METAHUMES (TEAM)

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In Madison Square Park, there were seven crystals all lumped together emitting a faint glow from beneath the trees. Several teenagers were gathering in the park to attend a concert by a band called The Channel Surfers. As the crowd gathers, it becomes clear that there is some history between Alex Patel and Edward Wong, as Alex notes that there’s a lot of water under the bridge between them. Barbara doesn’t really seem to know the others, as she asks for permission to hang out with them; and begins to regret asking when Denise asks if she can practice her law debating class, to which Fiona agrees to let her do, if she keeps it down. Not far away, a pair of criminals work to trick several men out of their money, as Elias Flynn bets, Carl Hollister signaled him as to what the cards were. The duo make their way down to Madison Square Park to see if they can make some more money from the concert goers.

At that moment, Denise Haven spots something glowing and draws Fiona’s attention to it as well. Barbara, Denise, Alex, Fiona, and Edward make their way to examine – and find seven glowing stones. Each picks one up, with Denise holding onto three of them. Carl shows up with Elias and grabs two of the three from Denise’s hand, and keeps one and throws one to Elias. Denise demands to have them back, but Elias offers her forty dollars for both gems, which she hesitantly takes.

At that moment, all seven stones glow – as do those holding the unusual stones. But as quickly as the glow had started, it vanished. Carl sees Fiona, and is startled by her beauty and apologies to her, hoping to meet up later – to which she provides her phone number to him. Elias calls for Carl twice, before sternly calling – and the second time – Carl seems to almost be in a trance as he turns and suddenly follows Elias. Alex gives Barbara his number “just in case anything happens” as a result of the weird glow; and Barbara exchanges her number with him as well.

Speedball and Nova (Rich) of the New Warriors show up, but as the crowd gathers around them, they’re told to leave by local police, because the crowd was getting difficult to control. After the Channel Surfers concert, Darkhawk arrives looking for the crystals which had fallen off of him during a battle (this happened in Darkhawk #47).

Elsewhere, the powers begin to manifest for the others – as Alex Patel sees an energy spear briefly appear in his hand; for Barbara DeGioia, who works at Flap Clothing, she sees Robbie (Speedball) and Rich (Nova) in civilian clothes and notes that they’re cute; but then shoots blasts from her eyes, which stop as quickly as they’d appeared; but a fire breaks out, which Rich helps put an end to – but he saw Barbara, but by the time he’s dealt with the fire, Barbara is long gone. Meanwhile, Edward is playing basketball with his friend Phil, when he accidentally probes his mind, causing Phil immense pain. Elsewhere, Fiona is walking home when some construction men do a cat call and whistle at her; and she unknowingly causes a bulldozer to turn on and ram the wall they were sitting on. Not far away, at a car dealership in Yonkers, New York – Carl’s body turns diamond hard as he tries to break into a car and ends up ripping the door off the hinge. Elsewhere, Denise’s mother is struck by a gentlemen speeding on his bike, and shows no regret or indication of slowing down, so when Denise points at him and yells, she emits a blast from her hands striking the gentleman on the bicycle.

They all meet, except for Elias, having contacted one another. When Elias shows up, he’s able to mentally command Carl again – and it becomes clear, that Elias developed telepathic abilities from the crystal he’d had. He commands everyone to hand over their crystal – but only Alex and Barbara brought theirs, which they surrender – he then barks the command for the others to rush home and get theirs and give it to him. Edward seems to be able to resist for a moment, but Elias seems to be the more powerful telepath.

Darkhawk turns to the New Warriors, but only Speedball and Nova (Rich) are available – but they agree to help. They meet Spider-Man along the way who also agrees to help out.

Several shadowed figures seem aware that Elias has these children working for him. (This is how The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends and Enemies #1 ends)

The following issue, the team is under the full control of Elias, who has made them costumes to hide their identity and uses them to rob a bank. Fiona displays her complete control of all things mechanical by having a lock safe twist and turn and unlock itself successfully, on the first try.

During their escape, they show that they’re aware of their actions, and express remorse and shame for robbing a bank, but are being controlled like puppets through Elias’ telepathy. Edward manages to help Barbara get free when they get back to their base, but their escape is cut short by Carl. Elias once again seizes control of their minds; but the others noticed what happened and wonder if they can break free.

Back at the New Warriors Crashpad, they get an alert that there’s rumors that the “Metahumes” will be making a meeting with another organization. This sends Darkhawk, Speedball, Nova (Rich) and Spider-Man in that direction. It’s at this meeting that Elias comes to realize his telepathy, though powerful over the kids who’d been changed by the stones, only extends to them and no one else.

The man meeting with Elias sends out six armored individuals known as The Seekers.

However, the Metahumes make quick work of them. Elias is upset that the Metahumes didn’t kill them – just as Spider-Man, Darkhawk, Nova (Rich) and Speedball arrive and tell the Metahumes that they can be good guys – but Elias refuses to let go of them and forces them to fight Spider-Man and the others. However, Elias and Carl take hostages – and force Spider-Man and the others to surrender, allowing them to escape.

The shadowed figures are finally revealed as an organization known as The Hostiles.

The following issues, the Hostiles show up in armored form and disintegrate Elias as they’re entering their base, the rest of the Metahumes are unaware – until they feel their minds being free of Elias’ influence. They attack Carl, but the fight is cut short when the Hostiles show up in armored form and reveal that they have various family members of the Metahumes held hostage.

This includes: Edward Wong’s brother, Phil, Denise Haven’s mother, Carl Hollister’s mother, Alex Patel’s sister, Fiona Rivera’s ex-husband, and Barbara DeGioia’s aunt.

The Hostiles tell the original hostages that Elias and Carl had taken, and tell them to go free once the Metahumes agree to go with the Hostiles. Spider-Man, Darkhawk, Nova and Speedball find the released hostages, who explain what happened. Darkhawk’s enhanced vision allows him to see the ship in the atmosphere – and goes after them – at the same time, Edward tries to telepathically communicate with Spider-Man causing Spider-Man great pain – but he’s able to explain the situation and provide information as to where they’re being taken.

Spider-Man, Nova and Speedball arrive just in time to stop one of the Hostiles from executing Rolando. But they – along with Darkhawk – are captured and placed in tubes with the sole purpose of extracting their powers from their bodies!

The final issue, Spider-Man breaks free – and frees the others. Fiona freezes the armor of the Hostiles, who then threaten to ensure that their families are killed; to which Edward explains he will scrub their brains clean of all the information they have no matter what it does to them.

The one who calls himself Honcho, among the Hostiles, releases the energy of the gems into himself which transforms his entire body and mental state – where he feels he must consume everything – and begins with his three teammates from Hostile, quickly absorbing their energy and mass into himself.

Darkhawk is able to defeat this new form; and in doing so, reverts Honcho back to his human self, as well as releases his teammates from Hostile, all rendered unconscious; and the seven stones are now within Darkhawk’s grasp once more. As he goes to reach for them, they disappear and Edward explains that the rocks had somehow telepathically communicated with him that they’d returned to their homeworld.

All the Metahumes are surprised, through all of this, they still have their powers. Carl, being a career criminal doesn’t believe he fits, and he departs, despite the other Metahumes telling him to stay, and they can work as a team. Spider-Man and the others offer to help, but the Metahumes decide they want to figure things out on their own.

Blazeye
Real Name: Barbara DeGioia
Known Relatives: Unnamed Aunt
Powers: Shoot high intensity beams from her eyes
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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Hyperia
Real Name: Denise Haven
Known Relatives: Denise Haven (Mother)
Powers: Fire concussive blasts from her hands
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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Hardnose
Real Name: Alex Patel
Known Relatives: Unnamed Sister
Powers: Alex could generate crystal forms, and even use them as weapons and armor.
Note – He was considered as a potential for the Initiative Recruitment, by Tony Stark.
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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Diamond Hammer
Real Name: Carl Hollister
Known Relatives: Unnamed Mother
Powers: Carl could turn his body into a diamond hard, yet mobile, crystal form – and the angrier he got, the more crystals would form around his body.
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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Makina
Real Name: Fiona Rivera
Known Relatives: Rolando (Ex-Husband)
Powers: Fiona had the ability to control any form mechanical and/or electrical equipment.
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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Assault
Real Name: Edward Wong
Known Relatives: Phil Wong (Brother)
Powers: Though it caused the targets immense headaches, Edward was able to use telepathy to read minds, transmit his thoughts, and even free minds which had been mentally enslaved.
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man: Friends And Enemies #1

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