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Thor (ES) Vol 1 9

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Appearing in "The Sword in the Scabbard!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #117

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Synopsis for "The Sword in the Scabbard!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #117

Thus, I Order The Two of You On An Expedition--Find Your Enemy, And Then--Destroy Him! You Dare Not Fail, For--If You Do, The Crack In The Sword May Grow Larger, And A Universe Will Perish!!

—Odin

In this tale from Asgard's past, Odin walks in on a battle between the warriors of Asgard and breaks it up. After the fight is over, Odin asks where his sons Thor and Loki are and are told that they are in the jousting room. There he finds that Thor and Loki are fighting, as Loki had enticed the battle outside.

Odin breaks up the battle and brings his two children to the room where the Oversword is stored. He pulls the gigantic sword partially from it's scabbard and shows them that some unknown force has caused it to begin cracking. The sword's destruction would also bring upon Ragnarok, and so Odin asks the two young warriors to go out and find the one causing this destruction and stop them.

Appearing in "Gather, Warriors!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #119

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  • Odin's Advisors

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Synopsis for "Gather, Warriors!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #119

Ahhh, Blustering Volstagg! Methinks You Mostly Wish A Brief Vacation From Your Wife And Fifteen Offspring!

—Thor

Continued from last issue...

With all the preparations met, Thor and Loki begin to sail on their quest to learn and stop whatever is causing the Oversword to crack. Among the crew are Balder, as well as the "Warriors Three": The grim warrior Hogun, the dashing Fandral, and the voluminous Volstagg.

Volstagg's braggart nature causes the other ships crew members to attack him, leaving Thor to come to the rescue of the fat ones aid. After the fight is broken up, the obviously outmatched and cowardly Volstagg compensates for his poor fighting skills by bragging about his apparent battle prowess.

Back in Asgard things are much grimmer, as Odin calls forth his most trusted advisors to show them a message that has appeared on the Royal Wall. Removing a curtain, Odin reveals the message which reads "Ragnarok is Coming" and tells all present to begin praying, otherwise Asgard is doomed.

This story is continued next issue...

Appearing in "Set Sail!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #120

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Synopsis for "Set Sail!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #120

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Synopsis for "Maelstrom!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #121

Why is Loki not in command?? Surely he would have set sail for home by now!

—Unnamed Argonaut

Continued from Journey Into Mystery #120...

On a voyage to learn the cause of the Oversword's slow destruction, Thor has led an army of his fellow Asgardians on a voyage to determine it's cause and prevent Ragnarok from occurring. Entering the Sea of Fear, they have to pass the Pillars of Utgard in order to continue on their voyage. As a storm rages, Thor rallies his men to maintain course and fight the storm, in spite of Loki's bleak outlook on the situation.

As the ship is battered through the rapids, Balder the Brave climbs the masthead of the ship with a great horn on some grave purpose that will save his fellows from doom.

Appearing in "The Grim Specter of Mutiny!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #122

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Synopsis for "The Grim Specter of Mutiny!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #122

He accomplished more in defeat than he could have in victory! His very fall toppled half of the mutineers!!

—Thor

As Thor's ship journey's through the Sea of Fear and through the Pillars of Utgard in violent waters, Loki stages a mutiny with the aid of the dissenting Kroda and Magrat, splitting the crew in half and starting a fight between the two factions.

Rallied with Thor are the Warriors Three, however at the battle on ship rages, the ship itself heads toward the most dangerous part of the Pillars of Utgard: The Dragon's Jaws. As their ship enters this lethal region, the battle gives pause to the sound of Balder, who has climbed to the top of the ships masthead with a great horn and has begun blowing it, in hopes that it's power might steer them to safety.

Appearing in "The Jaws of the Dragon!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #123

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  • Utgard Dragon (First appearance) (Destruction)

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Synopsis for "The Jaws of the Dragon!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #123

What flash and blood can achieve, I shall do! This do I pledge to all! Whate'er befalls, I shall not flinch! Strike, thou creature of darkness--Thor stands ready!

—Thor

In fabled Asgard, Odin and his advisors watch as a storm heralding in the beginning of Ragnarok comes in over the vast seas, leaving them to wonder how Thor's quest goes to determine what's causing the Oversword to begin to crack, thereby causing this cataclysm.

While in the Sea of Fear, Thor's ship rides through the angry waters near the Pillars of Utgard, their ship comes close to the most deadly part, a cavern waterway called the Jaws of the Dragon (Because the entrance resembles that of a Dragon's maw.)

As Thor and the Warriors Three fight to keep the ship afloat, Balder rides it's masthead blowing into a giant horn, hoping that it's sound will destroy the Jaw of the Dragon so that they might continue to their quest. For all his trouble, Balder manages to succeed and the Jaw is blown to bits, allowing their ship to pass onto the next leg of their journey.

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard: When Heimdall Failed!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #105

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Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard: When Heimdall Failed!"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #105

Never have I felt this way before!! Never so uncertain—so troubled!! Have I been at my post too long?? Can it be that I am no longer worthy of guarding the all-important Rainbow Bridge??

—Heimdall

The Storm Giant Brimer complains to his queen Nedra that he can not invade Asgard because the ever-vigilant Heimdall guards their Rainbow Bridge. So Nedra summons a Vanna, an invisible, super fast air sprite that she sends to spy on Asgard and disgrace Heimdall.

Being invisible, the creature slips past Heimdall, who even through he cannot see or hear it, still senses something and swings toward the creature, missing.

The Vanna spies out Asgard, going even into Odin's Royal Chamber. Upon warning sent by Heimdall, Odin reaches out and captures the sprite. Heimdall is summoned to Odin's chamber, where the guardian apologizes for failing in his duty. But rather then punish Heimdall, Odin praises him. He was so loyal that he sensed the Vanna and reported it, even though it made him look foolish to report "nothing". He is returned to his post with Odin's assurance that he is second only to Thor in Odin's heart.

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard: Balder the Brave"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #106

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Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard: Balder the Brave"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #106

You shall face the test of mortal death!

—Odin

This flashback tale of the early days of Asgard focuses on Balder the Brave. In this story, he is brought to the court of Odin to answer for the fact that during a recent battle against the Storm Giants, Balder deserted his comrades. Balder explains that during combat, he saw a bird fall from its nest, so he had left the battle to return the bird to its mother.

Furious that Balder would abandon a battle for such a deed, Odin orders Balder to face the test of mortal death, which Balder agrees to take in spite of the other warriors of Asgard's protests.

The test requires that Balder stand in front of a line of soldiers who would attempt to kill him without his resistance. First Odin orders Tyr, master archer of Asgard, to fire an arrow at Balder. The unflinching Balder is saved at the last minute when a hawk swoops out of the sky and stops the arrow from hitting Balder.

Odin orders Honir to throw a spear at Balder, which is stopped by a sudden sprouting of vines from the ground, and again Balder does not flinch. Then Odin orders Thor to strike down Balder with his hammer. As Thor approaches to strike Balder down, the warrior still does not move, prompting Odin to stop Thor.

Odin reveals that he summoned the hawk and the plant to save Balder at the last minute of each attack to test his bravery. Having passed Odin's test, Odin rewards Balder with the gift of invincibility, and has him hailed as Balder the Brave.

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard: Balder Must Die"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #107

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  • Haag (First appearance) (Unnamed)
  • Thor (Mentioned)

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  • Mistletoe dart and blowgun

Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard: Balder Must Die"

Reprint of the 2nd story from
Journey Into Mystery #107

Jealous of Balder being in favor of Odin next to Thor, Loki decides that he will kill Balder. Knowing that Odin gifted Balder with invincibility, Loki surmises that Balder must have some sort of weakness. He seeks out the Norn Queen in his attempt to find Balder's weakness.

At first the Norn Queen refuses to aid Loki, but eventually gives into Loki's demands and tells him that the only item in all of Asgard that did not pledge to protect Balder was mistletoe. With this knowledge in hand, Loki travels out and obtains a small amount of mistletoe and has one of his slave trolls fashion it into a dart and construct a blow gun.

The next day Loki spies Balder jousting in the combat practice fields and waits for the right moment to strike. Balder trips in an attempt to avoid stepping on a caterpillar and Loki uses it as an opportunity to fire the dart at him. Just as he is about to fire the dart, the blow gun bursts into flames in his hands. The Norn Queen contacts Loki via her crystal ball and informs him that although mistletoe did not pledge to protect Balder, she did, and thus thwarts his attempt to kill Balder. Loki pledges revenge, but the Norn Queen has her aide prepare witches's brew against any such attempt.

Balder, meanwhile regains his feet, little knowing how close he was to losing his life.

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