Issue(s): Silver Surfer #88
Cover Date: Jan 94
Title: "Common enemy"
Credits:
Ron Marz - Writer
Andy Smith - Penciler
Tom Christopher - Inker
Lynaire Brust - Assistant Editor
Craig Anderson - Editor

Review/plot:
Pip has brought mad Thor to the mad Titan, Thanos. Thanos fights Thor while the Silver Surfer fights the Valkyrie.

The Surfer is able to knock out the Valkyrie, and Thanos stops Thor with a special gun.

After Thor is subdued, the Infinity Watch and Dr. Strange, having recovered from their battle with Thor last chapter, show up. Thanos says they have to hurry up and cure Thor before he wakes up again.

I like Thanos, so seeing him fight Thor is enjoyable and Ron Marz handles him well enough. The trick to enjoying this crossover, and granted this is difficult, it to be zen about the amount of space used. The outline of this entire story would probably sound good to any Marvel fan; it's the length that is the problem. I paid for these issues years ago so there's no point in feeling ripped off about how padded they are now. And in any event even though this issue is just a straight fight all the way through, it feels less padded than most.

Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 242,375. Single issue closest to filing date = 195,500.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is part ten of Blood and Thunder. Part eleven is in Warlock Chronicles #8.

References:

• Pip says that he has every reason to fear Thanos, since Thanos killed him in Avengers annual #7.
  
• Thor got the Power Gem in Thor #469.
  
• The Surfer wonders if Thanos is softening and becoming less evil, despite their last dealings in Silver Surfer #84 (where Thanos used the Surfer as a weapon). Thanos agrees that he's not the same as when he used to seek ultimate power, but he's only altruistic in times when he's forced to be. He invites the Surfer to feel free to turn his back on him and see what happens.
  
• Continues from Thor #470.

Crossover: Blood and Thunder

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A