Thor #244
This is the Way the World Ends!
Thor, the Warriors Three, and Jane Foster have travelled to the 50th Century to help Zarrko the Tomorrow Man stop the Time-Twisters. These trio of alien creatures have been travelling back in time, destroying every era they visit. With the creatures having appeared in this era, Zarrko insists they must be destroyed or this world is doomed and Thor’s own era will be the next victim.[1]
Needing some kind of strategy, Zarrko decides to put his subjects to good use. Zarrko offers a month of free, unlimited energy to the one who defeats the Time-Twisters. Having been living in squalor since Zarrko appeared in their time, the people of this world form an army to attack the invaders. One of them is a man named Derrek who goes out despite the protests of his wife Gayla as covets the idea of living comfortably, even for a month. When the army of people attack the Time-Twisters, the trio of aliens use their powers to rapidly reduce their ages to that of children. When the army is confused by this transformation they are then rapidly aged to the point where their bodies crumble to dust. Seeing this does not dissuade Thor or the Warriors Three from attacking the Time-Twisters directly.
Back in the present day, Odin continues to fume over the fact that Thor has disobeyed his wished and renewed his romance with the mortal Jane Foster.[2] When his vizier tries to convince the All-Father to let go of his anger, Odin instead orders his advisor to sequester himself in Tower of Solitude to study ancient texts until he is called upon to return. Odin then orders Balder to release Igron from the prison to take the vizier’s place, deciding that the rogue wizard has served his punishment.[3] Balder does as he is told, but Odin’s strange behavior has him worried.[4]
In the future, Thor and the Warriors Three prepare to confront the Time-Twisters. Along the way, Jane convinces Thor to try reasoning with the entities as violence didn’t seem to work. The thunder god agrees and stops the three aliens by creating a ring of flame around them with Mjolnir. Thor convinces them to stop their travel through time as they cause the destruction of every era they visit. The Time-Twisters however don’t care, as they come from the very end of time and seek to travel back to the very beginning so they might learn the creation of the universe. The destruction they have caused is of no concern to them. Since the Asgardians can’t make the Time-Twister’s see sense, they resort to violence.
Not far away, Derek wakes up and discovers that he is the lone survivor of his people’s attack on the Time-Twisters. Blaming Zarrko for their deaths he races into the time traveler’s citadel to try and confront him.
When Thor and the Warriors Three try to attack the Time-Twisters, they summon an army of soldiers from across history to do their fighting or them. Not willing to stand on the sidelines, Jane Foster picks up a discarded sword and joins the fight, confident that Sif’s warrior spirit will help her in battle. When Thor taps his hammer on the ground to create a storm he is surprised when Jane suddenly changes back into Sif between flashes of lightning. Eventually, the Asgardians fight off the time displaced warriors. However, before they can attack the Time-Twisters directly the cataclysm that follows their arrival begins and their foes teleport away. With the world dying all around him, Zarrko and his Servitor robot escape into the timestream leaving Thor and his allies behind. Although the entire planet with wiped away in unnatural disasters, Thor, Janet and the Warriors Three manage to survive. However, this means little now that they are trapped and their own era will be the next one destroyed by the Time-Twisters.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Zarrko the Tomorrow Man, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), “Odin”, Balder, Balder, Jane Foster, Servitor, Sif, Time-Twisters,
Continuity Notes
Alternate realities are abound in this story. Zarrko the Tomorrow Man’s 23rd Century future is actually an alternate reality. All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12 identifies it as Reality-6297. While Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #3 identifies this 50th Century world exists in Reality-7613. The Time-Twisters themselves come from Reality-761243 per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5.
Thor has loved Jane Foster since Journey into Mystery #83. When Jane failed a test of godhood, Odin ordered the two to be separated in Thor #136. More recently, Jane Foster re-entered Thor’s life when she was hanging on death’s door. She was eventually saved by Sif who merged her essence with Jane Foster, see Thor #231-236. This will remain the status quo until Thor #334-335.
Igron has been imprisoned since a failed coup of Asgard in Thor #217.
Balder has good reason to be disturbed as this is not actually Odin, but Mangog in disguise. How he replaced Odin is explained in Thor #250. Odin will remain missing until Thor #262.
Topical References
References to the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe takes place in the 20th Century should be considered topical references. The Sliding Timescale has pushed it forward in time that it does not begin until after the start of the 21st Century. As such, the Time-Twisters leap back in time every 30 centuries might actually be push forward to 31 centuries instead, either that or these time jumps are not as precise.
