Thor: Heaven and Earth (2011 series) #2

On a rainy night, Thor arrives at a building. Police fill him in on the situation: Wayne Markley, the villain known as Fusion, has filled an auditorium with explosives and he is holding fifty hostages, threatening to blow them all to kingdom come. And Markley has asked for Thor. So Thor goes to see the bad guy to find out what it is he wants. Markley says he is going to ask a question and Thor’s answer will determine whether the hostages, and Markley, live or die. The question: Two years earlier, Markley’s five-year-old son jumped off a roof to his death so Thor, “Will you bring him back?” A long hush as everyone holds their breath, then, “I cannot.” The Thunder God claims it may result in more harm than good, offering to show Markley the two sides to every question….

In a vision, Thor shows Markley a possible future fifty years in the future of New York as a flooded wasteland, caused by humanity’s neglect and abuse of the environment. As Markley’s question was about the interference of Asgard in human affairs, Thor tells him that the gods are not there to help or stop mankind and goes on to describe several measures mankind can take to prevent the future disaster which would result in a sustainable future. Thor’s conclusion is that humanity’s future lies in the hands of mortals, not gods. Markley is unsatisfied as Thor has not told him why he cannot bring his son back. So Thor reveals the secret: if the gods interfered every time mankind stumbled, humans would become puppets. If Thor gave people what they want, it would not be what they need as it would erase free will. Markley orders all of the hostages out. He then asks if Thor is going to stop him; Thor tells him he does not have to die. Markley says he cannot forgive himself—and detonates the bombs.