Eric Masterson returns to Asgard to endure the Gauntlet of
the Grim Guardian; he is hooked up to a machine which is powered by Mjolnir.
Sif questions Odin as to whether this is necessary and Balder wonders whether
Sif is in love with Eric. Odin commands that it begin….
The Gauntlet begins in Eric’s mind: he finds himself as Thor
in the town he grew up in. He is met by a juvenile avatar to guide him through,
calling himself Sparky the Lightning Kid. Then Eric Thor is attacked by a group
consisting of Ulik, Absorbing Man, Titania, Thanos, Gladiator and Annihilus. He
tussles with them which turns out to be easy as Ulik, Absorbing Man, Titania,
and Annihilus get in each other’s way; Thor kills the latter with a blow of Mjolnir
and is surprised. He is then in space and Thanos grabs him by the cape and
hurls him across the galaxy where he is punched out by Gladiator. He falls onto
a New York Street where he is met by Captain America, Spider-Man, Captain
Marvel (M. Rambeau), and Black Knight, who salute him with a Bronx cheer….
In Asgard, Sif is brooding over Eric and confides to Balder that
when Eric loaned her his jacket in issue #453, he kissed her and now she doesn’t
know whether she loves Eric or Thor who was buried in his mind. Balder tells her
to have faith in herself. Amora the Enchantress overhears this conversation….
Eric Thor then finds himself in a dark place and he is
mobbed by several women from his life: Sif, Stellaris, his ex-wife Marcy, Jackie
Lukus, and Susan Austin and he repels them with an outburst. He is then
attacked by Shatterfist, whom he met in his future, which presumably means Eric
can’t die until he has met him in the present. Presumably. Thor then finds
himself facing the crimson-armored Grim Guardian whom Sparky calls the one
enemy Eric will never truly defeat. The two battle and Eric knocks the Guardian’s
helmet off and he discovers that the Grim Guardian is himself, always wanting to
be better and made stronger by anger. Eric hugs the Guardian and holds him
until he calms down and vanishes. He enters the citadel and walks around until he
finds Thor Odinson imprisoned. A bright, blinding light begins to shine and
those outside are affected too until they see Eric emerge from the machine…followed
by Thor….
As Thor reunites with his friends, Eric goes off alone…until
Thor seeks him out with thanks. They hug and Thor hands Eric Mjolnir, and when
he takes it, Eric again transforms into Thor. Thor Odinson announces that he
will stay in Asgard to fulfil his royal duties and marry Sif while Eric Thor
returns to Midgard as a superhero. Eric wonders whether this really is a happy
ending….
“To Love No More”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Geof Isherwood. Inks: Geof Isherwood.
Colors: Mike Rockwitz. Letters: Rick Parker.
Synopsis: Heimdall, recovered from his injuries, has
returned to his position as guardian of the Rainbow Bridge when he is attacked
by a monster. He strikes at it and it vanishes. It was a trick by Amora the
Enchantress who demands to know what her reward will be for saving his life (issue
#453). Heimdall offers to marry her but she doesn’t want that as she is by
nature polyamorous (look it up). She enters Asgard and spies on Thor and Sif
talking over their wedding plans. Eric enters her mind but she puts him out and
concentrates on Thor, removing the jacket Eric loaned her (again issue #453)
and walking off arm-in-arm with her beloved bridegroom. Amora snatches up the
jacket with a mind to spread her unhappiness….