DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Thor #386


 

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

Synopsis: Thor battles the Celtic god, Leir. 

Comments: I didn't know there were any troll barbers in Asgard, but I guess it works for a good opening page gag. This was DeFalco and Frenz's first regular issue on Thor. The two previous issues they had done were fill ins, but Ralph Macchio convinced to become the regular team. They thought they were going to do Daredevil. 




Seth, who will be the overarching villain for the next year, makes an appearance here. Fittingly, the Egyptian god of death uses a cat to spy on the Asgardians. 



The Vizier warns Balder that Asgard is adrift in dimensions foreshadowing Thor's trouble at the end of this story and when Asgard will drift into the Negative Zone in future stories. 



Thor goes through a portal and ends up in Avalon, the home of the Celtic gods. This was similar to Journey into Mystery Annual #1, where he fell through a portal and ended up in Olympus. 






Thor raises his hammer in the same pose to smash back the Celtic gods like he did the legions of Pluto in Thor #130. 






Leir's response to Thor's plea to the end the battle paraphrases what Hercules said in Thor #126. 




Thor can't breathe in space here. In Thor vol.2 #23, Thor was shown to be able to breathe in space. 







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