The New Warriors, filming the latest episode of their reality TV series, attack Coldheart, Cobalt Man, Speedfreek and Nitro in their Stamford, Connecticut hideout. During the battle, Nitro chooses to explode very near an elementary school. Hundreds of innocents die, including many children. Superheroes come from abroad to help with the cleanup, but this final straw pushes the Superhuman Registration Act to the forefront on the governmental agenda. The superhuman community is divided on their stance, some siding with Iron Man in support of the law, and others siding with Captain America against it.
