The postman from Broxton heads out to Asgard with a delivery; first he erects a mailbox and paints the address on it (1 Asgard Rd.) then deposits the message and raises the little flag. A curious Thor comes out to find an invitation to the Broxton town meeting. Heimdall has some disturbing news for Thor: not only is he unable to locate the Lady Sif in the Nine Worlds but other human hosts of Asgardians are disappearing. Thor travels in the direction of the growing darkness until he discovers an underground bunker in the desert. Entering, he finds the missing people locked in cells, a raven-haired woman among them who recognizes him. Thor is then attacked by the Destroyer. After a brutal battle which carries them outside, Thor unleashes a lightning storm which reveals the one whose spirit animated the armored monster—Balder. The brave hero does not know how he came to inhabit the Destroyer or why he brought the people to his desert. Thor heads back to the bunker to discover the Asgardians, freed from their hosts, have departed—all save one. Thor approaches the dark-haired woman and discovers she is not his beloved Sif but Loki! The God(dess) of Mischief assures his brother that he has forsaken his devilish ways and asks only to be trusted. Later, alone, he explains that this is part of his plan to his new ally—Doctor Doom….
Meanwhile in Broxton, Volstagg and some other Aesir attend the town meeting, because cake is promised….