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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Freedom Ring: Part three of five
(aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier)
Having escaped his stasis tank, the evil Tony Stark grabs the doctor by the throat and tells Agent Mitch Carson that, if he knew what he was capable of, he’d turn his gun on himself.
Mitch replies that it’s lucky he doesn’t know what he’s capable of, and pulls the trigger. As he squeezes, Stark swings the doctor around and the bullet goes straight through the doctor’s skull. Stark then throws the doctor at him, but Carson manages to fire a shot from the floor. The bullet bounces off Stark’s chest and his skin tears, revealing an armored plate beneath. Stark grins and explains that he’s gone through a few upgrades. After going to the trouble of fixing his ailing heart, he wasn’t going to have it damaged again. He grabs Carson by the head and slams it into the wall, rendering him unconscious. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood,” he quips.
He then turns his attentions to the Diamondback Life Model Decoy, which is still in its stasis tank. Stark drains the green liquid and she regains consciousness. As she falls from the tank, Tony catches her. She is surprised to see him, and asks what happened to his face. Never mind that, he replies, how are you?
Diamondback explains that she feels terrible. She doesn’t know what happened to her. She’s been turned into this thing. S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra or someone has messed with her body. Her left arm begins to morph uncontrollably as she speaks, and she says she doesn’t know how she’s doing this. As near as she can tell, she’d been brainwashed to betray Captain America to the Red Skull. She couldn’t control herself. In the end, she saved him, but they said she wasn’t Diamondback and took her away. They treated her like she wasn’t even human. She looks at her arm and wonders if maybe she isn’t human, after all.
Tony asks her not to say that. It can’t be true. Diamondback sits down, her arm spreading further out from her body. She believes Tony has been sent to rescue her, but this is the last thing on Stark’s mind. He opens a small panel on the back of her neck and she asks what he’s doing to her. He replies that he’s learning how to operate her. For instance, he’s just figured out how to shut down her motor functions. Diamondback tells him she can’t move. Stark informs her that he’s heard a lot while he’s been there. Her suspicions are correct. She isn’t human, and never was.
Tears begin to crawl down her cheeks, and she asks him what he’s saying. Stark is surprised that it even looks real when she cries. He explains that she is a highly advanced Life Model Decoy; so advanced that she can mimic the real thing in every conceivable way. So advanced, he adds, that she doesn’t even realize she is a decoy. Therein lies the fault. She is too perfect.
Stark continues fiddling with Diamondback’s computer, adding that, for all intents and purposes, she is Diamondback, Captain America’s former lover. She has all her memories and skills. She is her. Diamondback cries, saying it can’t be true. Stark tells her not to interrupt. He explains that it’s all very complicated, but there was a glitch detected early on in her model. She was never supposed to be sent into the field. However, a rogue agent tricked the Red Skull into thinking she was the real Diamondback and he programmed her into betraying Captain America. They could have just deactivated her and erased her memory, but Cap was against that. Nick Fury then agreed to keep her in stasis until they could figure out what to do with her.
Still unable to move, Diamondback asks him to stop this. It isn’t a joke. Stark tells her that Cap felt that deactivating her would be like killing her. He was right, only Stark doesn’t have any qualms about killing her. He flicks a switch on the control panel on her neck and her deactivation is complete. All the LMD’s memories are erased. He then establishes a neural link with the computer and Diamondback’s body folds into a small box. Stark then places the palm of his hand on the box and the metal morphs around his arm. He asks the computer if it is reading his commands. After a slight pause, it replies that it is. “Excellent,” grins Stark.
The box then proceeds to bend and flow around his body, forming itself into armor. Stark talks to himself, saying that he saw his colleagues die and sacrifice their lives; one by one for the greater good. He watched as they all turned on each other, as Reed Richards became a power-hungry maniac. Pitted against the Fantastic Four, he took the Human Torch’s life, but not before he scarred him. Stark then assumed control of Latveria and tried to take over the world - not to rule it, but to save it.
Richards stopped him and sent him to this dimension. He found himself on a backwards world where the Scarlet Witch went crazy, causing the Avengers to disband, preventing them from ever fighting the Titannus War and from being destroyed by that monster. In his world he was Iron Man. In this backwards, insane world, he will be Iron Maniac!
As soon as he’s finished his exposition, several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents burst into the room and confront him. They order him to surrender, but he replies that if as much as one bullet hit him, he’ll make them regret it.
(Saint John’s Memorial Hospital)
Dr. Hill walks into the corridor and says that she’s looking for the family of Curtis Doyle. His friends, Troy, Megan, Philip and Daphne are there waiting for news. The doctor informs them that she won’t lie to them - it doesn’t look good. Curtis’ chest has been crushed. He’s sustained massive internal injuries, even damage to his spine. They believe that they’ve stopped any internal bleeding, but at this point there’s no way to be sure. They’ve induced a coma in an attempt to stabilize him. The next twenty-four hours are crucial. She hopes to be able to tell them something more after the next round of surgeries.
The friends are shocked, but they realize that there’s not much they can do but wait. Daphne cries and asks why this had to happen. Why was Curtis even there? They said Spider-Man brought him to the hospital, but they’ve been saying he’s been a menace in the papers for years. Some monster decides to attack the city and he was just there? What did he ever do to deserve this? It’s just not fair. She adds that these super heroes are ruining their lives. Why did he have to be there? It doesn’t make any sense. Troy feels bad that he cannot tell them what’s been going on.
Troy goes into the room, alone, where he finds Curtis in a coma. He hopes that by speaking to him, it will help him recover. He tells Curtis that they put his personal stuff in a box, including the ring. He wonders why Curtis became involved in the fight. The X-Men took care of the Abomination in less than ten minutes. The big metal guy bashed his face in. As he speaks, Jeffrey arrives after Troy had called him earlier. He found it cute that Curtis ran away from the scene, but guesses he ran the wrong way.  Troy doesn’t let him know the truth. They stand at the bedside, hoping their friend recovers soon.
(back on the Helicarrier)
Iron Maniac and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are in a firefight. Stark tells them they were warned, and proceeds to tear his way through them; his armor taking anything they can throw at him. His armor can replicate any weapon he can think of thanks to the neural link and the suit’s morphing abilities. As he crushes all in his path, he claims he is unstoppable.
Elsewhere on the Helicarrier, Captain America asks Director Maria Hill what the situation is. She claims they can handle it. They don’t always need to call on ‘your kind.’ Right on cue, Iron Maniac smashes through the wall and onto the bridge. Captain America, Luke Cage and Spider-Woman prepare for close-quarters combat. He doesn’t want any of the non-super-powered personnel getting hurt. Iron Maniac relishes tangling with the three Avengers, and as he catches Cap’s flying shield easily with his armor, he calls them pitiful. Cage then grabs him around the waist, but is blasted to the roof, colliding with Jessica as he hits it.
Cap realizes that it’s the evil Tony Stark underneath the armor. He pities him for what he’s lived through, but he has to realize that he’s insane. What does he hope to accomplish here?” he asks, as he deliver a flying kick to Stark’s back. Stark quickly forms a weapon from his arm and fires at Cap who hides behind his shield. “I just want out,” he replies; smashing through the window. He descends quickly, powered by jet-propelled boots as Luke Cage asks who the heck he was.
(Tokyo, Japan)
In a secret bunker, deep underground, the two scientists looking after Titannus begin the next phase of their experiments. The younger man flicks a switch, which releases the now fully re-formed Titannus from his bed. He stands up and asks where he is and who he is. “So far, so good,” whispers the older man.


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

[Assistant]
First story: Freedom Ring: Interlude
Second story: Freedom Ring, part four of five
First story:
Inside Stark Tower, Wolverine is drinking milk straight from the carton, when he senses Aunt May standing on the other side of the fridge door. She feels he should show some consideration to others and use a glass, but Wolverine asks her what if he plans on drinking the whole thing. Before she can respond, May’s nephew, Peter Parker, arrives to inform Wolverine that Cap is calling from the helicarrier. He says it’s important. Wolverine gets up and leaves, leaving Aunt May fuming. She pours the milk down the sink, causing Jarvis to remark that he’s aware Mister Stark can probably afford it, but it does seem a little wasteful.
Cap is with Luke Cage and Spider-Woman, and their images appear on a large screen. Cap asks if there’s anyone else there, but Spidey replies that it’s just them. Should they get the Sentry? Cap doesn’t think that’s necessary. He tells them that they have an escapee from the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. He left less than two minutes ago, so if they look out the tower window, they should see him pass by. Surely enough, they see an armored form rocketing past.
Cap informs them that it’s the evil Tony Stark who they’ve been keeping in stasis. He’s used an advanced Life Model Decoy to form a suit of armor. He’s quite formidable, he warns, so they’re on their way. He’d like them to engage Stark and keep him occupied until they arrive. “Sounds like a plan,” says Spidey. “Shall we?”
Moments later, Spidey is carrying Wolverine with his armor’s metal arms. Logan thinks his suit still looks stupid, despite its advantages. As they approach Stark, or Iron Maniac, as he now calls himself, Wolverine asks to be released and he drops towards his target. He lands beside Stark and slashes his adamantium claws down the back of his suit. He wants to make it quick. Stark likes the sound of that, as it’s how he prefers to kill his victims.
Stark turns and grasps Wolverine by the throat. Stark tells him he’s a pain no matter which dimension he is in. He’s going to enjoy killing him again. He squeezes tighter, and tells Logan that he knows he can’t break his limbs but, if he tries hard enough, he’s sure he can rip the flesh of his indestructible adamantium bones. His suit’s molecular structure changes and the fluid metal enters Wolverine’s pores. Some oozes from his nostrils. He threatens to pop Wolverine like a balloon, but Spider-Man has other ideas.
Spidey swings down and kicks Stark in the back, forcing him to release Wolverine. Stark recognizes the costume and congratulate Parker on finally starting to apply himself. He’s pleased that he’s now using his brain for something more than silly remarks. Spider-Man replies that it was actually his dimension’s Tony Stark who built the costume for him… the one who’s not an evil jerk.
Stark is disappointed. From his right gauntlet, a weapon emerges; a very sophisticated-looking piece of hardware. He begins blasting at Spidey, but Parker uses his agility to dodge his fire. He asks what the deal is. Does he not have a spider-sense in his dimension? Does he know how hard it is to actually shoot him? “I’m totally awesome!”
Stark continues shooting to no avail, but this distraction has allowed Wolverine to recover and he once again slashes at Stark’s armor, receiving a wound to his side as a result. A weak Wolverine tells Stark that he doesn’t have enough to put him down, but Stark holds his gauntlet out and aims a small device on the palm of his hand at Logan’s face. “I assure you I do,” he replies.
Before he can fire, however, Spider-Man comes to the rescue. He webs up Stark’s facemask, but Stark lifts the mask and says he is only delaying things - not preventing them. He grabs one of Spidey’s metallic arms and uses it to spin Spidey around, using him as a swatter to hurl Wolverine off the building. Spidey manages to squirm free and he heads after his colleague, grabbing him as they fall. Unfortunately, by the time he has a hold of him, they’re too close to the ground and they hit it hard, just managing to roll with the impact at the last moment. However, they’re in a bad way, and Stark descends to join them immediately. Onlookers are helpless as Spidey wonders, “Weren’t the rest of the Avengers going to show up and help us?”
Second story:
At the hospital, Curtis Doyle is finally awake and eating jelly. Dr. Hill opens his door and asks to speak with him. She is sorry to inform him that his injuries mean that his spine isn’t going to heal. He’s paralyzed from the waist down and will never walk again. Curtis is shocked. When he took on the role of Freedom Ring, he never expected this. Dr. Hill tells him they will keep him a couple more days for observation and then he’ll be discharged. She apologizes again and leaves.
(two days later)
Troy takes Curtis home in a wheelchair and offers to help him with whatever he needs. Curtis, still understandably upset, replies that he just wants to be left alone. Once Troy has gone, Curtis takes the cosmic ring from its box and looks at it. “Stupid ring.”
He slips it on and says that at least he’ll never have to make a sandwich. One appears in his hand and he takes a bite. He then realizes it might have more useful benefits. He concentrates hard and wills himself to stand up. Soon, he is upright. He stretches his arms out wide and shouts, “Yes!!”
He then walks around his apartment as if his injuries had never happened. He calls for Troy, but he’s already left the building. He then notices his neighbor peeping through his doorway again, and this time Curtis figures he’s not letting him get away with it. He marches over and bangs on his door, ordering him to open up. He turns the handle and finds that the door isn’t locked. Gingerly, he enters
Once inside, he is confronted by Troy, and Curtis asks what he’s doing in his neighbor’s apartment. Troy beckons him to come on inside and sit down. He explains that this is his apartment. Curtis takes a seat and replies that Troy’s starting to freak him out. He knows where he lives and this isn’t it. Troy replies that the thing is, this is his apartment, but he’s not Troy.
His body begins to change and, in a moment, the green form of an alien Skrull stands before him. Curtis is surprised to say the least. He saw something about the Skulls on the news. The Skrull corrects him, and explains that he’s not there to hurt him. He was sent to Earth specifically to spy on the Avengers, but shortly after he arrived their mansion was destroyed and they disappeared for months. He decided to remain there, halting communication with his people. He likes it there. As far as him spying on Curtis, he admits that old habits die hard. He watches all the people on their floor using Skrull technology. He knows everything that goes on.
Curtis is finding this hard to take in. He asks if he’s just supposed to take his word for it. He’s a freakin’ alien and he’s been spying on him. He then stops, and asks, “Everything?” The Skrull says he’s been spying on him for months and he’s yet to hurt anyone. He asks Curtis if he still wants to be a super hero. Curtis isn’t sure he can be, and asks how much the alien knows. He replies that when Curtis got the ring, he focused all his equipment on his apartment. His neighbors’ problems no longer interested him. He understands that Curtis is crippled and also knows what the ring can do. He finds it very impressive.
The Skrull continues to explain that he’s been thinking about trying the super hero thing himself. When the Avengers were gone, he was thinking about using the name Avenger. He has powers. He doesn’t think he could use that so he has gone with Crusader. He could use a partner. Curtis asks why not something like Changer or Disguiser. Crusader has nothing to do with his powers. The Skrull replies that it’s why he chose it. Freedom Ring might as well be ‘Take my ring and my powers go away.’ He never understood why people named themselves after their powers. It tells their opponent too much. If they knew he could change shape, his advantage would be gone.
He asks Curtis if he’s in. Curtis pauses for a moment before saying no. He thinks that after last time he’d be a fool to try again. Plus, he doesn’t exactly trust the Skrull just yet. The alien replies that he’s not crippled. The ring fixed him. As long as he has the ring, he isn’t crippled. Has he thought about what else he could do to his body? Curtis asks what he means. The Skrull tells him that he fixed his legs, but could he improve them? He could make himself stronger; strong enough to take a punch from the Abomination without getting hurt. He asks Curtis to follow him to the roof.
Soon, they are both on the building’s roof with the Skrull now in humanoid form again - the one he normally uses. His clothes then change into a purple/grey costume and Curtis transforms into Freedom Ring. The Skrull says that before, Curtis used the ring on external stuff; walls, guns, cakes, hot tubs etc. Now he should focus on the internal. If Curtis can make himself powerful, he shouldn’t need to worry about forming the right thing at the right time. He won’t have to worry about blocking a punch - just taking it and giving them his own back.
He asks Curtis if he can focus on making his legs stronger, maybe invulnerable. Curtis concentrates and replies that he can actually feel something working. The Skrull then punches him in the stomach and asks Curtis if he can feel anything. “Nope,” replies Curtis. He creates a baseball bat in the Skrull’s hand, asking him to try that. He smashes Curtis over the head. The bat breaks in two and Curtis doesn’t feel a thing. Curtis is eager to try something else.
Two full weeks of practice follow, with Curtis lifting cars, bending metal girders and beating up on the Skrull, who makes himself look like the Abomination. Curtis feels he can actually do this, and the Skrull informs him that he has some equipment set to monitor emergency channels. They should see if there’s anything that requires their attention.
(elsewhere)
Iron Maniac has defeated Spider-Man and Wolverine. He calls out to the crowd who look on. “Where are the Fantastic Four? The X-Men? The Avengers? They send more police to me. This is comical!” Hiding behind an overturned vehicle, an officer gets on the radio. He informs dispatch that Iron Man’s gone crazy. Spider-Man and Wolverine are down, possibly dead. They have wounded cops and civilians and they need more backup now!


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

[Assistant]
First story: Freedom Ring: Conclusion
Second story: Titannus Lives, part one
First story:
After defeating both Spider-Man and Wolverine in combat, Iron Maniac decides to head to the Baxter Building. He figures Mr. Fantastic will have the equipment necessary to allow him to return to his home dimension.
As he rockets skywards, Freedom Ring is there to halt his progress. He smashes him, causing Iron Maniac to fall backwards. Crusader flies after him as he falls, but Curtis realizes the error of his ways. The rocket pack Crusader is wearing is a creation of the cosmic ring and, once out of range, it fades away, leaving Crusader with nothing to prevent his rapid descent. Curtis flies down and catches him using his own rocket pack, as Iron Maniac lands heavily on the sidewalk.
Crusader morphs his hands into solid diamond-shaped hammers and attacks Stark. However, his momentum is used against him, and he is dumped unceremoniously into a nearby wall where he reverts to his normal Skrull form. Stark knows how to deal with his kind but, before he can do anything, Curtis flies by and grabs him around the waist. He shoots skywards once again, but Stark uses his jet-boots to divert them from their course, smashing hurling them both through a nearby building and out the other side. Curtis is severely winded.
At that moment, Captain America, Luke Cage and Spider-Woman appear aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. flying car. Cap orders him to let the boy go, and Stark does exactly that. Spider-Woman leaps from the car and tries to catch Curtis, but she is too late. The fall ends with Curtis crashing into the road, forming a small impact crater around him. Jessica lands beside him and asks if he’s okay. Curtis replies weakly that he can’t breathe. Two paramedics arrive with a stretcher to get Curtis out of there, as Cap takes on Iron Maniac face to face.
As they tussle several floors up besides a building, Cap asks what’s happened to him. Why does he hurt these people? Has he really changed that much? Stark replies that he got smarter. He wonders what they actually accomplished together. What they did was useless! Pointless! An endless cycle! He uses his armor to create a massive electrical charge, which he sends through Cap’s body. It baffles him that Cap isn’t able to see that his death in Stark’s dimension was for the better.
With Cap now falling, Luke Cage and Spider-Woman attack Stark together, but he simply grabs them both and smashes their heads together. They also drop, but fortunately Crusader uses his morphing body to create what amounts to a large airbag. Cap lands first, followed quickly by his two teammates. He looks up to see Iron Maniac heading towards him at speed, asking why they just don’t leave him alone. He slams into Crusader, thrusting his gauntlet right through the Skrull’s chest. He looks down at the gaping hole. “That’s going to… take a while to… fix,” is all that Crusader can utter as he collapses, just as Freedom Ring calls to Stark.
Stark turns to see Curtis standing before him. Curtis figures he’s probably wondering how he’s back so soon, looking all clean and shiny and ready to kick his butt. He explains that it’s due to his magic ring; the one that gives him his powers. He would be surprised to know everything he can do with it. In fact, he adds, does Stark feel that? His arms are getting heavy. He can’t move. In a couple of seconds he won’t be able to stand.
Stark warns Curtis that he’s made a fatal mistake. True, Curtis has stopped him. He can’t move his body. It’s frozen. However, his armor is not. Immediately, his armor begins to form itself into metallic spikes and Stark mentally thrusts them towards Curtis. One spike rams itself right up through his chin and out the top of his head. Many more slice into his body, lifting him clean off the ground.
He regains control of his body as Curtis’s life ebbs away. Stark is then hit on the back of the head by Cap’s shield, which he throws with great accuracy. This fractures Stark’s skull and knocks him unconscious. His armor melts away into the ground. Jessica looks at Curtis and is shocked. Luke Cage bends over his inert body and delivers the tragic verdict. He’s gone. Cap is speechless. He picks up Curtis in his arms and says that he doesn’t even know who he was, but he saved them all. Spidey then arrives carrying Wolverine under one arm. He makes with the quips as he arrives, asking if they missed any of the fun parts. One backwards glance from Captain America tells him all he needs to know, and he quickly apologizes.
(days later, Cypress Hills Cemetery)
It’s the day of Curtis Doyle’s funeral. All Curtis’ friends are there, and Troy feels it’s nice of the super heroes to attend his funeral. Jeffrey clenches his fists, asking how he could do this. He meets somebody and thinks he knows them, and they turn out to be a freakin’ super hero?! He never really got to know Curtis, and he feels terrible. Daphne asks Troy if they ever found the ring. Troy replies no, they don’t know where it is.
Meanwhile, Crusader is at his apartment sporting the cosmic ring on his own finger. He is flanked by two young Skrull females who are tending to his every need. “Not bad…” he grins, “Not bad at all…”
Second story:
(Baltimore, Maryland)
There is terror on the streets as the mad Skrull Titannus rips apart the place. Families run for cover, as he destroys building after building on his rampage. He grabs armfuls of road surface, which he uses as weapons, smashing them through everything that stands in his way. He is enraged, and is unstoppable as he wreaks havoc in the city.
(Tokyo, Japan)
Monitoring Titannus from the other side of the world, the two Japanese scientists, one bearded and one clean shaven, watch the Skrull’s progress by satellite link. The mental blocks they put in place appear to be working. The readings they are getting back are off the charts. The destruction Titannus is causing is reaching unfathomable levels. The bearded scientist feels that this is justified retribution for America’s unprovoked attack on their city. To think they had the audacity to tell them it had nothing to do with Titannus’ initial attack, comments one.
His colleague feels that it was an insulting display, only made worse by their government actually believing them and refusing their plans for retaliation. The bearded man adds that with the might of Titannus under their control, they can blaze a path across their continent, spreading death and destruction, until finally the United States of America will fall!
(Doctor Strange’s Inner Sanctum)
Inside Strange’s brownstone headquarters, the good doctor is relaxing - levitating whilst reading a tome which hovers in front of him. As he reads, the candles next to him are extinguished. Strange raises an eyebrow and suddenly screams in agony. The book falls to the rug below them, followed immediately by Strange himself. He kneels whilst reaching out. “Oh no. Not again!”


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

[Assistant]
Titannus Lives, part two
(the future)
Inside the Baxter Center, home to the ‘League of Losers,’ Dagger and Darkhawk are taking a stroll. Tandy is surprised that Chris allowed Speedball to go on surveillance duty. She’s willing to bet that he’s not qualified. Chris doesn’t really care. If he has to look at that screen anymore, he’s going to attack the place himself. He’s in serious need of some downtime. Tandy grins, and replies that downtime is the exact opposite of what she had in mind. She pulls Chris towards the bedroom by his pendant. “That’ll work, too,” he grins.
Elsewhere, Terror is laying on a bed in the med-lab as Reed Richards operates on him. Terror is concerned about whether this little procedure is going to work. He’s grown more than a little dependent on the spider-armor he got from Arana’s arm. Reed reminds him that the source of the armor was Arana’s tattoo. The tattooed portion of her arm is preserved and imbedded into the mechanical arm he’s grafting onto Terror’s body. He reckons the armor should work as it has before… at least, that’s the theory.
Meanwhile, X-23 and Chad Channing are playing computer games whilst Gravity eats pizza. Sleepwalker joins Speedball on sentry duty. Robbie is relaxed, but that doesn’t fill Sleepwalker with any feeling of comfort. Suddenly, the alarms sound. “Oh lordy!” exclaims Robbie, “This is not good - not good at all!” Sleepwalker asks what’s happened. Robbie looks at the monitor and replies that, if the readings are correct, he’s pretty sure they’re doomed. The time stream is collapsing or something. This reality will cease to exist in a matter of minutes. Robbie hopes that Reed still has the time machine lying around, because even if duplicates of them already exist there, their only hope may be escaping back to the time they came from!
(New York City, the present)
Mary Jane asks her Avenger husband, Peter Parker, what he’s doing. Peter is dressed in his classic red and blue costume, and replies that he’s going out on patrol. Didn’t he just tell her that? She replies that he did, but she means what’s with the blue and red? She thought he was strictly red and gold these days; Tony’s suit. Peter guesses he just kinda missed it. He was packing for the trip to Washington, the one Tony’s bringing him along for, and he saw it in the closet. He figured he’s take it out for one last spin, for old times’ sake. MJ thinks it’s cute how sentimental her husband is sometimes. Peter pulls on his mask and asks her to keep the bed warm for him. Always, she replies, kissing him tenderly. Moments later, Spider-Man is out of Avengers Tower and swinging into the city. It’s a quiet night, he figures. This should be fun.
Meanwhile, in his astral form, Doctor Strange visits several heroes in order to recruit them to his cause. Spider-Man is visited in mid-swing, Ms. Marvel is playing pool with Luke Cage, Wolverine is involved in a fight with Deadpool and Captain America is paying cards by himself. She-Hulk is made aware of Strange’s presence whilst in bed, as John Jameson notices Strange’s astral image drift into their bedroom.
The heroes convene at Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, where he asks for their help. Wolverine complains that he was kind in the middle of something. She-Hulk sulks. “Me too.” Spidey informs him that he’s taking it easy tonight, so it better not be as rough as last time. He doesn’t think he could handle someone as tough as the guy from last time tonight. Strange apologizes for the inconvenience, and regrettably informs Spider-Man that it’s the exact same guy as last time. Spidey reminds everyone that Titannus should be dead, but the doctor tells them that he’s very much alive, and this time he’s on American soil.
Captain America asks what they’re waiting for. Strange replies that it’s not that simple. Titannus is more than capable of handling them, even with their combined strength. They have to devise a plan. Luke asks if they have anything that can hurt him. Thus far, replies Strange, only himself. It appears that reasoning with him is their only option. He needs the assembled heroes to protect the innocents and clear a path in front of him so he can try stopping him. She-Hulk likes the plan, but asks if he has something to wear as she is only wearing a bed sheet.
(Baltimore, Maryland)
Meanwhile, Titannus is on a rampage. He levels a gas station, causing a huge explosion which forces bystanders and customers to flee for their lives. Doctor Strange and his team of heroes arrive on the scene, and Strange tells Titannus that they need to talk. He assures the Skrull that they are not there to fight, as they know how foolish that would be. They just want to know what he wants. He could provide him with a great many things.
Titannus turns and sees the opposition standing before him. Without a word he smashes his fists into the ground, creating a small seismic ripple. The heroes run for it, and Spidey rues the fact that he didn’t put on the armored suit today. Strange takes to the air and informs them that he will try and distract Titannus whilst they get the innocents to safety. No more lives need be lost.
She-Hulk, wearing a snazzy little number from Doctor Strange’s closet, smashes a large rock that is thrown in her direction, whilst Spider-Man grabs some kids and swings them to safety. Titannus then grabs a large chunk of masonry and takes to the air himself, putting him on level terms with the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange tries to communicate with him. He explains that he knows that Titannus is not inherently evil. He did what he did before out of love. He saw that much in his eyes when the woman he loved broke his heart and he tried to kill himself. However, he adds that if he persists, he will be forced to banish him to another realm. He doesn’t want to do that, and asks once again for a reason why he is doing this. Again, Titannus remains silent. Strange then uses his powers to determine that Titannus isn’t acting on his own. Someone else is involved in all of this. Titannus uses Strange’s confusion to punch him hard.
Wolverine immediately leaps at Titannus, claws at the ready. He doesn’t care if Titannus kills him. He’s going to make him bleed. He manages to slide his claws into Titannus’ neck, but the giant turns him mid-air and throws him with great force into the ground. Ms. Marvel then throws She-Hulk in their version of a fastball special, but their efforts are in vain, as Titannus grabs She-Hulk and throws her into the far distance. Cap orders Carol to go fetch her. He’ll deal with Titannus.
He runs at Titannus, informing him that he’s read the S.H.I.E.L.D. file on him, and he knows how tough he is. He knows how much damage he can do. However, he doesn’t care. He’s taking him down! He slams his shield edge first into Titannus’ shoulder, but it simply sticks there. Titannus is unfazed. Cap grabs the shield, and only just manages to evade being pummeled by the big guy. Cap goes in again, determined to end the Skrull’s rampage. He finds himself on the end of some punishing blows and, as he struggles to take the force of his opponent’s fists on his shield, Crusader flies in to remove him from the line of fire.
As they fly away, Crusader tells Cap that they are all over the news in New York. This is a big deal. He assumes Cap won’t mind if he lends a hand. Cap doesn’t respond, and Crusader realizes that he has been knocked unconscious by the force of Titannus’ blows. He deposits Cap on the ground so he can sleep it off and returns to the action. Titannus takes out the entire group of heroes, slicing Wolverine in two, driving Cap’s shield through Doctor Strange and smashing the heads of Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk together. After Crusader gets a giant fist straight through his torso, Titannus stands victorious with the heroes either dead or dying around him.
Spider-Man looks at Titannus, who is encased inside a pocket reality created by Crusader, using the cosmic ring. Spidey is confused, so Crusader explains that he’s created this pocket reality to convince Titannus that his battle continues. No one has died, despite what Titannus may think. However, his new reality constantly changes and Crusader doesn’t know how long he can hold him. Doctor Strange has finally pinpointed the source of those controlling Titannus. It’s not the Skrull that they struggle against, but a mindless drone. Titannus will fight until his muscles wear down to the bone and he can no longer move. He must deal with this before Crusader’s concentration is broken. Strange’s astral form emerges from his body, leaving the assembled heroes standing there, helpless.
(Tokyo, Japan)
The two Japanese scientists are in a secret bunker hideout, where they control Titannus and watch his actions on their monitors. They are pleased with the success of their pawn, and reckon Baltimore will be leveled in a matter of minutes. Then, Titannus will be ready for New York. They figure that they’ll go down in history. Suddenly, the doors open and a team of police officers charge in to arrest them. The astral form of Doctor Strange watches on with satisfaction. The scientists can’t believe they’ve been rumbled.
(Baltimore, hours later)
With Titannus no longer under anyone’s control, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents arrive on the scene and take him away. The Japanese scientists have divulged the information necessary for S.H.I.E.L.D. to control Titannus themselves. She-Hulk is glad it’s all over, but Spider-Man bets her twenty they’ll be fighting the guy again in six months. Captain America, now conscious, shakes Crusader’s hand and tells him that he recognizes him from the recent situation with Iron Maniac. “You say you’re new to this?” he remarks. Crusader admits that Iron Maniac was his first real experience with it. He’s thinking about changing his name. Carol Danvers replies that she’s been there and done that. In her experience, you almost never improve on the first one. Strange figures that their job is at an end. Spidey says that it never ends. At least he should get a few hours rest before the next bad guys attack.
(the future)
Darkhawk and Dagger rush to the control room where a terrified Speedball and Sleepwalker are sitting at the computer bank. Chris asks what’s going on. Are they under attack? Reed Richards and Terror rush into the room and Reed asks what the situation is. Speedball points to the instruments and informs them with haste that the time stream’s integrity is compromised and reality is collapsing. Chris takes a look.
“No, you idiot,” he balks, “The time stream monitor is on the left. This one monitors the weather.” He explains that the readings indicate a fluctuation in barometric pressure. It’s starting to rain. Speedball is embarrassed but happy that they’re going to live, after all. Cool, he says. He was starting to like it in the future. “Get the hell away from my equipment,” commands Reed Richards.


[Assistant]
A Friend in Need! (1st story)
The Tomorrow War: Part #1 (2nd story)
The Tomorrow War: Part #2 (3rd story)
Doomsday Gambit! (4th story)
Joyride into Jeopardy! (5th story)
Fifth Story
Warren Worthington III, the high-flying Angel, is out flying one day. He is relieved to have some time to himself, because of his busy life now that he has rejoined the X-Men. Angel is enjoying himself and his thoughts are wandering. Instinctively, Angel senses danger and uses his old Danger Room training to dodge a small flying craft that nearly shears off his wings. Angel watches as the craft turns around and begins to pursue him.
In an effort to elude his mysterious pursuer, Angel flies toward a nearby skyscraper that is under construction. Angel is hoping to evade his unknown attacker by flying a weaving pattern between the girders. Angel screams ahead to the construction workers to warn them to look out, because he is coming through. The craft miraculously follows Angel through the super structure maze, while narrowly missing the fleeing construction workers. The craft actually even managers to close the distance and gain on Angel.
Angel pauses to look behind him and sees the craft even closer than before. Angel exclaims that the crafts agility and speed are impossible. The pilot gloats over a loud speaker that the reason that the craft is so agile is because it was designed to kill Angel. The pilot reveals himself as Carl Shanken and explains that Warren’s father had hounded his aircraft out of business ten years ago.
The problem arose for Carl when Warren’s father was murdered. Carl then shifted the focus of his hatred to Angel and designed the craft to kill him. A large lance then appears from the nose of the craft as it gets dangerously close to Angel.
Angel evades the spear and flees back into the skyscrapers frame. Angel spots a lone construction worker that had remained behind. The worker is clutching a rivet gun. Angel snatches the rivet gun from the construction worker, and realizes that he is getting very tired so he chooses to go on the offensive.
Angel flies up beneath Carl’s craft and emerges in front of him. Angel then turns and begins to fly directly toward Carl in a game of “aerial chicken.” Carl speeds the craft up, and exclaims that Angel is making his revenge easy. Carl believes that his craft will easily kill Angel as it rams into him.
Angel, armed with the rivet gun, flies directly toward Carl, and dares Carl to come closer.
Carl panics at the last moment, as he fears Angel intends to kill them both. Carl takes evasive action, steering his craft out of Angel’s path. Carl’s actions are not fast enough, however, and Angel destroys the tail and engine of the craft with the rivet gun.
Angel hovers in the air above the construction site and watches, as Shanken’s craft spirals to the ground. Angel is amazed that Shanken had turned his craft at the last instant, rather than commit suicide to kill him. Angel flutters to the ground behind Carl Shanken.
Carl has emerged from his craft, coughing and hurt. Carl is distraught at his demolished craft and his failure to kill angel. He exclaims in despair that he is ruined.
Angel walks up behind Carl and says his name as he taps him on the shoulder. Carl turns around and Angel punches him as hard as he can. Carl falls to the ground unconscious. Angel stands over the fallen Carl Shanken and says, “That one’s for Dad.”


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

[Assistant]
Where Stalks the Sasquatch!
Inside a lab within the home and headquarters of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards a.k.a. Mr Fantastic stretches his arm to turn a control at the other end of a table where Bill Foster a.k.a. Giant-Man lies motionless, hooked up to some machinery, and Ben “the Thing” Grimm stands nearby, sullen and clearly upset. Reed informs Ben that radiation poisoning has been ravaging Giant-Man’s body for months, and admits that he doesn’t know if he can help him. ‘Reed, you’re the brains of the Fantastic Four! Ya gotta come up with something - anything! We can’t just let Giant-Man die!’ Ben replies.
Reed tells his friend to ease up, and informs him that his psycho-sensors are still measuring the full extent of the damage to Giant-Man’s nervous system, and that there is nothing Ben can do for the moment. Ben replies that he knows, and mutters that he is supposed to cool his heels while Reed plays mad scientist. Ben hangs his head as he declares that his buddy is lying there, unconscious, knocking on death’s door, and there is not a thing he can do about it. ‘I ain’t ever felt so helpless before!’ Ben exclaims, to which Reed tells him that he is pushing himself too hard, and suggests he goes and get some fresh air, so he will feel better. Ben turns and leaves the lab, telling Reed that he may be right, muttering that never was good at watching the kind of game from the sidelines. But Ben tells himself that he cannot shake the feeling that this is all his fault, as memories of the past few hectic hours batter at his consciousness:
Flashback images:
Ben remembers how the mad genius Modok exposed him to a deadly, highly radioactive strain of virus, but instead of killing him immediately, Virus X caused the Thing’s unique physical structure to mutate further. Giant-Man located the antidote and was faced with the grimmest decision - his device could cleanse the body of all harmful radiation - but should he use it on Ben, or save himself? Though Giant-Man himself was dying, though he could feel the radioactive poisoning raging through his own body, the gallant hero was capable of only one choice - and with one selfless act, used the anti-radiation device on the Thing. But, drowning in fever, his body weakened beyond endurance, he finally succumbed. Reacting instantly, Ben raced his delirious friend to the Baxter Building.
Present:
‘It’s no use!’ Ben decides. ‘Reed Richards may have more brains than Ronald Reagan’s got film credits, but even he can’t cause miracles!’ he adds, before deciding that Giant-Man has not got a chance, and it is all his fault. He continues down a corridor, while wondering how he is ever going to live with this. At the other end of the corridor, Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch sees that the Thing is really down, and thinks he may be able to snap him out of it. ‘Hi, gruesome! Frighten any children today?’ Johnny jokes. But Ben tells the Torch to beat it, as he is not in the mood.
‘C’mon, chuckles, give us a big smile! Even an ugly mass of muscle has to be impressed by a stunt like this!’ Johnny exclaims as he creates a smiley-face out of flame. ‘I told you to leave me alone!’ Ben snaps, before ripping a large chunk out of the wall: ‘If you want to see muscles…how’s this?’ he booms, holding the chunk of the thick wall over his head, he aims it towards the Torch, who asks him if he has gone nuts. ‘I was only kidding around, teasing you…but if you’re looking for a fight - the Human Torch won’t back down’ Johnny exclaims. ‘Let’s see if yer power can match yer mouth!’ Ben shouts as he throws the chunk of wall, while Johnny tells him to get real, as his intense body heat can easily melt that pebble down to the size of Ben’s pealike brain.
But as Johnny “flames on”, a voice exclaims ‘Johnny Storm! Don’t you dare use your flame!’ and an invisible force field is thrown up around the Human Torch, so the chunk of wall bounces off of it. Johnny realizes this is the Invisible Girl’s doing, and Susan Storm appears, announcing that she heard the commotion, and used her invisible force-field to prevent Johnny from filling up this hall with molten slag. ‘You should both be ashamed - fighting like a couple of school children!’ Susan lectures them. Ben replies that he was just letting off a little steam, when Reed appears in the corridor, telling Ben to forget it, as they all know the strain he has been under. Ben tells Reed that he should not sneak up on a fella like that, before asking how Giant-Man is doing.
Reed replies that Giant-Man is not good, explaining that his internal organs are severely damaged, and he will soon begin exhibiting outward signs of decay. ‘Unless the disease is checked immediately, it’s hopeless…’ Reed trails off. Ben asks him if he is saying they should give up and throw in the towel, but as the Fantastic Four approach a large console nearby, Reed replies ‘Of course not!’ and explains he was merely reviewing the facts, before announcing that they must locate a highly specialised radiologist at once. Reed explains that his compu-file indexes most major scientists according to expertise and remarks that he recalls a Canadian researcher who may suit their needs.
Reed enters the information into the compu-file, and seconds later, an image of a handsome blond man appears on screen: ‘That’s him - Dr Walter Langkowski!’ Reed exclaims, adding that his work on the various forms of radiation have on the body is fascinating. ‘We don’t need a sales pitch!’ Johnny declares. Reed adds that Langkowski a professor of bio-physics at the McGill University in Montreal, and remarks that he understands Langkowski is a bit of an eccentric, so his aid may be difficult to enlist. ‘Don’t worry! I can be very persuasive!’ the Thing exclaims.
Later, as the Thing stops in for one last visit with his ailing friend. Ben sees that Bill is getting weaker by the second, when suddenly, ‘Ben is that you?’ the very weak Giant-Man utters. Giant-Man remarks that he must be a sorry sight, and explains that he cannot even concentrate long enough to reduce his body to human size. Ben tells Bill to keep the faith, and assures him that help is on the way. Bill thanks Ben for all he and Dr Richards have done. ‘You’ve been a good friend, Ben - the best’ Bill declares. ‘Yeah, I’m a real sweetheart’ Ben mutters as he turns and walks away, while thinking that if it wasn’t for him, Bill would not be in this mess. ‘What a pal’ Ben tells himself.
Preparations for Ben’s trip to Canada are quickly made, as the pogo-plane is fueled, and the course charted, before Ben departs the Baxter Building in the rocket-like craft.
Sometime later, at the central administration building of McGill University, Ben walks through a hall, which gets the attention of several students and professors. ‘Oh, my! I’ve heard of open enrollments - but this borders on the absurd’ one professor thinks to himself. Ben realizes that he is collecting quite a crowd, and supposes that Canadians are not used to looking at a 700 pound, orange celebrity. ‘Must be a real thrill for ‘em’ Ben decides, while one of the students exclaims ‘Look! It’s one of those American super heroes we covered in Contemporary Current Affairs 407...but I forgot which one!’ ‘Sheesh!’ Ben thinks to himself.
Soon, the ever-resilient Thing makes his way of the Chairman of McGill’s prestigious bio-physics department. ‘I’ve been expecting you, Mr Grimm!’ the Chairman announces, before explaining that his colleague Dr Richards has already been in communication with the University Chancellor. The Chairman informs Ben that he cannot produce Dr Langkowski, to which Ben asks ‘Why not? Don’t tell me he’s playing hookey!’ but the Chairman replies that Walter Langkowski is a brilliant scientist, if a trifle overbearing at times, and reveals that Langkowski has an annoying habit of disappearing for prolonged periods, then showing up without an explanation. He informs Ben that Langkowski has gone off to somewhere in north-west Alberta, a field trip of sorts, with an associate.  ‘I doubt if you’ll find them…’ the Chairman declares. But Ben Grimm does not answer - a look of fierce determination blazes from his eyes.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, Walter Langkowski stands on a grassy slope, and gazes out at the sprawling array of mountains and forest before him. ‘Ah the forest primeval! So beautiful, so peaceful - so utterly boring! On the whole I wish I was in downtown Montreal!’ he tells himself, while wondering if the human body can grow dependant on gas fumes and pollution, as he thinks this clear, fresh air has given him a headache. Even as Walter observes the serene grandeur which surrounds him, his keen scientific mind analyzes his own reactions to it…and he feels nothing.
Unsettled by his own lack of emotion, the former all-pro linebacker trudges back to his camp, and thinks to himself that he has really been at loose ends since the government disbanded Alpha Flight, as nothing compares to the thrill of being a part of Canada’s first super hero team, Walter is glad that Dr Michael Twoyoungmen, his teammate and friend, invited him on his annual pilgrimage to these mountains. Walter wonders what Michael’s fellow staff physicians at the Sarcee Reservation hospital would say if they knew their quiet colleague was secretly Shaman of Alpha Flight?
Sitting beside a campfire, Shaman throws some dust into the flames and tells Langkowski that he is glad he has returned, as grim portents have troubled him during Walter’s absence. Walter replies that he knows better than to doubt Shaman’s instincts, but points out that no one even knows they are here. ‘What danger could we possibly face?’ Walter asks. Shaman replies that he does not know, and explains that every year he searches these lands for traces of the legendary burial crypt of his ancient ancestors. He reveals that tonight he has fed these flames with certain mystic powders, hoping to gain the aid of the spirit world, but instead, he was assaulted by terrifying visions of death and destruction.
Shaman gets to his feet, and tells his friend that he fears some great, dark evil shall soon be loosed upon an unsuspecting world. ‘Fascinating!’ Walter exclaims, before remarking that perhaps this expedition will not be as dull as he imagined. ‘WE might even meet a ghost or two!’ Walter declares. Shaman tells Walter not to jest, as on the morrow they will face something far more dangerous than ghosts. ‘You - of all men - should know that certain monstrous forces exist which defy all laws of science - and make a grim mockery of reason’ Shaman declares as he turns and walks away from Walter.
Early the next morning, Walter and Twoyoungmen begin their trek up a mountain. Shaman tells Walter that when his grandfather trained him in the arts of magic, he often spoke of the long-lost burial site of the ancients, and explains that it is said to be a repository of great knowledge and power. Hour after arduous hour is spent in futile search, until suddenly, ‘That cave! A recent rockslide must have revealed it!’ Shaman exclaims as they stand before an opening into the mountain, revealed ever so slightly by loose rocks in front of it. Shaman exclaims that he has been scouring these mountains since he was a child, and that he does not remember seeing this opening before. He begins climbing towards the opening, while Walter tells him to hold up, as he picks up a branch, he points out that they can make a torch out of it.
Then, moments later, Shaman holds the torch as they walk through the eerie cavern. Walter exclaims that the cavern seems to stretch for miles, and points out that it would provide a primitive culture with a ready-made catacomb, to which Shaman tells Walter that the ancient Indians were far more sophisticated than he would think. Suddenly, Michael sees something up ahead on the wall. As they approach the wall Michael holds the torch up against it, and sees etchings from some bygone era. He tells Walter that most of the message has been obliterated by the ravages of time, but that it seems to be some sort of warning. Walter replies that he suspects it was merely an attempt to dissuade some grave robbers.
Walter tells Michael that if they are to explore this place correctly, they will need the proper equipment, and turns and leaves the cave to return to the campsite and get the equipment. Michael tells Walter that he will continue to look around, and turns and carries on down the cavern. But no sooner than Walter has left, Shaman accidentally dislodges a carefully placed rock, sliding it forward, then, without warning, ancient levers and protesting gears respond to a pre-programmed signal - and a panel in the wall slides open. ‘A hidden chamber!’ Shaman gasps. Cautiously, the stoic medicine man enters the musty cavern, and his eyes are filled with wonder - tombs and pots line the room, as do carvings of faces and headdresses. ‘At last! After all these years! The sacred tomb of the ancient shamans!’ Michael exclaims with awe.
Not far away, Walter has arrived back at the campsite, and tells himself that he has never seen Shaman in such a state before. Walter decides that Shaman has been pushing himself much too hard. ‘If only he could relax…like me!’ Walter thinks to himself. Suddenly, his musings are drowned beneath a thundering roar, as Walter looks up to the sky and sees a plane. He thinks that it is odd that the plane is flying so low, before realizing that the plane is circling his camp, like a giant vulture on the hunt. ‘But why?’ Walter wonders. However, his puzzlement is short-lived, as one instant later, the ship lands nearby. Walter sees that it is a vertical take-off and landing vehicle of a highly sophisticated deisng, and suddenly notices the readily recognizable numeral on the side of the plane - the large 4.
Walter realizes that their unexpected guest is a member of the illustrious Fantastic Four, and he sees the orange-skinned behemoth descend from the pogo-plane. Walter wonders if the Thing could be the menace Shaman spoke about last night. He decides that he will find out - but not as Dr Walter Langkowski. Walter tells himself that it is time he called on the aid of a certain furry friend of his, and begins to remove his clothing, revealing his muscular body. Naked, he sits on the ground and crosses his legs, although the forest floor chills his skin, he knows it will not do so for long.
Some time ago, Walter discovered that he was one of an infinitely small percentage of the Earth’s population who would not have a fatal reaction to gamma radiation. Through controlled irradiation, he could achieve awesome power. Straining, fighting waves of nausea, he mentally triggers his gamma-altered thyroid - and suddenly, his body hair grows longer, thicker, and takes on a golden hue. His limbs swell with power, assuming inhuman proportions. His muscles expand, bulging with incredible strength - he is no longer Dr Walter Langkowski - he is Sasquatch! Alpha Flight’s behemoth stands up, the strain of the transformation leaving him slightly weak. He decides he will need a moment to catch his breath.
Nearby, the Thing trudges across the tundra searching for Walter. ‘Nuts! I must be going in the wrong direction! I should have already reached that campsite I spotted from the air’ the Thing tells himself, recalling how a couple of Langkowski’s university buddies managed to narrow down his destination to a few hundred square miles. Ben has been on the go ever since, landing every time he caught sight of people, hoping against hope to get a line on Langkowski. ‘But it’s like hunting for a gumball on a golf course!’ The Thing is exhausted. He would like to drop and have a rest, but he will not let himself - not with Giant-Man’s life at stake.
Suddenly, Thing hears a branch or twig snap. ‘Hey! Whazzat sound?’ he exclaims as he spins around - and sees Sasquatch looming over him. ‘Good afternoon, Mr Grimm’ Sasquatch greets the Thing. ‘I trust you’re enjoying your afternoon constitutional!’ Sasquatch asks. ‘Holy smokes! What freak show did you step outta? If there’re any more like you at home, I don’t wanna meet ‘em!’ Sasquatch tells the Thing that he salutes him, explaining that the sight of him causes some people to react in panic, and yet the Thing has the presence of mind to attempt a joke. ‘Very commendable’ Sasquatch adds. The Thing replies that he has seen a lot worse sights in his time, before asking Sasquatch to tell him who he is and how he knows his name. ‘Actually, I’d prefer to ask the questions!’ Sasquatch declares.
But even as the two orange-hued heroes eye each other suspiciously, another far more significant even is occurring deep within the earth beneath their very feet, as Shaman explores the tomb. Approaching a large red jar, Michael tells himself that he feels so strange, as if his very will was being stripped from him. He realizes that he is being drawn to the red urn, and senses an overpowering aura of evil surrounding it. ‘Yet I cannot stop myself - I must open it!’ he exclaims as he removes the lid.
But Shaman leans back as a wrath-like mist escapes the urn. ‘If only I could control m limbs - and cage it - before it is fully free!’ Shaman exclaims. Alas, Shaman can only stand and watch, helpless, as the mist congeals to form a monstrous apparition! The large over-sized spirit of a long dead Indian exclaims’ At last! After my centuries-long imprisonment - Ranark, the Ravager lives again! Unholy shall be my vengeance! Terrible shall be my wraith!’ he declares, before laughing wickedly. Thundering in the now closed tomb, the chilling laughter causes the very cavern to shake, the very earth to tremble!
And, on the surface above, the trembling causes the mighty Sasquatch to momentarily lose his footing - and pitch forward towards the Thing, who mistakes this for an attack, thinking that Sasquatch is trying to catch him by surprise. ‘Fat chance!’ the Thing shouts as he punches Sasquatch in the stomach, knocking him to the side. Whether Ben’s reason is clouded by his lack of sleep, or the other pressures which prey upon his mind, no man can say. But the fact remains, he strikes the first blow! ‘That was very foolish, Mr Grimm! We could have settled our differences like gentlemen - instead of resorting to violence!’ Sasquatch exclaims as he rips a large tree up by its roots. ‘Hey! What’re you gonna do with that tree?’ the Thing asks.
‘I’m going to use it to beat some manners into you!’ Sasquatch exclaims as he uses the tree as a bat, to smack the Thing backwards. Sasquatch stands over the Thing, ‘There! We’re even! Now I suggest you refrain from any further aggressive actions - or I’ll have to take appropriate measures!’ Sasquatch declares. ‘Lemme tell you something, son…nobody uses the Thing for batter practice!’ Ben replies as he picks up a large boulder. ‘you think this is all a ball game! Well, it ain’t!’ the Thing exclaims. ‘On the contrary, I used to view each battle as a chance to test myself - simply enjoy myself now!’Sasquatch declares as he smacks the boulder out of the Thing’s arms, adding ‘By the way, what’s par for this course? Fore!’ he shouts.
The Thing ducks as Sasquatch swings the bat once more. ‘Yer really having a good time at my expense, ain’cha?’ the Thing remarks. ‘I don’t get it! It’s almost like ya get a real kick our of being an orange-skinned monstrosity’ the Thing remarks. ‘I do. Don’t you?’ Sasquatch replies. ‘NO!’ the Thing exclaims as he smacks the large tree trunk in two, before punching Sasquatch in the face. Ben reveals that he hates being the Thing, that there is nothing he can do about it, so he makes do. Sasquatch staggers backwards, puzzled that the Thing could cause him to do so. Sasquatch decides that he better end this before it gets out of hand, and reaches out to punch the Thing, but the Thing ducks, and drops to the ground. Sasquatch reveals to the Thing that he can become human whenever he wishes, which explains his cavalier attitude.
Sasquatch tells himself that he has the advantage in strength, that the Thing should be out by now, but he is still managing to avoid his blows. ‘What the -?’ Sasquatch asks as he puts a foot on the Thing’s chest, but the Thing grabs his leg. ‘Ya didn’t expect me ta roll back and grab yer leg, did ya?’ the Thing asks, pointing out that is the difference between the two of them. ‘I expect everything! I’m a professional!’ the Thing boasts as he tosses Sasquatch backwards with ease. Sasquatch realizes that the Thing is correct, and admits to himself that the Thing is far more determined to win and battle-wise than he is. ‘You may fight for kicks - but I do it for real!’ the Thing declares he picks up another boulder. ‘I still don’t know why this overgrown Wookie attacked me, but I’ll find out…once I cream him!’ the Thing tells himself as he hurls the boulder towards Sasquatch - ‘Mr Grimm, you’ve made an excellent point - I have been to lackadaisical…being a super hero has always been easy for me…as easy as catching this boulder!’ Sasquatch remarks as he does indeed catch the large boulder.
Sasquatch supposes that he should apply the same discipline which helped him to make all-pro when he was playing football professionally. ‘Sheesh! Yer bigger, stronger, talk better’n me and played pro ball! There must be something I can beat ya at!’ the Thing replies. ‘I doubt it!’ Sasquatch declares as he crushes the boulder with his powerful hands. Sasquatch strides towards the Thing and announces that he is ending this here and now. ‘Says you!’ the Thing retorts as he rushes towards Sasquatch. But one thousand pounds of savage fury bears down upon the mighty Thing - and then Sasquatch punches him across the terrain, where he lands against a tree.
For long moments, silence claims the forest. Before Sasquatch exclaims ‘I ache all over! I haven’t felt this bad…since my battle with the Hulk!’ Sasquatch strides toward the fallen Thing, and declares that Grimm was out-matched from the very beginning, but put up an incredible fight. ‘At least it’s over’ Sasquatch tells himself. But suddenly, ‘I got news fer you, fuzz ball…it’ll never be over - until I win!’ the Thing exclaims as he leaps up and smacks Sasquatch in the stomach. This annoys Sasquatch, who wonders what it will take to stop the Thing, who ducks as Sasquatch attempts to punch him.
At that precise moment, far below, Shaman reaches into his medicine pouch and wonders what it will take to stop this creature. Michael finally managed to overthrow the spell the mysterious spirit used to gain control of him, but it was at a great cost. ‘Stand fast, Ranark! You fared use me for your sinister purpose! I’ll now hurl that insult back at you!’ Shaman exclaims as totems emerge from his medicine pouch and soar towards Ranark. ‘Bah! Your simple spell is clouded by the dream-maker, human! Your power is nothing compared to mine!’ Ranark boasts. Ranark stands over Shaman and reveals that once he was the greatest of all shamans, but his hunger for power was insatiable, so he made pacts with the dark evil things that slither amongst the shadows. ‘In exchange for countless virgin sacrifices, they made me like unto a god!’ Ranark boasts.
Ranrak reveals that the other medicine men grew jealous, and united together, they used their combined sorcerous might to bind his spirit in eternal sleep. ‘Traitorous fools!’ Ranark declares, while Shaman manages to whisper an incantation and use a pinch of powder to summon a ranging storm - which encircles Ranark. ‘Ranark sleeps no more!’ the powerful sorcerer booms. ‘I - I don’t believe it! He cast off me spell with the merest gesture!’ Shaman exclaims as he is knocked backwards. ‘Indeed, mortal! I am Ranark!’ the sorcerer replies, before deciding that it is time to see how the world has changed in his absence - ‘And I would see it through your own, unwilling eyes!’ Ranark exclaims as he takes possession of Shaman’s mind. Shaman screams, the very fiber of his consciousness has been ripped from him.
In a sense, it has, as Shaman sinks to his feet, the spirit of Ranark enters his memories and sees…modern Canada! The buildings! The machines! The people! The political strife! The land! The pollution! Then, it is Ranark’s time to scream. ‘Noooo!’ he cries, releasing Shaman from his thrall, he blasts some energy at Shaman, who manages to dodge the attack. ‘I have slept too long! This new world is a travesty - an abomination! It must be purified!’ he exclaims, before boasting that he shall cleanse this planet of life - and begin anew! Shaman shudders! He has already seen these visions of death and destruction - nothing can prevent them from becoming reality.
Above, Sasquatch informs the Thing that he never intended to fight. They struggle hand-to-hand as Sasquatch explains that he only wanted to question the Thing, and learn his purpose here. ‘You forced me to do this - but I won’t back down until you fall!’ Sasquatch declares as he forces the Thing backwards. ‘Fall, blast you!’ Sasquatch exclaims as he knocks the Thing aside ‘Fall!’ he shouts. ‘FALL!’ Caught in a frenzy, Sasquatch rains blow after high-impact blow upon his silent, determined foe. Finally, the Thing falls. ‘I did it! I beat him at last!’ Sasquatch exclaims, before admitting that this victory is so hollow, so completely useless. ‘Don’t go sweeping up the pot yet, big guy!’ the Thing exclaims as he marches towards Sasquatch. ‘There’s still a bettor at the table!’ the Thing declares.
Sasquatch is surprised, ‘I - I don’t believe it! He’s still conscious!’ Sasquatch thinks to himself. ‘Still full of fight’ Sasquatch tells himself, when suddenly, the Thing punches him across the terrain, where he slams into some trees, causing them to fall to the ground. ‘My jaw’s gonna ache for months’ Walter tells himself, before suggesting to the Thing that this could go on forever. ‘What say we forget our macho pride - and call this one a draw?’ Sasquatch suggests. ‘Not a chance, pal!’ the Thing replies as he rushes towards Sasquatch. ‘Ya came outta nowhere - attacked me for no reason - and now ya wanna call it quits?’ the Thing asks, declaring that it is not over until he stomps all over Sasquatch’s fur-covered face. ‘It comes with practice’ the Things adds, when suddenly, he and Sasquatch both begin to shake, and the Thing remarks that his knees must be wobblier than he thought.
But Sasquatch quickly points out that it is the ground that is shaking. They are both knocked backwards as energy rips up through the ground - and majestically, Ranark rises from the earth. For the past few hours, Sasquatch and the Thing have exhibited enough strength and power to astound ten thousand imaginations - now it is their eyes which cloud with amazement - and fear. Ranark graces them with the merest of glances - they are insects to him, not worthy of the moment it would take for his massive form to crush them. And then, ‘I have a world to conquer - a planet to ravage!’ he booms as he takes off skyward.
Sasquatch tells himself that must have been the menace Twoyoungmen prophesied, and wonders where his teammate could be. ‘I don’t believe it…he shrugged us off like we wuz nothing! And he wuz right!’ the Thing exclaims. Sasquatch tells the Thing that they must put their petty differences aside, and join forces. But as he looks upwards, Sasquatch declares ‘Though I doubt even our combined might can stop…a god gone mad!’