Summary

• Thor is taking on the Champion of the Universe, with the Power Stone as the prize.
• The Champion has bested everyone from Hulk and Juggernaut to the Silver Surfer and Gladiator.
• Immortal Thor Annual #1 is coming from Marvel Comics July 17.

In a new quest for the Infinity Stones, Hulk look puny. While the Champion of the Universe may not be a household name like the Green Goliath and God of Thunder, his past victories are a list of Marvel's strongest characters, and he's laid out everyone from Drax the Destroyer to the Juggernaut to the Hulk himself.

In the Immortal Thor Annual #1, Thor will seek out the current bearer of the Power Stone, Otherone - aka the Prince of Power. A galactic mercenary who has worked with the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Prince of Power recently merged with the Power Stone, giving him an enhanced physique and the power to imbue others with immense power. However, Otherone is a deeply inexperienced hero, and so Thor's mission to collect the Stone should go without a hitch... at least until the Champion arrives.

Unfortunately for All-Father Thor, Thanos stole it for his Infinity Gauntlet plot. That means that Thor won't just be competing against an irresponsible powerhouse strong enough to destroy a planet, but also a galactic warrior who has bloodied his knuckles against everyone from Gladiator to Thor's sworn brother Beta Ray Bill.

Marvel is assembling a new Infinity Watch team - the group who safeguard the Infinity Stones and stop them falling into the wrong hands.

Thor Is Taking on the Champion of the Universe

The Infinity Watch Event Will Unite a Major New Team

In recent comics, Thanos succeeded in a seemingly possible task - he captured Death herself within an artifact forged within a black hole, creating a seventh Infinity Stone, the Death Stone. Now, Thanos is on a quest to seek out the other Infinity bearers. This mission will play out in the 'Infinity Watch' event taking place across Marvel's 2024 annuals, beginning in June 26's Thanos Annual #1. Immortal Thor Annual #1 will include the third part of this story and reveal the fate of the Power Stone. The current Infinity Stone bearers are:

Already, the 'Infinity Watch' event promises some major consequences. First, fans will learn the identity of the mysterious Mind Stone bearer, as well as being introduced to the Death Stone bearer (who may or may not be Thanos himself.) The event will also gather a new Infinity Watch team - a group traditionally tasked with safeguarding the Infinity Stones and keeping them from falling into the wrong hands. It may be that the Prince of Power ends up on this new Infinity Watch, however it's just as likely that the Champion will wrest back control of his ages-old weapon.

Thor and the Champion of the Universe first fought in 1982's Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, but the God of Thunder was disqualified...

Why the Champion of the Universe Is So Powerful

No-One Else Has Beaten Hulk, Thing & Juggernaut... In the Same Day

The Champion is a member of the group known as the Elders of the Universe - beings whose origins stretches back to the first sentient species after the Big Bang. Possessing the Power Primordial, Elders of the Universe tend to be immortal and incredibly powerful - indeed, the Champion's allies the Grandmaster and Collector have proved their godhood many times over. Each of the Elders has committed their ancient lives to mastering one aspect of existence, and the Champion's chosen field is combat. He has spent the entire existence of sentient life in the universe tracking down and defeating worthy challengers. Indeed, in various gladiatorial bouts, the Champion has beaten all Marvel's strongest characters, from She-Hulk to the Fantastic Four's Thing. Indeed, in Marvel Adventures - Hulk #12​​​​​​​ (by Paul Benjamin and Steve Scott), the Champion crushed the Thing, Juggernaut, and the Hulk one after the other.

Throughout his adventures, the Champion has wielded the Power Stone, which it's theorized is attracted to him because he is the ultimate master of physical power. While the Champion has lost the Stone several times - either through trickery or due to someone else claiming it - it has returned to him again and again, granting him physical power even Hulk can't match. The Champion combines his strength with eons worth of martial training, making him a terrifying combatant with the Stone or without it.

Thor and Tryco first fought in 1982's Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, when the Champion challenged Marvel's strongest heroes. Thor was quickly disqualified due to the use of his hammer, and the Champion was only ultimately satisfied by the Thing, who had no chance of beating him but showed enough warrior spirit to satisfy Tryco's challenge. Thor has grown in power immensely since that fight, but with the issue summary confirming that Champion is still Thor's match as All-Father, it's clear that this will be rematch to shake the galaxy.

The Prince of Power is a dangerous wild card in any battle between Thor and the Champion, having destroyed his home planet by accident while showcasing his strength...

Thor Is About to Meet Marvel's He-Man

The Fight for the Power Stone Has One Other Challenger

Despite Thor and the Champion's powers, fans shouldn't count the Prince of Power out. While Otherone may be a foolish person, he's also one of the most powerful beings in Marvel history. Amusingly, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 (from Ewing and Flaviano Armentaro) revealed that Otherone started life as a parody of He-Man, complete with his own skeleton-headed enemy 'Rapskullion.' Sadly, Marvel's answer to Eternia is no more, as Otherone - whose intellect was decreased through his with the Power Stone - accidentally destroyed the planet while showing off his strength.

The Prince of Power is a dangerous wild card in any battle between Thor and the Champion. Tryco isn't too intelligent himself, and he also has the power to shatter a planet - indeed, that's how Thanos won the Power Stone from him in the first place, tricking him into stranding himself in space. Thor's biggest challenge in this immense battle for the ages may be stopping his fellow Hulk-level challengers from destroying worlds with their struggle, though with the Infinity Stones once again in play, that may be the least of the fallout from this titanic rematch.

Immortal Thor Annual #1 is coming from Marvel Comics July 17.

Source: Marvel