Issue(s): Thor #463
Cover Date: Jun 93
Title: "Devotions"
Credits:
Ron Marz - Writer
Bruce Zick - Penciler
Mike DeCarlo - Inker
Joe Andreani - Assistant Editor
Mike Rockwitz - Editor

Review/plot:
Ron Marz was co-writing this series with Jim Starlin but he becomes the sole writer starting here. This coincides with the beginning of the Infinity Crusade tie-ins, of which there are a mind-boggling five. And this all takes place during a period where Thor is being lead around by what will turn out to be a delusion of a Valkyrie; the Blood and Thunder crossover begins as soon as Infinity Crusade ends.

The one advantage of this is that we get to see an expansion of the Goddess' recruitment of Thor. Since he's already effectively under mind control, it's useful to see how the Goddess' mind control supersedes the Valkyrie's.

This issue actually starts with Thor destroying the wonderful space viking boat. I am hoping this doesn't meant that it's the last we'll ever see of such a ship. I am hoping Asgard can produce more.

Thor then swears that he'll never again serve a will other than his own. Queue the arrival of the Goddess. Love the "Um... what?".

When the Valkyrie steps in to try to stop the Goddess from getting Thor under her sway, there are subtle clues about the Valkyrie's nature. The Goddess refers to her only as a "voice" and acknowledges that she speaks as if she weren't even there, etc..

Thor soon stops the fight and tells the Valykrie that the Goddess' cause is a "holy mission". The Goddess causes the Valkyrie to disappear and leaves with Thor.

Also in this issue, Pluto uses Ares' injuries to try to induce Zeus into attacking Thor.

And Sif decides to use the Norn Stones to go to Earth to get Eric Masterson to help her deal with Thor.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This expands on Thor's recruitment scene in Infinity Crusade #1. Sif next appears in Thunderstrike #2-3. She'll return to this book in Thor #466, which is still part of Infinity Crusade, meaning that Thunderstrike #2-3 take place during Infinity Crusade (despite no evidence of such in those issues).

References:

• Sif's previous champion, Beta Ray Bill, was beaten in Thor #461-462.

Crossover: Infinity Crusade

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

So this "Valkyrie" is really just, what, Thor experiencing some kind of split personality? I've never read these issues, but it seems like an odd decision to bring back Thor after a two year absence, only to have him immediately go crazy.