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ya_assemble2015-04-05 12:22 am
holyscoopbatman) wrote in ya_assemble2015-04-05 12:22 am
Entry tags:
[AI] It begins
The Defenders: A "Just-Us" Society?
by Sally Floyd
Every week brings new challenges to the Post-Cataclysm world we live in but the recent actions of the Defenders have left the public wondering if the team is up for the challenge - and if they think they're above the law. A solid week of questionable actions started with a tantrum by the younger Blue Beetle, usually polite and soft-spoken in his appearances, caught on youtube yelling at a freelance journalist and breaking his camera.
While the incident could perhaps be written off as the actions of a hero under heavy pressure having a rare moment of ill temper, Blue Beetle has regularly been seen working with the joint US-Mexican coalition in the fight against the drug cartels in Juarez and El Paso, is the Young Allies' official liaison chairperson, and has been spotted fighting crises around the world on a daily basis. With the hero balancing such a full plate, it begs the question of whether or not the Defenders are putting undo pressure on already unstable individuals or pushing their younger heroes too heavily into the line of fire. The Defenders are so secretive at times, one must question whether or not the sidekicks that have gone missing from the Young Allies have actually returned to the Crisis like they claim.
This alone wouldn't be that alarming if it weren't for other recent actions by members of the team. According to representatives of The Avengers, the recent appearance of both Hawkeyes was fraught with conflict. After a briefing by hero Iron Man on the state of the world post-Cataclysm, the two heroes reportedly broke a window in Avengers Tower, leaving civilians below at risk of falling glass, and ziplined away from the Tower. The two were immediately accepted onto the Defenders without any public reprimand or comment, despite their reckless actions.
Perhaps most disquieting was the team's recent actions upon the return to Earth of the superhero Nova. According to Avengers representatives the dangerous metahuman, currently a Defender and formerly a New Warrior, was mentally unstable due to a psionic attack by a Starro. While unstable, the hero was responsible for causing property damage at the 8th Street Soup Kitchen due to an uncontrolled release of his powers.
Instead of assisting the Avengers in escorting the hero to a secure HAMMER facility where he could receive care, the Defenders on scene - Justice, Ricochet, Hulkling, and Martian Manhunter - interfered in the Avengers' attempt at securing Nova's surrender. Martian Manhunter reportedly psychically restarted the supercomputer residing in the hero's mind, an act that could have led to an unstable lashing out of his powers. According to the scale used by HAMMER, and formerly SHIELD, to classify planetary threats, Nova registers as a class 12 worldwide threat due to his power levels.
"Nova was clearly not in his right mind after the Starro attack," Norman Osborn stated in a recent press released. "He had already caused some damage to Central Park and damage to the 8th Street Soup Kitchen, who had called in the authorities for assistance. Rather than cooperating with authorities, the Defenders disregarded our attempt to bring Mr. Ryder in for treatment and then made a very risky move with an unknown and powerful piece of alien technology implanted in his head. The outburst of uncontrolled power that could have resulted from their actions was averted only by sheer luck, but one day, that kind of luck will run out, and we've already seen what happens then."
With the specter of Stamford and the actions of other New Warriors still looming in the memories of half the population, one wonders if indeed, the Defenders' luck will hold out. One thing remains clear: apparently the Defenders feel that they only have to operate under their own rules.
by Sally Floyd
Every week brings new challenges to the Post-Cataclysm world we live in but the recent actions of the Defenders have left the public wondering if the team is up for the challenge - and if they think they're above the law. A solid week of questionable actions started with a tantrum by the younger Blue Beetle, usually polite and soft-spoken in his appearances, caught on youtube yelling at a freelance journalist and breaking his camera.
While the incident could perhaps be written off as the actions of a hero under heavy pressure having a rare moment of ill temper, Blue Beetle has regularly been seen working with the joint US-Mexican coalition in the fight against the drug cartels in Juarez and El Paso, is the Young Allies' official liaison chairperson, and has been spotted fighting crises around the world on a daily basis. With the hero balancing such a full plate, it begs the question of whether or not the Defenders are putting undo pressure on already unstable individuals or pushing their younger heroes too heavily into the line of fire. The Defenders are so secretive at times, one must question whether or not the sidekicks that have gone missing from the Young Allies have actually returned to the Crisis like they claim.
This alone wouldn't be that alarming if it weren't for other recent actions by members of the team. According to representatives of The Avengers, the recent appearance of both Hawkeyes was fraught with conflict. After a briefing by hero Iron Man on the state of the world post-Cataclysm, the two heroes reportedly broke a window in Avengers Tower, leaving civilians below at risk of falling glass, and ziplined away from the Tower. The two were immediately accepted onto the Defenders without any public reprimand or comment, despite their reckless actions.
Perhaps most disquieting was the team's recent actions upon the return to Earth of the superhero Nova. According to Avengers representatives the dangerous metahuman, currently a Defender and formerly a New Warrior, was mentally unstable due to a psionic attack by a Starro. While unstable, the hero was responsible for causing property damage at the 8th Street Soup Kitchen due to an uncontrolled release of his powers.
Instead of assisting the Avengers in escorting the hero to a secure HAMMER facility where he could receive care, the Defenders on scene - Justice, Ricochet, Hulkling, and Martian Manhunter - interfered in the Avengers' attempt at securing Nova's surrender. Martian Manhunter reportedly psychically restarted the supercomputer residing in the hero's mind, an act that could have led to an unstable lashing out of his powers. According to the scale used by HAMMER, and formerly SHIELD, to classify planetary threats, Nova registers as a class 12 worldwide threat due to his power levels.
"Nova was clearly not in his right mind after the Starro attack," Norman Osborn stated in a recent press released. "He had already caused some damage to Central Park and damage to the 8th Street Soup Kitchen, who had called in the authorities for assistance. Rather than cooperating with authorities, the Defenders disregarded our attempt to bring Mr. Ryder in for treatment and then made a very risky move with an unknown and powerful piece of alien technology implanted in his head. The outburst of uncontrolled power that could have resulted from their actions was averted only by sheer luck, but one day, that kind of luck will run out, and we've already seen what happens then."
With the specter of Stamford and the actions of other New Warriors still looming in the memories of half the population, one wonders if indeed, the Defenders' luck will hold out. One thing remains clear: apparently the Defenders feel that they only have to operate under their own rules.