After being honored by the military, Thor, Sif and Balder enter the Research Center.
In Nornheim, Karnilla and her servant Haag spy upon Balder.
At the Research Center, Thor, Balder and Sif discover the artificial being Him, newly emerged from his cocoon. "Him" explains that he's the only one of his kind. Wanting a mate, he claims Sif, striking down Thor and Balder and vanishing with her within a vortex.
In Asgard, Odin has his Astrologer Royal track Galactus' land of origin.
Meanwhile, Thor and Balder follow Him to a barren other-dimensional world but Haag appears, trying to capture Balder. Thor drives her off, but afterward finds Him and Sif have vanished. Furious, Thor vows, "Vengeance such as none who live have ever known!"