Marvel Universe: The End (2003 series) #3

Akhenaten has taken over Earth with the power granted him by the Celestial Order, and he's killed the Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men. Thor and Zeus called together other gods to oppose him but he wiped out all but those 2 who escaped through a portal. Thanos has gathered Captain Marvel (Genis Vell) and the original 4 Defenders to seek the source of his power. And Dr Doom has found out when and where he was alien-abducted by the Order and intends to go back in time to stop it.

As usual a future Thanos does a voiceover for the issue. This time he starts by saying that everything eventually becomes extinct due to flaws in its design. And this is what's happened to reality in his future.

Current Thanos & co are tracking the energy that empowers the villain back to its source. The Titan's spaceship has scanners specifically designed for this because he detected the energy a year ago and has been searching the universe since then. Dr Strange questions his motive and he says it was to ensure no-one could use it against him. Now they will take control of it or destroy it.

In Latveria Dr Doom has reactivated his long-dormant time platform and is going to Ancient Egypt to defeat Akhenaten, and possibly take his power.

In the White House the President is learning that all weapons big and small have vanished all over the world. A hologram of Akhenaten's head appears to tell them that they are unnecessary and he's recruited his own forces to keep order. We see Absorbing Man, Klaw and the Wrecking Crew, all dressed in his black & gold, taking out Black Cat, Black Widow, Daredevil, Hawkeye and Spider-Man.

There's dissension in Thanos' ranks. Silver Surfer tells Marvel and Dr Strange that they can't trust Thanos, despite those 2 saying that they fought alongside him to save the universe recently (the Infinity Abyss mini-series). CM says he's more worried about Hulk and Subby always at each other's throats, and no-one's got a better plan. The Titan actually agrees that he might betray them eventually. He always does what's in his best interests, and right now that's defeating the foe so they're safe until then. But he says any of them can back out if they want. Hulk and Namor's bickering has turned to blows so he traps them in individual forcefields. Then he detects scans from the Celestial Order and needs to cloak the ship.

Meanwhile Doom has programmed in the destination time and place and he stands on the time platform and triggers it. As per its usual operating mode it rises up his body and the scene below it changes from Latveria to Ancient Egypt. He kills a guard with a ray gun, which also checks that the time trip hasn't damaged its internals.

With cloaking in place Thanos sends his ship forward. He comments that the Order's security is very lax, presumably because they're confident no-one would dare trespass on their property. He says they are approaching the source of all power in the universe, which he has dubbed the Heart Of The Universe. This is what he's been seeking for so long. Stephen Strange takes Norrin Radd aside and whispers that they can't let the Titan get this power. At the 1st sign of betrayal SS must kill Thanos, and only his Power Cosmic can do it.

Dr Doom approaches where mortal Akhenaten stands. Future Thanos tells us Victor's plan. To kill the mortal and the Order will then choose *him* as the perfect candidate who must be a ruthless and effective ruler. Doom raises his gun and prepares to fire. But future Akhenaten shows up and blasts the gun and the hand that holds it. Now that he's captured Doom he'll presumably put him where we saw him last issue, trapped with other time travellers. But for now he watches his earlier self get taken up by a UFO.

Present-day Thanos has outwitted all the Order's defences and now he's adjusting the ship's sensors to see through the swirling energies on this area. And now he can show his allies a huge space station with various energies spewing out of various protuberances. Even CapM's Cosmic Awareness can't make sense of it, and the Sorcerer Supreme confirms that some of the energy is occult in nature. Fortunately there are ordinary docking ports too so they can enter the place. Once inside Thanos warns the others to stay close within range of his personal cloaking device.

Thor regains consciousness to find that Zeus has brought them to Eternity and Infinity to ask for help. But they say they can't help because Akhenaten's presence has rendered them effectively blind. The past is blurred to them, and the future is extremely short. Ie they see the imminent destruction of the universe.

Thanos & co are wandering through the corridors of the space station when Genis-Vell detects 1 of the Celestial Order approaching from behind. Hulk takes some persuading but they hide as the giant glowing blue 'human'oid of pure energy stomps past, totally oblivious to their presence. Thanos traces a connection from the being to the source they seek. And they find a large sun-like object glowing in the heart of the place. As Strange tells Radd to prepare to strike, Hulk sees a floating robot approach. Thanos tells him it's harmless and to ignore it. But the Hulk smashes it, as is his wont, which alerts an Order being to attack them.