Marvel's Avengers Assemble

Huh?

So, it's gonna be one of those days.

Have at thee!

A direct hit!

Thor, our hits seem to be making him bigger.

Hey, Captain America, hold up.

Friday, what are we dealing with here?

Looks like a "Stimuloid"... kinetic energy directed

against it is channeled into replicating cells that make it expand.

- So... - Great.

The bigger we hit, the bigger he gets.

Avengers, we're gonna have to rethink our... Uh-oh.

Not them again.

This is the third time this week we've run into these guys. Who are they?

Thunderbolts... strike!

Songbird, knock him back.

It doesn't matter how many new heroes show up

if we can't stop this... growing man!

Cap, Black Widow, get the citizens to safety.

All together now. Push!

We won't win any engineering awards, but we've stabilized the building.

Huh, Avenger's Assemble. Huh.

Any direct energy attack will make him grow.

Give him a good bear-hug, Atlas.

Can do, Citizen V.

Mach IV, take out his legs!

Techno, Meteorite, let's bring him down.

Finish him off, heroes!

Back off! We got this.

Now, pull. Timber!

Anybody got a good finishing move?

Remember, if we hit him...

Overloaded by a direct hit.

Several direct hits to the neural processing center.

It's like there's a scientist in you somewhere.

Hm.

- You got anything, Iron Man? - His tech has obviously been upgraded.

And I find it more than a little coincidental

since Stark has done advanced research into Stimuloid systems.

You think the tech's yours?

Stark gear missing...

Teched up things showing up out of nowhere.

You do the math.

Ladies and gentlemen,

meet your Thunderbolts!

I'm Megan McLaren with the Bugle News Network.

The Thunderbolts... are they the exciting, new heroes the world needs?

Pft, and what are we, last week's leftovers?

That's how it always is. Everybody wants something new.

Looks like they even have their own publicist.

Please, everyone,

just visit the Thunderbolts' website to get answers to your questions.

And be sure to follow all their social media feeds.

Remember, "Justice, like Lightning!"

"Justice, like Lightning?"

Oh, wow! Is that really you? Can I have your autograph?

Here you go.

Oh, man. I thought you were Mach IV.

Not sure I trust the Thunderbolts.

And it's not because I'm signing fewer autographs.

What I've learned about the modern world

is that everyone wants their 10 minutes of fame.

- It's 15 minutes. - Even worse.

Friday, time to run complete diagnostic scans on our Thunderbolt friends.

Let's find out if we can pick up any familiar tech signatures.

I thought you'd never ask.

Wow. You guys are really great.

We just knew we wanted to dedicate ourselves to helping people.

Thunderbolts have been showing up all over the talk-show circuit.

Oh, c'mon! We save the city all the time!

I did not think fame your ultimate goal.

They have an impressive online presence,

but everything prior to a few weeks ago looks planted.

And there's nothing in the secure databases.

Where'd Tony run off to?

The Thunderbolts' tech signatures

- are coming from this structure. - Then I guess I need to find a way in.

Okay, Tony, what's the idea of freelancing?

I don't trust the Thunderbolts.

It's all a little coincidental. My tech gets stolen,

then a new group of high-tech heroes shows up?

You sure your ego's not getting in the way?

I don't have an ego. Just one more reason I'm perfect.

Whoa!

So much for being just a plain old warehouse.

Huh?

You didn't need to sneak in, Avengers.

Yeah, our publicist can set up an interview anytime.

I'd rather you talk to the cops.

About stealing Stark Industries Technology.

Like nobody else in the world can make what you make.

Mr. Stark, I'm a huge fan of your work, but I'm disappointed.

We don't need to steal from you.

Frankly, your stuff is a little "behind the times."

Is he speaking English?

'Cause I didn't understand anything after "fan of your work."

I always wondered where all the Avengers' enemies came from.

That android this morning?

It had your signature all over it.

Not our style. We're not into faking things for TV.

But your "heroic" group sure came out of nowhere

to find fame and fortune by flashing around some pretty cool powers.

Stolen powers, based on my scans.

Do you know what you can do with your scans?

Yeah, I do. In fact, I'm doing it right now.

Uh, hey, guys. Why don't we all just take a step back?

You two can take a step all the way back to where you came from!

We didn't steal any Stark Tech.

In fact, we've been tracking the real thief.

Between interviews?

You jealous of us getting more attention than you?

Face it, Stark! The Avengers are old news.

Don't bet on it!

Huh?

I think someone's sending you a message.

Citizen V, your little group has been poking around in my business.

Justin Hammer. Should've known.

We know you've been stealing tech.

Turn yourself in and we won't have to come get you.

I haven't stolen anything.

I have friends. They give me things.

And Tony Stark! You're here too. It isn't even my birthday!

I can arrange a nice surprise party for you.

Don't bother. I'm the one sending the "presents" today.

And you can't dismantle it.

We'll just see about that!

As you can see, it's protected by a powerful force field.

Which won't stop it, however, from vaporizing you all.

I guess the surprise is on us. You really shouldn't have.

The bomb could take out a city block. No time to evacuate.

I agree.

Maybe we can short out the force field if we overload it?

It's worth a try. Let's set up a varying phase repulsor beam.

You guys, can you phase a little faster?

Huh?

It's working.

We need to get that core out!

No time.

Anything I'm holding phases with me.

Interesting moves, Meteorite.

A-hem! Close call.

Seems we have a common enemy.

You and I have nothing in common.

Justin Hammer is my problem. The Avengers will handle it.

I still think the Thunderbolts

have something to do with the stolen Stark Tech.

Whatever your suspicions, we're a team. You shouldn't go out alone.

I wasn't alone. Falcon was with me.