Issue(s): Thor #252, Thor #253
Cover Date: Oct-Nov 76
Title: "A dragon at the gates!" / "Chaos in the kingdom of the trolls"
Credits:
Len Wein - Writer
John Buscema - Penciler
Tony DeZuniga - Inker

Review/plot:
Since Odin turned out to not be in Valhalla, the Asgardians are forced to consult Mimir, the Flame of Handing Out Plot Assignments. You have to love his reaction when he hears that he's being called upon to find Odin again.

In fact, Mimir decides he needs to be bribed to give out any more information. Thor is given a quest to get a Ruby Eye gem from a dragon.

Thor heads to the dragon's location and finds that Ulik the Troll is also after the gem. They fight for a while...

...and then Ulik reveals that he needs the gem to save the entire troll kingdom from a horrible monster. Thor agrees to help him, thinking that he can take care of the monster and keep the gem.

But the monster, Trogg...

...turns out to be difficult even for the combined might of Thor and Ulik...

...and Thor is forced to use the gem.

The trolls reward Thor by laughing at him.

The main stories in both of these issues are shortened, with a backup Tales of Asgard feature by David Anthony Kraft and Pablo Marcos filling the remaining pages. It's said that the story takes place directly after Journey Into Mystery #102's Tales of Asgard. The story features a young and arrogant Thor getting into a fight with an equally young and arrogant storm giant.

After fighting for a while and finding themselves equally matched, the two have a good laugh and go their separate ways.

Reaction to the truncated nature of the stories in these issues due to the Tales of Asgard feature were universally negative and Marvel declares it "a nostalgic experiment that didn't quite succeed". It's interesting to see that stories have been somewhat decompressed compared to the Silver Age, when you really could have a complete main Thor story and a Tales of Asgard in a single issue.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Thor used Mimir to find Odin previously in Thor #240.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A