Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The previously page shows us Ebon Maw whispering honeyed words in the near of Dr Strange to get him to reveal the location of the Time Gem, which Strange denies knowing; Sub-Mariner and Black Panther discussing the then upcoming war between Atlantis and Wakanda; and the end of Infinity #2 where Black Bolt summoned the Illuminati to tell them Thanos demanded as Tribute the heads of all Inhuman children between 16 and 22, in order to ensure the death of Thanos' own son.
We continue the scene in the pocket reality Maximus discovered where Black Bolt can talk without his voice shattering everything. BB tells his teammates how in ages gone by 4 Inhuman kings and a queen argued and split the Inhumans. They led 'lost tribes' of Inhumans to secret places in the world and out into space. 1 of the space tribes met Thanos and his horde (presumably fatally) and a woman returned to hide among the Earth tribes, pregnant with Thanos' child.
BB has given Mr Fantastic a crystal containing the records of the Inhumans, including the location of the Earthly tribes. He sends the Illuminati to find the boy before Thanos does.
When the others have gone BB's brother Maximus comes out of hiding and chides BB for handing over his race's secrets. But BB shows him that he still has the real Codex. Presumably the 1 he gave Reed was a doctored copy.
The Inhuman city Attilan is hovering over New York, and Thanos' spaceship is hovering over that. His right-hand man Corvus Glaive delivered the Tribute ultimatum, and now Thanos thinks BB has had enough time to comply. But before dealing with that he accepts reports from his other generals.
The telepathic Supergiant only comments that Ebony Maw is missing. Proxima Midnight reports that Sub-Mariner surrendered Atlantis, and requested Thanos' mercy in exchange for the information that the Time Gem is in Wakanda. Black Dwarf has to admit that Wakanda repulsed his invasion. Thanos beats him up and banishes him.
Dr Strange holds a meeting of the Illuminati (without Black Bolt) in a secluded tower. Mr Fantastic reveals the 6 locations of the Earthly lost tribes. (As usual in comics, coincidentally the same as the number of Illuminati.) They also have a way of detecting the genetic signature of Thanos' son. Iron Man proposes they split into pairs for safety, and take 2 locations each. Namor prefers that they work alone, looking pointedly at Black Panther.
IM reminds them of the incursions the Illuminati have been dealing with, which is the real reason he elected to stay on Earth when the other Avengers went into space. He wonders if they should be concentrating on that, a much worse threat than Thanos. The newest member Beast says he's going to do what's necessary to defend the Jean Grey School from the current invasion. And Reed Richards concurs, even though his own family are safely off in space.
They all agree that their personal situations are OK at the moment, except Subby who says Atlantis is destroyed but won't say more. But he leads the decision to help BB.
The 6 Illuminati go to various out-of-the-way places. 5 of them find ruins with indications of Inhuman presence. But Dr Strange finds a stone village cut into the sides of a valley in Greenland. And he also locates the boy they seek.
At this point his shadow detaches itself and becomes Ebony Maw. He lets Stephen go with no memory of this place. But before he goes Strange comments on the signal glowing on his palm (which indicates an incursion is about to happen). He leaves Ebony Maw saying he goes to prevent the end of the world. Maw can't imagine that there could be something more dangerous than Thanos.
The 6 Illuminati (still without Black Bolt) gather in the middle of the Australian desert. As usual the incursion is only visible in a small area. The pink sky holds the looming bulk of an alternate Earth.
Elsewhere the other Black Panther Shuri sees the whole of Thanos' fleet darkening the skies of Wakanda. And Black Bolt waits alone on the throne of Attilan for Thanos.