Thor #452
With This Axe, I Thee Kill!
Thor and Balder have gone to investigate the sight where Asgardian magic is being used. There they discover that someone slaughtered a bunch of drug dealers who were on a stand-off with police. There they are ambushed by the killer, the vigilante calling themselves Bloodaxe. As Thor clashes with the murderer, Balder keeps the police on scene back lest they get themselves hurd.
This battle is being observed by Odin and Karnilla. Thinking about how fortuitous it would be if the thunderer died in battle, Odin tells Karnilla to prepare a spell.[1]
As the battle between Thor and Bloodaxe rages on, another battle is being fought in Mephisto’s realm. Here, Sif is fighting through the demonic horde in order to rescue what she thinks is the soul of Thor, which has been imprisoned this whole time.[2] Mephisto gleefully watches the battle, taunting her with a soul shroud containing his captured soul, one with the image of Thor printed upon it.
Back on Earth, Thor continues fighting Bloodaxe and is surprised that they are evenly matched and wonders who his foe really is.[3] At that very moment, Karnilla has completed her spell and projects it through a viewing pool. It strikes Thor and strips away his super-human strength. Seeing his foe begin to weaken, Bloodaxe pummels the thunder god to a pulp. Balder races in to help his friend. However, Bloodaxe isn’t interested in fighting them, as they seem themselves as a hero just like them. Using their enchanted ax to ignite a gas main, Bloodaxe is able to retreat in the ensuing explosion. In a nearby alley Bloodaxe reverts back to their mortal form. They are shocked that they would so easily take human lives but it was like the axe compelled them to do it. As they wander away, they fear that they might be able to control the blood lust that comes upon them when they turn into Bloodaxe.
In Hell, Sif continues to fight the endless horde of demons but she is soon overwhelmed. However, rather than kill the god, Mephisto instead asks if she would sacrifice anything to free her beloved. Sif admits that this is so and Mephisto banished his demons and offers to make a pact with her. Sif agrees and Mephisto beckons her close an then wraps her up in his cape.
Meanwhile, Thor and Balder have returned to Avengers Headquarters. There, Masterson reverts back to his mortal form so he can clean himself up. He shaves his face because he is tired of his itchy beard, but oddly enough when he transforms back into Thor the beard is back. However, this concern is insignificant to the fact that they need to find Sif. Balder then uses his magics to teleport them into Mephisto’s realm. There they are confronted by Sif who has been transformed into a loyal warrior of Mephisto. She warns them to leave this infernal realm or face her savage fury.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Bloodaxe, Mephisto, Balder, Karnilla, “Odin”, Sif
Continuity Notes
Odin wanting to kill Thor is out of character and for good reason, because this isn’t Odin, at least not really. When Loki was seemingly slain in Thor #432, his spirit took possession of Odin’s body resulting on the All-Father’s soul being sent to Mephisto’s realm. This is all revealed over the next three issues and also when Odin is freed.
It’s not, it’s Odins, as I explained above. When the true Thor was banished in Thor #432 his essence was subdued within Eric Masterson, his human host at the time. Thinking Thor had been banished to another dimension, Sif has been questing to find him since Thor #437.
Eric won’t find out Bloodaxe’s identity until much later in Thunderstrike #22. It’s revealed then that Bloodaxe is actually his business colleague Jackie Lukus.
If the Enchantress Should Fail — !
Escaping captivity, the Enchantress has traversed the dimensions to find her banished lover, Heimdall.[1] This has brought her to the dream dimension where Heimdall is being tortured by Nightmare. Amora manages to free Heimdall, however as she tries to flee with him Nightmare torments her with images of her greatest fear: growing old and withered.
Knowing that this is merely an illusion, Amora resists her own fear of mortality long enough to cast a spell to banish Nightmare. She congratulates herself over her victory and vows to return to Asgard to get revenge against Karnilla and Odin.
Recurring Characters
Enchantress, Heimdall, Nightmare
Continuity Notes
When Odin went into the Odinsleep in Thor #426, he put Heimdall in charge while he slept. When Loki awoke in Odin’s place circa Thor #449, he pronounced Heimdall a traitor to the realm. After Thor and his allies quelled an invasion of Asgard, “Odin” banished Heimdall in Thor #450. Amora was captured in that same story. She escaped last issue and venture into Nightmare’s domain to rescue Heimdall.
