Thor #212: Review

Jun 1973

Gerry Conway, Don Perlin

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Story Name:

Journey to the Golden Star!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #212 Review by Peter Silvestro (December 21, 2022)

Review: Another trip to the stars for the Norse gods? This series likes to shake things up by going from ancient myth to futuristic science fiction. And here we have Thor chasing after insectoid slavers while being duped by lizard guys whose betrayal was easy to see coming since it was spoiled by the cover showing Ssssssthgar as the baddie. Remember, a scary dude who is really a good guy would have to wait a few years for Beta Ray Bill to come along. So, another cool 1970s issue that is pure entertainment! Especially for Hildegarde who refuses to do the traditional women’s role of nursing the sick guy while the men go adventuring. The feminist spirit of the era seems to have penetrated the Marvel Bullpen.

Comments: Part one of two parts. This issue and the next mark the only appearances of Sssthgar and his legion. First appearance of the Vrellnexians who also appear in the MCU, AGENTS OF SHIELD Season 5, episode 1. The letters column includes one by future comics creator J.M. DeMatteis.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #212 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor returns to Avengers Mansion to discover Balder in the grip of madness, unable to say what became of Sif or Karnilla, able only to utter the word, “Asgard.” Thor suspects Odin who had exiled them to Midgard as having a hand in it. He tells Hildegarde to stay with Balder—but she refuses, wanting to join the action. Volstagg volunteers to sit with their comrade while Thor gathers Hogun, Fandral, Hildegarde, Silas Grant, and Tana Nile and transports them all to the Rainbow Bridge. But the Bridge is deserted, the portals of the city open. They enter cautiously; a lizard man leaps onto Hildegarde so she grabs it by the neck and slams it into a wall where it dissolves into ash. Then a huge lizard man with several back-up lizards introduces himself as Sssthgar and demands restitution for the death of one of his legion. Thor and his group sit down to a meal with Sssthgar and his legion while the latter tells his tale. The lizard leader explains that he comes from an advanced race of reptile people that was recently invaded by the insectoid Vrellnexians who defeated them in battle and took them as slaves. The Vrellnexians moved from world to world until they reached Asgard; there was a battle, the Vrellnexians won and carried off the Asgardians, including Odin, but Sssthgar and his legion escaped….

Thor’s party and Sssthgar’s legion set sail through space aboard Thor’s sky ship until they reach the land of the Golden Star. They sail into a port and enter the city where they find a slave auction in progress. Thor’s group attacks the Vrellnexians; Thor reaches Odin who seems to have lost his spirit and is upset at what they have done. Thor and his group are victorious—and then Sssthgar and his legion surround and capture them, the Asgardians having been duped into defeating their former partners who had stranded them in Asgard….

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