| For alternate versions of the Battle of Puente Antiguo, see the Battle of Puente Antiguo's Event Hub |
The Battle of Puente Antiguo was an armed engagement that arose between the Destroyer, sent by Frost Giant Loki, against his adopted brother Thor, a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, as well as Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, that took place in the town of Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.
Loki, intent on maintaining the throne, sent the Destroyer, a giant automaton who was the guardian of Odin's Vault, to Puente Antiguo to prevent Thor's return upon his discovery that the Warriors Three had traveled there to Earth to end his banishment. Using the Destroyer, Loki subdued the Warriors Three and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stationed there, but was ultimately defeated when Thor sacrificed his life for his friends, proving himself worthy to wield Mjølnir once again, which restored his powers and allowed him to defeat the Destroyer.
Thor then requested the aid of Heimdall to transport him and the Warriors Three back to Asgard in order to cease Loki's plans to use the Bifrost Bridge to destroy Jotunheim.
Background[]
Sif and the Warriors Three travel to Midgard
With Thor was exiled to Earth and Odin fell into the Odinsleep, the only eligible temporary replacement as king was Loki. Loki was a destructive king whose only plans were to get the love of Odin and to kill Thor.
The Warriors Three and Lady Sif, unhappy with Loki's rule, attempted to discover a way to end Thor's exile, convincing Heimdall, gatekeeper of the Bifrost Bridge and the means of traveling between worlds, to allow them passage to Earth. After their arrival, the four Asgardians were watched by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Cale and Garrett.[4]
Battle[]
The Destroyer attacks Phil Coulson and his colleagues
- "I saw her fight in New Mexico with Thor – climbed a giant metal killing machine, speared it with her double-bladed sword. It was pretty badass."
- ―Phil Coulson to Melinda May[src]
Thor rejoiced to see them before they informed him that Odin was alive and that Loki was king. They saw another wormhole in the distance and realized that Loki had sent the Destroyer after them.
Thor, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig and Darcy Lewis began to evacuate Puente Antiguo as the Warriors Three and Sif formulated a plan to stop the Destroyer. The Destroyer began attacking the town, destroying everything in its path, knocking back the Warriors Three before being seemingly stopped by Sif's sword. However, the Destroyer simply rearranged its body to face Sif, seeming unstoppable.
Thor told them to fall back and that he had a plan. Thor approached the Destroyer and spoke to Loki through it, telling his brother that he was sorry but that he could not allow Loki to kill the innocent people, instead offering himself. Loki seemingly relented before using the Destroyer to land a blow that would prove fatal to Thor in his mortal form. Jane came to the dying Thor's aid and sat with him before he died. Mjølnir then flew to Thor and returned his powers, as he was now made worthy by his sacrifice to others.
Thor, now fully healed and powered, created a tornado around the Destroyer and engaged it, deflecting its beams before disabling it. Thor then told the arriving Agent Phil Coulson that he must return Jane's research if he wanted his help in the future as they fought on the same side.
Thor bidding farewell to Jane Foster
Thor promised to show Jane the Bifrost Bridge and flew her to the Bifrost site. Asking to open the Bifrost, Heimdall did not respond. The Warriors Three and Sif arrived, but he still did not reply. Heimdall eventually responded, and opened the Bifrost. The Asgardians returned to Asgard.[4]
Aftermath[]
- "Earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that leveled a small town. We learned that not only are we not alone, but we are hopelessly, hilariously, outgunned."
- ―Nick Fury to the Avengers[src]
In Asgard, Thor flew to Odin's Chamber to see his mother Frigga and Loki, who was shocked to see him. Thor revealed Loki's deception. Loki said he did it all to impress his father and to be Thor's equal.
Loki also said he would destroy Jotunheim using the Bifrost Bridge and attacked Thor, who refused to fight his brother until Loki threatened to visit Earth and attack Jane Foster. Loki sent Thor flying through the wall of the chamber and headed to the Himinbjorg where he began the process of destroying Jotunheim.
The Himinbjorg falling down to a wormhole
Thor managed to hold Loki down on the Rainbow Bridge by placing Mjølnir on top of him and went to stop the Bifrost, but it was too far gone to stop. Thor did not want to destroy the Bifrost because then he could not return to Earth to see Foster. But, for the sake of the Nine Realms, he called Mjølnir to him and began destroying the Rainbow Bridge, causing the Bifrost to fall away from Asgard in a mighty explosion. Thor and Loki were caught by Odin, who returned from the Odinsleep. Loki revealed that he did it all for Odin before letting go and falling into the abyss.[4]
Back in New Mexico, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents recovered the damaged remains of the Destroyer for study.[2]
Humans, especially the World Security Council, realized that they were not alone in the universe and began building weapons to compensate for the threat of alien invasion, named Phase 2.[5]