"Infinity" is a 2013 comic book crossover storyline that was published by Marvel Comics. Written by Jonathan Hickman with artwork by a rotating team of artists including Jim Cheung, Jerome Opeña, and Dustin Weaver, the series debuted in August 2013 and ran through November 2013.
The storyline concerns issues built up in multiple Marvel comic books as part of the Marvel NOW! initiative, primarily Avengers and New Avengers. These issues include a threat to the universe by an ancient race of aliens known as the Builders. The second is the mysterious ailments plaguing the universe with Earth at the center. The third is the political ramifications these events have on Earth's relationship to the rest of the galactic community.
The story itself involves Thanos attacking Earth while the Avengers are in space uniting the universe against the Builders, with the events of the 2013 "Age of Ultron" storyline acting as a catalyst for the rest of the universe to formally target Earth. The various tie-ins tell Thanos's attack from the perspective of various Marvel characters.
The aftermath of the event leads directly into the "Inhumanity" storyline, in which the Terrigen Mist is released throughout Earth, activating the latent abilities of dormant Inhumans.
A new Infinity-based event titled Infinity Countdown began February 2018 as part of the Marvel Legacy initiative.
Publication history Infinity was announced in February 2013 as part of Marvel's Free Comic Book Day preview story. Axel Alonso, Marvel's Editor-in-Chief, said "We've said how 'Nova,' 'Thanos Rising,' 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and Jonathan Hickman's 'Avengers' are all shaping the future of the Marvel Universe — this image will very specifically answer the question of 'How?...Our FCBD issue features an all-new story that leads into a huge epic later in the year". In April 2013, Marvel officially released details concerning the event, revealing it would run 6 issues and tie-in with Hickman's other two Avengers titles. In April 2013, Tom Brevoort stated the amount of tie-ins would be similar to that of the Fear Itself storyline.
In May 2013 it was announced two of the tie-in would be Kelly Sue DeConnick's books Avengers Assemble and Captain Marvel with issues 18-20 and 15-16 respectively. The Avengers Assemble tie-in tells the event from the perspective of Spider-Woman in issues 18 and 19 while Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers as she and Hawkeye are captured in space. Issue 20 of Avengers Assemble features the Uncanny Avengers. In June 2013, it was announced that a new Mighty Avengers team would form during the events of Infinity. The team would have a diverse roster consisting of Luke Cage, the Superior Spider-Man, Falcon, Power Man, White Tiger, Blue Marvel, Monica Rambeau, She-Hulk, and a new Ronin.
In June 2013 it was announced that two four-issue mini-series would spin-out of Infinity, one titled the Infinity: The Heist and the other Infinity: The Hunt. The Heist involves a group of Iron Man villains led by Spymaster taking advantage of the chaos caused by Thanos's invasion of Earth to steal equipment from Stark Industries. It would be written by Frank Tieri with art by Al Barrionuevo. The Hunt features Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Hank Pym gathering the young heroes of the Marvel universe to hold a new Contest of Champions. However, Thanos interrupts this with his own challenge. It would be written by Matt Kindt with art by Steven Sanders. Other tie-ins were announced throughout June including Fearless Defenders, Secret Avengers, Superior Spider-Man Team-Up, and Thunderbolts.
In July 2013, it was announced that the repercussions of Infinity would result in a new comic book storyline titled Inhumanity, with a new ongoing Inhumans series by Matt Fraction at the heart of it. During Infinity, Terrigen Mist is spread throughout the world, resulting in a number of humans having their dormant Inhuman abilities being activated. The Inhuman royal family is split into different houses all competing to recruit these new Inhumans.
Plot summary
Prelude Upon receiving word from Captain Universe of a threat that is coming to Earth, the Avengers are advised to get Ex Nihilo and Abyss on their side and to free Starbrand and Nightmask so that they can help combat this threat. The threat in question turns out to be the Builders who are destroying many "imperfect" planets that do not fit their vision, and have cataloged Earth as a failure ever since they learned of Ex Nihilo's creation. The Avengers follow Captain Universe's suggestion and recruit Ex Nihilo, Abyss, Starbrand, and Nightmask onto the team.Avengers vol. 5 #17 Meanwhile, the Black Order (Corvus Glaive, Black Dwarf, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, and Supergiant) arrive on Earth.New Avengers vol. 3 #8
Core miniseries and Avengers/New Avengers
Part 1 – "Infinity" Arriving on Earth, the Outrider begins looking for Earth's secrets as he searches through Avengers Tower and the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Appearing at a S.W.O.R.D. base, the Outrider kills a S.W.O.R.D. agent in an effort to find Earth's weakness. While badly beaten by the Inhumans, the Outrider informs Thanos that the Avengers have left Earth, prompting his forces to prepare to invade Earth.Infinity #1
Avengers – "Avengers Universe 1" The Avengers travel in space to the Galactic Council to decide the fate of the incoming Builders. The decision is to lure them into a trap and destroy them. Things go well in the council's favor until the Builders decloak the rest of their fleet and destroy most of the council's frigates. The Avengers, together with the remaining ships retreat in defeat.
New Avengers – "The Cull Obsidian" Thanos' Black Order begin their invasion of Earth, attacking New York, Atlantis, and Wakanda in search of the Infinity Stones. In Attilan, Black Bolt calls a meeting with the Illuminati to inform them of Thanos' true purpose.New Avengers vol. 3 #9
Part 2 – "Fall" Most of the alien empires try to stop the Builders, which causes some catastrophic results. The Black Order arrives on Attilan, demanding Inhumans as tribute. Using the Terrigen Codex, Black Bolt discovers that Thanos was using the demand for a tribute as a cover-up to kill his lost Inhuman-descendant son, whose actual identity and location are unknown to him.Infinity #2
Avengers – "Building Towards Collapse"
New Avengers – "The Thanos Seed" Black Dwarf retreats after finding a heavy resistance in Wakanda, causing his expulsion from the Black Order. Using the Terrigen Codex, the Illuminati embark on the search for Thanos' son Thane, but are stopped by the appearance of a new incursion in Australia. Before reaching a decision about what to do about the other Earth, the Illuminati are greeted by an Aleph arriving from the other Earth. The Aleph leads them to the Builders of that universe, who explain that the early death of the multiverse led to the collapse of the superflow (the space between universes that they used to traverse them). In order to avert disaster and ensure the multiverse survives, the Builders across the multiverse have decided to destroy all Earths, thus hopefully stopping the incursions. Since the Builders of Earth-616 had failed in their mission, these Builders urged the Illuminati to destroy their own world.New Avengers vol. 3 #10 & #11
Part 3 – "Kingdoms Fall" Most of the alien empires have decided to surrender to the Builders. Captain America managed to make himself heard by the Galactic Council and planned a retaliation against the Builders which resulted in the successful liberation of the Avengers who were being held captive and the destruction of numerous forces of the Builders, partially turning the tide of the battle. After the Inhumans deny a tribute to Corvus Glaive, Thanos appears on Attilan to meet with Black Bolt. Black Bolt attacks Thanos with his hypersonic voice.Infinity #3
Avengers – "The Offer" Black Dwarf is given another chance to prove himself by Thanos. Black Dwarf is sent to keep the Peak from being reclaimed by the Avengers.Avengers vol. 5 #22
Part 4 – "Thane" Captain America realizes they are still outnumbered and outgunned and decides to perform a false surrender. Thor surrenders to the Builder in control of Hala and kills him, freeing the planet and gaining powerful lost allies. Thanos eventually survives Black Bolt's attack and continues the fight. As Thanos fights against Black Bolt, he detonates a Terrigen Bomb, which decimates Attilan and causes those exposed to it to undergo Terrigenesis, resulting in the emergence of thousands of Inhumans. Thane's power is unleashed, killing everyone else in the hidden city. Thanos fights Black Bolt, demanding to be told the location of his son. Black Bolt refuses to reveal the location, resulting in Thanos knocking out Black Bolt.Infinity #4
Part 5 - "The Left Hand of Death" The death of the Builder at Thor's hands and the subsequent liberation of Hala sparks a general insurrection at all Builder-occupied worlds, which are dubbed "Avengers Worlds" by their grateful citizens in honor of Earth's heroes. Meanwhile, Thane has been captured by Ebony Maw, who reports his success back to Thanos. The Avengers receive word that Earth has fallen to Thanos. The Avengers and their allies head to Earth to free it from Thanos.Infinity #5
Avengers - "...To the Very End" Black Dwarf fights the Avengers to keep them from reclaiming the Peak. During the battle, Ronan the Accuser arrives to help the Avengers and kills Black Dwarf.Avengers vol. 5 #23
Part 6 - "Amber" The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Abigail Brand retake the Peak. At the same time, Starbrand devastates most of the enemy fleet with his power, forcing the survivors to retreat. In Necropolis, Lockjaw teleports Supergiant to an uninhabited world with an anti-matter bomb that Maximus detonates. Captain America, Captain Marvel, the Hulk, Hyperion, and Thor confront Thanos and his Black Order in Orollan. Hyperion kills Corvus Glaive, but Thanos and Proxima Midnight put the Avengers on the brink of defeat. Ebony Maw turns on his master and manipulates Thane into trapping Thanos and Midnight in amber. In the aftermath, the heroes and their allies pick up the pieces and rebuild, while the Illuminati continue to secretly find ways to prevent the impending death of the multiverse, with Thanos and Midnight in their custody. Maw departs with Thane, intent on turning him into something far worse than Thanos.Infinity #6
Tie-ins
Avengers Assemble When the Terrigen Bomb was detonated in Earth's atmosphere, a housewife named Alice Taylor-Kezierski was exposed to the Terrigen Mists and underwent Terrigenesis. After emerging from her cocoon, she accidentally enlarges her husband and causes herself, two of her neighbors, and her house to shrink into the Microverse. With the help of Wasp and Wonder Man of the Uncanny Avengers, Alice was able to enlarge her house and her neighbors and shrink her husband back to their original proportions.Avengers Assemble vol. 2 #20
Captain Marvel In Captain Marvel 15, after Carol Danvers had lost her memory, she participated in the Battle of the Corridor, temporarily regaining her binary powers as she drew near a black hole.
Fearless Defenders Ren Kimura is a Japanese-American dancer who underwent Terrigenesis and discovered that she can conjure razor sharp metal ribbons from her fingertips. She joined the Fearless Defenders after being rescued from Thanos' forces.Fearless Defenders #10
Guardians of the Galaxy