Chapter Summaries

Hela destroyed Mjolnir, defeated Thor and the others, and took control of Asgard, but Loki rescued the survivors and they regrouped in a hidden shelter. Loki then revealed that Malekith had sent him to conquer Vanaheim, where he questioned what Malekith was secretly planning.

• Hela shattered Mjolnir, stabbed Thor, and overpowered Peter when he tried to stop her.
• Loki used illusions and Pietro's help to rescue Thor and the others, while Hela ordered her forces to search for their spaceship and prepare to invade Niflheim and Helheim.
• Thor awoke in a hidden shelter, learned that Wanda had used a magic stone to help save him, and embraced Loki.
• Loki explained that he had spied on Malekith and watched for Galactic Plumbers, while the others discussed how to escape Asgard or wait for rescue.
• Loki told the group that Malekith trusted him with a difficult mission, then privately complained to Frigga that Malekith had sent him to conquer Vanaheim while withholding his plans.

Psyphon and the Dark Elves invaded Nidavellir to capture its dwarves and seize their weapons, overwhelming Eitri’s defenders with Fire Demon support. Beta Ray Bill and the Galactic Plumbers arrived to stop the invasion, and Bill prepared to lead his forces into battle as Psyphon considered the newcomers a potential obstacle.

• Psyphon led the Dark Elf fleet to attack Nidavellir, hoping to capture its dwarves and bring their weapons to Malekith.
• Eitri rallied the dwarf warriors, but the Dark Elves and Queen of Cinders Sindr’s Fire Demons routed them.
• Eitri warned the invaders that Odin protected Nidavellir, but the Dark Elves told him Odin had been dead for a long time and demanded the dwarves become their slaves.
• Beta Ray Bill arrived aboard a Galactic Plumbers battleship and ordered the Dark Elves and Fire Demons to surrender.
• Psyphon and the Dark Elves chose to fight the Galactic Plumbers, while Bill led his Sakaaran and Korbin warriors out to meet them.

Beta Ray Bill and the Galactic Plumbers battled Psyphon’s forces beneath the planetary forge, where Bill awakened the Energy of the Universe and overwhelmed Psyphon. The fight left Psyphon buried in the planet’s depths, where he found a strange hammer.

• Psyphon ordered the Dark Elves and Fire Demons to attack Bill’s reinforcements while Sindr summoned flame monsters against the dwarves.
• Bill led the Plumbers’ counterattack and charged toward Sindr, while Korg, Margus, Miek, and the others fought through the enemy ranks.
• Bill hurled his Omni-Weapon at Sindr, but Psyphon caught the attack and joined her in fighting him.
• Psyphon pinned Bill to the planetary ring and burned him with fire beasts, but Bill unleashed the Energy of the Universe and struck Psyphon deep into the planet.
• Eitri realized Bill’s attack had sent Psyphon into the treasury, where Psyphon found a hammer.

Bill learned that Psyphon had taken Cul’s Fear Hammer and released Odin’s imprisoned brother, but Psyphon betrayed Cul for Vilgax. Odin and the Ancient One discovered Cul had died and, reassured that Ben Parker was searching for the last two Infinity Stones, returned to their meditation.

• Bill discovered Psyphon had escaped with Cul Borson’s Fear Hammer, and Eitri explained that the hammer could control its chosen wielder and help free Cul.
• Bill vowed to keep protecting Nidavellir, and Eitri abandoned plans to evacuate and followed him back into battle.
• The hammer transported Psyphon to Earth, where he pretended to serve the frail Cul before seizing him and offering him as a gift to Vilgax.
• On Legerdomain, Odin sensed Cul’s seal had broken and feared the prophecy, but then detected that Cul had died.
• Odin and the Ancient One learned that Ben Parker was searching for the final two Infinity Stones and resumed their conversation over a drink and tea.

Thanos fled to a distant planet with Gamora’s body, intending to rebuild his strength, but Eunice caught up with him and fought him using the Space Stone and Mind Stone. Just as Thanos overwhelmed her with the powers of the Reality Stone and Soul Stone, Ben Parker intervened and stopped him.

• Thanos escaped to a remote planet with Gamora’s body and reflected on how he had taken control of her through the Soul Stone.
• Eunice confronted Thanos and revealed that she had the Space Stone, blocking his attacks and restraining him with spatial power.
• Thanos used his soul and the Soul Stone to strike Eunice, then combined the Soul Stone and Reality Stone to attack her.
• Eunice stayed calm as Thanos unleashed a devastating wave of reality, but Ben Parker appeared and halted his attack.
• Ben Parker’s power drew back the Aether tidal wave as Thanos looked up at his enormous face.

Ben defeated Thanos, freed Gamora from the Aether Particle, and secured the Reality Stone. Meanwhile, Brunnhilde returned to Sakaar with Thor and the others, where the disguised Malekith tried to steer the response to the Nine Realms invasion toward Helheim and Niflheim.

• Ben transformed into his living-planet form, overwhelmed Thanos, and took the Soul Stone before Nebula restrained him.
• Ben trapped Thanos in a spatial prison and explained that Gamora had been controlled and needed protection from the fragments of Thanos's soul within her.
• Ben used Energy of the Universe to extract the Aether Particle from Gamora and condensed it into the Reality Stone.
• Brunnhilde returned to Sakaar with Thor and the others and told Thor that Nidavellir's forge had been destroyed by the Dark Elves.
• Malekith, disguised as Loki, revealed that he had infiltrated the Galactic Plumbers to search for the Aether Particle and other Infinity Stones.
• At the strategy meeting, Thor wanted to support Vanaheim, but Malekith urged him to focus on Helheim and Niflheim, where Hela could reclaim her undead army.

Thor decided to seek power in Niflheim to fight Hela, while Ben offered to reforge Mjolnir and take the Death’s Crown himself. Malekith revealed that Odin had another son, Balder, and another daughter whom Thor and Loki needed to rescue.

• Thor resolved to become the God of Death in Niflheim and seize its Death’s Crown, while Ben offered to take his place and reforge Mjolnir with the Eternal Flame.
• Ben returned with Gamora, and Thor entrusted Mjolnir to Peter and Steve because becoming Niflheim’s king would disqualify him from lifting it.
• Malekith revealed that Balder, Odin’s son, had once ruled Niflheim and that Malekith had already defeated two of its Six Lords and claimed a third of the Death’s Crown.
• Malekith urged Thor to rescue their other sister, and Thor realized Odin had another daughter he had never known about.

Thor learned that his sister was imprisoned in Heaven and prepared to rescue her while Ben coordinated the Galactic Plumbers’ response to upheaval across the universe. Caiera reported that the Incursean Empire had arrived and was attacking the Shi'ar Empire, but Ben chose to provide aid to affected planets without intervening in the war.

• Malekith revealed that Thor had an imprisoned sister in Heaven, and the group assigned Thor to rescue her while Ben and Wanda headed to Niflheim.
• T'Challa, the captain, and Peter decided to return to Earth, while Peter learned that Uncle Ben and Aunt May were traveling the universe with Princess Looma as the Legendary Plumbers.
• Caiera told Ben that the Ravagers were looking for Star-Lord, and Ben suspected Ego had placed a bounty on him and ordered the plumbers to monitor them.
• Caiera reported that the Shi'ar Empire had fallen into disorder after Gladiator's death and showed Ben the Incursean fleet attacking its territory.
• Ben recognized the Incurseans and ordered humanitarian aid for the planets under attack while leaving the conflict with the Shi'ar Empire alone.

Ben and Wanda explored Niflheim, where Ben unlocked Swampfire, subdued the forest’s tree monsters, and learned that four Niffleheim Lords had allied against the Dark Elves. Meanwhile, Vilgax absorbed Cul Borson’s divine power and gained the ability to grow stronger from fear beyond Earth.

• Ben brought Wanda to Niflheim and transformed into the newly unlocked Swampfire when the tree monsters threatened them.
• Swampfire defeated the leading tree monsters and made the rest of the forest submit, then Ben learned the locations of the Six Niffleheim Lords from one of them.
• Ben learned that Madam Olmor, Killer King Gar-toom, King Blackbone, and Nidhogg had allied against the Dark Elves, and that Hoder Odinson had helped Malekith defeat two lords.
• Psyphon delivered the weakened Cul Borson to Vilgax, who drained Cul’s divine power and killed him.
• Vilgax discovered that he could absorb fear from beyond the Nine Realms and summoned several hammers to himself.

Steve and Peter visited Tony in Sakaar’s underground arena, then returned to Earth while Thor awoke imprisoned beside his sister Saga after being tricked by a fake Loki. Malekith searched the Galactic Plumbers headquarters for the Aether Particle, and Ben and Wanda reached Niflheim as Hela and Hoder battled for power; Wanda urged the Niffleheim Lords to submit to the Sakaar King.

• Steve and Peter visited Tony in the Sakaar arena, reassured him that Earth’s heroes were safe, and told him about the new threat to the universe.
• Steve and Peter left Sakaar, while Quicksilver asked Peter to tell Harry he would win their next game.
• Thor awoke naked in a cell beside Saga, learned that their capture was a trap, and realized the Loki who had led them there might have been an impostor.
• Malekith searched the Galactic Plumbers headquarters for the Aether Particle and concluded that the Totem Tower’s highest floor was the only place left to investigate.
• Ben and Wanda reached Niflheim as Hela and Hoder fought, then approached the four remaining Niffleheim Lords.
• Wanda told the Niffleheim Lords to submit to the Sakaar King of the Galactic Plumbers.

Ben and Wanda fought the Niffleheim Lords as Wanda defeated Lady Allmour and Ben overcame the others by changing alien forms. Ben claimed Nidhogg’s portion of Death’s Crown, then transformed into a crown-powered Wildmutt, leaving Killer King and King Blackbone ready to surrender.

• Ben’s Ghostfreak fought Killer King, King Blackbone, and Nidhogg, whose attacks repeatedly made the Lords turn on one another before they joined forces against him.
• Wanda battled Lady Allmour with spells and defeated her with Conductoids Lightning, then credited her power to the Energy of the Universe bestowed by the King of Sakaar.
• Ben transformed into Diamondhead, wounded Nidhogg, trapped it beneath jade mountains, and severed its head.
• Ben changed into XLR8, took Nidhogg’s portion of Death’s Crown, and kicked its head away.
• Ben transformed into Wildmutt and used the crown’s power to terrify Killer King and King Blackbone, who decided to surrender.

Ben and Wanda collected three more pieces of Death's Crown, then discovered Hela and Hoder had joined forces to stop them in Niflheim. As Ben fought them, Wanda suspected Loki had betrayed the Galactic Plumbers, while Ben suspected someone had impersonated him; Ben's flames engulfed the battlefield as Wanda tried to contact Thor.

• Ben burned Nidhogg, Killer King Gar-toom, and King Blackbone to ashes, while Wanda defeated Lady Allmour and brought Ben her crown.
• Ben and Wanda returned to find Hoder had defeated Hela, and Ben explained that Hela's power was weakened in Niflheim before deciding to attack Hoder for the last piece of Death's Crown.
• Hela and Hoder ambushed Ben and Wanda with Death Thorns, revealing that they had planned to join forces against the outsiders.
• Wanda concluded that Loki had leaked their plans, but Ben argued that someone might have impersonated Loki and warned that Thor could be in trouble in Heaven.
• Ben fought Hela, Hoder, Heimdall, and Fenris, blasting Heimdall away and striking Fenris with a Deathflame Beam.
• Ben unleashed Death Fire across Niflheim, blasting Hela and Hoder backward and burning the surrounding armies as Wanda tried to contact Thor.

Ben defeated Hela and Hoder in Niflheim, merged their Death's Crowns, and absorbed the authority of death as Swampfire instead of Ghostfreak. Back on Sakaar, Mother Storm rampaged after escaping Mjolnir, while Malekith used the chaos to break into Ben Parker's office.

• Ben overwhelmed Hela and Hoder, took their Death's Crowns, and imprisoned them together.
• Ben merged the two Death's Crowns, but the Little Broken Watch transformed him into Swampfire as Swampfire's gene fusion completed.
• Swampfire absorbed the crowns' power, and Ben decided to return with Wanda and the captives to the Galactic Plumbers.
• Mother Storm, freed when Mjolnir was destroyed, paralyzed a city on Sakaar, and Caiera and Brunnhilde prepared to confront her.
• Nebula ordered an evacuation and deployed Galactic Plumbers, energy shields, absorption devices, and Wildebot to contain Mother Storm.
• Malekith revealed that he had released Mother Storm and used Sakaar's emergency response as cover to enter Ben Parker's office.

Ben fought Malekith in Totem Tower while Caiera and Brunnhilde battled Mother Storm elsewhere on Sakaar. After Wanda rescued Caiera from Mother Storm’s devastating attack, Ben stood unharmed at the center of the lightning and used Big Star Feedback.

• Malekith found no Aether Particle or important documents in Ben’s office, then fought Ben after Ben arrived with Wanda, Hela, and the captured Hoder.
• Ben used Death Fire against Malekith’s combined light and dark powers, and their battle caused Totem Tower to collapse.
• Caiera and Brunnhilde tried to defeat and then contain Mother Storm, but her lightning shattered their energy sphere and overwhelmed them.
• Wanda rescued Caiera as Ben charged into Mother Storm’s lightning dragon, then reassured Caiera that he would not lose.
• Ben stood inside the shrinking mass of lightning and unleashed Big Star Feedback.

Ben used Electric Lizard to confront Mother Storm, whose immense lightning threatened to destroy Sakaar. He absorbed her directly to upgrade Electric Lizard, while the fate of the battle remained unresolved.

• Ben rescued Brunnhilde from Mother Storm's lightning and used Electric Lizard to absorb the storm's energy.
• Ben reunited with Caiera and Wanda, learned that the Infinity Stone was safe, and discovered that Malekith had escaped after Totem Tower collapsed.
• Mother Storm refused Ben's offer to avoid sealing her inside Mjolnir and unleashed a planet-spanning storm.
• Nebula evacuated millions aboard the Galactic Plumbers' Giant Battleship as the expanding Lightning Ball threatened to destroy Sakaar.
• Ben redirected lightning at Mother Storm but realized he could not absorb it fast enough, so he emptied his reserves and seized her elemental body to absorb her directly.

After absorbing Mother Storm, Bante oversaw Sakaar’s recovery, dealt with the surviving prisoners, and arranged reinforcements for the coming war. He learned that Looma had gone with Uncle Ben and Aunt May to rescue Peter Quill on Ego’s Planet, and set out to help because she could not defeat Ego.

• Bante absorbed Mother Storm, returned to the battleship, and learned that the storm had damaged ten cities but caused almost no civilian casualties.
• Bante rescued Tony Stark from the ruins, learned that Supergiant had killed Ronan while stopping prisoners from escaping, and granted Supergiant her request for death.
• Bante ordered Azmuth to plan Sakaar’s reconstruction and sent Loki and Brunnhilde to rescue Thor while Bill and Korg prepared to support the Nine Realms.
• Loki stopped pretending to attack Vanaheim, destroyed his Dark Elf force alongside the Vanir, and agreed to join Frigga on the rescue mission.
• Caiera told Bante that Looma had gone with Uncle Ben and Aunt May to Ego’s Planet to save Peter Quill, and Bante decided to go after them because Looma was no match for Ego.

Ben prepared to travel to Ego's Planet to protect Star-Lord, Looma, Uncle Ben, and Aunt May, while Malekith and Vilgax each sought more power ahead of the coming conflict. The chapter ended with Vilgax confronting Malekith in Svartalfheim and demanding his power and spirit.

• Ben arranged for the Reality Stone to be sealed on Primus and fitted the Space Stone into the Little Broken Watch, then departed for Ego's Planet.
• Malekith learned that Loki had destroyed his forces in Niflheim and that Psyphon and Sindr's attack on Nidavellir had failed, so he summoned Sindr to obtain the Flame Crown.
• Vilgax gathered Khyber, SixSix, SevenSeven, EightEight and her family, Psyphon, and Sindr, all armed with Celestial Hammers, and planned to take Malekith's power before attacking the Galactic Plumbers and Earth.
• Vilgax questioned SixSix about possible threats from their old universe and was relieved to hear no news of Ma Vreedle.
• Sindr brought Vilgax and his followers to Svartalfheim, where Malekith received the angel race's weapon and ordered Sindr to hand over the Flame Crown.
• Vilgax stepped before Malekith and offered him greater power in exchange for Malekith's power and spirit.

Vilgax defeated Malekith and seized the powers of the Nine Realms, then launched an invasion of Earth that bypassed its Planetary Shield. Norman Osborn sounded the alarm and called the Thunderbolts to assemble as cities came under attack.

• Vilgax's forces overpowered Malekith's allies, while Psyphon and Khyber defeated Malekith and Vilgax drained his power.
• Vilgax combined the powers he had gathered, claimed the title of King of the Realms, and announced plans to conquer the universe with an army copied from the Omnitrix's DNA.
• Norman Osborn, Otto, and Banner discussed Earth's defenses as Azmuth warned them of abnormal energy above New York.
• Vilgax's forces bypassed the Planetary Shield, and reports showed cities under attack and freezing or rising temperatures.
• Norman Osborn ordered, "Thunderbolts, assemble!"

A wave of fear plunged the world into chaos, making people and heroes experience their worst fears as reality. Norman Osborn realized the enemy was weaponizing fear and rallied the Galactic Plumbers, while William Baker regained enough clarity to join the fight.

• Fear engulfed the world, causing Manhattan residents to attack wildly and making Peter Parker lose his powers before Harry attacked him with a Pumpkin Bomb.
• Norman Osborn and Otto tried to calm Banner, whose fear of being imprisoned drove him to transform into Hulk and attack them.
• Norman realized the enemy was using their fears to distort reality, and Natasha, Steve, and other Galactic Plumbers began recovering and responding to his call.
• William Baker confronted Norman, believing the Galactic Plumbers had failed to save his daughter, but Norman reminded him that she had recovered and visited an amusement park.
• William Baker recalled the truth, and Norman ordered him and the Galactic Plumbers to move out and defeat the enemy.

Vilgax absorbed fear across the world while Peter and Connors reunited in the sewers and planned to restore Peter’s powers. As Earth’s heroes fought fear-driven monsters, Bill arrived with Sakaar’s forces to defend the planet and hold Vilgax back.

• Vilgax absorbed the fear of billions from atop the former Stark Tower and prepared to wait for Ben Parker to enter his trap.
• Peter escaped Harry’s attack through the sewers, where he met Connors and learned they suspected their fears and memories had been manipulated.
• Connors proposed recreating the Mutant Spider with the recorded Second Generation Spider Serum formula and the Gene Variator, and he and Peter headed to Primus Building.
• Felicia and Mary Jane formed an alliance against Ben’s other romantic interests, then ordered Primus combat robots deployed as monsters attacked across the world.
• Norman Osborn coordinated Earth’s response, learned that several heroes were fighting among themselves, and opened the Particle Collider passage for reinforcements.
• Bill brought a vast warship and Sakaar’s forces through the space gate, assigned teams to defend Earth, and ordered the Galactic Plumbers to prepare for battle.