Thor (2009 series) #606

Outside the walls of Doctor Doom’s castle, Loki wields his magic to keep the Lady Kelda alive without her heart. Meanwhile, the Doom-controlled Destroyer hurls Thor through a wall and out into the forest. As Thor takes on the Odinpowered foe he calls to Balder to send someone else to recover Kelda’s heart. The King himself enters the lab and must slay one of his former friends turned monster. He also discovers the mutilated bodies of Asgardians in stasis tubes; overwhelmed with guilt for his decision to bring them to Latveria, Balder chooses to release them from their torment….

Outside Thor and the Doom-Destroyer battle violently until the outraged justice of the God of Thunder rises to a fever pitch and he smashes the armor to pieces—and discovers the Doom inside is yet another robot double. Kelda’s heart is restored and she is revived but without Bill she does not consider herself to be alive. Doom has fled and no vengeance against his downtrodden nation would seem just. Balder orders them home to Asgard in Broxton, and Thor must continue his exile as the law demands….

Later, Loki, in the safety of Asgard, speaks to Doctor Doom via a mystical connection. The trickster tells Doom that though the main plan has failed, several good things did come of it. By reviving the slain Kelda, Loki is again the trusted advisor of King Balder and Doom fought Thor and survived. Loki offers an insincere apology for not having teleported Doom away sooner—but how was he to know Doom was really on the brink of defeat? A disgruntled Doom returns to his lab, bearing a sample of fluids from Loki….

Jane Foster arrives in Broxton to check on Don Blake and in the castle, Balder broods over the danger he put his people in while Loki assures him their future is as bright as it could be….