Journey into Mystery Annual #1
When Titans Clash
Thor and Loki have ventured into the realm of Jotunheim at Thor’s insistence, as he believes that the sons of Odin can go wherever they please.[1] There, they run into some Storm Giants which Thor engages in battle. During the battle, the brash and boastful Thor gets caught in an avalanche of his own making. He suddenly finds himself falling between dimensions and realizes that he has uncovered the secret entrance to Olympus.
Emerging from a cavern temple, Thor marvels over how different the realm of Olympus is to his homeland of Asgard. Thor begins looking for a way back home when he comes upon a bridge. On the opposite side is Hercules who refuses to let anyone pass unless they can defeat him in battle. When Thor tries charging his opponent, Hercules flips the bridge into the river and then tosses a massive boulder at Thor. The thunder god evades the attack and ambushes Thor when he goes for another boulder. Recover from the blow, Hercules pulls out his golden mace to match Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. When Thor throws his hammer, Hercules evades it and tries to grab it out of the sky. However, the weapon is yanked out of his grasp thanks to the enchantment that makes the hammer return to Thor whenever he threw it.
The two then resort to hand-to-hand combat and that bawl carries on for some time. Whenever one combatant has trapped the other they break free. The pair continue to fight, oblivious to the fact that they are evenly matched. The battle would go on indefinitely if it were not for the intervention of Zeus, the ruler of the Olympians who blasts both Thor and Hercules with a bolt of lightning. Thor recognizes Zeus’ authority and bows to him along with Hercules. Zeus tells the pair that it is unbecoming for immortals to fight among themselves and has Thor and Hercules shake hands in a truce.
That’s when Thor explains that his arrival in Olympus was an accident and wishes to return home. Zeus then uses his power to return Thor to Asgard through the very portal he arrived through. Emerging back in Jotunheim where Loki is still waiting for him. When Loki asks Thor what happened to him, Thor says it is not important as his memory of what transpired is fading from his memory. When Thor scolds Loki for abandoning him in their battle against the Storm Giants, the trickster explains that he actually went to find help. Suddenly, the portal to Olympus is covered up as rocks begin piling on and forming a mountain.
In reality, Thor still remembers he brief visit to Olympus and is secretly relieved that Zeus is covering up the portal since he is unsure what Loki might have done had he learned of its existence. As he and Loki ride for home, Thor hopes to learn more about the Olympians and figures that he and Hercules will be destined to meet again.[2]
Recurring Characters
Thor, Hercules, Loki, Zeus, Pan, Dionysus
Continuity Notes
For the sake of clarity, this story actually takes place in the distant past. It happens sometime after the year 900 AD as (according to the MCP) this story happens chronologically sometime after the events of Thor: Godstorm #1.
Thor knows all about the Olympians in this story, seemingly apropos of nothing. However, we’ll learn that the Asgardians and Olympians previously went to war against one another to determine which race was worthy to be worshiped by humanity. See Thor Annual #5 and Thor #300.
