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Thor #453: Review

Nov 1992
Tom DeFalco, Al Milgrom

Story Name:

When Mephisto Commands...!

Review & Comments

Rating:
4.5 stars

Thor #453 Review by (June 22, 2022)
Review: An epic battle with Thor and Balder versus Sif with a dirty trick played on the heroes at the end. Meanwhile, more dirty tricks are played against the Warriors Three and the bad guys win there too. Pretty nice issue which leaves the good guys hanging for another issue or two but things will be righted eventually. R-r-right?      

Comments: First story: Part three of five parts. Ron Frenz and Tom DeFalco collaborated on the plot. Arko was previously seen in issues #423-425. Second story grows out of the first story, making the counting of parts very difficult.  




 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Thor #453 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Thor (Eric Masterson) and Balder teleport into the Underworld where they are met by the savage Sif, who has given herself to Mephisto in hopes of claiming the Soul Shroud and freeing her beloved Thor Odinson. She appeals to the men to flee lest she hurt them as she is pledged to. She whomps on Balder, leaving Thor to face a band of demons which he, despite his lack of Thor’s strength, can still call down lightning to disperse….

In the palace in Asgard, the evil Odin and Karnilla the Norn Queen are plotting, the former frustrated that Eric Thor isn’t dead yet and the latter desirous of rescuing her beloved Balder. Their scheming is overheard by the soldier Arko who hurries off with duty to Asgard on his mind….

Thor is now faced by a blind demon but he is able to use strategy and his magic hammer to defeat it. The battle between Sif and Balder is growing dire as Thor confronts Mephisto, demanding the Soul Shroud….

In New York, Dr. Gary Paretsky escorts Susan Austin out where she is greeted by her friends with a surprise party. All of her pals are there: Ed Marrero, Jackie Lukus, Marcy Masterson, Kevin M, Bobby Steele, Samantha Joyce, and Jerry Sapristi. Everyone but Eric Masterson. The mystery one who is the host of Bloodaxe [spoiler: Jackie Lukus] vows revenge against those who harmed Susan….

Thor is being overwhelmed by a horde of small demons and he manages to repel them with Mjolnir. Balder turns to warn him and Sif thumps him in the back of his head and is overcome with shame for the cowardly blow. Angered, she throws herself upon Thor and begins beating him with a staff. Then a remote spell by Karnilla saps Thor of his ability to control the storms. Then in Asgard, Arko returns with the Warriors Three who confront the villainous Odin [continued in this issue’s second story]….

In the Underworld, Thor does the only thing he can: he changes back to Eric Masterson, knowing that not even Mephisto could force Sif to kill a helpless mortal. But she is fighting for Thor and so pummels him until he asks her would she even commit murder for Thor? She drops her staff and falls to her knees, asking Eric’s forgiveness. He embraces her and promises to help her find Thor and they kiss—which enrages Mephisto. He then gives them what they want and hands over the Soul Shroud. They open it and a living essence is freed but it is not Thor—but then Mephisto never said it was….

“Betrayed!”
Writer: Tom DeFalco. Pencils: Geof Isherwood. Inks: Danny Bulanadi. Colors: Rob Tokar. Letters: Rick Parker.
Synopsis: The Warriors Three and Arko confront the traitorous Odin and he dispels them with a blast of magic. They fight but Odin and Karnilla’s magic warriors defeat them….

Amora the Enchantress visits the slums of lower Asgard and finds Tongar the thief and asks where she can find a healer for the wounded Heimdall and informs the thief that the Odin who sits on the throne is an impostor….



Preview Pages
Click sample interior pages to enlarge them:




Al Milgrom
Al Milgrom
Mike Rockwitz
Ron Frenz (Cover Penciler)
Al Milgrom (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Layouts: Ron Frenz. Letterer: Rick Parker.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Balder
Balder

(Balder the Brave)
Karnilla
Karnilla

(Norn Queen)
Loki
Loki

(Loki Laufeyson)
Thor
Thor

(Eric Masterson)
Warriors Three
Warriors Three

(Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)

Plus: Bobby Steele, Ed Marrero, Jackie Lukus, Kevin Masterson, Marcy Masterson, Samantha Joyce, Susan Austin.

> Thor: Book info and issue index

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