Synopsis
Thanos and the Infinity Watch (Gamora, Pip the Troll, Moondragon, Drax the Destroyer) battle the Earth heroes’ expeditionary force while on Earth, the remaining heroes fight the doppelganger army. Meanwhile, Dr.Doom and Kang the Conqueror have traced the energy emissions to the Magus’ fortress and, exploring, discover what they’ve been hoping for, the source of the Magus’ power: five Cosmic Cubes. Galactus by this time has managed to reincorporate his destroyed ship and transports the Infinity Watch and the Earth heroes to him, where they exchange information in an instant. Adam Warlock and Thanos decide the only way to stop the Magus is to reassemble the Infinity Gauntlet, which has been rendered powerless by the Living Tribunal. Unfortunately, because of the Tribunal’s ruling, the Gauntlet still does not work. Galactus takes Gamora with him to appeal to the Tribunal to reverse his judgment. As soon as he leaves, however, the Magus arrives to seize Warlock and the Infinity Gauntlet and vanishes. The Earth heroes discover Magus’ plan to absorb Earth into a duplicate reality, and the mystic heroes return to Earth to lead a defense. Thanos decides that extreme measures are called for so he takes the Ultimate Nullifier from Galactus’ ship and gives it to Quasar to use.
Also in this issue: Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Dr. Strange, Invisible Woman, Hank Pym, the Silver Surfer, Nova, the Watcher, Eternity, and many others (from the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, X-Factor, New Warriors, Alpha Flight).