A Galaxy Consumed!

Meeting with the Grand Commissioner of the Rigelians, Thor and his friends have learned the full danger posed by the Black Stars — a trio of planets three times the size of Jupiter that have been destroying every planet in their path. Even though they don’t know who controls the Black Stars or what their purpose is, Thor intends to face this threat head on.

Soon he, Balder, Sif, Tana Nile, and Silas Grant board the Starjammer, where three Rigelian mutants wait for their return. As they approach the Black Stars, one of the space-scoops used to destroy and consume planets emerges and from it comes an android named Avalon who seeks to measure the strength of the coming ship. When he attacks the Starjammer, Thor and his allies abandon ship to fight Avalon. The android has his powers boosted by the space-scoop. However, even though he appears more powerful than Thor himself, Avalon quickly ends the battle when he has gotten a measure of the Asgardian’s strengths. He reveals that he was testing them to see if they might have the power to save Avalon and his people. Promising to explain everything, he invites Thor and his allies into the space-scoop.

While back in Asgard, Hildegard returns to her family home for dinner. There, her parents express their concern over Hilde’s sister Krista who has been locked up in her room staring a strange charmstone for days.[1] Deciding to confront her sister, Hildegard finds Krista’s bedroom door is locked. Smashing the door open with her own strength and is shocked to discover Krista’s bedroom is empty.

Meanwhile, Thor and his friends learn that Avalon is part of a race of androids called the Caretakers who have lived their entire lives on the space-scoop. They are slaves who have been forced to endlessly repair and replace the scoop’s machineries. Unfortunately, despite their centuries of servitude, none of Avalon’s people have ever seen their masters or know why they destroy other worlds. The Rigelian mutants can empathize with the Caretakers life of slavery and convince Thor that liberating them would be a worthy cause. Thor agrees to help and while the space-scoop begins retracting itself back toward one of the Black Star planets — a world called Rhun — Thor and Avalon stand atop the device to watch the descent. As they approach the planet’s upper atmosphere, a spherical ship is sent out to intercept it. Emerging from the ship is another robotic entity. This robot calls itself Protector and has bee sent to stop the Caretakers as his masters have come to view their approach as a threat.

Protector manages to incapacitate Avalon in his opening attack. He then engages in a short battle with Thor. The thunder god proves more powerful and he smashes the robot just as the arrive on the planet’s surface. There, Thor and Avalon are shocked to discover that the people of Rhun are a race of giants.[2]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Balder, Sif, Masters of the Black Stars (Kragonn, Verena), Silas Grant, Grand Commissioner, Tana Nile, Bolaa, Jukka, Avalon, Hildegarde, Krista

Continuity Notes

1. A footnote here reminds readers that Krista found this stone in Thor #217.

2. The name of the alien race that live on Rhun is not specified here. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 identifies them as the Rhunians.