Comic Browser:

Thor #244

Feb 1976

Len Wein, John Buscema

Story Name:

This is the Way the World Ends!

Synopsis

Thor #244 synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Rating:

The deadly Time Twisters have appeared on the 50th century Earth ruled over by Zarrko the Tomorrow Man; Thor wants to go out and battle them immediately but Zarrko counsels patience, wishing to gauge their enemy’s strength before taking action. The dictator broadcasts a message to his downtrodden citizens, promising much needed energy to any who would fight the invaders. Many desperate people take up arms, including a young family man called Derek, and attack the invaders. The move is futile as the Time Twisters are protected by a force field and they respond with eye beams that age or de-age their opponents, leaving the citizens either dying old men of crying babies. Soon the militia is all gone, in one direction or the other….

In Asgard, Odin is fed up with his Grand Vizier’s pleading Thor’s case so he deposes the Vizier. The All-Father then orders Balder the Brave to go down to the dungeons to free Igron, Loki’s former advisor, to appoint him the new Grand Vizier….

On the future Earth, Thor, disgusted with the manner in which Zarrko treats his subjects, calls out to the Time Twisters to appeal to their mercy; ignored, Thor rings them with fire to get their attention. The Twisters, created to answer every question put to them, turn and ask Thor to speak. The Thunder God asks for an account of their origin. The aliens respond that they were born in the midst of the end of the universe, tasked with reaching its beginnings; when informed that their appearance destroys the world, they respond that such details are not important and they have no intention of ceasing their journey. Thor then prepares to fight them…. [Here we learn that Derek is the sole survivor of the citizens who took up arms against the Time Twisters, and he vows revenge against Zarrko for his deeds.] The aliens fire their eye blasts at Thor and the Warriors Three but their immortal nature makes them immune to the rays; on the other hand Mjolnir cannot pierce the enemy’s force field either. The Twisters conjure up warriors from across the span of history to fight for them; the heroes, including Sif/Jane, easily defeat the armies of the Time Twisters. The aliens’ departure creates an upheaval which topples the Norse heroes. Zarrko and his Servitor escape in the Time Cube and the Earth is destroyed with only Thor and his friends inexplicably alive to bear witness to the holocaust….

Review / Commentaries

Thor #244 Review by Peter Silvestro (August 7, 2014)

Review: Well, this was unexpected…usually when the good guys are facing the imminent destruction of the world, they manage to prevent it. Kudos to Len Wein for his literate script and John Buscema for bringing his word-pictures to life. Very good epic issue straddles the fine line between mind-boggling and incoherent in a good way as the best comic book sci-fi should. And a fierce sword-wielding Jane Foster makes for a cool sight.

Comments: Part three of four parts.

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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Len Wein

John Buscema

Joe Sinnott

Glynis Wein

Rich Buckler (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (Cover Inker)

Additional Credits

Letterer: Joe Rosen.

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Balder
(Balder the Brave)

Jane Foster

Odin

Thor
(Odinson)

Warriors Three
(Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Plus: Servitor, Time Twisters, Zarrko (Tomorrow Man).

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