Thor: Son of Asgard #1
The Warriors Teen, Part 1
Centuries ago, in fabled Asgard, the teenaged Thor — son of Odin — tries to lift the magic mallet known as Mjolnir. Watching and laughing as Thor struggles in vein are his two closest friends, Sif and Balder. Eventually, Thor gives up, as only one who is worthy may lift the enchanted hammer as per Odin’s decree.[1] Sif and Balder’s laughter makes Thor think he’ll never be worthy to lift Mjolnir. Realizing how they have hurt their friend, the two assure the young thunder god that they were laughing at how silly he looked in the moment and reassure him he’ll lift the hammer eventually. Still, Thor thinks that if anyone would be worthy to lift Mjolnir, it should be Balder, as he is the most honest and skilled warrior he knows. Sif takes issue with this, questioning why they think it would be a man that would lift the hammer, saying that she is just as likely a candidate as any other warrior of Asgard. The boys assure her that the inscription isn’t meant to be gender specific, but Sif tosses them shade anyway.
Sif says that the only person who would never be worthy would be Thor’s brother, the trickster god Loki. Just the thought of Loki makes her feel uncomfortable and thinks he is a threat.[2] While Thor admits that Loki’s pranks have gotten him in trouble from time to time, he doesn’t think his half-brother is really evil.[3] Little do any of them know that Loki is listening in on their conversation from a balcony above. Angered that they are talking shit about him, Loki decides to play a little prank on them. Using his magic, Loki transforms three spiders into giant creatures and sets them to attack Thor and his friends. What the trickster doesn’t expect is that the trio would work together to vanquish the spider monsters.
Not long after the battle has ended, Odin and a group of soldiers burst into the room to see what all the racket is. Seeing Thor, Sif, and Balder among the corpses of the dead spiders makes the All-Father laugh at how quickly the young ones have grown. Hearing how the trio worked together in battle convinces Odin that they are ready for something, but tells them to wash up before he tells them what he wants them to do. Looking over to the empty balcony, Odin also tells Thor to find his brother Loki as he’d like him to join them as well.
When the youths meet with Odin in the throne room at sunset, he tells them that he wants them to embark on a quest. Thor speaks for himself and his comrades and tells his father that they will follow his orders without question. Odin is pleased, saying this quest will determine if Thor is truly worthy. However, he says that only three of them will be going on this quest. Loki won’t be joining them as Odin is charging him with cleaning up the mess in the trophy room since it was his doing that sullied it with spider gore. Thor tries to defend his step-brother, but Odin’s word is final on the matter. He then goes into detail on the quest they are about to embark on.
He tells the youths that they must quest for four items that will be used to cast a magic sword that he will bestow upon a warrior worthy to wield it. First, they are to travel into the realm of Nastrond and retrieve a scale from the hide of the dragon Hakurei. Next they will venture to the mountains of Jotunheim where they must obtain feathers from the great eagle known as Gnori. From there they will travel to Jennia where they will seek a special jewel from the mines there. Lastly, to the Lake of Lilitha where they were collect a vial of its enchanted waters. When Thor and his companions have no questions, Odin sends them on their way. None of them are aware that Loki was listening in on the conversation and is already planning some manner of trickery. As Thor, Sif, and Balder begin their quest they are also unaware that other evils are observing them and seek to impede their quest.[4]
Recurring Characters
Thor, Loki, Balder, Sif, Odin, Heimdall, Karnilla, Hugin, Munin, Hakurei, Gnori
Continuity Notes
That Thor needed to prove worthy to lift Mjolnir has always been part of Norse mythology. In the fiction this had been the status quo since Thor’s first modern appearance in Journey into Mystery #83. His childhood quest to lift the hammer was originally told in Journey into Mystery #100-102. These events will be retold in different contexts in Thor Annual #11, Thor: Son of Asgard #12, and Avengers Origins: Thor #1. But we’ll get into the various contradicting tales as we come across them in this series, deal?
Sif has plenty of reasons to be creeped out by Loki considering the fact that he once cut off all her blonde hair. Then, when he was forced to have new hair made for her, he had black hair made instead. This tale was originally told in Thor Annual #11. The chronology of when Sif’s hair was cut is middled, but again, we’ll get there when we get there, ok?
Thor refers to Loki as his half-brother. Loki was actually the son of Laufey, the leader of the Frost Giants. When Odin slew Laufey, he adopted Loki to raise as his own. This tale was originally told in Journey into Mystery #112.
The woman spying on them is revealed to be Karnilla, the Norn Queen, in Thor: Son of Asgard #4.