The team founders meet with their new security liaison, Duane Freeman, to solidify their official roster, while reporters wait outside the mansion. Scarlet Witch, while watching over the Vision’s repairs, is visited by a hologram of Vision who releases Wanda from her marital “obligation,” and a heartbroken Wanda leaves. Hawkeye spots Firestar and Justice responding to a police bulletin about Whirlwind. Beast tells Binary that she can no longer assume her cosmic energy form, and Binary swears the Beast to secrecy about it. Wanda fails to notice the residual form of Wonder Man as she broods. Hearing Binary make an excuse about inspecting the mansion’s liquor selection, Iron Man voices reservations about Binary’s nomination but, lacking proof, immediately withdraws them. Hawkeye applauds Firestar and Justice’s victory over Whirlwind and nominates them for membership, not realizing his place on the roster is the only one open. Cap, impressed that the two New Warriors captured Whirlwind while the founders were engrossed in paperwork, grants them reserve memberships. Cap introduces the new team to the reporters, and, egged on by his teammates, gives the reporters a rousing cry of “Avengers assemble!”
Nineteen Avengers attempt to foil Whirlwind’s bank robbery, but their sheer numbers and lack of teamwork simply add to the collateral damage and allow Whirlwind to escape (p).
Whirlwind’s new armor is reminiscent of his Counter-Earth counterpart’s; Hawkeye jokes that the design must have come to him in a dream. Cap’s trademark circular shield was lost in the ocean in Cap #2, ’98; he is using a replica of his original steel shield donated by the Smithsonian in Cap #3, ’98. Duane wears pins denoting his membership in the Triune Understanding, a religious organization that will become a major plot point in Av #15, ’99. The footnote regarding the Vision’s disassembly in WCA #43, ’89, is incorrectly listed as “Avengers West Coast #43;” WCA assumed the AWC title with AWC #47, ’89. Black Knight is seen visibly uncomfortable as Crystal mentions reconnecting with her family, due to his attraction to Crystal from when they were both Avengers. Firestar and Justice effectively leave the New Warriors this issue in favor of their Avengers memberships. Giant-Man’s belt-pager can transform into an insect-size aircraft, and his helmet can reconfigure itself to mimic his old Ant-Man helmet when he shrinks to insect height. Fold out recap page features all the current and former Avengers that appear in this issue, plus Whirlwind. Issue comes with a center-bound poster of the new team, which includes Wonder Man and shows Firestar and Justice in new uniforms that they first wear in Av #8, ’98.
