Issue(s): Thor #413
Cover Date: Jan 90
Title: "Within me dwells a monster!"
Credits:
Tom DeFalco - Script
Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz - Plot
Ron Frenz - Penciler
Joe Sinnott - Inker
Mike Rockwitz - Assistant Editor
Ralph Macchio - Editor

Review/plot:
Eric Masterson has some complaints.

What's interesting is that he's upset about both Eric and Thor related problems. But once he transforms into Thor, he ain't worried about nuthin'.

Of course it's been a while since Thor had to deal with romantic sequences as clumsy as this.

While Susan is stumbling her way through that conversation, and is interrupted by a visit from Eric's designer colleague Jackie Lukus, Hercules is out on the balcony having a cosmic moment.

Eric then gets the idea to take Thor to Dr. Strange to get his dizzy spells checked out.

Meanwhile, Lackey Loki gives Ulik the troll an amulet that will temporarily give him the power necessary to fight Hercules and Odin, and he sends him to Earth. Ulik is disguised as a member of 1980s era ZZTop and he looks awesome. And he's oh so sophisticated with his knowledge of crude dimensional gateways.

While Strange is working with Thor, Ulik arrives at Dr. Strange's place and tries to gain entry. Hercules sees him and has a twinge of fear, but then forces himself to overcome it and runs out after Ulik.

Thor, meanwhile, is on a vision quest. Eric is actually along for the ride too. Thor is fighting a version of himself in the full battle armor that he wore during Walt Simonson's run.

Thor defeats Darth Vader and sees his own face Loki's face under the helmet. It turns out that when Loki secretly lent Thor his strength in Thor #398, it caused these long term weak spells. But Strange has "exorcised [Thor's] inner demon". More importantly, Lackey Loki reveals to us, the audience, that he is indeed really Loki.

Thor figures it out for himself, too, and goes to warn the Avengers that Loki is the one responsible for Acts of Vengeance.

So that's the big reveal that Loki is behind Acts of Vengeance. It happens pretty much by accident, in a story that isn't even labeled as part of the crossover on the cover. I don't know that i blame Tom DeFalco for this (except in his capacity as Editor in Chief, which is no small exception); maybe he thought that the mystery was also going to be worked out separately in the Avengers issues. It's pretty typical of Acts of Vengeance, though, which has pretty much been a plotless crossover.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Hercules will have to fend for himself for a bit, because Thor goes from here to Avengers West Coast #55. I have tagged this as an Acts of Vengeance crossover despite it not being labelled as such since anyone looking for issues of the event will want to include this issue. The Beta Ray Bill back-up story that concludes in this issue is covered in a separate entry.

References:

• Eric Masterson is prompted to go to Dr. Strange when he sees the issue of Now magazine with the excerpt from Morgana Blessing's book from Doctor Strange #9.
  
• Thor's weak spells began during the "War of the Gods" in Thor #396-400. That's when Loki lent Thor some of his power.
  
• The next issue blurb also tells us to not miss the conclusion to Acts of Vengeance in Avengers West Coast #55.

Crossover: Acts of Vengeance

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Really strange to not label it an "Acts Of Vengeance" crossover after telling you "to not miss the conclusion to Acts of Vengeance in Avengers West Coast #55." You're absolutely right that you would need this issue to complete the collection.

Ulik should have kept that suit-and-shades look as part of his look. It makes him look all the more awesome.

I would totally buy a hipster Ulik series.