The Dilemma of Dr. Blake!

Thor has just had his powers restored and now he is in a life-and-death battle with the Destroyer.[1] What he doesn’t know is that the sentient armor is being powered by the soul of Sif as part of a scheme by Loki and Karnilla to slay Thor with his lover. However, the battle doesn’t last much longer thanks to the intervention of Odin, who sends Sif’s soul back to her body.

Sif snaps back to life in Karnilla’s cave where Balder is currently locked in battle with Ulik, the troll. Sif tries to join the fight, but nobody — not even Balder — want her to interfere with the battle.

Back on Earth, the police arrive on the scene and Thor instructs them to put the Destroyer someplace safe until it can be returned to Asgard. Thor is then suddenly teleported away by Karnilla who asks the thunder god to assist in the battle with Ulik. Getting between Ulik and Balder, Thor shatters the troll’s club with Mjolnir. The pair then start fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

As the battle rages on, the police have taken the Destroyer to the local precinct. There, the chief calls the local museum to get a specialist down to examine the Destroyer. Moments later, Odin appears disguised as a mortal and claims to be from the museum. While he is left alone with the Destroyer, the chief gets a call back from the museum telling him their expert’s arrival will be delayed. Wondering who they let into the room with the Destroyer, the cops rush in to the room and find it empty. This seems impossible since there are no other doors or windows. The police decide to ignore what happened unless they admit that they might be cracking up.

Back in Asgard, the battle between Thor and Ulik rages on. Watching from the shadows is Loki, who is waiting for the right moment to strike. When Thor sets down Mjolnir, Loki acts. Not long after this, Thor knocks Ulik down a bottomless pit. In the aftermath of the battle, Thor discovers that his hammer is missing and realizes that it must be stolen by Loki.[2]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Destroyer, Sif, Odin, Balder, Loki, Karnilla, Ulik

Continuity Notes

1. Thor’s powers were stripped away by Odin in Thor #145 until last issue.

2. As has been the case since Journey into Mystery #83, those who are unworthy cannot lift Thor’s hammer. However, it’s explained next issue that Loki’s powers have been augmented by those of Karnilla, thus allowing him to lift Thor’s weapon.

While the City Shrieks

Triton of the Inhumans has sawm to the shores of New York City to find out how advanced the humans. When he arrives on the docks, he frightens a pair of guys reading the paper. Running across the street, Triton mistakes the approaching traffic as an attack and uses his enhanced strength to make one of the cars spinning. This causes a pile-up and a great deal of property damage.

Having drawn a crowd, Triton tries to seek cover in a store but discovers the door is locked. That’s when the police arrive and begin shooting at him. Running short of breath and needing water, Triton senses the water in the sewers below and escapes through a manhole cover. This experience convinces Triton that the humans are paranoid and hateful people.

Returning to the island city of Attilan, Triton reports his findings to Black Bolt and warns that they may be discovered unless they move their city someplace where the humans can’t find it. Black Bolt soon leaves to find a new home for Attilan, a place they will one day call the Hidden Land.[1]

Recurring Characters

Triton, Black Bolt

Continuity Notes

1. This was the last Inhumans back-up story to be featured in the pages of Thor. The characters would next appear in Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #1-10. However, this plotline ends up getting dropped. It won’t be picked up again until What If? #29-30. That story reveals that this story takes place in the 1950s. The Inhumans locate their new home in the Himalayan Mountains. The relocation of the Inhumans is assisted by the Eternals.