A Dragon at the Gates!

The search for Odin has reached a dead end.[1] With no other avenues left, Thor has the vizier to summon Mimir again for advice. The flaming entity — the personification of wisdom — Mimir is not happy to see Thor is seeking it out to find Odin for the second time.[2] This time, however, Mimir will not give the information for free. Instead, he orders Thor to venture deep below Asgard and slay a mighty dragon with a ruby eye. This ruby must be returned to Mimir and only then will it reveal Odin’s location.

Thor and his allies venture to a the entrance to the underground tunnel that will lead Thor to the dragon he must battle. There, he tells Sif to remain behind as this is a quest he must undertake on his own. Thor ventures into the cavern that leads him deep underground. As he walks the winding path that crosses pools of lava he reflects on how they were unaware Odin was missing due to the fact that Mangog was posing as the All-Father for some time.[3]

After crossing a stone bridge surrounded by flame, Thor finds the cyclopean dragon with the ruby eye guarding a massive golden gate. Before the thunder god can attack the monster he is interrupted by Ulik who has also come seeking the ruby eye to save his people, the Rock Trolls. Not believing that Ulik’s people are in any danger, Thor vows to fight for the right to take the ruby eye. As expected, a brawl breaks out between the two eternal enemies. As their fight spills out onto the bridge of fire, Thor begins to wonder if Ulik’s claims that his people are in peril are true. However, he finds himself torn between helping Ulik, which will destroy the ruby, and needing it to help find Odin. This distraction allows Ulik to overpower Thor and toss him over the bridge and into the flaming pits below, assured that the thunder god will fall to his death.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Ulik, Sif, Balder, Mimir, Karnilla, Geirrodur, Igron

Continuity Notes

1. Odin has been missing since Thor #243. He will be found in Thor #262. He’s currently a prisoner of the Dionists.

2. Yeah, this is the second time Odin has gone MIA resulting in Thor summoning Mimir to help find him. The last time was in Thor #240 when Odin was on walkabout on Earth.

3. Mangog had been posing as Odin since issue #243, this was all detailed in Thor #250. Mangog was ultimately exposed and defeated last issue.

The Weapon and the Warrior

As a young man, Thor rides across Asgard elated over having just won the right to lift Mjolnir his enchanted hammer.[1] He thinks about all the trials and tribulations he endured in order to become worthy enough to wield the enchanted weapon, such as when he recovered the Golden Apples of Iduna from the Storm Giants, and when he defended Asgard alone against the Hordes of Evil.[2]

His thoughts are interrupted when he spots a Storm Giant blocking his path. He warns the giant to move out of the way, but it refuses and warns the thunder god that he draws his power from the very Earth. Unphased by this, Thor attacks the giant only to discover that he some how has limitless strength. Knocked off his horse and dropping Mjolnir, Thor is confident that he doesn’t need a weapon to defeat his foe. However, as he charges toward his foe, Thor suddenly sinks into the ground. Unable to get free, the youthful thunder god finds himself as the Storm Giant’s mercy.

Recurring Characters

Thor

Continuity Notes

1. A footnote here states that this story happens immediately after the Tales of Asgard feature in Journey into Mystery #102, which told of Thor winning the right to wield Mjolnir.

2. Thor’s recovery of the Golden Apples of Iduna happened in Journey into Mystery #100, while the battle against the Hordes of Evil happened in the following issue. Some of these events have conflicting retellings. Go here for more info on that.