New Avengers (ES) Vol 1 20

In 1776, the Avengers fly from the American west towards Egypt, but first make a stopover in Philedelphia to get Hawkeye some medical attention following his injuries in the previous issue. Since it's July of that year, they just barely miss Doctor Strange and Clea hanging out with Benjamin Franklin. They continue on across the Atlantic Ocean and over Europe until they reach the Sphinx in Egypt. They clash briefly with Ottoman soldiers that are amassed there for some reason while Wonder Man sets up the Time Platform, and soon enough they jump back to 2920 BC and are immediately attacked by the Egyptian soldiers there preparing for the Pharaoh's burial rites. The latest skirmish is ended when the Pharaoh's High Priest, Shamaz, recognizes the Avengers as time travelers and is able to talk to them in English. Shamaz explains that the Pharaoh will be entering suspended animation the next day and that he destroyed his own time machine 17 years earlier. He reluctantly lets them into the pyramid to talk to the Pharaoh, but as Rama-Tut is preparing his mind for suspended animation by entering a trance, he isn't very coherent or helpful. He only mutters that they might find more help during his first reign. Hawkeye is growing increasingly frustrated negotiating their way through in spite of his injuries and starts to collapse from fever. His teammates assure him that they can get through on his behalf and that he should rest. Clint relents and assigns Iron Man as interim chairman just before falling unconscious, which irks Wonder Man who has been competing with Tony for status. They activate the Time Platform once more to jump back to 2940 BC, when they are immediately shot by the then-nefarious Rama-Tut.

In August of 1776, a month after parting ways with the Avengers, Carlotta Valdez is traveling across California with her mission when her coach is attacked by Indians. She joins the battle but gets shot in the back by an unseen assailant. Before she dies, she makes the priest who had been traveling with her and her chaperone promise to guard the message she took from Hawkeye.

In 1876, Phantom Rider takes Mockingbird back to Lincoln Slade's hometown of Lordsburg to start a new life with her. As she changes into her new local dress, she decides to wear the old arrowhead she found as a necklace, a choice that Slade doesn't know hat to make of since he recognizes the head as something Hawkeye would use. While they settle in, Rawhide Kid and Two-Gun Kid are still on their trail.

And in the present day, Espirita continues to help Hank rekindle his passion for science by having him go over his expertise in robotics, a subject that Hank isn't as eager to get back into. As they head to the lab, they again just barely miss Hawkeye's message peeking out of the pages of Bonita's bible.

A medical team arrives at the Defenders’ headquarters to take care of the frozen Angel and Valkyrie, who were poisoned by Manslaughter. Meanwhile, in nearby Elijah, New Mexico, Sheriff Garvin Macken stops at Tex’s Tavern, where some of the locals are discussing their disdain for immigrants as well as the stories that Warren Worthington is harboring mutants at his Aerie. One of the men shows off his own “super power” — being invulnerable to fire — which is why he’s called “Blowtorch Brand.”

The Defenders bring Manslaughter into town to turn him over to the Sheriff, who asks if they are empowered to make an arrest or if they read Manslaughter his rights. Suddenly, Tex comes running to tell the Sheriff that Brand is trying to burn down his tavern. Moondragon and Cloud confront Brand, who has set both the tavern and himself ablaze, and Cloud smothers his flames with her cloud-form. The Sheriff takes Brand into custody and receives a phone call from General Argyle Fist to hold onto Manslaughter until his men can come from Washington to pick him up.

Back at headquarters, Angel discusses the future of the New Defenders with the Beast, pointing out that the group has no security system, medical facility, or legal status. Angel proposes that the team needs a real leader who can take care of these things. Back in town, Brand is bailed out of jail by a wealthy factory owner, who employs Mexicans illegally to make bootleg designer jeans. There is a rumor that Immigration and the FIC are going to investigate the factory, so the owner hires Brand to burn it down.

The sheriff calls for the Defenders when the factory workers are trapped inside during the fire. Entering the building, the Defenders find that Brand is holding the workers prisoner while the factory burns down. Cloud tries to smother him again, but Brand uses an actual blow torch against her, which causes her pain. Angel flies her to safety, while Valkyrie disarms Brand. Meanwhile, Iceman creates an ice slide for the workers to escape.

When Sheriff Macken learns that there are two more workers trapped inside, he rushes into the building to rescue them. Angel tries to stop Macken, but Valkyrie holds him back, saying all is as it should be. The sheriff emerges from the fire with the two workers, but he has inhaled too much smoke and is near death. Valkyrie wraps him up in her cape and vanishes with him. When she returns, the other Defenders are surprised, but she reminds them that a Valkyrie’s job is to escort the souls of worthy mortals to Valhalla.