"The War of the Realms" is a 2019 comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Russell Dauterman. The storyline has been met with positive reviews, with critics praising the storyline and the art.
Premise
The story details the heroes banding together when Malekith the Accursed leads his forces to invade Midgard, the last realm he has to conquer.
Plot
In Asgard, Odin is targeted by Malekith's assassins, who reveal that they have created a Dark Bifrost Bridge that will allow them to teleport to any of the ten realms. On Earth, Thor and his hellhound dog Thori are relaxing when Loki crashes in front of them and tells Thor that Malekith stabbed him. Thor agrees to Loki's terms of helping him for Malekith's location. Loki who is revealed to be Malekith, transports Thor to Jotunheim the place where Frost Giants live; they proceed to attack Thor. With Thor gone, Malekith plans to wage war on Earth/Midgard. In The Bronx, Spider-Man encounters Thor's mother Frigga fighting against Malekith's assassins. Sif and her Valkyries meet up with Frigga as most of the Asgardians now live on Earth as refugees. Valkyrie sends out a signal that Malekith is coming, which is heard by Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Daredevil, Punisher, Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Avengers. During the battle in New York, Malekith arrives with his Dark Council (consisting of Enchantress, Kurse, Ulik, Minotaur, and a Svartalheim Bog Tiger). Laufey is about to eat Frigga when the real Loki arrives, saves his adopted mother, and fights Malekith. Doctor Strange teleports Malekith away and Laufey berates Loki on his recent treachery and eats Loki. At the end of the issue, Thor is still alive and fighting against the Frost Giants.
During the evacuation of New York civilians into the Sanctum Sanctorum, Jane Foster stands outside leading people in. During the chaos, the heroes do their best to fight. It is revealed that Malekith hired a coven of War Witches which prevents Doctor Strange from using his full power. As the war wages on, Odin, who survived the attempt on his life, and his Asgardian Army arrive. Valkyrie helps Jane kill the War Witches. Doctor Strange uses all of his power to transport the remaining heroes to Avengers Mountain in the North Pole where Ghost Rider and Sif take Odin to rest while Captain America orders Carol Danvers to get as many heroes as she needs to defend Earth. Frigga appoints Jane Foster as the All Mother of Asgard, but Jane Foster is saddened at the destruction of Earth. Back on Earth, Brunnhilde is the last person fighting against the Dark Elves before she is decapitated by Malekith, leaving Jane Foster to carry on the legacy of the Valkyrie.
While resting from their battles, Frigga asks Captain America to assemble a group to rescue Thor. Meanwhile, Daredevil takes Heimdall's sword which helps fix the Bifrost Bridge and allows the group to split into four groups: Captain America and his team (consisting of Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Fist and Luke Cage) will go rescue Thor; Frigga and her group (consisting of Blade, She-Hulk, Ghost Rider and Punisher impersonating members of Malekith's forces) will go to destroy the Dark Bifrost Bridge; Captain Marvel will go to Earth to deal with Malekith while recruiting her War Avengers; and Jane Foster remains with Heimdall, Daredevil, and the Destroyer armor to defend the Bifrost Bridge. Malekith lays destruction over Europe and plans to slay Black Knight, Union Jack and Spitfire with the Ebony Blade, when Captain Marvel arrives with her War Avengers (consisting of Deadpool, Weapon H, Winter Soldier, Captain Britain, Lady Sif and the Venom symbiote). As the War Avengers fight the Dark Elves, the Venom Symbiote attacks Malekith only to be absorbed into his sword. The Dark Elves launch a sneak attack on Jane Foster's group while Tony Stark and Shuri help the dwarves create new weapons and Black Panther and the Dora Milaje prepare for a Frost Giant attack on Avenger Mountain. Roz Solomon, an Agent of Wakanda, reports that Roxxon has taken over Antarctica, Namor is fighting off the Dark Elves in the ocean, and the Fantastic Four defend Manhattan. During the chaos, Daredevil grows disoriented which causes the Dark Elves to destroy the Bifrost Bridge. Frigga's group arrives at the Dark Bifrost Bridge. When Frigga realizes that the Bifrost Bridge has been destroyed, she changes plans and protects the Dark Bifrost. Captain America's group finds Thor, but realizes that Thor is in his berserker rage after destroying many Frost Giants.