Story
begins with a meditation: What will you do when the end comes? Most people will
look to their gods and heroes to save them but when the gods and heroes face
the Black Winter, they will look to their gods to save them….
Thor
is Galactus’ new herald, leading him to the five planets described by the
Silver Surfer (last issue) so he can devour them and gain the power to defeat
the Black Winter. The first planet is Clypse: when Thor discovers it is
inhabited by a race of hairy primitives, he offers to lead his Master to one of
the others while Clypse is evacuated. Galactus declines and when Thor refuses
to let the people be destroyed, Galactus smashes him to the ground. Thor hurls
Mjolnir which tears two fingers off Galactus’ hand and, returning, rips a hole
though one of his knees. “Have you forgotten whom you serve?” asks the world Devourer.
Thor replies, “Nay. Asgard.” Thor is attacked by the natives and Galactus
begins setting up his planet-eating machinery. Thor dispatches ravens Hugin and
Munin to Asgard, telling Sif to extend Bifrost to Clypse to rescue the natives,
telling Galactus not to feed until they are safely away. Volstagg oversees checking
in the visitors (while rebuffing Thori’s offer to thin the crowd to manageable
size); Thor tells Volstagg that they will be guests until their planet can be
restored. Yet Galactus devours the entire planet, leaving only rubble. Thor
accuses his Master who prepares to reply with an energy bolt but the Devourer
comes under fire from a spaceship. And from it steps Beta Ray Bill….