Chapter Summaries

Tony confronted Nick Fury about S.H.I.E.L.D.’s failure to stop the missile attack, while Nick suggested the military or other government departments might be compromised. The chapter left Nick asking Tony to identify the enemies he had fought.

• Hydra soldiers tried to dismantle Tony’s disabled armor, but Anna’s Black Widows attacked them and moved in under Cortana’s network cover.
• A Black Widow removed the EMP bomb and restored Tony’s suit, allowing J.A.R.V.I.S. to reboot.
• Tony eliminated the Hydra soldiers with tracking rounds and found Dario Agger’s unconscious, naked body, then took him away.
• The next morning, Tony crashed through the window of Nick Fury’s office and demanded an explanation for the missile attack.
• Nick told Tony he suspected problems in the government, especially the military, and asked him to identify the enemies he had fought.

Tony considered joining the Avengers Initiative after Nick explained S.H.I.E.L.D.'s failure to investigate the Brooklyn attack. Meanwhile, Dane successfully treated Antonia with the Extremis Virus, and Umbrella launched the medicine by offering it to victims of the attack, leaving its extraordinary healing effects on public display.

• Nick told Tony that EMP bombs and a hijacked network had hindered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation, then urged him to join the Avengers Initiative.
• Tony reflected on his defeats against superhumans and considered cooperating with S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Dane removed Antonia's bionic cerebellum and motor chip, then treated her with Extremis Virus and Pepper's stabilizing serum.
• Antonia's vital signs stabilized as her wounds and facial scars healed, and Dane ordered her moved to an observation ward.
• Dane and Pepper planned marketable versions of the Extremis treatment, including a weaker medicine for ordinary civilians.
• Umbrella offered free treatment to victims of the Brooklyn attack, and its new Extremis medicine rapidly healed patients who had been declared permanently disabled.

Umbrella’s miracle medicine drew S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention, and Maria Hill tried to obtain its formula and negotiate access to the Cosmic Cube. Dane refused to sell the formula but agreed to let Umbrella supply S.H.I.E.L.D. and left the Cosmic Cube research proposal for Nick to consider.

• Umbrella’s medicine attracted worldwide attention after patients’ severed limbs began regrowing, and S.H.I.E.L.D. intervened to stop attacks from competitors.
• Maria Hill met with Dane on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s behalf and proposed cooperation, while probing Umbrella’s connection to the Extremis Virus and the A.I.M. incident.
• Dane explained how Umbrella had adapted the Extremis Virus but refused to sell the medicine’s formula.
• Dane suggested that S.H.I.E.L.D. trade access to the Cosmic Cube for the formula, and Hill admitted that S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed it before saying she needed Nick’s approval.
• Dane and Hill signed a large medicine supply contract that Umbrella expected to fulfill over three years.

Natasha led S.H.I.E.L.D. to a Ten Rings ferry in Aden, where John Garrett’s team attacked while she stole the organization’s files. The operation went wrong when a powerful Asian man wielding ten glowing blue rings defeated Garrett and confronted Natasha.

• Dane considered Nick Fury’s efforts to develop a serum from Extremis and learned that Natasha was investigating the Ten Rings.
• Natasha told Nick that Ten Rings agent Frampton had acquired Jericho missiles and planned to attack Arius Salim Air Base.
• Nick sent John Garrett and an assault team to the Port of Aden, where Natasha lured the Ten Rings ferry to dock after nightfall.
• Garrett’s team overwhelmed the Ten Rings aboard the ferry while Natasha copied their data files, including an extra set for Dane.
• Natasha realized Garrett had not contacted her after the fighting stopped and discovered him defeated beside an Asian man whose ten blue rings had torn through the ship.
• Natasha fired at the Asian man after seeing Garrett down, but her earlier shots had failed to damage his rings.

Natasha encountered Wenwu, who revealed that Trevor Slattery had only impersonated the Mandarin while Killian and local Ten Rings leaders ran the organization. After Natasha escaped and reported the encounter to Dane, Dane decided to pursue Wenwu and the Ten Rings.

• Wenwu used the Ten Rings to subdue John Garrett and Trevor Slattery, then identified himself to Natasha as Wenwu.
• Trevor confessed that Killian had created the Ten Rings organization and forced him to impersonate its leader, while local leaders had ordered the Arius Salim Air Base bombing.
• Natasha fled into the sea, and Wenwu spared her and John Garrett before ordering Trevor to bring the Ten Rings under his control.
• Natasha contacted Dane and reported that Wenwu was the real master of the Ten Rings and the Mandarin was a fake.
• Dane told Natasha to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. and monitor Nick, then ordered Cortana to prepare his armor so he could leave for Port of Aden.

Wenwu gathered the Ten Rings members in Aden City, then fought Dane, a black-armored opponent who seized two of the Ten Rings. Dane broke Wenwu’s restraint with the stolen rings and prepared to unleash their power, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Wenwu ordered Trevor to gather the Ten Rings members in Aden City, killed one who insulted him, and claimed command of the group.
• Dane arrived in a black Iron Man suit and fought Wenwu, combining armor and martial arts against the Ten Rings.
• Dane grabbed two rings and endured their painful test until they accepted him, while Wenwu lost his connection to them.
• Dane returned wearing the two rings as white-glowing bracelets, and Wenwu attacked him with the remaining eight.
• Wenwu trapped Dane in an energy field, but Dane could not seize the other rings because Wenwu’s will guarded them.
• Dane joined the two stolen rings at his chest and prepared to use their power to break Wenwu’s restraint.

Dane survived his explosive battle with Wenwu, then explained how he had gained the Ten Rings and offered Natasha a permanent enhancement. After advising her to monitor Hydra rather than act against it, Dane left as Steve Rogers’s discovery began in Greenland.

• Dane overloaded his suit, broke Wenwu’s energy blockade, and survived the resulting explosions, while Wenwu retreated with his Eight Rings.
• Dane emerged from the sea naked, and Natasha gave him her coat before trying to touch his Bracelets and failing their painful ownership test.
• Dane explained the Ten Rings’ hidden test and offered Natasha Umbrella’s permanent DNA-altering medicine.
• Dane departed in the Blackbird and told Natasha to keep watching S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra’s technology without interfering with Hydra.
• In Greenland, Bucky stood among drilling equipment and tents on the ice, unshaven and expressionless.

Bucky recovered Steve Rogers from the ice, and Steve awoke in 2009 to learn he had been asleep for nearly sixty-five years and that Peggy Carter was still alive. Meanwhile, Umbrella gained valuable Roxxon research assets, and Hammer Industries announced automated humanoid armor that alarmed Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Bucky descended into the ice cavern, found Steve’s star-emblazoned shield, and confirmed Steve had been recovered.
• Dane let Bucky decide what to do with Steve, and Steve awoke three days later in an Umbrella hospital in Ottawa.
• Bucky told Steve it was 2009 and that Peggy Carter was alive, while withholding that she was elderly and had Alzheimer’s disease.
• Tony handed Dario Agger to S.H.I.E.L.D. and secretly collected his biological samples, while Umbrella used Yelena’s information to acquire valuable Roxxon research facilities and personnel.
• Hammer Industries announced fully automated humanoid armor, and a military inspection team praised its product, prompting Tony and Nick to investigate.
• Nick sent Natasha to investigate Hammer Industries, and she asked for a vacation after her previous mission.

Natasha went to Umbrella for her promised medication and underwent a procedure with Antonia, while Justin Hammer unveiled his drones at a technology expo. Tony Stark warned Justin that the drones were dangerous, but Justin dismissed him, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Nick agreed to give Natasha double vacation time after her next mission, and she went to Umbrella's laboratory to collect her medication.
• Natasha found Antonia recovered and ready to perform her procedure; Antonia anesthetized her and began the treatment while Dane told Cortana to watch over them.
• At Hammer Industries' expo, Justin Hammer introduced the Hammer drones to military officials and the public.
• Iron Man arrived to loud applause and warned Justin to recall the drones because they were dangerous.
• Justin accused Tony Stark of fearing Hammer Industries' success, and Tony asked whether Justin was sure the drones were under his control.

Ivan Vanko hijacked Hammer Industries' drones, triggering an attack that drew Iron Man away while Umbrella's forces protected the crowd and destroyed the Marine drones. Tony fought the remaining drones as Natasha, newly enhanced by the Extremis Virus, infiltrated Hammer Industries and reached its most guarded area, where she sensed danger.

• Ivan Vanko hijacked the Hammer drones, and Tony shoved Justin aside before drawing the attacking machines away from the audience.
• Dane called in Umbrella's forces, whose exoskeleton-clad troops fought the drones while their medical unit treated wounded attendees, including General Ross.
• Umbrella's Quick Reaction Force destroyed the Marine drones, and Ivan recognized the force as belonging to Umbrella.
• Tony discovered the drones' armor was vulnerable to Repulsor blasts, but more machines arrived and continued attacking him and the streets below.
• Natasha used her new Extremis-enhanced strength to defeat Hammer security guards and broke into the company's confidential area.
• Natasha opened the door to the most tightly guarded area and felt an intense sense of danger.

Natasha escaped Ivan Vanko’s attack and returned to investigate Hammer Industries while Dane interrogated Justin Hammer and uncovered the company’s secret Kenyan launch base and space station. After Dane erased Justin’s recent memories, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents led by Phil arrived, and Phil took notice of Umbrella’s exoskeletons.

• Natasha dodged Ivan Vanko’s electrically charged whips, escaped with a smoke bomb, and returned to Hammer Industries to search its weakened defenses.
• Dane kept Justin Hammer under control and used his sleep ability to learn that Ivan held the drone technology and that Hammer had a secret launch base and space station in Kenya.
• Dane considered the space station’s possible connection to the Skrulls, then extracted Hammer’s other secrets and erased Justin’s recent memories.
• An Umbrella soldier told Dane that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had arrived, and Dane left Justin to face them.
• Phil entered with the S.H.I.E.L.D. team and watched Umbrella’s exoskeleton-wearing soldiers.

Phil Coulson met Dane Davis and expressed interest in Umbrella’s exoskeletons before taking Justin Hammer into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Meanwhile, Tony Stark fought Ivan Vanko’s drones and Whiplash armor, and the chapter left Tony battling Ivan at close range after S.H.I.E.L.D. intervened.

• Dane Davis showed Phil Coulson Umbrella’s exoskeleton, and Phil asked whether the company planned to sell it.
• Dane handed Justin Hammer over to Phil and left with his soldiers, while Phil’s agents began questioning Hammer.
• Tony Stark used J.A.R.V.I.S. to survive a fall, then destroyed the surrounding drones with concealed lasers.
• Ivan Vanko arrived in Whiplash armor, accused Tony of responsibility for his father’s death, and dragged him down with an electrified whip.
• J.A.R.V.I.S. shared Tony’s location with S.H.I.E.L.D., whose soldiers attacked Ivan but were scattered by his missiles.
• Tony attacked Ivan in close combat after seeing S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers die, but Ivan’s larger armor gave him the advantage.

Tony Stark defeated Ivan Vanko at the Hammer Tech Expo, while Umbrella took advantage of Hammer Industries’ collapse to acquire its African assets. S.H.I.E.L.D. grew suspicious of Umbrella’s security company, Atlas, and Dane recognized that the company’s ties to Kingpin could give S.H.I.E.L.D. leverage against it.

• Ivan Vanko used his mech’s electric whips and missiles against Iron Man and the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers, killing many soldiers before Tony disabled the mech with an EMP.
• Ivan revealed he had escaped the destroyed mech in a smaller powered suit, but Tony knocked him down and left him severely injured while asking why Ivan blamed him for his father’s death.
• Hammer Industries’ stock crashed after the Expo attack, and Umbrella acquired some of its African assets through a contract Justin Hammer had signed.
• Nick Fury questioned Hill about Umbrella and assigned her to investigate the exoskeleton technology it had displayed at the Expo.
• Hill completed a small exoskeleton purchase through Pepper, who refused to discuss Atlas and said Dane personally oversaw it.
• Dane reassured Pepper that S.H.I.E.L.D. would not act without evidence and recognized that Umbrella’s cooperation with Kingpin could become a weakness.

Daredevil investigated the Hand and fought its ninjas, with Iron Fist rescuing him after he was poisoned. Iron Fist took him to Luke Cage’s bar, where he prepared to force the poison out.

• Bullseye ambushed Daredevil in Hell’s Kitchen, but the Punisher shot Bullseye and killed the gang members.
• Daredevil went to Midtown Circle Financial Company to investigate the Hand and was attacked by its ninjas.
• Iron Fist arrived and helped Daredevil escape after Daredevil was poisoned by a throwing star.
• Iron Fist brought Daredevil to Luke Cage’s bar and asked Luke to watch over him while he tried to force out the poison.

Iron Fist, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and The Punisher uncovered The Hand’s role behind Kingpin and its search for children, but Madam Gao’s strength and the other leaders made an assault on Midtown Circle Financial Company seem impossible. Daredevil ended by suggesting they ask Dane Davis for help.

• Iron Fist used his qi to purge the poison from Daredevil, while Luke Cage urged Luke to stay out of Hell’s Kitchen’s troubles.
• The Hand attacked Luke’s bar, but Luke proved immune to bullets and blades and fought back against the gunmen and ninjas.
• Madam Gao arrived, struck Luke aside, and defeated Iron Fist before The Punisher shot her subordinates and helped the others escape.
• Daredevil told Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher that The Hand stood behind Kingpin and was searching for children, with Midtown Circle Financial Company serving as a stronghold.
• Daredevil warned that Madam Gao was one of five powerful Hand leaders, and proposed asking Dane Davis for help.

Daredevil’s group agreed to seek Dane Davis’s help against the Hand and Kingpin, but Atlas forces surrounded them and escorted them to Black Widow Base. The group arrived to meet Dane, stunned by Umbrella’s powerful military presence.

• Daredevil convinced the Punisher, Iron Fist, and Luke to contact Dane Davis, and Jessica Jones relayed their request to Anna.
• Dane agreed to meet them at Black Widow Base, but Atlas’s Quick Reaction Force located and surrounded the group before they could leave.
• Atlas soldiers escorted Daredevil, the Punisher, Iron Fist, and Luke to Black Widow Base after the Punisher objected and Luke was targeted with laser sights.
• The group saw the base’s defenses, aircraft, and advanced equipment, and Iron Fist told Luke that surrender would be wise if its personnel meant them harm.

Dane explained The Hand’s history, its pursuit of Dragon Bone, and how Danny Rand’s return had weakened the seal beneath Midtown Circle. As Dane prepared to enlist the street heroes in stopping The Hand, the five Fingers argued over their failures and rivalries while preparing to capture the heroes, unaware that Tess’s Quick Reaction Force was approaching.

• Dane told Matt, Luke, Danny, and The Punisher that The Hand’s leaders were K'un-Lun traitors seeking Dragon Bone and that Danny’s presence had hastened the seal’s failure.
• The Punisher realized Kingpin had served The Hand because he wanted Dragon Bone’s life-extending power, while Dane revealed he wanted the bone as a material and aimed to stop the Beast from reaching the human world.
• Dane asked the street heroes to pay a price and help resolve the danger around Dragon Bone.
• Murakami accused Madam Gao of withholding information, and she threatened him by revealing she knew about his son and family branch in Japan.
• Alexandra ended the Fingers’ argument and ordered them to capture and kill the street heroes before S.H.I.E.L.D. or Umbrella intervened.
• Tess’s Quick Reaction Force quietly advanced toward Midtown Circle.

Atlas attacked Midland Circle with white phosphorus and toxic smoke, while Daredevil, Luke, and Iron Fist infiltrated from above to confront the Hand's Five Fingers. The fight turned against the Defenders until an unknown newcomer burst in and struck Murakami and Sowanda.

• Atlas fired white phosphorus shells into Midland Circle, burning the Hand's Undead Legion and filling the lobby with toxic smoke.
• The Five Fingers argued over whether to flee or accept the Beast's power, while Daredevil, Luke, and Iron Fist entered from the rooftop and cut the lights.
• Luke and Iron Fist attacked the Fingers in the darkness; Alexandra broke Iron Fist's arms, and Daredevil and Luke struggled against the Fingers' qi-powered attacks and weapons.
• Iron Fist's arms began to regenerate near the Dragon Bone's seal as Luke dodged Murakami and Sowanda, but Bakuto knocked him into their crossing blades.
• A black-clad newcomer leaped into the room, evaded Murakami and Sowanda's blades, and punched both of them in the chest.

Jessica helped Luke and the heroes turn the fight against the Hand, but the Five Fingers gained the Beast’s power and became immortal. As they began breaking the Dragon Bone’s seal beneath Midland Circle, an Atlas sergeant requested authorization to use a bunker-buster bomb.

• Jessica used rebars to pin Bakuto, and Luke drove him into a wall while she impaled him with a steel spear.
• Alexandra overwhelmed the heroes with her new strength and rapid healing, so Jessica collapsed the floors beneath the Five Fingers and carried the injured Luke and the others to safety.
• Atlas soldiers evacuated the lobby before the collapse, and their medics treated Luke as Daredevil detected the Five Fingers breathing beneath the rubble.
• Iron Fist realized the Five Fingers were trying to break the Dragon Bone’s seal, and they channeled the Beast’s power into the basement gate.
• Their attempt shook the ground and trapped the heroes above amid the ruins, so an Atlas sergeant requested permission to use a bunker-buster bomb.

Dane forced Kingpin to take responsibility for the destruction in Hell's Kitchen by threatening Vanessa and their unborn child. Nick Fury ordered an investigation, then learned that Wilson Fisk had already turned himself in.

• After destroying the Hand's forces with a bunker buster, Dane went to Kingpin's hideout and confronted him over his dealings with the Hand.
• Dane overpowered Kingpin with the Bracelet and demanded that he confess to S.H.I.E.L.D. that he caused the events in Hell's Kitchen.
• Dane told Kingpin that Vanessa was pregnant and threatened their lives, making Kingpin agree to obey.
• Nick Fury questioned Phil about the suspected underground missile detonation and ordered him to investigate Hell's Kitchen.
• Hill reported that Wilson Fisk had turned himself in, surprising Nick and Phil.