At
Avengers Mansion,
Vision contacts the
Titan's world computer
ISAAC to ask about
Maelstrom whose demise was startling. An alarm sounds,
Captain Marvel informs Vision they are receiving distress signals from all over the globe: it is snowing. The rest of the
Avengers show up,
Wasp,
Scarlet Witch, and
Starfox. Hercules calls them, telling them he is on his way over in a US Navy jet.
Thor enters and explains the crisis: the
Casket of Ancient Winters has been broken by
Malekith, servant of
Surtur the fire demon who has invaded
Midgard with his demon-hordes as a step toward conquering
Asgard, igniting the flame of his sword and annihilating the universe. So, Thor calls on the Avengers to assemble….
Soon, the Avengers are battling monsters in the streets of Manhattan and finding it tough going as even Captain Marvel’s energy powers are not sufficient to destroy the enemy….
Vision tries calling for help but is unable to raise the
West Coast Avengers,
Alpha Flight,
Defenders, or
X-Men. Finally, he tries the
Fantastic Four and
Reed Richards promises help. Shortly, Reed,
She-Hulk, and
Human Torch have joined the battle though the latter’s flame powers are of limited use against fire-demons. Hercules arrives by jet, the pilot ejecting him into the sky so he descends by parachute into the thick of battle….
In a secret subterranean lair,
Deathurge raises Maelstrom in a new cloned body and informs him that he will serve him twice more before the end. Maelstrom rejects the idea he death has any power over him and orders Deathurge away while he proceeds with the plan to gain all the power in the world, gleaned from his brief contact with the
Uni-Mind…..
Vison encounters
Hogun of the
Warriors Three on the battlefield and learns that Thor is taking the fight directly to Surtur. Hogun believes they have the enemy on the run but then thousands more demons arrive and the battle becomes more desperate….
Story continues in
THOR #350.
Give that special marvelite a timely gift