DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Thor #414


 

Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz 

Synopsis: Thor goes up against an empowered Ulik. 

Comments: Along with #406, this was among one of the first DeFalco/Frenz Thor stories I read. 

The opening page is taken from the opening page of Thor #155. 




Ulik has lost touch with Loki since the events of Avengers West Coast #55. 




But Loki is actually back. I'm not sure what was going on here, but a mysterious figure is introduced as a new crime lord. Later the figure was revealed to be Loki and the crime lord angle was never visited again. But he emerged from those tons of rocks Thor buried him under Avengers West Coast #55  and got back to work. I wonder if DeFalco and Frenz originally intended this to be a different character? Because with the reveal of Loki being the shadowy figure in a suit last issue just to come back as another shadowy figure in a suit to later be revealed as him, it's anti anti anti climx. Maybe it's a Loki Variant from the new Loki show. The crime lord angle was probably never revisited because Wilson Fisk sent Loki a cease and desist letter to stop stealing his bit as a legitimate businessman who thumbs his nose at the law. 



First appearance of Samantha Joyce, Eric's lawyer. 






Thor's beatdown of Ulik is taken from Thor #135.




Ulk grabbing Thor and Hercules by the throat could be from New Gods #8 when Kalibak did the same to Orion. This is also the first appearance of Kevin's teacher, Ed Marrero. 





This story does take its cues from New Gods #8, title "The Death Wish of Terrible Turpin", where Metropolis cop Dan Turpin faces off against Kalibak the way Marcus Stone faces off against Ulik. This was supposed to be Stone's last day on the job, but he didn't go the way of retirony and ended up staying. It's fitting that Ulik is used here since both he and Kalibak were created by Jack Kirby and are similar in design in and appearance. Ulik is a proto-Kalibak. I don't see any overt swipes here, but I thought I'd include the pages of both fights. 







Marcy is revealed and she's wanting to take Kevin back. 








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