Thor #333: Review

Jul 1983

Alan Zelenetz, M. D. Bright

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

Like a Bat Out of Heaven!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #333 Review by Peter Silvestro (August 4, 2020)

Review: Second half of the tale is better because of a better penciler, Mark Bright; now the biggest problem is that Dracula looks like Wolfman Jack (Google him). And all the cool bits I was anticipating have come to pass: a fight between Thor and Dracula wherein they are evenly matched, even though Drac’s powers over storms should not equal those of an actual deity. Sif looks a little too girly girl on the final page but not to worry, she’ll likely be kicking butt in the next two issues.

Comments: Part two of two parts. Title is a parody of the simile “like a bat out of hell,” meaning quickly and frantically. Dracula next appears in DR STRANGE #59-60.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #333 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

With Thor away, Dracula has just feasted on the blood of Sif, increasing his powers and vitality. He also hypnotizes her into believing she’s his bride and they depart for his lair….

Meanwhile, Thor is in New York, consulting with Doctor Strange about the Runestaff of Kamo Tharnn. Strange probes Thor’s mind, gaining a summary of the Runestaff’s history then turns to the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto and, finding the Runestaff’s aura in Sif’s mind, he locates the object in another world—and he also discovers Sif is under Dracula’s power. Thor hustles home and checks everywhere for her as Donald Blake but can’t locate her….

Elsewhere, Dracula notices amnesiac Sif is already sprouting fangs so he buys her a new bright green gown, intending to court her according to the traditional Transylvania fashion….

Thor gets a lead on the vampire’s lair from Police Lt Timpano and locates one of Dracula’s minions who tells him the Master is at the opera with his bride. As Thor flies off, the hapless minion kills himself for betraying his Master. At the opera house, Thor interrupts the performance of Tannhauser to challenge Dracula to a fight. The slugging match wrecks the building, leading the combatants to held to a roomier battlefield outdoors. Dracula calls down lighting to strike Thor but Thor orders it to hit Dracula; result: the lightning obeys neither. Hand to hand battle goes against Thor because the vampire can change into mist or a bat to avoid Mjolnir but he can also summons a horde of rats to tackle the Thunder God. Thor takes advantage of his foe’s distraction to successfully hit him with lightning but the villain vanishes out of Thor’s hands. Dr Strange appears to tell him that Dracula has been teleported away by his minions and volunteers to deal with Dracula so that Thor can look for the Runestaff. Thor finds Sif and discovers that the vampire’s spell over her has been broken so that they can pursue their quest….

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::