Chapter Summaries

Peter met the Batman Who Laughs, who hired him as a guide to turn in Fury's LMD and show him his patrol route. In the Golden Palace prison, Loki began manipulating Amora by claiming Ragnarök had arrived and Thor was dying.

• The Batman Who Laughs deduced Peter's poverty and asked him to guide him on his patrol route after turning in Fury's LMD.
• Peter asked the stranger for his name, and the Batman Who Laughs told him to identify himself as The Batman Who Laughs if Deathstroke asked.
• Loki was thrown into the prison beneath the Golden Palace and recognized the enchantress in the neighboring cell as Amora.
• Amora asked Loki when he and Thor had returned and why Thor had not visited her.
• Loki falsely told Amora that Ragnarök had arrived and Thor might not survive, hoping to exploit her love for Thor.

Loki and Amora escaped their Asgardian prison as Ragnarok began and negotiated an alliance to survive. They agreed that Amora would help Loki control the prisoners in exchange for safe passage through the twilight and time with Thor, then she called on the Vishanti to witness their contract.

• Amora removed her mask after the prison’s magical seals weakened, and Loki revealed that Odin was dead and Hela was away.
• Amora broke the energy barrier, while Loki disclosed that he had escaped by using magic independent of Yggdrasil.
• Loki proposed that they cooperate to survive Ragnarok, and Amora agreed to help him control the prisoners.
• Amora demanded safe passage through the twilight and several days with Thor in return for her help.
• Loki released a Dark Elf prisoner, whom Amora enchanted into kneeling at her feet.
• Loki suggested Cyttorak as a witness to their deal, but Amora invoked the Vishanti instead.

Peter guided Batman on patrol through New York, and the two gradually became friends as Batman studied Peter and his world. They ended the night discussing Punisher’s approach to crime, while Batman silently added to his observations of Spider-Man.

• Peter handed Jessica the last nearly successful villain LMD, then met Batman alone on a rooftop.
• Batman explained that Deathstroke was his enemy from a parallel world and said Deathstroke was not currently on Earth.
• Batman paid Peter with a Spanish silver coin to guide him on patrol, and Peter agreed after setting boundaries about physical contact.
• Peter swung Batman through New York as Batman secretly recorded his abilities and collected samples from him and Venom.
• After patrolling for over an hour, Peter and Batman rested with ice cream and discussed Punisher, whom they had seen fighting Kingpin’s men in Hell’s Kitchen.

Peter mistook the real Nick Fury for an LMD and attacked him, but Batwoman stopped Venom before it could kill Fury and Valentina. After Venom escaped into a sewer, Batwoman and Fury agreed to discuss a possible deal.

• Peter spotted Fury and Valentina at a gas station and attacked Fury, believing him to be an evil LMD.
• Valentina used Fury's gun to force Peter to back off, and Fury cut his arm to prove he was real.
• Venom took control of Peter and lunged at Fury, but Batwoman used a device to subdue the Symbiote.
• Batwoman pulled Peter out of the black sludge while Venom escaped through a floor drain.
• Fury offered Batwoman a deal, and she agreed that they had things to discuss.

Batwoman recounted how Deathstroke had led her from Earth-0 to Earth-40K and how she tracked Peter after finding him outside Wilson TV Station. She remained intent on learning Deathstroke’s plans while Peter stayed with Fury and Valentina in the supermarket.

• Peter asked Batwoman how her Canary Cry device had immobilized the Symbiotes, and she told him to watch Valentina while she spoke with Fury.
• Batwoman learned that Fury had known Deathstroke for nearly seventy years, confirming that time had passed differently between their worlds.
• Batwoman explained how Deathstroke used an Nth Metal Batarang and Harley’s ability to travel between worlds to bring her to Earth-40K.
• After gathering intelligence from Zheng Xian and tracing a broadcast to Wilson TV Station, Batwoman waited outside and followed Peter when he emerged carrying a headless corpse.
• Batwoman finished recounting her pursuit to Peter while Fury and Batwoman spoke privately in the supermarket.

Batwoman gave Fury information about Deathstroke, including his real name, leaving Fury shaken by the revelation. At the Golden Palace, Deathstroke discussed Loki’s likely plans with Hela before a colossal pair of green eyes appeared in Asgard’s sky.

• Batwoman traded intelligence with Fury and told him that Deathstroke was Slade Wilson, also known as Su Ming.
• Valentina explained the purpose of a box of condoms to Peter, who realized that a video of Deadpool fighting aliens had not shown a sport.
• Batwoman left after Fury asked about Deathstroke, and Fury reacted with anger and fear to the name Su Ming.
• Deathstroke told Hela that Loki was likely gathering the Asgardian dungeon’s prisoners while waiting for the heroic spirits to fall.
• A violent impact shook Asgard, and two enormous green eyes appeared in the sky.

Deathstroke and Hela recognized the enormous snake as Jörmungandr, not the prophesied Serpent. As Baldr aimed Gungnir at it, Greatwood Daksu tried to make him miss.

• Deathstroke and Hela identified the flying serpent as Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent.
• Su Ming recalled Jörmungandr’s origins as one of Angerboda’s creations and learned how Odin had sent it to Earth’s seas, where the Vishanti moved it near reality.
• Baldr raised Gungnir and aimed at Jörmungandr while the ground shook.
• Greatwood Daksu rolled his totem pole toward Baldr and claimed his hand had slipped.

Deathstroke decided to drive Jörmungandr away rather than kill it, while Hela kept Baldr and Thor from rushing into the doomed battle. He contacted the Adjutant from an empty Asgardian home and prepared to reach Starhawk, whose warship had been located in the Perseus Nebula.

• Deathstroke struck Baldr with a totem pole, then told Hela he would not fall for the Serpent's plan or kill Jörmungandr.
• Hela stopped Baldr from attacking and warned him that Jörmungandr was not their greatest enemy.
• Thor tried to face Jörmungandr, but Hela and the Shield-maidens held him back as the serpent swallowed fallen warriors.
• Deathstroke entered an empty longhouse, contacted the Adjutant, and learned that Jörmungandr's attack had weakened the Serpent's spatial isolation.
• Deathstroke asked whether the Adjutant had saved Yondu's communication frequency for contacting Starhawk, and the Adjutant confirmed Starhawk's warship was located in the Perseus Nebula.

Deathstroke monitored Batwoman’s arrival and visited an elderly Asgardian who wanted to join the battle, then contacted Starhawk to arrange an offer to Eagle God. Starhawk asked what the request concerned, and Deathstroke proposed a hunt in exchange for something tied to Arcturus.

• Deathstroke learned Batwoman had reached the United States and was working with Spider-Man, and discussed how she had obtained Luthor’s antidote.
• Deathstroke explained that Fury had no proof of his identity and watched an elderly Asgardian awaken in the longhouse.
• Deathstroke gave the old man a battle axe and told him he could still join the fight; the old man dressed in a fur blanket, ate some meat, and ran outside.
• Deathstroke asked the Adjutant to contact Starhawk and requested a way to reach Eagle God.
• Deathstroke offered to help Starhawk and his sister revisit their old days on Arcturus in exchange for Eagle God catching a snake and casting it into another corner of the universe.

Deathstroke asked Starhawk to persuade the Eagle God to help contain Jörmungandr during Ragnarök, and Starhawk agreed to relay the request. As Jörmungandr broke through Asgard’s walls and Thor prepared to fight despite the prophecy, a mustached man knocked Thor and Baldr away by mistake.

• Starhawk agreed to convey Deathstroke’s request for the Eagle God to catch Jörmungandr and watch over it, though the god would decide whether to help.
• Jörmungandr charged through the Asgardian army and smashed a large section of the Golden Palace’s wall.
• A skinless woman in a green German military uniform led an army of hammer-wielding warriors and vowed to avenge her father.
• Thor defied Hera’s warning that he would die and charged toward Jörmungandr with Baldr.
• A burly mustached man struck Thor and Baldr into nearby houses with a totem pole, then apologized for his hand slipping.

As Jörmungandr breached Asgard’s defenses, Thor and Baldr led the warriors into battle while Deathstroke and Hela remained behind. Thor’s first attack failed to harm the serpent, and he was sent crashing into a palace as Jörmungandr turned toward him.

• Baldr and Thor prepared to fight Jörmungandr, then charged with the Asgardian warriors and the Warriors Three.
• Baldr saw Greatwood Daksu standing behind Frigga and her Shield-maidens, and dismissed him as a coward.
• Deathstroke told Hela that he had contacted the Arcturian Hawk God and arranged for a powerful ancient god to come help, but said he needed to keep Thor and Baldr alive until then.
• Thor struck Jörmungandr’s head with his axe, but the attack did not scratch its scales, and the serpent’s tail sent him crashing into a palace.
• The Warriors Three went to retrieve Thor as Jörmungandr turned toward him, and Deathstroke said Thor had drawn the monster’s attention.

Jörmungandr pursued the injured Thor through the Golden Palace, killing Fandral and Volstagg as they tried to protect him. Hogun hid Thor and used his red Cloak as a decoy, but Jörmungandr caught up with him and bit down, leaving Thor alone and helpless.

• Baldr ordered the warriors to stop Jörmungandr, but the serpent crushed their defensive line and advanced on Thor.
• Fandral tried to blind Jörmungandr with three arrows, but they shattered against its eye, and the serpent swallowed him.
• Volstagg stayed behind to buy time for Hogun and Thor, but Jörmungandr crushed him with its tail.
• Hogun carried Thor toward the alleys, hid him in an empty house, and fled with Thor’s red Cloak as a decoy.
• Jörmungandr caught Hogun and the Cloak and bit down while Thor lay helpless in the ruined house.

Deathstroke used an explosive to weaken Jörmungandr, then his starry eagle helper carried the monster away and devastated the invading forces. Thor learned that his friends had fallen and, grieving, agreed to stay beside Hela and obey her.

• Deathstroke hurled a totem containing a Godslayer Bomb into Jörmungandr's mouth, blasting out its teeth and flattening much of Asgard.
• The Eagle God arrived, scattered the invading armies with its wings, knocked Jörmungandr unconscious, and carried it away.
• Thor emerged from the rubble and learned that his friends had all fallen.
• Hela confronted Thor over his recklessness and ordered him to stay by her side, and Thor silently agreed.

Deathstroke and Hela assessed the enemy forces surrounding the Golden Palace and identified Sin’s Winter Hammer as the source of the black blizzard. Deathstroke ordered Hela to send Asgard’s surviving warriors against Surtur’s volcanic forces to disrupt Sin’s plan, while The Serpent remained hidden.

• Deathstroke concluded that Angerboda had accepted Jörmungandr’s removal and turned his attention to the remaining enemy armies.
• Hela asked Deathstroke whether Sin’s weapon was the Winter Hammer, and he confirmed it was Skadi’s hammer, altered by The Serpent.
• Deathstroke explained the hammer’s history and noted that Sin and seven Hammer Worthies were holding back while the snow threatened to bury the defenders.
• Deathstroke told Hela to send Asgard’s surviving warriors toward Surtur’s volcanic region, hoping to provoke him and break Sin’s snowstorm strategy.

Su Ming traveled to Jotunheim to persuade Laufey to withdraw the Frost Giants from the battle, but Laufey refused because he believed Ragnarök would destroy his people. Su Ming offered a way for them to survive if their own god would intervene, then challenged Laufey to reconsider whether the Frost Giants truly had no god.

• Hela went to hold the human army at the breach while Su Ming slipped away under Strangle’s optical camouflage.
• Su Ming crossed the portal into Jotunheim and found Laufey preparing the Frost Giant army for battle.
• Su Ming asked Laufey to withdraw, but Laufey explained that Ragnarök would kill the Frost Giants and that they wanted to settle their old grudges against the Aesir.
• Su Ming claimed the Frost Giants could survive and preserve Jotunheim if their own god stepped forward.
• Laufey said his people worshipped nature and had no god, so Su Ming asked whether the Casket of Ancient Winters had grown from the ground, leaving Laufey stunned.

Deathstroke convinced Laufey to withdraw from Asgard by promising to help the Frost Giants survive Ragnarök if they proved interesting to their goddess. Laufey began a Jotunheim matchmaking show, leaving its first male guest ready to appear before the audience.

• Deathstroke questioned who had made the Casket of Ancient Winters, prompting Laufey to wonder whether the Frost Giants had a true god.
• Deathstroke explained that the Frost Giants were creations of a goddess who could recreate them after Ragnarök, then offered to help them survive if Laufey withdrew from Asgard.
• Laufey accepted Deathstroke's deal and ordered his forces to retreat, killing those who disobeyed.
• Deathstroke told Laufey to make the Frost Giants interesting to their goddess by hosting a variety show, and helped build a studio in an iceberg.
• Laufey opened Jotunheim's matchmaking show, introduced twenty-four female guests and Deathstroke as a counselor, and called for the first male guest to appear.

Deathstroke guided Laufey through a dating show where Frost Giant women questioned a male guest named Mirmir. The first woman rejected Mirmir for lacking ambition, and the show continued as another woman prepared to ask him a question.

• Laufey introduced Mirmir and told him to choose one of the twenty-four women by pressing a bloody handprint on a tablet.
• Mirmir asked to take all the women, but Laufey explained that the show allowed only one-on-one pairings chosen by the women.
• Deathstroke questioned Mirmir about his work and living conditions, and Mirmir described himself as a warrior with a large cave, a stone weapon, and no surviving family.
• A female guest asked whether Mirmir owned a horse, and he said he did not want one because giant maggots tasted better.
• The woman rejected Mirmir as unambitious, sparking a debate among the audience about whether risking one's life to obtain a horse was worthwhile.
• Deathstroke invited another female guest to speak, and she asked permission to question Mirmir while Laufey assured everyone they could speak freely.

Su Ming secured Angerboda's agreement to help Yggdrasil's Rebirth and left Jotunheim to return to Asgard. Asgard's defenders were trapped in a desperate battle outside the Golden Palace, while Hera refused to let Thor charge before the Serpent appeared.

• The female Frost Giants overwhelmed Mirmir with pointed questions, and he left Su Ming's dating show in tears.
• Su Ming spoke with Angerboda, who agreed to his plan on the condition that he did not interfere with Yggdrasil's Rebirth.
• Angerboda became engrossed in the next contestant, and Su Ming departed Jotunheim after leaving her snacks.
• Asgard's remaining warriors fought a losing battle outside the Golden Palace while the Hammer Lords occupied the city walls.
• Thor asked Hera to let him lead an attack against the enemy mechs, but Hera refused because the Serpent had not appeared.

Loki arranged an escape for Asgard’s survivors while Hela, disguised as Hera, kept the enemy occupied. After Loki fled with the unconscious Thor, Hela revealed herself and surrounded the invaders with her undead army.

• Loki revealed that he had escaped, urged Hera to flee, and said he had secured a spaceship and a way to avoid being lost in Yggdrasil’s cycle.
• Frigga agreed to Loki’s plan, but Thor refused to leave the battlefield and charged toward the enemy.
• Heimdall rescued Thor by teleporting him back to Hera, then was killed by the attackers’ Warhammers.
• Loki hypnotized Thor and dragged him toward the Bifrost while Frigga stayed behind and told Loki to leave.
• Hera revealed herself as Hela and summoned an immense undead army to encircle The Worthy and the other invaders.

Su Ming reconstructed Odin’s history with Cul, whose transformation into the Serpent led to a brutal rebellion and centuries of Ragnarök cycles. As Hela fought The Worthy in the Golden Palace, Skurge chose to stay with Deathstroke, who sent him to hide in Odin’s Slumber.

• Cul survived a giants’ attack, gained the power of fear, and seized Asgard’s throne after killing Bor and Bestla.
• Cul imprisoned Odin and his brothers and spread terror across Aesheim, while Odin sought Yggdrasil’s help and planned a rebellion.
• Odin’s rebellion killed Vili, Ve, and The Worthy, but Cul survived by claiming the Serpent’s prophesied destiny, so Odin sealed him beneath the sea.
• Odin concealed the truth, and after six Ragnaröks the Ancient One reclaimed Earth’s self-governance from him.
• Su Ming watched Hela fight The Worthy while Skurge explained that he had stayed because he believed Deathstroke was his safest option.
• Deathstroke told Skurge to hide in Odin’s Slumber before drawing his greatsword to join the fight.