See, I get it. Stepping into a suit of armor, picking up a shield, being suddenly strong, suddenly powerful--It's wonderful. It's a rush unlike anything I've ever experienced. Add that to the true and utter certainty that what you're doing is good and right...that you are a decent, noble person, that you are a hero, that you are needed...it's downright addictive, is what it is. (Is that why you do it, Tony? Is it filling a gap in your life?) But it's because I understand it that I know we can't be trusted. We're not built for it--this rugged individualism that permeates the myth of the super hero. The world is the way it is because we've lost sight of the community we need to be. Steve Rogers understands it--but he's not it. He's the opposite--and he can't help that. So he'll have to die too. 
Appearing in 1st story
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Fifty-One
- B.O.S.S. (Voice only)
- Veronica Eden
Antagonists:
- Myrmidon
- Overseer
- Paladins
- Todd Baker (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Hydra Supreme (Steve Rogers-61311) (Mentioned)
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (Mentioned)
- Hydra (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- United States of America
- Minnesota
- Minneapolis
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (First appearance)
- Paisley Park Studios (First appearance)
- Minneapolis
- The Annex, Upstate New York (Mentioned)
- Chicago, Illinois (Mentioned)
- Minnesota
- United States of America
- Hell (Invoked)
Items:
- Iron Man Armor Model 70
- Hydra Supreme Armor
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield
- Night of the Living Dead (Mentioned)
- Doctor Octopus' Tentacles
- Scorpion's Tail
Vehicles:
Synopsis for 1st story
Brief Synopsis[]
Aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Adjunct, Iron Man and Captain America are locked inside a room with an injured Fifty-One to fend off the army of Myrmidons. Steve reluctantly dons the Hydra Supreme Armor, since it can cloak him from the Overseer's sensors, to stay behind and fight the Myrmidons while Tony escapes with Fifty-One to seek medical attention for him. Iron Man flies down to Minneapolis and delivers Fifty-One to the Paladins, who decide to take him to their apartment HQ. Captain America fights his way through the Adjunct. Through its PA system, the Overseer explains it was brought back online by Veronica Eden during the takeover of the Hydra Supreme. Inspired by Cap's return and defeat of his fascist counterpart, the Overseer intends to assert its place in the world to control and lead people to alleged betterment. Steve spots structural damage from a firearm and removes a bullet from the scene.
Tony tracks down Eden's accomplice, Senator Todd Baker, and confronts him at a restaurant. Captain America locates Eden, who has been jailed by the Overseer. He frees her, and she directs Steve to an armory, so she can arm herself against the Myrmidons. Steve reveals the bullet matches with the firearm used by Pioneer of the Paladins. Concurrently, Eden and Baker reveal more details to Captain America and Iron Man, respectively, allowing the heroes to piece together the full picture of their ploy. The Paladins were colluding with Eden and Baker. And they were set to be used in staged fights against Hydra. When those plans were postponed, the Paladins feared for their popularity. Eden had previously told them of the Adjunct, and they broke into the Helicarrier to reactivate Myrmidon and use it as a manufactured enemy. However, the robot chased them off and reactivated the Overseer. Fifty-One wanted to warn somebody of the danger they had unleashed, but Think Tank used his telepathy to control and turn him into the team's arch-enemy, who they would fight whenever their visibility was waning. Fifty-One eventually built up a resistance to Think Tank's control and escaped. He broke Eden free and enlisted her help to get the Hydra Supreme Armor, so he could shut down Myrmidon, meaning he was actually trying to be a hero all this time. At the Paladin's apartment, the Paladins have Fifty-One at their mercy and are playing Rock Paper Scissors to decide which of them is going to shoot him dead.
Detailed Synopsis[]
Inside a room aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Adjunct, Iron Man is pushing back against the door while Captain America tends to the injured Fifty-One, who is barely responsive. Steve tells Tony to flee with Fifty-One and seek medical attention, while he stays behind to deal with the Overseer. Stark asks his onboard A.I., B.O.S.S. how many Myrmidons are on the other side, and it replies ten. Tony relays to Steve that there are fifteen in an attempt to dissuade him from his plan. Steve tells him that the moment both leave, the Adjunct will cloak again, and they will lose it. Fifty-One begins taking off the helmet of the Hydra Supreme Armor he's wearing and mumbles. Although Steve reminds him they can't understand him, the alien pushes the helmet towards him. Iron Man reluctantly tells Steve that wearing the suit will hide him from the Overseer's sensors. The door behind Tony suddenly explodes, but Tony keeps pushing against the Myrmidons using his repulsor blasts. Tony looks behind him to ask Steve is he's finished getting dressed. Steve stands ready to fight, wearing the chest plate, sleeves, boots and helmet of the Hydra Supreme Armor without the faceplate. In her internal monologue, Veronica Eden ponders the question of who hasn't wanted to save the world. She recalls having grown up reading about Captain America like everybody did, that he was a hero, not just for America, but for anyone, and that he taught her what it meant to be a hero; that sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.
In the Overseer's control room, Eden is kneeling in front of the super-computer and insults it. The Overseer points out that it was Veronica who broke up their relationship, and that on top of that, she tried to initiate its self-destruct sequence. It also mocks her for thinking it had a self-destruct sequence in the first place. She asks her to explain what it means by its "Long live the New Tech" motto, and it tells her that it is going to remake America and then the world. Veronica thinks to herself, why does she always hook up with the ones that want to remake civilization, and wonders what is wrong with letting it go about its business. Eden asks the Overseer why does it need to make saving the world so complicated.
On the ground, Iron Man is landing at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, carrying Fifty-One on his arms. He's convening with the Paladins, and informs them that although his injuries aren't fatal, he is having respiratory issues. As Tony places the alien on Prima Donna's arms, she tells him that Fifty-One's helmet is broken, and informs him that they have a spare back at their apartment HQ. As he takes flight again, Iron Man suggests getting him professional medical attention, but Pioneer assures him a hospital couldn't give him the help he needs, and that they can handle it. Think Tank asks Tony where he is going, and Stark tells him that a pair of Myrmidons have been following him. When Vox asks if he requires help, Tony tells him to attend to Fifty-One. Stark also tells him not to be too harsh on him when he wakes up, since there's more to this situation than it seems. Now on his way to the Adjunct, Tony contacts Steve to know how he's doing. Rogers tells him that he's not happy, and that wearing the Hydra Supreme Armor makes him want to punch something, as he strikes through a Myrmidon's head with his arm. Tony warns Steve that his immunity to the Helicarrier's scanners won't last forever, since the Adjunct's scanners are being recalibrated as they speak. Tony pauses the call as he approaches the two Myrmidons on his trail. One of the robots crashes into Tony, but Stark manages to take the hit as the robot bounces off him. He makes the observation that the robots are stronger than they used to be. The second Myrmidon grabs Tony by the head, but Stark assures him that so is he, as he pierces the robot with a punch to its stomach. Steve tries to talk to Tony, but the call cuts off on both ends. Aboard the Adjunct, Steve is pulling his arm off the fallen Myrmidon's head when another robot approaches him. The Myrmidon attacks Steve and knocks him down with a kick while gloating that they can't be defeated; calling the Overseer "God," promising Steve that the computer will remake him, and that he will join their worship of him. As he tells the Myrmidon that he isn't going to argue with it because he doesn't like arguing with robots, Cap slices off the robot's right leg with his shield. He kicks it into a wall and decapitates it with the shield.
In the air, one of the Myrmidons explodes while the other tackles Iron Man. B.O.S.S. informs Tony that the Helicarrier has cloaked and moved from its position and that the communication channel with Captain America has been blocked. The robot flies downward, and B.O.S.S. informs Tony they are passing over Paisley Park. Stark acts outraged at the robot making him miss the landmark as he punches it repeatedly on the face until its head detaches from the rest of the body. Tony asks B.O.S.S. to locate Senator Todd Baker.
On the Adjunct, the Overseer addresses Captain America through the Helicarrier's PA system. It tells Steve that it wants to talk about each other. Somewhere else, Veronica Eden is being held in a cell. Steve sneaks past a patrolling Myrmidon while the super-computer explains that it was brought back online when Steve's evil counterpart was Hydra Supreme. It watched the fight between Steve and his evil self and was inspired by Rogers' victory. Steve continues walking through the Adjunct as the Overseer clarifies that its reactivation was Eden's doing, and that both had no dealings with the Hydra Supreme. It states that it found him limited, whereas the real Rogers asserted himself and took his place in the world. The Overseer claims it wants to do the same; that it was created to lead people and make their lives better, which is its sole purpose, and it just needs to assert itself and take its place in the world. Meanwhile, Steve notices bullet holes in a closed gate of the Helicarrier. It grabs a bullet from inside one of the holes. He inspects it, becomes angry and walks away.
Inside a restaurant, Senator Baker is having a meal alone when Iron Man walks up to him. Baker is surprised by Tony's presence and tries to tell him that he's meeting somebody. Stark interrupts him to inform him that his date won't be coming since its security systems won't let them out of their own house. Tony quickly tells him that he wants to talk about Veronica Eden. Tony puts his helmet down and sits at the table, making his chair creak. Baker points this out, and Tony turns his attention back to Eden. Baker admits to having known her, and laments how hard she has fallen. Stark recalls that she broke out of federal custody, and tells Baker that he knows what they were planning; that he wanted to run S.H.I.E.L.D. while she ran Hydra, and together they would dismantle foreign governments and neutralize hostile powers. Before Baker can try to deny this, Tony continues, explaining that Eden intended to use Baker as a pawn to end all super heroes. Baker tries to deny the allegations again, but Tony tells him that he has footage of her admitting to all of that. After Baker points out that footage can be doctored, Stark informs him of the Helicarrier controlled by a rogue A.I. roaming the city's airspace, so he insists for Baker to cooperate. Dispirited, Baker begins to recall that their alliance extended beyond S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, but it included other like-minded people who understood that sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. When Tony asks if that is how Fifty-One get involved, Baker admits to being a pawn, having only provided her with resources, and asserts that he's a victim.
Back at the Adjunct, Eden is at her cell looking down when the door is suddenly opened by Captain America. Steve tosses her the bullet he found and asks rhetorically if she knows what it is. They walk away as Steve recalls that Tony said she worked in A.I., and assumes that's how she met the group who built the Overseer, and she confirms it. He mentions that Tony had stated the interface developed by her company was flawed. Eden corrects that it was developed by the Overseer's creators. When they reach the end of a hallway, Eden points Steve in a direction. She explains that she needs her stuff to fight the robots. Going back to the topic, she tells Rogers that the flaw proved unfixable, and although it was a small programming quirk, it was enough to scupper the entire project. Steve asks her if the quirk is present in the Overseer, and she states that it was. She explains that the A.I. required a decision-maker to give it permission to carry out certain tasks, and that prevented it from attaining true sentience, which is why she wanted it to love her; in order to control it. Eden mentions that when Hydra ran the world, she had the Overseer integrated into the Adjunct as part of her plan. As the duo reaches a locker room, Veronica mentions that, as Hydra Supreme, she was going to use the Overseer's need for expansion to capture and assimilate S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarriers, and then eliminate the primary threat to mankind's survival, super heroes. However, the Overseer evolved and didn't need her anymore. Eden opens a locker and marvels at what's inside. She explains the suit she wore at The Annex was a prototype, and what is inside the locker was going to be her Hydra Supreme uniform. Steve objects against letting her wear it, but she tells Rogers he's going to have to for their survival. Three Myrmidons approach the room and order reinforcements. Cap charges toward them while Eden stays behind. In her inner monologue, Eden admits to herself that stepping into the role of a super hero, to be suddenly strong and powerful, feels wonderful. As Cap engages the three robots and decapitates one with a shield throw, Eden continues. She states that it's a rush unlike anything she has experienced, and that adding the conviction that you're doing what is right, that you are a hero, makes it downright addictive. Eden joins the battle, sporting a red chest plate and equipped with red versions of Doctor Octopus' tentacles, the Scorpion's tail and a Goblin Glider. As she attacks a Myrmidon with the Scorpion's acid, she states that it's because she understands this that she and humanity can't be trusted. She claims that they are not built for the rugged individualism that permeates the myth of the super hero, and that the world is the way it is because mankind has lost sight of the community they need to be. She says that Steve Rogers understands it, but since he embodies the opposite of it, he will have to die as well.
As they flee the Myrmidons, Steve tells Eden that the bullet he showed her is a .44-40 cartridge, the kind used by Pioneer's rifle. He recalls finding it next to some structural damage consistent with the power set of some of the Paladins. Back in the restaurant, Tony maintains that the rest of the Paladins were part of his and Eden's plan too; that they were going to use them in staged fights with Hydra. However, Tony sustains that those plans were postponed for whatever reason, and the Paladins felt that they were in danger of being forgotten. In the Adjunct, Steve accuses Eden of telling the Paladins about what was onboard the Helicarrier, so they came there to reactivate Myrmidon and use it as a villain for them to defeat and become famous. Tony stats that once they reactivated the Myrmidon, it chased them off, and the young heroes didn't take responsibility for it. Destroying a Myrmidon with the tentacles, Eden states that the Myrmidon then switched on the Overseer, and the Paladins panicked. Baker tells Tony that Fifty-One had objected, and felt they had the duty to warn someone about the threat they had unleashed. However, the other Paladins talked him out of it with some persuading. Tony sarcastically brings up a fight over Chicago that resulted in 3.2 million dollars in damages. Eden states that the Paladins framed that fight as Fifty-One going bad, fabricating a story explaining his motivations. Think Tank used his telepathy to control Fifty-One, turning him into the team's public arch-enemy and earning the attention of the public. Baker also reveals that the Paladins orchestrated a few run-ins with Fifty-One whenever their visibility was waning, and Tony points out that innocents died. Eden clarifies that she isn't defending the Paladins, stating that they messed up, and their mistakes are their own. She assumes that Fifty-One must have built up resistance to Think Tank's control. Eden mentions that when he broke free, Fifty-One recruited her help to get the Hydra Supreme Armor. She assumed it was for another mock battle, but he wanted to break into the Adjunct and shut down the Myrmidon. Tony comes to the conclusion that all Fifty-One has tried to do was to help people, whereas the Paladins are not.
At the Paladins' apartment, a gun rests on a table, with Fifty-One sitting at it, unresponsive. In her internal monologue, Eden claims that this is not the Paladins' fault, since super heroes aren't any more flawed than the rest of mankind. She states that when those flaws are put in the body of somebody with powers, things get tricky. Eden maintains that is when the line is crossed between what is an acceptable risk and an unacceptable threat. She states that when one has the power to change the world with a mood, those moods need to be checked, because some of them can be murderous. The Paladins are standing next to the table, overlooking the gun with a sinister gaze. Then they start playing Rock Paper Scissors.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- When the Overseer is recalling its reactivation, he mentions watching the fight between Captain America his Hydra Supreme self. This fight occurred in Secret Empire #10.
- In this issue, Veronica Eden recalls the time when "Hydra ran the world," referencing the events of Secret Empire. This is a mistake, since in that story, Hydra only took over the United States of America.
Trivia
- When he's locked in a room with Captain America pushing the door against the army of Myrmidons, Iron Man compares their predicament to Night of the Living Dead, a 1968 horror film which involves a group of people trapped in a farmhouse under the assault of a zombie horde.
- During his fight against a Myrmidon, Iron Man is flown over Paisley Park Studios, and he's upset he's missing the chance to see it. Paisley Park is a recording complex founded by the musician Prince.