The Wages of Sin!

Bloodaxe has been tipped off about a theft from Malachi Technologies by a group of men dressed in serpent-themed outfits. Following them back to their hideout, Bloodaxe ambushes them. The vigilante wants to find out who their boss is as they have recently heard that this was the same person who attempted to steal a supply of Inferno 42 from SHIELD as well.[1] Bloodaxe slaughters them all save for one, who tries to flee the scene. Bloodaxe follows the last survivor until he opens a secret passage to a pneumatic tube. Killing the soldier, Bloodaxe then takes the lift down to their secret hideout which is hidden deep in the waters below the Hudson River.

Meanwhile, Eric Masterson is at home looking at a photo of his son Kevin. Eric’s ex-wife Marcy and her new husband Bobby Steele are planning on moving to California which will separate Eric from his son.[2] Now faced with this reality, he wonders what he is going to do now. That’s when he hears Stellaris screaming in her bedroom. Eric races up to see what’s the matter and learns that she had just woken up from a strange nightmare. Once he has gotten her calmed down and brews some coffee for the two of them, Eric gets Stellaris to explain what’s wrong. She says that she has been haunted by Giant-Man’s recent scans of her body and the Absorbing Man losing his mind while trying to mimic her powers.[3] She then reveals to Eric that she has no memory of her past and who she was before their first encounter and up until recently, she didn’t have any curiosity about it before.

Back beneath the Hudson River, Bloodaxe continues their search for individual who is running this high tech base. Eventually, they are confronted by Seth, the Egyptian god of death.[4] When Bloodaxe attempts to attack Seth, they are overpowered easily. Seth pummels Bloodaxe into unconsciousness, shattering their helmet in the process. The death god then decides to spare Bloodaxe for now and ejects them from his hideout in a pnumatic tube.

By this time, Eric Masterson has cheered Stellaris up, telling her that regardless of what her past is it doesn’t change who she is now and that he cares very much about her. He also promises that they’ll find her past together. That’s when Eric gets a call from Bloodaxe who is calling from a payphone. They have called to ask for Thunderstrike’s help against Seth. Hearing how Bloodaxe was so easily defeated worries Eric deeply as whoever it was would have to be nearly invincible!

Recurring Characters

Thunderstrike, Stellaris, Bloodaxe, Seth

Continuity Notes

1. For more on the failed Inferno 42 heist, see Thunderstrike #13-14.

2. Marcy Steele announced her and Bobby’s intention to move to Los Angeles in Thunderstrike #12.

3. This all happened last issue and is suggests that Stellaris might not be an organic being at all. Whatever the case may be, it has yet to be revealed as of this writing in November, 2022. Stellaris saying that she remembers nothing about her past is not entirely accurate either. When we first saw her in Thor #419-423, she claimed that her entire race was wiped out by the Celestials.

4. Seth looks radically different here than he has in the past. Over the next two issues his true identity is called into question although Seth states that he can alter his appearance at will. In Seth’s profile in Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities #1 it is confirmed that this is the same Seth we’ve seen in every other instance.

The Veil of Courage

In fabled Asgard a festival is underway and while everyone is reveling the warrior Sif remains quiet and reserved. Hodder and Tyr gossip that Sif hasn’t been the same since her time in Mephisto’s realm, prompting Heimdall and Balder to step up to her defense.[1] Suddenly, Sif begins laughing manically and strips off her coat complaining that it is far too hot in the banquet hall. When Odin tells Sif to get control of herself she tells him to shut up. For this insult, the All-Father has Heimdall — Sif’s own brother — restrain her until she can be put on trail for insulting Odin.

When Sif is brought before Odin she apologizes for speaking out of turn, telling him that she has been tainted from her ordeals in Mephisto’s realm. She pleads with Odin to allow her to quest for the Norn Stones which will be able to purge her of all which troubles her. Odin sees that Sif is genuinely repentant and allows her to search for the stones.

Soon Sif ventures out to the Desert of Yesterday’s Bones with no food, water, or weapons, with only a Veil of Courage to protect her from the elements. The trek is brutal and takes many days but she presses on even as she begins to succumb to the elements and to thirst and hunger. Over time she loses a great deal of her strength and is forced to crawl on her hands and knees. Despite all of this she continues to press forward. Eventually she reaches the mouth of a cave and crawls inside.

Despite the fact that she is exhausted and near death, Sif gets to her feet when she is challenged by the Norn Dragon. It challenges her in a battle to the death. Grabbing a discarded bone to use as a club, Sif bravely tries to slay the dragon rather than running in fear. The dragon attempts to blast her with its flame breath. However, when the creature finally manages to strike her shoulder, Sif isn’t burned but encased in a piece of protective silver armor. Taking this as a sign, Sif continues to lunge in battle until successive strikes of flame completely encase her in armor and turn the bone in her hand in to a powerful sword. She throws the bladed weapon into the dragon’s heart killing it instantly and causing it to crumble to dust. Digging through the Norn Dragon’s remains she finds the Norn Stones she was seeking and uses them to teleport back to the Bifrost Bridge.

There she is greeted by her brother Heimdall who is pleased to see that she succeeded in her mission and allows her passage into Asgard so she can inform Odin of her success.

Recurring Characters

Sif, Odin, Frigga, Tyr, Heimdall, Balder, Hodder

Continuity Notes

1. Sif was briefly manipulated by Mephisto into fighting Eric Masterson during a period when he had taken over as Thor. At the time, Sif was led to believe that the real Thor’s soul was imprisoned in Mephisto’s realm, as seen in Thor #453-455. This proved to be a lie and the true thunder god was later freed in Thor #457.