Warning: Contains spoilers for Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic #18The iconic Avengers Numerous tragedies have befallen them, but one of the worst things to occur in their long history was Arcade’s kidnapping of several Avengers Academy students, forced to fight to the death in Avengers Arena. The monstrous maneuver of the evil game engineer caused several young heroes to lose their lives, most notably the brutal and unjust death of Mettlewhose horrific death greatly impacted his girlfriend, the Avenger known as Hazmat.
Fortunately, in a surprise twist, Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic #18 revealed 12 years after his death on panel that the metallic Mettle never actually died, and was instead held captive by the evil mutant Emplate since his “death” in the Arena.
Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic #18, by writer Anthony Oliviera with artists Karen S. Darboe and Kike J. DÃaz, finds Hazmat venturing into liminal space with Bloodline to rescue a kidnapped Escapade, leading Hazmat to discover Mettle – real name Ken Mack – in its original human formalive, but trapped.
Mettle was murdered by Arcade right in front of Hazmat
She has been struggling with grief over his death ever since
Ken Mack was a normal teenager when a surfing accident revealed that a shocking transformation had occurred… All of the flesh on Ken’s body was now composed of red iridium, a metal that made him nearly invulnerable to physical attack. Joining the Avengers Academy, Mettle slowly developed a friendship and then a romantic relationship with Hazmatwhose toxic emissions meant she could never touch another person. Fortunately, it was revealed that Jennifer’s toxicity could not harm Ken, causing them to be able to touch each other, much to his delight. The two were still dating and had just slept with each other for the first time when Arcade transported them to Murderworld.
Arcade is traditionally known as a silly, non-threatening villain, but he wanted this time to be different. He wanted to be the villain he always saw himself as. To this end, he tried to get the young heroes to sacrifice one of their own. Instead, Hazmat attacks him, causing him to begin killing her. Intervening, Mettle sacrificed himself for Jennifer’s lifewith Arcade using a remote control to blast Ken from the inside, immediately killing the young man… or so it seemed. Many questions later, in Avengers Arena #16, Death Locket is sneaking around Arcade’s lab and sees Mettle’s corpse, apparently reassembled, a mystery that has never been solved, until now!
Arcade apparently sold courage to score a long time ago
Mettle and Hazmat’s reunion was emotional
The new Avengers Academy The issue has DOA, Emplate’s undead assistant, reveal that Emplate purchased the young hero from Arcade after the villain was “selling children wholesale.” Emplate’s mutant ability leaves him “hungry” for superhuman energy, and he has kept Mettle trapped in his supernatural dungeon since he purchased him, slowly draining him and nearly killing him. The reunion between Hazmat and Mettle is truly beautiful, with Ken’s strength returning to him after his hope is restored by seeing Jen’s face. Now apparently able to transform into his iridium form at will, Mettle defeats DOA, and all the Avengers Academy students escape together.
Hazmat was brought to Avengers Captain Marvel’s Academy to serve as a mentor to the young heroes being trained there, and Hopefully Mettle’s return means he will continue to be an important part of Jennifer’s life. Sure, it might be difficult for Ken to work at another Avengers Academy after escaping the hell his first experience led to, but regardless of where Mettle ends up, his fans are happy that this unjust death was so carefully reversed.
Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic #18 from Marvel Comics is now available on the Marvel Unlimited app.