Chapter Summaries

Tony offered Reed and his team enormous research funding, autonomy, and half the profits in exchange for working for him and accepting future obligations. Reed brought the offer to Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, and they grew more willing to accept after Johnny pointed out that Stark Industries was privately owned and financially secure.

• Tony offered Reed fifty billion dollars in annual research funding, complete autonomy, and half the profits in exchange for the team working for him and accepting tasks they could not refuse.
• Reed asked for three days to consider the offer and left Tony's villa to consult his team.
• Reed told Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm about Tony's terms, and the team hesitated over committing themselves to him.
• Johnny revealed that Stark Industries had been delisted and taken private, arguing that its defense-industry position made Tony a reliable investor.
• The team relaxed as they concluded that Stark Industries was unlikely to run into financial trouble.

Reed joined Tony's team and began studying Bruce Banner to replicate the Hulk's genes. Meanwhile, Peter tried to kidnap Norman Osborn but discovered Norman was the Green Goblin and fled after being injured.

• Ben, Johnny, Reed, and Susan agreed to work for Tony, and Reed signed the contract the next day.
• Tony showed Reed Bruce Banner in the underground laboratory and tasked him with replicating Bruce's genes to create a god.
• Reed eagerly began researching Bruce's blood while Tony left him to work.
• Peter used his friendship with Harry to find Norman Osborn's villa and broke in at night to capture Norman.
• Norman punched Peter across the room, then attacked him as the Green Goblin, striking him with the Goblin Glider.
• Peter, injured and realizing his information was wrong, escaped into the night.

Peter joined Tony's Dark Alliance after Tony offered to help him get stronger, while Tony gained and tested the Dragon Talisman's destructive power. The next morning, Tony barely followed through on his promise to Peter, patting him on the shoulder and dismissing him with an order to finish a mission.

• After Peter reported that his target had overpowered him, Tony invited him to join the Dark Alliance, and Peter agreed.
• Tony summoned and examined the Shadow Blades, then used his final draw to obtain the Dragon Talisman.
• Tony tested Dragon Blast on gold-titanium alloy and watched it vaporize in seconds.
• Peter arrived at Tony's villa the next morning to collect the promised help, but Tony patted his shoulder and told him to finish the mission.

Tony gave Peter the power to command Shadow Ninjas and sent him to bring Norman back. Meanwhile, Pierce and S.H.I.E.L.D. planned a secret operation to arrest Tony with help from the military, leaving the agency poised to move against him.

• Tony gave Peter control over the Shadow Ninjas, though Tony retained ultimate command and could monitor him.
• Peter left Tony's villa to find Norman and bring him back.
• Pierce discussed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance of Tony, including his use of the Shadowkhan and his contact with Peter and Bruce.
• Nick Fury proposed involving General Ross and the military, since Bruce was wanted by the military and the partnership could share the fallout.
• Pierce approved a covert joint operation with the military and ordered everyone to keep it secret.

Nick negotiated General Ross's support for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation against Tony by offering him the Laser Gun blueprints, while Reed completed an enhanced serum derived from Bruce's blood. The chapter ended with Tony learning the serum had a high projected success rate but permanently limited its users' potential.

• Pierce instructed Sitwell to notify Bucky and take Bruce away once the operation against Tony began.
• Nick persuaded General Ross to help S.H.I.E.L.D. capture Bruce by offering him the Laser Gun blueprints.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives and General Ross's elite squad prepared to move against Tony's villa.
• Tony's carefree days ended when Reed presented a serum that enhanced a mouse's strength more than tenfold.
• Reed explained that human trials had an estimated success rate above eighty percent, but the serum would prevent recipients from growing stronger afterward.
• Tony considered the serum nearly flawless despite its limits.

Tony chose his loyal bodyguard Happy for a risky Human Experiment using purified Hulk Blood, confident the Horse Talisman could heal him if anything went wrong. After a painful transformation, Happy emerged as a two-and-a-half-meter-tall muscular powerhouse, and the experiment succeeded.

• Tony selected Happy as the test subject and summoned him from the company to the villa.
• Happy agreed to participate despite the risks, trusting Tony without hesitation.
• Tony led Happy to the Underground Laboratory, where Reed prepared the experiment.
• Reed injected purified Hulk Blood into Happy, who endured severe pain as his body changed.
• After three hours without an out-of-control incident, Happy emerged from the chamber transformed into a towering muscular powerhouse.

Tony tested Happy’s new enhancement and ordered Reed to continue producing serum while planning to dispose of Bruce. When armed men approached the villa, Tony suspected S.H.I.E.L.D. and ordered them all killed.

• Tony fired a modified pistol at Happy and saw that the enhancement had left him with formidable durability.
• Tony told Reed to make more enhancement serum and said he planned to get rid of Bruce rather than keep him as a research subject.
• Tony left the Laboratory with Happy and told him to find a room at the villa for the night.
• JARVIS warned Tony that armed men were approaching the villa and showed him surveillance footage of the group.
• Tony reasoned that the intruders were probably from S.H.I.E.L.D., possibly with Military personnel, and ordered them all killed.

The Blade Ninja Legion ambushed the S.H.I.E.L.D. force sent to capture Tony, killing Jill and wiping out more than a hundred agents. Pierce watched the defeat unfold at the temporary command post and raged over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s losses.

• Jill approached Tony's villa and was beheaded by a Blade Ninja before he could react.
• The Blade Ninja Legion killed more than half of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in a surprise attack, then shifted to direct combat after the survivors raised the alarm.
• The agents opened fire, but the Blade Ninjas regenerated through the Shadow Kingdom and kept returning to the fight.
• Many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fled, but the Blade Ninja Legion hunted them down and slaughtered the remaining force around Tony's villa.
• Pierce watched the massacre on surveillance at the temporary command post and called the defeat an utmost humiliation.

Pierce deployed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Mecha Warrior against the Blade Legion outside Tony's villa, but Tony sent Happy to test it after the Hulk Enhancement Serum had made him superhuman. Happy knocked the mecha backward with one punch and emerged unscathed from its rocket blast, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. stunned and afraid.

• Pierce ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. to send its Mecha Warrior to attack the villa, and it cleared many Blade Ninja with a rocket.
• Tony watched the battle through JARVIS and asked Happy to fight the Mecha Warrior.
• Happy went outside, and the Blade Legion withdrew at Tony's command to make way for the fight.
• Happy punched the Mecha Warrior hard enough to stagger it and crack its armor.
• Pierce ordered the Mecha Warrior to fire a stronger rocket at Happy, but Happy walked out of the flames unharmed.

Happy battered the Mecha Warrior while Nick Fury led an infiltration team into Tony’s villa to capture him. Nick reached Tony’s room and introduced himself as a friend of Tony’s father, unaware that Pierce planned to follow and seize the advantage.

• Happy walked out of the flames and resumed pounding the Mecha Warrior at the villa’s entrance.
• Nick persuaded Pierce to let the Mecha Warrior hold Happy off while an infiltration team captured Tony, and Pierce secretly planned to have his own men follow them.
• Nick joined General Ross’s elite squad and used a silent helicopter to reach the villa’s unmonitored balcony.
• JARVIS warned Tony that intruders had reached the second floor, but Nick and his armed men burst into Tony’s room before he could react.
• Nick introduced himself to Tony as a friend of his father and ordered him to come in for questioning.

Nick led S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to arrest Tony, but Tony’s Shadowkhan overwhelmed them. Meanwhile, Bucky broke into the underground laboratory and took Bruce; when Bruce began waking, memories of his transformation and capture returned.

• Tony mocked Nick for treating a friend’s son like a criminal, then summoned Shadow Ninjas when Nick ordered his agents to seize him.
• Nick ordered his agents to fire, but the Shadow Ninjas kept reappearing to shield Tony as Blade Ninjas attacked the agents from all sides.
• Bucky entered the laboratory, knocked Reed into experimental equipment, and carried Bruce out of the nutrient chamber.
• Tony recognized Bucky as the Winter Soldier and sent Blade Ninjas to attack him while Nick lay wounded nearby.
• Bucky fought off the Blade Ninjas with his saber, but they gradually surrounded him.
• Bruce woke behind Bucky, clutched his head, and remembered transforming, escaping into an alley, and being captured and taken to a laboratory.

Bruce transformed into Hulk and rampaged through Tony's villa, but Tony defeated him with the Dragon Talisman's fire and had him sent back to the basement. Tony then entered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s temporary command post, where Pierce confronted him as Shadow Ninjas surrounded the agents.

• Bruce's anger triggered his transformation into Hulk, who knocked Bucky aside and charged through the Shadow Ninjas.
• Tony attacked Hulk with fire, then blocked his punches with a wall of flame as Hulk grew stronger.
• Tony struck Hulk and sent him crashing out of the villa, restoring him to Bruce's unconscious form.
• Happy reported that he had dismantled the S.H.I.E.L.D. armor warriors, and Tony ordered him to clean up and return Bruce to the basement.
• Shadow Ninjas appeared throughout the temporary command post, and Pierce demanded to know what Tony wanted as Tony walked in.

Tony confronted S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Alexander Pierce after S.H.I.E.L.D. attacked his residence, then let Pierce live in exchange for handling the aftermath. The next morning, Tony found his villa fully repaired and remembered that Mr. Reed was still in the Underground Laboratory.

• Pierce introduced himself to Tony and claimed S.H.I.E.L.D. had mistaken Tony's home for the Green Goblin's hideout.
• Tony slapped Pierce, and Pierce slapped himself to appease Tony and promised compensation and a cleanup.
• Tony spared Pierce, warned him to resolve the incident, and left as the Shadow Ninja vanished.
• Pierce ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel to remove the battle wreckage and repair Tony's villa overnight.
• Tony ate breakfast in the restored villa until JARVIS reminded him that Mr. Reed remained in the Underground Laboratory.

Tony used the Horse Talisman to heal Reed after finding him near death in the Underground Laboratory, and Reed decided to use the Enhancement Serum. Tony then healed the unconscious Bucky, whose sudden confusion suggested the treatment had restored his memories of Steve Rogers.

• Tony found Reed crushed beneath overturned equipment and used the Horse Talisman to heal his injuries.
• Reed asked Tony for permission to use the Enhancement Serum, and Tony agreed to supervise him.
• Tony told Happy that his strength had reached its limit, then checked on the unconscious Bucky.
• Tony used the Horse Talisman to heal Bucky, who woke up confused and asked where Steve Rogers was.
• Tony realized Bucky had regained his memories and thought he had healed him too much.

After learning Bucky had recovered his memories, Tony recruited him into the Bright Alliance, though the system counted him as a Dark Alliance member. Tony then drew the Sheep Talisman, gained powerful telekinesis and the ability to leave his body, and went to Reed’s laboratory to begin work on the Enhancement Serum.

• Tony learned that Bucky had recovered his memories and accepted his apology for the previous night.
• Tony used the debt of saving Bucky’s life to persuade him to join the Bright Alliance, and the system added Winter Soldier Bucky to the Dark Alliance.
• Tony used his extra draw and won the Sheep Talisman, which enhanced his mind and let him use telekinesis and separate his soul from his body.
• Tony tested his new powers, then answered JARVIS’s call to meet Reed in the Underground Laboratory.
• Reed told Tony the Enhancement Serum was ready, and Tony gave him permission to begin.

Tony successfully tested the Enhancement Serum on Reed and invited him to join the Dark Alliance, but the system gave no response. Tony suspected Reed lacked public recognition as a superhero, then ordered Peter to deal with Norman and told Potts that he had been attacked, leaving her furious and ready to retaliate.

• Tony tested the Enhancement Serum on Reed, who emerged unharmed and eager to return to his research.
• Tony invited Reed to join the Dark Alliance, but the system did not respond, leading Tony to suspect that members needed public recognition as heroes or villains.
• Tony called Peter and demanded that he find Norman that night after Peter admitted he still had not handled the mission.
• Tony went to Stark Industries, asked Natasha to summon Potts, and told Potts that he had been attacked.
• Potts stormed out, determined to make the attackers pay, while Natasha worried that her S.H.I.E.L.D. identity had been exposed and noticed Tony looking at her meaningfully.

Tony used Natasha’s undercover role to pressure her, then demanded an explanation from the military after a military squad attacked him. Stark Industries and other conglomerates joined forces against the government, and General Ross was transferred out of his military post.

• Tony pulled Natasha into his embrace and threatened to fire her when she resisted his advances, so she submitted to keep her mission.
• After Natasha left his office, Tony called Rhodey and demanded an explanation for the military attack, threatening to retaliate if the military failed to respond.
• Potts contacted others, and news of the attack spread among the United States’ upper ranks as Stark Industries, Pioneer Technology, and Hammer Industries pressured the government.
• An investigator told General Ross to complete his handover, and Ross learned he had been transferred to become Minister of Foreign Affairs, losing most of his power.

After becoming Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick intercepted Alexander Pierce as he tried to flee the United States and had him arrested. Pierce opened fire, killing Hitt before S.H.I.E.L.D. agents shot Pierce dead, while Nick worried that Hydra agents remained inside the organization.

• Government officials dismissed or arrested S.H.I.E.L.D. leaders involved in the attack on Tony and appointed Nick as Director.
• Pierce told Hitt to put Hydra members in S.H.I.E.L.D. into dormancy, then prepared to flee the country.
• Hitt drove Pierce toward the airport, but Nick and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents blocked their way after Hitt revealed Pierce's plans.
• Pierce refused to surrender and shot at Hitt, killing him before S.H.I.E.L.D. agents gunned Pierce down.
• Nick ordered his agents to clear the scene and reflected that Hydra operatives might still remain in S.H.I.E.L.D.

Tony learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. had killed Pierce, then left Stark Industries to enjoy his private life. Peter sent the Shadowkhan to attack Norman, who fought them off and flew toward Peter, leaving them poised for another clash.

• Happy told Tony that Pierce had been beaten to death by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Tony was relieved that his enemy was gone.
• Tony decided to stop targeting S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military, spent time with Natasha, and later left Stark Industries.
• Peter summoned the Shadowkhan and ordered them to attack everyone in Norman's villa.
• Norman, having sent Harry away and dismissed the staff, donned the Green Goblin Suit and fought the Shadowkhan.
• Norman used a thermal imaging device to locate Peter, then flew out on his glider to attack him.
• Peter met Norman head-on, and their fists collided with a thunderous crash.

Peter defeated Norman and brought him unconscious to Tony’s villa, where Tony assigned Bucky to guard him. Peter asked Tony to pay the promised reward, and Tony said he would do so immediately.

• Norman attacked Peter, but Peter used Shadow Ninjas to block Norman’s strikes and explosions while landing repeated blows.
• Norman tried to escape on his Goblin Glider, but Peter pulled him down and beat him unconscious.
• Peter took Norman to Tony’s villa and delivered him to Tony.
• Tony introduced Peter to Bucky and tasked Bucky with keeping watch over Norman.
• Peter asked Tony for his promised reward, and Tony agreed to pay him right away.