Thor #355: Review

May 1985

Walt Simonson, Sal Buscema

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Story Name:

The Icy Hearts (or My Dinners With Thor)

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #355 Review by Peter Silvestro (December 10, 2013)

Review: Lovely little interlude as a hero comes to terms with the death of a loved one. Simonson audaciously makes it the centerpiece of a quiet and personal tale, rather than trying to fit it in around a major battle scene. The counsel of Tiwaz is wise: accept the cycle of life—though he leaves out the whole point of Ecclesiastes: fear God and keep His commandments. Though technically that’s what Thor will be doing—just with a different god than the Preacher had in mind. Oh and while we miss Walt’s pictures going with his words, Sal Buscema was probably the best choice they could have made, so kudos to the editor, too.

Comments: Tiwaz/Buri was the first of the Aesir with his origin given in the Tales of Asgard back-up story in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #97; this is his second appearance. His quote is from the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes chapter three, most of verses 1-4.

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Quotes

Odin: "For Asgard!". Thor: "For Midgard!". Loki: "For myself!"
~ LOKI

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #355 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor is being nursed back to health in an ice cavern by a mysterious giant who amuses himself by tossing Mjolnir up and catching it in his massive palm. When Thor awakens he is greeted by his huge host who sits sculpting figures out of ice. The giant explains that he rescued the young hero from Hela’s trap and challenges him to wrestle to earn his supper. Thor engages but is too weak to put up much of a fight. The host feeds him anyway and reveals that he knew Odin long ago…..

Subplots, all in one place: In New York, the Warriors Three enter Macy’s and wander into the cookware department. Sif confides in Beta Ray Bill about Odin’s fate, so that they do not notice a trio of crooks in high-tech armor entering the diamond exchange to rob it. Loki returns to his fortress with Lorelei and explains his scheme to have her seduce Thor into supporting Loki as the new king of Asgard.

The next day, the old man, who calls himself Tiwaz, shows Thor around his icy domain and again challenges him to wrestle for his supper. Again Thor loses but not so badly. Again on the morrow, Thor awakens quietly and witnesses Tiwaz bringing an ice sculpture of a woman to life. Thor asks if Tiwaz is really Odin in disguise. The old giant denies it but confesses he knew Odin a long time ago and he reassures the Thunder God that while he finds his father a mystery, he still knows and loves him. Tiwaz challenges him yet again and this time Thor is victorious. The delighted giant counsels the young hero to return to Asgard and helps him come to terms with the loss of his father. Tiwaz shows that the servants he carves out of ice live only for 24 hours so Thor should embrace joy in the midst of his duties. As Thor leaves, his host asks him to check on some stranded travelers nearby; the hero does so and finds they are his mother Frigga and the children of Asgard and he prepares to lead them home, but first they comfort one another on their bereavement. Epilogue: Tiwaz is revealed to be Buri, father of Bor, father of Odin.