Appearing in "While a Universe Trembles!"
Journey Into Mystery #123
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Absorbing Man (Crusher Creel)
- Demon (First appearance)
- Loki
Other Characters:
- Harris Hobbs
- Heimdall (Mentioned)
- Numerous unnamed Asgardians
- People's Liberation Army
- Five unnamed soldiers
- Demon's Army
- Numerous unnamed conscripts
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Asgardians
- Fleas (Mentioned)
- Frost Giants
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "While a Universe Trembles!"
Journey Into Mystery #123
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 "The Grandeur and the Glory!"
Journey Into Mystery #124
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Mister Wilkens, one of Donald Blake's patients
- unnamed Olympians
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Grandeur and the Glory!"
Journey Into Mystery #124
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.