The Fourth-Dimensional Man!

While Thor was busy battling Loki, Sif agreed to help Karnilla search for Balder. Now, Thor and Hildegard return to New York City in the hopes of finding out where Sif went. They stop at Avengers Mansion where they have been staying since being exiled from Asgard.[1] Their arrival rouses Jarvis, the Avengers butler who asks Thor if they need anything. The thunder god angrily snaps at Jarvis. Hildegard points out that Thor is being a dick and leaves him to dwell on the events that happened since they were exiled from their home. After brooding for some time, Thor goes to the kitchen and apologizes to Jarvis, who promptly tells the son of Odin to forget about it.

A few hours later, Karl Sarron arrives at the building he recently purchased.[2] He has done so because it houses the medical practice of Doctor Donald Blake. Knowing that Blake is actually Thor, Sarron begins using a device to absorb the residual energies that remain from all the times Don transformed into Thor in this office. He then uses his dimensional oscillator to open a dimensional portal so he can communicate with an alien world. As it turns out, Karl Sarron is the host to an alien entity called Mercurio, who has come to Earth to steal its magnetic field and use it to save his own world. He reaches the leader of his people, the so-called Noble One, and informs him that his plans are almost complete and the salvation of their world will come in mere moments.[3]

Using the power he absorbed from around the office Mercuiro attempts to transform his human body back into that of his true alien nature. Unfortunately, the process is only partially complete, although he has his thermodynamic powers he is still partially human. Realizing he needs more power still and begins plotting his next course of action.

Meanwhile, Thor is on the roof of Avengers Mansion when the Warriors Three return from their camping trip. He learns that Balder went off on his own because he was depressed over Karnilla, little knowing that the Norn Queen is on Earth searching for him with Sif. Thor then takes off to search for his missing allies but finds himself drawn back to the office of Donald Blake. There he is ambushed by Mercurio, who calls himself the Fourth-Dimensional Man. The alien entity can generate either extreme heat or extreme cold with a touch of one of his hands. The battle soon takes them out on the street where a beat cop tries to break up the battle. In response, Mercurio freeze the cop and threatens to do it to everyone else unless Thor surrenders.

Back at Avengers Mansion, the Warriors Three greet the Vision who is on monitor duty. When Fandral asks if these devices can monitor what’s going on in Asgard, the Vision shows that it can. Seeing their homeland turns out to be upsetting to the Asgardian exiles and the Vision immediately regrets showing it to them. That’s when the scanners pick up Thor’s battle with Mercurio. Fandral and the others put aside their depression so they can join the battle. When the Warriors Three arrive at the battle, Thor takes off to research something about his foe. To do so, the Odinson changes back into Donald Blake and races to a nearby library. While the Warriors Three keep the Fourth Dimensional Man busy, Thor returns with a steel girder and tosses it at his foe from above. Instincitvely, Mercurio blasts it with his heat powers causing it to rain molten steel that covers his entire body. With his thermodynamic powers trapped inside a steel cocoon, Mercurio suddenly explodes, his final words telling Thor that by killing him he has also doomed an entire world.[4]

In the aftermath of the battle, Thor explains the science behind defeating Mercurio and sees this as a metaphor for how his own burning bitterness could lead to his own defeat.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Fourth-Dimensional Man, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Hildegarde, Edwin Jarvis, Vision

Continuity Notes

1. Thor, Hildegard, Sif, Balder, and the Warriors Three were exiled to Earth after Thor cussed out Odin for toying with humanity in Thor #203.

2. Sarron was revealed to have purchased the building in Thor #204.

3. The identity of this alien race is not identified here. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4 identifies them as the Gramosians.

4. Although seemingly slain her. Mercurio was shunted back to his homeworld where he will clash with Thor anew in Thor #214-216.