Special Marvel Edition Vol 1 4

Thor and Hercules are fighting over Jane Foster, both men's egos preventing an end to the fight, however the two appear to be evenly matched. While in Asgard, Odin is still furious over Thor's disobedience in first revealing his double identity to Jane and returning to Earth against Odin's wishes. The All-Father then begins thinking of a suitable punishment for his disobedient son.

Back on Earth, Thor and Hercules' battle takes them across the city, as each man tries to out match the other, accomplishing nothing more but a lot of collateral damage to the city around them. Their battle eventually leads them to a construction site. As the battle rages, on Asgard, Odin has called forth Seidring the Merciless to exact a punishment on Thor: to gradually drain his strength to half power. In spite of Seidring's reservations, he complies with Odin's wishes, striking Thor with a mystical bolt that will weaken the Thunder God just as Odin commanded.

This of course turns the tide of battle in Hercules' favor who begins to beat Thor in combat. However, Hercules realizes that Thor has been weakened and no longer desire to fight an inferior foe. Angered by this, Thor continues his fight even though his strength is at a low ebb. In trying to defeat Hercules, Thor lifts a heavy construction vehicle and finds that his strength is insufficient to keep the device aloft, prompting Hercules to kick it out of his hands, Thor then collapses to the ground.

With the battle over, Hercules is swarmed by spectators, including the talent agent trying to convince Hercules to go to Hollywood and star in a Hercules movie. This time Hercules accepts the offer and departs. When Thor revives he finds that the crowd has lost interest in him and mock his easy defeat at the Prince of Powers hands. Feeling the rejection, Thor is confronted by Jane Foster who says that she only went to lunch with Hercules to make Thor jealous and that she is true to the Thunder God. Feeling that he has lost honour in the face of this defeat, Thor leaves Jane telling him he will not return to her until he has restored it in his eyes.

Jane is upset, until she contacted telepathically by Odin, who tells her that Thor has fought like a true Asgardian and that he is remorseful toward his son and tells Jane to go to him. Heeding this command, Jane follows after the Thunder God.

This story is continued next issue...

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard - A Viper in Our Midst"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #115

Featured Characters:

Thor

Supporting Characters:

Odin
Various unnamed Asgardians

Antagonists:

Loki
Storm Giants
- Ghan (First appearance)

Races and Species:

Realities:

Earth-616

Locations:

Asgard
- City of Asgard

Items:

Mjolnir
Laevateinn (First appearance)

Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard - A Viper in Our Midst"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #115

Loki! You Have Saved Me From The Vengeance of Thor! I Know Not What Motives Caused You To Betray Your Own Kind, But That Is of No Concern of Mine! Know You, Loki, That Ghan Is In Your Debt!

—Ghan

Thor was leading a band of Asgardian warriors, who were riding out to stop Ghan, "the most deadly of Storm Giants", on his way to attack Asgard. Loki was, of course, resentful of Thor, thinking that he should be leading the warriors. As the battle begins, Ghan hurls a boulder at Thor, who blocks it with his hammer, causing it to shatter. Loki does not enter the battle, claiming that "the cunning Loki is far too clever to take needless chances!" and stays back in safety to plot the defeat of Thor. He then uses his magic sword to weave a spell to give Ghan the final victory. Before the spell can work, Ghan is driven back by the Asgardian's arrows. As the Storm Giant is being driven further back, they let loose their catapult, using a missile containing sleep fumes, to incapacitate him. The Asgardian task force go to where the giant should be sleeping, but find nothing. The rest of the party leaves, but Loki remains behind, saying he wanted to search more. He then "makes a mystic gesture" causing an eagle soaring nearby to return to the its natural form of the giant Ghan, saving him from the wrath of Thor. The giant then pledges his debt to Loki, and in return the Trickster reminds him not to forget it, "the day will come when I order you to repay this debt!" This was the first of many alliances with the forces of evil for Loki, as he plans and schemes to overthrow Asgard and destroy Thor.

Appearing in "The Hammer and the Holocaust!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Thor #127

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Pluto (First appearance)
Hippolyta (First appearance)
Seidring

Races and Species:

Locations:

Asgard
- City of Asgard
Stardust Studios (First appearance)

Items:

Mjolnir

Synopsis for "The Hammer and the Holocaust!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Thor #127

Continued from last issue....

Believing that he has lost his honor, Thor is confronted by Jane Foster who tries to get him to forget restoring his honor and that she loves him. Thor is embittered by being the subject to Jane's pity and leaves. Before Jane can do anything more, someone is struck by a car, sending her rushing to this stranger to give them medical aid.

While in California, preparations for a new Hercules feature film are under way at Stardust Studios. When some of the workers stop to comment on the set designs, they are scared back into their work by the studio owner, J.P. -- who is in reality Pluto, the Olympian God of Death and ruler of Hades. With his workers gone, he checks with one of his slaves in Hades to make sure all is well. Satisfied that nothing there demands his attention, Pluto begins preparing for the arrival of Hercules.

Elsewhere, Thor stops to ponder his lot and how to restore his honour, unaware that he is being watched by remorseful Odin who feels fully responsible for doing this to the Thunder God. Odin is then struck down from behind by Seidring who is attempting to take over Asgard. With Odin defeated he does just that, and when Balder enters the room to investigate, Seidring announces that he is the ruler of Asgard.

When Thor returns to Asgard, he finds Heimdall encased in a block of Ethereal force, and rushes into the city of Asgard to learn what has happened. There he finds his fellow Asgardians all have been incapacitated, including Balder. Suddenly, Thor is surrounded in a ring of fire erected by Seidring, who demands that Thor pledge an allegiance to him or suffer the same fate as his comrades. Thor refuses, and walks through the flame to battle Seidring.

While back on Earth, Pluto continues his plot against Hercules, joined by Hippolyta who is in on the charade, pretending to be an actress playing the role of herself. Pluto creates an Olympian Pact, a document that makes an eternal pact between those who sign it, the key to Pluto's plot against the Prince of Power.

Back on Asgard, Seidring and Thor battle, Seidring using his superior mystical powers against Thor who finds himself initially out matched and fighting on the defencive. Finding himself unable to defeat the Odinpower enhanced Seidring, Thor escapes to the chaimber of the Oversword. Braving all of Seidring's mystical attacks, Thor grabs the handle of the sword and threatens to bring about Ragnarok if Seidring refuses to surrender back his usurped power to Odin.

Not wishing to have his life ended, Seidring returns the power to Odin, who tells Seidring to leave and that his punishment will come later. Odin then scoops up the exhausted Thor, and carries him off, convinced that his son is still the most noble of all Asgard.

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