When Gods Wear Mortal Flesh!

Alone in his apartment, Eric Masterson thinks about how complicated his life has become since merging with Thor, the god of thunder.[1] This unique shared existence has also given Eric access to Thor’s memories and he knows that this isn’t the first time that he had a mortal identity. He then thinks back to that moment many years ago….

The inciting incident happened when Thor chased a birdbeast into the realm of Niffelheim in violation with a treaty made with the kingdom of Asgard. After the thunder god slew the animal, he was confronted giants that lived there who saw his presence as a violation of the treaty. Insulted that they did not thank him for ridding their domain of the deadly birdbeast, Thor engaged them in battle and easily won.

Unfortunately, the moment Odin became aware of this, he sent Balder to retrieve his son. The All-Father was furious over his son’s lack of humility and decided that the god of thunder needed to learn an important lesson. Deciding to exile Thor to Earth in the guise of a mortal, he took particular interest in a med student named Keith Kincaid. Odin then used his magic to create Thor’s mortal identity of Donald Blake based on Kincaid, but with one unique difference: Don Blake walked with a limp and needed to use a cane for mobility. Unaware of his true past, Don Blake enrolled in medical school after years of study received a degree in medicine with top honors. Don Blake then entered the field of medicine and became an excellent doctor and a skilled surgeon. He eventually was successful enough to start his own practice and hired a nurse named Jane Foster.[2]

Odin had been watching Don for an entire decade at this point and was pleased that his son was finally learning his lesson. Soon, the All-Father became aware that the Kronans were sending an invasion fleet from their based of operations on Saturn. Realizing that this threat could only be opposed by Thor, Odin then implanted an idea in Don Blake’s mind, telling him to take an impromptu vacation to Norway. Without a second thought, Blake took time off work and flew there to go on vacation. There, he decided to investigate when overhearing a local talking about strange men made of stone that appeared outside of town. Encountering the Kronans, Don gave away his position by stepping on a tree branch. As he fled, the disabled physician lost his cane.

Fleeing the monsters, Blake sought cover in a nearby cave. There he found the opposite end to be blocked by a huge boulder. Fearing for his life and wondering what to do next, Don then triggered a hidden switch that opened a secret passage way. Inside, he found an incredibly old walking stick and attempted to use it as a lever to remove the bolder. When this didn’t work he struck the rock with the walking stick out of frustration. This trigger an enchantment that transformed it into Mjolnir and Don Blake into Thor. With his powers returned, the thunder god then repelled invaders who then fled the Earth….[3]

… Ending his recollection, Eric Masterson recounts how at first Don Blake believed he obtained the powers of Thor, but soon learned that he actually was Thor. Eventually, Thor abandoned his Donald Blake identity. Although this current situation is similar, Eric Masterson is a real person with a real past and real memories. Going up to the roof, he taps walking stick on the ground, triggering a transformation into Thor. Both Eric and the thunder god vow to work together as one and defend the innocent and punish the wicked.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Eric Masterson, (in flashback) Odin, Don Blake, Keith Kincaid, Jane Foster, Korg (unidentified)

Continuity Notes

1. In order to save Thor’s life, Eric merged his essence with the god of thunder in Thor #408. This will remain the status quo until issue #457.

2. This scene fleshes out the story about how Odin banished Thor to Earth and his time as Doctor Donald Blake, which was originally told in Thor #159. In this telling, it is revealed for the first time that Keith Kincaid was apparently the template for Don Blake. The reality is actually much more complex:

   • First of all, Don Blake was actually a real guy, as revealed in Thor #479. Thor was merged with him until the moment he taped the enchanted walking stick to first transform into Thor. The real Don Blake was then transported to a secret cavern within Wundagore Mountain where he was to remain in suspended animation. Odin kept this all a secret. It is later explained that Keith Kincaid wasn’t a template, but Odin’s second choice to play host to Thor.

   • Shortly after this, as explained in Thor #483, Sigyn found Blake and tried to kidnap him to use as blackmail against Odin to avenger her husband Loki. She accidentally killed Blake and replaced a construct instead.

   • According to Official Index to the Marvel Universe: Thor and Thor (vol. 3) #1, the real Don Blake ended up in a “shattering void” and all of Thor’s experiences as Don Blake were later transferred to him when Thor was briefly killed off circa Thor (vol. 2) #85 and entered that same void.

   • This story also states for the first time that Thor was banished to Earth 10 years before the start of the Modern Age. Per the Sliding Timescale, this would mean that the early part of this flashback takes place about 18 years before the start of the Modern Age.

3. This is a retelling of Thor’s origin story in Journey into Mystery #83. Per the Sliding Timescale, those events would have taken place about eight years prior to the present day portions of this story.

4. This is the first time, in story, that it is clarified that the Kronan’s aka “The Stone Men From Saturn” didn’t actually originate from Saturn, but used it as a staging ground for their planned invasion of Earth. The only other previous place that made this distinction was in the Alien Appendix in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #5 which features a profile on the aliens. The Kronans in this story are all unidentified. However, we learn the name of three of them: Gorr, Korg, and Margus in Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #94.

Topical References

• When Don Blake goes to Norway, he is depicted flying in a DC-7 aircraft operated by Trans World Airlines. This is probably a nod to the fact that the original Journey into Mystery story was published in 1962. It is, however, a topical reference given that TWA went out of business in December 2001 and DC-7s have long since been retired from commercial flights. They stopped production on those old birds in 1958.

Way of the Warrior

With reports of a group of brigands terrorizing the outland, Hogun the Grim goes out to investigate. Ambushed by the thieves on the trail, Hogun is able to best them in battle. Hearing someone approaching from behind, the warrior demands that the intruder show themselves. It turns out to be a young man named Dagal, son of Thorgum the tree-shaper. Dagal explains how he has grown bored of learning about arts and science and wants to learn the way of the warrior.

Hogun sees that this is a not the path for the boy and tries begins acting rough with the boy, telling him to get lost and that he has no interest in training an apprentice. When more of the thieves arrive as reinforcements for their defeated comrades fights back with little mercy and acts as though he enjoys the violence. This deeply upsets Dagal, who can’t believe that a warrior fights without compassion or mercy. Dagal then concludes that Hogun is nothing more than a uncaring brute and decides to return home to focus on his studies. Little does he know that Hogun was only acting in such a brutal manner to steer the youth away from a dangerous life.

Recurring Characters

Hogun