From the Mouths of the Marvels:

"This is too much to bear! My son has given up to a mortal!"

- - Odin, page 13

Thor will not take "NO" for an answer, even from loyal Heimdall!

Thor and Tales of Asgard
from Journey Into Mystery #101
Feburary 1964 • 18 pages

Publication Date: December 2, 1963

Letters Page: No letters page was published in this issue

I: Feature Story: "The Return of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man!"

Pages: 13

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: George Roussos
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Mining Robot, Norn Hag

Villain: Loki, Zarrko, Mining Robot

Origin: Zarrko, Mining Robot

Guest Appearance: Giant-Man, Wasp, Iron Man, Odin, Heimdall

Cameo Appearance: Norn Hag, Jane Foster

Flashback Cameo: Mr. Hyde

Emblems of Asgard: The Well of Centuries

Synopsis: Thor stomps through the streets of New York City, oblivious to all as he obsesses about Odin's forbidding of his romance with the mortal Jane Foster (see JiM #99.) He gets so riled up that a bunch of ants grow very concerned about his welfare, and they send an urgent message out to their friend, Hank Pym. He changes into Giant-Man, and along with his mate the Wasp, they head out to check on their pal Thor. They also place a call to Iron Man to investigate with them. They find that Thor's trail of destruction includes a totalled truck, which Iron Man pays the driver cash to help fix. When his friends finally reach the angry and embittered Thor, he is beyond consolation. He tells them to bug off, and Iron Man suggests to Giant-Man that they do just that and let Thor handle his problems himself.

As Thor mopes at the edge of a city pier, Loki and Odin look down upon him. Though Odin's heart is heavy, he knows this punishment is just, since he thinks that Jane Foster is a duplicitous female based on her actions on behalf of Mr. Hyde (again, see JiM #99.) For further disobeying Odin by thinking about Jane Foster, Loki suggests harsher punishment. Odin is swayed by Thor's evil half-brother, and he takes the grievous step of exiling Thor from Asgard and cutting his powers in half!

Thor tries to cross the Rainbow Bridge to talk to his father, but Heimdall refuses to let him pass. Heimdall explains Odin's punishment to him, and sure enough, Thor cannot raise the necessary force to make his way past Heimdall. Loki figures this moment is perfect to get rid of Thor once and for all. He visits the Norn Hag, who guides him to the Well of Centuries, where he is reminded of Zarrko, the erstwhile foe of Thor. He returns Zarrko's memory to him that was taken after his last battle with Thor (see JiM #86) and suddenly Zarrko decides to once again try and take over the planet! He steals a mining robot from his 23rd century and goes back in time to Earth.

They land in New York and begin a rampage of destruction. Thor arrives to stop him, but finds he cannot muster the strength necessary to defeat the robot. Zarrko realizes he has humbled the thunder god, and makes a bargain with him: if Thor will return to the 23rd century and help him take over the planet there, and Zarrko will promise to not harm Earth in the 20th century.

Odin looks on in despair as Thor reluctantly agrees, while Loki laughs that his plan is working perfectly!

(continued in JiM #102)

--synopsis by Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Thor and Tales of Asgard from
Journey Into Mystery #101-110

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.

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