Thor (1966 series) #344

Odin summons Balder from the palace of the Norn Queen and gives him an important mission: to deliver an urgent message to Loki to join Asgard against a coming enemy….

Subplots, grouped in one place: Lorelei’s plan to seduce Thor fails when the hero falls asleep. Surtur tempers the sword Twilight. As Sigurd Jarlson, Thor goes to work at the construction site and his boss Jerry Sapristi sees there is more to the new guy than meets the eye—and concludes he is secretly Spider-Man.

Balder on his horse Silverhoof dodges the Living Landslide, penetrates the Forbidden Forest, and crosses the Deadly Desert to reach Loki’s castle. There he discovers the Trickster is already allied with the enemy Malekith the Dark Elf and the villain orders his demons to slay the hero. Balder, despite having sworn himself to pacifism, is forced to take up a sword and slaughter the host of demons. He then swipes at Malekith but the Dark Elf vanishes into the shadows. Loki gloats over the hero’s foolishness and an enraged Balder lops off Loki’s head. Then, consumed by guilt, he rides off into the remotest desert to find death….

Epilogue: Loki reattaches his head and laughs at his little joke….