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Berserker!
On the outskirts of the alien village where Captain America and his forces have taken refuge, a mysterious, furtive figure suddenly steps out of the shadows and confronts the heroes. It is a young woman with long strawberry blonde hair, dressed in a black costume with a white spider shape in the chest, complete with gloves and mask. Seeing the intruder, the heroes rush to her direction. The Human Torch is the first to reach the gatecrasher and demands to know who she is. She introduces herself as Spider-Woman. Turning to the others, Torch invites them to see what he’s found. “A girl!” the Thing huffs. Captain America is surprised: the woman speaks English, she’s from Earth… But she’s a different lady than the Spider-Woman they knew!
Hulk wonders how she got here. Mister Fantastic reminds him that the Beyonder used fragments of many planets to build this world… he assumes Spider-Woman was on one of them. Spider-Woman explains that people from a whole suburb of Denver suddenly found themselves here. She asks who – or what – is the Beyonder. Iron Man explains that he’s the dude who brought them here – them and some heavy-duty bad guys – to fight! He assumes the Beyonder was bored one day…
Spider-Woman reveals she saw evidence of the fighting. That’s one reason she tracked them here. She wants to help. Hawkeye wonders what makes her think she can help them. “Well, I’m strong!” Spider-Woman asserts and to demonstrate this, lifts a huge rock with minimum effort. Captain America hesitantly acknowledges that she is but… Spider-Woman supposes they’re worried she’s a spy; one of the bad guys, here to stab them in the back! Cap, however, doesn’t think Doctor Doom would bother with treachery. He’s got too much raw power at his beck and call.
Watching their interaction from behind a rock, Spider-Man sees Spider-Woman tossing away the boulder as easily as he could have – at least. He wonders if she sticks to walls, too. And he wonders if he can sue her for infringing on his shticks! He should have gotten a patent or trademark or something…
Captain America tells Spider-Woman that strength is not enough. This little war is dangerous business… Spider-Woman suspects it’s no less dangerous for the spectators… she might as well pitch in! Iron Man interrupts them, wondering about a noise. Captain Marvel realizes the ground’s shaking… as if something big were rumbling towards them!
Suddenly, the Wrecking Crew invades the village, in charge of an enormous rig and indiscriminately open fire. Human Torch screams to everyone to look out and flies in the sky. Captain America urges his companions to get the villagers out of the rig’s path! Wrecker emerges at the top of the vehicle, carrying the lifeless body of the Wasp. He announces that’s a present for them from the Wrecking Crew and tosses them Wasp’s body: “Catch!” The villains quickly depart.
The heroes rush by Janet’s side. Hulk surmises the Wrecking Crew must have found her out there, somewhere, alone. Johnny wonders how bad it is. Grabbing Janet’s body, Jennifer tells him that it looks like she’s been shot. And that fall… the way she landed… Cap suggests they take her to the healer’s hut. Maybe she can do something.
Inside Zsaji’s domicile, they lay Janet’s body on a mattress. Jennifer realizes she’s not breathing – no pulse either. She begs Zsaji to help her. Hawkeye realizes that Zsaji doesn’t get the words She-Hulk is saying but he thinks she gets the drift. Cap is confident that, if anyone can help Jan, it’s Zsaji. Zsaji holds Janet’s head and begins to work her magic on her. Jennifer keeps pleading her to help Jan… bring her back…
Suddenly, Zsaji stops treating Janet and turns away, bowing her head in grim silence. She-Hulk wonders what she’s doing. “Get back here and help her! Do you hear me?!” she screams at her. Interpreting Zsaji’s gesture, Thor deduces that no one can help Jan now. Hawkeye realizes the Wasp is dead!
Seconds later, outside the hut, the heroes confer, raging about what happened. Hulk promises they won’t get away with this! She-Hulk swears they’re going to pay, all of Doom’s toadies – especially the Wrecking Crew! The Thing suggests they go get them! Thor agrees.
“No!” Captain America intervenes. He asks them to listen to him: while they are off getting even, what if Galactus starts to use that world-eating machine he’s building up on that mountain? Then every living thing on this world, including these innocent villagers and those people from that suburb of Denver, will die! They’ve got to stay right here, ready to attack him. They may have only seconds to react when it begins. “Why wait?” Hulk wonders. He suggests they hit Galactus now. Then they’ll go crush those other murderous scum! Captain Marvel retorts that attacking Galactus is a lot like suicide. Hulk suggests they fight it out and see!
Cap suspects that Doom is trying to goad them into slugging it out with Galactus. Thor elaborates on this hypothesis: and once the victors – or victor – emerges, bone-weary and bloodied, Doom would attack, giving no quarter. Hulk suggests it’s going to come to that anyway. “Maybe…” Cap admits – but they’re going to wait and see. He wants the villains’ hides as much as any of them – and he swears to do it, if they get the slightest chance. But right now, they dare squander not an inch of their strength. Unpleased with this decision, She-Hulk walks away.
Meanwhile, half a world away, Cyclops, Rogue and Wolverine rocket homeward, leaving an inferno of exploding volcanoes below them. Wolverine tells the piloting Cyclops to watch where he’s going – those aren’t sparklers out there! Scott asks him to be quiet; Professor X is communing telepathically with him. Xavier congratulates Cyclops. It’s remarkable that the three of them were able to drive away four of Doom’s most powerful
lackeys. Cyclops informs him that Wolverine sustained minor injuries – for him, anyway! No sweat given his recuperative powers. They’ll back at Magneto’s fortress in approximately eighty-two minutes. “Negative!” Xavier retorts. He orders Scott to change course and pursue Doom’s task force. He debriefs him that Nightcrawler, Storm, Magneto and Xavier himself are boarding a second skycraft right now. They shall converge with Scott and the others and intercept the target craft. They have a chance to trap the Molecule Man, Titania, the Absorbing Man and Doctor Octopus before they can rejoin their allies; they must not let them slip away!
Inside the four villains’ aircraft which is heading back to Doombase, the Absorbing Man inquires of the Molecule Man’s condition: “How’s the wimp?” Titania is surprised he asked: “Don’t tell you give a rat’s patoot!” The Absorbing Man explains he’s just making conversation! Titania struggles to awaken the Molecule Man: “Hey, milksop!” She realizes he’s out cold. “What do you expect, Titania?” Octopus remarks, while piloting the aircraft. The way Wolverine sliced Owen, he’s lucky to be alive. Titania and Absorbing Man had better see to it that he doesn’t die… or Doom will have them disintegrated! Titania scoffs him: but he’ll forgive Octopus, huh? “Fat chance! Drive faster, jerk!” she urges him.
Hundreds of miles away, in the vast fortress called Doombase, Volcana watches helplessly through a monitor and sees her beloved Owen lay unconscious and gravely injured. She announces to Klaw that her little Owie is hurt! He needs her! She’s got to go to him! Klaw replies that he can’t help her. He’s as mad as loon!
Volcana quickly rushes into the Enchantress’ private chambers. She knows she is a sorceress; she could use her magic to transport Volcana to her Owen! “Yes…” the Enchantress agrees… but why would she do it? Because she needs her to, Volcana replies. Volcana can’t fly a ship – she doesn’t even have a driver’s license for a car! And Ultron won’t help her; he only takes orders from Doom.
The Enchantress blows her off: it takes much energy to transport a body as bloated as Volcana’s! She cannot be bothered! Volcana begs her to do it! The Enchantress is amused – and next, doubtless, Volcana shall try threatening her, she deduces. She warns Volcana that if she does this thing for her there will, of course, be a price… “Name it! Anything!” a desperate Volcana complies. “Rash words, mortal wench… and later you shall deeply regret them!” the Enchantress ominously announces and then uses her magic to teleport Volcana.
At once, Volcana finds herself whisked away, teleported inside the flying aircraft, much to everyone’s surprise. Titania asks her how she got here. Volcana explains she made a deal with the Enchantress. “What?!!” Titania roars. Ever since they were little girls back in Colorado, Volcana has done a lot of stupid things over a lot of wimpy mama’s boys, but this one takes the cake! “Oh, shut up, Skeeter!” Volcana snaps and takes the unconscious Molecule Man in her arms. “Owie, my poor cuddly-wuddly baby!” She tells him he’s here. She’s going to keep him all warm and safe till they get back home… then Doctor Doom or somebody will make him all better! Titania is sickened by the way Volcana mothers that twerp! She also reminds Volcana that her name’s “Titania” now – even to Volcana.
Octopus suddenly warns them all to brace themselves for evasive maneuvers; they’re under attack! The villains’ aircraft finds itself ambushed by the two X-Men skycrafts. One of them fires at the villains’ ship. Octopus announces they’re going to crash and asks them to hold on!
Seconds later, their airship indeed crashes down and all the villains hurriedly evacuate. The Absorbing Man mockingly congratulates Octopus on his evasive maneuvering! Octopus tells him to shut up and asks Volcana on Molecule Man’s condition. Volcana thinks he’s stable. He’s not bleeding anymore. “Oh, my poor, poor Owie!” she whimpers. Octopus deduces they have time then to kill these annoying dolts. The Absorbing Man believes that’s the first time Doc Ock ever said anything he likes. He immediately absorbs the properties of some rocks. A raging Volcana ‘fires up’ and announces she’ll get the one with the claws!
Cyclops and Nightcrawler begin engaging Titania. Cyclops warns Nightcrawler to be careful; Scott’s own optic blasts are deflecting from Titania’s indestructible body. Kurt is amazed: she does not quite believe it! Rogue cuts in and tries to make her move on Titania, but the villainess pummels her away. “Dumb broad always leads with her chin!” Titania sneers at her.
The Absorbing Man sends rocks flying against Magneto, which the latter repels. He wonders what scum like Magneto is doing hanging around with the X-Men. Sure, they’re outlaws… but he thought Magneto was big time! He has mass murder raps, manslaughter, terrorism, probably everything! He’s one of them! On second thought, he decides that a creampuff like Magneto belongs with those losers! Elevating himself in the air, Magneto swears he will pay for this insolence!
Volcana fires a blast against Storm but misses the flying mutant. “Almost got you! Sooner or later…” Volcana hisses. Watching Storm being attacked by Volcana and simultaneously approached by Doctor Octopus, Xavier telepathically warns her. Try as he might, he cannot piece their enemies’ minds together. The Enchantress has sealed them against him. He’s got to concentrate on coordinating their attack – but the noise and confusion is overwhelming.
“Storm!” he suddenly screams, seeing her snatched by one of Octopus’ tentacles. Wolverine goes to her aid, but the Absorbing Man, whose body is now made of stone after he absorbed some, intervenes: “C’mere runt!” Without hesitation, Wolverine slices off his right arm with his claw: “Outta my way!” The villain screams in panic, holding his torn arm. “You little slime…!” Volcana growls and blasts Logan. Xavier telepathically alerts Cyclops to stop her. Scott immediately blasts her. Xavier examines Logan and realizes he’s alive; they reacted in time. He then orders Magneto to aid Storm against Doctor Octopus. He instructs Storm to create rain and frigid temperatures around Wolverine and then strike with all possible force against Titania.
Rogue gets there, first, though, and pummels Titania with a rock. “You sneaky…!” Titania shrieks. Rogue admits may be stronger than she is but Rogue’s got all these charming warrior skills – that’s not sneaky, but smart fighting! Hurling the boulder against Titania, she decides it’s about how she uses her head other than for worrying about which side she should be on. She’s already made her choice when she joined the X-Men and she’s sticking with it – mostly because waffling was getting her face bashed in a lot!
Volcana realizes this isn’t working out – they’ve got to get out of there. She tells her comrades to run for it – Volcana herself will cover them! She instantly releases enormous quantities of volcanic blasts against her foes. Professor X orders Magneto and Rogue to erect some stones and shield them. Before he has to explain to Storm what she has to do, Ororo releases cold winds and rain to counterbalance Volcana’s blasts. Xavier asks them all to hold on; Volcana can’t keep this up for long. Neither can they, Storm points out. Magneto scoffs that this is no challenge for his magnetic powers. Rogue is glad to hear that!
Volcana’s distraction provides the villains with enough time to depart with their aircraft. Seeing them getting away, Rogue realizes they blew it. Perhaps, Professor X replies, but they lost nothing, save one of their ships – which matters little – and they gained much. They coalesced as a fighting unit passing their greatest test to date and he thinks they proved themselves beyond a doubt. As she heads back to the skycraft with the others, Storm has her own, private thoughts on the matter. She thinks it was Xavier who was tested – and though they did well today, she still has many doubts about his ability to lead them in combat.
At that moment, inside the enormous construct that is the homeworld of Galactus, Doctor Doom conducts an increasingly desperate search. He realizes he is but a burglar, rummaging about in another being’s home, seeking to steal some priceless things. He wonders: what choice does he have? He needs a key, a way. His armor’s sensors have led him to prize after prize – hundreds of thousands of devices, which in the hands of a man as brilliant as himself could provide power to conquer galaxies! Yet, all of them combined are not enough to defeat Galactus – let alone the Beyonder. He insists that there must be a way! He realizes he has spent too much time here; how much longer can Galactus fail to sense Doom’s presence? He asks himself if he’s afraid. He tries to suppress his fear: he tells himself it’s merely excitement. Fear is for lesser men. He shall press on!
On the planet’s surface, far below, Galactus perseveres in his endeavors, though plagued by a vague feeling of unease. He pauses, looking around, sensing the entire world and everything upon it at once. Volcanic eruptions, fifteen thousand miles away attract his notice. They are spreading, growing even more violent. He sighs. It seems he must take time to repair this damaged planet before devouring it – a nuisance…
His concern about the volcanic upheavals nearly causes him to overlook another matter of seemingly relative insignificance – as Galactus has a sense of something out of place, somewhere in his home, something small. He pinpoints the anomaly – Doctor Doom – seizes it in an energy field and expels it, not very gently, from his home, his vast spaceship, sending Doom skyrocketing back to the planet below. Satisfied, Galactus turns his attention toward quelling the massive eruptions.
Sometime later, the villains return to the Doombase. Volcana hopes Octopus can help Owen. He’s a doctor, isn’t he? Carrying the unconscious Molecule Man, Octopus corrects her: he’s a nuclear physicist, not a medical doctor. He’ll take Owen to his chambers, then it’s Volcana’s problem… and Doom’s, if he ever returns. Desperate, Volcana asks Ultron if he can do something. Ultron reveals there are alien medical machines in the central infirmary. He is capable of operating them. However, he must have orders from Doom to do so. Volcana urges him to go ahead; Doom would want him to help Owen! Ultron repeats he can act only upon orders from Doom!
The Enchantress appears and professes she could help Owen with but a wave of her hand… for a price! “You filthy…!” Volcana snarls upon seeing her. She asks her what she wants from her. Nothing, the Enchantress cackles – Volcana has already bargained away all she possesses! “Witch! I’ll kill you!” Volcana shrieks and makes to lunge at her. Titania restrains her and advises her not to make it any worse. She tells her to just go take care of her man. Now confronting the Enchantress, Titania explains that Volcana is her friend and for some reason she likes that wimpy runt. Titania herself is tired… hungry. Right now, she’s going to eat, clean up and get some rest. Then, unless the Molecule Man’s all better, Titania is going to tear the Enchantress’ leg off and stuff it down her throat! The Enchantress is amused.
Nearby, a terrified Absorbing Man wonders what he’s going to do with his torn arm. If he changes back to human, he’ll bleed to death. But he can’t stay in his stone form forever. How is going to eat? Maybe if he just holds it in place when he changes it’ll be okay… but maybe not. His absorbing power is magic. He doesn’t even know how it works. He decides he’s got to try it. He doesn’t have a choice. As he turns back to human, he releases a terrible scream from the pain… and is relieved to see that it worked. It hurt like the devil but the arm stuck – although it’s sore. He feels like he’s going to puke. He decides to lie down.
Elsewhere in the fortress, the Wrecking Crew are about to place the Lizard in a cage. Just then, the Lizard wakes up and begins to scream and make spastic movies, trying to escape. Wrecker warns his teammates, who are carrying him, to look out; the stasis-ray must’ve worn off. The Lizard rants and raves that they killed the Wasp!
Bulldozer is surprised that this stupid freak cares they gunned down the Wasp. Suddenly, the Lizard sets himself free and grabs Bulldozer, his legs making a firm grip around his throat. Bulldozer begs the others to just get the Lizard off himself! Piledriver reckons he will and punches the Lizard away from Bulldozer and into the cage. Thunderball congratulates his teammate and pulls the switch, trapping the Lizard. Wrecker believes that’ll hold him. Even Thor couldn’t break out of that cage! Thunderball hopes it better hold him; that Lizard’s nuts. The foursome leave the screaming Lizard behind, unaware they are being watched by Klaw.
Moments later, Bulldozer tells his Wrecking Crew teammates to go ahead; he’ll chow down later. He’s beat. He enters his private quarters, thinking how that scaly maniac darn near ripped his throat out. Whatever Doom wants him the Lizard for, Bulldozer hopes it’s worth it. And he hopes it’s painful! With no window in these quarters, he is suddenly bemused to feel a breeze. Approaching the bed, he sees a huge crack on the wall and wonders, in amazement, how that got here. “Uh-oh…” he suddenly suspects.
She-Hulk sneaks out from a corner of the room and tells him that “uh-oh” is right! She’s here to discuss a certain little murder! Bulldozer angrily retorts she’s discussing nothing with nobody! He’s going to butt her right through the bulkhead! She-Hulk scoffs that he’s real strong. He could probably give Spider-Man a good tussle in an arm wrestling match… which means he’s small change to her! With this, she wallops him and sends him crashing against the wall. She tells him she likes a fair fight, but not this time! The Wasp never had a chance either, did she?! Hearing the noises, the rest of the Wrecking Crew enter the room and see She-Hulk beating Bulldozer within an inch of his life. “Get her!” Wrecker shouts.
Elsewhere in the fortress, Titania walks in a corridor, only to see a huge crack on the wall. She realizes somebody was in too much of a hurry to bother with doors… someone strong! She has no problem following the trail, going through several openings in crashed walls. She then hears a noise up ahead – sounds like fighting. However, when she walks into the actual fight scene, she finds it looks like slaughter! “Not bad,” she scoffs, seeing how She-Hulk beat up the entire Wrecking Crew. She wonders: now that the preliminaries are over, is She-Hulk ready for the main event? “You! Doom’s musclewoman!” Jennifer growls. Titania introduces herself and tells She-Hulk to remember her name. She’ll be using it soon when she’s begging with her life!
Narrowly avoiding one of Titania’s kicks, Jennifer kicks her back and sends her flying upwards. Undeterred, Titania slams a huge part of metallic equipment on Jennifer’s head and swears her she’s going to lick the floor for what she did! She Hulk’s going to kiss Titania’s boots… just before she buys it!
Octopus and the Absorbing Man enter the room. Octopus is surprised to see it was just one of them, just She-Hulk. From the din, he’d assumed they were under all-out attack! The Absorbing Man remarks that the Wrecking Crew looks like they’ve been through a gravel crusher; She-Hulk must be a one-dame army! Titania warns them to stay back: “She’s mine!” The Absorbing Man tells her he’s sorry but he’s in the mood to crack an Avenger’s head!
Meanwhile, in a chamber far removed, the Enchantress sits in sullen reverie. She can hear that the echoing thunder of battle gives way to dull, rhythmic thuds followed by shrieks of agony. She presumes they’re burgeoning some wretched fool to death. Perhaps it would be amusing to watch… but then changes her mind: “Fie upon such dull sport!” She’d rather stay here and think about Thor. She’d thought him dead – but he lives, and thus too do her dreams of seducing him, corrupting him, molding him into a darkly majestic consort fit for the queen of evil! With him at her side, all Asgard would be at her feet! All things seem possible when endless tomorrows lie ahead – but do they? Or are they destined to perish along with this mortal rabble? Even the lives of gods seem so fragile here…
She suddenly hears a noise from the main gate. A terribly wretched, beleaguered Doom walks in. She asks him what happened to him. She reminds him he has forcibly linked their fates to his own and urges him to speak. She would know the significance of this. What jeopardy has he placed them in? What are his plans? “Do as you will… it is done… finished…” Doom barely has the strength to mutter, before he staggers his way inside his quarters and collapses to his bed.
Elsewhere, the tables have turned and the villains are now ganging up on She-Hulk, savagely beating her with every weapon imaginable. Titania sneers at her and urges her to beg like a dog; she wants to hear it! Not that it will do her any good, the Absorbing Man scoffs. Suddenly, Jennifer stops moving moving altogether. “She’s had it! Now what?” the Absorbing Man wonders. Octopus suggests they kill her! Thunderball agrees. “All together now…” Titania snarls.
At that moment, hundreds of miles away, Captain America sits on a rock, observing Galactus on the mountaintop. Galactus had that machine of his completed for hours. Steve wonders why he just stood there all the time. And why now is he tinkering with it again? Has something about the planet changed, requiring adjustments? Why doesn’t Galactus just get on with it and put an end to this waiting?
Hawkeye interrupts his reflections and announces that She-Hulk is missing. Nobody’s seen her all day. He thinks everyone knows where she went. He stresses she can’t take the villains alone – she needs them! Cap repeats they stay here. Hulk also shows up and reminds Steve that She-Hulk is his cousin. He begs him to just let him, alone, go after her. Cap wishes he could but the answer is no. Hulk supposes Cap wouldn’t consider putting it to a vote. Cap clarifies his heart would vote “yes” in a minute. Too many innocent lives are at stake here, though. Many more than the few people on this planet. They’ve got a universe depending on what they do here. They can’t allow themselves the luxury of making decisions with their hearts.
In the village nearby, the wounded Colossus limps painfully through the streets. He has had enough lying around. He’s begun to feel guilty, like a shirker. He decides to find Zsaji. If she gives him one more of her treatments, maybe the pain will ease enough so he can work and perhaps fight again. He sees Zsaji coming out of the hut where the Wasp’s body lays awaiting burial at dawn – if there is a dawn. His heart leaps just to see her – she is so beautiful. He calls after her… and then suddenly sees her collapsing. Taking her in his arms, he sees she’s so pale, barely breathing. Full of concern, he wonders what’s happened to her.
Not far away, Professor Xavier speaks telepathically with Captain America. He explains his X-Men and Magneto are stationed only a few miles from their position. They are ready, willing and able to help. If he wishes, they will take Cap’s vigil, freeing him to do what he must. They shall counterstrike immediately should Galactus take action against the planet in the absence of Cap and the rest, and they will hold fast against him until the others return. He begs Cap to accept their offer. Cap tells him it’s a deal. Turning to the others, Cap announces the situation has changed. He’ll explain later. “For now… let’s go get those butchers!”


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Invasion!
Grim-visaged, eleven heroes – Captain Marvel, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Spider-Woman, Thing, Mister Fantastic, Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man and Human Torch – hurtle toward the stronghold of their enemies seeking to avenge the death of Wasp and perhaps save the life of She-Hulk. Captain Marvel urges them to hurry; She-Hulk’s in trouble, she knows it! Spider-Man retorts that She-Hulk is tough. He personally believes she’s got them outnumbered – he hopes, at least!
Soon, the heroes reach the fortress of Doctor Doom and gather outside. Mister Fantastic is at loss: he can’t believe Doom hasn’t detected their approach! Why hasn’t he sent out a sortie to intercept them? Thing snarls that maybe he’ll ask Doom that while he’s twisting his nose off! He urges Thor to shout something corny and poke a hole in that overgrown Quonset hut! Thor retorts that he has no vainglorious oath to utter – only a prayer that they have but one to avenge! With this, he swirls his hammer, the Mjolnir, and hurls it against one of the outer walls of the fortress, intent on breaking through the complex.
Meanwhile, in the chambers of the Enchantress, the sorceress, who is now heavily drunk, discerns the sound of Thor’s hammer. “Oh, no!” she laments. She realizes this war is not working out too well. “Inkeeper! Fetch me another flagon of mead!” she cries out in her drunkenness, and then realizes there are no servants around to attend to her every whim. She shall have to conjure her own mead again… or an innkeeper! But first, she decides to see…
Opening a portal which allows her to see even at the furthest distances, she sees Thor and the other heroes trying to smash their way inside the fortress. “Behold the mighty Thor!” she scoffs. He actually believes this war is the purpose for which he was born; a chance to win glory undreamt of! As for the Enchantress, she imagined it to be a chance to redeem herself – lest during this cataclysmic combat her immortal life end in wickedness. And so, Thor appealed to her to forsake evil and join his noble cause.
“Ho!” she sneers. If she did join his cause, could he ever love her? She told him to kiss her. She told him to give her a glimmer of hope and she would try. Were they not interrupted just then, the fool would have kissed her – and then he would have been hers! Ensnared by the seductive, sorcerous power of her lips! Or perhaps, her evil would have buckled; her spells would have failed; for truly, her heart is his! A kiss, a glimmer of hope that she might ever earn his love fairly, and perhaps she would have tried his way! But the chance is lost, she laments. And now… will she fight against him? “Oop!” she exclaims as she loses her balance and throws herself to the floor. “Or… crawl and beg? Behold the mighty Enchantress…” she takes pity at herself.
Meanwhile, in the infirmary, Volcana tends the unconscious Molecule Man, wounded in battle against the X-Men. Volcana promises she won’t leave him. She won’t let anybody hurt him anymore. If one of them dares to come in here, she’ll kill them! Especially if it’s that Wolverine guy who cut him! She vows he’ll get his!
In the fortress’ huge dungeon, where the savage, uncontrollable Lizard has been imprisoned, the reptilian creature suddenly finds himself let loose by Klaw. Lizard wonders who this one who frees him is; what sort of creature is it? He demands to know what his name is. Klaw, the self-styled master of sound, introduces himself. He explains he can’t stand for someone to be trapped. He reveals he was also trapped in a ship’s hull not long ago – it drove him mad. “Mad! Ad, ad, ad!” he chants in an infantile manner. He also admits he loves the way the Lizard talks!
Elsewhere in the fortress, in a battle-ravaged chamber, seven of the villains brutally bludgeon the unmoving body of She-Hulk. Wrecker suddenly discerns a noise. “Sounded like thunder! Big deal!” Bulldozer allays his concerns. The Absorbing Man disagrees: only one thing makes a noise like that – Thor’s hammer! He assures them he knows. He realizes they must be busting in here… coming for them! “Great! Just great!” Wrecker despairs – they aren’t ready! “So what’s to get ready?” Titania retorts – the heroes show their faces, they bash them in! She suggests they go!
The villains immediately begin to take their leave. Seeing Doctor Octopus lingering behind, Piledriver tells him to come on; if they hurry, he reckons they can lay an ambush for the heroes. “Certainly, Piledriver…” Octopus agrees with him – “but first, the coup de grace,” he viciously rejoices as he grasps the senseless She-Hulk with his tentacles and brutally hurls her against a metallic surface. “There! Now there’s one less to concern us!” he exclaims in satisfaction as he takes his leave with the rest.
In a corridor some distance away, Ultron stands vigil over his master’s, Doom’s, quarters. Inside, the seared and tattered Doctor Doom sits on his bed. He dared to invade the homeworld-ship of the all-powerful Galactus and paid the price – and now he’s reeling to the shock of the experience.
Meanwhile, the heroes finally break inside the fortress. Captain Marvel announces she’s going ahead to search for She-Hulk – in her light beam form, she can cover miles of corridors in the blink of an eye. Human Torch urges her to go ahead; the rest of them will flush out the bad guys!
“Oww!” Iron Man suddenly wails in pain, as the Wrecker ambushes him, batting him with his crowbar. “You lousy…!” Iron Man growls. He realizes it was a good thing he was the first one to pass here; Wrecker’s super-duper crowbar would’ve cut anybody else in half! He realizes his armor’s busted up, but not too bad. He’ll be able to keep going in a minute, after his ribs stop smarting so much… and after he repulsor-blasts Wrecker through the stinking wall! Indeed, he does so, causing Wrecker to scream.
Seeing several villains sprouting out far and wide, Reed realizes it’s an ambush and warns the Human Torch to look out. “No prisoners! Trash their butts!” the Absorbing Man roars. Lunging at Johnny, Octopus welcomes him to their place and suggests he has a drink! With his tentacles, he opens a rift in a water tank just above Johnny and tons of water splash down on the Torch. Reed grabs the unconscious Johnny in time. “Yeah, so now he’ll be a bloody smear on the wall instead of the floor!” Bulldozer snarls and lunges at Mister Fantastic. “Heads up, Richards!” Spider-Man warns him. “Oh, never mind!” Spidey exclaims and decides to intervene, throwing a magnificent punch against Bulldozer, causing his helmet to fly off.
Witnessing this, how Spider-Man dropped Bulldozer with just one shot, the Absorbing Man decides he’d better absorb the strength of the alien steel from one of the walls before he tackles him. “Pretty fast, squirt!” he then roars – let them see how he tackles this, he suggests before he attacks Peter with his mace. However, Spidey jumps away just in time and the Absorbing Man smashes a column instead. The villain is at loss: he only ripped Spider-Man’s suit up! It’s like Spidey knew the attack was coming or something! It doesn’t matter, he decides – his next shot will get him!
Thing intervenes and suggests the Absorbing Man picks on somebody as ugly as himself – in which case, he has to leave everybody alone! “The Thing!” the villain growls – or is it? He suddenly watches as Ben again transmogrifies into human! “Oh no! Not again!” Thing despairs – he’s turning back to Ben Grimm! But how? And why now?! “Tough luck, bozo!” the Absorbing Man gloats and throws Ben on the air. What a revolting development, the villain scoffs – this will just make things quicker!
Watching this, Spider-Woman comes to Ben’s rescue and grabs the Absorbing Man. “Now who in blazes is it?” the villain wonders. “None of your business!” she retorts and hurls him against the wall. “A broad!” Creel puffs in disdain, seeing who tackled him. He promises that as soon as he peels himself out of this wall…
Without allowing him to finish his threat, Spider-Woman flings his own mace right in his face and knocks him out. Spider-Woman gloats: a clean knockout of the awesome Absorbing Man. And it’s the only the fifth time she’s even been in a fight! “The new Spider-Woman wins again!” she relishes.
Nearby, seeing Piledriver lunging at him, Hawkeye warns him to stay back. “What for?” Piledriver mocks him. He thought Hawkeye never missed – still, he hasn’t hit him yet! He reckons it wouldn’t him any good anyhow! Slugs from .38 just bounce off his super-strong hide! That’s what Hawkeye’s last arrow is, isn’t it? He doesn’t have much between him and a man such as Piledriver who can flatten Cadillacs with his fists! “Hawkeye, the archer!” he scoffs. Hawkeye is going to need Hawkeye the M.A.S.H. doctor in a minute – because Piledriver is going to “mash” him!
Hawkeye explains that those shots were just warning. He doesn’t want to have to hit Piledriver. From his bow, at this range, an arrow hits a lot harder than any bullet. He pleads with him to back off. Undeterred, Piledriver keeps coming for him. “All right, have it your way…” Hawkeye gives up his efforts to convince him and shoots him with an arrow, getting his left shoulder. Walking away in horror, and arrow sticking out of him, Piledriver realizes he’s been shot – he’s wounded!
Nearby, the Hulk blasts his way inside a room where he encounters the Enchantress. The seductress invites him to come right in. Hulk wonders what he does now and warns her to stand her distance. “But why?” the Enchantress mockingly wonders. She is but a helpless female! And he is the mighty Hulk, is he not? Hulk warns her not to force him to hit her… he doesn’t want to have to… Coiling her arms around his face and leering at him, the Enchantress invites him to look at her. Is she not, at once, every woman he has ever desired?
“I… I...” Hulk mumbles in confusion, entranced by her gifts. She invites him to stare into her eyes… love her… love her… Finally, Hulk faints to the floor, on account of the Enchantress’ hypnotic talents. “Mortal cretin!” the sorceress remarks as she refills her glass of mead from a flagon.
Just then, Captain America enters through the huge rift on the wall brought about by Hulk’s invasion. The Enchantress welcomes him and asks him if he perhaps would like a flagon of mead. Seeing Hulk lay on the floor, Cap wonders what she did to him. She explains that, for the moment, he is merely asleep, doubtless dreaming dreams of her. “But alas, he can never truly have me, for I am yours, my handsome captain!” she exclaims, again brimming with her bewitching energy. Is she not beautiful? She urges him to come to her…
Fully aware of what she is truly is, Captain America tells her to give it up. The Enchantress notices his will is strong – very well! They shall do this the hard way, she decides and begins unleashing magical blasts against him. “Curse you! Hold still!” she protests as she sees him jumping around and evading her blasts. “Surtur’s teeth!” she exclaims. He moves as quickly as the cats of Skornheim!
Maneuvering his way around her blasts, Cap jumps right in front of her, at close proximity. “No!” she screams. He… he would not strike her? Not if there were any other choice, he replies – but he knows what she can do, given just a second to act! At once, he socks her in the face with his shield, knocking her out. Human Torch also enters and, seeing Hulk and the Enchantress unconscious on the floor, he wonders what happened here. Cap retorts there’s no time to explain; he’s going to try to locate Doom. Johnny stresses he’ll come with him; he’s starting to get his flame back!
Meanwhile, in another part of the fortress, Titania is painstakingly pushing forward an enormous beam, hoping to have it dropped on the heads of some of the unsuspecting heroes fighting several feet below. “One more shove…” she heartens herself.
Suddenly, Spider-Man ambushes her from behind. He had a feeling somebody was up here in the rafters trying to drop a forty-ton beam on their heads! “Spider-Man!” Titania snarls. “The world-famous one!” he admits. He asks her if she surrenders. She puffs in disdain: to a scrawny little puff like him? He’s talking to Titania! Spidey retorts he thought she was some common ruffian! Evading one of her punches, which pulverize a part of the wall instead, Spidey jeers her: “Nyah, nyah, can’t hit me!” – and he is glad! Titania retorts that she doesn’t have to hit him and then slams her fist on the floor. The floor below Spider-Man shatters in giant fragments, sending the web-head helplessly yanking in the air.
Titania reveals that she used to be the shrimp. She used to be the scrawny one who got her face rubbed in the dirt. Now, she’s powerful… and it’s her turn! Successfully evading a huge chunk of metal she just hurled at him, Spider-Man realizes she’s got some hostility built up. Titania warns that everybody should better look out for her now! She’ll crush anybody who gets in her way – especially miserably little wimps like Spider-Man! With this, she is about to level Spider-Man, who lies helpless on the floor, with another gigantic beam.
Elsewhere, Hawkeye encounters Thing and notices he lost his rocks! “Yeah… again!” Ben grumps. Hawkeye notes that the battle seems to have left them behind. Did Ben see which way everybody went? Ben admits that he doesn’t – it’s a big place. Still, he points him to a direction: “This way, I think!”
Nine hundred yards of corridors later, the two heroes reach a place, which Ben conjectures must be the dungeon. Suddenly, they see Klaw standing idly nearby, unaware of their presence. Ben is aware that Klaw’s sonic powers are dangerous and suggests they think a plan before they tackle him. Hawkeye remarks it better be a good one – he’s all out of arrows. He tries to concentrate: “Let me think…”
The Lizard, who has taken wind of them, suddenly ambushes them from the other side of the corridor. “Intruderss-s!” he warns Klaw. “Aw, shoot!” Hawkeye curses. Lizard asserts that this place is his and Klaw’s; intruders die! Seeing how they are now circled in by Hawkeye and Lizard, Ben nervously asks Clint if he has any ideas. Hawkeye assumes they’ll have to outwit them. Ben is astonished: “Us?!”
At that moment, in the infirmary, Volcana hears the heroes coming – she’d better get ready to fight. She promises the first one who shows his face through that door is getting crispy-fried! The Molecule Man wakes from his slumber and slowly calls after her. Volcana exclaims it’s so good to hear his voice again. However, she tells him to just rest now. “Mama will protect you!” she reassures him. Owen insists he wants to help her. He and she will annihilate them… together!
Just then, Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Thor and Spider-Woman are about to walk into the infirmary. Iron Man asks Richards if he has any sign of the enemy… and then Volcana releases enormous quantities of lava, blocking their entrance to the infirmary. “Forget I asked!” Iron Man gasps. Reed realizes it’s the Molecule Man and the one who calls herself Volcana. Iron Man tells them to stay back and announces he will roust their butts out of here! Seeing him rushing headlong into the room, Reed warns him not to: that’s plasma generated heat Volcana is throwing! Too much even for Iron Man’s armor!
Nonetheless, Iron Man rushes into the room. Molecule Man tells Volcana not to worry; Iron Man can’t get at them! He explains he’s fused some air molecules into an ultra-hard shield around them. Volcana tells him that’s nice… but Iron Man has had it anyway! His little tin suit is smoldering! Her next blast will vaporize him! She asks Owen to make her a “gunport.” Iron Man realizes that the cooling systems of his armor are down… overtaxed. Lots of circuits are fused and burned out…
Fortunately, the rest of the heroes intervene at that moment. Reed stretches his body and grasps Iron Man before Volcana has the chance to blast him. Iron Man warns Richards: his armor’s red hot – his hands… Volcana, on the other hand, is vexed for missing Iron Man. Molecule Man tells her it’s alright; they can pick them off at their leisure. They’re quite safe here – nothing can get through his invisible shield.
Captain Marvel suddenly materializes right behind Molecule Man and makes a grip around his neck. She corrects Owen: the shield is not invisible – it’s transparent. That means light can get through it… and so can she! She was literally just passing by, so she thought she’d drop in! Realizing that Captain Marvel is unwittingly harming the injured Owen by holding him too tightly, Volcana begs her to stop it; she is pulling Owen’s wounds open! “Wounds?” Monica exclaims. “Look what you’ve done! He fainted!” Volcana whimpers. She begs her to stop it! She surrenders! Monica realizes the villain was wounded and apologizes to Volcana. As Molecule Man completely loses consciousness, the dome he has generated is gone and the heroes pass through.
Elsewhere, Titania finally hurls the massive beam on Spider-Man… and yet, he manages to jump away at the very last instant. Titania blurts out it’s impossible; nobody can move that fast! “Nobody else!” Spidey boasts. He wonders why a woman who lifts locomotives finds his humble talents so surprising! With a little room to operate, no one can lay a glove on him… not the X-Men, not the Absorbing Man, and not her. How does she think he’s survived all this time? Saying this, he leaps around, escaping her punches and kicks her head from behind. Titania vows that when she gets him she’ll… She can’t finish her phrase, though, as Spider-Man still taunting by jumping continuously around her, has another punch at her! He retorts that all she’s going to get is frustrated – and eventually trashed!
Now relentlessly walloped far and wide by the agile, unstoppable Spider-Man, Titania whines it’s not fair! Spidey quips that if they were fighting in a broom closet it would be fair, right? Titania implores him to stop! Still hammering her, Spider-Man surmises she ought to be happy: she aspired to be a bully and she’s a classic! She talks tough and nasty when she’s got the upper hand, but when she’s losing, that’s when the whining little wimp-ette inside comes spilling out! He then grabs Titania and throws her away with all his strength. The villainess crashes through the wall and ends up landing outside the fortress. “N-not fair…” she mutters before she passes out.
At that moment, Human Torch and Cap come across the unconscious Piledriver in one of the corridors of the fortress. Torch deduces he fainted from loss of…
Cap suddenly tells him to look out, discerning an attack! Johnny barely escapes being blasted by Ultron. Cap tells him to keep moving; a moment’s hesitation and Ultron will kill him! He deduces that Doom must be nearby: Ultron is his personal bodyguard. Johnny retorts he’s going to be Doomsie’s personal slag-pile in a minute! Cap warns him not to get close to Ultron.
Undeterred, Johnny mocks Cap and blasts the robot… only Ultron isn’t melting under the pressure of his firebolts! Ultron boasts that the core of the hottest star couldn’t melt his adamantium body; nothing can harm him! He is invincible, mechanically precise and computer-swift – he is perfect! Johnny remarks he is maybe a little egotistical, too – and just then Ultron grabs him by the ankle! The robot is curious to see how durable is Torch is! Cap instructs Torch to use his nova-flame to escape! Torch retorts that Cap’s too close; it would kill him, too! Nevertheless, Cap urges him to do it! Taking cover behind his shield, he urges Johnny not to hold back and give it everything!
Johnny ignites his nova-flame and the immediate area around him is scorched to the point of nothingness, amidst a searing explosion of light. Unharmed thanks to his shield, Cap emerges and calls out after Johnny. Johnny emerges from a newly-formed crater on the ground, kneeling above the neutralized Ultron. He tells Cap he’s okay. He still couldn’t melt Ultron’s adamantium hide, but something non-adamantium inside must have overheated. He admits he’s tired… wasted. Cap congratulates him and tells him to rest for a few minutes, announcing that he is going on.
Seconds later, Captain America encounters Doom in his personal chambers. Cap observes it’s come down to just the two of them… which is how it ought to be. However, seeing how Doom seems to hardly even notice his presence, Cap realizes that, whatever happened to him, the Latverian monarch is hardly alive. He seems completely out of it. He’s… harmless!
In the dungeon, some of the other heroes find Thing, Hawkeye, Lizard and Klaw all playing together! Hawkeye welcomes them and asks them if they want to join in a rousing game of patty-cake! Mildly embarrassed, Ben tells Reed that they arrived at the meeting of the minds! He jokes that they have far too much couth to resort to violence like them barbaric types! “Ain’t that right, Klaw?” he asks him. The Lizard warns the other heroes that, if they disturb their game, he will destroy them! Once they finish, they will do as Reed and the others say!
Elsewhere, Captain Marvel finally tracks down the unconscious She-Hulk. Seeing how badly beaten she is, Monica wonders what they have done to her.
Shortly, in the main infirmary, Reed tells Captain America that his hands are well enough – one of them bandaged. He explains there’s work to be done – wounded from both sides to tend. Cap asks about Doom. Reed admits there isn’t much he could for him. What’s left of Doom’s armor prevents any of the cell-generative devices from working on him – and removing it could take weeks. It’s certainly booby-trapped. For now, Thor’s taking him to a cell. He reveals that Doom died back on Earth some time before they were brought here. He doesn’t know how Doom can be here and alive in the first place. After all they’ve seen here, though, nothing surprises him anymore.
Observing She-Hulk, who now lies in a cell-generative device, Cap admits he’s amazed she survived that beating. Not by much, Mister Fantastic reveals. Even this technology couldn’t have saved her if they’d gotten to her a few seconds later. He wishes he had time to analyze one of these devices and learn its secrets. For now, though, he’s content just to know how to use it to save She-Hulk’s life. Thank God, Cap remarks. Losing another Avenger is too much to bear. He can’t help but think that if he’d done things differently, maybe Wasp wouldn’t have died. Reed tells him not to torture himself. What could have happened, did. None could have led them better or more wisely than Cap.
Meanwhile, in the dungeon, the rest of the heroes monitor the area. Hawkeye wishes they could have locked the Lizard and Klaw together; they’ve become such good friends! Hulk points out that being insane doesn’t mean they aren’t still dangerous. Captain Marvel announces they’re all secured. The restraints here are a little nasty but strong. Thor also announces Doom is safely locked away. Hulk admits that if the Enchantress suffers a little that suits him fine! He then wonders what he’s saying; it’s himself he’s mad at! Thor advises him not to be too hard on himself. The Enchantress has beguiled many men before Hulk – even Thor himself, more than once. Hawkeye and Captain Marvel decide to leave, intent on bringing Wasp’s body here, since this is now their base. They want her to have a proper burial, with honor worthy of an Avenger.
At that moment, in the alien village where Captain America’s command formerly headquartered, Colossus carries the unconscious Zsaji through the streets. Mad with concern, Piotr wonders what has happened to her – she seems on the edge of death! Soon, he enters the healer-woman’s humble hut and lays her on her bed. He tells her to rest easy. As she cared for him when he was wounded and dying, so now he shall care for her. He shall not leave her side – if he only he had her power to heal! If only she could tell him what was wrong!
Colossus suddenly discerns a bottle in the room and wonders if that might be the bottle of which the Human Torch spoke – the one containing vapors which link minds. Opening it up, he smells an odor that is piercing but sweet.
Suddenly, he realizes it’s working! The images in Zsaji’s subconscious are his to behold – they meld with his own remembrances to piece together recent events. He sees Zsaji’s examining Wasp’s still, cold form. He feels her anguish. He witnesses the rage and grief of Captain America’s forces, and watches again, as they fly off, seeking vengeance. Then he sees, later, Zsaji bestowing her healing powers upon Wasp… pouring her own strength and vitality into the savaged, wounded Avenger’s body…
Suddenly, Colossus realizes the truth: the Wasp was not dead, merely wounded, but also in some kind of death-like stasis! When the stasis wore off, Zsaji healed Janet’s wounds and saved her life – nearly at the cost of her own! All this for a stranger from another world! Piotr wonders: on all the worlds in all creation can there be another like Zsaji? He thinks not… “Sleep, my beautiful, beloved Zsaji…” he softly mutters.
Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Captain Marvel enter another hut at the village, only to discover something that seems impossible, something they want to believe but… Wasp is alive! Janet smiles and admits that’s comforting; if they didn’t want to believe it, she’d really be upset! Monica mumbles that she really… she really is… “Alive!” Hawkeye wails in astonishment. Janet assumes it was all thanks to Zsaji. She must have… “Oh, no!” she suddenly pauses, realizing she doesn’t have any make-up on and her hair must be a mess!
Several miles away, in a skycraft resting atop a craggy mountain ledge, Professor X, his X-Men and Magneto keep a tense vigil on Galactus, watching him through the monitors of the ship. Magneto makes a hypothesis: perhaps it is all an elaborate bluff. Perhaps Galactus never truly intends to use his world-devouring device, but instead plans some other deadly attack. “Perhaps…” Xavier vaguely states.
Cyclops reports that there are still no energy fluctuations. Xavier asks him to continue scanning. He acknowledges the possibility that Magneto may be correct – still, they dare not divert their attention from the obvious threat. Nightcrawler quips that Galactus’ bluff is better than a handful of aces. “Indeed!” Xavier agrees. He swore to Captain America that they would stand guard here, and hold guard to Galactus, if necessary, until his forces return, and so they shall. Just then, Cyclops interrupts, pointing with horror at the monitor: “Look there!”
Meanwhile, back at the Doombase, Iron Man asks Reed if he can patch his tin suit up. Repairing the left arm of the suit, Reed assures him that, with the advanced alien technology at his disposal here, he can easily make it far better than he was, though he’s still impressed with the incredible sophistication of his armor. Iron Man – Jim Rhodes – is curious: was Reed surprised there was a black man under the metal? Reed claims that he never gave it any thought. He knew there was a man under there…
Elsewhere in the fortress, Spider-Man runs into Thor; however, he notices in surprise that Thor’s cape and hat are back! He wonders how he did it – unless he’s got a haberdasher who makes fortress calls! Thor explains it was Hulk’s doing, using a device he discovered. Hulk points him to the room where he found it. He explains just thinks into it and the device produces any sort of cloth or clothing one wants. Spidey is excited: new threads, without stabbing his thumbs with a needle!
He immediately enters the room, asking Hulk which one of these gizmos it is – however, Hulk doesn’t bother to answer. Peter spots a device which he deduces must be the one – it looks like it wants to make him a costume! Putting his head under a semi-circular part of the device, he begins to think how he would like his costume.
Suddenly, he notices a tiny black sphere materializing on the machine’s surface, right in front of him. Peter holds it in his hands, wondering what that heck that thing is. And why is it making his spider-sense tingle? Maybe he’d better get rid of… “Hey!” he then shouts, as the mysterious thing is going up his arm, enveloping it as if a liquid. In a matter of seconds, the glob just spreads out and becomes a costume, dissolving away the tatters of his old one in the process!
Not bad, he notes, inspecting himself – different, but not bad. Noticing how his new costume is black, with a white spider emblem on his chest – rather similar to the one worn by Spider-Woman – he wonders why it didn’t come out like his old one. It was his old costume he was thinking of. He assumes he was subconsciously influenced by that new Spider-Woman’s suit – he hopes she doesn’t mind!
Just then, he is shaken off by what appears to be an earthquake. Professor X’s voice, one filled with agony and dread, is clearly heard inside every hero’s head: “Captain America! Come at once! It has begun! Galactus is devouring the planet!”


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Assault on Galactus!
In the alien village, Colossus, still recovering from wounds received in an early battle, exits Zsaji’s hut, only to witness the beginning of the end: Galactus has begun to devour the planet! He is not afraid… except for Zsaji. Entering the hut again and gazing at the comatose Zsaji, he thinks that if the end must come, he wishes it to come now, while she lies in coma-like sleep. He did not truly know beauty, nobility and selfless compassion until he met her. Is it just that her healing touch – her very life-energy flowing into his body – laid bare the depths of his soul to her? No, he cannot believe that. Even when first he saw her, somehow he knew that she was the one in all the universe he could truly love. And yet… she loves another!
Exiting the hut again, he thinks it’s strange, but it doesn’t matter. He wants nothing in return for his love. It is not some commodity to be bartered. He cares only that Zsaji is well and happy. If she must be with another… he is content. He decides he’s got to fight for her love above all. “And let him who threaten it – even Galactus himself – beware!” he roars. Energy crackles around his body and his flesh becomes supple, living steel – and Colossus strides toward his destiny.
Meanwhile, high above Galactus’ mountain, Storm, borne aloft upon tornado-force winds, soars. Menacing storm clouds gather at her silent bidding, and, at her command, their fury hammers down on Galactus, who is standing atop a mountain peak, in front of his newly-assembled machine, his arms all extended, terrible energy emanating from this site.
Watching this, Wolverine mumbles it’s unbelievable: Galactus is still standing after Storm’s attack! Moreover, Magneto notes, Galactus didn’t even seem to notice. If they cannot so much as gain his attention… Professor X calls him to silence! He swore to Captain America that they would hold out against Galactus until his return – and they shall! They must! Henceforth, they are in combat communications mode. He will give all orders telepathically; they must obey at once! He then begins giving out his orders: Rogue is to take to the air and attack at once; Nightcrawler and Cyclops are to follow up Rogue’s offensive.
Cyclops realizes that he’s never seen Professor X this intense before: it’s because he knows this is suicide. Scott bets Xavier knew all along it would come down to this – that’s why he seemed harder, colder, more authoritarian from the moment they got here. He’d mellowed out so much in the last couple of years, it was sort of a shock. But it makes sense now, he realizes: it must be hard to send one’s children to their deaths! He suddenly discerns that something has appeared out of thin air near the machine – possibly a defensive drone.
Rogue is the first to approach this mysterious sphere released from Galactus’ machine. Storm warns her to be careful. Rogue reckons she’s ready for everything: if it’s dangerous, it’s best she’d take it on first. She’s hard to hurt! However, the sphere generates two funnel-like energy shapes, one of which deflects Storm’s lightning bolt and the other strikes at Rogue. While Storm grabs the now unconscious Rogue in mid-air, Magneto electromagnetically hurls a chunk of rocks against Galactus’ drone, only to see it repelled by its defensive shield. Magneto realizes in despair that the merest toy of Galactus blunts their offensive. Trying to penetrate the drone’s shield with his blasts, Cyclops urges Magneto to keep hammering at it.
Suddenly, the high-flying device releases a blast against Professor X, barely missing him. Nightcrawler calls after him. Xavier tells them not concern themselves with him and just attack! Wolverine assures Kurt that Charles will live and urges him to skrag that thing! Kurt instantly teleports and rematerializes on top of Galactus’ drone, which he derisively calls a “cosmic flyswatter!” Seeing this, Cyclops orders him to teleport his butt back down here, now: his stunt is too dangerous! Kurt retorts he will not do it before he disables this thing’s sensors and strikes it with his fists. However, the drove quickly drives him off of itself and Nightcrawler goes flying in the air. Logan tells Xavier that Kurt bought them a chance – maybe with his life! Now what? Charles tells Magneto to stand ready and Cyclops to release a full-force optic blast. On his command… they are to strike!
At that instant, Hawkeye, Wasp and Captain Marvel observe the developing battle from the distance of the alien village, when suddenly an explosion of tremendous proportions occurs. Hawkeye is appalled: it was like a baby nuke! He wonders what happened. Captain Marvel admits she doesn’t know, but if that was the X-Men up there, they’re dead for sure! A shocked Janet wonders if they should head up there now. Hawkeye believes they’d better wait for Cap and strike as a unit.
Meanwhile, at the fortress once called Doombase, recently conquered by Captain America’s forces, the heroes frenziedly rush into their flying vehicle. Mister Fantastic urges them all to hurry: no telling how long the X-Men can hold out! “Yeah! Where’s the rest of the alphabet when you need?” Spider-Man quips. The now human Ben Grimm wonders where Captain Marvel and Hawkeye are. As the heroes enter their aircraft and hastily fly away, Cap explains that these two went back to the village earlier to bring Wasp’s body to the base for a decent burial. He hopes they have the good sense not to attack Galactus before they all arrive!
Noticing how sullen Hulk is, Thor asks him if he’s unwell. It would seem the gloom of Niffelheim hangs in the air about him! Hulk admits he’s had better days. Thor believes that if it’s that Hulk doesn’t fit in the plane chairs that depresses him, then he should count himself fortunate. Thor thinks they were made for insect men… or by trolls, for torture! If it is the impending battle that’s troubling Hulk, he should think: what greater chance for glory has man or god ever known? More even than Ragnarok, this was the battle Thor was born millennia ago to fight! Hulk, too, is a warrior-born: a taste of battle and the berserker battle-lust shall rise in his soul!
Hulk, however, doubts it: he lost that when he gained the intelligence of his human side – Bruce Banner – and now he’s losing that, too! He’s not savage enough or smart enough to be a relevant factor!
In another part of the aircraft, a smirking Human Torch smugly remarks that he doesn’t know what everybody’s worried about! How can they lose? He’s here! Ben tells him to do a favor and shut up! Here they are heading for the big rumble for all the marbles and he isn’t the Thing! He’s useless! He feels like he’s letting everybody down – not to mention the whole blamed universe! Johnny tells him to cheer up. At least, he’s better looking as Ben Grimm… well, a little, anyway! He urges Ben to smile or he’ll give him a hotfoot on the seat of his panties!
“Beat it, brat!” Ben rejoins. On Earth, he can’t change back to human at all. Why does he have to do here where he’s needed most as the Thing? If he can change back and forth, why can’t he control it like the Torch – why?! Slamming his fist against a surface out of frustration, though, he abruptly changes back into his Thing form!
Ben is shocked and exhilarated to see he’s the Thing again! He’s so happy he even likes the Torch! Indeed, he lifts him up in the air, squeezing him tightly! “Yeoh! Lummox! Put me down!” Johnny screeches. He can see the headlines – “Affectionate hug slays Human Torch en route to battle – universe is destroyed as a result!”
Noticing how Spider-Woman is looking intently at Thing and Torch, Iron Man thinks that this new broad is weird. She’s awfully quiet, does a lot of staring at folks and never cracks a smile. She turned up out of nowhere. She claims to be one their side, but maybe he’ll just keep an eye on her. Besides, she’s got great legs! Still, he admits the two of them have one thing in common: they’re both strangers here. A lot of guys have worked with Iron Man before – but that was when Tony Stark was in this suit.
Jim thinks they’ve started to realize there’s a different guy in here now – and they got their doubts. They’re keeping their distance; they don’t quite trust him yet. It doesn’t matter – as long as he’s got this armor, he’s one bad dude… especially since Richards souped it up! As soon as that fight starts, he’ll show them – show them the real Iron Man! James Rhodes is Iron Man, now and forever!
Suddenly, he sees a hyperkinetic Spider-Man bouncing all around the interior of the airship and wonders if he’s gone nuts! Thing chuckles that maybe he “flipped out!” “Hey, watch where you’re going, dog-breath!” Torch grunts. Spider-Man excitedly informs them he’s got his webs back and, to prove his point, shoots some web right into Johnny’s face! Johnny angrily warns him to watch what he’s doing! “I am!” Spidey assures him – isn’t it wonderful?! “No!” Johnny strongly disagrees, while trying to burn Spidey’s web off his face. He wonders where Peter got this stuff. It’s even harder to burn off than his old webbing – which won’t keep Johnny from frying his buns in a minute after he gets off! Peter responds by taunting Johnny.
Captain America scolds Spider-Man and tells him to settle down, while urging the Human Torch to do the same thing. Spider-Man repeats that he’s got his webs again! Ever since Mister Fantastic cannibalized his web-shooters to repair Iron Man’s armor, Peter has felt like a one-armed man… or a seven-foot spider! He reveals it’s the costume – somehow, it’s got built-in web-shooters! They fire when he thinks about it! He insists that’s not all; this suit does anything! “Watch this,” he tells them and, just by the power of his thought, the lower part of his costume is miraculously rendered short-sleeved! “There! Short sleeves for summer!” he jokes.
Reed admits he’d love to examine the costume in his lab sometime… if there is “sometime” ever again… if he ever sees his lab again. “Listen to me!” he chides himself. He sounds like a defeatist. He apologizes. Spider-Man certainly seems chipper considering what they’re about to face. Peter admits that, when he thinks about it, the whole trip boggles his mind – so, he’s given up pondering the imponderables. He has trouble understanding modern art! Who can figure all this ultra-cosmic stuff? He’s just taking it as it comes!
“And what about me?” Reed contemplates, as he pilots the aircraft, seated next to Captain America. Can he simply take it as it comes? No – he can’t help “pondering the imponderables”, searching for meaning in all this. He keeps hearing the Beyonder’s words echoing in his mind: I am from beyond. Slay your enemies and all you desire shall be yours. Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!
At face value, the whole thing is absurd. Why would a being so far removed from them and so powerful as the Beyonder bring them across the universe for a stupid, simplistic “good-versus-evil” gladiatorial contest? Is he a mad god? A cosmic idiot? And why them? Why this odd collection of beings, mostly from Earth? And why Galactus? He doesn’t fit. Human beings and even gods may be tempted, but Galactus is a force of nature – no more capable of having enemies than a hurricane or an earthquake. Why is Galactus here? There must be more to this… but what possible purpose could there be? He thinks Galactus must be the key!
“Reed! Heads up!” Cap suddenly screams next to him – they’ve been hit by something! Reed immediately activates the auto-stabilizers and the retros, but explains they’re too low. Cap tells everyone to brace themselves for crash landing!
Surprisingly, though, the ship does not crash land, as somebody below, on the ground, cushions their impact by grappling it before it crashes. As Hulk exits, followed by the others, he realizes it was Colossus: he buffered their landing! Seeing Piotr squirming in agony, Reed surmises he aggravated his injuries in the process. Colossus insists he’s all right. Cap retorts that Colossus is going to have to be all right. They’ll need his strength. It’s do or die, now!
The heroes gather around the roots of the mountain on top of which Galactus and his machine stand. Reed explains that Galactus’ machine is sending out power-tendrils to rip the planet apart before reducing it to bio-spheric energy. One of those must’ve nicked out their ship; they have only seconds before the world-burn starts! “Let’s go!’ Cap urges everyone and they begin climbing the mountain. Colossus discerns a crater nearby, from the explosion he saw on his way here. He wonders if the X-Men died there. He wants to do nothing but search for them – yet he cannot. He must not, for the sake of the living – for Zsaji.
The heroes begin circling in on Galactus and also locate Captain Marvel, who is trying to intercept Galactus’ high-flying defense drones. Monica warns them to be careful with the defense drones. She thinks one of them blew up here, right after it was damaged. “Now she tells me!” Iron Man huffs. Mister Fantastic urges him to concentrate on avoiding them, get past them and attack the world-devouring apparatus! Jim believes this will be a cinch with his new radar and in-flight dodging computers! Jetting off in the air, he manages to get near the machine and blasts it.
An astonished Reed realizes that Iron Man got through! He damaged the machine! Incredible beyond belief: they have a chance! They can win! “Wait…” he suddenly has an epiphany. “That’s the answer – that’s it!” he exclaims. Cap decides they’ve got the advantage and urges everyone to press on. Ben can’t wait to get his mitts on Galactus. Reed, however, urges them to stop! Ben is puzzled: what does he mean, stop? Reed explains they can’t go through with this. At last, he sees a purpose here – a meaning to the universe for this insane conflict. They must not stop Galactus!
Suddenly, a wave of sheer force emanates from the machine and hurls everyone back as leaves in the wind. Hurled back with everyone else, Captain America urges them to come up ready, regroup and renew the attack! As they get back in their feet, the Torch suggests they do it. Thing tells them to wait and asks Reed why he doesn’t want them to fight. Reed reminds them they’ve already damaged Galactus’ machine. They’ve done the impossible; that means this fight isn’t hopeless! They can win… which is precisely why they must not fight! They must let Galactus win! Cap wonders what he’s talking about; he isn’t making any sense!
Reed insists he’s making perfect sense. For the first time this whole thing makes sense to him. He sees a possible purpose in it. This is a chance to rid their universe of the threat of Galactus. All they have to do is let him win this contest. If the Beyonder, indeed, grants his wish, Galactus will be freed of his planet-consuming hunger at long last! “And if the Beyonder reneges?” someone asks. Reed believes that, re-energized by consuming this world, Galactus will attack and force the Beyonder to pay up – or be destroyed in the attempt. Any way they look at it… the universe wins. Countless billions who would have eventually fallen prey to Galactus will live in peace!
Spider-Man can’t help but wonder: why them? Why were they picked to decide the fate of the universe? “Why not us?” Reed retorts. He reminds him they picked themselves. Besides, beings of Earth seem to have a knack for being pivotal in the cosmic scheme of things. Ben asks him if he’s sure about this. Reed replies he is. Johnny assures Reed he’ll do what he tells him but…
Suddenly, Reed vanishes in a puddle of light before their eyes! He’s gone – and so are Galactus and the whole mountaintop with him! “Now what, Cap?” Spider-Man wonders. At loss, Cap admits he doesn’t know… but for once, is open to suggestions!
At that moment, several million miles from the surface of the battle planet, in the awesome, solar-system-sized construct that is the homeworld of Galactus, Mister Fantastic, who has just been teleported there, gazes in wide-eyed wonder. The interior of this ship pulses with life… with living splendor. Mountains, seas, forests; a world of inconceivable vistas of beauty; built, not created. He is overwhelmed!
Seated on his throne, Galactus welcomes him to his world. Reed replies he’s honored to be acknowledged by Galactus. Galactus wonders if Richards would like to view his own home. Reed admits he would, very much! “There!” Galactus says and an image from Reed’s home on Earth is projected before him. Reed sees his wife, Sue, and their son, Franklin, in the kitchen, smiling at each other. Reed confesses he misses them. Noticing Sue’s pregnant belly, he realizes she hasn’t had the baby yet. “No,” Galactus confirms. He asks Richards to listen to him and think well on his words.
Meanwhile, in a maximum security containment inside what was once his own fortress, Doctor Doom sits unmoving, as if turned to stone. Not long ago, he dared to invade the homeworld of Galactus, seeking knowledge, power, opportunity; a way to conquer Galactus and perhaps the Beyonder as well. But Galactus discovered him and expelled him – harshly – reducing the once mighty Doom to a tattered, charred ruin.
Suddenly, though, Doom has an epiphany: the world ship is the way! Galactus’ home itself is the way he seeks! At last, he sees! He must be free at once, before opportunity evades his grasp! His armor’s power is drained – thus, they left it on him, also fearing, perhaps, the many booby traps awaiting anyone who would dare attempt remove it. But Doom is ever prepared: at once, he activates his point-singularity power-supply, concealed in his right ankle, and again he wields power!
Now re-powered, he easily blasts off the door of his containment and marches outside. Doom passes by various cells and cages that contain his lackeys. Seeing him, the Absorbing Man implores him to free them! Doctor Octopus also calls after him! Doom reveals he has no use for them now… save for one!
In another room, Doom releases Klaw from his containment. Klaw, the mad master of sound, a being of living sound-energy, whom he found in Galactus’ home, is the one Doom needs. Klaw realizes Doom narrates his life as he goes on; is he being taped? Doom admits that everyone utterance of his must be recorded for posterity! Klaw himself is a ‘recording’ of sorts, due to the time he spent as a wave of vibratory energy coursing through the walls of Doom’s homeworld. He orders Klaw to come with him. “Where to? Toodle-oo, toodle-oo!” Klaw wonders. To the lab, Doom replies – he’s going to dissect Klaw! “Oh, good!” Klaw enthuses.
Meanwhile, Colossus is searching in the crater for the missing X-Men. He will not give up hope until he finds their bodies. If they are dead, there must be some evidence. He will search till he drops!
Suddenly, an optic blast – Cyclops’s – bursts its way through some rocks. Colossus witnesses the X-Men blasting their way through a layer of rocks. He realizes they are alive! “Ah reckon so!” Rogue replies. Piotr is delighted: he was tired of digging! Cyclops explains that, because of the enormous energy it apparently contained, they suspected that the flyswatter might explode when they blasted it, so Magneto pulled a thick layer of Earth and stone overtop of them for protection. Xavier admits the blast still very nearly killed them. “And now?” Piotr wonders. Xavier senses Cap’s people have returned to the village; they will do the same.
At the village, Captain America points at the incoming X-Men and realizes they survived, after all! Nearby, Wasp explains that Zsaji apparently saved her; she thinks it took a lot out of her, though. Spider-Man sees Hawkeye making another arrow and asks him of it. “One last one… with Galactus’ name on it!” Clint explains.
Colossus sees Zsaji, now apparently well, rushing out of her hut. “She has awakened! Thank the stars!” he exclaims. He greets her… but Zsaji passes him by and rushes by Human Torch’s side. Johnny dismissively tells her he’s kind of busy now. He’s just too worried about Reed to deal with anything else right now. The Thing remarks that doesn’t she understands Johnny’s words, but he thinks she reads him.
Cap suggests they could just stand ready, until Galactus appears again. If he does, Hulk stresses. What if he decides to wait a few months? Time is nothing to him. Captain Marvel proposes they get some spaceworthy vessels from Doombase and mount an assault on his homeworld. Ben intervenes and reminds them that Reed said not to fight Galactus, so they aren’t going to do that! “Right, Torch?” he aggressively asks him. “Well, I guess, Ben, but…” Johnny mumbles. Iron Man demurs that isn’t here to die sitting on his hands! Ben angrily assures him he can arrange for him to…
“Hello, everybody!” Mister Fantastic suddenly greets them all, returned from Galactus’ ship. Ben asks him what happened. Not much, Reed replies. They had tea. Galactus told Reed that Reed was a “force of the universe,” just as Galactus is. That Reed is a “universal champion of life,” just as Galactus is an instrument of death. He also showed him Sue and Franklin. “And the kid?” Ben enquires. Reed reveals that Sue hasn’t delivered yet. She looked fine – but Galactus didn’t say much about the baby. Ben admits he doesn’t know what that all adds up to, but whatever he says, they’re with him! “Right, kid?” he asks Johnny. Torch is affirmative but hopes that Reed… “He means right!” Thing tells Reed of Johnny, cutting him short.
Reed thanks Ben and Johnny for their support. He doesn’t know what to say. He’s more convinced than ever that it’s right to let Galactus do what he must. And if Reed’s a “champion of life”, does it not make sense to allow Galactus to slay them so that countless billions will live? Or was he telling Reed that he must fight to preserve even the relatively few lives here? He just doesn’t know…
Ben believes that one less orange monster isn’t going to matter much to the universe. Reed shouldn’t worry about Ben championing his life. He turns to the Avengers and defiantly states that they aren’t fighting… or at least not until Reed says so. Hawkeye protests this is a real crock; they’ve got to fight! “Quitters! Cowards!” he berates them. Ben challenges him to come here and say that! There is no heavy, cosmic reason that says he can’t bust Clint’s head! Johnny interjects and points them at the mountaintop: Galactus and his machine are back! It’s starting again!
“All right, listen up!” Cap announces and everyone gathers around him. He reveals that he is going to fight. The rest of them can come or not as their conscience dictates. Wasp assures him they’re with him. Cap is satisfied. He then shakes Professor Xavier’s hand and tells him that, despite their differences, he and his people did them – and the universe – a great service earlier. Xavier insists it was an honor. Cap hopes that Charles, his X-Men, and Magneto will come and fight side by side with the Avengers now. No one here will deny they’ve earned as much. “Enough talk! Let’s go!” the always impatient Hulk intervenes.
Moments later, at Doombase, Doom watches at a monitor and realizes that the battle against Galactus still rages. Excellent – there is still time! In another monitor, he observes that the Beyonder has opened his portal again – perhaps to more closely observe what transpires, sensing the awesome significance of the next few moments. Perfect, Doom remarks – but he must work quickly. The dissection must be completed and his apparatus assembled in mere minutes!
He walks into a room, where Klaw is being dissected on a table. “Doctor Doom’s dissecting room, oom, oom…” Klaw chants. He reveals that cutting doesn’t hurt when you’re made of solidified sound! He asks Doom if he may speak poetry into his tape recorder. Without waiting for a reply, he begins reciting “Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe: “The tintinnabulations of the bells, bells, bells, and the ringing and the singing of the bells…”
Elsewhere, the heroes again climb the mountain and launch a group attack against Galactus. Thor pushes everyone to march onward! Spider-Man realizes that Galactus is fighting them directly now; no more drones. He thinks that’s a good sign! “On the other hand…” Spider-Woman exclaims as Galactus releases a tremendous blast the impellent force of which sends everyone flying backwards.
Cap realizes that maybe Galactus is weakening, but he’s still no pushover! Hulk angrily snarls that neither is he! He’s getting sick of this… he’s going to smash Galactus once and for all! He quickly jumps closer within Galactus’ range – but then, Galactus zaps him and Hulk drops to the ground with a scream.
Suddenly showing up with the rest of the Fantastic Four, Mister Fantastic urges the Torch to hit Galactus before he can finish the dazed Hulk. Reed then instructs Ben to start undercutting the mountain and sever the anchor rods and probe wands sunk into the rock from that machine. Ben tells him to consider them severed and begins punching away. Reed informs Cap that Galactus used enormous amounts of energy transporting his homeworld here, and he’s sure he hasn’t fed for months. His power is almost depleted – they can take him!
Cap is glad Reed’s here, but wonders what made him change his mind. Reed explains that he thought about what Galactus said, and he’s still not certain that in the cosmic scheme of things what they’re doing is right, but he realized just how badly he wants to see his baby born. He wants that more than anything... and he’s going to fight for it!
Now taking the lead in the heroes’ new group attack against Galactus, Reed instructs Iron Man to hit him head on: his armor can withstand those ion beams Galactus is projecting. He then tells Rogue to go in after Iron Man and hit high – but watch for energy beams from Galactus’ eyes! He also tells Spider-Man to get behind Galactus, and Ben and Thor to close in quickly! “Got him!” Iron Man announces as he blasts Galactus’ trunk at close range. “Yow! That was close!” Spidey exclaims, barely escaping being crushed by one of Galactus’ feet. Cyclops realizes that the way to Galactus’ machine is clear and begins blasting at it! Iron Man joins in and urges them to trash it! “For glory! For victory!” Thor heartens his comrades.
Reed desperately urges them to leave the machine alone and get Galactus – capture him! Disable him if they must – Galactus must not escape! “Hurry!” he screams at them in despair, seeing them at loss. However, he immediately realizes it’s too late: Galactus is getting away, flying upwards in the sky! Reed exclaims he’s gone – they failed! Iron Man wants to know what the big deal is. Clint insists they won: they trashed his machine and drove him off!
Reed retorts they lost! He explains to them: right about now, Galactus is entering his world-ship. He’ll probably take a moment to look around – his last look. He doesn’t need this machine to devour a world; it just makes the energy absorption far more efficient. Under the circumstances, Reed is sure Galactus will make do without…
Just then, he tells the others he sees the beginning! Observing Galactus’ intensely glowing ship, Reed explains he’s devouring his own living world – perhaps the greatest energy source in the universe. Moments after he’s finished, this godforsaken planet will be next! They won’t be able to stop him this time! Then, he’ll probably consume the sun, too! He’ll want every iota of energy available in case he must do battle with the Beyonder! Reed concludes by stating, in full certainty, that they’re dead men!
Energy beyond ken seethes in the void and the sun seems dim by comparison. In the center of the nimbus of fundamental force, Galactus prepares to drink in the Power Cosmic. Watching from Doombase, Doom gives his command: Now! These lenses he’s fashioned from Klaw’s body so perfectly, singularly attuned to the energy of the world-ship will steal the power and draw it here to him!