Journey into Mystery #84
The Mighty Thor vs. The Executioner
While on vacation in Norway, Doctor Donald Blake discovered an old walking stick that, once tapped on the ground, turns him into the mighty Thor.[1] With these new powers, he managed to prevent an invasion of Earth by aliens claiming to be from Saturn.[2] After the incident, Blake decides to use his powers to fight for justice against the forces of evil.[3]
After returning from his vacation, Don Blake resumes his private practice in New York, assisted by his nurse Jane Fost. Don secretly loves Jane, but fears that she couldn’t love a man with disabilities such as his, unaware that Jane has feelings for him and wishes he would open up to her. Driving her home at the end of the day, they talk about the latest unrest in the nation of San Diablo. The pro-communist dictatorship there is clashing with rebel forces. Jane is disturbed by reports of San Diablo’s leader, a man known as the “Executioner” because of his love using firing squads to kill his enemies.[4]
A week later, Donald Blake attends a meeting of local physicians where there is a call for volunteers to provide much needed medical aid in San Diablo. Don Blake is among those who agree to go. Soon, he and Jane are aboard a cruise ship headed for the war-torn country with other medical professionals. Along the way, a squadron of fighter planes tries to sink the ship. In the ensuing panic, Don slips away and changes into Thor. He quickly demolishes the enemy planes and, in order to cover for Don Blake’s disappearance, makes it look as though he fell overboard. When he is rescued by the others, no one could possibly think that Don Blake was also Thor.
In San Diablo, the Executioner is informed that their airstrike was a failure. Furious, he orders the bearer of bad news to be executed for this failure. Learning that the American ship has landed ashore, the Executioner orders his men to destroy them before these doctors can help the rebels. During the impending attack, Don Blake runs for cover and taps his cane on the ground twice, summoning the storm that washes away the enemy troops. Driving into a nearby town, the doctors are next confronted by a battalion of tanks. Running for cover again, Blake changes into Thor for the second time that day and easily trashes the tanks. Unfortunately, in the confusion, the Executioner’s men grab Jane Fost and order Thor to stop or else they will kill the girl. With no other choice, Thor is forced to retreat.
Jane is then taken to the Executioner, who is taken away by the nurse’s beauty. Not long after this, Don Blake allows himself to get captured. Accusing Blake of being a spy, the Executioner orders him put before a firing squad. When the dictator takes away his walking stick, Don calls him a coward for not fighting him man-to-man. When the Executioner rushes to attack him, Blake grabs the walking stick and quickly changes into Thor. The sudden burst of light temporarily blinds them, leaving them to think that Blake ran off in the confusion. Thor then snares a bunch of the enemy soldiers in one of their tents. That’s when the rebel forces arrive. Outnumbered, the Executioner’s men try to flee into the mountains. Thor stops this retreat by summing lightning to strike a mountain, causing a volcanic eruption. Forced back by the lava, the soldiers catch the Executioner trying to flee with all of San Diablo’s stolen wealth. Realizing that their leader is a coward the Executioner is gunned down by his own men.
Sometime later, Don and Jane are treating the people of San Diablo. Jane takes this moment to ask Don what happened to him during the battle. He tells her that Thor hid him behind the execution wall where he hid until the coast was clear. Jane wonders to herself why Don couldn’t be brave like Thor, but dismisses this as too much to hope for.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Jane Foster
Continuity Notes
This story suggests that Don Blake gains the power of Thor. In reality, Blake is technically Thor. Odin banished Thor on Earth in human form to teach him a lesson in humility, as we’ll learn in Thor #159.
These “Stone Men from Saturn” are actually Kronans from the planet Ria, as explained in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #5.
For more on this see last issue as well as Thor: First Thunder #1-2.
The Executioner’s real name is never mentioned here. Thor: Asgard’s Avenger #1 reveals that his name is Santiago Rivera.
Topical References
Don and Jane learn about the unrest in San Diablo by overhearing a newspaper barker. This should be considered a topical reference as newspaper barkers aren’t really a thing anymore.
