In his bid to become Earth's greatest hero, the One from Beyond may be embracing abject villainy. Guest-starring the Power Pack!
The Beyonder decides to be a force for good in the universe. He builds a giant new headquarters in Sparta, Illinois, filled with all of his favorite gadgets. The tower is noticed by Dave, a local down-on-his-luck reporter. He rushes off to the tower to find out what is going on, hoping this is the story that makes his career.
The Beyonder flies off to help Power Pack, and Dave has to wait until he returns. When he comes in, he is astounded by the majesty of the building. The Beyonder tells him that Dr. Strange inspired him to be a champion of life, and shows him a mental projection of all the cosmic powers, such as Mephisto, Death, and the Living Tribunal. Dave is even more amazed, but he decides he wants to help the Beyonder, and becomes the manager for the Beyonder's organization. The Beyonder starts righting wrongs across the globe, and indeed the universe, glad that Dave has found a role in which he can be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Owen Reece and Marsha Rosenberg are happily living their life in Denver, when Reece sees an article about the Beyonder's exploits. He begins to wonder if the Beyonder is ever going to be satisfied with a "normal" life--like his own. As they eat, Marsha notices he is upset, and he says that the Watcher is there, invisible. Uatu makes himself visible at Reece's request, and says he wishes to speak in private, but Reece is too annoyed. Uatu explains the situation to Marsha instead. He describes how Reece grew up from being a weak "mother's boy" to a pathetic adult, until one day he had his accident, at which point he gained his powers--a moment that "shook the...multiverse to its foundations, and made the mighty tremble....The entire history of the multiverse was but a prelude to his rebirth." And yet Reece started his super-powered career as a villain. Eventually he reached enlightenment at the hands of none other than Dr. Doom, and "became aware that he was the most powerful being in the multiverse." After this, having nothing more to prove to the world, and moving past his self-hate, he decided to live a quiet life with Marsha. But now Uatu wants to call him out of that quiet life. All the Watchers have voted to take action, and are asking Reece to stop the Beyonder. But he says no.
The Beyonder, meanwhile seems to be doing nothing wrong...he is stopping famines and saving children. But Reed Richards and Captain America visit him, asking him to stop, or the people of earth may forget how to take care of themselves. Dave unsuccessfully tries to persuade them that they're wrong, and they leave. Later, Dave tries to explain the Beyonder's cosmic philosophy as a champion of life, saying that they won't rest until death is vanquished, and which point the Beyonder promises to do just that. He now literally plans to kill Death, the cosmic entity.
This plan disturbs many in the multiverse, including Mephisto, so when Dave and the Beyonder meet at a restaurant in St, Louis the next day to delete Death, Mephisto attacks. The Beyonder has put a large portion of his energy in a cup for Death to drink. Mephisto tries to get the cup, but the Beyonder easily drives him back. The mighty of the multiverse, including the In-Betweener, Uatu, a Celestial, Eternity, the Living Tribunal, Chaos, Order, and the Gardener, suddenly appear to ask the Beyonder to stop. Dave, who was leery of the idea of actually killing Death before, has changed his mind after being attacked by Mephisto's demons. He says that the conceptual entities don't understand what death is like to real living beings like him, and gives the cup to Death. The Beyonder asks him to think twice--even though he has enough power left to fight off all these cosmic beings, he doesn't have enough to recreate Death once she is gone. But Death drinks, and dies.
The Molecule Man suddenly realizes what has happened, and appears on the scene; the other cosmic beings step aside for him. Reece tries to explain how, with Death gone, there is no reason to try to do anything any more: life is now pointless. Reece leaves, and Dave now begs the Beyonder to bring Death back. The only way to do it, the Beyonder explains, is if a living being sacrifices itself to become Death itself. Dave, who has "always wanted to be somebody," volunteers, and with some effort the Beyonder is able to convert him into a new Death.
Once again foiled in his plans, despite his best intentions, the Beyonder destroys his headquarters in Sparta and decides to try again, but this time with slightly lower ambitions.
The story continues in Cloak and Dagger #4, Power Pack #18, Thor #363, Power Man and Iron Fist #121, and Micronauts #16.
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