Warning: contains a preview of Beta Ray Bill #2!
In an upcoming issue of Marvel Comics’ Beta Ray Bill, the mightiest ally of Thor is searching for Odin, the former All-Father of Asgard. This is because Bill’s hammer Stormbreaker has recently been destroyed, and the Korbinite warrior is determined to find a replacement so that that he can restore his more humanoid form. However, finding Odin may prove more difficult than Bill was initially expecting, although it also appears as though Bill has a stowaway aboard his battleship who may just join him in his quest to replace the hammer Odin once made for Bill years ago in Marvel Comics.
In prior issues of Marvel’s Thor from writer Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein, the God of Thunder and new king of Asgard came into conflict with Beta Ray Bill, as Thor had chosen to work with Galactus, the World Devourer. This led to a mighty brawl between the two brothers in arms, which sadly ended with Thor breaking Bill’s hammer Strombreaker. While Thor later gave Bill a new rank and title as Asgard’s Master of War as a gesture of goodwill, things still haven’t been the same for Bill. Not only are his actions being overshadowed by Thor’s heroics, but the first issue of the new Beta Ray Bill series sees Bill unable to transform back into his humanoid form without his hammer, trapped in his cyborg-horse form.
Now, Bill has embarked on a solo quest to find Odin in order to forge a new path with a new hammer at his side, traveling the stars in search of Thor’s father in a Marvel Comics preview for Beta Ray #2 from Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer. However, Bill discovers that he’s not as alone as he thought on a mission that was meant to be a solo venture. Enjoy the synopsis and preview pages for the upcoming issue:
VALHALLA IS CALLING, BETA RAY BILL! Bill goes hunting for Odin, still desperate to resurrect his lost hammer Stormbreaker – but the former King of Asgard is far from his glory days. Stormbreaker is never coming back…but there is one place where Beta Ray Bill could restore his full powers. The All-Father of nothing offers the Korbinite a path to immortality – at a price not even a god can afford. Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer’s off-the-rails tale of cosmic vengeance and barroom breakdowns continues here!
While the synopsis alludes to the fact that Bill is most likely going to be disappointed in his hopes to replace Stormbreaker, it appears as though Odin will be offering the Korbinite a different path to achieve what he’s looking for – a path which his stowaway, Skurge the Executioner, may have already traveled. Discovered aboard Skuttlebutt, Bill’s sentient battleship, Skurge reveals he was hilariously disappointed with Valhalla’s lack of guns, leading him to leave the Asgardian afterlife and return to the land of the living.
It looks as though Bill will indeed find success in hunting down Odin, though his real prize will remain elusive. It’s possible Bill will have to travel to Valhalla itself for the transformation he seeks, in which case Skurge’s prior experience will be invaluable. But while Beta Ray Bill claims to be looking for a replacement weapon, the series so far has suggested he’s more broadly dissatisifed with living in Thor‘s shadow. Here’s hoping that as his quest continues, Beta Ray Bill gets not just what he wants, but what he truly needs. Beta Ray Bill #2 hits retailers April 28.
