Issue(s): Thor #238, Thor #239
Published Date: Aug-Sep 75
Title: "Night of the troll!: The river at the heart of the world! / The song of battle! / The troll supreme" / "Time-quake!"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
John Buscema - Penciler
Joe Sinnott - Inker

Review/plot:
Thor has entered an uneasy alliance with Ulik the Troll. Ulik wants Thor's help in overthrowing the troll-king Geirrodur, and holds as a hostage Jane Foster, who is only alive because Sif sacrificed her life for Jane's. Thor and Ulik dispatch Geirrodur and his army, and Jane shows that she is more of a warrior, possibly due to Sif's sacrifice.

With Jane free, Thor severs the relationship, and he and Ulik fight. Ulik was once depicted as being nearly impossible to defeat, but here Thor beats him with ease.

Meanwhile, Hercules, the Vizier, and the police stand around the hole that the trolls dug into the NYC streets, waiting for Thor and Jane to return. After they do, a professor from UCLA contacts Hercules and asks him to give a lecture in Ancient Studies. He doesn't want Thor because the "real" Thor is so different than what is described in Norse Myths:

Professor: "Well, uh -- to tell you the truth, er -- from what little we can gather, the Asgardian pantheon isn't exactly according to Hoyle. What I mean is -- nobody in my department ever even heard of Vollstagg - or Hogun the Grim, or --"
Thor: "Thy point be well made, my friend. Hang on mightily to thine illusions."

So that's how Hercules winds up in California.

Odin, still in his amnesiac Orrin persona, helps migrant farm workers fight for their rights in San Diego. Weirdly, a giant pyramid then appears and the Egyptian gods step out. Odin goes to join them.

Buscema's art is great with Sinnott's inks. Conway's story isn't terrible.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

Thor says that he's beaten Ulik three times before, and the reader who can tell Marvel when gets a no-prize. The issues were Thor #137-139, Thor #153, and Thor #211

• Sif sacrificed her existence so that Jane Foster would live in Thor #236

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: N/A