Chapter Summaries

Batman confronted Lex Luthor at Superman's hearing, exposed his role in the bomb plot, and used the hearing to ask Superman whether he could remain in control if his loved ones were harmed. Superman left shaken by the question, then reunited with Lois Lane at her apartment.

• Batman joined Superman at the hearing, seized Lex Luthor, and accused him of giving Wallace Keefe the bomb-filled wheelchair.
• Batman told the hearing that Wallace Keefe was safe at a Wayne Enterprises sanatorium and that he had come to speak with Superman rather than bring a lawsuit.
• Batman defended Superman's role in saving Earth, then warned him that he would kill him if he ever lost control after his family was harmed.
• The crowd cheered Batman as he flew away, while Superman left silently and Lois Lane realized she understood Clark Kent.
• Murphy praised Bruce Wayne's actions, and Bruce discussed his fear of losing loved ones before asking Murphy about modifying his equipment.
• Superman visited Lois Lane, admitted he could not bear to lose her, and Lois comforted him by saying that what mattered was the time they had shared.

Murphy practiced controlling the Light-Based Nerves that connected him to his body and the network while Laura and Hank Pym updated him on outside threats. He began considering how to develop and control his brain and every cell, but first wanted to regain movement and build enough strength to protect himself.

• Laura stayed beside Murphy in the Cradle and reported what was happening outside as he practiced controlling his Light-Based Nerves.
• Hank Pym told Murphy that corporations were probing the Ghost Group over mineral supplies, and Murphy ordered Laura to work with Jack and Jennifer to intimidate them.
• Murphy asked Hank to connect him to the network, discovered he could input programs through any interface, but could no longer enter the network with his consciousness.
• Murphy recalled the film Superbody and considered controlling every cell in his body and developing his brain.
• Murphy focused on growing more Light-Based Nerves so he could regain movement and build combat strength.

Murphy tested armor controlled through Light-Based Nerves, placing his immobile body inside and directing the suit through its central processor. He decided to build a Vibranium version with specialized joints and a Transformer for support, though its movement speed remained a dangerous limitation.

• Murphy designed and tested a remote-controlled armor prototype that he operated through one Light-Based Nerve connection to its central processor.
• Murphy walked in the armor, but found that its mechanical speed could not keep up with his reactions and might fail in an emergency.
• Murphy considered recruiting Quicksilver but decided the time was not right, and reserved potential recruits for Steve Rogers and Tony Stark.
• Murphy chose to build the armor from Vibranium, with specially treated joints and Energy Blasts, shoulder-mounted miniature missiles, and his usual Arm Blades.
• Murphy planned a Transformer based on Ghost armor and a modified Ravager Fighter to follow him and provide support.

General Ross and Alexander Pierce finalized a coordinated attack on the Avengers, Ghost Tower, and Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, while Nick Fury prepared to move against Hydra too late to warn the Avengers. Elsewhere, Lex Luthor was acquitted and planned to use Superman’s loved ones to force a confrontation.

• Ultron told General Ross that three hundred steel soldiers were ready, and Ross ordered an attack for eight the next morning.
• General Ross detained Maya Hansen after she objected to his plan, then coordinated with Alexander Pierce to divide their forces among the Avengers, Ghost headquarters, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner.
• Nick Fury boarded Helicarrier One and secretly prepared to target Hydra’s leaders, but his delayed move left the Avengers unaware of the coming attack.
• Lex Luthor was acquitted after Wallace Keefe’s mental state and incomplete evidence weakened the case against him.
• Lex Luthor ordered his men to capture Superman’s mother and Lois Lane so he could use them to summon Superman.

Hydra seized S.H.I.E.L.D.’s three Helicarriers while General Ross mobilized his Super Soldiers and a Steel Legion force advanced toward its targets. Murphy’s global warning system detected the coordinated threat, but he could not reach Nick Fury and prepared Ghost Tower and the Avengers for battle.

• Alexander Pierce told Nick Fury that Hydra could still turn events around if the Avengers were eliminated, while Fury revealed that James Murphy had identified Hydra’s members.
• The Helicarriers launched as Hydra agents surrendered, and General Ross watched two hundred Super Soldiers depart for their mission.
• Murphy’s warning system alerted him to the Helicarriers, and Laura could not connect him to Nick Fury because Hydra had disrupted S.H.I.E.L.D.’s communications.
• Murphy ordered Ghost Tower’s defenses prepared and alerted the Avengers after tracking Helicarriers toward Avengers Base, Stark Tower, and Ghost Tower.
• Murphy detected Steel Legion forces rendezvousing with the Helicarriers and recognized a possible crisis involving Ultron and Sokovia.

Murphy prepared for Ultron’s attack while the Avengers responded to Helicarriers assaulting Ghost Tower and the Avengers Base. Ghost Tower destroyed the first Helicarrier, and Murphy’s Ghost arrived above the Avengers Base, leaving Steve Rogers believing the battle was over.

• Murphy ordered surveillance of Sokovia and sent Peter, Harry, Stark, and Hope to investigate it in two Ravager Fighters.
• Tony Stark took Bruce Banner to draw a Helicarrier away from New York, and Bruce transformed into the Hulk to attack it.
• Ghost Tower deployed its hidden weapons and destroyed the approaching Helicarrier, its Super Soldiers, and its Combat Robots.
• Steve Rogers led the Avengers Base team in trying to escape the Helicarrier’s attack while Falcon and Colonel Rhodes provided cover.
• Murphy’s Ghost descended through the clouds above the Avengers Base, and Steve Rogers concluded that the battle was over.

Lex Luthor forced Superman to hunt Batman by threatening Martha, while Batman and Murphy rescued her at Metropolis Harbor. Superman found Batman with Martha, leaving the two heroes face to face without fighting.

• Lex Luthor showed Superman photographs of Martha being held captive and demanded that Superman kill Batman within an hour.
• Superman flew toward Gotham City to find Batman, while Bruce Wayne and Murphy went to rescue Martha at Metropolis Harbor.
• Batman attacked the kidnappers, and Murphy saved Martha from the last thug’s flamethrower.
• Batman told Martha that Superman had many weaknesses and agreed to go find him with her.
• Superman followed the Bat-Signal and found Batman with Martha.

Murphy believed Ultron had fled Sokovia and forced General Ross to accept the consequences of his failed attack, but Ultron had secretly prepared to raise part of the city into the sky. The chapter ended with Murphy learning of Ultron’s plan and ordering the Ghost to destroy the rising landmass.

• Murphy’s team found the Hydra base in Sokovia empty, though Hope van Dyne noticed signs that its machines had been used recently.
• Murphy sent the Ghost to Washington D.C., where its arrival alarmed the President and revealed the scale of Murphy’s military power.
• Ultron waited at General Ross’s base while his robots cut off communications and prepared to launch Sokovia into the sky under cover of dense clouds.
• The President agreed to strip General Ross of his rank, expel him from the army, shut down the Super Soldier Program, and seal away the Extremis Virus.
• After Sokovia’s landmass rose through the clouds, Laura warned Murphy, who ordered the Ghost to head there and destroy it.

A massive landmass struck Earth, triggering worldwide earthquakes, eruptions, tsunamis, and ash clouds while Murphy evacuated the Avengers and their allies to the Moon. As Earth descended into catastrophe, Ultron watched from hiding, and Superman left to confront Lex Luthor.

• Murphy realized he could not reach the impact in time and ordered the Ghost to search for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver as the landmass hit Earth.
• Murphy refused Steve Rogers's request to rescue people, explaining that Moon Base could hold only four thousand, and Tony Stark blamed himself for Ultron's actions.
• Murphy gathered the Avengers and their rescued allies aboard the Ghost and sent them toward the moon as disasters spread across Earth.
• Ultron watched the destruction and decided to hide and build up strength while ensuring the Ghost survived.
• Wakanda activated its defenses, while Ancient One reassured Mordo that events might not be as they appeared.
• Superman left Batman to protect his mother and flew off to settle things with Lex Luthor.

Murphy and Batman watched Lex Luthor’s Kryptonian-based monster grow stronger after a nuclear missile struck it, while Superman vanished into space. As Batman headed out with a Kryptonite spear, Wonder Woman arrived on the island where the monster had landed.

• Batman escorted Martha Kent to the manor, where Alfred reported that Superman was fighting a monster in the atmosphere.
• Murphy told Batman that Lex Luthor had created the monster from a Kryptonian corpse, and the two discussed preparing Kryptonite equipment and Batman’s refusal to kill criminals.
• The military launched a nuclear missile at Superman and the monster, but the blast empowered the creature, which crashed onto an uninhabited island.
• Batman took a Kryptonite spear and set out to help while Superman absorbed sunlight in space to recover his strength.
• Wonder Woman landed on the island as the monster searched for a target.

Wonder Woman Diana, Superman, and Bruce Wayne fought the Kryptonian monster Lex Luthor had created to kill Superman. After the monster repelled Bruce’s Kryptonite Spear attack, Superman asked Diana and Bruce to restrain it so they could end the battle quickly.

• Diana blocked the monster’s Heat Vision with her Bracelets and fought it with her sword and shield, but it sent her crashing into a boulder.
• Bruce arrived with a Kryptonite Spear, and Superman joined him after hearing Bruce explain that the weapon had been prepared in case Superman went berserk.
• The monster charged Superman, while Diana attacked its legs and knocked it down before smashing its jaw with her shield.
• Superman slammed the monster into the ground, but Bruce’s spear strike was interrupted when the monster unleashed an Energy Blast and hurled him into rubble.
• Superman told Bruce to find a way to restrict the monster’s movements, and Diana drew her glowing lasso as Bruce prepared to attack again with reinforced steel wire.

Superman, Diana, and Bruce Wayne fought the monster, but it killed Superman before collapsing from its wounds. Murphy investigated the battlefield and discovered Dark Energy in the monster, concluding that something or someone had to kill Superman.

• Diana and Bruce Wayne bound the monster while Superman drove the spear into its chest, but it broke free and fought them off.
• Bruce Wayne attacked with heated Arm Blades, while Superman continued pushing the spear into the monster.
• The monster pierced Superman with bone spikes on its shoulder, and both Superman and the monster died.
• Bruce Wayne and Diana mourned Superman as Murphy decided to investigate the battlefield for an explanation.
• Murphy found Dark Energy in the monster's corpse and told Bruce Wayne that something or someone had to kill Superman.

After Superman’s death, Murphy warned Bruce Wayne that further conflict was coming, then clashed with the Avengers over whether to rescue Earth’s survivors. The Avengers split into two teams and left for Earth, while Murphy stayed at the Moon Base and sent Laura to find Odin, fearing the Goddess of Death would be freed if he was dead.

• Murphy discussed possible causes of Superman’s death with Bruce Wayne and warned that another war might follow.
• Wanda confronted Tony Stark about creating Ultron, and Murphy argued that Wanda and Quicksilver shared responsibility for the disaster.
• Steve Rogers urged the Avengers to rescue survivors, but Murphy warned that the Moon Base could not support them and refused to take part.
• Steve secured Ravager Fighters, and the Avengers split into Steve Rogers’s team and Tony Stark’s team before departing for Earth.
• Thor joined Steve Rogers’s team after learning of the crisis and worrying about Odin and Jane.
• Murphy told Peter Parker that they would not join the rescue effort and ordered Laura to locate Odin, warning that his death could free the Goddess of Death.

After Superman’s death, Martha Kent arranged separate funerals for Clark Kent and Superman while humanity mourned its lost protector. At Superman’s public funeral, Murphy warned Bruce Wayne that fear and danger were spreading, urging him toward forming the Justice League as Diana learned how powerful Murphy was.

• Bruce Wayne apologized to Martha Kent for failing to help in the battle, and Lois Lane comforted Martha as they grieved Superman’s death.
• Secretary of Defense Calvin Swanwick told Bruce that Lex Luthor had been captured and would face life imprisonment, then discussed Superman’s funeral arrangements.
• Martha decided that Clark Kent and Superman would have separate funerals, with Clark buried privately and Superman honored publicly.
• Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince attended Clark Kent’s funeral, while Murphy attended Superman’s crowded public funeral and observed humanity’s fear at losing its protector.
• Murphy sang about humanity’s despair and urged Bruce to act against the approaching danger, prompting Bruce to review information about extraordinary people.
• Diana questioned Murphy’s power, and Bruce explained that Murphy had remained invisible during earlier battles and that even Superman could have been killed by him.

Bruce Wayne began forming an alliance to fill the security vacuum left by Superman, recruiting Diana and Barry Allen while Aquaman Arthur Curry and Cyborg Victor Stone refused. With Murphy's help, Bruce underwent a dangerous T-Virus enhancement, and the chapter ended as he prepared to test his new abilities.

• Bruce Wayne brought Diana to Wayne Manor and decided to restore it as the base for an alliance, with Murphy overseeing construction of a secret underground facility.
• Bruce Wayne recruited Barry Allen, who agreed to join, and told him his own superpower was money.
• Aquaman Arthur Curry and Cyborg Victor Stone refused Bruce Wayne's invitation to join the alliance.
• Bruce Wayne asked Murphy to enhance him, and Murphy warned that the T-Virus was dangerous and could cause a global crisis if it spread.
• Murphy injected Bruce Wayne with the T-Virus, and Bruce endured its weakening effects before recovering with sharper senses and newfound strength.

Hela revealed herself to Thor and Loki as Odin’s first child and demanded that they surrender or die. After she crushed Mjolnir, Steve Rogers led the Avengers into battle against her while Murphy ordered his forces to intercept her before she could return to Asgard.

• Steve Rogers’s team found Hela sitting among the ruins of a retirement home, and she asked whether Odin was dead.
• Hela told Thor and Loki that Odin had exiled her and that she intended to reclaim the Asgardian throne.
• Thor attacked Hela with Mjolnir, but she caught the hammer and crushed it.
• Murphy spotted Hela on the Ravager Fighter’s visual feed and ordered his team to arm up and intercept her.
• Hela transformed her hair into thorn-like antlers and threatened to kill the Avengers, while Loki urged them to attack together.
• Steve Rogers charged Hela, followed by Falcon, Hawkeye, and Winter Soldier, as Thor remained stunned by the loss of Mjolnir.

Hela overwhelmed the Avengers with conjured weapons, killing Hawkeye and revealing her formidable strength. As the team fought back, Thor warned Steve Rogers that Hela would grow stronger if she returned to Asgard, leaving them determined to stop her there.

• Wanda Maximoff tried to read Hela’s thoughts, but Hela noticed and attacked her with a dagger; Quicksilver struck Hela, while Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes tested her defenses.
• Steve Rogers ordered Falcon to call Tony Stark, but Hela launched a barrage of short swords that killed Hawkeye.
• Falcon told Tony Stark that Hawkeye was dead, while Thor charged Hela and was kicked away.
• Scarlet Witch turned Hela’s swords back on her, and Quicksilver stabbed her, but Hela healed the wound.
• Thor told Steve Rogers that Hela’s power came from Asgard and would increase if she returned, so Steve resolved to stop her before then.

Murphy and his team joined the Avengers’ battle against Hela, and Murphy used the Transforming Armor’s full arsenal to weaken her while analyzing her thorn spikes. Hulk arrived and crushed Hela beneath him, as Murphy held back to focus on his own body.

• Murphy, Lady Sif, and his team arrived to find Hawkeye badly wounded while Hela fought Steve Rogers and the others.
• Ant-Man, Wasp, Spider-Man, and Green Goblin Hero attacked Hela, but her thorn spikes broke their assault and protected her.
• Murphy entered the Transforming Armor and fired its weapons at Hela, discovering that her thorn spikes weakened as their energy ran out.
• After exhausting the Transforming Armor’s ammunition, Murphy watched Hela charge Thor while the Avengers, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver fought back.
• Hulk arrived, crushed Hela beneath him, and began pounding her as Murphy kept the Transforming Armor out of the follow-up attack.

Murphy killed Hela and Loki after Hela took Loki hostage, deepening the Avengers’ divisions as Thor left in grief. Later, Bruce Wayne discussed plans to approach Aquaman and Cyborg while Murphy reviewed construction and received Gotham City development proposals.

• Natasha Romanoff found Hawkeye dead as Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes joined the fight against a weakening Hela.
• Loki tried to escape, but Hela seized him and held a dagger to his throat after Hulk knocked her into his path.
• Murphy pierced Loki and Hela with a spear, then killed Hela despite Thor’s protests; Loki died from his wounds.
• Thor called Heimdall and left with the Bifrost, while Natasha thanked Murphy for avenging Hawkeye and the Avengers’ relationships grew more strained.
• Bruce Wayne told Diana he would speak with Cyborg and Aquaman after mastering his growing strength, and Murphy received several Gotham City development proposals.

Murphy persuaded Bruce Wayne to begin Gotham City’s redevelopment in the slums, using jobs, affordable apartments, free schools, and community services to win residents’ support and reduce crime. Despite shareholder resistance and a falling stock price, Bruce bought back shares and launched the plan, while Diana joined him and Barry entered the police department.

• Murphy recommended the slums proposal, arguing that redevelopment there could reduce crime, create jobs, and build public support for Wayne Enterprises.
• Bruce Wayne decided to pursue the plan, and Wayne Enterprises’ board and shareholders resisted as the company’s stock and market value fell.
• Bruce bought back shares, Diana resigned from her museum job to support him, and Barry Allen joined the Gotham City Police Department’s forensics division.
• After a month of turmoil, Wayne Enterprises contacted the mayor, promoted the project in the slums, and recruited workers with promises of free schooling for their children and low-cost apartments.
• Murphy designed smaller family apartments with three to four bedrooms, larger living rooms, and larger bathrooms.