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Thor #232

Feb 1975
Gerry Conway, Dick Giordano

Story Name:

Lo, The Raging Battle!


Synopsis

Thor #232 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Newly freed from his service to Galactus, Firelord is flying over the Pacific Northwest when he spies a glowing cube atop a mountain peak. Touching it, he finds he can pass into it to a bizarre mystic dimension where an unseen figure [it’s Loki, the secret bad guy is always Loki, especially in a Thor comic and, besides, he’s on the cover] tells him he is a pawn brought here for a purpose….

Thor approaches a doctor, presenting to him a box of medical samples borrowed from a government base, hoping the doctor can devise something to save the life of Jane Foster. The doctor, whose wife died of hemophilia before the discovery of the “clotting factor,” readily agrees. Shortly, the doctor brings the news that nothing he was able to develop will save Jane; something has gone out of her soul. Thor sits by her side as she awakens….

In Asgard, Sif and Hildegarde are puzzled over the disappearance of Odin and concerned at Thor’s plight. Hildy suggests the Runestaff of Kamo-Tharnn as the key to curing Jane. Sif teleports to Avengers Mansion where she finds Hercules and Krista. She persuades Herc to join her in the quest for the Runestaff and she teleports them away….

As Thor broods on a rooftop, he is attacked by Firelord and fights back, the two of them battling over a street full of panicked onlookers. Each hero accuses the other of striking the first blow and Firelord bring an entire building down on the Thunder God who rises from the rubble unharmed. Firelord calls a halt to the fight to tell Thor something important; Thor suggests they repair to Avengers Mansion where others may hear too. Detective Sergeant Ralph Blumkenn interrupts them, demanding an explanation for why they trashed a street….

At the Mansion, Iron Man learns from Jarvis that there is a message from his friend Tom Fagan in Rutland, Vermont. Fagan informs Iron Man that the Loki who had been living there for months was discovered to be a local kid under a spell that made him appear to be Loki and that the real trickster god is missing; Shellhead assures Tom that they will attend to matters, including clearing him of a kidnapping charge. Thor and Firelord arrive and with three witnesses (Shellhead, Jarvis, Krista) Firelord relates the tale of his meeting with the mystery figure, now revealed to be Loki, who has absorbed the powers of Dormammu (in AVENGERS #118) and now has chosen Firelord to carry out his will. Firelord then came to warn Thor, who is too concerned about the fate of Jane Foster to care about Loki’s threat, walking away from the Mansion….



 

Review / Commentaries


Thor #232 Review by (July 19, 2023)

Review: An epic story arc starts with this issue featuring Thor battling a more powerful Loki than usual. It gets off to a nice start with Firelord fighting Thor though most of the rest of the issue is mainly setting up complications: Jane’s failing health, Sif and Herc’s quest after a magical MacGuffin, Firelord’s warning. Well, there’s a lot more coming, so stick around.

Comments: Part one of five parts. Firelord was introduced in issues #225-228. Tom Fagan (1932-2008) was a real person, organizer of the annual Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont which formed the backdrop for a crossover between Marvel and DC Comics; this was his final Marvel Comics appearance. Loki was left in Fagan’s custody in AVENGERS #119. GCD breaks down the arts as Layouts: John Buscema. Art: Dick Giordano (figures), Terry Austin (backgrounds). The letters column includes one by Dean Mullaney, future founder of Eclipse Enterprises.



> Thor comic book info and issue index

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Preview Pages




Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Petra Goldberg
Ron Wilson (Cover Penciler)
Tom Palmer (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Layouts: John Buscema. Letterer: John Costanza.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Hercules
Hercules

(Heracles)
Hildegarde
Hildegarde

(Hildegarde)
Iron Man
Iron Man

(Anthony Stark)
Jarvis
Jarvis

(Edwin Jarvis)
Loki
Loki

(Loki Laufeyson)
Thor
Thor

(Odinson)

Plus: Krista.