From the Mouths of the Marvels:

"Return to me, my enchanted mallet! I've only seconds to act - - while Loki is dazed and confused!"

- - Thor, page 17

Dr. Don Blake operates on Stephen Strange in this week's ER!

Thor and Tales of Asgard
from Journey Into Mystery #108
September 1964 • 23 pages

Publication Date: July 2, 1964

Letters Page: No letters page was published in this issue

I: Feature Story: "At the Mercy of Loki, Prince of Evil!"

Pages: 18

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

First Appearance: Charlie the bum

Villain: Loki

Guest Appearance: Dr. Strange, Odin, Jane Foster, Charlie

Cameo Appearance: Heimdall, Giant-Man, Wasp, Iron Man

Synopsis: In a sensational display of his heroism and quick thinking, Thor spots a young boy across town about to get hit by a truck. Too far to handle the emergency in person, he hits the street with his hammer, sending a perfectly executed shockwave that hits the truck in such a way that causes it to bounce over the little boy. As he flies away, he hears an urgent mental call from Dr. Strange, summoning him to his home in Greenwich Village. Thor finds Dr. Strange on the floor and deathly ill from a battle with Baron Mordo. He calls for an ambulance, and realizes that the time is now for Dr. Don Blake to be the hero!

The ambulance takes Dr. Strange straightaway to City Hospital, where the lame surgeon battles through hours of surgery to combat the effects of the terrible spell that has weakened the magician. In a terrible case of bad timing, Odin calls out to Thor to come help them in battle. He cannot reply, and Odin is infuriated before he must head into battle, thinking that when he returns, he will punish Thor for his transgression. Loki realizes it is an opportune moment, and disguised as a bee he makes his way past Heimdall to go to Earth.

Later, Dr. Strange thanks Don Blake for saving his life, and tells him that any time he needs his help, merely ask. Blake walks back to his office, where an old man with a cane bumps into him and falls. In the ensuing confusion, the old man takes Blake's cane and tosses it out the window, and then stands revealed as Loki! Jane Foster faints, and Loki takes a swing at Blake. Blake tries to stamp his cane, but realizes quickly that Loki threw his out the window- he has the "old man's" cane, which is useless! Loki takes Jane and scampers away.

Blake limps down the stairwell to the street, where his cane is nowhere to be found. He calls out to Odin, but not knowing that Odin is in battle, he gets no reply, and assumes he's been forsaken by his father. He races to City Hospital, where he calls in his favor from a recuperating Dr. Strange. The magician locates his cane- it's been picked up by a bum named Charlie and is being used a fishing pole down on the pier! The ethereal form of Dr. Strange spooks Charlie, and when Blake comes to get it, he finds it easy to wrest it away from the bum. He scurries away and changes into Thor.

Odin has returned from battle and calls out to his son Thor, to make amends. But Thor, in a rush to face Loki, rebuffs his father, telling him he has business to take care of, whether Odin wishes to help or not! Also, his friends in the Avengers try to help him, but Thor tells Giant-Man, the Wasp and Iron Man that he must face this battle alone. He uses his hammer to send out an electron beam which traces Loki's location to the Adirondack Mountains. Before he goes to face Loki, he makes an appeal to Dr. Strange...

Then, he faces Loki, and Thor rages against his evil half-brother like never before. But Loki manages to trap Thor for a moment, and uses the freedom to cast a spell which bridges the dimensions of limbo- where he has Jane imprisoned- to slay her with a psychic bolt. But Dr. Strange has protected her behind a mystic force field! Thor climbs out of the hole and sends his hammer crashing through a whole forest of trees, sending a hail of splinters down upon Loki. He grabs him by the scruff of the neck and demands Loki release Jane, and the villain complies. Before Loki can rebound and cause more havoc, an emissary from Odin whooshes down and grabs him, taking him back to Asgard to answer for his crimes. Odin looks down on his son and tells him how valiant he is. Still, in his private thoughts, Odin is troubled by Thor's love for a mortal woman.

--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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