Thor: Son of Asgard #12
Worthy, Part 3
Credits/www.comics.org/issue/646949/
When Sif was kidnapped by Storm Giants, Thor’s desire to rescue her finally made him worthy to lift Mjolnir.[1] However, after confronting the leader of the Storm Giant he learned that Sif was given to Hela, the goddess of death. Thor, having cheated death once before, vows to save Sif from Hela’s clutches.[2] When he tries striking Hela with Mjolnir he is knocked back my a mystical jolt. Recovering he tries throwing the enchanted hammer at his foe, but the death goddess is able to stop it dead in its tracks. Hela then vows that she will claim the thunderer’s soul this day before redirecting the weapon back at its owner.
The blow is powerful, seriously wounding Thor and knocking him out. When Sif demands to be let go, Hela decides she has no need of the girl. After her magical shackles are dissipated, Sif runs to Thor’s side.
Sif tries to get Thor to wake up, but he is non-responsive. Hela boasts over her victory, and is called a heartless monster. This muses the death goddess who says that this is merely the sins of the father being passed down to the son. Sif refuses to let Hela take Thor away for something so petty as revenge.[3] She instead offers her own soul in Thor’s place. That’s when the thunder god finally wakes up and refuses to allow Sif to sacrifice herself for him. He tells Hela that he will gladly go with her if it means sparing Sif. He then stands ready to receive Hela’s deadly touch. However, as eager as the death goddess is to take his life, she suddenly finds that she cannot do so. This is due to Thor’s love for Sif and that his sacrifice would stir compassion in Odin’s heart, and not create the sorrow she sought to cause the All-Father. She decides to spare both young gods for the time being. However, as Hela fades away, she warns Thor that she will be watching him ever so closely, ready to snatch his soul away to Hel when the opportunity presents itself.
With the danger passed, Thor and Sif embrace and then decide it is time to get down off this mountain top. When Sif notes that it is a long way down, finally takes notice of the fact that Thor now wields Mjolnir. He then shows her that with the enchanted hammer it is simple for them to fly off to a nicer place.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Sif, Hela
Continuity Notes
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.
Thor was recently 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.
Hela’s issue with Odin was due to the creation of Valhalla, which became the domain of Asgardians and their worshipers who died noble deaths in battle. This in turn took certain souls out of Hela’s grasp, earning her ire. See Thor Annual #5 for the details on that.
