Recaps

Li Chen attended a Hellfire Club gathering, met Magneto, and watched the factions reveal their competing views on Mutants. Dazzler performed for the guests, while Li Chen remained with his allies amid the club’s factional tensions.

• Li Chen emerged with the White Queen, whose behavior led the guests to reconsider the newly elevated White Rook.
• Magneto warned Li Chen not to trust the White Queen, and Li Chen responded with a joke before sharing wine with him.
• Magneto, the White Queen, and the Black Queen gave speeches, and Li Chen told Li Qianhuan, Kitty Pryde, and Dazzler that Magneto’s vision of Mutant rule was unrealistic.
• Dazzler performed at Li Chen’s prompting, and guests identified her as one of the White Rook’s people.

At a party, Li Chen appealed to Mystique by accepting her true appearance and persuading her that Magneto’s plan to overthrow humanity was impossible. He proposed creating a kingdom where mutants could live freely and asked Raven to help him build it.

• The Black Queen spoke with Li Chen at the party, then sent Li Qianhuan and the others away before leaving.
• Mystique approached Li Chen in the form of a beautiful blonde woman, and he praised her real appearance and called her Raven.
• Li Chen explained that Magneto treated Mystique as a tool and that she deserved acceptance as she was; Mystique was moved by his words.
• Mystique promoted Magneto’s cause, but Li Chen argued that mutants were too few to overthrow humanity and that doing so would provoke a devastating response.
• Li Chen proposed establishing a mutant kingdom where mutants could live, learn, and grow apart from humans, then took Raven’s hand and asked her to work with him.

Li Chen won Mystique’s support by bringing her into his circle and accepting her true appearance. Meanwhile, Scott Borchetta accepted Starlight Pictures’ offer to acquire Big Machine Records and headed to Los Angeles with Taylor Swift.

• Mystique declined to support Li Chen until he revealed that Emma Frost was backing him, after which Mystique agreed to join him.
• Li Chen took Mystique to a hotel and praised her as Raven when she revealed her blue-skinned appearance.
• Scott Borchetta weighed Starlight Pictures’ offer to acquire Big Machine Records and put him in charge of Starlight Music, then accepted.
• Scott Borchetta brought Taylor Swift out of the studio and took her with him on a flight to Los Angeles.

After spending the night with Li Chen, Mystique agreed to help him recruit mutants dissatisfied with Magneto so they could build their own kingdom. Li Chen returned to his company, where Li Qianhuan hinted that she was upset he had not invited her along the previous night.

• Mystique woke beside Li Chen, feared he had abandoned her, and relaxed when he returned with breakfast.
• Li Chen told Mystique to identify mutants unhappy with Magneto and help bring them over; she agreed and discussed making Li Chen king.
• Mystique returned to Magneto and claimed she had conquered Li Chen, then quietly contacted mutants who opposed Magneto.
• Li Chen called Ram and had Li Qianhuan pick him up before heading to the company to meet Taylor Swift and the others.
• Li Chen noticed Li Qianhuan was unusually quiet, and she complained that he had taken Mystique away without inviting her.

Li Chen met Scott Borchetta and Taylor Swift and discussed the planned acquisition and Taylor’s future image and career. Taylor became infatuated with Li Chen, then met Alison Blaire and felt self-conscious beside her.

• Li Chen welcomed Scott Borchetta and Taylor Swift, praised Taylor’s music, and said the company would help make her a star.
• Li Chen told Taylor she would need a makeover and would have to keep her figure in shape, and Taylor blushed as she agreed.
• After leaving Li Chen’s office, Taylor denied liking him when Scott asked, then silently accepted his advice to focus on her music.
• Taylor met Alison Blaire, admired her appearance and outfit, and felt inferior in her own country clothes.

Li Chen expanded Star Group’s music department, then spent 2008 enjoying life while its artists and projects advanced. In 2009, he prepared for a trip to New York after arranging Transformers’ summer release and meeting Megan Fox, whose obedience gave him a sense of control over her fate.

• Li Chen told his staff to find and sign future singers, and he approved Dua Lipa after seeing her YouTube cover video.
• Star Group grew, Dazzler recorded a single, and Taylor Swift began training in how to carry herself.
• After Christmas, Li Chen planned to visit Gwen Stacy in New York and told Michael Bay to finish Transformers for summer 2009.
• Li Chen met Megan Fox and found her willing to follow his directions and join the games he proposed.
• Li Chen reflected that controlling Megan Fox made him feel as though he held the rope of her fate.

Li Chen brought Ram, Rem, Psylocke, and Saitama to New York and settled into a seaside villa in the Hamptons. He went to surprise Gwen Stacy at Empire State University, where her friend Mary Jane also met him.

• Li Chen flew to New York with Ram, Rem, Psylocke, and Saitama on the Hellfire Club's private jet.
• On the drive from the airport, Li Chen and the others saw homeless people lining up to sell blood, then continued to his newly purchased villa in the Hamptons.
• Saitama went to play games, while Psylocke served Li Chen at the villa before he left to see Gwen Stacy.
• Gwen Stacy walked across campus with Mary Jane, who teased her about talking so much about Li Chen.
• Mary Jane mistook Li Chen's Rolls-Royce for a stranger's car and cursed at him before Gwen Stacy recognized him and ran over delightedly.

Li Chen picked up Gwen and her best friend Mary Jane, then took them to dinner at the Empire State Building. He encouraged Mary Jane to pursue her dream of becoming a Hollywood star and promised to help her, while Gwen declined to try acting herself.

• Gwen introduced Li Chen to Mary Jane, and the three left campus together in his Rolls-Royce.
• Gwen invited Mary Jane to join them for dinner, and Li Chen took both women to a restaurant in the Empire State Building.
• Mary Jane asked Li Chen about his Hollywood experience, and he entertained her and Gwen with stories from film sets.
• Li Chen told Mary Jane she had the qualities to become a star, and Gwen agreed that her friend was beautiful enough for Hollywood.
• Li Chen promised to help Mary Jane get a good role, and Mary Jane accepted while Gwen declined his offer to try acting.

Li Chen secretly kissed Mary Jane after she followed him to the restroom, and they agreed to gradually draw Gwen into their relationship. The three went to see a horror movie together, with Gwen wary of Li Chen making a move on her best friend.

• Mary Jane followed Li Chen to the restroom and embraced him, then kissed him after he reciprocated.
• Li Chen told Mary Jane he wanted to bring Gwen into their relationship, and Mary Jane blushed but began considering how to help.
• Li Chen returned to Gwen and calmly said Mary Jane would be back soon, and Mary Jane soon rejoined them without showing anything was amiss.
• Li Chen suggested that the three see a movie, and Gwen and Mary Jane agreed to watch a horror film.
• Li Chen drove Gwen and Mary Jane to a cinema, where Mary Jane picked Obsession based on its good reviews.

After watching Obsession with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane, Li Chen took Gwen to a hotel, where she retrieved her Ghost-Spider suit and spent the night with him. The next morning, Gwen learned Li Chen had already told George she would not be coming home, while Mary Jane privately asked her how the date had gone.

• Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane enjoyed Obsession, then Mary Jane left Li Chen and Gwen alone for the evening.
• Li Chen took Gwen to a hotel, and Gwen fetched a Ghost-Spider suit she had hidden nearby before returning through the window.
• Li Chen and Gwen spent the night together, and Gwen's suit was torn to pieces.
• The next morning, Li Chen told Gwen he had informed George that she would not be coming home.
• Gwen found Mary Jane's private message asking whether she had enjoyed herself the previous night.

Li Chen took Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane shopping for his new home and clothes, while the two friends grew closer to the idea of sharing him. The chapter left them inside a Louis Vuitton store, where Li Chen insisted on buying outfits for both women.

• Li Chen picked up Mary Jane, who joined him and Gwen Stacy in the car after Gwen admitted she was exhausted from the previous night.
• Li Chen told Gwen that he had bought a New York house and that it would be her home too, making Gwen feel happy and Mary Jane envious.
• Mary Jane linked arms with Li Chen as they walked with Gwen, and Gwen showed no anger at their closeness.
• Li Chen took the women into a Louis Vuitton store and told a sales associate to bring outfits for both of them.
• Gwen tried to refuse the gifts, but Li Chen insisted, and Mary Jane encouraged her to accept them.

Gwen and Mary Jane spent the day shopping on Fifth Avenue with Li Chen, who bought them luxury clothes, handbags, and cosmetics. After spending more than three hundred thousand dollars, Li Chen took them to get seafood.

• Gwen accepted Mary Jane's encouragement and told Li Chen she had a gift for him.
• Mary Jane showed Li Chen a blue evening gown, and Gwen later came out in a yellow top and hot pants.
• Li Chen bought all the outfits the women had tried on, spending more than three hundred thousand dollars.
• Li Chen continued shopping with Gwen and Mary Jane, who grew accustomed to his lavish spending.
• Li Chen asked if they were hungry and offered to treat them to seafood.

Nick Fury learned that Bruce Banner had entered New York to meet Dr. Blue, while S.H.I.E.L.D. chose to watch him rather than risk confronting General Ross. Meanwhile, Li Chen took Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane shopping and invited them to see his new home, but Gwen had to return home that night and looked forward to leaving for Los Angeles.

• Maria Hill told Nick Fury that Bruce Banner had come to New York hoping Dr. Blue could help him stop turning into the Hulk.
• Nick Fury ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to monitor Bruce Banner and said they would hand him over if General Ross arrived.
• Li Chen spent the day shopping on Fifth Avenue with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane, and they spent over a million dollars.
• Li Chen invited Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane to see his new home, and they rode there after the stores arranged to deliver their purchases.
• Gwen Stacy told Li Chen that George Stacy required her to go home that night, and she said she would soon be able to go to Los Angeles.

Li Chen brought Gwen and Mary Jane to his Long Island villa, where they met his maids and shared dinner and wine. After Gwen left, Mary Jane revealed she had only pretended to be drunk, and Li Chen carried her to the master bedroom.

• Li Chen drove Gwen and Mary Jane to his futuristic villa and introduced them to Ram, Rem, and Psylocke.
• Li Chen offered to make a Ghost-Spider comic, but Gwen refused because she found the idea embarrassing.
• Rem prepared Chinese food while Li Chen served wine, and the group ate together until Mary Jane appeared drunk.
• Li Chen offered Mary Jane a room to rest in, and Gwen declined his offer to drive her home because he had been drinking.
• After Li Chen walked Gwen out, Mary Jane admitted she had pretended to be drunk to get a chance, and Li Chen carried her to the master bedroom.

Bruce Banner went to Dr. Blue for help, but General Ross’s soldiers seized him before the research could continue. Meanwhile, Gwen returned to Li Chen’s villa for her phone and caught him with Mary Jane, leaving the three of them face-to-face.

• Bruce Banner met Dr. Blue and let him draw blood while S.H.I.E.L.D. agents watched.
• Maria Hill learned General Ross had entered New York with the army, and S.H.I.E.L.D. chose to help him capture Bruce Banner.
• General Ross’s soldiers took Bruce Banner away, while Blonsky forced Dr. Blue to inject him with Bruce’s blood.
• Gwen returned to Li Chen’s villa to retrieve her phone and heard Li Chen with Mary Jane.
• Gwen approached the half-shut door, and she and Mary Jane met eyes.

Gwen Stacy caught Li Chen and Mary Jane together, and the three of them reconciled in an intimate encounter. Meanwhile, Abomination rampaged through Harlem, drawing the army and the media into the fight as Bruce Banner prepared to stop him.

• Gwen Stacy returned for her phone and caught Li Chen and Mary Jane together, then confronted them for keeping it from her.
• Li Chen said they had drunk too much, and Mary Jane joined him in holding Gwen Stacy down as they made peace.
• General Ross took Bruce Banner aboard a plane, but Abomination emerged from Dr. Blue's apartment as it took off.
• General Ross ordered his troops to attack Abomination, who endured their weapons, destroyed military vehicles, and caused civilian deaths in Harlem.
• A helicopter carrying a Fox Television Station reporter broadcast Abomination's rampage, and he hurled a car at it as New York watched.
• Bruce Banner unfastened his seat belt and told General Ross that Abomination had to be stopped, and Ross let him go.

Saitama saw the Hulk losing to Abomination on the news and jumped toward the battlefield to intervene. As Tony Stark prepared to fight and Nick Fury considered launching the Avengers Initiative, a mysterious person arrived at the scene.

• A reporter covered the Hulk and Abomination’s destructive fight in Harlem and urged viewers to support the Hulk.
• Saitama put on his uniform and leapt above the clouds toward the battle.
• Li Chen reassured Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane that the fight would soon be over.
• Tony Stark prepared to enter the fight despite JARVIS warning that his armor had no chance against the monsters.
• Nick Fury and Maria Hill discussed the danger and the need to launch the Avengers Initiative.
• JARVIS detected someone arriving at the battlefield at high speed, and the reporter saw a person fall from the sky.

Saitama appeared in the middle of the fight between Abomination and Hulk, shocking viewers around the world. Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. learned that Saitama came from the comic One-Punch Man, while Abomination turned his attention toward him.

• Saitama descended into the street and emerged from the dust as the fight between Abomination and Hulk paused.
• Tony Stark asked JARVIS about Saitama and learned that he was the protagonist of One-Punch Man, published by Starlight Pictures.
• Nick Fury ordered Maria Hill to investigate Saitama after she said she did not recognize him.
• Abomination knocked Hulk down, roared at Saitama, and prepared to attack him.

Saitama defeated Abomination with one Normal Punch, frightened Hulk into fleeing, and refused an interview before jumping away. His appearance inspired Tony Stark to build a suit capable of fighting monsters, while reporters filmed the helpless Abomination.

• Abomination charged at Saitama and hurled a car, but Saitama smashed it apart with one casual punch.
• Saitama broke Abomination's arm with a Normal Punch and sent him crashing into an apartment building, knocking him out.
• Hulk roared at Saitama but fled when Saitama chose to leave him alone.
• Saitama declined the reporter's interview, said he acted for fun, and jumped away from the scene.
• Tony Stark asked JARVIS to help him build a suit that could defeat monsters like Abomination.
• The Fox Television Station reporter and cameraman approached Abomination and filmed him lying helplessly after Saitama's attack.

After Abomination was taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, the Ancient One said that Saitama liked happy endings. Meanwhile, the FBI investigated Starlight Pictures over the events in New York, but Li Chen used his Hellfire Club connections to protect Katherine.

• Coulson took Abomination into custody, while George Stacy accepted that the police could not safely keep him and heard Coulson suggest working together against future supervillains.
• The Ancient One watched the battle through the Eye of Agamotto, told Wong, "He likes happy endings," and returned to Kamar-Taj.
• Li Chen focused on Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane, while Katherine realized that the One-Punch Man comic seemed connected to the battle in New York.
• The FBI surrounded Starlight Pictures and summoned Katherine, so she called Li Chen, who told her to deny knowing anything and take the blame off herself.
• Li Chen asked Emma Frost to use her connections, and Hellfire Club pressure helped secure Katherine's release after the FBI learned Li Chen belonged to the club.

Coulson and Maria Hill discovered that Saitama matched the comic-book hero One-Punch Man, and S.H.I.E.L.D. traced the comic to Li Chen’s Starlight Pictures. Nick Fury decided Li Chen was a top-level secret and ordered his agents to approach him discreetly, leaving Maria Hill prepared to do so herself if necessary.

• Coulson told Maria Hill that Saitama was a comic-book hero, and they confirmed he matched One-Punch Man.
• Maria Hill reported that Starlight Pictures produced the comic and that Li Chen, a Chinese national and Hellfire Club member, ran the company.
• Nick Fury asked whether characters from Li Chen’s other comics had appeared, but Coulson and Maria Hill said they did not know.
• Nick Fury ruled out detaining Li Chen because of his connections and China’s influence over S.H.I.E.L.D.’s funding.
• Nick Fury ordered Li Chen’s information placed in a level-ten file and directed agents to approach him, while Maria Hill agreed to act if needed.

One-Punch Man became a hit across the United States after the previous night’s monster battle, bringing Li Chen over 100,000 reputation points. He upgraded the lottery, won a Wish-Granting Willow, and put it away because it could alter someone’s consciousness.

• Crowds packed DC Comics stores across New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to buy One-Punch Man.
• Li Chen fielded calls about the comic, told people it was fictional, and arranged worldwide distribution with DC Comics and MGM.
• Li Chen checked his Entertainment System and found that he had earned 110,563 reputation points, including attention sparked by Obsession and his other stories.
• Li Chen spent 10,000 reputation points to upgrade the lottery, which now required 10,000 points for a ten-pull.
• Li Chen used the upgraded lottery and won a Wish-Granting Willow, then stored it because its wish could take away someone’s sense of self.

After winning the Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon in a lottery, Li Chen learned that news coverage of Saitama had exposed his connection to the hero and made him famous. He decided to return to Los Angeles, leaving Gwen and Mary Jane in New York and considering how to protect his public image.

• Li Chen drew Boros's Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon and reflected that the powerful prize made his lottery results worthwhile.
• Mary Jane woke in pain, and Saitama apologized to Li Chen for intervening the previous day; Li Chen told him he had done the right thing.
• Li Chen saw a television report identifying him as Starlight Pictures' founder and linking him to Saitama, then caught up with Saitama to play Street Fighter 4.
• Li Chen decided to leave New York for Los Angeles as calls from wealthy New Yorkers flooded his phone, and he concluded he needed an assistant.
• Gwen and Mary Jane complained about Li Chen, but he told them he had to leave; they accepted the need to go after seeing the news coverage.
• Li Chen blamed Fox Television Station's reporting for intruding on his privacy and considered that owning an online media company could help him manage his image before he left New York.

After the New York incident, Li Chen returned to Los Angeles and handled the authorities’ inquiries with help from Emma Frost and the Hellfire Club. As public attention faded, he resumed his normal life, while the authorities avoided provoking him in case Saitama intervened again.

• Emma Frost called Li Chen after his jet landed in Los Angeles and assured him she had arranged for the authorities to give him no trouble.
• Li Chen sent Ram and Rem home, then rode to Starlight Pictures with Li Qianhuan, who praised him for Saitama’s defeat of Abomination.
• At Starlight Pictures, Li Chen told employees that Saitama’s training method only worked for Saitama and asked Harry Sloan to find him a personal assistant.
• Li Chen met with lawyers hired by the Hellfire Club and visited Los Angeles departments without speaking as they handled the inquiries for him.
• After more than half a month, the authorities stopped requiring Li Chen to appear, and he returned to his normal life.

Li Chen hired Natalie Rushman as his personal assistant, recognizing her as Black Widow while she remained unaware that he had seen through her cover. She began work at Starlight Pictures by bringing him tea.

• Li Chen reflected on how fans, rather than mere awareness of Saitama, generated reputation points, and how DC Comics' limited distribution hindered their growth.
• Li Chen interviewed Natalie Rushman, recognized her name as Black Widow's alias, and suspected S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent her to gather information.
• Li Chen asked whether Natalie would stay by his side even while he slept, and she agreed without losing her composure.
• Li Chen hired Natalie as his personal assistant, and she took the desk outside his office.
• Natalie asked what he wanted to drink, and she brought him a cup of tea.