That seems to have been the thrust of the Dark Reign event that preceded Siege, that the bad guys had won and now the good guys have to suffer. So seeing an Ultron triumphant cover has a slightly different meaning these days. It could really happen. The bad guys are now the good guys at Marvel. Heck, I’m surprised Norman Osborn isn’t on the Marvel Comics letterhead along with Spider-Man and Wolverine, after all, he seems to be in almost every one of their titles.

The other reason that the this Ultron triumphant cover could really happen is because the powers that be at Marvel absolutely hate Hank Pym, and the cover to Mighty Avengers #36 shows Ultron about to stomp the broken and battered new Wasp to death. I wonder how many Marvel employees and freelancers cheered when artist Khoi Pham delivered that cover. Because, let’s face it, besides me, Jocasta, Kurt Busiek, Steve Englehart, maybe Dan Slott and a bunch of old school Avengers fans – nobody likes Hank Pym.

The reign of terror begins on page one with the ‘previously’ page. Rather than the fun-even-when-it’s-bad-news online blog of Cassie Lang telling us what’s what, it’s Jocasta giving the facts of the story. Hank, Jocasta, and Ace and One-Eyed Jacquie of GRAMPA are prisoners in Infinite Avengers Mansion, while Ultron (who has renamed himself Ultron Pym) and an army of his brides try to get at them. Jocasta’s tone and wording betray more than what’s on the page. Cold dread frames every word, especially when it comes to the discovery of Pym’s deceased ex-wife in the dimension known as Underspace.

The roll call of the Mighty Avengers on the ‘previously’ page is interesting. It lists both Ultron and Hank Pym in red as ‘threat.’ Perhaps this is just Jocasta’s telling perspective, time will tell. Just as disturbing, it lists USAgent as ‘decommissioned.’ Having read the Thunderbolts issues that describe the Mighty Avengers’ actions in the Siege of Asgard – ‘decommissioned’ is a strange way to put it. I guess his commission cost him an arm and a leg. Pun intended.

Jocasta, recently given pseudo-flesh arms and legs by Hank Pym, seems to be a bit, no, strike that, very perturbed by the revelation that Infinite Avengers Mansion is also a way to the dimension where Janet Van Dyne’s explosive corpse is being stored. Hell hath no fury like a former bride of Ultron scorned, I suppose. She may have thought she had Pym to herself, and yet, it seems that she was just a part of the plan to return his ex-wife to life.

It doesn’t take long for her to snap. Page four, to be exact. And man, is the lady angry. The words, “You used me!” and a toppling bitchslap to the new Wasp just about says all there is to say. When you’re trapped between Ultron and his army of brides, and an angry bride of your own, you certainly do not want to be Dr. Henry Pym. We’re only on page three, but if I were Hank, I would prefer the boot of Ultron on the cover to the anger of Jocasta on page three.

What follows is a two-page, sometimes word-for-word, synopsis of the Mighty Avengers’ Siege adventure over in the Thunderbolts title. What amazes me most about these two pages is that they are more coherent than the entire sixty-six pages of the ‘crossover’ in the other title. And bonus, we get Khoi Pham doing the art. His interpretations of our heroes are much better than those seen in the longform.

Meanwhile, back at Infinite Avengers Mansion, Ultron has breached Pym’s defenses, and Jocasta’s rage is put aside for the moment. It also seems to be put aside for the issue as well. Here is the point at which it feels like writer Dan Slott begins to get cramped, cramped with the knowledge that this is the end of the Mighty Avengers title and that he must start tying up the loose ends and sending the team off to its destiny in Siege and beyond.

Slott is squeezed for time and space here, but he’s not sloppy. There is still the dramatic, and triumphant, moment where Ultron is beaten – by the mind of Henry Pym, rather than any brute force. And it is a sweet moment to see an interesting gamut of various Avengers on pages seventeen and eighteen. And just as bittersweet a moment to see the resolution promised in this issue’s title, “WWJVDD (What Would Janet Van Dyne Do?).”

I was struck however by the mention of USAgent. Over in Thunderbolts #143, in the character’s only mentions, he is critically wounded, in shock and needs medical attention. Here, the Mighty Avengers don’t think he’ll make it. The Swordsman’s one-panel death years ago was bad enough, now we’re going to see (or not see) an Avenger die off-panel?

While I had hoped to see more of Hank’s plan to revive Janet, perhaps this subplot, as opposed to others presented here, deserves more time to play out. The last three pages feel more rushed than others, especially the one-panel explanation about Loki being a good Avenger after all, but at least the series ends on a good beat. No, strike that, the best beat – “Avengers Assemble!”

I’m going to miss this book, this team of Avengers, and especially this creative team – Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. They presented perhaps the best traditional Avengers title, outside of Jeff Parker and Joe Casey, for the last seven or so years. It’s not that Brian Michael Bendis hasn’t written good Avengers, his are just different Avengers. Thanks, Dan and Khoi, for a terrific ride.

I give Mighty Avengers #36 four stars out of a possible five. The only reason it’s not a five out of five is because of the rushed quality necessary for this last issue and to put it into Siege continuity. Yet another to hate this big crossover events, they ruin what could be otherwise good stories, by having to play into their continuity.

Again, hats off to Dan and Khoi, thanks, guys! Hope to see you with the Avengers again very soon!

	Glenn Walker
	Glenn has been a fan of Marvel Comics' Avengers since the early 1970s, when their current adventures were chronicled by Steve Englehart and their early exploits by Stan Lee in classic reprints featured in Marvel Triple Action. He has persevered through many incarnations of the team and he still loves the Avengers to this day.