Marvel Universe: The End (2003 series) #2

Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten has returned with cosmic power representing a Celestial Order and has claimed ownership of Earth. He's already killed lots of superheroes, but also cured AIDS and cancer. Thor and Zeus feel they need allies to oppose him. Thanos has recruited Captain Marvel and the original Defenders. Dr Doom has sneaked a tiny flying spy camera into the foe's royal palace.

This issue is again narrated by the Thanos from last issue who's apparently destroyed the universe. He pontificates about the universal law 'adapt or die'.

Thor and Zeus have met in 'neutral territory' and summon other gods to join them.

Dr Doom's spy camera has discovered a load of time-travellers imprisoned by the foe, including the 3 Time Keepers, the 3 versions of Rama-Tut/Kang/Immortus, Psi-Lord (an alternate Franklin Richards) and Doom himself. He assumes that he has been taken from some time in the near future so he'd better act fast. He deduces that Akhenaten has a weakness in the past that he doesn't want anyone to find. But he also notices another spy camera there.

We see Thanos and his allies with lots of video screens, 1 of them showing Dr Doom in the previous paragraph. But other screens show scenes from last issue, and it doesn't seem like the other spy-cam is his. The Titan tells the others that the fate of the other heroes shows direct attack is futile, so they must employ stealth. Hulk of course resents the suggestion that someone is stronger than himself and has to be persuaded not to go out and just punch him. Thanos says their only chance is to find the source of the foe's power and take it away.

Meanwhile Thor and Zeus are joined by Zoroastrian Atar, Hindu Vishnu, Mayan Hunab Ku, Chinese Shou-Hsing and Ndriananahary of the Razanes. Horus of the Egyptian Ennead is suspiciously late. Zeus fears they're still not strong enough. Vishnu suggests they call others from the Forgotten Zone, but Zeus says there isn't time. Horus offers information about the enemy.

Doom is angry that Akhenaten has killed Reed Richards because that's *his* job. But his spy-eye has shown him a relevant fresco which depicts Akhenaten being taken up by a spaceship and becoming the jet-black being he is now. It even gives the date and time of the alien abduction. All he needs now is the place.

Back with the gods Horus has produced a flaming bowl called the Eye Of Ra. He tells them how the mortal heretic forced his people to abandon the old gods and worship Aten. Now the Eye will show them what he has become. They see the grinning 'god' imbued with a prime universal force in his palace which is a mix of Ancient Egypt and beyond-modern technology. He has brought the spirit of Pharaoh Horemheb from beyond death to exact vengeance for the murder of his son Tutankhamun to replace him on the throne. He is torturing the soul in a containment tube. The gods now see him obliterate his enemy's very soul.

Doom and the gods now both witness Akhenaten musing on his past. He remembers ruling Egypt alongside his beautiful Queen Nefertiti. The replacement of the old pantheon by the 1 god Aten was part of his modernisation plan that would make Egypt the mightiest empire in the world. It was this bold vision that attracted the Celestial Order's attention and caused them to come for him in the Valley Of The Kings. Doom now has the last piece of info he needs.

But Akhenaten's tale continues. He was initially dumbfounded by marvels of technology, and awed by the Celestial Order themselves. He later learned that they had discovered the ultimate power in the universe and used it to start spreading peace and order through the chaotic universe, ending wars and banishing illness, want and injustice. But they needed agents to help in their work and they scoured space and time for rulers with the ruthless vision to see what was necessary and do it. They called the power they had found the Heart Of The Infinite, and now they used it to transform him in mind and body. It took thousands of years to change him and for him to master the change, which was actually faster than most! They did worry a bit about the human's personal ambition, a trait they didn't understand. And we see of course that Akhenaten intends to bide his time but eventually overthrow the CO themselves.

But then he reveals that he can tell that the gods are watching him. And he appears before them and blasts them all to skeletons. Except Thor and Zeus escape through the portal that brought them all here. Dr Doom stops watching the villain and heads for his time machine in the basement. But future Thanos comments that he must have known his plan would fail. And anyway the whole universe is doomed.