Thor (vol. 3) #6
Wondering Gods
Don Blake goes to the diner in Broxton, Oklahoma. The place is packed and the topic of conversation is the city of Asgard that appeared in their backyard.[1]
Bill Junior, who works at the diner tells an amusing anecdote from the last city council meeting. Some of the Asgardians were in attendance. When Mayor Cletus brought up the latest sewer work to be done, Volstagg didn’t understand what they were talking about. It was quickly discovered that the Asgardians have no indoor plumbing and have been tossing their waste over the city walls.
A local named Jim tells the others about how he and his boy, Steve, were dealing with a flat tire on the highway. Without a jack to prop up the back end of the truck, it made for a difficult job. That is until Hogun happened by after hunting boar all the way in Texas. Holding up the truck, Hogun told Steve how he walked all the way down to Texas and knocked out his kills with his bare hands. When the tire was finally changed, Jim offered Hogun a ride back into town. The warrior politely declined, choosing to walk the rest of the way back, hoping he would be the first Asgardian to get a tan.
That’s when everyone starts ribbing Bill about his encounter with the Asgardians. The young man is embarrassed, but is pressured into telling his tale. It was the other night and Bill was out on a walk when he ran into the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her name was Kelda and she was from Asgard. When Bill introduces himself to her, she is impressed by his name as it reminds her of Richard the Third, who often spoke to her in dreams. She is flattered and amused when Bill calls her ma’am. When Kelda decides it is time to go home, Bill stops her to ask a question: What is it like living in Asgard? Kelda instead says that she had the same question about what it was like living in the world of mortals. Her curiosity was so great she decided to come out and see it for herself. Then, with a casual smile suggests that Bill do the same thing.
When the others tease Bill for being in love, he thinks she is way out of his league. He quotes a saying from his father, “a bird can love a fish, but where would they build a house together?” While everyone ponders this, Don Blake suggests building a house on the river. Bill figures that the doc might be onto something, and figures he shouldn’t be afraid to try for what you care about, even if it is impossible.
This entire time, Don Blake has been “sitting” with Thor — his other half — and visualizes the thunder god sitting across from him in the booth. Don thinks that Thor has been working too slowly in reviving the lost Asgardians. Thor admits that he is reluctant to revive certain people. When Blake pushes him to speak clearly, Thor admits that he does not want to bring back his father, Odin.[2] He doesn’t want to bring back his father because he represents the old ways, and their servitude to the endless Ragnarok cycles.[3] For his people to forge a new destiny for themselves, they need to let go of the old ways. Don points out that time could be running out for some of the trapped Asgardians. If their human hosts die, they might perish as well.
Thor agrees, and after Don pays the bill, Blake heads to Asgard where he changes into Thor. As Thor begins summoning the storm, his step-brother Loki knows exactly what the thunder god is doing, and this is all according to his plan. With well under way, Thor then flies up into Earth’s atmosphere. Unsure if he can do this, Thor channels lightning into his body to the point where it is painful. Them just before he is overwhelmed, Thor unleashes all the built up power. This causes lightning to streak across all points of the globe. Each bolt strikes the remaining Asgardians all over the globe. The gods are woken in Russia, Japan, New York City, Hollywood, Rio de Jannero, and all points beyond.
With the job done — for better or worse — Thor passes out from the strain and falls to the Earth unconscious.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Volstagg, Hogun, Loki, Heimdall, Kelda, Don Blake, Bill Cobb, Beth Sooner
Continuity Notes
Following Ragnarok in Thor (vol. 2) #80-85, Thor was revived in Thor (vol. 3) #1. Over the last few issues he has restored the city of Asgard and has been trying to recover his people, who are trapped in human host bodies.
Odin died battling Surtur back in Thor (vol. 2) #40. He will remain among the deceased until Thor #618.
Since Thor #293, it was known that the Asgardians go through a Ragnarok cycle of death and rebirth. Thor (vol. 2) #80-85 revealed that this was to give power to beings known only as They Who Sit Above in Darkness. During the last Ragnarok cycle, Thor was able to break the cycle so they were finally free.
