Thor #80-85/582-587 (2004): Disassembled; series ends

With these issues, the first big Brian Michael Bendis event is launched: Avengers Dissembled. The “big idea” was to “kill” the core Avengers lineup and then re-launch with characters who had more 21st Century appeal. It was a line-wide event that started with several solo books, and Thor came first.

It starts with Loki getting Surtur to create new mystic hammers using the mold that created Mjolnir. He gives them to himself and a few of Asgard’s most notable adversaries: Ulik the Troll, the leader of the Fenris wolves, and Hymer the Giant. Together they attack Asgard and immediately kill Enchantress and several others.

After his own hammer is destroyed, Thor flees to Earth to get help from his Avengers team-mates. But by the time Thor, Captain America and Iron Man get back to Asgard, the place is destroyed and many are dead. The heroes drive off Loki and his allies.

They hold a funeral then Thor sends Cap and Tony home–believing that this is the Ragnarok prophecy, which means Asgard must face it alone. (Although he does let Beta Ray Bill help so…This part of the story isn’t well thought out.)

We then get several magnificent issues of the epic war, leading up to Thor literally ripping off Loki’s head.

In a welcome humorous turn, Loki can live without his body. Thor ties him to his belt and takes him forth–to face the massive Surtur that arose once again as a result of Loki’s schemes. Time for one more, even more epic battle.

But in the end, Thor knows the war will only lead to complete annihilation of Asard.

So instead, he destroys Those Who Sit Above In The Shadows.

This cuts off Asgard from the other Nine Worlds (except Earth) and sends Thor into some kind of death-sleep (presumably similar to the Odinsleep).

That is where this series ends.

With that, Thor has been disassembled! There won’t be a new Thor solo book for over a year.