On the battlefield in Hell, Captain
America leads the forces of Doctor Doom against the army of Mephisto, led by
the Red Skull. The sword called the Antidivine, transformed into a shield, becomes
a new weapon in Cap’s hands, mowing down enemies when hurled though Cap can
feel it harming him as he wields it. Red Skull mocks Cap’s allegiance to the
weak and helpless and boasting of the power he draws from his followers. Cap uses
the shield to slice off Skull’s right hand. Then a host of winged demons descends
on the battlefield and Red Skull gloats—too soon. The new demons fight on Cap’s
side; Skull retrieves his sword and with it he smashes the Antidivine in Cap’s
hands so Cap punches his lights out….
After the battle, Veratok seeks
out Torvoz the Preacher where he stands on a mountainside. He admits he is no
leader and agrees to Steve’s decision to make her the leader once the revolt is
concluded. But she still is not sure she wants the role….
Doctor Doom visits the Red Skull
in prison to mock him but it’s the Skull who lands the blow: Doom can’t help
himself to sit on an empty throne but is he ready to own the souls of people?
Red Skull thinks even Doom won’t cross that line. Doom shrugs him off but Red
Skull waits….
Doom then meets with Cap who
cannot repair the broken Antidivine. They talk battle strategy: they have the
advantage in numbers but not in strength. Doom says that Mephisto’s greatest
weakness is his predictability, his tricks and his wants are well known so can
they be used against him? So…
…Steve leads the army of the
revolt to confront Mephisto on his throne. Mephisto greets them then notes that
Hell is not his realm, he is the realm. As he fills the entire space he smashes
and sweeps away the army and takes Steve and Doom in his hands, noting the
great contrast between the two, and proposes a deal. For Doom, Mephisto
proposes that he be returned to life, with the understanding that when he dies
again he will be a prisoner in Hell; in exchange, Valeria will be tormented in
Hell for eternity. Doom agrees, to Valeria’s horror….
As Steve writhes in his coma,
Mephisto offers freedom in exchange for his soul…not for himself but for the
entire world, every tribe and people and nation becoming a democracy. Mephisto
notes he would not be the first good man to make a deal with the devil—and we’re
given a quick glimpse of Spider-Man—and Steve…agrees….
For the special marvelite in you