Chapter Summaries

Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises fought Gotham’s gangs and began the slum redevelopment, while Bruce publicly pledged to spend twenty years changing the city and overcoming its fear. Construction started with a first batch of high-rise apartments, and Wayne Enterprises planned to train workers for projects beyond Gotham.

• Bruce Wayne revealed the redevelopment plan, prompting gangs to threaten job applicants and rally residents against it.
• Batman, Wonder Woman, and Flash arrested gang members as Wayne Enterprises pressed City Hall and filed charges; rewards for information helped fracture the gangs.
• Bruce Wayne told reporters that Superman’s sacrifice had awakened him and vowed to change Gotham over the next twenty years.
• The gathered citizens applauded Bruce Wayne’s declaration, and residents grew more willing to leave the gangs and support the project.
• Wayne Enterprises began building twenty high-rise apartments with Murphy’s modular construction technology and alloy formula.

Murphy took Sif to Xandar, where he planned to wait for Ronan’s attack and claim the Power Stone. Meanwhile, Thor returned to Asgard with Loki’s body and accepted the throne after Odin’s death.

• Murphy left Earth with his team after Wakanda took over the refugee-resettlement problem, and Sif asked to leave with him.
• Murphy agreed to take Sif to Xandar and decided to seek the Power Stone, eventually planning to gather all six Stones and kill Thanos.
• Murphy reached Xandar, learned that Ronan had left the Kree with a mothership, and secretly planned to wait for Ronan’s attack before taking the Power Stone.
• Star-Lord returned to Xandar with Yondu and warned that Ronan would attack, and Murphy agreed to join the defense while keeping the Ghost hidden.
• Thor returned to Asgard with Loki’s corpse, accepted Heimdall’s counsel to lead the kingdom, and was crowned with the Eternal Scepter.

Bruce Wayne, Wonder Woman, and Barry Allen visited Victor Stone and persuaded him to join them despite his distress over his changing body. The chapter ended with Murphy revealing himself and offering to study Victor, who agreed.

• Bruce Wayne, Wonder Woman, and Barry Allen visited Victor Stone, who initially refused to join them.
• Bruce Wayne urged Victor Stone to stop isolating himself and use his abilities to help others amid a coming crisis.
• Wonder Woman and Barry Allen shared their painful pasts, prompting Victor Stone to reconsider his situation.
• Victor Stone agreed to join the group rather than remain at home.
• Murphy appeared and told Victor Stone about his own experience relying on a mechanical body, then asked to study him; Victor agreed.

Bruce Wayne and the Justice League traveled to a remote fishing village to recruit Aquaman. After drinking alongside him and promising support for the villagers, Bruce secured Aquaman’s agreement to join the team, though Aquaman passed out drunk.

• The Justice League arrived in a remote seaside village where Aquaman brought fish during the fishing off-season in exchange for liquor.
• Bruce Wayne found Aquaman drinking in a tavern and invited him to join the team.
• Aquaman rejected Bruce’s appeal to protect the world and said he would rather see the ocean drown the land.
• Bruce argued that the coming crisis could threaten Aquaman’s people, promised the team would help him, and kept drinking with him.
• After drinking for hours, Aquaman agreed to join the Justice League and collapsed drunk.
• Bruce carried Aquaman away and promised to provide the village with food supplies during each fishing off-season.

Bruce Wayne formed the Justice League and Murphy completed its underground base as the group prepared to investigate a coming crisis in Gotham City. Elsewhere, Ronan attacked Xandar with the Power Stone while Murphy held back his forces, waiting for Xandar’s defenses to be overwhelmed.

• Aquaman woke at Bruce Wayne’s base, met the other members, and agreed to hear about the crisis threatening Earth.
• Bruce Wayne explained that Dark Energy had strengthened the creature that killed Superman and said the Justice League had to prepare for what was coming.
• Murphy showed the team the completed underground base and its equipment, including a new suit for Barry Allen and upgraded vehicles.
• Bruce Wayne asked Murphy where to investigate, and Murphy directed the team to Gotham City.
• Star-Lord and Yondu reported Ronan’s approach to Xandar, while Murphy kept the Ravager Fighters back until Xandar’s fleet was destroyed.
• Ronan’s mothership pushed through Xandar’s defenses, and the Ravager Fighters attacked as Ronan’s Necrocraft swarmed out.

Murphy waited for the Nova Corps to engage Ronan before joining the battle, then brought Ghost into Xandar's atmosphere and destroyed Ronan's mothership. He took Ronan's weapon and claimed the Power Stone, but it did not respond when he tried to use it.

• Murphy ordered Christina to bring Ghost into Xandar's atmosphere while he attacked Necrocraft from the edge of the battle.
• The Nova Corps tried to halt Ronan's descending mothership, but Ronan used the Power Stone to destroy Nova Fighters.
• Murphy ordered Ghost to fire its main cannon, blasting Ronan's mothership into pieces and attacking the Necrocraft.
• Yondu crashed, while the Guardians of the Galaxy survived their landing after the tree man's sacrifice.
• Murphy reached Ronan's weapon first and took the Power Stone, but his attempt to activate it failed, so he wrapped it with Light-Based Nerves.

Murphy used the Power Stone to kill Ronan, then left Xandar and sought the dwarves who could help him make an Infinity Gauntlet. As his crew worried about his increasingly calculating behavior, Murphy set course for the dwarves’ location, eager to test the Stones’ combined power.

• Murphy blocked the Power Stone’s energy from entering his body and used it to turn Ronan to ashes, frightening Star-Lord, Gamora, and the people of Xandar.
• Murphy chose not to confront Yondu or pursue the fleeing Necrocraft, then returned to the Ghost with his team.
• Hope van Dyne, Peter Parker, Scott Lang, and Harry Osborn speculated that Murphy’s soul leaving his body had changed him into someone who made decisions by calculating the best outcome.
• Murphy offered mercenaries one hundred million Universal Currency for the dwarves’ coordinates, and Elizabeth changed the warship’s course after receiving them.
• Xandar secretly classified Murphy as hostile, while Lady Sif reflected on her decision to leave him.
• Murphy studied the Power Stone as the warship entered light-speed, planning to obtain the remaining Infinity Stones and test the Infinity Gauntlet.

Murphy forced Thor and the dwarves to forge an Infinity Gauntlet so he could wield the Power Stone and confront Thanos. In Gotham, the Justice League discovered that Steppenwolf was seeking three Mother Boxes to destroy Earth.

• Murphy demanded that the Dwarf King forge a weapon capable of holding all six Infinity Stones, and the Dwarf King contacted Asgard.
• Thor arrived with the Warriors Three and refused to let Murphy take control of all six Stones, but Murphy threatened war until Thor agreed to the forging.
• The dwarves forged Murphy an Infinity Gauntlet, and he installed the Power Stone before leaving Nidavellir.
• The Justice League investigated strange creatures in Gotham and found that they left symbols resembling those on Victor Stone's Mother Box.
• Diana identified the box as one of three Mother Boxes, and the Justice League learned that Steppenwolf would use them to destroy Earth.

As Steppenwolf threatened Earth, Murphy told the Justice League that reviving Superman with a Mother Box could give them a chance to defeat him. Bruce Wayne chose to bring Superman back, and the Soul Stone revealed that Murphy's departure was near.

• Diana explained that ancient records showed Steppenwolf had once required many gods to defeat, leaving Bruce Wayne doubtful that the five heroes could stop him.
• Bruce Wayne asked Murphy for help, and Murphy said he knew how to kill Steppenwolf but advised them to revive Superman using a Mother Box.
• Diana and Aquaman warned that Superman might lose his soul or become dangerous, but Bruce Wayne decided to revive him and promised to stop him with Kryptonite if necessary.
• Bruce Wayne said Superman was better suited to lead the Justice League, satisfying Murphy that he had passed his test.
• The Soul Stone trembled and told Murphy that his departure had been set, prompting him to plan one final gift for Bruce Wayne.

Murphy revived Superman and studied the Mother Box, whose power violently rejected the Soul Stone before opening a passage for Steppenwolf. The Justice League arrived to face Steppenwolf and his Parademon army, with Bruce assigning Victor to handle the swarm.

• Steppenwolf took the Mother Box from the Amazonians’ temple, and Queen ordered the beacon lit.
• The Mother Box revived Superman, who flew to his memorial plaza before Batman and the others approached him.
• Batman shielded Cyborg when Cyborg’s weapon targeted Superman, and Bruce explained why the League had brought Superman back.
• Lois Lane’s arrival eased Superman’s confusion, while Diana warned Bruce that the beacon signaled danger.
• Murphy tested the Mother Box, which repelled him and the Soul Stone with enough force to split the earth before opening a passage that summoned Steppenwolf.
• The Justice League reached Steppenwolf and his Parademons, and Bruce told Victor to handle the swarm while the others fought Steppenwolf.

The Justice League fought Steppenwolf and his Parademon army, with Murphy briefly possessing Batman to reveal his telekinetic power. Murphy then left through a passage, while the League defeated Steppenwolf and restored peace to Earth.

• Victor Stone controlled four anti-aircraft weapons while Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Batman, and Diana fought the Parademons and Steppenwolf.
• Batman struck Steppenwolf with a series of powerful blows, and Superman sent him crashing into a crater.
• Murphy told Bruce Wayne he was leaving and used the Soul Stone to possess Batman, boosting his reaction speed and demonstrating telekinetic control against Steppenwolf.
• Murphy ended the possession, opened a passage with the Soul Stone, and vanished through it.
• The Justice League charged Steppenwolf together; he was attacked by his former subordinates and left through a passage as peace returned to Earth.

Murphy installed the Space Stone in his Infinity Gauntlet and searched for Kaecilius, hoping to use an attack on Kamar-Taj to seize the Time Stone. When Kaecilius assaulted the Ancient One, Murphy entered the Mirror Dimension to take advantage of the battle.

• Murphy returned to the Moon Base, crushed the Tesseract, and attached the Space Stone to his Infinity Gauntlet.
• Murphy began searching Earth for Kaecilius and monitoring Kamar-Taj as Kaecilius sought Dormammu's approval to kill the Ancient One.
• Dormammu promised Kaecilius immortality if he killed the Ancient One, despite having no intention of honoring the promise.
• Kaecilius led his followers into the Mirror Dimension and attacked Kamar-Taj while the Ancient One was instructing her apprentices.
• Murphy used the Space Stone to travel from the Moon Base into Kamar-Taj's Mirror Dimension, planning to seize the Time Stone.

Murphy obtained the Time Stone from the Ancient One, killed Kaecilius and his followers, and left the sorcerers safe from Dormammu’s immediate attack. Back at the Moon Base, his team debated whether his powerful body and loss of a soul had changed how he thought.

• Murphy entered the battle at the Sanctum and offered to defeat Dormammu in exchange for the Eye of Agamotto, while Stephen Strange supported giving it to him.
• The Ancient One ordered Wong to give Murphy the Eye, and Stephen Strange removed the Time Stone and handed it over.
• Murphy placed the Time Stone on the Infinity Gauntlet, killed Kaecilius with the Power Stone, and blasted Kaecilius's fleeing followers with missiles.
• Mordo questioned the Ancient One's decision, but she said the events were merely a process and that Dormammu would no longer dare attack.
• Murphy returned to the Moon Base and pondered the Ancient One's behavior while Janet van Dyne, Richard Parker, Norman Osborn, and the others discussed how his condition might be changing his thinking.

Murphy prepared to attack Asgard for the Reality Stone, while his team secretly planned to stop him without harming him. Meanwhile, Soul Murphy arrived in a world of X-Men and set out to observe Professor X and Magneto.

• Murphy ordered Captain to build more Ravager Fighters and told his team to prepare for an attack on Asgard to claim the Reality Stone.
• Harry Osborn, Hope van Dyne, Scott Lang, and Peter Parker agreed to contact the Avengers and restrain Murphy until his soul returned.
• Soul Murphy traveled through the space-time passage and arrived at the United States Congress during Jean Grey's speech.
• Murphy searched a computer, found no signs of the Avengers, and concluded that he was in a world centered on the X-Men.
• Murphy decided to observe Professor X and Magneto without revealing himself.

Murphy witnessed the Phoenix Force break through Professor X’s seal during a congressional hearing and confront him after reacting to the Soul Stone. He followed Jean Grey to the Mutant School, where Professor X explained what had happened, and Murphy began exploring the school to learn more about this world.

• Jean Grey collapsed at the hearing when the Phoenix Force inside her violently broke through Professor X’s seal, knocking Professor X from his wheelchair.
• The Phoenix Force confronted Murphy, who revealed himself as a time traveler and told it he would leave only when he was ready; it then went dormant again.
• Senator Kelly questioned Murphy, who vanished, while Magneto left the hearing and Professor X turned his attention to Jean Grey.
• Murphy followed the others to the Mutant School, where Scott carried Jean Grey to the infirmary and Storm examined her.
• Professor X told Scott and Storm that Murphy was an immensely powerful energy entity whose appearance had triggered the Phoenix Force.
• Murphy left the infirmary and began touring the school to learn about the X-Men, Magneto’s group, and the humans in this world.

Murphy considered the conflict between mutants and humans while observing Jean Grey after the Phoenix Force withdrew its power in his presence. Professor X sent Storm and Cyclops to find Wolverine, while Magneto decided Jean could be the key to war against humanity and wondered who Murphy was.

• Murphy concluded that mutants and ordinary humans could not coexist peacefully without technology powerful enough to counter mutant abilities, and he considered space settlements as a possible solution.
• Jean Grey awakened feeling weak but rested, and Professor X suspected Murphy's presence had made the force inside her retreat.
• Professor X worried that his seal could not contain Jean's power and sent Storm and Cyclops to bring Wolverine to him.
• Murphy watched the X-Men and waited for Wolverine and Rogue, hoping to learn what made each mutant special.
• Magneto decided Jean Grey's power could help him wage war against humanity and questioned whether James Murphy was a mutant.

Uncle Wolf and Rogue arrived at Mutant School, where Murphy secretly tested Uncle Wolf’s heightened senses. Professor X explained that an undetectable being named James Murphy was watching them, while Murphy considered visiting Magneto’s base.

• Uncle Wolf and Rogue arrived at Mutant School, and Murphy observed them as Rogue settled into her new surroundings.
• Uncle Wolf woke alone, cautiously explored the infirmary, and sensed Murphy watching him.
• Murphy circled Uncle Wolf invisibly until Uncle Wolf grew tense, then moved away and let him relax.
• Uncle Wolf searched for Rogue and was brought to Professor X’s office, where Professor X explained Murphy’s presence and his own inability to detect him.
• Uncle Wolf asked about Rogue and considered leaving with her, while Professor X realized the X-Men needed Uncle Wolf to detect Murphy.

Murphy discovered that his research team, the Avengers, and their families had fled Moon Base after he resolved to attack Asgard for its Infinity Stone. They joined Tony Stark at a survivor camp, where the Avengers agreed to stop Murphy and capture him until his soul returned.

• Murphy learned that his allies had removed the Ravager Fighters' remote controls and escaped Moon Base while he replenished his body’s nutrients and energy.
• Murphy dismissed their departure, convinced that his possession of three Infinity Stones made him unbeatable, and began charging Moon Base.
• Hank Pym and the others reached the survivor camp and told Tony Stark that Murphy planned to attack Asgard and had become increasingly dangerous.
• Pepper Potts reunited with Tony Stark, and the Avengers gathered to hear Hank Pym explain Murphy’s condition.
• Steve Rogers decided that the Avengers would stop Murphy, capture him, and freeze him until his soul returned.

Murphy arrived at Asgard aboard the Ghost to demand the Reality Stone, while Thor and the Avengers prepared to resist him. He rejected Steve Rogers’s plea to wait for his soul to return and declared that Earthlings were not worth his effort.

• Murphy had the Ghost serviced and loaded with nine hundred Ravager Fighters before ordering Elizabeth to take it to Asgard.
• The Avengers reached Asgard first, and Steve Rogers told Thor that Murphy had lost his soul and was seeking the Reality Stone.
• Tony Stark suggested giving Murphy the Reality Stone to avoid a fight, but Thor refused and mobilized Asgard’s defenses.
• Murphy arrived near Asgard, scanned the Avengers, and flew down to demand that Thor hand over the Reality Stone.
• Thor refused, and Murphy argued that he needed the stones to oppose Thanos before questioning whether the Avengers planned to stop him.
• Steve Rogers urged Murphy to wait for his soul to return, but Murphy dismissed Earthlings and confronted Tony Stark about never trusting him.

Murphy launched an aerial assault on Asgard with the Ghost and Christina’s fighter formations, overwhelming Asgard’s forces and keeping the Avengers occupied with tracking missiles. The battle left Falcon dead, while Murphy spared the Bifrost for a future attack on Thanos.

• Murphy ordered the Ghost to attack Asgard, and Thor vowed to stop him as the war began.
• Christina led nine hundred Ravager Fighters against Asgard’s combat ships while the Avengers scattered to defend the city.
• Murphy fired a salvo of Divine Arrow Missiles at the Avengers, and Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes tried to evade or destroy them.
• Scarlet Witch redirected missiles toward the Ravager Fighters, so Christina launched more and kept the Avengers under pressure.
• Thor and Hulk fought among the fighters, but Christina’s missiles killed Falcon, leaving Steve Rogers stunned.
• Murphy preserved the Bifrost because he planned to use it for a future surprise attack on Thanos.