Issue(s): Thor #173
Cover Date: Feb 70
Title: "Ulik unleashed!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Jack Kirby - Penciler
Bill Everett - Inker

Review/plot:
The last time the Circus of Crime encountered Thor, they got away scot-free. Unfortunately, due to random bad luck, they get back on Thor's radar screen when the Ringmaster calls in Donald Blake to take a look at their strongman's bad back.

And yeah, not only did the Circus get away last time, but they also started mocking Thor in their show. So no wonder Thor is back on their case.

Things get complicated when Loki, who continues to plan for something big, convinces Ulik the troll to go to Earth to kill Thor (actually, it doesn't require much convincing).

Ulik gets hypnotized by the Ringmaster first...

...but it ultimately doesn't matter since he and Thor fight anyway...

...and Thor literally blasts his ass back to Asgard (or whichever of the Nine Realms he's from).

With Ulik out of the way, the rest of the Circus of Crime is barely worth fighting...

...and the hardest part is resisting Princess Python's seduction.

At this point Marvel was trying out single-issue stories, and things seem ultra-compressed here, with Ulik being taken care of way too easily even not considering the added menace (relatively speaking) of the Circus of Crime.

As Jeff notes in the comments, one panel shows someone dressed as Johnny Storm during the Circus of Crime's act.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Official Marvel Avengers Index places Thor's appearance in Avengers #76 after this issue and has Thor next appearing in Avengers #79.

References:

• The Circus of Crime gave Thor the slip in Thor #146.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A