Thor #486
The Coming of Kurse!
It was a typical day in New York City when, suddenly, a gang of high-tech criminals rob a bank. As they make their way outside, they are able to hold their own against the police thanks to their advanced weapons. That’s when Thor and Sif arrive who easily trash their guns and high tech armor, delivering a humiliating defeat before handing the crooks over to the cops. However, one of them tries to get away by stealing a bus and rams it into Sif. Thor is worried about her safety, but his concerns aren’t warranted as she is fine. She admits that she is actually enjoying her time on Earth this time around and this experience convincing her that leaving Asgard was the right choice.[1] When a mob of fans looking to meet Thor arrive, the thunder god decides it is time for them both to leave.
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Kruse has been put under the spell of his greatest foe, Malekith. Put in a rage, the warrior charges across the Bifrost bridge where he encounters Heimdall, of whom he had been living with for months.[2] Kruse beats Heimdall within an inch of his life before leaping off the bridge and climbing the world ash Yggdrasli down to Hel, the land of the dead. At the gates his path is blocked by Hela and her guard dog Garm who demand to know what he wants. Kruse explains that he has learned that his hated enemy Malekith is trying to escape Hel and he has come to stop him. When Hela and Garm refuse Kurse causes a cave in that buries both under tons of rubble. That’s when Lorelei appears and tells Kurse that he had been tricked by his deadly foe and that while he was busy fighting Hela, Malekith had used the distraction to escape to Midgard.[3] Now claiming Hel as his own domain, Kruse vows to go to Midgard and kill his enemy.
Meanwhile, Thor and Sif are expecting the arrival of the High Evolutionary, the Godpack, as well as Jane Foster and her son Jimmy who are coming in from Wundagore Mountain.[4] Seeing how happy Thor and Sif look together deeply upsets Jane, who is once again reminded how foolish any notions of winning back the thunder god were never an opportunity for her to have.[5]
Once Thor ends his communication with the Evolutionary, something above ground causes a massive earthquake. He and Sif go topside to investigate and are surprised to see Kurse on the rampage looking for his hated foe Malekith. Thor tries to remind Kurse that the Dark Elf is dead, however an enchantment makes Thor appear as Malekith to Kurse’s eyes and he attacks the thunder god. When Sif tries to come to her lover’s rescue, she is attacked by undead soldiers that Kurse brought with him from Hel. As Thor and Kurse duke it out, the thunder god tries to get his sometime ally to see the truth but Kurse is not willing to listen. The relentless warrior then reveals that he brought others from Hel to help him kill Malekith.
That’s when Thor witnesses the Midgard Serpent — Jormungand — rise out of the East River. This is followed by a bright flash of light as more vanquished foes appear on the scene. Among their numbers are Ymir the Frost Giant, Nidhogg the dragon, Forsung the Enchanter, Fafnir the Giant, Fafnir the Dragon, and three Ice Dwarves.[6]
Recurring Characters
Thor, “Hela/Lorelei”, Sif, Heimdall, Kruse, High Evolutionary, Anak, Jormungand, Nidhogg, Fafnir the Giant, Fafnir the Dragon, Forsung, Garm, Jane Foster, Jimmy Kincaid
Continuity Notes
At the time of this story, Thor had renounced Asgard and has been living on Earth in Thor #472. A short while later, in issue #483, he manages to convince Sif to join him on Earth. In the past, Sif felt like she didn’t fit in on Earth, a particular example is in Thor #336 when she was given the option of remaining on Earth or returning to Asgard, she choose Asgard.
The narration here states that Kurse was once a warrior named Algrim the Elf who was transformed into a warrior more powerful than Thor himself. Algrim perished in a battle with the thunder god in Thor #347-348. He was then resurrected by the Beyonder and given great power in Secret Wars II #4. As Kurse he eventually became an ally to Asgard and killed Malekith in Thor #367. He has been living with Heimdall since issue #368.
As we’ll learned in issue #488, Kurse didn’t actually encounter either Hela or Lorelei in Hel. This was infact Malekith using his magic to disguise himself in order to manipulate Kurse into doing his bidding.
The High Evolutionary relocated himself and his Godpack to Wundagore Mountain in Thor #475. However, an escalating conflict in Europe made the geneticist decide to move back to his secret lab in New York back in Thor #483.
During Thor’s time living a double life as Don Blake, he fell in love with his nurse Jane Foster. They had a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that ran from Journey into Mystery #84 until Jane failed a test of godliness and was banished from Asgard in Thor #136. Thor ended up reuniting with Sif shortly thereafter. Jane later married Keith Kincaid in Thor #336, however they had separated sometime prior to issue #375 when she re-entered Thor’s life.
All of these Thor foes were dead prior to their appearances in this story. They include:
Jormungand the Midguard Serpent had its head smashed to bits by Thor in Thor #379-380.
Nidhogg the Dragon was last seen in Thor #340 he was already dead and living in Hel. Later stories don’t help clear up exactly how Nidhogg died and ended up in Hell. Avengers: Endless Winter #1 tells a tale where Nidhogg is captured by Nazis during World War II and merged with technology to do evil Nazi things. It isn’t found again until the modern age where it is killed the Hulk. The incident with the Hulk happens years after this story. I discuss this problem at greater length in my summary for Thor #340.
Forsung was killed during the Enchanter’s reign of terror in Thor #143-145.
Fafnir the Giant was killed thousands of years ago by Thor, as depicted in Thor #298.
Fafnir the Dragon was slain in battle with Thor in the present day circa Thor #343.
Ymir the Ice Giant died when he attempted to bring about Ragnarok. Thor banished him and Surtur to the Sea of Endless Night a domain within Hel, as seen in Thor #425.
This is the first appearance of these Ice Dwarves. As of this writing their demise has not yet been recorded and it seems unlikely it ever will considering how minor these characters are.
