On the docks of New York City, the Wrecking Crew — composed of Bulldozer, Piledriver, Thunderball, and the Wrecker — are raiding a shipment of Stark Industries technology on the orders of their mysterious boss. They quickly find their target: a Gamma Energy Emitter, but are not able to get away before first responders show up. It is also revealed that New York has instituted an official designation for an emergency involving superpowered beings: Code Blue. The police bring as much power as they can to bear, including a SWAT team, but they are no match for the raw power of the Wrecking Crew. Fortunately they are saved by the timely intervention of Thor the Thunderer and his mighty hammer. After the supervillains are rounded up, Thor's eye is drawn to a young paramedic who stayed to treat the wounded even in the face of hopeless odds and despite her lack of any superhuman abilities. When he questions her as to why...
The young woman introduces herself as Jane Foster. The God of Thunder awkwardly tries to introduce himself but is interrupted by a summons from Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifrost. Asgard is under siege and he must return immediately. A fell wind blows through the home of the gods and the threat reveals itself: Frost Giants. Many of them, and at the head of their army is Loki the Trickster. The Asgardians fight valiantly but are powerless before the assault and the outer walls are breached. Thor leaps into the fray without hesitation, accompanied by his faithful comrades-in-arms Sif and the Warriors Three. After a long and hard battle, the Frost Giants are repelled and Loki is forced to confront Thor personally. With his magic and Thor's unwillingness to fight against his half-brother, Loki gains the upper hand and remains deaf to Thor's pleas for him to return to the fold.
Finally Thor has had enough and smites Loki. He then drags the Trickster in chains before his father Lord Odin, who demands that Loki account for his actions. Not only has he betrayed the god who took him in and made him one of his own sons, Loki did so just as Odin was about to enter the Odinsleep, which he must do in order to recharge his powers and continue protecting Asgard. Loki is unrepentant and spits on Odin's name, enraging him even further. As punishment, Loki is banished to the Isle of Silence where he will not be able to hear anything or anyone, a fitting punishment for a being of lies and deception.
With that matter settled, Odin commands Thor to watch over Asgard while he enters the Odinsleep, but Thor wishes to stay on Earth, which the Asgardians know as Midgard, and protect the mortal realm. Odin refuses, believing that mortals are stronger than Thor gives them credit for and that they can handle themselves, whereas he has responsibilities to fulfill. Thor calls him out, accusing him of manipulating all Asgardians, and continues the fine family tradition of unwisely provoking the wrath of beings far more powerful than himself. Before Odin can say anymore, however, Thor storms off and returns to Midgard. Unbeknownst to anyone but the viewer, his departure is observed by a mysterious sorceress in green.
On the Isle of Silence, Loki broods and his memories reveal pieces of his master plan. He provoked the Frost Giant invasion by telling them that the Asgardians were massing against them and providing assurances that Thor would be dealt with. In disguise as the Wrecking Crew's mysterious leader, he ordered them to steal the Gamma Energy Emitter, thus engineering the meeting between Thor and Jane Foster, which he then exploited by suggesting to Odin (in the guise of Baldur) that Thor's interest in mortals was more than professional. The woman in green frees Loki from the Isle of Silence and he indulges in a bit of old school gloating over the unsuspecting heroes.
Tropes:
- Captured on Purpose: Loki intended this.
- The Chessmaster: Siccing the Wrecking Crew on Thor and getting caught were all part of Loki’s plan.
- Mythology Gag:
- Thor wears his classic Jack Kirby costume, with very few tweaks bar it being a heavily stylised version of the original outfit that Thor has worn since his debut.
- The fact that the Wrecking Crew try to steal a Gamma Ray Emitter refers to the Wrecking Crew's first comic appearance that had them tasked with stealing a Gamma Bomb.
- Loki, the Norse god of mischief, appears as if he just jumped off the comic page with his oversized horned helment and classic garish yellow and green costume completely intact.
