Thor #238: Review

Aug 1975

Gerry Conway, Joe Sinnott

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Story Name:

Night of the Troll!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #238 Review by Peter Silvestro (September 6, 2023)

Review: Another unremarkable issue. “Thor versus trolls” has been done too often, and this issue doesn’t bring anything new to the story. Not even Hercules, who is a bystander herein, can enliven things. In this issue, it’s the Odin subplot that is more interesting, finally introducing villains. Who won’t be around much longer as the Odin plot moves in a different direction and takes center stage. And where did all the trolls go once the final “battle” started? We don’t see anyone but Thor, Jane, Ulik, Geirrodur, and Zotarr.

Comments: Part two of three parts. Only appearance of Zotarr. Troll King Geirrodur is mistakenly spelled “Gierrodur” in this issue. Lettering error: Hercules says that Thor has not yet “rediscovered” from the amazement of losing Sif; “recovered” is the intended word. According to GCD, the cover was revised by John Romita.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #238 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Ulik and the trolls have captured Jane Foster and Ulik uses her safety to force Thor into their service, aiding Ulik in seizing the throne of the trolls. They board rafts and head down an underground river….

On the surface, Detective Blumkenn bemoans the destruction of the city streets. Hercules arrives and Blumkenn fills him in and Herc worries for Thor after the shock of Sif’s sacrifice….

In San Geraldo, California, grape pickers are on strike, led by Tomas Chamoro. Company owner Mr. Combach has his henchman Connors start a fight with Tomas, leading to a big brawl between the workers and the thugs. Odin steps in and bashes heads, finally holding a car over his head as a weapon; Judith must calm him down to prevent further violence. The two sides part, with Connors planning to get them next time….

As they continue to raft down the river, Ulik explains the situation. After his last failure, King Geirrodur exiled Ulik to the furnaces; Ulik escaped and discovered a lost tribe of trolls and became their chief. Now he wants to overthrow Geirrodur and Thor is needed to fight Zotarr, the king’s powerful ally. Then they are attacked by a sea serpent which Thor easily defeats. On the shore they are met by Geirrodur, his army, and an armored giant: Zotarr. Battle breaks out, Thor takes on Zotarr while Jane, awakening kicks her guard off the raft. The Thunder God easily wrecks the giant troll, revealed to be a robot. And Jane has captured Geirrodur, keeping him at bay with his own spear. Thor looks at Jane in a new light….

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