Marvel Spectacular Vol 1 1

Following his battle with Seidring, Thor has been put to bed and given the best medical attention that Asgard has to offer, however he remains near death. Odin checking on his sons current condition feels guilty as Thor's condition is at least partially due to the fact that Odin had halved Thor's strength prior to the battle with Seidring. Returning to his throne room, Odin has Seidring brought to him and as punishment has Seidring transported to the realm of the Rock Trolls, who take Seidring to be the king of their barren world.

While in California, Hercules is taken to the set of a new Hercules movie being made by Stardust Studios, the Prince of Power is completely unaware that this studio is in reality a front made by Pluto and Hippolyta, who hope to trick him into signing an Olympian Pact. Under the guise of Stardust Studio owner J.P., Pluto has Hercules do a screen test by fighting a mechanical giant. Passing the "test", Pluto rewards Hercules by giving him a large feast.

Back in Asgard, Thor beings his recovery, even though he's still confined to a bed Thor is taken out to the frozen sea of Marmora by Balder to do some ice fishing. However the outing is marred when Thor misses one of his targets -- a gigantic amphibian creature -- and it attacks their boat, forcing Balder to fight it off and flee the scene.

While back on Earth, Hercules is asked to sign a contract for the movie deal during his feast. Hercules, brashly signs the document, and Pluto reveals his true self and explains that Hercules has signed an Olympian Pact. Both Pluto and Hippolyta boast about how Hercules blindly signed a contract to take over the role of ruling Hades for all eternity.

As Hercules is forced to fight Pluto's hordes, in Asgard, Thor has fully recovered and requests Odin to allow him to return to Earth so that he might have a rematch against Hercules. Odin, having put aside his differences agrees to the request and send Thor to California where he finds Hercules battling the hordes of Pluto. Seeing his rival fighting overwhelming odds, Thor decides to lend a hand and jumps into the battle fighting with Hercules side-by-side. Observing the battle, Pluto and Hippolyta boast about their victory, and having accomplished their goal teleport away.

When the two finally defeat the horde of attackers, Hercules tells Thor what has happened, and understanding Hercules' fate, Thor decides that there isn't time for their final battle and departs.

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard - The Challenge"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #116

Featured Characters:

Thor

Supporting Characters:

Princess Rinda (First appearance)

Antagonists:

Loki
Hymir (First appearance)

Other Characters:

Odin (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Asgard
- City of Asgard
- Sea of Eternal Darkness

Items:

Mjolnir
Enchanted Goblet (Unnamed) (Destroyed)
King Hymir's Crown

Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard - The Challenge"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #116

Show Me A Way To Make A Slave of Thor, And I Will Be Your Willing Ally!

—King Hymir

Loki has convinced King Hymir to help him in his eternal feud with Thor, by having the King give Thor a series of very difficult challenges. Thor is unable to refuse them, or he is dishonored, and if he fails, he becomes a slave for the cruel king. The first challenge, is to catch a fish from the dreaded Sea of Eternal Darkness. The fish in this sea are "not mere fish - but undersea monsters! No fishing line could capture such a creature! But the Mighty Hammer of Thor CAN!"

This challenge done, the King give him the main task, to break a drinking goblet in only two minutes. He realizes that his time is short, so without delay throws the goblet at a rock wall, shattering the wall. He then tries to use his mighty hammer, to no effect. Thor knows that if he should slay the king, even if he didn't complete the challenge, he would not be a slave, except he would "break the heart of fair princess Rinda!" Rinda was not worried about herself, and urged the Thunder God to do what he must, since he has been deceived. With that, he hurls the goblet, at full force at the crown of King Hymir. The goblet then shattered, revealing the source of the enchantment, the "magic catalyst". This inspired a fit of paranoid anger in the King, directed at the Trickster for supposedly betraying the King, and revealing the secret to Thor, and ordered Loki gone from his kingdom. As he left, Loki vowed "eternity is endless, I shall never stop scheming!"

Links and References

The Grand Comics Database: Marvel Spectacular [1]

References

Marvel Spectacular Vol 1 1

Appearing in "The Power of Pluto!"

Synopsis for "The Power of Pluto!"

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard - The Challenge"

Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard - The Challenge"

See Also

Links and References

References

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