Phil Sheldon recovers from his collapse last issue, caused by anemia, a side effect
of his cancer treatment. He calls Bennett Schwed, his publisher, questioning
whether he can complete his new book and offering to return the advance. Schwed
encourages Phil to continue but Phil’s mind is still reeling from a series of
incidents in which the heroes are acting like villains and he doesn’t know what
to think. And the hits keep coming and he sinks further into depression. Then
Phil gets a call that Ben Urich was seriously injured by Elektra while
investigating Kingpin and he’s dropping the story. Phil hears old ladies
gossiping about Wasp and Yellowjacket’s marriage and wonders how they let the
heroes fall to such a tawdry level. Then Hank Pym is arrested, Bullseye goes on
a talk show and takes the host hostage, then the villain kills Elektra and even
Ben Urich is glad. Hank Pym is exonerated but he will never get his life back….
A
massive alien structure appears in Central Park and many heroes vanish and
eventually return but nothing seems to change. The Beyonder appears and the
world almost ends. Phil is asked by Tracy Burke, editor of NOW Magazine, to
cover the battle with the Beyonder in the West; he goes out and finds numerous
heroes have answered the call: Reed Richards, Invisible Woman, Sub-Mariner,
Captain America, Black Knight, Wasp, Avengers, Captain Marvel, Silver Surfer,
and, most surprising of all, Molecule Man who saves the day. Because of Phil’s
photos, the magazine is a success and Phil’s mood brightens greatly, he even
quits smoking again. He wants to celebrate with his family. Meanwhile, his
doctor discovers that the cancer has returned and Phil’s days are numbered….