Thor #431
Requiem for the Wrecker!
Loki has kidnapped the Wrecker and is torturing him as punishment for the power that the crook stole from Loki some time ago. The Wrecker has been strapped to a torture chair and, unafraid, tells the trickster god to do his worst.
Meanwhile, Eric Masterson is coming to terms with how being bonded to Thor has been disrupting his personal life. As a result, he has lost custody of his son Kevin, and everyone now thinks that he has a drinking problem. With his business as a freelance architect also suffering, Eric decides that it is time to focus on his work and after unplugging his phone, hunkers down at his drafting table.[1]
Loki continues to torture the Wrecker, explaining that he has finally come for revenge. The trickster recounts the time he was stripped of much of his mystical power and contacted Karnilla the Norn Queen to give him more. Unfortunately, this was on the same night the Wrecker — merely a common crook at the time — was on the prowl. Breaking into Loki’s hotel room, the Wrecker tried to rob him. After knocking Loki out, the Wrecker then tried on his helmet. It was then that Karnilla appeared and mistook the Wrecker for Loki in the darkness and gave him the power meant for her ally.[2] While it has taken Loki time to focus his attention on the Wrecker, he now intends to savor the torture like a fine wine.
At that same moment, Susan Austin tries to call Eric Masterson but doesn’t get an answer. Her roommate, Leena Morgan once again suggests that the best way to get to Eric Masterson’s heart is through his son Kevin. As Leena repeats the boy’s name over and over again, Susan suddenly enters a hypnotic trance. A short while later, Susan appears at Kevin’s school and asks the boy’s teacher — Ed Marrero — to dismiss Kevin from class, claiming that his father was in a terrible accident.
Back at Loki’s hideout, the trickster decides to probe the Wrecker’s mind and learn his origins. He is intrigued to discover that Dirk Grathwait’s father was a construction worker who frequently used a crowbar in his chosen trade. An abusive alcoholic, he would frequently take out his anger on his wife. Young Dirk eventually stood up to his father and took a beating in his mother’s place. After that incident, the young man vowed that he would grow up big and strong to make sure nobody pushed him around every again.[3] Seeing all this in Drik’s memories makes Loki laugh.
By this time, Eric Masterson is visited by his colleague Jackie Lukus who has come by to help him out on his recent project. Finding it too dark in the apartment, she opens the shades and the pair see aflare of energy off in the distance. Eric recognizes it as Asgardian magic, but before he can come up with an excuse to leave, Marcy comes over after hearing that Eric had an accident to find out that there is nothing wrong with him, leaving her to wonder where Kevin is. At that same moment, it appears that Susan has brought Kevin to Loki’s office building. There, the boy is nabbed in the elevator by Ulik. “Susan” drops her disguise, revealing that she was actually the Enchantress.
Meanwhile, Eric arrives at Susan’s house with Jackie and Marcy. There they find Austin passed out on the floor. Waking her up, they demand to know where Kevin is but she has no idea what has happened. Eric recognizes that is the result of some kind of enchantment and realizes what’s going on. Without explanation, he tells Marcy and Jackie that he knows where Kevin was taken and promises he’ll bring the boy back safe. Marcy is furious over this whole episode and hopes that Susan has a good lawyer. Jackie tries to diffuse the situation, suggesting that they should trust that Eric has a plan. Outside, Eric changes into Thor who has deduced that Loki must be behind Kevin’s kidnapping and vows to rescue the boy.
Back at Loki’s hideout, the Enchantress inquires what Loki plans to do with the captured Masterson boy. The trickster explains that he is using the kid to lure Thor into a trap that will bring about the thunder god’s death. Amora warns Loki that Asgardian law forbids an immortal to intentionally murder another of his kind. However, Loki believes that once he finally takes back his stolen power from the Wrecker he’ll be above any such laws. When Ulik reports that Thor is approaching the building, Loki hands him a pair of enchanted pounders and tells him to keep the thunder god busy. With Thor is busy battling Ulik, Loki continues torturing the Wrecker both physically and psychologically. He gets Dirk to admit that nobody cares for him and that he is utterly alone. When the Wrecker breaks down in tears and admits that this is true, Loki finally saps him of his power. He then uses his magic to banish Garthwaite to another dimension. Surprisingly, the Wrecker finds himself immediately at pace in the endless void.[4]
Moments later, Thor bursts into the room where he finds Loki with Kevin. The trickster demands that his step brother turn over his enchanted hammer or the boy will be put to death.[5]
Recurring Characters
Thor, Wrecker, Loki, Ulik, Karnilla, Enchantress, Eric Masterson, Ed Marrero, Jackie Lukus, Marcy Steele
Continuity Notes
Eric Masterson was bonded to Thor after the thunder god was injured in Thor #408. Following this, Eric chose to give up custody of his son in issue #421 when it became clear that Kevin’s life was at risk living with him. Last issue, Jerry Sapristi confronted Eric about his string of absences and strange behavior, thinking that Masterson has a drinking problem.
This all went down in Thor #148.
The Wrecker and his family are not mentioned here by any of their real names. Dirk’s real name was first revealed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12. His mother’s name was revealed to be Anne in Spectacular Spider-Man #126 and his father’s name is identified as Burt in the Double-Feature edition of Thunderstrike #14.
According to the Marvel Chronology Project (as of this writing in November, 2022), Alpha Flight #118-119. This appears to be an error, per the Wrecker entry in the Avengers NOW! handbook. His next appearance is actually in Thunderstrike #13. See that issue for more information on that.
This story ends with Loki apparently knowing that Thor is merged with Eric Masterson apropos of nothing. In reality, Loki learned the truth when he was briefly plucked out of time between issues #429 and 430. See Thor #440-441 and 454.
