Thor #176 — Nick Peron

May 2

May 2 Thor #176

Inferno!

21 21 05 02 %h 04 00 agy3e.png — Credits

Loki has seized the throne of Asgard by taking the imperial ring while Odin is in the Odinsleep. This leaves Thor with no other choice but to be loyal to Loki as nobody else will stand against him. Still, Thor voices his protest, telling Loki that he will not be ruling for long once Odin awakens. However, the trickster god assures Thor that his reign will last for all eternity. He then orders Thor thrown in the dungeon.

Witnessing this, the Warriors Three decide to get involved. This leads to a clash between the trio and Loki’s armed guards. Although they put up a good fight, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg are quickly felled by the power of the imperial ring. They too are then subdued and sent to the dungeons along with Thor.

Elsewhere in the kingdom, two warriors happen upon the spot where Odin has sealed the fire demon Surtur. They are horrified to witness that mystical seal dissolve. Suddenly, the ground explodes as Surtur begins to rise from his prison. He vows to burn the entire universe and rebuild it in his own image.

Back in Asgard, Thor and the Warriors Three are thrown into a cell where they debate what to do next. That’s when Balder arrives and uses his sword to break his allies free. He warns them that Loki is attempting to force Sif into becoming his queen. With time of the essence, Thor leads his friends out of the dungeon to save her. In the throne room, Sif continues to refuse Loki’s advances and he decides to punish her by having a female Troll attack him. Thor and his allies soon arrive and send the troll running away. Again, Thor warns Loki that his reign will only last as long as Odin remains in the Odinsleep. That’s when Loki reveals that he had Odin’s body placed in a domain called the Sea of Eternal Night where he will slumber indefinitely.

Thor and his allies are prepared to fight Loki and forcibly remove him from the throne. That’s when Surtur begins attacking the kingdom. His onslaught of fire is so hot it causes the very buildings around him to begin melting. Seeing the threat that now faces the kingdom, Loki cowardly retreats, leaving Thor to gather the troops and defend the golden realm.