Appearances: 

Sif, Balder, Vizier, Karnilla, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, Harokin, Hela, Grombar

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Grombar

Synopsis:  Thor confronts the Vizier about the missing Odin's whereabouts.  Vizier tells him that he has scanned everywhere, except the Dimension of Death, because he cannot see into it.  Thor decides to ride there to look for Odin.  Once there, Thor is confronted by the legions of the Einherjar.  Thor sees a shadowy figure that looks like Odin.  He fights his way to him, only to find it is Grombar, not Odin.  Hela lets Thor leave unmolested from her realm.

Thor #252           October 1976
"A Dragon at the Gates!"
Tales  of Asgard - "The Weapon and the Warrior"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Joe Rosen

Appearances:  Sif, Vizier, Karnilla, Balder, Mimir, Ulik

Significant Events:  NOTE:   Tales of Asgard picks up from Journey Into Mystery #102

Synopsis:  Thor goes to Mimir to find the missing Odin.  Mimir tells him that before he answers, Thor must bring him the Ruby Eye of the Dragon that guards the golden gates to the Realm Below.  Thor finds the dragon, but before he can attack it, Ulik arrives and fights Thor for the eye.  They battle across a rock bridge surrounded by a sea of flames, until Ulik manages to knock Thor off.

Thor #253           November 1976
"Chaos in the Kingdom of the Trolls"
Tales of Asgard - "The Weapon and the Warrior pt 2"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Condoy

Appearances:  Ulik, Geirrodur, Trogg

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Trogg

Synopsis:  Ulik, thinking Thor dead, goes to attack the dragon.  Ulik defeats it and takes its eye, only to find Thor standing in his path.  Thor manages to get the ruby from Ulik.  Ulik tells Thor why he needs the ruby.  The Trolls have accidentally dug through to another dimension, where lives the bestial Trogg.  Trogg who has killed many trolls before they could seal the portal, but they need the ruby to seal it permanently.  Thor agrees to help Ulik defeat Trogg if he can keep the ruby.  Trogg though, is too strong, and Thor is forced to use the ruby anyway.  Having lost it, Thor is mocked by the trolls for sacrificing the ruby for them.

Thor #254           December 1976
"The Answer at Last!"

Writer:  Stan Lee
Artist:  Jack Kirby
Inker:  Vince Colletta
Letters: Sam Rosen

Appearances: 

Heimdall, Odin, Storm Giants, Volstagg, Gondolff, Hogun, Fandral

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  Reprints the origin of Don Blake

Thor #255           January 1977
"Lo, the Quest Begins!"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  Tony DeZuniga
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Watanabe

Appearances: 

Balder, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, Sif, Karnilla, Vizier, Mimir, Stone Men of Saturn

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  Thor returns to Asgard empty handed, but that was what Mimir was expecting.  He did not want the eye, just to test Thor's honor.  Mimir tells Thor that the answers he seeks lie with the Doomsday Star.  They leave in the Starjammer, but get caught in a meteor storm and their sail is damaged.  They land on an asteroid for repairs and come across a crashed spaceship and a group of dust covered statues.  It turns out they are not statues, but the Stone Men from Saturn that Thor fought way back when, and they want the Starjammer.  In their assault on the Asgardians, the Stone Men cause their own crashed ship to explode and begin breaking the asteroid apart.  The Asgardians escape in their ship, leaving the Stone Men to perish

Thor #256           February 1977
"Lurker in the Dark!"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: John Costanza

Appearances: 

Sif, Volstagg, Hogun, Fandral, Recorder, Sporr, Karnilla, Balder, Grandfather, Darnak, Securitron, Relstor, Brokar, Cherise

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  The Recorder arrives to aid the Asgardians in their quest.  They come across a monstrous derelict starship and decide to investigate.  Inside, they are attacked by Securitrons, but after a through thrashing and a lucky shot at Sif, they are called off by Relstor.  After they disappear, Sif collapses.  Back in Asgard, Brokar brings Balder grim news.  After the nurses have cared for Sif and left, Sporr's tentacles carry her off, and the Asgardians cannot stop it.  Sporr collapses one of the corridors so they cannot follow.

Thor #257           March 1977
"Death, Thou Shalt Die!"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters:   Condoy

Appearances: 

Recorder, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Balder, Karnilla, Sporr, Sif, Grey Gargoyle

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  As the heroes seek Sporr, Relstor tells the Asgardians the history of Levianon.  They finally come across one of Sporr's tentacles, only to have it collapse the hallway again.  Back in Asgard, Balder and Karnilla look upon a mysterious army that has appeared on the outskirts of Asgard.  Back on Levianon, Thor holds up the ceiling to save everyone.  They then manage to track down the monstrous Sporr.  The Asgardians battle against it, but it takes Thor to bring it down.  But before he can stop them, the men of Levianon kill Sporr while it is knocked out.  They enter the door that Sporr was trying so hard to protect, only to find all the missing people, alive and well.  It turns out that Sporr meant no one any harm.  he had been taking the sick and old so he could care for them.  Elsewhere, a pirate ship soars the stars with it's captain - the Grey Gargoyle.

Thor #258           April 1977
"If the Stars Be Made of Stone!"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Joe Rosen

Appearances: 

Grey Gargoyle, Sif, Recorder, Hogun, Volstagg, Fandral, Balder, Karnilla, Enchantress, Executioner

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  The Grey Gargoyle's pirate ship has come across the Asgardians.  The Asgardians begin to quickly go through the pirates, until the Grey Gargoyle enters the fray.  He quickly turns everyone but Thor to stone, and before Thor can move, the Grey Gargoyle grabs the petrified Sif, and threatens to smash her unless Thor surrenders.  Back in Asgard, the council of war is planning their moves when Karnilla calls Balder to the gate.  Just then, the Enchantress and the Executioner break down the door.  Back in space, the Asgardians wake from the Grey Gargoyle's spell to find themselves in slave collars.  They are sent to the furnace room, to stoke the flames of the ship.  The Asgardians toil at their labors since the slave collars allow little else.  Once back in their pens, the Recorder reveals that he has discovered that he knows how to remove their collars after spending several hours scanning them.  He gets them off and just then the Grey Gargoyle comes in.

Thor #259           May 1977
"Escape Into Oblivion!"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  John Buscema
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Joe Rosen

Appearances: 

Volstagg, Sif, Recorder, Hogun, Fandral, Grey Gargoyle, Vizier, Karnilla, Balder, Enchantress, Executioner

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  The Grey Gargoyle has come to free the Asgardians because he needs their help.  He tells how he became captain after killing the prior captain.  The Grey Gargoyle is tired of the aliens and just wants to go home.  In Asgard, the Enchantress and Executioner tell Balder to surrender or be destroyed.  Back on the Bird of Prey, Grey Gargoyle has the Asgardian prisoners brought up and then calls upon them to attack, but the pirate crew is ready for them.  But then, Gormok leads the rest of the slaves in an attack.  During the battle, the Grey Gargoyle attempts to sneak off in a shuttle, but Fee-Lon follows him. Their battle launches the shuttle, but Grey Gargoyle accidentally turns the controls to stone which causes the ship to explode.  Leaving the Bird of Prey under the control of Gormok and the former slaves.

Thor #260           June 1977
"The Vicious and the Valiant"

Writer:  Len Wein
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Tony DeZuniga
Letters: J. Costanza

Appearances: 

Recorder, Sif, Balder, Karnilla, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Enchantress, Executioner

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  One the Phoenix of Freedom, the Recorder attempts to download any information about the Doomsday Star.  Back in Asgard, Balder disguises himself to sneak out and try to determine the strength of the enemy army.  he sneaks into their encampment and discovers that the suits of armor are empty, brought to life by the Enchantress.  As Thor gets ready to leave the Phoenix, he discovers that the  Warriors Three have mounted one of the ships great cannons aboard the Starjammer.  Back in Asgard, Balder is discovered by the Enchantress and Executioner.  Balder fights the Executioner, but Enchantress secretly lends him sorcerous aid.  Now having a map, Thor and the Asgardians come across a vast group of floating statues, one of which raises its hand and strikes.  Back in Asgard, Karnilla comes to Balder's rescue.  She and the Enchantress engage in a battle of sorcery, while Balder fights the Executioner.  After defeating them, Balder and Karnilla are confronted by an angry Thor.  Back in space, the Asgardians bring their new weaponry to bear and defeat the giant.  They then discover that they have reached their destination - the Doomsday Star.