Thor #391: Review

May 1988

Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz

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Story Name:

The Madness of Mongoose

Review & Comments

Rating:

Thor #391 Review by Peter Silvestro (December 7, 2020)

Review: Thor holding up an entire building? Well, it’s not exactly in a league with Hulk holding up an entire mountain (in SECRET WARS) but it doesn’t have to be as Hulk is the strongest there is! Besides, this is Thor’s book—even though it opens like a Spider-Man comic. So, aside from one of the significant feats of the Thunder God’s career, what do we have? A pretty cool new villain, even though “Mongoose” doesn’t exactly send chills down your spine (unless you’re a member of the Serpent Society); he’s a creation of the High Evolutionary and that guy doesn’t make junk. So, Mongoose will be back before long. He doesn’t stand out now but soon Eric Masterson will inherit this very book from the Odinson and then be moved into a title of his own as Thunderstrike. Trust me, things get cooler for him.

Comments: First appearance of Eric Masterson who will be merged with Thor in issue #408 and becomes Thor in #432 and then Thunderstrike. Mongoose was introduced in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #283, though he will mainly be a Thor/Thunderstrike baddie after this. First appearance of Aloysius P. Jamesly who Christopher Priest claims is a parody version of him; Priest’s birth name is James C. Owsley, which sounds similar. Thor adopted the identity of Sigurd Jarlson in issue #341; last seen as such in #373.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #391 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Spider-Man is back in his red-and-blue costume after his stint in the black one. Nearby, the arrival of the villain is foreshadowed. Thor, in his civilian guise as Sigurd Jarlson, discovers that in his long absence the building he resided in has been demolished; he looks up his old supervisor Jerry Sapristi who hires him for his current construction project. Sigurd is introduced to architect Eric Masterson and the designer, the flamboyant Aloysius P. Jamesly who has decided to tear the building down and start over. The Mongoose arrives and attacks Sigurd who has been chosen as his next prey. The villain hurls Sigurd off the edge of the tall building and he plummets toward his doom—until Spidey swings by to catch him and place him safely down before engaging the Mongoose. Sigurd retrieves Mjolnir from the office, changes to Thor, and returns to the top where Spidey is in danger, severely weakened by gas employed by the Mongoose. The villain is also faster than Thor expected and he smashes the floor beneath them while trying to hit him; Spidey has to tie up and gag the overeager Jamesly to put him safely out of the way. Thor knocks Mongoose over the edge with Mjolnir for him to be nabbed by Spidey but he breaks free to escape down to the lowest level where he smashes the support pillars and runs off. Thor holds up the entire building while Spidey props it up to protect the surrounding city. Eric Masterson was hit by falling debris though and Thor rushes him to the hospital as Spidey realizes he forgot to set up his camera….

Back in Asgard, ruler Balder the Brave despairs of their chances against the forces of Seth without Thor by their side. The Grand Vizier has created a device that can transport a subject to Midgard to alert Thor to the danger threatening Asgard. Hogun the Grim out-argues Balder to be the first subject. Hogun enters the machine…and vanishes….

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