Thor #373: Review

Nov 1986

Walt Simonson, Sal Buscema

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

The Gift of Death

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #373 Review by Peter Silvestro (April 15, 2014)

Review: Some nice domestic drama lets us see a side of Thor that is not often shown and the scenes with the Sapristis are delightful. The rest of the issue launches Thor into an X-Men story with its mutant assassins in the sewers. The X-Men are far from my favorite Marvel heroes but we’ll see if I can make an exception this time. ;-) PS Never thought Puddlegulp would return.

Comments: Every Marvel comic this month sported a portrait cover. Part of the “Mutant Massacre” storyline running in UNCANNY X-MEN #210-213 and X-FACTOR #9-11. Puddlegulp the frog first appeared in THOR #364-365. Jerry Sapristi was previously seen in THOR #344. The Marauders, henchmen of Mr Sinister, were introduced in UNCANNY X-MEN #210.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #373 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor is flying back to Midgard when he is hit by Hela’s spell (end of last issue) and struck by a sudden weakness. Recovering, he arrives on the streets of New York. Deciding to search Muspelheim for the missing Odin, Thor finds he cannot reach that realm. Still brooding over his father’s fate he wanders the city until he comes upon a mugger in Central Park. Thor merely has to hold his hammer under the baddie’s nose to get him to surrender to the police.

Meanwhile in Asgard, Heimdall is overseeing the construction of a protective sheath for Surtur’s lost sword. Ruby’s orphaned sons, Mick and Kevin, wake up in Volstagg’s home and want to know where their mother is; the doughty warrior explains but they don’t believe him….

As Sigurd Jarlson, Thor returns to the construction company where he is greeted warmly by his old boss Jerry Sapristi. Catching up, Jerry invites Sigurd home with him for dinner. The disguised hero meets Jerry’s wife and kids and has a good time; they ask him to spend the night….

In Asgard, Odin’s raven Muninn delivers a black feather to King Balder. Leaving Heimdall in charge, Balder rides forth….

The next day in Central Park, Sigurd tells the Sapristi children a story of Thor and Odin wherein the All-Father refuses his son a ferry ride across a river. He offers the moral that in the end one can only rely on oneself. Puddlegulp, the froggy friend of Thor’s from issues #364-365, brings him some alarming news. The children have already guessed his identity so Thor teleports them home while he follows up on Puddlegulp’s words. As Hela watches from her domain, Thor enters the sewers to find Angel of the X-Men pinned to the wall by harpoons though his wings. The God of Thunder is ambushed by Blockbuster, Vertigo, and Harpoon of the Marauders; he drives them off with a flash of lightning and rescues the injured Angel. Hearing a noise behind him, he challenges his unseen enemy….