All-New, Rebranded Avengers #37 – ‘I’d Rather Be Dead Than Have It Be True’

The Mayor of New York City, Mayor Gruenwald (named for late Marvel Comics writer/editor Mark Gruenwald), Domino, an NYPD officer, and War Machine are all on a video conference call. The title of the comic strip, “All-New, Rebranded Avengers Presents… ‘I’d Rather Be Dead Than Have It Be True’,” is visible at the bottom of the image.

The Avengers promise to file a formal protest of the government’s actions, wherever such a protest can be filed. The Mayor and the police officer are not intimidated.

Domino and the Mayor argue over their interpretations of the law.

The police officer tries to bait Domino and War Machine into arguing with her.

Prince T’Challa of Wakanda joins the video call, and the Mayor makes fun of him to his face.

The Mayor and the police officer gang up on making fun of T’Challa.

The Mayor threatens to bring the military back in, if the Avengers don’t behave.

The Mayor’s military advisor, Major Steinberg (named for comics publisher/Marvel staffer “Fabulous Flo” Steinberg) once again, threatens to draw War Machine back into active duty.

T’Challa offers to give War Machine sanctuary in Wakanda, if it ever comes to that.

The credits for the comic strip, citing the Unsplash users whose photographs were the background art, the ownership of Marvel by Disney, the creation of Marvel characters by actual human beings, and the figure photography/script/lettering by me, Phil Wrede.

I imagine it would be quite the trying thing, being the Mayor of New York City, and having all these incredibly powerful people, over whom you have no material authority, trying to stop crimes, and battling each other in the street regularly. When all you can really do is try to pick up the pieces after the dust has settled, I imagine it’s tempting to blow off steam and make a bunch of threats that you might not actually be able to back up.

I’m not officially coming down on the side of the Mayor, here, or the side of hereditary monarchy. But, if you as the creator can see where all your characters are coming from, it should help you to create more compelling drama. Right? Hopefully?

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