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Thor #421

Aug 1990
Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz

Story Name:

... And If Gods Are Men... [The Black Galaxy Saga]


Synopsis

Thor #421 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4.5 stars

Stellaris, the Celestial Slayer, smashes into Eric Masterson’s apartment as he has detected traces of the Celestials on Hercules. Herc battles the baddie, protecting Kevin who realizes his pal Harry is Hercules and concludes that his father must be working with Thor somehow. Herc takes the boy into the street where they are saved from Stellaris by the arrival of the Avengers (Captain America, She-Hulk, Sersi, Quasar, and Thor). Quasar materializes a giant crossbow which shoots Shulkie into the villain, knocking him out of the sky where Sersi enwraps him in a metal structure. But Thor recognizes that he is the only one to defeat the foe and faces off with him; Stellaris increases the size and power of his armor; Quasar creates a force shield to protect the city as the two go at each other. But Thor has been holding back to test his opponent’s strength and now unleashes it all, smashing his enemy’s armor open and discovering—that Stellaris is a woman. And she announces that her armor will explode in two minutes unless she is set free. Cap advises Thor to let her go; Stellaris returns to the Black Galaxy. Thor changes back into Eric Masterson and he has something important to tell his son….

Eric arrivers late for the custody meeting with his ex-wife Marcy, stunning his lawyer Samantha Joyce and his assistant Susan Austin with his decision. He will relinquish custody of Kevin for his own good….

Later, when the boy has packed his bags and is ready to depart with his mom, he has a tearful goodbye with his father. After they leave, Eric breaks down and is comforted by Hercules….

“When Winter Comes, It Kills”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Gary Hartle. Inks: Mike DeCarlo. Colors: Nel Yomtov. Letters: Jim Novak.
Synopsis: The Warriors Three continue on their journey to locate the monster and discover many Frost Giants frozen in ice. A short distance farther and they are attacked by Ymir the Ice Demon, on his way to destroy Asgard….

In Asgard, Odin is stricken in pain and he promises to reveal to Heimdall the secret of the Endless Circle….

 

 

Review / Commentaries


Thor #421 Review by (September 14, 2021)

Review: A stupendous battle, a shocking revelation (Stellaris is a leading exemplar of Girl Power), some teary family moments—and the heroes have gotten no closer to the Black Galaxy than the Bronx! Things will be a little more sci-fi heavy next time with the heroes on their way and the return of the High Evolutionary and his messing around with life. For now we must be content.

Comments: First story: Part three of six. There’s a brief shot of a Harkness Rug Corp.; maybe it was Agatha all along. Ron Frenz and Tom DeFalco collaborated on the plot. Second story: Part five of nine parts. Ymir first appeared in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #97-98.




> Thor comic book info and issue index

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Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Preview Pages




Ron Frenz
Joe Sinnott
George Roussos
Ron Frenz (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Layouts: Ron Frenz. Letterer: Mike Heisler.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Captain America
Captain America

(Steven Rogers)
Hercules
Hercules

(Heracles)
Quasar
Quasar

(Wendell Vaughn)
She-Hulk
She-Hulk

(Jennifer Walters)
Thor
Thor

(Odinson)
Warriors Three
Warriors Three

(Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Plus: Kevin Masterson, Marcy Masterson, Samantha Joyce, Stellaris, Susan Austin, Ymir (Frost Giant King).