Thor #359
The Grand Alliance
Asgard
Thor has just shocked Heimdall by proclaiming that Loki should be made king of Asgard so he can secure the love of Lorelei. Suspecting that there is something amiss, Heimdall calls Frigga to check in on her step-son. Detecting a strange odor in the air, Frigga determines that some kind of spell has been used against her son and orders Heimdall to summon the Enchantress. She confirms their fears, telling them that only Loki could have obtained the drug that has so enthralled the god of thunder.
New York
After spending some time on Midgard, it has now come time for Sif and Beta Ray Bill to part company. Bill is to head back to his people and continue his search for a new home world for them. Sif, on the other hand, intends to return to Asgard to help with the reconstruction of the kingdom and to be there for Thor, who had just recently lost his father in the battle against Surtur.[1] This is a difficult decision for Sif, who buys Bill some flowers to remember her by. She then asks him to look away as she teleports back to her home.
Asgard
Lorelei has returned to Thor’s home as the Enchantress tries to break her sister’s enchantment on Thor. Her attempts don’t work and when Sif arrives and learns what’s going on she angrily confronts Lorelei. This angers Thor who slaps Sif across the face, knocking her to the floor. This pleases Lorelei who takes Thor’s cape so she can go back to Loki and tell him the good news.
With Thor fully under Lorelei’s control, Heimdal and the Enchantress try to figure out a way to break through the enchantment. Heimdall knows that the Enchantress placed a spell on Loki recently to make him and Lorelei fall in love. The two agree that making Thor catch the pair in the act is the only way to break the spell. To that end, Amora convinces Thor to go and seek out Lorelei and the thunder god gleefully heads for Loki’s castle.
New York
The Warriors Three have spent an entire night drinking at a bar where they out drink all the patrons. As everyone else is sleeping, Volstagg puts up the closed sign and the trio head off to find what other adventures they might have on Midgard.
Asgard
Thor arrives at Loki’s castle and catches Lorelei in bed with Loki. Thor is furious by this betrayal and tries to attack Loki. Unfortunately, Lorelei’s spell is very strong and he finds himself fighting against her commands. Finally realizing that he has been enchanted, Thor tosses Mjolnir in the air and then grabs Loki by the throat. Holding his step-brother off the ground, Thor warns him that if he doesn’t remove the enchantment, he will be decapitated when Mjolnir returns to his hand, something the trickster won’t be able to recover from.[2]
Realizing that Thor is not bluffing, Loki removes the enchantment, restoring Thor’s free will. The thunder god then recovers his capeand departs, telling Lorelei and Loki that they deserve each other.
When Thor returns to his home, he instantly apologizes to Sif for striking her earlier. However, Sif doesn’t know what to make of the situation even though Thor was under a spell at the time. Heimdall suggests Sif accept his apology so they can work on bringing back the armies of Asgard who have been trapped on Midgard since the destruction of the Bifrost bridge.[3]
Sif teleports Thor and herself back to Earth where a crowd of onlookers have gathered in Central Park to see off the Asgardians. After being thanked by the mayor of New York, Thor and Beta Ray Bill combine the powers of their hammers to create a massive portal for the Asgardians to return home through. As the warriors depart, a young boy in the crowd points out the various gods to his father. The child notes that the Warriors Three are not among the Asgardians returning home and figures that they must still be on an adventure on Earth.[4] The boy’s father is impatient to leave the Park and comments to two passers by that kids sure have a vivid imagination.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Loki Lorelei, Heimdall, Frigga, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Beta Ray Bill, Sif, Enchantress, Hildy, Hermod, Tyr, Executioner, Walt Simonson, Lousie Simonson
Continuity Notes
Odin seemingly perished in Thor #353. He survived and will turn up again in Thor #398-400.
Thor mentions how Loki previously survived being decapitated by Balder. That happened in Thor #344.
Surtur destroyed the rainbow bridge in Thor #351. It will eventually be restored in Thor #426.
This is a plug for the Warriors Three’s appearance in Power Pack #15.
Topical References
The couple who talk to the boy and his father at the end of this story are Walt and Louise Simonson. Unlike other real world individuals, Marvel Comics creators exist in the Marvel Universe in the relative prime of their lives. As such, the Simonson’s appearances in this story would not be considered topical.