Thor #276: Review

Oct 1978

Roy Thomas, John Buscema

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

Mine...This Hammer!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #276 Review by Peter Silvestro (April 7, 2015)

Comments: Part four of six parts. Thor’s iron gloves, though found in authentic Norse myths, appear only here in #276-278 and in issue #361. Loki’s crimes are turning the Silver Surfer (in SS Vol. 1 #4), Mangog (THOR #195-198), and the Destroyer (THOR #264-266) against Asgard. Red Norvell’s line, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!” is a quote from the classic GONE WITH THE WIND; he also mentions Leon Spinks, then (briefly) heavyweight boxing champion. Biggest question: what happened to Odin’s wife Frigga, seen in the previous issue? Doesn’t she care whether Odin dies? (Well, the most recent version of her might not but this original Frigga seems to be happily married).

Review: Ye cats! There’s another Thor in town and he can whup the original! Nice exciting battle scene shows Thor to be a hero who will never yield (as the future Captain America would keep “standing up” in Rick Remender’s run). Yeah, Red Norvell is pretty much a cartoon villain but this is a comic book, after all…and comics were meant to be fun.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #276 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Odin, weakened by his giving some of his power to protect Balder from permanent death, is helped back to his throne by Thor and Sif. The All-Father then orders the beginning of the trial of Loki. While still out of sight of the court, Loki advises Red Norvell to don Thor’s Belt of Strength and his Iron Gloves, and then to bathe in the fires of Geirrodur and thus attain the strength of the God of Thunder. Loki is then brought before Odin, his judge. Thor as prosecutor lists the evil deeds of Loki throughout history, while Loki defends himself by pointing out that Ragnarok was decreed by Odin, so how can Loki be punished for bringing it to pass? The jury still finds Loki guilty. Volstagg trips over Harris Hobbs and Odin commands that the Earthmen be returned to Midgard immediately. Meanwhile, Red is in Thor’s temple, completing the ritual that will give him the strength of Thor; Loki’s astral form looks on and laughs. Loki’s sentencing is interrupted by the arrival of Red Norvell, now endowed with the strength of a god. He challenges Thor to a fight and to everyone’s surprise the villain is able to snatch Mjolnir out of the Thunder God’s hands. Thor launches a valiant attack but is beaten back by his more powerful foe wielding his own weapon; nevertheless, Thor keeps rising to the battle. Red pours out a wall of flame to keep the other warriors from dashing to their comrade’s aid. Fellow Earthman Joey tries to stop his friend and is unwittingly killed by Red’s sheer power. Red then demands that Sif come away with him or he will destroy the Odinforce and kill Balder. She reluctantly complies; he carries her off, leaving the dejected Odin to slump in defeat, as the Odinforce grows weak around Balder’s body….