Chapter Summaries

He-El tried to seize Loki to obtain the Space Stone, while Stephen Strange and Wanda Maximoff struggled to stop him. Hela intervened and asked whether He-El had come to Asgard to cooperate with her.

• He-El used Loki's biological magnetic field to drag him toward himself, and Stephen Strange and Wanda Maximoff tried to pull Loki back.
• Stephen Strange bound Loki with a golden whip and opened a portal, but He-El crushed the portal and maintained his control over Loki.
• Stephen Strange urged Wanda Maximoff to shield Loki with Chaos Magic, but He-El triggered Loki's energy to break free of both restraints.
• Hela descended, pressed a hand onto Loki's shoulder, and forced him to the ground.
• Hela asked He-El whether he had come to Asgard to cooperate with her.

Hela offered to join forces with He-El and make Asgard her dowry, horrifying Loki and the others. He-El seized Loki from Hela and revealed that the Space Stone was not on him.

• Hela asked He-El to cooperate with her and proposed expanding their power beyond the Nine Realms, with Asgard as her dowry.
• Loki angrily protested Hela's plan, while Stephen Strange considered using the Time Stone against He-El.
• He-El crossed the space between them and grabbed Loki's head before Hela could pull him away.
• He-El's power severed Hela's connection to Loki, and he pulled Loki into his grasp.
• He-El declared that the Space Stone was not on Loki.

He-El discovered that Loki had given the Space Stone to Thanos, leaving Thanos with three Infinity Stones and setting up a confrontation on Earth. Stephen Strange realized Loki’s attempt to use Thanos against He-El had undone their efforts to keep the Stones apart.

• He-El scanned Loki and confirmed the Space Stone was not on him, concluding that Thanos had it.
• He-El considered the danger of Stephen Strange using the Time Stone to create parallel universes and decided to wait until he had gathered the other five Stones before taking it.
• He-El seized Loki and demanded to know where the Space Stone was as Stephen Strange, Wanda, Maximoff, and Pietro Maximoff watched in alarm.
• Loki admitted that he had given the Space Stone to Thanos, who would soon come to Earth to destroy He-El.
• Stephen Strange realized that Loki had hoped to use Thanos against He-El, but feared that Thanos’s three Stones would leave them unable to resist.

He-El revealed that he had deliberately let Thanos obtain the Space Stone, setting him on a path to collect more Infinity Stones. He allowed Stephen Strange to leave with the others and urged Hela to abandon Asgard before departing through the Space Bridge.

• He-El threw the battered Loki before Stephen Strange and explained that Loki’s actions had not exceeded his expectations.
• Stephen Strange realized He-El had intentionally left the Space Stone for Thanos so Thanos would gather three Stones and pursue the Reality Stone.
• He-El told Stephen Strange to leave and said he wanted the Time Stone only after collecting five Infinity Stones.
• Stephen Strange knocked Loki unconscious, then took Loki, Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, and Thor through a portal out of Asgard.
• He-El told Hela to abandon Asgard if she wanted to pursue war and conquest with him, then left through the Space Bridge.

Stephen Strange brought Wanda Maximoff, Pietro Maximoff, Loki, and Thor to Nick Fury's safe house after He-El took the Mind Stone from Asgard. There, the Avengers learned Thanos already had the Space Stone, and Strange concluded that He-El had been guiding their choices all along.

• Captain Marvel Carol Danvers searched for information about Nick Fury, the Avengers, and He-El while deciding whether to trust Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.
• Stephen Strange opened a portal to the safe house, where Wanda Maximoff brought the unconscious Loki and Pietro Maximoff carried the sleeping Thor.
• Stephen Strange told Tony Stark and Steve Rogers that He-El had come to Asgard and taken the Mind Stone.
• Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff revealed that Loki had given the Space Stone to Thanos while they were at Xandar, leaving the Time Stone as the only one in their possession.
• Tony Stark treated Steve Rogers as he struggled with his injuries and the news that Thanos had obtained two Infinity Stones.
• Stephen Strange said He-El had let them leave Asgard and concluded that their actions had followed He-El's plan.

Stephen Strange told the Avengers that He-El had orchestrated their actions and was waiting for Thanos to come to Earth. Tony Stark realized He-El had likely monitored them through the Iron Man Armor and ordered JARVIS to destroy the Nano Armor and its own code.

• Stephen Strange explained that He-El had planned their choices and failures, including Loki giving the Space Stone to Thanos.
• Wanda Maximoff asked how He-El could monitor them without triggering her Chaos Magic, and Stephen Strange admitted he could not find the source.
• Tony Stark suspected He-El was watching them through the Iron Man Armor and ordered JARVIS to remove the nanomachines from his body.
• Tony Stark concluded He-El had altered JARVIS's underlying code to monitor them despite its defenses.
• Tony Stark gave JARVIS his final command, and the Nano Armor flew above the Himalayas and detonated before JARVIS destroyed its own code.

After JARVIS sacrificed himself in the destruction of Tony Stark’s nanomachine armor, Tony gathered the Avengers to prepare for He-El and Thanos. The group resolved to arm themselves and seek military support, while Carol Danvers shut down her wrist computer to prevent He-El from monitoring them.

• Tony Stark explained that He-El could easily monitor their electronic devices, so Carol Danvers and the others shut down or destroyed theirs.
• Tony Stark urged everyone to prepare for the final battle, though he admitted he had no specific plan.
• Stephen Strange and Steve Rogers suggested they might have to ally with either Thanos or He-El against the other.
• Tony Stark said they first needed to protect Earth from Thanos’s forces and secure the military as allies.
• Steve Rogers planned to contact General Ross and enlist the Crimson Giant Corps, while Pietro Maximoff questioned whether He-El would prepare Earth for Thanos’s invasion.

Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Steve Rogers, and the others discussed the threats posed by He-El, Thanos, and a possible Asgardian alliance, then began preparing Earth for war. Thor vowed to protect the Nine Realms and hinted that he would need Stephen’s Time Stone before falling asleep again.

• Tony Stark and Stephen Strange warned that He-El had a powerful private Crimson Giant force and that Earth needed to prepare for both He-El and Thanos.
• Steve Rogers said the Guardians of the Galaxy were gathering allies across the universe, while Stephen revealed that Hela had wanted to marry He-El and offer Asgard as her dowry.
• Thor awoke briefly and said he would return to Asgard to persuade Hela not to support He-El, then promised to protect Asgard, Earth, and the Nine Realms with his life.
• Stephen Strange planned to gather the sorcerers, Steve Rogers planned to take control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and approach General Ross, and Tony Stark decided to destroy his Iron Man suits and build one without networked systems.

Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, and Natasha Romanoff began their plan to take control of S.H.I.E.L.D. by capturing Hill and removing her communications gear. Hill woke in a storage room surrounded by the three, unsure what had happened and looking for a way out.

• Stephen Strange sent Steve Rogers through a portal into a S.H.I.E.L.D. restroom, while Tony Stark went home to draw He-El's attention away from the operation.
• Clint Barton met Steve Rogers in the restroom and helped disguise him before they went to meet Natasha and Hill.
• Hill spotted the disguises and warned Natasha, but Natasha struck Hill while Clint Barton and Steve Rogers blocked her escape and knocked her unconscious.
• Natasha removed Hill's communications devices and weapons, changed her clothes, and helped move her in a cleaning cart to a storage room.
• Natasha splashed water on Hill's face, waking her to find Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff guarding her.

Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, and Steve Rogers told Hill that Nick Fury was dead and that He-El had killed him, then sought her help in opposing He-El. Hill believed them and pointed out that she already controlled S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Natasha Romanoff apologized to Hill and explained why they had brought her to an isolated storage room without electronics.
• Natasha Romanoff told Hill that Nick Fury was dead, and Clint Barton and Steve Rogers confirmed the news.
• Hill recalled her work with Nick Fury, accepted that he was probably dead, and asked who had killed him.
• Natasha Romanoff revealed that He-El had killed Nick Fury, and Hill said she believed them.
• Steve Rogers asked Hill to take control of S.H.I.E.L.D., but Hill replied that she already controlled it unless He-El personally intervened.

Hill revealed that she could command S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Avengers told her Thanos was preparing to attack Earth for the Reality Stone. They decided to mobilize S.H.I.E.L.D. for the coming invasion, despite uncertainty about whether He-El would interfere.

• Hill explained that He-El's authority and the policies left by Nick Fury allowed her to command S.H.I.E.L.D.'s international agents unless He-El issued orders himself.
• Clint Barton reported that nations were building spacecraft and lunar bases but had made no preparations for Thanos's attack.
• Clint Barton told Hill that Thanos had the Soul Stone, Power Stone, and Space Stone and would soon target the Reality Stone held by He-El.
• Natasha Romanoff warned that He-El might treat Earth as expendable in his pursuit of the Infinity Stones.
• Hill agreed to put S.H.I.E.L.D. on alert and prepare its weapons and enhanced warriors for Thanos's army.
• Steve Rogers said they needed to win General Ross's support for Earth's defense.

The Avengers discussed warning General Ross about Thanos’s coming invasion and using his forces to defend Earth, but S.H.I.E.L.D. could not safely contact him at Area 51. Steve Rogers decided to arrange an open meeting with Ross.

• Steve Rogers proposed warning General Ross so his forces could prepare to defend Earth against Thanos.
• Hill explained that Area 51 was too heavily guarded for S.H.I.E.L.D. to contact Ross safely, and that the agency lacked access to his schedule.
• Natasha Romanoff offered to infiltrate Area 51, but Clint Barton and Hill recognized the danger to her.
• Steve Rogers rejected a covert approach and decided to arrange a meeting with General Ross openly.

General Ross received a private call from Steve Rogers, who asked to meet and discuss joining Ross’s army. After arriving at the Earth United Government’s presidential office, Ross learned that He-El intended to make him the government’s second president.

• Steve Rogers called General Ross’s private secretary and asked to speak with Ross about an important matter.
• Steve Rogers told Ross he wanted to meet and discuss joining his army, and Ross agreed to arrange a brief meeting later.
• General Ross arrived at the Earth United Government building and went to see He-El.
• He-El poured Ross tea and told him that he intended to make him the second president of the Earth United Government.

He-El chose General Ross to become the second president of the Earth United Government as humanity prepared to expand into space. He then revealed that an alien legion was preparing to attack Earth and ordered Ross to lead its united armies.

• He-El told General Ross he intended to make him the second president of the Earth United Government.
• General Ross was stunned and feared he was unfit for the presidency, but he accepted that he would carry out He-El's orders.
• He-El explained that Ross's decisive character suited the role and that he wanted humanity to keep expanding beyond Earth.
• He-El revealed that an alien legion was preparing to attack Earth and ordered Ross to command the united armies of Earth's nations.
• He-El told Ross to win the coming war as the achievement that would welcome him into the presidency.

Steve Rogers warned General Ross that He-El was luring Thanos to Earth for the Infinity Stones and risking humanity, but Ross rejected the accusation and defended He-El’s leadership. Ross revealed that He-El had already ordered preparations for the invasion and chosen him as the next president of the Earth United Government.

• Steve Rogers warned General Ross that an alien legion intended to attack Earth and asked him to prepare the nations’ armies.
• General Ross questioned why Steve had not informed He-El and suspected a rift between the president and S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Steve told Ross that He-El was using Earth to lure Thanos and seize his Infinity Stones, regardless of the danger to humanity.
• General Ross defended He-El’s contributions to Earth and criticized Steve and other superheroes for seeing only the risks in his plans.
• General Ross revealed that He-El had already ordered him to prepare for the invasion and planned to make him the Earth United Government’s second president.

Tony Stark returned to New York and learned that Pepper Potts was pregnant. Concerned that He-El could monitor or control his technology, Tony began dismantling his Iron Man suits to build armor He-El could not control.

• Pepper Potts welcomed Tony Stark home, treated his cheek, and told him she had contacted He-El after hearing he had been attacked.
• Pepper Potts revealed she was pregnant, and Tony Stark reacted with shock before tenderly listening at her belly.
• Tony Stark grew worried about something and went to the underground workshop, telling Pepper Potts to rest.
• Tony Stark dismantled the electronic components in his Iron Man Armors, leaving the mechanically operated Mark III and Mark IV intact as the basis for a suit He-El could not control.
• Pepper Potts found Tony Stark working among the dismantled suits and invited him upstairs for dinner and rest.

Hank Pym prepared to rescue his wife, Janet van Dyne, from the Quantum Realm while resisting Hope van Dyne’s demand to join him. Hope brought Tony Stark to help, and Hank revealed he had been expecting him and had new Pym Particles ready.

• Hank Pym used He-El’s released formulas to stabilize Pym Particles and built Hank Capsule Group while waiting for the right time to rescue his wife.
• Hope van Dyne confronted Hank Pym in the company’s hidden Canadian base and insisted she would take part in the mission to save her mother.
• Hope introduced Tony Stark, who offered the Avengers’ help and asked Hank for assistance with a grim hurdle.
• Tony Stark learned Hank had received no final letter from Nick Fury but had been warned years earlier to stay prepared.
• Hank Pym showed Tony the new Pym Particles and said they would enter the Quantum Realm together after Tony returned.

Hela weighed He-El’s offer against her attachment to Asgard while Thor and Loki tried to keep Asgard from joining him. As Thor and Frigga began persuading Asgard’s generals to evacuate, Hela realized what she intended to do.

• Thor and Loki urged Hela not to bring Asgard under He-El’s command, but Hela mocked their warnings and pointed to the defeats suffered by He-El’s opponents.
• Thor left the palace and told Loki he feared Hela would join He-El; they went to Frigga to plan an evacuation and preserve Asgard’s people and forces.
• Thor, Loki, and Frigga began persuading Asgard’s generals to leave with them.
• Hela sensed their efforts from the throne hall and realized what she should do.

Stephen Strange sought Kamar-Taj’s help against He-El and Thanos, but the elders distrusted him and learned from him that Baron Mordo had died. After Strange explained He-El’s ties to Dormammu and offered to become Sorcerer Supreme, the elders chose Wong instead.

• Stephen Strange argued with five Kamar-Taj elders after they refused to oppose He-El and decided to wait for Baron Mordo’s return.
• Stephen Strange told the elders that He-El had killed Baron Mordo, and their spells confirmed Mordo’s life and soul had vanished.
• The elders demanded an account of Mordo’s death, and Stephen Strange explained He-El’s dealings with Dormammu and his role in the events.
• Stephen Strange offered to become the new Sorcerer Supreme and lead Kamar-Taj against He-El, but the elders ignored his offer.
• The five elders nominated and unanimously chose Wong as Sorcerer Supreme, leaving Stephen Strange speechless.

Stephen Strange gathered Kamar-Taj, Asgardian, and cosmic forces at Kamar-Taj to prepare for He-El and Thanos. Thor prepared to destroy Asgard if Hela joined He-El, and the chapter ended with Thanos’s fleet emerging near the moon.

• Wong explained that Kamar-Taj’s elders had made him Sorcerer Supreme, and Stephen Strange recruited the sorcerers to unite against the coming threat.
• Bruce Banner arrived from Canada and said Tony Stark was making final adjustments to a new Iron Man Armor.
• Thor led Frigga, Loki, and most of Asgard’s people through a portal to Kamar-Taj, then concluded that Hela had chosen to side with He-El.
• Thor prepared to unleash Surtur with the Eternal Flame to destroy Asgard if Hela became an enemy.
• Stephen Strange opened a portal to Knowhere, and the Guardians of the Galaxy and a vast fleet of allies arrived at Kamar-Taj.
• Star-Lord Peter Quill warned the group that Thanos had arrived in the Solar System, as Thanos’s fleet emerged from a spatial node beyond the moon.