Balder journeys to Earth to protect it in Thor's stead.
Karnilla monitors Balder, with
Loki now by her side. When Loki learns that
Haag has made a graven image of Balder that is able to transmit any injury, he seizes and strikes it, causing Balder to topple with pain on Earth.
Odin prepares Thor for his mission to find Galactus, but allows him a limited time on Earth before its start. Seeing Balder unconscious in the hospital, Thor becomes Don Blake but Loki appears, knocks Blake unconscious and steals his cane. However, Odin intervenes and informs Loki that whoever holds Mjolnir must seek Galactus. Loki flees in terror, returning the cane to Blake.
In a distant galaxy, Galactus devours another world.
On Earth, Blake operates successfully on Balder, becomes Thor, and takes one last view of Manhattan before departing Earth.