Infinity

Marvel Comics’ 2013 crossover event “Infinity” was a six-issue storyline written by Jonathan Hickman, with a rotating art team that included Jim Cheung, Jerome Opeña, and Dustin Weaver. It ran from August to November of that year. The story brought together threads from several Marvel NOW! titles, especially “Avengers” and “New Avengers.” Three major conflicts drove the plot: an ancient alien race called the Builders threatened the entire universe; mysterious ailments were plaguing the cosmos with Earth at their center; and these events strained Earth’s political relationship with the rest of the galaxy.

Thanos launched an attack on Earth while the Avengers were off in space trying to unite the universe against the Builders. The 2013 “Age of Ultron” storyline served as a catalyst, prompting other galactic powers to formally target Earth. Various tie-in issues showed Thanos’s assault from the perspectives of different Marvel characters. The aftermath of “Infinity” led directly into the “Inhumanity” storyline, where the Terrigen Mist spread across Earth, awakening dormant Inhuman abilities in many humans.

A new event called “Infinity Countdown” began in February 2018 as part of the Marvel Legacy initiative. The event was first announced in February 2013 through a Marvel Free Comic Book Day preview story. Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso said that preview would answer how titles like “Nova,” “Thanos Rising,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and Hickman’s “Avengers” were shaping the future of the Marvel Universe. In April 2013, Marvel revealed the event would run six issues and tie in with Hickman’s two Avengers series. Tom Brevoort noted that the number of tie-ins would be similar to those for “Fear Itself.”

In May 2013, it was announced that Kelly Sue DeConnick’s “Avengers Assemble” (issues 18–20) and “Captain Marvel” (issues 15–16) would be tie-ins. “Avengers Assemble” #18 and #19 told the event from Spider-Woman’s perspective, while “Captain Marvel” followed Carol Danvers and Hawkeye captured in space. Issue #20 of “Avengers Assemble” featured the Uncanny Avengers. In June 2013, a new “Mighty Avengers” team was announced to form during the event, with a diverse roster including Luke Cage, the Superior Spider-Man, Falcon, Power Man, White Tiger, Blue Marvel, Monica Rambeau, She-Hulk, and a new Ronin.

Two four-issue mini-series spun out of “Infinity” in June 2013: “Infinity: The Heist” and “Infinity: The Hunt.” “The Heist,” written by Frank Tieri with art by Al Barrionuevo, involved Iron Man villains led by Spymaster stealing equipment from Stark Industries during Thanos’s invasion. “The Hunt,” written by Matt Kindt with art by Steven Sanders, featured Wolverine, She-Hulk, and Hank Pym gathering young heroes for a new Contest of Champions, which Thanos interrupted with his own challenge.

Other tie-ins announced that June included “Fearless Defenders,” “Secret Avengers,” “Superior Spider-Man Team-Up,” and “Thunderbolts.”

In July 2013, it was announced that the repercussions of “Infinity” would lead to the “Inhumanity” storyline, with a new ongoing “Inhumans” series by Matt Fraction. During “Infinity,” the Terrigen Mist spread worldwide, activating dormant Inhuman abilities in many humans. The Inhuman royal family split into different houses, all competing to recruit these new Inhumans. The plot began with Captain Universe warning the Avengers of a coming threat.

They were advised to recruit Ex Nihilo and Abyss, and to free Starbrand and Nightmask to help fight the Builders, who were destroying planets they deemed imperfect. Earth had been cataloged as a failure since the Builders learned of Ex Nihilo’s creation. The Avengers followed this advice. Meanwhile, Thanos’s Black Order—Corvus Glaive, Black Dwarf, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, and Supergiant—arrived on Earth.

The Outrider searched for Earth’s secrets in Avengers Tower and the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, then killed a S.W.O.R.D. agent at a base. After being badly beaten by the Inhumans, the Outrider told Thanos that the Avengers had left Earth, prompting Thanos’s forces to prepare for invasion. In space, the Avengers joined the Galactic Council to decide how to stop the Builders. They planned a trap, but the Builders decloaked their full fleet and destroyed most of the council’s ships, forcing a retreat.

On Earth, the Black Order attacked New York, Atlantis, and Wakanda in search of the Infinity Stones. In Attilan, Black Bolt called a meeting with the Illuminati to reveal Thanos’s true purpose. Most alien empires tried to stop the Builders, leading to catastrophic results.