In this issue, we dive into the aftermath of Thor losing the race back to Asgard in the Trial of the Gods. I use the word “aftermath” rather than “consequence” or “judgment” because Thor convinces Odin to grant him 24 hours on Earth to recover the Norn Stones. These are the same stones Loki used to cheat in the trial—stones he conveniently sent to Earth moments before the brothers were summoned before Odin.

On Earth, before seeking out the stones, Thor aids Balder the Brave in his fight against the Executioner and the Enchantress. This battle is fought to protect Jane Foster. By “aids,” I mean Thor shows up, and our villains promptly flee, unwilling to take on an enraged God of Thunder. This allows the story to transition to the action in Vietnam, where Thor continues his quest for the stones.

Character & Development

The first thing to note as this arc continues is, yet again, Jane Foster is denied growth. Her memory is conveniently erased, wiping the tension and drama of these events from her mind. This seems designed to maintain the status quo once the arc concludes.

Balder the Brave, on the other hand, gets some development. In this issue and the previous one, we see his friendship with Thor take center stage. He steps up to defend the love of his absent friend, fighting a battle Thor can’t handle at the time.

Loki also shines as a schemer. His placement of the stones and his intricate plan to defeat Thor seem well-thought-out and only slightly flawed. But it’s those slight flaws that allow Thor to thread the needle of the story, gradually turning the tide of the arc. In fact, Loki’s cunning is best summed up on page 10—see for yourself:

Originality & Continuity

I’ve talked before about the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and how the war was perceived in 1965. This issue reflects those tensions, offering a comic-book lens on the conflict and the broader fight against communism. As expected for the era, it paints communism as unequivocally evil. But I’ll let you read the story to see how it unfolds.

On another note, Marvel is starting to perfect the art of ongoing narrative storytelling. The slow, game-of-inches progression of hero-villain conflict, with a twist in nearly every issue, keeps the story relevant and allows each issue to stand on its own.

Story

All this is to say—the story works. It moves the narrative forward while delivering a Vietnam subplot that feels almost standalone. Thor defeating his fellow Asgardians out of a mixture of respect and fear feels much more grounded and satisfying then the over the top way he defeated the absorbing man (even if the action is left to , fleeing)

Artwork

Kirby masters each setting, from Asgard to New York to Vietnam, bringing Thor’s journey to life. One of my favorite panels shows Thor flying, his face half-obscured by his hammer. It’s a testament to Jack Kirby’s brilliance—his ability to make every scene dynamic and engaging, even within the technical constraints of the time.