(I originally read these comics in mid December 2015)
Behold! - the conclusion of Tom DeFalco's and Ron Frenz's five and a half year-run on Thor!
Most of the long-running plots are wrapped up here, and those that aren't I presume are concluded in the spin-off comic 'Thunderstrike' (which I'll get to reading soon). Architect/reluctant hero Eric Masterson is still endowed with the power of Thor and Thor's essence is still prisoner of Mephisto - or is it? Meanwhile, all is not right in Asgard as it becomes obvious Odin is not quite himself. It transpires that after being 'killed' in issue # 432, Loki has been inhabiting Odin's body and plotting to take over Asgard (the usual, then). Of course, Thor is eventually found and returned to his rightful status as Scion of the Golden Realm, but not after Thor's paramour Sif has begun to fall for Eric! The agony! BUT WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE MR. MASTERSON, I hear you ask. I'll tell you: in possession of a newly-forged hammer and retaining the power of Thor as new hero 'Thunderstrike'! New villain Bloodaxe (Ghost Rider Without a Bike. ...Ghost Pedestrian?) is causing trouble back on earth - but who is he? Considering his identity goes unrevealed in these issues, I guess that little mystery will be resolved in the pages of Thunderstrike. I can't wait!!
The four-part 'Citizen Kang' crossover by Roy Thomas and Mark Gruenwald is dire, with (flavour of the month) Rob Liefeld-inspired art by Herb Trimpe to match. Sad to see the '70s Hulk artist extraordinaire having to stoop to that to remain employed.
All in all this has been an enjoyable Thor run, though too often derailed by line-wide crossovers (which I'll have to remember to skip on a second read). It's not in Walt Simonson's league, but what is? These are solid, old school super-hero comics and I'd give the run as a whole a comfortable 7 out of 10.
Captain America Annual # 11, Thor Annual # 17, Fantastic Four Annual # 25 and Avengers Annual # 21 are collected in:
Softcover:
The Mighty Thor (1966) # 457-459 are collected in:
Softcover:
