Having
learned that his friend and ally Eric Masterson a/k/a Thunderstrike is dead, an
enraged Thor fights his way through Asgard, demanding an audience with his father
Odin. As the God of Thunder lays waste to score of armed guards, Odin watches
from his throne, displeased with his son’s behavior. Thor then encounters his
friends, the Warriors Three, and Volstagg tries to turn away his wrath by
inviting him for a drink. Out of patience, Odin allows Thor into his presence
but only to ask forgiveness. Thor refuses so Odin unleashes a bolt of power
that sends Thor crashing down to the Midgard he has chosen over his home. The
Warriors Three kneel in Odin’s presence and the usually silent Hogun suggests
that mayhap a single word could heal the breach between father and son….
As
he lies in a crater on Earth, Thor’s mind rehearses his memories of Eric, an
architect who became a friend and ally. Then Eric became the human host of Thor
and when Thor Odinson was banished, Eric became the full Thor. When Odinson was
returned, Eric was given his own enchanted weapon and renamed Thunderstrike and
his commitment to fighting evil eventually cost him his life. Yet Thor
questions why Odin allowed him to die, that the All-Father had not warned him.
Thor goes to Eric’s grave and finds another mourner there and recognizes the
man as Crusher Creel, the Absorbing Man. Thor rashly clouts Creel with Mjolnir,
which transforms the villain into Uru and Creel fights back, while claiming
this fight is unnecessary. Thor strikes back, unwilling to listen to Creel’s
claims that he is there to pay his last respects to Eric too….
Interlude:
Back in Asgard, Sif and Balder mourn the death of Eric Masterson….
Back
at the cemetery, Creel clobbers Thor, paying tribute to Eric who took death
like a man. Thor falls on Eric’s grave and sees that the flowers placed there
are from Creel. Creel explains that Eric treated him like a human being and
always gave him the benefit of the doubt, unlike Thor, who began this encounter
by hitting Creel. Thor realizes he is in the wrong and calls off the fight. The
baddie walks away out of respect for Eric but next time they meet, things will
be different. Thor calls to the All-Father to ask why Eric had to die. Odin
responds by pointing out that Eric had free will and chose to be in the
situation where he died. And after a few minutes, Thor returns to Asgard with a
smile on his face, planning to reconcile with his father.…