Then What Are Gods!?

Deep within the Black Galaxy exists a unique bio-verse, a biological soup teeming with life. Here, the High Evolutionary has been trying to learn all he can so he can foster a new race of gods that will assist in pushing humanity beyond the current limits of evolution. Reluctantly assisting him is the New Man Count Tagar, who worries that his master might in turn create some kind of abomination of science. However, the High Evolutionary insists that he is on the cusp of success since he first discovered humanities limitations during the Evolutionary War, and his brief abduction by the Celestials for some unknown purpose shortly thereafter.[1][2]

Their discussion is interrupted when the Evolutionary’s minions are trying to contain Nobilus, the first of their master’s New Immortals, who has gone berserk. Not wanting his first creation to be harmed, the High Evolutionary orders his guards away and begins comforting his creation assuring Nobilus that nobody will hurt him anymore. This recent outburst doesn’t ease Count Tagar’s concerns, leading him to wonder if it is wise to create more new gods if the first one turned out mentally unstable. Ignoring this, the High Evolutionary heads to his main lab where his biological vats have just finished spawning a new god, a woman he dubs Zon. As Zon is being taken off to be mentally conditioned for her new role, the High Evolutionary is informed that an alien craft is approaching. This prompts the geneticist to dispatch the Analyzer to go out and intercept the vessel and determine if it is friend or foe.

The craft in question is a specially modified Quinjet, carrying Thor and Hercules into the region. They have managed to make it to the Black Galaxy in hours thanks to an engine that channels the power of Mjolnir. As they arrive, they are confronted by the Analyzer. Recognizing the voice as belonging to the Recorder. Inviting him in, Thor is surprised to see that his old friend has been heavily modified to help out the High Evolutionary achieve his goals. The newly christened Analyzer determines that neither god are a threat to their plans and invites them back to Wundagore II to meet with the High Evolutionary. Little do they know that the alien mercenary known as Stellaris has arrived in the area as well, planning to disrupt whatever plans the Celestials have going on in the bio-verse.

Back on Earth, Susan Austin is at her apartment, wondering why her boss — Eric Masterson — decided to give up custody of his son so suddenly.[3] That’s when there is a knock at the door, prompting Susan’s new roommate — Leena Moran — to race out of the bathroom in only a towel to answer the door.[4] The visitor turns out to be Jerry Sapristi, who has also become concerned over Eric’s strange behavior as of late. Jerry thinks he has figured out what Masterson’s big secret is and warns Susan that she won’t like what she has to hear.[5]

While aboard Wundagore II, Thor and Hercules are taken on a tour of the space ship, little knowing Stellaris has sneaked on board. In order to move around more quickly, she retracts her armor into a less bulky form so she can search for a weapon she can use to destroy the Celestials.

Eventually, Thor and Herc are brought to a dining room where they are welcomed by the High Evolutionary himself. He explains why he has come to the Black Galaxy and the idea that he is creating a new race of gods is viewed as blasphemy — at best. However, the geneticist shows off two of his successful creations Juvan and Zon and explains that with his New Immortals, humanity will find that they are as great as a the gods and beholden to none but themselves.

At that same moment, one of the High Evolutionary’s probes approaches a Celestial that has been standing watch on one of the nearby planetoids. The cosmic being destroys the probe with a mere glance and goes about whatever it was doing before it was disturbed. Back aboard the ship, Stellaris finds the cell where they are holding Nobilus and knocks out the guard. Looking around inside, she finds the New Immortal locked up. This is just as the High Evolutionary is getting a report back form his destroyed probe and is pleased that it was able to find a Celestial for him to observe. That’s when the alarm goes off, signaling that someone has freed Nobilus from his cell, prompting everyone to go searching for him. All except Count Tagar, who has decided to remain behind. Curious to see if he could be further evolved into a god like his creator’s latest creations, he walks into genetic soup in the lab fully prepared to either be destroyed or reborn.

Meanwhile, the search for Nobilus continues. When Thor inquires how the being was created, the High Evolutionary explains he created his first New Immortal using DNA he had taken from the thunder god during their earlier encounter. This enrages Thor, who tells the geneticist that Nobilus has mad because the sample taken from Thor was taken while he was tainted by the sessence of his evil step-brother Loki.[6] As Thor is scolding the High Evolutionary, Count Tagar emerges from the genetic vats evolved into a god and he now knows the answers to what the Celestials are doing in the Black Galaxy![7]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Eric Masterson, Hercules, High Evolutionary, Count Tagar, Sir Lepard, Red Celestial, Stellaris, Analyzer, New Immortals (Nobilus, Juvan, Zon), Susan Austin, Jerry Sapristi, “Leena Moran”

Continuity Notes

1. The Evolutionary War a conflict in which the High Evolutionary attempted to speed up humanity’s natural evolution, this was resisted by many of Earth’s heroes. See X-Factor Annual #3, Punisher Annual #1, Silver Surfer Annual #1, New Mutants Annual #4, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22, Fantastic Four Annual #21, Uncanny X-Men Annual #12, Web of Spider-Man Annual #4, West Coast Avengers Annual #3, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8, and Avengers Annual #17.

2. After being hyper-evolved at the end of the Evolutionary War, the High Evolutionary and Hercules were abducted by the Celestials for a time, as seen in Thor #406-408. Issue #424 will reveal that this was all part of a process of birthing a brand new Celestial.

3. Eric Masterson’s ex-wife Marcy Steele had been fighting for custody of their son Kevin since Thor #392. After resisting this for some time, Eric ultimately decided to stop fighting it last issue due to his shared existence with Thor and the danger it posed to his son.

4. “Leena Moran” isn’t who she appears to be. It’s the old bad-guy-posing-as-a-supporting-cast-member’s-roommate trick. In this case it is the Enchantress, as we’ll learn in Thor #431-432.

5. Jerry incorrectly suspects that Eric has a secret drinking problem, as we’ll discover in Thor #430.

6. During the so-called War of the Gods, circa Thor #395-400, Thor was given a portion of Loki’s power to defeat Seth. This made a permanent connection between the two, allowing Loki to strike Thor with momentary bouts of weakness. During this time, the High Evolutionary took a Thor’s DNA from when he shaved his face at the Citadel of Science in Thor #408 (this issue incorrectly attributes issue #409). Thor subsequently freed himself of Loki’s influence in Thor #413.

7. The answer to all of this convoluted non-sense is that the Celestials have been trying to create a brand new member of their race as seen in Thor #424.

The Secret of the Endless Circle

The Warriors Three have been dispatched to Jotunheim to find out what has been terrorizing the Frost Giants that live there. Upon their arrival they were soon ambushed by Ymir, who had just recently been freed from his prison within the so-called Crack of Doom.[1]

As the valiant trio fight for their very lives, back in Asgard Odin has decided to reveal to Heimdall the current threat they face. It is called the Endless Circle and the prophesies tell that it will spell the end of all life in the universe, Ragnarok in other words. Heimdall listens in horror as the legends speak that first signs of the Endless Circle are the fading of the stars, the lands being covered in frost, the destruction of the Bifrost Bridge followed by the return of Surtur and the Midgard Serpent will return for one final battle. Soon the entire universe will be shaken to its very fabric and torn asunder.

Heimdall then points out that a number of prophesies have already come true: The rainbow bridge was recently shattered, sending Asgard adrift in the Negative Zone.[2] Odin himself battled and defeated Surtur not so long ago,[3] while Thor had recently slain the Midgard Serpent.[4] Odin agrees with his assessment and orders Heimdall to amass an army and head into Jotunheim to hold Ymir back in an effort to prevent Ragnarok from coming to pass. Soon the entire Asgardian army is mobilized with Hemindall leads them into the battle ahead.

Odin watches from his palace with the Grand Vizier — who has been imprisoned in a tiny transparent cube — and laughs. The shadow the All-Father casts takes on a demonic form, suggesting that this might not be Odin at all….[5]

Recurring Characters

Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Ymir, Odin (possessed by Surtur), Heimdall, Grand Vizier

Continuity Notes

1. Ymir was freed from his prison back in Thor #419.

2. The Bifrost Bridge was shattered in Thor #351, causing Asgard to eventually drift into the Negative Zone as seen in issue #404-405. It will be restored to its former glory in Thor #426.

3. Odin has actually fought Surtur twice in recent history. The first was in Thor #350-353 and the other in Thor #399-400.

4. Thor killed Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent, back in Thor #380 by pulping the monster’s head with Mjolnir. Although deceased, the creature will be seen again in Hel circa Thor #486-488 before being brought back to life in Avengers (vol. 3) #1.

5. Odin has been possessed by Surtur since Thor #418 as well see in issue #424 and 425.