What Power is This?

In the ruins of Asgard, Geirrodur — king of the Rock Trolls — gets a status update from Ulik who he dispatched to Earth to investigate the murders of the gods of Asgard. Ulik confirms that the gods have been exiled to Earth in the form of mortals and are being targeted for extermination.[1] However, when it comes to naming who is responsible, Ulik refuses to even speak his name for it sends a chill through his warrior’s heart.[2]

Somewhere in Manhattan, Ericka Velez and Howie Barker — two of the so-called Lost Gods — have found a trunk full of enchanted Asgardian weapons. They have discovered that two in particular have allowed them to unlock superhuman abilities. Howie now wears a headband that increases his speed, while Ericka has arm bands that enhance her natural agility.[3] The other artifacts — mostly weapons — in the trunk don’t seem to do anything to them, leaving them to believe that they are intended for the other missing gods. Also included is a golden apple, from reading about Norse mythology, Velez has learned that these apples were what granted the gods their immortality. Despite all the compelling evidence, Howie doesn’t believe that they are gods hiding in mortal guise since he always remembers growing up in Queens. Since his Aunt Freda is missing, Howie suggests they find her so they can figure out how these artifacts actually work.[4]

Meanwhile, at a construction site in the Bronx, the Wrecker is convinced that the Asgardian based power of he and his Wrecking Crew has been diminished since it takes two blows to shatter five tons of concrete.[5] The others don’t see this as that big of a deal, especially since most of the heroes in the city were killed off by Onslaught.[6] Still, the Wrecker intends on tracking down whoever is messing with their powers and make them pay. Thunderball and the others could give two shits and decide to go rob a bank or something.

While in Malibu, Vincent Starwit’s entire life has been turned upside down thanks to the wild story about lost gods told to him by Barry Landers, Freddie Moyer, and Tso Zhung. This is because Vincent’s home was attacked by the mysterious men in black who have been gunning for the missing Asgardians for some time now. Unfortunately, when Barry and the others try to recruit Vincent to their cause, he turns them down as he has a responsibility to protect his wife Gerty and their children.[7] Barry understands and asks Vincent to stay safe while the rest of them try to unravel the mystery that their lives have become. At the same time, Tso Zhung speaks with Ulik out back by the pool and convinces him to join their cause, as he knows the Rock Troll has intimate knowledge about their foes that could be useful in future confrontations.

Back in New York City, Spider-Man is web-slinging for home when suddenly his spider-sense warns him of a bank robbery in progress nearby. The robbery is the work of the Wrecking Crew, and he interrupts them before they can leave, leading to a battle between the wall-crawler and the three bruisers.

At that same moment, Ericka has returned to her apartment where she tries to reach her brother Donald again, but he is still not answering his phone.[8] She assumes that he is off on tour, telling Howie that Don is a sound engineer. That’s when Barker tells her that her police scanner has picked up reports of the Wrecking Crew’s bank robbery and suggests that they use their newfound powers to stop them. Ericka thinks they should leave this to actual superheroes or Code: Blue, but Howie plays on her duty as a police officer to serve and protect.

While on Staten Island, Freda Barker shows up at Vizzari’s Antiquities to meet with the shop’s owner, one Pietro Vizzari. When the two strangers meet they suddenly remember each other from years earlier and how a homeless man named Wad came to them with a trunk full of enchanted Asgardian weapons to keep safe. Pietro then quickly ushers her into the back room where he has been keeping Wad under wraps, plying his addictions with copious amounts of alcohol.[9]

At that same moment, Spider-Man’s clash with the Wrecking Crew has prompted the NYPD to dispatch Code: Blue to try and contain the situation. When Ericka and Howie arrive on the scene they can’t get past the police cordon, prompting Barker to proclaim his plant to save the day a bust.

Meanwhile, the Wrecker has been using his enchanted crowbar as a divining rod to figure out who has been draining his powers. It leads him into the secret underground bunker where Price’s WorldEngine was housed. There he finds the tortured trunk of Yggdrasil, the World Ash tree of Asgardian lore. He is also confronted by the mastermind behind everything that has been happening to the Asgardians.

In Asgard, the Enchantress has been held captive by the Ice Giants.[10] However, one of her captors, Mroht, is smitten by her and when he notices that she is finally awake decides to go into her cell. This is in spite of his friend Pyllar’s warning that the sorceress can’t be trusted. When Mroht removes her gag and chains, Amora pays back his kindness by unleashing a powerful mystical blast.

Back at the scene of the bank robbery, Mad Dog Rossitano and Rigger Ruiz of Code: Blue try to subdue the Wrecking Crew, but they won’t give up without a fight. When innocent bystanders are put in danger, Howie uses his newly acquired super-speed to pull people to safety. When Mad Dog is injured and Spider-Man knocked out by Thunderball’s wrecking ball, Ericka Velez realizes that she can’t stay on the sidelines and leaps in to help. With their help, they manage to take down the last of the Wrecking Crew so the police can take them into custody.

While in the WorldEngine bunker, the mysterious mastermind behind has quickly overpowered the Wrecker, gloating how he intends on destroying the entire world. The villain is no match for his opponent who is vastly more powerful and beats the Wrecker into unconsciousness. This, just as Code: Blue’s Marcus Stone is lecturing Ericka and Howie about their newfound powers. He warns them not to get cocky with them, as there will always be someone bigger and more powerful to take them down a few pegs when they do.

Recurring Characters

Ericka Velez, Howie Barker, Vincent Starwit, Barry Landers, Freddie Moyer, Gerty Starwit, Tso Zhung, Pietro Vizarri, Wad, the Enchantress, Ulik, Spider-Man, Code: Blue (Marcus Stone, Mad Dog Rossitano, Rigger Ruiz), Wrecking Crew (Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver, Bulldozer), Pyllar, Mroht, Geirrodur, Seth (unidentified)

Continuity Notes

1. When the WorldEngine faked Ragnarok, the gods of Asgard were all banished to Earth in mortal forms with no memories of their past, per Thor #491-494 and Journey into Mystery #511. Since issue #503, Odin has been attempting to reassemble his lost people in order to restore his kingdom. Since the fall of Asgard, the Rock Trolls took up residence in the ruins in Thor #500.

2. It’s revealed next issue that the one trying to kill the Asgardians is Seth, the Egyptian god of death. It also reveals that he was the mastermind behind the fake Ragnarok.

3. Ericka and Howie are actually Sif and Hermod, as we’ll learn in Journey into Mystery #512.

4. As revealed in issue #512, Howie’s “Aunt Freda” is actually Frigga, wife to Odin. She left home last issue to meet up with Pietro Vizarri, who is actually Odin’s Grand Vizier.

5. The Wrecker got his power via Asgardian magic way back in Thor #148. He then passed on a portion of this power to his Wrecking Crew teammates when he first formed the group in Defenders #17.

6. At the time of this story, everyone believes that Avengers and Fantastic Four sacrificed their lives to destroy Onslaught in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1. In reality, they were all transported to a pocket dimension by Franklin Richards to live out reimagined lives. They will ultimately be found and returned to their proper reality in Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4.

7. All of these characters are, of course, Asgardians trapped in mortal form. Issue #509 reveals that Tso Zhung is actually Loki. Barry, Freddy, Vincent, and Gerty are revealed to be Balder, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hildegund in issue #512. Although it’s never specified during this run, “Vincent” and “Gerty’s” children are likely the children of Volstagg and Hildegund in mortal form as well.

8. Ericka worries that her brother might be in danger from Seth’s men in black. He’s not and will turn up fine in next issue. He’s revealed to be Heimdall, Sif’s actual brother, when everyone else’s true identities are revealed in issue #512.

9. As explained in issue #511, Odin was the mastermind behind the exile of the Asgardians. Many of whom were banished back in time on top of being exiled on Earth. Odin had lived as Wad, a homeless drunk for decades as revealed in Thor #497-498.

10. The Enchantress was abandoned in the ruins of Asgard in Thor #500 and has been a prisoner of the Ice Giants since the following issue of that series.

Topical References

• When remarking about their magical artifacts, Howie calls it a real “X-Files experience”. The X-Files was a sci-fi drama series about two FBI agents investigating paranormal activity. The series originally ran from 1993 to 2002, spawned two movies in 1998 and 2008, and two revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. At the time this comic book was published, the series was at the height of its popularity, as such this should be considered a topical reference.