Chapter Summaries

Tony Stark received a posthumous letter from Nick Fury warning that He-El was secretly pursuing the Infinity Stones and might destroy Earth. The letter left Tony tasked with uncovering He-El’s goal while hiding from his surveillance.

• Tony Stark received Nick Fury’s letter from a suspicious mailman who disappeared before Stark could question him.
• Tony Stark questioned the regular mailman, confirmed he had delivered Stark Industries’ documents, and let him leave.
• Tony Stark concluded that Nick Fury had used a covert agent to deliver the letter and read Fury’s warning.
• Nick Fury’s letter identified He-El as his killer and accused him of secretly waiting to seize the Infinity Stones from Thanos.
• Nick Fury urged Tony Stark not to trust his own technology, to hide, and to discover He-El’s objective before he obtained the Infinity Stones.

Natasha Romanoff received a mysterious delivery from an unregistered agent and discovered that it contained Nick Fury’s final letter. The letter declared that Fury was dead and that Natasha was the only agent he trusted.

• Natasha prepared for danger when an unfamiliar postman rang her doorbell, then cautiously opened the door and signed for his delivery.
• Natasha found the postman’s calm, efficient manner familiar and recognized him as a desk agent after he left.
• Natasha sketched the postman and searched S.H.I.E.L.D.’s facial database, but found no record of him.
• Natasha tested the delivered document for poison, opened it with protective gear, and read Nick Fury’s letter stating that he was dead and trusted only her.

Clint Barton spent a rare day off with his family at his secluded farm while S.H.I.E.L.D. searched without success for a worldwide psychic fluctuation. A suspicious mail delivery hinted that Nick Fury was in danger, and Clint opened a letter stating that Nick was already dead.

• Clint Barton returned to his farm to spend a day with his wife and children before resuming his work as an Avenger.
• Clint comforted his resentful wife, and the family enjoyed a picnic lunch outside.
• A mailman arrived with a document envelope requiring Clint's signature, and Clint recognized him as a desk agent.
• Clint suspected Nick Fury was in trouble but finished lunch with his family before opening the envelope alone.
• Clint read Nick's letter, which said Nick was dead and that Clint was the only friend he could trust.

Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner each received a letter from Nick stating that he was dead and that they were the only people he could trust. The chapter ended with Bruce reading the letter after sleeping for eight hours, while the reason for Nick's message remained unknown.

• Steve Rogers returned from a run and received a document envelope from a mailman outside his apartment.
• Steve signed for the envelope, opened it, and read Nick's message that he was dead and Steve was the only comrade he could trust.
• Bruce Banner left S.H.I.E.L.D. exhausted after days of work building a psychic-frequency receiver based on data from He-El.
• Bruce fell asleep after reaching home, leaving his unopened envelope beneath the bed.
• Eight hours later, Bruce answered the mailman's reminder, found the envelope, and read Nick's message that Bruce was the only intelligence and strength he could trust.

Nick Fury’s final letters warned five Avengers to remain secretly vigilant against He-El and wait for a future chance to oppose him. Tony Stark doubted the warning, Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton believed it, Steve Rogers began considering allies, and Bruce Banner was left confused.

• Nick Fury’s letters named Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, and Bruce Banner, and instructed them to hide their suspicions of He-El until the right opportunity arose.
• Tony Stark questioned whether the letter was genuine, recalled Nick Fury’s disappearance and the global psychic wave, then refrained from investigating with his technology.
• Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton authenticated their letters using their secret codes, suspected He-El had caused the psychic wave and killed Nick Fury, and burned the letters without making a move.
• Steve Rogers reread the warning, disposed of the letter, and began planning how to recruit other Avengers against future threats.
• Bruce Banner stared at the letter in bewilderment, unable to understand how He-El could be a bad guy.

Stephen Strange brought Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff to Asgard to enlist Thor’s help and use the Soul Furnace to strengthen their powers against He-El. The chapter ended with Strange contacting Thor while Thor brooded over Odin’s decline.

• Stephen Strange took Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff to Asgard, intending to work with Thor and use the Soul Furnace to awaken their powers.
• Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff revealed that they had begun using Chaos Magic and super speed after a mental wave swept over them.
• Stephen Strange warned that their powers were insufficient against He-El and said the Mind Stone could rapidly increase their strength.
• Thor reflected on restoring peace across the Nine Realms and worried that Odin had abandoned his responsibilities after He-El defeated him.
• Stephen Strange contacted Thor and asked for his help.

Stephen Strange asked Thor to help stop He-El, claiming He-El had killed Nick Fury and was secretly collecting the six Infinity Stones. Thor doubted the accusation because He-El had previously possessed the Mind Stone and could have taken Asgard’s Space Stone but had not.

• Thor secretly met Stephen Strange, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff in a secluded forest outside Asgard City.
• Stephen told Thor that He-El had seized the Reality Stone and killed Nick Fury.
• Stephen explained that He-El had been hiding on Earth, cooperating with Dormammu, and pursuing all six Infinity Stones; Nick had sacrificed himself and left an unknown plan to counter He-El.
• Stephen asked Thor to join forces with Earth because He-El would target Asgard’s Space Stone.
• Thor questioned Stephen’s claim, noting that He-El had previously held the Mind Stone and could have taken the Space Stone after defeating Odin but had left both behind.

Stephen Strange realized that the figure on Asgard’s throne was not Odin and attacked him with magical bindings. He announced the impostor’s identity to a stunned Thor.

• Stephen Strange explained to Thor that He-El had secretly planned to let Thanos gather all six Infinity Stones before taking them on Earth.
• Thor brought Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and Pietro Maximoff to his palace and warned the twins to stay in the guest rooms.
• Thor agreed to take Stephen Strange to see Odin, then went ahead to prepare his father for the meeting.
• Stephen Strange sensed that the Odin on the throne lacked the power of the real King of the Gods and secretly used a spell to investigate him.
• Loki, disguised as Odin, reacted when he detected the spell, but Stephen Strange bound him with golden magical whips and told Thor that he was a fake.

Stephen Strange exposed Loki disguised as Odin, and Loki revealed that Odin had fused with Gungnir to prepare a surprise attack on He-El. Thor and Strange began to suspect He-El had a hidden threat, while Loki offered to help stop him by securing the Power Stone before Thanos could obtain it.

• Stephen Strange dispelled Loki’s transformation, revealing him bound on Odin’s throne, and Thor demanded to know where their father was.
• Loki told Thor that Odin had fused with Gungnir and disappeared into the universe after swearing to strike He-El when he least expected it.
• Loki explained that He-El had also hunted Strange and that Ancient One had hidden herself to prepare for another confrontation with him.
• Thor began to suspect that something was wrong with He-El, and Loki offered to cooperate against him.
• Stephen proposed going to the Nova Corps to stop Thanos from obtaining the Power Stone and bring it under their control.

He-El revealed that he had uncovered Nick Fury’s secret letters and planned to steer the Avengers toward collecting the Infinity Stones. He sent them to prepare for alien diplomacy while secretly arranging for Captain Marvel to fight them when they returned with the Stones.

• He-El explained that Vivian had found Nick Fury’s hidden courier and intercepted the contents of his letters, though he had allowed the letters to reach the Avengers.
• He-El concluded that the future had changed since he took the Reality Stone and defeated Odin, and that Thanos might never come to Earth.
• He-El ordered Vivian to summon the Avengers and tell them to prepare for alien visitors, travel beyond Earth, and act as diplomats.
• He-El planned for the Avengers to learn that he was a villain and seek Infinity Stones to oppose him, bringing the Stones back to Earth.
• He-El sent Nick Fury’s pager away through the Space Bridge and instructed Vivian to hide a message ordering Captain Marvel to fight the Avengers when they returned with the Infinity Stones.

Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, and Natasha Romanoff met at New Triskelion to discuss a psychic fluctuation and He-El. Their suspicions about Nick Fury’s final letters surfaced, and the meeting ended as Steve Rogers entered.

• Tony Stark arrived at New Triskelion, where Agent Hill escorted him to the conference hall.
• Tony Stark asked Bruce Banner whether his detection device had located the source of the psychic fluctuation, and Bruce said it had not.
• Bruce Banner abruptly asked Tony Stark where He-El came from, prompting Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and Tony to infer that they had all received Nick Fury’s final letters.
• Tony Stark questioned Bruce Banner’s sudden interest, and Bruce awkwardly claimed he was making conversation before composing himself.
• Steve Rogers entered the silent conference hall with a smile.

The Avengers gathered to discuss a psychic fluctuation they could not locate, while Steve Rogers encouraged them to trust He-El to solve it. Their casual talk about visiting He-El’s hometown exposed that they had all received final letters from Nick Fury, and the gathering moved on to travel plans until He-El arrived.

• Steve Rogers reassured the Avengers that He-El would find a solution to the psychic fluctuation.
• Steve Rogers suggested visiting He-El’s hometown, prompting the others to realize that Nick Fury had sent each of them a final letter.
• Bruce Banner questioned Steve Rogers and accidentally revealed that he had received a final letter.
• Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, and Clint Barton stopped Bruce Banner from saying more and steered the conversation toward travel plans.
• T’Challa joined the Avengers’ discussion, and the topic ended when He-El arrived.

He-El proposed opening Earth to the Nine Realms and making it a center for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, while claiming the move could also draw out the source of the mysterious psychic wave. The Avengers weighed the risks, and He-El insisted Earth needed to join the wider universe so it could survive even if he was no longer there.

• Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and T'Challa reported that their investigations had failed to locate the source of the global psychic wave.
• He-El said the unknown sender might lack confidence and proposed making Earth appear defenseless to lure them out.
• He-El announced a plan to turn Earth into the Nine Realms' transit and trade hub and bring it into closer contact with alien forces.
• Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, and Bruce Banner raised concerns about the dangers and disorder that opening Earth could bring.
• He-El insisted the plan was imperative and said he wanted Earth to function and survive among the stars even if he was no longer there.

He-El told the Avengers that Earth needed to engage with the Nine Realms and become strong enough to defend itself, then assigned them to serve as diplomats. He announced a plan to leave Earth with them while secretly remaining behind to draw out whoever had sent the psychic wave.

• He-El explained that Earth should open itself to trade and cooperation with the Nine Realms rather than rely on his protection.
• Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, and the other Avengers realized they could not easily oppose He-El’s plans, despite Nick Fury’s letter warning them about him.
• He-El assigned the Avengers to announce Earth’s role as a transit station and trading center for the Nine Realms.
• He-El said he would publicly claim to leave Earth with the Avengers while secretly staying behind to lure the psychic-wave sender into attacking.
• The Avengers realized they had to leave Earth, where He-El’s surveillance could prevent them from checking whether they had Nick Fury’s final letter.

Stephen Strange, Thor, and Loki discussed sending Asgardian troops to Xandar, where Odin’s battle had destroyed the Nova Corps’ sun and left the planet in crisis. They argued over whether to intervene before Thanos found Xandar, and the debate paused when a messenger brought word from Earth’s United Government.

• Loki, disguised as Odin, told Stephen Strange and Thor that Xandar had been displaced far from its original location after its sun exploded and that its people were building an artificial sun.
• Odin, disguised by Loki, explained that Xandar’s environment had been devastated and that igniting the artificial sun could reveal its location to Thanos.
• Stephen Strange urged them to go to Xandar immediately and prevent the Nova Corps from igniting the artificial sun.
• Loki suggested letting Thanos weaken the Nova Corps before taking the Power Stone, but Thor argued that Asgard might need to help defend it.
• Loki and Thor argued over whether Asgard should risk its soldiers’ lives, until a messenger announced that Earth’s United Government had sent a communication.

Loki, disguised as Odin, Thor, and Stephen Strange received the Earth United Government's proposal to establish diplomatic ties and make Earth the Nine Realms' trade hub. Recognizing that Asgard could not resist He-El's plan, Loki accepted it, leaving Stephen to consider seeking the Avengers elsewhere.

• Loki, disguised as Odin, learned that the Earth United Government proposed friendly relations and trade between the Nine Realms through Earth.
• Loki recognized that He-El's plan would make Earth indispensable and eventually draw the Nine Realms under his influence.
• Stephen Strange considered using the arriving Avengers to oppose He-El, then decided he might have to seek them in other realms.
• Thor proposed refusing the offer, but Loki explained that Asgard would be isolated and vulnerable if it did.
• Loki, disguised as Odin, instructed the communications officer to tell the Earth United Government that Asgard supported its diplomatic and trade plans.

Loki, disguised as Odin, announced that Asgard would establish diplomatic and trade ties with Earth, then welcomed the Avengers to Asgard. After arriving, the Avengers who had received Nick Fury’s final letter recognized each other as allies, while T’Challa appeared to be outside their group.

• Loki, disguised as Odin, announced that Asgard had accepted Earth’s proposal and would send diplomats to Earth for trade discussions.
• Asgard prepared a grand welcome for the Earth Avengers, and the new Rainbow Bridge guardian opened the Space Bridge to Earth.
• Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, and T’Challa arrived in Asgard and were greeted with flowers and attendants.
• The Avengers joked about being Nick Fury’s most trusted allies and realized that all but T’Challa had received his final letter.
• The Avengers rode flying horses through Asgard and were escorted to the palace to meet Odin.

At Asgard’s banquet, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner impressed the gods, while the Avengers later met in secret to discuss Nick Fury’s warning about He-El. Their gathering was interrupted when Stephen Strange, Loki, Thor, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff arrived.

• Tony Stark used his Nano Armor to sober up and outdrink the Asgardian gods, while Bruce Banner transformed into the Hulk and defeated them at arm wrestling.
• The gods admired Tony Stark and the Hulk, and the Avengers returned to their diplomatic palace after the banquet.
• Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers praised Bruce Banner for changing the gods’ view of humans, while Bruce Banner worried about what the Hulk had done.
• Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, and Bruce Banner gathered in secret and concluded that Nick Fury was likely dead.
• Tony Stark and the others compared Nick Fury’s final letters, which warned them to distrust He-El and investigate his objective.
• Stephen Strange, Loki, Thor, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff appeared through a portal in the middle of the meeting.

Stephen Strange arrived in Asgard with Thor, Loki, Pietro, and Wanda and told the Avengers that Nick Fury had sent him away with the Mind Stone before confronting He-El. The group discussed how to investigate He-El’s plan to collect the Infinity Stones, while Tony questioned why Stephen was working with Loki.

• Stephen Strange appeared through a portal with Thor, Loki, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff, surprising the Avengers.
• Stephen told the Avengers that Nick Fury had likely died at He-El’s hands, then recounted how Fury had given him the Mind Stone and stayed behind to face He-El.
• Stephen revealed the glowing Mind Stone, while Clint Barton and Steve Rogers said they still hoped Nick had survived.
• The Avengers discussed their lack of knowledge about He-El’s motives and their decision to meet in Asgard, beyond his reach, to consider their next steps.
• Stephen warned that no one should gather all six Infinity Stones because they could magnify the desires and regrets within their possessor.
• Tony asked Stephen what his plan was and why he had chosen to work with Loki despite Loki’s crimes against Earth.

Thor apologized to the Avengers and revealed that Odin had vanished after swearing an oath to stop He-El, urging them to cooperate against the threat. After the Avengers accepted Loki with Thor’s guarantee, Stephen Strange showed them the future they were meant to have without He-El.

• Thor revealed that Odin had vanished with Gungnir after swearing an oath concerning He-El, and explained that Odin, Ancient One, and Nick Fury had all been drawn into the effort against him.
• Thor told the Avengers that Loki had been disguised as Odin, while Loki warned that even the combined strength of gods had failed to stop He-El.
• Natasha Romanoff questioned whether Loki could be trusted, and Thor firmly guaranteed that his brother would fight alongside them.
• Tony Stark accepted Thor’s offer of cooperation, and the Avengers agreed to work together.
• Stephen Strange touched each person’s brow and showed them their original future without He-El.
• Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, Loki, and Thor reacted to visions of Thanos, Ragnarok, Hela, and other events from that future.