DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Thor #384


 

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

Synopsis: Meet Dargo, a future Thor. 

Comments: The opening credits still credit Jim Shooter as editor in chief. The next issue was a fill in and Tom DeFalco was credited as editor in chief. Although for titles that he was the writer, DeFalco did not credit himself as editor in chief. The opening page has a Terminator vibe for me. 


In the future, Thor has a cult. During Dan Jurgens run on Thor, Thor moved Asgard to Earth and eventually ended poverty, war and sickness which inspired a cult around him whose sabbath was Thursday, of course. 



While part of this story harkens back to Journey into Mystery #83, with Don Blake finding the hammer, parts of this story were reworked in A-Next #1 with Kevin Masterson grabbing his father's mace during a fight and using its power to become an Asgardian super being. 




Tyrus the Terrible also appears in this issue and in A-Next #1
 






Loki also flees like he does in A-Next #1 when he thinks Thor is about to join the fight. Although he did that way back in Strange Tales #123 when he thought Thor was coming to Dr. Strange's aid. 






Don't look now, but Tom and Ron's nemesis Christopher Priest did a fill in Thor vol. 2 #59 that also takes place in an alternate future where Thor has disappeared and the hammer has been left behind in a rock. Two kids eventually find a person who is able to wield the hammer. 











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