The Coming of the Crusader!

Thor is patrolling his new home of Chicago. He is worried that Sif is not taking to life on Midgard very well and fears that their relationship could come to an end as a result. He puts his personal problems aside when he sees a woman standing on the roof of a clocktower about to jump. Thor saves her life and is shocked when the jumper and a number of the bystanders begin bowing down to him in worship. A reporter on the scene capitalizes on this situation to ask if Thor approves of these worshipers. The thunder god tries to distance himself from those worshiping him, saying that although he is a god he does not seek worship from mortals anymore. However, this explanation is drowned out by the worshipers chanting his name, prompting Thor to depart and try and make sense of the situation.

The live broadcast is watched by some students at the Blackwood Seminary. One student, Arthur Blackwood finds Thor’s presence in the world sacrilege and turns off the television in disgust. He takes offense to people worshiping what he considers pagan religions and wishes people could be more devoted to Christianity. He believes his great-grandfather, who founded the seminary, would be disgusted at the state of the world today. Father William overhears this outburst and pulls Arthur outside to have a talk. He tries to remind the hardline Blackwood that the Catholic faith is one of tolerance of other faiths and that the days of the Crusades and the persecution of non-believers has no part in this century. This angers Blackwood who believes that the modern day Church is run by weaklings and slaps William across the face. This is the final straw for the Father, who orders Blackwood to pack up his things and get out. Arthur complies, but vows that he is the only one willing to do the Lord’s work.

Later that afternoon, Don Blake has returned to his apartment where Sif is watching the news of Thor’s latest exploit. Don continues to push her to acclimatize to life on Earth by trying to get her to speak in a more contemporary diction, angering her. The argument is interrupted by a special news report where the mayor of Chicago wishes to award Thor with the key to the city. Although Don is still uneasy about being worshiped by mortals again, he decides that he will accept the mayor’s offer in the hopes he can discourage people from worshiping his alter-ego.

That evening, Arthur Blackwood decides to make a stop at the family tomb before leaving the city. He is allowed on the property by Polowaski, the indifferent groundskeeper. Asking his ancestors for guidance, Arthur is shocked when he is visited by the spirit of his father who is disappointed in his son as they come from a long line of staunch Christian soldiers dating back to the Crusades. Arthur is shocked when he sees the spirits of his ancestors and soldiers from the Crusades materialize before him in the cemetery. The spirit of his father then asks Arthur if he will take up arms against the Pegan god that offends their religion and he agrees. Struck by a bolt of energy. Moments later the apparitions disappear leaving both Arthur and Polowaski to believe they must have been hallucinating until they come upon a sword, shield, and armor that have been left for Blackwood. Arthur decides to become the Crusader and live up to his family legacy by destroying Thor. He chooses Polowaski to his squire, Peleus, a title that the groundskeeper accepts since it’s better than his current job.

Meanwhile, a strange man makes a visit to Don Blake’s office and after learning that the doctor is out, begins asking his secretary if Blake has ever been subject to angry moods or made unwanted advances. This confuses the secretary, but the man tells her that it is not important as he plans on being back when Blake is in.[1]

Later that evening, a crowd has gathered to witness Thor being handed the key to the city. The event is attended by those who have begun to worship Thor and those who are against this. The media is on the scene getting opinions from the various attendees, including Father Williams who believes that Thor has not done anything to put himself in conflict with the church. When Thor arrives to receive the key from the mayor, the event is interrupted by the Crusader who denounces Thor as an infidel and announces his goal to destroy the thunder god.

The Crusader’s condemnation prompts protestors in the crowd to pick a fight with the Thor worshipers. However, before the scene can erupt into a full on riot, Thor summons a storm to separate the two sides.

That’s when the Crusader leaps down to battle Thor one-on-one. The thunder god holds back thinking that this is a normal mortal being. However he is surprised when the Crusader exhibits super-human strength and that his shield can deflect blows from Mjolnir itself. Getting in close, the Crusader manages to slash Thor across the face with his sword, drawing blood. This shocks the thunder god who vows that he will no longer hold back and will fight the Crusader to the death if need be.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Sif, Crusader, Peleus, Caryn Wise, William Boylan

Continuity Notes

1. This is a private investigator who has been hired by Keith Kincaid to help find Jane Foster, as we’ll learn in Thor #332. At the time of this story, Jane has been MIA since Thor #236 when she was merged with Sif. What nobody knows right now is that Foster is now imprisoned in the Runestaff of Kamo Tharnn.

Topical References

• Televisions in this story are depicted as old CRT models that have knobs to change the channel or adjust the volume. This should be considered topical as these types of televisions are obsolete.

• Father Blackwood states that they are living in the 20th Century. This should be considered topical as the Sliding Timescale has bumped the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe forward in time enough that it no longer starts until after the 21st Century.

• The mayor of New York City is depicted as Jane Bryne. This should be considered topical as she was only mayor of Chicago from 1979 to 1983. She subsequently died in 2014.