Thor #423
The Day of Their Return
In the heart of the Black Galaxy, the High Evolutionary has been trying to create a new race of gods that will help push humanity beyond the limits of evolution. However, one of these so-called New Immortals named Nobilus has run wild on the ship thanks to faulty DNA harvested from Thor when he was tainted by his evil step-brother Loki.[1] Having just learned the truth about Nobilus’ origins, Thor vows that there will be a reckoning once things get back under control. The High Evolutionary pleads with Thor not to harm his new creation, no matter what.
As Thor pushes past the frightened New Men, Stellaris — a warrior with a huge hate on for the Celestials — tells Nobilus to not let him pass. As the two gods lock in combat, Stellaris decides now is a good time to flee the Evolutionary’s space ship. Blasting a hole in the hull, she suits up in her armor, grabs Nobilus, and makes her escape. In order to save everyone on board, Thor has to allow them to get away and then uses Mjolnir to seal the hole in the hull.
Elsewhere on the ship, Count Tagar is recovering from the experience of being hyper-evolved into a god-like being. He has made sense of the bio-verse and its purpose in the grand scheme of thing when suddenly the entire ship is struck by a tremor from outside.
This quake has brought Thor, Hercules, the High Evolutionary, the New Immortals Juvan and Zon, and the robotic Analyzer to the command center. There, the view screen shows them that the Celestial just outside the ship has just created a dense sphere of energy whose shockwaves are rippling across the universe. Hercules remembers this Celestial as the one that held him and the Evolutionary prisoner for a time.[2] Thor figures that examining this phenomenon is probably why they have been summoned to the Black Galaxy to begin with. Thor and Hercules then decide to get a closer look, with Juvan and the Analyzer tagging along to gather information for their master. As they are preparing to leave, the High Evolutionary pleads with Thor to make sure no harm comes to Nobilus. No sooner have they left that the ship is struck by another tremor. That’s when Count Tagar appears before his creator to show how he has changed since they last saw each other.
Meanwhile, Sif has arrived on Earth along with her Celtic allies Leir and Caber, in the hopes they can find Thor and get his assistance in facing a menace that threatens all of Asgard.[3] Casting a spell to disguise them as mortals, Sif leads her allies to the home of Thor’s human host, Eric Masterson.[4] They arrive as Susan Austin is meeting with Jakie Lukus to talk about her concerns about Eric’s recent sketchy behavior. The sudden arrival of three strangers searching for Masterson does little to elevate their mutual concerns.[5]
At that same moment, not far (relatively speaking) from the Black Galaxy is the Rigellian home world.[6] The Grand Commission and his command team discover the presence of a Watcher near by, signaling that something of great significance is going to happen in the bio-verse soon and a military fleet is quickly mobilized to deal with any threat that might come their way.
While on the planetoid of the Celestial within the Black Galaxy, Thor and his allies are landing the Quinjet as thousands of containers — similar to those that contained Hercules and the High Evolutionary — are forming together to create a brand new Celestial body. On the ground is Stellaris and Nobilus, the former of whom absolutely hates the Celestials and wants to stop them from creating a new member of their race. As Thor and the others disembarks, one of the contains abducts Hercules in a flash of light. Thor orders the Celestial overseeing the construction process to let his friend go. When his demands are ignored, Thor leaps into the air and tries to break the container open with Mjolnir. He is suddenly jolted with energy that allows him to see the past and the future.[7] The Celestial then blasts Thor aside with a jolt of cosmic energy that not only knocks him out, but separates the thunder god and his human host, Eric Masterson!
Recurring Characters
Thor, Eric Masterson, Sif, High Evolutionary, Stellaris, Count Tagar, Hercules, Leir, Caber, Grand Commissioner, New Immortals (Nobilus, Juvan, Zon), Analyzer, Eson the Searcher, Ziran the Tester, Red Celestial, Susan Austin, Jackie Lukus
Continuity Notes
During the War of the Gods (circa Thor #395-400), Loki gave Thor a portion of his power. The connection remained allowing Loki to secretly weaken Thor. Shortly there after, the High Evolutionary stole some of Thor’s DNA in issue #408. Thor purged Loki’s influence in Thor #413. The tainted DNA was used to create Nobilus in Thor #422.
After being hyper-evolved in Avengers Annual #17, the High Evolutionary and Hercules were temporarily made prisoner of the Celestials in the Black Galaxy for a time. See Thor #406-408.
Asgard is threatened by the Endless Circle, a variation of the Ragnarok myth where a clash between Ymir and Surtur will destroy all existence. See Thor #417-425.
Eric Masterson was merged with Thor in order to save his life back in Thor #408. This will remain the status quo until issue #432.
Susan has been concerned about Eric ever since he gave up his custody fight for his son Kevin in issue #421 that he had been fighting since issue #398.
Here, the Grand Commissioner makes a point of referring to their home planet as being new. This is in reference to the fact that the original Rigellian home world was destroyed by the Black Stars back in Thor #218.
Thor sees images of the past and the future. They are:
Thor as a boy, circa the Tales of Asgard stories that began in Journey into Mystery #113.
Thor’s Don Blake alter ego, which he used from Journey into Mystery #83 until he abandoned it in Thor #339.
Eric Masterson as Thor, a hint to the immediate future that will see Eric take over as the god of thunder from Thor #432 to 459.
Lastly, we see Dargo Ktor, who will become the Thor in the future year of 2587, as seen in Thor #384. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #3, this future takes place another timeline designated Reality-8710.
If Defeat Should Come
Ymir walks again and his return is a warning that Ragnarok may be right around the corner. In order to prevent the twilight of the gods, Odin has sent Heimdall to gather every able bodied fighter to travel into Jotunheim to stop Ymir from reaching Asgard. Among those warriors is Arko who is leaving behind a pregnant wife, Deilla, who is due to give birth any day now. Arko promises Deilla that he’ll return to her in time to see the baby born.
Soon battlements are set up along the border between Jotunheim and Asgard. When Ymir arrives, the armies of Asgard throws everything they have at him from artillery to spears. As the Warriors Three arrive to join their fellow warriors many Asgardians are injured, including Arko. Balder quickly races to the scene and drags Arko back from the lines to where the wounded are being treated. There they will regroup and hold the line against Ymir, everyone willing to die in the line of defense.
Meanwhile, the entity possessing Odin has decided that the need for keeping up appearances is no longer required. Since his victory is at hand, the entity posing as the All-Father releases the Grand Vizier from his prison and then, in preparation for the arrival of Ymir, returns to his true demonic form.[1]
Recurring Characters
Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Ymir, Odin (possessed by Surtur), Heimdall, Balder, Grand Vizier, Arko, Deilla
Continuity Notes
This entity has been preparing for the Endless Circle, one of the Ragnarok myths, by allowing Ymir to get free. The mastermind behind this whole plan has been in possession of Odin since Thor #417 and is revealed to be Surtur next issue.