In a series of wordless full-page illustrations, a shaft of flame comes to Earth, landing in a town in rural Alaska. Within minutes the town is a burned-out ruin and in the center of the chaos is a glowing figure in the throes of a mighty rage….
SHIELD Director Maria Hill calls Tony Stark from the Helicarrier to demand an explanation for the public debut of the New Avengers (last issue). She also wants to know about the "House of M," the mysterious incident that caused millions of mutants to lose their mutant gene and become ordinary humans—and this occurring immediately after the Avengers visited Genosha. Tony brushes her off and closes the connection. Seconds later the red alert sounds. SHIELD scrambles to find out what hit the town in Alaska. The source of the devastating attack was in outer space but the energy signature matches no known alien race. Six fighter jets are dispatched to investigate but almost as soon as they sight the glowing man, the planes are shot down from twenty-two miles away. With the menace having crossed into Canada, Alpha Flight is called out. They challenge the enemy but within seconds they are completely defeated. The President is on the phone and orders Hill to call out the Avengers. She is reluctant but when the threat turns again toward the US border, she complies with a curse….