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Thor vol. 2 #12
Title: "Dark Wars Part 3 of 3”
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Colors: Gregory Wright
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Destroyer asks Thor if he is out of his mind. Destroyer says that Thor is one second away from becoming a corpse. Thor says that in this barren dimension that Destroyer is a prisoner, and he is offering him freedom. Thor blocks Destroyer’s first punch with his hammer, but Destroyer decks Thor and Thor creates a new groove in the ground from his path. Destroyer says that Thor is the one who put him there in the first place. Thor says that Destroyer has not yet realized his dire plight. Thor tells Destroyer to back off while he unleashed the anti-force. Destroyer says that is very cute, but that it didn’t work before and it won’t work now. Destroyer starts advancing on Thor. Thor says that the power of the armor had warped his human mind, but that in truth he is Colonel Preston Case. Thor asks if he never thinks of home, family, or loved ones. Thor says that his body still lives on Earth, and that Odin can restore him when they free him from his imprisonment. Destroyer says that it is lonely there. Destroyer tells Thor to prove that it is possible, and he has a partner. Thor starts spinning his hammer.
Jane Foster walks into the hospital cafeteria and sees Hannah looking at bridal gowns. Hannah says that she and Jake have been engaged long enough, and that it is time to order the wedding gown. Jane says that she didn’t know that they had set a date. Hannah says that since Jake’s accident that they have had a lot of trouble nailing down a date. Jane asks Hannah what she really knows about Jake, such as his family or other interests. Hannah asks if Jane knows something. Jane says that she has just seen lots of people get married without truly knowing each other. Hannah says that Jane keeps dropping ominous hints about Jake, and asks if there is something between the two of them. Keith Kincaid arrives and says that Jane had better go check on a situation with her patient Case.
Jane runs to the room and looks in. Thor and Hercules stand with the Destroyer who is looking down at his own dying body. Hercules says that he doesn’t know how smart this is. Thor says that for now Herc can consider Destroyer an ally. Thor says that Destroyer wants to get back into his human form. Jane asks if Thor has lost his mind bringing the Destroyer there. Destroyer says that if she is the one that has been keeping him alive that she has nothing to fear from him. Destroyer says that there is something about the armor that makes him violent. He says that “blondie’s dad” is going to put him back in his human body. Jane says that they had better hurry up then before it dies. Hercules says that the Avengers might be helpful. Thor says not this time. Thor says that this is a matter of honor between gods. Thor says that even the Destroyer, though a mortal, is a weapon of Odin’s will. Herc says that they should go then. Thor says that they have just one more to recruit. As the others walk out of the room, Jane asks if she can have a minute of Thor’s time in private. Jane tells Thor that it is time for him to be honest with Hannah. Thor tries to pretend that he doesn’t know her, but Jane tells him to knock it off and says that she knows he is Jake Olsen. Jane says that when he was Donald Blake that Thor told her who she really was, and that it was a heroic gesture that saved her from immeasurable hurt later on. Jane says that Hannah deserves the same consideration. Thor says that it isn’t quite as simple as that, but that he will take her words to heart.
In Asgard, Tokkots says that Perrikus refused to kill Thor, and that now he is going to return and bring help. Zelia says that she hates to do it but agrees with Tokkots. Perrikus says that he has spent eons dedicated to Thor’s slow death, and that killing him in mortal form offered no satisfaction. Adva tells Perrikus that Thor has returned. Perrikus says that at last the final war has begun.
At the Rainbow Bridge, Thor, Hercules, and Destroyer battle the hundreds of Dark Gods that are coming at them. Thor says to battle on for Asgard. Hercules adds that he does it too for Olympus. Destroyer says that he is only doing this for life. Inch by inch, they battle towards Odin. Thor says that only by freeing him can the day be saved. Perrikus comes forth and says that Thor isn’t going to save Odin the way he did before. Perrikus says that this time Thor will be shamed. Thor throws his hammer at Perrikus. The hammer slams off Perrikus, but Perrikus just says that he is going to grind Thor’s skull to dust beneath his heels. Hercules says that Destroyer fights like a god, and that if he perishes that will have been an honor to fight with him. Destroyer says that nothing is going to stop him from living again. Thor’s hammer returns to his hand, and he leaps at Perrikus. Thor says that the filth and decadence that the Dark Gods brought to Asgard is going to perish before his might. Thor starts pounding on Perrikus. Thor says that he might have held back his full fury in the past against Perrikus, but that he won’t do so again. Zelia flies forward and says that it is time for this farce to end. She lets loose a blast that ruptures a giant hole in the ground. Thor spots the sewer drain and comes up with an idea. Thor changes into Jake Olsen and climbs into the pipe.
Hercules says that no matter how hard he tries he can’t get close enough to Odin to free him. Odin says that Hercules and Thor are both embodiments of courage and valor. Odin says that defeat will be their fate if he is unable to get free. Majeston Zelia says that Thor hasn’t returned yet. Adva says that Thor has managed to evade her ability to locate him again. Zelia says that Thor seeks to defeat them in ways unseen. Zelia says that it doesn’t matter because there is no plan he could have that would defeat them.
Jake Olsen follows the pipe back down to the center where he was enslaved. Jake looks down and spots the Warriors Three being forced to work by one of Slototh’s workers. Jake reaches into his bag and pulls out a syringe. He leaps from the pipe above and lands on the worker’s back. He then injects enough sodium pentathol into the worker to drop five elephants. The worker drops over asleep. Jake picks up a sword and slashes the chains that hold the Warriors Three. Jake throws the sword to Fandral, and says that it is independence day. Fandrall recognizes something in Jake’s voice. Volstagg tells them that this is the man that is really Thor. Thor says that he doesn’t look it, but that Volstagg is right. He tells the Warriors Three to keep the other goons off his back while he does something. Jake pulls a laptop out of his bag. Sykes’ nephew made some modifications to the laptop in exchange for a good word from an Avenger regarding his crime. One of the goons kicks the laptop off Jake’s lap. Hogun apologizes and says that it was his fault. Jake says that it doesn’t matter and that the signal was already sent.
A large green form appears on the Rainbow Bridge.
Odin, Balder, and Sif are all trapped and
forced to watch as hundreds of Dark Gods battle against Destroyer
and Hercules, and as time passes begin to overtake them. Tokkots
pulls up a sword, and says that it is clear that Odin has to die
now. A beam comes from behind and strikes Tokkots down. Replicus
steps forward and says, “Replicus shall not be
stopped!” Replicus’ eye beams free Odin, Balder, and
Sif. Odin says that Replicus looks familiar, and asks if he once
fought his son. Replicus says that he has been reprogrammed. Odin
tells them all to get out of the way because his strength is no
longer holding up his prison. The giant construct drops to the
ground. Zelia flies into the air and says that Odin might be
free, but that he has always been her inferior. 
Odin says that
he has been weakened from holding his prison in the air for
months, but tells Zelia to come to him that they might conclude
their war.
Destroyer says that they can’t win, but
Hercules tells him to be quiet because Odin is free. Hercules is
tied up with Perrikus while Destroyer fights the others alone.
Hercules says that they must fight on, and suddenly Thor’s
hammer flies in and nails Perrikus in the face. Thor and the
Warriors Three rush into the battle. Thor’s hammer returns
to him, and Thor leaps into the air and then pummels Perrikus
with another hit. Hercules asks Destroyer if he can feel it. Herc
says that they are going to win the battle. Zelia says that they
are all deluding themselves and tells Adva to come by her side.
Zelia calls out to all her subjects and calls for union. Thor is
about to smash Perrikus again, but Perrikus disappears from his
armor. All of the Dark Gods similarly fade away. Sif says that
they won, but Odin says that this is something far different and
far more ominous. 
The ground
starts to rise up, and the Dark Gods have all become one enormous
monster standing by Majeston Zelia and Adva. The monster lashes
out with eye beams. The monster’s beam disintegrates
Replicus and manages to actually hurt Destroyer. Odin tells Thor
that he must go battle. Thor says that if Odin says to attack he
will attack. Thor smashes the monster with his hammer, but the
monster just swats Thor away and sends him hurtling. Thor watches
as the monster continues to attack. Thor says that for months the
fate of Asgard was the only thing on his mind. Thor says that
just as victory was ensured suddenly even Odin is in danger. Thor
says that he will not let it end like this. Thor orders Mjolnir
to overcome the problems that it has been having and summons the
most powerful storm ever conceived. Zelia asks if Thor is really
attacking her with a storm. She says that they are fools and
deserves their coming deaths. Thor says that this is not an
ordinary storm, but a living fury of energy and rage. He says
that it is focused through him, his godly life force becoming as
one with the power of the hammer supreme. A burst of energy
strike Zelia out of the sky. Zelia is cursing Thor when Odin is
suddenly upon her. Odin says that Zelia is just a leech using the
energy that she stole from him. Odin says that he reclaims the
energy now. There is an intense bright light, and after the light
fades Odin kneels by himself and says, “’Tis
over”. Thor asks if Odin is alright. Odin says that he is
finally. He says that Zelia kept him weak by siphoning off his
energy, but that now they are purged from Asgard. Thor asks where
they went. Odin says that they dissipated and that they
won’t plague them again. Odin gives his thanks to Thor, and
says that the universe should recognize him as a hero among
heroes. Odin says that Thor is Asgard’s savior. Thor says
that Odin honors him. Odin says that no honor is too great for
Thor’s glory. Everyone in Asgard starts chants Thor’s
name. Marnot watches from afar and asks if Thor has forgotten
him.
Lightning Crashes rating: 9.5 out of 10
For honor, for glory… for Asgard. After the pounding that the Asgardians have been taking they finally get even. This is what Thor is all about- heroism and protecting the Realm Eternal. Romita does a great job here. One thing I don’t get is why Volstagg is skinny, but Fandrall and Hogun look exactly the same. The only thing that prevents this issue from getting a 10 is that Thor uses his old excuse that he always uses- he was holding back. All of Asgard was enslaved and his father was chained and helpless, but Thor didn’t feel the need to go all out. Gimme a break.