The Avengers (Marvel;Re)/Issue 4 (GazzaB9)

The fourth issue of Ant-Man's Avengers team in Marvel;Re and the fourth part of the "Stellify" arc.

Synopsis
The Avengers get to work uncovering the mysteries of the girl they have dubbed Stella. However, it could be quite hard for Hank, who is stuck fighting in a Kree colosseum.

Plot
We open on a Centaurian battling against a spider alien. The spider alien beheads the Centaurian and some blood splatters in front of Hank and his team. Hank takes a step back from the blood puddle and turns to his guard, Tel-Kar. The door behind the heroes opens up and Mar-Adon walks in. He calmly walks up to Tel-Kar and hands him a piece of paper. Tel-Kar reads it while Mar-Adon menacingly stares at Ant-Man. They all go quiet. Ant-Man looks at Mar-Adon, who continues to stare at him. Meanwhile, Wasp and her team sit completely quiet in a dark room with Kl'rt, the Super-Skrull. Kl'rt looks at some papers, placing them on the table in front of him when he's done. We cut back to Hank's team. Hank quickly dodges out of the way of a punch so hard that it sends a shockwave behind him. The man throwing the punch is revealed to be Qnax, the Amphibion. She-Hulk punches Qnax away from Ant-Man and Vision begins attacking him. Ant-Man is about to argue with her but quickly closes his mouth. He then smiles. Vision continues his fight against Qnax, with Qnax not being able to hit Vision due to being unable to fly. Qnax grits his teeth. Qnax turns to face Hank. Hank smiles. The Kree in the stadium stare in awe and slowly look up as Hank grows in size, towering over the arena. Wane-Van also gazes up at Hank from her balcony, alongside Mar-Adon. Mar-Adon blankly stares at Hank. Meanwhile, the now gigantic Hank slowly raises his hand to his face, staring menacingly at Qnax in the palm of his hand. Giant-Man winds back and tosses Qnax into the ground, a large explosion of dust erupting around Qnax as he hits the floor. Qnax wipes some blood from his mouth. Giant-Man raises his foot and brings it down on Qnax. He moves his foot, revealing Qnax is unconscious below him. Hank shrinks back down. Ant-Man walks up to the carvings around the arena, which depict Adam Kadmon with stars in his eyes. Vision's own eyes flash. Hank examines the picture for a second. Something starts clicking in his brain but his thought process is interrupted by a loud crash from behind him. He turns and sees that Mar-Adon has leapt into the arena. Mar-Adon runs towards Ant-Man but is punched in the gut by She-Hulk. Mar-Adon looks up at her. Mar-Adon points at Hank. Mar-Adon slowly gets back up and She-Hulk gets into a boxing stance. Mar-Adon raises his axe and gets ready for combat but completely stops and starts looking around the arena. The Avengers start staring in shock at something, as do Tel-Kar and Queen Wane-Van. A zoom-out reveals that every single Kree in the audience has been cut out of existence just like Wane-Van's son and Egghead. Wane-Van grits her teeth at the sight of this. Tel-Kar sneaks up behind Vision and uses the Sleeper Klyntar to form a blade which he puts at Vision's throat. Tel-Kar draws the blade closer. Vision becomes intangible and slips out of Tel-Kar's grasp. He then floats behind him and raises his arm, ready to attack. Vision stops and looks at the queen. Wane-Van raises her hand and Tel-Kar stops talking. She then rests her head on her hand in thought. Vision nods his head at her. He then flies into the air and scans the entire colosseum. He then floats back down. Everyone's eyes widen in terror at the mention of Galactus' name. Wane-Van stands up. Mar-Adon suddenly tries to take a shot at Ant-Man. However, he is stopped by Tel-Kar, who grabs his axe. Mar-Adon just continues to bring the axe down, now clearly trying to cut Tel-Kar in half along with Ant-Man. Mar-Adon brings his axe back up and appears to calm down. Tel-Kar smiles at this and is instantly shoved out of the way by Mar-Adon, who starts marching towards Hank. Hank is initially scared but quickly summons his determination and gets ready to fight. However, an explosion then suddenly goes off and everyone stops to look, as a massive white beam of energy erupts from the ground. All over Hala, white beams explode from the ground and begin taking over the whole planet, wiping countless lives out of existence. All the while, the Avengers are unable to do anything but watch. Tel-Kar pushes some buttons on a gauntlet on his arm and his ship appears hovering above them in supersonic speeds. An explosion erupts begin Wane-Van and some of her body is caught up in it. She screams in pain as it does. Tel-Kar's symbiote arms stretch and grab Wane-Van, pulling her close to him. He holds her in his arms and stares into her eyes, which are milky white. He shakes her slightly and she doesn't react at all. Tel-Kar gently places her on the ground and gets up. Ant-Man points at Mar-Adon. Mar-Adon simply walks over to Wane-Van and holds her in his arms. Tel-Kar places his hand on Mar-Adon's shoulder and he simply glares at Tel-Kar. Another explosion goes off. The Avengers and Tel-Kar get in his ship and fly off. While in space, they all look out of the ship's window and watch as the last explosion goes off and the entirety of Hala turns solid white. A single tear runs down Tel-Kar's cheek but he manages to swallow his emotions. Meanwhile, on what's left of Hala, Mar-Adon walks out of the last explosion, parts of his body half-erased and his healing factor trying desperately to regenerate him. Mar-Adon then watches as Tel-Kar's ship takes off and he proceeds to leap out of Hala's atmosphere and charges after the ship. We then pick back up with Wasp's team, who are all going through a massive library while Super-Skrull watches them. Hercules stares at Wasp for a while, very confused, while she reaches to the very back of the library's shelf. He pulls out a book and opens it, running her finger below the text. Wasp continues reading the book. Wasp's eyes widen in shock. Wasp floats down and shows the other Avengers the book. All of them stare at it for a second before something clicks in their heads and they all stare just as shocked as Wasp. A Skrull soldier walks into the room. The soldier says something in Skrullian. Meanwhile, outside of the Skrull palace, the Kree battleship opens up and Hank Pym and his group along with Tel-Kar do indeed step out of the ship. Wasp's ground meet up with Ant-Man's and Wasp runs over and hugs Hank. The Avengers all look awkwardly at this extended hug while Hank just stands completely still, not hugging back and unsure of what to do. Wasp then suddenly realizes what she's doing and pulls away from him. Hank looks at Janet for a good while. Ant-Man gestures towards Tel-Kar. Tel-Kar nods. Wasp nods at Stella. A moment of silence falls on everyone in the area. Hank leans down and pats Stella's head.
 * Ant-Man: Why the hell do they even have this place?
 * Tel-Kar: Have you ever wondered why most Kree aren't the violent type?
 * She-Hulk: Well, actually, we've met several violent Kree.
 * Tel-Kar: It's all thanks to this colosseum.
 * She-Hulk: Are you ignoring me?
 * Tel-Kar: There's no better way of getting your anger out than watching one man beat the life out of another. That's why this colosseum exists.
 * Tel-Kar: Hm. It appears that Mar-Adon has requested to fight you all a bit later down the line. Interesting. I suppose that means you'll have a fight or two before him.
 * Ant-Man: Why?
 * Tel-Kar: According to his letter, he'd like to see you all squirm before he battled you.
 * Super-Skrull: So. Apparently, your leader and a few of your members allowed themselves to be taken by the Kree, saving many of my forces from a suicide mission against an army of 800.
 * Wasp: Y... yes.
 * Super-Skrull: Hm... unfortunate. I was looking forward to my rematch with Hercules. Oh well. Perhaps another time.
 * Hercules: Truth be told, I'm a little relieved. You look a lot stronger than the last time I met you and I'm not sure I could take you without my Golden Mace.
 * Super-Skrull: You couldn't.
 * Hercules: O-oh... Well, okay.
 * Super-Skrull: Now, what do you need from me?
 * Wasp: We're having trouble with our current mission.
 * Stella: We're trying to figure out who I am but it's getting more confusing. When we were on the moon your men picked us up from, I froze when I saw the picture of Adam Kadmon on it. You haven't said anything to me, so I'm assuming you don't know who I am, but can you at least explain to me who Adam Kadmon is so that I can get an idea of why he shocked me so much?
 * Super-Skrull: Adam Kadmon? Who's that?
 * Moon Knight: In a couple of prints of the bible, they say that the first human before Adam was called Adam Kadmon.
 * Super-Skrull: Oh, you're talking about the Skrull Before Skrulls!
 * Spider-Woman: Skrull Before Skrulls? Kinda basic name, don't you think?
 * Stella: Oh great, more questions...
 * Super-Skrull: Oh no, don't worry, I'm more than willing to answer any questions.
 * Stella: Then what the hell is the Skrull Before Skrulls!?
 * Super-Skrull: He's the first being ever born in the universe. Before the Skrulls and Kree even had gods, their early ancestors worshipped a being so massive that it could be seen from both the original Skrull home of Skrullos and the Kree home Hala. Although it was so many years ago that nobody remembers what his name was. So that thing you saw with his name must've been ancient. I wonder how the ancient Kree managed to get to the moon... curious. Though it's quite ironic, isn't it? That the first god of the Kree was a Skrull? haha!
 * Wasp: How do you know he was a Skrull if it was that long ago?
 * Super-Skrull: Well... why wouldn't he be?
 * Stella: Just Skrulls and Kree? But I saw humans also bowing to him...
 * Super-Skrull: ...Huh. Perhaps the Skrull Before Skrulls visited humanity as well? Though that doesn't explain why the Kree would know about that... I'm sorry, it appears that closing one mystery has opened another.
 * Stella: No, it's fine. You've actually... rung a bell for me.
 * Wasp: Really? What is it?
 * Stella: I think I know Adam Kadmon.
 * Qnax: You continuously evade my attacks like a coward!? How can you possibly stand up against your future match against Mar-Adon if you refuse to even take a punch from me!? Show me your power, boy! Fight as if you intend to kill me!
 * Ant-Man: This is the first match!?
 * Qnax: I came here to test my strength against the galaxy's most powerful warriors, and yet they do nothing but run away!?
 * She-Hulk: What the hell, Hank!? You weren't even trying to fight him!
 * Ant-Man: Well, I don't have my suit right now so I can't take even a single punch from him without dying. Plus I'm not allowed to use my powers, so I'm kind of out of options here!
 * She-Hulk: No, he said you aren't allowed to shrink.
 * Qnax: You fly in the air sending blows from your eyes rather than with your fists like a real man, automation!? How cowardly!
 * Vision: I'm safe from up here. I'd rather not risk my well-being if there's a more logical way of combat.
 * Ant-Man: HEY!!
 * Qnax: Finally ready to face me, cowardly Ant-Man?
 * Ant-Man: Heard of me, huh?
 * Qnax: I'm a rival of your comrade The Hulk. He's mentioned you a few times.
 * Ant-Man: Has he also mentioned that I'm not just Ant-Man?
 * Qnax: Excuse me?
 * Queen Wane-Van: So... he grows. Interesting. It's going to be a very interesting fight when the two of you battle.
 * Giant-Man: Hey...
 * Qnax: My God... incredible...
 * Giant-Man: In my current form, I'm positive that my level of strength dwarfs your own. Let's test that theory. You're pretty hard to kill anyway, right...?
 * Queen Wane-Van: Hm... the man who was once the strongest in the universe fell to a warrior of Earth. Impressive.
 * Queen Wane-Van: What is your request?
 * Ant-Man: Huh?
 * Queen Wan-Van: Every time a combatant wins a battle in the Kree colosseum, they are allowed to request anything of me. Within reason.
 * Ant-Man: So I can't request you just let me go?
 * Queen Wane-Van: Absolutely not.
 * Ant-Man: Thought not...
 * Vision: I'd suggest you ask her for information on Stella.
 * She-Hulk: Nah, if she knew anything she woulda recognized her when you showed up with her.
 * Ant-Man: Hm... Okay, I have my request.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Speak.
 * Ant-Man: Who is Adam Kadmon?
 * Queen Wane-Van: Who?
 * Ant-Man: I saw a tapestry on that moon. It showed Kree, Skrull, and humans worshipping Adam Kadmon.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Hm... the closest thing I can think of is T'nobak. Roughly translated into Human tongue, it means "first-ever entity". He was a Kree worshipped by Kree and Skrull alike, ironically. I assume Adam Kadmon is what the original Kree and Skrulls called him. Nowadays, none of us worship him and we really only use him in art. Such as the carvings around the colosseum.
 * She-Hulk: These pictures are Adam Kadmon?
 * Vision: Nothing in my databank matches. Although, as a personal aside, the picture is familiar. Perhaps I've seen a picture of him or something similar to him before and didn't add it to my databank?
 * She-Hulk: Yeah, he does look kinda familiar now that you mention it.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Oh, it appears my warrior has had his fill of watching you three fight. Usually, we clear the body before the next match but very well. Proceed.
 * She-Hulk: Come on, pick on somebody your own size!
 * She-Hulk: Yeah, yeah, you wanna fight my friend. I just don't care. Honestly, I barely know you and I'm already sick of you.
 * She-Hulk: What? What is it?
 * Ant-Man: Oh my God...
 * Queen Wane-Van: Those goddamn Skrulls! I let them live and this is how they repay me!?
 * Vision: Impossible.
 * Queen Wane-Van: What did you just say to me, android!?
 * Vision: The theory you have that the Skrulls are responsible for this is absolutely and completely impossible.
 * Tel-Kar: Speak to the Queen like that again and you lose your head, android.
 * Vision: Very well. I won't say it to her again. Instead, I'll say it to you. Her theory is incorrect.
 * Tel-Kar: Your highness, do I have permission to dispose of the android?
 * Vision: I am The Vision. If you continue to refer to me as "android" then I may start to get upset.
 * Tel-Kar: Android, you are--
 * Queen Wane-Van: Stop.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Tell me why I'm incorrect, Sir Vision. I would prefer it if you made it fast.
 * Vision: I have been secretly scanning all of Ant-Man's Avengers ID cards.
 * She-Hulk: You can still scan those ID cards from another planet?
 * Vision: Of course. I'm not an outdated phone that is unable to call someone from too far away. I'm quite possibly the most advanced form of Earth technology. Now, as I was saying, I was scanning the Avengers ID cards and the information I got from them highly suggests that our other friends are on the Skrull planet Tarnax IV. If your people suddenly being wiped out was truly because of the Skrulls, wouldn't the Avengers have found out by now and stopped them?
 * Queen Wane-Van: They could've just not found out yet.
 * Vision: Unlikely. Spider-Woman has worked as a private investigator and Moon Knight's dissociative identity disorder has caused him to develop a split personality that believes himself to be a detective. With them there, they would most likely find out very fast.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Maybe they're prisoners.
 * Vision: Hercules is immensely powerful and has served as God of Strength. He wouldn't allow his comrades to be taken as prisoners.
 * Queen Wane-Van: How do you know that for a fact?
 * Vision: I don't. But do you really believe that I'm incorrect? Because, in all honesty, I think you're just blaming the Skrulls because you'd like an excuse to fight them.
 * Tel-Kar: What did you just say, andr--
 * Queen Wane-Van: Artificial intelligence doesn't have a habit of swaying us in the wrong way. I even turn to an A.I. in the Kree's time of need. Due to this, I will listen to your words. You may scan the erased bodies of my people and tell me what you find.
 * Queen Wane-Van: So?
 * Vision: They aren't dead.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Excuse me?
 * Vision: In fact, they apparently don't exist. My scanners couldn't pick them up at all. However, it did manage to pick up odd energy emitting from their silhouettes. In fact, I've actually scanned something similar to this energy before.
 * Ant-Man: Are we familiar with the energy?
 * Vision: I imagine so. The energy reading is similar to that of Galactus.
 * Queen Wane-Van: This is... due to Galactus?
 * Vision: No. I scanned Galactus during one of the Avengers' few meetings with him. Galactus is constantly emitting and is made-up of and energy that I believe he refers to as "the Power Cosmic". None of these erased Kree are emitting Power Cosmic, so it's highly unlikely Galactus himself is behind this but the energy emitting from them is similar enough to him that it's the best comparison I can make.
 * She-Hulk: Maybe it's one of his guys that did this?
 * Vision: If you're referring to his Heralds, I also doubt it. Heralds emit Power Cosmic just as their master does and, once again, I didn't pick up any Power Cosmic in the area.
 * Ant-Man: You said the energy's similar to Galactus. How so?
 * Vision: It's also similar to The Watcher, The Grandmaster, Ego, the Living Planet, and the Celestials, all of whom are referred to as "Cosmic Entities". So I think it's safe to assume the being who did this is a Cosmic Entity as well.
 * Ant-Man: A Cosmic Entity...
 * Queen Wane-Van: Dear God...
 * Queen Wane-Van: Avengers... I am more than willing to let you all free. But...
 * Ant-Man: There's always a but...
 * She-Hulk: The story couldn't go forward if there wasn't.
 * Queen Wane-Van: You have to save my people. I will let you go and I will never bother The Avengers again as long as my people are rescued from his cosmic threat...
 * Ant-Man: We're the Avengers. We would've saved your people even if you didn't ask.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Thank you. I wouldn't want to risk the lives of my soldiers.
 * She-Hulk: Okay, so as it turns out she's only sending us cause she thinks we're expendable...
 * Ant-Man: Well, it's better than nothing.
 * Tel-Kar: What is going on with you!?
 * Ant-Man: I beat you once and you're acting like you're my archenemy!
 * Tel-Kar: He was raised to be the Super-Kree. The ultimate soldier. One loss is too many for him...
 * Queen Wane-Van: Mar-Adon! Cease now!
 * She-Hulk: You know, I gotta admit... this isn't our day.
 * Queen Wane-Van: Sir Tel-Kar! Summon your ship and launch us all off of the planet!
 * Tel-Kar: Yes, your highness!
 * Queen Wane-Van: Good! Now--
 * Tel-Kar: Your highness!
 * Tel-Kar: Let's go.
 * She-Hulk: You're on our side now?
 * Tel-Kar: I am the side of the Kree. And I will travel with you in the name of the Kree...
 * Ant-Man: What about him?
 * Tel-Kar: I think he'd rather die with her.
 * Vision: A monster like him would rather die alongside his people.
 * Ant-Man: If he wasn't an enemy, he'd make a good Avenger.
 * Tel-Kar: Let's go! Run!
 * Ant-Man: I know it's not the best time to bring this up but thank God I didn't have to fight him.
 * She-Hulk: Yeah, he would've killed you.
 * Stella: Find anything yet?
 * Wasp: Nope. Nothing about Adam Kadmon. Nothing under his "Skrull Before Skrulls" name either. I thought I found something but it was actually a book about Adam Warlock. Which is... kinda weird, now that I think about it... I mean, why would they have that?
 * Hercules: Hey, I just realized something. I can read all of these books because of my Allspeak but how can you read it?
 * Wasp: The Avengers have so many encounters with aliens that Hank and I just decided to learn a few alien languages.
 * Hercules: Like what?
 * Wasp: Oh, not a lot. We really only know Kree, Skrullian, Shi'ar, and Badoon.
 * Hercules: You... do realize that most of those are considered unlearnable by the rest of the universe, right...?
 * Wasp: Really? Huh.
 * Spider-Woman: Do you use your finger to not lose your place when you're reading?
 * Wasp: Mhmm.
 * Spider-Woman: That's adorable!
 * Wasp: Shut it.
 * Moon Knight: I don't understand why Spider-Woman and I are here. We can't read Skrullian.
 * Wasp: Honestly, I don't fully trust Super-Skrull. I don't want it to be just us if it turns out he's got a plan to kill us.
 * Spider-Woman: Well, that seems a little--
 * Super-Skrull: I am in a constant state of mildly pissed. If you fear me, I don't blame you.
 * Spider-Woman: Oh thank God, cause I've been on the verge of pissing myself ever since I saw you. I, uh... I've had a problem with Skrulls ever since the secret invasion. Your queen kind of stole my identity and--
 * Super-Skrull: No, no need to justify yourself, I understand.
 * Wasp: Oh, I found some stuff about the Skrull Before Skrulls in here! It's mostly the stuff that Super-Skrull told us though. Although, apparently, there's a debate on whether Adam Kadmon was a Skrull or a Kree.
 * Super-Skrull: Him being a Kree is nothing more than Kree propaganda!
 * Wasp: According to this, one of the first wars between the Kree and Skrulls was about whether the god they worshipped was of the Skrulls or Kree. Good God, that's terrible!
 * Spider-Woman: I'm not a particularly religious woman, but don't most people follow a god because they agree with the philosophies of the god? And race, or... species? either way, it doesn't determine philosophy. So would it really matter if Adam Kadmon was a Kree, Skrull, or something else altogether?
 * Super-Skrull: Yes.
 * Spider-Woman: Oh, okay then...
 * Stella: Have you found anything else in that book about Kadmon, Miss van Dyne?
 * Wasp: Let's see... Oh hey, this page has a two-page spread of a drawing of him! He's--
 * Wasp: ...Guys? I think you need to see this.
 * Stella: No way... that's not possible...
 * Hercules: I don't get it.
 * Spider-Woman: We need to show Hank this. He needs to know!
 * Hercules: What's happening?
 * Moon Knight: This is quite possibly the biggest breakthrough we could've ever had!
 * Hercules: Are you guys being intentionally vague? It feels like you're being intentionally vague.
 * Wasp: Super-Skrull! Can you take us to Hala to rescue our friend?
 * Super-Skrull: I--
 * Spider-Woman: What'd he say?
 * Super-Skrull: He says that a Kree battleship has landed on Tarnax IV.
 * Wasp: That's probably Hank.
 * Super-Skrull: Didn't you say he was a prisoner?
 * Wasp: He probably escaped and flew here.
 * Super-Skrull: You don't know that for sure.
 * Wasp: If it was an attack, they'd probably send a few more battleships. Plus, Hank's the type to escape stuff easily. Things just kind of... work out for him.
 * Hercules: Things just sort of work out for all of us.
 * Wasp: Hank!
 * Wasp: ...I hate you.
 * Ant-Man: You sure do.
 * Stella: Did you find any new information while you were trapped with the Kree? And how did you escape?
 * Ant-Man: That's what I came here to talk about. I couldn't find any clues on who Stella is but I managed to find out that something even bigger is going on. All of Hala is gone.
 * Stella: What do you mean?
 * Ant-Man: The planet Hala. It was erased out of existence. The only people who survived was us and Tel-Kar.
 * Spider-Woman: Tel-Kar?
 * Ant-Man: Currently one of the last remaining Kree.
 * Ant-Man: Vision scanned the people who were erased and found out that whoever is doing this is a major Cosmic Entity. And on the way here I started thinking, what if this thing is the reason Stella doesn't remember anything? That would explain a lot, right?
 * Wasp: Those poor people on Hala... all of them gone...
 * Ant-Man: What happened here?
 * Wasp: R-right, sorry. It might be a bit hard for me to focus but I'll try. Your plan went off flawlessly. The Skrulls repaid us for helping them by taking us to their home planet. After a description of this guy called "Adam Kadmon", you apparently know about him, Stella managed to unlock some memories and realized she might know who Kadmon is. Not just that, but we managed to find out a lot more after looking through countless books. In fact, we finally put an end to this mystery.
 * Ant-Man: What is it?
 * Stella: I am Adam Kadmon.
 * Ant-Man: W... what...? How is that possible...? You're a girl and "Adam" is a boy's name. Plus why would Adam Kadmon want to represent himself as a child?
 * Stella: I... I don't know. All I know is that I am Adam Kadmon. I saw a picture of him. His skin had stars in it and he was depicted with the universe itself in the palm of his hand. I doubt a being such as myself would have a father, which means the only logical conclusion is that I am Adam Kadmon. I don't know what I am just yet but I at least now know who I am. Now all I need to do is find out what did this to me...
 * Ant-Man: Don't worry. I promised that I'd help you. And an Avenger never breaks their promise.
 * Stella: As childish as it is to say, I almost missed the feeling of you "there there-ing" me. But how do you plan on finding out?
 * Ant-Man: It's not gonna be easy. If my theory's right and this thing that's erasing people is the one that made you like this then we're going to have to find it. And, according to Vision's scans, the thing is roughly around the power of Galactus, who himself is a Cosmic Entity.
 * Wasp: There's no way you're about to say what I think you're about to say...
 * Ant-Man: Sorry but I am. If this thing's a Cosmic Entity that powerful then other Cosmic Entities probably know a lot about it. And the only Cosmic Entity who's somewhat easy to contact is the World-Eater himself...
 * She-Hulk: No way...
 * Vision: Ant-Man, you can't possibly be suggesting--
 * Ant-Man: But I am. We have to find Galactus...