Worthy, Part 2

Asgard has been attacked by Storm Giants, who kidnapped Sif and absconded back to Jotunheim. Ordered to stay behind by his father, Thor decided to defy his father’s wishes. It was this act that made Thor worthy enough to lift Mjolnir after months of trying.[1] When Thor emerges from the palace with Mjolnir in hand, all the people stop what they are doing to watch as the thunder god mounts his horse and heads to Jotunheim to rescue Sif.

Along the way, Thor happens upon one of Sif’s ribbons that had been discarded as the Storm Giants carried away. He vows to avenge any harm that may have come to her. Picking the ribbon up, he ties it around his arm before pressing onward. Eventually, Thor arrives at the castle of Rugga, leader of the Storm Giants. He demands that the guards at the gates let him pass. The giants refuse to let him pass and charge at him. Thor slams Mjolnir onto the stone draw bridge. The blow also summons lightning down from the heavens to shatter the bridge, causing the giants to fall to their doom. Thor is completely blown away by the power the enchanted hammer contains. When posed with the problem of crossing the chasm he just created, Thor tries throwing Mjolnir and grabbing onto the leather thong on the handle. Amazingly, the force of the throw carries the young godling across the pit almost as though he was flying.

Smashing open the wooden gate, Thor demands that Rugga show himself. Instead, an army of Storm Giants come out to stop him. With Mjolnir at his command, Thor easily trounces the army and presses forward into the throne room. There he confronts Rugga and demands he return Sif to him right away. Rugga, however, tells Thor that he is too late as the giant has already given Sif to Hela, the goddess of death, in exchange for immortality.

Unwilling to give up, Thor decides to head to the highest peak in Jotunheim where there is a magic circle that will allow him to commune with Hela. When Thor calls out to her, Hela makes an appearance with Sif as her prisoner. Hela then warns the thunder god that his days of cheating death are now over![2]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Hela, Rugga

Continuity Notes

1. Per Journey into Mystery #82, only those worthy to lift Mjolnir. Until last issue, Thor was unable to lift the enchanted weapon. Alternate takes of this three issue arc are told in Journey into Mystery #102 and Avengers Origins: Thor #1.

2. Hela is referring to how Thor was mortally wounded during a previous invasion of Asgard, only to be brought back to life thanks to the sands from the Lake of Lilitha. See Thor: Son of Asgard #5-6.