WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Savage Avengers #24, available now from Marvel Comics.
The Savage Avengers have spent countless hours hunting the forces of Kulan Gath across the globe and through time itself, but none of their efforts have gotten them any closer to stopping the mad ancient. Just when it seems like there is nowhere left to turn, Kulan Gath chooses to finally show himself along with the army and power he has amassed. While Doctor Strange and Conan aren't alone in the final fight against this ancient evil, even their most capable allies don't stand a chance, as Kulan Gath has proven by tearing Earth's Mightiest Heroes apart singlehandedly in Savage Avengers #24, by Gerry Duggan, Patch Zircher, Java Tartaglia and VC's Travis Lanham.
After realizing that not even Shuma Gorath could help them, Doctor Strange and Conan are at a loss for what exactly to do next. Thankfully, they don't need to do anything to find Kulan Gath, as he has decided to finally show off just what he has been working on. High above the New York City skyline floats the City of Sickles, from which the evil sorcerer plans on keeping watch over the world once he has remade it in his own blistering image. The heroes aren't going to go down without a fight, however, and Doctor Strange doesn't waste any time calling in the big guns.
In a flash of light, the Avengers are assembled before him, only for Kulan Gath to begin cutting them down where they stand. Captain America heroically leads the charge with his shield, leading the iconic weapon to become the mad wizard's next snack in a horrifying display of sheer strength. This doesn't dissuade She-Hulk at all, who leaps for Kulan Gath and is met with eye beams that tear bloody holes through her torso. With She-Hulk's death comes the arrival of the rest of the Savage Avengers alongside Doctor Doom, and every single one of them is already destined to fall.
Kulan Gath is caught off guard by the arrival of Doctor Doom and the other heroes, but that isn't enough to keep him down for long. Though the rest of the battle is not seen, the results of it are put on full display but Kulan Gath once it has been won.
The heads of countless superheroes rest on pikes adorning the desolate, burning streets of NYC, while in his throne room high above the sorcerer sits surrounded by the trophies he has acquired. Captain America's shield, Mjolnir and numerous helmets litter the steps leading up to his throne. At the bottom sits a defeated Bruce Banner with the Hulk trapped inside of him, held tight by a collar made from Wolverine's own claws. The cruelty on display is grotesque, to say the least, if not heavy-handed in how overtly it drives home Kulan Gath's power.
Of course, after having consumed so much power from others, it's not any surprise that the cannibal wizard would be able to take on the Avengers, but it is shocking to see just how much more powerful he has become.
The Avengers have known defeat before, but never anything as brutal as this. The Ultimate Marvel Universe and even the Marvel Zombies that it spawned have given rise to some objectively horrific moments in the Multiverse, as have the various What If? stories that have dotted Marvel's long history. However, all of these moments pale in comparison to what Kulan Gath has accomplished now. While Marvel's heroes still have a few last resorts up their sleeves, this is easily one of the most resounding defeats they've ever experienced.