Many centuries ago when they were boys, Loki led
Thor through the rafters of Odin’s palace in Asgard to spy on the All-Father
and his greatest warriors in a council of war. Then Loki pushed Thor so that he
fell and landed in the midst of the council. But instead of growing angry at
Thor’s intrusion, Odin praised him for taking an interest in the affairs of the
realm. Odin mentions other gods who are intent on Asgard’s fall...
…and then Jake Olson is awoken by his alarm clock, trying to
remember more about these threatening gods. He decides to visit Asgard but
Marnot appears to him in the mirror, reminding Thor he must live the life of
Jake Olson and attend an awards ceremony for his act of heroism (issue #1-2). Jake
demands answers but he is reminded he gave his word, so he transforms into Thor
and flies to the EMS station…
…where Jake’s fiancée Hannah Fairmont and his partner
Demitrius Collins are talking about the change in Jake lately as her daughter
Amanda spies Thor streaking by. He transforms back into Jake and then realizes
he in his underwear as he was when he changed into Thor. He dashes into the
station locker room to quickly don appropriate clothing. He reaches the dais to
discover the award is being presented to him by none other than Captain
America. Cap makes a speech lauding Jake’s heroism but Thor realizes that while
Jake may have been a hero, Thor was not or else he wouldn’t be in this
situation—so he refuses the award, angering his boss Thomas Ryan. Cap
recognizes Jake’s honesty and allows him to make his decision. After Cap
departs, Ryan chews out Jake who wishes he could be leaving with Cap. Jake also
meets with Hannah and Mandy, the latter thinking he’s a pod person out of
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. But Jane Foster overheard a passing reference
by Jake to Frost Giants and wonders. Jane talks to him about his unauthorized
use of a medical technique (last issue) that he claims to have learned from Don
Blake; she gives him a message for Thor should he encounter him again: Colonel
Preston Case, who animated the Destroyer (also issue #1-2), is still in a coma….
Later, Thor approaches Hercules who is holding court at a bar,
entertaining the ladies, to ask if Herc can take him to Olympus to discover if
Zeus knows anything of the disappearance of the Norse gods. Hercules is annoyed
at being interrupted and treated like a servant so he punches him, sending the
Thunder God flying out the bar’s front and into the side of a bus. Thor,
expecting something like this, hurls Mjolnir into the bar where it picks up
Herc as it returns, pulling the demi-god out with him. Thor grabs Herc and
slams him into the sidewalk, explaining this is no time for their usual playful
sparring so Herc turns serious and agrees to go with Thor back to Olympus. Thor
spins his hammer to open the gateway to another dimension and so they arrive in
Olympus…to discover the place has been destroyed….