A.X.E.: Judgment Day

A.X.E.: Judgment Day, also known as Avengers/X-Men/Eternals: Judgment Day or simply Judgement Day, is an American comic book crossover event during the Krakoan Age written by Kieron Gillen with art by Valerio Schiti, published in 2022 by Marvel Comics. The event involves the discovery of the mutant resurrection protocols and the subsequent conflict between the Avengers, the X-Men and the Eternals.

Publication history

In December 2021, Marvel Comics posted a teaser "Judgment Day is Coming" involving the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Eternals.

The storyline was built upon previous plot developments from the last few years: the Avengers' assembling a powerful lineup at their base in the body of a fallen Celestial called the Progenitor in Avengers (vol. 8), the discovery of X-Men's immortality through the mutant resurrection protocols in Immortal X-Men, and the Eternals' newfound knowledge about their purpose in Eternals (vol. 5).

A.X.E.: Judgment Day was announced as six-issue limited series at "Judgment Day" panel in San Diego Comic-Con by Marvel Comics' Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski and Executive editor/VP Nick Lowe on March July 22, 2022.

The series was preceded by Eve of Judgment and the Free Comic Book Day 2022: Avengers/X-Men issues and succeeded by A.X.E.: Judgment Day Omega.

Main characters

Plot

Prelude

After receiving votes from the Uni-Mind, Thanos successfully takes over the title of Prime Eternal and kills his uncle Zuras in revenge; he then murders Druig to prevent any memory of his weakness.

While researching his parentage and Deviant heritage, Thanos visits his grand-uncle Uranos, who is imprisoned in the Exclusion, and questions him about the Machine, an artificial intelligence that is bound to and oversees Earth. Uranos tells Thanos and Druig about the Eternals' three moral principles: protecting Celestials, protecting the Machine, and correcting excess deviation. Millennia ago, Uranos argued with Kronos and Oceanus about the three principles and decided that eradicating all Deviants and humans and imprisoning Celestials would provide benefit for all Eternals, tactics his brothers opposed. His genocide of Deviants caused a civil war, resulting in 600,000 years of imprisonment, along with Druig's betrayal. After Druig departs, Uranos secretly gives Thanos the imprint key, an armory that allows him to access Uranos' fail-safe to destroy the Machine.

Ajak confronts the Celestial Progenitor and questions the reasoning behind the Deviants' creation. Ajak is despondent when she learns that the Celestials created the Deviants in response to the Progenitors' death releasing noxious Necrofluids that pollute Earth's environment. To prevent all of Earth's lifeforms from extinction byway of the Deviants' self-destruct mutation, the Celestials created the Eternals as their backup to prevent Deviant extinction, allowing the Deviants to adapt to the Necrofluid's toxicity; this resulted in stable lifeforms. Thanos realizes that his Eternal and Deviant genes are folly to him, as the Machine does not recognize him as an Eternal; he then plans to activate the fail-safe, garnering the attention of all Eternals. As Thanos overpowers the Eternals, Druig inadvertently activates Phastos' fail-safe, killing Thanos. Druig becomes the new Prime Eternal and asks the Machine for locations of excess deviation. It highlights Lemuria and Krakoa.

Cyclops confesses to Ben Urich his knowledge of the mutant resurrection protocols, believing that this may prevent Orchis' plan to incite tensions and public backlash. Emma Frost reveals the truth to Cyclops about Moira MacTaggert's motives and betrayal. After successfully infiltrating the Hellfire Gala, MacTaggert meets with Druig and Jack of Knives and tells them to kill the Five.

On Olympia, Domo creates an anti-matter bomb to attack Krakoa. The anti-matter bomb activates, heading to an undersea location, only for Domo to deactivate it. When Druig wonders what has occurred, Domo states that Krakoa is sentient and is thus a part of the Machine. Domo tells Druig that he will think of another method, only to have Druig turn down his suggestion. Wanting another way to commit genocide and knowing of an expert on the subject, Druig goes to the Exclusion to offer Uranos a proposition.

Plot

Knowledge of the mutant resurrection protocols is made public, resulting in mass protests. On Krakoa, Nightcrawler and Mystique speak with Destiny to confirm her prediction of an impending war. Jack of Knives leads an attack on Krakoa, with Egg being taken down. However, the Eternal fleets suddenly retreat. Druig broadcasts himself to the people of Earth, declaring that the Eternals will help them deal with the "mutant threat" while advising them not to fear the towering death machines that have emerged off the western seaboard of the United States. In retaliation, Captain America assembles the Avengers. Iron Man responds to an intruder alert, only to find Ajak, Makkari, and a bound Mister Sinister; Ajak wants Iron Man's help to forge a god, with the purpose being to end the war.

As Druig's declaration of war is echoed across the world, the everyday lives of civilians Tom, Katrina, Arjun, Daniela, Jada, and Kenta are shown. Captain Marvel leads Echo, Star Brand, Thor, Storm, and others into battling Thieaka and Syne, death machines that emerged off the western seaboard of the United States. Jean Grey gets a status report from Cyclops that the vaults are secured and the X-Men have breached the Eternal armories to cut the Hex's power supply. Despite the heroes' success in banishing the Hex, the Progenitor regains consciousness and declares Judgment Day after showing its disappointment with the people of Earth for their unrelenting cruelty and bickering. The Progenitor addresses the people of Earth, warning that they will be judged within the next 24 hours, both individually and collectively; if they possess more righteousness than wickedness, they will live. Otherwise, there will be no tomorrow.

Iron Man discusses a plan with the Avengers, Ajax's group of Eternals, and Mister Sinister to disable the Progenitor by removing its internal node. Destiny calls a meeting with the Quiet Council of Krakoa, informing them that Sinister has discovered a weakness on the Progenitor that must be hit. Destiny, Sebastian Shaw, Exodus, Mystique, and Hope Summers are in favor of an attack, while Emma Frost abstains. When Jean Grey attacks the Progenitor's node, everyone ends up in the mind of the Progenitor. It passes negative judgment for Frost, Mystique, and Destiny, gives Kro a positive judgment, and considers the others longer. Phastos agrees that the group must take further action to receive a positive judgment from the Progenitor.

Luke Cage and Professor X receive negative judgement, while Ms. Marvel, Doctor Doom, and Miles Morales receive positive judgement. Starfox is approached by Sebastian Shaw, who asks if he speaks for the Eternals. As Druig states that they can bring even the Hex into the Uni-Mind to unleash its war form, Uranos states he is still waiting to be released; Druig declines. He orders the Eternals to unleash the Uni-Mind. Uranos manipulates Druig into having the Machine release him, allowing Uranos to attack Olympia. Uranos defeats Ikaris and |Gilgamesh, sealing them inside the Machine. Magneto and Storm confront Uranos, buying Iron Man enough time to hack into the portals; this enables one of the armories to weaken Uranos. The Progenitor then judges Ikaris and Sersi; he awards positive judgment to Ikaris and negative judgment to Sersi. Starfox then persuades the Progenitor that the world is still trying to fight its problems while planning for peace in the future, similar to the mutants making Mars habitable. The Progenitor makes the final judgment as it unleashes a beam that starts to kill the rioters who Captain America was facing.

After being teleported to the Progenitor, Captain America speaks with the Progenitor on how the Avengers have always fought for justice. The Progenitor reduces Captain America and Nightcrawler to bones. When Nightcrawler is reborn on Krakoa, Jean Grey states that the Worlds' anger is directed. Professor X speaks with Bishop, Cyclops, Iron Man, Jean Grey, Sersi, and Starfox on the next approach. Meanwhile, the Progenitor causes destruction around the world. Iron Man and the survivors work on coming up with a new plan as the Progenitor is integrating with the Machine.

Nightcrawler informs Starfox that Phastos' resetting of the Machine has given them some time as his A.I. colleagues are working to keep the Machine from self-destructing. Inside the Progenitor, Iron Man, Jean Grey, Mister Sinister, Wolverine, Ajak, Sersi, and Makkari fight their way past the Celestial Antibodies as they reach the core. The Progenitor then attacks them, stating that they have failed its tests. As Sersi attempts to persuade the Progenitor, it vanquishes her, believing that the truth will not save humanity due to the resentful backlash toward her; but Iron Man states that humanity can change, similar to the Eternals. Showing empathy for the Progenitor, Jean recalls what she went through when the Dark Phoenix decimated the D'Bari's homeworld, while Iron Man has worked to make amends for his decisions and has learned the virtue of heroism. After being told that it is not a god, the Progenitor confesses that he had given up on saving humanity and asks Ajak if it was. Ajak shamefully gives it a thumbs down for disapproval and it asks her to be better. This causes the Progenitor to shut down and the entire Earth is restored. Ajak is transformed into a new Eternal, having merged with a Celestial body and renaming herself Ajak Celestia; she plans to make herself worthy to the Eternals and act as their new god. Starfox makes Zuras the Prime Eternal again and has him apologize on TV to the X-Men for the war the Eternals waged on the mutants. As an act of reparation, the X-Men decide to make use of Uranos for an hour to do with what they will. Druig is incarcerated along with Uranos. The Phoenix Foundation is established as a body independent from Krakoa, with the goal of experimenting in reviving non-mutants. The Progenitor's narration asserts that humanity has failed its test and assures that Ajak Celestia can become a worthy god and continue her judgment on the world.

Subplots

Immortal X-Men

The Quiet Council of Krakoa listens as Professor X shares new information he learned from Forge; Forge had imparted that Celestial energy was detected and that Mister Sinister was abducted by a group of Eternals. As Emma Frost plans to order her captains to go on the defensive, Sebastian Shaw suggests that they go on the offensive. When the Uni-Mind attacks, Wolverine informs the Quiet Council that the Eternals are going after the rest of the Five. Exodus advises Jean Grey to get everyone to safety.

Destiny receives Mister Sinister's information about the Progenitor judging them and its "off button". Following the Progenitor's illusion, Destiny is judged by the Progenitor for lying about how she achieved her gift and her fear of losing Mystique, which results in a negative judgment. The Quiet Council talk about the Progenitor judging all of Earth as Colossus asks Emma Frost why she did not vote to attack. As the rest of the Quiet Council plan to win the Progenitor's favor, Exodus gets a vision of a Black Knight which led to a demon appearing; Shaw snaps him back to reality. As Shaw makes his plans, the Progenitor uses a vision of Frost to give him negative judgment, even as he assumes that Frost is responsible. At the Hellfire Club, Shaw performs a ritual to summon Mother Righteous.

During the meeting of the Quiet Council, Professor X informs them of Magneto's death, stating that they cannot return him without disrespecting his legacy. Nightcrawler heads to New York City, where he finds Captain America and an article regarding humanity's of "surviving the mutants". While teleporting Captain America to the Progenitor, Nightcrawler secretly obtains a blood sample from him and gives it to Magik. Captain America and Nightcrawler are killed by the Progenitor, with Nightcrawler being revived on Krakoa. Nightcrawler meets up with Professor X and Rachel Summers as they ask for volunteers to stay behind to trick the Progenitor, while everyone else evacuates Krakoa. Meanwhile, Captain America suddenly emerges from one of the eggs. After being revived, Nightcrawler makes his way into the Orchis Forge with help from Magik. He confronts Moira MacTaggert and threatens to use a virus to wipe her clean unless she helps him before the Progenitor destroys the Orchis Forge. MacTaggert cooperates and is evacuated from the Orchis Forge.

X-Men: Red

On Arakko, Abigail Brand informs everyone present of Destiny's precognition of the Eternals' attack. Ora Serrata states that Idyll cannot see the true future. Just then, Uranos arrives, stating that he has one hour to correct them. Isca the Unbeaten switches sides and kills Idyll. Those on Arakko go on the defensive as Uranos defeats Ora and battles Legion. During his attack, Uranos injures Xilo and shoots Brand. After Uranos leaves, Xilo and Ora Serrata begin healing themselves.

Professor X oversees the revival of Abigail Brand. Lodus Logos and Magneto engage a giant plastic gorilla and manage to destroy it. Shortly afterward, Magneto has Storm promise to look after Professor X before dying from injuries he sustained in battle. On Arakko, Sunspot learns from Ora Serrata that the Seats of Night were dissolved. The remaining Ten Rings condemn Isca for her betrayal; she believes that genocide is a small price to pay for winning. After realizing her weakness, Fisher King challenges her. Knowing the loss she experienced, Isca resigns. Storm yields the Seat of All-Around-Us to Lodus and claims the Seat of Loss.

A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants

Ajak, Ikaris, Makkari, Phastos, Sersi, Sprite, and Thena talk about Druig's actions on Lemuria and the reconstruction of the Progenitor. The group has Kro grant them access to a pit where the gods lashed out when the Second Host of the Celestials appeared. In the pit, they are confronted by the "shadows of the Firmament". The Eternals fight them, and learn from Kro what the Eternals had been through with the Second Host. In Olympia's war room, Druig watches the Hex in action while getting a status report. At the Exclusion, the Oceanic Watch's Kalos the Destructor is confronted by Gilgamesh, Ikaris, and Kingo. Ikaris subdues Kalos, enabling Magik and Wolverine to enter the Machine. Druig discovers this and dispatches his defense units to deal with the intruders. Ikaris uses a device to send a small part of Zuras' mind into another dimension. Druig and Domo find Zuras on the ground as Druig gets word that Syne is ready for redeployment. At Avengers Mountain, Phastos finishes his part in rebuilding the Progenitor. As the Celestials have given the Eternals three principals, the Progenitor gives them a fourth, allowing the people of Earth to justify themselves. This puts Druig in a difficult situation. Gilgamesh and Ikaris flee from the Droogs while having left a message on a wall: "Death to the Eternals".

In Lemuria, Kro speaks with Emma Frost about the Progenitor's judgment and Uranos. Afterwards, Kro leads the Deviants in helping the X-Men fight the Hex. Kro speaks with Frost, bringing up the Progenitor's judgment on them; Kro mentions that the Progenitor passed positive judgment on him using the form of Arishem, and that the rest of the Deviants also received positive judgment. While watching as the Delphan Brothers argue, he wonders how he will be judged; Uranos claims that he is too early to judge. At Avengers Mountain, Ikaris attacks Ajak. Ajak and Makkari restrain Ikaris as the Progenitor declares that Phastos has passed and Makkari has failed; Ajak will be deferred for now, and the Progenitor will consider Ikaris longer. In the Hall of Blades, Sersi persuades Jack of Knives to break out a specific Eternal from the Exclusion; Starfox is then seen being freed. Before departing, he speaks to his mother, Sui-San, who informs him that the Progenitor will consider her judgment longer. Sally has a vision of her grandmother passing negative judgment on her as she brings it up in a text to Syne, who continues to attack Krakoa.

As Zuras is hit by the Progenitor's attack, Sersi answers Ikaris' question on why she failed her test; she indicates that she had made a mistake. Ikaris goes on the attack and is killed by the Progenitor. The Eternals' resurrection engines struggle to revive both Ikaris and Syne. The Progenitor orders the Machine to activate its self-destruct to destroy the Reality Loom. The Machine objects to this as the Progenitor strikes his weapon into the ground. At Avengers Mansion, Captain America is told of a plan to infiltrate the Progenitor and get to its internal node so that it can be destroyed. Phastos comes in, stating that the Machine is nearly compromised. In Lemuria, Phastos goes into the Machine as Kro tells him not to worry about the Deviants; he fights his way past the Machine's defenses so that the Machine can help him. At the Heart of the Machine, Phastos finds that the Progenitor has nearly compromised the Reality Loom.

X-Force

At the North Pole, Kraven the Hunter works to survive after the loss of his dogs and the burning of his sled. Meanwhile, Angel is taken hostage by protestors, who cut off one of his wings. Black Tom Cassidy drives off the protestors as Domino confronts the one who is holding Angel captive. Meanwhile, Kraven enters a bar wearing the pelt of the polar bear he killed and a large bag containing Deadpool.

On Krakoa, Black Tom reports on the Eternals' attack on Krakoa and sees that Omega Red is heading to attack Krakoa. At Kraven's hunting lodge in the Arctic, he places Deadpool's head on a hunting trophy. As he prepares to hunt the mutants, he is caught by surprise when Deadpool pulls himself back together. At Krakoa's Green Lagoon, Beast and Sage talk about how Krakoa is changing. Meanwhile, Deadpool is suspended from the ceiling as Kraven demands to be told what he knows about Krakoa. After describing Krakoa, Deadpool classifies himself as an honorary mutant, and gives Kraven the keys to Krakoa. Taking advantage of it, Kraven takes Deadpool's head to one of the Krakoan gates.

Omega Red and Sage find all the backup bodies desecrated and report this to Beast. When Kraven drops Deadpool's head during a fight with Storm, Deadpool tells Black Tom to report that Kraven is on Krakoa. Kraven ambushes Beast, rips out his earpiece to keep Sage from contacting him, and takes him captive to learn how the Shadow Room works. Black Tom uses plants and rocks to make Deadpool a new body as he gets into another fight with Omega Red. Wolverine arrives fresh from his encounter with the Progenitor to find that Krakoa is under attack. He follows a blood trail into the Shadow Room, but is ambushed by Kraven, who changes the room's setting to the Savage Land.

As he fights a Velociraptor pack, Wolverine is alerted to the Progenitor's attack, which has turned off the safety features of the Shadow Room. As Krakoa is under attack, Sage and Omega Red find Deadpool; they indicate that the Pointe has been compromised. Kraven holds Beast at knifepoint and demands that Wolverine prove to him that he deserves to live more than Kraven. Sage informs everyone that the Shadow Room is on its way to a structural failure and will collapse upon itself. Wolverine defeats Kraven as he is attacked by a Tyrannosaurus. He then proceeds to rescue Deadpool, who starts to regenerate his body. After escaping the Shadow Room, Kraven laments that he has failed this hunt and notes that he has found the defeated Progenitor.

X-Men

As the X-Men fight Thieaka the Harpsicus, Forge fires a laser from the beach that subdues Thieka with nanites. Jean Grey sends a telepathic message to Ikaris, who informs her that the Hex are powerful Eternals deployed from the underground armories of the Eternals. As Cyclops and Jean help the Avengers hold off the Hex, Iceman takes Firestar, Forge, Havok, Magik, and Synch into an armory beneath the Pacific Ocean. Tapping into Ikaris' mind, Magik teleports her team to him as they work to take out the Hex's energy supply by fighting past the drones. After his right arm is blasted off, Synch uses his previous sync with Iceman to regenerate his arm. Magik's group escapes through Limbo before arriving back in Krakoa, where they are confronted by the Progenitor.

Some time earlier, a torpedo is shot towards the sun by an unidentified alien race as they are suddenly attacked by Magik and Cyclops. After interrogating one of the attackers, Cyclops learns that the torpedo that was shot into the sun was a Flare Generator that will bathe Earth in fire. Being informed of what is happening, Jean uses her telekinesis to lift Iceman into the sky, where he freezes part of Earth's orbit. Magik evacuates everyone from the International Space Station; she and Cyclops drop them off in Chicago. The flare makes contact with the ice as Firestar, Synch, and Rogue help to destroy the debris. Iceman manages to land safely in Chicago and gives a brief interview to the reporter. In the Arctic, Cyclops confronts the Progenitor and he requests that it does a change of venue before he can be judged. The Progenitor gives Cyclops a positive judgment.

Marauders

In Philadelphia, Scratch shows his class a dissected creature as Lockheed watches from above. At the Krakoa Transit, Fabian Cortez talks to Kitty Pryde about recent events as Cassandra Nova is present. At Hellfire Bay, Birdy telepathically speaks with Bishop, Aurora, Tempo, Psylocke, Northstar, and Daken, who relate their respective encounters with the Progenitor. Cortez tells Kitty that he has finished the Krakoan gate when she hears Aurora's voice stating that it is time to move in on the Progenitor.

Wolverine

On Krakoa, Wolverine is hunting a strange beast when he encounters what appears to be Moira MacTaggert, Jean Grey, Omega Red, and other people he has killed. The Progenitor speaks to him, communicating that it wants him, in the next 24 hours, to prove that he is worth more than the lives he has extinguished. In Hell, Hellbride tells her father, Krahllak, about the judgment that is being cast on Earth and that it is time for him to leave Hell to cast judgment on those who killed her beloved on their wedding day and stole the sacred blades created by Muramasa. In San Francisco, riots are occurring as Solem's party is disrupted by Hellbride; the Progenitor speaks to her through the form of Krahllak, stating that she has until the end of the day to make his punishment worthy and swift. At the Summer House on the Moon, Wolverine is ambushed by Solem, who wants his weapons back. Wolverine gives him one of Muramasa's blades back in exchange for Solem helping Wolverine kill "a god above", with Wolverine committing to help Solem kill "a demon below". Hellbride arrives with a group of ninjas from Hand to search for Wolverine and Solem. The Progenitor discovers the plans of both Wolverine and Hellbride as it creates an avatar out of ice to deal with them.

Wolverine and Solem arrive at the North Pole. Hellbride and the Hand are also at the North Pole; they are attacked during a blizzard. Wolverine and Solem make their way through a maze of ice and snow. Hellbride struggles to make her way through the blizzard. Her body is found by Wolverine and Solem and they leave it by a campfire before fleeing. They are confronted by the Progenitor's avatar wielding an ice sword. Wolverine and Solem fight the Progenitor's arctic avatar as Hellbride joins the battle upon catching up to them. After the Progenitor's avatar is killed, Solem takes his leave with Hellbride as he wants to see what the troublemakers are up to "down south". When Wolverine confronts the Progenitor, it gives him a positive judgment.

Avengers

While walking around covered in a red fluid that resembles blood, Hawkeye enters a diner and gets the key to the bathroom. After cleaning himself up, Hawkeye encounters the Progenitor, who has decided to judge him while using the form of Black Widow. After finishing his first hamburger, Hawkeye gives the second to a dog tied to a mailbox. Later that day, Hawkeye is watching TV when he gets a call about an alien on the loose in the sewers. He goes to see Mayor Luke Cage and they talk about ethics. Afterwards, he works to thwart an assassination attempt by Crossfire. The next day, Hawkeye reads a letter from the Progenitor stating that he has received positive judgment.

Fantastic Four

At the Baxter Building, Mister Fantastic is watching a data cast of the Progenitor's proclamation and a pre-recorded message that mentions that Franklin Richards and Valeria Richards are with Alicia Masters, as he prays that their fourth-dimensional fallout shelter will be strong enough. Having received the message, Susan Storm enters the Baxter Building, speaks with Harriet, and meets a new worker named Zoe Golding. The Thing contacts Alicia Masters to inform her that he and the H.E.R.B.I.E.s are battening down the hatches. Just then, Exterminatrix and her minions lay siege on the Baxter Building with help from the Mindless Ones. After defeating the hacked H.E.R.B.I.E.s, Sue saves Eduardo from falling as they are confronted by Exterminatrix's minions. The Thing fights the Mindless Ones until part of the building falls on him.

As Sue fights her way through the Baxter Building, Exterminatrix works to have the hacked H.E.R.B.I.E.s break into Mister Fantastic's Think Tank. As Sue closes in on Exterminatrix, she is told by Exterminatrix that she used the bio-splicers that her father Doctor Midas used to create a clone of Noh-Varr, called Spaceboy. Under Exterminatrix's orders, Spaceboy traps Invisible Woman, who manages to defeat him. Exterminatrix breaks into the office where the stockbrokers are; she threatens to harm them if Invisible Woman does not surrender immediately. After being brought to Exterminatrix, Sue fails to reason with her; Exterminatrix informs her that genetically enhanced mercenaries have taken hostages in order to obtain the password to the Think Tank. Sue tells her that the Think Tank's passcode is "Imperius Rex". This causes the H.E.R.B.I.E.s to be reset to their original programming, and they attack the Mindless Ones and free the hostages. Exterminatrix uses a gun that causes Sue to slowly be transmuted into gold. While using a forcefield on her shoulder, Sue reveals to Exterminatrix that Doctor Midas is not her father. This leaves Exterminatrix in shock, and she surrenders. Later that day, the Progenitor gives Mister Fantastic positive judgment.

A.X.E.: Avengers

Iron Man leads Jean Grey, Mister Sinister, Wolverine, Ajak, Sersi, and Makkari into the Progenitor. The group is attacked by the Celestial antibodies as Iron Man experiences hallucinations of Captain America, War Machine, Thor, Hulk, Wasp, Black Widow, Pepper Potts, and Hellcat dead; and the day when Howard Stark and Maria Stark died in a car crash. When Iron Man points out that the car crash was not his fault, the Progenitor responds that they died because a machine failed them and that they should have been in a better machine. As Iron Man works to fight the hallucination, Howard emerges from the wreck and says that "people die", while noting that he was not a good father. Ajak and Sersi free Iron Man from the hallucination. Iron Man replies that the Progenitor is testing them and they must work to pass the tests.

Amazing Spider-Man

Peter Parker is on the phone with Iron Man, who confirms his suspicions on the Progenitor. Later, Peter still sees a vision of Gwen Stacy as Randy Robertson needs his help picking out a tuxedo for his wedding to Janice Lincoln. Knowing that he will be judged, Peter goes to help Randy pick out a tuxedo. Then he pays a visit to Aunt May where he fixed her faucet and states that he loves her before checking up on anyone else. The next day, Peter goes to work at Oscorp, where Kamala Khan is working on a prototype that they prepare to get started as Norman Osborn arrives. Peter catches up to the Progenitor on the roof and states that it is his responsibility to keep Osborn from becoming Green Goblin again. The Progenitor gives Peter a positive judgment and briefly resurrects the real Gwen to give them a moment together.

A.X.E.: Starfox

12 hours before the Progenitor's final judgment, Starfox is given the accelerated extinction event location by the Machine. He works to save lives during the riots and other types of chaos. Some time ago at the Exclusion, Starfox is freed from the Excursion by Thena and Jack of Knives. In the present, Starfox asks the Machine if he can take the throne and issue the command as the Prime Eternal. Starfox is then confronted by Zuras and tells him that he is opening the portals and removing the access restriction. Zuras states that his plans are going against the Eternals' traditions. In retaliation, Zuras attacks Starfox. After a brief scuffle, Starfox states to Zuras he wants to inspire and that Zuras can rule the Eternals again. Zuras agrees to his suggestion to help save the people of Earth. Starfox appears before the people and states that love will conquer all.

A.X.E.: X-Men

Deep within the Progenitor, Jean Grey informs Iron Man, Mister Sinister, Wolverine, Ajak, Sersi, and Makkari that she cannot get any images of what is happening outside of the Progenitor. Iron Man states that the Celestial is still testing them and that they can find a way to turn back the clock and save everyone. After fighting their way towards the Progenitor's heart, Jean forms a forcefield for everyone to get through while fighting its way past the Celestial antibodies. The Progenitor makes Jean re-experience her first time at the X-Mansion as it takes the form of Professor X while also showing Jean's time as the Dark Phoenix. As the others try to get Jean to snap out of it, Jean re-experiences the Quiet Council of Krakoa's decision to make the Progenitor self-destruct. Sinister and Wolverine snap Jean out of these visions as she starts to go into the Progenitor's mind. The Progenitor throws Wolverine and Sinister out of Jean's mind, stating that their insight helps with it learning who envies her and who loves her while also mentioning that it met Cyclops. Jean states that she has never stopped trying to make up for it and plans to destroy the Progenitor. After Jean is brought out of her latest vision, Wolverine comforts her. As the group makes it ways to the stave core, they end up attacked by more Celestial antibodies, which Jean destroys.

A.X.E.: Eternals

After Jean Grey takes down the Celestial antibodies, those with her continue through the Progenitor's body. More Celestial antibodies appear. Iron Man asks Sersi why she failed. In a flashback, Sersi tells Ikaris that he cannot tell the humans the reason for how their resurrection process works. The Progenitor causes Ajak to re-experience when she first met Cetaka and mentioned how she once fought the Prehistoric Avengers where he died so that she can be revived after that disastrous battle. Then she encounters a prehistoric human named Vart who mentions why humans were created. The Progenitor states to Ajak that a millions years of death was on her hands as it makes her remember all the steps. Ajak works to fight the Progenitor's mind tricks as the Progenitor claims that it is not the Eternals she had to kill to revive him. The Progenitor states that there is such a thing as too much faith. Before ceasing to speak with Ajak, the Progenitor states to her that she will experience the final moment of true freedom. Ajak leads everyone down a shaft.

A.X.E.: Iron Fist

Loki visits his ally Lin Feng in K'un-Lun as the latter and his demon army are sacking the city in search of his master Chiyou's final tomb. Despite Feng's success, Loki notes that Feng is not satisfied, suggesting that he is distracted by thoughts of his brother Lin Lie, the current Iron Fist. Feng threatens Loki, who reminds Feng of a deal they made once Feng conquered K'un-Lun before departing. Meanwhile, Lie is on a flight to Seoul to meet up with White Fox, who still believes Lie had previously perished months before. Loki appears before Lie on the aircraft and informs him of his brother's siege of K'un-Lun. Lie demands Loki to take him to Feng but Loki refuses, mentioning that he is only an observer and musing the outcome of the Progenitor's final judgement of humanity. The Progenitor narrates that Loki is wrong for his lack of concern for the world and for believing he is above judgement, declaring that gods shall be judged along humanity as the aircraft is suddenly destroyed. Lie and Loki safely land but mysteriously find themselves in Asgard, where they witness a memory from Loki's childhood. When a young Loki causes a young Thor to trip into a frozen lake, the present day Loki refuses to help, realizing that the scenario is his judgement from the Progenitor, which he believes he will fail. Duplicates of Mjolnir rain down from the sky with one of them striking Loki and trapping him under the lake. To Loki's surprise, Lie is able to lift Mjonir off of him and carry him to the surface. The two then find themselves in K'un-Lun, where the Progenitor appears as Shou-Lao and challenges Lie to take his heart to officially earn the title of Iron Fist. As Lie struggles against the dragon as he is reluctant to kill Shou-Lao, Loki refuses to help until he is urged to by the Progenitor, who appears to him as Loki's younger self. With Loki's help, Lie is able to defeat Shou-Lao but asks for Shou-Lao to give him his heart instead of taking it. Lie receives the mark of the Iron Fist on his right arm and is given a positive judgement by the Progenitor along with Loki. The two then awaken back on the airplane as if nothing had happened, although the mark still remains on Lie's arm. Lie again demands Loki to take him to Feng but Loki teleports away. The Progenitor appears before Feng as Lie in K'un-Lun and gives him a failing judgement. Lie eventually arrives in Seoul and reunites with White Fox.

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel and Lauri-Ell are detaining people who are acting like Thanos when they see the Progenitor in the form of their mother Mari-Ell. Chewie is in Carol Danvers' apartment when the Progenitor appears to it in the form of Captain Marvel. When Chewie catches a mouse, the Progenitor plans to pass judgment on Chewie, who lets the mouse go. There is a glimpse at the other tenants: Kit Renner terrified in a bathtub, three roommates keeping their distance from the fight outside, and a couple having a fight. Chewie teleports the boyfriend out, protects the three roommates from a tire heading their way, and comforts Kit. Lauri-Ell states to Captain Marvel that they have to find the source of the infection. Chewie traces the infection to a creature and eats it, causing the infected to faint. Captain Marvel, Lauri-Ell, and Chewie all see a vision of Mar-Vell giving them positive judgment.

Legion of X

On Arakko, Legion speaks to the Progenitor, intending to settle an argument with himself on if he did the right thing. Legion fights Uranos, with the two being evenly matched, as Nightcrawler evacuaties Arrako's inhabitants. Legion is saved by Banshee and meets up with the others as Magneto turns down Legion's offer to let him accompany Magneto and Storm in going after Uranos. Legion proceeded to hold the line by destroying Uranos' drones until he found out that Magneto sacrificed himself to defeat Uranos. Back in the present, Legion tells the Progenitor how he envied a hero's death as Professor X is shown mourning Magneto's death. When Legion asks if he did the right thing, the Progenitor disappears while giving him positive judgment. Legion comments that the Progenitor knows that Legion rules himself.

Aftermath

In the Temple of Ajak Celestia, Makkari documents Ajak's victory over the Progenitor and Ajak's transformation into Ajak Celestia. After finishing the book, Makkari is told by Ajak Celestia to make the book about heresy. At the Temple of Ajak Celestia, Starfox tells Phastos that he and Zuras are going to apologize in person while planning to have his parents freed. Phastos, Kingo Sunen, Ikaris, Sprite, and Thena meet with Ajak Celestia who mentions that Sersi was a martyr and hopes that there can be a miracle for the Eternals. Ajak Celestia states that she must be a better god and the Eternals have to be better Eternals. She then passes the new Theses on the Principals involving protecting Celestials, protecting the machine, correcting excess deviation, and giving anyone 24 hours to justify themselves. At the Exclusion, Zuras visits Uranos and informs him that the Arakki will have access to his gifts for about an hour at the time and place of their choosing as part of the peace treaty between them. In addition, Uranos will be briefly released to the Arraki for an hour to serve them. Uranos agrees to the terms as he continues killing time by beating up Druig. Meanwhile, Ikaris moves to New York, stating that he will do everything he can to make up for his actions. A final narration claims that the Eternals will continue to protect humanity and that the Machine is fully operational with no malfunctions remaining.

Issues involved

Prelude issues

Main series

Tie-in issues

Collected editions

Reception

According to Comic Book Roundup, the event received an average rating of 8.4 out of 10 based on 74 reviews.

External links

• Marvel pages: , , ,