Odin
has died (end of issue #22) and Thor presides over the funeral, recalling his
father as an aggravating taskmaster who was always right; whether Thor
acknowledged it at the time or not, it made him a better man who would someday be
a better king. And now Thor opens the Book of Kings and reads from it to the
assembled mourners….
“Prologue”
5/5
Writer:
Walt Simonson. Art: Walt Simonson. Colors: Laura Martin, Matt Milla. Letters: John
Workman.
Synopsis:
With their galaxy about to explode, the Korbinite military tracks down a
vicious animal called the Tuog and captures it, at a loss of several lives.
Their plan, called the Beta Project, is to create a hybrid of Korbinite and
Tuog, making it the ideal guardian of the race as they seek out a new world to
inhabit. The priesthood created the Alpha, an AI deemed insufficient for the
task; the High Priest, however, has dispatched the Alpha to destroy the Beta
before it is fully awake and thus control the chosen guardian. But the Beta a/k/a
Beta Ray Bill kills the Alpha, downloads its data and murders the High Priest, settling
down into suspended animation as the fleet sets out on the journey….
“The
Seduction” 5/5
Writer:
Dan Jurgens. Pencils: Dan Jurgens. Inks: Klaus Jansen. Colors: Matthew Wilson. Letters:
Joe Sabino.
Synopsis:
After the defeat of Thanos and Mangog, Thor surveys the damage to his friend
Recorder 412, planning to use the Gauntlet of Tomorrows to heal him. Odin
appears before him and forbids him to use the Gauntlet, the Belt of Power, and
the Shield of Life ever again as their use is seductive, draining the noble
character of their wielder. Thor is insulted that his nobility can be damaged
and refuses to give up the items. He is then attacked by Mangog again and uses
the items to overpower the giant monster, intending to kill his opponent. As he
is about to deliver the fatal blow, the illusion dissolves and Thor sees that
he has been fighting Balder in Odin’s object lesson on the dangers of the magic
items. Thor then casts them away and Odin heals the damaged Recorder as Balder
and the weapons return to Asgard, leaving Thor with a life lesson….
“Benediction”
4/5
Writer:
J. Michael Straczynski. Art: Olivier Coipel. Colors: Alejandro Sanchez. Letters:
Joe Sabino.
Synopsis:
An Earth lawyer is escorted to Asgard by Volstagg and ushered into the presence
of Thor. The God of Thunder wishes to make a will to prevent chaos from
descending on the kingdom after his passing. He names Balder as his successor
and outlines a strange bequest: his admiration for the people of Midgard for adapting
to the near constant change they experience in contrast to the immortal gods.
He also decrees that he shall be buried on Saturn, where the constant sound of
storms will accompany his eternal sleep. The lawyer complies, though he is
skeptical that he can make the world understand. Thor replies that they will,
given what is coming….
“What
Comes Next” 3/5
Writer:
Al Ewing. Art: Lee Garbett. Colors: Antonio Fabela. Letters: Joe Sabino.
Synopsis:
Loki strolls into a space station in the distant past to warn them about…and
then he discovers that his companion, Verity Willis, isn’t with him. He has his
magic staff take him to Verity in the present and she is relaxing at home,
unable to see or hear the “visiting” Loki. He heads to Asgard, only to be
surprised that he is attending Odin’s funeral. And he spies his older self at
the podium and panics that he has seen his own future. Loki changes into his female
form and, realizing that he is now the past, returns to the space station for
one final adventure and draws a doorway in the air, inviting them on a Journey
into Mystery….
“Who
Wields Who?” 4/5
Writer:
Jason Aaron. Art: Das Pastoras. Colors: Das Pastoras. Letters: Joe Sabino.
Synopsis:
One million years ago, Odin challenged and fought an army of mountain giants
without the aid of a suddenly useless Mjolnir. The story is narrated by
Mjolnir, the sentient God Tempest, boasting how it is Mjolnir who truly wields
the wielder.
“The
Second Son of Asgard” concluded 4.5/5
Writer:
Donny Cates. Art: Nic Klein. Colors: Matthew Wilson. Letters: Joe Sabino.
Synopsis:
At the close of the funeral, Odin’s body is placed in a ship and sent off into
space. Thor hold the magic bow and flaming arrow to set the pyre alight but he
finds he cannot do it and hands the bow and arrow to Loki, who completes the
action. Later, in his room, the reconstructed Mjolnir with the soul of Odin
speaks to him, mocking him for failing to take the shot. Thor is enraged and
wants to know why his father will not move on to Valhalla and leave him alone.
And Odin shows him that Valhalla is gone….