We open with Thor brooding over the impending review of Dr.
Donald Blake’s performance on the Jimmy Sayers case (last issue)….
In Asgard, Lady Sif is bemoaning the absence of her beloved
Thor; Tyr, God of War, shows up and offers to take Thor’s place in her
affections; she declines. He figures he would have a chance with her if Thor
were dead and he starts looking for a pretext to go after his enemy….
On his way to the review, Don sees a crane start to topple
from the roof of a construction site. He transforms into Thor and bats a
falling girder into the East River and catches the crane, putting it safely on
the roof, to the crowd’s applause. At the review, however, Don is accused of
negligence; he tries to defend himself but just gets angry, so he is suspended
from practice at the clinic….
Tyr approaches the Throne of Odin, bringing the Vizier to
read an ancient law out of the books that any god wishing to absent himself
from Asgard must give his reasons and be approved by a majority of the gods;
Thor did not do this when he went to Midgard (issue #302) and, as the law
states that the God of War must bring him back to answer these charges, Tyr is
dispatched by Odin, though he first picks up the Mace of the Myth-Wars, a
weapon to equal Mjolnir in power….
Tyr arrives on Earth and confronts Don Blake near a park, attacking
immediately. Don is able to turn into Thor and the two battle it out, wrecking
the place and terrifying the passers-by. Thor calls down lightning to destroy the
magic mace and Tyr accuses him of cowardice, so Thor puts away his hammer and
punches Tyr’s lights out. Thor picks up his fallen foe and heads with him to
Asgard to find out what the Hades this was all about….
“Baptism of Fire!”
Writer: Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio. Pencils: Keith Pollard
(breakdowns), Gene Day. Inks: Gene Day. Colors: Bob Sharen.
Synopsis: The nine Valkyries assemble before Odin and he
explains their mission: they were created to bring the worthy dead to the Halls
of Valhalla but now Hela, Goddess of Death, has invaded and annexed Valhalla to
her lands—and their mission is to get it back. The Valkyries ride and when they
try to enter Niffleheim they find themselves riding through a wall of fire guarded
by demons. They fight but are overwhelmed by the demons’ numbers so Valtrauta
orders them to bathe in the enchanted waters which allows them to pass unharmed
through the wall of flames and to Valhalla….