Thor #471
Fathers and Sons
This story continues from Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25…
Thor’s rampage has finally ended and the thunder god has been imprisoned in a rectangular cube to be delivered to Odin.[1] Unable to find a cure for his son, Odin has decreed that he must die. Sif protests this, pleading with Odin to try something else. According to the assessment of both Doctor Strange and Adam Warlock, his psyche is enveloped by his madness and must be excised.
This inspires Odin to try one last effort: Using his magics he begins probing his son’s mind. This allows the All-Father to enter Thor’s mindscape. Inside he finds himself before a massive mountain and begins climbing his way up. At the top he finds his son in shackles. Thor explains that he has been a prisoner inside his own mind for some time and is two weak to free himself. Odin is able to break the shackles, but they are confronted by Valkyrie — the personification of Thor’s madness.
Odin demands that she release his son, but she refuses and she grows to giant size in an effort to force Odin out of Thor’s mind. Odin is able to match this ability, and the pair begin fighting Valkyrie. Thor observes the battle and cannot let sit idle while someone else fights his battles for him. Suddenly, the thunder god also increases to giant size and joins the battle. Subduing Valkyrie, she pleads with Thor to stop promising that they can still be together. However, the god of thunder has no interest and destroys her with a blow of his hammer.
With the destruction of Valkyrie, both Thor and Odin awaken in the physical world. There, Thor thanks Sif and Beta Ray Bill for working so hard to cure him of his madness. He is also grateful for the help provided by Doctor Strange and the Infinity Watch. Now back in his right mind, Thor removes the Power Gem from his brow and returns it to Drax the Destroyer.[2] However, Adam Warlock snatches it away, telling Drax that he is going to hold onto it for the time being until the dimwitted Destroyer can learn to better safeguard the powerful gem. Thor also grudgingly admits that he also owes Thanos but tells him to leave right away as Asgard is not for him. Thor then uses Mjolnir to transport his allies back to their home dimension, pronouncing that the might Thor has finally returned.
Meanwhile, deep in the bowels of Hell, Loki is aware of Thor’s victory and vows that Thor’s troubles are far from over as he will not be a prisoner for ever.[3]
Recurring Characters
Thor, Odin, Sif, Infinity Watch (Adam Warlock, Drax the Destroyer, Pip the Troll, Moondragon, Gamora, Thanos), Doctor Strange, Loki, Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer, Valkyrie
Continuity Notes
Thor has been suffering from the warrior’s madness since Thor #460. He was finally defeated and imprisoned by the Infinity Watch and Silver Surfer and handed over to Odin over the course of Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #88, Warlock Chronicles #8, and Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25.
Thor forcefully removed the Power Gem from Drax last issue.
Loki has been imprisoned in Hell since Thor #455 after a failed coup of Asgard. He will strike back against Thor in Avengers Annual #23 and Thor Annual #19. He will finally break free in Thor #482.
Blood and Thunder Reading Order
Thor #468, Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #86, Warlock Chronicles #6, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #23, Thor #469, Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #87, Warlock Chronicles #7, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #24, Thor #470, Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #88, Warlock Chronicles #8, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #25, Thor #471