Comic Browser:

Thor #240

Oct 1975

Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema

Story Name:

When the Gods Make War!

Synopsis

Thor #240 synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Rating:

Thor returns to Asgard on his search for the missing Odin. As he approaches he is surprised to find the realm quiet. On the Rainbow Bridge, he encounters Heimdall but all is not right with the guardian. Heimdall has been seized by weakness and self-doubt that he cannot even raise his horn; he reveals that all Asgard is afflicted by this malady. Thor enters the realm to find this is true, all the inhabitants are under an oppressive spell that makes them weak and apathetic. In Odin’s throne room, he finds the Warriors Three with the Grand Vizier, all in a stupor as well. Fandral and Hogun attack Thor but he easily bats them down, which snaps them all out of their distraction. He declines to mention that Sif has sacrificed her life essence to save Jane Foster (issues #236-238). The Vizier explains that Odin had cast a spell of self-forgetfulness to wander the Earth as a human; the longer he is away, though, the more vulnerable Asgard is to attack by its enemies. The Vizier conjures up Mimir, the Guardian of the Well, to tell them where Odin is. Mimir shows them Odin at the California vineyards where he is standing up for striking workers. Suddenly a great pyramid rises out of the ground and an entranced Odin enters its portal to be seen no more. Thor asks about the pyramid and its inhabitants and Mimir explains that the Egyptian Pantheon is ruled over by Osiris and Isis; their wicked son Seth slew his father and scattered the pieces. Isis reassembled him and revived him and their other son Horus set out to find Seth and punish him. The two fought for many years, Seth’s victories bringing defeat to Egypt until Seth imprisoned his brother in the pyramid, to be released only when Atum-Re, Father of the Gods, should return, so effectively never. Thor sets out for Earth…

…arriving in California to find Jane Foster at the pyramid, which has been surrounded by the National Guard. The God of Thunder tries to enter but he is met by Horus. The Egyptian prince creates the mystical Eye of Horus which begins to sap Thor’s strength and will but he is able to fight off the effect with Mjolnir. Horus then tries firing energy bolts but Thor overcomes him and just as he is to deliver a fatal blow, a voice stays his hand—that of Odin, who now believes himself to be Atum-Re, Father of the Gods, and is ready to destroy this interloper….

Review / Commentaries

Thor #240 Review by Peter Silvestro (July 23, 2014)

Review: Okay tale bringing the Egyptian gods into the Norse gods’ favorite stomping ground is one of the wordiest comics I have ever beheld—it’s amazing that they can tell as much of a story as they do with characters nearly being crowded out by word balloons. At that, everything seems rushed, even the clichéd “Thor faces his enchanted friends” bit. Well, there’s a lot of promise for the next issue; it has skeletons on the cover!

Comments: Part two of two parts. First full appearance of the members of the Egyptian pantheon in Marvel Comics. Seth is called the son of Osiris and half-brother to Horus here; in other versions Seth is the brother of Osiris and Isis. The origin of the strange lethargy plaguing Asgard is revealed in issue #250.

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Bill Mantlo

Sal Buscema

Klaus Janson

Phil Rachelson

Gil Kane (Cover Penciler)
Klaus Janson (Cover Inker)

Additional Credits

Plot: Roy Thomas. Letterer: John Costanza.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Thor
(Odinson)

Warriors Three
(Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Plus: Horus, Isis, Osiris.

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