History Comicbook / FearItself

** [[ComicBook/BettyRoss Red She-Hulk]]'s also vaguely trying this on Hulk, while mainly trying to get people out of his way. She tries it again in Hulks vs Dracula #3. [[spoiler: This time it works and Hulk breaks free from the hammer's control and destroys it.]]

* PersonOfMassDestruction: Each one of the Worthy is one of these. UpToEleven when members include the likes of Juggernaut, the Hulk, and the Thing who have their powers boosted even further. Even singular members like Attuma were described to have the power to destroy the planet.

* TookALevelInBadass: Juggernaut, '''big time'''. He was by far the most powerful Worthy of them all[[note]]Though Skadi explicitly claimed that Nul and Angrir were the strongest of the Worthy, they fared worse against Thor than Kurrth did against the X-Men.[[/note]]. Just to elaborate: As [[TheJuggernaut his name]] and history says, he was nigh-unstoppable ''even before'' being chosen by the Serpent. As Kuurth, he lost all of his old (already few) weaknesses, he couldn't be teleported away[[note]]Which Nul was vulnerable to.[[/note]], he couldn't be attacked from the inside, he was literally able to walk through air, he shrugged off telepathic assault and of course completely ignored physical assault. Even when his Juggernaut-powers were transferred to Colossus, he still overpowered the guy and only narrowly lost due to his own former power, aka Unstoppable Momentum. In short, an already unstoppable force was made [[UpToEleven even more unstoppable]].

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fear_itself.jpg]]

** Everyone Kid!Loki faces is perfectly willing to kill him. (Most don't because he makes it so they would owe him, or because they know Thor will ''mess them up'' for hurting his little brother).

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/FearItself_2148.gif]]

* PayEvilUntoEvil: The point of the Hulk vs Dracula mini is to have Hulk not cross into MoralDissonance by having his near unstoppable evil side rampage on [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman a nation of vampires instead of normal people]] rather during the second half of the event. On the other hand, Gischler's said that he wants to show Dracula and the vampires as being sympathetic against the unstoppable force that is Nul, Breaker of Worlds, without forgetting that they are, in fact, vampires.

* AdultFear: Ultimately, everything Odin did was a crazed, futile attempt [[spoiler:to save his son from dying.]]
** Also invoked when Skirn and Greithoth invade the Infinite Mansion to strike at the Avengers Academy alumni: since Absorbing Man's hatred for Hank Pym was too big for Greithoth to override, Skirn suggested they attacked the students for whom Pym voiced concern earlier.

** An Issue of ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' was an all-Mephisto issue. Also counts as an VillainEpisode.

* ADayInTheLimelight[=/=]MerchandiseDriven: The series, whilst a CrisisCrossover featuring important roles for several of Marvel's A-List heroes, is more focused on [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] & ComicBook/CaptainAmerica. [[SarcasmMode Coincidentally]], [[Film/{{Thor}} both]] [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger characters]] had [[SummerBlockbuster Summer Blockbusters]] released during the publication of the series.
** Enforced in that Matt Fraction's original proposal was for a self-contained crossover between Thor and Captain America. Only afterwards was it decided that Fear Itself would be a CrisisCrossover.
** An Issue of ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' was an all-Mephisto issue. Also counts as an VillainEpisode.
** Several issues of the Fear Itself: Homefront mini series aside from the Speedball main story, featured one off stories featuring various less popular to out and out brand new characters reacting to the various problems and hysteria caused by the Serpent.

* AGodAmI: The Serpent is a god of fear, but at some point when he regains his full strength he starts referring to himself as ''the'' {{God}}.

* GreaterScopeVillain: As revealed during ''Fear Itself'', the Marvel Universe's real Satan. The other demon lords hold meetings around his throne sometimes, but it's stated that all of them, including, apparently, cosmically-powered ones like Shuma-Gorath and the aforementioned Dormammu, are terrified of even trying to sit on it. He's been gone from this plane of existence so long that even among the demons themselves it's a common belief that he doesn't actually exist.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gravity and Hardball both get to say one of these [[spoiler: to each other]].

* EvilMakeover: Those who become The Worthy, often including TronLines for some reason.
*** Even the ''Mighty'' have ones. In-story, that's explained as aftereffects of the ''transformative properties'' highly concentrated Uru (a sponge for Asgardian magic) may have on baseline humans.

* BittersweetEnding: Victory was achieved at great cost. Many heroes died while fighting the Serpent, including [[spoiler:Thor]]. Oh, and Loki's supposedly going to go on trial for his crimes against Asgard after he just helped stop the Serpent.

* BiggerBad: As revealed during Fear Itself, the Marvel Universe's real Satan. The other demon lords hold meetings around his throne sometimes, but it's stated that all of them, including, apparently, cosmically-powered ones like Shuma-Gorath and the aforementioned Dormammu, are terrified of even trying to sit on it. He's been gone from this plane of existence so long that even among the demons themselves it's a common belief that he doesn't actually exist.

* DownerEnding: Victory was achieved at great cost. Many dead all over the world, including [[spoiler:Thor]].
** Oh, and Loki's supposedly going to go on trial for his crimes against Asgard after he just helped stop the Serpent.

* NeverSayDie: spoiler: A subversion of this happens when one of the Avengers Academy students asks [[Comicbook/TheFalcon Falcon]] about [[spoiler:Bucky Cap]] being stabbed. He initially lies to them saying that it was critical and they are trying to save him, until realizing he is treating young heroes that just fought a [[WarIsHell hellish battle]] like children and told them the truth.

* BetrayalByInaction: At the end of ''Youth in Revolt'', Thor Girl, having transformed into an EnergyBeing, returns to her home galaxy after growing disgusted with humanity's inability to work together and deciding that Earth doesn't deserve her protection.

* TheDreaded: The Serpent once again; while much about this elusive deity remains uncertain, the fact remains that he has Odin scared ''shitless'' of him, to the point where the Allfather is willing to ''raze the entire planet Earth'' just to destroy the Serpent.
** Which is pretty hilarious if you know that Skadi is the goddess of skiing in the source mythology.
** In fact, the only person in the MU not seemingly in on the mass panic attack is Loki, who is a kid at the moment (and actually has a plan... whatever it is).
* StrongAsTheyNeedToBe: With the little time that the Serpent got to show his strength, most of his power remains only in supposition; either he is a casual [[SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat Planet-Buster or a Universal Threat]]. If is the first one, Odin has faced down far stronger opponents without even a shudder, and has undergone a degree of BadassDecay in regards to just how powerful he really should be (in the past it's been demonstrated he can destroy entire ''galaxies'').
** It's implied that Odin is freaking out so badly due to the prophecy of Thor dying in combat with the Serpent. Since about 95% of the Norse mythology (even in Marvel) is YouCantFightFate, he's somewhat understandably panicked; not over the fact that he can't stop the Serpent, but that he won't be able to before [[PropheciesAreAlwaysRight the inevitable happens]]. [[spoiler:Loki figured out a loophole to at least give it a BittersweetEnding.]] Not to mention the fact that, if the Serpent's EvilTwin claims are truthful, it might not be a case of having more power, just [[MagicAIsMagicA the right type]].

* EvilMakeover: Those who become The Worthy.
** Often includes TronLines for some reason.

* EvilTwin: What [[spoiler: the Serpent]] claims to be to [[spoiler: Odin]]. [[spoiler: Apparently they're brothers.]]
** The Serpent summones "Dark Asgard" that is a mirror image of Asgard that he plans to use to strike at the real one.

* FullSetBonus: Post event Sin reveals that she learned from Skadi how to use all the hammers strapped together as a flail to power a doomsday weapon similar to the Destroyer with which she could destroy the world.

* GottaCatchEmAll: Post event there is now conflict between multiple parties over collecting the hammers. The heroic community wants to lock them away, Sin wants them for an EvilPlan she learned while possessed by Skadi and Valkyrie wants to banish them permanently with a HeroicSacrifice only she can perform.

* HeroicSacrifice: Hardball SEEMS to make one using his powers to the max to try to save people in Vegas. [[spoiler:It didn't stick.]]
** [[spoiler: Thor's heroic sacrifice is the whole point of the entire event]].
* HopelessBossFight: [[spoiler: Anytime the Worthy show up, at least during the first half of the event.]].
* HopeSpot: The Battle of St. John's Newfoundland. [[spoiler: Speedball arrives to fight off Nerkkod and sends him flying by redirecting his own hammer back at him, seemingly defeating him. As Speedball limps away still thinking of possibly aiding others, Nerkkod returns, lays into Speedball and summons a [[GiantWallOfWateryDoom tidal wave]] to drown the thousands of people in the area.]]
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: The Thunderbolts try this on Juggernaut.
** [[ComicBook/BettyRoss Red She-Hulk]]'s also vaguely trying this on Hulk, while mainly trying to get people out of his way.
*** She tries it again in Hulks vs Dracula #3, [[spoiler: This time it works and Hulk breaks free from the hammer's control and destroys it.]]

* LateArrivalSpoiler: More like Spoiler-given-mid-event. In their promos for November's "Shattered Heroes" Marvel unveiled the replacement for [[spoiler: Thor]] as well as a cover that seems to show the original dead. The bets on how long that'll last are short and ''really'' short.
** This is happening a lot. It seems the [[ExecutiveMeddling Execs at Marvel couldn't wait to tell us all about the next line, to the point of spoiling the current one.]]

* NeverSayDie: [[spoiler: A subversion of this happens when one of the Avengers Academy students asks [[Comicbook/TheFalcon Falcon]] about [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Bucky Cap]] being stabbed, he initially lies to them saying that it was critical and they are trying to save him, until realizing he is treating young heroes that just fought a [[WarIsHell hellish battle]] like children and told them the truth that he is dead.]]
** [[spoiler: It is later DoubleSubverted when it turns out that although he didn't realize it, he actually was telling them the truth; ComicBook/{{Bucky|Barnes}} really was in critical condition at the time and was on the verge of being revived with ComicBook/NickFury's Infinity Formula. Unbeknownst to him, Bucky's [[FakingTheDead death was faked]] through [[ActuallyADoombot the use of an LMD]] planted by [[ComicBook.BlackWidow Black Widow]].]]

* SeriesContinuityError: ''Fear Itself'' is full of these, mostly written by the same writer. Odin has always been portrayed as the god with a plan for anything to save everyone and willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all. Yet a last resort plan is his only plan. Odin is depicted as defeating the Serpent only after a massive war the first time around. The prequel Fraction wrote depicted Odin defeating the Serpent with ease. Odin mourns the death of Thor, but previously Fraction wrote Thor resurrecting Odin with ease which is a power that has always alluded Thor and Odin in the past and ask why Odin didn't resurrect Thor. The Serpent displays vast strength and mystical powers such as shattering Captain America's shield, but forgets these to turn into a giant snake that is easily cut up by Thor.
** Additionally, the history of the Serpent given in the series and a number of other events, such as the portrayal of their father Bor's death and Odin's sacrifice of his eye, are irreconcilable with past portrayals. For that matter, it's been very well established that the Midgard Serpent is the "Serpent" in the prophecy the story is built around. Nor is the idea that Earth was once the Serpent's domain in keeping with every other depiction of the history of Marvel's Earth. (Unless, as suggested in the Thor title's tie-in, the Serpent was possessing Cul rather than simply being Cul.)
*** It could also be that the history portrayed in previous instances was lies told by Odin to keep Cul's existence a secret.
* ShootTheHostage: [[spoiler: Hardball in order to get Juggernaut out of Las Vegas tries to blow him away with his powers. Juggernaut comes across some homeless people that didn't evacuate with most of the rest of the city to the designated areas. His team gets most out while holding Juggernaut back, but one group refuses to leave even with Hardball's team unsuccessfully battling Juggernaut right in front of them. So Hardball orders a evacuation of his team and uses his powers to blow Juggernaut out of the city limits, injuring himself but apparently killing those that didn't evacuate when his team tried to get them out. ]]

* SinisterScythe: ... with a scythe on the other side. He tends to use the hammer part a lot more than the scythe part, though.

** [[spoiler: Turns out to be the key. [[ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery Loki's deals, machinations and secret infiltration into the Serpent's strong hold]] allowed him to gain access to a type 3 RealityWritingBook, and give the Serpent just enough of a weakness that Thor could "win"]].

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: We have yet to be told what Loki's plan for defeating the Serpent is (outside of the fact that he seems to be ''the only person'' with a plan at all and that it's a brains-over-brawn plan). Since we have no clue, it is therefore likely to succeed, according to this trope. And the fact that Loki is a reincarnated MagnificentBastard.
** Now IronMan has a plan too, and we're not quite sure what. Odin's plan is stated-destroy Earth entirely and the Serpent with it.

* WhamEpisode: Played with in Issue 3: [[spoiler: Sin/Skadi apparently kills [[ComicBook/BuckyBarnes Bucky Cap]], though this was arguably done to return [[StatusQuoisGod Steve Rogers]] to his role as ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.]]
** WordOfGod states that this ([[spoiler:Bucky dying & Steve becoming ComicBook/CaptainAmerica again]]) was always going to happen in the main ongoing.

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Gravity gets so pissed at Hardball's actions in Vegas that he flies half way across the country to try to beat him up, only for their fight to accidentally set off a earthquake.]]
** Nul is shaping up this way too in the aftermath/Defenders series tie-in. Just existing in this world causes him unbearable pain.

** TheWorfEffect: Sadly, at the end of the event, he got was dealt with by Wolverine in an unspectacular manner, just to show how powerful Odin's upgrades were.

* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Gravity, he got so pissed at Hardball actions in Vegas that he flies half way across the country to try to beat him up, only for their fight to accidentally set off a earthquake.]]

* TheWorfEffect: Red Hulk getting his butt handed to him by a possessed Thing.

* WouldHurtAChild: Obviously given the grand scale carnage they bring about all the Worthy. Special mention does go to Greithoth (Absorbing Man) and Skirn (Titania) for deciding to head after Pym's Avengers Academy students after their battle in Dubai.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gravity and Hardball both get to say one of these [[spoiler: [[HeadbuttingHeroes to each other]].]]

* EvilTwin: What [[spoiler: the Serpent]] claims to be to [[spoiler: Odin]].
** [[spoiler: Apparently they're brothers.]]
** The Serpent summoned something over NYC called "Dark Asgard" that is a mirror image of Asgard that he plans to use to strike at the real one. Kid!Loki apparently has a plan for dealing with it, that like all his other deals has so far falled under the UnspokenPlanGuarantee

* HopelessBossFight: [[spoiler: Anytime the Worthy show up at least during the first half of the event.]].

** StrongAsTheyNeedToBe: With the little time that the Serpent got to show his strength, most of his power remains only in supposition; either he is a casual [[SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat Planet-Buster or a Universal Threat]].
*** If is the first one: Odin has faced down far stronger opponents than the Serpent in the past without even a shudder, and has undergone a degree of BadassDecay in regards to just how powerful he really should be (in the past it's been demonstrated he can destroy entire ''galaxies''). The Serpent is powerful, but it doesn't even come close to matching the power of, say, [[Comicbook/DoctorStrange Dread]] [[DimensionLord Dormammu]], or the various other things he has succesfully defeated before.

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler: ComicBook/{{Bucky|Barnes}} [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Cap]]]]
** [[spoiler: Though eventually [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] in Issue 7.1, where it was revealed that he survived the beating given to him by [[TheDragon Sin/Skadi]] and had his death faked by ComicBook/BlackWidow and ComicBook/NickFury to convince Steve Rogers to become ComicBook/CaptainAmerica [[StatusQuoIsGod again]], as well as give him the leeway he needed to attend to his own problems.]]

* SeriesContinuityError: Fear Itself is full of these mostly written by the same writer. Odin has always been portrayed as the god with a plan for anything to save everyone and willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all. Yet a last resort plan is his only plan. Odin is depicted as defeating the Serpent only after a massive war the first time around. The prequel Fraction wrote depicted Odin defeating the Serpent with ease. Odin mourns the death of Thor, but previously Fraction wrote Thor resurrecting Odin with ease which is a power that has always alluded Thor and Odin in the past and ask why Odin didn't resurrect Thor. The Serpent displays vast strength and mystical powers such as shattering Captain America's shield, but forgets these to turn into a giant snake that is easily cut up by Thor.

* BackFromTheDead: Puck came back during this to save his ComicBook/AlphaFlgiht teammates after he'd overthrown Ba'al.

* HellHasNewManagement: During ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'''s tie-in, it was revealed that Puck was indeed in hell during Wolverine's trip and between then and his return, he'd overthrown Ba'al and taken his place as ruler.

* HeroicSacrifice: Hardball SEEMS to make one using his powers to the max to try to save people in Vegas. [[spoiler: It didn't stick.]]

At some point during the Second World War, the ComicBook/RedSkull [[{{Ghostapo}} enacted an arcane ritual under the orders of Adolf Hitler]], causing a mysterious artifact to fall from the heavens and crash land in Antarctica. Upon locating the artifact--a large hammer, supposedly tied to the Norse goddess Skadi--and learning that he is incapable of lifting it, the Skull has the Thule Society seal it away in a fortress and guard it with their lives. Fast forward to the present day, where [[DaddysLittleVillain Sin]], believing the hammer to be her inheritance, comes to collect; and after killing the guards and getting her hands on the hammer, she proves capable of lifting it. Of course, as with any mystical weapon there is a catch to wielding it, and this hammer is no exception; for, as the runic inscription on its shaft states,