Chapter Summaries

Alex returned to Planet Feather after surviving a deathtrap in space and revealed that the Antimatter Bomb on Kree-Lar had killed him, but the Phoenix Force resurrected him. His companions recognized that his resurrection was connected to the dark Alex surrounded by black flames.

• After news spread that Kree-Lar had been engulfed by black flames, Loma, Adam, and Warlord worried that Alex had caused the catastrophe and wondered why he had disappeared.
• Alex emerged from a deadly asteroid belt and said that he had finally come back to life.
• Alex returned to Planet Feather, where Loma, Adam, Warlord, Lilandra, and Sawa questioned whether he was really himself.
• When Loma asked what had happened, Alex trembled and became visibly distressed, then recovered enough to explain himself.
• Alex told them that the Antimatter Bomb inside Supreme Intelligence's corpse had killed him on Kree-Lar, but the Phoenix Force had resurrected him.
• Loma, Warlord, and Adam connected Alex's resurrection to the black flames and thought of him as darkened.

Alex explained how the Phoenix Force had resurrected and corrupted him, and warned that the Phoenix would descend on Earth within three years with a high chance of destroying it. Adam proposed using the Shi'ar Empire’s Phoenix Blade to gather more Phoenix Force and fight back, but Alex feared losing control.

• Alex told Loma and the others that he had become the Dark Phoenix, destroyed Kree-Lar, and nearly lost himself to the urge to destroy the universe.
• Alex explained that he had temporarily suppressed the Phoenix Force with the Phoenix Shard, but the Phoenix had locked onto him and would descend on Earth within three years in a corrupted state.
• Adam urged Alex to find a way to defeat the Phoenix, and Alex revealed that his corrupted Phoenix Shard might become even harder to control when the true Phoenix arrived.
• Adam proposed gathering Phoenix Force scattered across the universe, and Lilandra revealed that the Shi'ar Empire possessed a powerful Phoenix Blade.
• Alex refused to absorb the Phoenix Force in the Phoenix Blade because he feared becoming fully corrupted, but Adam urged him to absorb it gradually and rely on their help.

Alex absorbed primordial Phoenix Force from the Phoenix Blade to help control the Phoenix Shard within him, then returned to Earth with Adam and their companions. On arrival, Alex discovered Brian and Tony fighting over Tony’s relationship with Brian’s sister Elizabeth and ordered Adam to stop them.

• Adam suggested that absorbing the Phoenix Force in the Phoenix Blade might help Alex control the Phoenix Shard, and Alex took the blade and absorbed its primordial power.
• After several days on Planet Feather, Alex declined Lilandra’s offer to send a Shi'ar fleet and Sawa’s offer to bring the Nova Corps, agreeing instead to accept one representative from each empire and asking them to search for the Phoenix Force.
• Adam teleported Alex and the others back to Earth over nearly two days, then paused near the planet, reflecting that he had not returned in years.
• Alex sensed a powerful energy from New York and brought everyone to Stark Tower, where he found Brian and Tony fighting in the sky.
• J.A.R.V.I.S. explained that Tony had become involved with Brian’s sister, Elizabeth, and Alex ordered Adam to beat both men to stop their fight from damaging New York.

Alex investigated why Tony and Brian had fought over Elizabeth and discovered Tony had been mind-controlled after meeting her at a gay bar, while Elizabeth’s visits there appeared to be voluntary. After Elizabeth explained the truth to Brian, the group reconciled and she asked them to protect her brother.

• Alex brought Tony and Brian together and demanded an explanation for their street fight, learning that Brian blamed Tony for what happened to Elizabeth.
• J.A.R.V.I.S. showed surveillance footage of Tony leaving Stonewall Inn with Elizabeth and revealed that Tony had been mind-controlled, while Elizabeth likely had not been.
• Brian grew furious when J.A.R.V.I.S. said Elizabeth had frequently visited gay bars, but Natasha and Steve brought Elizabeth in before the argument could escalate further.
• Alex arranged a private room for Elizabeth and Brian, and Elizabeth asked Brian to explain everything that had happened since he became Captain Britain.
• After the siblings emerged, Brian accepted the truth and Elizabeth apologized for his actions; Tony offered to make amends, and Elizabeth asked the group to protect Brian.

Alex suspected that Loki had arrived on Earth and was using the Mind Stone to provoke conflicts among superheroes. After learning that Loki’s influence was spreading across factions, Alex warned the others that Earth faced an imminent disaster.

• Alex questioned Tony and Brian about who might have caused their fight, but neither could identify an enemy.
• Natasha reported that seven or eight superheroes had fought in the past three days, prompting Alex to order S.H.I.E.L.D. to identify and monitor them.
• Alex asked Adam whether the Soul Stone could detect Mind Stone control, and Adam confirmed that Tony and Brian had not been fully controlled.
• Natasha received a list of eight people involved in recent fights, including Alex of the X-Men and Hank Pym, and Alex recognized the conflicts as Loki’s attempt to divide Earth’s factions.
• Alex warned everyone that Loki, the evil god from Asgard, had arrived as a vanguard and was secretly causing trouble.

Heimdall reported Alex’s warning that Loki had appeared on Earth and that Thanos might be behind him, prompting Odin to discuss Asgard’s response. Odin decided Asgard could not refuse to support Earth and planned to send Thor to deal with Loki, leaving Thanos to Alex.

• Heimdall heard Alex explain Loki’s activity on Earth and the danger posed by Thanos, then went to report the news to Odin.
• Odin showed Heimdall Thor’s letter, which confirmed reports about Loki, the Chitauri, and Thanos.
• Odin said Asgard could not avoid the conflict and planned to send Thor to Earth to deal with Loki, while leaving Thanos to Alex.
• Heimdall told Odin that Alex had gathered powerful allies, including a Warlord of the Shi'ar Empire and a Centurion from the Nova Corps.
• Odin realized Alex wanted Asgard to take Earth’s side and concluded that Asgard could not refuse without worsening turmoil across the Nine Realms.
• Odin decided Thor would go to Earth, and Heimdall accepted the plan.

Alex founded the Avengers with support from Nick Fury and Tony Stark, then traveled to India to recruit Bruce Banner. Bruce refused to join, leaving Alex unsure how to persuade him.

• Alex explained his Avengers plan to Nick Fury, who agreed to help involve S.H.I.E.L.D. and negotiate with the government.
• Tony Stark offered funding and land for an Avengers base, and Alex invited everyone present to join the team.
• Nick Fury agreed to provide Ant-Man and Hawkeye and gave Alex information about Hulk, while Alex promised to find a way to manage Hulk's risk of losing control.
• Alex declared the Avengers founded and ordered the members to train while Adam helped search for Loki and anyone he had controlled.
• Alex found Bruce Banner in India and invited him to join the Avengers, but Bruce refused and told Alex to leave.

Alex tried to recruit Bruce Banner to the Avengers, but Bruce refused until Alex offered to help him control Hulk. Bruce agreed to discuss the possibility, leaving Alex hopeful that he could join the team.

• Alex warned Bruce Banner about Thanos and Loki's coming invasion and urged him to join the Avengers, but Bruce refused and shut him out.
• Charles suggested that Alex appeal to Bruce's desire to control Hulk, then declined Alex's invitation to lead the Avengers.
• Alex knocked again and promised Bruce he might be able to help him control Hulk, prompting Bruce to let him inside.
• Alex described the Avengers' access to advanced alien technology and proposed helping Bruce control Hulk or, as a last resort, separating them through surgery.
• Bruce chose to pursue controlling Hulk, and Alex eagerly promised that he would see it through.

Alex brought Bruce Banner to the X-Men base and began testing ways to help him control Hulk. When the test unleashed Hulk, Warlord challenged him in the virtual combat chamber, and Deadpool stepped in as the damaged chamber neared failure.

• Alex brought Bruce Banner to Stark Tower, then took him to the X-Men base after Tony explained where the others had gone.
• Warlord arrived to meet Bruce Banner, but Alex postponed their fight until later.
• The next day, Alex's attempt to help Bruce control Hulk failed, and Hulk emerged inside the virtual reality combat chamber.
• Warlord asked to fight Hulk, and Alex agreed while the X-Men and students watched from outside the battle.
• Deadpool entered the fight, collected Hulk's flesh and blood for Alex, and returned despite severe injuries.
• When Charles warned that the combat chamber was about to fail, Deadpool jumped back into the battlefield to stop the fight, leaving Alex and Charles unsure whether he could calm Hulk.

Deadpool's relentless verbal assault brought Bruce Banner back from Hulk, and Alex taught Banner techniques to calm and channel his anger. Alex gathered nearly twenty heroes at the Avengers base, formed the Avengers, and warned them that Thanos, Loki, and the Chitauri were their coming enemies.

• Deadpool harassed Hulk with nonstop chatter until Bruce Banner regained control and begged him to stop.
• Bruce Banner gave Deadpool his underwear, while Alex and the others reacted with disbelief at the method that had awakened him.
• Alex taught Bruce Banner the Pure Heart Ice Art and Immovable Wisdom King Mantra, and Banner found the techniques effective.
• Alex led Adam and the others to the Avengers base, where Nick Fury, Tony Stark, and many heroes were waiting.
• Alex welcomed the gathered heroes as Avengers, led introductions, and announced that Thanos, Loki, and the Chitauri were their first enemies.
• Loki held the Mind Scepter in a hidden place and murmured, "Avengers..."

Loki met with a Chitauri who ordered him to conquer Earth and seize the Tesseract, while warning him of Thanos's power. Back at the underground factory, Loki used the Mind Scepter to give portal technology to the researchers and urged Erik to put it into practice.

• Loki promised the Chitauri he would lead their army in a swift campaign against Earth, while concealing his concerns about the Avengers.
• The Chitauri gave Loki interstellar portal technology and told him Thanos would appear only at a crucial moment.
• Loki destroyed the strange vision with the Mind Scepter and returned to the underground factory.
• Loki used the Mind Scepter to transfer the portal technology into the researchers' minds.
• Erik praised the knowledge as truth, and Loki told him to make it real.

Thanos ordered the Chitauri to prepare for an immediate invasion of Earth once Loki completed the portal. At the Avengers base, Alex and the others decided to lure Loki into a trap in Germany by targeting the iridium needed to build his portal.

• Thanos refused to reclaim the Mind Scepter and ordered the Chitauri to prepare their army for the invasion of Earth.
• Alex told the Avengers that Loki had the Mind Scepter and could evade detection, while Nick Fury promised support from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military.
• Beast suggested searching for missing scientists, and Reed explained that iridium was essential to Loki's portal.
• Reed said Dr. Heinrich Sif had iridium in his laboratory in Stuttgart, Germany, but Steve argued they should wait for Loki instead of trying to gather all the metal.
• Alex agreed with Steve's plan and took Steve, Tony, and the others to Germany to wait for Loki.

As Loki staged a public display of power in Stuttgart, Alex held back while Steve and Tony fought their way to him. Steve arrived in time to save an old man and confronted Loki, while Alex warned Nick Fury to find Loki’s associates.

• Steve recalled fighting Hydra in Germany with Alex and mourned Howard’s death and Bucky’s disappearance.
• After Tony spotted Loki in Stuttgart, Alex asked Nick Fury to send Bruce Banner to X-Base, then persuaded Bruce to bring Reed and both Hanks there to study the Mind Scepter.
• Alex teleported to 2 Kuning Street, where Loki used duplicates to force a crowd to kneel and proclaim his rule, while Steve and Tony fought Loki’s controlled subordinates.
• Alex chose to wait for Steve and Tony, explaining that his public identity as a mutant made it better for Steve to lead in front of civilians.
• When Loki fired the Mind Scepter at an old man who defied him, Steve blocked and reflected the beam, then confronted Loki.
• After Loki recognized Steve as Captain America, Alex warned Nick Fury to find the people working for Loki, and Maria Hill urged the intelligence department to hurry.

Alex pursued Beta Ray Bill after Bill took Loki to meet Thor, then found Thor with Jane Foster on a mountain. Thor revealed that Bill was his defeated opponent and could lift Mjolnir, while Loki remained in their custody.

• Steve fought Loki until Iron Man arrived, and Alex appeared, prompting Loki to dispel his illusions, surrender his equipment, and ask about Thanos.
• A storm heralded Beta Ray Bill, who seized Loki and carried him away to meet Thor; Alex followed with Steve's shield, while Steve and Tony stayed behind.
• Alex caught up with Bill and followed him to a mountain, where he found Thor with Jane Foster and punched Thor for neglecting his mission.
• Thor introduced Bill as a companion whose homeworld had been destroyed by Thanos, and Bill said he followed Thor because Odin promised to help his people.
• Thor admitted that Bill had defeated him and could lift Mjolnir, shocking Alex and Loki.

Alex confronted Thor over Loki’s crimes and the threat to Earth, then fought Horse-faced Thor and Thor after Horse-faced Thor attacked him. After Alex subdued them, he took everyone away with Loki, who had stayed put because he feared Alex would kill him if he tried anything.

• Alex accused Thor of treating Loki’s crimes and the coming threat from Thanos and the Chitauri too lightly, while Loki smiled at Alex’s suggestion that he was better suited to inherit Odin’s throne.
• Horse-faced Thor attacked Alex and chased him into the forest, where Alex retaliated after repeated provocations and repeatedly overpowered him.
• Thor joined the fight and asked Alex to beat him so Horse-faced Thor might stop, but the battle escalated and Alex blocked Thor’s furious hammer strike with the Captain’s shield.
• Alex asked Thor and Horse-faced Thor if they had had enough, then returned to Loki and found that he had not tried to escape or take Jane Foster hostage.
• Loki said he had stayed because he believed Alex would kill him if he made a move, and Alex used Teleportation to take everyone away from Lonely Mountain.

Alex and the Avengers questioned Loki’s surrender and learned that Thanos’s forces included the Chitauri and powerful Exiles. As Alex reconsidered Loki’s motives, Adam argued that Loki would not truly serve Thanos and suggested asking him directly.

• Nick Fury imprisoned Loki in the Avengers base and used the prison’s defenses to threaten and injure him, but Loki hinted that a powerful monster had been brought in as reinforcements.
• Thor revealed that Thanos had gathered an alien army, and Horse-faced Thor and Warlord explained that it included dangerous criminals known as the Exiles.
• Alex suspected Loki had surrendered to get close to him and seize the Tesseract, but Adam reasoned that Thanos would not let Loki acquire both the Tesseract and the Mind Stone.
• Adam proposed that the Avengers ask Loki about his scheme, arguing that Loki’s unwillingness to serve Thanos could provide them with an opportunity.

Alex interpreted Loki’s hints as a warning that Skrull spies had infiltrated the Avengers, then used Adam’s Soul Stone to screen the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. No Skrulls were found, leaving Alex and Reed puzzled about how Loki knew of the Avengers.

• Alex questioned Loki about Thanos, and Loki hinted that powerful warriors were hiding among the Avengers while implying that Alex’s allies were puppets.
• Alex met with Adam, Warlord, and Steve at X-Base and proposed that an outsider had infiltrated the Avengers; he and Warlord identified the possible spies as Skrulls.
• Alex explained that Loki might have allowed himself to be captured so the Avengers would eliminate the Exiles threatening him, and that his remarks had pointed toward Skrull infiltrators.
• Adam proposed using the Soul Stone to expose Skrulls, and Alex screened the Avengers and Nick Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, but none were Skrulls.
• Reed questioned Alex’s conclusion, noting that Loki should not have known about the Avengers if no one among them was working for him.

Alex and the scientists concluded that Loki might be manipulating the Avengers’ suspicions while preparing an attack, so Charles organized the heroes into separate strongholds to expose the Skrulls. The Exiles attacked all three locations, and as the fighting spread, Alex warned Nick Fury that Loki’s portal would likely open soon.

• Adam revealed that the Soul Stone was growing difficult to control, while Reed and the other scientists concluded that the Mind Stone was more likely behind the problem.
• Charles proposed that Loki might be controlled by Thanos and trying to provoke conflict among the Avengers, while Alex realized Loki could have an insider among them.
• Charles, Alex, and Tony took command of X-Base, Avengers Base, and Stark Tower, and the Avengers left Avengers Base in groups as bait for the Skrulls.
• The Exiles attacked all three strongholds; Charles coordinated reinforcements as the fighting shifted between locations, while Alex faced the attackers at Avengers Base.
• As the battle spread across New York, Alex told Nick Fury that Loki’s portal would soon open and S.H.I.E.L.D. would have its chance to act.

Alex and the heroes fought waves of Skrull infiltrators attacking their three strongholds, but the battle ended on a shocking uncertainty when one fallen reinforcement showed no signs of being a Skrull. The chapter left Alex questioning whether they had killed a real superhero.

• Charles warned Alex that Skrull infiltrators had appeared among the forces heading to the strongholds, and identified Spider-Man as one of them.
• Alex and the others captured Spider-Man, and Adam used the Soul Stone to reveal that he was a Skrull Mimic.
• More Skrull Mimics appeared at all three strongholds, prompting Alex to order his forces to kill the attackers rather than take prisoners.
• A fierce battle broke out as the reinforcements accused Alex's group of being fakes, and one of the arriving superheroes was killed.
• Warlord noticed that the fallen superhero's body had not transformed, and Alex realized the victim might not have been a Skrull.

After Skrull impostors tricked the heroes into fighting one another, Alex discovered that X-Base had been devastated and Charles and Ororo were missing. As the survivors gathered and learned of the heavy casualties and Loki’s escape, Nick Fury revealed that Loki had opened a portal on Stark Tower’s roof.

• Alex stopped the brawl at his base, and Adam’s Soul Stone confirmed that the opposing leader was not a Skrull.
• Jean Grey told Alex that X-Base had been attacked, Charles and Ororo were missing, and many people had died.
• Alex contacted the heroes at Stark Tower and the Avengers base, ended their fighting, and directed everyone to gather at X-Base.
• At X-Base, Alex told the gathered heroes that a Skrull had impersonated Charles and helped rescue Loki, while Jean Grey reported 137 casualties, including 66 X-Men deaths.
• Steve urged the heroes to keep fighting, and Nick Fury announced that Loki had set up the portal on Stark Tower’s roof.