Chapter Summaries

Alex followed Bruce Banner into a laboratory to study Hulk’s blood, but Hulk transformed and escaped as General Ross’s forces attacked. Abomination appeared and overpowered Hulk, leaving Alex to pursue the unexpected monster while Steve, Tony, and Peter evacuated civilians.

• Alex entered the laboratory in disguise and warned Steve and the others that Hulk was about to emerge as General Ross’s forces surrounded Brooklyn.
• Banner transformed into Hulk after gunfire disrupted the experiment, and Hulk escaped with Betty while Alex burned the laboratory’s blood samples except for one bag.
• Steve told Alex that a stronger green monster had stopped Hulk, and Alex discovered that the monster was Abomination.
• Hulk briefly knocked Abomination down before Abomination kicked him away, while Steve, Tony, and Peter watched from a safe distance.
• Alex sent Steve, Tony, and Peter to evacuate civilians, then pursued Abomination and secretly extended his telepathy toward General Ross.

Alex discovered that the military had used his blood and Hulk’s blood to create Abomination, who overpowered Hulk during their fight in Brooklyn. The Fantastic Four joined the battle, and Abomination turned on them after The Thing struck him.

• Alex realized the military had obtained his blood sample and decided to kill Abomination rather than risk what it had done to him.
• Hulk and Abomination grappled with a helicopter, but Susan used an Invisible Force Field to bring them safely to the ground.
• Reed questioned Alex about the destruction, and Alex pointed him toward General Ross and the military.
• Abomination defeated Hulk and pinned him against a wall, while Betty emerged unharmed from the helicopter.
• Johnny attacked Abomination, Reed tried to restrain him, and Susan hit him with an ultrasonic shockwave that also caught Hulk.
• The Thing struck the disoriented Abomination and sent him flying, but Abomination recovered and threatened the Fantastic Four.

Alex watched the fight before sending Steve, Tony, and Peter to help the heroes battle Abomination. Hulk saved Betty and General Ross from a missile by swallowing it, while the fight against Abomination continued.

• Alex agreed to let Steve, Tony, and Peter join the battle and promised to cover them.
• Tony fired a missile at Abomination, who kicked it toward General Ross and Betty.
• Peter failed to stop the missile with his webs, and Hulk caught and swallowed it to protect Betty and Ross.
• Alex teleported to Hulk and used Devour, then realized the explosion had gone off inside Hulk.
• Betty ran to embrace Hulk, while Ross showed relief, shock, and faint delight; Alex turned back toward the battle with Abomination.

Alex and the others coordinated to stop Abomination, but Tony’s Energy Shockwave blasted away his face and triggered a transformation fueled by Alex’s blood. The group backed off as Abomination began healing through Energy Absorption, and Steve recognized the power.

• Reed and Susan and Johnny struggled to restrain Abomination as Peter Parker chased Tony’s stray missile and Tony attacked Abomination instead.
• Steve stepped in front of the exhausted The Thing and blocked Abomination’s punches with his shield, enduring several blows.
• Reed pried Abomination’s mouth open while Peter Parker webbed his arms, allowing Tony’s Energy Shockwave to strike inside and devastate his face.
• Alex warned the others to stand down as Abomination began transforming, then demonstrated that attacks only nourished his healing.
• Steve identified Abomination’s ability as Energy Absorption, and Alex confirmed that his blood had been fused into Abomination’s body.

Alex revealed that Abomination had been infused with his blood and warned that the transformed creature had to be destroyed. As Abomination’s strength increased and Sentry arrived at the military’s request, Alex watched while Sentry and Abomination prepared to fight.

• Alex told General Ross and the others that Abomination had Alex’s blood and that he intended to destroy him, but he refused to intervene when General Ross demanded custody.
• General Ross contacted the Pentagon and arranged for Sentry to be deployed, while Alex recognized that Sentry’s origins remained known only to him.
• Abomination completed his transformation, and Hulk attacked him but was intercepted and hurled away after Abomination displayed greatly increased strength and speed.
• Sentry arrived in new equipment, and Alex told Steve that the situation would not be simple as the group watched the two opponents.
• Sentry warned Abomination to stop, but Abomination rejected the warning and lunged at him twice.

Hulk and Abomination’s battle devastated Brooklyn while the Sentry refused to intervene, and the heroes turned to rescuing civilians. After a call from the White House, General Ross yielded to Alex, who then set out to stop the fight.

• Hulk pulled Abomination down and fought him, but Abomination overpowered him and drove him through a wall.
• The Sentry refused to help, and Deadpool appeared before Alex ordered him to stay quiet and behave.
• Alex burned away Abomination’s spilled blood, while the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Tony, and Steve went to rescue civilians.
• Betty urged General Ross to let Alex act, but the Sentry warned that joining the battle could make the destruction worse.
• After receiving a call from the White House, Ross told Alex that Abomination was his to handle, and Alex went to deal with the fight.

Alex separated Abomination from the Hulk by teleporting him to Mars, then returned to Brooklyn and helped the Sentry stop the Hulk’s rampage. Betty calmed the Hulk, who briefly became lucid before leaping away from her.

• Alex teleported Abomination from Brooklyn to Mars after asking the Sentry to keep the Hulk occupied.
• The Sentry fought the Hulk, and their escalating battle destroyed another block before Alex telepathically told the Sentry to stop.
• Alex used a simulated Betty’s voice to gradually calm the Hulk and end his destruction.
• Betty approached the Hulk, and he became lucid enough to say “Hulk” before leaping away into the city.

After stopping General Ross from pursuing Hulk, Alex took Abomination to Paradise Island and entrusted him to Emma for retraining. A month later, Alex found Tony away from Stark Tower for a Department of Defense inquiry and decided to watch Green Lantern as Earth’s superhuman world grew busier.

• Betty and Alex stopped General Ross from chasing Hulk, and Ross gave up after Alex warned him about Brooklyn.
• Alex returned to Mars, tested Abomination’s loyalty, then took him to Paradise Island and left him with Emma for ideological education.
• Over the next month, the X-Men base and Cerebro were completed, and Charles focused on finding unaffiliated mutants to recruit.
• Alex went to Stark Tower to find Tony but learned from J.A.R.V.I.S. that the Department of Defense was questioning him over the Iron Man armor technology.
• Alex chose not to interfere in the events surrounding Iron Man 2 and asked J.A.R.V.I.S. to play Green Lantern.

Alex learned that Mjolnir had appeared in New Mexico before the events of Iron Man 2 and explained to Natasha and Tony that it belonged to Thor, a real being from Asgard. He decided to investigate the hammer, leaving Tony and Natasha stunned by his claims.

• Natasha explained that S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent her to monitor Tony for the US Government, while Steve had been called away to train recruits.
• Natasha told Alex and Tony about Hank Pym's Pym Particles and the superheroes who had refused to join S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Natasha revealed that a hammer had fallen in New Mexico and that nobody had been able to lift or move it; Coulson had gone to investigate.
• Alex recognized the hammer as Mjolnir and asked Natasha for photos of the site so he could go there.
• Alex told Natasha and Tony that the hammer belonged to Thor, whom he had met and fought in Asgard.

Alex traveled to the site of Mjolnir after learning Thor had been exiled to Earth, and discovered he could lift the hammer despite its resistance. Thor sensed Mjolnir had been lifted and arrived with Jane Foster, where he found Alex holding it.

• Nick Fury questioned Alex about the beings he had mentioned, and Alex asked him for the location of Mjolnir.
• Alex teleported to Mjolnir, greeted Phil Coulson, and lifted the hammer after feeling it resist him.
• Thor sensed that Mjolnir had been lifted and rushed toward it, with Jane Foster driving him there in her pickup.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. agents invited Thor and Jane into the secured area, where Thor saw Alex tossing Mjolnir.
• Alex welcomed Thor to Earth and patted him on the shoulder.

Alex watched Thor struggle to accept losing Mjolnir, then confronted Loki when he visited Earth and warned S.H.I.E.L.D. to evacuate the nearby town. As Loki moved to advance his plans in Asgard, Thor settled in with Jane Foster and Sif and the Warriors Three prepared to rescue him.

• Alex tossed Mjolnir to Thor, who could not lift it and angrily realized Odin had withdrawn its recognition.
• Alex sensed Loki's arrival and told Coulson to evacuate the nearby town; Coulson contacted Nick Fury, who ordered him to comply.
• Alex confronted Loki's projection, but Loki abandoned it and vanished after sensing Alex's hostility.
• Thor left with Jane Foster, while Alex kept Mjolnir and followed them back to the evacuated town.
• Loki met Laufey in Jotunheim, while Sif and the Warriors Three agreed to leave Asgard and rescue Thor.

Sif and the Warriors Three arrived on Earth to bring Thor home, but Loki sent the Destroyer after them and ordered it to kill Thor. As the Destroyer attacked a New Mexico town, Thor stayed behind while Alex watched and waited for the right moment to act.

• Sif and the Warriors Three arrived on Earth, and Thor told them he could not return because he believed Odin had died; Sif revealed that Odin was still alive.
• Loki discovered the warriors were gone, froze Heimdall with the Casket of Ancient Winters, and sent the Destroyer to Earth to prevent Thor from returning.
• Alex sensed the Destroyer's arrival as a strange cloud formation appeared over the town, and Sif and the Warriors Three recognized the threat.
• Thor urged Jane Foster and the Asgardians to leave, but Sif and the Warriors Three charged at the Destroyer as it began attacking the town.
• Coulson asked Alex whether he would help, and Alex said Earth would not let the Destroyer do as it pleased, while holding back for the moment.

Sif and the Warriors Three tried to stop the Destroyer, but its attacks overwhelmed them, and Thor surrendered himself to protect the town. After the Destroyer struck Thor down, Alex placed Mjolnir in his hand and confronted Loki as his power erupted.

• Sif and the Warriors Three attacked the Destroyer, but it knocked Volstagg aside and survived Sif's strike before blasting all four away.
• Thor urged Sif and the Warriors Three to retreat, then walked toward the Destroyer while Alex watched warily.
• Thor apologized to Loki and offered his life to spare the innocent, and the Destroyer appeared to withdraw before punching Thor into the air.
• Alex placed Mjolnir in Thor's hand, reassured Jane Foster, and turned to confront the Destroyer.
• Loki watched Alex unleash his power from the Golden Palace and declared that Alex had finally made his move.

Alex confronted Loki over the Destroyer's attack on Earth, but their fight ended in a standoff until Thor revived. Alex claimed the defeated Destroyer, while Thor flew to the Bifrost with Jane Foster to confront Loki.

• Loki offered to take responsibility for the damage, but Alex demanded the Infinity Gauntlet, and they chose to fight when Loki refused.
• The Destroyer's Energy Impact Beam pierced Alex's shields, but Alex folded his body to absorb the blast without lasting harm.
• Alex's punches and kicks barely dented the Destroyer, and the two fought to a stalemate.
• Thor rose again when lightning struck him, and Loki left the Golden Palace to return to the Bifrost.
• Alex knocked down the abandoned Destroyer and claimed it for research, while Thor took Jane Foster to the Bifrost to speak with Loki.

After Thor and the others left, Alex arranged for Tony Stark to study the Destroyer in exchange for technology sharing, an Arc Reactor, and a Planetary Defense System for Paradise Island. Tony began examining the Asgardian artifact, while Alex insisted he remain present in case the Asgardians reactivated it.

• Alex sent Coulson away with Professor Erik and the female assistant, then considered how to make use of the Destroyer.
• Tony Stark arrived and asked Alex to let him study the Destroyer, offering to share all related research results.
• Alex negotiated an Arc Reactor for Paradise Island, and Tony agreed to provide one in exchange for the Destroyer.
• Alex teleported Tony and the Destroyer to Stark Tower, where Tony offered Paradise Island a Planetary Defense System as well.
• Tony began studying the Destroyer, and Alex warned that the Asgardians might reactivate it and said he would have to supervise.

Alex stopped Tony from obsessively studying the Destroyer and redirected him to help build an Arc Reactor and Planetary Defense System for Paradise Island. After nearly half a month of work, both projects were completed, bringing the island into a new era of energy and giving it an early-warning defense network.

• Alex sealed the Destroyer, made Tony sleep, and told him he would spend the next few days working on the Arc Reactor and Planetary Defense System.
• Pepper and Natasha told Alex that Osborn Industries had unveiled robotic armor, and Natasha suspected Norman Osborn wanted military support to obtain Iron Man Armor technology.
• Alex asked Natasha to investigate who was behind Osborn Industries' robot after wondering whether Whiplash had joined Norman Osborn.
• After Tony woke from a twenty-four-hour sleep, Alex brought him to Paradise Island, where more than a hundred mutants helped build the super Arc Reactor.
• The Arc Reactor and the Planetary Defense System were completed after nearly half a month, powering Paradise Island and giving it a basic early-warning network.

After returning to Earth, Alex learned that Charles had brought Storm and other mutants to the X-Base to train, and Charles sought his help with a dangerous new student. The student was Jean Grey, whose destructive second personality had immense mental power, and Alex decided to meet her before agreeing to Charles’s plan to seal it.

• Alex warned Tony that Osborn Industries and Whiplash were targeting Stark Industries, but Tony dismissed the threat.
• Alex returned to the X-Base and found Charles, Storm, and former students gathered there for a new training program.
• Charles introduced Storm, whose weather-manipulating abilities had recently earned her a place among the X-Men.
• Charles told Alex that a new student, Jean Grey, had a violent second personality with mental power beyond his comprehension.
• Charles proposed using a mental shield to seal Jean’s second personality, but Alex asked to meet her before deciding what to do.

Alex tried to contact the violent Second Personality in Jean Grey’s mind, but its power nearly overwhelmed him. He sought answers from Otu, who revealed that Jean was descended from someone who stole fragments of the Phoenix Force and warned that the Phoenix would eventually come to Earth, with humanity deciding whether it destroyed the planet.

• Alex met Jean Grey and persuaded her to lower her mental defenses so he could contact the Second Personality.
• Dark Phoenix’s violent influence nearly overwhelmed Alex, so he withdrew and asked Jean whether her ancestors included anyone unusual.
• Alex teleported to Otu and pressed him for the truth about Jean’s origins.
• Otu explained that a sorcerer had shaped the Phoenix Force into the Phoenix, and that a usurper had stolen fragments of it before the Phoenix fled into space.
• Otu revealed that Jean descended from the usurper and warned that the Phoenix would return to Earth, where humanity would determine its fate.
• Alex left Otu’s palace shaken by the warning that the Phoenix’s arrival could engulf Earth in flames.

Alex brought Emma and Loma to X-Base to warn them that the Phoenix would soon come to Earth and could destroy everything. After Loma revealed that even her Omniverse Level father feared the Phoenix, Alex vanished, leaving Jean Grey and the others shaken.

• Alex traveled to Paradise Island, brought Emma and Loma to X-Base, and asked Charles to find a private room.
• Charles explained Jean Grey's abnormal Psionic Power, and Alex revealed that the Phoenix would soon descend on Earth and that he could not match its power.
• Charles questioned why the Watcher said humanity's fate depended on itself, while Jean Grey offered to surrender her life to stop the Phoenix.
• Alex reassured Jean Grey and vowed to obtain the Infinity Gauntlet and Infinity Stones so he could grow strong enough to defeat the Phoenix.
• Loma warned that even her Omniverse Level father had feared the Phoenix, and Alex abruptly vanished while Jean Grey's emotions destabilized again.

Alex sought Merlin’s advice about the approaching Phoenix Force, but Merlin told him to let nature take its course. Back at X-Base, Alex decided to focus on Jean Grey and try to separate the Phoenix Shard from her.

• Alex traveled to Merlin’s castle and asked him about the Phoenix Force’s imminent arrival.
• Merlin explained that the Phoenix Force embodied cosmic life and emotion, and said whether it brought destruction or rebirth depended on humanity.
• After Alex challenged Merlin’s advice to let nature take its course, Merlin knocked him unconscious and Alex woke up at X-Base more than three hours later.
• Alex told Charles and Loma what Merlin had said, and Charles insisted they find another solution.
• Alex proposed finding the Phoenix Shard inside Jean Grey and separating it from her.