Worlds at War!

Odin continues his seemingly endless battle with Infinity. It’s during this clash that he discovers that Thor is trapped in the World Beyond in his mortal form of Donald Blake. With Blake terrorized by Infinity’s four-armed Guardian, Odin casts a spell that stuns the Guardian long enough for Mjolnir to return from Asgard. Grabbing the mystical weapon, Don Blake transforms into Thor once again.

Thor then battles the Guardian, and strikes the creature dead. However, each time Thor does so, Infinity resurrects his warrior to battle anew. Seeing that he is getting nowhere, Thor uses Mjolnir to create a forcefield around the Guardian to prevent Infinity from reviving him again.

Traveling deeper into the World Beyond, Thor finds his father locked in battle against their unseen foe. Once again he finds the Silent One watching as a silent witness to the battle. When Thor tries to join the battle, Odin orders him to stand down. The helplessness of the situation causes rage to well up within the thunder god and he starts demanding answers from the Silent One once again. Still unspeaking, the stranger begins leading him someplace else.

While on Earth, a team of scientists observe the damage done by Infinity through their observatory telescopes. They are astonished to be able to see the destruction of solar systems that are light years away in real time. With the planet Earth experiencing freak weather conditions and natural disasters, they fear that they may be witnessing the end times.

Meanwhile, in Asgard, the Warriors Three — enthralled by Infinity — have been locked away in the dungeon until they can be freed. Upstairs Odin’s Vizier and Sif watch helplessly as the Odinsword slowly pulls itself out of its scabbard. Suddenly, the Warriors Three break free from their cell and try to pull the sword completely out of its scabbard in order to trigger Ragnarok. Sif tries holding them back and she is joined by Balder, who refuses to allow the Golden Realm to fall even if it means slaying his friends. They are then joined by other warriors who fight Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg into submission. Outside the kingdom proper, Heimdall watches as buildings crumble but remains at his eternal post.

Back in the World Beyond, Thor is brought to the Dimension of Death by the Silent One, leading to an encounter with Hela. The goddess of death explains that the Silent One is her minion and he has lured Thor to her domain so she might claim his soul. She then begins using her power to rapidly age him to death. With the deed done, Hela leaves Thor to perish alone. However, the thunder god’s plight causes the Silent One to feel emotion for the first time. As he sheds a tear, the Silent One gives up his own life in order to restore Thor back to his prime. Thor vows to make sure the Silent One’s sacrifice was not in vein and heads off to rejoin the battle against Infinity.[1]

As Thor rejoins the battle, Odin finally realizes who Infinity really is and cannot believe it. However, before he can reveal their foe’s true identity the All-Father soon becomes enthralled by Infinity. Seeing his father under the control of Infinity, Thor fears that all has been lost.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Odin, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Sif, Balder, Heimdall, Guardian of Infinity, Hela, Silent One

Continuity Notes

1. Although appearing to perish here, the Silent One will reappear again in Thor Annual 2001. In that story, he is not known as a minion of Hela but as a harbinger of doom. Not a whole lot is explained as to how he is back from the dead. The Unofficial Appendix offers some speculation they say is the “simplest explanation” which involves an untold story to explain Thor’s lack of reaction to seeing the Silent One alive. It’s a case of reinventing the wheel if you ask me. By Thor Annual 2001, Thor had seen many characters die and be resurrected that seeing the Silent One alive probably wouldn’t have surprised him overly much.