Journey into Mystery #123

Jan 15

Jan 15 Journey into Mystery #123

While a Universe Trembles!

Thor has agreed to bring Harris Hobbs to Asgard in exchange for keeping his mortal identity a secret. Thor then begins spinning his hammer to create a vortex that will breach the dimensional barriers between Earth and Asgard. Soon, he and Harris Hobbs are transported to the Bifrost Bridge. There, Thor is bothered that Heimdall is not at his post and fears something is wrong.

Racing into the city, Thor learns that Loki has brought the Absorbing Man to Asgard and is now fighting Odin himself. When Thor arrives in the throne room he discovers that Crusher Creel has absorbed the properties of energy from Odin’s Sceptre of Supremacy. However, when the Absorbing Man blasts Odin with this energy the All-Father shrugs it off. He then summons back the power, changing Creel back to human form. Odin then unleashes a molecular cyclone. However, the Absorbing Man absorbs the properties of this attack as well and uses it to attack Thor.

Meanwhile, in an Asian jungle, soldiers are searching for the local witch doctor in the hopes of to fully demoralize and subjugate his village.[1] Hiding in the nearby bushes, the witch doctor comes upon the Norn Stone that was accidentally dropped here by Thor.[2] Picking up the stone, the witch doctor discovers that it grants him great power. He uses it to confront the soldiers, attacking them with his enhanced strength. When the troops open fire on the witch doctor, he is able to pluck their bullets out of the air. Frightened by his super-human powers, the soldiers call the witch doctor a demon, a name that this shaman will adopt as his own.

Back in Asgard, the Absorbing Man begins absorbing the properties of Asgard itself and begins growing to titanic size. He intends on using this power to destroy Odin and the rest of the Asgardians and then take over the universe. Thor pleads with his father to stand down or risk death, but Odin stands ever defiant. That’s when Loki emerges from the shadows and reveals that this was all part of his master plan and orders Odin to hand over his Scepter of Supremacy, saying that he is the only one who can take the Absorbing Man’s powers away.[3] Odin shocks everyone by complying but, as the All-Father planned, once Loki has the scepter both he and Absorbing Man begin fighting over who gets to control it.

When the Absorbing Man absorbs the scepters properties he realizes that it doesn’t have any power at all. That’s when Odin reveals that the Scepter of Supremacy is merely a ceremonial object that Odin uses to channel the power that lies within himself. He then uses this power to banish both Loki and the Absorbing Man into deep space where the pair are frozen solid in the airless void.[4] With Loki defeated the warriors of Asgard cheer Odin for his victory. When Thor helps Harris Hobbs out from under rubble caused by the battle, Odin is furious to see that Thor has brought another mortal to Earth. Odin doesn’t care to hear Thor’s explanation and orders his son to return Hobbs to Earth. Harris is shocked to meet Odin himself and when he tries to take a picture he discovers his camera was ruined in the battle. Hobbs pleads with Thor to let him sketch something so people back home will believe his story, but Thor refuses as he must follow Odin’s orders.

Back in Mongolia, the Demon has become something that is feared among the local tribes. One such tribe tries to block the Demon from entering their village by constructing a massive stone wall around the perimeter. However, with the power of the Norn Stone the Demon is easily able to smash through the barrier with ease. After trashing the village he forces the locals to bow down and pledge fealty to the Demon.

Meanwhile, Thor and Harris Hobbs return to Earth. Hobbs is upset to learn that his memories of Asgard are beginning to fade away. When he asks Thor how he will ever be able to remember he was there, all Thor can say is that Harris will dream of Asgard at night but while his waking mind will dismiss them as dreams a small part of them will know that it is the truth.[5]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Absorbing Man, Loki, the Demon, Odin, Harris Hobbs

Continuity Notes

The name of the witch doctor is unidentified in this story. The Norn Stone entry in Thor: Asgard’s Avenger #1 reveals that the witch doctor’s real name is Borjigin Byambyn Khenbish.
This Norn Stone was accidentally dropped here in Journey into Mystery #120.
Loki reveals to the others that he gave the Absorbing Man his power. We saw this in Journey into Mystery #114-115.
Loki and the Absorbing Man will eventually escape this prison but at different times. Loki gets free in Thor Annual #2 while the Absorbing Man doesn’t get free until Incredible Hulk #125.
What Thor says is true and Harris Hobbs will dream of Asgard. His memories of his trip will eventually return and he and a film crew will later document the Asgardians’ attempt to prevent Ragnarok from happening. See Thor #272-278.

Topical References

Harris Hobbs is depicted using a film camera that uses a flash bulb. This should be considered topical since these styles of cameras have become obsolete.

The Jaws of the Dragon

As Odin and his aides look over the horizon they suddenly see a shadow fill the sky. The shadows take shape, foretelling the final battle during Ragnarok that would see the twilight of the gods. As this dark omen fades away, Odin wonders how Thor’s journey is going and if he has also seen this grim vision of what may be.

At that moment, Thor and his crew of journeymen are caught in the swirling maelstrom at the Pillars of Utgard. As the crew struggles to keep their ship afloat Balder the Brave has climbed atop the masthead to play a massive trumpet. This clarion call has caused the massive stone head of the Utgard dragon to rise from the tempest and open its massive stone maw.

As the ship begins taking on water, Thor vows to strike back at the stone dragon but he is pushed back by the waves. Even as their ship is on the brink of sinking, Balder continues to blow the trumpet. Soon he reaches the correct pitch and the sound from the horn shatters Utgard’s stone head. With this obstacle destroyed, the seas calm and Thor’s argonauts are able to continue their voyage.