After the Enclave crash their plane into Jamaica Bay while trying to escape the authorities, a series of massive energy geysers erupt from underwater. At Avengers Mansion, Captain America and Wasp try to reassure their federal liaison Sikorski, who is alarmed by the team recruiting the notorious Sub-Mariner. While a smitten Black Knight admires the Wasp, Namor tries to claim Hercules’ room as his own, sparking an argument that sends Captain Marvel flying off in search of solitude. Spotting the Enclave crash site, Marvel consults the lead FBI agent on the scene, Derek Freeman. When something hurls Freeman’s divers out of the bay, Marvel dives in and fi nds a cocoon that telepathically warns her away and forces her to surface. As the other Avengers come to Marvel’s aid, their old foe Melter spies on them until the vigilante Scourge kills him. Investigating the cocoon, the Avengers determine it is unrelated to the Enclave and battle its hostile energy projections until Wasp realizes the entity inside the cocoon is merely afraid and makes peace with it. The team takes the cocoon back to Avengers Mansion for further study, unaware its occupant is the supposedly long-dead Jean Grey of the X-Men.
Jean Grey’s story continues in FF #286, ’86. The Melter/Scourge interlude was part of a storyline running through multiple Marvel titles where Scourge slew super-criminals. Scourge’s chronology is somewhat uncertain since multiple Scourge agents were active during this period, usually in disguise. The long-running John Byrne headshots are dropped from the cover’s top left corner box and replaced by John Buscema headshots that will continue with variations through Av #297, ’88.
