Chapter Summaries

Alvin and Stark identified Aldrich Killian as the scientist Stark had stood up years earlier, and Alvin promised to investigate while Stark focused on Pepper. The chapter left Stark trying to comfort Pepper and Dr. Banner joking that the monster inside him was really a cowardly kid with anger issues.

• Stark used JARVIS and Dr. Yinsen’s clues to find a photograph identifying Killian, who had apparently survived a rooftop fall five years earlier.
• Alvin guessed that Stark’s old prank may have helped push Killian toward his suicide attempt, while Stark struggled with guilt and confusion.
• Alvin volunteered to investigate Killian and protect Pepper, and Stark asked him to keep Killian alive so he could apologize.
• Alvin encouraged Stark to talk to Pepper, then teased him as Stark and Pepper reunited.
• Dr. Yinsen told Dr. Banner that Alvin helped his friends relax by shouldering their pressure, but Banner said Alvin made him more nervous.

Alvin invited Dr. Banner to move to Hell’s Kitchen and tutor Nick, hoping that living among people would help Banner accept Hulk and regain control of his life. Banner accepted the offer, and Alvin introduced him to the children as their new tutor.

• Alvin reassured Dr. Banner that he was welcome as a friend, while Banner explained that Hulk had become more active inside him and resisted being treated as a threat.
• Banner tried to promise that Hulk would never endanger anyone, triggering a struggle that Dr. Yinsen helped him survive by urging him to accept Hulk as part of himself.
• Alvin encouraged Banner to stop pushing Hulk away and offered him an apartment across from the restaurant, where he could first tutor Nick before attempting to teach at the Community School.
• Dr. Yinsen offered to stay with Banner, but warned that tutoring Nick would be difficult; Banner eagerly accepted Alvin’s offer rather than return to an isolated life.
• Alvin shook Banner’s hand and introduced him to the children, warning Mr. Castor not to make the new tutor angry.

Alvin teased Albus by betting he could not get any child to eat his steak, while Dr. Banner met Nick as his new tutor. Alvin learned from Dr. Yinsen that Stark’s robots had serious limitations, leaving Stark’s Middle East operation uncertain.

• Alvin bet Albus a hundred dollars that none of the children would eat his steak, and Albus accepted the challenge.
• Dr. Banner introduced himself to Nick as his tutor and claimed he had seven doctorates, while Dr. Yinsen warned Nick not to make him angry.
• Alvin asked Dr. Yinsen about Stark’s robots, and Yinsen explained that their limited intelligence and unreliable communications made them unsuitable as soldiers in the Middle East.
• Dr. Yinsen told Alvin that Stark had done everything he could and deserved respect for his efforts.

Alvin and his friends enjoyed a barbecue while Butler Albus suffered a humiliating defeat with his sugar-coated steak. Later, Eddie Brock learned that illegal experiments to regrow limbs had drawn in Elbridge, and he set out with Peter to investigate and rescue him if needed.

• Alvin defeated Butler Albus in a steak-cooking contest, and Ginny teased Albus about his disastrous steak.
• Eddie and Venom argued with Old Joey while cleaning a garbage truck, and Peter arrived to help and check on Eddie.
• Elbridge called Eddie to report that the people recruiting disabled volunteers had returned and taken him toward New Jersey for experiments.
• Eddie agreed to locate Elbridge and intervene only if he was in danger, while Peter offered to help track the truck and investigate.
• Eddie asked Old Joey for time off and invited Peter to join him as Spider-Man.

Alvin returned to Hell's Kitchen while Stark prepared to address the demon crisis, and Peter and Eddie uncovered Killian's illegal Extremis experiments in New Jersey. After an explosion and reports that test subjects could detonate, Alvin left Fox with the children and headed across the river to help Peter.

• Alvin warned Stark to control his plans against the demons and keep in touch with Raymond, while Stark said he had prepared to act in the Middle East.
• Peter and Eddie found the warehouse where Killian's people were holding disabled homeless people for Extremis experiments.
• Maya refused to continue experimenting on people, but Killian secretly ordered his plan to proceed.
• Eddie and Peter freed Elbridge, but an Extremis guard triggered the alarm and Peter called Harry to make an exit through the roof.
• An explosion erupted across the Hudson, and Peter told Alvin that Extremis subjects had exploded and that he was pursuing the people responsible.
• Alvin left Fox and the children in the car, summoned Venom, and leaped toward the Hudson River to help Peter.

Peter pursued two Extremis Warriors fleeing in a car and battled them after they survived his attack by regenerating from the wreckage. He knocked one beneath a pile of scrap, but the other lunged at him as the chapter ended.

• Peter chased the soldiers’ car through the industrial complex while they tried to keep him occupied during Dr. Killian’s escape.
• Peter kicked the car hard enough to send it rolling and waited cautiously before approaching the wreckage.
• The two soldiers emerged with their bodies glowing and regenerating, melting the car around them and burning Peter’s webs to ash.
• Peter grabbed a steel bar and swung toward the Extremis Warriors, dodging their red-hot steel projectiles.
• Peter struck the younger Extremis Warrior’s arm and sent him crashing into a pile of scrap, but the other blazing figure lunged at him.

Peter fought two Extremis Warriors until Alvin arrived, captured one of them, and killed the other. Killian learned that his laboratory had been destroyed and ordered his allies investigated while searching for Maya.

• Peter used rune-embedded tactical gloves to blind and wound a middle-aged Extremis Warrior, but the soldier struck him and injured his shoulder.
• The second Extremis Warrior burst from the wreckage and lunged at Peter, but Alvin’s thrown Battle Axe struck him before Alvin crushed him underfoot.
• Peter warned Alvin that the Extremis Warriors could explode, so Alvin used the MAL rune to prevent the wounded warrior from self-destructing before killing him.
• Alvin severed the middle-aged warrior’s leg, disabled his Extremis Virus, and identified himself as CIA agent Church while arresting him.
• Killian learned that his laboratory had been destroyed and ordered a female Extremis Warrior to question their allies about the CIA and Church and to search for Maya.

Alvin questioned Ryder Wilson, an Extremis Warrior who revealed his connection to Dr. Killian and explained why he chose the dangerous treatment. Ryder claimed it gave injured soldiers hope, while Alvin challenged him over the innocent people killed in the experiments.

• Alvin called Chief George to keep the police away, then contacted Norman Osborn for help with the modified suicide soldiers.
• Peter chose to leave and check on Harry and Eddie after Alvin promised to share what he learned.
• Alvin tried to interrogate the captured Extremis Warrior, but the man resisted pain and threatened revenge.
• Alvin tested the captive with Aldrich Killian's name, and the man admitted he was Ryder Wilson and identified Killian as his boss.
• Ryder said he had accepted the treatment because it offered hope after his injuries, and Alvin asked whether the victims had volunteered and whether Ryder regretted their deaths.

Alvin decided to hand Ryder over to Norman Osborn after learning that Aldrich Killian led the explosive super-soldier experiments. Norman planned to study Ryder and investigate whether the subjects’ self-destruction could be controlled.

• Alvin lost respect for Ryder’s self-justifying attitude and decided he would leave him to Norman Osborn.
• Ryder chose not to attack Alvin, then demanded that Alvin kill him when Norman arrived on a Goblin Glider.
• Alvin told Ryder he would be sent to Norman’s laboratory and handed him over for study.
• Norman explained that Eddie and Venom had nearly been killed by an explosion and Harry had been burned while rescuing them.
• Norman recognized Killian’s Extremis Virus project and offered to experiment on Ryder in hopes of preventing the super-soldiers from exploding.
• Alvin told Norman that the subjects seemed to explode under intense stimulation, though he did not know whether the ability was controllable.

Bob Lee Swagger prepared to snipe the Vice President while Timmons secretly watched him, and Alvin and Raymond discussed disrupting the Vice President’s meeting and the Ten Rings. Killian’s Extremis Warriors were ready to target Stark, though Pepper remained in Hell’s Kitchen, which their ally had warned them not to enter.

• Bob Lee Swagger checked a potential sniper position and directed police to search specific rooms in a nearby building.
• FBI Agent Timmons identified Bob as a notorious former military sniper and decided to follow him and arrest him before he could shoot.
• Alvin and Raymond discussed using the media to expose the Vice President’s political dealings and keep officials occupied while Stark pursued the Wish.
• Raymond told Alvin that the Ten Rings had blacklisted him after he resold weapons he had seized from their deals.
• The Vice President arrived at the plaza with a Middle Eastern envoy as Alvin wondered whether the man was a double.
• Killian’s Extremis Warrior reported that Stark’s location was confirmed, and Killian ordered his people to wait for a chance to kill Stark while avoiding Hell’s Kitchen.

Alvin and Raymond’s scheme turned a public event into a staged assassination that implicated Vice President Andrew Van Buren, while Bob Lee Swagger was framed as the sniper and fought his way out of arrest. The chapter left Bob attacking Timmons as Alvin watched the chaos and received a phone call.

• A disguised reporter accused Vice President Andrew Van Buren of supporting terrorists and spread photos of Grover Van Buren, while Raymond revealed the stunt was only the beginning and Alvin sent crows to foul the vice president.
• A gunman shot the fake Vice President Andrew and the peace prince, while the real Andrew and a white-haired old man watched from a hotel suite and arranged to make Andrew appear wounded.
• Andrew and the white-haired old man blamed their enemies, planned to pin the assassination attempt on the Mandarin, and hoped Killian would kill Tony Stark so they could seize Pepper Potts and Stark Industries.
• Bob Lee Swagger spotted a sniper rifle in an apartment and found his own L115A3 there, realizing he had been framed by supposed CIA agents and was being arrested by police.
• Bob escaped through the apartment window, dodged gunfire, and charged Timmons, striking him after Timmons’s shot only grazed his shoulder.
• Alvin watched the commotion and received a phone call.

Extremis Warriors attacked the Stark Estate, and Stark fought them in his new Iron Man Armor while Albus and Dr. Banner monitored the battle. After the warriors’ explosive attacks damaged Stark’s armor, Alvin arrived and caught him as he was thrown through the air.

• Extremis Warriors broke through the Stark Estate’s defenses, but Albus activated lawn gun bunkers before retreating inside and sealing the mansion.
• Stark prepared his latest Iron Man Armor in the underground Laboratory, then launched into battle despite Dr. Banner’s warnings.
• Stark intercepted missiles and attacked the Extremis Warriors with micro-missiles and Hell Crystal Bug Short Swords, but their explosions damaged his armor.
• A huge Extremis Warrior detonated at close range, and F.R.I.D.A.Y. carried Stark into a pond to cool the armor.
• Alvin approached the estate as black Crows helped Stark by distracting the Extremis Warriors.
• An explosion sent Stark flying, and Alvin leaped over the estate wall and caught him.

Alvin and Stark defeated the Extremis Soldiers attacking Stark Manor, but a missile strike nearly destroyed the estate and left Alvin and Venom badly hurt. Stark identified the Military as likely involved and planned to recover at a hospital before drawing out Killian and retaliating.

• Alvin used a Remington inscribed with the Mal Rune to suppress the Extremis Soldiers’ self-destruction and helped Stark defeat them.
• Hulk tried to intercept two missiles, but one continued toward Stark Manor, so Alvin hurled Stark out of danger before the missile exploded.
• Stark activated the Manor’s defenses, and JARVIS destroyed the missile-launching Yacht while Hulk attacked armed men arriving in Speedboats.
• Alvin survived the blast but was left soot-covered, and the Corpse-Eater Vine treated the badly injured Venom.
• Stark suspected the Military was involved, and he and Alvin agreed to pursue Killian after Stark received medical care.

After the attack on Tony Stark dominated the news, Tony recovered in a hospital bath while Pepper worried over him. He asked Alvin to make his support for Stark Industries unmistakable, and Alvin considered how to deter their enemies.

• News coverage focused on the attack on Tony Stark, while the vice president’s assassination and the Middle Eastern Envoy’s death faded from public attention.
• Tony Stark soaked in Super Repair Fluid as Pepper cried over his injuries, and Alvin teased them both.
• Tony complained that Pepper’s pregnancy had changed her and asked Alvin for help handling the pressure around their wedding.
• Tony explained that powerful interests might turn against him unless Alvin publicly took his side and helped protect Stark Industries.
• Alvin discussed using War God No. 3 and a press conference to signal his support, but warned Tony that plans in Hell’s Kitchen could quickly fall apart.

Bob Lee Swagger questioned the captive FBI agent Timmons, then gave him a vehicle VIN to investigate so they could identify who had framed him. As Timmons found the vehicle record, Bob warned that whoever supplied the VIN might target anyone who investigated it, leaving Timmons alarmed about the danger.

• Bob questioned Timmons about shooting at him, punched him, and then cut him free.
• Timmons's cleaner Robin arrived, and Timmons sent him to fetch pizza while assuring Bob he could help clear his name.
• Bob gave Timmons the VIN of the car used by the man who had come after him and asked him to investigate it.
• Bob noticed Hell's Kitchen's unusual residents, including a giant wolf and a little triceratops, and Timmons explained that Principal Alvin was behind the neighborhood's strange events.
• Timmons accessed the FBI network and found vehicle information, while Bob warned that investigating the VIN could make Timmons a target.

Alvin and Stark joked in Bruto’s makeshift hospital while Pepper and Fox reassured their partners, and Bruto explained how he had secured the hospital. The chapter ended with Bruto proposing “the director” as his new nickname.

• William Rush explained that Alvin had hired him to make Stark look terminally ill, and Stark complained about the hospital and the doctor’s attention to Pepper.
• Alvin teased Stark about his jealousy, and Pepper kissed Stark while Alvin and Fox shared an affectionate moment.
• Bruto interrupted the couples, then told Alvin he had locked down the hospital because reporters had gathered outside.
• Alvin praised Bruto for helping but criticized the hospital’s decor, and Bruto said he had deliberately left the charity hospital unlegalized.
• Bruto asked Alvin what he thought of “the director” as his new nickname.

Alvin and Stark waited at the hospital for their enemies to reveal themselves while discussing how to investigate suspicious trading in Stark Industries stock. Alvin arranged for a team of agents to help, and several recruits set out for Hell’s Kitchen.

• Alvin and Stark watched William Rush mislead reporters about Stark’s condition, while Bruto’s whiskey delivery helped fuel a more sensational story.
• Alvin told Stark they would wait for Killian and use Jordan Beckford’s analysis of unusual Stark Industries trades to narrow down the suspects.
• Stark admitted he lacked agents he could trust, and Alvin said that potential helpers were already on their way.
• Ethan Hunt arrived in New York and reunited with his partner Benji after spending months in Eastern Europe with Jason Bourne.
• Harvey left the Apartment with a team of rookie agents and told Sharon Carter that S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Barbara Moore, known as Mockingbird, was at Community Hospital.
• 47 told Nika that Alvin had offered her temporary work in Hell’s Kitchen, and Nika agreed while mentioning Mirecia Yevgeny Braginsky.

Pepper and Fox were attacked by black-clad soldiers, and Mills pursued them with help from some armed bank robbers and Baxter. The attackers continued after Fox's Mercedes as Mills and his unlikely allies fought to catch up.

• Pepper confided to Fox that Tony's sense of responsibility left her feeling overlooked, and Fox reassured her that she was central to his life.
• Black-clad soldiers attacked the convoy, flipped Pepper's Maybach, and chased Fox's Mercedes while Mills tried to protect them.
• Mills rammed one pursuer, then commandeered a car and enlisted three bearded bank robbers who opened fire on the soldiers.
• The soldiers kept pursuing Mills's car, and one charged it despite gunfire from the robbers.
• Baxter knocked a charging soldier down with his motorcycle, climbed into Mills's car, and joined the fight.

Fox fled through Hell’s Kitchen with pregnant Pepper as Extremis soldiers and armed SUVs pursued them, while allies joined the chase to protect them. Steve arrived to stop the attackers, and Fox and Pepper continued toward the Restaurant.

• Fox shot down the last pursuing Extremis Warrior, but a convoy of five black Chevrolet SUVs appeared and forced her to flee with Pepper in BABY’s Hellcat.
• Mirecia and Boris saw the convoy chase Fox and Pepper, then pursued it in an armed Humvee as Mirecia fired its machine gun.
• Fox reassured Pepper that Alvin’s bracelet would protect her and said Alvin had stayed at the hospital, where the main battle was taking place.
• Steve rode up on a motorcycle and used his shield to overturn one of the pursuing SUVs.

Alvin and Stark discussed the attack on Pepper and the larger conspiracy while arranging medical help for injured residents of Hell’s Kitchen. At the Peace Hotel, Jessica and Shang-Chi exposed and confronted two CIA agents, leaving one badly injured and the other disarmed.

• Alvin reassured Stark that Steve had rescued Pepper, then suspected the attack was connected to oil, New Energy, and Stark Industries.
• Bruto told Alvin that street fighting had injured residents, and Alvin arranged for Dr. Yinsen to help at the hospital.
• Jessica sensed trouble at the Peace Hotel and told Shang-Chi to get Nick and the others inside and clear out the customers.
• A scarred man propositioned Jessica, and she punched him through the entrance; Old Kent mocked his companion’s chances of finishing his steak.
• The second man identified himself as CIA and drew a pistol, but Shang-Chi crushed the gun and his hand, warning him that he was in Hell’s Kitchen.