At least they didn't give him the one-finger salute.

An unusual feeling: I think I just read this issue for the first time! From 1993, Thor #457, "Final Gauntlet!" Plot and script by Tom DeFalco, plot and pencils by Ron Frenz, finishes by Al Milgrom.

Going to look it up here: Eric Masterson had been Thor since about #432, although he had been in the book longer than that. I'm 60% sure I fell off the book around then, partly because I wasn't enjoying the book as much as when Walt Simonson was on it, despite inertia keeping me on for a long time! But DeFalco and Frenz's deliberately retro style was feeling dated to me and wearing thin. But the end was near, as this issue finds Eric trying to free Thor from his imprisonment within him, which of course involves an elaborate machine, and a life-or-death trial: admittedly, that's just as on point for the Asgardians as it was for DeFalco and Frenz, sure. While Sif frets, leaving it open if it's for Eric or Thor; Odin warns Eric he will have to face the gauntlet of the Grim Guardian. Alliteration, great.

Within his mind, Eric appears in his Thor form, guided by...ugh..."Sparky, the Lightning Kid!" He's supposed to be his avatar, a version of Eric as a young boy, and he looks like Alfred E. Neuman in a Thor helmet. This proves Eric's inner strength and fortitude; I would've goddamn killed myself already...He then has to face off against the usual array of old foes, from the Absorbing Man to Thanos. Despite knowing they aren't real but can still hurt him, he still gets shaken when he accidentally kills Annihilus, again. I don't know if Eric remembers, but didn't Thanos turn him into glass and shatter him? Yet he's pretty blase about running into him again. He also gets the raspberry from Spider-Man, Captain America, and Captain Marvel. (Monica!) Then, he's nearly torn apart in the dark by the half-dozen or so love interests he had in the book, none of which ever went goddamn anywhere. I could see Eric not feeling worthy of his fellow heroes, but did he really think those women were all "tearing at him"? In a bad way? (Eric later says he won't miss his "daily chew-out by Captain America," and was Cap tough on him? Maybe in the same way a drill sergeant might be, but excessively so? Then again, Cap was going through his own jazz and probably facing his own mortality; and he would've previously seen Thor as someone who would defend the earth and the Avengers when he was gone. He may have been driven to get Eric to Thor's level, maybe.)

Eric then catches some chin music from third-stringer Shatterfist, who he had only met once on a time-travel adventure, but who said he'd met Eric before: Sparky implores Eric to think about that. He can't die yet...can he? Finally, Eric faces the masked Grim Guardian, which is of course himself. Citing old Star Trek, Eric is able to win a fight he figures most Asgardians would lose, to control himself with his conscience. Eric briefly toys with the notion of saying he couldn't find Thor, but frees the Thunder God, who may have had a speech prepared.

Despite his bombast and seeming good spirits, Thor has to be traumatized as Hel, so to speak; but that would be tough for him to acknowledge, let alone articulate. Eric is his old self again, and a bit mopey; but only briefly, as Thor gives him Mjolnir! Earth was still going to need him, since Thor was going to devote himself to his "princely duties on Asgard," as well as his husbandly duties to Sif! Sif (almost) immediately says yes...but is this what any of them want? Well, it's definitely not what any of them will get. 

Also this issue: "To Love No More" Written by Tom DeFalco, art by Geof Isherwood. The Enchantress visits Heimdall, who proposes to her: he was a bit dull back then, before Idris Elba, so no sale there. They had been a couple for some time in this run, for little to no reason I can recall. Enchantress claims to be unhappy, but also seems pretty enthusiastic to eavesdrop on Thor and Sif, and sneakily swipe the jacket Eric gave Sif. This is one of those rare situations where you look at all the possible couples and want to tell them all that they could do better. Well, maybe not Heimdall, but he shot his shot, I guess.