WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Thor #7, by Donny Cates, Aaron Kuder, Matt Wilson, and VC's Joe Sabino, on sale now.
While the Avengers have been friends and allies for years, there is plenty of rivalry and ribbing between Earth's Mightiest Heroes, most of which being good-natured. One particular back-and-forth that has been appeared in the comic books and Marvel Cinematic Universe is the interplay between Thor and Iron Man, the man of myth's juxtaposition with the man of science. This mismatch of personalities and backgrounds has led to plenty of comedic moments between the two heroes that has defined their dynamic across virtually every adaptation of the two characters together.
Thor takes this good-natured ribbing to the next level in the latest issue of Thor as the King of Asgard sends his signature weapon Mjolnir to Broxton, Oklahoma as part of an enchanted test. An elderly mechanic named Adam Aziz finds the mythical hammer on the outskirts of town where he finds something inscribed in it. Adam calls a mysterious figure to help investigate the crashed relic, revealed to be Tony Stark who promptly arrives on the scene. While the Armored Avenger is certainly interested in the arrival of Mjolnir without Thor, he is more curious how Adam was able to call him directly on his incredibly private and unlisted phone number. As Tony approaches the hammer, he quickly discovers how when he reads the new inscription on the hammer.
To Iron Man's visible frustration, Thor inscribed Tony's personal phone number into Mjolnir with instructions to call him. The move is a callback to the opening issue of Donny Cates and Nic Klein's run that began with Thor retired from his role as an active member on the Avengers to focus on his role as King of Asgard. Despite this, Thor still offered timely assistance by flinging Mjolnir from the comfort of Asgard at targets back on Earth. After slaying a monster menacing the Avengers, Iron Man takes the time to scrawl a congratulatory message for on Mjolnir with a marker. Thor was clearly less than impressed by Tony's gesture on his trusty hammer, with Mjolnir's return to Earth giving him the chance to repay the move in kind.
While certainly including a prank at Tony's direct expense, Thor's move with Mjolnir leads to electrifying results after Tony arrives on the scene. Adam, who has remained at Mjolnir's resting place, decides to give lifting the hammer a try as an incredulous Iron Man looks on. To everyone's surprise, including Adam himself, the mechanic is able to pick up the hammer and summon a massive lightning bolt to strike him, with Iron Man narrowly shielding himself with a forcefield. As Tony lowers his protective shield, he is shocked to see that Adam has transformed into the latest Asgardian God of Thunder.
While Thor sending Mjolnir to Broxton certainly stunted on Iron Man, the move was always much more than an elaborate prank. Sensing his control of Mjolnir slipping as the toll of taking the throne of Asgard and temporarily teaming up with Galactus began to wear on his soul, Thor had sent his hammer back to Earth as part of a test. Thor's suspicions about his worthiness appear to be well-founded with Adam Aziz's unlikely ascension to Asgard's new God of Thunder surprises everyone. Whether Iron Man needed to be on the scene just as part of his continuing prank war with Thor or for something more has yet to be seen but the Son of Odin has managed to one-up his fellow Avenger for once.