The Mighty Thor has agreed to fight the forces of Pluto to rescue Hercules from his fate. Pluto accepts and transports Thor to the Netherworld where he faces the guardian Cerberus (who in this version is a huge armored warrior with an unwieldy hammer, not a three-headed dog). They battle and the Thunder God smashes his foe, shattering his armor….
Meanwhile, Tana Nile makes an unguarded comment about "where I come from" that tips off Jane Foster that all is not right with her exotic new roommate. Tana realizes her slip and hypnotizes Jane into going off on a far journey where Thor will never find her. Tana Nile then transforms into her true appearance….
Thor arrives in the Netherworld palace to interrupt the forced coronation of Hercules. The Prince of Power is prevented from joining in so Thor must single-handedly take on all the armies of the underworld. He cuts his way through the forces and destroys the mighty Cosmic Cannon, tearing it in two with his hammer. Suddenly, the hero is trapped in an unbreakable glass turbulence chamber where artificial winds threaten to tear him apart. Sensing something is wrong with Jane, he frees himself with a hammer blow and proceeds to defeat all Pluto can throw against him, the Crusher, archers, flame-throwers, etc. until Pluto himself calls a halt to the combat. The Lord of the Underworld will witness no further destruction to his realm so he tears up the Olympian contract, releasing Hercules from his fate. Herc and Thor pledge eternal friendship and depart.
Story #2The Fateful Change! (Tales of Asgard series)
Writer:
Stan Lee.Penciler:
Jack Kirby. Inker:
Vince Colletta. Colorist:
Unknown. Letterer:
Sam Rosen.
Synopsis
Thor and the
Warriors Three arrive in
Muspelheim to discover that the city has already fallen to the forces of
Harokin the barbarian. Realizing that the conqueror must already be in possession of the powerful
Warlock’s Eye, Thor lays plans to retake the city. He orders his comrades to free the city’s defenders from the dungeons while he goes in search of Harokin. The Warriors Three run into a squadron of barbarians and
Hogun and
Fandral engage them in battle while the cowardly
Volstagg decides to hasten to Thor’s side. Elsewhere, the
Thunder God and his foe have already met and are locked in violent combat which ends with Thor overcoming Harokin. Noticing that he and his enemy bear a resemblance to one another, Thor decides to impersonate Harokin and when the guards arrive to warn him of the invaders from
Asgard, a cloaked "Harokin" commands them to fetch the Warlock’s Eye….