Fear Itself Premiere HC [2011] by Matt Fraction

FEAR ITSELF HARDCOVER

The next Marvel event begins with a special prologue by Ed Brubaker and Scot Eaton followed by seven issues by Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen. Seven-issue series originated from the capitalizing on the upcoming summer blockbusters movies of Captain America and Thor. Odin banished the God of Fear a millennia ago called the Serpent who has an alliance with the daughter of the Red Skull Sin. Fraction describes the story of America losing faith and Captain America is no longer a symbol of their greatest potential but rather a weird relic so both heroes will be dealing with their worst nightmares.

The Marvel Universe is gathered together to take on the “God of Fear” and eight characters are chosen to fight for their causes. It’s hard to talk about the next Marvel event without thinking about DC’s Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night which also dealt with fear along with other emotions. Both stories deal with the culture of today as the world has gotten smaller. Fear Itself plays with the relevancy of today as times are uncertain and many people are waiting in the wings to gain from the fear.

1942: The Red Skull sacrifices Atlanteans to summon the Hammer of Skadi in Germany. The Hammer of Skadi lands in Antarctica which cannot be removed so the Red Skull orders a fortress to be built around it.

Present: In Fear Itself: Book of Skull, Baron Zemo helps retrieve the Red Skull’s journal for her daughter Sin. Sin travels to Antarctic to retrieve the artifact from Adolf Hitler’s Thule Society described within her father’s journal. She retrieves the Hammer of Skadi and transforms herself to become the avatar of the deity. Afterwards she travels beneath the Pacific Ocean and releases the true All-Father who was imprisoned by Odin. He wants everything on Earth to fear them so he summons the Worthy as seven hammers fall to Earth.

THE WORTHY

- Sin = Skadi Herald of the Serpent

- Juggernaut = Kuurth Breaker of Stone

- Hulk = Nul Breaker of Worlds

- Titania = Skirn Breaker of Men

- Absorbing Man = Greithoth Breaker of Wills

- Attuma = Nerkkod Breaker of Oceans

- Grey Gargoyle = Mokk Breaker of Faith

- Thing = Angrir Breaker of Souls

Fear has taken hold as unemployment, anxiety, and uncertainty rocks the country. Thor has agreed to let Tony Stark build the Asgardians a new city on Earth as seen within the pages of Matt Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man. The project will create jobs and put people to work within Broxton.

Meanwhile Odin realizes the prophecy is unfolding as the Serpent of Fear is back. He orders the Asgardians back to the World Tree. Thor confronts his father however Odin commands the Mjolnir to drop. The Avengers watch as the Asgardians take the Rainbow Bridge back to Asgard and the Gods leave Earth.

The ads and stories for Fear Itself give too much away. The death of the Captain America Bucky was revealed as soon as the solicitations for Fear Itself #4 was released showcasing the cowl of Captain America. We already know Tony Stark builds weapons using Odin’s workshop to create the Mighty to deal with the Serpent’s Worthy within the pages of the Invincible Iron Man written by Fear Itself architect Matt Fraction. Tanarus replaces Thor as the God of Thunder following the events of Fear Itself. This is how much we know following the events of Fear Itself #5. This series would have been meaningful if Marvel kept much of the material under wraps to create suspense for the audience to enjoy the books.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Odin uses his powers to sculpt a new Asgard and imprisons his son Thor

- Odin has rebuilt Asgard into a War Engine against Earth and the Serpent

- Loki frees Thor from prison as Odin sends him back to Earth with his hammer Mjolnir

- The US Capitol is destroyed by the forces of the Serpent of Fear and Skadi

- Skadi rips the robotic arm of Bucky and impales him with her hammer

- Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor unite for the first time since Avengers Disassembled

- The Serpent feeds on fear and transforms into a younger version of himself

- The Serpent reveals to Thor he is the older brother of Odin and the rightful king of Asgard

- Thor confronts the Serpent who teleports him to face his Worthy Nul and Angrir

- Tony petitions Odin to let him build weapons against the Serpent within Svartalfheim

- The Thing is transformed back to his original self thanks to Franklin Richards

- Thor slams the Hulk into space and arrives to face Dracula and his army

- The Serpent shatters Captain America’s shield as he realizes they are going to lose

- Captain America and the Avengers arrive in Asgard-Space with a wounded Thor

- Captain America tells Hawkeye they need to evacuate Earth

- Odin arms his son Thor with armor and the Ragnarok sword

- Tony Stark prepares the weapons for the Avengers in Svartalfheim against the Serpent

- Captain America makes his stand against the Serpent and the Worthy

- Thor is armed with the Odinsword Ragnakok fighting against the Serpent

- Iron Man hands out mystic weapons he created to several Avengers

- Captain America holds the line against the Serpent until the Mighty Avengers arrive

- Captain America is able to lift up the Thor’s Hammer M and scream: Avengers Assemble

- The Savage Sword of She-Hulk takes on while Wolverine takes on

- Odin and the Asgardians prepare to raze Midgard and destroy the Serpent

- Thor slays the Serpent while the weapons of the Worthy leaves their hands

- Thor dies and a funeral pyre is set by the remaining Avengers

- Odin takes his brother’s body back to Asgard while leaving the Asgardians on Earth

- Bucky Barnes is buried at Arlington National Cemetery

- The elves of Svartalfheim reforge Captain America’s shield however the damage is visible

EPILOGUE HIGHLIGHTS

- 1: Sin has escaped custody leading to Fear Itself: The Fearless #1

- 2: The Hulk separates himself from Banner leading to the Incredible Hulk #1

- 3: ‘The Greatest Secret in the World’leads to Battle Scars #1

- 4: Nul the Breaker of Worlds spirit is free leading to the Defenders #1