Avengers (New Avengers) (Earth-616)

In a fit of madness, The Scarlet Witch lost her grip on reality and control over her powers. The subsequent results killed or injured several of her teammates in The Avengers, and Avengers Mansion was severely damaged. Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, who bankrolled the team, was financially troubled at the time, and could no longer fund their operations. The team disbanded and the mansion turned into a memorial.

The New Avengers first assembled by chance, when a breakout occurred at the Raft, an island prison designed to hold super-criminals. The original Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), who as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was in charge of the Raft, and Luke Cage (acting as a hired bodyguard) are escorting attorneys Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock (Daredevil) to meet with the The Sentry as it is occurring. Spider-Man, Captain America, and Iron Man all arrive to help keep order. Forty-five super-criminals were kept on The Raft by the Avengers-to-be and the SHIELD agents, but forty-two others managed to escape.

Captain America met with Iron Man on the SHIELD Helicarrier, convincing him to form a new team of Avengers without their own base of operations, vehicles, equipment, or payroll. The team would simply exist to deal with tasks that no one superhero could handle, without the government involvement and financial burdens common to Avengers history. Following this, Cap spoke to each of the heroes present at The Raft (except The Sentry, who could not be found.) All except Daredevil accepted. The team spoke to Commander Maria Hill, Director of SHIELD since Col. Nick Fury's departure following his invasion of Latveria, an event which had involved several of the New Avengers-to-be. Hill was less than enthused about a non-governmental team of Avengers, but Cap noted that he has Full Champion License, allowing him to assemble any team he deemed necessary for any mission he set out on. The New Avengers were formed as his team to deal with the Raft escapees, with the top three stories of Stark Tower as their home base.

Discovering that Electro perpetrated the breakout, the team was able to track his primary target escapee, Sauron to the Savage Land. Wolverine, the feral X-Man, who was in the area on a tip from The Scorcher, also became a member. The team battled both the Savage Land Mutates and a SHIELD team led by Black Widow (Yelena Belova). Seeing a group of slaves working at a Vibranium mine, the Avengers went to investigate only to witness the Helicarrier destroy the area with cruise missiles. Reflecting, the Avengers determined that someone in SHIELD was stockpiling super-criminals, the organization once again backsliding without the watchful eye of the recently deposed Colonel Fury.

Further Exploits

New Avengers Assamble

The team next addressed the potential threat of the Sentry/Void, and helped him rediscover his place. He agreed to assist the team when he can.

The Avengers next learned that the Silver Samurai was one of the Raft's prisoners. It was suspected he was returned to Japan for a potential merging of The Hand, Madame Hydra's forces, and Clan Yashida. Wolverine was away on other matters. Daredevil turned down a request from Captain America to help, nominating the mysterious Ronin in his place.

Ronin found Madame Hydra, but was chased by The Hand. The Avengers defeated a number of Hand ninjas, while Spider-Woman had an encounter with Madame Hydra. Silver Samurai claimed he was abducted by SHIELD and placed in the Raft. He is not concerned with other groups, only Clan Yashida, with Sunfire being missing and believed dead. Ronin was revealed to be Maya Lopez, aka Daredevil's ally Echo.

A clash with the Thunderbolts was really a government ruse to place monitoring devices in Avengers Tower. The team was secretly tipped off to this by Cable and Deadpool.

Spider-Woman explained her status as a double agent under orders from the missing Nick Fury. The New Avengers unveil themselves publicly despite scathing criticism from the Daily Bugle because of Spider-Man's membership.

The New Avengers actively attempted to shut down the Young Avengers, a group of minors who had formed in the Avengers' absence. Even though they kept trying to shut them down, the two teams banded together to save Hulkling from the Kree and the Skrulls, who had invaded Earth to capture him. They eventually let them use their powers to restore Avengers Mansion into a memorial.

The team had another run-in with teen heroes when the vigilante Cloak, who had been accused of attacking his partner Dagger, enlisted the aid of the Runaways in clearing his name. Spider-Man confronted Arsenic and Victor Mancha, taking them to dinner while discussing the situation. The meal was ruined when the team's leader, Nico Minoru, attacked Spider-Man and knocked him out. Cap, Wolverine, and Iron Man confronted Molly Hayes at a church while looking for Cloak, and Molly punched Wolverine out of the church in fear. The Runaways eventually got away after defeating Cloak's imposter.

The Collective

A mysterious energy being had formed from the mass of energy created in the aftermath of M-Day It touched down in Canada, and headed for the US border. Director Hill of SHIELD deflects inquiries from Stark. A SHIELD convoy is easily destroyed by the being. Alpha Flight attempted to stop the being, with disastrous results. The President of the United States asked the Avengers to intervene as 'Captain America always finds a way'...

Civil War and Aftermath

When the junior super-heroes called the New Warriors, starring in their own reality TV show, raided a super villain safehouse in Stamford, Connecticut, they provoked one of the villains, Nitro, into exploding. Roughly 900 civilians, as well as nearly all of the New Warriors, were killed in the blast. Congress, with the support of superheroes such as Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic and Yellowjacket, passed the Superhuman Registration Act, or SHRA, which required all people with superhuman abilities to register with the federal government, revealing their secret identities, and receive proper training in law enforcement. Many superheroes, such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Sentry, and She-Hulk, complied with this law, but other superheroes, led by Captain America, opposed the law on the grounds that it violates civil liberties. This leads to a superhero Civil War, in which all superheroes are forced to choose sides.

Luke Cage refused to register, comparing the act to both slavery and Jim Crow laws, and he later joins Cap's Secret Avengers after a squadron of S.H.I.E.L.D. "cape killers" attacked Cage immediately after the act becomes law (at 12:01 am), despite his sitting at home, watching T.V., and not having used his powers since the act went into place. The Sentry registered but didn't choose a specific side at first, instead taking sanctuary on the moon with the Inhumans, though he felt more compelled to join Iron Man than a rebelling Cap. Iron Man, never trusting Spider-Woman's triple life, betrayed her and informed Maria Hill of her status, which causes Jessica to run for her life. Eventually, Jessica located Captain America and his team's whereabouts and was allowed to join their ranks. Wolverine, whilst officially taking a neutral stance on the war with the rest of the X-Men, hunted down Nitro, and stated his opposition to the law during a brief stint in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. After the death of Goliath in battle, and learning of the nature of the Number 42 complex in the Negative Zone, Peter decided to leave Stark's side. Spider-Man publicly denounced the registration act on live television, and joined Cap's side.

The Civil War ended with Captain America surrendering after a huge battle in Times Square, New York, realizing that such a battle was what superheroes were supposed to prevent. Afterwards, he was assassinated via a gunshot wound to the stomach while entering a federal courthouse, in a murder orchestrated by his longtime foe The Red Skull. Choosing to continue to oppose the law after the rest of the Secret Avengers laid down their arms, Luke Cage assumed leadership of the now underground Avengers, followed by Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and several new recruits. Iron Man and Sentry took their place in the Mighty Avengers, a government-sanctioned team of registered heroes, officially leaving the New Avengers.

"New" New Avengers

In the aftermath of Civil War, the New Avengers team included Echo, a new Ronin, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Iron Fist, and team leader Luke Cage. Their base was Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, magically disguised as the location of a future Starbucks.

The now-renegade Avengers dealt with Steve Rogers' death in several ways. Wolverine, not believing the reports, enlisted Daredevil and the help of Doctor Strange, boarding the SHIELD Helicarrier to interrogate Crossbones and identify Rogers' remains. The team invited The Thing to play poker, as if nothing had changed. Spider-Man, angry, traveled to visit the graves of his dead family, and ended up dueling The Rhino, and received attempted counseling from Wolverine. Due to fears of being arrested on the spot, the New Avengers did not attend Captain America's funeral in Washington, D.C.

Spider-Woman was told by Ms. Marvel that Captain America was still alive, a fact confirmed by Dr. Strange in his astral form. However, upon going to the Raft, where the body was supposedly being held, Wolverine smelt that it wasn't the real Steve Rogers. The team was then confronted by their Pro-Registration adversaries, the Mighty Avengers, who explained that it had been a "dirty trick".

The first mission for the new team was to rescue Echo from the clutches of Elektra Natchios and The Hand, who had been preparing to forcibly make her one of their assassins. After rescuing Maya, the New Avengers teleported out of the Hand's secret complex. Elektra then told the Hand that they are not to let them leave Japan.

After seeking refuge from the Silver Samurai (who still held a grudge against Wolverine for the loss of his hand), Wolverine turned, having sensed something strange, and was nearly beheaded by the Samurai. After he was felled by the New Avengers, Wolverine reveals what had distracted him: Elektra is approaching with thousands of Hand ninjas following close at hand. It is also revealed that they escaped and went back to their base and the Mighty Avengers have discovered it. Tony Stark did not know if they were in there but went in and tried to convince them to register. Peter then started questioning his motives and the team's. The new Ronin was discovered to be Clint Barton, previously known as Hawkeye.

The New Avengers seemed to be on their last legs, with Elektra directly attacking Luke Cage and ninjas overwhelming the team. However, Dr. Strange contacted Wong, and with his help achieves his astral form, saving himself from death and freeing Echo from her brainwashing. Echo, enraged, grabbed Elektra and fatally stabbed her with a katana. However, instead of collecting the body, the Hand retreated as the Avengers watched "Elektra" revert to her true form, a Skrull impersonator who had somehow eluded both Spider-Man's spider sense and Wolverine's heightened sense of smell.

World War Hulk

When the Hulk returned to Earth with his followers to take revenge on the Illuminati, a group that Dr. Strange was secretly a part of, the New Avengers teamed up with the Fantastic Four and the Mighty Avengers to evacuate the city and face the Hulk. Cage, Spider-Man,and Spider-Woman were defeated in direct battle with the Hulk. Wolverine went to face the Hulk when he attacked Professor X, but he was defeated as well. Dr. Strange's hands were crushed by the Hulk, neutralizing his spellcasting. Ronin, Echo, and Iron Fist were defeated by Hirorim and Elloe of the Hulk's Warbound while trying to protect Rick Jones. During the battle, Dr. Strange drank a potion that bonded him with the demon Zom and restored him. Dr. Strange then defeated the two Warbound members and left to challenge the Hulk. Although at first almost beating the Hulk into submission, Dr. Strange was distracted by how his battle with Hulk was endangering the "little people." Hulk used this to his advantage and beat Dr. Strange unconscious, presumably forcing Zom from him. He, along with the other New Avengers, were taken to the Hulk's arena to do battle.

When the Hulk defeated Sentry, the New Avengers had little time to rest as a new Hood began to gather all of New York's super villains. Tracking the group down, the New Avengers managed to beat them into submission with the help of an illusion by Dr Strange. SHIELD came and arrested the villains and took them to prison. The Hood broke them out and had them attack the New Avengers at Dr Strange's Sanctorum. Once they had been defeated again, Dr Strange had to leave the group, not being able to handle the forces he had wrought when unleashing Zom. The team then moved to one of the Rand Corporation's apartment buildings. Because of the attack on where they lived, Jessica Jones moved into Stark Tower with her child, only wishing the best for it. Also, Spider-Woman left the group to join the Mighty Avengers.

Secret Invasion

The new New Avengers

Soon after "World War Hulk," Spider-Woman informed Luke Cage of a Skrull ship heading straight for Earth, headed for the Savage Land. The team stole a Quinjet that the Mighty Avengers are about to use, and headed there. Upon reaching their destination, the Quinjet was snatched out of the sky by a dinosaur, causing it to crash land. Once the New Avengers recovered, they found the facility that the original line-up had encountered was in utter ruin. The Mighty Avengers turned up and were about to fight the others, but Iron Man was infected with a virus through his armor's systems. A minute later, the Skrull ship opened, revealing a group of fifteen costumed adventurers claiming to have escaped Skrull captivity. They worse old-style costumes of Earth heroes, some of them appearing to be "dead" adventurers such as Captain America or Mockingbird. Ronin asked her when their child would have been born, and she answered correctly. Barton thus believed that she was really his wife, seemingly back from the dead, though Cage and Wolverine were more suspicious. Thus began a period of paranoia and betrayal, as more heroes were revealed to be Skrull agents.

These agents were part of a long-range Skrull plot to take over Earth after the failed conquest of the Kree-Skrull War. This was part of a grander religious belief system that was put into action after Veranke rose to power as leader of the Skulls. It is learned that Queen Veranke herself had participated in the invasion, impersonating Spider-Woman: the real Jessica Drew had never joined the team. Not only are the Avengers affected, but SHIELD, the Initiative, the Inhumans, and more.

In a return to the Savage Land, with the heroes accusing one another of being Skrulls, the argument is ended when Reed Richards unleashes a weapon that reveals the Skrulls' true nature. The Earth heroes fall upon their foes. One of these is "Mockingbird", whom Ronin kills using one of Black Widow's guns. Angered, he now has no compunction about killing the Skrull imposters.

In the climactic battle against the Skrulls, the New Avengers fought alongside a slew of comrades: their sometime rivals in the Mighty Avengers, as well as the Young Avengers, Cage's wife Jewel, the new Captain America, Thor, Noh-Varr, Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors, the Thunderbolts, The Hood's crew, the "Agents of Atlas," and more. Ronin picks up his old bow and trick arrows, dropped by the wounded Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), which he uses to slay a number of Super-Skrulls, and lands a clear shot on Queen Veranke.

During the fighting, Green Goblin killed the escaping Veranke, who had lived through Ronin's attack. The short-lived unity felt throughout the superhero community (gone since the Civil War) melted as blame for the invasion was placed on Tony Stark, Director of SHIELD. The organization was disbanded, and replaced by HAMMER, with Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, as its head. Furthermore, Stark Industries was taken over by OsCorp. Osborn was secretly a member of the Dark Illuminati.

Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' baby was kidnapped by the Skrull who had posed as Jarvis. Thor was forced to kill The Wasp to prevent her from detonating due to a Skrull trap. On a happy note, however, the real heroes replaced by the Skrulls were found to be alive and well: including Mockingbird. She and Ronin shared a tearful reunion.

New Lineup and Dark Reign

In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, the New Avengers again found themselves with a changed roster. The new Captain America, formerly the original's sidekick Bucky as well as the Winter Soldier, finally joined the team, as did the resurgent Mockingbird. Ms Marvel left the Mighty Avengers along with the rest of the original lineup, and joined the New Avengers. Also, the real Spider-Woman, now an Agent of SWORD, joined the team for the first time. Iron Fist and Echo left the team.

Paraphernalia

Equipment: None known.
Transportation: formerly Avengers Quinjet
Rand Corporate Jet
Dr. Strange's teleportation spells
Weapons: None known.

Notes

When the New Avengers first started Tony Stark had the original new members make an e-mail with his domain name. As a whole their e-mail address was allavengers@newavengers.stark.net

Avengers (New Avengers) (Earth-616)

From Marvel Database

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