Thor and Eric Masterson, transported to Earth, return to
Wundagore with the rescued High Evolutionary and Hercules, to be welcomed by
the former’s people, the New Men. Mongoose watches from the rafters, plotting
vengeance against Thor….
In Asgard, still trapped in the Negative Zone, a sickly Odin
awaits the return of his son Thor and his “fateful decision” whether to return
to Asgard permanently or remain on Midgard (Earth)….
Back in Wundagore, Hercules is scandalized that Thor would
shave off his beard but the God of Thunder prefers the clean-cut look.
Unbeknownst to him, the barber delivers the bowl containing hair, tissue, and
blood samples from Thor to Count Tagar for research and cloning purposes. Thor
and Herc are given atomic steeds to take them to civilization and the Thunder
God leaves with a warning to the High Evolutionary to stop fooling around with
human evolution; H.E. assures him he has many other projects to pursue. Once
Thor (with Eric) and Herc are a sufficient distance away, Wundagore, a spaceship,
takes off into the sky. Minutes later, the heroes are blasted out of the sky by
Mongoose, flying a deadly Asteroid Blaster. With a single blow of Mjolnir, Thor
wrecks the villain’s ship. Mongoose uses his superspeed to pummel Thor much
faster than he can react to; Thor calls down a rainstorm to make the ground too
muddy for the bad guy to retain his footing. Mongoose reveals a laser-like
drill which he fires at Thor, unbalancing him; Eric jumps onto the villain’s
back and is thrown aside. Eric picks up Mjolnir and attacks Mongoose, only to
be shot down. Hercules, who had fallen into a ravine, arrives and Mongoose, realizing
he can’t beat two gods together, runs for his life. Thor, cradling the dying
Eric Masterson, summons Odin and pleads for his friend’s life. Odin warns him
that the cost may be high, the decision irrevocable. Thor agrees and Odin
wishes his son farewell. As he explains to the Grand Vizier, Thor’s selfless
nature humbles him and his example as the noblest of them all should shine out
to the universe….
Eric returns home to his son Kevin and friend Susan Austin;
he introduces his pal Hercules as Harry Cleese but he can’t say what happened to
Thor. Hours later, after the other have gone to bed, Eric reveals what Odin has
done: he has merged body and soul with Thor and now, striking Don Blake’s cane,
Eric is transformed into the God of Thunder, ready for adventure….
“There Dwells a Monster!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Mike Mignola. Inks: Bob Wiacek.
Colors: Greg Wright, Tom Vincent. Letters: Mike Heisler.
Synopsis: Thor is captured by a band of marauding trolls who
bring him before their king, Grundor the Greater. Thor, having allowed himself
to be captured, knowing the trolls would take him back to their king, bursts
free and clobbers the trolls. He seizes Grundor and demands to know why they
are raiding Asgard. Grundor reveals that a great demon has driven them toward
the surface. Thor determines to face this monster and has Grundor lead him
across the bridge over the Chasm of Eternal Sorrow and they are confronted by
Uroc the Uru Monster, who fears not Thor’s tiny Uru hammer….