Lurker in the Dark!

Thor and his companions — Sif and the Warriors Three — continue their search for the Doomsday Star where Odin has been held since he gone missing some time ago.[1] They are soon joined by the Rigelian recorder, who has been dispatched to accompany the Asgardians by its Rigelian masters, who have heard of Thor’s quest and wished to have it documented.[2] Thor is pleased to see his old friend and welcomes him aboard. Unfortunately, the Recorder knows about as much about the Doomsday Star as they do. Soon, the Starjammer comes upon a derelict ship in the middle of open space. They are curious about the mysterious ship and decide to investigate since whoever is on board might know how to reach the Doomsday Star. Scanning the vessel, the Recorder warns them that there are two distinct types of life aboard the ship.

Inside the ship, a race of blue skinned aliens run for their lives from the tentacles that belong to an alien creature they refer to as Sporr.[3] Trailing behind the others is a young man named Darnak who is trying to help his grandfather get to safety. Darnak refuses to leave the old man behind but the decision is taken away from him when Sporr’s tentacle snatches his grandfather and drags him away. Left with only his elder’s walking stick, Darnak vows to do whatever it takes to save or avenge his last surviving family member.

By this time, Thor and his allies have boarded the alien ship and begin searching for signs of life. Finding a button on the wall, Volstagg presses it and inadvertently activates an army of defense robots. However, these so-called Securitrons, are all rusted with age and not in proper working order. Still, the robots put up a good fight and Sif is injured in the ensuing battle. However, before Thor and his allies can destroy all the robots they are ordered to stop fighting by Relstor, the leader of the blue skinned aliens that make this worldship their home. With Sif injured, Relstor invites the Asgardians back to his people’s domain for medical attention.

Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Balder and Karnilla watch over the kingdom in Thor’s absence. Karnilla is surpised that Balder chooses to sit at the foot of the royal throne instead of in it, saying he would make a good ruler. They are then interrupted by the arrival of Brokar one of the men who guards the northern gates of the kingdom. He has been attacked by some dangerous foe and before he dies in Balder’s arms he whispers two words into his ear that are cause for grave return.[4]

Back on the world ship, Thor and his allies are taken to the alien encampment and are shocked to discover that they live in a primitive squalor even though they are aboard a highly advanced ship. Relstor has Sif put in the care of some of their healers and tells Thor, the Recorder, and the Warriors Three about how his people are menaced by a creature they call Sporr. The creature, as he explains, has been kidnapping their old and infirm and nothing they can do can stop them. As Thor and his allies are learning about this menace, Sif wakes up and wanders away from the camp trying to find her lover. She runs into one of Sporr’s tentacles which tries to abduct her. Sif’s screams draw Thor and his friends who try to stop Sporr from taking her, but the monster collapses the hallway in order to cover its escape.

With Sif a prisoner of Sporr, Thor pledges himself and the Warriors Three to Relstor’s cause, vowing that if Sif is harmed he will personally see to the destruction of Sporr.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Recorder, Karnilla, Balder, Cherise, Darnak, Relstor, Sporr, Brokar

Continuity Notes

1. Odin has been missing since Thor #243. See Thor #250 and 262 for details.

2. Lots of exposition about the Recorder here:

   • Thor states here that others have called the Recorder by the name of Memorax. This was the name the Recorder went by when he last appeared in Warlock #8 and Incredible Hulk #176-178. It’s a really stupid name.

   • The Recorder mentions the last time he and Thor were together. This Recorder actually travelled with Thor for quite some time from Thor #132-134 and 155-162.

   • The Recorder mentions how Thor saved them from the threat of the Black Stars. This was in Thor #218-220.

3. Neither alien race is identified in this story. Sporr is a member of the Fomalhauti while the blue skinned aliens are later identified as the Levians. These facts are detailed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4 and 6 respectively.

4. These two words are the names of the Enchantress and the Executioner, who we learn are the threats to Asgard in Thor #258, issue #264 reveals that they are working for Loki.