Inhumanity (comics)

"Inhumanity" is a 2013–14 comic book crossover storyline that ran through a number of Marvel Comics beginning in December 2013. The event follows the aftermath of "Infinity" when the Terrigen Mists are released throughout the world (somewhat similar to the ''Earth X'' reality) and activate dormant Inhuman cells in ordinary people who are descendants of Inhumans. A new core ongoing title called '' Inhuman'' was launched as part of this storyline and is a focal point of this story.

Publication history

"Inhumanity" was announced in July 2013 as a post-''Infinity'' status-quo change, with Matt Fraction helming a new Inhumans series, titled ''Inhuman'', which would be at the heart of the storyline. Axel Alonso, Marvel's editor-in-chief, said

The effect on the Marvel Universe will be seismic...You might learn that your new self is fantastic, beautiful, filled with immense power...By the same token, you could turn around and find out that you're nothing. You're a blob. You have no powers. You can create a little flame out of your pinkie.

Fraction added "Our focus characters are drawn into the palace intrigue of this shattered Inhumans Royal family. It becomes a superhero story and a mythical story, all revolving around turning the world into a world full of superheroes."

In September 2013, Marvel began releasing various teaser images asking "Is she...", "Is he...", "Are we..." leading up to the unveiling of the cover of Inhumanity #1, a one-shot to be written by Matt Fraction. Later in the month, Marvel announced a host of tie-ins to Inhumanity, including ''New Avengers'', ''Avengers A.I.'', ''Mighty Avengers'', ''Avengers Assemble'', and a new limited series spinning out of Inhumanity, titled ''Inhumanity: The Awakening'', which follows the events of ''Infinity: The Hunt''.

A trailer was released on December 12, 2013.

Plot

Main plot

Following the destruction of Attilan and the spread of the Terrigen Mists upon the entire face of Earth, Karnak was left mentally scarred by said events and began tearing up the upper west side of Manhattan, babbling and sobbing uncontrollably. He had to be put in custody by the Avengers. In Stark Tower, Karnak explained to the Avengers what happened during their fight with Thanos and what it meant for the Inhumans. While he was questioning himself for the reason for Black Bolt to spread the Terrigen Mists and what would happen next, Karnak had an epiphany in which he finally saw "the fault in all things." He told Medusa (who was present during his interrogation) that she needed to forget everything she thought she knew, ignore her instincts and forget the past. Otherwise, all would be lost. Following this revelation in which he stated it was too late for him to unlearn a lifetime of error, Karnak shattered the window from his containment cell and jumped out of the Stark Tower, killing himself.

Subplots

Dr. June Covington has come upon the possession of a Terrigenesis Cocoon. At Stark Tower, Spider-Girl gets the attention of Captain Marvel and informs her that her social studies teacher was sent to a hospital when his Terrigenesis Cocoon activated three days before, and that both he and the cocoon had been kidnapped. Captain Marvel is unable to leave to help, but Spider-Woman and Black Widow volunteer. Their first stop is an A.I.M. temporary station on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Black Widow explains that since A.I.M. got themselves a country, they are now a diplomatic force and legally protected; the station is no more illegal than a CIA safehouse in Moscow. But, they still have all their old science-terror contacts in the New York underworld so the trio plan to break in, kidnap a guy, and pump him for everything he knows. However, before their target can give all the information they desire, he is shot and they are captured. The leader of the A.I.M. group introduces herself as Dr. Kashmir Vennema, who Black Widow has fought before, and she gloats that she could have them arrested for trespassing. Black Widow states that Dr. Vennema used to be an inter-dimensional arms dealer who formed an operation with her alternate selves. According to Dr. Vennema, Mr. Schlickeisen (Spider-Girl's social studies teacher) died during the Terrigenesis process and they sold his body. When it becomes apparent that the trio do not want to buy the other one, she decides to have her guards kill them. Spider-Woman tells her that is a bad idea, but Vennema cites state law: once they crossed her threshold, she was legally in the clear. At Hemoglobal Research and Lab Services, Dr. June Covington walks in with the corpse and kills the only member of staff present. She will be commandeering their facilities for the weekend.

The Avengers A.I. encountered an elderly widow named Doris who turned to attorney Matt Murdock for help after her bank foreclosed on her home. After being exposed to the Terrigen Mist, she transformed into an octopus-like creature with masses of tentacles in place of arms. She attacked the Avengers A.I. before being persuaded to stop by Doombot. Doris then took off for parts unknown with Medusa.

Luke Cage keeps the Mighty Avengers together and made the remodeled Gem Theater as their base. The Mighty Avengers now have the purpose of helping those in need. During this time, the Spider-Hero becomes the new Ronin. Barbara McDevitt (the personal bodyguard of Cortex Inc. director Jason Quantrell) was discovered to be an Inhuman descendant whose powers were activated after she suffered from Terrigenesis and remained in a cocoon for weeks. Afterwards, Cortex Inc. enlisted Barbara in her new identity of Quickfire to infiltrate the ruins of Attilan.

Geldoff is a Latverian teenager visiting the U.S. as part of a student exchange programs, and begins to manifest his dormant Inhuman heritage after being exposed to the Terrigen Mist. After a brief scuffle with the X-Men, he is kidnapped by Monica Rappaccini of A.I.M.

Fiona is a former blogger who was exposed to the Terrigen Mist while taking selfies and subsequently began blogging about her condition where she had mutated to having a bird-like appearance. She was rescued by members of the Avengers Academy and former members of the New X-Men after nearly falling to her death.

When Attilan exploded over New York and spread the Terrigen Mists around the world, most of the wreckage landed in New York's harbor. But enough hit the city to inconvenience people. The Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Peter Parker's body) and his Spiderlings seemingly help with the recovery, while actually taking the rubble back to strip it of valuable technological secrets. A radio message from a Spiderling brings Otto to a street where most electronics have suddenly stopped working, and find a piece of Inhuman debris on the roof of an apartment building Observing the impact site, the Superior Spider-Man and his firefighter escort Lt. Coyle realize that something has been taken, by the occupants of the apartment. Moving through the building, the Superior Spider-Man notices that the residents are strangely lethargic and realizes that whatever is draining power from electronics is also draining energy from people. Inside the apartment, the Superior Spider-Man encounters a man named Arthur Schweibe who is wearing half of a set of power armor. Arthur is angry how he and his wife played by the rules in a world without rules and were left behind. The Superior Spider-Man's web-shooters and strength begin to fail, but he manages to distract Arthur long enough to find the rest of the armor attached to Arthur's wife Susan Schweibe, who has cancer. Arthur had hoped to use the armor to cure his wife, regardless of the consequences. Coyle confronts Arthur, and forces him to admit he drugged his wife so that she would be unable to stop his rampage. Defeated, Arthur lets go of the Superior Spider-Man, who disables the power source in the armor. He offers to help Susan and get her an appointment with Elias Wirtham. He asks Coyle to back up his statement that Arthur was being controlled by the armor and should be left free to support his wife. Coyle agrees, but asks the Superior Spider-Man why he is being so lenient. Thinking back to his final days as Doctor Octopus, the Superior Spider-Man merely says that no-one should die alone. Leaving the apartment, he sees the Spiderling from earlier arguing juri