WARNING: This article contains potential SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War

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Thor's teaming up with his brother Balder in Marvel Comics - and it's the exact story Thor 4 needs. That's probably going to require some explanation, since even the most devoted fans of the Thor movie series will be stunned to learn that Thor and Loki have another brother being brought back into the comic book mix. His name is Balder, the King of Hel, and he's promising to breathe new life into Marvel's ongoing Thor comic universe.

The reunion between Thor and Balder comes as part of Marvel's "Fresh Start" line of comic relaunches. But where other titles are seeing new creative teams, new reboots, or returns to Marvel's roots, the relaunched Thor comic is continuing the same story Jason Aaron has been telling for years. With nobody left to turn to for help, Thor seeks out his long-lost brother, the guardian of all Asgardian dead.

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Which sounds more and more like a story that Marvel's movie universe would be wise to consider. Especially if the goal is to convince Chris Hemsworth to keep playing Thor. The insanity of Ragnarok helped rejuvenate the hero's franchise, and after Infinity War, a team-up film with the King of Hel may actually make perfect sense...

This Page: Thor is Teaming Up With His Lost Brother, The King of Hel

Thor & Loki Are Reuniting With Their Brother Balder

Balder's role in the realm of modern Thor comics has varied a bit over the past few years, with Jason Aaron re-introducing him in recent issues as the King of Hel, ruler of the dead in Niffleheim. Valhalla may be out of his reach, but as the current Death of Thor comic storyline has shaken the foundations of the Marvel Universe, Balder has heard the rumblings. He's even been defending his realm against the Queen of Cinders (Surtur's daughter).

But in Marvel's comic solicitations for their new #1s coming in June, the synopsis for Jason Aaron and Mike Del Mundo's THOR #2 promises a brotherly reunion. With guns. And giant dogs. So yeah, a fitting follow-up for fans of Ragnarok's style:

The sons of Odin ride again! In the land of the dead, Thor is reunited with his long-lost brother, Balder, the King of Hel, just in time to face the Fire Goblin armies of the Queen of Cinders, as the War of the Realms continues to burn its way across all creation. Plus Loki! Thori the Hel-hound! Skurge with a really big gun! Monster trucks! And more!

Comic readers may have been following Balder's new mission as King of Hel, but Thor hasn't. The sense of humor at work in the plot description and artwork is promising a wild ride into Asgardian afterlife, and if you ask us, the minds at Marvel Studios should be paying attention.

Let's be clear: to explain why the introduction of Thor's (other) brother into the Marvel Cinematic universe makes sense, we will need to wade into some serious Infinity War SPOILERS. Or presumed spoilers, at the very least. Because an examination of the trailers for the new Avengers movie may plainly show why Thor may soon be without his brother Loki... and may be without any of the Asgardian survivors of Ragnarok, either.

The Asgardians Thor Saved Are Killed By Thanos

It's a tragic twist, but the shots seen in the trailers seem to confirm that the Asgardians will be killed by Thanos and his Black Order. Even members of the movie's cast have confirmed it's Thanos arriving in Ragnarok's mid-credits scene, and his hunt for the Infinity Stones makes his reasons obvious. Loki swiped the Tesseract from Odin's Trophy Room before it could be destroyed by Surtur, which makes a target of the Grandmaster's ship (The Statesman) - and every soul on board.

Now, we have a theory that Loki uses the Space Stone to send Hulk to Earth so he can warn the other Avengers of the coming of Thanos. But before anyone gets their hopes up that Loki also uses the Space Stone to lead the Asgardian refugees to safety, there is strong evidence to the contrary. Strong as in 'footage of Asgardian dead littered across the ship's decks.' A harsh ending to Ragnarok's story, but not exactly unfaithful to the idea of the Norse apocalypse.

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The god of thunder uses that tragedy (combined with the likely heartbreak of Thanos making Thor watch Loki die) as motivation when he recovers from the Thanos attack, picked up by the Guardians of the Galaxy. From there, the last King of Asgard takes clear steps back towards his Asgardian birthright.

He forges a new weapon, Stormbreaker. He reclaims his famous red cape, an article of clothing which serves only ceremonial and cultural purpose. Thor's biceps alone confirm he's through playing around. He's a force to be reckoned with, as the King of a murdered people.

But even if Thanos is dealt with-- even if Thor kills Thanos himself, his race is still extinct. Unless he knows a guy...

Thor with glowing eyes in Thor: Ragnarok

Will Thor Travel To Hel To Save His People?

For as large a part as it has played in the cosmic mythology of the MCU, not much of Asgard's afterlife has actually been explored in the movies. Soldiers and inhabitants of every realm have been shown killed in combat, but the deaths of Frigga and Odin have been different. During Frigga's funeral scene in Thor: The Dark World, her remains transform into shimmering particles scattering up to the stars. When Odin dies in Ragnarok, a similar effect is shown.

But crucially, the countless boats the follow Frigga's off of Asgard - the rest of the casualties of Malekith's attack - are never shown transmuting. The residents raise glowing balls of light, but the boats are not actually seen. It's possible to argue, then, that the cosmic afterlife of legitimate gods like Thor, Odin, Frigga, or Loki are different from the afterlife of normal Asgardians.

If you're following the mythology at work in Marvel's Universe, a passage to Niffleheim - to be met by King Balder - is one of the most likely scenarios. If a similar path was adopted on film, then Thor's brother would witness the slaughter of Asgard's people in his own way. Would he hear Thor's case that their deaths were unjust... and therefore worthy to be resurrected? What price would Thor have to pay? Or what trials would he need to complete?

Thor and Loki look outside the ship in Ragnarok

Those questions form the basis of a compelling pitch, or at least as compelling as any other idea Chris Hemsworth and Taika Waititi are discussing for Thor 4. And if Loki truly is going to depart the realm of Asgardians for that great big constellation in the sky, Thor could sure use a new partner in crime. You can't even say that the sudden introduction of a completely unknown sibling would be hard to swallow, since audiences had no problem with it for Cate Blanchett's 'Hela.' The Thor series has been based on family connections, so we see no point to changing it now.

Will Thor remain the only Asgardian following Infinity War, the last king of an extinct race of gods and goddesses? Will his brother Balder, King of Hel offer the kind of fantastical and deranged horror adventure that would bring Taika Waititi back to direct - and convince Chris Hemsworth to sign a new Thor contract?

We won't know for some time, but if Infinity War goes as tragically as we fear, it would certainly help soothe the loss.

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