Final Confrontation

Thanos has stolen the Chalice of Ruins and the Map of All-Ending.[1] This items will lead Thanos to someone called the Designate, where he will can gain the power of life and death.

However, before Thor can embark on a mission to stop Thanos, he must sort out the one going trouble in the life of his mortal alter ego, Jake Olson. Fearing that Thor is going to just do away with his alter-ego, Jane Foster pleads with him not to do so, as Jake Olson still does a lot of good as a paramedic. Thor then teleports himself back to Earth to bring Jake Olson to justice.

Jane suspects that this is some kind of trick and pleads with Odin to look into it further on her behalf. The All-Father doesn’t like being spoken to out of turn by a mortal woman, but Sif pleads with Odin to listen.[2] When she points out that there is a second Jake Olson on Earth, Odin admits that the real Jake Olson died and Thor merely took his place.[3] Odin finds it all passing strange and goes to a mystical flame to see what sort of trickery is afoot. The flames reveal that the other Jake Olson is being guided by Loki, who is directing him to commit a robbery. With the truth revealed, Jane pleads with Odin to do something, reminding him how Thor saved the Asgardians from the Dark Gods.[4] Balder also speaks up on Jane’s behalf, and this is enough to convince Odin to help Thor.

Odin sends Thor a message on Earth and reveals that Loki is behind this other Jake Olson and shows him that Olson is going into a liquor store in order to rob it. There, Loki is compelling Jake Olson to rob the liquor store at gun point. As it has a security camera that is clearly recording the crime in progress, Loki intends Thor’s mortal guise to take the fall. Thor will then rot in a prison cell for years, his own morality will keep him from breaking out.

However, before the Loki’s Jake can shoot the liquor store over, Thor shows up in his mortal form. The intention is so that there are two Jake Olson’s caught on camera. The real Olson turns his gun on Thor and accuses him of stealing his life. Thor denies this, saying that someone has stolen his peace and offers to help the real Olson. Loki, whose astral form has been watching over this goats Jake to shoot Thor. During this argument, the liquor store owner pulls a gun and orders both Jakes to put their hands in the air. That’s when the real Olson turns and shoots. Thor then pummels the real Jake Olson, demanding to know why he has committed the crimes he has. When he gets no answer, Thor vows to make him pay for his crimes.

With the real Olson knocked out, Thor goes to the shop owner and begins administering first aid. While he is busy, Loki tries to wake the real Olson up, but he is out cold. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Loki takes possession of his form so he can finish the job himself. However, before Loki can use the gun to kill his brother, Odin decides to step in. He has had enough and has decided that Loki needs to be punished for this latest scheme. Odin casts a spell that traps Loki inside the body of the real Jake Olson so he has to face punishment from the mortals for his crime.

Soon, the police come and take both Jake Olson’s into custody. Demetrius Collins is shocked to discover that there are two identical men. By this time, Thor has enlisted the aid of lawyer Matt Murdock who meets him down at the police station. He explains that Jake Olson had a twin brother named Loren Olson and that he was the one posing as Jake to steal drugs from the hospital and sell them on the street. When Jake discovered that his brother stole his identity, he came to New York City to stop him. As incredible as this all sounds, “Loren” makes a full confession and this, combined with the video evidence, clears Jake Olson of all wrong doing.

After “Jake” is released, he explains to Hannah Fairmont that it was his “brother” he she was in a relationship with and engaged to. He showed up after the Destroyer incident and took over the life his brother assumed in order to catch him. Now that the situation with “Lorne” has been dealt with, “Jake” says he has to go back home and finish some family business. When Hannah asks if he is coming back, “Jake” says he was going to work for the same hospital anyway. She wishes him luck and kisses him on the lips, telling Jake to call her when he gets back. With this out of the way, “Jake” runs into a nearby alley where he changes into Thor so he can embark on his search for Thanos.

Meanwhile, Jake Olson’s soul has been returned to Hell where Odin is waiting for him. However, the All-Father has come to correct a great wrong that had been committed and uses his power to send someplace else where he can rest in eternal peace. While back on Earth, “Lorne Olson” is tossed in a cell. Demetrius Collins promises that “Lorne” will be there for a very long time. Trapped in mortal form and facing a long jail sentence, Loki cries out over being stuck in the same trap he intended for the thunder god.[5]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Loki, Odin, Jane Foster, Sif, Balder, Demetrius Collins, Hannah Fairmont, Hescemar, Matt Murdock

Continuity Notes

1. This is not the real Thanos, but one of his Thanosi, clones created to carry out his objectives. See Infinity Abyss #1-6.

2. Mention is made her of how Sif and Jane Foster were once merged together. This happened between from Thor #236 to Thor #335.

3. The real Jake Olson died during Thor’s battle with the Destroyer in Thor (vol. 2) #1. Over the next 18 issues, it was discovered that Olson was stealing drugs from the hospital he worked at and sold them on the street. Loki liberated the real Olson’s soul from Hell in Thor (vol. 2) #19, and has been using him to make Thor’s double-life as Olson.

4. Thor wonders if the Dark Gods have returned for revenge. The Dark Gods previously controlled Asgard from Journey into Mystery #513 until Thor liberated his people in Thor (vol. 2) #12.

5. Loki doesn’t serve out much time trapped in the body of “Lorne Olson”, he’ll be freed by Karnilla in Thor (vol. 2) #36.

Topical References

• The TV in the liquor store is depicted as a CRT model. This should be considered a topical reference as this technology is now obsolete.

Of Ashes and Defeat

The Recorder stands in the ruins of a city on the planet Rigel assessing the damage. A few hours earlier this was once a thriving, deeply populated city. Without warning, Mangog was teleported into the heart of the city. The monster laid waste to the city, shrugging off all defenses.[1] Realizing that they had no options other than the last resort, the Grand Director ordered the deployment of the Sun Shredder, a powerful weapon. This decimated the planet and killed over 12 thousand Rigelians.

This did not stop Mangog, nor did it prevent his master — Thanos — from reaching the bunkers where the most important citizens fled. There, Thanos demanded that the Grand Director hand over the artifact that he came to obtain, the Fire Jewel. This, combined with the Map of All Ending would assist Thanos in finding the entity known as the Designate and gain the power over life and death. When he was refused, Thanos’ starship unleashed a powerful weapon that decimated the entire planet, leaving only 12% of its population alive. Not wanting his people to be wiped out, the Grand Director gave Thanos what he wanted.

The Recorder has been telling this all to Thor, who just arrived moments after Thanos had left. The thunder god vows that he will avenge all those who have died this day. Thor is then visited by his old ally Tana Nile. She tells him that Thanos was last seen heading to the world of M’Hass, but from there she has no idea where he might go. With time of the essence, Thor flies off in the hopes of intercepting Thanos before it is too late. Watching the thunder god leave, the Recorder concludes that these hours he document may be the last in the universe.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Recorder, High Commissioner, Tana Nile, Mangog, “Thanos”

Continuity Notes

1. Mangog won’t let anyone (including the reader) forget that he has the anger of “a billion, billion souls”. This is in reference to the fact that Mangog was the combination of an entire race of aliens who dared to war with Asgard, as explained in Thor #154-156. Later, it’s explained that the infraction may have been a minor insult and Odin overreacted, as detailed in Mighty Thor #701.