Contest of Champions #[nn]

In "A Gathering of Heroes!", a brutal tournament unfolds across exotic locales as iconic heroes clash in a deadly game orchestrated by the Grandmaster. From the streets of a Japanese city to the heart of a dense jungle, teams like the Thing, Wolverine, and Peregrine face off against Black Panther, Angel, and Vanguard, while Captain America, Sasquatch, and Blitzkrieg battle Storm, Shamrock, and Collective Man—each match pushing them to their limits. When the dust settles and the Grandmaster claims victory, the true mastermind behind the scenes is revealed, setting off a chain of events that reshapes the fate of those involved.

In the icy battleground of the Frozen North, Daredevil, Talisman, and Darkstar clash with Invisible Girl, Iron Fist, and Sunfire in a high-stakes trial of strength and cunning—Daredevil claiming victory for the Grandmaster. Then, in the dusty ruins of a forgotten western town, She-Hulk, Captain Britain, and Defensor face off against Iron Man, Sabra, and Arabian Knight, with the latter emerging triumphant for the Unknown. The score stands even, and the contest is far from over.

In "Death and Texas!", the Avengers East and West Coast are locked in their second annual softball showdown when the Grandmaster interrupts with a deadly game of his own—turning the field into a battleground where victory means survival and the stakes are nothing less than life and death.