MV1	Hawkeye! Tigra! USAgent! Wonder Man!
COMICS
#104

"Recruitment Drive"

Hawkeye pounded the gavel on the table. "This meeting of the Avengers is now in session."

Clockwise around the table from Hawkeye sat Greer Nelson. Tigra, the were-woman. Gifted with the abilities of a cat, as well as super-human strength and agility.

Next was Miguel Santos, the Living Lightning. Avengers West reservist, able to transform his body into a living bolt of lightning, hence the name.

Finally, the USAgent. A man who once wore the costume of Captain America, now a hero in his own right. Possessing super-human strength and incredible endurance. Also armed with "photon shields" on each wrist, which could be used as shields, or hurled at enemies as force weapons.

Hawkeye sat and began speaking, nodding to Lightning. "Glad you could make it, Miguel."

"Hey, no problem. I'm always there when the Avengers really need me."

"Well," said Hawkeye "We don't need you for your power this time, just an extra set of eyes to help evaluate the new talent were going to be seeing later."

The Agent grunted "I dunno Barton. You really think anyone worth their salt is going to show up here today? I'm not sure this recruitment idea is worth the bother."

"Hey!" said Tigra "I joined the Avengers as the result of a recruitment drive you know!* I think its a great idea."

*She did! See Avengers 211 for details! --Recruiter Scott

Hawk nodded. "And you've proven that these things can work, Greer. You've been a fine Avenger." Hawkeye looked at the Agent. "Besides Jack, we need the manpower. Especially with Wonder Man still M.I.A.* The three of us cant hold the fort by ourselves." He shrugged "Now, don't get me wrong, I know there are probably going to be a lot of poseurs out there, just looking to get a few kicks at our expense. That's where you all come in. I need all of you sharp to help me weed out the real talent from the wannabees."

*See Neil Gow's Scarlet Witch #8 to see why Wondy's not with the team. --Scott

The Agent frowned "Well, I still don't like it, but we don't seem to have a whole lot of choice. When does this all start?"

Hawkeye looked at his watch. "We open the gates at nine. We better get moving. Avengers Assemble to the outdoor training area!"

The Crimson Cowl sat at the head of the table, regarding her team. Cyclone. Flying Tiger. Man Killer. Tiger Shark. Also, the shadowy figure who took up position just behind and to the left of the Cowl's seat. No one in the room could make out more than a silhouette of the figure, but they all knew what it was.

"The time has come, Masters" said the Cowl "To begin our plan to destroy the Avengers West, before they have a chance to get their feet under them. Today they hold a recruitment drive, leaving the inside of their Compound undefended." she paused "We will attack as soon as they have begun their exercises in the training area. Be ready for my call!" The Cowl rose.

"Sacre bleu!" said Cyclone, in his thick, French accent "But we are shorthanded without Ze Klaw to help us in our attack against ze Avengairs...!"

The Cowl narrowed her eyes at Cyclone "Klaw is of no consequence. He is off pursuing his own agenda in Wakanda* and is therefore no longer part of this team. Not that we need him!" the Cowl indicated the shadowed figure behind her. "I'd say our new member more than makes up for his loss, wouldn't you agree?"

*See recent issues of Barry Reese's Black Panther for details of Klaw's departure. --Cross-referencing Scott

Cyclone gulped and nodded, clearly intimidated by the figure. As was the rest of the team.

The Cowl folded her arms. "Good. Now if there are no more problems, get yourself prepared. Be ready to go when I give the signal.

Hawkeye, Tigra, USAgent and the Living Lightning had been examining the candidates for a few hours, with little results. Very few worthwhile candidates were in the throng. Nevertheless, the Avengers did conduct interviews with some of them...

Hawkeye looked at the man standing before him. He couldn't help rolling his eyes at the obviously home-made costume. The man was slightly overweight, a beer gut prominent. He wore a faded T-shirt, spandex pants with suspenders looped over his shoulder. A metal helmet with a small fin adorned his head. A pair of faded-white angel-looking wings were mounted, a bit crookedly, on his back.

"Who did you say you were again?" Asked Hawkeye.

"The Osprey."

Hawkeye blinked "The Osprey?" Tigra stifled a giggle.

The Osprey looped his thumbs around his suspenders, tried to stick out his chest, which made his gut more obvious, and said proudly "Yep."

"Er..." said Hawk "What are your powers?"

"I can fly..."

"I hope so, with those wings..." the Agent quipped. Tigra did giggle this time.

The Osprey demonstrated his ability. Flying around somewhat haphazardly around the group, but not flapping his wings. He landed. "I've got an antigravity disc strapped to my back.*"

*He got that anti-grav disc from the Wizard in FF #177! No... really! He's a real live Marvel character! --Obscure Scott

Hawkeye nodded "We'll be in touch" he lied.

So the hopeful Avengers came and went. Most of them unnoteworthy. Until...

The group saw who the next candidate was and rose in unison, shock clearly evident on their faces.

"You!" said Hawkeye. "What do you think you are doing here!?!?"

Tigra put a hand on his shoulder "Now, Hawkeye... Lets give her a fair shot. Okay?"

Hawkeye scowled and looked at the girl. "Well, what do you have to say?"

The girl was fairly short. Of obviously Japanese decent. She wore her black hair long and loose. Her costume was of yellow and black, with red zigzag design. "I guess you all know me..." she said, a bit of anger creeping in her voice. "I'm Jolt. Formerly of the Thunderbolts."

"You've got a lot of nerve coming here!" Hawkeye said. "After what you and your crowed pulled. Luckily, the Avengers stopped you*"

*The Avengers ended the Thunderbolts menace in Avengers 423 --Scott

Jolt gritted her teeth "I was duped by Zemo! I didn't know what was really going on until it was too late!" She paused "Look. All I want is a shot to redeem myself. I thought you, Hawkeye, of all people would understand. Didn't the Avengers give you a second chance once too?

"I was never in the Masters of Evil!"

"I didn't know I was, and was never really a criminal!"

The Living Lightning leaned in close to Hawkeye. "Let's talk about this privately. I have a few things to say."

Hawkeye nodded then looked at Jolt. "Dismissed."

Jolt glared at Hawkeye a moment, then stomped angrily off.

"That went well." said Tigra.

Simon Williams AKA Wonder Man wandered aimlessly along one of the many paths that meandered through the park. His mind was lost in a fog, in turmoil over the events of a couple of days ago at Avengers Mansion*.

*Again, see Neil Gow's Scarlet Witch #8 --Repetitive Scott

I've lost Wanda again... He thought. How could this have happened? She knows I love her. She knows that the Vision can never again truly be the man she once married... He sighed audibly. But still she rejected me and gone off on her own to who knows where....

Simon's shoulders sagged. He looked visibly tired. He walked along the path, not watching where he was going until he bumped into someone.

"Oh, excuse me." he mumbled.

"Simon...? Simon is that really you?"

Simon looked up at the person he had just bumped into. A slender woman with short-styled blonde hair. Recognition dawned. "Alex!*" Simon blinked, surprised. "What on earth are you doing in New York?"

*Alex Flores from Wondy's own defunct series. --Wonder Scott

Alex smiled "Pitching my story idea for a TV drama to some network executives. No luck so far though." she shrugged "I had heard you were... around again."

Simon nodded "Yeah... Good ol' back from the dead Simon 'Jesus Christ' Williams." he half-chuckled at his own joke.

Alex didn't laugh. "I heard also you came back to LA with the reformed Avengers West. Why didn't you come to see Jaime and I?"

"I was there for all of two hours Alex. I had... things to take care of back here." he paused "How is Jaime?"

"She's a holy terror. In high school now, you know. She'd love to see you, once you get back to LA." Alex put her hand on Simon's arm "I would too..."

Simon stared at the hand on his arm, blankly. "I'll drop by sometime. Look, I have to get going. It was nice seeing you again Alex. Good luck with your story." He walked off without another word.

Alex stared at his back, mouth hanging open. "Now wait just a minute!" she said, but her words were drowned out by Wonder Man's belt jets kicking in as he thundered off into the New York skyline.

Alex watched him go. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"You were way too hard on her, Hawkeye."

"No !@#$% way, Lightning!" said the Agent "Last thing we need right now is a criminal on our team!"

"Settle down Jack." said Hawkeye "Let's hear Miguel out." he nodded to the Lightning. "Go ahead"

The Lightning cleared his throat. "Well, all I was going to say is that I understand why you have a mad on for the Masters of Evil, but I don't think that is a reason to omit Jolt from or candidates. After all Hawkeye, you let me in and I was a criminal*. Hanging out with the Pacific Overlords."

*The Living Lightning joined in AWC #74, after being a member, albeit briefly, of the Overlords. --AWC historian Scott

Hawkeye chewed his lower lip in thought a moment. "Okay Miguel, you have a point. Lets review the rest of the candidates, and make an informed decision then. Who's next, Tigra?

Tigra pointed and grinned. "Here he comes now."

A short, pudgy, bald and rather comical man approached, wearing only what looked like a black speedo. He grinned as he drew near. "Shape join Avengers!" he declared loudly.

Hawkeye stifled a groan. "Shape? What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Project Pegasus?"

Shape looked down, his eyes a bit misty. "Shape's friends go bye-bye.* Shape lonely and want to join team with Purple Bowman." he nodded "Shape make good Avenger!"

*See Kell Carpenter's Squadron Supreme #1 to see why Shape's friends went "bye-bye" --Shapely Scott

Hawkeye sighed "Shape, I'm not sure how well you'd fit in with us." He fumbled for an excuse as to why, but came up empty. "Ah... I tell you what. We'll make you a reservist for now. You go back to the Project, and when we need you, we'll call you up. Okay?"

Shape smiled gleefully. "Yay! Shape Avenger!" He stopped and eyed Hawkeye suspiciously. "You not try to fool Shape?"

"No no!" Hawk waved his hands defensively "Honest. When we need to call in the reserves, your name will be at the top of the list!"

Shape smiled and nodded, wandering off aimlessly. "Shape Avenger!"

"Are you nuts, Barton?" the Agent asked "You made Shape an Avenger?"

"Look Agent," Hawk snapped "Hyperion and his bunch might like him, but I'm not any happier than you. Still, he is good in a fight, and we are short-handed, remember. Besides," Hawk sighed "I couldn't stand to see him cry if I said no...."

"Glad I'm not Chairperson." said Tigra

Hawkeye looked around "I wonder why they aren't here yet?"

"Who?" asked the Agent

"Swordsman and Magdalene. I extended a personal invitation for them both to try out today."

"Good idea" The Agent nodded "they both have prior Avengers experience and we both know how the Swordsman can handle himself when things get bad.*"

*See Hawkeye #1-5 for an idea of how bad it can get --Scott

"Here comes our next candidate." said Tigra

A tall man approached. Easily over six feet, he had a longish mane of blonde hair, tied back in a pony-tail. He wore a masked costume that shimmered in the light, changing colors every time he moved. Now red, now blue, yellow, green, orange. The whole spectrum. He smiled and nodded to each of the Avengers, who gawked at the costume despite themselves.

"Nice costume." said Hawkeye "what is your code-name?"

"I call myself the Variable." he said, amicably.

"The Variable? Oooookay. So, what are your powers? What do you do?"

"Everything."

Hawkeye frowned slightly "I'm afraid I don't understand. Could you be more specific?"

The Variable smiled "Of course. I have every power. Though only one at a time. Right now my power is super-speed. At any time I can will myself to change powers...." he seemed to hesitate a moment.

"But..." The Agent coaxed.

"But, the problem is, I have no control over what power I change to. In fact, sometimes I get a power that doesn't manifest itself in any obvious way, so its hard to tell..." "I see." said Hawkeye "Well, er... Variable. That sort of limitation could be a problem, although admittedly your power can have some definite uses in a pinch. Looking at your results from our test scores, you did very well."

"Thanks. I like to keep in shape. I've taken judo since I was eight."

Hawk nodded "Fairly impressive. We'll be in touch."

A blinding reddish light fills the room. When it fades, The Crimson Cowl and her Masters of Evil stand in the darkened room. Immediately, intruder alerts went off all over the Compound.

The Cowl indicated to her still shadowed new member. "Excellent. Your knowledge of the layout of the place was right on. Now, get to the computers and start downloading... and shut those alarms off!"

The Cowl then looked to her three teammates. "Hide yourselves. Set an ambush for when the Avengers come in. they'll never know what hit them."

In the middle of a potential candidate, alarms started going off all over the Compound.

"What the frag?" said the Agent.

A terminal popped up from the ground near Hawkeye, who looked at it's screen. "Intruder alert! Main computer room." Hawkeye looked around at all the people still on the grounds. "Tigra, Agent, with me. Lightning, you get these people cleared off the premises, post haste! Avengers Assemble!"

Hawk, the Agent and Tigra sped off for the main building. They entered, took the elevator down to sub-basement two. Arriving at the level, they approached the closed door of the computer room quietly.

"Agent" Hawkeye whispered "You take the point. Tigra, you back him up. I'll provide cover fire, if needed."

Tigra and the Agent assumed their positions. At the door, the Agent pressed the access button, and the door opened to the dark room. Quietly, the Agent ignited one of his photon shields and entered, Tigra close behind. Hawkeye stood at the door, arrow nocked.

Across the room, a lone figure stood at the computer, a wire plugged in from itself, to the mainframe.

"All right, chief." the Agent yelled "Give it up. The Avengers are here now. Don't make us take you down."

The figure unplugged itself from the computer and strode forward, its steps the sound of metal striking metal. When it was close enough, the Agent and Tigra could make out its features. In unison, they gasped out the name:
"WARTOY!!!"

Wartoy leered down at the two, Then raised a fist to slam down at them "Sayonara suckers!"

The pair of Avengers leapt out of the way of the robots strike. Hawkeye fired a blast arrow from the door at it. The arrow struck Wartoy's adamantium hide to no effect.

Wartoy looked at Hawkeye "Clint darling! How nice to see you again. Are you ready to die, sport?"

Hawk had forgotten how much like Mockingbird the robot sounded. with a cry of rage, he launched a salvo of arrows at the thing. "I'll show you what's going to die, you monstrosity!"

Suddenly, a bright red glow filled the room, blinding the Avengers. "Masters, Attack!" came the voice of the Cowl.

The Masters of Evil came out at the Avengers from all sides. Flying Tiger and Man-Killer went after the Agent. Tiger Shark and Wartoy after Tigra. Cyclone and the Cowl after Hawkeye.

Hawkeye hadn't taken the full brunt of the Cowl's blinding light trick, not being entirely in the room and therefore recovering faster. Faster than the Cowl had counted on, in fact. "You like bright lights, Cowl?" he said "Then get a load of mine!" An arrow fired off, bursting forth with a blinding flare.

"Arrrrrrrgghhhh!" said Cyclone, holing his hands over his eyes and dropping to the ground. The Cowl however was unaffected.

"I am immune to my own light, Avenger. You really think yours will stop me?" She lashed out at Hawkeye with a prehensile fold of her cape, which he barely dodged.

Hawkeye took stock of the situation. The Agent and Tigra were already down, having been caught by surprise and outnumbered to boot. Briefly, his instinct to go dive right into the Lion's Den took hold of him. Then, he rationally thought of his duties as team leader. This fight was lost. His best course of action was to retreat and call for help. Though every fiber of who he was screamed against it. Hawk fired a smoke arrow to cover his escape, and retreated up the elevator.

The Masters of Evil had the Compound.

Next Issue: The Masters of Evil in command of Avengers Compound! Hawkeye tries to assemble a team to take it back!! Be here in thirty for: "SIEGE!!!"

Send all mail to beezer@webtv.net. Be sure to include "lines" in the subject line.

From: "Barry Reese" (c_r6196@hotmail.com)

An absolute blast, Scott! A great 'return' for the WCA. I can't wait to read 104. There are a few people wandering around the MU that I've always wanted to see in the Avengers. Here's my handy-dandy 'wish-list.'

1) Angel -- I know, I know. He's tied up in X-Men. But I've always wanted to see Warren with the Avengers. Just a dream, I suppose.

2) Nomad -- Back in his old Nomad costume (not the leather outfit he's been wearing). I think maybe Cap should recommend that he join the WCA on a provisionary basis until he gets his head straightened out.

3) Black Cat -- a weird one, I know, but interesting. I'm not sure she should be in the same lineup as Tigra, though.

4) Kymera -- assuming she survives the NW annual, that is. A great character.

5) Falcon -- I know, he's been an East Coaster. But Sam is a nice character who should appear more often. Let's move him out west!

Anyway, great job as always!

Barry

Great to hear from you on this, Barry! I know your fondness for the Whackos is on par with mine! On to your suggestions:

1) As you said, tied up in the X-men.

2) I'm afraid I'm not real fond of Nomad, and I'd hate to write a character I didnt like. Sorry.

3) Black Cat sure would be fun, but I think Randy over in the Spider-Man department might have something to say about her already. :)

4) Kymera... I dont know this character well enough to do it justice. Nor would I try.

5) Sam is an enjoyable character, though I'm pretty sure Matt would rather keep him for his Cap series.

thanks for your comments Barry! Keep em Coming!

I'd also sure like to hear from the rest of you! Let me know how good, or bad if thats the case, I'm doing! Seeya next month!