Thor #433: Review

Jun 1991

Tom DeFalco, Al Milgrom

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Story Name:

Whosoever Holds This Hammer

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #433 Review by Peter Silvestro (December 28, 2021)

Review: So, our new Thunder God has a lot to learn. All rookie superheroes do, though Thor’s league leaves little room for mistakes against guys like Ulik. And it should be noted that, whereas he realizes he needs more training in this sort of thing, his number one priority is to design a new costume with a helmet rather than, I don’t know, improve himself? He’d fit right into Instagram as an Asgardian influencer. So it’s nice he also goes with his gut and beats up the villain by fighting dirty, though it’s not so clear what he is doing differently from regular Thor Odinson. He leaps out of the way to avoid an attack, which Ulik condemns as unworthy of Thor but it isn’t clear what shocks the cops on the scene. Hope his differences become clearer with time. And since he’s been out to lunch long enough, it’s time to visit the Avengers next time….

Comments: First full appearance of the new Eric Masterson Thor. Cameo by Peggy Carter. Ron Frenz and Tom DeFalco collaborated on the plot. The letters page notes Joe Sinnott’s retirement.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #433 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Ulik rises from the sewer, seeking revenge against Thor….

At the hospital, Eric Masterson is still confused and feeling unworthy after having the power of Thor transferred to him last issue. He is permitted to visit Susan Austin in the ICU even though she is still in a coma; he realizes how much she means to him. In the waiting room, Eric meets Jerry Sapristi who introduces him to Susan’s sexy roommate, Leena Moran (who is really the Enchantress). Eric then spots what is happening outside: Ulik rising from the sewers to battle Marcus Stone and the cops of Code: Blue. Eric turns into Thor and races to the scene, where the cops have placed a trio of transmitters around Ulik and, activating them, have trapped the monster in an electrified stasis shield. But Thor arrives on the scene and overzealously leaps on Ulik, shorting out the stasis field, freeing him. Ulik’s sense of smell tells him this is not the usual Thor and he batters the rookie Thunder God around and escapes into the subway tunnels below. The battered Thor gets an alert from Captain America and, not wanting Cap to see the unfamiliar face, tells him that Thor is out to lunch. Yes and even he realizes how stupid that sounds. Stone approaches Thor who flies away to avoid embarrassing questions, and crashes down on a rooftop. Cursing himself for a clumsy, amateurish fool, he returns to his apartment and vows to try harder; first thing is designing a new costume for Thor….

A few days later, Eric has picked up his new suit from the tailor (while a gorgeous clerk flirts with him) and arrives at a meatpacking plant where Code: Blue has cornered Ulik, who had smashed his way in seeking food. Thor battles Ulik, surprising both the villain and the police by fighting dirty, eventually beating the Troll to a pulp. As the police take Ulik away, Eric introduces himself to Marcus Stone as the new Thor and his next mission will be finding out what happened to the old Thor. With a tap of Mjolnir he stops the rain and takes off….

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