Appearing in "Chapter Five: The World Tree is Burning"
Featured Characters:
- Daredevil (Matt Murdock) (Main story and flashback)
- Avengers (Only in flashback)
- Thor (Odinson) (Main story and flashback)
- Black Panther (King T'Challa) (Only in flashback)
- Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) (Possessed by Eli Morrow) (Only in flashback)
- Hulk (Jen Walters) (Only in flashback)
- Blade (Eric Brooks) (Only in flashback)
- Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) (Only in flashback)
- Iron Man (Tony Stark) (Only in flashback)
- Captain America (Steve Rogers) (Only in flashback)
- All-Mother Jane Foster (Main story and flashback)
Supporting Characters:
- Dora Milaje (Only in flashback)
- Warriors Three (Only in flashback)
- Hildegarde the Heroic (Only in flashback)
- Hogun the Grim (Only in flashback)
- Fandral the Dashing (Only in flashback)
- Angela (Aldrif Odinsdottir) (Only in flashback)
- Agents of Wakanda (Only in flashback)
- Director Okoye (Only in flashback)
- Agent Broo (Only in flashback)
- Agent Gorilla-Man (Ken Hale) (Only in flashback)
- Agent Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder) (Only in flashback)
- Agent Roz Solomon (Only in flashback)
- War Avengers (Only in flashback)
- Lady Sif (Only in flashback)
- Deadpool (Wade Wilson) (Only in flashback)
- Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes) (Only in flashback)
- Captain Britain (Brian Braddock) (Only in flashback)
- Aja-Adanna (Shuri) (Voice only) (Only in flashback)
- Light Elf Rifle Brigade (Name revealed) (Only in flashback)
- Queen Aelsa Featherwine of the Fay (Only in flashback)
- Sir Ivory Honeyshot (Only in flashback)
- Numerous unnamed others (Only in flashback)
- Punisher (Frank Castle) (Only in flashback)
- Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) (Only in flashback)
- Balder the Brave (Only in flashback)
- Jotunheim Strikeforce (Only in flashback)
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker) (Only in flashback)
- Luke Cage (Only in flashback)
- Iron Fist (Danny Rand) (Only in flashback)
- Wolverine (Logan) (Only in flashback)
- Vanir (Only in flashback)
- Ro Bloodroot (Only in flashback)
- Numerous unnamed others (Only in flashback)
- Heimdall
- Shang-Chi (Only in flashback)
- Hawkeye (Clint Barton) (Only in flashback)
- War Machine Dwarves (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Screwbeard (Only in flashback)
- Stonefoot (Only in flashback)
- Numerous unnamed others (Only in flashback)
- Fantastic Four (Only in flashback)
- Human Torch (Johnny Storm) (Only in flashback)
- The Thing (Ben Grimm) (Only in flashback)
- Invisible Woman (Sue Storm Richards) (Only in flashback)
- Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) (Only in flashback)
- Thori (Only in flashback)
- Bats (Ghost, soul or spirit) (Only in flashback)
- Volstagg the Voluminous (Only in flashback)
- Toothgrinder (Only in flashback)
Antagonists:
- Dark Council (Only in flashback)
- Queen of Angels (Only in flashback) (Killed off-panel)
- Amora the Enchantress (Only in flashback)
- King Ulik (Only in flashback)
- Minotaur (Dario Agger) (Only in flashback)
- Sindr, Queen of Cinders (Only in flashback)
- King Laufey (Only in flashback)
- Kurse (Lady Waziria) (Only in flashback)
- Malekith the Accursed (Only in flashback)
- War Angels (Only in flashback)
- Draugr (Only in flashback)
- Rock Trolls (Only in flashback)
- Roxxon (Only in flashback)
- B.E.R.S.E.R.K.E.R. Squad (Only in flashback)
- Numerous unnamed others (Only in flashback)
- Fire Demons (Only in flashback)
- Fire Goblin army (Only in flashback)
- Firefly riders (Only in flashback)
- Frost Giants (Only in flashback)
- Dark Elves (Only in flashback)
- Swamp Mammoths (Only in flashback)
- War Witches (Only in flashback)
- Venom (Controlled by Malekith in flashback)
Other Characters:
- God (Yahweh) (Invoked)
- Valkyrior (Mentioned)
- Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) (Mentioned) (Deceased)
- Numerous unnamed others (Mentioned) (Deceased)
- Winter Guard (Referenced)
- Adolf Hitler (Referenced)
- Wehrmacht (Referenced)
- Hercules (Referenced)
- Moon Knight (Marc Spector) (Referenced)
- Galactus (Referenced)
- Mangog (Referenced)
- Vikings (Referenced)
- All-Mother Freyja (Only in flashback)
- Iron All-Father (Odin) (Only in flashback)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Asgardians (Main story and flashback)
- Gods (Mentioned)
- Angels
- Vanir (Only in flashback)
- Winged Horses (Only in flashback)
- Light Elves (Only in flashback)
- Draugr (Only in flashback)
- Spiders of Hel (Only in flashback)
- Demons (Behind the scenes) (Only in flashback)
- Rock Trolls (Only in flashback)
- Mutant Brood (Only in flashback)
- Human-Vampire Hybrids (Only in flashback)
- Minotaurs (Only in flashback)
- Human-Kree Hybrids (Only in flashback)
- Fire Giants (Only in flashback)
- Unicorns (Only in flashback)
- Fire Demons (Only in flashback)
- Cyborgs (Only in flashback)
- Mutants (Only in flashback)
- Frost Giants (Only in flashback)
- Dwarves of Nidavellir (Only in flashback)
- Dark Elves (Only in flashback)
- Swamp Mammoths (Only in flashback)
- Human-Otherworlder Hybrids (Only in flashback)
- Hel-Hounds (Only in flashback)
- Dogs (Ghost, soul or spirit) (Only in flashback)
- Goats (Only in flashback)
- Muspelheim's Fireflies (Only in flashback)
- Symbiotes (Only in flashback)
- Asgardian-Frost Giant Hybrids (Only in flashback)
Locations:
- Sun
- Asgardia (Behind the scenes)
- Ten Realms
- Midgard (Earth) (Only in flashback)
- Africa / New Heven (Only in flashback)
- Wakanda (Only in flashback)
- Birnin Zana (Only in flashback)
- Wakanda (Only in flashback)
- South America / The Dusk Lands (Only in flashback)
- Uruguay (Only in flashback)
- Montevideo (Only in flashback)
- Independence Plaza (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Salvo Palace (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Montevideo (Only in flashback)
- Uruguay (Only in flashback)
- Australia / Kingdom of the Trolls (Only in flashback)
- Australia (Only in flashback)
- Antarctica / Kingdom of Roxxon Inc (Only in flashback)
- Savage Land (Referenced)
- Asia / New Muspelheim (Only in flashback)
- China (Only in flashback)
- Shanghai (Only in flashback)
- Pudong (Only in flashback)
- Lujiazui (Only in flashback)
- Shanghai Tower (Cameo) (Only in flashback)
- Shanghai World Financial Center (Cameo) (Only in flashback)
- Lujiazui (Only in flashback)
- Pudong (Only in flashback)
- Shanghai (Only in flashback)
- Sinai Desert, Egypt (Referenced)
- China (Only in flashback)
- North America / New Jotunheim (Only in flashback)
- United States of America (Only in flashback)
- New York (Only in flashback)
- New York City (Only in flashback)
- The Bronx (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
- Staten Island (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
- Manhattan (Only in flashback)
- Midtown (Only in flashback)
- Hell's Kitchen (Only in flashback)
- 51st Street and Ninth Avenue (Only in flashback)
- Hell's Kitchen (Only in flashback)
- Midtown (Only in flashback)
- New York City (Only in flashback)
- New York (Only in flashback)
- United States of America (Only in flashback)
- Europe / New Svartalfheim (Only in flashback)
- Volgograd, Russia (Referenced)
- United Kingdom (Only in flashback)
- England (Only in flashback)
- London (Only in flashback)
- Westminster Bridge (Only in flashback)
- River Thames (Only in flashback)
- Westminster (Only in flashback)
- Palace of Westminster (Only in flashback)
- Elizabeth Tower (Only in flashback)
- Palace of Westminster (Only in flashback)
- Wiltshire (Only in flashback)
- Amesbury (Only in flashback)
- Stonehenge (Only in flashback)
- Amesbury (Only in flashback)
- London (Only in flashback)
- England (Only in flashback)
- France (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
- North Sea (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
- Africa / New Heven (Only in flashback)
- Heven (Referenced)
- Niffleheim (Referenced)
- Hel (Referenced)
- Asgard
- Alfheim (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
- Vanaheim (Referenced)
- Old Asgard
- Svartalfheim (Referenced)
- Midgard (Earth) (Only in flashback)
- Hell (Invoked) (Only in flashback)
- Heaven (Referenced)
Items:
- Daredevil's Suit (Main story and flashback)
- Jarnbjorn (Main story and flashback)
- Destroyer arm prosthesis (Main story and flashback)
- Thor's unnamed hammer (Main story and flashback)
- Hofund (Main story and flashback)
- Vibranium (Only in flashback)
- Panther Habit (Only in flashback)
- Panther Idol (Only in flashback)
- Punisher's Suit and Arsenal (Only in flashback)
- Ghost Rider's Chain (Only in flashback)
- Cloak of Levitation (Only in flashback)
- Axe of Angarruumus (Only in flashback)
- Eye of Agamotto (Behind the scenes) (Only in flashback)
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters (Only in flashback)
- Hammer of Rok (Only in flashback)
- Deadpool's Suit and Katanas (Only in flashback)
- Thunder Down Under (Mentioned) (Topical Reference) (Only in flashback)
- Wortwand (Only in flashback)
- Agents of Wakanda Jumpsuit (Only in flashback)
- Vibranium Gun (Only in flashback)
- Gungnir (Main story and flashback)
- Ultimate Mjolnir (Remnants)
- Muspelheim Fire (Only in flashback)
- Twilight Sword (Only in flashback)
- Captain Marvel's Suit (Only in flashback)
- Power Siphons (Behind the scenes) (Unnamed) (Only in flashback)
- Winter Soldier's Bionic Arm (Only in flashback)
- Hawkeye's Suit, Bow, and Trick Arrows (Only in flashback)
- Hridgandr (Only in flashback)
- War Machine Armor (Only in flashback)
- Iron Man Armor Model 29 (Extremis Armor) (Only in flashback)
- Fantastic Four Uniforms (Only in flashback)
- Captain Britain's Uniform (Only in flashback)
- Ebony Blade (Only in flashback)
- Captain America's Uniform and Shield (Only in flashback)
- Destroyer Armor (Only in flashback)
- Uru (Referenced)
- Black Bifrost (Referenced) (Destroyed)
- Necrosword (Only in flashback)
- Iron All-Father Armor (Only in flashback)
Vehicles:
- Skidbladnir (Main story and flashback)
- Agents of Wakanda Helicarriers (Only in flashback)
- Hell Charger (Only in flashback)
- Naglfar (Referenced)
- All-Terrain Mobile Command Post (Only in flashback)
Events:
- Ragnarök (Referenced)
- Christmas (Invoked) (Only in flashback)
- Death of the Mighty Thor (Referenced)
Synopsis for "Chapter Five: The World Tree is Burning"
Brief Summary[]
Still empowered by Hofund, Daredevil takes Thor on a Skidbladnir to the Sun, where Yggdrasill has taken root from a seed that had been growing in Asgardia before the city was destroyed in the star. Thor decides to nail himself to the tree to search for answers to something.
All over the world, different contingents of heroes fend off the invading forces. The Angels of Heven meet resistance in Wakanda; Enchantress and the Draugr are overwhelmed in Montevideo, Uruguay; Ulik and his Rock Trolls are opposed in Australia; in Antarctica, the Agents of Wakanda take back control of global communications from Roxxon. In the present, in Old Asgard, Jane Foster meets up with Heimdall before reaching for the shattered pieces of the Ultimate Mjolnir.
Back in the recent past, Sindr and the Fire Goblins fight heroes in Shanghai; in Manhattan, Iron Man leads the War Machine Dwarves against Frost Giants while the Fantastic Four fight King Laufey; in London, Dark Elves are taken down while Volstagg uses the Destroyer to fight Kurse. A storm of global scale ravages enemies worldwide as Thor demands to know Malekith's whereabouts.
In the present, Thor has used Jarnbjorn to nail himself upside down to Yggdrasill to find answers. Earlier, Malekith had magically contacted Thor to summon him to Stonehenge, where he has erected a magical barrier only Thor can cross without killing his hostages, Odin and Freyja. As Thor burns to find a way to overcome Malekith's challenge, Jane lifts the broken handle of the Ultimate Mjolnir, and is engulfed by the weapon's energy.
Detailed Summary[]
In the present, the deific Daredevil and Thor steer Skidbladnir towards the sun, the God Without Fear telling the God of Thunder that back when he was mortal he'd been able to hear screams all across New York City, but that with the power of Hofund he can hear screams not only around the world but across the universe. Thor irately demands that Daredevil take them back to Midgard, but Daredevil refuses and shows Thor that a new Yggdrasill is emerging from the stellar plasma. As Thor wonders how this is even possible, Daredevil states that a seed of the World Tree was on Asgardia when it and Magog were thrown into the Sun, and that it impossibly took root and grew from the fire. As Thor begins to ask another question, Daredevil says there is a price for answers and asks what he's willing to pay. Recalling the incident where his father nailed himself to the original Yggdrasil in exchange for knowledge, Thor flies towards the new World Tree and tells Daredevil to pin him to it with Jarnbjorn.
Earlier in Wakanda, the Dora Milaje, Hildegarde, Lady Sif, and Angela fight the Queen of Heven and her War Angels; Okoye stating that she's going to teach the Angels not to mess with Wakanda. Hildegarde jokingly asks Angela why she's been holed up in the Bronx if a place like Wakanda exists, Sif telling her to focus on the fight. As Black Panther arrives on a winged horse, accompanied by a mystically-enhanced helicarrier, Shuri delivers a motivational speech telling her people to be themselves and show the world what it means to be indomitable. Leading a brigade of Light Elves armed with assault rifles, the Punisher instructs them to aim for the Angels' heads before the squad opens fire with vibranium bullets. Thor flies past, trailing lightning in his wake and electrocuting every enemy he passes.
In Montevideo, divine lightning smites a horde of Draugr about to attack a civilian as Ghost Rider faces off with the Enchantress. As the Asgardian sorceress sneers that he's merely a boy in the body of a monster, Ghost Rider unleashes the power of his inner demon and blasts her with hellfire. Driving the Hell Charger, Balder cheerfully agrees as Doctor Strange - leaning out the window and wielding an axe - complains about how malevolent the possessed vehicle is. Recognizing Spider-Man as the avatar of a superior spider-god, the Spiders of Hel choose him as their new master - though he is grossed out by them eating the undead and attempts to get away from them.
In Australia, Hulk - wielding an Asgardian warhammer and calling herself Thunder Hulk - faces off against King Ulik, who is enamoured by her viciousness and physical prowess. Luke Cage, Deadpool, Daredevil, and Iron Fist fight against Ulik's troll army; Rand expressing concern about Hofund's growing influence over his friend and saying they need to get the divine sword away from him as soon as possible.
In Roxxon's headquarters, Broo and Gorilla-Man of the Agents of Wakanda succeed in restoring the networks downed by Roxxon's hacks; but are attacked by Hulked-out security forces and call for backup. Ka-Zar, Blade and a group of Vanir leap from the helicarrier overhead to rescue them. Outside, Agent Roz Solomon and All-Mother Jane Foster attack Dario Agger - the former delighted to finally have a legitimate reason to kill him. Unable to fend against a barrage of vibranium bullets and Gungnir even after transforming into the Minotaur, Dario is defeated and exposed as a monster, causing Roxxon's stock to go into freefall.
In the present, Jane Foster arrives at Old Asgard and greets Heimdall, asking if he hears Thor's screams. Heimdall states that the entire cosmos must have heard them, Jane lamenting that he would go to such lengths to find an answer to Malekith's challenge. As Jane vows to not let him search alone, Heimdall warns her against taking any rash actions; though she rebukes him by reminding him of Valkyrie's sacrifice. Jane swears to avenge her and the other Valkyrior, cutting Heimdall's protest off as she states that as All-Mother of Asgard everything on it is hers, looking down at the shattered pieces of Ultimate Mjolnir.
Earlier, in Shang-hai, Captain Marvel lifts Queen Sindr into the sky and threatens to water all of China with her blood unless she surrenders and puts out the Muspelheim Fire. Using the Progenitor's power to teleport reinforcements around the world, Light Elves assist the Winter Guard in retaking Volgograd; Hawkeye, Shuri, and Shang-Chi fight Fire Goblins in Shanghai alongside Logan and the Warriors Three - Hogun being impressed by Logan's berserker state and asking Fandral if they can keep him. In Manhattan, Iron Man leads a group of dwarves equipped with magically-augmented War Machine Armor against the Frost Giants, while the Fantastic Four work to subdue King Laufey. In London, Captain Britain - wielding the Ebony Blade - and Captain America repel the dark elf horde, pushing them into the River Thames. One of Malekith's War Witches struggles to hold back Thori as the mystical hound declares his intent to eat her, Bats threatening to haunt her forever unless she retreats. Kurse trades blows with the Destroyer - controlled by Volstagg, who despite still being weakened from his time as the War Thor is able to supply it with enough power to punch her over the horizon. All around the world, divine lightning smites the forces of the Dark Council as Thor joins the battle searching for Malekith.
In the present, Thor is pinned by his ankle to the new Yggdrasil and engulfed by the sun's flames - his clothes and armor incinerated. Ulik and his trolls surrender, the Queen of Heven is killed and sent to Hel,[1] and Laufey is left the last Frost Giant in Manhattan. Malekith was presumed dead after the destruction of the Black Bifrost, but Thor knows that's not true - having received a telepathic challenge from the dark elf warlord:
At Stonehenge, Malekith brandishes the Venom symbiote - transformed into a blade of living abyss - and issues a challenge to Thor, saying only he can pass through the magical barrier erected around the megalith structure; and that if anyone else tries to intervene he will kill Odin and Freyja - who he has captured. Odin tries to warn his son that it's a trap, but Malekith stabs him with his symbiote-sword and tells him to hurry so that he can write the final chapter the War of the Realms with Thor's blood.
As Thor struggles to replicate Odin's legendary feat in record time, Jane Foster states that there must always be a Thor and that sometimes there must be more than one as she lifts the handle of Ultimate Mjolnir, becoming wreathed in divine lightning.
Solicit Synopsis
MIDGARD'S LAST STAND
Malekith’s army gets a whole new crop of recruits — the dead! As Midgard transforms under the rule of Malekith and his allies, the dead rise up to form a new Niffleheim! The Black Panther calls in every hero on his roster to fight for Earth, from Spider-Man and the Spiders of Hel to Ghost Rider and Balder the Brave. But if there’s any hope for the Ten Realms, it’ll come from the skies…