In the Dimension of Death, Thor, with Odin’s power added to
his own, must fight the fiery demon Surtur to save the universe. Using his
newfound power, he grows to giant size to face his enemy on equal terms. Surtur
uses the Black Pyramid itself as a weapon, unwittingly killing Grog the God-Crusher,
and unleashing Seth’s power which sends them hurtling through the cosmos ….
Asgard, meanwhile, has fallen to Seth’s forces. Sif advises Tyr
and the others to retreat, though Leir hurls a tower at the enemy as a parting
shot. Then we learn that Balder had been snatched away to safety by his lover
Karnilla, the Norn Queen; he demands she help him defeat the enemy but she
balks, hoping to keep her kingdom safe but Balder shows her scenes of Seth’s forces
killing off the trolls and frost giants; there can be no escape from this enemy….
Seth enters the throne room of Asgard with his Death Legions
only to be greeted by Heimdall, Volstagg, and Fandral as the sole defenders—but
then a portal opens up and a huge force of Norns, trolls, and frost giants
arrives to join the battle against the Death Legions….
Sif and the refuges look down on conquered Asgard from the hills
but then Odin arrives to rally his people. Horus and the Egyptian gods are
joined by Earth-Force (Earth Lord, Skyhawk, Wind Warrior) and the seriously ill
Black Knight as Hogun worries about the Sign of Death on his face and the
prophecy made by Seth that when they meet again, Hogun shall die. Leir leads
the Celtic Gods against monsters unleashed by Seth. The Grand Vizier makes his
way to Seth’s command tent to find Amora asking help for the grievously wounded
Lorelei….
Thor’s battle with Surtur takes them to Atlantis, then to
the Inhumans’ Great Refuge on the moon, then to Rigel-3, then to….
Seth, fleeing the battle scene, is intercepted by the Earth-Force,
rejecting the life he lent them and refusing to do his bidding. Seth kills them
all rather easily. Seth is blasted by multiple weapons but it only releases the
giant serpent that dwells within him. Odin grows into a giant and wrestles with
Seth-Serpent; Hogun finds Black Knight, completely paralyzed by the blood curse
he has been fighting, and Hogun, knowing his fate is sealed, hurls Black Knight
like a spear, piercing the Serpent’s brain. At the same moment, Thor appears on
the scene and calls down a whirlwind that causes Surtur to implode while Seth
shrinks and vanishes, resulting in the rebirth of the Egyptian gods. Thor
surveys the destroyed Asgard and mourns. Odin, seeing as there is no other
prison that can hold him, absorbs Surtur into his own body and uses the Demon’s
power to restore Asgard and its people to glory. The Egyptian gods use their
powers to resurrect the Earth Force and send them back to Earth to recover,
though retaining their superpowers should they need them….
Epilogue: Thor asks permission to return to Midgard; Odin
grants it but reminds him that soon he must make a choice: Midgard or Asgard….
“I… This Hammer! (Or, If You Knew Uru Like We Knew Uru!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Ron Frenz. Inks: Brett Breeding.
Colors: Brett Breeding.
Synopsis: A history and list of powers of Thor’s mighty
hammer Mjolnir.
“Who Shall Be Worthy?”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Ron Frenz. Inks: Brett
Breeding. Colors: ?
Synopsis: A list of characters who have been deemed worthy
to lift Mjolnir: Odin, Captain America, Beta Ray Bill, Dargo Ktor.
“The Heart of a Hero!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Ron Frenz. Inks: John Romita.
Colors: Max Scheele.
Synopsis: A list of women romantically linked to Thor: Jane Foster,
Sif, Enchantress, Lorelei, Hela.
“When Volstagg Was in Flower!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Plot: Ron Frenz. Pencils: Rich Yanizeski.
Inks: Marc McKenna. Colors: Robbie Busch.
Synopsis: Fandral and Hogun are asked by Kevin and Mick
Mortensen why they hag around with a fat old family man like Volstagg; Fandral
tells how he first encountered Volstagg as a strong young man who challenged him
to a quarterstaff fight on a narrow bridge. Volstagg won the battle but Fandral
won the rematch and the two became friends. Volstagg arrives to take all the
kids home as he mentions other mighty exploits in his youth.
“When Warriors Clasp!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz. Pencils: Gary Hartle. Inks: Don
Heck. Colors: Evelyn Stein.
Synopsis: Thor and Hercules meet to arm wrestle atop a thin
mountain. Their contest demolishes the mountain and continues without end…. This
comical tale is narrated by a sparring Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.
“Evil Aborning”
Writer: Randall Frenz. Pencils: Charles Vess. Inks: Charles Vess.
Colors: Christie Scheele.
Synopsis: Young Loki is pout in detention by Odin but he
soon escapes and rides forth to seek his fortune. The Grand Vizier suggests to
Odin that he let Loki reap the consequences of his rebellion. Loki is attacked
in the woods by trolls and left for death; an elderly wizard Eldred finds him,
nurses him back to health and takes him on as apprentice. Loki summons Surtur
and makes a deal with him: Surtur gets Eldred’s souls while Loki gains Eldred’s
powers in his scheme to overthrow Odin and rule Asgard. This happens and Loki
gloats over his victory….