Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: August 2, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee-Jack Kirby production
Inked by: Vince Colletta
Lettered by: Sam Rosen
5 pages
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| Thor #133 | Reading order | Thor #134 |
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From out of the mists she hath come… She… before whom all who live must one day bow!
As we saw in the last post, my version of this comic has been well looted of pages, and this entire story has been absconded with. So we’ll look to the digital version for our images.
The battle with Harokin and his Warlock’s Eye to retake Muspelheim was entirely forgettable. But it led to this fairly unique coda, two issues devoted to the death of Harokin. Last issue was an ominous and ritualistic issue about acceptance of death. A drumbeat, an approaching black horse…
Now is time for Harokin to make his last journey.
He can no longer walk, but dying in bed is no fitting death for a warrior. So we get this cool Kirby-apparatus to allow him to die on something like his feet. Those who help him forward are hooded.
The Black Stallion of Doom was the first portent that death was near. Now comes Hela, the Goddess of Death herself, followed by her Valkyrie guard.
We recall Hela from when she had nearly claimed for death the fair Sif, sister of Balder.
It’s interesting that not even Hela may pass to wear Harokin goes. Only he and the Valkyries are allowed to enter Valhalla.
A golden bridge is revealed and the towering hils of Valhalla comes into view. Harokin’s strength returns and he is invited to join in endless battle. (They consider this endless battle a good thing.)
And so Harokin “…joyously sails forth into eternity!”
Rating: ★★★½, 64/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
This is one of the best Tales of Asgard story we’ve read, and one of the Best We’ve Read, displacing from the list Spider-Man’s first encounter with Daredevil in Amazing Spider-Man #16.
Characters:
- Harokin
- Fandral
- Thor
- Hogun
- Volstagg
- Hela
Story notes:
- Wounded Harokin awaits final journey, on Black Stallion of Doom.
- Thor, Hogun, and Fandral honor Harokin, though he was a barbarian.
- All the living avert their eyes at Hela’s command.
- Hela is not allowed to enter Valhalla.
- Harokin feels new strength as he is invited to join the battles.
| Previous | #541 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Thor #133 | Reading order | Thor #134 |
| Thor #133 | Thor | Thor #134 |
