Thor #456
The Choice and the Challenge!
Seeking to learn the origin of their enchanted weapon, the vigilante known as Bloodaxe has come to the apartment of Susan Austin for answers.[1] This has led to a rooftop clash with the astral projection of Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme. Susan gets caught in the crossfire and fears that she is going to be injured in yet another super human battle. Ultimately, Bloodaxe fends off Strange long enough to grab Susan and leap down into the streets below. They end up trashing a cop car on the way down, prompting the office in side to put a call out to the super-human response team Code: Blue.
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Odin has been restored to the throne after it was usurped by Loki. He has decided to make amends for everything that has happened and restore the exiled thunder god. He reveals to Eric Masterson — who took on the mantle of Thor when the genuine article as banished by Heimdall — has continued to be the human host for the god of thunder.[2] However, much like when Thor was buried in the guise of Don Blake many years ago, Thor had been buried inside Eric Masterson this entire time.[3] However, a simple spell of separation would be fatal this time as Thor has been bonded to a living being and not a mystical construct. As such, the only way to do it is for Eric Masterson to undergo something called the Gauntlet of the Grim Guardian, a task that will also be fraught with danger.
Back on Earth, Doctor Strange is running out of time in his astral form and even though he is at risk of not being able to return to his body again, he cannot retreat while Bloodaxe is still on the rampage. That’s when Code: Blue arrives on the scene and engages with the vigilante. Watching from the sidelines is officer Kyle Brock. He had hoped to return to his regular life as a beat cop but seeing this deadly super-human threat he realizes that he has no choice but to use his own powers. Tapping an ancient symbol tattooed on his hand triggers his transformation into the titanic Earth Lord. He the sends out a mystical signal to summon his teammates in Earth Force. The call is received by financial consultant Winston Manchester, and day care volunteer Pamela Shaw. Both excuse themselves from their jobs so they can change into Skyhawk and Wind Warrior and join Earth Lord at the scene of battle.
In Asgard, Eric Masterson has a lot to think about before considering undergoing the gauntlet. He wants to return home to Midgard to consider his options. Before going, he bids farewell to Balder who is troubled by his beloved Karnilla’s recent attempts to conquer Asgard. When Balder asks if he is going to say goodbye to Sif, Eric decides against it saying that they have had a storm relationship ever since he took on the mantle of Thor. Little does he know that Sif is around the corner hearing everything he said, clutching the jacket Eric gave her in Mephisto’s realm close to her.
Meanwhile, Earth Force joins the battle against Bloodaxe, and with their assistance Code: Blue is able to rescue Susan Austin and pull her away from her hostage. At that same moment, Eric Masterson has returned to New York and stops at his son’s school. This is just as Kevin Masterson is finished for the day and is getting picked up by his mother, Eric’s ex-wife Marcy Steel. Eric overhears his son talk about how excited he is that his step-father, Bobby, is going to take him to meet members of the New York Smashers football team. Eric is glad his son is hitting it off with Marcy’s new husband, but the idea that his son is growing attached to another father figure upsets him.
Back at the battle, Doctor Strange decides to use his mental influence to get Code: Blue and Earth Force to work in tandem to end the battle with Bloodaxe. To this end, the Wind Warrior disorientates Bloodaxe while Code: Blue’s Fireworks Feldstein is able to toss in some grenades. When these go off, Doctor Strange uses his magical power to open a rift to suck Bloodaxe away to another dimension. With the battle over, Strange then returns to his physical body. After reading Bloodaxe’s mind, Strange knows that they are not inherently evil, but their enchanted weapon seems to be making them increasingly unstable. Strange decides to ready himself for Bloodaxe’s eventual return.[4]
Thor, meanwhile, has decided to look in on Susan Austin and is surprised to see her being brought home by Code: Blue. They quickly inform him that he missed out on the battle against Bloodaxe and Mad Dog Rossitano openly laments that they don’t have the original Thor around anymore as he was more reliable than Masterson.
After this encounter, Eric comes to the conclusion that he is not worthy of having Thor’s power, that he never was. He decides that the true Thor needs to be brought back no matter what, even at the cost of his own life. Masterson then uses Mjolnir to return to Asgard and as he walks across the Bifrost bridge, possibly for the last time, he promises that no matter what happens next he’ll take face it like a man.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Bloodaxe, Balder, Sif, Odin, Enchantress, Heimdall, Doctor Strange, Earth Force (Earth Lord, Wind Warrior, Skyhawk), Code: Blue (Marcus Stone, Fireworks Feldstein, Jock Jackson, Mad Dog Rossitano,Rigger Ruiz, Mother Majowski), Susan Austin, Marcy Steele, Kevin Masterson
Continuity Notes
Bloodaxe found the enchanted weapon in Susan’s apartment in Thor #449. The whole thing is kind of complicated, here’s the details:
The axe was left behind by Amora the Enchantress, who had been posing as Susan’s roommate Leena Moran since Thor #422. She was hoping to use the weapon to help defend Asgard from Loki but was kidnapped before she could use it.
The axe in question was once wielded by the Executioner until his death in Thor #362. It’s been in Amora’s possession since issue #402.
Mention is made about how Susan Austin was just recently released from the hospital. She was injured by Loki in Thor #432 and was just released from the hospital Thor #453.
Who exactly is Bloodaxe? Their identity is left secret until Thunderstrike #22 where it is revealed that they are secretly Jackie Lukus, a colleague of Eric Masterson.
This is another complicated series of events. The details:
During a trip into the future circa Thor #440-441, Loki learned that he was destined to die in the future and began plotting to prevent this from happening.
Back in his own time, Loki then went on an all-out attack on Thor and injured Susan Austin pushing Thor to the point where he would take Loki’s life. Intentionally killing another immortal is a huge no-no according to Asgardian law and so Heimdall (who was ruling Asgard since Odin went into the Odinsleep circa Thor #426) banished Thor in issue #432
Loki managed to cheat death by having his spirit leave his body and take possession of Odin. This caused Odin’s soul to be banished to Mephisto’s realm. This was all revealed in Thor #454.
When Loki awoke in Odin’s body circa Thor #449, he quickly took over the kingdom, but was ultimately stopped by Thor and his allies who then returned Odin to his proper form last issue. Loki ended up being banished to Mephisto’s realm instead, where he will remain a prisoner until Thor #482.
Many years ago, Odin sought to teach Thor a lesson in humility and trapped him in the form of a lame doctor named Donald Blake. Thor remained trapped in this form for years until the lesson was learned and regained his powers and ultimately learned the truth about himself. See Journey into Mystery #83 and Thor #159. Thor continued using the Blake identity as an alter-ego until the enchantment that allowed him to change into this form was passed onto Beta Ray Bill’s hammer Stormbreaker in Thor #339. However, Blake was a mystical entity that endured thereafter in a magical limbo until he is needed again in Thor (vol. 3) #1.
Although banished to another dimension here, Bloodaxe will return to Earth in Thunderstrike #1.
Topical References
When thinking about how happy Kevin is with his step-father, Eric thinks “Happy happy, joy joy” which is a line from a song sung on the Ren and Stimpy Show, first in the iconic “Space Madness” episode. The phrase became popular around the time this comic was first published. This is a topical reference since nobody, not even you, still says this.
Healing Hands and Poisoned Tongues
Heimdall’s health is still in decline after Loki’s attempted take-over of Asgard. As doctors look over him, Odin comes to see how he is fairing. The Enchantress is deeply upset about Heimdall’s injuries and scolds the All-Father, saying that this is all his fault when he chose Heimdall to rule in his place.[1] Odin does accept some of the guilt over what happens and uses his Odinpower to revitalize Heimdall. The noble warrior is thankful that Odin saved his life.
However, after the All-Father is gone, Amora chastises her lover for still being loyal to Odin after everything that has happened to him. She reiterates that he wouldn’t have been injured to begin with had Odin not put him in charge. Heimdall explains that he is grateful that Odin saved him and asks Amora what she would have him do. Frustrated, Amora storms out of Heimdall’s chamber. Brought to tears, she admits to herself that what she needs is a love that is unconditional and all consuming.[2]
Recurring Characters
Odin, Enchantress, Heimdall
Continuity Notes
When Odin went into the Odinsleep in Thor #426, he left Heimdall in charge. After Loki took over the All-Father’s body circa issue #432, he remained in sleep until issue #449. From there, he decreed that Heimdall was a traitor to the realm and banished him in the following issue. Heimdall was banished and seriously injured in Nightmare’s realm until he was rescued by the Enchantress in Thor #451-452. He remained until the injured list until this issue.
Amora and Heimdall have had a long standing relationship that started in Thor #360 and they were together until issue #402. Although she went back to her evil ways, Amora still has feelings for Heimdall.