Thor (1998 series) #72

Thialfi ponders what Mistress Kya showed him of the darker side of the world Lord Thor rules over and whether Thor can truly be unworthy. He then overhears Thor asking his son Magni why he was not at the banquet honoring Thialfi. Magi apologizes for his absence but does not say why. Thialfi asks them not to argue as he takes no offense. Loki steps in to reveal Magni was with a mortal girl, Jordahl, whom Loki does not trust. Thialfi defends the girl as just a mischievous kid. Loki asks where he was during the party and Thialfi hints that he too was with a lady. Loki then raises the matter of a community in Spain that has risen up in rebellion, killing faithful followers of Thor. Thor reluctantly gives the order to dispatch a military company to put down the revolt, to be led by Fandral and Hogun; Loki suggests Prince Magni go with them to see what mortals are capable of. Alone, Thialfi asks Thor what happened to his arm and Mjolnir. Thor says little, growing angry when Thialfi continues to ask about the hammer. This convinces Thialfi that Mistress Kya’s words were true. Loki appears and accuses Thialfi of disloyalty by his questioning of Thor and suggests T join the expedition to Spain….

As the military prepares for battle, Thialfi ponders how the others, having gradually grown used to the changes cannot see the bad in the kingdom, Loki wonders who put the thoughts of treason in Thialfi’s head and debates unleashing his trump card. On the journey, Thialfi fills Magni in on his father’s fondness for mortals, even adopting a mortal guise to live among them…and then they are bombarded with forbidden weapons by the rebels. When Magni and Thialfi catch up, most of the fighting is done and Thialfi tries to prevent the slaughter of the humans but fails and he can’t bring himself to watch. Magni orders the humans to surrender, reminding the others that they were sent by Thor to quell a rebellion not exterminate a village. At super-speed, Thialfi dashes around the battlefield, confiscating weapons but one rebel reveals he has a suicide bomber set-up. Magni grabs this man and pulls him close to his body, taking most of the blast force to himself. Thialfi finalizes his decision to rebel and possible recruit Magni to the cause….

Meanwhile, Magni pays a visit to Jordahl and he asks her to tells him all about her interest in the past. But the glow in his eyes tells us this is Loki in disguise….