— If the Thunder Be Gone!

Stripped of everything except his strength, Thor has been forced to take the job of a strong man in a circus.[1] Little does he know is that this is the Ringmaster’s Circus of Crime who are plotting to use his strength to steal the golden bull from a nearby museum. Soon, it is opening night and Thor demonstrates his strength for the crowd. People in the audience begin heckling him because they don’t think he’s the real Thor and demand he prove it by throwing his hammer. Thor tosses his hammer through a concrete target but, because its stripped of its enchantments, it does not come back. However, the Ringmaster uses a hypnotic device suspended from the top of the tent to hypnotize the crowd and make them believe that Thor's hammer had returned to him after throwing it. The former thunder god is confused when the crowd suddenly gives him a standing ovation. However, these concerns quickly disappear when he notices his former lover, Jane Foster, in the crowd on a date with another man.

With the show over, Princess Python — who is smitten by Thor — tries to learn more about their new strong man, but Thor refrains from talking about himself. With the show over, the Ringmaster then puts Thor under a hypnotic trance so they can steal the golden bull. When they arrive at the museum, the Clown and the Great Gambonnos use their skills to distract the guards and send them on a wild goose chase. With the coast clear, the Human Cannonball is shot through a window allowing Princess Python to get in with her snake. After they deal with the guards still inside, they open the front door so Thor can come in and carry the golden bill out to the truck they have waiting outside.

However, the guards come back sooner than planned soon a gun battle breaks out. When bullets start bouncing off the golden bull, Thor snaps out of his hypnotic trance. He then drops the bull, inadvertently pinning Princess Python to the wall in the process. Meanwhile, this entire tableau is being observed through an enchanted crystal by Sif and Balder. They fear for Thor’s safety, but they are unable to do anything since Odin banished his son. There is no hope that Odin will have a change of heart because he is still furious that Thor continues to defy him. While back on Earth, Thor finds himself in a terrible position: Flee from the authorities and leave Princess Python to her fate or save her and be arrested.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Circus of Crime (Ringmaster, Princess Python, Clown, the Great Gambonnos), Sif, Balder, Odin, Jane Foster

Continuity Notes

1. Thor was stripped of his powers by Odin in Thor #145. He will remain powerless until Thor #151.

Topical References

• The Ringmaster values the golden bull at 22 million dollars in this story. Adjusting for inflation this amount would be worth about 172 million in 2021 money.

The Origin of… The Incomparable Inhumans!

Centuries ago as man was replacing the Dinosaurs as the dominant species on Earth, there existed another race of humanoids far more advanced than their cave-dwelling brothers. However, as homo sapiens began to proliferate across the Earth, the Inhumans retreated to an isolated island where they built their city of Attilan.

There, this race worked to advance their knowledge of science. When they discovered the Terrigen Mists, the Inhumans feared what might happen if a living being were exposed to the mysterious element. Randac, their leader, decided that he would willingly expose himself to the Terrigen Mists to find out.[1] After exposing himself to the mist, Randac was given amazing powers, becoming the first of the Inhumans.[2]

Recurring Characters

Randac, Makoth

Continuity Notes

1. The Inhuman who raises his concerns about the Terrigen Mists is identified as Makoth in the Inhumans entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #6.

2. This is a very abridged origin of the Inhumans. The next issue reveals that the Inhumans were actually the product of genetic engineering caused by the Kree.