TV Retrospective: The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes season 2 episodes 1-5

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was renewed for a second season, but we’re starting to look into the Disney era of Marvel so let’s throw in as many characters as possible into this.

But with well enough written stories that isn’t necessarily a problem. Christopher Yost is still on the writing team and most of his work in animation is pretty good (Thor: The Dark World, we’ll get to maybe)

We’ve had a few hints of coming stories: the Kree, the Masters of Evil still being out there, the Skrulls, Kang’s warning etc.

So what does season 2 have to offer? let’s take a look

The Private War of Doctor Doom

We now start each episode with a series of clips that bring you up to speed with the necessary intel from previous episodes

We truly begin with Lucia describing the avengers to Doctor Doom, Hawkeye and The Wasp are described as low-level threats. Thor and Ant-man are currently unaccounted for. She recommends delaying the ‘attack’ but Doom overrides them.

And now we get a new opening, same footage but with Nick Fury (who doesn’t appear until episode 7) narrating, it’s not as good. Hawkeye answers the door to Johnny Storm and the Thing, ready for a game of cards with the avengers. The Thing and the Hulk get into a fight

Iron Man and The Wasp pay a visit to the Baxter Building, Iron Man explains Asgard by science to a very busy and oblivious Mr Fantastic whilst Janet offers an alternative explanation to Sue as they head into 42.

The others pay cards with Johnny bragging, Cap being oblivious to their name and the Thing winning, causing the Hulk to attack him again (then the Black Panther might’ve won) after Tony and Reed exchange some Banter, he comments that Sue has been a bit oblivious the last few weeks (foreshadowing)

Doom commences the attack. We see them fighting back at the Baxter building, Tony comments about how Victor really hates him. Back at the mansions we see the robots are able to out manoeuvre even the strongest of them and we get a few bits of exposition about Doctor Doom. Black Panther observes that he has nothing to gain in this attack

Reed wonders the same thing, Doctor Doom has a reason for everything, and must have a reason for this attack. The doom bots stop their attack but begin a detonation sequence, they’ll form a daisy chain to destroy half the city.

Tony discovers that the Wasp and Sue have likely been taken. Reed tells Tony to head off after Sue and Janet whilst he tries to disarm the bombs. Black Panther is working on that at the mansion. Iron Man catches up with the jet but is quickly knocked out. He sees an explosion above New York and heads back.

Mr Fantastic has disarmed the bombs. The Avengers arrive with Johnny and Ben and they discover Doom’s disappearance. The problem is Latveria is a sovereign nation and any incursion could be seen as an act of war. They’d have to try a more stealthy approach.

In Latveria the Wasp wakes up and tries to taunt Doctor Doom but he’s having none of it. I do love this version of Doctor Doom. Janet asks what he wants, Doom says he already has it. Lucia warns doom of an approaching Quinjet and they attack. The avengers in the ship hold off the attack but retreats

Doctor Doom immediately sees that Iron Man has bypasses their scanners and has a team in the building. Doctor Doom just walks away sending Doombots to hold them off, Iron Man calls in the others. Black Panther shuts Lucia down as the they take care of the last of the doom bots

Doctor Doom is ordered to surrender but he’s too badass for that. He has shields, can redirect fire blasts, has electric functions in his suit, telekinesis amongst other. He then decides he’s had enough, releases Janet and Sue and tells them to leave. Iron Man destroys the container he held the two in and they leave. Reed believes that Doom already got what he was after and we see Doom observing that Sue is actually a Skrull.

It’s a fascinating episode, and a great introduction for Doctor Doom, I love how he really has no issue with any of them.

Rating 9/10

Alone against A.I.M.

We start with AIM goons bringing in a new weapon, technovore. The creature escapes and begins consuming them until the scientist supreme knocks him out and contains him again. He plans to bring him to Stark Industries

At Stark Tower we get a stockholders meeting, the board is voicing concerns about revenue streams since Tony Stark doesn’t seem to be doing anything at present with his company. Pepper warns him that the board has genuine concerns seeing as he isn’t really much of a part of the company since Iron Man and even less since the avengers, she also warns that since Stark funds the Avengers they’ll fail if his company fails (but don’t worry, this will never be brought up again)

Tony Stark has other things on his mind however, as he’s designed a new shield for Cap and his having all his Iron Man suits vacated from Stark Tower so it won’t be a target (you know, every villain that has attacked the tower that I know of has done so for the arc reactor, not the Iron Man suits)

AIM arrive on location as Maria Hill arrives wanting Iron Man and the Avengers (yes, we’re going here, again, at least this time Hill isn’t being a complete idiot)

So, we get info from Rhodey that Iron Man has been working on his MK 9 suit since their return from Asgard, and we get a small intro to his own suit the War Machine. He’s not interested in becoming an Avenger (yet) but he wants to help Tony however he can.

Tony Man points out the flaws in registration while Maria defends them. Interesting how Tony is against the registration act in this, he wasn’t in civil war. AIM capture Pepper and release Technovore into the building. It’s been reprogrammed to seek out arc reactor tech and feed off it. Naturally its first target would be Tony’s chest.

Maria tries to call for help but AIM has blocked communications. The AIM Scientist Supreme begins downloading data from the Stark Industries computer whilst more agents blow down the door where all the suits are. Cap and Black Panther take them down and we see Cap holding a gun for the first time. Cap advises that Rhodey suit up.

AIM goons begin placing devices on the controls of the arc reactor as technovore begins his attaqck on Tony. Maria tries to help and we get an origin on technovore. The door is broken down somehow and they come up against AIM. Pepper warns Tony of their plan, and Tony and Maria head to the arc reactor.

Technovore begins absorbing the arc reactor but Maria knocks him off. Cap and Black Panther are knocked back by AIM invention #432 but now War Machine stands in their way and he proves how badass he is.

Technovor notices another arc reactor and heads down, Maria and Tony follow old school. AIM complete the download and begin pulling out with only a few minutes until the arc reactor explodes. Technovore bursts in and attacks Rhodey. The battle moves to the arc reactor with Tony finally in his armour.

Tony has a plan to defeat Technovore, overload the arc reactor so Technovor would consume that instead, the overload destroys the bombs and fattens technovore full to burst, the others are protecting thanks to Tony’s Cap shield.

Before they can celebrate they still have to save Pepper. She threatens Pepper but Pepper knocks the scientist supreme out. Cap has the data from the mainframe they downloaded. (Why am I even more worried now)

It’s another fun episode but these episodes are seemingly all one-shots with little to no hinting of the overall arc. That civil war stuff will never be touched on again

Rating 8/10

Acts of Vengeance

Chemisto’s on the run from the Enchantress and the now gun-toting executioner. She interrogates him and he cracks, giving the location of Arnim Zola. The Enchantress then uses his own gun to turn him gold, I guess he’s dead now?

We cut to Asgard where Heimdall and Thor talk, he seeks news from the Enchantress on Earth. He is suddenly struck by something. The seal is broken. Cap, Black Panther, Hawkeye and the Hulk find the living laser trapped in his laser form. (Erm, dead?)

Iron Man and the Wasp had been turned to gold and he’s apparently still alive. Arnim Zola finds the Enchantress, he’s smart enough to know that he will not survive if he talks so he sends one of his creatures instead. The Enchantress easily escapes this and kills him (I think) with Zemo watching via camera.

Cap’s team arrive back at the mansion as Iron Man and the Wasp find Arnim Zola. Zemo finds himself in the mansion with the abomination and Wonder Man, he says he needs their help. Given their history they attack but Wonder Man manages to calm everyone down (well, except the Hulk)

He says he will give up in exchange for protection from the Enchantress but is displeased to learn that Thor isn’t among them. Thor, along with Baldar and Odin have travelled to Nedavilir, which has been burned to the ground. Odin marches forward in search of Twilight.

Zemo says he’s sent the Crimson Dynamo to delay the Enchantress, but she’ll make him talk. Iron Man explains that whilst Thor is gone, he has found a way to block the Enchantress’ magic. Zemo asks for the word of Captain America, and he gives it (Zemo is totally unaware of him being a Skrull) Hawkeye is suspicious of Zemo, a double-cross is inevitable. Hawkeye and Iron Man head to the moon (with a surprisingly breathable atmosphere) to save the Crimson Dynamo

The Enchantress concludes quickly that Zemo has gone to the Avengers for help. Black Panther and Wonder Man talk, revealing that Tony has found a cure, Black Panther asks what Zemo really plans to do. Chemistro arrives (and if you saw this coming you’re smarter than the Wasp apparently) the Hulk takes on the Executioner.

So yeah, the Enchantress reveals herself but Cap doesn’t activate the dampers and Zemo uses his backup plan, the 8^th and final Norn stone. Thor and co find a giant sword that was once kept in Nedavilir is now gone, they conclude that Surtur has returned.

The Enchantress warns what the Norn stone is capable of, but Zemo doesn’t care. The Executioner falls in and wards off the Hulk but is knocked out by the Norn stone, Iron Man finally arrives and activates the dampening field. Zemo uses this opportunity to order the others to destroy the avengers, Dynamo does so happily but Wonder Man is no longer wanting to be a part of this and faces Zemo.

Cap redirects a rocket fired by dynamo to the field generator, restoring the enchantress’ magic, she retrieves the Norn stone but Wonder Man grabs it and destroys it, sending the Enchantress away (and possibly him as well)

The Enchantress awakens in Muspelheim, and becomes the pawn of Surtur.

It’s an episode setting a lot of great things; it’s a great pity few of them are ever followed up on.

Rating 8/10

Welcome to the Kree Empire

You know how there’s supposed to be a war between the Kree and the Skrulls. This is the only episode which features both factions. In fact after this episode we don’t see the Kree again until after the defeat of the Skrulls. So much for the war

We open on Kang’s former base, Damaclese, the new headquarters of SWORD. Danvers shows a government agent around the station. He asks how many aliens have been captured… Oh boy. We’re introduced to SWORD commander, still trying to gain control of the AI of the ship. And oh the irony, an alien ship arrives just as the Liason asks whether they’ve even seen one

Abegail Brand tries to make contact as the Kree issue a threat as the ship opens fires. Thankfully the damaclese defences are active. Carol is sent with a team of agents to follow a small fighter heading to Earth.

Tony and Iron Man meet with the Hulk who tells them aliens are invading whilst eating a chicken. The SHIELD welcome wagon are down but Carol’s no run of the mill SHIELD agent. Mar-vell is among the landing crew and argue as Ronan the executioner comes to judge the planet. Carol takes down some of the lesser Kree soldiers as SWORD man-droids arrive Carol is capable of absorbing and redirecting their blasts.

Ronan attacks and takes down the mandroids but Carol’s still standing. Unfortunately she’s no match for Ronan at close range and Ronan takes her down. The Kree ship is preparing to launch a further 5000 attack fighters.

Ronan and company arrive in New York to challenge the Avengers. Kree soldiers teleport aboard the sword base, taking out several agents as they retreat. Iron Man and co arrive to greet Ronan. Mar-vell tries to insist they surrender but Cap instigates an attack, Miss Marvel (now Captain Marvel in the comics) attacks Mar-vell.

Brand watches as they have a slave attempt to take control of the ship so they can control their weapons. Brand warns Miss Marvel to make sure he doesn’t transmit a signal, he then transmits that signal.

Brand pretends to surrender on behalf of Earth but she has a few tricks of her own. She frees the slave in exchange for her working for him (so basically a slave again, great) with communications to the Kree ship shut down a sword strike team take the Kree ship.  Back on Earth Miss Marvel takes down Ronan

With Ronan locked up in 42, Miss Marvel is offered a spot on the Avengers. Mar-Vell warns that now the Kree knows they’re a threat, they’ll be coming in force the next time.

Cap speaks to his commander and warns that they need to step their timetable because the Kree are coming.

You see, I think Ronan is better developed in this 20 minutes than he is in the entire Guardians of the Galaxy movie, not that I don’t think GoTG is great but…

Rating 9/10

To Steal an Ant-Man

It’s only been 1 episode, time to introduce more new characters.

We open in a bank vault where a lot of money is shrunk by a guy wearing an ant-man costume.

Hank returns to Avengers mansion to a very excited Jan but he’s just here to clear out the rest of the stuff in his lab. The Wasp suggests that he help in other ways and stop the violence (which is actually a great idea) Hank sees the robbery on the TV screen and is stunned, he walks away and shuts the door.

Hank goes to his lab at the ESU and finds his Ant-Man suit gone. He contacts Jan but she’s too stubborn to hear what he’s got to say, fortunately there’s another way for him to do so. After a long explanation of the Ant-man powers (honestly a tad unnecessary) but we see who he’s talking to. Luke Cage and Iron Fist, the Heroes for Hire (I bet you were watching this Avengers episode for the Avengers… too bad, here are some other heroes)

 Ant-man tries another bank robbery, since the money he stole last time shrunk out of existence. He’s confronted by a guard dog but gets away on a flying Ant. Iron Fist wonders why Hank would come to them rather than the Avengers, they theorise it’d be embarrassing for him. They reveal that the bank is actually a front for HYDRA.

Hank begins working on some inventions and we see a wasp behind him as he has a bit of a breakdown. Power Man and Iron Fist face against ‘guy with M on his chest’ and ‘guy with ball and scythe’ they don’t have a chance. They were on a look out for more super heroes, suggesting that Ant-Man had previously been about.

By focusing his Chi, Iron Fist spots the shrunken money from his second Robbery attempt but Ant-man shows up for it. He manages to evade Iron Fists attack until power man forces him to grow, he shrinks down again and flies away with the money.

Hank calls and says he has a way of tracking the thief. In a room at a pretty run-down looking hotel. Hank recognises the thief, Scott Lang. He explains that he was a thief who cracked vaults in order to help create a cure for his daughter. He got caught and served his time but then a partner of his, Cross, thinking that he’d hidden the money, demanded his cut. Without the time to pull off the heist he stole the suit to do it for him.

He shrinks down and gets away out the window. Cross is another villain voiced by Mark Hamill. Scott arrives in his full Ant-man gear (that’s stupid, you’re stupid) demanding that Cross let his daughter go. Cross decides to change the deal but their interrupted by the heroes for hire.

Hank fires a pym disk at the daughter, shrinking her down whilst Power Man and Iron Fist take on the pathetic lackeys Cross has including guy with gun, guy with metal jaw, guy with spears and fat guy. Scott attacks Cross with ants, and knocks him unconscious. Pym says he’ll arrange it so that it seems that Ant-man was on an undercover mission for the Avengers. Handing the mantle of Ant-Man to him. Iron Fist offers Ant-Man a spot on the heroes for Hire.

It’s a nice episode to introduce the Heroes for Hire, it does lack the Avengers minus Ant-man and a brief cameo of the wasp, but since they do come back later (minus Ant-man for some reason) I’ll overlook that fact.

Rating 8/10

Next time: Guardians of the Galaxy, division, demons, a red hulk and more from the skrulls, see you next week. 

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Images used in this review are from The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use