Journey into Mystery (1952 series) #102

To spare the Earth from destruction, Thor has agreed to become slave of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man. Arriving in the 23rd century, the would-be conqueror commands Thor to destroy the central control mechanism that powers the automated conveniences that make this world a utopia; result: a spate of malfunctions that lad to damage and chaos. Zarkko confidently strides to the headquarters of the World Council with his divine servant by his side. He is confronted by the Techno-Guards and Thor uses his hammer to direct alpha rays (two steps better than gamma rays), destroying the guards’ instruments. A disappointed Zarrko orders Thor to completely subdue them so the Thunder God, unwilling to harm anyone, focuses the sun’s rays into a hypnotic beam and puts them in a trance. The villain stands before the World Council and demands to know the location of the Master Machine which controls all the world; giving them one hour to come to a decision, he leaves with Thor, not noticing that the Thunder God has left a note behind for the council members. Outside they are attacked by a Protecto-Robot which enwraps Thor in its steel tentacles and sprays poison gas in his face; the Thunder God defeats it by diverting the gas back into the machine causing it to explode. At this point a messenger from the Council intercepts them to tell Zarrko that they will give him the location of the Master Machine. He and Thor journey out to a remote island where Thor must overcome the Machine’s defense to gain entry—a C-bomb, which forms an impenetrable prison about its victims, which he manages to smash with a hammer blow. Zarrko then gains control of the device that controls the world’s automation, allowing him to cause disasters wherever he chooses. Having helped the villain achieve his goal of world conquest, Thor considers his promise fulfilled—but Zarrko has other ideas. He attacks Thor with the Machine’s defensive weapons, including a death ray and a freeze-ray. Thor instead generates a field of static electricity to power the Machine enough for it to defend itself, which it does by trapping Zarrko in a ball of "semi-solid energy matter." He summons the World Council and it is revealed that the note asked the Council to allow him to handle the villain in his own way. The failed conqueror is locked up and Thor returns to his own era by whirling his hammer at twice the speed of light. Odin realizes Thor was not aiding evil but merely keeping his word until he could turn against his sinister captor. Odin rejoices and Loki fumes.

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Story #2

’Death’ Comes to Thor!

Writer: Stan Lee.
Penciler: Jack Kirby.
Inker: Chic Stone.
Colorist: Unknown.

Synopsis

Thor quests to find the Three Fates to learn if he shall ever be awarded Odin’s magic hammer. The Fates tell him he will—but he must meet Death first. Rather than accepting his doom, Thor determines to wield the hammer. He returns to Odin’s palace and tries lifting the hammer once again…but Balder, staggering from wounds, enters to tell him his sister Sif has been carried off by the Storm Giants. Without thinking, Thor raises the hammer over his head and rides out to rescue the warrior maiden. Arriving at the Giants’ lair, he destroys the road to it, burying the guards, and enters to confront Rugga the Storm Giant king. Rugga explains that Hela, Goddess of Death, promised him immortality if he would deliver Sif to her. Thor forces the giant king to direct him to Hela’s realm and soon he is face-to-face with the Goddess of Death. He offers himself in Sif’s place and Hela is so moved by the noble sacrifice that she grants Sif her freedom. And it is not until days later that Thor realizes he now possesses the Uru hammer.