This is a “downtime” issue emphasizing Osborn’s mastery of “spin.”
The last story ended with Sentry glaring at Norman Osborn, looking like there was going to be a showdown. This issue, though, Osborn simply talks him down. Also in the last issue, Clint Barton exposed to the media that Osborn’s Avengers team was a bunch of re-dressed criminals. In this issue, Osborn talks his way out of that one, too, by expressing with compassion that Barton also has a criminal past and just needs the same kind of help Osborn is offering to his new team.
Also in this issue, we seen that Victoria Hand is the “Big Nurse” of the Dark Avengers outfit, medicating all the various members (who can’t get along with each other unless they’re sedated).
And “Ms. Marvel” (Moonstone) sleeps with Marvel Boy.
Developing as a subplot, Ares’ son is missing and the God finds report cards indicating that Alexander hasn’t been going to school. We the readers know that he’s allied with Nick Fury and will eventually have to face his father as a foe.
The end of the issue sets up a Namor story as Atlantean terrorists invade the West Coast.