Thor #403 May 1989
"When the Executioner Calls!"
Thor battles Quicksand,
but it’s just a distraction.
Mongoose and his shadowy partner activate a device which takes skin samples from Thor.
In Asgard, waves of dizziness and nausea plague the Asgardians, with no known cause.
The Enchantress has apparently found her new champion – Brute Benhurst.
She gives him the Bloodaxe, transforming him into the new Executioner.
Thor battles this new warrior, but realizes that it’s not really Skurge when he backhands young Kevin.
Thor unleashes his full might, and defeates him.
But Odin is enraged that Thor ignored an imperial summons, and pulls him to Asgard.
Script by Tom DeFalco (plot and script) and Ron Frenz (plot),
pencils by Ron Frenz,
inks by Joe Sinnott (finishes)