Thor (vol. 2) #30
Winter’s Edge
Maximum Security continues from Maximum Security #1…
Malekith the Dark Elf has reclaimed the Cask of Ancient Winters. With Odin in the Odinsleep, he believes that now is the time to take over the Nine Worlds.[1] Reaching into the Cask, Malekith pulls out a small chip of ice. This contains the essence of a being called Pentigaar and flicks it down to Midgard. From the moment he does, it becomes noticeably colder.
In fact, the change is enough for Heimdall to notice from his vigil at the Bifrost Bridge. However, he doesn’t realize it for the threat that it is. Inside the kingdom of Asgard, Sif eagerly waits as Neffethesk examines Odin’s slumber. He reports that the All-Father isn’t expected to wake anytime soon. Sif was put in charge by Odin himself, and she doesn’t like the weight of leadership and wants to be rid of her duty as soon as possible. This is especially so considering that Hogun, of the Warriors Three, is clinging to life on Midgard. Thor was supposed to collect medicine from Asgard to heal his friend, but did not show up.[2] Sif has had to send Balder in his stead, fearing that Thor’s no-show means that there is something worse on the horizon.
This is because Thor was called away on a mission for the Avengres. Along with his comrades Quasar, Photon, Starfox, Moondragon, Tigra, and Jack of Hearts, the thunder god have saved all existence from the threat of the Infinities. With the battle won, the heroes are celebrating. However, Thor is eager to return home to help his friend Hogun. But, when the thunderer tries to leave he is attacked by a galactic patrol who have come to forcibly return the Earthlings back to their home world. With little patience for any of this, Thor quickly banishes their attackers with on powerful blast. While Thor considers the matter over, Moondragon fears why the Galactic Council has sent troops to return them back to Earth.[3]
Meanwhile, back on Earth, Jane Foster and Hannah Fairmont are in the hospital cafeteria. Jane’s husband Keith Kincaid is still in a coma after being attacked by the Absorbing Man and there is nothing she can do until he wakes up.[4] That’s when Fandral and Volstagg come racing down from Hogun’s room because they need Jane’s medical expertise. While Fandral rushes back upstairs with Doctor Foster, Volstagg decides to gorge himself in the cafeteria instead.
By this time, Balder has arrived over Manhattan, having traveled the dimensional gulf from Asgard in a chariot pulled by the goats Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. It’s then that the chip of ice containing the essance of Pentigaar streaks by and cuts Balder’s cheek. Sensing the evil presence within it, he decides to follow. Pentigaar, meanwhile, is drawn by what he believes is the essence of Thor. Once reaching the ground, Pentigaar takes on his true form, that of a humanoid warrior encased in ice. As Balder arrives on the scene, Pentigaar attacks a dumpster which contains a strange metallic egg. Upon attacking it, the egg shatters revealing that it contained Beta Ray Bill. With his Asgardian powers restored,[5] Bill quickly overpowers Pentigaar and shatters him to pieces, causing his frozen essence to whisp away.
Balder and Bill then race to the hospital where Hogun is starting to flatline. However, before Hela can claim the warrior’s soul, Balder arrives with the lifesaving medicine. As Hogun’s vitals return to normal, Hela leaves empty handed, vowing that one day she will possess all their souls.
Backs in Stvartelfheim, Malekith returns Pentigaar’s essence to the Cask of Ancient Winters. The elvin lord wants to deal with the real Thor, not his pale imitation and decides to up the ante. As he opens the lid to the Cask of Ancient Winters, the sudden onset of freezing cold can be felt by Sif all the way on the Asgardian throne.
… Maximum Security continues in Uncanny X-Men #387.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Heimdall, Sif, Neffethesk, Odin, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Balder, Beta Ray Bill, Malekith, Pentigaar, Hela, Avengers (Quasar, Photon, Starfox, Tigra, Jack of Hearts, Moondragon), Toothgnasher, Toothgrinder
Continuity Notes
Odin entered the Odinsleep in Thor (vol. 2) #26, a state he will remain in until issue #35.
Thor was called away to assist the Avengers in space, as seen in Avengers: Infinity #1-4 and Maximum Security #1.
This is all part of the Maximum Security storyline, wherein the Kree trick the Galactic Council into turning Earth into a prison planet and lock it away from the rest of the solar system. This is all part of a grandiose plot to use Ego the Living Planet as a power battery so the Kree can build their empire. See Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1 and Maximum Security #1-3.
Keith was clobbered by the Absorbing Man back in Thor (vol. 2) #26.
Bill had lost his Asgardian powers due to the most recent Ragnarok cycle which occurred in Thor #491-494. Bill had been given cosmic powers in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #111. Although it’s not clearly explained here, presumably, Bill’s powers returned after Asgard was restored in Thor (vol. 2) #12.
Maximum Security Reading Order
Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet #1, Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #22, 23, 24, Iron Man (vol. 3) #33-34, Peter Parker: Spider-Man #23-24, Captain America (vol. 3) #36, Maximum Security #1, Thor (vol. 2) #30, Uncanny X-Men #387, Black Panther (vol. 3) #25, Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #12-13, Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #21, Iron Man (vol. 3) #35, Bishop the Last X-Man #15, Maximum Security #2, Thunderbolts #45, 46, 47, Marvel Knights #6, Gambit (vol. 3) #23, X-Men (vol. 2) #107, X-Men Unlimited #29, Avengers (vol. 3) #35, Maximum Security #3