The Mighty Thor # 128
Yeah. Another great issue. This is just about dead center on my favorite Thor story arc. Thor is recovering from the Thorculean efforts of the last few issues. And the Hercules plot gets advanced a lot in just a few pages. After an unexcused absence in the last issue (Hercules couldn't be bothered to get a note from Stan explaining that he was fighting the Hulk), Hercules finally arrives in wonderful Marvel-Universe Hollywood, meets his co-star the Queen of the Amazons, is persuaded to sign an OLYMPIAN CONTRACT dooming him to be the lord of the Netherworld FOR ALL ETERNITY and finally he gets in a fight with Pluto's minions as they try to drag them to hell. (Hercules DUMB!!"
The Seidring subplot is resolved. I love this short sequence. I think about it a lot. Odin chides Seirding for his irresponsible quest for power, but he punishes him by giving him what he wants ... a kingdom!
But what a kingdom! Somewhere far away, a gloomy desert, a rocky land with but a few stunted trees providing any variety in the environment. It is the Kingdom of the Rock Trolls! They really want a king! And they are so happy to see Seidring! They swarm out of their holes, chanting: "At last! A KING had been sent us! We will never let him go!" Little, stout, orange slug people! With green pants!
Seidring is not impressed with his kingdom. Rock Trolls are apparently the ugliest creatures in the Nine Worlds. Seidring thinks to himself that death would be preferable to reigning over them.
I first read this segment thirty years ago at least. And I still have questions! Why are these creatures so hated? Do they smell? Do they have disturbing social customs or habits? Do they pick their noses? Physically, they don't look any worse than any of a number of creatures famed in Asgardian lore. Maybe they're just too clingy.
And why can't they pick a king from among themselves?
I don't know if they have ever appeared again. I would love to see an Adult Swim cartoon called Seidring, King of the Rock Trolls. I feel like I could write it myself over a long weekend.
Jane Foster does not appear in this issue. I think she has a pretty good excuse. I wouldn't ask for a note from Stan. I think she's a bit peeved about being abducted all the time, and all the mind-wipes. She's got a new attitude, and everybody needs to get ready for NO MORE MR. NICE JANE!!
There's a scene where Thor and Balder are riding an ice sled over the frozen sea of Marmora. They are hunting some beast-fish. Thor fires an arrow and misses, and the beast-fish turn on them attack the ice sled. Balder calls them "black-hearted devils" ... for attacking hunters while being stalked and fired upon. If you don't want to be attacked by beast-fish, don't stalk them and fire arrows, Balder!
Eventually, Thor feels recovered and asks permission to go back to Earth and start punching Hercules again, and Odin says "sure." So Thor find Hercules fighting the minions of Pluto and helps him defeat them. Hercules thanks him and explains what has happened. Thor says, "Well, sounds you got a lot on your plate right now and you are profoundly and royally ploughed under. We can get back to it if you ever get out of this."
I should mention that Volstagg has a cameo. I think this is the first time that one of the Warriors Three appears outside of Tales of Asgard. You might not recognize him. He is in mock combat with Thor, helping with his rehabilitation, I guess. He's not wearing his pink and yellow suit. Thor and Volstagg are fighting each other with staffs, perched precariously on a log, like Robin Hood and Friar Tuck.
TO BE CONTINUED
In Tales of Asgard, Volla is going on and on. Oboy! She's a Norse prophetess and you can't just leave!
It's a pretty cool installment. Lots of destruction. The Midgard serpent. SURTUR! And then Asgard is reborn!
Volla finishes. Everybody stands a little nervously. Finally Loki flinches and starts protesting. Ragnarok will never happen!
Odin says, it is prophecy! It shall come to pass! And you will be responsible!
TO BE CONTINUED