Thor #362: Review

Dec 1985

Walt Simonson, Walt Simonson

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Story Name:

Like a Bat Out of Hel!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #362 Review by Peter Silvestro (January 28, 2014)

Review: A nightmarish conclusion to the story arc as the heroes must escape the clutches of Hela. A major triumph in the Simonson oeuvre is the Executioner’s last stand; sure, the sight of a character from Norse myth wielding assault rifles is a bit goofy at first but the powerful sequence, sending a minor villain off in a blaze of glory (not to mention a noble sacrifice) is very memorable. Truly epic in all of its parts.

Comments: Part three of three parts. These two issues mark the sole appearance of Mordonna, seen in her true guise only here. Final appearance of Skurge among the living. BALDER THE BRAVE #2-3 take place immediately after this issue.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #362 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor, wearing a mask to hide his disfigurement (see last issue) and the Einherjar arrive at the great ship Naglfar, made of the fingernails of the dead. As they attempt to leave, Hela appears before them and produces Skurge and Amora, the warrior who abandoned them. When the always-truthful Balder warns him of an illusion, Skurge strikes Amora and she stands revealed as the sorceress Mordonna. Hela insists that Skurge is a traitor and must accompany her to conquer Asgard; he denies it and destroys Naglfar with his axe. A battle ensues and the heroes make their escape. The creatures of Hel rise against them and Harokin and his men unleash the Earth weapons they have brought: assault rifles. Thor, riding his goat-drawn chariot, crashes through the enemy ranks, leading them to Gjallerbru, the covered bridge that marks the boundary of Hel. Thor plans to sacrifice himself to stop the enemy pursuit but Skurge knocks him out and orders the others to ride off with him. The Executioner stands in the breach and fires the Earth guns until he is finally overwhelmed and killed by the forces of Hel—but the heroes have gotten away. They race through the Cave of Darkness and Thor clobbers Garm the Hel-Hound with a blow from Mjolnir. Harokin and Einherjar head to Asgard, a melancholy Balder returns to Karnilla, while Thor delivers the rescued souls back to Midgard.

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