Thor #265: Review

Nov 1977

Len Wein, Walt Simonson

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Story Name:

When Falls the God of Thunder...!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #265 Review by Peter Silvestro (February 4, 2015)

Comments: Part two of three parts. Thor mentions that this is the fifth time he’s faced the Destroyer; the previous encounters were in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #118-119, THOR ANNUAL #2, THOR #150-152, and #224-225. The Recorder is seen only in the background of a single panel in this issue. The title of this story continues into the title of the next issue.

Review: Destroyer stories were always cool—until they became much too common over the history of the character (not unlike Galactus who has a cameo in flashback this issue). Even so, the issue is cool and leaves us with a surprise. Meanwhile, the Warriors Three interrupt their mission to return to Thor only to be ordered back to their original quest; not a lot of forward momentum with that subplot. Fortunately, the ladies (and the android) arrive to (sort of) lend a hand, though they aren’t much help. Did we really need all the extra characters? This issue would have been perfect with the Thor and the Destroyer bashing at each other for 19 pages. More next time.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #265 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor confronts the feared Destroyer; Loki helpfully explains how the deadly device fell into the hands of Galactus and Loki used the distraction of the great being’s battle with the Fantastic Four (in FF #172-175) to sneak aboard Galactus’ ship and make off with the prize. The God of Thunder and his mechanical foe shake the palace with their fight until the very floor collapses beneath them….

In the underground tunnels, the Warriors Three are on the trail of the Enchantress and the Executioner who have carried off the sleeping Odin. They are rocked by the battle upstairs and decide to go up and investigate….

At the city’s gates, Sif and Karnilla arrive; when denied entrance, the Norn Queen turns the guards into frogs….

The Destroyer has the advantage over Thor but he is rescued by the arrival of his three comrades. Thor, knowing they are no match for the Destroyer, topples a pillar creating a barrier between the combatants. Thor sends the three heroes back to the search for Odin; leaving the palace, they spot three of Loki’s co-conspirators, Kroda the Duelist, Magrat the Schemer, and Snaykar the Skulker. They heroes secretly pursue the villains….

Back in the throne room, Thor is in desperate straits. Sif, Karnilla, and the Recorder arrive and the Norn Queen takes on the Destroyer but discovers with a shock Loki’s latest trick: the deadly device is powered by the spirit of Balder….

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