Recaps

Lu Qi and The Ancient One planned to free Corvus Glaive’s weapon from its soul so it could provide Mordo with a suitable body, and they decided to seek Johnny Blaze’s help. After Lu Qi upgraded his Conversion Module with Dormammu’s Dark Source, a Dark Dimension carrying Dormammu’s incomplete, revived form entered the Marvel Universe and headed for Earth.

• The Ancient One explained that Corvus Glaive’s weapon could create a body suited to Mordo’s soul, but dark magic was needed to remove Corvus Glaive’s soul from it.
• The Ancient One suggested finding Johnny Blaze, and she and Lu Qi planned to meet him at a Texas stunt performance and help him break his contract with Mephisto.
• Mephisto argued with Blackheart and resolved to activate a contingency on Earth to reclaim Blackheart’s authority.
• Tony told Lu Qi that Galactus was studying the AllSpark and modifying his laboratory, then left Kamar-Taj to return to Pepper.
• Lu Qi used Dormammu’s Dark Source to double the Conversion Module’s efficiency, while Dormammu’s surviving soul fragment revived inside a Dark Dimension and brought it toward Earth.
• Lu Qi sensed the arriving Dark Dimension and was puzzled that he seemed to have complete control over it.

Lu Qi briefed the Security Council on the Dimensional Demon Gods and oversaw the Trading Station’s adoption of Trade Coin. Back home, Galactus accepted Lu Qi and Galacta’s relationship developing naturally, then went to Stark Tower to study the AllSpark with Tony and Banner.

• Lu Qi learned that Galactus had parked his spaceship on the roof, then went to the Security Council to explain the Dimensional Demon Gods’ attack.
• The representatives reported that Dwarven weapons had killed two Dimensional Demon Gods who tried to seize goods at the Trading Station.
• Lu Qi reassured the national representatives that a specialized organization dealt with the Dimensional Demon Gods and said he would ask whether it would reveal itself.
• The Trading Station established Trade Coin, forged by the Dwarves from Jotunheim metal and engraved with Lu Qi’s and Odin’s portraits.
• Galactus told Lu Qi he would let Lu Qi and Galacta’s relationship develop naturally, while Lu Qi admitted he was unsure of his feelings.
• Galactus flew to Stark Tower and continued studying the AllSpark with Tony and Banner.

Lu Qi pondered his feelings for Galacta while preparing to join The Ancient One in investigating Johnny Blaze’s performance and Mephisto. At Stark Tower, Tony formed a matchmaking alliance to help Lu Qi understand his feelings, while Lu Qi remained unaware and planned against Mephisto.

• Lu Qi asked Galacta what she thought of him, then gave her Dark Crystals before leaving for Kamar-Taj.
• The Ancient One warned Stephen that time could not be fully controlled, using Lu Qi as an example of something that could alter the timeline.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One discussed waiting until Johnny Blaze’s afternoon performance to look for Mephisto.
• Pepper brought pastries to the lab, where Tony, Banner, and Galactus took a break and discussed Galactus’s conversation with Lu Qi.
• Tony declared that he would help Lu Qi figure out his feelings for Galacta, forming Lu Qi’s Matchmaking Alliance without Lu Qi’s knowledge.

Lu Qi and The Ancient One watched Johnny Blaze’s record-breaking stunt and followed Mephisto as he plotted to use Ghost Rider against Blackheart. After interrupting Mephisto’s approach to Johnny, Lu Qi offered Johnny a deal: help him use the power inside him, and Lu Qi would reclaim Johnny’s soul and restore his freedom; the chapter ended with Lu Qi sending Johnny to reunite with Roxanne.

• Johnny moved the cars off the field, then leapt over six helicopters and landed safely, setting a world record.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One followed Mephisto and learned that he intended Ghost Rider to kill Blackheart and leave the demon’s Hell Dimension authority intact.
• Mephisto went to awaken Johnny’s Ghost Rider power, but Lu Qi stabbed and erased his avatar before he could act.
• Lu Qi explained that he needed Johnny’s awakened power and offered to recover Johnny’s soul and freedom in exchange for his help.
• Lu Qi sent Johnny to meet Roxanne for their date and said he and The Ancient One would return the next day.

Lu Qi and The Ancient One forced Johnny’s Ghost Rider to lead them to Carter, the previous Ghost Rider, and obtained the Contract of San Venganza. The Ancient One planned to recruit help so they could get Blackheart to absorb the contract and use its power against Mephisto.

• The Ancient One explained that mages across Earth worked together to safeguard magic, and Lu Qi agreed to meet them with her someday.
• Lu Qi’s Shadow Ninjas beat Johnny until Ghost Rider emerged, then Lu Qi’s forces subdued him and let him escape on the Hell Cycle.
• Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Johnny followed the Hell Cycle to a remote cemetery, where Carter mistook Lu Qi and The Ancient One for demons and tried to protect Johnny.
• The Ancient One recognized Carter as the previous Ghost Rider, cleared up the misunderstanding, and explained that they had come for the Contract of San Venganza.
• Carter gave them the contract, and Lu Qi silenced the evil spirits inside it with Dark Energy.
• The Ancient One proposed finding people to help persuade Blackheart to absorb the contract.

The Ancient One returned the Contract of San Venganza to Saint Michael's Church, where Blackheart found it and absorbed the evil spirits inside. Johnny and Carter confronted Blackheart, and Lu Qi joined the fight as Mephisto arrived to take control of the situation.

• The Ancient One arranged to return the contract to Saint Michael's Church, while Carter taught Johnny about Ghost Rider.
• Blackheart broke into the church, destroyed its seals, and tore the contract apart, absorbing the evil spirits and gaining power.
• Johnny transformed into Ghost Rider and attacked Blackheart, but Blackheart restrained him with evil spirits.
• Carter transformed into the Second-Generation Ghost Rider, blasted Blackheart apart, and forced him and the demons to flee the chamber.
• Carter and Johnny pursued Blackheart outside, where Mephisto arrived and revealed his plan to use the contract to control Johnny.
• Lu Qi appeared behind Mephisto, and a bolt of black lightning blasted Mephisto into fragments.

Lu Qi took the Hell Dimension’s authority after Johnny killed Blackheart, then resisted Mephisto’s attempts to reclaim it. He made Carter a Dark Knight and prepared to destroy the Hell Dimension with The Ancient One and Galactus.

• The Ancient One sealed Blackheart, and Johnny killed him with the Spirit of Vengeance, releasing a sliver of Hell’s authority.
• Carter attacked The Ancient One under Mephisto’s control, while Lu Qi fought off Mephisto’s avatar and intercepted Mephisto as he tried to take Johnny to hell.
• Lu Qi suppressed the Spirit of Vengeance, took the authority from Johnny, and absorbed it, but Mephisto damaged Johnny’s soul and caused Carter to rapidly age.
• Lu Qi restored Johnny by letting his soul fuse with the Spirit of Vengeance, then offered Carter a contract to become a Dark Knight.
• Carter returned as a black-armored rider on Nightmare, and Lu Qi ordered him and Johnny to clear the city of evil spirits before planning to destroy the Hell Dimension with The Ancient One and Galactus.

Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Galactus attacked the Hell Dimension, where they fought Mephisto and the Dimensional Demon Gods he summoned. Mephisto escaped after losing his dimension, but Dormammu’s remnant captured him, while Lu Qi sensed that something was coming as the group headed back to Earth.

• Lu Qi and The Ancient One entered the Hell Dimension with Galactus, who began devouring its energy while Lu Qi attacked Mephisto.
• The Ancient One and Lu Qi battered Mephisto, but summoned Dimensional Demon Gods interrupted them and Mephisto escaped.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One defeated the Dimensional Demon Gods while Galactus devoured their dimensions, and Lu Qi absorbed the ruined Hell Dimension into his Dark Dimension.
• Mephisto fled into Dimensional Space, encountered Dormammu’s remnant, and was swallowed by the Dark Dimension after Dormammu recognized him as Lu Qi’s enemy.
• As Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Galactus traveled toward Earth, Lu Qi sensed that something was coming.

After the battle against Mephisto, Lu Qi learned that Johnny’s soul contract had vanished despite Mephisto’s escape and visited Tony’s lab, where he discussed Hulk, the AllSpark, and Tony’s living suits. The chapter ended when Tony discovered Happy and Thursday had disappeared after their last signal came from an abandoned ironworks, and he and Lu Qi prepared to investigate.

• Carter and Johnny defeated Earth Demon, and Lu Qi later told them Mephisto’s Hell Dimension had been destroyed, though Mephisto and Johnny’s soul contract were missing.
• Johnny and Carter shared their plans: Johnny would return to stunt riding and pursue Roxanne, while Carter would travel the world; Lu Qi gave Carter money before leaving.
• Lu Qi visited Tony’s lab, where Banner explained that he wanted to communicate with Hulk and Galactus revealed that the AllSpark could expand to the size of a planet.
• Tony told Lu Qi that his suits had formed rival factions, while Pepper arrived and asked about Happy’s absence.
• Tony discovered that Happy and Thursday had both disappeared and that Thursday’s last signal came from an abandoned ironworks, so he and Lu Qi decided to investigate.

Lu Qi and Tony traced Happy’s disappearance to AIM and found evidence of human experiments before locating him imprisoned on an island. They freed Happy, but AIM’s Extremis-enhanced soldiers pursued them as the Shadow Ninjas prepared to fight.

• Lu Qi and Tony investigated an abandoned ironworks, where blast evidence suggested explosions had moved before detonating.
• Lu Qi learned from Pepper that AIM’s Killian might be connected to Happy’s disappearance, and he and Tony searched AIM’s headquarters.
• Lu Qi’s Shadow Ninjas found human experiment records that pointed to an island, where Tony detected people with unusually high body temperatures.
• Lu Qi released thousands of Shadow Ninjas on the island, and they found Happy chained inside his armor in a basement.
• The Shadow Ninjas freed Happy and escorted him toward the island’s edge, killing guards along the way.
• AIM’s Extremis Soldiers pursued Happy through the forest as Tony warned him that the ninjas could self-destruct.

Lu Qi and Tony rescued Happy and destroyed Killian’s island base, but they failed to locate Killian. After learning his base had been discovered, Killian planned to kidnap Stark Group’s CEO and use the Extremis serum to lure Tony into paying.

• Captain America led the Extremis Squad into the woods, where the Ninja Soldiers ambushed and killed him and wiped out the squad.
• Tony rescued Happy from missile attacks, and Happy explained how Killian’s men had captured him.
• Lu Qi’s forces cleared the island and gathered its surviving researchers and leaders, but Killian was not among them.
• Killian discovered the attack through hidden cameras and blamed Tony Stark for destroying his base.
• Killian ordered his subordinate to investigate Stark Group’s CEO so they could kidnap her and inject her with Extremis serum.
• Killian beat his subordinate, who then entered a building and returned with a case of serum.

Pepper was ambushed by Killian’s Extremis Soldiers in Hell’s Kitchen, but Lu Qi and Tony rescued her and captured their leader. Tony confronted Killian at the harbor and defeated him by swallowing his attempted self-destruction in darkness.

• Pepper diverted through Hell’s Kitchen, where Killian’s Extremis Soldiers attacked her car and fought Lu Qi’s Ninja Soldiers.
• Pepper called Tony, and Lu Qi opened a portal so he and Tony could reach Hell’s Kitchen; they captured the bald Extremis Soldier while Pepper left to continue her business.
• At the harbor, Killian waited for Pepper, then discovered his yacht and every light source had vanished into darkness.
• Tony appeared and fought Killian, absorbing his heat and countering his fire with magic circles.
• Killian injected himself with the medicine in his briefcase, grew into a giant, and tried to explode beside Tony, but the darkness swallowed him and stopped the blast.

Tony and Lu Qi discussed the port after Lu Qi stopped a nearby threat, while a future version of Captain America maneuvered to disrupt Hydra’s plan to capture the captain. Hydra proceeded with the Arctic mission, and Natasha secretly retrieved evidence from Pierce’s office before leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

• Lu Qi teased Tony about nearly being caught in an explosion, and Tony claimed the port belonged to his family before considering buying it.
• Rumlow delivered the Arctic mission briefing to the captain, then reported to Sitwell that the captain had not suspected Hydra’s plan to capture him.
• An old man visited Carter, revealed his intention to help the captain rescue Bucky early, and sent several messages that triggered changes within S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Rumlow questioned the unfamiliar personnel added to the mission, but Pierce approved the replacements and ordered the other team members to prepare at the Arctic base.
• After the captain’s team departed, Pierce left to observe the operation, and Natasha entered his office and stole a thin sheet hidden beneath a wine bottle’s label.

Natasha and Fury investigated suspicious S.H.I.E.L.D. operations and were confronted by an unknown intruder at their safe house. In the Arctic, Captain America realized Rumlow and the Special Operations Team had turned against him, and Rumlow faced him with his gun drawn.

• Natasha gave Fury a stolen chip, and its recording showed that Pierce and others had secretly blocked surveillance during a discussion about Captain America.
• Fury showed Natasha reports of thirteen questionable operations while they had been in Asgard, and she agreed that S.H.I.E.L.D. had a serious problem.
• A hooded intruder entered Fury and Natasha’s safe house, and they fired at the figure before recognizing the person.
• Rumlow led Captain America and the Special Operations Team to an apparently abandoned Arctic base and directed them to search its records hall.
• Captain America noticed the team’s nervousness and a member’s warning that enemies were behind him, then confronted Rumlow after seeing his gun was ready.
• Rumlow stopped pretending to search, and the Special Operations Team turned to face Captain America.

Captain America fought Hydra forces and a group of enhanced Winter Soldiers after learning S.H.I.E.L.D. was his enemy. As the Winter Soldiers turned on Hydra, an unknown force seized the commander, and a massive figure appeared behind Captain America's strongest opponent.

• Captain America and undercover agents attacked Rumlow's forces, but Rumlow escaped as Hydra reinforcements arrived.
• Captain America and the agents built a defensive line, then were overwhelmed by enhanced soldiers who proved to be Winter Soldiers.
• The Winter Soldiers turned on Hydra's troops, and the commander fled toward the entrance before a shadowy force captured him.
• Captain America fought the strongest Winter Soldier while four others battled Hydra soldiers in the hall.
• A massive figure appeared behind Captain America's opponent, grabbed his head, and crushed it.

Lu Qi rescued Captain America’s team from Hydra and met Old Captain America, who asked him to help reconcile Steve and Tony. Lu Qi refused to seek Tony’s forgiveness for Bucky, then began telling Tony that his parents’ deaths might not have been an accident.

• Lu Qi arrived with Shadow Ninjas, defeated the Hydra forces, and brought the unconscious teammates to Fury’s building in New York.
• Old Captain America asked Lu Qi to help mend the relationship between Steve and Tony, but Lu Qi agreed only to let him explain and promised to support Tony.
• Fury asked Lu Qi to help S.H.I.E.L.D. against Hydra, but Lu Qi refused to intervene in their battle.
• Lu Qi took Tony to Stark Tower’s rooftop and asked about his parents before revealing that their car crash might not have been an accident.

Tony learned that Hydra had killed Howard and decided to avenge his father after Hydra was dealt with. As Hydra launched its Helicarriers and attacked the Captain and his allies, Tony and Lu Qi joined the fight, but Lu Qi left Tony unaware of the truth about Bucky and what the Captain's future self had told him.

• Lu Qi told Tony that Hydra had killed Howard, and Tony decided to postpone bringing Howard to the present until Hydra was defeated.
• Pierce, reassured by Lu Qi's misleading email, ordered Hydra to launch the three Helicarriers while the Captain and his allies infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
• The Captain's broadcast exposed Hydra's plan, but Pierce ordered the Helicarriers launched, and Hydra forces overwhelmed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and trapped the Captain, Falcon, and Barton aboard the vessels.
• Tony arrived with an armored squad and a magical suit, rescuing the Captain and attacking Hydra forces.
• The Captain apologized to Tony over Howard's death and promised to bring Bucky to him, while Lu Qi said he would explain the remaining truths after the battle.

Tony's armor squad helped the heroes defeat Hydra aboard the Helicarriers, while Lu Qi watched the battles and confronted Pierce at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. After Fury completed the identity check that exposed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s records online, Lu Qi raised his hand as the Helicarriers fired on one another.

• Tony led his armor squad against Hydra on the three Helicarriers, giving Barton, Falcon, and Captain America an opening to reach the cores.
• Barton defeated Rumlow, and Falcon disabled Zola's drones, clearing two Helicarriers for the heroes.
• Captain America subdued Bucky and replaced the chip in the remaining Helicarrier's core.
• Lu Qi joined Fury and Natasha at the command center, where Pierce threatened them and the Security Council with explosive badges; Lu Qi severed Pierce's hand and destroyed the badges.
• Pierce blinded himself, but Fury brought in a lookalike to complete identity verification, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database to be released online.
• Lu Qi watched the Helicarriers fire at one another and slowly raised his hand.

Lu Qi brought Tony to meet Old Captain America, who revealed that Bucky had killed Tony’s parents while brainwashed by Hydra. Tony watched the recording, spared Bucky’s life but severed his metal arm, and ordered him to serve and protect his parents; Lu Qi reminded Captain America that he owed Tony.

• Lu Qi took the captured warships and turned the remaining Hydra agents over to Fury and Tony.
• Lu Qi brought Tony to the Captain America Memorial Museum, where Old Captain America was waiting to speak with him.
• Old Captain America told Tony that Bucky had killed Howard and Maria Stark, then showed him a recording of the murder.
• Tony struck Bucky, severed his metal arm, and ordered him to serve and protect Tony’s parents rather than die.
• Lu Qi told Captain America that he owed Tony as Tony left to get some air.

Lu Qi met Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff after they attacked Galacta while trying to protect a disguised Dimensional Demon God, then brought them to watch Stephen restore the Sanctums. The Time Stone restored the Sanctums and activated a vast magic array across Earth.

• Tony told Lu Qi that he would let the people involved decide whether to forgive Bucky and said they should deal with Hydra before bringing his parents over.
• Galacta told Lu Qi she had captured Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff after they attacked her while she pursued a Dimensional Demon God’s avatar.
• Lu Qi explained the misunderstanding, but Pietro tried to escape and Wanda attacked; the Ancient One arrived and invited the siblings to witness Stephen restore the Sanctums.
• Wanda and Pietro followed the Ancient One through Kamar-Taj, where Pietro collected food from the snack street before they joined Lu Qi and the others in the command hall.
• Stephen used the Time Stone to reverse the damage in the command hall and restore the three Sanctums.
• Energy surged from the restored Sanctums and formed a massive magic array across the surface of Earth.

After the Earth Defense Formation was restored, Wanda and Pietro considered staying at Kamar-Taj so Wanda could learn magic and they could grow stronger. Lu Qi agreed to help The Ancient One convert the formation to Dark Energy, while the siblings discovered that Tony Stark was one of Kamar-Taj’s financial backers.

• The Ancient One explained that Wanda wielded Chaos Magic and invited her to learn at Kamar-Taj, but Pietro took her away to discuss the offer.
• Wanda persuaded Pietro that they should stay, train, and use their powers to become strong enough to take revenge on Tony Stark.
• The Ancient One proposed converting the Earth Defense Formation to Dark Energy, and Lu Qi strengthened himself so he could supply enough energy for it.
• The Ancient One began studying the formation’s new energy source and told Lu Qi that Mordo’s soul had recovered enough for him to prepare General Corvus Glaive’s weapon.
• Wanda and Pietro gathered information about Kamar-Taj and learned that Tony Stark was one of its two major financial backers.

Lu Qi visited Johnny, then helped The Ancient One restore Mordo by merging his soul with Corvus Glaive. Mordo returned in a body that required him to keep holding the weapon, and Lu Qi immediately demanded a thousand years of work in exchange for it.

• Lu Qi visited Johnny and revealed his disguise after Johnny recognized that he was not Mephisto.
• Johnny told Lu Qi he had stopped performing motorcycle stunts because his fans were pestering him and he feared a serious accident.
• Wanda and Pietro decided to stay at Kamar-Taj despite learning that Tony, their intended target, helped fund it.
• The Ancient One and Lu Qi reassured Mordo before he merged his soul with Corvus Glaive.
• Mordo emerged with a restored body but learned he had to keep holding the Glaive, and Lu Qi demanded a thousand years of work to pay for it.

Lu Qi and Galacta tracked Ulysses Klaue to a secret United States base hidden inside a Busan gambling den. After exposing the rigged tables and capturing its staff, Lu Qi confronted Ulysses and revealed that T'Chaka had identified him.

• China informed Lu Qi that Ulysses Klaue had surfaced in Busan, and Lu Qi took Galacta there to find him.
• Lu Qi and Galacta entered a gambling den concealed behind a vegetable shop while Shadow Ninjas searched the base.
• An agent interrogated Ulysses about the Vibranium he had sold, while the base's staff discovered that its external sentries had gone silent.
• Galacta noticed that the gambling tables were rigged, and Lu Qi flipped one over before the Shadow Ninjas subdued the guards.
• Lu Qi reviewed the agents' interrogation records and had Ulysses brought before him.
• Lu Qi told Ulysses that T'Chaka had named him, leaving Ulysses pale as Galacta asked whether they were going back.

Lu Qi arrived in Wakanda with Galacta and delivered the captive Ulysses Klaue to King T'Chaka. He proposed trading Vibranium through a private portal to the Trading Station, leaving T'Chaka and T'Challa to consider whether Wakanda should open itself to the opportunity.

• Lu Qi brought Ulysses Klaue to Wakanda, where W'Kabi recognized him and ordered the warriors to take him away.
• Okoye welcomed Lu Qi and Galacta, escorted them through Wakanda's hidden barrier, and brought them to King T'Chaka's palace.
• T'Chaka welcomed Lu Qi and received Ulysses, while Galacta went to explore Wakanda with Shuri.
• Lu Qi asked to trade for Vibranium and demonstrated that he could send it through a crack so it could not circulate outside Wakanda.
• Lu Qi offered Wakanda private access to the Trading Station and warned that other nations' technology could soon catch up with it.
• T'Chaka gave Lu Qi time to leave Wakanda's decision to him and T'Challa, while Lu Qi went to find Galacta.

T'Chaka accepted Lu Qi's proposal to trade one ton of Vibranium each month, and Lu Qi tested the newly completed Samurai Soldier, discovering it could summon Shadow Ninjas and strengthen his Demon God Form. As Lu Qi prepared to return to Earth, a vast Dark Dimension approached and pressed against Earth's defense formation, alarming The Ancient One.

• T'Challa argued that Wakanda needed new paths of development before its Vibranium ran out, and T'Chaka agreed to accept Lu Qi's terms.
• Shuri and Galacta bonded over inventions in Shuri's laboratory, while Lu Qi reassured Shuri that he would not seize Wakanda's Vibranium.
• T'Chaka signed Lu Qi's contract to buy one ton of Vibranium monthly, and Lu Qi collected the first shipment before leaving Wakanda.
• Lu Qi tested the Samurai Soldier and discovered it could summon Shadow Ninjas, operate across dimensions, and enhance his Dimensional Demon God Form.
• As Lu Qi prepared to return to Earth, a massive Dark Dimension pressed against Earth's defense formation, and The Ancient One wondered whether Lu Qi was responsible.