The first day on the job goes pretty well for the newly-formed Avengers as they track down the Mandrill in the middle of a robbery. Faced with overwhelming odds, Mandrill opts for discretion over valor and comes quietly (much to Thor's disappointment). Meanwhile, the Black Panther makes landfall in New York City.
Amazingly enough, the Hulk displays his Hidden Depths when he is the only hero actually on time for the grand opening of the new Avengers Mansion. More than just a swanky home-away-from-home, it also incorporates a state of the art Elaborate Underground Base with all the expected bells and whistles, and an extensive security system, all managed by JARVIS. Thor finds the concept of an artificial intelligence rather disconcerting. But aside from that, the Avengers look like they're off to a good start. With such a large gathering of A-list superheroes, the technological and financial might of Stark Industries, and the implicit backing of S.H.I.E.L.D., all those fugitive supervillains don't stand a chance, right?
Well...
The cracks begin to show immediately when Thor's chivalrous nature clashes with the Hulk's brutal directness. Bruce Banner also begins to doubt the strength of the new partnership, believing that the Avengers are simply using the Hulk and will dispose of him once all is said and done. Stark and Pym argue over the team's strategy for dealing with the fugitives while Jan is just bored out of her mind. The team decides to retire for the night and Banner's doubts have more time to fester in the Hulk's mind. Except it's not Banner. It seems the sorceress in green is up to her old tricks again. Thor tries to be more friendly but thanks to her manipulations Hulk ends up leaving the mansion. In the interest of avoiding a panic, Pepper Potts sends Thor out to bring him back, resulting in a long-in-coming throwdown.
But even the combined strength of the other Avengers is not really enough to bring down the Hulk. He comes within an inch of killing Wasp before the real Bruce Banner is able to reassert himself and frees Hulk from the sorceress' magic. This forces her to intervene directly and the large, heavily muscled brute who was seen with her in previous episodes takes out Iron Man with one swing of his axe. Thor recognizes the pair immediately: Amora the Enchantress and Skurge the Executioner, both Asgardians. The Enchantress restrains the Thunderer and separates him from his hammer while the Executioner holds his own against Ant-Man and Wasp.
After some convincing by the real Banner, Hulk returns just in time to bail out the other Avengers and Thor demonstrates a novel use of his powers by supercharging Iron Man's damaged armor. After regrouping, the heroes drive off Amora and Skurge, but Hulk still feels that the others treat him like a monster and leaves the team.
Tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Tony is displeased about Fury showing up in his office for a meeting unannounced.Pepper: He's Nick Fury. He wanted a meeting. What was I supposed to do?
[Tony smirks] - Batman Cold Open: The new team capturing Mandrill.
- Big "NO!": Banner, just as Hulk appears ready to finish Wasp, and breaks free of the chains Amora put him, freeing Hulk from her control.
- Bittersweet Ending: The villains are defeated and forced to retreat, but Hulk's trust in the team is shattered, and he departs. While venting about this turn of events, Hulk ends up breaking some ice and exposes a certain red-white-and-blue shield.Iron Man: Okay, so not the most promising day 2.
- Didn't See That Coming: Tony's reaction to Fury expressing support for the Avengers.
- Divide and Conquer: The Enchantress turns Hulk against the team. Once they're sufficiently clobbered and distracted, she and Executioner intend to finish the job.
- Foreshadowing:
- Watch closely just before Thor arrives at the mansion for the first time, and you can see the Enchantress and Executioner walking by on the sidewalk.
- When Banner starts causing Hulk to doubt his new teammates, a green glint suddenly appears in his eyes.
- Unbeknownst to everyone, Black Panther is watching the mansion.
- After Hulk breaks some ice, we see Captain America's shield.
- Good is Not Nice: Nick Fury genuinely believes in the Avengers and offers to make things easy for the team with the government. Tony points out that Fury will also manipulate the team whenever it suits him.Fury: You take the good with the bad.
- And there’s the Hulk of course, which is the source of conflict for this episode. It’s honestly the logical conclusion to a character who’s whole deal is being in a bad mood. He is decidedly not the most polite guy to be around. Everyone else takes it in stride, aside from Thor.
- Headbutting Heroes: Thor and Hulk are immediately at odds, due to their clashing personalities. The Enchantress has little trouble exploiting this.
- Hidden Depths: Hulk is surprisingly punctual.Pepper: Well… thank you for actually being on time. Unlike the others.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Wasp tries to reason with Hulk, saying no one is attacking him. Thor immediately sucker-punches Hulk.Wasp: Well, I guess Thor is.
- Lampshade Hanging:
- Hank points out the simple fact that it takes time for people who barely know each other (if at all) to effectively function as a team.
- Fury notes that super-powered vigilantes with zero oversight forming a team hasn't exactly made the authorities happy.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Mandrill simply surrenders instead of putting up a fight when he realizes he is outnumbered and outmatched by the Avengers.
- More than Mind Control: What the Enchantress does to Hulk. She uses her magic to restrain Banner's personality, then pretends to be him in order to prey on Hulk's insecurities over his new teammates.Amora: Listen to him mock you. He thinks you're a monster. He will turn on you, attack you.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After being freed from the spell, Hulk sees he hit Wasp and looks very regretful.
Fridge Brilliance when taking Bruce's history into consideration. - Mythology Gag: Tony says that Reed Richards has proposed constructing a prison in a new dimension called the Negative Zone.
- Off with His Head!: Amora tells Skurge to behead the mortal Avengers.Amora: The Giant-Man first. His head would look good on my wall.
- Oh, Crap!: Mandrill gets increasingly fearful when another Avenger shows up. He surrenders when he realizes the Hulk is standing behind him.
- Screw the Rules, I Make Them!: When Tony points out that a meeting with Fury wasn't on the schedule, Pepper retorts that the the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted a meeting and thus gets to skip the line.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After the villains are foiled, Hulk still quits the team and leaves the city.
- This Is Gonna Suck:
- Wasp's tone after seeing Hulk and Thor arguing in the control room.
- A downed Iron Man's reaction to Skurge raising his axe.
- Undying Loyalty: Skurge to Amora. He only opens a portal to escape after he swats Iron Man and Thor away from her. He then carries Amora to safety.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: A woman walking her dog walks past the Incredible Hulk… and that’s it. She took one look at him and didn’t even stop her pace.
- Wham Shot: Banner's true personality being in chains and the fake turning into Amora.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: How Banner rouses Hulk into going back to the Avengers.Hulk: I am a monster.
Banner: It's only true if you let it be. Walk away now, and it will be.
