A God Berserk!

Stopping to save Balder, Thor is unable to stop Him from absconding with Sif. This angers Thor and as he begins giving in to his rage, Balder beings to fear that Thor is starting to suffer from the warrior’s madness. Thor, however, ignores these concerns as his mind becomes consumed with a desire for revenge.

Back in Asgard, Karnilla continues to plot a means of forcing Balder to become her consort.[1] Since their last scheme failed, Haag begins sculpting a statue of Balder out of clay.

Meanwhile, Thor and Balder continues to follow Him to save Sif. When they arrive on another alien world, Him uses his powers to command some roots to come out of the ground and restrain Balder. Instead of helping his friend this time around, Thor presses onward. When he finds Him, the artificial being has Sif imprisoned in a transparent sphere suspended in the sky. Thor is still giving in to his rage and attacks Him with his full strength and fury.

While in Asgard, Odin continues his search of the universe to try and learn the origins of Galactus. He comes upon the world where Thor and Him are fighting and instantly recognizes that his son is suffering from the warrior’s madness. This is an unforgivable crime and Odin intends to make his son pay the price for giving in to his rage.

By this time, Him has begun to succumb to Thor’s attacks and decides to retreat. Encasing himself in his protective cocoon again, Him then flees into space. With her kidnapper gone, Sif is freed from the sphere. She can’t understand why Thor attacked Him with such fury, as the artificial being had the awareness of a child and didn’t know what it was doing. Having freed himself, Balder joins Thor and Sif. With his anger finally subsiding, Thor finally realizes that he was suffering from the warrior’s madness and decides it is time to return home and receive his punishment.

Back in Asgard, the construction of the new Cosmos-Craft is complete. Odin has commissioned the creation of this ship as part of his on-going investigation into the origins of Galactus. He intends to send Thor on this mission as penance for the crimes he committed while under the warrior’s madness.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Him, Sif, Balder, Odin, Karnilla, Haag

Continuity Notes

1. Balder spent an extended period in the Norn Queen’s domain from Thor #150-157. Both developed feelings for one another but Balder has rejected her advances because Karnilla is an enemy of Asgard.