Then.

“Justice is served.”

The pain was intense.

It made him wish he could scream. But, of course he couldn’t. One of the benefits of the genetic therapy he had volunteered for.

Roland Burroughs, the costumed killer known as Death Adder, lay silently on the ground, drowning in his own blood. Only moments before a number of high caliber bullets had punctured his toughened hide like it was wet tissue paper and laid him out on the ground faster than he’d thought possible.

A fly landed on his mask, wings humming. It sounded like a hurricane to his distorted senses. He wanted to crush it, but he couldn’t move his hands. His spine was broken. He could feel the splinters digging into the softness that made up his organs. He couldn’t breath. Everything was in black and white.

He was dying. The man with the skull for a face had killed him.

He wasn’t supposed to die.

Roxxon had promised him he was immortal. The treatments had made him immortal. Immortals didn’t die.

It wasn’t fair!

He had to scream, but he had no mouth. So instead he squirmed in the dirt like a real snake, oozing life, his mind going dark.

Something fluttered in front of his face. Thunder rumbled. Fingers snapping in front of his face. He tried to focus.

“Hey. Hello. Hi. Fooooocus. Focus. Focuuus. There we go. Hi. Roland Burroughs?” The dwarf grinned down at him, thick fingers fiddling with his tie. He was dressed in an undertaker’s seat and had milky skin and greasy black hair. His grin seemed too wide for his face, with far too many teeth. “Are you Roland Burroughs? Blink once for yes.”

Death Adder blinked ponderously. It was agony. The dwarf's grin grew wider.

"Thought so. Couldn't be sure, what with all the blood pouring out of you."

Burroughs tried to move his arm, to swipe that smirk right off the dwarf's face. Claw him to ribbons. The dwarf watched him twitch, still smiling. Always smiling.

"Boy, the Boss was right about you, Roland. Never say die. And you know a good thing when it gets handed to you." The dwarf crouched, pulling a black envelope out of his coat. "On that subject...do I have a deal for you."

MARVEL 2000 PRESENTS...

"OLD FRIENDS AND NEW"

Written by Josh Reynolds

WAKE UP, CHRIS.

"I don't want to."

YOU MUST. I CANNOT PROTECT YOU FOR MUCH LONGER BOY.

"Who are you?"

IN LIFE, I WAS NAMED ANTHONY.

"Okay Tony-"

ANTHONY.

"That's what I said. Where am I?"

IN YOUR SOUL.

"It kinda smells funny."

MOST SOULS DO. MINE SMELLS LIKE MINT.

"I smell peanut butter sandwiches."

TO EACH THEIR OWN. YOU MUST WAKE UP, BOY. PLEASE.

Darkhawk's eyes sprang open and he gazed out at death through the visor of his helmet. Rotting, pasty flesh blocked his line of sight and an abattoir stink banished the last lingering traces of mint and peanut butter from his mind. Panic flashed through him, an intense claustrophobia that made his heart skip a beat. Claws scraped down his torso and fumbled at the latches of his helmet. Trying to get in. They were trying to get in. Trying to eat him. The dark gem on his chest spluttered, flashed and a solid beam of black energy expanded around him, hammering into the undead flesh of the vampires clinging to him. The creatures were slammed aside, sent tumbling like leaves caught in the wind. Darkhawk staggered to his feet, head spinning, the echo of a voice in his head.

Who the hell was Anthony?

A vampire sprang towards him hissing like an enormous cat. Darkhawk grabbed it by the wrists and twisted his hips, slinging it aside forcefully. Iron Man. Where was Iron Man? He looked around desperately. A repulsor blast ripped through the air with a hissing crackle and Darkhawk whirled, sighting a writhing mass of bodies. He caught a flash of red and gold from within the squirming tangle of dead limbs and hurtled towards it without a second thought.

"Hang on, Iron Man! I'm coming!"

"Zelda?"

"What?"

"You're on a first name basis with her now?"

"Always was. I ran with the Circus for a bit and some change. Zelda was very...supportive."

"I bet."

"Moony..."

"She turned states evidence on the Serpent Society a few years ago. The information she traded for immunity and a check led to arrests of Society support personnel-"

"They had support personnel?"

"Lawyers mostly. A few mechanics and one costumer." Moon Knight shook his head. "No one of note. But the FBI did manage to shut down several Society bases as well. She's in protective custody now. Never bothered to find out where until now. Never needed to."

"So we're going to have to deal with the Feds on top of everything else? Thanks for the heads up, Moony."

"You didn't ask, Barton."

"Didn't think I had to," Hawkeye said flatly. Moon Knight merely shook his head. Hawkeye snorted. "Yeah. Okay. So what can we expect down there?"

"Snakes?" Spider-Woman said brightly.

"Thank you, Miss Obvious."

"You're welcome, Cap'n Crabby." Drew mock-saluted and Hawkeye chuckled. Wasp glanced at them.

"If you two are quite done, we're about to land."

"On her lawn?"

"No, in the pool." Wasp glared at Hawkeye, who threw his hands up as if in surrender. "Of course on the lawn."

"Just checking."

"Hello, Chris. How have you been?" Genis-Vel said, his words echoing in the sudden silence. "Me, I'm a bit perturbed."

"Then that makes two of us," Iron Man said, coughing. His armor was battered and, in places, shredded. He stood unsteadily. Magic had never been something he had been good at dealing with. Too...chaotic? Maybe. Regardless his armor's systems had a bitch of a time handling it. But there was still enough juice to handle a cosmic menace or three. Iron Man looked up at Genis, who was hovering over he and Darkhawk.

Granted, Genis was more like four or five menaces really.

"Oh. Iron Man. There you are. Still among the living?" Genis drifted around, his white, empty eyes narrowing slightly. "Where's Marlo, Iron Man?"

"No clue."

"You, sir, are lying," Genis said easily. He gestured and a surge of energy speared out from his fingers, sending Iron Man flying when it impacted against his chest. Darkhawk leapt for Genis, fingers spread like claws but the alien turned swiftly, too swiftly, and Darkhawk was sent tumbling to the ground, engulfed in a burning corona. Before Genis could capitalize, however, Iron Man hurtled towards him and caught him around the middle, tackling him to the ground. Genis twisted in Iron Man's hands and clapped fiery fingers to the Avenger's helmet. Iron Man screamed.

"Sorry." Hawkeye shrugged. "Avengers business takes priority over roses, Z. Says so in the handbook."

"Well the handbook is wrong."

"Take it up with the feds." Hawkeye grinned. "Since you're so chummy with them and all."

"Who I'm chummy with is none of your beeswax. Not these days," Zelda huffed. Hawkeye shook his head, one hand over his heart.

"Did she really just say 'beeswax'?"

"That she did," Spider-Woman said. "Positively old fashioned."

"Beeswax is a perfectly suitable word I'll have you know," Zelda said, glaring at them. "I use it all the time."

"And see where it's gotten you?"

"A fancy house in a nice part of town?" Moon Knight said idly. Hawkeye shot him a glare.

"Besides that..."

"A trim and beguiling figure?" Zelda said, running her free hand down one hip. Hawkeye threw his hands up in the air.

"No, although don't think I didn't notice. I was referring to the weed of crime and bitter fruit and all of that."

"Oh. Well you should have said that."

"I was being subtle."

"Dense more like," a harsh voice cut in. Hawkeye turned slightly as a pasty-faced individual with hair a shade too red to be natural stepped off of the porch, one wiry hand rubbing the bulbous crimson nose in the center of his face.

"Franklin," Hawkeye said, tensing slightly. The Clown glared at him. He was clad in cargo pants and a polo shirt, yet still wore his fright wig and make-up. "You look...good."

"And you look like a jackass. Good to see nothing's changed."

"Don't worry, Elliot, they were just leaving. I have immunity, remember?" Zelda said, stepping between the Clown and the Avengers. "They have no right to be here."

"We have every right," Moon Knight said, stepping past Hawkeye. His hand fastened on DuBois' wrist and she emitted a startled squeak. "And your immunity means nothing to me."

"Hands off her, Avenger!" a thickly accented voice barked. Two more forms had left the house and were swiftly heading for the group gathered on the lawn. Moon Knight cursed under his breath as the bulky form of Teena, the Fat Lady wobbled towards them, followed by the squat form of Bruto, the Strong Man. Both, like the Clown and Zelda herself were dressed in casual clothes. Just friends, hanging out. Granted, those friends were also the first string of the Circus of Crime.

This was getting complicated. And fast.

"You get your hands off of our Zelda, Avenger!"

"I'm not an Avenger."

"Everyone just calm down!" Zelda squeaked, her hand stroking the python, trying to keep it calm. "We're safe here! We've got immunity!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Zelda, my dear."

A flash of light exploded in the midst of the confrontation, blinding everyone present. Moon Knight stumbled back as a massive fist thundered by his head, forcing him to release DuBois. Puff Adder grinned down at him and lashed out again and Moon Knight threw himself backwards even as the light began to fade. Sidewinder gripped DuBois tightly around the waist, an ornate laser pistol pressed to her red tresses. Her python stirred uneasily, but Voelker paid it no mind. Rattler stood behind him, tail poised to strike. Puff Adder stalked after Moon Knight, who backed up warily.

"Thank you, Avengers, for helping us find our prodigal girl. We would never have found her without that tracer Coachwhip planted on you earlier." Sidewinder gestured towards Hawkeye. "Tit for tat, eh?"

"Bastards! You led them right to her!" The Clown bounded towards Hawkeye, clocking him across the chin. As the other Circus members moved forward, Spider-Woman spun in place and leapt for Sidewinder, who dug the tip of his gun into DuBois' head.

"Zelda, would you be a dear and handle that?"

DuBois winced and hurled the python from her arms towards Drew, the giant serpent ensnaring Spider-Woman in mid-leap. She fell to the ground, fighting to keep the geneticlly enhanced serpent from crushing her. Sidewinder smiled beneath his mask. "Rattler. Dissuade any other would be rescuers."

Rattler's tail thudded down and the ground began to shake, throwing both Avengers and criminals from their feet. Sidewinder laughed.

"Excellent. And now, my dear, wave good-bye. We have an appointment to keep in San Francisco." Voelker snapped his cloak and a bright light expanded outward, engulfing the Society members and erasing them from existence. They were gone in a flash and both heroes and villains could only stare at one another in shocked silence. At least until Wasp looked around, noticing an absence.

"Where's Moon Knight?"

Darkhawk thrashed his way to his feet, his alien body fighting off the energy Genis had shrouded him in. He cursed as he saw Genis standing over Iron Man, hands wrapped around his helmet. He had to stop him. Save Iron Man.

No.

What? Darkhawk paused, looking around. Had he really heard that?

Yes, you did. Hello, Chris.

To-Anthony?

Of course. Unless you have any other squatters in your mindscape.

I didn't realize I had any, to be honest.

I try and keep quiet. You can't beat him.

I gotta try...despite what Iron Man thinks about me, I'm not gonna stand back and let him get creamed by space-face there.

Admirable sentiments. Worthy of an Avenger. But the argument stands.

Then what do you suggest?

Do you remember the incident with the idol? Use that brain of yours, boy! Look!

Spectral fingers seemed to caress the inside of his eyes and suddenly he was looking up, up at the support frame of the tent. Death Adder crouched there, watching Genis torture Iron Man silently. Watching Genis try and get Marlo's whereabout out of Iron Man. Beneath his helmet, Darkhawk grinned.

"Where is she?" Genis hissed, his fingers leaving burning furrows in Iron Man's helmet.

"Ask him," Darkhawk said. Genis turned, eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"I said, ask him," Darkhawk repeated, gesturing towards Death Adder's hiding spot. "The Serpent Society took her. And he's a dues paying member."

"Really."

"Cross my heart hope to die, space-man."

"I'm going to hold you to that," Genis said, pointing at the other hero. Then he looked up at Death Adder, whose eyes widened suddenly as he realized he'd been spotted. "Hello. Tell me where my wi-where Marlo is."

Death Adder reached up a taloned hand and cut through the canvas over his head, cutting his way free. He leapt upwards without a backwards glance and Genis laughed and followed after. Darkhawk watched them go as he helped Iron Man to his feet.

"Nice plan, kid."

"I have my moments."

"Few and far between."

"Do you really hate my guts that much? I mean honestly, I-Ahghk!" Darkhawk suddenly fell to his knees, hands clutched to his head. Iron Man reached for him, concerned.

"Darkhawk-Chris, what is it?"

"I don't-I, ah!" Darkhawk trembled as something filled his mind. An overriding compulsion. He could see things-a frightened woman, dragged towards an altar. The faces of others, Marlo Jones, Pym, others. And shadowy shapes watching, grinning, stickpin teeth glinting, worm tongues licking over rotting lips.

I'm sorry, lad. They've found her. It's too close for me to be sitting on the sidelines anymore...I need you to come to me. To come free me from my grave...

"What the hell?" Iron Man stepped back as a ghostly form wavered into view, nearly obscuring Darkhawk. He felt a thrill of recognition pulse through him as he stared into the glowing eyes of an old friend. One who was dead and gone. Or had been...

"Anthony..."

Doctor Druid must live again!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next Issue: You heard the man! Doctor Druid must live again! And he's not the only one... Plus, Moon Knight alone against the Serpent Society! The Avengers face the Deadly Darkhold Dwarf! Be here in thirty for 'REVIVAL'...