Chapter Summaries

Alvin and Odin confronted Mephisto in Hell, and Alvin attacked him while Mephisto warned that Hell’s fate was tied to Earth. As Mephisto was torn apart by Alvin’s blizzard, Alvin dismissed his threats and promised to stand with Hell against its coming enemy.

• Alvin and Odin found Mephisto, and Alvin criticized Odin’s parenting before preparing to deal with the devil.
• Mephisto accused Odin of ignoring their agreement and blamed Alvin for bringing danger to Hell, but Alvin attacked him with the Battle Axe Enforcer.
• Mephisto closed in on Alvin with blazing arms, while Venom and Thorn Spirit protected Alvin and Alvin fired Frozen before summoning a blizzard.
• Mephisto revealed that Hell overlapped with Earth and claimed that destroying Hell would harm Earth, then let the blizzard tear him apart.
• Alvin doubted Mephisto’s warning, said Hell could serve as a battlefield, and told Mephisto he was with him before the devil disappeared.

Old Cheng, Cross, and Hell’s Kitchen’s residents held off the Gluttony Demons while Peter, Shang-Chi, Wesley, and the others patrolled as a second line of defense. Wesley spotted flaming skeletons, a Green-Skinned Giant, and a Russian with a whip, leaving the new threats unexplained.

• Old Cheng and Cross rested after fighting Gluttony Demons, and they discussed family, retirement, and their sons.
• Peter and Silk subdued a Gluttony Demon as armed Hell’s Kitchen residents fired on it.
• Steve’s team organized a second line of defense, with Shang-Chi fighting demons, Wesley watching the rooftops, and Harry delivering weapons for Norman Osborn and Stark.
• Peter complained about patrolling while Shang-Chi told him to bring food from Uncle Cheng’s Restaurant.
• Wesley reported that flaming skeletons had entered Hell’s Kitchen, a Green-Skinned Giant had burned the Knight, and a Russian with a whip had appeared.

Steve, Stark, Frank, and Hulk coordinated a trap to drive a frost giant into Steve’s Fire Wall, but the injured monster escaped and attacked Ghost Rider Damon. A flaming portal then opened above the Dock District, and a battered warrior fell through.

• Stark tried to draw the frost giant’s attention, but Frank’s shots enraged it and he led it toward Steve’s trap.
• Steve triggered a towering Fire Wall as Frank crossed the marked line, and Stark pushed the giant toward the flames.
• A red-hot chain from Ghost Rider Damon and Hulk’s charge shoved the frost giant headfirst into the Fire Wall.
• The wounded giant charged through the flames and knocked Damon and his motorcycle aside, while a skeleton cowboy shot it in the eye.
• A flaming circular portal opened above the Dock District, and a tall warrior in battered armor tumbled out.

Ivan arrived in the Dock District and helped kill the Giant Beast, then Stark and Frank treated his severe injuries. After Alvin closed the Space Portal, The Ancient One and Odin discussed Earth’s growing readiness to face threats before Odin prepared to take Alvin back to the battle at home.

• Ivan charged the Giant Beast with his damaged Mech Armor and used an overloaded Fusion Reactor to sever its head while Damon and Carter Slade restrained its paws.
• Stark and Frank helped Ivan out of his armor and removed his dangerous Reactor, while Norman Osborn treated Ivan’s burns with Bio-Gel spray.
• Frank asked Steve to direct the remaining fighters against the Monsters, and Alvin shut down the Space Portal with the golden Spear and Tesseract.
• The Ancient One and Odin discussed preparing to deal with Dormammu and whether Earth’s inhabitants should share responsibility for protecting their home.
• Alvin packed away the battle spoils and asked Odin to take him back to join his friends, and Odin agreed to come along and help clear the Demons near Kamar-Taj’s Space Portal.

Alvin returned to the battle in Hell's Kitchen and rapidly turned the tide against the Monsters, while Hulk and Thor resumed fighting each other amid the chaos. Afterward, Ivan explained to Frank that he wanted Stark as a rival to keep himself motivated.

• Alvin arrived with Odin and The Ancient One as Thor, Stark, JJ, and the others fought the Monsters around the docks.
• Alvin suited up in Warrior Three and killed a Monster that had been battling Steve, then charged into the fight beside Hulk.
• Alvin praised Hulk and shielded him from Monsters, provoking Hulk to attack harder and then leap into Thor's fight.
• Hulk kicked Thor into a Shipping Container, and Thor retaliated by striking Hulk and sending him flying.
• Stark tried to get Thor and Hulk to focus on the Monsters, but Hulk swung a Monster like a bat and sent Stark flying.
• Ivan told Frank that Stark was a worthy opponent who helped him stay sharp, and said he wanted excitement rather than a comfortable life.

Odin and The Ancient One discussed Thor’s immaturity and the burden of the crown while the battle in the dock district subsided. Eddie struggled to control Venom after returning home, and Peter and Wesley chose not to confront them; Alvin then headed back to his school, leaving Manhattan’s battle for later.

• Odin lamented that Thor was not ready for the crown, and The Ancient One urged him to give Thor more time.
• Eddie returned to Old Joey’s apartment after fighting Demons with Venom, but he struggled to stop Venom from harming Old Joey.
• Peter and Wesley found Eddie and Old Joey, then left after Peter decided Venom was not their enemy that night.
• Alvin killed the last monster in the dock district and left to check on his school before contacting Chief George.

Fox and Shirley discussed why Shirley wanted to adopt Mindy, while Alvin ran through Hell’s Kitchen and met Victoria, a bloodied retired woman who had defended herself against two attackers. The chapter ended with Peter warning Alvin that Victoria was dangerous and used a new RPG.

• Fox asked Shirley why she wanted to adopt Mindy, and Shirley said the girl reminded her of herself as a child and she wanted to spare her from becoming a weapon.
• Shirley admitted she had also hoped Mindy would teach Nick a lesson, while Fox teased her about being an evil stepmother.
• Alvin ran through Hell’s Kitchen in Warrior Three and stopped to speak with Victoria, who claimed two armed junkies had broken into her room and died while she defended herself.
• Victoria introduced herself and praised Hell’s Kitchen before returning to her apartment, while Alvin wondered why agents kept moving there.
• Peter and Wesley ran over to Alvin, and Peter warned him that Victoria was dangerous because she used a new RPG.

Alvin returned to the Community School after helping end the fighting in Hell’s Kitchen, while Damon struggled to control the Evil Spirit around Mindy. Peter headed to Chinatown to help Shang-Chi, and Alvin reunited with Ginny at the school.

• Damon told Carter Slade that Frigga had sent him to find the former Ghost Rider and urged him to entrust the Contract of San Venganza to Alvin.
• Peter learned Shang-Chi was fighting demons in Chinatown, and Alvin gave Peter enchanted tactical gloves before letting him go help.
• Peter grabbed Wesley and web-slung them both toward Chinatown as Alvin continued to the Community School.
• Ginny woke, greeted Groot and Fat Bear, then sensed Alvin’s return and ran to meet him; Mindy followed.
• Alvin welcomed Ginny and said the hardest part of his work was over, while Damon struggled to keep the Evil Spirit from targeting Mindy.
• Alvin encouraged Damon to control the Evil Spirit and face Mindy, and Damon nodded without admitting he was relying on Alvin’s strength.

Alvin returned to the Community School and joked with his family, while Nick mourned the loss of his X-BOX and tried to bargain for its survival. At Stark Tower, Pepper told Stark that JARVIS had been injured and asked him to investigate.

• Alvin reunited with Fox, Ginny, Shirley, and Frank, then headed to breakfast at the Community School Restaurant.
• Nick pretended to be heartbroken and planned to escape to The Basement to play games, but Alvin threatened to have Dom destroy the X-BOX.
• Ginny teased Sapling, and Alvin threatened to use Thor and Dom’s urine as fertilizer until Sapling tried to pull himself out of the soil.
• Stark returned to Stark Tower and flirted with Pepper, who told him JARVIS had been injured and that the tower’s servers had been physically shut down.
• Pepper asked Stark to repair JARVIS and find what had hurt it.

Dr. Banner joined the Community School cafeteria gathering and learned that the school’s superheroes were comfortable being recognized by the public. Principal Alvin promised the students a postponed Christmas celebration and praised their courage, leaving them united by the declaration that they had “seen the big show.”

• Dr. Banner asked Zack about being a giant and learned that his appearance, along with Alvin and the coaches, had been shown on television.
• Zack told Old Parker he had gained nearly 200,000 Facebook followers, and Old Parker offered to help him find a Chevrolet Solander while joking about pranking his old friend Marvin.
• Alvin took the microphone, announced that Christmas would be postponed only a few days, and promised gifts for the students.
• Alvin praised the students for continuing to fight during the chaos and told them to answer anyone who looked down on Hell’s Kitchen by saying, “We’ve seen the big show!”

Nick and Ginny collected the students’ Christmas wishes, and Nick promised to make sure a struggling boy’s family received the gifts they needed. Meanwhile, Nelson asked Alvin for help after his wife kicked him out, but Sharon Carter arrived with Mrs. Nelson and seemed to have already resolved the dispute.

• Nick struggled to hold the students’ wish lists as Ginny joined him with a box of her own, drawing many of the girls over to her.
• Nick restored the crossed-out wishes on a boy’s list, including shoes for the boy’s younger siblings and underwear for himself, and promised to provide the gifts.
• Alvin and Frank discussed Steve’s absence and April’s reporting before Frank offered to help Nelson, who was dressed in pajamas and a pink nightcap.
• Nelson told Alvin that Cage had turned his wife against him after Nelson brought Sharon Carter to the school, and he asked Alvin to help him retrieve his clothes.
• Alvin agreed to arrange help for Sharon and learned that she was an intern nurse whom Nelson thought would make a good assistant for Dr. Yinsen.
• Sharon Carter approached with Mrs. Nelson, and Alvin suggested that she had already settled Nelson’s problem with Cage.

Alvin exposed Sharon Carter’s attempt to infiltrate the school and offered S.H.I.E.L.D. access to Dr. Yinsen’s records in exchange for helping the students organize their Christmas wish lists. Dr. Banner remained uncertain about leaving the school for Stark Tower, while Old Parker encouraged him to believe in miracles.

• Mrs. Nelson took Nelson home after Alvin teased him about his misunderstanding of Sharon Carter.
• Sharon Carter admitted she had tried to infiltrate the school for S.H.I.E.L.D., and Alvin offered her a deal: help Nick organize the students’ wish lists and gain access to Dr. Yinsen’s work.
• Ginny eagerly joined Nick in collecting and sorting the wish lists, while Frank offered to help his son.
• Alvin suggested S.H.I.E.L.D. pay for the students’ wishes in return for the assistance and access.
• Dr. Banner hesitated over Stark’s invitation to Stark Tower, and Old Parker reassured him that miracles would come.

As Coulson and Russell fought Demons in New York, Russell criticized S.H.I.E.L.D. for trying to control Alvin and warned Coulson to focus on real threats. Coulson spotted a fierce contest in Chinatown and recognized Shang-Chi, leaving him wondering who the other fighter was.

• Coulson and Russell led S.H.I.E.L.D. Field Agents through New York, killing Demons with specialized weapons.
• Russell accused Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D. of mishandling Alvin and urged Coulson to investigate Rumlow and ask Alvin for help if needed.
• Coulson noticed that many Demons near Chinatown were already injured, and Russell said formidable people were fighting there.
• Coulson used his team's drone to watch Chinatown and saw Shang-Chi competing with another man, using Demons' lives as the stakes.
• Coulson asked who Shang-Chi's opponent was and wondered why the White Ghost now seemed like a minor player.

Shang-Chi teamed up with Yan Shuangying to fight demons in Chinatown and learned how differently they approached combat. Meanwhile, Alvin put Nick in charge of a school wish list and offered Dr. Banner a temporary job in Dr. Yinsen's basement.

• Shang-Chi and Yan Shuangying fought Gluttony Demons in Chinatown while Chinese Green Gang enforcers accused Yan Shuangying of injuring their men.
• Shang-Chi urged Yan Shuangying to leave the Green Gang's territory, but Yan Shuangying defended his actions and the enforcers withdrew rather than risk provoking Alvin.
• Shang-Chi invited Yan Shuangying to fight more demons, and Yan Shuangying explained that he fought to kill while Shang-Chi trained to fight.
• Wesley led more demons toward the group, and Yan Shuangying charged into them with a cleaver as Peter joined the battle.
• Alvin sent Nick to organize a wish list with Ginny, their friends, and S.H.I.E.L.D. volunteers.
• Dr. Banner asked to work at the school, and Alvin offered him a temporary position in Dr. Yinsen's basement to help him control his anger.

Alvin brought Dr. Banner to meet Old Cage, who was pushing to expand the Community School into a university to address rising unemployment in Hell's Kitchen. Alvin resisted the plan, and the chapter ended with him suggesting other ways to help young people while Old Cage tried to recruit Dr. Banner.

• Alvin brought Dr. Banner to the school, where Old Cage scolded Alvin and demanded that he work there every day.
• Old Cage proposed establishing a university, but Alvin objected that the students should leave Hell's Kitchen after graduation rather than remain there.
• Old Cage explained that quieter gangs had laid off workers, leaving many young people unemployed and at risk of turning to crime.
• Alvin questioned whether the young people deserved help and teased Old Cage about his concern for one of them.
• Old Cage confronted Dr. Banner, then warmly recruited him after Alvin revealed that he had six doctoral degrees.
• Alvin suggested asking Tej and his crew to train young people instead of establishing a university, and joked about putting up a statue of Old Cage.

Alvin, Old Cage, and Professor Wilson discussed expanding the school’s help for Hell’s Kitchen’s youth, while Alvin worried that Wilson was working himself to exhaustion. Alvin encouraged Dr. Banner to see his power not as a burden but as something he could use to protect others, leaving Banner to consider his place in the community.

• Old Cage persuaded Dr. Banner to stay and talk while he discussed helping more young people with Alvin.
• Professor Wilson explained that the school’s growth and its students’ successes had inspired him to work harder, and Alvin urged him to rest and hire more staff.
• Alvin rejected the idea of starting a university, preferring practical job training, and reflected on his responsibility to protect the school’s teachers and students.
• Dr. Banner praised Professor Wilson’s dedication and told Alvin he felt honored to be at the school.
• Alvin told Dr. Banner that dedication and protection were both forms of nobility and suggested Hulk could use his power to protect people where it was needed.

Alvin tried to reassure Damon, who was tormented by the Ghost Rider’s urges to burn his daughter and Hell’s Kitchen. Damon revealed that Hellfire and the Eye of Punishment, fueled by sin, caused much of his pain, and Alvin suggested seeking help from The Ancient One at Kamar-Taj.

• Alvin told Dr. Banner that he could consult Mouse Master about controlling the Hulk, and Dr. Banner went inside to meet the professors.
• Alvin greeted Damon and learned that Damon still felt compelled to kill his daughter, Mindy, despite being able to restrain his actions.
• Damon said he needed to stay away from Mindy and blamed himself for teaching her to kill.
• Alvin offered to help kill the evil spirit inside Damon, but Damon explained that Hellfire and the Eye of Punishment, fueled by sin, were the main source of his pain.
• Damon admitted that he wanted to burn Hell’s Kitchen, and Alvin suggested that he seek help from The Ancient One at Kamar-Taj.

Alvin sent Damon to join the fight against Demons and helped him prepare to say goodbye to Mindy without burdening her. At the school, Alvin praised Professor Wilson for his work, then quietly helped the exhausted professor rest while the others continued sorting the children's Christmas wish lists.

• Alvin called Fat Bear Wang Yuan about the Demons in Africa, and Wang Yuan directed him to contact Strange for a way to reach him.
• Alvin gave Damon Strange's address and urged him to explain his departure to Mindy without making her carry his pain; Damon spoke with Mindy and appeared more at ease.
• Professor Wilson helped Ginny read Christmas wish lists while Nick and Frank processed requests, and Frank teased Nick about his grades and game console.
• Alvin arrived, joked with Nick and Frank, and thanked Professor Wilson for making him recognize how much the school staff contributed.
• Olivia took the whiskey away from the older men, but Professor Wilson drank two glasses with Alvin and fell asleep.
• Alvin made Professor Wilson comfortable, and a vine from Sapling quietly sent life energy into the sleeping professor while Ginny covered him with a blanket.

Shang-Chi and his team cleared Demons from New York while Shang-Chi explained his desire to improve through real combat. They headed to a hospital under attack, where Jessica and Matt’s group were defending the entrance as Peter arrived to help.

• Chief George told his assistant that Alvin’s return and the arrival of several allies had already strengthened New York’s defenses.
• Shang-Chi, Yan Shuangying, Peter, Harry, and Wesley worked together to lure and defeat Demons across two streets.
• Shang-Chi told Yan Shuangying that he wanted to get stronger because he had learned how dangerous the world was and wanted to improve even as a Restaurant server.
• After receiving Harry’s message, Shang-Chi led Yan Shuangying toward a hospital surrounded by Demons, where Matt and his allies were holding the line with Jessica.
• Jessica defended the hospital entrance with a Utility Pole, and Peter arrived and announced himself as a Peace Hotel server ready to help.

Jessica and Peter fought Gluttony Demons while Matt, Elektra, and Foggy were badly wounded at the hospital. Shang-Chi and Yan Shuangying arrived with Alvin’s order to take them to the school, along with Dr. Yinsen to treat Elektra.

• Jessica teased Peter about Gwen as they fought demons, and she knocked a red demon out of the air with a utility pole.
• Peter trapped a demon in webs and charged at it wearing one of Alvin’s gloves.
• Matt and Elektra lay wounded near the hospital entrance while Foggy scolded Matt for refusing to ask Alvin for help.
• Shang-Chi and Yan Shuangying arrived to relieve the guard and told the wounded that Alvin was taking them to the school.
• Elektra asked for a doctor to minimize her scar, and Shang-Chi told her Dr. Yinsen was coming, joking that her bikini days were over.