We continue our dive into Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers saga with Avengers #35 and New Avengers #24 (2014), as the truth finally comes out — the universe is dying, and Earth is the cause.

In Avengers #35, stars go dark and cosmic forces move toward Earth while Sunspot begins assembling a new Avengers team, bringing together fractured heroes like Hyperion, Nightmask, Starbrand, and a broken Thor.

In New Avengers #24, the Cabal spirals out of control. Namor turns to Doctor Doom and is rejected, Professor X is forced to beg Thanos for death, and Wakanda’s last stand ends in devastating sacrifice. Behind it all, Doom begins quietly building a plan tied to the Multiverse and the Molecule Man.

This is Hickman at his bleakest — cosmic collapse, impossible choices, and heroes crossing lines they can’t return from.