WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #3, available now from Marvel.
The Symbiote Spider-Man series has journeyed back in time to one of the most iconic eras in the wall-crawler's history, and the latest entry has just left stranded in the middle of the interdimensional Crossroads. After stepping up to stop the machinations of the Asgardian sorceress Karnilla, Spider-Man was sent hurtling through time, space, and dimensions along with one of the powerful Norn Stones. Karnilla isn't the only one after this incredible artifact, however, as the Valkyries have just made clear in Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #3 (by Peter David, Greg Land, Jay Leisten, Frank D'Armata and VC's Joe Sabino).
Being thrown into the Crossroads and into a whirlwind of random landscapes is already bad enough, but the Norn Stone that started all of this trouble has only made things more complicated as time goes on. First embedding itself in Spider-Man's forehead, giving him the raw strength to battle an enraged Hulk, the mystical Asgardian artifact has since made a new home for itself within Bruce Banner. Initially it reduced him to his human form, but when trouble arose the Norn Stone led to the super-charged reemergence of one of Banner's most monstrous forms, the Guilt Hulk.
The return of this devastating persona, along with the Killer-Folk of Dinosaur World, and the team-up of Spider-Man with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy has created one of the most incredible brawls the Marvel Universe has ever seen. As Karnilla watches the battle unfold from the safety of her own realm, another powerful group of Asgardians takes interest in the goings on of Dinosaur World.
Issue #3 introduces the Asgardian Valkyries to the battle for the Norn Stone as they come crashing through a portal into the middle of the fray. These Asgardian demigods have long ferried the souls of warriors slain in battle to the grandiose halls of Valhalla, and are recognized as some of the most fierce fighters of the realm.
It appears that the Valkyrie have been sent from Asgard to retrieve the Norn Stone, likely at any cost and without any concern for who or what might stand in their way. The fact that they are able to clash with the currently demonic Hulk without falling is a testament to not only their nearly god-like strength, but to how dire and dangerous the situation has now become.
The fact that Karnilla was after the Norn Stone is no surprise considering her history with wielding the stone. However, the appearance of the Valkyries is surprising and indicates that Asgard has more than a passing interest in the powerful artifact.
Whatever the case may be, adding an Asgardian army into the mix makes the situation that Spider-Man is entangled in all the more complicated. With any luck, the next interruption will come with a way for the wall-crawler to finally return to his home.