The Judgement of Tyr

Thor is returning home from patrol wondering if he made the right decision returning to Midgard in light of the fact that his alter-ego, Don Blake, is about to undergo review that could end his career as a physician.[1] However, when he changes back into his mortal form, Don Blake is more certain that he made the right choice no matter what happens.

Meanwhile, in Asgard, Sif is having another sleepless night wondering when Thor will return to her and wishes he would stay in Asgard. Her thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Tyr, the god of war. He has come to tell Sif that he loves her and tries to convince her to give up on Thor and be with him. This insults that he would come to her home unannounced and make such a proposition and tells him to get lost. Furious over this rejection, Tyr decides to conspire against Thor in order to prove that he is the thunder god’s superior.

Back on Earth, Don Blake finishes breakfast and heads to the Westside Clinic to defend himself. Along the way, a construction crane teeters off the edge of a building, prompting Don to slip into an alley and change into Thor. He stops the crane and its load of girders from falling on a crowd but this rescue makes him late for his meeting, which starts things off on the wrong foot. His boss, Doctor Lionel Jeffries, accuses Don of abandoning a patient in his care for no good reason. While Blake can’t explain that he had to stop a riot outside the clinic as Thor, he points out that the patient suffered from a serious heart condition and that there was nothing that could be done to save them. Jeffries isn’t so certain and since the nurse that was assisting Don has not showed up to tell her side of the story, Lionel has no choice but to suspend Don until further notice. This angers Blake and he makes his displeasure with the review board known.

While in Asgard, Tyr begins to cook up a plan to embarrass Thor so that he can win the heart of Sif. To this end he goes to the libraries of Asgard in the hopes of finding some arcane law that can force Thor into a battle with him. Conferring with the Grand Vizier, Tyr finds exactly what he is looking for: An old law that states that an Asgardian has to have a majority vote from his peers in order to be allowed to go to Midgard. Tyr takes this to Odin and convinces him that this law has to be honored, even by the son of Odin. Suspecting that Tyr has ulterior motives, Odin has no choice but to allow the god of war to go to Earth and bring Thor back to Asgard. Pleased that he is getting exactly what he wants, Tyr goes to the Avenue of Heroes and steals a mystical mace that Odin used long ago in the Myth-Wars and uses it to teleport himself to Earth.

By this time, Don Blake has gone to Central Park to think about his next move. Suddenly, Tyr appears before him orders Thor to return to Asgard with him. Before Don can answer this demand, Tyr attacks. Changing into Thor, the thunder god doesn’t understand why Tyr is attacking him like he is not complying but takes steps to defend himself. Although Tyr has the powerful Mace of the Myth-Wars, it is no match for Mjolnir and Thor shatters the weapon with a bolt of lighting channeled through the enchanted hammer. With his enemy disarmed, Thor easily defeats Tyr in hand-to-hand combat. With the war god defeated, Thor decides to find out why he attacked him without provocation and find out why he was being forced to return to Asgard.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Tyr, Odin, Sif, Grand Vizier, Lionel Jeffries

Continuity Notes

1. Don Blake got in hot water for leaving a patient who later died. He only did so to stop a riot from getting out of control but he can’t tell his bosses that. See last issue.

Baptism of Fire

Odin has reformed the Valkyries for an important mission: To liberate Valhalla which has been taken over by Hela, the Goddess of Death. With Brunnhilda unwilling to rejoin their ranks, her place has been filled by Krista, Hildegarde’s sister. With their mission in hand, the Valkyries take flight on their winged horses ahead of Odin himself.[1]

As the approach the mist that separates the world of the living with the world of the dead a wall of flame appears before them. From them emerges flame demons sent by Hela to stop their advance. After fighting off these creatures, the women dive into some enchanted waters nearby. This thoroughly soaks them and their mounts allowing them to pass through the wall of flame unharmed. Once past this barrier, Valtrauta leads her fellow warriors into the Valhalla and an inevitable clash with the death goddess herself, one that they may not come back from alive.

Recurring Characters

Valkyrie (Krista, Hildegarde, Valtrauta, Grimgerta, Hecara, Leita, Ortlinda, Rossveissa, Synget), Odin, Sleipnir

Continuity Notes

1. Balder the Brave, after a period in a death-like state, reported that Hela took over Valhalla back in Thor #301.