Avengers: Age of Ultron Prelude - This Scepter'd Isle is a comic set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is set before the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Synopsis
The Battle of New York is over, but the war has just begun! S.H.I.E.L.D. is taking a vested interest in artifacts recovered from the cataclysm...but they're not the only ones! Dive deeper into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with this prelude to the upcoming film Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron in the stunning Infinite Comics style!
Plot
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After the Battle of New York, the Scepter that was used by the Asgardian war criminal Loki is given to S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists Nicholas Cooper and Mark Smith for study. Smith, who abhors his scientific position, is approached by secret HYDRA leader Wolfgang von Strucker to join HYDRA, which is working within S.H.I.E.L.D. Accepting Strucker's offer, Smith steals the scepter and kills Cooper, bringing it to Strucker's facility in Sokovia, a European country embroiled in constant conflict.
The story jumps forward two years, shortly before the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. After harnessing the scepter's power for a variety of effects, such as powering paraphernalia ranging from their own technology to Chitauri tech recovered from New York, Strucker approaches a group of Sokovian rioters, offering them the power needed to save their country. Among the rioters are twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. The Sokovians agree, and each undergo a number of tests where they are exposed to the scepter's energy; out of all of the test subjects, only the Maximoffs survive.
When Captain America unveils HYDRA's existence to the world in the Battle at the Triskelion, Strucker remains confidant that their work will continue. Along with Doctor List, Strucker monitors the Maximoffs, who have both unlocked extraordinary superpowers as a result of the experiments.
Appearances
Characters
- Baron Wolfgang von Strucker
- Doctor List
- Mark Smith
- Nicholas Cooper
- Mark Basso
- Pietro Maximoff
- Wanda Maximoff
- Iron Man
- Loki
- Thor
- Hulk
- Black Widow
- Erik Selvig
- Captain America
- Winter Soldier
- Sam Wilson
- Brock Rumlow
- Maria Hill (mentioned)
- Nick Fury (mentioned)
Locations
- S.H.I.E.L.D. S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
- HYDRA Research Facility, Sokovia
- Stark Tower, New York City
- Triskelion. Washington, D.C.
Events
Items
- Chitauri Scepter
- Tesseract
- Chitauri Gun
- Iron Man Armor: Mark VII
- Captain America's Shield
- Captain America's Uniform
- Winter Soldier's Prosthetic Arm
- Mjølnir
Vehicles
Organizations
Trivia
The name of the comic is taken from William Shakespeare's King Richard II, attributed to John of Gaunt:
- This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars ... This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
