Avengers: Twilight takes place in a future where the world is haunted by "Hero Day," a battle with Ultron which resulted in the death of most heroes and the exile of many others.
Now, the original Avengers have been replaced by new heroes working in concert with the totalitarian government that's secretly being manipulated by Kyle Jarvis, the Red Skull in disguise. He's used Ultron's captive consciousness to covertly seize control of the world, manipulating James Stark (son of the original Iron Man and the Wasp) in the process.
In the title's third issue, the elderly Steve Rogers became Captain America once more and travelled to the Raft prison to rescue Tony Stark's disembodied head. James suited up as the new Iron Man, but the tide was turned when Thor returned to aid his old friends.
In Avengers: Twilight #4, the God of Thunder helps The Avengers escape and Tony is awoken before getting a new robotic body. He doesn't remember what happened to The Wasp during H-Day, but recalls S.H.I.E.L.D. agents brutally attacking him (presumably resulting in him becoming a head in a jar).
He reveals that Kyle is secretly Red Skull and is devastated that the villain has brainwashed his son. Kyle, meanwhile, shares his true identity with James and when Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Ms. Marvel, and the new Hawkeye invade Avengers Mansion, they learn that their replacements aren't real; Red Skull has been manipulating what people see on the news to make them easier to control!
The team manages to escape Avengers Mansion before it explodes, but the Skull makes his move to take control of America, arresting the President before donning a formidable new suit: with that, the Red Skull returns!
Marvel Comics has delivered its own Kingdom Come with Avengers: Twilight and we're intrigued to see where the story goes from here. A battle between the remaining Avengers and the Red Skull is on the horizon, but with Ultron lurking in the background, we're sure plenty of twists and turns are still coming.
Check out some spoilery pages from Avengers: Twilight #4 below and let us know your thoughts on these developments in the usual place.
THE AVENGERS are on the run from THE NEW AVENGERS as old enemies emerge! And what is the terrible secret of IRON MAN, THE WASP, and H-DAY?
AVENGERS: TWILIGHT #4
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Art by DANIEL ACUNA
Cover by ALEX ROSS