Newly
freed from his service to Galactus, Firelord is flying over the Pacific
Northwest when he spies a glowing cube atop a mountain peak. Touching it, he
finds he can pass into it to a bizarre mystic dimension where an unseen figure
[it’s Loki, the secret bad guy is always Loki, especially in a Thor comic and,
besides, he’s on the cover] tells him he is a pawn brought here for a purpose….
Thor
approaches a doctor, presenting to him a box of medical samples borrowed from a
government base, hoping the doctor can devise something to save the life of
Jane Foster. The doctor, whose wife died of hemophilia before the discovery of
the “clotting factor,” readily agrees. Shortly, the doctor brings the news that
nothing he was able to develop will save Jane; something has gone out of her
soul. Thor sits by her side as she awakens….
In
Asgard, Sif and Hildegarde are puzzled over the disappearance of Odin and
concerned at Thor’s plight. Hildy suggests the Runestaff of Kamo-Tharnn as the
key to curing Jane. Sif teleports to Avengers Mansion where she finds Hercules
and Krista. She persuades Herc to join her in the quest for the Runestaff and
she teleports them away….
As
Thor broods on a rooftop, he is attacked by Firelord and fights back, the two
of them battling over a street full of panicked onlookers. Each hero accuses
the other of striking the first blow and Firelord bring an entire building down
on the Thunder God who rises from the rubble unharmed. Firelord calls a halt to
the fight to tell Thor something important; Thor suggests they repair to
Avengers Mansion where others may hear too. Detective Sergeant Ralph Blumkenn
interrupts them, demanding an explanation for why they trashed a street….
At
the Mansion, Iron Man learns from Jarvis that there is a message from his
friend Tom Fagan in Rutland, Vermont. Fagan informs Iron Man that the Loki who
had been living there for months was discovered to be a local kid under a spell
that made him appear to be Loki and that the real trickster god is missing;
Shellhead assures Tom that they will attend to matters, including clearing him
of a kidnapping charge. Thor and Firelord arrive and with three witnesses
(Shellhead, Jarvis, Krista) Firelord relates the tale of his meeting with the
mystery figure, now revealed to be Loki, who has absorbed the powers of
Dormammu (in AVENGERS #118) and now has chosen Firelord to carry out his will.
Firelord then came to warn Thor, who is too concerned about the fate of Jane
Foster to care about Loki’s threat, walking away from the Mansion….