Thor #258
If the Stars be Made of Stone!
Thor and his allies have resumed their search for Odin, unaware that their ship has been spotted by the Bird of Prey — a warship under the command of Thor’s old foe, the Grey Gargoyle.[1] Sif is still coming to terms with the fact that they killed an innocent alien named Sporr during their brief stay on the Levianon worldship.[2] Thor understands her sorrow but reminders her that there is not much they can do about it. As they begin trying to figure out how to find the Doomsday Star they are ambushed by the Bird of Prey.
A number of the space pirates board the Starjammer and begin fighting Thor and his allies. While on board the alien ship, the Grey Gargoyle and his second-in-command, the lion-headed Fee-Lon observe the battle.[3] Seeing that his crew is not faring well, Fee-Lon suggests that the Gargoyle assist them with his ability to turn people into stone. Although the lion-man is fearful of the Gargoyle’s power, he is also plotting to seize control of the ship.
When the Gargoyle boards the Starjammer he quickly turns the Warriors Three and Sif into stone because they are unaware of his power. The villain then threatens to smash Sif’s stone form forcing Thor to surrender and submit to the Grey Gargoyle’s touch.
While back in Asgard, Balder and Karnilla prepare the troops to face the silent army of soldiers that have been stationed outside the castle walls. That’s when they hear a pounding at the palace door. When the pair race to see who is trying to break in, they are shocked when the Executioner and the Enchantress come busting through the door.[4]
Meanwhile, aboard the Bird of Prey, an hour has elapsed since Thor and his allies were turned into stone. Returned to their natural state, they discover they are wearing slave collars that will force them to do the bidding of the Grey Gargoyle and his crew. When Thor tries to resist, he is jolted by electricity that fully incapacitates the thunder god. Although they are shackled, Thor vows that he and his friends will break free. The Asgardians are then brought by Fee-Long down into the engine room where a group of slaves feed fuel they call “star-dust” into massive furnaces to power the Bird of Prey’s engines. There they are forced to toil with the others. Seeing how weak and feeble the other prisoners are, Thor and the Warriors Three all begin picking up the slack, earning the trust of the other slaves.
The leader of the slaves is an alien named Gormok who tells Thor that his people lived in peace on their home world when the Grey Gargoyle and his crew attacked. Since they were a peaceful race they were easily decimated. Those who weren’t slaughtered by the invaders were taken prisoner and forced to work on powering the engines. After a grueling day of work, Thor and the others are forced to take a break. Once they are alone in their cell, the Recorder reveals that he managed to figure out how to unlock the slave collars they have been forced to wear. After his Asgardian friends are free, they also begin removing the slave collars from the other slaves. As Thor begins rallying everyone to revolt against their masters they are interrupted when the Grey Gargoyle enters the room and catches them in the act.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Grey Gargoyle, Sif, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Balder, Recorder, Karnilla, Fee-Lon, Enchantress, Executioner, Kroda
Continuity Notes
Odin has been missing since Thor #243. See Thor #250 and #262 for details.
Thor and Co. inadvertently slew Sporr to help the Levianon’s crew who mistakenly assumed the alien was a threat. See Thor #256-257.
The Grey Gargoyle mentions his previous battles with Thor in Journey into Mystery #107 and 113.
Balder mentions how he was warned that the two villains were back. This was told to him by the dying Brokar in Thor #256.
