Issue(s): Warlock and the Infinity Watch #23
Cover Date: Dec 93
Title: "Clash"
Credits:
Jim Starlin - Writer
Tom Grindberg - Penciler
Bob Almond & Harry Candelario - Inker
Lynaire Brust - Assistant Editor
Craig Anderson - Editor

Review/plot:
Warlock confronts Thor. Unlike the other people that have tried to stop Thor so far, Warlock can see the Valkyrie that is manipulating him, thanks to his soul gem. But his soul gem's attack has no effect on her, confirming that she is a "mental construct and possesses no true spirit". And then Thor attacks. The Silver Surfer also wakes up.

Art is by Tom Grindberg, who draws the Silver Surfer like a deformed wax statue who dropped a load in his pants, if he was wearing pants.

Thor learns that he's not able to break Warlock's staff, because it's really an extension of Warlock's spirit.

However, Thor is not affected by Warlock's soul gem. Warlock surmises it's because Thor's spirit is "better fortified" than a mortal's.

Warlock and the Surfer get into trouble...

...but Warlock is able to save them because it turns out that he's able to control the Surfer's surfboard.

Also in this issue, Count Abyss goes to a demon thing called the Dreamer and... well, if i'm interpreting the art correctly, a potion magically appears after the Dreamer stuffs something into his mouth.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is part four of Blood and Thunder. Part five is in Thor #469.

References:

• Warlock makes reference to when he fought Thor back in Thor #165-166.
  
• Warlock is able to control the Silver Surfer's surfboard because they touched souls in Infinity Gauntlet #6.

Crossover: Blood and Thunder

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

"The Dreamer's" real name is Zalkor, and it will appear in at least one future issue of INFINITY WATCH.

Added Zalkor. Thanks.

I wonder if anyone can come up with some alternate interpretation of Warlock's behavior in this issue.

My take on it is that we are witnessing Warlock's transition into the parental role as Starlin understands it: inherently saddled with a silent acceptance of the need to deceive and manipulate "less mature" people.

The last few panels have Surfer asking why Warlock never shared his suspicion that he could control the board, and he does not even acknowledge that it could be a good idea to do so. Between that and the talk of "repulsion after touching souls and melding and bonding resources" it seems obvious that this Warlock is the spokeperson for some sort of thesis about the duties and conflicts that come from one's family of origin.