Hercules has a nightmare that he is being beaten up by the
villainous Goliath (Erik Josten) and then the Wrecking Crew and Mr. Hyde join
in until he wakes up in a fright. Eric Masterson offers to turn into Thor but
Herc feels he would be shamed in the Norse god’s eyes. He explains that ever
since he was rescued from the Black Galaxy, he has felt something missing and
he is frightened. In a rage, Herc smashes the balcony which awakens Kevin. Eric
comforts his son and puts him back to bed, worried about losing him to his
ex-wife….
On a Colorado back road, the Wrecking Crew ambushes a
heavily armed truck transporting prisoners to the superhuman prison known as
The Vault. They are there for their leader Wrecker but not to free him: Thunderball
wants his enchanted crowbar so he can be the new leader of the gang. But
Thunderball miscalculated: the crowbar is only a conduit for his power; Wrecker
breaks free and crushes Thunderball’s hand when he shakes it. He then announces
he is still head of the Wrecking Crew and brings along his fellow prisoner: Ulik.
Wrecker teleports them all to New York City, a trick taught him by Ulik. He can
also teleport them to the vicinity of their first target: Hercules. They are
soon laying an ambush for Herc on a city street, jumping out and beating him
down. When Herc sees who it is he nearly panics. Wrecker lights up the sky….
Lawyer Samantha Joyce stops by Eric’s apartment with some
bad news about the custody battle. From his apartment window, Eric spots the
Asgardian energy Wrecker is giving off and, making excuses to Sam, he dashes out
and changes to Thor. Arriving at the scene of battle, Thor decides on a difficult
course: he allows the Wrecking Crew (Ulik has already deserted them) to beat
him up. At this, Hercules flies into a rage, bashes Piledriver and Bulldozer
together by their heads and crushes Thunderball’s iron ball in his hands before
beating Wrecker to a pulp. Thunderball talks Wrecker into doing the smart thing
and teleporting them away from there. Hercules announces he has regained his
confidence and is ready for any adventure—even in the Black Galaxy….
And the Thor Replicoid is still heading for Earth….
“Where Lies My Loyalty?”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Gary Hartle. Inks: Mike DeCarlo.
Colors: Nel Yomtov. Letters: Michael Heiser.
Synopsis: The Grand Vizier has discovered a mystical barrier
blocking Asgard from the mortal plane. Lady Sif has agreed to marry Leir,
Celtic God of Lightning, if he will accompany her to Midgard to tell Thor of
this barricade. Grand Vizier goes to inform Odin of this new development but the
All-Father has turned evil and strikes down his Vizier. Odin then commands
Heimdall to stop Sif and her party from going to Earth via the gateway created
by Dagda (last issue). Leir and Caber put up a good fight but it’s only Sif
telling her brother he must kill her to stop them that halts the mighty
warrior. Sif and company head through the portal and Heimdall tells Odin he has
failed. Odin forgives him and we see that he has imprisoned the Grand Vizier in
a transparent cube….