Chapter Summaries

Deathstroke boarded Fury’s Quinjet and revealed that the dead Skrull was carrying a Brood parasite, which Carol accidentally destroyed while it was emerging. After Deathstroke saved the damaged aircraft, they landed at Carol’s childhood home, where she worried about explaining the situation to her mother.

• Fury recognized Deathstroke at the Quinjet’s hatch, and Deathstroke boarded with Carol and her Orange Cat, Chewie.
• Deathstroke inspected the Skrull corpse and warned Fury and the pilot to use gas masks before a Brood burst out of it.
• Carol punched the emerging Brood, destroying it and sending the Quinjet spinning out of control.
• Deathstroke stabilized the Quinjet, and the group landed on the lawn outside Carol’s childhood home.
• Carol worried about explaining the aircraft, the Alien corpse, Deathstroke, and her new superhero identity to her mother, while Deathstroke told her to be honest because she could not manage a string of lies.

Carol returned home with Deathstroke and discovered that her mother, Mary, already knew him and welcomed him warmly. After Carol mistook their conversation for proof that Deathstroke was her father, Mary struck her so hard that she smashed through the sofa and floor.

• Carol watched Mary bypass her and greet Deathstroke, then invite him inside to talk.
• Mary told Deathstroke she feared he had come to take her away, and he assured her he had not come to arrest her.
• Mary led Deathstroke into the house and told Carol to change clothes and prepare drinks for the guests.
• Carol overheard their conversation, concluded Deathstroke was her father, and tearfully called him Dad.
• Mary slapped Carol, destroying the sofa and cracking the floor beneath her.

Mary revealed that she was a powerful former Kree Imperial Guard Captain and explained her past to Carol, who learned her mother had hidden her identity. After Mary asked about Joe, Su Ming mentioned the million-dollar living allowance he had given Carol, prompting Mary to accuse her daughter of hiding money.

• Mary pulled Carol from the floor and told her to apologize to the Sorcerer Supreme for calling him Dad.
• Su Ming said he had come to meet the Kree Warriors hunting Carol and negotiate with the Supreme Intelligence.
• Fury felt pain in his missing eye when Carol's cat stared at him.
• Mary told Carol that she was a powerful Kree Warrior and demonstrated her abilities after hearing about Carol's time on Hala.
• Mary accepted Carol's contract with Deathstroke and asked Su Ming what he thought about Joe.
• Su Ming said he had given Carol one million dollars for her family's living expenses, and Mary glared at Carol for hiding the money.

Deathstroke treated Carol and Mary Earl’s brother Joseph, who had been in a vegetative state since a near-drowning, and brought him back to consciousness with serum and bioelectricity. Joseph reunited with his family, while Deathstroke quietly gained leverage over Carol.

• Carol gave her mother the check from Deathstroke, and Fury realized he could no longer track the payment through it.
• Deathstroke examined the childhood drawings on the stairs and discussed Carol’s lonely family life as they went to see Joe.
• Deathstroke used Strangle to examine Joseph and asked Mary about her son’s personality, then injected him with serum and applied bioelectricity.
• Joseph sprang out of bed and flailed energetically, and Carol and Mary embraced him as Deathstroke watched.

Mary reunited with Carol and Joseph as Deathstroke protected them from a Kree Purifier sent to kill Mary. Carol learned her powers came from her own Kree heritage, while Deathstroke faced the Purifier outside the house.

• Mary welcomed the revived Joseph, and Su Ming explained that the Super Soldier Serum had enhanced him.
• A poisoned Kree spear burst through the bedroom window, but Deathstroke caught it and flew outside to confront the attacker.
• Carol and Mary discussed Kree powers, and Mary told Carol that her abilities had always been her own.
• A blue-skinned Kree Purifier called Mary a deserter and challenged her to fight, but Mary stayed inside while Deathstroke blocked the Purifier's attempts to reach the house.
• Melinda found Nick Fury happily petting the Orange Cat in the living room.

Su Ming confronted a Kree Purifier sent to execute Mary Earl and fought her to learn about the Kree’s combat abilities. The Purifier adapted and recovered from his attacks, and Su Ming continued the battle with dual blades.

• Su Ming challenged the Purifier’s authority and learned that Queen Pa'am had ordered Mary Earl’s execution for treason.
• Su Ming attacked the Purifier, pierced her heart, crushed it, and drove her into the ground while Carol and her parents watched.
• The Purifier emerged with enhanced speed, and Su Ming deflected her punch before slashing her side.
• Strangle pulled out the Purifier’s intestines and argued with Su Ming about whether the Flerken would get any Kree dumplings.
• Su Ming transformed Godslayer into dual blades and charged the Purifier again.

Deathstroke defeated the Kree Purifier after she tried to overwhelm him with Suicide Drones, and Strangle swallowed her. Afterward, Su Ming found an X-Gene in the Purifier’s body and prepared to cook the flesh he had collected.

• Mary explained to Carol that Deathstroke had paid for the house because he expected enemies to attack them.
• The Purifier’s healing faltered as Deathstroke continued cutting her, and she released a swarm of Kree Suicide Drones.
• Su Ming had Strangle deploy an arsenal of weapons and destroy the drones with a barrage of gunfire.
• The Purifier retreated, but Strangle formed a huge mouth and swallowed her whole.
• Su Ming collected the Purifier’s discarded flesh and discovered that her genes contained an X-Gene.

Su Ming explained the persecution of Kree Mutants and Cotati, then returned to Mary’s house after defeating the Purifier. Fury left with Melinda to find Coulson, while Su Ming considered the other threats still approaching Earth.

• Su Ming described how the Supreme Intelligence persecuted Kree Mutants and Cotati, and how Tsu-Zana rejected the resistance and became Ultragirl on Earth.
• Su Ming returned to Mary’s house and told Fury that Valentina had sold his intelligence to Leviathan, leading to the loss of his eye.
• Fury learned that Coulson was likely on Pluto or Eris and left with Melinda to find the Skrull ship that had brought the impostor to Earth.
• Su Ming warned Fury that the quiet director Kohler seemed suspicious, then watched Fury and Melinda depart in the Quinjet.
• Su Ming concluded that the Kree landing in Antarctica, the Brood disguised as Skrulls, the Supreme Intelligence, and the Red Skull’s plans remained unresolved.

Deathstroke prepared dumplings from a Kree Purifier while Mary explained Symbiotes to Carol, and he warned her that Venom was being studied by S.H.I.E.L.D. A squad of Kree Warriors led by Minn-Erva emerged from hiding, and Carol warned them they would die.

• Deathstroke made dumpling filling with Strangle, using Heart-Shaped Herb and spider eggs, while Carol recoiled at the idea of eating a Kree Purifier.
• Mary explained that Purifiers were flesh weapons and recounted how Venom had devoured its Kree host before escaping.
• Deathstroke told Mary that Venom was on Earth and participating in a S.H.I.E.L.D. research project.
• After the dumplings were ready, Deathstroke called out the concealed Kree Warriors and threatened to turn them into dumplings.
• Minn-Erva and the Executioner Squad revealed themselves, and Carol warned them that they would die.

Deathstroke tried to send Minn-Erva and her squad back to Hala with a message for the Supreme Intelligence, but Minn-Erva rejected his offer and ordered her Kree Warriors to fight. Mary volunteered to face them and transformed with the word “Shazam.”

• Deathstroke introduced himself to Minn-Erva as the Sorcerer Supreme and told her that Carol belonged on Earth.
• Deathstroke gave Minn-Erva dumplings for the Supreme Intelligence and assured her that Ronan would protect the squad if they returned.
• Minn-Erva threw down the dumplings and ordered her Kree Warriors to prepare for battle.
• Mary stepped forward to handle the squad, removed her Hala emblem, and transformed into a Kree warrior after saying “Shazam.”

Mary Earl transformed and defeated Minn-Erva’s Kree team while Su Ming prepared to use the survivors and his dumplings to deal with the Supreme Intelligence. Carol explained how the Brood had overrun a Skrull fleet, and the swarm arrived at the edge of her hometown as Su Ming called on her to fight.

• Mary Earl transformed into her Kree uniform and blasted Minn-Erva and her team, leaving Minn-Erva badly injured and the others unconscious.
• Su Ming forced Minn-Erva to eat a dumpling and explained that the Supreme Intelligence would keep her alive as a valuable test subject.
• Carol told Su Ming that the Brood had infected half a Skrull fleet and driven its survivors toward Earth, and Su Ming said he would need her to fight the swarm.
• Carol agreed to fight the Brood, and Su Ming gestured toward the glowing eyes of the creatures gathering beneath the trees.

Su Ming evacuated the Kree refugees and their crystal, but the Brood stayed behind to attack Carol, raising suspicions that Earth was their true target. He summoned Heimdall for information, then disappeared to enter Odin’s Slumber.

• Su Ming carried the unconscious Kree and Kree Crystal to a transport ship, activated its autopilot, and sent it toward Hala.
• The Brood ignored the departing ship and continued attacking Carol, while Mary and Joseph joined the fight.
• Su Ming suspected the Brood were targeting Earth and mentioned the corpse of Observer Zero beneath Wakanda as a possible reason for their interest.
• Mary went to protect Joseph as he fought the Brood, while Su Ming called Heimdall to ask about Odin and Thor.
• Heimdall said Odin was asleep and Thor was hunting in Vanaheim to earn money for Su Ming’s goods, then found that Su Ming had vanished toward Odin’s Slumber.

Su Ming woke Odin and asked him to use his connections to investigate why cosmic powers were focusing on Earth. Odin contacted Agatha, the Sovereign High Priest, and their conversation began.

• Su Ming entered Odin's Slumber, woke Odin, and asked what was happening beyond the Milky Way.
• Odin agreed to help contact other powers but reminded Su Ming to resolve Asgard's troubles.
• Odin used branches of Yggdrasil and rune stones to establish a long-distance communication link.
• Agatha, the Sovereign High Priest, appeared and greeted Odin on behalf of the Sovereign.

Odin and Su Ming contacted High Priest Agatha of the Sovereign to ask about the Kree, Skrulls, and Brood, learning that a swarm of roughly four trillion Brood had passed through the Andromeda Galaxy. After the call, Odin and Su Ming discussed sending Thor and Loki to Earth for training, then returned to planning whom to contact next.

• Odin called High Priest Agatha and asked about Kree and Skrull movements, the Brood, and Su Ming.
• Su Ming appeared in golden armor, and Agatha recognized him as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme.
• Agatha said the Sovereign were not concerned with the Kree and Skrulls but reported that about four trillion Brood had passed through Andromeda.
• Agatha invited Odin and Su Ming to visit the Sovereign homeworld before ending the communication.
• Odin complained about the Sovereign's arrogance, and Su Ming changed his armor back to its original colors.
• Odin proposed sending Thor and Loki to Earth for training and asked Su Ming whom they should contact next.

Steve and Bucky protected Doctor Pym and Janet after a sniper tried to assassinate them in New York. Pym and Janet joined Steve in searching for clues while Bucky pursued the shooter.

• A sniper fired through Pym and Janet's window, narrowly missing them as Steve and Bucky watched from across the street.
• Steve guarded Pym while Bucky chased the shooter across the rooftops.
• Pym examined the deformed bullet and found that it had been fired without rifling from an unusually powerful, long-range weapon.
• Steve sent Pym and Janet to the basement, but Janet convinced Pym to return and help investigate.
• Steve allowed Pym and Janet to search the yard with him while they waited for Bucky to return.

Steve and Bucky investigated the attempt on Pym’s life while Fury sent Natasha to Washington to deal with the new S.H.I.E.L.D. director. Natasha prepared to arrive before Steve and make the director’s death look like an Alien attack.

• Steve, Bucky, Pym, and Janet discussed the sniper attack, and Bucky said there was not enough evidence to identify the attacker.
• Pym told Steve and Bucky about the director’s threats, Fury’s help, and his plans to establish Pym Industries; Steve decided to move Pym somewhere safe.
• Natasha watched the sunrise after carrying out the shooting, then boarded Fury’s Quinjet and demanded her promised payment.
• Fury told Natasha to return to Triskelion Headquarters and work with Captain America, revealing that he planned to kill the new director and blame Aliens.
• Fury told Natasha that Steve and Bucky were heading to Triskelion, then sent her to fly the Quinjet; Natasha met Melinda, took the pilot’s seat, and began preparing for the mission.

Natasha left Fury and May to pursue Coulson’s rescue, while Tony Stark prepared to advise the military on a Gamma Ray experiment and strengthen Stark Industries’ defense business. Tony arrived at Fort McNair and met Major General Thaddeus E. Ross.

• Natasha asked Fury why he had concealed information from Steve, then prepared to leave while Fury and May headed to investigate Coulson’s kidnapping.
• Tony woke in his new Manhattan residence, brooded over his parents’ deaths and Cassandra’s disappearance, then paid the women who had spent the night with him.
• Obadiah Stane urged Tony to handle the military carefully, and Tony insisted his scientific genius surpassed Howard’s as they flew to Fort McNair.
• Tony and Obadiah discussed the military’s share of Stark Industries’ business and their goal of earning ten billion dollars from the next military budget.
• Tony arrived at Fort McNair, introduced himself with a flippant salute, and met Major General Thaddeus E. Ross.

Tony Stark visited General Ross’s military laboratory to assess its Gamma Ray research and met Dr. Bruce Banner, whose work impressed him. The chapter ended with Tony recognizing Banner as a genius while Ross confronted his daughter Betty about her relationship with Banner.

• Ross explained that the military wanted Tony’s help with its Gamma Ray research, and Tony agreed to inspect the laboratory.
• Ross found Betty in the lab with Banner and accused him of pursuing his seventeen-year-old daughter; Tony noticed lipstick on Banner’s mouth.
• Betty pulled Ross out of the room to stop him from harming Banner, while Tony began examining the Gamma Ray equipment and blueprints.
• Tony questioned Banner about the machine’s purpose, then praised him as a genius and warmly shook his hand.

Tony Stark advised Bruce Banner on his Gamma Ray machine, offered him a lucrative job, and argued that weapons and money mattered more than biological research. Tony and Banner parted angrily, while General Ross warned Banner not to trust Tony's advice and left with Betty.

• Tony examined Banner's machine and warned him to use the small-hole filters to avoid a catastrophic radiation accident.
• Tony invited Banner to work at Stark Industries for thirty million dollars a year, but Banner rejected his priorities and defended biological evolution.
• Tony stormed out after arguing with Banner, who insisted his project could help humanity and called Tony corrupted by capital.
• General Ross arrived with Betty and cautioned Banner that Tony might be trying to sabotage the project.
• Ross left with Betty to join Tony, while Banner remained to continue his experiment.

Banner took Betty’s encouragement as a reason to begin a risky biological experiment, while Tony waited for dinner with Betty and discussed Banner with Obadiah. On the road to Washington, Steve and Bucky repaired Pym’s sabotaged car, but an explosion at McNair Military Academy forced them to stop and rush to help.

• Betty defended Banner against General Ross and encouraged him, and Banner decided to skip ahead to experiments on white mice.
• Tony told Obadiah that Banner would die if he ignored Tony’s warning, then insisted he would not sabotage a scientist for profit.
• Bucky and Steve repaired Pym’s broken-down car after its brakes and steering failed, and Steve took over driving toward Washington.
• Bucky entertained the Pyms with stories about Steve while the group passed McNair Military Academy.
• An explosion collapsed a building at the academy, and Steve and Bucky grabbed their gear and set out to rescue people.