Thor #373
The Gift of Death
New York
Thor is returning to Earth from Asgard, a dimensional trip that is made more difficult after the recent destruction of the Bifrost Bridge.[1] As he travels across the gulf he is struck by a beam of energy and suddenly feels weak, but shrugs it off as part of the bumpy ride.
Appearing over New York, Thor heads to the Brooklyn apartment where he has been living under the identity of Sigurd Jarlson. However, the only thing in the apartment is a mattress, making the thunder god realize that he must once again re-establish himself in the mortal world. Thor still finds himself dealing with the death of his father, and after preventing a mugging in Central Park, he struggles with the idea of death, since it is such a foreign concept to gods compared to the mortals he protects.[2]
Asgard
Meanwhile, in Asgard, Heimdall oversees the construction of a massive scabbard to contain the Twilight Sword, which has lain outside the kingdom since Surtur’s defeat.
While in the city, the mortal children Mick and Kevin wake up in a strange new place. They are greeted by Volstagg who has the unfortunate duty of telling the boys that their mother is dead and that he will be looking after them from now on.[3]
New York
As Sigurd Jarlson, Thor returns to the construction site run by Jerry Sapristi to get his old job back. Jerry is happy to see Sigurd and offers his condolences when he learns that Jarlson’s father had recently died.[4] Learning that Sigurd has no other family in the area, Jerry insists that he come over for dinner and meet his family. Sigurd is reluctant but agrees to accompany him to his home in Cobb’s Hill.
There, Sigurd meets Jerry’s wife Tina and his six children: Pietro, Ernesto, Pietro, Giovanni, Maria, Rosa, and Gabriella. While waiting for dinner, Jarlson plays with Ernesto before sitting before the best meal he has eaten in a long time. As it is getting late, Jerry convinces Sigurd to stay the night. Helping with the dishes, Sigurd promises to take the children to Central Park in the morning and promises to tell them some stories.
Asgard
Sitting upon his throne, Balder is visited by Munin, one of Odin’s ravens. It has brought a single black feather. Understanding the meaning, Balder calls Heimdall and puts him in charge as he goes on a quest of vital importance.[5]
New York
The following day, after Sigurd Jarlson takes the Sapristi children to the zoo, they stop in the park to hear one of his stories. Sigurd tells them a story about Thor in his youth, in it the thunder god was coming home from a quest and came upon a huge lake. There, he encountered a ferryman named Harbard and asked to be taken across the lake in his boat. After hearing that the warrior was the son of Odin, Harbard refused to give him passage forcing the thunder god to walk all the way around the lake in order to get home.
Reflecting on this story now, Jarlson explains that Harbard was Odin in disguise as he liked to play tricks and fool people and that Thor’s father was likely trying to teach his son a lesson. That lesson, apparently, was that end the end of all things one has to be able to rely on themselves over anybody else.
The discussion is interrupted when Thor’s ally, a frog named Puddlegulp, arrives with a dire warning of things going on in the sewers beneath the city.[6] The children are surprised that “Sigurd” can speak to animals. They also reveal that they know he is Thor, after snooping in his bag the night before while he was sleeping. Since there is danger afoot, Sigurd tells the children to go home where it is safe. Tapping Mjolnir on the ground, Thor’s disguise his replaced with his usual reinment and he ventures into the sewers, little knowing that Hela is observing his every move from Asgard waiting for her revenge to unfold.[7]
Entering the Morlock tunnels, Thor is horrified to discover that the mutants that live in these underground tunnels have been slaughtered. Hearing screams, Thor follow their sound leading him to Angel of X-Factor who has been pinned to the wall and is being tortured by Harpoon, Vertigo, and Blockbuster, two members of the assassins known as the Marauders.[8] Thor ambushes the three evil mutants and sends them fleeing. Checking on Angel, he discovers that he is still alive. Hearing the Marauders coming back, Thor whirls around and is prepared to make them pay for the atrocities they have committed.
Recurring Characters
Thor, Marauders (Blockbuster, Harpoon, Vertigo), Angel, Hela, Heimdall, Volstagg, Balder, Odin, Kevin Mortensen, Mick Mortensen, Jerry Sapristi, Tina Sapristi, Ernesto Sapristi, Pietro Sapristi, Giovanni Sapristi, Maria Sapristi, Rosa Sapristi, Gabriella Sapristi, Munin, Puddlegulp, Bugeye, Morlocks
Continuity Notes
The Bifrost was destroyed by Surtur in Thor #351. It will eventually get restored in Thor #426.
Odin seemingly perished during his battle with Surtur in Thor #353. He’s still alive and will be rescued from Seth by Thor in Thor #398-400.
Mick and Kevin’s mother was murdered by the Zaniac, prompting Thor to bring them to Asgard to be raised by Volstagg. See Thor #371-372. The boy’s last names are revealed to be Mortensten in the Zaniac entry of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #13.
Jerry mentions how “Sigurd” battled a dragon on his first day on the job. This was Fafnir who was on a rampage in Thor #341.
This feather belonged to Hugin who was killed by Surtur in Thor #342. The raven will be resurrected next issue.
Thor is able to understand Puddlegulp due to the fact that he was once turned into a frog. See Thor #364-366.
Hela is seeking revenge after Thor humiliated her in battle as per Thor #360-362. It’s revealed next issue that she has cursed Thor with brittle bones that will never heal, a condition he will be afflicted with until the end of Thor #382
The Angel was captured by the Marauders while he and his fellow teammates in X-Factor were attempting to stop them from slaughtering the Morlocks. See X-Factor #10. Why the Morlocks are being murdered is not fully explained here. Cable #28 reveals that Mister Sinister ordered the Morlocks terminated because they were created using her genetic theories by the Dark Beast, a refugee from another reality who was tutored by his world’s version of Sinister.
Topical References
The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as part of the New York City skyline. This should be considered a topical reference as these buildings were destroyed in a terror attack on September 11, 2001 and since replaced with the Freedom Tower.
Jerry refers to the “yuppies” that have moved into his neighborhood as being part of the Baby Boomer generation. This should be considered a topical reference.
