Ch. 961The Restless Dead
Chapter Summary: “The Restless Dead”
Key Plot Points and Events
- After Peggy Carter’s funeral, Daisy assigns the Avengers a mission to capture the escaped Cyclops and his younger brother, Alex Summers.
- The Avengers are severely understaffed: Stark is imprisoned, Thor has returned to Asgard, Hulk has disappeared, Quicksilver is away on his honeymoon, and Wanda is on leave. Captain America agrees that the team needs new recruits, and Daisy gives him files on Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Spider-Man.
- As Daisy prepares to leave Peggy’s graveside, Peggy’s voice suddenly comes from inside the coffin, calling for Steve and begging to be killed.
- Daisy orders the cemetery sealed and summons Sharon Carter, while Black Widow returns with her. Sharon confirms that the family wants the coffin opened.
- Using her powers, Daisy raises the recently buried coffin from the ground. Peggy’s voice becomes more disturbing, sounding fractured and as though multiple people are speaking through her body.
- Daisy finds no obvious magical or technological cause. Captain America struggles with disbelief but recognizes that Peggy is truly dead.
- Hill reports that similar cases of the dead returning or reviving have appeared elsewhere. Several incidents occur within minutes, suggesting a limited but unexplained pattern rather than a global resurrection.
- Daisy suspects a small-scale fluctuation in the laws or rules governing life and death. With no clear solution, Black Widow prepares to destroy the corpse, and Daisy considers reducing the coffin and everything inside it to atoms.
- Before either can act, a Bifrost portal opens. Sif emerges from Asgard wearing battle-worn armor and missing part of her hair, announcing that Asgard needs Daisy’s help.
Character Developments
- Daisy Johnson: Acts as the practical leader, managing both the Avengers’ recruitment crisis and the supernatural emergency. Though she feels little personal attachment to Peggy, she takes responsibility for resolving the situation and recognizes that it may involve forces beyond ordinary magic or science.
- Captain America: Is emotionally shaken by Peggy’s apparent return. His grief, lingering love, anger, and hope conflict with his soldier’s understanding that Peggy is dead. He also confronts how diminished the Avengers have become.
- Sharon Carter: Faces a horrifying situation involving her aunt but remains composed and makes the difficult decision to allow Daisy to uncover the coffin.
- Black Widow: Maintains her usual pragmatism and volunteers to perform the unpleasant task of destroying Peggy’s remains if necessary.
- Sif: Appears unexpectedly from Asgard in battle-worn condition, suggesting that a larger crisis is developing beyond Earth.
Significant Themes
- Grief and unresolved love: Peggy’s voice forces Captain America to confront feelings he has kept buried for decades.
- Life, death, and unnatural resurrection: The chapter explores the boundary between death and true revival, emphasizing that Peggy’s return is disturbing rather than miraculous.
- Leadership under pressure: Daisy must make rapid decisions while the Avengers are depleted and emotionally compromised.
- The decline and rebuilding of the Avengers: The team’s lack of active members creates an urgent need for recruitment.
- The limits of science, magic, and explanation: Daisy can find no conventional cause, hinting that the disturbance operates at a deeper, possibly cosmic or metaphysical level.
Character Interactions
- Daisy and Captain America discuss the Avengers’ shrinking roster and the need to recruit new members.
- Daisy gives Captain America candidate files for Iron Fist, Daredevil, and Spider-Man.
- Captain America reacts intensely to Peggy’s voice, while Daisy tries to keep him focused on the practical danger.
- Daisy consults Sharon before opening the coffin, respecting the Carter family’s wishes.
- Black Widow supports Daisy and offers to destroy Peggy’s body when no other solution is apparent.
- Sif’s arrival abruptly expands the crisis from a disturbing Earth-based incident into a possible Asgardian or cosmic emergency.