Warning: SPOILERS for King Thor #4

Marvel has just revealed the perfect way for Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) to make a comeback in the MCU. Lady Sif has been noticeably absent from the MCU for the past four years. So with Thor: Love and Thunder now approaching, it her return imminent?

Making her debut in 2011’s Thor, she was one of Thor’s closest friends and fellow warrior. She was teased as a love interest in 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, but has been absent from the films ever since. Now the comics have given her a MUCH bigger role, and a perfect answer to her absence. The King Thor series has just revealed the perfect way to not only bring Lady Sif back into the MCU, but give her an important role in the rebuilding of Asgard.

King Thor #4 describes the future stories of Thor, from his first born son , to Jane Foster’s continued heroics as the Valkyrie – legacy will stretch on forever. So with the recent killing of Heimdall in the Marvel comic universe, it makes sense that his legacy as the Guardian of the Bifrost is passed down to another hero as well. The comic reveals that Lady Sif is set to take up the mantle of the All-Seeing eyes that never blink, the protector of Asgard.

In the MCU, her absence from the films actually saved her from a similar fate as the Warriors 3, who were killed in Thor: Ragnarok. While it was revealed she was one of the victims of the snap, she has not been seen since her appearances during the first two seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. This left fans waiting, wondering where Lady Sif has been all these years. The truth behind Lady Sif’s absences have been attributed to Jaimie Alexander’s commitments on other projects. Taika Waititi wanted Lady Sif to make an appearance in Thor: Ragnarok, however scheduling conflicts did not allow it.

As the lead on the NBC show Blindspot, Alexander has been unavailable to appear in any MCU films. But with the show set to end after its fifth season, there is the possibility that Alexander’s schedule will be opening up. With a more flexible schedule she could support a return to her role in the MCU. With confirmation that she was a victim of the snap, Lady Sif would have also been brought back when Hulk put on the gauntlet in Avengers: Endgame. This could set the stage for her return in Thor: Love and Thunder, and since Taika Waititi wanted her to return in the last Thor film it is possible that he would still want her to return to the Thor franchise.

Idris Elba’s Heimdall was killed in the opening act of Avengers: Infinity War by none other than Thanos. Because his death not a result of the snap, Heimdall remained dead by the end of Avengers: Endgame. While Idris himself would be open to reprising his role, the comics have now set the stage for Lady Sif to take up the mantle. While many were sad to see Heimdall die so early in the film,  Jaimie Alexander is a badass, and fans would be excited to see her portrayal of Lady Sif return to the MCU films. They would be even more excited to see her step into the role of the Guardian of the Bifrost, and take the mantle to the next level – something Elba was able to do in his role in Thor: Ragnarok.

In the first two Thor films, Heimdall was severely under utilized, but Ragnarok corrected this, showing him as a true protector of Asgard. With Asgard now a colony on Earth, and Thor off in space, Asgard is in need of a protector. And there’s no better person for the job of protecting Asgard and helping Valkyrie rule than Thor’s trusted friend, Lady Sif.

King Thor #4 is available now from your local comic book shop, or direct from Marvel Comics.

Next: MCU: Thor’s 5 Sweetest Moments With Heimdall (And 5 With Loki)