Synopsis
Thanos and Mangog have been seeking specific artefacts and a mystery person called the Designate, which between them will give Thanos universe-destroying power. They got the Chalice Of Ruins from its guardian Orikal in #20, the Map Of All-Ending from Odin in #21 and the Fire Jewel from the Rigellians in a backup tale in our 2000 Annual.
But this story starts surprisingly with the 2 villains having also got the Illumination Stone and found the Designate who is a woman called Tarene. Plus they have the defeated Thunder God hung up by his own cape and the Rigellian Recorder lying in bits. Now all they need is for Tarene to shed a tear into the cup, but she refuses. She didn't even weep when they exterminated her alien race. Mangog beating her up doesn't change her mind. So Thanos tells Mangog to do the same to her protector Thor. Mangog, with the power of the billions of *his* murdered race, takes out his anger towards Odin on his son. Still the Designate's eyes are dry. But when the mad Titan continuously blasts Thor's limp body she at last weeps. Thanos catches a tear in the Chalice and drinks it. And he feels the power filling him, the power to unleash the Ending Of All that will spread from planet to planet wiping them clean of life.
But it transpires that this is all a prediction shown to Odin by Orikal, seer of the Trolls. Orikal, attended by the Troll Ulik, says it can't be prevented. But Odin thinks there's something Balder can do to help.
Thor and a Rigellian Recorder robot arrive on the planet M'Hass but the villainous duo have got there 1st. The Recorder says that they're here after the Illumination Stone. Mangog smashes his way through aliens and their pyramid fortress until he clears the way to the Stone. But Thor's hammer arrives to hit him on the back of his head, closely followed by the Asgardian's fists and then the hammer swung as a weapon. Thanos fires eyeblasts which Mjolnir absorbs and then sends back, followed by a lightning storm. And then a sustained blast from Mjolnir of anti-force which propels the villain far from the scene.
Thor picks up the Illumination Stone which the Recorder tells him is reputed to reveal the true nature of anyone. Thanos needs it to reveal who is the Designate, and true to its nature it describes the attributes of the Thunder God. But then the ground shakes and Mangog emerges to grab Thor by the ankles and use him as a club to bash various bits of rock or masonry, ending up by starting to eat him from the head down. But Thanos returns and tells him to forget the Godling, they only want the Illumination Stone. Mangog reluctantly acquiesces and they teleport away.
For a final short scene we see Balder on horseback entering Svartalfheim, the forest of the Dark Elves. Hacking through the dense branches he reaches the rude dwelling of Jagrfelm, Devourer Of Men. But then the forest comes alive and branches entrap him as the monster approaches.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Orikal, Recorder from Rigel.