Journey into Mystery #96
Defying the Magic of… Mad Merlin!
Thor is at the pier where he witnesses the arrival of a stone sarcophagus that allegedly contains the body of Merlin, the legendary wizard of King Arthur’s court. It is scheduled to be put on display at a museum in New York. Thor muses that it is a good thing the wizard is not alive to practice his sorcery today.
Thor returns to his office where he resumes the form of Donald Blake. He left in a hurry to save passengers from a bus crash, leaving Jane Foster with a patient. Now that he is back, Jane tells him that all of his patients for the day have left. She is furious at him for always shirking his duty as a doctor for trivial matters. Don thinks about how he actually slipped away to save a bus full of people that drove off a bridge into the river below. When Jane’s scolding is interrupted by a radio bulletin about Thor’s rescue, she wishes that Don could have the same sense of responsibility the thunder god does. This amuses Blake, who only wishes that Jane could know that he is Thor.[1] When the next report is about the arrival of Merlin’s sarcophagus, Jane is surprised to hear Merlin was a real person and wonders if he used his magic for good or evil. Don tells her that they will never know because Merlin is probably nothing but a pile of bones by now.
Don Blake would be wrong, as at that moment researchers at the museum have removed the lid of the sarcophagus and are shocked to discover Merlin’s body is intact. When one researcher suggests that his body was preserved by magic it is outright dismissed. When they leave, Merlin suddenly wakes up and climbs out of his coffin. He is pleased that everyone thinks he is dead, particularly after he faked his death to escape his enemies and has been in a state of suspended animation this whole time. Finding a newspaper, Merlin learns what year it is and that the leader of this land is known as the President of the United States, who plans on giving a televised address to the nation this evening. He thinks back to his days when he served in King Arthur’s court. Back in those days, he tricked the Knights of the Round Table into thinking he performed his feats with magic spells and potions. In reality, Merlin is a mutant and his “mystical” feats were all product of his naturally born powers.[2]
Finishing his recollection, Merlin continues to read the paper and learns about a satellite test launch that is scheduled to be launched from Cape D’Or. He teleports to the launch site and then uses his powers to make the satellite launch to go out of control. Seeing this on the television, Don Blake changes into Thor and races to the scene. After righting the rocket, Thor suspects Loki might be involved and goes to Asgard to check. However, he finds Loki still shackled. Loki, however, decides to tell Thor the real culprit is Merlin. Although Thor doesn’t believe him at first, he is convinced when he goes to the museum and discovers the sarcophagus is now empty.
Meanwhile, Merlin teleports himself to a police station in Washington, DC where he demands the authorities summon Thor for a battle of wits. When this doesn’t work, Merlin goes directly to the White House and demands that the Press Secretary summon Thor. When he is dismissed as a crackpot for a second time, Merlin decides to take his demands to the President himself. However, when he appears in the White House’s living room he spies the President with his daughter. However, Merlin mistakenly assumes that this man is far too young to be the leader of the country.
By this time, Thor has learned of Merlin’s location and arrives at the White House to confront him. Their battle takes them outside and onto the National Mall. There, Merlin uses his powers to root Thor in one place and then uses his telekinetic powers to toss the Washington Monument at the thunder god like a massive spear. Using Mjolnir, Thor knocks the monument back in its proper position. Next, Merlin raises the Pentagon and tries to drop it on Thor. The thunder god quickly digs a trench to lay in. When Thor digs himself free, Merlin animates the statue in the Lincoln Memorial. Spinning his hammer as quickly as possible causing a gale force wind that pushes the statue back onto its massive chair.
As Merlin grows frustraited, Thor decides to use a bit of psychology on his foe. Tapping Mjolnir on the ground, Thor changes back to Donald Blake. The sudden transformation shocks Merlin and the magician is convinced that Thor can assume any form he wishes — even ones more powerful than what Merlin has already faced. Merlin willingly surrenders and agrees to return to the sarcophagus and not awaken from his suspended animation for another thousand years. Returning to the museum, Thor confirms that Merlin obeyed his command.[3] Later, Don Blake completes another surgery. Jane admits that while Blake might lose patients at his office, he never does at the operating table and jokes he must be some kind of magician. Don muses to himself how there is more truth to that than fiction.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Mad Merlin, Loki, Jane Foster, King Arthur (flashback)
Continuity Notes
Don can’t reveal his identity to anyone, not even Jane, by Odin’s decree in Journey into Mystery #90.
There is a lot to unpack about this man who claims to be Merlin that is not revealed until much later:
This man isn’t exactly a mutant. As explained in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #27 he was genetically altered by the Caretakers in the year 8250 BC, giving him his abilities.
His immortality was the product of being exposed to fragments of the Bloodstone. See Incredible Hulk #210.
As detailed in Avengers Annual #22, Thor Annual #17, and Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #11, when the real Merlin left Camelot to battle Morgan le Fay, this mutant took his place.
Although the Mad Merlin suggests here that he faked his death in order to trick his enemies, he was actually caught by the real Merlin and imprisoned in the sarcophagus as seen in Incredible Hulk #210.
“Merlin” doesn’t stay true to his word. When Thor is not present on Earth he emerges from the sarcophagus and reinvents himself as the Warlock. See X-Men #30.
Topical References
Researches state that Merlin was alive 1000 years prior. This measurement of time should be considered topical as it will change as the Sliding Timescale pushes the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe forward.
This story is stated as taking place in the year 1963, this should also be considered topical. Also, references to this story taking place in the 20th century should also be considered topical.
Also should the depictions of John F. Kennedy as the President of the United States (since, you know, his brains were blown out two months after this comic was published) and his daughter, Caroline.
Also, the government’s Press Secretary is depicted as Pierre Salinger (not a lot of sites note this because crowdsourced sites engage in lazy research) This is, of course, another topical reference particularly since Salinger left that post in 1964 and subsequently died in 2004.
