Synopsis
Infinity Warps: Iron Hammer #2 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
The opening shot sees Iron Hammer/Sigurd Stark bending the knee to Madame Hel. And the editor promises this will really happen by the end of this issue. But while we're waiting we'll go back to pick up where last issue left off.
Sigurd has buried Algrim Vanko and Eitri the Dwarf and he swears vengeance on Malekith, King of the Dark Elves. He remembers Eitri talking of the secrets of Odin and realises he must get to Asgard to learn those secrets. His uncanny knowledge of Asgardian tech causes him to muse about a Bridging Interdimensional Frequency Rotating Outside Space-Time, and the HEIMDALL AI in his helmet obeys and opens the BIFROST portal. Stark leaps through it and as the rainbow beam transports him away it also unlocks his buried memories.
He remembers as Stark Odinson being told by his angry father Howard Odin that he can't wear Asgardian armour and fight alongside the Warrior Machines Three (Pepper the Wise, Toni the Grim and Rhodey the Bold). His adopted mortal brother Stane Odinson tried to calm him down but Stark hit him and had to be restrained by the 3 Warriors. Odin condemned his arrogance and banished him to Earth with amnesia.
Sigurd now recognises that the god he used to be was proud and filled with hate. But his time on Earth has taught him better. However he doesn't have long to ponder these thoughts.
As he walks the strangely deserted streets of Asgard he is attacked from behind by Malekith with the force from the Ring of Vanaheim, 1 of the 10 Realm-Rings. Madam Hel watches his victory as do the Asgardians trapped in force bubbles. We see Howard Odin in 1, and the Warrior Machines Three in another. Odin thinks the armoured man is his 'son' Stane, but Malekith lets him know it's the banished Stark.
Sigurd remembers the 10 Realms and their Rings as Malekith gloats over their possession. The white light blast of Alfheim, the frost ray of Jotunheim, the punch ray of Vanaheim, the illusion mist of Niffleheim, the Odin-power beam of Asgard, the black light blast of Svartalfheim, the flame blast of Muspelheim, the electric blast of Midgard, the matter-building beam of Nidavellir and the super-speed aura of Heven.
Malekith explains that his alliance with Madame Hel and Stane Odinson (who now makes his traitorous presence known) gave him the Niffleheim and Midgard Rings to add to his own from Svartalfheim. But he doesn't get to tell us how he obtained the other Rings, especially the Asgard-Ring.
Stane wants revenge for his treatment by his brother Stark and others who looked down on him because he was only human. He doesn't accept that Sigurd is now sorry for all that. He thinks Stark has just had a holiday on Earth getting rich from Asgardian tech, and also doesn't believe he had been given amnesia. And he *can't* accept it when Odin tells him that Sigurd is now as mortal as he is, because that would negate his whole jealousy thing.
Stark knows that the Rings are powered by their bearers, and wonders if Malekith has enough power for all 10 Rings. He noticed that the Vanir-Ring dimmed after it was used and is now recharging. Malekith prepares to destroy him with the Asgard-Ring but Iron Hammer calls on HEIMDALL to open BIFROST again and redirects the blast to shatter the bubble holding the 3 Warriors who leap to the attack. Their foe uses the Speed of the Angels conferred by the Heven-Ring to defeat all 3 before they can get to him. The Jotunheim-Ring freezes Pepper, the Muspelheim-Ring melts Toni's mace and the Nidavellir-Ring reconstructs a bubble around Rhodey.
Now Iron Hammer whacks the Dark Elf round the head with his huge iron hammer, and cold iron burns Elves. He reminds the villain that 6 of his 10 rings are recharging. His sealed helmet will protect him from Niffleheim's illusion mist, and the white or dark light Rings might render him blind but he can use HEIMDALL to see. Malekith is left with only the lightning of the Midgard-Ring, which he prepares to use. Stane shouts that it's a trick but Madam Hel tells him to let things play out. Malekith unleashes the lightning but Sigurd's hammer absorbs the energy.
Now IH prepares to use the power in his hammer to kill Malekith who begs for his life - much to the disgust of his ally Madame Hel, the Asgardian goddess of Death. The Elf promises anything to save his skin but Sigurd asks for Algrim Vanko and Eitri to be returned to life. I guess Malekith can't do that so Stark Odinson kills him.
Stane Odinson makes his exit vowing vengeance. The Asgardians are freed and Howard Odin rejoices at the return of Stark, even as he bemoans the betrayal of his other son. He offers to restore Stark's godly immortality. But Sigurd turns him down to follow Madame Hel and kneels to offer her his respect (and that's the opening shot).
She had joined Malekith's rebellion because the Asgardians *don't* respect her (as with Stane). Their chosen dead don't go to her Realm. But it turned out that Malekith too spurned her embrace when it came time. But Sigurd says he chooses to be mortal because death gives meaning to life. And Hel removes her golden mask and kisses him with the promise to come to him at his life's end.
Characters:
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