Chapter Summaries

Tony Stark and Stephen Strange watched He-El spare them while fearing he would use the remaining Infinity Stones to force their surrender. He-El overwhelmed Thor and left him bloodied in a crater as he descended toward him.

• Tony Stark begged He-El in his heart to explain why he had killed Nick Fury and the Ancient One, but He-El withdrew from him and walked away.
• Stephen Strange pulled Tony into the Void Dimension and observed that He-El had killed no Avengers, while Tony and Stephen feared He-El would use Earth as leverage for the Time Stone.
• Thor fought He-El without using lightning as an attack, compressing it within his body to strengthen himself.
• He-El battered Thor through space and hurled him into New York, devastating the city and shaking the surrounding land.
• Thor rose from a vast crater, battered and bleeding, as He-El descended toward him.

He-El defeated Thor and demanded that Stephen Strange surrender the Time Stone, threatening the people of Earth if he refused. Stephen prepared to use the stone against He-El, who warned that doing so would create countless parallel versions of himself.

• He-El overwhelmed Thor, whose strength failed after He-El's repeated strikes, and left him alive but gravely injured.
• He-El demanded that Stephen Strange hand over the Time Stone, while Tony Stark watched from the Hollow Dimension.
• He-El gave Stephen a choice between surrendering the stone and risking the destruction of Earth and its defenders.
• Tony Stark pressed Stephen's hand and asked whether resisting would change the outcome, but Stephen chose to continue activating the Time Stone.
• He-El warned that sending himself back to the moment he first arrived would create countless parallel universes containing different versions of He-El.

Tony Stark and Stephen Strange traveled back to the desert to find He-El, while He-El tried to understand his blank past and the curse within him. The chapter ended with He-El realizing that the two had come from the future.

• Tony Stark and Stephen Strange arrived in the Afghan desert, where Tony recalled meeting He-El there before.
• Stephen Strange searched with a detection spell, and he and Tony flew south toward He-El.
• They found He-El standing in the desert beside a rugged off-road vehicle.
• He-El recognized Tony and Stephen, but questioned why they had come to the desert and whether events had diverged from the future he knew.
• Tony stopped Stephen from attacking and prepared to confront He-El, who concluded that they had come from the future.

He-El realized that Tony Stark and Stephen Strange had come from the future to kill him, but Tony used Pym Particles to pierce his chest. As He-El died, he revealed that he was a copy of an original He-El and warned that countless versions would emerge across the timeline.

• He-El recognized that Tony Stark and Stephen Strange had traveled back from the future and subdued Tony by striking his exposed neck.
• He-El understood that they intended to kill him, but Tony shrank with Pym Particles, pierced through his chest, and took his heart.
• He-El told Tony Stark and Stephen Strange that he was a Parallel Universe copy of the original He-El, whose future he followed, and warned that countless He-Els would appear along the timeline.
• Tony Stark and Stephen Strange realized the danger of He-El's warning, and Stephen used the Eye of Agamotto to return them to their proper timeline.

Stephen Strange and Tony Stark realized that He-El had survived the altered timeline, while the universe began splitting into countless Parallel Universes. As the visions vanished, countless versions of He-El found the original and one reached through the barriers toward him.

• Stephen Strange and Tony Stark questioned how He-El could still be alive after they had killed him in the past.
• The universe shook, awakening Carol Danvers, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Peter Parker, Clint Barton, and others to visions of their counterparts in Parallel Universes.
• The visions revealed that Stephen Strange's use of the Time Stone and He-El's existence had caused the universe to branch into countless Parallel Universes.
• Countless dark silhouettes of He-El appeared in Earth's skies and looked toward the original He-El.
• One He-El pierced through time and space, reached toward the original He-El, and declared that he had found him.

Clone He-Els from across the Parallel Universes appeared above Earth, and Mechanical Fusion Flesh He-El attacked the original He-El to claim his past. Their fight ended with the clone corroding into rust, while the other clones remained poised above Earth.

• Clone He-Els from many Parallel Universes appeared in the sky above Earth, alarming Stephen Strange and the others.
• Mechanical Fusion Flesh He-El attacked He-El, while other clones, including Cosmic Emperor He-El, Divine He-El, and Fully Mechanical He-El, discussed their desire to find and consume their original.
• Tony Stark realized the clones needed He-El’s past and were natural enemies of the original, but he and Stephen Strange feared the clones would not protect Earth.
• He-El and Mechanical Fusion Flesh He-El fought at high speed after both shrank with Pym Particles.
• He-El’s demonic armor caused Mechanical Fusion Flesh He-El to corrode into rust, and the clone shattered and blew away.

He-El approached Stephen Strange after defeating the mechanical-flesh fusion Clone He-El, while the Parallel Universe He-Els refused to help the heroes. Stephen realized they wanted He-El to take the Time Stone and lift his curse, and He-El reached into the Eye of Agamotto to seize it.

• A Dark Dimension Overlord He-El reflected on how easily the original He-El had Rustified and killed the mechanical-flesh fusion Clone He-El.
• He-El walked toward Stephen Strange as the heroes watched in fear, and Tony Stark urged the Parallel Universe He-Els to join forces against him.
• The Parallel Universe He-Els mocked Tony Stark and revealed their different histories with him, while Dark Dimension Overlord He-El demanded that Stephen give up the Time Stone.
• Stephen Strange realized the Parallel Universe He-Els needed He-El to collect all six Infinity Stones and remove his curse, and that they would not let him escape with the Time Stone.
• He-El reached into the Eye of Agamotto and gripped the Time Stone.

He-El obtained the Time Stone and joined it with the other five Infinity Stones, using their power to analyze and remove the Omega Effect curse. As the process began, Gungnir, empowered by Odin, the Ancient One, and Dormammu, struck him through the chest.

• Tony Stark tried to stop He-El from taking the Time Stone, but Stephen Strange held him back and accepted that their resistance had failed.
• Stephen Strange pleaded with He-El to spare Earth and humanity from the Clone He-Els, while He-El said he had no intention of destroying Earth.
• He-El embedded the Time Stone in his Quark Armor, completing the set of six Infinity Stones and rising into the air as their power surged.
• He-El commanded the Infinity Stones to analyze the Omega Effect curse and remove it from his body.
• Gungnir, the Eternal Spear, burst from a black hole and pierced He-El's chest, impaling him in the air.

Gungnir pierced He-El’s armor and left him hanging motionless, making the Avengers believe he had died while his parallel-universe clones wondered whether he had used the Infinity Stones. Black aura then spread from the armor, and a soul figure ordered Dormammu to transfer He-El and the curse into the Dark Dimension.

• Gungnir pierced He-El’s chest and pinned his armored body to the ground, leaving him motionless.
• Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, and the Avengers grieved over He-El, while the Clone He-Els watched and questioned whether he had used the Infinity Stones.
• Dark Dimension Overlord He-El recalled how he had survived being pierced by Gungnir and taken control of the Dark Dimension.
• Black aura rose from He-El’s armor, and Gungnir trembled as a soul figure appeared from it.
• The soul figure ordered Dormammu to transfer He-El and the curse into the Dark Dimension.

Dormammu began transferring the curse from He-El’s body into the Dark Dimension after Dark Dimension Overlord He-El and King of Gods He-El intimidated him and Odin into leaving the body untouched. Ancient One comforted Stephen Strange over the branching timelines as the curse neared removal and the Clone He-Els waited to seize He-El’s body.

• Ancient One ordered Dormammu to send He-El and the curse into the Dark Dimension, but Dark Dimension Overlord He-El demanded that He-El’s body remain behind.
• Dormammu recognized Dark Dimension Overlord He-El’s terrifying power and transferred only the curse into the Dark Dimension.
• Odin felt the authority of King of Gods He-El and silently watched Dormammu leave He-El’s body untouched.
• Ancient One saw the Clone He-Els waiting to claim He-El’s body, while Stephen Strange apologized for splitting the timeline.
• Ancient One reassured Stephen Strange that they had done their best, and the curse was nearly out of He-El’s body.

As Dormammu nearly removed the Omega Effect curse from He-El, powerful He-Els from parallel universes began crossing into this universe. They gathered around the scene, and Cosmic Emperor He-El asked that He-El's original body be left to him.

• Dormammu continued transferring the Omega Effect curse from He-El as it faded, prompting Parallel Universe He-Els to cross the barrier into this universe.
• Super-Gene He-El descended into New York and created a massive crater, terrifying Steve Rogers with his size and pressure.
• Dark Dimension Overlord He-El emerged through a dark hole and erased a skyscraper with a breath, frightening Dormammu, who continued the curse transfer in silence.
• Fully Mechanical He-El crossed into the universe and reassembled his liquid-metal body as Tony Stark watched in confusion.
• King of Gods He-El descended onto a building and left Odin's soul trembling with fear at his power.
• Cosmic Emperor He-El, seated on a throne, asked that He-El's original body be left to him.

Cosmic Emperor He-El and the other powerful He-Els waited for Dormammu to finish transferring the original He-El’s curse, each preparing to fight for the original body. As the curse vanished, Ancient One questioned whether He-El was truly dead, and a piece of armor fell away to reveal his arm.

• Cosmic Emperor He-El asked the other He-Els to give him the original body, but Super-Gene He-El, Perfect Machine He-El, Dark Dimension Overlord He-El, and King of Gods He-El rejected him.
• Planet He-El asked the He-Els to keep their coming battle from harming Earth and its life.
• Dormammu slowed the curse transfer when he sensed the He-Els watching him, then hurried to accelerate it as they resumed mocking one another.
• The He-Els discussed their curses and waited for Dormammu to complete the transfer of the original He-El’s Omega Effect curse.
• Ancient One asked whether He-El might not be dead as the last of the curse entered the Dark Dimension.
• A scale-like piece of Quark Armor fell from the god-demon-like armor hanging from Gungnir, exposing the fair arm beneath.

He-El used the six Infinity Stones and the power of the universe to analyze and remove Darkseid’s Omega Effect curse, awakening his Kryptonian abilities and restoring his connections to other worlds. The Stones’ backlash then began destroying his recovering body as his Quark Armor broke apart.

• He-El invoked the six Infinity Stones to analyze and remove the Omega Effect curse from his body.
• He-El observed the curse’s operation through the universe’s forces, and the Stones gradually removed it, including its deepest essence.
• He-El awakened throughout his cells, regained his Kryptonian power, reopened his universe and its seven Traversal Vortices, and reconnected with the AllSpark.
• The six Infinity Stones began destroying He-El’s body as his Kryptonian cells restored it, and his Quark Armor broke apart while he hung from Gungnir.

As He-El hung pierced by Gungnir, his armor and Infinity Stones fell away while the Avengers and his alternate-universe clones waited to see whether he would survive. After Fully Mechanical He-El found his condition impossible to analyze, He-El opened his eyes.

• Ancient One explained that Gungnir had not killed He-El, leaving the Avengers conflicted between wanting him dead and hoping he would protect Earth from the clones.
• The Clone He-Els watched He-El cautiously, each waiting for him to awaken rather than risk being the first to attack.
• He-El's armor and the Power Stone fell away, prompting the Avengers to consider using the Infinity Stones again.
• Fully Mechanical He-El could not determine whether He-El was simultaneously undergoing destruction and regeneration, and wondered if the Infinity Stones had caused the condition.
• The last piece of He-El's facial armor fell, and He-El slowly opened his eyes.

He-El endured and adapted to the six Infinity Stones’ backlash, then awakened while still impaled by Gungnir. As Ancient One, Odin, Dormammu, Tony Stark, and his powerful clones watched, He-El pulled the spear from his chest, revealing that Gungnir feared him and no longer obeyed Odin.

• He-El resisted the backlash of all six Infinity Stones, absorbing their power and using his consciousness universe to protect his soul.
• He-El awakened with Gungnir still piercing his chest and surveyed his assembled clones and enemies.
• Ancient One and Odin realized their scheme had only partly worked, while Dormammu tried to avoid He-El’s notice.
• He-El looked at Tony Stark, then gripped Gungnir and began pulling it from his chest.
• Odin failed to control Gungnir, which was too terrified of He-El to respond or even tremble in his grasp.

He-El faced the Clone He-Els while the Infinity Stones’ backlash slowed his recovery, and Super-Gene He-El charged to attack him. Super-Gene He-El was struck by an unseen blow and sent flying, leaving him unable to identify who had attacked.

• Gungnir was pulled from He-El’s chest as his wound slowly regenerated against the Infinity Stones’ interference.
• Super-Gene He-El decided to strike first while the other Clone He-Els watched and waited.
• He-El challenged all the Clone He-Els to attack together while he endured the Stones’ backlash.
• Super-Gene He-El lunged at He-El and reached for him with a blow he expected to be only ten percent of his strength.
• An unseen attack smashed Super-Gene He-El’s face and hurled him thousands of meters away, and he asked whose attack had hit him.

Fully Mechanical He-El recognized that He-El had attacked Super-Gene He-El through time and space and urged the Clone He-Els to cooperate. Super-Gene He-El unleashed his immense gravity and heat, then charged He-El, who calmly raised his hand.

• Fully Mechanical He-El slowed his recording to one femtosecond and discovered that He-El had struck Super-Gene He-El with Gungnir across time and space.
• Fully Mechanical He-El warned the Clone He-Els that He-El had mastered powers resembling those of the Infinity Stones and that none of them could defeat him alone.
• Super-Gene He-El regenerated his face, compressed his body, and generated extreme gravity and heat that distorted New York and harmed those nearby.
• Super-Gene He-El declared that he would use his full power to shatter space and time, then charged at He-El.
• He-El raised his left hand toward Super-Gene He-El and spread his fingers.

He-El effortlessly erased Super-Gene He-El at the quark level, leaving the other He-Els terrified by the gap in their power. After the backlash from the Infinity Stones subsided, He-El revived the Black Suit and faced the remaining clones.

• He-El tore Super-Gene He-El apart at the quark level, killing him and restoring the sky and air pressure over New York.
• Tony Stark, the Avengers, and the others recovered from the oppressive pressure, while the Clone He-Els realized Super-Gene He-El had vanished without a trace.
• The Clone He-Els discussed joining forces against He-El, but Fully Mechanical He-El remained silent.
• He-El felt the last of the Infinity Stones’ backlash fade and told the Clone He-Els they had lost their chance to attack together.
• He-El revived the Black Suit from the AllSpark, forming Black Suit II as he looked down at the Clone He-Els.

He-El removed his curse and revealed a terrifying true form, leaving the Avengers and their allies afraid to oppose him. As the Clone He-Els attacked together, He-El’s Heat Vision pierced the nearest clone with impossible speed and accuracy.

• The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and other onlookers stared at He-El’s transformed appearance, while Ancient One warned Stephen Strange that He-El was beyond their power.
• Dormammu regretted giving up the Dark Dimension after He-El emerged unharmed and free of his curse.
• Fully Mechanical He-El ordered the Clone He-Els to attack He-El together.
• The Clone He-Els charged using portals, transformations, and other abilities as He-El fired Heat Vision at the nearest clone.
• He-El’s Heat Vision abruptly changed direction and accelerated, piercing the clone’s chest and destroying his afterimages.

He-El used his Heat Vision to kill the attacking Clone He-Els, overcoming their speed, varied forms, and regeneration. With Fully Mechanical He-El and two other clones left, He-El turned toward the survivors.

• He-El's Heat Vision erased Clone He-El's regenerative will and vaporized him.
• Fully Mechanical He-El warned the other clones that He-El's Heat Vision could do more than bend around corners, but they charged anyway.
• He-El's Heat Vision pierced hundreds of attacking clones despite their seemingly slowed movements and unusual powers.
• The clones died as vaporization spread from their wounds, and Fully Mechanical He-El realized He-El's power was unlike theirs.
• He-El's Heat Vision faded as he looked calmly toward the three remaining Clone He-Els.