The Daily Bugle

          We at the Daily Bugle pride ourselves on airtight sources who painstakingly review all information provided to us to further expand our readership’s day-to-day knowledge of this fair city.  Readers may remember that we covered the Wrecking Crew’s damning attacks on the Federal Reserve Bank, New York Stock Exchange and Midtown Stark Industries facility not too long ago.  It’s on the back of these turbulent events that our source has provided us with some compelling footage which will interest those with more than a passing concern for Hell’s Kitchen. 

          After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an unknown assailant at the Federal Reserve, an injured Daredevil was seen unmasking while tending to his wounds.  A witness was present for the occasion and was able to provide footage of the much sought after figure renowned for his heroism and stubborn recklessness alike.  The vigilante in question is none other than local lawyer MATT MURDOCK of NELSON & MURDOCK: ATTORNEYS AT LAW.  While Murdock is certified as being legally blind, we have it under good authority that his enhancements mean that he is capable of effectively sensing his surroundings by other biological methods to a superhuman degree.  In light of these revelations, Murdock’s involvement with ACCORDS-related legal cases could suggest a conflict of interest.         

          While refuting the claims, Murdock did not elaborate on the matter when approached by the Bugle but assured us that he would seek justice to clear his name.  At this time it is unknown if Murdock’s involvement with a number of cases in Hell’s Kitchen tied with his persona as Daredevil will be affected, but we will keep our readers posted of any further developments.  

FOOTAGE FROM THE SCENE CAN BE SEEN ON OUR WEBSITE. WARNING: VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. 

          In the aftermath of several high-profile locations across New York being infiltrated and held hostage by the Wrecking Crew, the Daily Bugle has learned that the 'supervillain’ group were partially successful in their heists.  At the Midtown Stark Industries facility, the Avengers - consisting of Iron Man, Black Widow, and former Captain America, Steve Rogers - succeeded in subduing Dirk Garthwaite aka Wrecker and his hired mercenaries, but despite their best efforts, Thunderball escaped with what some sources claim to be a gamma bomb.  The man behind the moniker, Eliot Franklin, is best known within the scientific community as a brilliant physicist and a pioneer within field of gamma radiation research.  No comment from the Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. has reached the Daily Bugle, but there is little doubt the public will have concerns over the uncertain repercussions of such a theft.

          The Devil of Hell's Kitchen was spotted at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, outside his usual territory.  Detective Brett Mahoney of the NYPD clarified that all rescue efforts at the Reserve were carried out by his officers, and would not comment on the potential whereabouts of Hell’s Kitchen’s masked hero.  Daredevil’s appearance within Manhattan’s Financial District leaves many wondering if the vigilante is expanding his watch over the city or just mere coincidence.  However, more concerning is the fact that Henry Camp - Bulldozer - escaped during the fray and remains at large.

          At the New York Stock Exchange, Thor and Doctor Strange successfully apprehended Brian Calusky, the man dubbing himself Piledriver.  Calusky will be held for processing on Rikers Island and transported to The Raft along with Garthwaite.  At the same location, a group referring to themselves as the 'Young Avengers’ - consisting of unknown enhanced individuals fashioning their namesake after the well known superhero team assembled in May of 2012 - assisted in rescuing the hostages.  Social media posters claimed to have seen Spider-Man and the Princess of Wakanda enter the building through a side window, though it is unclear at this time what their activities consisted of or if there’s any correlation with the other superhero efforts at the Stock Exchange.  When reached for comment, the Social Liaison of Wakanda to the United States, Nakia, gave the following statement: "With all due respect, sir, it seems to me like you should be grateful for our assistance to your nationals."  It’s a response that leaves much to be desired as to why an individual of foreign royalty would be operating on U.S. soil in such a manner to begin with, sparing no comfort and lending itself to further questions of just how acceptable foreign interference is to the Wakandans.

          With these events having transpired with a coin flip’s success, it’s difficult to shake the notion that our well known and beloved superheroes are spread too thin to protect the public from even the most general of crimes.  Where once the Avengers and the various vigilantes of this great city fought against alien invasions and corruption, now they struggle to defend its citizens from bank robbery.  It begs to question: how safe will we be when we need them the most?

         In an unexpected turn of events, eye witnesses reported a prolonged sighting of Thanos at the Mall in Central Park with ensuing casualties and damage to property and wildlife alike. Readers may remember that the “Mad Titan” hasn’t been seen in Manhattan since a life-or-death confrontation with our very own Scarlet Witch some years ago which very nearly leveled the city, such was the scale of the event. With part of the park up in flames, civilians rightly queried “where are the Avengers?” Unfortunately none of the usual disbanded troupe could be found (or subsequently available for comment), begging the question of whether they’re as effective as they claim to be?

         The only “hero” at hand was Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy. Dubbed as one of the fiercest women in the universe, luckily she was quick to respond to the scene to tackle the threat in her infamously direct manner. However what initially appeared to be a hostile imposition from the Titan soon turned familial by nature - the two otherworldly visitors engaged in a highly uncomfortable yet engaging conversation, revealing that the relationship between the pair is that of father and daughter as opposed to foes, with Thanos having trained her to be an assassin. But that’s not all - things turned ugly when Gamora attacked the Titan during a highly emotional state, supposedly killing the behemoth once again as well as an unknown infant who strayed into the scene.

         Despite Thanos’ voice heard in the vicinity after the fact claiming to return, it is unclear as to the overall outcome of this encounter, raising more questions than answers during a time in which we find ourselves in such an uncertain climate. Who do we trust, and do those whom we hold in such high regard warrant our admiration when we know so little about them beyond face value?

Footage from the scene can be seen on our website. Warning: viewer discretion is advised.

[Editor’s note: This article is an update of a previously published article by staff writers Jessica Jones and Kat Farrell.]

---

Sources have confirmed with the Daily Bugle that the identity of the man spotted entering the building was Clinton Francis Barton, the Avenger known as “Hawkeye”. His body could not be identified in the wreckage of the collapse but DNA tests are currently being conducted by the local morgue.

Also identified in the incident was Mary Walker, a former employee of Rand Enterprises who was arrested on Christmas Eve after an encounter with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. She had escaped and was being hunted by the state police. It is believed that Barton hoped to capture the escaped convict while doing vigilante work unaffiliated with the larger Avengers organization.

---

A supposedly abandoned warehouse building in Brownsville has collapsed in an internal explosion. Traces of explosive substances were found at the scene, and a significant amount of damage was sustained by the adjacent structures.

Witnesses say that they spotted a man and woman entering the space some time in the early afternoon and shortly thereafter, several blasts like gunfire were heard from the warehouse structure. Forensics has identified remnants of splinter bombs manufactured by Mori Industries, which were fired prior to the detonation of more powerful explosives that took down the building.

A number of charred bodies were found among the wreckage of the building, more than the two that were seen entering in the afternoon. The warehouse was not currently in use by any business enterprises so it is unknown who was operating in the space at that time.

     With the appointment of Valentina Fontaine as World Security Council Secretary (WSCS), it’s important to consider just what the Council is charged with protecting the world from.  The Avengers, repeatedly touted as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, have been splintered following the enactment of the Accords and the closure of the Hart Island Facility.  Inspired vigilantes have unlawfully taken it upon themselves to fight back against street-level crime while the world waits for the other shoe to drop.  With the rise in gun trafficking, drug abuse, and even kidnapping of innocents, we’re left to wonder, to how many more dangers are we left vulnerable?

     It would be prudent for Fontaine to pursue one of the most infamous, unresolved threats that was left all but unattended during Malick’s tenure with the World Security Council: the warrant out against James Buchanan Barnes, a known terrorist who has remained elusive for nearly 2 years at the time of this publication.

     Barnes was implicated in the crash of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier Iliad in November of 2016.  The disaster killed many of the organization’s agents on board, and left many more critically injured, including Director Maria Hill, who sustained a severe gunshot wound.  The late WSCS, Alexander Pierce, released an official statement following the attack, officially implicating Barnes in the events as well as revealing him to be the Avenger operating under the mantle of Captain America.  Black box recordings recovered from the wreckage weeks later revealed an altercation between Barnes and Director Hill, including several stand down orders from Deputy Director Carter, supporting S.H.I.E.L.D.’s official press release.

     That December, Alexander Pierce was assassinated during the memorial service for the agents who lost their lives on the Iliad.  Ballistics and DNA put Barnes on a rooftop overseeing the memorial.  Barnes remained AWOL until March of 2017, turning himself in to S.H.I.E.L.D., who has declined to comment on the circumstances of his surrender.  However, this act of apparent admission follows closely behind the murder of U.S. Senator, Travis Jackson, whose body was found amidst the burnt ruins of his upstate cabin.  Due to the nature of the fire, no evidence has been found placing Barnes at the scene, however given Jackson’s firm support of the Accords, this incident fits an apparent pattern.

     In the explosive prison break from Hart Island in September 2017, Barnes’ body could not be found nor was he accounted for publicly among those escapees who were detained for proper processing and release.  Several S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel, however, were killed in the incident, including STRIKE agent Brock Rumlow, who remains comatose after suffering severe burns and blunt force trauma.

       Additionally, Barnes is suspected to be responsible for the infiltration of the highly secure S.H.I.E.L.D. base dubbed ‘The Fridge’.  S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t be reached for comment on the matter, but Fontaine assured the Bugle that S.H.I.E.L.D. takes all measures to protect the intelligence and weaponry at its disposal to ensure the protection of national and international security.

     One of only a handful of ‘heroes’ to actually sign the document, Natasha Romanoff has been leading the investigation into Barnes’ whereabouts.  The WSC-backed investigation has produced little results and few leads.  While Romanoff could not be reached for comment, the Bugle was able to contact WSCS Fontaine.

     “It’s no understatement to say that [Rogers’] influence on the general public and the individuals calling themselves the Avengers is far-reaching,” Fontaine began. 

     When pressed for clarification on how this has affected ongoing investigations in the location of Barnes: “S.H.I.E.L.D. monitors potential threats.  We’re aware of which Avengers chose not to sign the Accords and could potentially be harboring [Barnes].  And while we believe it more likely that he is operating alone, we are not ruling out the possibility that he may be receiving assistance by former teammates or anti-establishment militia groups.”

     On the matter of fellow Avengers or street vigilantes potentially harboring Barnes from authorities, Fontaine went on to say it “would be considered aiding and abetting an act of terrorism and prosecuted as such.” 

     While the UNSC’s temporary amnesty period has been extended to Steve Rogers, the same cannot be said for James Barnes.

     “We have proof from the Iliad’s black box recordings that Barnes failed to follow through with orders from Deputy Director Carter to stand down.  Shortly after, Director Hill was shot and Carter once more ordered Barnes to stand down to no avail.  These are the facts.”

    Barnes was the most recently appointed Captain America, charged with upholding the values of the shield and country he represented.  This mantle was passed on by original shield-bearer, Steve Rogers, most often seen as the figurehead of the Avengers team.  While Barnes had only been publicly working with the Avengers since the Skrull invasion, Rogers has been a long-standing member and ally of the team since 2012.  The ideal of ‘Captain America’ represents a liberty and trust which has been severely betrayed by its latest holder, leaving citizens afraid of what the shield may no longer protect them from.

  When asked for comment on the matter, Steve Rogers had this to say; “Those S.H.I.E.L.D records have no context.  To publish writing referencing said articles without disclosing said context would be the equivalent of a smear job.  You paint this man as a merciless assassin.  That man is a hero.  He became the world's longest serving prisoner of war, after giving everything to his country.  The fact he continues to give everything, in spite of what he's been through, in spite of what you people say about him.  James Buchanan Barnes is the strongest man I know.  He is no more a threat than I am.  That is my comment.”

     In addition to the lurking concern about a terrorist at large, the Avengers’ disjointed behavior -  fractured by their politics regarding adherence to the Accords - does not instill confidence in the public, many of whom have become vocal about incidents involving other powered individuals unaffiliated with the larger Avengers Initiative.  These unknown vigilantes have gradually become emboldened throughout the city, ranging from Harlem to Hell’s Kitchen.  Could these figures be empowered by the lack of oversight on a group as visible as these costumed characters?

     If a shield wrapped in stars and stripes can turn on the very country it represents, where can we feel safe?  No hammers, no hulks, no devils turned loose in the streets can restore the trust the public has lost.  But perhaps Secretary Fontaine and a re-energized World Security Council may bring us peace of mind once again.

BREAKING NEWS: World Security Council Secretary, Gideon Malick, steps down. Valentina Fontaine takes his place.

     Gideon Malick assumed the position of WSC Secretary mid-2017, coming out of retirement in the aftermath of Secretary Pierce’s assassination at a S.H.I.E.L.D. memorial service. Though Malick has served as Secretary for two years now, it seems he may be returning to retirement.

     When asked about his particularly short term, Malick offered little.

     “My decision to return to the World Security Council as Secretary was made out of respect for my former colleagues. I knew upon appointment that my role on the Council was a temporary one while a more suitable, long-term candidate was found.”

     And that candidate is Valentina Fontaine. Fontaine, who has a shining record of service during her tenure at S.H.I.E.L.D., rose through the ranks from a talented agent during the Cold War to serving as Deputy Director to Nick Fury from 1989 to 2008. While in recent years, she’s become known for her role as S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison to the United Kingdom, she has been celebrated for spearheading ceiling-shattering programs for women employed within the agency, earning her the nickname “Femme Force”. If her track record is to be taken as an indicator of her success as Secretary, the future of the World Security Council and S.H.I.E.L.D. appears to be in capable, driven hands.

     The Daily Bugle has not been able to reach S.H.I.E.L.D. for an official statement.

Global Archaeological Sites Unearth Three Unearthly Treasures in One Week

The Daily Bugle has just received word that the International Archaeological History and Preservation Society has recorded the discovery of three unique, alien artifacts unearthed in three different locations across the globe within the last calendar week.  This news has raised the interests of several different organizations that have begun to specialize in the study of extraterrestrial cultures that have been increasingly making contact with our world.

“Our foremost Norse mythology scholars are fairly confident that this new hammer is from Asgard,” remarks Alexander Rossmore, a member of the dig team from a crater site in Ankara, Turkey.  “Its impact was fairly superficial, so we suspect it may have been a recent relic from the events of Ragnarok, which led to Asgardia’s subsequent development.”

Another object, in the shape of a golden eye, was discovered near a hidden temple in Thailand, which the locals identify as belonging to an ancient deity called Cytorrak.  It is being transported to London for closer study and examination.  Researchers have noted its distinction from the monuments to Cytorrak, leading experts to believe this was a totem stolen from a rival temple.

The third artifact was discovered in North America’s very own Vermont, in a small town called King’s Crossing.  The IAHPS claims that it is distinctly alien device, a golden orb with several metal bands closely wrapped around it.

“Digging for this orb was started around the time of the Skrulls getting in,” explains Simone Galen, a long-time resident of the town.  “The work was abandoned when the aliens fled, but our town received a grant to continue the search, and, well, now here we are.”

Galen’s husband was among those who unearthed the device.  The Daily Bugle was unable to learn the name of the mysterious benefactor who funded the search.  Researchers are being encouraged to come forward with any information about the three objects.

Are they dangerous?  Magical?  Just the junk of ancient societies littering our planet?  Only time will tell, but it can no longer be denied that the gods and aliens of our modern age seem to be nothing new.

Report by Kat Farrell

[Hammer of Skadi: A dangerous Asgardian hammer inscribed with its own worthiness enchantment.  Would be familiar to Asgardians and Asgard scholars.]

[Warlock’s Eye: A mystical weapon capable of channeling powerful mind-controlling enchantments that very few can resist.  Would be familiar to those trained extensively in the Mystic Arts.]

ROCKWELL, FAREWELL

Claire Rockwell, Esq., has been appointed as the United States’ representative to a UN special task force which will be convening at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Ms. Rockwell’s credentials are extensive, having graduated from Yale Law at the top of her class, and being the daughter of General David Rockwell, a decorated former US Army veteran who, following his military retirement, served on the World Security Council until his death.

Choosing to take a more philanthropic route than her father, Ms. Rockwell founded the non-profit Citizens’ Heroes following the Battle of Manhattan. The organization works to help with the recovery after super battles, collaborating with several other non-profits, as well as running a children’s shelter based in New York, though she left the organization earlier this year to disassociate her own stance on the ACCORDS from that of the group.

Before her departure, Ms. Rockwell agreed to a retrospective interview with the Bugle.

Hit the jump to hear more.

ACCORDS tabled by UNSC for further discussion

     It has been a tense 24 hours since first news broke of a break-in at the Hart Island facility for the incarceration of unregistered vigilantes and enhanced individuals.

     What was first reported as a series of isolated events soon escalated into a facility-wide breakout that saw dozens of previously incarcerated unregistered individuals released under force of arms through the efforts of largely unidentified individuals seemingly acting in co-ordination with one another. Despite the damage caused to the surrounding area, casualties last evening have been reported at 18 missing and injured with none yet confirmed to have been killed.

     This activity continued throughout the evening, and was punctuated by sightings of present and former Avengers members locked in combat with one another within this pretext. Leading this conflict at both sides were long-serving Avengers members Tony Stark and Steve Rogers representing pro-registration and anti-registration interests respectively. The outcome is unknown as of present - neither Iron Man nor Commander Rogers have been available for comment.  

    While much of the prison has been destroyed in the context of this great escape, incriminating evidence has been brought to light of illegal human experimentation through revealing footage and documents shared by none other than one of the prison’s former backers: Harry Osborn. In a statement made from his temporary position stationed at the Hart Island facility as one of the individuals who was directly involved in the overhaul of the facility, the new warden of the once-prison had this to say:

     “It’s clear to see that, somewhere between planning and execution, the message of what the ACCORDS were supposed to achieve was mistaken for some kind of messed up investigation into the origins of superhuman ability. I think we can all agree that it’s for the best that we see this legislation take a backseat until its parameters can be defined as something every stakeholder involved at every level of this process can understand and appreciate beyond reasonable doubt.”

Eleanor; 60 -  Upper East Side, Manhattan

I’m pleased to see the government is finally stepping in to regulate these “mutants” and what have you. I don’t have anything against them, but it’s clear that they can’t be trusted to control themselves, so if they want to be part of society they’re going to have to learn to follow the law just like everybody else.

John; 33 - Tribeca, Manhattan

How can we as citizens even contemplate opposing the Accords when accountability is so low that we let an unknown individual masquerade about as ‘Captain America’ without so much as even pushing for a definitive answer beyond mere rumors and gossip speculation? It does not matter what good deeds have been done or how many; despite quantity and quality of public service, the very public they serve deserves to know who exactly it is that supposedly has their best interests at heart. As is only clear from recent events, we only suffer the consequences when we don’t demand the knowledge we deserve.

Noah; 22 - Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

I feel like we’ve all been way too harsh on all these superheroes lately. Did everyone just forget that they stopped an alien invasion? Twice? And that’s without mentioning that they saved the city from various domestic terrorist attacks a few years ago, on top of battling another cosmic threat. With all due respect to local law enforcement, fire department, and counter terrorism agencies, we are simply not equipped to deal with threats of that scale. I think we could afford to cut them a little bit of slack.

Jose; 41 - Greenwich Village, Manhattan

So did anyone ever find out what that creepy, flying, red man-alien thing is?

Madison; 37 - Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan

All the superhero-celebrity weddings are just stunts to draw attention away from the bad press they don’t want us to focus on. The Thor wedding coinciding with the alien invasion? Not a coincidence. Hawkguy and Hawkgirl getting hitched in the middle of this Accords stuff? Not a coincidence. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. It’s all just for show and I don’t buy into a second of it. For more details, check out my blog at www.superzeroes.com. 

[The Daily Bugle does not endorse the views held by public, unaffiliated bloggers]

Tarek; 28 - Brownsville, Brooklyn

I’m a public performer and I’m just writing in to say that this Accords business has put a damper on my earnings; everyone’s willing to line Cookie Monster’s pockets with cash, but not Captain America or Thor.

Danna; 35 -  Nolita, Manhattan