The People Breeders!

Having defeated Ego the Living Planet, Thor and the Recorder have returned from the Black Galaxy for regular space.[1] There they are rescued by a Rigellian ship. Once Thor and the Recorder are onboard, the narrowly avoid a collision with a ship carrying Galactus.[2] Galactus has detected a powerful life force that exists in the Black Galaxy and intends to destroy it.

Back on Earth, at a NYPD precinct, Tana Nile has learned that her claim on the planet has just been revoked. That’s when Thor and two Regellians arrive to collect her. It is explained that Thor helped the Rigellians and now Earth is off-limits to their colonization of the universe. Tana Nile is furious that her first claim has been revoked. However, on the ride home she is told that she is being haled a hero for getting Thor involved in the Black Galaxy crisis. As a reward, she is being given her galaxy to rule and that her love, the High Commissioner wants to make her his wife. With the Rigellians gone, Thor then uses a device given to him to lock onto Jane Foster’s location and takes off to reunite with his lover.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Jane Foster is accompanying Sir Porga and Count Tagar to Wundagore Mountain. Along the way, some local villagers warn them that bandits are waiting to ambush Count Tagar because they have learned that the mountain has valuables. However, when the bandits are try to stop their car, the so-called Knights of Wundagore arrive on their atomic-steeds to assist. When Thor arrives on the scene, Jane and her new companions are long gone and the bandits are scared shitless by what they witnessed. Heading further up the mountain, Thor is confronted by the Knights of Wundagore who decide to take the intruder to their master, the High Evolutionary. Tied up, Thor decides to allow himself be taken prisoner so he can learn more about Jane’s alleged captors. Thor is taken inside a massive citadel where his patience with the Knights grows thin. He fights off his restraints and the warriors until he proves their might to them. One of the Knights, explains that they are not human but New Men. He then removes his helmet revealing that all the Knights are highly evolved animals.

Just below the mountain, the Avenger known as Quicksilver pits his super-speed against his sister’s sports car. The Scarlet Witch is disappointed that he car couldn’t keep up with her brother. Seeing lights coming from the top of Wundagore Mountain, the pair pause and remember how such lights were seen on the night they were born. They then wonder if the mountain has something to do with their gaining mutant powers.[2]

Inside the citadel, the High Evolutionary is conducting his next experiment to hyper-evolve a wolf. He is interrupted by the Knights of Wundagore who bring Thor to him. The High Evolutionary is annoyed by the interruption and cares little why Thor is there. When the thunder god demands to see Jane Foster, the Evolutionary points to another room. There, he discovers that Jane has been hired to teach the New Men about the outside world. Happy to see Thor, Jane agrees to leave. Back in the lab, the High Evolutionary discovers that he has left the wolf unattended too long and it has evolved to the pinnacle of both man and beast and hopes that it is not evil. This wolf emerges from the evolutionary machine and in its first moment of self-awareness it discovers that it feels nothing but hate. Not far away, Thor is ushering Jane out of the citadel when he suddenly starts feeling an aura of evil in the room.[4]

Recurring Characters

Thor, High Evolutionary, Jane Foster, Knights of Wundagore (Count Tagar, Sir Porga, Sir Lepard, Sir Lyan, Sir Osslot), Tana Nile, Recorder, Galactus, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Recorder

Continuity Notes

1. The Recorder is one of many such robots. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 reveals that he is the 211th Recorder.

2. The narration reminds readers that Galactus was last seen in Fantastic Four #48-50.

3. So some facts about Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch here:

   • The narration reminds readers that the pair appeared in early issues of X-Men. The pair were founding members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants from X-Men #4 through 11.

   • The footnote also states they are also members of the Avengers. After breaking away from the Brotherhood, they joined Earth’s mightiest heroes in Avengers #16.

   • It also notes that the pair are on a leave of absence of the team as their powers were beginning to fade. They decided to return to their homeland of Transia as they believe it could restore their powers. Their sabbatical runs from Avengers #30 to 37.

   • Wanda and Pietro have the right idea by presuming that their powers are tied to the High Evolutionary. As explained in Uncanny Avengers (vol. 2) #4-5, Wanda and Pietro are not actually mutants. They were experimented upon by the High Evolutionary who covered up his work by making it appear as though the pair were mutants.

4. This story is expanded upon in Web of Spider-Man Annual #4, and West Coast Avengers Annual #3.

Topical References

• Wanda is depicted driving a Lamborghini 330 GT.

When Speaks the Dragon

Thor and the Warriors Three have been sent to the land of Nastrond, a wasteland that had all life decimated when its ruler angered Odin. As they arrive in this lifeless domain, Thor tells the Warriors Three that Odin sends a party on occasion to make sure that there is still no life in the domain.

After confirming this to be true, the four warriors set up camp for the night. Volstagg is the first to go on watch. However, despite his boasts he ends up falling asleep not long after everyone else. However, he is awoken from his slumber by an elderly hermit calling out his name. Volstagg approaches the old man who offers to show him the Cave of the Ancients, saying it contains knowledge fit for only the greatest warriors.

Volstagg falls for this obvious trick and once brought to the cave he finds nothing inside but a shimmering pool. The old man reveals that he is Fafnir, the former ruler of Nastrond. As he begins to transform he explains that he fled to this cave when Odin decimated his land and the glowing pool caused him to transform. Having completely transformed into a massive dragon, Fafnir then grabs Volstagg, intending to use him as bait to get revenge against Odin through his son, Thor.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Fafnir