Captain America—alone—mans the barricades outside Broxton, Oklahoma as the Serpent, backed by the Worthy, approaches on his floating city. In fallen Asgard, Tony Stark returns from Asgard Space bearing the powerful Uru weapons he constructed. As he distributes them to the Avengers, he learns that Cap’s shield has been destroyed. Nearby, the Serpent draws on all the residual fear on Earth to transform, while shouting defiance to his brother Odin. As Cap stands firing automatic weapons at the attack force he sees his teammates, their bodies transformed by the divine weapons they wield charging onto the field of battle….
In Broxton, a local man named Rick checks on his wife and son in a refugee center then decides to go back to stand with Captain America, to stand up to his fears….
Thor, wearing his father’s armor and wield the Odinsword and his own hammer descends from the sky to face the Serpent, now transformed into a giant dragon. A blast from the monster’s breath sends Mjolnir flying into the distance while Thor engages his foe. The hammer lands near the front line, creating a massive crater and stunning Cap; Cap is helped up by Rick, then wielding Thor’s hammer as his weapon, shouts "Avengers Assemble!" and the apocalyptic battle is on. As the Avengers battle the Worthy, reports come in from all over the globe of ordinary citizens banding together to overcome the disasters the villain and his minions have caused. As Odin gives order for his forces to raze Midgard in a last-ditch effort to stop the Serpent, Thor continues to fight against his powerful enemy who is trying to poison the Thunder God’s mind against his own father. As foreseen in the prophecy, Thor emerges victorious as he drives the Odinsword into the huge dragon’s skull. The Serpent falls to Earth and, as he dies, the magic hammers are drawn back into the sky, leaving the enslaved Earth people in their normal states. And, as also foreseen in the prophecy, Thor walks nine steps, collapses and dies in Odin’s arms….
In the days that follow, a funeral pyre is prepared for Thor near Fallen Asgard. Cap summons Odin to the funeral but instead, the All-Father bears the corpse of his slain brother and returns to Asgard Space to guard his tomb until the end of time, casting the rest of the Aesir down to Earth. James "Bucky" Barnes is buried at Arlington National Cemetery; Cap’s shield is repaired by the Svartalfs; Cap announces, with the Avengers that they will rebuild the shattered Earth. And in Broxton the inhabitants try to go on with their lives, taking care of each other…and in the final panel a bright flash is seen on the surface of the planet….
Epilogue 1: Sin awakens screaming in a squalid lab surrounded by masked doctors. They are her servants who engineered her escape from Avengers custody and now await her bidding. She suffers phantom pain from the loss of the hammer which had transformed her into Skadi; her minions remind her of what her mind contains: all of Skadi’s memories of the Nine Worlds, ready to be exploited…. Story continues in FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS #1.
Epilogue 2: Inside the Hulk’s brain he is being lectured by a disappointed Bruce Banner. Fed up, Hulk seizes Banner and ejects him from his mind into the real world. As a confused and helpless Banner lies near panic in an unknown desert, the Hulk bounds off into the distance…. Story continues in INCREDIBLE HULK (2011) #1.
Epilogue 3: A mysterious invalid in a vault-like room receives a visit from his agent. They are plotting to capture one Marcus Johnson but the soldier is stationed overseas; as part of the scheme to take him, the agents reports how Johnson’s mother was murdered under the guise of a home invasion during a riot in Atlanta. Johnson is now on his way back to the States and the Hunters are ready for him, a group of mercenaries including Taskmaster and Deadpool…. Story continues in BATTLE SCARS #1.
Epilogue 4: Hulk, ashamed and outraged by the control of his body by Nul, Breaker of Worlds, now realizes that Nul is free in this world. Seeking help and redemption, he makes his way to New York where he shows up on the doorstep of Dr. Strange…. Story continues in THE DEFENDERS (2011) #1.