In the first issue of this new series, there was a Wolverine back-up that took place in the 1950s. In this, their first multi-issue story, we get a narrative that jumps between the ’50s and the present.
In the days of Dark Reign, the team is working against Norman Osborn–but he doesn’t know it. They lure Osborn to a munitions plant located on a tanker in the middle of the ocean, so that Norman sees that Atlas Foundation is making weapons for him. But the real reason for the visit was so that Uranian (modern name for Marvel Boy) could read his mind and figure out what he’s really up to.
Captain America (Bucky), however, believes that the Agents of Atlas really are working for Osborn, and attacks them. The team are able to escape Captain America without letting him know that they are double agents seeking to betray Osborn.
A strong storyline that is pretty different from all the other Dark Reign stories at the time. Still, what really captures the imagination are the characters themselves–like the moment when Namora shares with Venus a tribute to her daughter, the deceased Namorita.
Meanwhile, we see the final version of the 1950s version of the team, which (kinda) relates to the modern day story. There’s also an implication that the government was behind suspending Captain America in animation–but I’m not sure I read that right. Anyway, the ’50s tale is an effective way to build backstory for a bunch of character most 2009-era readers would probably never have read about.
They get shut down by no less than Herbert Hoover himself!
Worth noting: The subplot where the son of Mandarin becomes the leader of the AoA team. Jimmy Woo has to let Temugin be the front-facing star of his team in order to maintain their cover as double agents.
It ends with Bucky Cap assembling his underground New Avengers team to go after the Agents of Atlas, still convinced that they are in league with Osborn.
Overall, a solid adventure.