The Grandeur and the Glory!

Having recently returned to New York, Thor stops at a newspaper stand to find out what has been happening on Earth.[1] He reads about the so-called Demon that has been ravaging villages in Asia. His presence has gathered a crowd who ask if Thor will tackle the Demon next. A little girl whose father is currently serving in Vietnam and asks Thor if he’s ever been.[2] Thor confirms that he has and assures that her father is a brave patriot for fighting to hold aloft the torch of liberty.[3] When Thor prepares to launch himself into the air he is stopped by a police officer who tells the thunder god that it is not safe to do so on a crowded street. Thor takes this on stride and takes an elevator up to the top of a nearby bank building so he can take to the air from there. Thor then heads to the hospital where Jane Foster has been staying.[4] When Thor arrives he learns that instead of being released Foster is still in bed as her condition is getting worse. Thor doesn’t know what’s wrong but intends to find out.

A world away, the Demon has used the power of the Norn Stone to amass an army that now clashes with government soldiers at a for.[5] The Demon shrugs off a direct hit from a mortar shell and then uses his titanic strength to rip a hole in the fortress wall. He then orders his loyal followers to storm the gates. The fortress soon falls and many of the troops join the Demon’s army as it presses onward. With his newfound powers from the Norn Stone, the Demon vows to use his power to take over the world.

Back in America, Don Blake checks on Jane Foster to see what is wrong with her. She can hardly believe that he is there. She has started doubting her own sanity because of Blake’s many disappearances of late.[6] Don realizes that Jane is suffering from a deep depression. When Jane demands to know where Don keeps on disappearing to, he can’t tell her because Odin has ordered him to keep his double identity a secret from Jane Foster.[7] As Jane begins going into hysterics, Don realizes that there is only one way to explain himself to her. Hoping his father can forgive him, Blake orders Jane to look at him. When she does, he taps his cane on the ground, triggering his transformation into Thor. Jane is surprised but somehow deep in her heart she always knew Don Blake and Thor were the same person. Hearing a nurse about to enter, Thor changes back into Don Blake and tells Jane that he’ll be back to see her tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Odin has been observing his son from Asgard, and seeing Thor reveal his secret identity to Jane Foster has made him furious and he vows that his son shall be punished for this infraction.

Back on Earth, Don Blake returns to his practice and keeps on hearing stories about the Demon that is running amok in Asia. His last patient of the day gets Don to listen to a radio report about the carnage caused by the Demon. Don tries to ignore the urge to liberate the people from the Demon’s tyranny, due to his promise to Jane Foster. Unfortunately, he cannot ignore it for long and changes into Thor and races off to Asia to put an end to the Demon once and for all.

While in the realm of Olympus, Zeus has decreed that his people must turn their attentions to the morals of Earth once more. He interrupts a sparring match between his Hercules and Atlas.[8] Zeus has grown tired of his son’s unending battles and has decided to send him to Earth. Accepting his father’s orders, Hercules then makes the climb down from Mount Olympus to return to the world of mortals.[9]

Meanwhile, the Demon and his army attack another military installation. This time, however, instead of an opposing army the only person inside is Thor. Face-to-face with the Demon, Thor recognizes the Norn Stone tied around his neck as the source of his power. Thor then challenges the Demon in hand-to-hand combat.

Recurring Characters

Thor, the Demon, Jane Foster, Odin, Hercules, Zeus, Atlas,

Continuity Notes

1. The newsstand has a number of Marvel Comics on sale. They are all comics that were published one month after this issue and include: Amazing Spider-Man #33, Fantastic Four #47, and Strange Tales #141.

2. Thor was recently in Vietnam as seen in Journey into Mystery #117.

3. When this story was originally written this scene was meant to be a message about the Vietnam War (1955-1975). All references to the Vietnam War made in the present tense should be considered topical. Instead, per History of the Marvel Universe #2, the conflict referred to in this story is now part of the Sin-Cong Conflict, a fictional war invented to explain away Vietnam references in Modern Age Marvel books.

4. Jane was hospitalized for smoke inhalation in Journey into Mystery #122.

5. This Norn Stone was unintentionally left in Mongolia by Thor in Journey into Mystery #119. The Demon came into possession of it last issue.

6. Jane was kidnapped sometime during Thor’s lengthy absence from New York from Journey into Mystery #116-120. During that time she was kidnapped by Harris Hobbs who intended to learn Thor’s secret identity. Thor eventually rescued her in issue #121 but he had to abruptly leave to stop the Absorbing Man who was attacking Asgard in issue #122.

7. Odin made this decree back in Journey into Mystery #90. Don also mentions here that he wants to marry Jane Foster, but Odin has forbidden this as well. Odin made this decree in Journey into Mystery #97.

8. The man identified as Atlas is not the Titan of the same name (you know the guy who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders?) He is a distinct Olympian as is clarified in Thor (vol. 2) #7. The Atlas will not be seen until Thor #356.

9. A watching centaur mentions how the Olympians have not dealt with Earth for ages. As explained in Thor #300, Zeus and the Council of Godheads (an organization that includes the leaders of each pantheon of god on Earth) agreed to stop directly meddling in the affairs of man for at least 1000 years after facing the Third Host of the Celestials.

Closer Comes the Swarm!

Spotting a ship heading toward the domain of the flying trolls of Thryhem, their leader Queen Ula orders her armies to pillage the ship despite the fact that it is under the protection of Odin.

The ship in question is carrying a team of argonauts led by Thor and Loki who are on a quest to prevent the coming of Ragnarok. They have just survived the deadly waters near the Pillars of Utgar thanks to Balder the Brave. Gravely weakened from the ordeal, Thor orders Balder to be taken to a bed for medical treatment. There he is looked over by the Warriors Three and Hogun gives Balder a serum that restores his strength. Once Balder is back on his feet, he is hailed as a hero by the majority of the crew.

Those who do not celebrate Balder’s recovery are the few crew members that are loyal to Loki. While the others are busy, Loki confers with his lieutenants Korda and Magrat to continue to plot how to seize control of the ship. Meanwhile, Volstagg tries to blow the very horn that Balder used to destroy the Utgard dragon. When he looks up he sees his fellow warriors have suddenly drawn their weapons and pleads with them to put them away, as he couldn’t have played the horn that badly. However, the warriors have not raised their weapons due to Volstagg’s trumpeting but because a swarm of flying trolls is approaching their ship.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Loki, Balder, the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Queen Ula, Kroda, Magrat