Chapter Summaries

The Avengers coordinated an assault to restrain Thanos and remove his Infinity Gauntlet, exploiting openings to wound his knee. Thanos repelled Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, and Star-Lord Peter Quill drew his attention as the attack continued.

• Tony Stark ordered the team to help Mantis control Thanos and take the Infinity Gauntlet, while Clint Barton prepared to cover Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff.
• Wanda Maximoff charged Pietro Maximoff with Chaos Magic, and Pietro raced toward Thanos as Star-Lord Peter Quill followed Rocket Raccoon's plan to distract him.
• Clint Barton blinded Thanos with an adhesive arrow and struck his knee with a Vibranium arrow, which Natasha Romanoff caught and drove into the wound.
• Thanos tore away the adhesive, punched at Natasha Romanoff, and Steve Rogers blocked the blow with his shield before Thanos knocked both of them back.
• Thanos pulled the arrow from his knee and tossed it aside, while Star-Lord Peter Quill flew in and fired his blaster at him.

The Avengers coordinated their attacks to restrain Thanos and pull off the Infinity Gauntlet. As Mantis hypnotized Thanos and the team struggled with the gauntlet, Ebony Maw sensed the danger and sent a psychic shock toward them.

• Star-Lord Peter Quill distracted Thanos, then Rocket Raccoon shot him while Pietro Maximoff injected Chaos Magic into his body.
• Wanda Maximoff amplified Pietro's Chaos Magic and restrained Thanos as Stephen Strange bound his limbs with golden whips.
• Tony Stark locked Thanos's joints with nanomachine restraints, and Mantis climbed onto him and used hypnosis to make him stand still.
• Pietro Maximoff, Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Stephen Strange, Tony Stark, Star-Lord Peter Quill, and Rocket Raccoon tried to pull off the Infinity Gauntlet.
• Ebony Maw sensed the struggle and unleashed a psychic shock wave toward Thanos.

Ebony Maw disrupted Mantis and the others with a mental attack, allowing Thanos to break free and reclaim control of the Infinity Gauntlet. As Thanos prepared to kill Tony Stark, a voice from the storm demanded that he let him go.

• Ebony Maw unleashed a mental shock that knocked Mantis, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Stephen Strange’s illusions, and several others out of the fight.
• Tony Stark and the Avengers tried to remove the Infinity Gauntlet, but Thanos awakened and used the Power Stone to break free and throw them aside.
• Thanos seized Tony Stark by the throat and told the fallen Avengers and Guardians that their chance to defeat him was over.
• Ebony Maw and the other members of the Black Order arrived with their fleet, and Thanos praised Maw for interrupting the attack.
• Thunder and lightning gathered overhead as an unseen speaker ordered Thanos to let Tony Stark go.

Thanos ended the battle on Xandar by attacking its planetary core and escaping with the Black Order. As the planet began to collapse, Thor opened a Rainbow Bridge to evacuate everyone.

• Thor struck Thanos with Mjolnir, but Thanos countered with the Power Stone and sent him flying.
• The Hulk and Destroyer Drax attacked Thanos, while Thor and the regrouped Avengers and Guardians prepared a combined assault.
• Thanos decided to retreat rather than risk injury before seeking He-El’s Reality Stone, and he smashed the ground with the Infinity Gauntlet.
• Thanos and the Black Order boarded a ship and escaped through fire from their fleet, while his Gravitational Wave attack destabilized Xandar.
• Tony Stark realized Xandar’s core had been destroyed, and Thor called everyone together as a Rainbow Bridge appeared.

Thanos chose Asgard as his next target, believing Odin was weakened and vulnerable enough for him to seize the Space Stone. As Thanos returned to his mothership, he found Loki waiting on the floating throne.

• Thanos watched the Rainbow Bridge carry the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy away from Xandar and decided not to pursue them because their commander was the real obstacle.
• Thanos chose Asgard as his next target, planning to use the Power Stone to take the Space Stone from the weakened Odin.
• Thanos sent Ebony Maw to prepare for the attack and returned to the mothership as Xandar continued to collapse.
• Thanos entered the command room and saw Loki on the floating throne, where Loki greeted him.

Loki gave the Space Stone to Thanos to keep Asgard out of his search for the Infinity Stones and asked him to kill He-El. Thanos accepted, leaving Loki to handle Hela on Asgard.

• Loki sat on Thanos's throne aboard the mothership and faced Thanos after his guards left.
• Thanos confronted Loki over their failed agreement and demanded that he bring the Space Stone.
• Loki revealed the Space Stone and offered it to Thanos in exchange for a favor.
• Thanos placed the Space Stone into the Infinity Gauntlet and realized Loki wanted He-El dead.
• Loki explained that he wanted to save Asgard and that he would deal with Hela himself.
• Thanos accepted Loki's offer and agreed to target He-El.

After escaping Xandar, the Avengers and their allies returned to Asgard with no clear answer to the threats facing Earth and Asgard. Stephen Strange showed the Guardians of the Galaxy the future to gain their help, and Star-Lord Peter Quill reacted furiously when he learned what had happened to Gamora.

• Loki reflected on his plan to keep Thanos away from Asgard and his unresolved problem with Hela.
• Bruce Banner asked what they would do after their failure to save Xandar, and Tony Stark urged everyone to rest before discussing plans.
• Star-Lord Peter Quill demanded to know why the Avengers had been fighting Thanos and what they knew.
• Tony Stark asked Stephen Strange to show the Guardians of the Galaxy the future so they could understand the conflict and become allies.
• Stephen Strange shared the future with Star-Lord Peter Quill, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Mantis.
• Star-Lord Peter Quill recovered first, shouted Gamora's name, and punched Himinbjorg's wall in anger and pain.

The Avengers ended their diplomatic visit to Asgard and prepared to return to Earth while Loki and Thor worried about Hela’s escape. As the Rainbow Bridge brought the Avengers to S.H.I.E.L.D., Hela approached the palace and Captain Marvel Carol Danvers noticed the arrival.

• T'Challa pursued He-El’s plan by negotiating with Loki to establish a trade hub and open the Rainbow Bridge for regular travel.
• Loki searched for Hela, Thor trained to face her, the Guardians of the Galaxy went to Knowhere to gather allies, and Stephen Strange helped Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff awaken their powers.
• The Avengers and Asgard’s leaders expected Thanos to seek the Infinity Stones, while Loki secretly gave Thanos the Space Stone to keep him away from Asgard.
• Tony Stark and the Avengers said farewell to Thor at Himinbjorg, and Thor gave Tony a magical wooden sword as a gift for his future child.
• Hela walked toward the Asgardian palace as the Rainbow Bridge carried the Avengers to S.H.I.E.L.D., where Captain Marvel Carol Danvers watched its light descend.

The Avengers returned from Asgard to a jubilant welcome, but they remained troubled by Nick Fury’s final letter and their doubts about He-El. As S.H.I.E.L.D. celebrated their diplomatic success, a glowing figure attacked the plaza and crashed down among them.

• The Avengers arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Washington base via the Rainbow Bridge, feeling burdened by their unresolved problems in Asgard and on Earth.
• T’Challa celebrated Earth’s new peaceful relations with Asgard, while the others wondered whether He-El could be trusted.
• Deputy Director Hill congratulated the Avengers as S.H.I.E.L.D. staff applauded their historic diplomatic mission.
• JARVIS warned Tony Stark that a powerful energy reaction was attacking nearby, and Tony activated an emergency defense shield.
• Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff tried to evade the incoming figure as T’Challa prepared his mask, Bruce Banner began to transform, and Steve Rogers reached for his shield.
• The glowing figure crashed into the plaza before the Avengers could react.

Hela emerged from her seal and advanced on Asgard Palace, defeating the Warriors Three and the soldiers sent to stop her. Thor arrived and led his sister toward the palace hall, while worrying about Loki’s plan to prevent Asgard’s destruction.

• Hela defeated the Warriors Three and the Asgardian soldiers guarding the palace steps.
• Hela pressed toward the palace hall, and a guard captain who remembered serving under her recognized her and stood in her way.
• Hela praised the captain’s courage but prepared to kill him and turn him into one of her Spectre soldiers.
• Thor arrived with Mjolnir, ordered the wounded soldiers and Warriors Three treated, and faced Hela.
• Thor led Hela toward the palace hall as he wondered what method Loki had to prevent Asgard from being destroyed.

Hela entered Asgard’s palace and attacked Loki, who was disguised as Odin, before claiming the throne as hers. Loki offered to hand Asgard over to her, but Thor challenged Hela to a final battle to decide who would rule.

• Hela threw two black spikes at Loki, who fell from the throne and revealed his disguise.
• Hela dismissed Loki’s claim to sit in Odin’s place and criticized Odin for ending his conquests.
• Hela declared that Asgard’s throne had always belonged to her and offered Loki a ministerial post.
• Thor rejected Loki’s plan to yield Asgard to Hela and demanded that she defeat him before she could rule.
• Hela accepted Thor’s challenge and said that if he lost, he would become one of her generals.

Captain Marvel Carol Danvers attacked the Avengers at Chinese S.H.I.E.L.D.'s extraterrestrial contact facility, believing Nick Fury's secret information showed that evil members of the team were committing atrocities. She overwhelmed the Avengers, leaving them scattered and injured as the fight continued.

• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers crashed into the plaza and confronted the Avengers, whom she believed were hiding crimes involving alien forces.
• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers blasted Tony Stark through the perimeter wall and kicked the Hulk into the Triskelion Twin Towers.
• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers scattered T'Challa's kinetic-energy attack with a photon blast and sent him flying into the lake.
• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers caught Steve Rogers's shield and threw it back, hurling him toward the plaza wall.
• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers's glowing defense repelled Clint Barton's arrow and knocked Natasha Romanoff into Clint Barton, leaving them both down.

Captain Marvel Carol Danvers defeated the Avengers at S.H.I.E.L.D. and took Steve Rogers and Tony Stark to the Himalayas safe house. Hill organized the rescue and search while He-El prepared to travel to Asgard to gather the Infinity Stones.

• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers attacked the Avengers and sent Hulk, T'Challa, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and Steve Rogers flying.
• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers recognized Steve Rogers, grabbed him, and blasted Tony Stark before taking both men toward the Himalayas safe house.
• Hill ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. to treat the injured, retrieve T'Challa, and track Captain Marvel Carol Danvers's movements.
• Unable to reach Nick Fury, Hill reported the attack to He-El, who told her to find Carol's trail.
• He-El opened a Space Bridge to Asgard and stepped through, saying it was time for the Infinity Stones to gather.

Hela defeated Thor in a duel for Asgard’s throne, leaving Loki’s plans to control the succession in ruins. As Thor accepted that he would have to serve as Hela’s general and help defend Asgard from Thanos, Chaos Magic erupted from Wanda’s meditation room.

• Hela fought Thor until he was exhausted and defeated him before the Asgardian gods, establishing her claim to Asgard’s throne.
• Loki realized that Hela’s victory in a public duel gave her stronger legitimacy than simply having Odin name her king.
• Hela told Thor he would serve as Asgard’s general and lead its army until he could defeat her.
• Stephen Strange and Loki brought the injured Thor to his palace, where Loki explained that he would have to transform into Odin and pass the throne to Hela.
• Thor said he would work with Hela to resist Thanos and protect Asgard, while Stephen Strange said Wanda’s Chaos Magic might soon destroy the Mind Stone.
• Chaos Magic surged from the meditation room, and Stephen Strange and Loki hurried toward it.

Captain Marvel Carol Danvers attacked Tony Stark and Steve Rogers after returning to Earth as Nick Fury’s secret backup, then accused the Avengers of running criminal businesses. The chapter left Tony and Steve denying the allegations and trying to understand who had misled her.

• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers blasted Tony Stark into a crater outside Nick Fury’s Himalayan safe house and brought the badly injured Steve Rogers to him.
• JARVIS identified Carol Danvers as a former Air Force pilot who had entered Earth from outer space and searched for information on the Avengers.
• Carol revealed that Nick Fury had kept her as secret backup and said she had returned to avenge his death.
• Carol accused Steve of leading the Avengers’ dealings in human trafficking, human experimentation, and organ sales.
• Tony Stark and Steve Rogers denied that the Avengers were involved in any such crimes and struggled to make sense of her accusation.

Captain Marvel Carol Danvers returned to Earth believing Nick Fury had ordered her to destroy the Avengers, but Tony Stark and Steve Rogers argued that He-El had planted false information. Tony realized He-El had been watching them and had deliberately let them go to Asgard.

• Carol told Tony Stark that Nick Fury had accused members of the Avengers of trafficking people, modifying humans, and selling organs, and had asked her to destroy the team.
• Tony questioned how Nick had sent the information, and Carol explained that it had come through her special pager.
• Tony showed Carol Nick's final letter to him and said He-El had likely misled her, while Steve warned her not to act rashly against He-El.
• Carol decided to verify Nick's message privately, but Tony realized He-El knew about the letters and their actions and had deliberately let them go to Asgard.

Wanda Maximoff’s Chaos Magic surged out of control as Stephen Strange awakened her consciousness and Loki urged them to use the power to destroy the Mind Stone. Just as Wanda directed the magic at the Stone, a light appeared and a massive armored hand seized it.

• Wanda Maximoff’s Chaos Magic erupted from the Soul Furnace, injuring Pietro Maximoff and threatening to consume Wanda and destroy Asgard.
• Stephen Strange projected his soul into the Chaos Magic and spent days in the Soul Dimension before awakening Wanda’s consciousness.
• Wanda told Stephen Strange, Loki, and Pietro Maximoff that she could not immediately control the torrent of Chaos Magic and needed to vent it.
• Loki pulled the Mind Stone from the Soul Furnace, and Stephen Strange sent it toward Wanda so she could destroy it with her Chaos Magic.
• A curtain of light appeared beside the Mind Stone, and a massive dark armored hand reached through and seized it as Chaos Magic struck the hand.

He-El’s armored hand appeared in Asgard and absorbed Wanda Maximoff’s Chaos Magic, leaving Stephen Strange, Loki, and Pietro Maximoff stunned. As the energy was drawn into the hand, Wanda began to gain control of her power, and ripples spread across the light screen connected to He-El’s arm.

• He-El’s massive dark armored hand blocked Wanda Maximoff’s Chaos Magic and absorbed it through its dragon-like scales.
• Loki recognized the hand that had once seized him and trembled in terror.
• Stephen Strange suspected He-El had anticipated their actions and arranged events to draw them into a trap.
• Pietro Maximoff worried about Wanda while questioning whether He-El’s influence had truly made the world worse.
• Wanda watched the hand absorb her Chaos Magic, which began to come under her control.
• Ripples spread across the light screen connected to He-El’s armored hand.

Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, Loki, and Pietro Maximoff tried to stop He-El from taking the Mind Stone through the Space Bridge, but their attacks failed to dislodge his armored hand. After their combined assault disrupted the opening, He-El emerged through it and rebuked Stephen Strange's knowledge of space.

• Stephen Strange tried to open a portal to sever He-El's armored hand, while Wanda Maximoff used Chaos Magic to destabilize the Space Bridge and Loki attacked the hand with his strongest magic.
• Loki and Pietro Maximoff failed to damage or move the hand, so Stephen Strange urged Wanda Maximoff to keep it pinned while they attacked the light screen.
• Pietro Maximoff hurled the Soul Furnace toward the light screen, and Loki struck it with an icy pillar of light as Wanda Maximoff restrained the hand.
• The explosion tore open the meditation chamber's roof, disrupted the Space Bridge, and knocked Wanda Maximoff down; Pietro Maximoff caught her.
• Stephen Strange's portal shattered as the light screen swelled and He-El emerged, telling Stephen Strange that his knowledge of space was insufficient.

He-El appeared in Asgard wearing his upgraded Quark II Armor and reclaimed the Mind Stone after Stephen Strange’s teleportation circle failed. He-El said he was collecting the Infinity Stones to cleanse the Omega Effect curse, while Strange accused him of killing the Ancient One unnecessarily.

• He-El used the Space Bridge to disperse Stephen Strange’s teleportation circle, then emerged in Asgard wearing the Quark II Armor with the Mind Stone in hand.
• Stephen Strange, Loki, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff reacted with fear as He-El appeared, and Asgardian gods gathered in the sky.
• Hela mounted a winged horse and led Asgardian gods toward Thor’s palace after seeing He-El.
• Stephen Strange demanded to know why He-El was collecting the Infinity Stones, and He-El recalled asking him and the Ancient One how to lift a curse.
• He-El said the Ancient One and Odin had watched and opposed him, then embedded the Mind Stone in his armor and began adapting to the power of two Infinity Stones with Vivian.