Behold! The Land of Doom!

Astride a massive space-scoop, Thor and his newfound ally Avalon have arrived on the planet Rhun. This world is one of three planets that comprise of the Black Stars, which has travelled the galaxy destroying every planet in their path. The pair are shocked to discover that the aliens that rule this world are giants.[1] When their leader, a man called Kragonn, tries to reach down and grab them, Thor leaps onto the giants hand and strikes it as hard as he can with Mjolnir. This is painful as a bit from a flee and Kragonn sways the thunder god away. With Thor knocked out, Avalon carries him back inside the space-scoop where his fellow Caretarkers live and Thor’s allies wait.

Kragonn fears that the androids inside the scoop are malfunctioning and orders that they be examined. The scoop is detached from the device it is teathered to and handed over to Dracus, a low born scientist who hopes to one day overthrow the ruling class. Taking the scoop back to his lab, he sends in a trio of robots called Exterminators to go inside and investigate the situation. By this time, Thor has regained consciousness. He, Balder, and Sif defend the Caretakers from the Exterminators. Discovering the robots have a weak spot around their eyes, the three Asgardians easily destroy the attackers.

Back in Asgard, Hildegard has forced her way into Odin’s throne room to seek the All-Father’s aid in finding her sister — Krista — who has gone missing. Odin uses his scepter to power a crystal ball so they might see where she went. What they witness comes as a shock to both of them.

Meanwhile, Kragonn has come to check on Dracus’ progress with the space-scoop. As they try to make sense of the Asgardians that are inside the device, the Rigelian mutates sneak out of it to overhear their conversation. They overhear Kragonn and Dracus theorize that these strange beings could be may have been sent by one of the other two planets that make up the Black Stars, as they have been out of contact with those worlds for thousands of years. However, they wonder if these entities are friends or foes. What they cannot fathom is that they are actually aliens from another world as they seem unaware of the lives they have destroyed along with countless planets to power their worlds.

Ultimately, they decide that these new entities are a threat and attempt to destroy them from within the space-scoop. Luckily, Thor and his allies are tipped off by the Rigelian mutants and they fight back against Kragonn. Dracus responds by unleashing an army of robots. While the Caretakers and the Asgardians battle these creations, the Rigelian mutants climb up onto Dracon’s neck and knocks him out by pinching one of his nerves. Projecting himself on a view screen so Kragonn can see him, the leader of the mutates explains what is really going on. They convince Kragonn of the untold destruction he has done and convinces him that it might not be necessary. Agreeing to investigate one of the other Black Star worlds, Kragonn is shocked to discover that the civilization that once lived there is long dead and their cities in ruin. This is enough to convince Kragonn that the endless destruction must end. When Thor and his allies depart for home, Kragonn thanks them for their aid and hopes they will not remember his people for the darkness they were, but as the light they have become.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Balder, Tana Nile, Silas Grant, Hildegarde Masters of the Black Stars (Kragonn, Dracus, Verena), Odin, Caretakers, Bolaa, Jukka, Tryx

Continuity Notes

1. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 identifies this alien race as the Rhunians.