Journey into Mystery #104
Giants Walk the Earth!
In Asgard, Loki is furious that the Enchantress and Executioner were unable to defeat Thor. After dismissing them, he checks on Odin who is now trying to come up with another way of ending Thor’s love for the mortal Jane Foster. Having run out of options, he finally asks Loki for advice on what to do. Waiting for this very moment, Loki suggests that Odin go to Earth and assert his authority in person. Odin agrees and in his absence, he gives Loki a portion of his power so he can rule in his place. As Odin teleports away, Loki begins to scheme on a means of making sure that Odin never returns.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Don Blake has brought Jane Foster back to his office after her ordeal with the Enchantress and the Executioner. He eventually sends Jane home to get some rest. Don does not like how quiet it is and fears that an even greater threat could be on its way. Deciding to look for any sign of danger, Blake changes into Thor so he can patrol the city.
Meanwhile, Odin has arrived on Earth and disguised himself as a mortal. When some muggers try to rob him he easily repels them with his power. While on Asgard, Loki sits on Odin’s throne with glee. He decides to send threats to Earth the Storm Giant known as Skagg and Surtur the fire demon to Earth. This is witnessed by Heimdal the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge. Unable to leave his post, he sends Balder to Earth to warn Thor. Balder flies to Earth on his winged horse where he is quickly found by Thor. He tells Thor about Odin’s arrival and the threats posed by Skagg and Surtur. Knowing that his father would seek him out at Donald Blake’s office, Thor leads Balder there. They arrive just as Odin arrives and the All-Father is quickly informed about what Loki has done. Decreeing that the coming battle is not for mortal eyes, Odin casts a spell that sends every human into another dimension where they will remain in stasis until the battle is over.
The first threat to arrive is Skagg, who emerges off the shore of New York City. Balder races to face their foe first and uses his sword to shatter Skagg’s wooden club. In response, Skagg summons a funnel of water from the ruined weapon to blast Balder and his winged steed away. Thor then races in, but he is knocked out of the sky by Surtur as he arrives on the scene. Odin then steps in and uses his magic to make Skagg sink into the ocean. Unfortunately, Surtur uses his flames to evaporate the water around the Storm Giant and pull him free. Surtur then turns into a massive fireball and begins flying around the Earth to melt the ice caps and flood the planet. At the same time, Skagg unleashes a powerful storm to devastate the cities of Earth.
Thor briefly stuns Skagg with a bolt of lightning giving Odin time to erect a mystical barrier to protect New York City. Charging at Skagg, Odin fires a mystical beam from his sword that begins weakening the Storm Giant until he falls. Loki watches this from Asgard and hopes that where Skagg failed, Surtur will succeed. The process of draining Skagg’s strength has left Odin in a weakened state, leading to Thor to take command. Taking Odin’s sword he uses it to channel a force powerful enough to send Surtur flying into space where he is trapped inside a meteor in another galaxy. By this time, Odin has recovered and congratulates his son for winning the battle. When Odin invites Thor back to Asgard to celebrate, Thor declines. He tells his father that he cannot leave the woman he loves. This angers Odin anew but decides that now is not the time.
Once Odin and Balder depart for Asgard, a spell repairs all the damage done to the world and its people are returned, none the wiser of what happened. Changing back to his mortal form, Don Blake then returns to his office. There Jane tells him that it’s been a quiet day. While back in Asgard, Odin retakes his throne and banishes Loki to serve the trolls as punishment for his failed coup. Odin then looks upon the universe and muses that while there is none braver than his son, he fears that his heart will be weakened by love.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Loki, Odin, Surtur, Jane Foster, Balder, Heimdall, Enchantress, Executioner
Heimdall the Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge!
Ages ago, following a battle against the Storm Giants, Odin summons the warrior known as Heimdall. He tells Heimdall that the Bifrost Bridge has remained unguarded for too long. He has selected three of his greatest warriors to determine who will be worthy to stand guard at the foot of the rainbow bridge.
Joining Heimdall are Agnar the Fierce and Gotron the Agile. They are all asked to give a reason why they should be the ones to guard the Bifrost. Agnar claims that he is worthy because he has the most powerful lungs of all allowing him to issue a warning from a massive horn. Gotron says he would be worthy because of his fighting skill, reminding Odin that he fought off seven Storm Giants during the last siege.
When it is Heimdall’s turn he tells Odin that he can hear the tiniest sound and says that he can hear a plant growing in the harsh Hidden Hills. To test if this is true, Odin sends a servant to the desolate land and confirms that there is indeed a small plant growing in there. Heimdall then tells Odin that his keen eyesight allows him to see across time and space allowing him to see invaders well before they arrive in Asgard. To prove this, he tells of an invading force of Storm Giants that is two days away. Odin then organizes a war party to intercept the Storm Giants and manages to capture them before they can launch their attack.
This convinces Odin that Heimdall is the best warrior to guard the Bifrost Bridge and charges him with this duty forever. Heimdall has stood at the rainbow bridge ever since.
Recurring Characters
Heimdall, Odin, Agnar the Fierce, King Brimer
