From the Mouths of the Marvels:

"Let it lie!! If I cannot defeat this evil being bare-handed within one minute, I am not worthy of the name Thor!!"

- - Thor, page 14

Calvin Zabo transforms into the ugly, despicable and lamppost swingin' Mr. Hyde!

Thor and Tales of Asgard
from Journey Into Mystery #106
July 1964 • 23 pages

Publication Date: May 5, 1964

Letters Page: No letters page was published in this issue

I: Feature Story: "The Thunder God Strikes Back!"

Pages: 18

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Chic Stone
Letters: Artie Simek

Villain: The Cobra, Mr. Hyde/Calvin Zabo

Guest Appearance: Jane Foster

Gadgets & Technology: Giant Sprayer Machine

Synopsis: (continued from JiM #105)

Thor desperately tries to figure out how to retrieve his hammer from inside the atomic-powered hydraulic hoist that the Cobra used to wrest it from him. He realizes he cannot get to it within 60 seconds, so he rips up a section of flooring, sending Cobra and Mr. Hyde flailing, and then he loses himself in the crowd before he turns back into Dr. Don Blake. Mr. Hyde flies into a rage trying to find his foe, while the police begin to surround the exposition hall and send word in for the villains to surrender. Don Blake hurriedly inspects the grappling machine, but realizes there is no way he can penetrate it.

As Mr. Hyde rages against the crowd, threatening Thor to show himself, Blake steps forward and tells him he knows how to find Thor. While the onlookers warn him against betraying a hero like Thor, Blake negotiates for the return of his cane. He tells the villains that if they return his cane, which "accidentally" got stuck inside the grappling machine, he'll tell them where Thor is. The Cobra slinks inside the machine and locates the cane, but cannot reach it. Mr. Hyde tires of dealing with this situation, so he rips the machine apart and gets the cane, handing it over to Blake, who then runs into the crowd and stamps it on the ground. Finally, Thor is back!

The surprise appearance causes the Cobra to cower in fear, but Mr. Hyde turns his attention to a giant sprayer machine. Thor chases after the Cobra, finally subduing him. But Mr. Hyde turns the sprayer machine toward Thor and the intense blast of air blows him backwards. Thor uses his hammer to plow into the ground, braking his veolicty, as well as sending an electrical current to blow up the machine. The police come crashing in, and Mr. Hyde takes a potion which changes him back into his human alter ego, Dr. Calvin Zabo. Unrecognized, Zabo points the police towards the Cobra, who is then arrested. Thor leaves the expo hall still upset he could not put the wraps on Mr. Hyde.

As Thor walks down the sidewalk, Zabo has stalked him. He downs another vial of potion and turns into Mr. Hyde. Swinging a lamppost around, he knocks Thor's hammer from his hand. So infuriated is Thor that he decides to leave his hammer on the ground and prove to Mr. Hyde he is worthy of the name Thor, the God of Thunder. With his bare fists and brawn, he gives Mr. Hyde the beat down of his life. Punch after punch lands on Mr. Hyde, who slowly realizes he's been outmatched. Thor's final act is to grab him by the scruff of the neck and toss him to waiting policemen.

Thor takes his leave and returns to the mortal life of Dr. Don Blake. He goes back to his office, where Jane Foster has watched TV news reports of the events at the expo hall, and she excoriates Blake for cowardly betraying Thor to the Cobra and Mr. Hyde. Dejected at this turn of events, Blake wonders how long he must pay the price for his double life.

--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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