Thor #269
A Walk on the Wild Side
While on patrol, Thor stops at a newspaper stand to catch up on the news when he is suddenly surrounded by autograph seeking fans.[1] Thor tries to be as friendly as possible but soon grows tired of the attention. He quickly departs so he can change back to his mortal form of Don Blake so that he can move about the city unimpeded.
Meanwhile, Wilbur Day has been brought to a computer complex somewhere in the city by the being that broke him out of jail. A computerized voice says that Day has been broken out of prison so he might steal an object of value. To facilitate this robbery, Wilbur is given a brand new suit of Stilt-Man armor constructed entirely out of Adamantium.[2] Impressed with the upgrade, Wilbur agrees to carry out the robbery. As he goes, the creature that broke him out of prisoner warns him not to fail or his life will be forfeit.
Stilt-Man uses his hydraulic leg stilts to rob a helicopter of an electronically sealed vault. Incapacitating the pilots, Stilt-Man flees the scene leaving the helicopter to crash onto the street below. Luckily, Don Blake is happening by and while everyone is distracted, changes into Thor and breaks the chopper’s fall. Learning that Stilt-Man was responsible, Thor races after the crook to bring him to justice.[3]
Meanwhile, back in Asgard, the Warriors Three return from their mission to capture Kroda, Magrat, and Snaykar — three criminals who helped Loki briefly usurp the throne of Asgard.[4] Although Odin is pleased to see they have succeeded in their quest, Odin is deeply troubled as something does not seem right in the realm of Asgard.[5]
Back on Earth, Thor catches up with Stilt-Man and engages him in battle. Even with his Wilbur’s adamantium armor and rocket pods, the computer who sent him on his mission believes he is no match against the thunder god. That’s when the computer takes control of Stilt-Man’s armor and tries to win the battle for him. However, Thor ultimately takes down his foe by striking Stilt-Man’s armor with a bolt of lightning, causing all the circuitry inside to fuse. As Thor goes to check on Stilt-Man and recover the stolen safe, he is blasted aside by the creature that freed Wilbur from prison: Blastaar the Living Bomb-Burst!
Recurring Characters
Thor, Stilt-Man, Odin, Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg), FAUST, Blastaar, Kroda, Magrat, Snaykar
Continuity Notes
The headline of the newspaper Thor is reading reads “Spider-Man and the Green Goblin — Partners in Crime?” This is reference to the events of Amazing Spider-Man #176-180, which saw Spider-Man fighting a new Green Goblin who turns out to be Bart Hamilton, Harry Osborn’s psychiatrist.
Stilt-Man’s original armor was trashed by Black Goliath in Champions #12.
Thor mentions reading a report Captain America wrote about his encounter with Stilt-Man. That happened in Captain America #191.
Loki and his allies took over Asgard while Thor was away searching for Odin who had been MIA for quite some time. See Thor #255-266.
What this danger Odin senses is not explained since Len Wein left Thor shortly after this issue to go and write for DC Comics. One could assume that, continuity wise, Odin sensed the coming threat of Ragnarok which was the central plot in Thor #273 through 278.
