Credits

• Writer: Allen Heinberg
• Art: Jim Cheung

Side Kicks, part 5

With the rest of his teammates defeated. Iron Lad has no choice but to return with his older self, Kang, the Conqueror to his proper time. However, just before he enters the time stream, Cassie Lang leaps into action and saves Iron Lad before giving him a kiss. While a bit surprised by it, neither regrets it.

The two soon help the rest of their teammates and try to figure out what to do next. Soon, Kang returns once holding a severely injured Captain America in his hands. If the Young Avengers don't turn over Iron Lad he'll kill him but the Young Avengers don't think so and attack the warlord. The group holds their own against Kang for some time before Asgardian reveals that his powers are magical based and uses them to destroy Kang's force field. Leaving Kate Bishop to use her bow and arrow to destroy Kang's armor. With Kang powerless, Patriot attacks him. To bad, he isn't aware of just how skilled Kang is at hand-to-hand combat. While Kate tries to help her teammate, Kang disarms her and takes her sword threatening to kill her if Iron Lad doesn't surrender. He decides too until he transforms into Hulkling and sucker punches Kang. Kang tries to regroup until a surprise guest appears, the Vision. Bending Iron Lad's armor with his memories, the Vision attacks Kang until the conqueror used his connection to the armor to deactivate the Vision and takes back his armor. Captain America recovers and tries to attack Kang but using the armor Kang calls forth two rifles and shoots Cap. Now with Cap severely injured and the Young Avengers out of options. Kang wants them to once again turn over Iron Lad until Iron Lad appears and stabs Kang all the way through the back with Kate's sword.

For an issue that is mostly about action, writer Allan Heinberg does a great job with the pacing. There are great character moments for everyone and we see the friendships forming between Kate and Patriot who have been at odds since issue 1. Heinberg also captures Kang's powers and skills perfectly; he isn't only a master of time but a master of war too. The Vision's return has been speculated since it was revealed he was part of Iron Lad's armor in issue 2. Here, he returns in grand fashion and it was just great to see him. Jim Cheung is still drawing up a storm. The combat scenes against Kang and great the panels are clean and sharp. The use of Kang's powers and the rest of the Young Avengers is perfect. Plus you see just how deadly the situation is as they fight in the destroyed New York City due to the time ripples going on. What a cliffhanger, I need issue six like yesterday.

--Ryan Read