Escape into Oblivion!

Thor, Sif, the Warriors Three, and the Rigelian Recorder are all prisoner aboard the Bird of Prey, a pirate under the command of the Grey Gargoyle. When the Recorder began freeing everyone from their slave collars they are interrupted by the Gargoyle himself. However, Thor’s old foe hasn’t come to fight them but plead for their help. To prove his good intentions, he uses his abilities to turn the remaining slave collars into stone and smash them.

Convinced that the Gargoyle means well and learning that he wants to get back home to Earth, Thor asks how he came to be in command of the ship’s crew. He explains that, back on Earth, he had allied himself with Advanced Idea Mechanics who were trying to launch a satellite that would allow him to use his power to turn entire cities into stone. This scheme ran afoul thanks to the intervention of Spider-Man and Captain America. In the ensuing battle, the satellite was launched while a a chain attached to it was wrapped around the Grey Gargoyle’s leg and he was launched into space.[1] His added weight caused the satellite to fly off course leaving him lost in space for a long time. His body was then recovered by the crew of the Bird of Prey. At that time, the ship was under the command of red-skinned alien named Sklarr. To avoid being enslaved, the Gargoyle challenges Sklarr to a one-on-one duel. The alien captain agreed, and although he was the superior figher, Sklarr was turned into stone and shattered into pieces. With their captain dead, Fee-Lon and the other members of the crew then named the Gargoyle as their captain. Thor and the Gargoyle agree to work together to seize control of the ship, unaware that Fee-Long was spying on them and sees this as the perfect opportunity to take over as captain.

Back on Asgard, Balder and Karnilla have been left in charge of Asgard while Thor is away. The pair have just been confronted by the Enchantress and the Executioner who are in command of the silent army that stands outside the kingdom. They order Balder to surrender the kingdom over to them. Balder, naturally, refuses to do so. The pair then leave, warning the brave hero that they will be back with their army and that Balder will soon regret not surrendering.

While aboard the Bird of Prey, the Grey Gargoyle has Thor and his friends brought up to the cabin of the ship under the pretense that he was going to humiliate the thunder god in front of his crew. However, this is all a ruse so Thor and the others can ambush them. When the Gargoyle orders them to attack they discover Fee-Long was aware of this betrayal and tipped off the rest of the crew. In the ensuing battle, the Grey Gargoyle tries to flee in an escape craft and is ambushed by Fee-Lon when he tries to take off. Meanwhile, Thor and the others are joined by the rest of the slaves who help them overpower their captors. By this time, the Gargoyle’s escape ship has been launched, but in the struggle with Fee-Lon the villain accidentally turns the ship’s control panel into stone causing the shuttle to explode. With the battle now over, Gormak and the other slaves have taken control of the ship. He thanks Thor for his help and vows to use the Brid of Prey to return its prisoners to their proper homes. Thor and his allies must now press on with their quest to find Odin.[2]

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), Recorder, Balder, Grey Gargoyle, Fee-Lon, Balder, Executioner, Enchantress, Karnilla

Continuity Notes

1. The Grey Gargoyle’s flashback is recounting the events of Marvel Team-Up #13.

2. Odin has been missing since Thor #243. See issues #250 and 262 for more details.