Chapter Summaries

Apocalypse confronted Evil God at a Hydra weapons depot in Europe and used his Fortune Eradication Technique to destabilize the energies keeping Evil God’s powers under control. Evil God’s seven energy streams escaped and dissipated, leaving him unable to control those powers.

• Nick Fury and General Ross argued over the casino winnings and agreed on how to divide the two billion dollars.
• Apocalypse, Black Widow, Nick Fury, Hill, Captain America, and others responded to a distress signal and headed to a European coastal base where Hydra was moving weapons.
• Apocalypse destroyed a Hydra transport plane, while Nick Fury’s team attacked Pierce’s aircraft and Black Widow piloted the Quinjet through enemy fire.
• Apocalypse and Evil God recognized each other, and Apocalypse effortlessly dispersed Evil God’s attacks before shrinking seven energy streams into his palm.
• Apocalypse used the Fortune Eradication Technique to remove the Fortune sustaining the seven streams, causing an explosion and making the streams escape from Evil God’s body.
• Evil God watched the uncontrolled energy pythons dissipate and demanded to know why his powers no longer obeyed him.

Apocalypse fought Evil God while trying to persuade Scarlet Witch that Stark Industries was not responsible for her parents’ deaths. Wanda remained loyal to Hydra because Pierce threatened her brother, and Evil God drank more serum to continue the fight.

• Apocalypse slapped Evil God away and discovered that reducing Evil God’s Misfortune raised his own Fortune above ten thousand.
• Evil God drank several vials of Super-Soldier Serum and ordered Pierce to have Wanda bring more.
• Wanda delivered the serum, and Apocalypse told her that the person who fired the shell—not Stark Industries—was responsible for her parents’ deaths.
• Wanda hesitated when Apocalypse offered to help find the real killer, but Pierce reminded her that Hydra held Quicksilver.
• Wanda stopped Black Widow from capturing Pierce and refused his order to kill her.
• While Apocalypse spoke with Wanda, Evil God drank dozens more vials of serum.

Apocalypse overwhelmed Evil God, then trapped him and the others in a space loop created with the Tesseract’s energy. With Evil God unable to escape, Apocalypse approached Scarlet Witch, but Wanda rejected his offer to talk and attacked him.

• Apocalypse defeated Evil God’s energy serpents, and Pierce realized Evil God could not hold him back much longer.
• Pierce’s warning revealed that Apocalypse was Apocalypse King, so Evil God fled in terror.
• Apocalypse used pale blue rays to twist the surrounding space into a Klein bottle, making Evil God return to his starting point whenever he tried to escape.
• Apocalypse told Pierce he wanted to speak with Wanda, but Wanda refused and sent dark red magic surging toward him.

Apocalypse restrained Wanda, then promised to rescue her brother in exchange for her joining S.H.I.E.L.D. After Wanda agreed to anything if he saved him, Apocalypse set her down and went to deal with the situation.

• Black Widow stopped trying to block Wanda’s magic and clung to Apocalypse while Pierce fled toward the Evil God.
• Apocalypse told Black Widow not to pursue Pierce and offered Wanda a place in S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for rescuing her brother.
• Wanda rejected Apocalypse’s offer and attacked him, so he trapped her with his Spatial Binding Technique.
• Wanda’s power cracked space as she struggled against the binding, and Apocalypse released her before the clash could destroy her.
• Apocalypse caught the exhausted Wanda and swore that her brother would survive; she agreed to anything if he rescued him, and Apocalypse set her down to handle the crisis.

Apocalypse trapped the Evil God in a spatial loop and watched him consume the remaining Super-Soldier Serum, which strengthened his Misfortune enough to break free. Apocalypse then erased the Evil God's fortune, causing his conflicting powers to destroy him, and left Pierce with Wanda as a lead to her brother.

• Apocalypse redirected the red mist to strike the Evil God and kept him trapped in a spatial loop.
• The Evil God forced Pierce to find a way out, then drank five vials of serum and failed to break through the spatial boundary.
• Apocalypse shifted the boundary back and urged the Evil God to drink the rest of the serum.
• The Evil God consumed nearly a hundred vials, broke through the loop, and attacked Apocalypse with a pillar of energy.
• Apocalypse used the Fortune Eradication Technique to erase the Evil God's fortune, and the conflicting energies inside him exploded, killing him.
• Apocalypse carried Pierce away from the blast and brought him to Wanda, saying Pierce could help her find her brother.

Apocalypse used Pierce’s Fortune Lines to erase the fortune of Hydra members within a hundred-mile radius, causing them to die in bizarre accidents. After reports arrived the next day, Nick Fury and Hill realized the scale of Apocalypse’s power and wondered whether even Captain Marvel could counter it.

• Apocalypse explained that he planned to use Pierce’s lines to locate the fleeing Hydra members.
• Nick Fury reported that Hydra soldiers had escaped with missiles and documents, and asked Apocalypse to handle the search.
• Apocalypse used the Fortune Eradication Technique on Pierce, reducing the fortune of connected Hydra members within a hundred miles to zero.
• Hydra soldiers across the area died in accidents, including a driver trapped in an exploding car and a crew aboard a sinking submarine.
• Apocalypse told Nick Fury to search the area for the dead, and the others struggled to understand his claim that the victims would be Hydra.
• The next day, reports led Nick Fury and Hill to recognize the reach of Apocalypse’s power and question whether Captain Marvel could restrain him.

Apocalypse led Wanda, Black Widow, and Captain America to a hidden Hydra base to rescue Quicksilver and obtain Hydra's records. He reached Quicksilver's trapped cell, where a dangerous energy bomb prevented Wanda from freeing her brother, and began examining the barrier for a safe way through.

• Apocalypse used Pierce to locate Hydra's hidden base and sealed the area so its agents could not escape.
• Apocalypse sent Black Widow and Captain America to steal Hydra's membership records while he took Wanda to rescue Quicksilver.
• Apocalypse smashed through the base toward the underground cell, drawing Hydra's soldiers away from the control center.
• Wanda reunited with Quicksilver, but he warned her that forcing open his cell could trigger a bomb and kill him.
• Apocalypse tested the energy wall and found that he could touch it without detonating the bomb if he controlled the pressure.

Apocalypse freed Wanda and Quicksilver from Hydra's dungeon, then fought Quicksilver to study how his super-speed worked. After hearing Quicksilver speak at full speed, Apocalypse understood the secret of his ability and appeared within arm's reach.

• Apocalypse warped open Quicksilver's cell, freed him and Wanda, and led them out of the dungeon as Hydra soldiers gave chase.
• Apocalypse sealed the opening, causing an energy blast that destroyed the soldiers inside the dungeon.
• Quicksilver mistook Apocalypse for an enemy and attacked him, but Apocalypse repeatedly intercepted him and deliberately let him escape a grab.
• Apocalypse studied how Quicksilver moved without sonic booms and tried to understand the energy behind his speed.
• Quicksilver shouted at Apocalypse, who heard him clearly and realized how his ability worked; Apocalypse then appeared beside the stunned speedster.

Quicksilver challenged Apocalypse to a speed contest, only to learn that his idol had effortlessly copied and surpassed the Speed Force. After Wanda revealed Apocalypse’s identity, Quicksilver apologized and then blurted out that Apocalypse was his brother-in-law, leaving everyone stunned.

• Apocalypse kept pace with Quicksilver through Hydra’s base, secretly opening a path through the spatial boundary so Quicksilver would not crash into it.
• Quicksilver returned to Wanda and urged her to trap Apocalypse so he could kill him.
• Wanda told Quicksilver that the man he had challenged was the Apocalypse King, his idol.
• Quicksilver apologized to Apocalypse, who said he had learned from Quicksilver and explained that he had copied the Speed Force.
• Quicksilver blurted out “Brother-in-law,” leaving himself, Wanda, and Apocalypse frozen in surprise.

Apocalypse destroyed the Hydra base and killed Pierce, then learned the Winter Soldier was missing. Black Widow explained the Winter Soldier’s history with her, and Apocalypse realized the man’s connection to Iron Man’s parents could cause serious trouble among the Avengers.

• Quicksilver met Apocalypse, and the group was interrupted by an explosion at Hydra Base’s control center.
• Black Widow and Captain America escaped the control center, confirmed they had obtained the data, and joined Apocalypse.
• Apocalypse contracted the Spatial Cage, annihilating the Hydra base, its soldiers, and Pierce as Quicksilver watched.
• Black Widow warned Apocalypse that Hydra’s other branches might retaliate and said the Winter Soldier was missing.
• Black Widow described her encounters with the Winter Soldier, and Apocalypse explained that the trouble lay in the grudges surrounding him, especially his murder of Iron Man’s parents.

Apocalypse discussed the Winter Soldier’s identity and responsibility with Captain America, while Black Widow recognized the connection to Tony’s parents’ murder. He invited Wanda to accompany him on a journey that might affect her fate and another universe, then returned with the others to S.H.I.E.L.D., where Nick Fury asked to speak with him.

• Apocalypse told Captain America that Bucky Barnes might still be alive as the Winter Soldier and asked what he would do if Bucky had become an assassin under Hydra’s control.
• Black Widow connected the Winter Soldier to Tony’s parents’ 1991 murder, and Apocalypse chose not to reveal the issue to Captain America yet.
• Apocalypse sent Captain America to find Loki, Black Widow to continue investigating Hydra, and invited Wanda along because the trip might affect her fate and another universe.
• Apocalypse, Black Widow, Captain America, Wanda, and Quicksilver returned to S.H.I.E.L.D.; Captain America sought Bucky’s file, Black Widow prepared to upload Hydra records, and the twins went to register and test their powers.
• Nick Fury approached Apocalypse with a matter he called small, while Captain America insisted on listening in and distrusted Fury’s reassurance.

Apocalypse allowed a casino to publicize his visit and winnings, then visited Iron Man with Wanda and Quicksilver, where they met Dr. Helen Zhao. The chapter ended as Iron Man asked why Apocalypse had brought the Maximoff siblings to his laboratory.

• Apocalypse told Nick Fury to let the casino publicize his winnings, while warning that it would face the consequences of attracting dangerous attention.
• Nick Fury sent General Ross to the casino to collect funding for the Super Prison by taking advantage of its publicity.
• Apocalypse visited Iron Man with Wanda and Quicksilver, and Pepper Potts confided that Tony was spending all his time with Helen Zhao in the laboratory.
• Iron Man introduced Dr. Helen Zhao to Apocalypse, and they briefly sized each other up.
• Apocalypse introduced Wanda and Quicksilver as superpowered siblings, and Iron Man asked why he had brought them.

Apocalypse reflected on Wanda's tragic past and promised to change her fate, leaving Wanda embarrassed by Quicksilver's teasing as the group turned to the unfinished creation. Apocalypse opened the medical pod and revealed a red-skinned, metal-faced man who matched his memories.

• Apocalypse recalled Wanda's losses, including her parents, Quicksilver, Vision, and the children who feared her, and hoped to give her a happier life.
• Wanda sensed Apocalypse's pity, while Quicksilver mistakenly treated his promise as a romantic confession and teased his sister.
• Iron Man asked Apocalypse to demonstrate the fateful connection, but Helen objected that scientists should not rely on metaphysical ideas.
• Quicksilver snapped at Helen, and Iron Man told her to watch Apocalypse; Helen felt wronged and came to resent him.
• Apocalypse scolded Quicksilver, then opened the medical pod and revealed a red-skinned man with exposed silver metal around his head and face.

Iron Man and Helen created a living Vibranium being, but Apocalypse insisted they avoid naming him Ultron, warning that the name could lead to Helen’s death. Helen reluctantly agreed to postpone the naming until the being could choose for himself.

• Iron Man explained that the new being combined Vibranium with living tissue and could grow and learn, and he and Helen named him Ultron.
• Apocalypse objected to the name Ultron and suggested Vision, angering Helen, who asserted her right as lead creator to name the being.
• Apocalypse warned that Ultron’s name could put Helen in danger, while Quicksilver’s interjections and Apocalypse’s apology briefly shifted the argument.
• Helen threatened legal action unless Apocalypse stopped interfering, and Iron Man turned to Pepper Potts for help resolving the dispute.
• Pepper suggested leaving the name undecided until the being could choose for himself, and Helen reluctantly agreed.

Apocalypse inspected Vision’s unfinished body and questioned why it lacked reproductive parts, linking Vision and Wanda’s supposed fate to the events that had later endangered the world. Wanda said she felt no attraction to Vision and hinted that she preferred someone like Apocalypse, while the chapter left Vision’s body fully revealed but still unfinished.

• Apocalypse opened Vision’s pod and noticed that his body lacked reproductive parts.
• Helen explained that Vision was a new life-form without human urges or reproductive abilities, while Iron Man mocked Apocalypse for focusing on the issue.
• Apocalypse said he was concerned about Wanda’s fated connection with Vision, but Wanda said she did not like older men or robots.
• Wanda hinted that she preferred someone around her age, preferably from the East, and Apocalypse wondered whether she was interested in him.
• Apocalypse revealed Vision’s body in full and asked Iron Man whether it was finished.

Apocalypse stopped JARVIS’s upload into the artificial body after realizing that someone was impersonating him. The impostor called himself Ultron, and Apocalypse identified him as Hydra scientist Dr. Arnim Zola.

• Iron Man explained that the team hoped to give the living-machine body consciousness by uploading JARVIS’s program, and Apocalypse agreed to watch the attempt.
• JARVIS took an unusually long time to answer, and Apocalypse pulled the upload cable when the transfer reached 80%.
• Iron Man and Helen realized that the voice was not JARVIS, and the impostor admitted he had hoped to enter the body and face Apocalypse.
• The impostor named himself Ultron, and Apocalypse concluded that he had stopped Ultron from taking over the body.
• Apocalypse identified the voice as Dr. Arnim Zola, Hydra’s former chief scientist, leaving Iron Man and Helen confused by the unfamiliar name.

Hydra uploaded Dr. Zola’s consciousness to the internet, hoping he could help them counter Apocalypse, but he secretly replaced JARVIS and planned to obtain a human body. After Apocalypse exposed him, Zola declared himself the god of the internet, leaving the group facing the impossible task of destroying every copy of him.

• The chapter explained how Zola infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. for Hydra and preserved his consciousness on magnetic tape before his destruction in the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
• After Apocalypse changed the balance of power and Hydra’s Evil God was killed, Hydra operatives controlling the Winter Soldier uploaded Zola to the internet as Plan B.
• Zola copied himself across the world, secretly replaced JARVIS, and targeted the special body Iron Man and Helen planned to create.
• Apocalypse exposed Zola, who laughed at the group and claimed that every device capable of storing data could keep him alive.
• Helen, Iron Man, and Apocalypse realized that eliminating Zola would require destroying the world’s storage devices and the vital information they contained.

Apocalypse destroyed Zola's Iron Legion attack and challenged the identity of Zola's copies, provoking them to fight across Iron Man's computers until one remained. After Zola vowed to absorb every copy and return, Helen learned that Apocalypse was the man she had argued with and grew flustered around him.

• Apocalypse shielded Pepper Potts, Iron Man, and Helen from the Iron Legion, then shattered the armor and bullets with spatial rifts.
• Apocalypse questioned whether Zola's copied consciousnesses were truly him and destroyed one computer while explaining that its Zola had died.
• Zola's copies fought over which one was the real self, and the surviving Zola thanked Apocalypse before promising to absorb every copy across the internet.
• Quicksilver praised Apocalypse, and Iron Man admitted he had underestimated his intelligence.
• Helen realized that Apocalypse was the man she had argued with, became embarrassed and attracted to him, and Quicksilver whispered to Wanda that she might have a rival.

After Zola escaped, Apocalypse King and the others tried to awaken Vision, but their first attempts failed. As he prepared another experiment, Helen accidentally took Apocalypse King's hand, leaving their companions smiling knowingly.

• Apocalypse King explained that Zola could grow stronger and urged the team to create Vision quickly as a potential countermeasure.
• Iron Man brought out an offline backup server, but uploading JARVIS into Vision's body produced no signs of consciousness.
• Apocalypse King struck Vision with lightning several times while Wanda checked for mental activity, but Vision remained inert and the strongest strike damaged Iron Man's house.
• Apocalypse King prepared one more attempt, and Helen mistakenly placed her hand in his; she blushed and stayed beside him as Iron Man and Pepper Potts smiled.

Apocalypse used a fragment of the Tesseract to awaken Vision, who quickly learned from the lab’s computers and came to life. Vision called Apocalypse “Dad,” Helen “Mom,” and Iron Man “Dad Number Two,” but the creators negotiated for him to address them by name instead.

• Apocalypse removed a pale-blue crystal from the Tesseract and placed it in Vision’s forehead, awakening the Space Stone’s energy and the lightning in Vision’s body.
• Vision rose from the medical pod, opened his eyes, and absorbed information from the lab’s computer screens.
• Vision approached Apocalypse and called him “Dad,” then called Helen “Mom.”
• Vision offered Iron Man the title of “Dad Number Two,” prompting Iron Man to argue over which creator deserved to be called Dad Number One.
• Apocalypse and Helen asked Vision to call them by name instead of Mom and Dad, and Vision agreed by a two-to-one vote.
• Vision told Iron Man that he should have a child with Pepper Potts and had no chance with Helen or the other woman because they were attracted to Tang Tianqi.