Chapter Summaries

Su Ming learned that a Starbrand had destroyed the Beyonders guarding the passage, allowing a Constructor to slip into the Transcendence Dimension. He returned to the Helicarrier, where he judged that the Constructors and Beyonders would keep each other occupied while his group focused on the Zombie Crisis and Multiversity.

• Adjutant showed Su Ming footage of a mad young man attacking the two Beyonders guarding the passage and destroying himself in a Starbrand explosion.
• Su Ming had Adjutant slow down the footage and discovered that a yellow, horned Constructor had entered the passage as the explosion faded.
• Su Ming explained that the Constructors were ancient beings who experimented on species across the multiverse and saw its universes as their territory.
• Su Ming took Loki and the others back to the Helicarrier, saying the Constructors would distract the Beyonders while his group handled more urgent problems.
• As they passed over New York, the group saw Ultron’s Android Ultimates holding back the zombie horde, and Su Ming decided the next phase of his plan could begin.

Deathstroke joined the Ultimate Alliance’s operation against the zombie-infected Earth after insisting his team would prevent needless destruction. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom sent Thanos and Namor to attack that Earth, beginning with a flood.

• Thor mistook Loki for his brother and lunged at him, so Deathstroke knocked Thor through the Helicarrier’s bridge wall with the Godslayer.
• Nick Fury gathered the Ultimates and agreed that Deathstroke and his team could join the operation against the other Earth.
• Deathstroke clarified that he wanted the heroes to eliminate the zombies, not destroy a clean world, and said his team would ensure the operation stayed within those limits.
• Doctor Doom told Thanos that the Beyonders had appeared and urged him to destroy the other Earth, ordering him to take Namor and drown it first.
• Thanos agreed to bring Namor, while Namor followed him and Doom declared that their attack would be their Secret Wars.

After leaving the mothership, Su Ming’s group arrived on Earth-95019, a world of zombie ape-men, while Fury remained behind with Thor. The team prepared to fight as the apes caught their scent.

• Thor returned to the bridge and learned from Fury that Su Ming’s group had already departed, then went to the recreation room to wait.
• Fury continued monitoring the zombie outbreak and relied on Thor to protect the mothership.
• Su Ming brought the group to Earth-95019 by having Cloak carry them through the air, leaving Iron Man nauseated by the trip.
• Su Ming explained that the world’s intelligent ape-men had been infected by the Hunger Virus and become zombies.
• Deathstroke ordered the Ultimates to prepare for battle and took a protected position as the zombie apes approached.

Deathstroke and the Earth-1610 heroes fought an army of ape zombies that targeted their corresponding variants. After Deathstroke struck Ape-man Hyperion and urged Miles to fight, Miles killed Ape Spider, while Jewel remained in danger.

• Iron Man fired a missile at the ape zombies, but an Iron Ape intercepted it and declared that the heroes would be eaten by their corresponding variants.
• Ape Marvel fought Captain Marvel, while other ape heroes attacked their matching opponents and the remaining zombies swarmed Deathstroke.
• Deathstroke charged Ape-man Hyperion and smashed him away with a massive punch, leveling the nearby buildings as Skye shielded the others with her vibrations.
• Deathstroke urged Miles and Jessica to fight, then had Strangle pin Ape Spider so Miles could strike its head with a piece of rebar.
• Miles killed Ape Spider, and Deathstroke praised him before sending Strangle to help the badly beaten Jewel.

Jessica Jones helped Deathstroke kill a zombie ape while the rescue teams continued evacuating civilians across collapsing worlds. Falcon accepted the Adjutant’s call to keep rescuing people, while Steve Rogers was caught in an awkward misunderstanding at a gay bar.

• Jessica Jones ran from the zombie mother gorilla until Deathstroke restrained it with Strangle and gave her a shotgun; she blasted its head and neck apart.
• Falcon mourned Captain America, who had died fighting zombies, but the Adjutant urged him to continue saving people, and he led his team back into action.
• The Adjutant continued coordinating teams evacuating civilians through the Chamber of Destiny and celebrated the Sheriff’s rescue efforts.
• Deadpool took Steve Rogers to a gay bar on Earth-40K, where Steve realized the men were watching him and complained that Natasha had set him up.
• Peggy and Sharon saw Deadpool with his arm around Steve, and Steve tried to explain himself.

Deathstroke and the heroes fought zombie ape-men while Iron Man hacked the Iron Ape-man’s armor and prepared a bomb. Deathstroke seized a Death Spore Bomb from Ape-man Reed, discovering it could strip living people of their powers or kill them.

• Deathstroke gave Jessica a shotgun and buckshot, then told her that her mutation made magic unlikely but that she could pursue qi cultivation.
• Deathstroke and Skye countered attacks from zombie ape-men as Square-faced Captain called for help against Ape-man Carol.
• Iron Man hacked into the Iron Ape-man’s suit, opened its faceplate, and killed it with his Palm Cannon.
• Iron Man began assembling a Negative Matter Bomb while Deathstroke spotted Ape-man Reed working with a metal device.
• Strangle defeated Ape-man Reed and brought his box to Deathstroke, who identified it as a Death Spore Bomb powered by energy from Underworld Heim.

While Thanos’s forces prepared to destroy another Earth, Doctor Doom continued plotting to use Molecule Man against the Beyonders. A Doctor Doom from a Parallel World invaded Doom’s castle, and the two began fighting.

• Thanos’s forces wiped out resistance on an Earth of unknown designation, and Namor asked about the Planet Bomb.
• Thanos explained that the slaughter was a struggle for survival as he watched Earth-616 and its fleets in the sky.
• Doctor Doom monitored Thanos and Namor, recalled his discovery that Molecule Man was a safeguard, and planned to use him to defeat the Beyonders.
• A Parallel World Doctor Doom attacked the Doom of Earth-616 in his castle with magic, Micro-Robots, and Tentacle Creatures.
• The two Dooms sent their forces into battle, then Earth-616’s Doom leaped from cover to fight his counterpart directly.

Earth-616 Doctor Doom defeated his invading Variant through a deception involving the Timeline, a poisoned Infinity Gauntlet, and a concealed attack. After Magik helped kill the Variant, Doom restored the castle systems and prepared to face the next stage of the plan with his allies.

• The two Dooms fought with magic and technology, then traveled through the Timeline before returning with Earth-616 Doom holding the advantage and the Infinity Gauntlet.
• The wounded Variant revealed that the gauntlet carried nanomachine mosquitoes infected with the TGC Veronica Mycelium Black Lantern Virus, which attacked Earth-616 Doom through gaps in his armor.
• Earth-616 Doom discovered the infection as his Variant explained that the virus had caused Doom's fused mask and facial skin to fall away.
• Magik stabbed the exposed Earth-616 Doom with a soul-attacking greatsword, killing him and revealing that the apparent battle and injuries had been part of the plan.
• Magik recovered the Infinity Gauntlet while Doom healed his wounds, repaired his mask, and took control of the castle security system.
• Doom thanked his allies and said they would survive together as the plan moved toward its next act.

Magik and Doctor Doom secured Doom’s castle after defeating Earth-616’s God-Emperor Doom, then prepared to approach Molecule Man. Magik returned to Sepulk, where she and the Adjutant discussed Deathstroke’s deception involving Doom’s mother and the need to protect the real soul.

• Magik helped Doctor Doom clean up and repair the castle, while Doom explained how Deathstroke’s poison plan had defeated his Earth-616 counterpart after a long series of battles.
• Doctor Doom copied the castle’s records and began taking control of its systems as he prepared to approach Molecule Man.
• Magik left for Sepulk and found the real Adjutant monitoring Deathstroke and the refugee Heroes from above the Chamber of Destiny.
• Magik told the Adjutant that Doom believed the fabricated soul of his mother was real, and the Adjutant explained that Deathstroke had created the soul to preserve Doom’s ideal memory of her.
• The Adjutant ordered Magik to safeguard Doom’s real mother’s soul and intervene if Doom used Molecule Man against Deathstroke’s interests.

Doll and Adjutant prepared Magik to lead Spider allies in recovering resources from doomed Parallel Worlds, while Deathstroke’s team completed a battle on Earth-1610 and awaited the next Earth. The chapter ended with Deathstroke asking Miles how he felt after killing intelligent Beasts.

• Doll and Adjutant explained that Loki accompanied Deathstroke for surveillance while the God of Stories and the 40K Timeline remained concerns.
• Adjutant introduced Magik to Spider-Man variants and assigned them to recover technology and energy from doomed Earths for the Survivors.
• Deathstroke told Fury that the operation on Earth-1610 had gone smoothly, and another Earth appeared as the next collision began its countdown.
• Fury warned Deathstroke that he would withhold Parker's Gene Sample if the team stopped winning, and Deathstroke assured him they would keep succeeding.
• Deathstroke asked Miles how he felt after killing the Beasts, and Miles admitted his feelings were confused but said he was fine.

Deathstroke treated Skye’s injuries and told her he had found a possible clue to her birth mother, an Inhuman living in the Himalayas. As the Ultimates prepared to investigate the other Earth and consider destroying it, Deathstroke led them toward the deck to check for zombies before deciding what to do.

• Loki joked with Deathstroke and Jessica about her sex and suggested pranking Thor.
• Deathstroke gave Skye a Restoration Potion, then told her he had met an Inhuman woman whose daughter had been kidnapped and who might be Skye’s mother.
• Skye asked about the woman, and Deathstroke described her as living with her people in a Himalayan valley and having Rapid Regeneration.
• Iron Man and other Ultimates said they favored destroying the other Earth if necessary, while Square-faced Captain and the Vampire Hunter leaned toward Deathstroke’s reluctance to kill innocents.
• Deathstroke learned Thor was asleep after drinking and led the group to investigate the other Earth, asking Iron Man whether he hoped to find zombies there.

Doctor Doom discussed the Black Swans, the Cosmic Library, Molecule Men, and the Timeline with Deathstroke as he planned against the Beyonders. Namor then warned Doom that Thanos and the Black Order were reveling in massacring civilians, but Doom refused to intervene and left him at the banquet table.

• Doctor Doom contacted Deathstroke, who explained that the Black Swans targeted surplus Molecule Men and the Cosmic Library served as an Observation Post.
• Deathstroke told Doctor Doom to use the Timeline and focus on the Molecule Man when making plans against the Beyonders.
• Namor returned to the castle, shaken, and told Doctor Doom that Thanos and the Black Order had become dangerously bloodthirsty.
• Namor explained that he wanted the other Earth destroyed but feared the Black Order would treat its people as toys and might turn on him.
• Doctor Doom rejected Namor’s request for help, declared that the strong could rule the weak, and left the banquet hall.

The Illuminati debated Namor’s betrayal and Reed’s plan to save a select few aboard his multiverse spacecraft as Earth’s destruction approached. The others rejected Reed’s rules and insisted they would stay or help find another way to stop the Earths from colliding.

• Doctor Strange said he needed to leave and prepare, but Reed stopped him and argued that the Illuminati should plan an escape from the coming destruction.
• Iron Man condemned Reed’s Noah’s Ark plan because it excluded loved ones, while Reed defended choosing survivors by their scientific achievements or power.
• Charles refused to leave his students behind, and Black Panther and Shuri challenged Reed’s selection standards.
• Doctor Strange said he would remain with Wong, Clea, and the Mages, and Iron Man refused both his own seat and Reed’s offer to give it to his secretary.
• Iron Man pointed out that Reed’s family would board despite failing his own criteria, then called on the others to focus on stopping the Earths from colliding.

As Earth’s collisions with Parallel Universes accelerated, Reed Richards revealed that an unknown human force was destroying worlds and left to continue building his Ark. The remaining heroes split up to seek other solutions, while Tony, T’Challa, and Shuri set out for Avengers Mansion to find Captain America and the Avengers.

• Black Bolt pointed everyone toward the screen, where they saw that Earth’s collisions with Parallel Universes had increased again.
• Reed showed the group a photograph of people fighting zombies and said an unknown human force was destroying Parallel Worlds.
• Reed left the cave to continue improving his spacecraft after the others rejected his ideas about cooperation and the Ark.
• Doctor Strange opened a portal and left to seek a solution by going to the beginning of the Timeline.
• Black Bolt and then Charles left the cave, while Tony, T’Challa, and Shuri decided to find Captain America at Avengers Mansion.

Iron Man warned Fury that the shrinking interval between multiversal collisions could leave the Ultimates without time to destroy a threatened Earth. As the team prepared to enter a dim, zombie-infested world, hungry Zombie Spider-Man headed to the Baxter Building to learn whether the last expedition had returned.

• Iron Man told Fury that the accelerating collisions between Earths could soon outpace their ability to stop them, but Fury dismissed the warning and ordered preparations for another operation.
• Iron Man gathered the demoralized Ultimates while Deathstroke watched with apparent amusement; Miles and Spider-Woman discussed the dead Japanese Heroes.
• Jessica noticed the new Earth looked gray and ashen, and Su Ming identified it as the zombie world before urging the group to land.
• Zombie Spider-Man searched an abandoned New York for food and decided to visit the Baxter Building to ask Reed about the three Heroes sent through the dimensional doorway.
• Peter recalled eating Aunt May and Gwen, then described how he arranged their bones on the sofa and pretended they were still alive.

Peter encountered the Ultimate Alliance on a zombie Earth and was killed after begging them for food. As the group prepared to destroy the Earth with a bomb, missiles began raining down on them.

• Peter smelled living humans and found the Ultimate Alliance, then begged them to let him take a bite.
• Iron Man refused Peter's request and fired at him, prompting Peter to dodge and charge the group.
• The Ultimate Alliance attacked Peter together and killed him; Miles mourned him while Black Widow comforted Miles.
• Square-faced Captain ordered the group to plant a bomb and destroy the zombie Earth, and Iron Man began inspecting the device.
• Tony and Wolverine argued over the bomb, while Loki questioned Su Ming about the disturbance.
• Su Ming pointed out that more than ten missiles were descending toward the group.

Deathstroke’s team and the surviving Ultimates endured a fuel-air missile strike, then escaped into the sewers while Strangle absorbed another barrage. After the evacuation, Deathstroke vanished, leaving the group facing the zombie threat and the Baxter Building in Manhattan.

• Su Ming used Cloak to shield Deathstroke’s team from the fuel-air bombs, then Deathstroke gave Jessica and Miles oxygen tanks and explained the attack.
• The blast flattened nearby buildings and injured several Ultimates, while Wolverine regenerated from his charred skin and Square-faced Captain was blasted away by an energy cannon.
• Deathstroke took command and ordered the survivors to carry the wounded into the sewers, where Strangle intercepted and ate the next missile barrage.
• Blue Marvel returned with the unconscious Square-faced Captain, and the remaining Heroes descended into the sewers.
• Deathstroke looked toward the Baxter Building, waved, and vanished.

After a Fuel-Air Bomb devastated the team, Su Ming assessed the casualties and organized first aid and evacuation. The survivors began stabilizing the wounded while Wolverine took watch beneath the manhole cover.

• Su Ming found the Zombie Universe’s sewer spotless and reflected on how the Hunger Virus had left the universe empty of life.
• Susan reported heavy casualties and treated the wounded, explaining that her force field had shielded some of the team from the explosion.
• Su Ming gave Blue Marvel medicine and ordered him to stabilize the injured while Cloak prepared to send them to Earth-1610 for treatment.
• Susan and Iron Man joined Blue Marvel in treating the wounded, while Su Ming gave Wolverine a cigar and sent him to guard the manhole cover.

Deathstroke led the surviving Ultimates through the sewers toward Zombie Mister Fantastic, whose death would prevent the zombies from dismantling their bombs or escaping to other Parallel Universes. Loki concealed the group with magic, and they learned the zombies had reached their Earth from this world.

• Iron Man inspected the sewer while the surviving Ultimates regrouped after heavy casualties.
• Deathstroke warned that the zombies could be gathering and said the team needed to hide their life signs.
• Loki cast a spell that made the group undetectable for up to two hours.
• Deathstroke led the group toward Zombie Mister Fantastic, explaining that killing him would stop the zombies from dismantling the bombs or fleeing to other Parallel Universes.
• Blade and Blue Marvel realized the zombies on their Earth had come from this world, and Blue Marvel questioned Deathstroke's knowledge and motives.

Su Ming led the group through the sewers toward the Baxter Building after Susan revealed what Doom had learned about the zombie world’s doors. The group prepared to ambush the zombies inside, while Deathstroke kept his own plans hidden.

• Su Ming prompted Susan to share Doom’s knowledge of Earth-2149, and she explained that Doom had left one of his paired doors behind, which Zombie Reed later used to spread the infection.
• Jessica connected Doom’s door to Zombie Reed’s mass-produced doorways, while Deathstroke let the Ultimates believe their Earth was at risk so they would help eliminate the zombies.
• Deathstroke guided the group through the sewers and explained that the Hunger Virus could infect anyone considered a superhero.
• Su Ming cut through a pipe beneath the Baxter Building, opening a way into its dark underground parking garage as the group prepared to attack.