Chapter Summaries

Coulson bailed Evenson and Sarah out after their reckless drive led to multiple charges, then drove them toward S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters for Nick Fury’s summons. Evenson agreed he had stayed within his limits, and Coulson kept the reason for the meeting secret.

• Evenson and Sarah were arrested after Evenson drove without a license or registration and Sarah threatened an officer.
• Coulson bailed them out and warned Evenson that serious misconduct could land him in a special prison.
• Coulson arranged for the car to be returned and told Evenson not to drive until his license was ready.
• Evenson brought Sarah along, saying he did not hide his business from her, and she complained that he was avoiding paying for her cab.
• Coulson drove Evenson and Sarah toward S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters for Nick Fury’s meeting, while Evenson joked about receiving a pure-gold medal.

Evenson arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Trident Headquarters and met Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff, and Melinda before discussing whether he would work with S.H.I.E.L.D. He refused to join or accept financial assistance, then warned Fury that he might not be able to stay calm much longer.

• Coulson brought Evenson to Trident Headquarters, where Evenson joked about taking pictures and scanning the facility.
• Evenson met Natasha Romanoff and greeted her as Black Widow, while Melinda took Sarah away.
• Coulson warned Evenson not to mention Hubbs to Nick Fury, but Evenson immediately said that Hubbs had mentioned Fury.
• Fury praised Evenson and offered him a position at S.H.I.E.L.D., but Evenson rejected the offer.
• Fury offered financial assistance, but Evenson refused and said he could provide mysticism services for a fee.
• Evenson told Fury that it would be difficult for him to remain calm much longer.

Evenson confronted Nick Fury about the military buildup in the city and warned that he would retaliate if anyone threatened his home. After Fury explained that General Ross’s forces were hunting Hulk, Evenson claimed to get information through other spellcasters, then froze when Fury showed him a printed sheet.

• Evenson asked Nick Fury to explain the troops and sonic weapons he had seen moving into the city.
• Evenson said he would ignore ordinary wartime disruption but would deal with looters or anyone who threatened his home.
• Nick Fury told Evenson the troops belonged to General Ross and were there to capture Hulk, whom Evenson recognized.
• Evenson claimed that strong Mental Power let him communicate with other spellcasters and receive information from them.
• Nick Fury showed Evenson a printed sheet, and Evenson silently cursed Howitzer when he saw it.

Evenson fabricated a history linking Umbrella Corporation to a secret Nazi escape plan, convincing Nick Fury that the company was a new flag for the Nazis. Fury began connecting Umbrella to Super Soldier research but questioned why the Allies had never uncovered the plan.

• Nick Fury showed Evenson the Umbrella Corporation logo and asked what he knew about it.
• Evenson claimed that Hitler and his inner circle had planned a way for the Nazis to survive defeat and rise again under a new identity and flag.
• Evenson pointed out that the logo formed an Iron Cross when its white areas were removed, and Fury concluded that Umbrella was the Nazis’ new organization.
• Nick Fury linked Umbrella’s advanced Super Soldier technology and advertising slogan to Nazi experiments and propaganda.
• Nick Fury questioned why the Allies had never discovered the supposed plan when they captured Nazi officials.

Evenson told Nick Fury that Umbrella Corporation’s Nazi associates might be hiding beneath Antarctic ice, in a Pacific trench, or on the far side of the moon. After S.H.I.E.L.D. set the mystery aside, Fury offered Evenson a consultant position, and Evenson seemed tempted.

• Evenson argued that loyal Nazis who knew about the secret plan would never reveal it, while less loyal prisoners probably had never known about it.
• Evenson told Nick Fury that his deceased colleague had deduced three possible Nazi hiding places: beneath Antarctica, in a Pacific trench, and on the far side of the moon.
• Evenson said his colleague had been killed by the White Wizards, and Nick Fury and the others postponed investigating Umbrella Corporation.
• Nick Fury offered Evenson a nominally affiliated consultant position with S.H.I.E.L.D., and Evenson showed some interest.

Evenson accepted Nick Fury’s offer to become a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant and was assigned to work with Natasha on a mission involving Tony Stark. After learning that Tony’s palladium-powered device was slowly poisoning him, Evenson offered to prolong his life through magic, but warned that the spell required an equivalent exchange.

• Evenson agreed to Nick Fury’s proposal and accepted a mission alongside Natasha Romanoff.
• Nick Fury revealed that Tony Stark was the mission’s target, and Evenson recognized that Tony’s life force was fading.
• Nick Fury explained that Tony’s chest device kept bomb fragments from reaching his vital organs but was poisoning him with palladium.
• Evenson said he could prolong Tony’s life, though his healing magic would eventually mutate Tony through fel energy.
• Evenson warned Nick Fury that prolonging Tony’s life would require an equivalent exchange of life.

Evenson explained that healing Tony would require extracting life force from others, and Nick Fury decided to use people he considered irredeemable while limiting the spell to three treatments. After Tony revealed himself as Iron Man at a press conference, Fury and Evenson confronted him at his villa.

• Evenson told Nick Fury that extracting life force would kill the person it came from, and Fury chose to sacrifice people he considered the world's garbage to prolong Tony's life.
• Evenson agreed to heal Tony up to three times and learned that Nick Fury planned to introduce them that night.
• Nick Fury explained that Tony had caused a public incident with Obadiah and was expected to reject S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cover story at his press conference.
• Tony declared himself Iron Man at the press conference, then returned to his seaside villa late that night.
• Nick Fury confronted Tony in the villa, and Evenson emerged from the shadows and reminded Tony that he owed him two favors.

Evenson and Nick Fury visited Tony Stark, who explained why he had revealed his identity as Iron Man and dismissed warnings about the trouble it could bring. Nick Fury then asked Tony for his input on the Avengers.

• Nick Fury brought Evenson to Tony's house, where Tony recognized Hubbs as the Husky that had saved his life.
• Tony and Evenson joked over drinks, while Nick Fury introduced himself as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tony told Nick Fury he had revealed himself as Iron Man to intimidate threats and protect world peace.
• Evenson praised Tony's understanding of Magic, and Tony said he would eventually figure out how Evenson's attacks worked.
• Nick Fury warned Tony that the government, military, and rival arms companies might pressure him for his technology, but Tony remained confident.
• Nick Fury asked Tony for his input on the Avengers.

Nick Fury tried to recruit Tony Stark for a special response team by describing threats posed by Super Soldiers, a mysterious company, and a Super Mutant. Tony remained arrogant and resisted help, but Evenson warned him that his palladium poisoning could kill him and destroy his hopes.

• Nick Fury explained that he wanted a special team to confront dangerous threats, but Tony insisted he could handle them alone.
• Nick Fury told Tony about Super Soldiers defeating military forces and a Super Mutant escaping General Ross's operation in Brazil.
• Tony asked who else would join the team, and Nick Fury said he would not reveal the candidates until Tony formally joined.
• Nick Fury told Tony he planned to send Evenson to help with his health, then pointed out the problem in Tony's chest.
• Tony dismissed the offer of help, and Evenson warned him that palladium poisoning could leave him dead with his dreams and regrets unresolved.

Evenson persuaded Tony to accept help managing his illness and warned him that Justin Hammer could be a government-backed threat to Stark Industries. After the meeting, Evenson and Nick Fury left Tony’s villa in Fury’s heavily equipped SUV.

• Evenson told Tony that his magic could only buy him time and that Tony would have to solve his illness himself, and Tony agreed to his help.
• Nick Fury revealed that Evenson was a small shareholder in Tony’s company and owned stock in Justin Hammer’s company, prompting Tony to hire Evenson as his health consultant.
• Evenson explained that Justin Hammer mass-produced cheap weapons for conflict zones and served as a government proxy, and Tony said he would keep an eye on him.
• Nick Fury reminded Tony to consider their earlier matter, then left the villa with Evenson in a black Chevrolet SUV.
• Nick Fury bragged about the SUV’s features, while Evenson joked that its air-conditioning seemed to be its best quality.

Nick Fury explained to Evenson that the Avengers were still an unofficial plan intended to counter Hydra and the Umbrella Corporation, and admitted he was prepared to defy the World Security Council to stop them. Evenson declined to join for now, but expected Fury to seek his help again when New York faced a crisis.

• Evenson challenged Nick Fury for keeping him out of the Avengers plan, and Fury explained that it had not yet been approved by the World Security Council.
• Nick Fury told Evenson that he was preparing the Avengers in advance because Hydra and the Umbrella Corporation could threaten global stability.
• Nick Fury stopped the car and declared he would do everything possible to stop the organizations, even if it meant sacrificing his position and defying the Council.
• Nick Fury asked Evenson to help protect the world, but Evenson said he needed time to think and privately considered moving away from disaster-prone New York.

Evenson explained why Hydra was unlikely to move against the car S.H.I.E.L.D. had given him, then returned to his shop and found Sarah waiting for Black Widow’s contact information. The next day, Justin Hammer tried to buy Evenson’s car, and Evenson mocked him by comparing him to Tony Stark’s loser.

• Nick Fury warned Evenson that the car could attract attention, but Evenson argued Hydra would not risk exposing itself over Red Skull’s relic.
• Evenson returned to his shop and found Sarah waiting up; she asked whether he had gotten Black Widow’s contact information.
• The next day, Evenson found Justin Hammer and two bodyguards inspecting his car outside the shop.
• Justin offered to buy the car and tried to intimidate Evenson by introducing himself, but Evenson refused and insulted him as Tony Stark’s pitiful loser.

Evenson drove Justin Hammer away after humiliating him and Tyler crippled one of Justin’s bodyguards. The police officers nervously let Evenson’s group go, and he reminded one of them to repay him for his bicycle.

• Evenson insulted Justin, and a Fear Spell left Justin weak and gasping beside his car.
• Tyler crushed a bodyguard’s forearm when the man tried to grab Evenson, and Justin’s other bodyguard drew a gun.
• Three police officers arrived and, despite Justin’s complaint, ordered him and his group to leave.
• After Justin left, Evenson called an officer over and told him he still owed him for the bicycle.
• The officer admitted he had forgotten to bring back Evenson’s bicycle.

After agents monitoring Evenson secretly intervened in his street fight with Justin, Evenson let Justin go and decided to use him for his own purposes. He asked Howitzer to introduce them, saying he had a fortuitous opportunity for Justin.

• Agents disguised as police rushed in to separate Evenson and Justin, then promised Evenson a replacement bicycle before leaving.
• Evenson returned to his shop and complained that the agents had acted as if they were afraid of him.
• Tyler said Evenson should have let him kill Justin, but Evenson replied that he planned to squeeze value out of him first.
• Evenson called Howitzer from a new SIM card and asked him to arrange an introduction to Justin Hammer.
• Evenson told Howitzer he had a fortuitous opportunity to offer Justin.

Evenson persuaded Howitzer to help Umbrella Corporation keep Justin Hammer in line, with Jill Valentine set to approach him under the company’s name. Meanwhile, General Ross offered the dejected Major Franski a chance to regain his youth through a breakthrough in the Super Soldier program.

• Evenson explained that Umbrella Corporation intended to use Justin Hammer and wanted Howitzer to intimidate him, and Howitzer agreed to help within three months.
• Evenson revealed that Jill Valentine would represent Umbrella Corporation, prompting Howitzer to ask his secretary to investigate her.
• General Ross discussed Major Franski’s defeat in Brazil, where Bruce Banner transformed into a green giant and defeated Franski’s team.
• Franski considered leaving the front lines because of his age and humiliating defeat, but Ross offered to make him twenty years younger.
• Ross told Franski that the Super Soldier program had recently advanced thanks to a gift brought by special guests.

Ross used tissue fluid from enhanced attackers to prepare Franski for the Super Soldier program, while Nick Fury called Evenson about Justin Hammer and a distant battle. Franski confronted Hulk but was quickly kicked away.

• Ross explained to Franski that tissue fluid extracted from the attackers’ organ fragments had greatly enhanced animals and could help people withstand the Super Soldier program’s side effects.
• Franski agreed to undergo the procedure so he could gain power and surpass Captain America.
• Nick Fury told Evenson that S.H.I.E.L.D. was investigating Justin Hammer’s businesses and warned Evenson not to kill him.
• Nick Fury revealed that Ross’s people were fighting nearby, and Evenson said he wanted no part in the conflict.
• Franski taunted Hulk on the battlefield, but Hulk kicked him flying.

Franski became Abomination after injecting Hulk’s blood and fought Hulk through the city. When their battle destroyed Evenson’s prized car, Evenson armed himself and went after the pantless Abomination, prompting his monitor to alert Nick Fury.

• Franski injected himself with Hulk’s blood and transformed into Abomination, then rampaged through the city until Hulk confronted him.
• Hulk and Abomination’s fight moved into Evenson’s district, where a flying taxi crushed Evenson’s car.
• Evenson summoned his Skull Staff and Heart of the Void, then ordered Tyler to help him attack Abomination.
• Evenson headed into the street to fight Abomination, and his assigned agent warned Nick Fury.

Nick Fury learned that Evenson had gone to confront Hulk and Abomination after they wrecked his car, and Evenson summoned two Fearful Hounds to attack Abomination. As Hulk knocked Abomination away, Evenson realized that Abomination looked different from the one he remembered.

• Nick Fury learned that Evenson had entered the street fight after a taxi smashed his car, and he decided not to stop him.
• Abomination used his combat experience to gain the upper hand against Hulk.
• Evenson summoned two Fearful Hounds, which pounced on Abomination and irritated him before he slammed them to the ground.
• Hulk recovered and rammed Abomination away while Evenson angrily demanded to know who had smashed his car and house windows.
• Evenson noticed that Abomination did not look like the one he remembered.

Evenson fought Abomination with Sorcerer spells after realizing Ross had given Franski fel-infused blood, while Hulk and Ross also tried to stop him. The fight remained unresolved when Abomination knocked Ross’s helicopter out of the sky and Hulk rushed after it to save his wife.

• Evenson recognized the fel energy in Abomination and deduced that Ross had injected Franski with fel-infused blood before Hulk’s blood transformed him.
• Evenson summoned Fearful Hounds and used Gul'dan's Hand to attack Abomination, but Abomination killed the summoned creatures and charged at him.
• Evenson’s Apocalypse Descends curse erupted inside Abomination, giving Hulk an opening to attack him.
• Ross ordered the helicopter gunner to fire at Abomination, who hurled a car door into the helicopter’s tail and sent it spiraling down.
• Hulk abandoned the fight and ran after the falling helicopter to save his wife, leaving Evenson behind.

Evenson fought Abomination after Hulk fled, using spells and Demon Guard Tyler to keep the powerful enemy at bay. After gathering the souls of the battle’s victims and empowering his staff with a Flame Stone, Evenson set Abomination ablaze with Immolate.

• Hulk ran away, leaving Evenson to face Abomination, who charged at him after declaring he would kill him.
• Evenson fired Demon Arrow and blocked Abomination’s leap with Void Protection before using a Demon Array to teleport away.
• Tyler ambushed Abomination and slashed his ribs, then fought him while Evenson cast Agony, Corruption, Unstable Affliction, and Weakness Curse.
• Evenson collected the souls of the dead, turned a Soul Crystal into a Flame Stone, and empowered his staff.
• Evenson cast Immolate, setting Abomination ablaze as he fought Tyler.