Avengers: Armageddon (2026 series) #3

Some mysterious force is going around the world destroying weapons at military bases, especially nuclear ones. UN Secretary General Renata Riani denounces the situation, warning that nations that still possess their weapons could use them in a panic, identifying the culprit only as a super-powered individual. Nick Fury Jr. sits up to take notice….

The Avengers ask Wolverine about the Mystery Box that he used to give Captain America (David Colton) nearly unlimited powers. Logan responds that he did it to save Colton’s life and he brought the box in to see of the scientists can use it to remove those powers. Captain Marvel says that they have tried to stop Colton from destroying military bases but he is too strong for them so they need a better plan. Winter Soldier quietly leaves the room….

There are demonstrations, both pro and con the hero destroying the nukes, outside Stark’s office building. Even Spider-Man and Human Torch are divided, with Spidey questioning whether the supers need to be accountable and Johnny arguing that heroes have a responsibility to use their powers….

Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross awakens in a Russian hospital where government man Maxim Milyukov explains that his own country has turned against him and he has nowhere to go. Ross walks out but Milyukov suggests he stay in Russia where they have a solution that will make him unstoppable, as Ross’ eyes glow yellow….

Captain America (David Colton) returns to his cabin to find Wolverine and Winter Soldier waiting for him. Logan explains that once Colton gets rid of all the nukes, he’ll be on a slippery slope, because then he’ll have to destroy non-nuclear weapons, then soldiers, then politicians who defend war, then…it never ends; Logan says their job is to allow the status quo until a bad guy gets out of hand. Colton points out that Doom and Ross should never have been allowed to go as far as they have; he wants to destroy all weapons and asks Bucky if he agrees with Logan. Bucky responds by giving Colton the locations of secret nuclear stockpiles, throwing his support to Colton. Logan, angered, pops his claws so Colton grabs him and carries him up nearly to space and drops him, telling him that he will hurt Logan’s hero friends if he has to….

Reed Richards goes to Tony Stark’s lab to ask about Doctor Doom’s mystery device; Tony describes it as showing the future by creating an entirely new universe; Reed and Tony ponder the ethical implications and then they are interrupted by Wolverine crashing through the ceiling, hurled by Colton. He agrees with Tony that suing the machine would be unethical but also notes that Stark will use it anyway, telling him to create something that helps people for a change….

Nick Fury reports to Secretary Riani that SHIELD has been searching for the other Power Boxes but have so far only found one and it was empty, suggesting another super-powered individual is out there. Then Black Panther arrives, angry with Fury….

As Captain Marvel helps clean up a ruined Air Force base, Tony Stark tells her that Colton took the “What If Machine” and that Bucky has joined him, telling him about the secret facilities. Carol takes off….

Meanwhile, Bucky and Colton are disposing of the last nukes in America, with Bucky proud of their accomplishment, deciding that whatever punishment they are given, it will be worth it. And then Captain Marvel arrives and punches Colton who hits her back sending her flying into the distance. Iron Man and Vision join her…and then Vision picks up something happening….

Black Panther confronts Nick Fury about the SHIELD device he gave the UN that, used on Ross’ Hulk team, caused injuries they could not heal from. Fury finds his anger at protecting people from Hulks to be insane. Fury then reveals that SHIELD now stands for “Strategic Human Intelligence Enforcement and Logistic Defense,” supporting the people against the superheroes. And then an alarm goes off: Russia has just launched a nuclear attack on the United States, triggering World War III….