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Quote1 Maybe not "never," Johnny... But not anytime too soon. And even though we can't see him -- -- or even detect him -- -- I'm not convinced he's not out there somewhere... watching. Quote2
Mr. Fantastic

Appearing in "Be it Ever So Humble..."

Reprint of the 1st story from
Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #2

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Synopsis for "Be it Ever So Humble..."

Reprint of the 1st story from
Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #2

Setting up operations in their new headquarters of Pier 4 the Fantastic Four have a disastrous misadventure with Reed's adaptive furniture. While testing it out the devices go haywire when excessive force is used on them causing them to burst as the Thing struggles to get free. Having had enough experiments for one day both the Thing and the Torch decide they need to get out. Ben is incredibly frustrated over the fact that they have not been allowed to move back into their old headquarters, the Four Freedoms Plaza, as it had been taken over by the Thunderbolts during their lengthy absence on Counter-Earth. Both Johnny and Ben storm out not liking the idea of staying at Pier 4 until they meet their new mailwoman, Billie Lumpkin whom both men are instantly smitten by. As they watch this Sue points out that their current situation is Reed's doing as he made the decision on where they live without consulting the rest of the team, which Sue reminds is more of a family than just a group of super-heroes. As the couple discuss the current situation they are unaware that they are being spied upon by an unseen invader.

Meanwhile at an animal research lab at Empire State University a pair of students are working on an ill money that has a low white cell count. As they decide to call it quits for the night, they are unaware that one of the apes in their cell is intelligent enough to talk and is plotting the downfall of the human race.

Later in the Soho district the thing looks into a display window celebrating the return of Earth's heroes, a display that features sculptures done by his ex-girlfriend Alicia Masters. His thoughts about how Alicia is better off without him are cut short when he is interrupted by the Human Torch. Johnny suggests to Ben that since they are both back on the market they should go out looking to meet some new ladies. Ben reluctantly agrees to tag along despite Johnny's constant teases about his appearance and a huge dumping of snow landing on his head courtesy of Johnny's flame powers. Johnny pushes the final button by dressing Ben up like a snow man causing Ben to lose his temper and chase the Torch down the street.

Back at Pier Four, Reed and Sue are putting Franklin to bed when suddenly they are approached by the mysterious stalker -- a being calling itself Iconoclast who apparently only Sue can see. Because of this, Iconoclast sees Sue as a threat and tries to blast her, but she shields herself, Reed and Franklin from his energy blast. Sue rams Iconoclast outside and Reed tires to help her fight this foe that he cannot see, to no avail. From his room Franklin activates the Fantasti-Flare which summons Ben and Johnny back to headquarters. Meanwhile, Reed is getting pummeled by their foe who only Sue can fight off. When Johnny and Ben arrive, Reed has Johnny uses his heat powers to make Iconoclast at least visible to their eyes. But try as they might to fight off their foe. Sue finally realizes that Iconoclast's cloaking device is vulnerable to water and uses her powers to toss him into the river causing a massive explosion. Reed quickly pulls out his scanning devices to search for traces of Iconoclast but finds none. The Four then begin to wonder what the attack was all about, unaware that their foe survived and is still watching them from close by.

Appearing in "Hidden Assets"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Iron Man (Vol. 3) #2

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  • Siege Engineers (First appearance)
  • Dieter (Countess' security guard) (First appearance)
  • Marcello (Countess' security guard) (First appearance)
  • Dreadnoughts
  • Mandarin (Shadow only)

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Synopsis for "Hidden Assets"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Iron Man (Vol. 3) #2

Happy arrives to work at Stark Solutions and discovers Pepper already on the job; they awkwardly realize that Tony is unaware of their present relationship problems. In Switzerland, Tony investigate Stephanie's plant as Iron Man and discovers a secret portion of the facility where weapons are being manufactured. He is attacked by men armed with sophisticated weapons calling themselves the Siege Engineers, but he defeats them. The next day Tony comes down to breakfast to find Stephanie has two sinister looking visitors; when he challenges her about the real reason she called him, the men pull guns, revealing Stephanie had been warned to keep Tony ignorant of what was happening or die. Tony saves her and sets off outside as Iron Man, anticipating the men will have back up; on the other side of the world, the Mandarin is informed that his Swiss supplier has been compromised by Iron Man's interference, and he orders that all involved must die to maintain his own security. Iron Man battles more Siege Engineers but discovers they report to an immense gunship; while Iron Man is distracted by the vessel, an explosion tears through Stephanie's chalet and three Dreadnoughts emerge.

Appearing in "Crash and Burn"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #458

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Synopsis for "Crash and Burn"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Incredible Hulk #458

Hulk hides in a plane to New York, but the passengers find out and quietly start to panic. In the middle of this, Dr. Calvin Zabo transforms into Mister Hyde and explains to the Hulk that he was also hired by the New World Order (alongside Juggernaut and Absorbing Man) to fight the Hulk. However, Mercy appears, and reveals that she has suppressed the Hulk's conscious mind so that Mister Hyde can more easily kill him, as the Hulk is currently suicidal. In Egypt, doctors tell Marlo that Rick Jones has become paralyzed due to the Hulk. As Janis listens, she realizes that, in her future, her grandfather, Rick's future self, was in a wheelchair, but he ever said why this was.

Back on the plane, Mister Hyde is giving Mercy a lecture about end-of-life decisions, partly motivated by the fact that he defines himself in opposition to the Hulk, and if the Hulk is diminished then he feels it reflects badly on him. Hulk manages to fight through Mercy's telepathy and crudely attempts to fight off Mister Hyde. As he does this, strange energy flares off the Hulk, causing the plane's instrumentation to spark and the engines to explode. As Hyde strangles Hulk, Hulk chokes out a confession - he wants to die, but not at the hands of Mister Hyde, who he does not respect. Mercy, acknowledging this, lifts her telepathy. Hulk, now clear-headed, easily throws Mister Hyde through a nearby wall.

As the plane comes closer to the ground, Mister Hyde shouts that he has seen the other side, and the people who wait there will give the Hulk the righteous punishment he feels he deserves for all of the terrible things he has done. Ripping one of the wings off, Mister Hyde declares that the Hulk is his oldest friend. As the runway comes closer and the plane starts to catch fire, the Hulk crawls along the outside of the plane, arranges himself on the bottom of the aircraft to soften the landing, despite the heckling of his father's ghost. The passengers survive, but the plane still crashes, and now the Hulk is loose in New York...

Notes

This is a UK title that features reprints of American Avengers titles.

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