Stranded

The Storm-Giant Hrungnir awakens at the Stark International facility, wounded but still alive. Recalling how he was part of Tyr’s army against Odin he realizes that he was left behind in the aftermath of the battle.[1] Stranded on Earth, Hrungnir knows that his only way home is by finding Thor. Running into one of the Stark staff members, he tells the giant that Thor is stationed in Chicago these days and suggests he hitch a ride in one of the long haul trucks that makes a daily trip from Long Island to the windy city. Ignoring an offer of aid and becoming delirious from his injuries, Hrungnir tosses out the truck’s cargo and ducks into the trailer where he falls asleep.

Meanwhile, Doctor Donald Blake is performing an emergency surgery. Although he saves his patients life with relative ease all he can think of is the conundrum of Sif, who has decided to stay on Earth to be with his alter-ego, Thor. He doesn’t know why Sif hasn’t reverted back to the form of Jane Foster, his former lover who Sif merged with in order to save her life some time ago.[2] He worries over what happened to Jane Foster and is determined to find out where she went.

Elsewhere in the city, Sif has gone out to try and climatize herself to life on Midgard. She soon gets annoyed with the cramped conditions on the subway and teleports herself to the hospital where Don is working. Her sudden appearance creates a commotion and when security guards try to remove her from the hallway she draws her sword. Walking in on this scene, Don Blake diffuses the situation by telling the guards that she is a patient of his and leads her back to his office. There, Sif tearfully tells Don that she cannot stand living on Midgard and wonders why her love insists they stay there. Seeing how upset she is, Don makes sure nobody will walk in on them and turns into Thor so he can cheer her up and explain the wonders of Earth that she has failed to see up to this point.

Later, Don Blake returns to his practice with Sif, who has disguised herself in a nurse’s outfit. He sends her to his attached apartment while he checks in with his office. He quickly realizes that this was a mistake when Nurse Stevens tells him that is waiting for him in his apartment. Rushing into the apartment, Don quickly tells Shawna that he has to cancel their plans explaining Sif is actually his “cousin” Sybil who has come to visit him. Shawna understands an, unaware of the true situation, suggests they all have dinner together even going so far as to offer to set “Sybil” up with a neurosurgeon he knows. Don politely declines this offer and suggests that perhaps Shawna help Sif go shopping for some clothes, but this is a suggestion that the jealous Asgardian outright rejects.

Meanwhile, Hrungnir has awoken on the outskirts of Chicago. Sick with fever and hungry, the Storm-Giant hops out of the truck. Following the scent of nearby cattle, he finds them in a cattle-car at the nearby railyard. Smashing the car open, the giant draws the attention of security who begin shooting at him.

By this time, Thor is taking Sif on a tour high above the city when they spot the commotion down below. The delerious Hrungnir doesn’t remember that he was seeking Thor’s aid and begins attacking the thunder god. While Thor deals with the rogue Storm-Giant, Sif rounds up the cattle and pens them in a makeshift fence she has constructed out of some nearby trees. Eventually, Hrungnir infection gets so bad that he passes out. Realizing his foe needs immediate medical attention, Thor races back to Don Blake’s office to get some antibiotics.

While this is happening, a private investigator checks in with his client and assures them that he has been able to track down Don Blake to Chicago.[3]

By this time Thor has treated Hrungnir with the antibiotics and the giant’s Asgardian physiology boosts their healing properties. Making a near instantaneous recovery, Hrungnir’s sanity is restored and he explains that he came looking for Thor to get back home. The thunder god then uses Mjolnir to transport the giant back to Asgard. With the danger out of the way, Thor on a moonlit stroll. Sif secretly envies Hrungnir for being able to return home but decides to keep her growing dislike of Midgard to herself for the time being so as not to spoil the rest of the evening.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Nurse Stevens, Shawna Lynde

Continuity Notes

1. This battle between Tyr and Odin happened in Thor #327.

2. Jane Foster was on her death bed in Thor #231, prompting Sif to use the Runestaff of Kammo Tharn to merge themselves together in Thor #236. Jane was the dominant personality until they returned to Asgard in Thor #244 where Sif took Jane’s place ever since. It’s later revealed that Jane has been trapped inside the Runestaff as we’ll learn in Thor #334-335.

3. This PI has been hired by Keith Kincaid to find out what happened to Jane Foster, as we’ll learn in Thor #332.

Errors

• For the second time in a row, Nurse Stevens is depicted as a Black woman instead of a Caucasian as she was originally depicted. It’s possible the creative team mixed her up with Don’s secretary Brenda Barclay.