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Selector

Thor (1998 series) #53

Oct 2002 on-sale: Aug 21, 2002

Dan Jurgens
writer
 |  Joe Bennett
penciler

Thor (1998 series) #53 cover

Story Name:

100 Days


Synopsis

Thor (1998 series) #53 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Thor has been reigning over Earth for one hundred days and members of the Church of Asgard gather at dawn to pray to him….

In the New Mexico desert, an agent of the US government, accompanied by a military detail, meets with Artur Zarrko in secret. After exchanging assurances that no one will know of the meeting, Zarrko outlines how support for Thor has been growing in view of his miracles and overthrow of tyrants and how the US government is afraid they will be next. Zarrko assures them that Thor’s political influence will grow and Zarrko’s agents are working to defeat Thor, “even as we speak….”

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Heimdall is guarding the Rainbow Bridge when Perrikus of the Dark Gods suddenly emerges from a gateway created by his ally Adva and overpowers the Guardian. The brutal Dark God then dashes through the city, assaulting citizens and wreaking havoc and heading toward the palace…

…where Thor surveys the work they have been doing; Balder expresses concern over the opposition of many on Earth, which Thor does not understand. Balder reminds him that it is because they were never asked, noting they are uninvited guests….

Meanwhile in the Rain Forest, Thor Girl and some companions are sitting in the trees, denying a lumber team access to the forest; the workers respond that their families depend on their jobs. Thor Girl purchases the forest from them with a bag of gold and the workers depart. Then a military team fires a rocket at the Asgardians and chaos reigns….

In Asgard, Thialfi warns Thor to flee when suddenly Perrikus breaks in and attacks Thor with his electric spear; Thor responds with Mjolnir but suddenly the hammer vanishes, transported to another dimension by Adva. As Perrikus beats Thor, he denounces the God of Thunder for his lack of ruthlessness, which he considers an essential quality for a true leader. Thor picks up the Bloodaxe and lops Perrikus’ right arm off. As Thor holds the axe, he feels its malign influence working on him so he casts it aside and uses the Odinforce to destroy it. He claims the villain’s spear and threatens to kill Perrikus with it unless Adva returns Mjolnir, which she does. And he demands to know who sent them there; Perrikus replies, “Zarrko….”

In the desert, Zarrko receives a phone call, then advises the US military team to evacuate. Too late, Mjolnir comes down in their midst and Thor seizes Zarrko, promising to toss him into the dungeon….

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Characters
Good (or All)
BALDER  
Balder
(The Brave)
THOR  
Thor
(Odinson)
THORGIRL  
Thor Girl
(Tarene)
Plus: Thialfi.

Antagonists
ZARRKO  
Zarrko
(Artur Zarrko)
Plus: Adva, Dark Gods, Perrikus.

> Thor (1998 series) comic book info and issue index



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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Joe Bennett
Jack Jadson
Dave Kemp
Tom Raney (Cover Penciler)
Scott Hampton (Cover Inker)
Dave Kemp (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Richard Starkings.
Editor: Tom Brevoort. Editor-in-chief: Joe Quesada.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Thor (1998 series) #53 Review by (May 6, 2026)

Review: So…how is Thor’s reign over Earth going? Well, we don’t see much of it here. This issue is mostly a fight scene, instigated by Zarrko who was warning about the Reigning for quite a few issues. So Thor battles Perrikus, a massive monster of a man, visually a formidable opponent for Thor. And Thor takes him down, without Mjolnir at that. It’s the next two issues that will give us the view of Asgard from the human standpoint and where the real meat of the story arc surfaces.

Comments: The Dark Gods appeared in most issues of this title from #7 to 12; they were last seen in #42-43, dealing with Desak. Artur Zarrko showed up to warn everyone about the Reigning in issues #33-35, reappearing again in #43 to deal with Desak; his story continues in issue #55. The Bloodaxe is destroyed but Skurge has a new one made in IMMORTAL THOR #19-21. Sada Temofonte contributed to the lettering.






Thor

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