Thor #221
Hercules Enraged!
Now
Thor has arrived in the realm of Olympus where he battles with an army of Olympian warriors. He demands that they bring him Hercules. When they refuse, the thunder god easily fights through their numbers and makes his way to toward the palace.
There, Zeus observes the battle with Ares, the god of war. Although Ares suggests that Thor attacks them unprovoked, Hercules soon arrives and suspects that Ares is trying to manipulate them into a battle with Thor.[1]
When Thor arrives in the city, his demands for Hercules promtos his ally Krato to attack the thunder god. Seeing his friend in danger, Hercules ignores his suspicions over Ares and attack Thor to avenge his defeated friend. As the two battle each other, Thor’s mind drifts back to the events that led to this conflict…
Earlier
After ending the threat of the Black Stars, Thor and his friends bid their farewells to Tana Nile and the Rigelian mutants who assisted them on this mission. Also departing is Silas Grant, who has had his fill of adventures alongside the Asgardians and has decided to remain with Tana Nile.[2] Thor, Balder, and Sif bid farewell to their comrades and return to Asgard. When they arrive they are greeted by Hildegarde who is glad they have returned as she seeks Thor’s assistance to find her missing sister, Krista.
However, instead of explaining what is going on, Hildegarde and Odin’s vizier take them to the All-Father instead. Odin has Thor look into a crystal ball which reveals that Krista is apparently a prisoner of Pluto and Hercules in the Olympian netherworld of Hades.[3] Thor is furious to see that one of his people is a prisoner of Hercules, a man he came to regard as a brother. Thor agrees to venture to Olympus and rescue Krista. However, Odin insists that Thor go alone, as sending more than one of his people to Olympus could trigger a war between the two kingdoms.
Now
As the battle between Thor and Hercules rages on, Ares slips away from the balcony where Zeus watches the battle. He then meets with one of Pluto’s minions to send a message to the death god that everything is going according to plan. Pleased with himself over this deception, and considers Hercules as good as dead and gloats over how Thor will take the blame.
However, the battle comes to a quick end when Zeus stands between his son and Thor. Hearing Thor’s accusations about Krista’s kidnapping, the lord of the Olympians reveals that the thunder god has been deceived. He explains that Hercules has spent the past few weeks celebrating in Olympus and has been nowhere near Hades. Thor accepts this explanation and apologizes for attacking Hercules. The Prince of Power shrugs it all off and suggest that they work together to free Krista, shaking on it before Zeus himself.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Hercules, Zeus, Ares, (in flashback) Tana Nile, Silas Grant, Balder, Sif, Hildegarde, Odin, Krista, Pluto
Continuity Notes
Hercules reminds Zeus how Ares recently plotted against Olympus. See Avengers #98-100.
Here the Starjammer is repaired after damage is sustained in Thor #219.
Mention of how Krista was teleported away by a charmstone she found recently. This artifact was found in Thor #217.
