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Thor #459

Feb 1993
Tom DeFalco, Al Milgrom

Story Name:

What Price Victory?


Synopsis

Thor #459 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 5 stars

In Asgard, Eric Masterson Thor and Thor Odinson are fighting over the Lady Sif and much forest is being destroyed. Then the battle takes them into the city where they demolish a huge building and debris rains on the bystanders—though Amora the Enchantress arrives to turn the deadly rubble into feathers. She muses on the fact that Odin knows of her dirty deed yet condones the battle for his own mysterious purpose….

Back in the forest, Sif recovers from her coma and Balder fills her in on the story….

The two Thors crash into a tavern where the Warriors Three are drinking with their new partner Arko when chaos erupts. The barflies, inspired by the Thors, start brawling on their own. Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg want to break up the fight when Sif and Balder arrive to tell them that Odin has forbidden anyone to interfere. And the All-Father is seeking a new weapon…

…which is finally finished by the dwarves with an inscription added by Odin….

The two Thors struggle over Mjolnir with Sif uncertain as to whom she wants to win the contest. A lightning bolt crashes down, putting the hammer into a crater and hurling the adversaries apart. Sif runs to the Odinson and Eric decides that only Thor should wield the hammer so he turns back to Eric Masterson and heads back into the city. Odin explains to Balder that neither Thor chose to destroy the other and claim the hammer which makes them both worthy. Sif makes a tearful goodbye to Eric and Odin gives Thor a solution to the dilemma of the double Thors….

Thor returns Eric to Earth and assures him there are no hard feelings as it is known that he was bewitched by Amora. Thor presents Eric with a walking stick as a gift from Odin and tells him that Fate often does the unexpected. Thor flies back to Asgard in a nice full-page pic. Suspicious, Eric taps the stick on the ground and he is again transformed into his Thor guise but this time wielding a mace. On the mace is inscribed, “The world still needs heroes—Thunderstrike.” So, chosen once more to be an Asgardian hero on Earth, Eric promises to make them proud….

Pinups:

Thunderstrike by Frenz and Milgrom.

Code: Blue by Frenz and Milgrom.

The Asgardian Cast by Geof Isherwood.

The Female Cast by Geof Isherwood.

Mephisto (and Loki) by Geof Isherwood.


 

Review / Commentaries


Thor #459 Review by (August 23, 2022)

Review: Eric Masterson’s tenure in the title wraps up with this issue featuring some epic battle scenes between the two Thors and a marvelous display of wisdom from the days when Odin was wise and not a foolish bad-tempered old man causing complications for Thor. There’s a sad departure from Sif and a barroom brawl. And Eric becomes a new hero for his own series. And all of the complicated Eric-centered soap opera is pushed off to the new title. We hope to add that to the site eventually but for now, there always more Thor.

Comments: First story: Part four of four parts. Ron Frenz and Tom DeFalco collaborated on the plot. First appearance of Thunderstrike. Final issue of Frenz and DeFalco’s run; they (and Eric Masterson with his large supporting cast) move over to THUNDERSTRIKE #1. Eric paraphrases (and credits) the famous line from THE GODFATHER PART 3, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” The letters column includes one by future comics critic Ben Herman.




> Thor comic book info and issue index

Elektra

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(The Boy Wonder)

Preview Pages




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

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Balder
Balder

(Balder the Brave)
Hogun
Hogun

(Hogun the Grim)
Thor
Thor

(Odinson)
Thor
Thor

(Eric Masterson)
Thunderstrike
Thunderstrike

(Eric Masterson)
Warriors Three
Warriors Three

(Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg)