Mark Grayson is a seemingly normal teenager, except for the fact that his father, Nolan, is the most powerful superhero on the planet, and that shortly after his seventeenth birthday, Mark begins to develop powers of his own and learns how to wield them with help from his father. After revealing himself as an infiltrator for the Viltrum Empire sent to conquer Earth, Nolan fails to convince Mark to join him and overpowers his son, devastating Chicago and killing thousands. Despite being beaten nearly to death, Mark makes Nolan remember his love for his family. Unable to reconcile this with his duty, Nolan tearfully abandons Earth. The Guardians and Eve mobilize to aid Chicago relief efforts as the world learns of Nolan's betrayal while Cecil helps Debbie and Mark by falsifying Nolan's civilian death. A heartbroken Debbie shares a drink with Rosenbaum, also heartbroken by Nolan's betrayal, as Mark and Amber rekindle their relationship after his two-week recovery. As Amber and William learn Eve is also a superhero, Cecil sends Mark to intercept an approaching Allen and updates him on recent events. Allen warns Mark that the Viltrumites will come for Earth, given Nolan's uncharacteristic abandoning of his post, but he thinks that Mark can help the Coalition stop the Viltrumites' expansion. As Mark plans to finish high school, the Maulers are arrested while the Immortal recuperates under GDA protection. Villainous forces conspire to return as Cecil commissions Sinclair to mass-produce Reanimen contingency troops.