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

[Assistant]
The Winds of Watoomb
Night…and storm. They come both to men’s cities - and to men’s minds. Tonight, they have come to Manhattan, an island fortress whose worst enemies have always been those already within her ever-girded walls. Tonight, they come specifically to the New Bedlam Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Not its real name, of course, a large facility in the midst of larger and taller buildings, lit by the light of electricity only.
Within the cells of the Bedlam Asylum are confined those of whom “Hannibal the Cannibal” and his fictitious ilk are merely pale copies, bowdlerized for the thrill-hungering masses. A security guard strides down a corridor lined with locked doors. At the end of the corridor, one such doors leads to a padded chamber. This is the chamber that the asylum’s keepers match coins each day, with the loser having to look in on it. Foe those who do have been known to have bad dreams. And yet, its sole occupant looks so helpless, curled up there in his straight jacket, silent, his face turned to a cushioned corner. His real name is forever lost, unless it’s the one and only name he has ever given to press or public persecutors: Xandu.
For several days now, he has not moved - has scarcely even breathed. Yet now, as the wind rises outside, even if it’s howling does not penetrate through these windowless walls - he stirs. And more - he screams. ‘NOW!’ he booms. If a madman screams, but no one can hear him above a sudden flash of lighting and thunder…does it count? The answer is, of course, irrelevant. There is a mighty KOOOM, and the outer wall of Xandu’s cell breaks open. ‘Where are you? I know you’re here!’ he calls out, standing at the gaping hole. ‘Let me see you! After all this time - let me -’ he exclaims, when suddenly, a strange, glowing object materializes before him. ‘Yes…YES!’ he shouts as the object engulfs him with energy, burning the straight jacket away like a scrap of paper held too near a raging fire.
Xandu does not possess super strength, yet he has fought Spider-Man to a stand-still. He is no mutant, yet he once drove the soul of the Scarlet Witch out of her own body. He is not the most powerful of magicians, yet he has come within an ace of destroying Dr Strange. He has one stellar attribute, and one only - a special affinity for the mystic talisman known as the Wand of Watoomb. For weeks, he has been calling to it, a mental note stuffed inside a psychic bottle, and tossed into a turbulent sea of the infinite. And tonight, the wand has come to him.
Gone now are his drab garments, replaced by vestments more befitting the modern-day wizard, a green costume with a long cape. Even his erstwhile monocle has materialized from out of nowhere. He hardly notices these by-products of his surging power, for all that matters is the wand, which he reaches out and grabs. But, with great power, there must also come…great annoyances, as several asylum staff and guards rush towards him. ‘Here’s one that’s got loose!’ one of the staff declares. ‘Huh? How’d Xandu get hold of the outfit he was wearing when he was committed?’ another enquires. ‘What’s the difference? Just grab him and throw him in a cell the wind hasn’t blown down!’ another exclaims. ‘Seek to lay a single hand on me, clods - and you will learn what a wind truly is!’ Xandu boasts as he raises the wand, which releases an energy that knocks the staff backwards.
Other asylum patients begin to wander free from their cells, and they gather before Xandu, who declares ‘Now that the former keepers are disposed of, it is time the inmates took charge of the asylum. Under my aegis, of course’, adding that since mentally-deranged criminals hardly constitute a dependable work-force, it is best of the wand leaves them no independent minds at all. The Wanda of Watoomb shines before them, and the inmates all stare blankly ahead. ‘There! That’s much better!’ Xandu exclaims, before bequeathing to his “friends” under their zombie-like care, this building and all its grounds. ‘I ask in return, but a simple favor - that you break down that iron gate for me!’ he announces.
As commanded, a troop of the inmates rush to the gate. Xandu watches: ‘How loyally they thrust their fragile flesh against those unyielding metal bars - till blood begins to flow, and bones to break. And still they would press forward, till those in front were crushed by those behind!’ Xandu comments. The inmates’ actions lead Xandu to believe that his power is not lost over them, and raising the wand, he aims it at the bars, releasing powerful cosmic wind which hurls the gate open.
Up until tonight, Captain America has never met Xandu the Mystic. Met him…Cap’s barely even heard of him. The two of them simply haven’t moved in the same circles. But, because Steve Rogers happened to be in the vicinity when a most unusual storm arose, and decided to go on patrol for possible looters, all that is about to change. ‘Holy Hanna! Captain America exclaims as he leaps over a fence into the asylum grounds and is confronted by the mindless zombie-inmates, while Xandu stands nearby and shouts ‘You’re not going to try and stop me from leaving this place, too, are you, Captain America? Because my honor guard would take extreme umbrage at such rudeness’.
The Star-Spangled Avenger has only a foggy notion of who it is that sends these mesmerized unfortunates slouching toward him with murder in their glazed eyes. He only knows that he must stand firm against them - but as a dozen inmates attack him, that proves easier said than done. ‘For Xandu!’ one inmate cries. ‘Kill him!’ another shouts. ‘Kill Captain America’ a third exclaims. Backed up against a tree, Captain America tells the zombie-like inmates that he doesn’t want to hurt any of them. ‘For Xandu!’ another declares. ‘But you don’t leave me a whole lot of choice!’ Captain America exclaims as he uses his trusty shield to swat several of the inmates away from him. There are no groans, no curses - they merely fall away, like drops of water flung off a Star-Spangled duck. But, unlike water drops, the inmates rise again, and stalk forward as if nothing happened.
Captain America knows this is getting him nowhere, and it is not the mind-controlled minions that he wants, but the one who commands them. He remembers the name they chanted: ‘Xandu! This is just between you and me! Don’t get these poor souls involved!’ Captain America calls out as he leaps past the inmates and rushes towards Xandu. ‘But they are involved, Captain. All mankind is involved - when the subject is death!’ Xandu declares. ‘I didn’t know it was’ Cap replies, asking Xandu to put the divining rod down and go quietly back to his cell. ‘You are thus disparage the Wand of Watoomb? Dor such effrontery, you must die directly by its power!’ Xandu booms as he raises the wand, and a new, even fiercer wind arises, swirling about the wand in Xandu’s hand.
The fierce wind catches Captain America like a red-white-and-blue lead in a cyclone, propelling him backward at dizzying speed. He scarcely notices a towering oak tree in his hurtling path, and ancient sentinel against which he will be smashed - when suddenly, the tree is torn apart by a jagged fork of lightning, and Captain America finds himself caught in a large wad of cobwebs, preventing him from being hurled backwards any further. ‘Well done, Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch!’ exclaims Dr Stephen Strange as he stands with Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man and Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. ‘If my hex power hadn’t caused that thunderbolt to strike…’ Wanda begins, but Spider-Man points out that it did, so there is now just Xandu to worry about.
Xandu notices the new arrivals, and turning to them, declares that he could have half expected them to attempt to thwart him. ‘Our paths always seem to cross, in one way or another, eh?’ he mutters, admitting that he is grateful for their prompt arrival, for now he can destroy them all at once. Wanda alerts her companions to the escaped inmates who are charging towards them, while Spider-Man exclaims that he can handle them. Dr Strange tells him to do so without harming them, and announces that he must use all of his magic to overcome Xandu, for he is the true threat. Spider-Man remarks that Xandu is now ignoring he, Cap and the Scarlet Witch as if they don’t exist. ‘I’m grateful that you do’ Cap replies, before guessing that his companions didn’t just blunder in her like he did.
Wanda tells her long-time friend that Dr Strange recruited them, as he sensed the imminent return of the Wanda of Watoomb. ‘But we didn’t arrive quite in time to - excuse me a moment’ Wanda interrupts herself as she turns around, to where two inmates are rushing towards her. Casting a hex, the Scarlet Witch causes a large overhanging tree branch to break, and fall on the two inmates. ‘There! That’s the best way I could think of to stop that pair - without seriously hurting them!’ Wanda declares, while Spider-Man calls out that he understands what she means. ‘I don’t want to do real damage to these poor hypnotized people - I’d better wrap things up fast!’ he exclaims as several of the inmates attack him, before he wraps them all in a large web. ‘How about some of your webbing over here, Spider-Man?’ Cap calls out as he throws his shield towards some inmates, keeping them back. ‘Coming right up, Cap!’ Spider-Man calls out.
As mystic energy swirls about them, Xandu tells Dr Strange that they meet as equals, that neither can defeat the other. ‘But it’s not victory I care for - not in this insignificant world, at any rate!’ Xandu explains, announcing that he will take his leave. He makes a circle of energy from the Wand of Watoomb, but none of the heroes can get to it, as a gale force wind pours towards them. Strange tells his companions not to even try, as the winds of Watoomb are being kept close in, concentrated. ‘They’d tear you to pieces!’ he declares. Xandu calls Dr Strange a spoilsport, and adds that he was so looking forward to the surprised look on Spider-Man’s dying face. ‘But, I shall see plenty of death…when I reach the dimension where it dwells!’ Xandu boasts as he vanishes through the portal opened by the Wand of Watoomb.
‘I hate it when they pull the hole in after them like that’ Spider-Man mutters as the portal closes. Wanda alerts everyone to the approaching inmates, and as the wind gushes around them, Dr Strange explains that although Xandu’s hypnosis still rules them, without his magic they will cause no trouble. Strange casts a spell that puts the inmates to sleep, until they can be returned to their cells. ‘We’re not exactly being swamped by asylum personnel, though, are we?’ Spider-Man remarks as the heroes walk towards the asylum buildings. Cap points out that between the storm and Xandu, he suspects they will find some people in bad shape inside. Wanda announces that they will get them some help, but their main mission has to be to find Xandu. Spider-Man points out that from the subtle Xandu dropped, he suspects they all have a good idea of where is has gone - the ever inviting Dimension of Death. ‘And that’s one place that doesn’t cater to tourists!’ Spider-Man jokes.
Soon, after a call has been made for an ambulance, ‘So, your orb sensed the imminent return of the wand, Doctor?’ Cap enquires. ‘Even though I smashed it to bits, not long ago. Naturally, Doc headed here - where they committed Xandu after out last run-in’ Spider-Man explains. Several tarot cards appear before Dr Strange as he explains to Cap that along the way, he gathered Wanda and Spider-Man, because his tarot cards depicted their likeness. ‘Mine was upside down - which indicates folly or a wrong choice’ Strange explains, adding that the fourth card showed the Ghost Rider, but he could not contact him. ‘something about Midnight Sons business’ he mutters. ‘What’s the big deal? You missed out 9on one motorcycle jockey, you got another!’ Spider-Man exclaims. ‘I think he means me’ Cap replies. ‘I’m sure you’ll do just fi-’ Wanda begins to tell her friend, but Strange interrupts, telling Captain America that he is not sure he should come with them to the Death Dimension.
‘Are you serious, Stephen?’ Wanda asks, surprised. ‘If it’s because Cap’s never been there, like us -’ she begins, to which Spider-Man exclaims ‘Hey, you can give him my “E” ticket anytime’. Dr Strange goes over to Captain America and states that he is aware of his many adventures in other spheres, but that until now, the group has only been composed of those shown in the cards. ‘You really mean it, don’t you?’ Cap asks, remarking that he is not going to force himself on them. ‘After all, you don’t know for certain Xandu is bound for that “Death Dimension”. That might be a ruse - worse, a trap!’ Cap suggests. ‘True enough’ Strange agrees, but states that they have got to chance it. ‘Xandu is poison to that dimension now - and his presence there might destroy it - and him’ he explains. Cap points out that Xandu might not have gone to the Death Dimension, which means he could do more good by staying behind.
‘I can’t believe this! You’re benching Captain America!?’ Spider-Man gasps. ‘It’s not like that -’ Dr Strange begins, but Cap tells Spider-Man and Wanda not to worry about it, and announces that he will help get the wounded ready for the ambulance and then scour the city for some sign of Xandu. As he leaves the group, Cap tells Dr Strange not to worry, for he runs into Xandu, he will be sure and get Siegfried and Roy to help him handle it. ‘Nice going, Doc’ Spider-Man mutters to Dr Strange.
Outside, Wanda and Spider-Man stand away from Dr Strange, while Wanda tells Spider-Man that they must trust Stephen, as he generally knows what he is doing. ‘But - wasn’t there something about a fool making a bad choice?’ Spider-Man enquires. ‘Here’s what I was looking for’ Dr Strange exclaims as he pulls from his cloak the Crystal of Kadavus, which was forged in a wizard’s tomb. ‘Now show us all the pathway - to the Wand of wondrous Watoomb!’ The crystal rises up towards the sky, and beams of energy pour from it as a dark cloud swirls overhead. Strange explains that since he once fed all the wand’s powers into it, the crystal has retained a mystic connection to the wand. ‘A regular divining rod, huh?’ Spider-Man remarks.
The three super heroes are levitated towards the swirling cloud, and Strange tells his companions that, in answer to their whispers, there are various interpretations to his card being upside down. ‘Perhaps Ghost Rider was a bad choice, or perhaps it was one not to enlist Captain America. Or maybe bringing Cap would have been the folly’ Strange explains, adding that the cards are under a spell that makes them reveal the truth, but that they tell that truth most obliquely. ‘Stephen, we didn’t mean to -’ Wanda begins, but Strange tells her to forget it, ‘All that matters is our mission’ he points out. When Wanda cannot see the crystal any longer, she asks Strange where it has gone. ‘Never fear. My Eye of Agamotto will find it’ Strange replies. ‘Sure! No self-respecting hero should be without one!’ Spider-Man jokes.
Dr Strange tells Wanda and Spider-Man to be silent, as the Eye of Agamotto comes forth, and works it wonders. ‘That light - it’s blinding!’ Spider-Man declares. Strange tells him it will only last a moment, but that the Glow of Truth is necessary to reveal that which they must find. Energy pours from Dr Strange, which pushes the clouds aside, revealing a gateway that opens in thin air. The heroes enter the gateway, and race across bridges that float in mid-air, towards a castle with a massive skull that sits over it. ‘If we just don’t have another of those “deathquakes” like last time…’ Spider-Man mutters. The Scarlet Witch reminds Xandu that they saw the castle destroyed when they found Xandu in another world.
Dr Strange reminds Wanda that this entire astral plane is the product of demonic minds, and that once Melinda Morrison assumed the throne of the Death Dimension, she rebuilt it just be screaming. ‘Great pair of lungs’ Spider-Man jokes as he examines his surroundings. Wanda adds that she is disappointed in Melinda, for living or dead, she thought Melinda would have a better sense of décor that Xandu did.
As they reach the entrance to the castle, Spider-Man asks if they are just going to go waltzing in the door, to which Wanda explains that Melinda, or anyone who might have replaced her, already knows that they are here. ‘Right! So we might as well simply -’ Strange begins, when suddenly, the trio is attacked by minor death demons, which buffet the heroes from all directions. ‘Stephen!’ Wanda screams, while Strange tells Wanda and Spider-Man to keep the demons out of their minds.
‘Too late! I can already feel them inside!’ Spider-Man replies, clutching his head. ‘And I see - death!’ Spider-Man exclaims as images flash through his mind - of his Uncle Ben being shot by the burglar, and Gwen Stacy falling from the sky. Dr Strange goes wide-eyed as he too has images of death in his mind - of his sister, Donna, drowning, and his inability to save her, and then his brother, Vic, hit by a car after he had angrily run out of Stephen’s penthouse. A look of horror spreads over Wanda’s face, as she relives finding her husband, the Vision, taken apart like a cheap watch by government scientists, and then re-made into an android stranger. ‘He died that day - as surely as our children did, when I learned they’d never existed!’ Wanda thinks to herself.
‘No! This isn’t really happening! Doc! Wanda! The demons are playing with our minds! We’ve got to shake it off - or the sheer grief will kill us!’ Spider-Man exclaims. The heroes manage to shake off the effects of the minor demons, thanks to some vigorous shoulder-shaking courtesy of Spider-Man, and the Scarlet Witch declares that each of them knew it was a trick. ‘But only you overcame the images by yourself’ Strange tells Spider-Man, who explains that this trick was used on him last time, so perhaps he built up an immunity. Suddenly, his spider-sense tingles, and spinning around, he finds that they are confronted by a horde of demons. ‘Looks like there’s trouble on the way!’ Spider-Man exclaims.
Dr Strange points out that the demons aren’t attacking, simply shielding someone behind them. Dr Strange declares that even without the Vishanti and their ilk to call upon, he still has enough sorcery to find out whom. He casts a burst of magical energy towards them, As the demons disperse, the throne is revealed - ‘No surprises there, Doc - it’s Queen Melinda, all right!’ Spider-Man exclaims, before calling out to her: ‘Yo, lady! Remember us? Dr Strange is the guy who first put you on that throne!’ Spider-Man declares, while Wanda notices a shadowy figure standing behind the throne. ‘Is it…?’ she begins, but Strange tells her that to find out they will have to fend off the previous ruling class. ‘They’ve decided to get aggressive!’ he points out as the demons approach the heroes once more. Wanda wonders whether she should use her mutant hex power, or such little magic that she knows. ‘If I were you, I’d try ‘em both!’ Spider-Man suggests, pointing out that there is plenty of demons to go around.
The Scarlet Witch fires a hex bolt, but is shocked to see that when it strikes the demon, it simply split’s the demon into two. But, that isn’t happening to Dr Strange as he uses his spells against the demons. ‘You sure you’re not just imagining things, Witchie’ Spider-Man calls out as the demons attack him. ‘Let’s see what a spider-powered fist does to ‘em’ Spider-Man calls out, and as he smacks one of the demons back, he sees that the demon does split into two, while in mid-air. Spider-Man wonders if it is some kind of reaction to using non-magical forces here in “Never-Never Land”.
Spider-Man releases some webbing and uses it to swing up over the demons, suggesting that there is nothing he can do but keep out of the way. ‘We aren’t faring much better’ Strange replies as he becomes overwhelmed by the demons. ‘Even when they don’t multiply magically, they keep coming out of the woodwork!’ he exclaims. Suddenly, ‘Spider-Man! Behind you!’ the Scarlet Witch calls out, before firing a magical burst of energy at a demon, preventing it from striking Spider-Man. Thanks, Red! Hey, maybe I can give you a hand after all’ Spider-Man declares, for as he fires some webbing over the head of one of the demons, he discovers that it doesn’t duplicate. ‘But unless you’ve got a truckload of webbing - and a few hundred shooters - that’s not going to be enough!’ Wanda tells him, adding that she has already expended just about all of the magical force at her command, and Strange cannot handle them all.
Very soon, the three heroes have been captured by the demons, and are brought before Melinda Morrison - and Xandu - who steps out of the shadows behind the throne. ‘Xandu! So it was you, playing power-behind-the-throne!’ Dr Strange exclaims. ‘Only for the moment, Doctor. Soon there will be two thrones here - for the Emperor and the Empress of the Death Dimension!’ Xandu boasts. ‘You call her your Empress - so how come she’s as stiff as something from the frozen foods department?’ Spider-Man asks, noting how Melinda hasn’t moved at all. Xandu replies that it was not his desire, and that he loves Melinda, with all his heart, and what is left of his soul, but that his coming here hurled Melinda into suspended animation, though the demons must now obey him.
‘You know you can’t both exist in this sphere for long - or it will tear itself apart!’ Dr Strange reminds Xandu, who replies that for they share death, Melinda and he, and such a unique situation is violently destabilizing to this place of un-life. ‘Then what’s the use of beating us here - if you’ll have to split when the deathquakes start?’ Spider-Man enquires. Holding up the Wand of Watoomb, Xandu boasts that when he leaves, he shall not be alone. ‘You mean - you’ve found a way to take Melinda with you?’ Dr Strange enquires. ‘Far better than that! By unleashing, for the first time, the full, unfettered power of the Wand of Watoomb - I intend to merge this plane and the Earth into one gigantic Dimension of Death!’ Xandu reveals. ‘Hoo-boy’ Spider-Man utters, with Strange and Wanda equally shocked.
Meantime, back in the world of the living, Captain America stands by paramedics who are loading asylum patents into ambulances. A detective questions Captain America and asks ‘Is that all you can tell me? That one of the inmates waved a magic wand, and caused the storm that hit this part of New York? What’s an honest cop supposed to make out of a story like that?’ he asks. ‘The occult isn’t exactly my speciality, either’ Cap tells Detective Simons, adding that some friends of his are on the case. ‘Oh? The Avengers, I presume?’ Detective Simons asks. ‘Not exactly…I can’t tell you anymore than that just now, I’m afraid -’ Cap begins, before stopping himself mid-sentence.
‘What’s wrong? Spot another dead attendant?’ Detective Simons enquires. ‘No…but the storm is headed back toward the city - and it’s coming fast!’ Cap exclaims as terrifying black clouds loom overhead. ‘Impossible!’ Detective Simons exclaims as the wind picks up around them. Another police officer points out that just a minute ago, the wind was blowing in exactly the opposite direction. ‘When Xandu’s involved, officer, the wind does what he wants it to do…and evidently, he want’s it right here!’ Cap exclaims as lightning crackles down from the storm clouds above. Detective Simons declares that the clouds seem to be coming down from every direction now, and that it looks almost like the sky just opened and the storm poured out. ‘If it hit’s the whole city as hard as it hit this place - we could have hundreds of fatalities!’ Detective Simons declares. Cap hopes that he is wrong, and tells Detective Simons that what he just said might turn out to be the most optimistic estimate he ever made….


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

[Assistant]
The Queen, my Lord, is DEAD
The Winds of Watoomb are ravaging a several-block area of Manhattan, near an asylum for the criminally insane. And now, lightning birthed in magic erupts from a yawning rift between dimensions. While the winds blow civilians and police officers about, a bolt of lightning almost strikes Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America. Natural or mystical, a lightning bolt is still a lightning bolt, and another strikes a tree, which begins to fall towards a police officer. ‘NOOO!’ the frightened officer calls out. Although he is not Thor or Hercules, or the Incredible Hulk, Captain America is simply a man, honed to physical perfection - a human fighting machine. But, what a man can do - Captain America will do, and he lunges forward to the officer, the tree has fallen on his leg, then lifts the leg off and holds it overhead.
‘Thank the Lord you were here, Cap - but Ryan’s leg is still broken -’ another officer says as he goes over to Captain America, who replies that is the least of their worries. ‘It’s liable to take everything we can do - to see that there aren’t more candidates for that graveyard next door!’ Cap points out, motioning to the old graveyard across the field. Detective Simons rushes over to Captain America and asks him what is happening here. ‘You wouldn’t believe me’ Cap replies. ‘Try me’ Detective Simons challenges. Cap reveals that one of the asylum’s inmates - Xandu - got hold of a mystic talisman called the Wand of Watoomb, and that these hurricane-force gales are the Winds of Watoomb.
Detective Simons announces that he heard that Spider-Man, the Scarlet Witch and some cloaked guy were here earlier. ‘If you must know - they’re pursuing Xandu, into what they call the Death Dimension’ Captain America replies. ‘You’re right. Maybe I don’t believe it’ Detective Simons replies, before asking Captain America why he isn’t with the others who are chasing the madman. Attempting to shield himself and the detective from the winds, Cap replies ‘I wasn’t on the short list’. ‘Huh?’ Detective Simons asks. ‘Forget it’ Cap replies, while Detective Simons declares that they will be okay when the typhoon, or whatever it is, blows over. ‘Won’t we?’ he asks. ‘On the contrary, Detective - fierce as they are - I’m afraid the Winds of Watoomb may prove only the harbinger for something worse!’ Captain America announces.
If a potent sorcerer were to cast a spell at Cap’s shoulder, he would find himself blinking into the very Death Dimension of which the Star-Spangled Avenger spoke. What he would think of the view would depend on his inclinations. In the horrid dimension, Xandu sits at his throne, beside him, the actual ruler of the dimension, Melinda Morrison. Spider-Man a.k.a. Peter Parker, Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch and Dr Stephen Strange are their servants, their faces gone, replaced by skulls. ‘Am I fanning you hard enough, Master Xandu?’ Spider-Man asks as he waves large palm frond over Xandu and Melinda. ‘Here is your drink, Master’ the Scarlet Witch calls out as she appears with two glasses.
‘Hurry up with it then, Scarlet Witch!’ Xandu orders, while he tells Dr Strange, who is sweeping the floor, to swing the broom harder, ‘Or I’ll make you lick up the dust in front of Castle Skull’. ‘Yes, O Xandu’ Strange responds. Xandu touches the Scarlet Witch’s hair and tells her she really needs to do something about it. ‘Don’t you agree, my Melinda?’ Xandu remarks. Of course Melinda is unable to speak and stares blankly ahead. ‘I will wash it at once, Master’ the Scarlet Witch tells Xandu, who replies ‘Wash it? I meant that you should set fire to it’. ‘Whatever you desire, Master’ the Scarlet Witch replies as she walks away, while Xandu tells her to put a match to those other two bags of bones while she is at it. ‘Yes, Sire’ Wanda replies as Strange and Spider-Man follow her.
‘Ah, dearest Melinda, I only wish you were able to witness this humiliation of my enemies, instead of merely -’ Xandu begins, before a voice calls out ‘Is this what you’ve finally sunk to, Xandu - turning some of your dead subjects into parodies of those you’ve captured?’ the real Dr Strange calls out from where he, Wanda and Spider-Man are being restrained in magical bonds nearby. ‘I suppose you’re right, Dr Strange. After all, I have the real things here. I need no animate corpses to resemble you, even for a moment’s amusement’ Xandu replies, before pointing the Wand of Watoomb at the reanimated skeletons resembling the heroes, ‘Be dead again!’ Xandu tells them, and they melt into dusk, while wailing ‘Yes, Masterrr…’ as they fade away.
‘You’re still as mad as a hatter!’ Dr Strange tells Xandu, asking him if he has forgotten that he and Melinda Morrison cannot exist for long together in the Death Dimension, otherwise it will start to tear itself apart, as it did last time. Xandu smiles and replies ‘Because Melinda and I share a single death between us, you mean - which unbalances this world, renders its very elements unstable?’, to which he declares that is exactly what he wants to happen. ‘What we want, eh, my love?’ Xandu remarks as he touches Melinda on her shoulder. ‘She cannot hear you, o Xandu - having gone rigid the instant you appeared in our sphere - but we heard you - and I, for one, do not like what I heard!’ a demon exclaims as it steps forward, flanked by several others.
The demon adds that it does not intend to stand aside and see their universe destroyed, which causes Xandu to raise the Wand of Watoomb and tell the demon that it will not stand at all - because it will long since have ceased to exist. Xandu fires energies from the wand at the demon and its cohorts, they do not scream or feel pain, these demons who once ruled the Death Dimension. For can creatures made of death truly live? But, whatever semblance or shadow of life there was in these ones, is suddenly no more. ‘Does anyone else have any complaints?’ Xandu asks. He gets no response, so states ‘I thought not’, while the Scarlet Witch tells Dr Strange that he was right - Xandu is mad. ‘We always thought, at least, that he loved Melinda - but what he’s done to her is a mockery of love’ Wanda points out.
‘Silence, mutant! I do love Melinda - above all else!’ Xandu booms. Wanda tells him that they are empty words, as Xandu knows Melinda cannot exist long on Earth because she belongs among the dead. ‘You tell him!’ Spider-Man exclaims, while Wanda continues, pointing out that Xandu endangers Melinda as well as this whole world, just by being here. ‘SILENCE, I SAID!’ Xandu booms as he releases energy which knocks Wanda backwards into a bunch of bones. ‘If he’s hurt her!’ Spider-Man exclaims, while Dr Strange tells Spider-Man to take it easy and to let Xandu talk. ‘I have a hunch he’s just dying to tell us what he’s up to’ Strange adds.
‘Only you matter to me, Dr Strange - because only you have the breadth of mind to fully comprehend what I am about to accomplish’ Xandu begins, as he stands up, energy glows from his hands which he raises overhead, as images of the Earth that the heroes have sworn to protect from harm, and of the Death Dimension, symbolized as a perfect skull-visaged sphere, appear before him. Xandu reveals that through the wand he has learned that once near the end of each millennium, the conditions are right for these two planes to be merged, coalesced into a single world, but with the Death Dimension dominant. As the two images merge together, Xandu declares that the Earth, in short, will be totally subsumed into this domain of the dead.
Xandu boasts that in the new world, the dead will rule the living, Melinda will be the titular sovereign of the dead, and he will rule Melinda. ‘Surely you, of all men, can appreciate the supreme irony of it, Strange - a man once relegated to the Death Dimension will become the eternal ruler of both the living and the dead!’ Spider-Man declares that it is a good thing Xandu is a full-time nutcase, or he might start to get worried. ‘He is insane, isn’t he, Stephen?’ Wanda enquires, to which Dr Strange confirms that he is a lunatic, but a lunatic in total command of one of the most powerful talismans in the universe.
Xandu raises the Wand of Watoomb high over his head and it glows with energy. Xandu declares that all question of his sanity, or lack of same, are beside the point, for the moment when conditions will be right for the merging are but an hour away, and the unfettered power of the Wand of Watoomb, unleashed fully for the very first time, will be its divine instrument. ‘There will be no more Earth - no more Death Dimension - just a baleful new world I shall call…XANDU!’ the wizard booms. Wanda asks Stephen if even the wand can even possess that much power, to which Dr Strange replies that he has never known it to, and suggests Xandu must have discovered new depths. ‘He’s sunk to new depths, all right - and it looks like the only person around here who could possibly help us stop him - is in another plane of reality!’ Spider-Man exclaims, referring to the blank Melinda Morrison.
A group of demons approaches Xandu, ‘You have conquered us, Xandu - yet you mean to make us kings of this world to come?’ one of them asks. ‘Subject only to myself, as shall we say, emperor’ Xandu adds, telling the demons that he thought that might appeal to them. ‘But wait, there’s more!’ Xandu exclaims as he casts the Wand of Watoomb at the heroes, freeing them from their bonds. ‘It’s got to be some kind of trick…’ Wanda suggests, while Spider-Man leaps towards Xandu, ‘Yeah, and I’m sure he’ll be glad to explain it to us - if he can manage to talk with the Wand of Watoomb jammed down his throat!’ Spider-Man adds, but Dr Strange tells him to wait. An instant later, Spider-Man falls to the ground.
‘He’s falling!’ Wanda shouts, while adding that her hex bolts aren’t affecting Xandu, either. Dr Strange remarks that Xandu would never have released them if he hadn’t known the wand would keep them from him. ‘But why bother letting us go - just to make fools of us?’ Spider-Man enquires, while the demons close in, and ask Xandu to let them deal to the heroes. ‘That is precisely why I freed them, demon. I desired to toss you a bone, so to speak - by giving you a royal hunt with these three humans-morsels as both quarry and prize!’ Xandu declares, adding that he has tormented them with the knowledge of the end of their world, and so he has no more use for them.
Xandu fires bolts of energy from the Wand of Watoomb towards the heroes, ‘Run, you pitiful fools - you shall have but the briefest of leads - before I unleash my hellish hounds!’ Xandu declares as Strange, Wanda and Spider-Man rush from the energy bolts, towards the barren surroundings of the Death Dimension. ‘Oh no! Not another bad guy who’s read “The Most Dangerous Game” one time too many!’ Spider-Man mutters, while Dr Strange tells his friends that they have no choice but to flee, or else the bonds from the wand will disintegrate them like it did the demons.
‘Now, Master Xandu?’ one of the demons calls out as they are eager to chase the heroes. ‘Just a few moments more, my monstrous little minions’ Xandu calls to the demons, while thinking to himself that he will do anything to keep them occupied and less rebellious while he prepares his final spell. As Dr Strange flies alongside Wanda and Spider-Man, he is told by Spider-Man that he should feel like he has to stick with them. ‘At least you can fly…’ Spider-Man remarks, to which Dr Strange replies that he can’t fly high, or far, in the dead, oppressive atmosphere of this realm. ‘Even if you could, you wouldn’t abandon us! We live or we die - together!’ the Scarlet Witch exclaims, while Xandu releases the demons. ‘NOW! KILL!’ he tells them.
‘Some head start!’ Wanda mutters while Dr Strange picks her up and carries her across a river, following Spider-Man who bounds through it, and the demons reach the edge of the water. Strange suggests that they may be able to gain some distance by cutting through the miasmic swamp, while Spider-Man asks ‘What is this stuff, anyway? Can’t see through it - can barely run through it!’ he declares, adding that it is like slogging through maple syrup. Dr Strange tells Wanda and Spider-Man to veer off, while he will keep levitating straight ahead, and with any luck, the demons will follow him. ‘And, as the one most used to different dimensions, I’ll have the best chance to lose them later’ Dr Strange adds.
‘Will you listen to this guy, Web-Spinner?’ Wanda calls out to Spider-Man, who replies that he does detect the odor of burning martyr. ‘Sorry, Doc! Like the lady said, we’re gonna make like the Three Musketeers - and if you let Captain America tag along, he could’ve played D’artagnan!’ As the three heroes run along the side of a murky body of water, a large tentacle suddenly rises from it, and wraps around Wanda’s waist. ‘I think somebody’s stocked this lake!’ Wanda calls out. Spider-Man sees Wanda in danger and realizes that his spider-sense never gave so much as a tingle. Dr Strange manages to fire a spell at the creature, but the tentacled beast starts to resist them. ‘I might as well have left my hex bolts in my other cape!’ Wanda jokes.
Spider-Man rushes forward with a large pointed branch that he collected from a tree, and declares that it is time he took up spear fishing. Wanda points out that she has a bit of magic she can call on, thanks to the training she received from Stephen and Agatha Harkness, and she cats the magic in bolts at the creature, which seems to earn her a bit of respect, as the creature starts to retreat. Spider-Man lands on the creature, ‘All ashore that’s going ashore!’ he exclaims as he stabs it with the sharp stick, causing it to release Wanda, who makes it back onto land. ‘OOG! It’s just like I lanced the world’s biggest boil!’ Spider-Man mutters, while Wanda alerts him to another tentacle approaching.
The tentacle grabs Spider-Man, and Wanda tells Strangte that they have to help him. She begins to act, but Strange tells her to get up onto the ridge, and they climb up the small cliff, while Spider-Man struggles with the creature and mutters’ Why don’t you both just mail in your notes?’, before Wanda and Strange push a large boulder from the ridge down into the water, squashing the creature. ‘Wonder what the rest of it looks like’ Spider-Man remarks as he gets out of the water. ‘If you want to go scuba-diving and take a peek!’ Wanda tells him. ‘Point taken’ Spider-Man mutters, before motioning to the demons who have gathered nearby. ‘I don’t think those guys back there are just looking for a place to hold a rave!’ Spider-Man declares, as they carry on their race to safety.
‘The joke, it would seem, is on me’ Dr Strange tells his companions. ‘Care to let us in on it, Stephen?’ Wanda asks. Strange remarks that he is the upside-down “fool” on his tarot cards, as he sent Captain America away, and yet, on this world, a human fighting machine would be a decided asset. Wanda just suggests that they keep moving.
Back at the throne room, ‘We were meant for one another, wand - you and I - you the raw, unfettered power - and I, the wielder and shaper of that power!’ Xandu boasts as he holds the Wand of Watoomb overhead. Xandu declares that through their efforts, magic shall prove science wrong, that two objects can occupy the same space at the same time - if they are forever combined into one.
Back at the swamp, ‘Such a hunt we’ve not had since we ruled this sphere, brothers!’ one of the demons declares as they pass the remains of the tentacle-creature. ‘Aye! Our other prey soon panicked and betrayed their presence…but our rending will be all the sweeter when we finally catch up to them!’ another demon declares. But, when the demons have passed the water, Spider-Man, Wanda and Strange burst from it, gasping for breath. ‘If I’d had to hold my breath another second - I’d have exploded!’ Spider-Man declares. Dr Strange explains that his shield-spell protected them beneath the surface, but that the liquid is so vile that it ate the shield nearly all away. ‘And I wondered why I spent all those hours in the Avengers West pool!’ Wanda remarks.
Dr Strange announces that the demon ex-lords are out of sight, but Wanda points out that it won’t take the demons long to figure out that the three of them double-backed and tricked them. ‘Then there’s only one place left to go’ Spider-Man suggests. ‘Right. And we all know where that is…’ Dr Strange begins, before turning and pointing at Castle Skull. Wanda and Spider-Man turn to it, while Wanda quotes “Step into my parlor…”, to which Spider-Man exclaims ‘Hey, Witch-lady…that’s supposed to be my line!’ as the three heroes begin their journey back to the aptly named castle - which consists of a huge skull shaped cavern at the top, and large tusks protruding from it.
And, inside the castle, ‘Closer my twin spheres…ever closer!’ Xandu exclaims as he continues to observe the two images of the Earth and the Death Dimension moving closer together. ‘Until you become one - and that one does homage to -’ Xandu begins, when suddenly, Melinda stands up, ‘Xandu…’ she whispers. ‘Melinda, beloved - awakened - just as I’ve prayed you would!’ Xandu exclaims as he turns to Melinda. He takes her hand and gets down onto one knee, asking ‘For, what does it profit a man to rule a world - a universe - without the woman he loves at his side?’ However, Melinda tells Xandu that cannot be, and reveals that in her dreaming state she saw visions of the new world that he plans, and that it is unremittingly evil. ‘I’m dead -’ Melinda begins, but Xandu replies ‘Not to me, my love - and not here!’
Melinda remarks that she has been back and forth so many times now - between death and life - that she is not even certain what being dead means, any more. ‘But don’t break down the barriers between the two states. Look at me! I’m walking proof of the catastrophe that can cause!’ Melinda tells Xandu, who replies that he can see Melinda is upset, nearly hysterical, but that she will see the wisdom of his actions, once the deed is done. Suddenly, ‘That’s a deed that will never be done!’ Strange exclaims as he, Wanda and Spider-Man burst into the throne room. ‘You - here?’ Xandu exclaims, surprised. Wanda tells Spider-Man to watch out, as she wants her and Strange’s spells to strike Xandu simultaneously. ‘Whoops, sorry!’ Spider-Man replies as he swings in front of the magical energies.
Xandu tells Spider-Man that it would have made no difference, while he holds the Wand of Watoomb. Dr Strange and Xandu approach each other, both fire energies at the other. ‘Call off this madness, Xandu!’ Strange calls out. ‘Don’t you see you’re bringing the Multiverse to the brink of disaster?’ he asks him. Xandu replies that worlds must ever draw near the cliff’s edge of calamity, to achieve the next step in their state of being. Dr Strange frowns and points out that this is no evolutionary step, but cosmic blasphemy. He adds that even Melinda’s awakening shows that the barriers are starting to buckle, like walls under stress. ‘Help me put them back up- or risk the destruction of both dimensions!’ Strange tells Xandu, who continues to release energies from the Wand of Watoomb as he declares that he does risk it, that he risks everything for love, even the end of the universe. ‘Two worlds - or one - for love - what does it matter to me - unless I reign, with Melinda beside me?’ Xandu shouts.
‘You’ve got true love all mixed up with lust for power, Xandy!’ Spider-Man exclaims as he leaps into the air to dodge some rubble that is thrown up by Xandu’s energy blasts. Spider-Man suggests to Xandu that Dr Strange could find him a nice quiet dimension off in a corner somewhere, where he and Melinda could - but he doesn’t finish his sentence, as Xandu interrupts, boasting that he must rule, otherwise he will let the heavens crumble. Wanda suddenly alerts Dr Strange to the fact that the spheres representing the two worlds are touching on their outer curves. ‘Then we may have already failed!’ Dr Strange replies as he continues to release magic energy. He declares that they can only go on fight, striving, until they fall - and with them - the last vestige of the Earth they knew.
At that moment, back on Earth, Cap decides that the storm is getting worse, and notes that the center seems to have shifted slightly from the asylum to the church graveyard across the field. He makes his way over to the graveyard, and reminds himself of what Dr Strange told him about Xandu and the Death Dimension, and realizes that this could be bad. Looking up at the sky, Steve tells himself that he doesn’t believe for a second that the leering skull face overhead is a chance cloud formation. He wonders of Strange and the others. ‘By now, they should have -’ he begins, before hearing a strange sound - and looking at the graves, sees the undead rising from them. ‘Oh, no! Dead people clawing their way out of their graves by the dozens - by the hundreds’ Cap tells himself, watching as they shamble towards the streets like the cast of a George Romero movie. ‘And nothing between them and the city beyond - but me!’ Cap tells himself. ‘Well, get ready, Captain America. Get set for the fight of your life - or maybe your death!’
Back at Castle Skull, ‘Keep on coming, Strange - you and your interfering friends! Magic - mutant hexes - spider-enhanced muscle - none of those things will long save you - let alone prevail over Xandu!’ the mad wizard boasts. He laughs as he announces that on this night, after the age-long struggle between life and death, the dead shall inherit the Earth!’ While Wanda, Strange and Spider-Man continue their assault, Captain America is surrounded by the zombies. Melinda stares blankly away, and Xandu raises the Wand of Watoomb overhead….


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

[Assistant]
She Should have DIED Hereafter…
‘Don’t you just LOVE it?!’ the mad wizard called Xandu exclaims from the Death Dimension. He declares that back on Earth, the walking dead are lurching out of their graves to conquer the land of the living, which is exactly what happens, with Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America the only hero available to prevent them from doing so, and all while the Winds of Watoomb whip around him. And, in the Death Dimension, only three heroes are present to face Xandu, who tells them that they have no chance of taking over his Death Dimension, as he blasts energies from the Wand of Watoomb at them. Dr Stephen Strange retaliates with a magic spell, while the Scarlet Witch a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider-Man are on hand to assist.
‘Actually, Xandu, we’ve got a slight edge’ Spider-Man declares as he dodges a blast, while Melinda Morrison calls out to Xandu, calling him “beloved” she pleads with him not to do this. ‘Death is death - and life, life!’ she exclaims, pointing out that they must remain equal yet separate parts of the cosmic experience. But, Xandu tells Melinda that they have never been equal, only separate, a condition which is about to end. Xandu exclaims that life lasts a few fleeting decades, while death is forever, so power should definitely not be in the hands of the living, himself excluded, of course, he boasts. As the space around them rumbles as the two spheres begin to merge, Melinda exclaims that the death-quakes seem to be growing weaker, as the two worlds converge.
‘Don’t let him fool you, Melinda!’ Spider-Man calls out, while Wanda reminds Melinda that Xandu can’t stay here while he is alive, and she is the Queen of the Dead. ‘His mere presence has been tearing the Death Dimension apart’ Dr Strange exclaims as he continues to hold his own against the powers of the Wand of Watoomb. ‘You refuse to understand - that’s why I’m merging the spheres of life and death with the Wand of Watoomb!’ Xandu boasts, while recalling that these three heroes have foiled his plans before. ‘But never again!’ he calls out as he knocks the Scarlet Witch backwards with a bolt of energy. ‘Wanda!’ Dr Strange exclaims, concerned, but Spider-Man tells him that it is no problem, and fires some webbing, which latches on to Wanda, preventing her from smashing into a brick wall. ‘Got her!’ Spider-Man calls out, while thinking to himself ‘Let’s hear it for false bravado. The Scarlet Witch and I are so beat we can barely stand’. Spider-Man knows that if Dr Strange can’t stop Xandu then the walking-around population of Earth is gonna increase by billions overnight!
‘That was my fault, my friends. The wand gives him so much power, I can’t break through!’ Dr Strange calls out, but Spider-Man points out that Xandu’s power seems to be at a stand-still with Dr Strange’s. ‘For the moment’ Melinda thinks to herself, before she approaches Xandu and tells him to stop this madness, if not for mankind’s sake, then for hers. ’I really can’t have all this interference, my dear…so I’ll have to immobilize you, until the deed is fully done!’ Xandu declares as he puts Melinda into a blank-state once more. He tells Melinda that she will thank him for it, when she is sitting on the throne of two spheres made one.
Several demons approach Xandu and one states that they know they shall serve Melinda again, long upon a plane where they rule both the quick and the dead. ‘And if you demons even think of attacking me, because I’ve entranced your queen -’ Xandu begins, but one of the demons assures him that they are content to serve under both he and Melinda, if it means an entire world to play with. ‘It does!’ Xandu declares, while deciding that as he doesn’t need to guard himself from the demons, he can devote all the wand’s considerable energies to the total defeat of Dr Strange and his lackeys. Xandu pours more energy onto the heroes, bombarding them. ‘If he was holding back before, then we may stand no chance against him now!’ Dr Strange thinks to himself.
As, back on Earth, at the edge of a certain Manhattan graveyard. ‘Bullets don’t stop these things!’ a police officer exclaims as he fires his weapon at the approaching undead masses. ‘They can’t really be dead people come back to life - can they?’ Detective Simons asks Captain America, who replies ‘Not back to life - just back!’, while one of the zombies grabs a police officer by his neck. The officer calls out for help, so the Star-Spangled Avenger leaps into action, ‘There are people dying every day - we don’t need the dead to help them along!’ Cap exclaims as he pulls the zombie away from the officer. More officers raise their guns, with one remarking that Cap tossd the zombie a mile away, but as soon as he touched the ground, he just got up and started walking again!
‘Blast away at them! It’s our only -‘ one officer calls out, however Detective Simons tells the police officers to fall back to the perimeters of the graveyard. ‘That’s an order!’ he shouts, unaware that some zombies are fast approaching him. ‘Simons! Watch out!’ Cap shouts as he throws his shield towards the zombies, knocking them back like pins struck by a bowling ball. Detective Simons thanks Cap, who catches his shield as it returns to him. ‘Who’s to thank? All we’re doing by falling back is gaining a bit of time - and not much of it at that!’ Cap exclaims as the zombies close in.
At the same time, back in the Death Dimension, the demons guard Melinda’s motionless body, while Xandu announces that he can feel Strange’s psychic shield weakening moment by moment. ‘Why not bow to the inevitable - and I’ll make you and your little friends the newest recruits in my army of the dead!’, to which Dr Strange replies ‘You make it sound so tempting’. Xandu declares that it is too bad they didn’t bring Captain America along, as he would dearly love to see what the Wand of Watoomb would do to his shield. ‘Captain America? Yes!’ Dr Strange exclaims, but Spider-Man tells him that he can’t drag Cap in here too. ‘He’d fare even less well than we are’ the Scarlet Witch points out. But Dr Strange continues his assault on Xandu while explaining that he doesn’t intend to bring Cap here. The once-Sorcerer Supreme realizs that by diverting his attention from Xandu, even for an instant, he risks death, and, worse than that, it is a risk he must take.
In the shadow of a heartbeat, Strange casts a spell, and the energies exit the Death dimension, and traverse that great unmeasurable void between life and death, to find, unerringly, its predestined target - Captain America, who, despite the raging storm, notices some light, hitting something in the grass - it looks like a jewel. Cap picks it up and wonders if the light or the gem has anything to do with Dr Strange. ‘He didn’t want me going with him and the others, because I didn’t show up on his tarot cards. If this is his way of sending out a distress signal, Cap isn’t sure how he would reach them in the Death Dimension. However, the gem starts to get warm, he can feel a pulse coming right through him, and the effect on Captain America is sudden, even painful, as a brilliant light engulfs everything, of course the effect on the undead is even more devastating.
Cap watches as the zombies are hurled back like paper dolls, but he doesn’t know how long he an bear the overwhelming pain, however, he senses that he must not put the jewel down. Cap knows that a lot more than just their lives may be at stake. Sweat drips down his face as he tells himself to hang on at all costs, until it does, whatever it really came to do, or else it tears him apart - whichever comes first.
Back in the Death Dimension, Xandu declares that this is almost to easy, that Strange has left himself and his colleagues utterly defenseless. ‘And, if you think you’re going to pull any last minute help into this dimension!’ Xandu adds, while Strange tells him that he has it backwards, and casts his energies at Melinda Morrison. ‘I don’t want to pull anything in - rather, I want to send something that absolutely, positively, has to be there - today!’ Strange declares as Melinda vanishes. ‘NO!’ Xandu calls out, while Melinda is encased in energy as she slides through the nothingness between the real world and the Earth. ‘Well. Hello’ Captain America greets her as Melinda falls into his arms.
‘You ever-meddling medicine man!’ Xandu shouts as he knocks Strange back with energies from the Wand of Watoomb. ‘You have tried to separate me from my Melissa - from the only one who makes life worth living - or death worth dying! But if won’t work, do you hear me?’ Xandu declares, as he opens a portal, and announces that he is going after her, calling out that he will let the demons deal with Strange and his over-touted allies. Dr Strange gets to his feet and rubs his head, as he, Wanda and Spider-Man gather together, and the demons close in on them. ‘With him gone, we can take these guys right, Doc?’ Spider-Man calls out. ‘I said - right, Doc?’ Spider-Man asks when he gets no response.
On Earth, Detective Simons asks Cap who the lady is who dropped in. Hazarding a guess, Cap supposes that she is Melinda Morrison. ‘And you’d be right, Captain’ Melinda announces, explaining that Dr Strange propelled her here from the Death Dimension. ‘Doctor who?’ the detective enquires. ‘Uh - she said some strange doctor - sent her - with help from Spider-Man and the Scarlet Witch, right Ms Morrison?’ Cap calls out. ‘Yes - to get me away from Xandu - for reasons I suspect I know’ Detective Simons points out that they have to get out of this area before the walking dead are climbing all over them again. Melinda turns to the zombies, and raising a hand, exclaims ‘You who are my natural subjects in this world as in the other - halt!’, and the zombies obey her, coming to a halt. ‘She stopped them - dead in their tracks!’ the surprised Detective Simons gasps.
Suddenly, ‘But I, my good man, shall get them moving again!’ Xandu exclaims as he materializes over the zombies. Xandu tells Melinda that she can hardly elude him, for he has used the wand to forge a mystic connection between them. He adds that when the merger of death and life is complete, that connection will be total perfection. ‘You’re not merging anything, magician!’ Cap calls out as he moves towards the man wizard, but Xandu casts the wand towards him, and knocks Cap backwards. ‘If your powerful friends could not defeat me, Avenger - what chance do you think you have?’ Xandu asks him.
The police officers begin firing at Xandu, but he spins the wand, and a wind shield appears, which when the bullets strike, are blown back towards the officers, who run in fear. Melinda calls out to Xandu, telling him mo stop this madness. ‘You’ll think differently when everyone who ever died has come back ot life - an army of the dead, to conquer this living world!’ Xandu declares, while Melinda tells him that she will not be a queen of such a place. ‘He’s just one of the loonies escaped from the asylum! Surely we can -’ one of the officers begins, while Captain America runs towards Melinda and grabs her away from Xandu. ‘You persist in the futility of resisting me?’ Xandu exclaims, to which Cap tells him that he would find that annoying.
As he carries Melinda and runs away from Xandu, Cap asks her if she is really a queen of the dead, why she can’t just stop Xandu. Melinda explains that whatever powers she has, she has never been able to utilize without Dr Strange’s help, and points out that for all she knows, Dr Strange may have killed Stephen before he came back to Earth. ‘Then we’ve got to keep you out of his clutches until we find -’ Cap tells her, but a zombie hand bursts up through the ground and grabs Cap by his ankle. Captain America falls flat on his face, and drops Melinda, who calls out to him - but as Xandu points out, Cap struck his noble chin too hard upon a fragment of gravestone.
Cap doesn’t get up, he just lies motionless on the ground, while Xandu declares that he will be of no trouble to them now, and grabs Melinda by her wrist. ‘Don’t kill him, Xandu! If you do - I’ll never forgive you!’ Melinda warns, but Xandu replies that he has no need to kill Captain America just now, but hopes she will understand that he does have to allow the new core of his walking dead legion to slay a few of the living. The zombies begin to close in on Detective Simons and the other officers, with Xandu stating that this will set an example to the rest - when suddenly, sudden pain washes over both he and Melinda. They clutch themselves, and Melinda tells Xandu that he knows what it is - this world trying to cast them both out. ‘Me because I’m really dead - you, because the wand has forged a mystic connection between us!’ Melinda explains.
‘Then, at least for the moment, we shall bestride both worlds, my dear - like twin colossi - each of us with one foot in the grave, as they say - the other, in the land of the living!’ Xandu declares, adding that when the two are one, the Earth will no longer try to cast them out like disagreeable peach pits. ‘Or like two poisons!’ Melinda points out, while Captain America, who has woken, calls out to Melinda and exclaims ‘Don’t you see it’s hopeless to resist?’ and suggests she return to the Dimension of Death with Xandu. Melinda turns to Cap, ‘You ask me to do such a thing? You wouldn’t - not if you knew it as I -’ she begins, but Cap tells her that she must return there and be a queen, a true queen at last. ‘Do you understand?’ he calls out. ‘Yes - perhaps I -’ Melinda begins.
Melinda turns to Xandu and tells him that until the merger is completed, her place is in the Death Dimension, not here, and begs him to take her back there. ‘But Strange hurled you out -’ Xandu points out, however Melinda, touching Xandu, assures him that he won’t do so again. ‘Very well, my dear’ Xandu replies, and opens a portal, which he and Melinda step into, he decides that it is best, ‘What better place, very soon, to make a triumphal entrance onto the Earth plane?’ he remarks, while Detective Simons is surprised at Captain America and exclaims ‘You’re just standing there - and letting them go?’
‘That Star Spangled buffoon knew he couldn’t stop me, if he tried!’ Xandu declares as he and Melinda materialize in the throne room. The demons have surrounded Dr Strange, Wanda and Spider-Man, and Xandu declares that they shall finish of Earth’s final defenders. ‘So, you couldn’t elude Xandu as I hoped, Melinda!?’ Dr Strange exclaims, to which Xandu boasts that like their worlds, he and Melinda are destined to be one, and nothing anyone can do will prevent hat. ‘Strange! Make me queen of this sphere!’ Melinda exclaims ‘Captain America said that only you can do it!’ Melinda shouts. ‘Cap wants me to -?’ Strange remarks, while Xandu is surprised, ‘Melinda? WHAT?’ he calls out, before Strange, Wanda and Spider-Man get to their feet, and the demons move away from them as Strange casts energies forward.
‘You got any idea what Cap meant?’ Spider-Man enquires, and Strange replies that he does, remarking that his own sorcery won’t defeated the demon under lords, and their powers won’t release them from the thraldom to Xandu, while even Melinda is under his sway. ‘But if I can pull all three of those forces together…’ Dr Strange declares, before casting a spell. ‘Hey! That mumbo-jumbo’s actually doing something to the demons! They -’ Spider-Man exclaims, as the demons are drawn into Melinda, her eyes burn white, and she declares’ No, Spider-Man. They are already merged into the very core of my being - along with the residual magic of Dr Strange’s spell!’ while Xandu turns to her, and calling Strange a fool, states that he has done him a favor. ‘He’s made you the perfect mate for Xandu!’ the mad wizard boasts.
However, Melinda tells Xandu that she does not wish to be his mate, his queen, or anything else. ‘You’ve no choice! The wand’s power is vast-overwhelming!’ Xandu replies, adding that Strange cannot bring any more sorcery into this plane than already existed here. ‘He did not bring more in, Xandu. He merely combined the three sources of magic that were already present - to make me far more powerful than even you are!’ Melinda announces, as she casts her energies at Xandu, who writhes in pain and drops the wand, unable to hold onto it. ‘No problem, Xandu. I’ll take care of it for you! Spider-Man calls out as he fires some webbing around the wand, collecting it.
‘Melinda - beloved - I wanted to make you Empress of the Quick and the Dead!’ Xandu proclaims, asking her how she could turn on him, betray him. Wanda, Spider-Man and Strange gather beside Melinda, and Wanda remarks that Xandu still doesn’t understand. ‘I loved you, Xandu. And I’d have loved you across two worlds, or in some third on we might have found together. But you had to have it your way - conquering instead of caressing me - and killing the love I once felt for you!’ Melinda exclaims as she fires more energy at Xandu, who screams in agony. ‘Yes, Xandu. By melding the death-demons into my person, Dr Strange made me truly this sphere’s queen, in a way I had never been’ Melinda explains. ‘And as its supreme ruler - I hereby exile you for all time from this Death Dimension!’ Melinda declares as Xandu is engulfed in energy. ‘Where’s she sending him?’ Spider-Man enquires. ‘If I had to guess, I’d say - back where he’s always belonged’ Strange responds.
‘Dead New Yorkers shambling around - people popping in and out of thin air - when’s it all going to end, Captain America?’ Detective Simons calls out as the zombies continue to close in. ‘Offhand - I’d say right about now!’ Cap replies as Xandu falls from the air, and the zombies move towards him. ‘No! Get away from me! I command you!’ Xandu tells them, but they don’t respond. ‘Why aren’t you stopping? I’m the king of the dead!’ Xandu declares. Suddenly, the undead begin to crumble away. ‘That’s more like it!’ Xandu exclaims, deciding that even if he is down to one world, even deprived of the Wand of Watoomb, he has still “got it”, as they say.
But as all the zombies begin to crumble, Cap tells the mad wizard that it is not his supposed powers that are disposing of the animated corpses, pointing out that they started turning to dust before Xandu ordered them to stop, adding that someone else is in charge. ‘Is it her, Avenger?’ Detective Simons enquires as a projection of Melinda Morrison appears before them. ‘As a matter of fact, Detective, I’m sure it is!’ Cap replies, as Melinda’s projection bids Xandu farewell - forever. ‘Melinda? You can’t leave me here - without you - without the wand - without any real power - without…anything’ Xandu calls out, before he collapses to the ground. And, in that same moment, two worlds that were dangerously near to becoming one begin to drift apart once more.
Back in the Death Dimension, ‘You separated the two dimensions, didn’t you, Melinda?’ Strange enquires. Melinda replies that she did, but not without Spider-Man and the Scarlet Witch helping by keeping the demons at bay. ‘If you hadn’t magically integrated those demons into my being - and if Captain America hadn’t instinctively sensed that I could save both worlds by truly becoming this one’s ruler’ she adds, asking the heroes to thank Captain America for her when they return to Earth. ‘We’ll put a gold star by his name’ Spider-Man replies, while holding up the Wand of Watoomb with some webbing, and tells Dr Strange that he can put it back on its shield. Wanda asks Strange what he thinks now about whether he was right or wrong to stop Cap from accompanying them to the Death Dimension.
‘Hey, that’s right!’ Spider-Man exclaims, ‘Either your tarot card being upside down meant a foolish choice if you picked Cap for your team - in which case you made the right choice by leaving him on Earth, or else you did make a wrong choice because he might’ve helped us even more being by here with us!’ ‘Which is it?’ Melinda advises Spider-Man not to think too deeply about the occult, as it will only make his head hurt. ‘Tell me about it’ Spider-Man mutters, to which the Scarlet Witch suggests they say that everything worked out for the best and let it go. She tells Melinda that they are sorry Xandu’s ambition blinded him to the love he could have had instead. ‘It will be lonely here for a time - perhaps for all time - but I shall persevere, because I must’ Melinda responds, as she casts energies around the three heroes. ‘Be seeing you, Queenie, uh - but not too soon, I hope’ Spider-Man tells her. ‘Don’t ask her’ Strange tells companion. ‘Right. She might just tell you - what you don’t really want to know!’ the Scarlet Witch points out.
An instant later, Dr Strange, the Scarlet Witch and Spider-Man materialize in Manhattan, and drop from the air where Captain America stands with Detective Simons, and the officers have placed Xandu in handcuffs. Spider-Man is confused as to why they are in Manhattan, but Captain America “reminds him”: ‘This is the borough from which Xandu accidentally pulled Dr Strange into that other world from which you rescued him’. ‘Oh, yeah, right! He, uh, was at the asylum, as a consulting physician when the storm broke’ Spider-Man mutters. Dr Strange’s costume is replaced by a suit, and Cap asks if he will be happy to get back to Greenwich Village, to which Strange tells him that he is correct. ‘Thanks for not rubbing it in’ Dr Strange tells Cap.
One of the police officers announces that they can question the wizard later. ‘Let’s go, Sandy, or whatever your name is, we - huh? What’re you crying for?’ the officer asks. ‘He tried to take over New York, maybe the world, with a bunch of graveyard stiffs - and he totally blew it’ Detective Simons explains. ‘Why do you think he’s crying? Because some girlfriend broke up with him?’ Detective Simons mutters.
And in a domain separated from our reality by quite literally the merest heartbeat, silence lies like a heavy shoulder upon a realm with a population of one. For, though Melinda Morrison is at last queen of the Death Dimension, she knows that this day she has lost the only man she will ever love. She sits motionless upon her throne, knowing that she will never find Xandu again, among wither the quick…or the dead. And with that, a tear falls from her eye.


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

[Assistant]
Speed-Lines
Richard “Rich” Rider a.k.a. Nova blasts through the air. A look of shock falls upon his face as he comes to a halt, mid-air. You want to think there are some things you can always count on - Spider-Man on the front page of the Bugle, Reed Richards heading up the Fantastic Four, not one person ever yelling “Look, up in the sky, it’s…the man called Nova”, and, of course Doctor Strange’s house on Bleecker Street. But things just aren’t what they used to be, are they. Nova drops down towards the ruins of Doctor Strange’s home, and thinks that it looks like a battlefield - the loser’s side of it, at that. He wonders what in the world could possibly do a number like this on Doc, before supposing that it was probably nothing to do with this world.
Searching through the rubble, Nova hopes that he doesn’t stumble across Dr Strange’s body. He doesn’t - but he gets the next best thing - ‘Why have you come here, boy?’ Dr Strange’s astral projection calls out as he rises from the rubble. ‘CRIPES! Don’t do that!’ Nova exclaims. Dr Strange tells Nova that obviously neither he nor his abode is in any condition to receive visitors, and tells Nova to depart. ‘Doc? That is you, right…?’ Nova calls out, before asking what happened here. ‘you’re not, um, dead or anything…are you?’ the young hero enquires. ‘I mean, don’t take this wrong, but you do kinda look like a ghost. If I can do anything -’ Nova begins, to which Strange informs him that this is his astral form. ‘More than that is…of no concern to you’ Strange declares.
Strange suggests to Nova that if he has other business here, then state it, otherwise he should leave. ‘Well, to tell you the truth, I came looking for some help. But you’ve got problems of your own, so -’ Nova begins, but Strange tells him to continue. Nova informs Strange that this is something he just happened into, and that what he has to say is all he knows. ‘I’d guess you’re familiar with Quasar…’ Nova begins.
Shown with flashback illustrations, narrated by Nova:
‘…Quantum bands? Funny cape? Yeah, him’ Nova remarks, informing Dr Strange that Quasar’s girlfriend, Kayla Ballantine, has this thing called the Starbrand. Nova isn’t sure what the Starbrand really is, but he knows it is powerful. He tells Strange that Quasar noticed some disturbance on the moon and heads off to check it out, averting a tragedy with a little help from the likes of Binary, Black Bolt, Darkstar and others, only to learn that the whole thing was a distraction to separate Quasar from Kayla, as space gods called the Starblasters were looking to get their hands on Kayla and the Starbrand, so, Nova went to her rescue, which didn’t work out too well, as the Starblasters escaped with Kayla. So, Quasar rounded up some of the heroes who assisted him on the moon, and went off after them.
Present:
Nova tells Dr Strange that he is left holding the fort, but the Starblasters left behind a little “present”, probably hoping to slow down Quasar. ‘Now I’ve got to deal with it’ Nova points out. He remarks that his teammates, the New Warriors, are not around, and that this thing the Starblasters left is causing some serious destruction. ‘Any…well…I can’t catch it. It’s too fast’ Nova explains. ‘I see. Very well, then. Continue to track this…present…as best you can. When I’m able…I’ll send you help’ Dr Strange tells the young hero.
Nova departs, going after the thing that was left by the Starblasters, but he is not any better off than he was before, as it rips up the landscape as it tears across the land, with Nova unable to get close enough to lay a hand on this “present’. Suddenly, something speeds past Nova, like a dodge dart on the autobahn. ‘Geez!’ Nova exclaims, wondering whether he now has two things to deal with. But as he finally catches up to the “present” he has been chasing, and the person who sped past him, he realizes that it is nice to be wrong once in a while, ‘NORTHSTAR?’ Nova exclaims as he sees Jean-Paul Beaubier of Alpha Flight battling the hideous alien.
Distracted by Nova, Jean-Paul looks away from the alien, which gives the alien time grab Northstar and hurl him at Nova, knocking both men to the woodland below. ‘You’re it? You’re my help?’ Nova enquires. ‘Merci for the gratitude. Do you insult everyone who comes to your aid, or just Canadian mutants?’ Northstar replies. ’Well, no, it’s jus…I was expecting, you know…someone’ Nova explains. Jean-Paul frowns and mutters ’Oh, fine. How typically American. Because I didn’t come swinging in on a web or riding a flaming motorcycle I must be fairly useless, is that it?’, before calling Nova a self-important fool, and pointing out that if he hadn’t interrupted, he would have taken the robot apart by now. ‘Have you any idea what -’ Northstar begins, before Nova asks him to shut up.
‘You gonna help me, or not?’ Rich asks Jean-Paul, who helps Nova to his feet. ‘Well...I’m here already, aren’t I?’ Northstar mutters, suggesting that Nova should follow him while he runs their quarry to ground. ‘I don’t have that kind of speed. What are you gonna do, ride me piggyback?’ Nova asks. ‘In a manner of speaking’ Northstar tells him, adding that he does have that kind of speed, and tells Nova to simply stay in his slipstream and he will be drawn along behind him. ‘So you can watch while I catch it’ Northstar adds as he speeds away, with Nova following, riding the slipstream.
‘Oh, man…tell me I’m not seeing this. I’ve gotta stop that thing and save a national landmark? Well, isn’t this a full day!’ Nova mutters as they speed towards the Starblasters’ robot, in an attempt to distract it from its attack on the US Capitol Building. Nova darts past the robot, deciding that it is just a robot, with alien technology, sure, but still a robot, which should be no big deal for a guy with a Xanadar Corps suit and a large ego. He spins around and flies back towards the robot, ‘It really sounded good on paper’ Nova thinks to himself as the robot swats him away, sending him crashing to the ground. Looking up to the top of the building, Richard tells himself that it is not like Northstar is setting the world on fire, either, as the robot slams the speedster about.
‘Least he’s indebted to me, now. Maybe I can talk him out of a couple of hocket tickets or something’ Nova thinks to himself as he speeds to Northstar’s rescue, pulling him to safety as the robot prepares to slam his fists down again. But as Nova discovers, simply owing his life to him does not change Northstar’s attitude, as Jean-Paul suggests to Nova that next time he will surprise him with a plan of action that actually proves useful. ‘Sure. How’s this grab you - next time I let you get squashed while I make a tactical retreat’ Nova suggests. ‘Either that or we just keep hammering it’ he adds as they both fly towards the robot. ‘Oh, simply brilliant’ Northstar mutters.
<>
‘I dented it! I think. Maybe’ Nova mutters as he slams his fists against the robot, only to be knocked backwards. As Northstar flies down from above, the robot releases a burst of energy, sending the Canadian mutant careening backwards. Nova declares that this isn’t working, not even a little, for whatever that thing is made of, they don’t have the power to tackle it. ‘Oui. I noticed’ Northstar replies, when suddenly, some mist appears around them. ‘Um…were you expecting any creepy mist about now?’ Jean-Paul enquires. ‘Non…’ Nova tells him. As the mist disperses, the Hulk is revealed, ‘Somebody call for a doctor? Or maybe two of them?’ the green behemoth calls out, while the astral projection of Dr Strange hovers alongside him.
‘The Hulk!’ Nova exclaims. ‘It’s Bruce’ the Hulk replies, before deciding ‘On second thought, that’s Doctor Banner to you two. As in, “Doctor Banner, and who had better things to do today”!’ Banner declares, before telling Nova not to let it worry him. ‘Do I look like a guy who holds a grudge?’ he asks. When he gets no response, Banner scratches his head and asks ‘So…where’s it at?’, to which Northstar and Nova both smile, and motion backwards. ‘Stay put’ Banner tells them as he walks past them., and taps the robot on the shoulder. The robot spins around to face the Hulk, who, in dramatic fashion, grabs the robot by the neck, and tears its head off, before slamming the body into scrap metal, with little difficulty.
‘That was tough, wasn’t it’ Banner remarks, before looking around and seeing that Strange’s astral form has gone, asks ‘Steve gone already?’, to which Northstar replies that “evaporated” is a better description. Banner mutters that he now has to walk home, to which Nova suggests that they could carry him. ‘Mr Spock and a guy with a bucket on his head? Yeah, Right’ Banner smirks as he walks away. Nova tells himself that it is like he said, you want to think there are some things you can always count on - and some things like seven-foot green guys having surly dispositions and being particularly useful in a fight, you still can.’
Meantime, the alien known as Geator floats through space, when suddenly a brilliant light engulfs him, and he is drawn towards someone, who reaches out for him, offering him salvation. This other being grins wickedly, before he frowns, and tells Geator that from now one, his life belongs to him - Thanos of Titan!


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

[Assistant]
Strange Changes: part the first: Strangers and Other Lovers
A man reads tarot cards. A high priestess (Malachi) is shown. The woman is ageless and timeless. Next, two lovers (Dr. Druid & Shadowoman) are shown. Their love has spanned decades. Death is next. The reaper is inverted and denied. Judgment (Strange II) will take place. It will be a figure both terrible and dark. Strength will be needed. Two allies (Deadpool & Luke Cage) will be well chosen. There’s also the hermit (Dr. Strange). This is fascinating. It would appear that the fates possess a sense of humor, albeit a grim one. Still… the tarot does not lie!
Once, Stephen Strange might have smiled. But that was a lifetime ago. Now, shorn of his title of Sorcerer Supreme, stripped of much of his personal power, and confined to his sanctum, deep within the bowls of the Earth, somehow, the jest eludes him! The cards of divination whirl forebodingly about Stephen, signaling the start of a new and terrible area. Not surprisingly, laughter is the furthest thing from Strange’s mind!
While meditating, Strange wonders if his burdens know no limit. He has neither the time nor energy to waste on this matter. He uses a magic spell to make the cards vanish. Strange’s guard asks what’s wrong. Strange explains that the signs once again point towards an outbreak of mystical peril. He adds that, since the War of the Seven Spheres began, such occurrences have become more and more common. Strange recalls that, back in the old days, he would have gathered the Defenders to deal with this matter, but he doesn’t dare risk his limited source of powers for this case.
The other Strange wants to deal with it. Stephen doesn’t agree, mentioning that his duties lie elsewhere, as do his. Until Salomé has fallen, Strange thinks they must concentrate their effort on the acquisition of necromantic power. But he fears that if they leave this treat for what it is, it’ll cause a grave disaster. Stephen thinks it’s clear what they must do. He departs in his astral form, thinking that his secret defenders must continue their work, albeit perhaps under the guiding hand of a fresh steward. And Strange thinks that the perfect candidate doesn’t live too far away.
Meanwhile in another sanctum, in a better, brighter part of the world, more precisely in Boston, Massachusetts, are the offices and living quarters of the renowned mystic, sage and scholar Dr. Anthony Druid situated. For the last forty-eight hours, neighbors and passers by have been unnerved by the strange lights and sounds that emanate from within. Though what dark purpose these phenomena serve, few would dare speculate!
Inside his apartment, Dr. Druid finishes the alien spell to finishing renewing a binding. He thinks that the rite should maintain the desired effect for yet another astrological cycle. He wants to take some well-deserved rest now, but never gets the chance for it. Bricks fall down, and Druid notices that someone managed to break through his defenses. It’s Dr. Strange. He calls out to Druid, and claims that he’s needed. Strange tells the doctor that he has been called to serve, which he will do. Strange prepares to merge his mind with Druid’s. Druid gets defensive and demands to know what’s going on.
Strange wastes no time, and puts his astral form into the mind of Dr. Druid. The process is painful, but Druid can now see everything Strange knows. Druid’s third eye turns inward, illuminating shards of his past. Druid sees his past trip to Tibet, and his meeting with the aged lama called the Ancient One, Strange’s mentor. He sees a gnarled hand, which unlocked the potential of Strange’s mind, merging the power of the ancient Britons, which was Stephen’s birthright along with the mystic arts he learned.
Druid sees a hand, which unveiled Stephen’s destiny: to be the mystic harbinger of Doctor Strange! Now, Druid’s mind is assailed by fresh images. He sees a woman, who is unspeakable ancient and unimaginable powerful. She is undeniable a threat to the natural order. Druid feels pain, and a compulsion to act upon this unwanted insight, something that explodes in Druid’s psyche. Druid screams and cries. The spell is complete. The die is cast. The mantle, passed. And from this moment on, Anthony Druid’s life shall never be completely… his own!
And then, as suddenly as the spell began, it’s over. Druid falls down and lands, cursing Strange for doing this to him. Jillian enters the room, and asks Anthony if he’s all right, since she heard him screaming. But sadly enough, Druid has to tell her that not everything’s all right – far from it. He tells Jillian that she knows he is never to be disturbed in his… conjurations. He warns her that it was just such a failure to follow his instructions that led to Jillian’s current condition. Jillian sarcastically apologizes for living… or caring.
She notices that obviously, something big has just happened, and wants to know what. Druid reveals that the only thing Jillian needs to know for now is that there is a threat upon the mystic horizon, one that needs to be dealt with. He suspects that it’s best that Jillian assumes her shadow-form. Jillian does as told, and transforms into Shadowoman! But she has enough of the secrets, and wants Druid to fill her in. Druid explains that he has just experienced a… powerful precognitive flash. How, or why, he doesn’t deem important right now. Druid adds that his vision concerned the Moebius Stone, an ancient artifact of limitless mystic potential that shattered eons ago into a thousand fragments by Agamotto himself.
Shadowoman asks what the Stone does. Druid prays that Jillian will never have to learn that. He adds that with Agamotto absent from this sphere, certain… dark forces… have successfully reconstructed the gem, save for two errant pieces. Jillian jokes that “dark forces” are her specialty, and wants to move over to action. Druid suspects that it wouldn’t fit to act prematurely. He explains that the remaining fragments shall require… defenders… until the time of their arrival. Jillian suspects that Druid will use his powers of persuasion to mesmerize another Shock Troop.
Druid doesn’t think that will work this time. He thinks that today a simple phone call will be enough. He knows that the first fragment lies in Chicago. He plans on contacting the local talent, along with a bit less… scrupulous.
Bombers…
This is a run-down watering hole on the windy city’s south side. The neon sign at the door boasts the slogan “Come down to Bombers and get smashed!” As is the case today, as all the bar’s visitors are in a rumble with each other. Appearances to the contrary, this is an unusual quiet night.
A woman smiles. It seems she has come to the right place. This is such a myriad selection for her, and she has so much raw meat to choose from. Still, she requires more than perhaps a dozen of the most able-bodied brigands for the task at hand. Such a pity, she laughs. The woman casts out a spell, and asks the mortal fighters to listen to… Malachi!
She has needs that must be fulfilled, needs whose satisfaction demands the use of expandable morons like the fighters. She casts out the veil of Morpheus spell, which falls across the fighters’ minds for the duration of their service. Malachi mentions that what she seeks lies hidden in the edifice known as the Chicago Museum of Art. She explains that with Agamotto’s attention focused elsewhere, her methods of acquisition need no longer remain surreptitious. She warns the fighters to act quickly, and seek the object she needs. While the fighters leave, Malachi already senses other forces preparing to align themselves against her. But so long as she wields the greater portion of the Moebius Stone around her neck like a necklace, she isn’t too worried about them.
Later, at the Chicago Museum of Art…
With mechanical precision, six of the fighters start the search like ordered. Unfortunately for them, the walls here have ears! Luke Cage bursts through the wall, having received a tip of the possibility that the museum might be robbed, and he was hired to prevent it. And that’s exactly what Luke shall do.
The fighters walk towards Luke, and one of them hits him. The weird thing is… Luke actually felt the punch! Either way, something is wrong with Luke’s unbreakable skin, or else there’s something more behind the fighters than meets the eye. Luke defends himself and throws the fighters to the other side of the room, breaking one of the fighters’ arm in two, but he doesn’t even seem to feel the pain. More fighters arrive, and they quickly surround Luke. He isn’t certain if he can stop them without permanently damaging them.
Now, a voice tells Luke that he can look ahead and to his left, and the voice tells Luke he can see a stunning example of post-modernist expressionism. And when it comes to expressionism, the voice tells Luke, he has never had a friend like him. The voice has noticed that the fighters aren’t actually playing the game fair, as the strong, silent type is passé in the liberated ‘90’s. The voice suspects its because all those quiche-eating, group-hugging “sensitive” men that rev the ladies motors these days. But the voice beds that the fighters are a smash at Bingo night. But that’s not for the voice. He likes to hang out… on other people.
A man jumps out of the shadows and kicks some of the fighters on their heads, and Luke recognizes the new arrival as… Deadpool! That’s the price of fame, Wade guesses. Autograph seekers, paparazzi everywhere, the never-ending parties… Kathy Ireland’s constant phone calls… that whiny voice of hers kinda gets Wade right there after a while. He joins the battle, and takes out his swords and starts slicing the fighters down. He starts introducing himself. The fighters can call him “dead” as in “doornail,” or “pool” as in “of your own blood!” But nobody can call him “Johnson.”
Luke tells Deadpool he has heard of him, and wants to know what his angle is in this. Wade jokes that he goes where the money is, and with Clinton’s health plan around the bend, good medical benefits are a definite plus. With everyone defeated, Luke is certain that they didn’t pay Wade to kill their adversaries! Wade defends that at least he’s up front in his line of work. Its “heroes” like Luke that give mercs like Wade a bad name. Luke is ready to fight Deadpool, but gets interrupted by Dr. Druid and Shadowoman, who step through a portal. Luke wants to know what they are doing there.
Druid explains to the gentlemen that he is their benefactor and employer. Deadpool recognizes Dr. Druid as the Rod Serling of the Celtic set and, by now, Wade suspects, Druid should know better than to involve him into hero affairs. He wants to leave. Dr. Druid asks Wade to calm down, as he recalls that Wade has performed… services… for him in the past. Druid mentions that he is aware of the recent “epiphany” Wade achieved, meaning the realization that his talents could be used for a lot more than useless slaughter.
Druid asks Wade if he truly wants to turn his back upon a menace of global proportions. Wade hesitates, but agrees that he can’t do that. But, he’ll expect the usual fee delivered on the usual place. Druid agrees, and they walk away. Luke can see why Deadpool’s name is spoken in hushed whispers. Wade doesn’t care about Luke’s opinion, and follows Druid and Shadowoman. Jillian asks Druid if that was really necessary. Druid confirms. He mentions that the two of them are ill-equipped to face a conflict corporeal. And Wilson was already poised on the edge of acquiescence. Druid merely gave him a psychic nudge to insure his decision.
Soon, they arrive in a large room, with a small, glowing box in the middle of it, and a sword guarding it. Druid mentions that the item they seek lies hidden somewhere within it. Luke adds that he has never heard of the Sword of Iskandar before. Druid adds that it isn’t the sword that’s important, but what it contains. He warns the others to stand back. He touches the sword, which glows and flows energy of it! Deadpool hopes that the doc knows what he’s doing. An alarm goes off.
Druid asks the others not to pay attention to it, as they’ll be gone before the authorities have arrived. He informs that their foe is approaching as well, seeking for this very gem, which is encrusted in the sword’s hilt: the penultimate fragment of the Moebius Stone! Luke doesn’t care if Druid is paying his bills, but he won’t let Druid take the sword away from the museum.
Suddenly, an energy beam hits Druid, and the culprit calms Luke that Druid won’t be able to do that. It’s Malachi! She explains that the talisman, and the power within it, belong to her! Druid recognizes Malachi, as she is the woman from his earlier vision. Druid soon gets up again, and warns Malachi that she underestimates the forces she trifles with. He knows that the Moebius Stone isn’t something meant for mortal hands. Malachi doesn’t care about that. She has spend too many centuries in search of the Stone, and that her uses for it is justified, as she is doing it for love!
Deadpool, Luke and Shadowoman aren’t interested in whatever Malachi wants: they won’t let her take the sword and are ready for a fight. Malachi won’t let that stop her. She explains that with age, her wisdom about the magic arts have grown, and thanks to that, she can use a spell that makes the images in the statues around the heroes come alive, and they attack the heroes! Malachi laughs, as this gives her the chance to continue her quest. She opens a portal and disappears through it.
The heroes get attacked by a giant minotaur, lizard, werewolf and artistic figure. Deadpool takes a close look at the minotaur, and jokes that he always wanted to have a Megazord like that for Christmas, but never got one. Luke warns Wade to stand away and let him fight the creature, as he always wanted to battle a sculpture. That’s okay by Shadowman, who jokes that in her opinion, this museum should have its artistic license revoked. Luke tries his best to defeat the creatures, and though he manages to slam some of them down the ground, they always manage to stand back up again.
While more creatures appear, Wade continues fighting his size of the monsters while singing the theme tune to the Power Rangers. But, one of his adversaries picks Wade up, and tosses him towards the still open portal! Wade calls out to Dr. Druid, asking for his help, but… the doctor is nowhere to be found! Luke fears that Druid has betrayed them, and left them here to die!
Meanwhile, in his far-off sanctum, Stephen Strange watches impassively as the tableau unfolds before him. All goes according to plan. For, though Doctor Druid fancies himself the magician, the tarot card Strange holds does not lie: on the card, the word “fool” is written, and Druid’s face is shown.