Appearing in "Maelstrom!"
Journey Into Mystery #121
(originally printed as The Power! The Passion! The Pride!)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Hercules (Referenced)
- Numerous unnamed New Yorkers
- NYPD
- Numerous unnamed police officers
- Harris Hobbs
- Ularic (Appears on screen)
- Numerous unnamed Asgardians
- Heimdall (Referenced)
Races and Species:
- Asgardians
- Humans
- Frost Giants
- Dogs (Referenced)
- Insects (Mentioned)
- Fleas (Referenced)
- Horses
- Birds
Locations:
- Earthspace
- Asgard
- City of Asgard
- Rainbow Bridge (Referenced)
Items:
Synopsis for "Maelstrom!"
Journey Into Mystery #121
(originally printed as The Power! The Passion! The Pride!)
Story continued from Journey Into Mystery #120....
While trying to learn what happened to Jane Foster, Thor finds himself attacked by the recently revived Absorbing Man. As the battle rages, the Absorbing Man attempts to wrest Thor's hammer away, however the enchantment that makes it return to Thor whenever he throws it prevents this from happening. While, in Asgard, Loki watches the battle with eagerness however is briefly interrupted by Balder the Brave who has come to make sure that Loki isn't up to mischief, however Loki manages to convince the trusting Balder that he is not up to anything before resuming his watch of the battle between Thor and the Absorbing Man.
Back on Earth, the Absorbing Man attempts to gain the upper hand by absorbing the height and properties of nearby skyscrapers making him grow titanic in size, however the Thunder God is still able to keep the Absorbing Man on the defensive and ultimately the Absorbing Man resumes his natural size and the battle rages on. Watching the battle on TV and witnessing the carnage from outside of a window is Jane Foster, who is asked to not be seen by the mysterious hooded man who has brought her to this location, and tells her that he will explain why he has gathered her in due course before leaving her alone once more.
While back on Asgard, Loki is finally left alone and checks on Ularic to insure that the Warlock is still subdued, and makes sure that both Balder and Odin are preoccupied with other matters before plotting his ultimate revenge. Elsewhere still on Earth, the one Norn Stone dropped by Thor is still left unattended, an omen of trouble ahead.
Back in New York City, Thor continues his battle against the Absorbing Man, who briefly becomes very vulnerable when he accidentally absorbs the property of glass and has to flee. He seeks refuge in a bank vault (assuming the property of it's steel) before Thor smashes through and continues their battle. As the battle takes them out into the streets once more, the police scramble to get the crowd away. When a young child gets in the middle of the battle, Thor takes his attentions off the Absorbing Man long enough for his foe to land a powerful blow that knocks the Thunder God out.
Appearing in "The Grim Specter of Mutiny!"
Journey Into Mystery #122
(originally printed as Where Mortals Fear to Tread!)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earthspace
- Asgard
- Heaven (Referenced)
- Limbo
Items:
- Absorbing Man's Ball and Chain
- Mjolnir
- Attractor Beam (First appearance)
Synopsis for "The Grim Specter of Mutiny!"
Journey Into Mystery #122
(originally printed as Where Mortals Fear to Tread!)
Boasting over defeating Thor in battle, the Absorbing Man fails to realize that the Thunder God was merely stunned and not defeated. With his back turned "Crusher" Creel fails to see Thor reviving, and launching a counter attack. The Absorbing Man is caught off guard, giving Thor the upper hand. Watching this from Asgard, Loki believes that the Thunder God will be able to defeat his minion and decides that the Absorbing Man would be better used by his side and uses an attractor beam device to transport the Absorbing Man from Earth to Asgard in mid-battle, leaving Thor puzzled about the sudden disappearance of his foe.
However, Thor's attention is taken away when Jane Foster (Who has been watching from a nearby building) causes a fire in order to attract Thor's attention since she's become a prisoner of a strange hooded man. Coming to her rescue, Thor finds that Jane has passed out from smoke inhalation and changes back into Donald Blake in order to administer medical aid. This plays into the hooded man's hands, who photographs the transition. The masked man then reveals himself as the Affiliated Press reporter Harris Hobbs.
While on Asgard, the Absorbing Man materializes in front of Loki, who subdues the Absorbing Man into subservience with his superior mystical powers and convinces him to help him overthrow Asgard. When Loki brings Creel into the Imperial Palace, they are stopped by the guards, however the Absorbing Man is able to make short work of them casting them off easily.
Back on Earth, Donald Blake has brought Jane Foster to a hospital where she is expected to make a full recovery in time. He receives a message to meet with Hobbs, who organized a secret meeting of the two that afternoon. Before he goes, he assures Jane that he will not leave her again. Going to the roof, Blake decides to confront Hobbs as Thor, and changes into his Godly identity and travels to their meeting place. Naturally, Harrison attempts to blackmail Thor into giving him a full story about his origins, using the photographic evidence and the fact that Thor is pledged never to harm a mortal as a means to extort the information out of the Thunder God. Furious at the reporters audacity, Thor instead decides to use his vast powers to travel Hobbs from different time periods and other worlds to the point where Harris concedes and agrees to destroy all photographic evidence linking Thor to Donald Blake -- under one condition: That Thor brings Harris Hobbs to fabled Asgard, so that he can write a report about the mythical land. Impressed with Hobbs' ability to maintain his sanity through these travels, Thor agrees to bring him.
While back on Asgard, the Absorbing Man fights all the way into Odin's throne room. There the All-Father attempts to destroy the Absorbing Man with a blast from his sceptre, however all he succeeds in doing is causing the Absorbing Man to absorb the properties of the blast, and in turn turn the energies against Odin himself.
Appearing in "The Jaws of the Dragon!"
Journey Into Mystery #123
(originally printed as While a Universe Trembles!)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Absorbing Man
- Loki
- The Demon (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Jaws of the Dragon!"
Journey Into Mystery #123
(originally printed as While a Universe Trembles!)
Thor and Harris Hobbs travel to Asgard, as per Thor's promise to allow Hobbs to accompany him so that he might write a story about Asgard in exchange for destroying evidence of Thor's secret identity of Donald Blake. Crossing the Bifrost Bridge, they are shocked to find a number of Asgardian warriors who are tending to their wounded following their defeat at the hands of the Absorbing Man. Thor learns that the Absorbing Man has attacked Asgard after being brought to the sacret realm by Loki.
Inside the Palace, the Absorbing Man has taken on the properties of the energy unleashed from Odin's Sceptre of Supremacy, and has rechanneled the energies back at the All-Father. This has no effect on Odin, who simply absorbs the attack back into his Sceptre. Abandoning this form, Absorbing Man in turn attempts to attack Odin straight on. Odin attempts to attack Creel with a whirl wind, however this causes the Absorbing Man to change into a human cyclone instead.
Meanwhile on Earth, in a remote Asian jungle, soldiers are searching for a local Witch Doctor whom they hope to kill in order to subjugate his people. This Witch Doctor comes across one of the Norn Stones that was dropped by Thor when he was in the region collecting the stones in a previous quest. This stone gives the Witch Doctor enhanced strength that allows him to fight off his pursuers. He ultimately sends them fleeing when he is able to catch their bullets in mid air and throw them back at the army sending the soldiers fleeing.
Back on Asgard, the Absorbing Man gets a new idea: Absorb all the properties of Asgard itself. In doing so, Creel begins to grow in size and power that dwarfs even the might of Odin. Loki then appears explaining he was the mastermind of the plot, and that because he control the Absorbing Man, he has proven that he is mightier than Odin himself and by Asgardian Law, is entitled to carry the Sceptre of Supremacy. Odin, realizing that he has no other choice hands the Sceptre to Loki, who basks in his victory. However, this proves to be short lived when the Absorbing Man believes that he should be entitled to the Sceptre as he had done all the dirty work.
However, this was all a trick orchestrated by Odin, who as Loki and the Absorbing Man fight over possession of the sceptre, explains that the Sceptre merely channels his vast powers and that in another's hands it is useless. Odin then uses his powers to send both Loki and the Absorbing Man into space where they freeze up in the vacuum and left orbiting the void.
With the battle over, all the Asgardians hail Odin for his victory over Loki. Thor then remembers that Harris Hobbs was with him, and finds the reporter among the wreckage, thankfully unharmed. Odin is furious that Thor brought a mortal to Asgard and demands that he return him. When Hobbs learns of the battle he missed he is equally upset, things fare worse for the reporter when he attempts to take photographs of Asgard but finds that his camera has also been destroyed. With no other choice, and accepting his failure, Hobbs agrees to return to Earth with Thor.
While back on Earth in a remote region of Mongola, the Norn Stone empowered Witch Doctor attacks an opposing village. He is called a demon by the villages and decides to take the name for his own. With the village under his control the Demon then vows to take over the entire world.
As this is happening, Thor and Hobbs returns to Earth where Hobbs realizes that even his memories of Asgard are now gone, and wonders if he has been tricked by Thor. Thor explains that although his waking days he will not remember his experience among the Gods, but he will remember them in his dreams.
Appearing in "Closer Comes the Swarm!"
Journey Into Mystery #124
(originally printed as The Grandeur and the Glory!)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Mister Wilkens, one of Donald Blake's patients
- unnamed Olympians
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Closer Comes the Swarm!"
Journey Into Mystery #124
(originally printed as The Grandeur and the Glory!)
Having returned to New York City, Thor reads newspaper reports about the being known as the Demon that has been amassing an army in the jungles of Asia. He is soon confronted by average citizens who wonder aloud if Thor will tackle the Demon in the future. Thor takes the time to cheer up a little girl who's father has been injured in the Vietnam conflict and tells her to wish her father well before departing. He travels to the hospital where Jane Foster is recovering from smoke inhilation, and listening from her window hears the doctors talk of her condition, and that she is not getting better, but worse.
Meanwhile, in Asia, the Demon continues to travel across the land, attacking cities with his ever growing army, regardless of the resistance the Norn Stone powered Demon manages to withstand all attacks made upon him and crush his foes. While back in the States, Thor has resumed his civilian guise of Donald Blake and entered into Jane Foster's room. At first Jane figures that Blake is nothing more but an illusion, but realizes that it's really him. Don comes to learn that Jane is suffering a nervous breakdown due to Blake's constant disappearances and decides that regardless of what may happen, he reveal to Jane that he is secretly the mighty Thor. Changing into his Godly identity, Jane now knows Thor's double identity, Thor changes back to his mortal guise and tells Jane that he has to go but will return the next day. While on Asgard, Odin witnesses Thor exposing his identity to Jane and is furious and begins contemplating a fitting punishment for this defile.
Back on Earth, Donald Blake tends to a patient who brings up the current news regarding the Demon's invasion of Asia, after hearing radio reports later Blake finds himself torn between his promise not to abandon Jane and his duty as Thor and realizes that he cannot shirk his Godly duties and decides to fly to Asia to deal with the Demon, travelling across the Earth faster than ever before, causing a sonic boom of epic proportions.
This sound is hear all the way on Mount Olympus, where Zeus decides that it is time once again for the Olympian Gods turn their attentions back to Earth. Going to his son Hercules who is sparring with Atlas, Zeus breaks up the fight and and charges Hercules with a mission to go to Earth and walk among mortal man.
And once more on Earth, the Demon's forces attack yet another village, however this time they find that Thor is waiting inside for them. Thor confronts the demon and recognizes the Norn Stone that he has tied around his neck. Thor then challenges the Demon to a battle and the two begin a fierce fight.
Appearing in "The Queen Commands"
Journey Into Mystery #125
(originally printed as When Meet the Immortals!)
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Charlie (bystander) (First appearance)
- Charlie (musician) (First appearance)
- Marvin (First appearance)
- Willie (First appearance)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Queen Commands"
Journey Into Mystery #125
(originally printed as When Meet the Immortals!)
Thor is in Asia trying to stop the conquest of the Demon, an Asian witch doctor who's strength has been enhanced by a Norn Stone. As the two battle, it becomes clear that their strength is evenly matched, and wanting to avoid defeat, the Demon demands that his soldiers attack Thor with a captured cannon. Thor, noticing that their weapon is more powerful than they suspect, prepares to stop it before they can unleash it's power.
Meanwhile in the United States, Hercules has awoken from his first evening on Earth to the sound of a train that cannot progress further down the line due to a fallen tree on the tracks. Hercules decides to use his great strength to toss the tree aside, and asks that the engineer take him to the city that the train is destined to. While back in Asia, Thor plugs the enemy cannon with his hammer, causing it to backfire, causing an explosion powerful enough to knock everyone but Thor unconscious. Using this opportunity, Thor reclaims the Norn Stone from the Demon, stripping him of his enhanced powers and his army soon flees.
Thor transports himself to Asgard to turn the Norn Stone over to Odin. Thor soon realizes that Odin is furious at him for breaking his decree when he revealed his identity to Jane Foster. The angry Odin refuses to allow Thor to return to Earth unless he passes the Ritual of Steel where he must fight not only against his best friend Balder, but an army of Asgardians all ordered to slay him.
Back on Earth, Hercules has been taking in all that New York has to offer, eating a grand meal in a dinner club and attracting the attention of beautiful women. He has been spotted by a talent scout for for a movie studio who wants Hercules to take part in a movie being filmed in California. He takes up playing the guitar for all present when the club is suddenly attacked by masked robbers hoping to loot the place. However, all present -- who figured Hercules for an actor playing the role of the famous Demigod -- soon realize that they are dealing with the genuine article when Hercules fights off the robbers and sends them packing. Their getaway is short lived however, when Hercules immobilizes their vehicle by throwing a lamp post at it.
Hearing the commotion from her hospital room just as she is being discharged, Jane Foster believes that it's coming from Thor who has kept his promise to return to her the next day. However, when she goes to the streets she finds that it is Hercules, who is taking the glory and praise for stopping the crooks. Finding Jane to be very striking, Hercules leaves with the girl, and when the talent scout tries to stop him to meet his contractual obligations, Hercules simply stuffs the man in a garbage can and leaves.
Back on Asgard, Thor has managed to fight off his fellows, even fighting past Heimdall and escaping across the Bifrost Bridge to Earth. When Balder throws himself at the mercy of Odin for failing to slay Thor, Odin forgives him and decides instead to watch what his son intends to do on Earth. There, Thor finds Jane in a restaurant with Hercules and finds that Jane is upset at Thor for once again abandoning her. When Thor tries to explain himself he sees who she is out with and becomes jealous.
When Hercules tries to greet his old ally, Thor insults him which leads to the Prince of Power striking the Thunder God, and thus the first blow in a battle between Thor and Hercules is struck.
Appearing in "The Summons!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Hercules (Heracles)
- Odin
- Balder
- Jane Foster
- Heimdall
- Unnamed talent scout working for J.B. Stardust
Antagonists:
- Seidring (First appearance)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Summons!"
Continued from last issue....
Thor and Hercules are fighting over Jane Foster, both mens 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' favour 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 "The Meaning of Ragnarok!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Asgard
- Stardust Studios (First appearance)
Items:
Synopsis for "The Meaning of Ragnarok!"
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.
Appearing in "Aftermath!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
- Asgardians
- Rock Trolls
- Human-Olympian Hybrids
- Olympians
- Humans
- Titans (First appearance)
- Beast-Fish (First appearance)
Locations:
- Asgard
- City of Asgard
- Marmora Sea
- Earthspace
- Olympus (Mentioned)
- Netherworld (Mentioned)
Items:
Synopsis for "Aftermath!"
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.
Notes
- Also includes bios for The Warriors Three, Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral, Thor, and The Fenris Wolf.
See Also
- 2 image(s) from Thor: Tales of Asgard by Lee & Kirby Vol 1 4
- 1 reprint(s) of Thor: Tales of Asgard by Lee & Kirby Vol 1 4
Recommended Reading
Links and References
Template:Thor Links