Balder
and Sif, plus the High Evolutionary and his Godpack, explain the situation to
latecomer Professor Hulk. And Hulk is reluctant to return to Hel but he is the
only one there who did not promise not to rescue Thor….
In
Hel, Hela, Queen of the Dead, is exulting in finally having Thor in her power,
making him repeat his vow to serve her over and over. But Thor claims he would
have done anything to protect Midgard from her depredations….
Balder
escorts Hulk to the mouth of Hel, which is as far as he can go, given his vow.
Balder offers to deal with Garm, the giant dog guarding the entrance while Hulk
descends until he reaches the throne of Hel. As Hela’s insistence, Thor orders
Hulk to leave as he, Thor, is there by his own choice. Hulk vows that he is
taking Thor out of Hel with or without his consent. And the battle begins. They
immediately destroy Hela’s castle in the brawl and Hulk realizes he will have
to go all-out to beat Thor—but if he does, he runs the risk of losing control
and turning back into Bruce Banner, which would definitely lose him the fight….
The
Godpack and others await on the surface to learn the outcome. Even Blitziana
shows some concern over Thor’s fate while others suggest that if they found
Malekith they could possibly trade him for Thor. But Riger, the one with the
supersharp senses, feels something wrong—and it’s the fact that Jane Foster has
no heartbeat. His ploy spoiled, Malekith resumes his own form and escapes,
turning into energy and speeding through the air. He alights once more on the
ground and is captured by Kurse who beats him into a coma. Then Sif and the
Godpack arrive and Sif requests Malekith to trade for Thor but Kurse refuses,
intending to wreak his full vengeance on his enemy. Sif pleads, telling him
that being consumed by his vengeance would be Malekith’s final victory….
So
Kurse brings Malekith to Hela, offering to trade. She declines as Thor is of
much better value than Malekith and besides, Thor, given enough time, will
defeat the Hulk, because he is immortal and Hulk would weaken in about a
century. Kurse comes up with a counteroffer….
As
Thor and Hulk continue to bash each other, Hela calls a halt. Kurse has offered
to take Thor’s place. She was so moved by his nobility that she could not take
him from the face of the Earth. She also admits she was bluffing to Hulk and
Thor; they would completely lay waste to Hel long before one could defeat the
other. They leave and punch out Garm and take Balder along. Once outside, Thor informs
the Godpack he will not be joining them as he doesn’t belong with them; he will
go his own way in Midgard. Sif says farewell as she would always be a stranger
on Earth and only feel at home in Asgard. He bids farewell to his friends,
including Beta Ray Bill and the Warriors Three. He also says his goodbyes to
the Godpack and Jane Foster. He and Hulk walk off together…
…and
up in Asgard, Odin sheds a tear….