Quicksand Kills!

Hogun arrives on Earth from Asgard, however the trip was a dangerous one.[1] Suffering a blow to the head, the warrior becomes confused and sees the people gathering around him as demonic attackers. Becoming violent, Hogun is forced to flee the scene under a hail of police bullets.

While in Asgard, Balder, the Warriors Three, and the Grand Vizier watch a flame tied to Hogun’s life force as their only means of tracking Hogun’s search for Thor.

Back in New York, artist Aloysius Jamesly is fretting over his career after the office building he design was seriously damaged during a battle between Thor and the Mongoose. However, the self-proclaimed genius finds new hope when Jerry Sapristi points out that insurance will cover the building, thereby covering up the cost over runs and allow Jamesly to get out of the tight deadline that he wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Jerry then takes Sigurd Jarlson — secretly Thor — to check on Eric Masterson, whose leg was injured in the battle. Arriving at Eric’s home they meet his assistant Susan Austin and his son, Kevin. When Eric gets a call from his ex-wife, Susan tells Jerry and Sigurd that he is currently in a custody battle with her over Kevin. After getting off the phone, Masterson is visibly angry but composes himself. When Susan reminds him of his bidding meeting with a potential employer, Eric invites Jerry and Sigurd to tag along with him.

While in Hell’s Kitchen, Hogun continues to fend off the police who have sent in a SWAT team to deal with his rampage. The carnage is witnessed by local lawyer Matt Murdock, who decides to see what he can do as his alter-ego, Daredevil.

Meanwhile, Eric and his friends arrive outside a nuclear power plant where locals have gathered to protests the facility being built in their neighborhood. Eric assures Jerry and Sigurd that they are only bidding to construct an office building for the company that owns the nuclear plant and not adding to the facility itself. Still, Jerry is uneasy because he doesn’t entirely trust nuclear energy. Inside, the trio meet with Adam Peters, the director of operations. There, Eric learns that he will be bidding against Jackie Lucas, his flirtatious rival in the architecture business. She is happy to see Eric, and looks forward to competing with him for the contract.

Back outside, a new super-villain named Quicksand arrives on the scene and begins attacking the nuclear power plant. This is because she has been transformed into a being of sand after an accident involving atomic energy. While everyone else inside runs for cover, Sigurd Jarlson slips away so he can change into Thor and confront Quicksand. However, despite his superior strength, the thunder god finds himself out matched by a foe who can turn into particles of sand, thereby rendering his blows ineffectual.

In the city, Hogun continues to flee the authorities until he is ambushed by Daredevil. Seeing the hero as a demonic entity, the Asgardian continues to fight.

While back at the nuclear plant, Thor and Quicksand’s battle spills into to the facility. There, the villain uses her powers to pin Eric and Jackie to a wall as hostages. However, Thor is able to free them by hurling Mjolnir through the wall, releasing them from Quicksand’s hold. Realizing that Thor’s strength comes from his enchanted hammer, Quicksand blasts the ground under the thunder god’s feet, knocking him to the ground and causing him to drop Mjolnir. Before Thor can recover, Quicksand begins blasting his face with sand hoping that he will eventually suffocate to death.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Quicksand, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Daredevil, Eric Masterson, Kevin Masterson, Susan Austin, Aloysius Jamesly, Jerry Sapristi, Jackie Lukus, Balder, Grand Vizier

Continuity Notes

1. The ability to travel from Asgard to Earth has been made difficult since the destruction of the Bifrost Bridge in Thor #351. It will be restored in issue #426.