The outermost territory of the Sh’iar Galaxy. A planet that has been undergoing construction efforts after the Shi’ar people have relocated to this new area of space. It is here that that fearsome Galaxy Master has sought to spread his conquest—to the Shi’ar people! As his servants battle the Imperial Guard, Thor faces against the being known as the Galaxy Master, who appears before Thor as a shimmering form of energy, the center of which appears to be fanged teeth.

 

“Before I met the Hulk,”* the Galaxy Master comments, as Thor hovers before him, “I did not know of your world. Then, after I fought him the first time, I came to realize that there are beings from that world who would serve me well, as my heralds. I used the Abomination in that capacity, but have come to realize that I should not have been so limited in my use of your powerful contemporaries. The time has come for me to utilize the super-powered beings of the Earth…as soon as I have subdued this galaxy, and made the Shi’ar’s Imperial Guard bend to my will! With the forces of the Imperial Guard, and many of the Earth’s top powerhouses, there is no world that will not fall before me. I will soon achieve my objective of being the supreme ruler of the universe!”

 

[*In Incredible Hulk #111-112.]

 

“Thou stand before me as a shimmering beam of energy,” Thor counters. “Thou speak as though thou art one of great power, yet still do you fear to face me in single combat. Many art thine allies, yet still doth thee keep thy distance. I think thou art already governed…by thine own fear!”

 

“That is where you are wrong!” the Galaxy Master responds, even as he transforms into a large (15 feet-tall) hairless Cyclops, with huge arms that flail about like those of an octopus. He is gray in color, and his feet are without toes. “I can assume any form I so desire,” he explains, lifting a gigantic five thousand ton bolder over his head without effort, “and it pleases me to know that you will be defeated in the physical manner you know best!”

 

As Galaxy Master throws the boulder at Thor, the thunder god moves forward, his right fist coming forward to smash the bolder, which explodes from the impact with his fist, and shatters into thousands of small rocks, which fly off in all directions.

 

“Aye,” Thor responds, “Let the battle be joined then!”

 

 

INTERLUDE

 

Even as Thor battles the villainous Galaxy Master, a dark gathering is taking place in another dimension. It is a dark area, with heat and steam rising from crimson-red rivers, which flow along lifeless rocks and sand. The smell of sulfur is overwhelming, as is the intense heat.

 

In this dark, dismal landscape, a large castle stretches up well into the cavernous regions, stretching into the dark red sky. The castle is itself dark, cast of ebony bricks and mortar, and having an almost reptilian architecture. This is the home of the villainous Mephisto, and today, he is having a meeting with others who share at least his villainous intent.

 

Inside the castle is a large meeting room. Seated around the table are familiar faces, known throughout the galaxy for their power and evil. They are Pluto, Hela, Satannish, Set, and Dormammu. At the head of the table is the master of this realm—the dread Mephisto himself!

 

“What is the word, Mephisto?” Pluto asks. “I suspect that others start to suspect our actions. Even now, Zeus is having a meeting of others—I know not who, as they have cast a shadow o’er their meeting that I cannot penetrate—and I can only believe that it is us that they are discussing.”

 

“Your paranoia must be kept in check if we are to have any success,” Dormammu remarks, turning to face Pluto.

 

“Thy tongue will cost thee thy life!” Pluto returns, his hands surging with power. “’Twas not my decision to bring thee here. I have yet to see thy worth!”

 

Mephisto steps forward, waving his hand to stop the conflict. “He speaks truly,” Mephisto comments. “Your limited power does not justify a seat at this table. You are here only because you have something to offer—a means to that which we seek. If you fail to do so, you will find how quickly you can be removed, not just from this table, but from existence itself. I will tolerate no interference with my lead in this matter.”

 

Dormammu says nothing, but fumes under his fiery countenance. He can feel the glare of Pluto on him, although he does not look Pluto’s way.

 

“I have what we seek,” Satannish comments, lifting his hand to reveal a ruby-red gem that is uncut and flawless in design. “I have the Blood Crystal!”

 

“Excellent,” Mephisto responds with a nod. “Now, we must channel our power through it so that we can use it to free Cyterrack from his mystical prison, and bring about an end to our enemies!”

 

End of Interlude

 

 

Abomination explodes forward, slamming into Gladiator, grabbing him around the waist, and carrying him forward. The momentum of the Abomination’s explosive leap carries them against a mountain. The force of the leap, and their invulnerable bodies, sends them deep into the mountain, Gladiator assuming the initial impact of the blow with his back and head!

 

The Abomination, standing in the crater created by his and Gladiator’s body, slams his fist into Gladiator’s face, jerking his head back violently with the impact of his blow, even as he smiles a hideous smile. “You’re not dealing with cosmic lightweights now,” the Abomination comments in a mocking tone. “I’ve battled the Hulk on many occasions. And, at this restored power level, I nearly killed him!”**

 

[**True. This is a reference to Tales to Astonish #89-90.]

 

“Not everyone in outer space is a lightweight, Abomination!” Gladiator returns, delivering a blow to the Abomination’s mid-section that doubles him over and pushes him back against the interior of the mountain, shaking it to its very foundations! “You’ll find out just how powerful some of us are right now!”

 

Abomination puts up his two forearms, blocking Gladiator’s next blow! The villain then steps forward, slamming another powerful blow into Gladiator’s face! The impact of the blow sends him through the other side of the mountain, finishing the crater that was started with their conflict.

 

As Abomination steps through the crater, he looks around for Gladiator. Before he can find him, however, he is hit in the face with Gladiator’s eye beams. The blast of energy strikes him in between his eyes. The impact causes the Abomination to lose his footing on the ledge where he was standing, and plummet towards the ground two hundred feet below!

 

While the Abomination is still falling to the ground, Gladiator uses his heat vision to finish cutting through the mountain. He then flies over to it, disappearing inside. As the Abomination smashes into the ground, the very earth below shakes. However, a mere fall from this height cannot harm one with the Abomination’s power. He starts to rise to his feet, but is suddenly eclipsed in a shadow, as Gladiator flies overhead, carrying over his head the top half of the mountain, weighing millions of tons. He slams the top of the mountain on top of the Abomination, burying him beneath millions of tons of rock and granite!

 

 

Galaxy Master smashes another huge bolder down towards the mighty Thor, who raises his hammer defensively. The hammer, propelled by Thor’s massive strength, meets the bolder with the force of a megaton nuclear bomb, exploding the bolder into thousands of stone projectiles, many of which pelt the villain along the chest and face, causing him to turn his head slightly to the side.

 

Seizing the opportunity, Thor throws his hammer towards Galaxy Master. The thunder god’s aim is true, and the hammer slams against the villain’s face, with sufficient force to shatter the side of a mountain! Staggered by the sheer force of the hammer, which is even now returning to Thor’s waiting hand, the villain steps back on his toeless feet, trying to retain his balance!

 

“I know well of thy ways!” Thor comments, as he leaps into the air, grabbing the hammer with both hands, and bringing it around in a wide arc, slamming it into the Galaxy Master’s mid-section! “Thou art accustomed to having thy way with weak people, who are unable to defend themselves! E’en so, thou still art not accustomed to fighting thine own fights, but bring in villains from Midgard to do thy bidding!”

 

Nearly tumbling onto what would pass for knees, Galaxy Master directs his hands at Thor, who is still hovering before him. From his hands, he emits twin beams of cosmic force, which tear through the afternoon sky like a knife, slamming into Thor, and driving him back!

 

“It is true that I do not normally sully my hands in combat,” the villain returns, even as energy continues to erupt from his hands, “and am pleased to bring in heralds to do my bidding—to fight small conflicts, and make the people sufficiently pliable for my inevitable rule. Yet, do not be fooled into believing that I am not capable of fighting my own battles! That error would be your last!”

 

“There is no mistake, villain!” Thor responds, as he leaps into the air once more, propelled by the power of his own mighty leg muscles. He leaps upward, slamming his fist into the villain’s hideous face! The force of the blow causes the villain’s head to be jerked back. “It is clear why thou do not fight thine own battles! I hath seen thy like many times. You are like Galactus, who also uses ‘heralds’—not to call attention to his arrival, but rather to battle those he sought to consume. It is clear that thou do not fight thine own battles because thou art not capable of doing so!”

 

Still trying to retain his footing, Galaxy Master continues to send out blasts of cosmic energy towards Thor. The thunder god holds up his hammer, which absorbs the cosmic energy into itself.

 

 

A short distance away, Zzzaxx stands over the Hobgoblin, Impulse, and Smasher. Having just re-formed from Thor’s earlier attack, the electrical villain sends out waves of electrical energy at the heroes. Smasher leaps out of the way, avoiding the attack, while Hobgoblin transforms into a housefly, avoiding the blast. Impulse, however, sends out a blast of his own energy at the villain, striking his electrical energy full force and sending shockwaves from the collision of energy from the point of impact.

 

Even as Hobgoblin transforms into a creature resembling Goom,*** Smasher flies into the large villain, slamming his fist into the midst of the electrical energy that makes up the form of Zzzaxx! There are sparts that explode outward from the point of impact, even as the heroic Smasher battles the electrical villain.

 

[***Long-time readers will no doubt remember this monster from the monster days of late Atlas/early Marvel.]

 

Impulse leans forward, as a surge of energy erupts from his faceplate. The energy strikes Zzzaxx in the mid-section, even as Smasher slams his fist into the villain’s face. The ground shakes with the impact from the collision of the two powerhouses!

 

Hobgoblin, himself a twenty-foot monster, slams a double-fisted blow into the back of Zzzaxx’s head! The villain falls to his knees from the terrific impact of the blow. Smasher hovers overhead, sending out waves of cosmic energy from his eyes, blasting the already stunned Zzzaxx, seeking to keep him stunned and continue the attack.

 

“We’ve got to keep him off-balance!” Smasher thinks to himself, as he continues to send out blasts of energy from his eyes, keeping the villain on his knees. “I’ve seen how powerful he is.”

 

“Keep up the heat!” Impulse calls out, continuing to blast the villain with his own energy. “We’ve got him on the ropes!”

 

Hobgoblin, in the form of Goom, slams another blow into Zzzaxx’s back! The villain is still on his knees, and Hobgoblin continues to rain blow after blow on the villain’s back! “I’m working on it!” he offers.

 

Letting out a primal roar, Zzzaxx leans back, his body shivering with energy. “You will work no more!” he utters, as his body explodes outward, sending wave after wave of electrical energy at his opponents. They are all blown back from the force of the electrical explosion!

 

The counter-attack largely produced its desired result. Hobgoblin lies unconscious, having reverted back to his true form. Impulse lies on the ground, his arms outstretched, bent at the elbow, as he tries in vain to rise from the ground. Smasher, however, has already risen to his feet.

 

“Impressive!” Smasher comments, as he flies forward, towards the still shimmering Zzzaxx! The energy surrounding Zzzaxx is crackling, and he shows signs of having difficulty maintaining his form. “But futile! Your attack took too much out of you! And now,” Smasher says, leaping forward, and slamming a powerful blow into an already weakened Zzzaxx, causing him to explode outward, creating a bright flash of energy. “This battle is over!”

 

 

INTERLUDE II

 

Deep within the Dark Forest, Loki rises from his bedchambers. His lovely wife, Sigyn, stirs but does not awaken, as Loki sits upright in the bed. She lies on the bed, mostly covered with blankets, only her bare back and part of her derriere exposed by a break in the covers.

 

“I am not convinced that Grueber did not know of Sigyn’s return,” Loki silently muses. “While my plans would come to fruition much easier without her presence here, my plans are far too important to be interrupted by her interference.”

 

Loki rises from his bed, slipping on a pair of pants, even as he instinctively looks back at his still-sleeping wife, as if checking again to make sure that she is still sleeping. “I think she has been made content, at least for now,” Loki adds silently, rolling his eyes. “Yet, women are never satisfied for long. She will again require more attention from me—perhaps not long after she awakens. But, I cannot concern myself with that at the moment. There is much that requires my attention first.”

 

Putting on his tunic, Loki leaves the bedchamber, walking down the hallway, decorated with Nordic paintings, depicting battles, monsters, and scenes of destruction. “Grueber!” he calls out, careful not to raise his voice too much.

 

“Yes, master!” the troll rushes forward, his bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor. There is an unmistakable quiver in his shaky voice. He is always in fear of his master’s wrath, having seen it before—in those who did not return.

 

“It is time,” Loki responds, making his way down the hall, followed immediately by the still-terrified troll. Loki does not turn around to face the troll, but concentrates his attention forward. “Prepare the test subjects.”

 

End of Interlude

 

Thor holds his hammer before him, even as it crackles with the energy that it has absorbed from Galaxy Master’s earlier energy attack. He looks at the villain, still appearing as a giant Cyclops, through the cosmic energy emanating from Mjolnir! It is a stern look, and one of unquestionable determination.

 

“Thou hast been given thy chance,” Thor comments, a slight smile crossing his face. “Let us now see if thou doth like to receive thy energy as well as thou doth enjoy dishing it out!”

 

With that, the god of thunder directs his hammer at the cosmic menace, as the stored energy erupts from his hammer! The result is immediate and dynamic! The energy discharge lights up the late afternoon sky, as waves of energy surge towards Galaxy Master. He is buffeted by his own energy, and staggers backwards, falling onto his back!

 

As Thor flies towards his foe, pressing his attack, he notices that Galaxy Master is having difficulty retaining his assumed shape. His image is becoming more distorted, as he cries out in pain from the attack.

 

“That is not possible!” Galaxy Master utters fearfully, holding his arm out defensively, trying to avoid Thor’s coming attack, even as he tries to retain his form. Both are futile attempts. “No one can absorb such energy…”

 

“Obviously,” Thor responds, swinging his hammer forward, delivering a massive upper-cut with his hammer at what passes for Galaxy Master’s jaw! The jaw immediately disappears, as energy splatters out of the open wound like blood from the point of impact! “Thou art mistaken!”

 

As Thor leans inward, he delivers another powerful blow from his hammer at the villain’s head, causing it to likewise rip away the form that galaxy master had assumed. His head is replaced by flowing energy, which surges outward, bathing Thor’s arms and hands. If he notices this, however, he makes no indication of it.

 

Thor’s eyes are fixed on Galaxy Master, who is reverting back to his energy form, which resembles a large mouth, with energy flowing around its center. However, the energy is not flowing, but rather appears to be leaking, as Thor continues his assault on the villain with renewed vigor!

 

“Noooooo!” Galaxy Master utters in a fearful tone, his voice seeming a distance away.

 

“I will give thee the same mercy thou didst show thy victims!” Thor continues, slamming his hammer at the very mouth of the creature, shaking him violently, as energy leaks onto Thor, and the ground below!

 

As Thor continues to administer blow after blow to the Galaxy Master, his form shimmers and starts to fade from sight! Thor’s repeated blows have had their effect. The energy holding the villain together has become dispersed. As Thor swings again, he realizes that Galaxy Master is no more.

 

“THOR!” Smasher calls out. Seeing that Thor is still focused on where Galaxy Master was mere moments earlier, he calls again. “THOR!”

 

As if breaking out a trance, Thor turns, his hammer ready to strike a new foe. Smasher takes an involuntary step back, until Thor realizes that the battle has ended.

 

“Whoa!” Smasher calls out. “It’s over!”

 

“I don’t understand,” Electron asks, looking around. “Where did he go?”

 

“To the same place that he sent his victims,” Thor returns. Thor takes no notice of the slimy fluid that radiates from his arms and hands, the result of repeated blows to the very brain of Galaxy Master. “And a fate he doth share with Galactus.”

 

“Those are certainly two menaces the universe won’t be missing,” Tempest comments, nodding his head.

 

“It’s just a shame that Lilandra wasn’t here to see it,” Nightside remarks.

 

“How fared thee ‘gainst the others?” Thor asks Onslaught.

 

“Our foes are all defeated, Thor,” Gladiator responds, walking up to Thor, shaking his hand. “And we couldn’t have done it without your help. The Sh’iar are in your debt.”

 

Thor shakes his head. “’Tis not a matter for which I hold an account,” he comments with a smile.

 

As he talks with Gladiator, Mentor waves a small device up and down Thor’s arms, and the slimy substance disappears. “I hope you don’t mind, Thor,” Mentor asks. “I’d like the opportunity to analyze what remains of Galaxy Master.”

 

“Think nothing of it!” Thor responds. “His blood is thine.”

 

“And now, Thor,” Fang says, placing his hand on Thor’s back, leading him forward, “Let us show you how we celebrate victory in the Sh’iar galaxy!”

 

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