Thor #281

 

Thor #281 "This Hammer Lost!"

Writer: Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio
Penciler: Keith Pollard

Plot: When attempting to travel through time, Thor's hammer is lost. 

Comments: Some words about the talent. 

Ralph Macchio: Worked mostly as an editor before he retired. In his early days as a writer, he worked as a writing partner with Gruenwald on Thor and Marvel Two-in-One stories. Macchio's first solo writing credit was on Marvel Two-in-One #42 about 7 months before this comic came out. 

Keith Pollard: Pollard worked on many of the major Marvel titles like Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Amazing Spider- Man and of course, Thor. Pollard is credited with being the co-creator of Felicia Hardy, The Black Cat. 

Pablo Marcos: Worked as an inker for Marvel mostly in the 70s and 80s. Marcos is credited with illustrating a book series I enjoyed called Great Illustrated Classics, not be confused with Classics Illustrated. I personally own The Count of Monte Cristo and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.  I remember checking if Marco had worked for Marvel when I saw the illustrations since they had an almost a John Buscema like look to them. 

Mike Catron: Was the co-founder of Fantagraphics. This is his only Marvel credit. 

Peter Gillis: Wrote for Marvel, mostly in the 1980s. His first writing credit was on Captain America #224, which was released the same month when Ralph Macchio's first solo credit appeared in May 1978. 

To figure out the mystery of the Celestials, Thor decides to travel back in time to see when they first visited Earth. Thor's ability to travel through time was first demonstrated in Journey into Mystery #86. 

Thor, however, ends up in Limbo and his hammer vanishes. He encounters the Space Phantom, who first appeared in Avengers #2. I wish I knew where those visions in the background were from. 

Thor is convinced by Space Phantom to take the battle to Space Phantom's home world and that he can get his hammer back if he helps save the world. During the battle, Thor fashions a hammer out of the metal of a battle craft. This reminded me of some scenes from Journey into Mystery #92, where Thor created his own makeshift hammers. 

Thor is convinced to jump into core on the Planet Phantus to get his hammer back, but it traps him leaves him half Thor/half Don Blake. Thor jumping into the core is a swipe from Thor #129 where Loki was dropped into the Well of Eternal Sleep. The interior designs of both pits are the same in the first panel. However, there's more detail in the second panel of the figure in suspended animation. Pollard gets the Kiby Crackles, but Kirby had more detail, even with Vince Colleta as his inker. 

The reaction to this issue in issue #285 letters' column was mostly positive.