Recaps

Russell defeated Knull and Dormammu, then used the aftermath to build alliances among the Nine Realms and Earth’s major powers. He rejected Odin’s offer to rule the Nine Realms as Earth’s nations and powers endorsed a united system, while Ancient One warned Strange to remain close to Russell.

• Russell used the World Tree’s rules to repel Malekith, then bound Knull and dragged him into the Divine Kingdom, where Knull’s Abyssal Power would be stripped away.
• Odin revealed that Thor and Loki’s elder sister was Hela, whom he had sealed in Helheim, and agreed to let Thor keep Rune Power in exchange for Asgard’s help maintaining peace across the Nine Realms.
• Mephisto gave Blackheart authority over Oblivion Hell, while Dormammu urged Blackheart to ally with him against Mephisto and Ancient One warned Russell that Dormammu had become a threat.
• Ancient One, Russell, and Mephisto attacked Dormammu together, stripped him of control over the Dark Dimension, and left Kaecilius alive to serve as a future test for Strange.
• Mephisto cast the defeated Dormammu into Oblivion Hell and declared that Russell controlled the Dark Dimension, prompting Blackheart to reaffirm his loyalty to Mephisto.
• Russell persuaded Kingpin and Zheng Xian to join his plan to integrate Earth’s powers and technologies, then Odin brought Asgardian resources and troops to S.P.E.A.R. under their alliance.
• Odin offered Russell the title of Lord of the Nine Realms, but Russell refused and said he wanted a united Earth and humanity’s ascent among the stars.
• Zheng Xian and major powers including America, Krakoa, Wakanda, Atlantis, and Asgard endorsed Russell’s united Earth system, while Ancient One told Strange to stay close to Russell and never oppose him.

Russell took control of Earth’s crises, detained the Fantastic Four, and brought Thanos and the Black Order into his effort to build rather than destroy. As Galactus threatened Earth, Russell enlisted Stan Lee to set Spider-Man up to defeat him, while Stan sent Loki to the TVA to find a path of his own.

• Ancient One returned as a spirit, entrusted Kamar-Taj to Strange, and agreed to join Russell as a Dimension Lord while secretly watching Strange.
• Reed Richards’s time machine opened a disastrous rift that destroyed Earth, but Russell reversed time, seized the machine, and had the Fantastic Four arrested.
• Russell trapped S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier in a Spatial Cage, and the agents learned that Hydra had infiltrated almost the entire organization.
• Russell freed Thanos from his destructive mission by persuading him to help build civilizations, and Thanos brought the Black Order to Earth.
• A Herald of Galactus warned Russell and Earth’s guardians that Galactus would soon consume the planet, but Silver Surfer resisted Russell’s call to abandon his master.
• Russell brought Stan Lee to the group, and Stan revealed his higher-dimensional power before sending Loki through a Time Portal to the TVA.
• Stan Lee arranged for Spider-Man to gain Galactus’s Cosmic Power and defeat Galactus, while Russell ended the frozen moment and told the others the plan.