Tears of the Gods

With the Illumination Stone, Fire Gem, Map of All Ending, and the Chalice of Ruin, Thanos has managed to track down the Designate.[1] Thor, on a mission to stop Thanos, has been defeated by Mangog and the Designate captured. Thanos needs the Designate to cry into the chalice and he will be able to gain the power over life and death. However, the Desigante refuses to cry. However, her determination is tested when both Thanos and Mangog being savagely attacking the defeated thunder god. Seeing her champion being brutalized in such a way deeply saddens the Designate who can’t help but cry, shedding the one tear that Thanos needs to obtain ultimate power. Gaining the power over life and death, Thanos then begins unleashing this power in order to wipe out all life in the universe.

However, these events haven’t happened yet. They are are visions of the future being shown to Odin by the Orakle.[2] Orakle tells Odin that, as things are, that is what the future has in store for all existence. Things are looking grim, which is why Odin sent Balder on an important mission that he hopes will tip the balance in Thor’s favor.

Meanwhile, on a distant alien world, Thor and the Rigelian Recorder have followed Thanos on his trail of destruction. Translating for the alien beings on this world, the Recorder tells Thor that Thanos is trying to steal the Illumination Stone, the last artifact he needs to pinpoint the location of the Designate. Not far away, Thanos has Mangog plow throw all the resistance to the Illumination Stone. Although he does what he is told, Mangog reminds Thanos that he is only taking orders because their goals are aligned.[3]

Thor soon arrives and pummels Mangog into submission. He then unleashes the full power of Mjolnir on Thanos. this decimates the temple that the Illumination Stone. As Thor recovers the stone, th Recorder explains that the artifact can identify the true nature of someone, the key to identifying the Designate, whose true identity is unknown. When Thor grasps the Illumination Stone, a face appears in its face and instantly identifies Thor, his godly stature, and knows him as a champion of truth and justice.

That’s when Mangog reaches up through the rubble and pulls Thor underground. After slamming the thunder god around for a bit, Mangog then tries to eat him alive. While this happens, Thanos takes the Illumination Stone and orders Mangog to leave Thor as their goal is within their grasp. Thor is tossed aside as the two villains teleport away.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Balder the Brave ventures into the realm of Svartalfheim on his mission for Odin. As he passes through a forest, the trees comes to life and attack him. Once the god is restrained, he is confronted by his attacker, a hideous troll named Jagrfelm, the Devourer of Men!

Recurring Characters

Thor, “Thanos”, Mangog, Recorder, Odin, Orikal, Balder, Jagrfelm

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. This devastation actually happens in an alternate reality. Per the Unofficial Appendix, this reality has been indexed as Reality-24240. As of this writing (May, 2023), this is an semi-official designation and could be subject to change.

3. 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.