Somewhere deep in space, a sun explodes, consuming its entire solar system apart from a single spaceship carrying what few survivors remain. Not only that, but whatever was responsible for the explosion sends a horde of fiery demons in pursuit. Heimdall senses the taint of Surtur aboard the ship and since Odin is weakened by his investigation in Muspelheim, Thor volunteers to go. The ship opens fire on him as soon as he arrives and once inside, he is attacked by its captain, Beta Ray Bill, who mistakes him for another of the demons pursuing them. At first it seems that Thor and Bill are evenly matched but Bill grabs hold of Mjölnir and smashes an astonished Thor into the deck.
Around this time, Sif returns to Odin, having found out from Heimdall that Thor has gone to face Surtur's forces alone and Odin uses his power to rescue him — or so he thinks. As Bill was holding the hammer at the time, he is brought to Asgard instead and clashes with the Warriors Three. Odin then summons Thor himself, who deduces that Bill had a run-in with Surtur and that he mistook them for Surtur's minions since they all wield Asgardian magic. Bill then explains that he is a member of the Korbinite race and that their homeworld was destroyed by the fire demons as seen in the intro. Gathering as many of their race as they could, they escaped onboard the Skuttlebutt but the demons pursued them. Seeing that Bill is a noble person who was worthy of lifting his hammer, Thor offers Mjölnir if it will help Bill save his people but Odin suggests that they go to the dwarves of Nidavellir for help. In return for a favor at a time of his choosing, the dwarf king forges a second hammer, Stormbreaker, and Thor, Bill, and Sif set off to do battle.
When they arrive, the fire demons are already tearing Skuttlebutt apart under the command of the Enchantress, who now sports a new, more demonic look. With their combined power, Thor and Bill are able to defeat her while Sif defends the remaining Korbinites in their cold sleep chamber with the help of Skuttlebutt's A.I. The day is saved and Bill earns the respect of the Asgardians, but Surtur is still at large.
Tropes:
- And I Must Scream: "The Enchantress is beyond help now."
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Beta Ray Bill effortlessly knocks around Balder and the Warriors Three.
- A Day in the Limelight: After sitting out most of the recent season Thor is both in focus and the only Avenger present.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Thor says this when he thinks the Enchantress is willingly helping Surtur:"Amora, how can you be in league with Surtur? You are Vanir. Good or evil, you believe in life. Surtur would see everything burn!"
- I Cannot Self-Terminate: The Enchantress begs Thor to kill her.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": The other Asgardians' reaction to Beta Ray Bill's sudden appearance in the throne room.
- Mythology Gag: The code for overriding the security system of Beta Ray Bill's spaceship, "337," matches the comic that introduced Bill, issue #337 of The Mighty Thor.
- The episode is basically the entire four-issue introduction of Beta Ray Bill brought down to 22 minutes, complete with the shot of Thor, Sif and Bill riding in the chariot drawn by Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. Even Bill's pre-Mjolnir costume is what he wore in #337.
- Papa Wolf: Odin."If you have harmed my son, you will pay with your life."
- Stranger in a Familiar Land: Thor admits he feels out of place in Asgard, while his thoughts are for Jane Foster.
- This Cannot Be!: Thor's reaction to Beta Ray Bill Mjölnir.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Sif to Thor:"Who are you? Because this is not the warrior I knew: filled with doubt and fear, longing for the company of mortals."
