From Ancient Asgard he comes, The Prince of that Realm, an immortal warrior whose heritage is tied both to the realm eternal as well as Earth itself ! He stands for honor and is a divine force for good in the eternal struggle . His Strength of arm is second to none and it swings the mystic hammer Mjolnir for all that is just and right ! He is The Mighty THOR, God of Thunder ! And all the forces of the storm are his to command!
Splash page: Blackness cut by a burning torch and two disembodied voices
Voice 1 : "Is the neural collar on?"
Voice 2: "yes, yes it is."
Voice 1: " Good. He's awakening finally."
Page 2
The large Blonde man sits up rubbing his head . He is shirtless and wears a breach cloth and
nothing else .
Man : "Wha-where am I ? Verily my thoughts are hazy and I-I cannot remember who I am !"
The first alien being moves over and places his hand on the large mans shoulder. They are grey
skinned with mottled flesh. They wear high hats atop their heads.
Page 3
Alien 1 : "relax my friend, you took a serious blow to your head in the arena. Think now, your
name is Gardox, you are a neophyte gladiator in the great games. In fact this was your first
match."
Alien 2: "Yes, you in fact have a chance to return to that match and complete it, as befits rules of
the game towards a newcomer, but you must decide now."
Alien 1 : "Indeed, it will go greatly towards paying off your servitude to your new masters."
Gardox : "Masters ?? What Masters ? I am no mans slave, verily in truth I know not what I am,
but I do indeed know I am a free Go--A free...."
Page 4
Alien 2 : (Whispering to the other)"Turn up the rectifier, his memories are already burning
through the layer of bedlam we're inducing across his mind ."
Alien 1: "Yes, yes."
The two creatures scurry about while "Gardox" holds his pounding head.
Gardox : "My head doth pound and ...ahh finally the pain has receded. Now what were we
discussing?"
Alien 1 : " Your battle, do you wish to continue it?"
Page 5
Gardox stands and walks around the room, flexing his great muscles
Gardox : "Aye, I would like to continue, for I am a warrior born and battle is my life. Show me
my prey !"
Both aliens smile at each other.
Gardox and the two aliens walk down a long stone corridor, lit by flaming sconces set in the
walls.
Page 6
Gardox : "I remember none of this, and yet I feel as if I've always been here. You say I am
indentured to thee ?"
Alien 2 : "Yes my friend, but only for a short time. Within a few easy years of arena combat
you'll pay your way to freedom, and in the meantime you will be treated as family, free to enjoy
the pleasures of our hospitality."
Gardox : "Hhmm. Mayhap this is so. It doth seem correct , and yet...and yet..."
Page 7
Alien 1 (To the second alien, again in a whisper) : "incredible, his mind is still trying to reassert
itself."
Alien 2: " I know brother. His mind is incredible, there appears to be something almost Divine
about him."
Alien 1 : "It is of no matter. He is a slave and will war for us. As we both know , no one survives
the arena for more then a few months . He'll never be free."
Page 8
The three come to a great opening in the arena, exiting the tunnel into a world of pandemonium !
Thousands of different species fill the great arena. Vid screens hover throughout the upper
levels, showing the just concluded match. Gardox notes with some strange feeling he can't seem
to put a finger on that it almost angers him as the body of a warrior is carried out. But this is
something he's always done, or at least for a while . The smell of the arena, the fevered action,
all these things make Gardoxs' blood boil.
Page 9
Alien 2 : " Your first foe will enter from a cross the arena . He will be brandishing weapons. As a
newcomer to THIS arena , you will have none, but you already know that, don't you?"
Gardox : "Aye, I-I think I do at the least."
Alien 1 : "You'll do fine, after all , what's a few cuts and bruises along the way to greater glory?"
Both Aliens depart as Gardox slowly makes his way to the center of the open air arena. The
screams of the arena fill the air as the crowd rises to its feet at his presence.
Page 10
Gardox :( This still does not feel aright. I do not comprehend what hath happened here, but this
is just NOT RIGHT !)
Suddenly from the other end of the arena a cheer goes out as a massive blood red form strides
forth. Its scaled flesh covers massive muscles as a forked tongue flicks in and out of a massive
head. Curiously it's hands are hidden behind its back. Gardox stands stock still , and awaits the
creatures approach.
Creature : " My name is Kroven. I salute you and your coming death. I never lose."
Page 11
Kroven removes his hands from behind his back in each hand he brandishes a different weapon,
in all FOUR hands.
Cut to the Starcruiser T'Kau, specifically the bridge.
K'RUUK : "Helm, how much longer until we reach the Earth? "
Helmsman : "Sir, it will take us at least another six hours in our damaged condition.* I cannot accelerate past one third full hyperwave."
* the T'Kau was severely damaged while battling Ego alongside Thor and Gladiator.
Page 12
K'RUUK : "Where is Gladiator ? "
Charuk : "Where he has been the past week Captain."
K'RUUK almost smiles at this. After all that has been lost recently, the Rigellian homeworld,
just countless lives. and Thor himself, there is one good thing that has come of this. K'RUUK
raises from his command chair.
K'RUUK : " Comm officer Charuk, you have the Chair."
Page 13
Without another word he exits the bridge and walks slowly down corridors filled with
technicians working triple shifts to bring the ship back to some semblance of its old self. Finally
he rounds a final corner and enters a cargo bay. With a slight whoosh the doors open . There
stands Gladiator, gripping the handle of Mjolnir and straining with all his prodigious might.
K'RUUK : "Give up Gladiator. You cannot lift that mallet. Only one who is worthy can lift that
hammer, as the inscription says."
Gladiator turns, anger riveted across his face.
Page 14
Gladiator : "Are you trying to say I am not worthy of this ? I am The Praetor of the Imperial
Guard. I serve the glory of the Shi'ar empire. How can I not be worthy ? I am a hero !"
K'RUUK : "Perhaps you are a hero Gladiator, but you do not understand the true nature of
heroism . You are a hero by decree, not by choice. That is where you and Thor differ."
K'RUUK turns and exits as Gladiator redoubles his efforts to lift the hammer.
Page 15
K'RUUK : (Since we transported his unconscious form and that hammer aboard Gladiator has
done nothing but try to prove his worth. He will never understand.)
Cut to earth, Warhammer enterprises.
Jerry Sapristi shuffles paperwork and signs checks as a note comes across his desk, from a
secretary.
Jerry : "Awright! Miss. Gables, get me the mayors office." (Can't believe it, another big contract
in such a short time. When Sig gets back from wherever he is he's gonna freak out .)
Business is good at Warhammer, but what of Thor ?
Page 16
Gardox is pinned to the ground by two arms, as Kroven holds a battle axe above with one other
and a massive hammer with another. Gardox's eyes are pinned on that hammer.
Kroven : "Fight little pink skin, fight ! Why do you lay there, with eyes glazed over?"
Gardoxs' mind is in turmoil. Kroven called him "Gladiator" and suddenly images of a being with
blue skin and a strange hair style blasted through his mind. First he was in battle against this
strange man, then other images of himself fighting side by side with him. But the hammer in
Krovens hand is what draws his attention, and rivets him to it !
Page 17
Kroven : "Very well then pink skin if you won't give the crowd what they want, then I'll have to
kill you fast !"
He brings the Axe down fast and hard toward Gardox's throat, suddenly the fog lifts from
Gardoxs' mind and he twists to the side as the axe barely misses him. Gardox slams his right arm
backwards, hammering Kroven across his back and sending him flying across the arena.
Throom !
Gardox : "Enough dog ! You will pay for your affront !"
Page 18
Gardox grabs the massive war Mallet out of Krovens hand as the giant fights his way to his feet.
Gardox : " This battle is over monster, NOW !"
PA-KOW !
Gardox swings the massive hammer, slamming the stunned creature across the arena, to land
unconscious in the dirt.
Gardox : "Count that as thy first defeat Kroven."
Page 19
Gardox turns as the crowd goes wild, the cheering is deafening
Crowd : "GAR-DOX! GAR-DOX! GAR-DOX! "
Gardox : (Unngh, again my head practically bursts with pain, what is this ?)
The two aliens make their way out onto the arena floor, calling to Gardox in quick hurried
voices.
Alien 1 : "Come my friend, your day here is over. Come with us now, back to your home."
Gardox : "My ....Home ?"
Suddenly images of a faraway realm of golden spires and endless fields fill his mind, as he sees
himself flying above those spires, pulled by an enchanted mallet, and then suddenly all goes
black.
Page 20
When Gardox awakens he finds himself in a dank dark place. The smell of dampness fills his
nostrils. Rubbing his head he turns and grabs the steel bars that block the doorway to his "home".
As he does writhing agony explodes in the base of his skull, dropping him to his knees.
Voice from the darkness: "I tried that already pal. Forget about it. Every time we touch those
things our brains short out. It's no fun."
Gardox : "Who speaks show yourself. Lest I come looking for you."
Voice: "Relax big guy, we're both in this together. Who are you?"
Gardox : "They tell me my name is Gardox, but this does not have the ring of truth to it."
Page 21
The owner of the voice steps from the shadows.
Voice: "Yeah, they tried that fake name stuff with me too, but I remembered mine after a week
or two."
Gardox: "How long hath thou been here? And in truth who art thou?"
The youthful owner of the voice steps fully into view, the golden bands around his wrists
glowing energy between them
Voice: "One thing at a time, I been here about a month, and as far as who I am, well my buds
call me Genis, but you can call me Captain Marvel !"
Next: "Make sure to pick up Captain Marvel #70 at an Internet connection near you, then be
back here for the final chapter of our story in Thor #515.
Letters! We got some and want more ! Check 'em out , then write write write !
Ralph, I just read the two newest issues of Thor. You've definitely
captured the appeal of Thor (for me, anyway) in these two - big,
earthshaking action. I loved seeing Gladiator take a beating at Thor's
hands - it's the match I've been waiting for since Eric Masterson's
showdown with Gladiator in Thor 445. Can't wait to see what you've got
planned next!
Cheers,
Matt