Avengers #270
Wild in the Streets!
It is chaos outside Avengers Mansion as protestors and counter-protestors argue over the recent addition of the Sub-Mariner onto the team. The two groups are divided with one side against Namor’s inclusion on the team due to his past attacks on the surface world, while the other side still remember how the Sub-Mariner helped fight the Axis Powers of World War II. The government, on the other hand, are still honoring the blanket amnesty given to Namor after Atlantis joined the United Nations, even though he was forced to abdicate his throne.[1] Watching the news are a group of businessmen who are plotting against Namor. The current climate leads them all to agree on moving against the former Atlantean monarch.
As the media wonders when the Avengers will make an official statement, inside the mansion Jarvis worries about his charges after they were plucked out of time by Kang the Conqueror.[2] Moments later, the Avengers rematerialize in their headquarters. In the aftermath of their battle, Captain Marvel asks the Black Knight to help examine her powers so she can find a way to counter attacks that use Dark Force matter against her.[3] Jarvis is relieved to see that the Avengers return and tells them about the protests going on outside. Watching the news, Hercules wants to go outside and chase everyone off, but Captain America reminds him that they are exercising their rights. The situation outside is becoming even more inflamed when a woman dressed in black claims that the Sub-Mariner was responsible for the death of her husband — a dock worker — during an earlier invasion of the surface world.[4]
This situation is being observed from the air by FBI agent Derek Freeman. Freeman is out looking for Moonstone who had just escaped from prison. Watching the news coverage, he notices that the woman accusing Namor of murdering her husband looks identical to the villain. The angry mob suddenly goes into a frenzy, prompting the Avengers to go outside and try to stop the riot. That’s when the Wasp receives word that Moonstone is somewhere in the crowd. Overhearing this, Karla Sofen uses her powers to blast Freeman’s helicopter to cover her escape. While the Sub-Mariner flies up to catch the plummeting chopper, the Wasp gives Moonstone chase through the sewers.
Joining the Wasp is the Black Knight who is surprised to discover that his sword can absorb Moonstone’s energy blasts. When the battle causes the street above to de-stabilize, Namor and the other Avengers help people to get safety. Meanwhile, the Black Knight re-channels Moonstone’s energy back at her, knocking her out long enough for the villain to be taken into custody. In the aftermath of the battle, Captain America unmasks Moonstone, revealing to the crowd that she was the “mourning widow” from earlier and that she was trying to inflame people into rioting.
After Moonstone is taken away by police, a process server approaches the Sub-Mariner and hands him a summons, as he is being sued.[5] While in the police van, the two guards riding in back with Moonstone remove their helmets revealing that they are actually the Absorbing Man and Titania.[6] They have posed as cops to help Moonstone escape as their boss has a proposition for her.[7]
Back at Avengers Mansion, the Wasp has summoned her lawyer to go over the lawsuit being set against Namor. It turns out that a number of businesses are seeking damages for all the property the Sub-Mariner destroyed during past attacks on the city. Namor is furious to learn this an intends to fight them in court, even though it will be an uphill battle. However, before Namor can begin building a defense he is visited by his cousin Byrrah who has come to inform him that Attuma — the current ruler of Atlantis — has captured Namor’s beloved Marrina and is holding her prisoner.[8] When the other Avengers offer to aid Namor on a rescue mission, the Sub-Mariner refuses, saying that this is a personal matter. As the former monarch storms off, the Black Knight hopes Namor will be back soon before his pending lawsuit has a chance to blow up in his face.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Black Knight, Hercules, Captain Marvel, Sub-Mariner), Moonstone, Absorbing Man, Titania, Edwin Jarvis, Leslie Farrington, Derek Freeman, Michael Costello, Byrrah
Continuity Notes
Atlantis entering the UN and Namor’s abdication were all detailed in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4. Namor was invited to join the team in Avengers #262. He will remain in exile until Namor the Sub-Mariner #40.
The Avengers have been fighting Kang in Limbo from Avengers #267-269.
Captain Marvel found herself powerless against the Dark Force when used against her by Blackout in Avengers #237 and last issue by Kang. She asks the Black Knight for assistance because he recently examined the Wasp’s powers in issue #264.
The invasion they are referring to is when Namor led an invasion of New York City in Fantastic Four Annual #1. This story states that this invasion happened “a few short years ago”, however the Sliding Timescale states that that invasion happened seven years prior to this story.
Titania states that she held her own against the She-Hulk. The pair fought back in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #7.
The lawsuit against Namor never really comes to fruition. The closest thing is a trial for Namor’s crimes against humanity which happens in Namor the Sub-Mariner #13. I would presume that since Namor was found not legally responsible due to insanity, it made the civil suit a bust.
This employer is Baron Zemo, who is reforming the Masters of Evil to destroy Captain America and the Avengers. See Avengers #273-277.
Marrina’s capture happened in Alpha Flight #36.
Topical References
In this story, the counter-protestors supporting Namor is stated as being members of the VFW who owe their lives to Namor due to him working with the Allies during World War II. Due to the Sliding Timescale it is becoming increasingly difficult for anyone who was involved in World War II to be alive in the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe without some means of slowing, arresting, or outright stopping the aging process. As such, any reference to vets having been saved by Namor during World War II still being alive should be considered topical as eventually there will be no surviving WWII vets. Modern readers could assume the VFW supports Namor due to his past record and that nobody in the present day organization had experience working with him in the past. Kind of a stretch, but it’s the only way this’d work.
The televisions in this story are depicted as CRT models. This should be considered topical as these types of TVs have since become obsolete.
