Thor (1998 series) #15

As Odin watches over Asgard now that the Dark Gods have been vanquished and the realm rebuilt, he is interrupted by his Grand Vizier Tarakis. Tarakis reports that Thor’s hammer Mjolnir is embedded in the wall of an alley in New York. Odin summons the Warriors Three, Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg, and orders them to go to Midgard to find out what has happened to Thor and to give him all possible help. Tarakis then gives Odin a potion to restore his strength….

Thor, meanwhile, is entrapped in the body of the mortal Jake Olson who is in the hospital after a heart attack, while the police are waiting to arrest him. He learned from Enrakt last issue that the long ago enemies known as the Enchanters, Magnir, Forsung, and Brona are behind this evil. Flashbacks show how Thor battled Magnir who was able to take control of Mjolnir that way Enrakt has recently been doing. Finally Odin himself fought Forsung, killed him, destroyed the Living Talisman, and banished the other two to the Lost Limbo of Infinity Unending. But now Thor/Jake is helpless, unable to summon his hammer…

…which people have been trying to pull out of the wall as a TV news crew has discovered…

…while Jake broods. Hannah arrives and is very concerned for him as the police claim he is a drug dealer. Thor in Jake denies it. Lt. O’Neil arrives and assures Jake the case against him is strong and advises him to confess. Hannah insists the case must be circumstantial, suggesting they ask Jake’s partner Demitrius. Then O’Neil unveils the big surprise: Demitrius Collins is an undercover cop and he was the one who assembled all the evidence. Hannah slaps Demitrius for betraying his best friend. Demitrius assures her that Jake was using her, borrowing her keys to steal pharmaceuticals and the like. She runs out crying. Jake continues to deny it while Thor wonders whether Jake really is guilty. Dr. Jane Foster enters and orders the cops out of the room as Jake is still recuperating from his heart attack. Jane knows he is Thor and he asks for help and she agrees to do anything for him….

Back at the alley, a sign has been posted by the hammer claiming that whoever pulls it from the wall is the rightful King of America. The place now has a carnival atmosphere with balloons, entertainment, and people lining up for a chance to try the hammer. The Warriors Three arrive and are disgusted at this show of mortal madness, though Volstagg is attracted by the food vendors nearby. To make sure that this is the genuine Mjolnir, Hogun touches it and Enrakt emerges and challenges them….

Meanwhile in Asgard, Odin is woken from sleep to discover the Enchanters Magnir and Brona ready to take their vengeance for the death of Forsung….

At the hospital, the police discover that Jane has disguised Jake as Dr. Keith Kincaid to escape. O’Neil catches up to them outside and orders Jake to stop or he’ll shoot. Jake doesn’t stop so O’Neil shoots….