AAFES #7

[Paul Bourcier]

Many thanks to Antonio Gavino for supplying me with a copy of AAFES Giveaway #7 -- NEW AVENGERS: AN ARMY OF ONE.

Synopsis:
One day, the Army tests Oscorp munitions at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The test is a success, but the Hulk is disturbed by it and gets angrry. He attacks the military base. Nick Fury reports the attack to Iron Man, who summons a bunch of super-heroes to help the Army deal with the rampaging green goliath. Hulk fights off the heroes, only to be stuck by a bunch of tranquilizer darts fired by soldiers. Hulk reverts to an unconscious Bruce Banner (who presumably escapes BTS after this story). The super-heroes help the soldiers rebuild the destroyed base.

This story must occur sometime between World War Hulk and Secret Invasion, although a couple of details are inconsistent, as noted below.

Appearances:
* Hulk (dumb, green, and free, and turns into Bruce Banner, so after H4 6)
* Nick Fury (here at a time when he’s supposed to be underground!)
The Mighty Avengers (based in Stark Tower and led by Stark, so before SI 1):
* Ares
* Black Widow (Natasha)
* Iron Man
* Ms. Marvel (Carol)
* Sentry
The X-Men (here after UX 500, since they are noted as being on the West Coast):
* Beast
* Colossus
* Cyclops
* Emma Frost
* Nightcrawler
* Storm
* Wolverine
The Young Avengers:
* Hulkling
* Patriot
* Stature
* Vision
* Wiccan
The Fantastic Four (in costumes introduced in FF 554):
* Human Torch
* Invisible Woman
* Mr. Fantastic
* Thing
The Agents of Atlas:
* Gorilla Man
* M-11
* Uranian
The New Avengers (apparently summoned by Stark even though they’re wanted by the law!):
* Luke Cage
* Iron Fist
* Spider-Man
Plus...
* Captain America (Bucky, so after CA5 35 and likely after CA5 40)
* Daredevil
* Deadpool
* Falcon
* Hercules (before HERC4 116, since it's before SI)
* She-Hulk
* Thor (likely after his encounter with Stark in T3 3, even though he’s pissed at Stark)
* James D. Wells (segrant first-class)
* Theresa L. Bradley (technical sergeant)

The Thunderbolts are mentioned but do not appear; Stark calls them “super-psychos.”


This is the seventh AAFES giveaway. The previous six were:
#1 -- New Avengers Guest-Starring the Fantastic Four
#2 -- ???
#3 -- Avengers & X-Men: Time Trouble
#4 -- New Avengers: Letters Home
#5 -- ???
#6 -- ???

[JephYork]

I just read this myself, and because Nick fury IS out of hiding, I figured it must be between pages of SI #8 -- after the invasion is thwarted but before the government turns on Stark and backs Norman.

-Jeph!

[Paul Bourcier]

Jeph wrote:

I just read this myself, and because Nick fury IS out of hiding, I figured it must be between pages of SI #8 -- after the invasion is thwarted but before the government turns on Stark and backs Norman.

YES!, and that would explain why the Wasp isn't present. This story would have to happen in a fairly small window between pages 21 and 22 of SI 8. I'd put Deadpool here between pages 3 and 4 of DP4 4, and Spidey here just before SI:ASM 3 (17-19), which occurs "a few nights" after the end of the Skrull invasion. I'd put Ms. Marvel here before she helps Hank Pym plan Jan's funeral in MA 20 (5-14). Hercules would be here before HERC4 121. The New Avengers would be here between pages 20 and 21 of A4 48, while Cage's baby is missing.

I wonder why Fury didn't send the Secret Warriors in to fight the Hulk.

Thanks, Jeph.

[JephYork]

Because they're a secret?

This placement also explains Spider-Woman's absence. Glad you like it!

-Jeph!

[JLH]

This is the seventh AAFES giveaway. The previous six were:
#1 -- New Avengers Guest-Starring the Fantastic Four
#2 -- ???
#3 -- Avengers & X-Men: Time Trouble
#4 -- New Avengers: Letters Home
#5 -- ???
#6 -- ???

#1 is New Avengers Guest-Starring the Fantastic Four (the issue is titled "Special Guests")
#2 is New Avengers Guest-Starring the Fantastic Four (the issue is titled "Pot of Gold")
#5 is "New Avengers: The Spirit of America".
#6 is "New Avengers: Fireline".

[JephYork]

And #3 has "New Avengers" on the cover, not "Avengers & X-Men".

-Jeph!

[Paul Bourcier]

Thanks for the info, guys.

I don't think we've had analyses of AAFES 2, 5, or 6. Would anyone out there with these comics care to submit analyses?

[JephYork]

#2 and #6 are non-canon, as I recall.

-Jeph!