New Quasar Debuts In Avengers: Standoff!

Late last week, Marvel Comics released an image teasing the "long-awaited return" of a character in Avengers: Standoff! – Assault on Pleasant Hill #1, the final to the Avengers: Standoff event. The issue hit stands today, and it heralded the return of a classic character and the passing of a cosmic torch.

The issue revealed the the museum curator at Maria Hill's secret, reality warped prison was actually Wendell Vaughn, the original Quasar. Vaughn reveals himself to S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Avril Kincaid, who came to the museum in hopes that she could find Quasar's quantum bands and use them to aid the Avengers in quelling Zemo's prison riot. Vaughn tells Kincaid that he was having trouble controlling the phenomenal power channeled by the quantum bands, and so check them and himself in Pleasant Hill for safekeeping. Rather than taking up the mantle of Quasar again himself, Vaughn passed it on to Kincaid.

The issue's writer, Nick Spencer, hinted to Marvel.com that Kincaid has both an interesting backstory to explore and a major role to play in the near future of the Marvel Universe.

"This is something I can't really get into yet, but yes, Avril definitely provides a fresh point of view within the Marvel Universe," Spencer said. "That's a big part of what has me excited about the character—she has unique perspective and her own life and background is something I hope we'll be exploring in-depth very soon. She has quite the story.

"We have big plans ahead for Avril;" Spencer continued, "she'll be a major player in some very important upcoming stories. You can definitely keep a lookout for her in the Captain America books, but I suspect she'll be showing up elsewhere as well..."

By "elsewhere," we're guessing Spencer is referring to Civil War II, which was heavily foreshadowed in Kincaid's narration of the Standoff finale. She referred to the Avengers coming together to stop the Pleasant Hill escapees as a last moment of brightness before "the war" and the dark days that followed.

Meanwhile, while Vaughn may no longer be Quasar himself, he will be sticking around to train the new Quasar in the use of her powers.

Avengers: Standoff! – Assault on Pleasant Hill #1 is on sale now.