As It Stands: Avengers Standoff Recap – Week Five

By D. Goodman | Apr 2, 2016

Welcome to As It Stands, our weekly recap of everything going on in the Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill spring event.

Avengers Standoff continues to build steam despite there being only one title to read this week, but it’s a doozy. As always, Bam Smack Pow is here to update you on the adventures of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes so you can decide which parts you want to read.

Previously in Avengers Standoff: The Whisperer, aka Rick Jones, tells the world about Pleasant Hill, a prison where S.H.I.E.L.D. uses a sentient cosmic cube named Kobik to overwrite the personalities and tendencies of super-villains, transforming them into model citizens. Two teams of Avengers (of the All-New All-Different and Uncanny variety) head to Pleasant Hill to shut the operation down only to see the town thrown into chaos as Baron Zemo and a group of awakened super-villains rebel against S.H.I.E.L.D. Kobik, who has taken the form of a little girl, has vanished as all hell breaks loose in Pleasant Hill.

SPOILERS AHEAD! Proceed with caution!

Captain America: Sam Wilson #7

Sam Wilson has been separated from his team of Avengers just as the inmates begin to tear Pleasant Hill apart. Eventually he runs into Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier and the two team up to try and find out just what S.H.I.E.L.D. has been doing.

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After coming to the rescue of a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent (kind of) they learn that there may be a weapon stored in the town that could help defeat Zemo and his allies. Just as they finish fighting their way through a horde of super-villains to deactivate the security system, Kobik shows up to tell them Steve Rogers needs help.

While all of that was going on, Rogers has been trying to get medical attention for S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill, who was gravely injured when Nitro exploded, kicking off the riots that have engulfed Pleasant Hill. Once he has done that, Rogers begins searching for Kobik, who he hopes he can convince to help him bring the situation under control.

Once he finds her, he encounters Crossbones, who begins to beat the crap out of him. Just as it appears Steve Rogers is about to depart the land of the living, Kobik tells him he doesn’t have to leave and restores Steve to his fighting prime. He defeats Crossbones and together with Sam and Bucky, the three prepare to retake Pleasant Hill.

Even though there was only the one part of Avengers Standoff this week, Captain America: Sam Wilson #7 is a key part of the storyline and should not be missed. The issue also serves as the 75th anniversary issue of Captain America so you also get a trio of backup stories and the main tale is a very nice look back at the history of the character.

Ironically, even if you didn’t read any of the previous installments, this one issue has all the information you need to follow what’s going on. In the end though, if you are reading Avengers Standoff, you really, really need to read this chapter.

Related Story: Preview: Avengers Standoff: Assault On Pleasant Hill Omega #1

Next week: New Avengers #9 continues the search for Rick Jones as we meet Corporal Todd Ziller, the American Kaiju. Meanwhile, over in Uncanny Avengers #8, that version of the Avengers has been living quiet, normal lives thanks to Kobik, which as we all know simply can’t last.

Look for things to start speeding up as we head towards the conclusion of Avengers Standoff: Assault On Pleasant Hill: Omega #1. And to keep track of all our recaps, follow this link.

See you next week.