The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

Synopsis

At a secret base, yellow-suited agents of the Advanced Ideas Mechanics, or A.I.M., prepare for an attack. Among the weapon loaded is a monster referred to as the Technovore. A underling AIM scientists asks the leader of the group, the Scientist Supreme, if he’s sure the dangerous beast is worth the risk of taking out of their secret complex. Scientist Supreme says no risk too great given their goal, namely revenge on Tony Stark.

At Stark Tower, Tony Stark half-listens to a business meeting, his attention more focused on the creation of a new holographic version of Captain America’s broken shield. The business meeting is interrupted by Pepper Potts, who informs Tony his 7 o’clock meeting has arrived. Pepper also tells Tony that the Stark Industries Board of Directors and stock holders are concerned with how much time and attention Tony’s superhero activities, both as Iron Man and leader of the Avengers, have been dominating his personal time and resources.

Just as Tony attempts to defend himself, he and Pepper are interrupted by “Captain America” informing Stark that the final suits of Iron Man armor in the sub-levels of Stark Tower are ready to be moved to Avenger’s Mansion. With Cap are Black Panther and Stark’s friend and US military liason, James “Rhodey” Rhodes. Rhodes explains that the only Iron Man suit that hasn’t been moved or destroyed is the Mark IX. Captain America notes that there seems to be another suit of armor, which Rhodey explains is his own War Machine armor. When asked why he doesn’t join the Avengers, Rhodey explains that he only keep the armor as a precaution to keep Tony Safe.

Back in the upper levels of the Tower, Stark is escorted to his scheduled meeting with acting SHIELD Director Maria Hill. Hill explains to Stark that all superheroes are going to be expected to register with SHIELD going forward, including the Avengers. Stark questions the practicality of the whole initiative, but Hill is set to her convictions. She argues that the Avengers need to serve as an example to other superheroes, as several are still working well outside the bounds of the law and operate in secret. Hill goes on to threaten that if the Avengers don’t register, when (not if) a superhero “messes up”, SHIELD will not hesitate to go after all superheroes, including the Avengers.

While Tony and Hill continue to argue, several black vans filled with A.I.M. operatives circle Stark Tower. Each van slowly activates their own set of high tech equipment, giving off a pink glow. Once the vans have all activated their identical devices, an EMP like signal is sent out that disrupts Stark Tower’s power, causing the lights to die and security systems to shut down.

The AIM operatives storm the building and quickly take Pepper Potts and other high ranking Stark employees hostage. The Scientist Supreme introduces Potts to Technovore, a bio-mechanical device designed only to consume. Having set the monster to seek out on Arc Reactor technology, it is given only one option: to feed on Tony Stark’s heart.

Stark discovers that he and Hill are magnetically locked in his office, only for Technovore to attack them. Stark explains to Hill that Technovore started as a nanotech AI created to destroy data, but who’s appetite expanded beyond simple computer information as it got larger. As Hill and Stark discover that Technovore plans to devour Stark’s Arc Reactor heart, they are able to blow the doors off of Stark’s office and escape, only to run into more A.I.M. agents.

A.I.M. connects to the Stark mainframe, attempting to steal all of the company’s information, financial and scientific. Another set of AIM operatives go to the sub-levels of the building to retrieve the power armor suits, only to discover the Avengers and Rhodey running interference. The Scientist Supreme orders them to target the Arc Reactor in attempt to destroy the entire building. Realizing that they have to stop them, Rhodes goes to don his War Machine armor.

Given a moments oppurtunity, Pepper is able to warn Tony that A.I.M. plans to destroy the reactor. After a confused Technovore disables the A.I.M. agents blocking Hill and Stark, the two heroes attempt to find a way to the sub-levels of the building. Technovore is able to track down Stark again. However, Hill saves Stark from the monster and holds it off. However, a new Arc Reactor signal catches Technovore’s interest and causes it to descend to the sub-levels of the building. Realizing the quickest way down, Stark and Hill slide down an elevator shaft towards the main reactor.

With War Machines help, the Avengers are able to fight off the A.I.M. aggressors. Suddenly, Technovore attack War Machine, wanting to devour the miniature arc reactor powering his suit. Stark is able to get in his Mark IX Iron Man armor and along with War Machine able to fight off Technovore. Realizing he’s unable to defuse the bomb in time, he tells Hill to set the buildings main Arc Reactor to overload, luring Technovore into the giant power generator. Jumping into the arc field with it, Stark and Technovore ride through the waves of Arc energy until it expands large enough to destroy the bombs attached to it harmlessly. Then, Stark hops off and allows Technovore to consume Arc energy until it expands too far and explodes, destorying the monster. When War Machine asks how Stark knew the overflow energy wouldn’t destroy the bombs that A.I.M. had attached to the reactor, Stark reveals that he recognized the design of the bombs as his own and knew how to best defuse them. Just then he remembers Pepper Potts and rushes to save her. The Avengers reach Pepper Potts in the nick of time, just as Potts actually saves herself from the Scientist Supreme.

Stark and Hill debrief about the mission, but Hill tells him that this doesn’t change her push towards superhero registration. To lighten the mood, Stark offers to take Hill out for dinner.

Production Notes

At one point in her argument with Stark, Maria Hill argues that while the Fantastic Four have public identities, Spider-Man and the X-Men don’t. This somewhat contradicts the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon show, where Spider-Man’s identity is known to SHIELD. This seems to confirm that Avengers: EMH and USM take place in separate universes.