Synopsis / Summary / Plot
War Of The Realms: Journey Into Mystery #4 Synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Our crew and the Western ghosts they met last issue have gathered together in the church in the abandoned Western theme town. Baby Laussa is happy sitting on the altar even though she's part demon (but then it's not a real church or altar). The Asgardian dog Thori explains that her parents *are* Odin and Freyja but she was conceived in the Realm Between Realms (see Angela: Asgard's Assassin #4) where Surtur had been banished, and so she is as much *his* child. Most of Surtur's power was removed from Laussa in that series, but not all.
Thori says he overheard Odin and Freyja discussing this. Balder didn't know about it (well he's been dead for a while), and Freyja neglected to tell him when she gave him the job of protecting Laussa from Surtur's daughter Sindr during War Of The Realms. Thori figures Sindr is after Laussa because she's a rival to the throne of Muspelheim.
All the ghosts from last issue are still around. Wonder Man wonders if they're here to kill Laussa. But then another 1 appears at the door saying they're here to serve her. Death Locket fears this flaming-skulled apparition is an agent of Sindr but Sebastian Druid says he knows her, she's called Kushala. She douses her flame to reveal a Native American woman, but she says she can't enter holy ground. (So maybe this *is* a real church after all.)
They all join her outside. Sebastian says Kushala's possessed by the Spirit Of Vengeance (like most Ghost Riders), she rides a flaming horse and is known as the Demon Rider. She also became a Sorcerer Supreme at the end of the 19th Century and joined Dr Strange and others in the Dr Strange & Sorcerers Supreme series. She remained in this time and has summoned these ghosts to fight against those who invade Earth in WOTR. Now they leave to join the battle, and Demon Rider gives our lot a warning that their pursuer Ares is close behind.
Our gang pile into Wonder Man's RV and head off to find the old SHIELD helicarrier Death Locket knows about. (Suddenly we find that WM *can* drive it, despite Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) being lumbered with the task in all previous issues.) They're almost out of provisions and cash to buy them with. Then they reach Carson City and Simon Williams suggests they head for a casino.
But when they enter a hotel/casino they find it full of super-villains, or to be more precise members of villainous organisations. A sign tells them this is HenchFest, the convention for henchmen. We see people in Hydra, AIM, Secret Empire and Hand uniforms, plus lesser known groups like Black Spectre, and later some Hellfire Knights and a member of Agence Byzantine. When they line up to register with Virgo of the original Zodiac and 1 of the users of the id Cat-Man they learn that the henchfolks thought they'd have some fun while the 'heavy-hitters' were involved in WOTR.
So now that they're dealing with villains they figure a small robbery would be OK. Cyborg Death Locket will plug into the casino's computer system and trigger payouts at specific slot machines, where the others will be waiting.
The guy chasing the BabySitters Club is Ares in his HellWagon with some unspecified monsters in the back. He's being directed in the chase by the voice of Sindr from a magic SatNav. In the hotel everyone's gone to execute the heist plan, leaving Thori to guard Laussa. The dog opens the door to housekeeping, but Ares is there as well. Thori takes a bite out of the War God but Ares guts him with his axe.
The gang are in position. Simon Williams is with Kate Bishop, and the movie star is secretly hoping to be recognised. But it's Hawkeye who gets rumbled. Spider-Man (Miles Morales) swings in to knock some baddies down. Druid throws Kate the magic Pinaka Bow from his extradimensional pocket. Battle commences with pacifist Wonder Man keeping out of it until he stands up calling for a truce. All the henches shoot at *him*, but all the bullets bounce off his invulnerable body. So they give up.
Meanwhile Ares leaves the casino with Laussa, who seems quite happy about it. The housekeeper runs into the lobby screaming about what happened. Our gang rush to their room and find the Asgardian Thori recovering. Druid produces some fancy glasses which enable him to declare the dog will live. But they realise Laussa is missing.