Thor (1998 series) #45

Thor has dispatched a band of warriors led by Balder to travel to Jotunheim to recover the Chest of Strength. Crossing the sea, they battle a giant sea monster. One of the crew questions Thor’s judgment in sending them on this mission, claiming Odin would never have sent them, and attributing it to Thor’s inexperience. The eldest member of the team, Ggorgstog, relates how only days after the death of Odin, Thor led his diminished warriors to repel an invasion by the Troll army. After their victory, Thor walked the battlefield offering comfort with compassion, not only to his own wounded and dying but to those of the enemy as well. Ggorgstog takes this as a sign of Thor’s strength of character. Ggorgstog deals the final blow to the monster and it departs. The warriors ask pardon from the captain for doubting Thor’s actions. Ggorgstog’s son Jymrsk asks what is in the chest and he is again instructed to trust Thor as he would not have questioned Odin….

They reach land and search for the chest. Jymrsk disagrees with his father, saying that vision, not compassion, is a leader’s most important trait. Others of the crew wonder if Balder is a spy who will report their rebellious mutterings to Thialfi; Balder assures them he will keep their confidence. Jymrsk relates how he joined Thor on a journey along the Path of Shattered Dreams, from which no one who has leaped has ever returns. The Path lies in the domain of the Enchanters and it is said that those who walk the Path may ask a favor from the Gods of Magic and then leap off the Path but as no one has ever returned, it is unknown if the favors are granted. So Thor undertook to unravel the mystery by sending a raven with a bell into the void. The bird vanishes but Thor can still hear the bell a week later, indicating that something lies beyond the void. So the warriors who accompanied him continue the mission by leaping off the pinnacle and vanishing. Thor tells Jymrsk that someday he will transport himself there via Mjolnir. Jymrsk now tells his companions that Thor eventually did go there and find a place of beauty and now Asgard has an outpost there….

Entering a cave, Balder announces they have reached the Well of Crimson Waters, resembling a lake of blood; the Chest of Strength is said to lie at the bottom. Balder volunteers to dive in and he locates the chest but he is seized by a multitude of stone hands, holding him down to drown. Then Thor arrives at the bottom of the lake, smashing the hands with Mjolnir and freeing Balder. Balder apologizes for failing in the mission since Thor’s presence was required. Thor tosses it off, explaining he was growing bored with the daily affairs of state and decided to join them. Thor rebuffs everyone’s questions about the contents of the chest as he must deliver it to one who is not quite so patient. The warriors are annoyed and Balder spreads the word that Thor does not have the qualities which make for good leadership and so Asgard is in danger. The others are amazed that Thor’s greatest ally thinks this and as he walks away we discover that “Balder” is really Loki in disguise, going off to gloat over his victory….

Thor delivers the chest to his guest, who is revealed to be Zeus. Zeus explains that the contents of the chest are for Thor; he opens the chest and takes out a mirror that shows Thor his face but with a nobler and more honorable cast. Zeus explains that the mirror reflects the inner soul and assures him he has the character to rule Asgard. After Zeus is gone, Thor ponders the message but we now see that the magic mirror shows an angry and violent Thor….