As the mutant population declines, Cable returns from the future with Hope, the first mutant child in years, whom many believe to be a messiah, provoking the most formidable attack the X-Men have ever faced.

When a counterterrorist organization uses the chaos of Fear Itself to seize a heavily-armed H.A.M.M.E.R. helicarrier and threaten New York City with it, only Wolverine is availabe to defend the city from a possible nuclear attack. Then, Dani Moonstar tries to get Hela, the Norse Queen of the Dead, to help stop the Serpent, but instead has to rescue the goddess, while the other New Mutants end up facing Mephisto in Hell.