Chapter Summaries

Tony Stark mistook Pepper Potts for Loki and trapped her in a Stillness field, demanding to know what had happened to the real Pepper. The confrontation ended with Tony firing at her and blasting apart her left hand, leaving him frozen as she bled against the window.

• Pepper Potts confronted Tony Stark after he aimed the Zero Gravity II Armor’s weapons at her.
• Tony revealed that armors outside Stark Tower had sealed the floor in a Stillness field and accused the person before him of being Loki.
• Pepper realized Tony did not recognize her and insisted that she was Pepper Potts.
• Tony demanded to know where Pepper was and warned the impostor that the Stillness field was her only chance to escape.
• Pepper threw documents at Tony, and he fired a Beam Cannon that blasted apart her left hand and hurled her into the window.

He-El refused General Ross’s request to accelerate mass production of the Gene Serum, explaining the cost and danger of the process while giving him equipment blueprints. He-El and Ross reaffirmed their partnership, and Vivian located Pepper Potts at Stark Industries.

• General Ross urged He-El to make Gene Serum sooner, but He-El said producing even one vial required costly, single-use gamma equipment and extensive research.
• He-El offered Ross blueprints for the equipment and explained that rebuilding it would take years and billions of dollars.
• Ross asked whether the next year's Gene Serum could provide a three-hundred-year lifespan, and He-El said it could.
• He-El told Ross he planned to turn human consciousness into a quantum state, convincing Ross that he wanted immortality and easing Ross's suspicions.
• He-El promised that future advances in Earth's materials might help Ross make more Gene Serum, and the two reaffirmed their partnership.
• Vivian told her master that Pepper Potts was in the president's office at Stark Industries.

He-El learned that Loki had impersonated Pepper Potts, while Tony Stark mistook the real Pepper for Loki and severed her arm. Tony rushed her to a Regeneration Cradle, where He-El revealed that Tony had been deceived.

• Vivian’s analysis showed that Loki had impersonated Pepper Potts from April 12 until Tony tested her with the Mind Disruptor.
• He-El saw Tony blast off the real Pepper Potts’s left arm and left his meeting with General Ross to help.
• Tony told He-El what he had done, and He-El sent a Manta Ray spacecraft carrying a Regeneration Cradle to Stark Industries.
• Tony froze Pepper’s wound, placed her in armor, and met He-El’s spacecraft in the night sky.
• Tony placed Pepper in the Regeneration Cradle, and He-El told him he had been had.

Loki agreed to open a spatial passage to Earth for Thanos’s Chitauri army, while secretly treating the Cosmic Cube as leverage. Thanos saw through Loki’s schemes and ordered Ebony Maw and Black Dwarf to retrieve the Mind Scepter and Cosmic Cube after the passage opened.

• Loki delighted in tormenting He-El before Ebony Maw drew him into a mental illusion of an Asgardian banquet, which Thanos shattered.
• Ebony Maw asked whether Loki had obtained the Cosmic Cube, and Loki confirmed that he had.
• Loki asked whether the Chitauri forces were ready, and Ebony Maw said they would enter Earth through a passage opened with the Cosmic Cube.
• Loki agreed to open the passage and disappeared from the illusion, believing the Cosmic Cube gave him leverage over Thanos.
• Ebony Maw warned Thanos that Loki had his own agenda, and Thanos ordered Ebony Maw and Black Dwarf to retrieve the Mind Scepter and Cosmic Cube from Earth.

He-El launched a global operation to lift Loki’s Mind Suggestion from humanity using modified satellites, while teams prepared to contain unrest. The suggestion was lifted, causing widespread accidents and revealing that people had been manipulated into opposing He-El.

• He-El reassured Tony Stark that Pepper Potts would recover and explained that Loki’s Mind Control could amplify people’s emotions.
• Tony Stark decided to join the operation, while He-El briefed Nick Fury and teams on targeting politicians and the 538 electors.
• He-El ordered Vivian to activate five modified satellites that broadcast infrasound across the globe.
• The infrasound lifted the Mind Suggestion within seconds, but dizzy and nauseated people caused crashes and other disasters around the world.
• Political leaders repealed policies aimed at He-El, while people online realized they had been controlled and governments were urged to restore order.

He-El coordinated a worldwide operation to free Congress members, politicians, and electors from Loki’s Mind Control, then scrambled heroes to stop controlled aircraft carriers from attacking Washington and other countries. Tony Stark reported that Loki had escaped, and He-El watched Evans at the Capitol podium as if they had seen each other.

• Spider-Man and more than thirty teams used Mind Disruptors and earpieces to free targets across Congress and other locations.
• He-El learned that ten aircraft carriers had deployed their weapons toward Washington and other nations, and ordered the freed defense secretary to contact other countries.
• He-El sent Bruce Banner, Natasha, Hawkeye, and T’Challa to disrupt carriers and restore their controlled commanders.
• He-El ordered Thor to wait above the Pacific and prepare to intercept any nuclear missiles launched.
• Tony Stark said Loki had escaped after Tony trapped a duplicate, while He-El watched Evans at the Capitol podium.

Congressional delegates nominated Frit Evans, Yolanda Priscus, and He-El as presidential candidates while conscious legislators realized Loki’s controlled candidates could take the presidency. The candidates began their required speeches, with Evans stepping up to the podium after Yolanda Priscus.

• Andreas Waxman entered the Capitol chamber and recognized both mind-controlled legislators and others who had regained their senses.
• Republicans nominated Vice President Frit Evans, and Democrats nominated Secretary of State Yolanda Priscus, surprising the conscious legislators who had expected He-El to be nominated.
• Andreas Waxman realized the conscious legislators lacked enough votes to stop one of Loki’s controlled candidates from becoming president.
• The Civilization Party nominated He-El, prompting the conscious legislators to plan to secure votes through the Electoral College.
• Yolanda Priscus gave a brief campaign speech, and Evans stepped onto the podium with a playful smile.

Evans watched the presidential nomination meeting unfold as the Senate President repeatedly called for He-El, who had not yet arrived. Just as the third confirmation was about to disqualify him, a legislator’s bizarre striptease delayed the vote, and He-El entered the chamber.

• Evans delivered a brief speech, then yielded the podium to the Senate President.
• The Senate President called for He-El to confirm his candidacy and issued the first and second confirmations when He-El did not appear.
• Awakened legislators grew anxious and urged He-El to hurry as the deadline approached.
• Congressman Andreas Waxman danced on the conference table, distracting the chamber and preventing the Senate President from striking the gavel a third time.
• Evans told the Senate President to proceed, but He-El entered the chamber and apologized for being late.

He-El arrived at the Senate and secured his place as a presidential candidate, promising to address unemployment, the budget deficit, and healthcare. After the Senate named the three candidates, Loki, speaking through Evans, challenged He-El to a contest of control during the election.

• Andreas Waxman stopped resisting security, shook He-El's hand, and pledged support after He-El promised him benefits.
• He-El took the podium and announced his presidential candidacy, promising to tackle unemployment, the national deficit, and healthcare costs.
• He-El received scattered applause as senators under Mind Control considered using laws to seize his property and technology.
• The chairman announced Frit Evans, Yolanda Priscus, and He-El as the three presidential candidates.
• Evans praised He-El's campaign speech, and He-El reminded Loki that he had never beaten him in a fight.
• Loki challenged He-El to compete in the election and demanded that He-El's agents leave the aircraft carrier.

He-El stopped five nuclear missiles launched by Loki-controlled aircraft carriers while hiding the full extent of his defenses. Loki revealed that he had also taken control of other generals, and He-El withdrew his allies as the presidential election contest continued.

• Evans threatened to launch nuclear missiles and began the attack after He-El rejected his challenge.
• Nick Fury reported five missiles heading toward different countries, and He-El coordinated Thor and Tony Stark to destroy two while Vivian's aircraft intercepted the other three.
• Evans revealed that more generals were under his control and threatened further launches from sea and land.
• He-El ordered Black Widow, Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Hulk to withdraw from the aircraft carriers.
• Hulk continued smashing the carrier after being wounded, and Evans left while welcoming the next stage of the election contest.

He-El delivered a presidential campaign speech promising a fairer society, shared controlled nuclear fusion, and humanity’s expansion into space. After the crowd and foreign leaders reacted enthusiastically, a reporter asked whether a conspiracy had caused the worldwide Mind Suggestion targeting him.

• He-El promised housing, education, healthcare, meaningful work, scientific progress, and a more just society.
• He-El pledged to share controlled nuclear fusion with other countries and lead humanity beyond Earth.
• Crowds and people watching around the world cheered for He-El, while foreign leaders reacted with surprise and praise.
• A reporter asked He-El how confident he was that he could fulfill his promises, and he said they would be achieved one hundred percent.
• A reporter asked whether a vast conspiracy organization had caused the Mind Suggestion targeting He-El, and the crowd fell silent awaiting his answer.

He-El told the public that aliens had targeted him to stop humanity’s advance into space, concealing the real danger of Loki controlling nuclear weapons. As the crowd rallied behind him, Nick Fury reported that the Cosmic Cube had been found, and He-El left to help.

• He-El claimed that aliens had caused the Mind Suggestion to prevent his fusion energy from taking humanity into space.
• The crowd believed his explanation, condemned the aliens, and loudly pledged its support for He-El.
• He-El reassured reporters that he would lead humanity into a new era, drawing further cheers.
• Nick Fury contacted He-El and said the Cosmic Cube had been found and the situation was tricky.
• He-El ended his speech, boarded a spacecraft, and left to join Nick Fury.

He-El continued his presidential campaign while preparing safeguards against Loki’s Mind Control. He met Bruce Banner at Stark Industries’ Ark Reactor Building to investigate what Loki had left behind.

• He-El learned that the Strong Infrasound Reflector Panels would be ready by October 20 and ordered Vivian to continue work on them and the Quark-Model Armor.
• He-El traveled in the cloaked Manta Ray spacecraft to Stark Industries’ Ark Reactor Building, where Loki had chosen a mature reactor.
• Bruce Banner told He-El that Hulk had swum across the Pacific, ridden a shark, and left Banner waking up at the North Pole hugging a polar bear.
• He-El and Bruce walked toward the Ark Reactor Building and agreed to study the new thing Loki had left behind.

He-El, Nick Fury, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner discovered that Loki had hidden the Cosmic Cube beneath Stark Industries' Ark Reactor, where its unstable energy could destroy Earth. He-El explained that they had to let the Cube open a wormhole and prepare to face an alien invasion to reclaim it.

• He-El entered the Ark Reactor with Bruce Banner and learned from Nick Fury that a radar had detected the Cosmic Cube there three days earlier.
• Nick Fury explained that Loki's realistic illusion had concealed the Cube while his presidential campaign distracted S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tony Stark and Bruce Banner assessed the Cube's danger, and He-El warned that an unstable cycle could form a black hole or unleash beams capable of destroying Earth.
• He-El told Nick Fury to coordinate an evacuation within twenty kilometers, while clarifying that the area would be their battlefield rather than the limit of the disaster.
• He-El said they had to let the Cosmic Cube open its wormhole and release its energy before reclaiming it, and warned the others to prepare for an alien invasion.

He-El and Loki’s opposing forces fought to influence electors as the presidential campaign plunged the country into chaos. He-El publicly urged his supporters to stop using violence in his name, then wondered whether he was becoming like a certain mustached rejected art student.

• Stark Industries evacuated the area around the Ark Reactor, while General Ross and Nick organized a military lockdown.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. searched for four missing aircraft carriers and worked to free Mind Controlled personnel at military bases.
• He-El’s international allies and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents worked to secure electors, while Loki’s network repeatedly Mind Controlled them again.
• Electors’ reversals sparked public confusion and violent protests, and He-El intervened to save an elector from a mob.
• He-El publicly called on his supporters to respect others’ free will and avoid violence.
• He-El reflected that his approach felt like that of a certain mustached rejected art student.

He-El’s speech sparked nationwide support as people recalled how his projects had helped them, while his forces prepared for the presidential vote against Loki. Despite Loki’s control of most aircraft carriers, several military bases, and more than fifty electors, He-El headed to Congress, confident Loki had already lost.

• People across the states rallied for He-El, demanded his election, and recalled the benefits his projects had brought them.
• He-El’s cloaked Manta Ray spacecraft remained at fifty thousand meters while he ordered an attack capable of destroying Mind Control wave frequencies.
• Vivian reported that Loki had regained control of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, three military bases, and more than fifty electors, leaving He-El’s forces outmatched on paper.
• He-El ordered Vivian to watch for the Cosmic Cube opening a spatial wormhole and prevent Loki from escaping.
• He-El boarded a smaller Manta Ray spacecraft and flew toward the Congress building as the presidential vote approached.

S.H.I.E.L.D. focused its forces on guarding Stark Industries' Ark Reactor as Nick Fury explained that He-El expected Loki to open a spatial wormhole after the presidential election. Natasha and Hawkeye joined the assembled heroes and fighters at the reactor, where they prepared for an alien invasion.

• Natasha asked Nick Fury whether S.H.I.E.L.D. should support He-El's presidential campaign, but Fury said they could not free enough electors from Loki's control.
• Fury explained that He-El had predicted Loki would open a spatial wormhole after the election, whether He-El won or lost, so S.H.I.E.L.D. had concentrated its forces around the Cosmic Cube.
• Nick Fury sent Natasha to Stark Industries' Ark Reactor, and Hawkeye accompanied her there by Quinjet.
• Natasha and Hawkeye joined Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Thor, Peter Parker, and others at the reactor.
• The assembled heroes prepared to serve as the first and second assault echelons when the alien army invaded.

He-El arrived at the Capitol as the crowd rallied behind him, then took his seat for a tightly supervised Electoral College vote amid widespread suspicion that Loki’s Mind Control had turned many electors against him. The count began, and the first announced vote went to Frit Evans rather than He-El.

• He-El descended from a Manta Ray spacecraft and told a child it would carry humanity into the stars.
• He-El entered the Capitol, reassured a clear-minded congressman that he would win, and sat beside Evans.
• The Senate president began the Electoral College vote, with ballots counted and broadcast immediately under strict supervision.
• The first announced ballot was Colorado elector Sweetlanner Hobbs’s vote for Frit Evans.

Frit Evans appeared close to winning the presidential vote after Loki’s Mind Control gave him a commanding lead over He-El. At the count’s most desperate point, the controlled electors regained their awareness and began voting for He-El, leaving Evans stunned and demanding to know how his control had been broken.

• Sweetlanner Hobbs and other electors cast early votes for Frit Evans, giving him a decisive lead while He-El and Yolanda Priscus received none.
• He-El calmly challenged Evans’s confidence, and conscious electors began casting votes for him, though Evans still led 260 to 170.
• With nearly all conscious electors having voted, Evans appeared to need only ten more votes to secure victory.
• He-El referred to the more than thirty thousand supporters outside the Capitol Building, but Evans dismissed them as irrelevant.
• Electors previously under Loki’s Mind Control suddenly regained awareness and began voting for He-El.
• Evans glared at the electors and asked He-El how he had restored them.

He-El exposed how Loki had controlled the electors and won the presidential election after the awakened legislators cast their votes for him. Loki threatened to destroy Earth, but He-El revealed he had anticipated the coming invasion as the Cosmic Cube began to tremble above Stark Industries.

• The electors regained their consciousness and began voting for He-El, raising his total while Evans's count remained at 260.
• He-El explained that Loki's Mental Local Area Network had been neutralized because the thirty thousand people outside the Capitol had unknowingly formed a network opposing Loki's control.
• He-El's votes reached 270, and the president of the Senate declared him the forty-fourth president.
• He-El called Loki a prank-playing child, and Loki threatened to destroy Earth and claimed he would ultimately win.
• He-El asked whether the Cosmic Cube had gathered enough energy to open a spatial wormhole, and the Cosmic Cube began trembling above the Ark Reactor at Stark Industries.