Issue(s): Thor #355
Cover Date: May 85
Title: "The icy hearts (or: My dinners with Thor!)"
Walt Simonson - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sal Buscema - Inker
Bob Harras - Assistant Editor
Ralph Macchio - Editor

Review/plot:
After the major Casket of Ancient Winters arc, Walt Simonson takes a little break from art duties. This issue is somewhat sneakily drawn by Sal Buscema (the credits are held until the end of the issue) who, as the lettercol says, "after so so many years in the business is producing some of the very best work of his career!". I agree, and he does a good job in this issue of keeping to the recent style of the series.

This issue is also a break for Thor, who is physically depleted and, more importantly, in mourning over the death of his father. We saw last issue that he was buried by an avalanche by Hela. He's been rescued by a large old man.

The old man is attended only by ice figurines that he brings to life. The lettercol says that the idea of the animated ice statues was suggested by Chris Claremont.

In a touch that feels straight out of the myths, Thor's host demands that Thor wrestle him. And by protocol, Thor may not refuse.

Across the several days that Thor spends with the old man, Thor repeatedly accuses the man of secretly being Odin in disguise. The man denies it, and eventually Thor is nursed back to health and sent to find Frigga and the children she's been tending, and lead them back to Asgard.

The old man turns out to be Thor's great-grandfather, Buri.

Meanwhile, back on Midgard*, the Warriors Three invade Macy's...

...and some guys in armor start getting up to some trouble.

I agree that Sal Buscema is turning in some nice work, and this was a good recovery issue for Thor.

*Earth

Quality Rating: B+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Moving this back in publication time to make room for Loki's appearance in X-Men/Alpha Flight #1-2. He was actually seen leaving Earth with Lorelei last issue and arriving in Asgard here, so Loki shouldn't appear elsewhere in between.

References:

• Thor is recovering from the trials of recent issues. The footnote says Thor #350 to Thor #354 (last issue), but it actually goes back a little earlier than that.
  
• Buri acknowledges that the origin story that Odin told in Thor #349 is different than the origin from Thor #294. Of that, he says, "In truth, if I were told conflicting stories by my father and a floating eyeball... I know which I should believe."

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

When I was reading this, I got to page 5 before saying, "Wait, isn't that a Sal Buscema mouth?" and flipping back to look for the credits.