MV2 Presents

A-Next, The Next Generation of Avengers!

Avengers Assemble...Again

By Stephen Crosby

 

            The Avengers Museum. For the last five years, it has stood upon the foundations of the former Avengers Mansion, serving as an inspiration to the heroes of tomorrow. Here, the spirit of the Avengers are forever remembered, the memory of heroism sustained.

            That had been the purpose of this museum, as envisioned by its founder and curator, Mr. Edwin Jarvis. Now, as he watches three figures battling each other in the courtyard, he smiles fondly. One is clad in a familiar metallic shell, another is no more the size of a large insect, and the third stands regally, his long blond ponytail flapping in the breeze. The Avengers Museum’s purpose has been fulfilled.

            Through the inspiration of the memory, the Avengers have assembled again.

            “Don’t hold back with those thundershocks Kevin,” The cold robotic voice of the armored individual says. “I can barely feel what you’re throwing at me. Our foes won’t hesitate to take advantage of any weakness.”

            With obvious effort, though not much, the armored man steps closer to blond man named Kevin.

            Kevin just smiles, lets off on his shockwaves, and balls up his fist. “I’m still not used to these powers Mainframe. If I can’t tone down the power when I need to, I may accidentally kill somebody. Besides, I wanted you close enough so I could try something. Pucker up.”

            Kevin’s fist strikes Mainframe’s head with a clap of thunder. Surprised by the shocking power of the man’s blow, Mainframe is sent flying. The small insect-sized individual has to quickly fly up to avoid the armored man.

            “Sorry Cassie,” Kevin says. “Didn’t see you there. I was just a bit eager to get one over on Mainframe there.”

            “S’okay Kevin,” the little winged woman pipes out. “Nice to see how well I can maneuver anyway. Now I know why Ms. Van Dyne was always so flighty. These wings are great.

            “Oh, and by the way,” Cassie says as she flies straight at Kevin’s face. “When I’m in costume, the name’s Stinger!” With that, Cas-er, Stinger, gives Kevin a stinger blast right between the eyes.

            “Aagh!” With a cry of pain, Kevin shields his eyes. He also inadvertently releases a minor shockwave in the area around him. Stinger is hurled away with a yelp of surprise.

            Flying back from where he’d been punched to, Mainframe catches the tiny form of Stinger out of the air. At the same time, he aims the palm of his other hand at Kevin. “Not bad Kevin. You’ve managed to do a good job of dealing out damage. Now let’s see how you are at taking it.”

            Judging by how Mainframe’s repulsor beam knocks Kevin into the courtyard wall, stunning him into semi-conscious, Kevin that good.

            Standing over the beaten young man, Mainframe opens his first palm and looks at Stinger. “How are you holding up?”

            Stinger flits off of Mainframe’s hand and lands on the ground at fully size. “I’m just peachy keen, thanks.” She leans over Kevin. “How about you kid? I hope the Stark-patented repulsor ray didn’t bruise that bod of yours too much.”

            Kevin Masterson accepts Cassie Lang’s outstretched hand and rises to his feet. “I’m fine Cassie. I think that shock field I created dampened the blast a bit. Didn’t have much protection from this wall though,” he jokes, patting the wall behind him and rubbing his skull.

            Cassie laughs too. “Yeah, it looked like you created that shock field as an instinctive response to my attack. Let’s chalk that up as another trick for you to get the hang of.”

            Mainframe cuts in with his own observation. “It would seem that absorbing the Thunderstrike Hammer has given you access to all of it’s power. You even seem to accomplish things your father never could have with the hammer, possibly as a result of Loki’s spell.”

            Kevin sighs, remember the events of just a few days ago. He’d been invited to the museum by Mr. Jarvis upon his arrival to New York. When he arrived, he’d been given his father, the original Thunderstrike’s, old hammer. It had been then that Kevin was attacked by trolls, intent on stealing the hammer. If not for the timely assistance of Mainframe, and Stinger, the trolls very well might have succeeded.

            But no, the trolls had to fail, and so Loki got involved. He’d teleported the trio to Asgard and imprisoned all but Kevin. Loki then gloated about how he’d take the power of the hammer and use it against his half-brother Thor, the ruler of Asgard. Kevin, like the hotheaded idiot he was, disrupted the spell and somehow absorbed the hammer into himself. What followed after that was, of course, the usual free-for-all between heroes and villains, ending only with the arrival of Lord Thor himself. After a spectacular celebration in the Eternal Realm, Thor sent the three back home with a some words of wisdom.

            Course, Thor doesn’t have one eye missing, so how wise can he really be?

            “Lucky me,” Kevin replies. “I get to quick-change into a costume, leap great distances, throw a mean punch, shake the earth, erect a sort of force field, and project shock blasts all without the use of a hammer. Remind me to thank Loki the next time I see him.”

            “What are you so glum about Kevin?” Cassie asks. “Unlike me and metalhead here, you’ve got actually super-powers! You don’t need any fancy gadgets our chemical compounds. Plus, you’ve got the chance to follow in your father’s footsteps, to write another chapter in the legend of Thunderstrike!”

            Kevin smiles. “Yeah, maybe it’ll be better than the last chapter. My dad was always seen as a poor man’s Thor, after all.”

            “So was Beta Ray Bill,” Mainframe states. “Just as War Machine was considered a poor man’s Iron Man, or USAgent was considered a poor man’s Captain America, or Scott Lang was considered a poor man’s Hank Pym. With all due respect, Cassandra.”

            “No apologies needed Mainframe. My dad’d be the first to admit it.”

            “You’re father died a good man, Kevin, giving his life to stop the possessive evil of the Blood Axe. Before then, he dealt with the power of Thor himself, saving the world time and again. Thor held your father in the highest of regards, Kevin. Rather than redeeming a name, you have to live up to it.”

            Kevin shakes his head, then nods. “You’re right guys. Instead of being used for evil like Loki wanted, my dad’s powers were given to me. Maybe it was a fluke, or maybe a part of him was still in that hammer, wanting me to have the power. Whatever the case, I have the power of the Thunderstrike, including the name I guess. I owe it to my dad to use it the way he’d have wanted me too.”

            Mainframe claps Thunderstrike on the shoulder. “I have a feeling that, whatever it is you do, your father is proud of you.”

            “Unless you die, of course,” Stinger cuts it. “But hey, that’s not a good thing for anybody, is it?”

            Mainframe nods grimly. “No Cassie, it’s not. And as a team, we can watch each other’s backs and make sure that doesn’t happen.”

            Clearing his throat behind them, Mr. Jarvis speaks. “Pardon me, sirs and madam, but I took the liberty of scheduling a press conference this evening. The events of the other day have the city in a buzz, and the rumors as to the possible return to the Avengers are everywhere. I felt that it would be best to make a public announcement as quickly as possible.”

            “As always, Mr. Jarvis, you’ve done the right thing. Though to be honest, I had hoped for more time. Three rookies making up what was once the world’s premiere team? Despite our similarities to past heroes, we will not be well received.”

            Mr. Jarvis just smiles and bows. “Master Mainframe, I personally have all the confidence in the world that the three of you will uphold the traditions and values of the name Avenger. If the rest of the world fails to see that, then they are blind. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to see towards welcoming our expected guests.”

            Thunderstrike watches as Mr. Jarvis leaves the courtyard, then turns to Mainframe and Stinger. “I’d hate to say it Mainframe, but you are right. At least the last time three rookies became Avengers, they had Captain America with them.”

            “I’d hardly call Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch rookies,” Mainframe replies. “They each had varying degrees of experience-”

            “As villains,” Stinger interjects. “Or misguided ones, anyway. At least we come with references though, huh? I mean, my dad is Scott Lang, and I do happen to know the Fantastic Five pretty well. Mainframe, I’m sure you’re boss Mr. Stark will back you up, huh? I mean, you’re pretty much the same as the original Iron Man.”

            “Not exactly. Nevertheless, I can count on the official endorsement of Stark Enterprises.”

            “Well then, there you go. And Kevin, you’ve got Lord Thor himself backing you up!”

            Thunderstrike shrugs. “I don’t see Lord Thor giving any sort of official statements. And come on guys, even if we were more powerful than all the past Avengers combined, there are still only three of us. Last I checked, the Avengers never had less than four.”

            Mainframe agrees. “Perhaps it would be best if we recruited one or two additional members before the press conference this evening. There are numerous solo heroes for us to approach. Nova, Speedball, Jolt, the Darkdevil....”

            “Spooky urban legends and stuckup Old Warriors,” Stingers says. “Come one guys, this is a new team! I say we track down new, young heroes like ourselves! What say we start with that new Spider-Girl that just appeared recently?”

            “Or,” Thunderstrike says, pointing past Mainframe and Stinger. “We could ask her.”

            Mainframe and Stinger turn to see what Thunderstrike is indicating. Standing at the other end of the courtyard is a tall woman, taller than either Mainframe or Thunderstrike. She is clad in a long beggar’s cloak, and a tight white bandage covers her eyes. In her hand is a long, thin walking stick.

            Stinger starts towards the strange woman with concern. “Hi. Uh, do you need help or anything? There’s a soup kitchen down the street. I could take you there if you want.”

            “I am Libra,” the woman states. “Balancer of the Scales.”

            Stinger frowns. “Gee, that doesn’t really sound like a high-paying job. With that voice, you should consider maybe voice-overing for movie trailers and-hey!”

            Mainframe pushes Stinger behind him and points his open palm at the woman calling herself Libra. “According to old Avenger files, Libra is a member of the Zodiac, a criminal cartel obsessed with the astrological signs. What is your purpose here, woman?”

            As Libra responds, Thunderstrike notices that her cloak isn’t disturbed by the wind. “My purpose here, historian, is to Balance the Scales of Good and Evil. Were you aware of the Destiny War, you would know that Libra’s only concerns are towards contemplating the universe and fighting to sustain it’s balance.”

            “The what War?” Stinger asks, puzzled. “And seriously, we’re talking Vincent Price-level voice-overing here. Think about it.”

            “I do know that the previous Libra, Gustav Brandt, had changed his way following the desolution of that Zodiac.” Mainframe does not move his arm. “You are not him.”

            “The previous Balancer was my mentor,” Libra states. “Upon his death, I took his name, and his mission.”

            Libra moves her walking stick slightly, and a vast hallway of nothingness forms behind her. “A great threat to this universe has come to my attention. I had hoped that the Avengers could assist me in battling this threat. I see now that I have come too early. You are too few and untested in battle. In six months, perhaps you shall be ready. For the sake of the universe, I pray that you are.”

            With these words, Libra turns, and vanishes.

            Thunderstrike looks at the spot where Libra had been, raises his eyebrow, and speaks. “Wow. We’re together for five minutes and already there’s a threat against the universe.”

            “This isn’t the time for jokes Thunderstrike,” Mainframe says. “Cleary the woman can travel through time. She was simply warning us ahead of time, giving us a chance to prepare and increase our number. Come, it is imperative that we begin recruiting.”     

            The three young Avengers starts back towards the main building of the Avengers Museum. However, the stop at the sight of Mr. Jarvis leaving the building and striding towards them. Or rather, they stop at the sight of the large man with Mr. Jarvis. The twenty-foot tall man.

            “Again sirs and madam, forgive me for intruding,” Mr. Jarvis says. “But I have someone for you to meet. His name is Henry Nugent Pym.”

________________________________________________________________________

            The spent cigar is put out in the ashtray on the desk. The smoker, a one-eyed man seated in a plush office chair, looks up at the man standing across from him. “You know why I sent for you, don’t you boy?”

            The visitor, a tall man whose features are obscured by shadows, nods. “There have been...concerns about the Avengers assembling again. I hear that Congress and the U.N. are already discussing their options.”

            “Meaning?” the seated administrator asks, curious about this man’s answer.

            “Meaning the politians and diplomats are weighing the pros of endorsing the world’s premiere super-hero team against the cons of endorsing a pack of young vigilantes using the name of the world’s premiere super-hero team. It’s an election year, after all.”

            “What if the U.N. endorses the Avengers before Congress?”

            “You and I both know that won’t happen sir. Nowadays, the United States are the United Nations. Half of the world leaders won’t so much as wipe their asses without the permission of the U.S. Ambassador, and the other half are almost there.”

            “Okay then, how about this? What if an official organization, with ties to every nation on the planet and more power than most, chooses to endorse the Avengers first? Even going so far as to place one of their operatives on the team.”

            The man standing smiles. “Well then, the United States and United Nations would have no choice but to follow suit. The Avengers would gain their A-1 Security clearance, as well as all the usual perks they used to have.”

            “They’d also be at the mercy of the organization that first endorses them. They would have no choice but to keep on this organization’s operative as their member, possibly even leader. Remember kid, this isn’t a team of the world’s premiere heroes, this is a team of snot-nosed punks with nothing more than a butler who’s older than dirt in their corner. Show them some authority, give them some opportunities to help the world, and they’ll be putty in our hands.”

            The man nods. “I like the way you think Colonel. As to this operative, who do you have in mind?”

            “Why the blazes do you think I called you in here, Steve? You leave for Avengers Museum in an hour. Offer them your services half an hour before the press-conference. Don’t fail me. Got it?”

            The man salutes his superior smartly, his shield glittering in the light of a newly struck match. “I won’t fail you, Colonel Gyrich. By the end of today, the Avengers might as well be rookie operatives of SHIELD.”

________________________________________________________________________

            “That’s...pretty much it,” Henry Pym finishes, looking down at the three Avengers from his seated position beneath a mammoth oak tree. “Since then, I’d been raised as a ward of the Maria-Stark Foundation. They got me my education, and managed to keep me out of the papers. But now...hearing about the Avengers assembling again, it just feels right to come out.”

            Mainframe, Stinger, and Thunderstrike, look up at Henry Pym silently, none of them having the slightest clue of how to respond. Thunderstrike goes first.

            “I...remember reading about Dr. Pym’s suicide,” he says with sadness. “No explanation was really given, but of course his breakdowns had been public knowledge for some time. No matter what I’d ever heard about him, I never would have imagined that he’d have...”

            “I just can’t believe it,” Stinger whispers. “Whatever the problems he and Janet had gone through, I just can’t believe that he’d ever seen anybody behind her back. Oh my god, how could he have done such a thing.” Closing her eyes, Stinger turns so that her back faces Henry Pym.

            “Dr. Pym was perhaps the most human of all the Avengers,” Mainframe states. “More than any of them, he’d made mistakes. The numerous identity crisis, the moment of abuse towards his wife, his nagging self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness. And just like any man, he would seek out comfort in the arms of a woman. Any woman. Mr. Jarvis, you’ve known about this...”

            “Since the beginning,” the aged butler says. “I was the only one that Master Hank ever told the truth to. To the rest of the world, he had simply helped an old friend save her premature baby. How the Pym Particles caused permanent growth was never explained, but Master Hank had a feeling it was because the child was his, had his genes and natural susceptibility towards the particles. He never forgave himself, of course.”

            “So, Henry,” Thunderstrike says to the teary-eyed young man. “Why exactly are you here?”

            Henry Nugent Pym wipes his eyes and fixes them on Thunderstrike. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been hidden away by the Maria-Stark Foundation. Sure, I’m grateful for all they’ve given me, particularly Mr. Stark and the offer to work for him.”

            “Mr. Stark knew of you?” Mainframe asks. “Yes, I suppose he would have to. Strange however, that he would know and I wouldn’t.”

            “Yeah, well, from what I’ve heard Mr. Stark has been a secretive man.” Henry continues. “Anyway, I just feel like I should give something back, maybe do my part to repent for the demons of my father. Also, I’m sick of hiding from the world, of pretending that I don’t really exist. I want the world to know who I am, though of course not entirely.”

            “Yeah,” Stinger agrees. “The name of Dr. Hank Pym carries enough baggage as it is. He doesn’t deserve to have his...indiscretions made known to the world.”   

            Mainframe takes a step towards Henry. “Are you saying that you desire to be an Avenger?”

            Henry nods. “If you’ll have me.”

            “Of course we would,” Thunderstrike blurts out. “If anybody can sympathize with a son wanted to follow his father, it’s me. You have my vote, big guy.”

            “I’d...like for you to join too,” Stinger says. “Who knows, maybe me dad and I can help you with your condition. We’ve done a lot of study with the Pym Particles, and I’m sure we could find a way to utilize the shrinking aspect of the particles.”        

            “Stark Enterprises and the Maria-Stark Foundation have tried everything,” Henry states. “Apparently, the mass I take can’t go back where it came from. It just stays with me, converted into actual living matter within my body. I can’t shrink, and when I grow, it’s permanent.”

            “There’s always a way, Henry,” Mainframe says. “And I promise you that someday we will find it. Thunderstrike and Stinger vote for you, and so do you. You’re an Avenger now, Henry, and Avengers look out for their own.”

            Henry stands, and smiles. “Well then, I guess I’ll need a codename. I’d like to honor my father, and well, the name Giant-Man had been exclusively his throughout his career, unlike Goliath or Yellowjacket or Ant-Man. So, I’d like to go by the name of Giant-Man. It does suit me, after all.”

            Shrunken and flitting through the air, Stinger lands on Giant-Man’s shoulder and nods. “I think it’ll suit you very well, Giant-Man.”

            “That’s settle then,” Mainframe says. “It’s getting late in the day. I had better see about getting Henry a costume in time for the press conference. The rest of you should go have lunch.”

            “You said it Mainframe,” Thunderbolt says. “This day’s been pretty bizarre. Still, it’d be pretty cool if we had a fifth for the press conference. I mean, we’ve got a psuedo Iron Man, a psuedo Wasp, a psuedo...er...Giant-Man, and me as a psuedo Thor. Come one guys, we just have to get a psuedo Hulk, or a psuedo Captain America at the very least.”        

            It really is funny that Thunderstrike would say that. No sooner are the words out of his mouth than a burst of light comes one, illuminating the courtyard and momentarily blinding Stinger, Thunderstrike, Giant-Man, and Mr. Jarvis.

            “What the-?” Stinger exclaims. “Yeow! Even the lenses in my helmet can’t handle light this bright!”

            “Fortunately, Stinger, mine are.” Mainframe flies off the ground and towards the source of the light. A small hovering platform with the figure of a man standing on it. “Explain yourself intruder.”

            The figure hurls something at Mainframe. As it strikes him in the chest, he identifies it as a large discus. Almost like a...

            As he had thrown his weapon, the figure leapt off his hovering platform. Perhaps the lights were pressure activated, because they go out the instant the man’s off the platform. As the Avengers and museum curator recover from the sudden loss of light, the man lands gracefully on the ground, and grabs the object that had ricocheted off of Mainframe.

            The first thing that Mainframe, Thunderstrike, Stinger, and Giant-Man see when their eyes recover is a red, white, and blue shield. However, instead of having a star in the center, it has a badge. The bottom half of the badge is made up of red, white, and blue stripes, while the top half is golden, and resembles and eagle’s head and outspread wings.

            Like the shield, the man holding it also bears a resemblance to the original Captain America. His costume is almost identical, though instead of the stars on his chest and back, there is that same badge. The same badge that is on his forehead, where that large white ‘A’ should be.

            Mr. Jarvis recognizes the badge first. “My word! You’re an Agent of SHIELD. And with that shield, in that costume, you must be-”

            “Yes, I am the Shieldbearer,” the man says, lowering his shield.

            “Wow!” Thunderstrike exclaims. “SHIELD’s elite super-agent, here! I have to say sir, that I am a huge fan of your’s. I mean, ever since you halted Hydra’s attempt to sink San Francisco Island, you’ve pretty much been my idol.”

            “Be quiet Thunderstrike,” Mainframe says. “I asked you a question, Shieldbearer. Explain yourself. What is SHIELD’s interest in the Avengers?”

            “That should be obvious to you,” Shieldbearer says. “In the past, SHIELD and the Avengers often worked hand-in-hand. Once the Director learned the old team was assembling again, he felt it’d be best to contact you as soon as possible. Of course, he sent me.”

            “What is SHIELD’s proposal?”

            “We will officially endorse the new Avengers. We will see to it that the United States, as well as the United Nations, officially recognizes you. That means you’ll obtain your old A-1 Security Clearance, as well as officially funding along with whatever you get from the Maria Stark Foundation. In short, SHIELD will help you gain the old team’s status of government perks without government scrutiny.”

            “In exchange for what?”

            Shieldbearer smiles. “You allow a SHIELD agent into your ranks. This agent will help you young heroes out, as well as provide your team with the positive publicity that it will need. As SHIELD’s most recognizable agent, I’ve been assigned for the task.”

            “You’re going to be on our team?” Thunderstrike gasps. “Oh man, this is just too cool!”

            Stinger smiles. “All right! Great to know that we’ve got a big man on the team. And a cute one at that.”

            Even Giant-Man seems every bit as enthusiastic, a huge grin splitting his face in two.

            Mainframe, however, does not move. Nor does his demeanor change. “Mr. Jarvis, the reporters should be arriving shortly. Would you be kind enough to go on ahead and greet them? We’ll be in the main press room shortly.”

            “Certainly, Master Mainframe,” Jarvis says, giving Shieldbearer a cool look as he heads for the main building.

            Thunderstrike starts towards Sheildbearer, his hand outstretched. “Mr. Sheildbearer, let me be the first to have the honor of welcoming you to the Aven-Hey!”

            Mainframe casually grabs Thunderstrike by the shoulder and pulls him back. “One moment, Thunderstrike. I would like to make something clear, both to Shieldbearer and to the rest of you.”

            Mainframe’s gaze on Shieldbearer is ice cold. “In exchange for SHIELD’s assitance in giving the Avengers credibility and clearance, they want to place one of their own in our team. Somebody to help train us and lead us on missions. Somebody who is answerable to SHIELD, by extension making the Avengers answerable to SHIELD. I will not deny that we need credibility, Shieldbearer, nor that we will need government clearance on a worldwide level in order to operate effectively. However, I would like to make it clear to you, very clear, that we are not operatives of SHIELD or any other organization. I will not oppose your joining our ranks, Shieldbearer, but if you dare try to make SHIELD business a priority over Avengers business, or attempt to use us as SHIELD’s personal super-team in anyway, I will personally eject you from the Avengers. And enjoy doing it as painfully as possible.”

            Shieldbearer just smiles and gives a little bow. “Spoken like a true employee of Anthony Stark. And like and Avengers Chairman too. Rest assured, Mainframe, I’m only here to help.”

            Mainframe nods, though he clearly isn’t convinced. “That will suit me for the moment.” He turns to face the rather stunned Avengers behind him. “With that said, it is time for us to meet with the press.”

________________________________________________________________________

            “Good evening everyone. I’m Edwin Jarvis, curator of the Avengers Museum. But you don’t care about that right now, and why should you. So I’ll kindly stop boring you, and just say that I am very pleased to be sharing this stage...” Jarvis sniffs and blinks his eyes. “Forgive me, please. As I was saying, it is with great honor that I introduce you to the new Avengers.”

            With this introduction, the five Avengers step forward. Mainframe stands foremost at the center, with Thunderstrike and Shieldbearer on either side of him. In the back, towering over the three, is the twenty-foot tall Giant-Man, with a one-foot tall Stinger standing on his shoulder. Mainframe, of course, takes the podium and addresses the reporters.

            “Thank you Mr. Jarvis. I speak for the Avengers when I say that the honor is ours. Ladies and gentlement, since that tragic day so long ago, this world has been without Avengers. It is high-time that this was remedied, and so we have assembled. I am Mainframe, and associate of Mr. Stark’s and something of a successor to Iron Man. To my left is Thunderstrike, the son of the original hero and Avenger. To my right, Shieldbearer, a hero of some renown that I am proud to have in our ranks. Behind us is Giant-Man, and the young woman on his shoulder is Stinger, daughter of the second Ant-Man. Now, if there are any questions-”

            “One minute there, Mainframe,” Shieldbearer interrupts. “I’m sorry, but it’s just been too long since the words have been said, so without further ado...”

            Unstrapping his shield from his back, Shieldbearer holds his high above his head, the SHIELD badge prominent (Much to Mainframe’s dismay). Shieldbearer exclaims, with the chorus of three other Avengers backing him up,

“AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!”

________________________________________________________________________

 

Author’s Note:

                This is the closest I’ve gotten to a dream come true. I’m actually writing the Avengers! Well, a futuristic version, at least. More to the point, I’m writing A-Next, what had been my favorite title at Marvel’s MC2. Already you may have noticed that this won’t be exactly the same as Tom Defalco’s version. Sure, I had them form under the same circumstances, but there’s nary of sign of J2 to be had, nor Speedball, Jolt, and Jubilee. I gave Thunderstrike and Stinger the same origins, but you might have noticed that their personalities are a tad different. As to whether or not I’ll have Mainframe be a robot or a guy in armor, I’ll just leave you guessing.

            Finally, you may have noticed the other characters I put in this story. Clearly, this Henry Pym is nothing like the character that had appeared in MC2’s A-Next #12. He’s an original of mine. And if you can figure out the name of his mother (James Hickson, you are automatically exempt), you can count yourself a No-Prize winner! Libra and Shieldbearer are also originals, though they’ve both appeared in mainstream Marvel before. You’ll figure out who Libra is eventually, but I intend to keep Shieldbearer and his superiors in SHIELD a long-standing mystery.

            In closing, I just want to say that this has been loads of fun, and I hope you guys have enjoyed the story. I ain’t through by a long shot, I can tell ya that!

 

Stephen Crosby