As Thor flies to the hospital, he speculates on whether the
return of Don Blake solves the mystery of the exiled Odinson viz that Thor is
concealed within Blake and he has once again lost his memory. Eric thinks that
a great idea as it means he can give up the superhero life as it has done
nothing but wreck his personal life. At the hospital, he returns to his
identity as Eric Masterson and enters. There he meets Jerry Sapristi and Leena
Moran (whom we know to be the Enchantress in disguise) who are also there in response
to the good news about Susan Austin. Then Donald Blake arrives and everything
about him seems to confirm Eric’s guess that he is Thor Odinson; Amora concurs,
rushing off before Blake recognizes her. As Eric watches Blake operate on Susan
he is increasingly convinced that he can soon return Thor’s powers and try to
salvage his life….
“The Trial of Beta Ray Bill!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Patrick Olliffe. Inks: Patrick
Olliffe. Colors: Mike Rockwitz. Letters: Michael Heisler.
Synopsis: In their search for the missing Thor, Sif and
Balder arrive on another world courtesy of the Norn Stones. They are taken for
demons by the inhabitants, whom Sif recognizes as the Korbinites, the race of
Beta Ray Bill having settled a new homeworld. As the people flee in panic, an
accident drops a huge weight on some Korbinites but Beta Ray Bill arrives just
in time. Bill and Sif are happy to see each other but the Korbinites see it as their
champion consorting with their enemies and demands that he kill them to protect
his people. He disperses them with a storm whipped up by his hammer. This is
reported to the Imperial Leader who calls a meeting of the council….
Bill is brought before the Council to defend his actions. He
is accused of having neglected his duty to the people several times in order to
adventure on Earth and other places, even lending aid to their enemy Ego the
Living Planet. And Bill cannot deny these actions. Sif advises Bill to abandon
the Korbinites and join them in their quest for Thor but he declines. Sentence
is handed down that Bill is stripped of his duties as the people’s champion and
he must relinquish his hammer Stormbreaker. He resumes his mortal form and
hands over the staff which the hammer has become. Others strike the staff on
the ground in hopes of gaining the power to become the new champion but it
fails and soon everyone is lining up to try the staff. Bill confesses to Sif that
he has long wanted to lay aside his burden and rest, serving his people in a
less heroic fashion….
“A Hero…No More!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Plot: DeFalco and Frenz. Pencils: Ron
Frenz. Inks: Al Milgrom. Colors: Mike Rockwitz. Letters: Michael Heisler.
Synopsis: Eric Masterson sits in his ruined apartment
brooding over what he considers his being unsuitable for the job of Thor and his
failure to live up to the demands of being a superhero. So having
procrastinated long enough, he goes to the office of Dr. Donald Blake for an
appointment. Eric tells Don that he (Don) is Thor but the doc is skeptical. As
proof, Eric gives Blake the cane and tells him to strike it on the floor. Blake
does so and transforms—into Mephisto. The villain thanks Eric for falling for
his stratagem and handing him Mjolnir; he then takes off for his own realm. Eric
stands ashamed and vows not to fail the real Thor….