Pickin’ Up the Pieces (The Mighty Thor #354) (1985)

Art and Story: Walter Simonson

Lettering: John Workman Jr.

Odin is gone, fallen into Muspelheim with his foe Surtur, and only Loki’s counsel prevents Thor from pursuing.

On Midgard, as well, the battle has been won, and the time has come to assess the consequences.

Sensing a disturbance, Hela, the Goddess of Death, arrives in Asgard.

Lost in thought, Thor contemplates Asgard’s loss and its consequences.

Although Sif tries to comfort him, Thor feels that he must spend time alone to truly grieve, so he requests that she ask Bill to be Midgard’s guardian for a time.

Frigga senses the loss of her husband.

Back on Earth, Sif delivers an incomplete account of how things stand.

And Loki and Lorelei begin to plot.

Hela observes Thor on his journey.

She strikes down his horse, leaving him at the mercy of an avalanche she has created.

Tales of Midgard, Home of the Amazing Human Race

A dangling plot thread is addressed as we look in on the erstwhile staff of the gone-but-not-forgotten Dr. Donald Blake.

Alerted to the concerns of mortal existence by the loss of his father, Thor sends Fandral, garbed in ridiculous 80s attire, to ensure that Dr. Blake’s loyal staffers are taken care of financially. A charming epilogue to one of the great Thor epics.

A relatively quiet issue, counting the cost of recent events and teeing up future threats.