Who Shall Be Worthy?

September 4, 2537, Queens, New York[1]

Drago Ktor and his girlfriend Salla have ducked out after curfew, narrowly avoiding a Corp tracker. Although he finds this all foolish, Drago accompanies Salla to a secret meeting of members of the working class (called Slackers) who secretly worship the thunder god, Thor. Their leader has discovered Thor’s long lost hammer, Mjolnir, and they have been trying to find someone worthy enough to lift the enchanted weapon and free them from the tyranny of the Corporation. Drago finds this a huge waste of time and believe they can never free themselves from servitude, an attitude that persists when the most recent attempt to lift Thor’s hammer fails.

Returning to their living quarters, Drago tries to tell Salla that going against the Corporation is foolish, but she tells him to have some faith.

The following morning, the head of the Corporation has noticed a dip in production because his workers have not been getting their mandated fifteen hours of sleep. Suspecting that there is a rebellion afoot, he hires a man to deal with it. This man — who is actually Loki, the trickster god — agrees to do the job pro-bono, saying that he is only doing so for personal reasons. While in the complex below, Salla tells Drago that they are having another meeting that evening. Ktor thinks this is reckless, but agrees to go with her anyway.

That evening, Loki is on the hunt to find Mjolnir with an army of trolls and wolves. They find the Slacker’s meeting and begin slaughtering the gatherers in order to get to Mjolnir. While trying to defend himself from an attacking troll, Drago instinctively reaches out to Mjolnir to use as a weapon and is suddenly transformed into the embodiment of Thor. Surprised that he was worthy enough to lift the enchanted hammer, Drago easily fights off Loki’s minions. However, despite the victory, Ktor is uneasy with the idea of being worshiped and quickly flees the scene. Once he is away, Mjolnir tries to pull free from his grasp as though it is seeking its old master. Unsure what to do with this new found power and not willing to give it up just yet, Drago taps the hammer on the ground changing himself back to normal.

The following morning, unaware that he is Thor, Salla tells Drago about what happened the night before and how the Slackers are going to revolt. Drago considers this a terrible idea and warns her that their symbolic leader will get them all killed.

With the workers beginning to unite the chairman of the Corporation is furious, but Loki assures him that he’ll keep everything under control. When the Slackers all go on strike and begin rioting in the streets, Loki and his horde join forces with the corporate military forces to stop the insurrection. Unable to stand by and let his friends get slaughtered, Drago decides to become Thor once more. The new thunder god is able to fight off the corporate drones, but narrowly wins a battle against a massive troll named Tyrus the Terrible due to his inexperience in battle.

Furious that Loki has failed him again, the chairman of the Corporation threatens to sue. Having no more patience for the puny mortal, Loki kills him in response.

Outside, the Corporation has fallen and the Slackers rejoice over their victory. However, Drago decides that a mortal man such as himself should not wield the power of a god. Since the hammer has been trying to go somewhere, Ktor uses Mjolnir to open a portal to where it is trying to go and relinquishes the power of Thor.[2] Sensing what has happened, Loki and his minions retreat so they can prepare for the eventual return of the true thunder god.

Meanwhile, Drago finds Salla in the crowd and the celebrate together. Drago tells her that he learned that freedom is precious and must be defended no matter what the cost and promises that he will not let apathy repeat his past mistakes now that he has gotten a second chance.

Recurring Characters

Drago Ktor, Salla, Tyrus the Terrible , Loki

Continuity Notes

1. This possible future takes place in an alternate timeline. All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #6 designates this future as Reality-8710.

2. Although Drago relinquishes Mjolnir here, he has it back in his possession when he is seen again in Thor #438. How this happened is never explained, with All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #11 and Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #12 stating that its return is a mystery. As of this writing (October 2021) an explanation is still not forthcoming.