WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marvel's Avengers: Thor #1 by Jim Zub, Robert Gill, Andy Troy and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Marvel Comics has found recent success with its video game offerings, with Marvel's Spider-Man the last game to launch. The award-winning video game spun a new tale for the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man while also coming up with reintroducing familiar characters like Miles Morales, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May and Doctor Octopus. The game became such a hit that Marvel has continued to tell stories set in that universe through various comic miniseries like Marvel's Spider-Man: City at War and Marvel's Spider-Man: Velocity.
The next Marvel video game set to be released is Marvel's Avengers, featuring an original story of Earth's Mightiest Heroes disassembling after a mission-gone-wrong. The results left Captain America dead and the Avengers no more, though the young Inhuman Kamala Khan -- also known as Ms. Marvel -- plans on bringing the team back together again.
Just like Marvel's Spider-Man, tie-in comics for Marvel's Avengers are being published to help flesh out the larger story. The first of those tie-ins was Marvel's Avengers: Iron Man #1, followed by this week's Marvel's Avengers: Thor #1. Both take place before the events of the video game, and a preview of Marvel's Avengers: Thor #1 reveals how the God of Thunder is responsible for Tony Stark and Bruce Banner perfecting a new mode of transportation for the Avengers.
We're taken to the Maria Starks Field, part of the Stark Industries Parklands donated to the city of Brooklyn. Tony, Bruce and Thor are finishing a field test of the Stark Portal, which Iron Man claims will give the Avengers the ability to "assemble anytime, anywhere!" In essence, the portal should open a gateway that will transport the Avengers to any location of their choosing.
Of course, the Avengers typically travel via the Quinjet, which is a staple of Marvel's signature superhero team. However, thanks to the Stark Portal, the Quinjet will no longer be needed. Another big thanks should also go out to Thor as well, since he is the one who is powering the Stark Portal with his thunderous lightning. Just as the preview comes to an end, Bruce warns that the power levels of the portal are spiking. Iron Man asks for Thor to cut back on the lightning, but the God of Thunder responds that minimizing a storm is a lot easier said than done.
If all goes well, the Stark Portal won't explode from Thor's barrage of lightning. The solicitation for the issue teases the experiment leading to a confrontation between Thor and the Hulk, with a mysterious puppet master pulling their strings. Everything is building to the ultimate disassembling of the Avengers.