Secret Avengers #4 *Spoilers*

**marvelprince** · 05-08-2013, 10:10 PM

Was surprised no one started one for the books yet. Lots of stuff happens in this issue as the tension between AIM and SHIELD continues to escalate here and we get some great character moments (Maria Hill in particular I love here). Here's a brief recap:

- Issue picks up as in the previews, with the Iron Patriot's attacking hotspots around the globe. Internal monologue suggests that the armour is doing this to protect us.

- Next Coulson is checking up on the Jocasta the team recovered, still unresponsive. Meanwhile an entire(-ly nervous) platoon os SHIELD agents are welcoming Banner abroad the carrier.

- Hill and Johnson are discussing the team with Daisy proclaiming her surprise that the Hulk with his "hostile aversion to mental programming" would submit to the required memory implants to be used as an asset. Hill reminds her that the Secret Avengers were supposed to be her initiative to run as she see's fit, to which Daisy replies yes its Hill's baby, but its still part of Daisy's organization. Hill handily reminds her that she's not the official director yet before they arrive at the briefing room.

- Here we see that the Iron Patriot's are actually attacking areas that the US already had under watch for suspected terrorist activity. One of the SHIELD scientists argues how is that a bad thing, when Daisy explains that the reason SHIELD hadn't moved in on these zones was because some of these targets were simply suspected of terrorism, and others were in densely populated areas. Things the drones don't seem to care about. As a result, the US is taking responsibility for the attacks, not wanting to admit that their propriety technology has been twisted and used against them. They want the drones shut down before things get worse though. Speaking of drones....

- Banner makes his entrance, explaining that the heightened reaction times the Iron Patriots displayed in the videos show that they're not drones at all, but are sentient. He then suggests just talking to them, using their perceived concern for humans as common ground to open a line of communication with them.

- Scene shifts to Coulson showing up at Stark Resilient with Tony, controlling his armour across the galaxy via remote lists off all his current commitments and explains why he can't help SHIELD when Phil cuts him of to explain that he came to see none other than James Rhodes (I can only hope this means War Machine coming soon.)

- The Iron Patriot's launch another attack before SHIELD can try to communicate with them. Hill then asks Banner to Hulk out and stop the IP's before they cause an international incident, buying SHIELD more time to work on their plan.

- He makes short work of the armours, de-Hulk's but is promptly arrested by SHIELD as his memory is wiped (through use of captions we see Maria apologize via email to Bruce that things had to turn out this way). At a press conference later on its revealed that its Maria's plan to say the Hulk was mind controlled by Mentallo and as a result required SHIELD to call on the US governments to help stop his rampage. Being that Mentallo is affiliated with AIM Island its asked if AIM is danger of either being retaliated against which Maria outright denies...

- Which leads to the next scene which shows the field team consisting of Fury, Widow, Mock, and Hawkeye as infiltrating AIM island by sea. Bobbi has another cool moment with the camotech (I like that that's her thing here. Fits her name really well) while abroad the island Daisy gives them clearance on Protocol D, assassinating the scientist supreme.

What did everyone else think? I thought it was another fantastic issue. Lots of things happening in this issue. I love watching the game between AIM and SHIELD play out both on the field and behind the scenes. Hill's even using the media as her unwitting pawns in the agency's game. Lots of intrigue and twists. I've come to expect a huge twist at least once in each issue, but the surprises come in so many different forms that I'm still shocked. The art is similarly amazing with his distinct renditions of Hill and Johnson, two characters who are too easy to draw alike but here they are clearly distinct individuals.

**lilyinblue** · 05-08-2013, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by marvelprince

- Which leads to the next scene which shows the field team consisting of Fury, Widow, Mock, and Hawkeye as infiltrating AIM island by sea. Bobbi has another cool moment with the camotech (I like that that's her thing here. Fits her name really well) while abroad the island Daisy gives them clearance on Protocol D, assassinating the scientist supreme.

I was really amused that they all had wetsuits to match their normal costumes.

... but yes, it was a fun issue. I enjoyed it.

**marvelprince** · 05-08-2013, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by lilyinblue

I was really amused that they all had wetsuits to match their normal costumes.

... but yes, it was a fun issue. I enjoyed it.

Its that kind of attention to detail that makes me wanna be a SHIELD agent

Also when they're underwater and the two AIM agents are approaching, the art does such a good job with the story. You don't even need to see Clint's shots land to know he's hit his mark.

**Codah** · 05-09-2013, 12:10 AM

Really an amazing issue. Love the tone of this book and the art gets better every issue. This is the Marvel book Spencer was meant to write.

**ChristianJCote** · 05-09-2013, 12:12 AM

I love this comic so much that it hurts, and I extra-love that they tied in the Hulk, as Indestructible Hulk has been a Marvel NOW favourite of mine as well. All of the events gravitating around SHIELD of late have been far more interesting than the endless in-fighting over in the X-Universe and... whatever the hell Hickman's doing with the Avengers in any given issue. I'm not at all opposed to decompressed story-telling, but I definitely appreciate how much faster and more evenly paced this book is.

Also, Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson in a single book may be too much for this fanboy to handle.

**Habis** · 05-09-2013, 12:25 AM

Messing with Banner's brain is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very BAD idea, They will either manage to make resurface some of the nastiest alt Hulk personalities, or utterly piss Hulk/Banner when he remembers what they have done (because each personality has its own memories that sometimes can choose to share with the other ones) and goes World War Hulk on SHIELD. Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson have gone from stupid to suicidal.

**Codah** · 05-09-2013, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by ChristianJCote

I love this comic so much that it hurts, and I extra-love that they tied in the Hulk, as Indestructible Hulk has been a Marvel NOW favourite of mine as well. All of the events gravitating around SHIELD of late have been far more interesting than the endless in-fighting over in the X-Universe and... whatever the hell Hickman's doing with the Avengers in any given issue. I'm not at all opposed to decompressed story-telling, but I definitely appreciate how much faster and more evenly paced this book is.

Also, Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson in a single book may be too much for this fanboy to handle.

There isn't a single word I disagree with in this post.

**JaggedFel** · 05-09-2013, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by ChristianJCote

I love this comic so much that it hurts, and I extra-love that they tied in the Hulk, as Indestructible Hulk has been a Marvel NOW favourite of mine as well. All of the events gravitating around SHIELD of late have been far more interesting than the endless in-fighting over in the X-Universe and... whatever the hell Hickman's doing with the Avengers in any given issue. I'm not at all opposed to decompressed story-telling, but I definitely appreciate how much faster and more evenly paced this book is.

Also, Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson in a single book may be too much for this fanboy to handle.

He actually packed in a lot of tie-ins that make the universe feel connected. He alluded to Stark in GOTG, Avengers (talking with the embodiment of the universe) and even managed to subtly mention the Illuminati (ie Stark's meeting with a few buddies) nice to make the universe feel connected.

**ChristianJCote** · 05-09-2013, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by JaggedFel

He actually packed in a lot of tie-ins that make the universe feel connected. He alluded to Stark in GOTG, Avengers (talking with the embodiment of the universe) and even managed to subtly mention the Illuminati (ie Stark's meeting with a few buddies) nice to make the universe feel connected.

Well, yes, but HULK! My attention span was consumed with HULK!

**jackolover** · 05-09-2013, 01:12 AM

I'm not too sure whether double crossing the Hulk was a ploy arranged by Banner and SHIELD but as Hulk reduced to Banner for the arrest, I'd have to say Bruce was in on it, and that email Maria Hill wrote to Bruce, was a sort of misdirection to the readers. The fact that AIM can churn out hundreds of these American Patriot Armors every hour, means there are thousands of these things ready to go on the Island and ready to deploy. With the first wave destroyed on the way to Iron, AIM know that they are under attack, and will be anticipating some inside work to weaken them. The fact that Maria Hill conscripted Rhody to join their efforts tells me he is going to masquerade as one of these drones and be an inside spy.

When we saw that Iron Man was just a remote suit being manipulated by Stark in space, it gives us clues that Stark left Earth after the AU attacks were resolved, and that he was going to meet Eternity at some point. Even though Stark was off earth, Stark still maintained communication with Earth as well as anywhere else he wanted to be.

I don't know who the girl was with the funny red emblem on her suit that went with the frogmen to AIM Island?

**Hawkingbird13** · 05-09-2013, 01:15 AM

Not managed to read the entire issue yet (damn Royal Mail and living arrangements) but I'm glad that at least one writer has put forward a way that Iron Man can be in at least two places at once. I loved that Coulson was looking for Rhodey (who's either an old friend or they met and bonded over their respective military links) and Tony assumed that he was looking for him.

**jackolover** · 05-09-2013, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by JaggedFel

He actually packed in a lot of tie-ins that make the universe feel connected. He alluded to Stark in GOTG, Avengers (talking with the embodiment of the universe) and even managed to subtly mention the Illuminati (ie Stark's meeting with a few buddies) nice to make the universe feel connected.

Thanks for clarifying those references, thus linking IM, Avengers, NA, and GOtG. So this could be before AU?

**JaggedFel** · 05-09-2013, 01:41 AM

I have no idea where AU fits in the timeline.

**Lady_Alternate** · 05-09-2013, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by jackolover

I'm not too sure whether double crossing the Hulk was a ploy arranged by Banner and SHIELD but as Hulk reduced to Banner for the arrest, I'd have to say Bruce was in on it, and that email Maria Hill wrote to Bruce, was a sort of misdirection to the readers. The fact that AIM can churn out hundreds of these American Patriot Armors every hour, means there are thousands of these things ready to go on the Island and ready to deploy. With the first wave destroyed on the way to Iron, AIM know that they are under attack, and will be anticipating some inside work to weaken them. The fact that Maria Hill conscripted Rhody to join their efforts tells me he is going to masquerade as one of these drones and be an inside spy.

When we saw that Iron Man was just a remote suit being manipulated by Stark in space, it gives us clues that Stark left Earth after the AU attacks were resolved, and that he was going to meet Eternity at some point. Even though Stark was off earth, Stark still maintained communication with Earth as well as anywhere else he wanted to be.

I don't know who the girl was with the funny red emblem on her suit that went with the frogmen to AIM Island?

AIM isn't mass producing the Iron Patriot. They stole all the pre-production stock that had already been mostly completed and repurposed it. I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that there will be 'thousands' on the island.

Also, the woman wearing Black Widow's iconic emblem on her wetsuit was, of course, Black Widow.

**Ptrvc** · 05-09-2013, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by Habis

Messing with Banner's brain is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very BAD idea, They will either manage to make resurface some of the nastiest alt Hulk personalities, or utterly piss Hulk/Banner when he remembers what they have done (because each personality has its own memories that sometimes can choose to share with the other ones) and goes World War Hulk on SHIELD. Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson have gone from stupid to suicidal.

I'm betting Banner is conning SHIELD when it comes to how much he can remember. Outside of Hickman, and one really early story Hulk has always managed to shake off mental programming/domination/mind control, etc.