Episode 8: Colonize This!
Today we’ll be covering Thor 131-134
We Love ThorJonathan started reading Thor constantly at Thor: God of Thunder #1, though he also read Simonson’s whole runEverett started reading Thor with the Sif Journey Into Mystery run and then at Thor: God of Thunder #1The numbering on Thor is so high because Thor initially takes over Journey Into Mystery with issue 83 and then becomes its own series at issue 126Thor 131: They Strike from Space!
We aren’t covering the Thor and Hercules adventure, but we freaking should!Jane is currently on a cross country bus, why?Tana Nile, Jane’s roommate bursts into crackling energy and transforms into an alien!She contacts Rigel, her homeworld, and stakes a claim on Earth as her first colonyThey send an inspection team, then FORESHADOWING HAPPENS warning of the Black GalaxySome of the colonizers appear to have resemblence to racist caricatures of Asian people and there are some “Yellow Peril” overtones. Remember though, Stan Lee says DON’T BE A BIGOT!Thor demands that Odin allow him to marry Jane Foster, Odin agrees, and Thor takes off to propose (Awwwww!)Thor arrives at Jane’s apartment and gets immediately blasted out the room by NileNile monologues about how she’s now the Empress of Earth and threatens to used the Space Lock to move Earth out of orbit if the people don’t listen to herWhen Thor is attacked with a psionic Mind Thrust, he overcomes it only to be captured by the Coagulant Ray. These Colonizers sure have some gross sounding attacksThor gets fed up and gives them The HammerAs they travel to Rigel the Rigelians increase their density and attack Thor again, but he knocks them out coldThor 132: Where Gods May Fear To Tread
Thor gets stopped by a Space Toll Booth which looks rad.Thor just wants the Space Lock removed, Rigelians attack, but Thor is too strongThe thing you have to understand is, Mjolnir is a heck of a weaponOn Earth Tana Nile tries to convince the police that she’s now Empress of Earth. They humor her by taking her to their leader… the Police Chief. It’s COMEDY GOLD!Thor gets attacked by robot of the week, an “Indestructable” They fight, Thor winsA deadly space beam destroys a Rigelien Space Cruiser, it’s an attack from the dreaded Black GalaxyThe Grand Commissioner of Rigel is very tired you guys… he’s not here for thisThe Grand Commish makes a deal with Thor, if Thor will stop the threat of The Black Galaxy then they will leave Earth alone and never come backJane’s continuing story isn’t covered because it doesn’t relate to the Cosmic stuff but it continues into 134The Rigelians give Thor a humanoid android named Recorder so they can learn more about The Black Galaxy. Recorder is cool. Big Recorder fans around here!Thor heads to The Black Galaxy and discovers…Ego, the Living Planet!!!Thor 133: They Strike from Space!
Thor and Recorder go to Ego and it looks STUNNINGEgo claims to be the largest and most powerful intelligence in all of Infinity! He reads Thor’s mind and creates a simulacrum of Asgard, some horses, and gives himself a humanoid body to more easily interact with Thor and RecorderEgo announces that he’s going to leave The Black Galaxy and conquer all of spaceEgo and Thor smack talk each otherEgo clones Thor and forms a being called an Anti-Body (good pun? Bad pun? You decide!)Ego doesn’t need Thor anymore since he cloned Thor and thus whisks them away.Then the Anti-Bodies attack!Back on Earth our girl Tana can’t convince anyone that she’s THE BOSS but she still looks fly as heck!Thor and Ego tussleWith Ego bested, Thor heads back to Rigel. Rigel and Earth are savedThor 134: The People Breeders!
The bulk of this story isn’t covered because it has to do with The High Evolutionary but it’s BONKERS and this is where Jane continues her story.The Rigellians praise Thor for his handling of businessThere’s a huge energy readingOH MAH GHAWD IT’S GALACTUS!!!GALACTUS IS GONNA MONCH EGOTana Nile returns to Rigel to… marry the High Commissioner??? Grats???Thor and Recorder will have more Buddy Adventures and We Can’t Wait!If you want to read the issues we covered today you can find them collected in:
Essential Thor Vol. 2Marvel Masterworks Thor Mighty Thor Vol 5Thor Epic Collections Vol 3The Mighty Thor Omnibus vol.2Comixology and Marvel UnlimitedAsk your local libraryIf you would like to know more about Thor:
The Lightning and the Storm podcast covers Simonson Thor and is PERFECTJason Aaron’s Thor run begins with Thor: God of Thunder #1 and is EXCELLENTStay Tuned! We’ll cover lots of ThorIf you would like to know more about Ego:
Thor (1966) 228Nova (2007) 20-28 Nu-XandarCreators of these issues:
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Artie Simek, Sam Rosen, and Irving Forbush
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