THOR: BLOOD OATH

Thor: Blood Oath #1               November 2005
Part 1 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Absorbing Man, Don Blake, Jane Foster, Heimdall, Odin, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Holth, Gnives, Balder, Frigga, Loki, Vidar

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Holth, 1st appearance of Gnives

Synopsis:  Thor is on Midgard, battling the Absorbing Man, and finally defeats him.  After changing back to Don Blake, he heads to the hospital and meets up with Jane Foster, where they discuss the day's events.  That night, Don has a dream where he sees his father Odin hanging from Yggdrasil, and the skulls of the Warriors Three on pikes.  He wakes up, changes to Thor, and heads to Asgard.  Once there, Heimdall tells him that the Warriors Three are on trial for murder.  He goes to Thingvellir and listens in on the Althing, and discovers what had happened.  The Warriors Three killed Holth by accident, and now stand accused of murder.  As Gnives is about to state the price for his son, Thor interrupts but is stopped by Odin.  Gnives tells Thor that he was not going to ask for their lives this day, but a Weird, and now Thor has linked his fate with theirs.  The Weird is to be three apples, the skin of a pig, a spear, a sword, and three shouts to be delivered on a hill when the tasks are done.  Volstagg quickly agrees, without hearing the specifics, unfortunately for them, because they are all virtually impossible tasks.  The last condition is that Thor cannot use Mjolnir in fighting.  Odin states that they shall complete the tasks, or death shall fall upon them, and shame upon the Gods.

Thor: Blood Oath #2                December 2005
Part 2 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Urd, Skuld, Verdani, Rattatosk, Lerad, Dionysus, Hercules

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Lerad

Synopsis:  Thor and the Warriors Three travel across the realms to begin their quest.  Their first destination is Yggdrasil to retrieve three apples from the top, guarded by Lerad.  During their climb, they come across Rattatosk, and in exchange for some seeds from Idunn's apples, Rattatosk tells them what he knows of Lerad.  When they reach the top, Volstagg goes forth alone to challenge Lerad, while the others wait in hiding for the chance to get the apples.  The first challenge is a drinking contest, which despite his mighty appetite, Volstagg loses.  The second contest is of strength.  Volstagg challenges Lerad to blow him off his feet.  While Lerad is distracted, the others steal the apples and start down the tree.  They are beset by a group of eagles called by Lerad.  They are almost knocked off Yggdrasil, when Thor uses Mjolnir to transport them to their next destination.  They land in a river and are immediately swept over a waterfall.  When they reach the shore, Thor tells them that they are in Olympus, home of the Greek Gods.  Later that night, around the campfire, they are met by a hooded stranger, who tells them that he was waiting for them.  He tells them that if they feed him, he will take them to the wine they seek - the wine of Dionysus.  The next day, the stranger reveals himself to be Dionysus.  He tells them that several months ago, a friend came by and now won't leave and has essentially stolen his wine and pig.  The Asgardians tell him that they will help him, if they can borrow the pig for a time.  They cross over the hill to see the "friend" - Hercules.

Thor: Blood Oath #3               December 2005
Part 3 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Hercules, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Hermes, Zeus, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Poseidon

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  Thor and the Warriors Three have come to Olympus to retrieve a mystic pig from Dionysus, but first they have to get it from Hercules.  While the gods of Olympus watch, Thor and Hercules battle back and forth.  After a devastating collision, Hercules gets Thor in a headlock, while the skies overhead darken.

Thor: Blood Oath #4                January 2006
Part 4 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Hercules, Hermes, Apollo, Zeus, Poseidon, Artemis, Dionysus, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Melanie, Chad, Froud, Chulain

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Melanie, 1st appearance of Chad, 1st appearance of Froud, 1st appearance of Chulain

Synopsis:  Thor calls upon the lightning that is his birthright, to strike Hercules and "shock" some sense into him.  The contest is called a draw, and Dionysus has his pig and wine back.  Thor and the Warriors Three then transport themselves to Ireland to retrieve the spear Slaughter.  They enter the realm of Avalon, where they are met by Froud, who takes them to where Slaughter is kept.  He tells them that they can borrow it if they will soothe a human infant they have stolen.  Outraged, Thor grabs the babe while Hogun grabs Slaughter and they leave the realm.  But Hogun can't hold it for long, and the "babe" turns out to be none other than Chulain himself.  Chulain calls Slaughter to him and uses it to cut off Volstagg's head.

Thor: Blood Oath #5                February 2006
Part 5 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Chulain, Melanie, Chad, Gnives, Demons of Mikaboshi, Grasscutter Guardians, Grasscutter Spirits

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Demons of Mikaboshi, 1st appearance of Grasscutter Spirits, 1st appearance of Grasscutter Guardians

Synopsis:  Thor, Fandral, and Hogun continue to battle Chulain.  He uses Slaughter to slice open Hogun and impale Thor.  Fandral finally manages to wound him, but Chulain knocks him away.  But before Chulain can strike again, Hogun flattens him with a car, and then begins to wail on him with his mace.  Chulain calls Slaughter to him, but Hogun grabs it out of the air and keeps it from him.  While Chulain crawls away back into Avalon, Fandral uses the skin of Dionysus' pig to help calm the spear.  But it's too late for Volstagg and Thor, but Thor's last words give Fandral hope.  He pulls the Apple of Lerad from the bag and puts a piece into Thor's mouth, reviving him.  They put a slice into Volstagg's mouth, and the magic brings him back to life as well, even if he is without a body.  Then using Mjolnir, they transport themselves away.  Meanwhile, Gnives is upset at their progress and says that he has favors to call upon in Nornheim.  Thor and the Warriors Three arrive in Japan, and they see that they must get through an enormous battle between the Demons of Mikaboshi and the Grasscutter Guardians.  They barrel their way through and into the temple, only to meet the Grasscutter Spirits.

Thor: Blood Oath #6                February 2006
Part 6 of 6

Writer:  Michael Avon Oeming
Artist:  Scott Kolins
Inker:  none
Letters:  Dave Lanphear

Appearances:  Grasscutter Spirits, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Grasscutter Guardians, Sons of Toth, Ulik, Toth, Odin, Gnives, Ulif, Njord, Holth, Don Blake, Jane Foster

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Toth, 1st appearance of Ulif, 1st appearance of Sons of Toth

Synopsis:  Thor and the Warriors Three are shocked when the Grasscutter Spirits just give up the sword, because that is what ties them to this world, and with it gone, they can go on to their rightful rest.  They then transport themselves to Egypt where they are met by the Sons of Toth, who guard the hill to keep it quiet.  While Thor, Fandral, and Volstagg keep them busy, Hogun runs to the top of the hill and gives three shouts, completing their tasks.  Just then, he is struck my Ulik, who was waiting to stop them.  They then transport back to Asgard, where war is about to break out, when Ulif tells them all to stop.  She never wanted war, all she wanted was her son to have an honorable burial.  If Thor and the Warriors Three give him one, she will deal with her husband.