Time-Quake!

Thor has been forced to assist Ulik in overthrowing the rule of Geirrodur, ruler of the Rock Trolls. Victory had come from an unlikely source, Jane Foster — who was being held prisoner — who managed to get a drop on the king with a spear. However, now that Jane is no longer being used as a hostage, Thor turns on Ulik. The Rock Troll is quickly tossed into the underground river. When Geirrodur begins demanding his minions recover the spear in Jane’s hand, the thunder god realizes that it is more than a mere weapon. Tossing the weapon into the river causes the water to catch on fire and the cavern begin to crumble. Thor then grabs Jane and races to the surface, leaving the Rock Trolls to their fate.[1]

On the surface, Detective Ralph Blumkenn and Hercules wait around the police cordon around the hole in the street made by Ulik. When Thor and Jane emerge from the hole, he and Hercules agree to repair the damage to the street so it can be opened to traffic again. When they finish their work, Hercules is approached by a representative from the University of California, Los Angeles campus who seeks the Olympian to come and give lectures at their college about Greek myths. Hercules finds this interesting and decides to go since the climate in Los Angeles will prove more to his liking.[2] With the danger immediately over, Thor ducks into a nearby alley to change back into Don Blake so he and Jane can leave the area without drawing undue attention.

Meanwhile, in San Diego, Tomas Chamaro meets with grape pickers who have gone on strike. They are facing opposition from Anthony Combach who owns one of the local wineries and has hired men to try and bust up their union. Among those in the crowd is Orrin, an elderly man that lives at a local commune that none — not even Orrin himself — are aware is really Odin, the ruler of Asgard. The meeting is interrupted by Connors, the leader of the union busters hired by Combach who has come to break up the meeting. As with last time, Orrin is able to overpower these men with his superior strength. However, the fight quickly ends when an earthquake begins shaking the area. Running outside, Orrin and his friend Judy are shocked when a pyramid suddenly emerges from the ground. As everyone else tries to make sense of what’s going on, Orrin can only stare at the pyramid as it resonates something hidden deep in his subconscious mind.[3]

Back in New York, Jane grows concerned about Don’s brooding over the disappearance of Odin and convinces him to go find out what happened to his father as Thor, telling him that she will wait for his return. Changing back into the thunder god, he thanks Jane for her understanding and leaves for Asgard. Moments after he is gone, Jane turns on the television and catches a news story about the mysterious pyramid that has appeared in San Francisco and recognizes one of the people in the crowd as Odin himself.[4] She watches as Odin pushes his way past the authorities to climb the pyramid stairs. At the top of the construct a door opens revealing three entities that Egyptian scholars identify as the gods Horus, Osiris, and Isis. When Osiris blasts Odin with mystical energy, he shrugs it off as if it was nothing. He is then silently invited into the pyramid.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Ulik, Jane Foster, Hercules, Geirrodur, Ralph Blumkenn, Horus, Osiris, Isis, Richard Fenster, Odin

Continuity Notes

1. This story suggests that the domain of the Rock Trolls exists below the Earth’s surface. This contradicts Thor #137 and other stories that place this domain below Asgard. Official Index to the Marvel Universe: Thor suggests that the Trolls could teleport their entire domain. I, on the other hand, thinks a more simpler explanation is at play: that there are portals that link the Rock Troll’s domain to locations below the Earth’s surface.

2. This is setting things up for Hercules becoming a member of the Champions of Los Angeles. See Champions #1.

3. As explained in Thor #233, Odin had gone to Earth in a mortal guise to learn about human humility. He doesn’t remember who he is due to a spell of forgetfulness he used on himself.

4. Jane previously met Odin in Thor #136 when he tested her to see if she was worthy of godhood.

Topical References

• This story is a commentary on the Delano grape strike which affected the California wine industry until 1978. Any suggestion that this story takes place during that strike should be considered topical.

• Jane is depicted watching TV on an old CRT television with an antenna to pick up a TV reception. This technology is obsolete.

• The Egyptologist expert states that these gods have not been seen for two thousand years. This measurement of time is relative and will change due to the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.