The Power of Thor!

Odin has been kidnapped by Annihilus, the ruler of the Negative Zone. Heimdall, the temporary ruler of Asgard while Odin is in the Odinsleep, has gone to the throne where he focuses his enhanced senses to try to find where the All-Father has been taken.[1]

Meanwhile, on a nearby planetoid, Annihilus manages to siphon a portion of Odin’s godly power and place it inside his Cosmic Control Rod. With his newfound power he destroys some of his slaves that have outlived their usefulness. He is pleased with the result, and believes this added power will allow him to crush the Asgardians and use the Bifrost bridge to invade Earth.

Heimdall hears all of this and rallies the warriors of Asgard to mount a rescue mission. Although everyone wants to go barging in, the new Thor — aka Eric Masterson — suggests they take a more subtle approach. Although this goes against the warrior’s code, Heimdall agrees to do things Eric’s way.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Susan Austin is visited at the hospital by her roommate Leena Morgan. Ordering the staff out of the room, “Leena” drops her disguise. She is actually the Enchantress who has been posing as Morgan for some time. She fears that if Susan ever comes out of her coma she might expose Amora’s involvement in her injury. She debates about letting Susan live and decides to spare her at least until her next visit.[2]

Back in the Negative Zone, Thor hitches a ride on on of the domain’s flying creatures along with Sif and Balder. They manage to sneak onto the planetoid where Odin is being held prisoner. However, Annihilus is aware of their intrusion and traps them in a sphere that drags them into the complex below them. There, warriors of Annihilus are dispatched to deal with the invading Asgardians while Annihilus continues trying to understand the power he has taken from Odin. Although Sif and Balder are able to hold their own against the enemy horde, Thor has trouble because he’s not very skilled in combat. Getting fed up with fighting hand-to-hand, he rips up a massive gun from its port and begins blasting the aliens away. Although he clears out the room both Sif and Balder find it distasteful that the new Thor would use such a spineless weapon.

While at a construction site on Earth, Krosinski is furious that Eric Masterson isn’t around to smooth out design problems with the new building being constructed. Fed up with Masterson’s frequent absences he decides to fire him. This is overheard by construction foreman Jerry Sapristi, a close friend to Eric Masterson. Jerry hopes Eric has a good reason for his disappearing act because his business is starting to suffer because of it.

In the Negative Zone, Thor and his allies continue to fight through the various traps set to them. After smashing a massive flying robotic fist, Thor uses his powers over the storm to blow away a swarm of organic spheroids that are smothering Sif and Balder. Over the course of the battle, Eric’s helmet has been knocked off and Sif is disturbed by how much he looks like the real Thor that she asks him to put his helmet back on since it masks his features. From there, Thor uses Mjolnir like a divining rod to track Annihilus and Odin.

Back on Earth, Jackie Lukus arrives at Eric Masterson’s apartment only to discover that he isn’t home. She is concerned for his well being over his frequent absences. As she turns to leave, she is confronted by a massive man who has also come looking for Eric. When he learns that he isn’t home he refuses to tell Jackie who he is or what he wants from Masterson.[3]

Eventually, Thor and his allies find Annihilus and Odin in a transport tunnel. Thor charges at Annihilus while Sif and Balder load Odin’s body onto an escape ship. However, Sif can’t stand idly by while Eric Masterson risks his life for them and joins the battle. When Sif is knocked out, Thor tosses Mjolnir at Annihilus, striking his Cosmic Control Rod with sufficient force to make it explode, seemingly killing Annihilus in the process.[4] When he and Sif recover, Thor is horrified that he killed their foe, as he never wanted to take a life. Sif promises Masterson that she will find the real Thor no matter what. Masterson hopes that she succeeds because he is not sure if he can handle another experience like this.

When they return to Asgard, Heimdall thanks the trio for rescuing Odin. He has decided to allow Sif and Balder search for the true Thor as they have won the right to do so. He cryptically tells Eric Masterson that Thor is both very far away but closer than anyone thinks.[5] Before he can get a straight answer, Heimdall teleports Masterson back to Earth. There, the mysterious man continues to wait outside Eric’s apartment for him to come home.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Annihilus, Odin, Heimdall, Sif, Balder, Enchantress, Bobby Steele, Susan Austin, Jackie Lukus, Jerry Sapristi

Continuity Notes

1. Asgard ended up being unmoored from its regular dimensional plane following the destruction of the Bifrost Bridge in Thor #351. It ended up drifting into the Negative Zone in Thor #404-405. The bridge was restored in issue #426, but Asgard still remains in the Negative Zone. Heimdall was made ruler of Asgard while Odin entered the Odinsleep in that same issue.

2. The Enchantress has been posing as Leena Morgan since Thor #422. Her true identity was issue in Thor #431. In the following issue, Susan Austin suffered serious injury from one of Loki’s mystical blasts. She will remain in a coma until she undergoes surgery in Thor #442.

3. Thor #438 reveals that this man is Bobby Steele, the man who married Eric’s ex-wife Marcy. The reason he is looking for Eric is to announce his intention of adopting his son, Kevin.

4. Although seemingly killed here, Annihilus turns up alive and well again in Infinity Gauntlet #5 with no explanation. It’s later revealed in Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #44 that whenever Annihilus is killed he is reborn into a new body.

5. Thor was banished for seemingly killing Loki in Thor #432. However, he wasn’t banished someplace else, rather his essence was buried deep within Eric Masterson where it will remain until Odin pulls Thor free. See Thor #456-459.