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Thor #500

Jul 1996
William Messner-Loebs, Mike Deodato Jr.

Thor #500 cover

Story Name:

Sunlight and Shadows


Synopsis

Thor #500 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 2.5 stars

Thor explores the desolate and ruined Asgard; he encounters some trolls and bashes them brutally, wondering where the city’s defenders are. A short distance away, Thor comes upon trolls driving enslaved humans to move rocks. Thor recognizes one of the slaves as Doctor Strange; Thor attacks the trolls and he is joined by Strange and Hognir of the human Aesir and they vanquish the bad guys while the rest of the slaves simply run away. Strange explains that he felt an evil somewhere then Amora called him because Thor had disappeared. A simple spell brought them to Loki’s lair in the sewers where they discovered that Loki was a robot which they then traced to the Mad Thinker in prison, his mind burned out by the power of the Raven’s Eye. Strange and Amora then traced Thor’s essence to Asgard where their powers were disrupted and they were captured by the trolls….

Elsewhere, Amora the Enchantress is with the frost giants who are planning to attack the trolls head-on. Amora suggests an easier plan….

In another place, Annie Prazniki climbs a castle tower where she frees her stepmother Silvia….

Then the frost giants smash through the walls, according to Amora’s plan, and Thor and Strange fight them off. Ulik, carrying the disenchanted Mjolnir, arrives on the battlefield and Thor joins him against the giants. Kim Gaunt, police uniform restored, also shoots at the giants….

The battle over, Thor and Strange try to puzzle out what has happened to the gods. Strange suggests that when the Ash was tricked into believing Ragnarök was past, it would also have eliminated the gods by turning them human. He also speculates that Odin embedded his essence in the sword Raven’s Eye and hidden it in history—but now it’s stuck in Yggdrasil so they go over and Thor pulls it out. The sword dissolves and the newly repowered Mjolnir flies into Thor’s hand. The God of Thunder then calls down destruction, killing all of the frost giants (and apparently Amora). While Dr. Strange warns of coming evil, Thor determines to go to Earth to find his people….

“Thor Quiz”
Multiple choice quiz on Thor and his history.

“The Garb of Thunder”
A gallery of Thor costumes over the course of the series.

“The Family of Odin”
The All-Father’s family tree.

“Hot Facts About the Heavy-Hitting Hammer of Thor”
All about Mjolnir.


 

Review / Commentaries


Thor #500 Review by (July 9, 2024)

Review: And the story wraps up in a less than lucid way. It’s mainly a battle issue but even then, what plot there is is hard to follow. How did everyone get from the Wagnerian Asgard to the real one? And what happened to the women’s barbarian outfits? They are back in their Earth outfits. Why is Mad Thinker (sort of) in the story? Why did the Prazniki subplot go in such a different direction after their introduction in issue #495? Why is Thor siding with the trolls against the giants? Why are Annie and Silvia now action heroes? Really, how did we all get to where we are? Semi-coherent plot with the usual ugly 90s art.

Comments: Part five of five parts. Final appearances of Annie and Silvia Prazniki. The story of the Ash and Ragnarok was in issues #491-494 a/k/a WORLDENGINE. The letters page includes the answers to the Thor Quiz.




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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Mike Deodato Jr.
Mike Deodato Jr.
Marie Javins
Mike Deodato Jr. (Cover Penciler)
Mike Deodato Jr. (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Jon Babcock.

Characters

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)
Thor
Thor

(Odinson)


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