Still
basically the same except for a few more wrinkles and some grey amidst his red hair) sit on
monitor duty, while Stankowitz fiddles with some new device he's working on.
Fabian: "Well Mike, it looks like this shift is almost over, not like we have anything else to
do after this. What a world."
O'Brien: "Fabes, things'll get better boyo . The president has some news conference tonight
that will supposedly shed some light on all this, and with all the heroes in the country acting
as one unit, well we got things pretty well in hand methinks."
Fabian spins in his chair, dropping his gizmo
Fabian: "Pretty well in hand? what're you whacko O'Brien? This whole nation is on the
brink of destruction, we're penned in by enemies on all sides AND they keep teleporting in
terrorists to do more of their dirty work for them. And we don't even know who's behind
this yet. Nothing's in hand we're at the brink of doom."
Page 41
Captain America walks in, obviously overhearing the argument.
Cap A: "Gentleman, calm down. This is getting us nowhere fast. We have to stick together
and work things out as best we can. Our time will come. Chin up my friends."
Turning he walks out and back into the hallway, leading to his personal quarters.
CapA:( If only I believed everything I said to my friends. My own beliefs are so poisoned
now, so destroyed by everything we've all been through in the last four years.)
Page 42
He turns in to his room , looks around at pictures of friends long gone, Sharon,
Diamondback, Bucky to many others to name, then he slowly turns and walks out the door,
heading to the battle Range.
Page 43
Inside the range he finds Hawkeye , again battling drones. This time faceless robots . cap
lowers his mask and joins in.
Hawkeye :"Good to see you Avenger, join the party."
They begin to take apart countless drones, cap with a swing of the shield here a kick or
punch there, Hawkeye with precision shooting. this time he uses standard arrows. His
targets, the areas between the joints of these robots.
Page 44
CapA: "Clint, I have a personal question, do you mind if I ask it?"
Hawkeye eyes Cap quizzically as he fires two more arrows in quick succession.
Hawkeye: "No Steve, of course not. Shoot.
CapA: "Clint, how long did it take you to get over Bobbi's death?"
Hawkeye: (With no hesitation) "Never."
CapA: "What?"
Hawkeye: "I NEVER got over it Cap. I've just decided to go on living. Death is what
happens in this business . We all know it. Bobbi and Sharon knew it. I've loved other
women since, but no one will ever replace my Bobbi, my beautiful Mockingbird."
The fighting has stopped, both men stand looking at each other.
Page 45
Cap A: "Thanks my friend (He places his hand on Clints shoulder) you've helped me out
here more then you could possibly know."
Hawkeye: "Hey Steve, you and me, we have more similarities in our lives then we admit to.
I think in another world I could've been you and you me. That's how interchangeable our
personal stories are."
CapA: "You're right old friend I've often thought that myself."
The wall to the pairs right shimmers and the face Michael O'Brien fills the screen
O'Brien: " I fear you men should come up to the command center on the double step. We
have a situation. And its a bad one."
Page 46
Both men wordlessly run to the command center, their faces blank. Inside they find Iron
Man, Wasp and Yellow jacket. The Vision phases in through a wall as Wanda comes
through the door moments later.
Vision: "What has happened Michael?"
O'Brien: "Look and see Mr Vision , lord above help us, look and see."
All faces watch the wall screen on it is a picture of the sky. But the color is wrong, all
wrong. Its a dull golden hue.
IronMan: "What the hell? , Hank, get a reading on that from the satellite."
Yellow jacket: "I can't Shellhead, seems the satellite is not hearing me. It's there, but I
can't contact it."
Page 47
Iron Man: " Michael, get in touch with Reed Richards and get his input on this, and then
get Rhodey over on the west coast and make sure the team there is okay."
O'Brien "Cap, the president is on the air, addressing the nation."
CapA: "Put it on Michael, let's see."
The wall shimmers once more and a familiar face appears on the screen. It's an old hard
face, more haggard and drawn then ever before, but one we've seen. It belongs to president
Jonah Jameson.
President:" My fellow Americans, as your president I've endured a lot here in the past 3
years and now it looks like the most trying portion of my Presidency is ahead. This evening
at 7:45 PM est. an impenetrable web of some kind was placed above our planet. Nothing
seems to be able to get in or out. Our top scientists our working on this problem at the very
moment Keep calm between our heroes and our military all is well . I remember back in
1970 when I was running a great newspaper the Vietnam crisis was coming to a head and I
said to one of my employees Robbie we---."
Page 48
Suddenly Jamesons face is faded out by static, what returns is not Jameson, but something
far worse. the hooded dimly seen figure speaks with a heavy Russian accent.
Figure: " American people hear me! You have no future on your own. Give in to the One
Globe. We will be lenient masters and you will lose no matter what your idealistic leaders
now tell you. We of the One Globe are the future. Join us willingly or under the heel of our
boots, it makes no difference to us. You will be a part of us eventually."
With that the screen fades back to the still talking Jameson . But no one is listening any
longer, they all are staring in stunned silence at the screen which shows the sky, the
burning golden sky.
Next : Out to what's left of the coast ( And what do we mean by that? we'll show you in
thirty) with Hawkeye and the West coast Avengers