Thor (ES) Vol 1 15

Thor has been on Asgard assisting Odin and his fellow warriors against the demons of Jotunheim, a battle they win very easily. After the battle is over, Odin asks Thor to abandon the Earth and return to Asgard full time, a request that Thor declines stating that he has much good still to do on Earth. This infuriates Odin, because the All-Father knows full well that Thor is still trying to find a way to reveal his true identity and win the love of Jane Foster, a plan which Odin harshly forbids.

Returning to Earth and changing back to his mortal guise of Donald Blake, Thor decides that regardless of the consequences, he must reveal his true identity to Jane Foster. Returning to his office, Blake asks Jane into his office and admits to her that he is really the mighty Thor. Meanwhile, in a city museum, scientists are examining the recovered body of the Grey Gargoyle. Once all the river mud is removed from his body the Gargoyle revives and turns his examiners into stone and escapes and is eager to resume his quest of obtaining immortality, something he believes he can achieve through Thor's hammer.

Meanwhile, in Asgard, Loki happens upon Odin's throne room just as Odin learns that Thor has revealed his true identity to Jane Foster. Odin then decides to strip Thor of his godly powers before storming out, leaving Loki to plot a way to get final revenge against his hated step-brother. On Earth meanwhile, Don Blake attempts to prove his claim by tapping his cane and is horrified to find that his powers are gone, leaving Jane to think that Blake has been working too hard. Just then the Grey Gargoyle smashes through the window seeking to learn where Thor is. Donald and Jane manage to flee the building, however the Grey Gargoyle is not far behind them.

Back on Asgard, a gathering of the Gods fears the worse for Thor and decide to try and help the Thunder God. When Balder tries to travel to Earth to save Thor he is stopped by Loki, who uses his newfound authority to send all the dissenting Asgardians out on patrol, unaware that one of their numbers has actually secreted down the Bifrost Bridge unobserved.

While on Earth, Donald Blake and Jane Foster continue to flee the pursuing Grey Gargoyle by any means necessary, however even with the unknowing aid of the mysterious Asgardian, the Gargoyle continues his chase. When Jane is knocked out and the Gargoyle grabs Blake (slowly changing him into stone) Donald hears his mysterious helper advise him that his powers as Thor have been restored for the next thirty seconds. Tapping his cane, Blake is surprised to find that it's true, and is transformed into Thor, reversing the effects of the Gargoyle's touch.

Thor quickly defeats the Gargoyle by utilizing both the magics of his hammer and a live wire from a lamp post to fuse the Gargoyle's stone limbs together. Leaving the scene, Thor -- his thirty seconds elapsed -- reverts back to Donald Blake. His benefactor returning to Asgard -- revealed to be Honir the Hunter -- reports back to Odin, who had sent Honir to aid Thor.

Believing that Thor has learned his lesson, Odin decides that he will restore his son's powers much to Loki's chagrin. Back on Earth, Donald Blake feels his powers returning and understands that he is not to revel his identity again. Going back to the now reviving Jane, Donald Blake explains that he was only delirious from too much work, and that this little adventure has restored his sanity. Believing that she's been rescued by Donald Blake instead of Thor, Jane begins to show affection towards the doctor.

Appearing in "The Stronger I Am, the Sooner I Die!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Journey Into Mystery #114

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Absorbing Man (First appearance as Absorbing Man)
Loki
Unnamed Enemy Agent

Other Characters:

Harris Hobbs (First appearance)
unnamed Asgardians

Locations:

Asgard
- City of Asgard
- Bifrost
United States of America
- New York State
  - New York City
    - Manhattan
      - Donald Blake's Medical Practice
  - Black Mountain (First appearance) swamp area

Items:

Absorbing Man's Ball and Chain (First appearance)
Mjolnir

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "The Stronger I Am, the Sooner I Die!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Journey Into Mystery #114

Thor battles a criminal who attempts to elude him inside of a modified bucket racer. Thor pulls him from the vehicle and throws him to the ground. Watching the melee from Asgard is Thor's evil half-brother, Loki. Loki decides to assist the criminal by teleporting a vial of poisonous vapors to the battlefield in the hopes of weakening Thor. The tactic fails however and Thor manages to capture the criminal.

Frustrated, Loki decides to strike at Thor in another way. He elects to empower an Earth mortal with the ability to defeat Thor. Loki creates a special serum and teleports it to Earth inside the water glass of a convict named "Crusher" Creel. Upon drinking the water, Creel feels himself rippling with power. He has the ability to absorb the properties of any physical material that he makes contact with. He begins causing a ruckus in the prison cafeteria, and the guards rush in and start shooting at him. Creel absorbs the impact of their bullets, and transforms into a man of solid lead. Using his weighted ball and chain, Creel smashes his way to freedom.

Back at his office, Donald Blake patches up an injured reporter named Harris Hobbs. Hobbs tells him that he is chasing a story involving a superhuman escaped prisoner. Blake grows curious and breaks off a dinner date with Jane Foster to investigate.

Blake changes into Thor and flies out towards the Black Mountain swamp area. There he finds Crusher Creel and the two pit themselves against one another. Thor's hammer strikes against Creel's iron ball, but to no avail. With each blow, Creel absorbs more and more of the Thunder God's strength. Thor creates a whirlwind hoping to blow Creel off his feet, but this too fails.

The reporter Hobbs reaches the scene and tries to help Thor by throwing sticks of dynamite at Crusher Creel. Creel mimics Thor's whirlwind and blows the dynamite back at him. Thor snatches Hobbs to safety before the sticks can explode.

Creel manages to escape and drives off in a stolen car. While gassing up the vehicle, he begins fantasizing about all of the things he can accomplish with his new powers. Creel destroys the gas station with his ball and chain, and then drives off towards a safe house.

Thor tracks him down and the two begin fighting once again. The fight continues for hours, with neither man showing any sign of slowing down. Suddenly, Thor's Asgardian ally Balder the Brave appears before him. He brings Thor to the Rainbow Bridge and tells him that Loki has gone after Jane Foster. Thor decides to abandon his fight with Creel, citing that Loki represents a more menacing threat. As the two Asgardians vanish, Creel, in his arrogance, believes that he has beaten Thor.

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:

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.

Links and References

References

Thor (ES) Vol 1 15

Appearing in "A World Gone Mad!"

Synopsis for "A World Gone Mad!"