COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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Thor 359 Modern
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Grade:
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9.8
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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0951701010
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Owner:
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Thorseface
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
Thor no. 359: "The Grand Alliance!"
Publication date: September 10, 1985
Census: As of 6/20/23, 25 copies in 9.8 (no change), 2 signed (no change). No 9.8 representation for the Canadian print run.
Writer, penciler, and inker: Simonson
Letterer: Workman
Colorist: Scheele
Favorite line and some thoughts:
"Loki?"
-Lorelei, looking for absolution she's not going to get from Loki. The disgust and frustration literally emanate from the God of Mischief. One of the funniest moments in Walt's run.
"Never have I known a couple who so deserved each other!"
-Thor, equally disgusted, as he makes his exit from Loki's castle.
The cover is fantastic. I never quite noticed the giant statue of Hela in the background. Perhaps a nod to Thor's impending visit to Hel, but ultimately resolved by the cover as reproduced in the omnibus, where the Fenris wolf appears above Loki. By process of elimination that is the Midgard Spent to the right, meaning Walt had yet to fully revise the Kirby version of Jormungand. Keep an eye out on p. 2 for the hilarious gateway to Thor's own house, which is properly named in Thor 368.
This issue might not have gotten past editorial in 2022. Thor smacks Sif around, threatens to punch Amora, and sends Lorelei tumbling through the air in Loki's bedchamber with a flip of his cape. In Walt's defense,Thor is enchanted by the Elixir of Lofn (though by the time of the cape toss, which I suppose isn't as egregious as the other bits, he had regained his senses). The goofy, self-assured grin worn by enchanted Thor is pretty funny, as is Hildy's appalled reaction. The foregrounding of a discussion between Frigga and Heimdall is nicely staged. Their speech balloon literally overlaps that of Thor as he jabbers on in the background about his love for Lorelei and why Loki should have the throne of Asgard. It's a nice indication that the former has lost his senses. I'm sure Walt and John didn't invent this pictorial device but it is expertly deployed here and with humorous effect.
Watch out for the moment where Thor threatens Loki with the returning Mjolnir; this was the inspiration for a similar moment in 2017's Thor Ragnarok film.
In the final panel, Walt (equipped with a Star Slammers t-shirt) and Weezie make a cameo as the Asgardians finally depart Midgard for home, a nice contrast to the rather unhealthy Asgardian relationships examined in this issue. Note that Louise was writing Power Pack at this time. Power Pack no. 15 is a sweet crossover with this issue (the kids encounter the Warriors Three again in Central Park, right as the Asgardians are about to depart through Bill's portal).
Walt dedicated this issue to Archie Goodwin and Anne Murphy, Goodwin's wife. Goodwin was Walt's friend, mentor, and collaborator on their famous Manhunter feature in Detective Comics, a work that many would say made Walt's career. Walt commonly cites Goodwin as an enormous influence on Walt's development as a visual storyteller during his early years in the industry.
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