Appearances: 

Lorelei, Fafnir, Nick Fury, Odin, Hugin, Munin, Surtur, Volstagg, Balder, Karnilla, Haag, Loki, Mildred, Ronald, Dum Dum Dugan, Heimdall, Nina, Marco, Clark, Lois, Jerry Sapristi

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Sigurd Jarlson, 1st appearance of Mildred, 1st appearance of Ronald, 1st appearance of Jerry Sapristi, 1st appearance of Nina, 1st appearance of Marco, 1st appearance of Clark, 1st appearance of Lois

Synopsis:  Thor arrives at Avengers Mansion, intent on finding new residence on Earth since Don Blake no longer exists.  He steps inside, and is transported to Battleworld.  Meanwhile, Lorelei gets off the subway in a section where even the cops don't go.  She is accosted by two thugs, but mesmerizes them into fighting each other.  She goes deeper and deeper until she comes to an abandoned station.  There she finds the dragon, Fafnir, and tries to mesmerize him into doing her bidding.  But the power of the dragon is not only of flame, but of persuasion, and mesmerizes her instead.  Thor heads to SHIELD HQ to ask for Nick Fury's help in setting up a new civilian identity.  Nick promises to do what he can and sends Thor with Marco.  A half hour later, in walks Thor wearing jeans, a t-shirt, with his hair in a ponytail.  Nick tells him that even SHIELD can't find anything in Manhattan and he'll have to settle for Brooklyn.  But he's more concerned about people still recognizing his physique.  Nick gets an idea and hands Thor a pair of glasses.  Nick takes Thor to a press conference to test his disguise.  On the way out, Thor accidentally knocks Clark down.  Clark thinks he might recognize Thor, but then dismisses it.  In Asgard, below Hlidskjalf, Odin is busy casting Runes.  Odin carves Runes into the claws of Hugin and Munin, so that they may travel beyond any barrier.  He wants them to travel to the demons domain and discover the secret of their origin.  On a Manhattan construction site, Sigurd Jarlson is reporting for his first day of work at Jerry Sapristi's office.  They hear a scream and race outside to see a girl hanging from a construction crane.  Sigurd races up the crane to rescue her, when the ground begins to shake and the crane starts to topple.  Sigurd manages to rescue her, when the source of the trembling is revealed - Fafnir.  Fafnir recognizes Thor, with Lorelei as the bait, and lashes out with his tail, smashing the building.  Elsewhere, the gigantic figure that is forging, summons the Dark Elf to seek out the second son of Odin.  As Sigurd is protecting Lorelei from the falling debris, he hears someone calling his name in the ancient tongue of the Norsemen, but then it's gone.  Thor strikes Mjolnir on the ground and it changes his raiment, and then he begins attacking Fafnir.  Fafnir revels in his evil and seeks to slay Thor for old wrongs.  Back in Asgard, Volstagg is searching for Balder, but finds his home empty.  Balder his left for the wilderness, but left his pantry well stocked to distract Volstagg from finding and stopping him.  Later, as Balder sits by his fire, he is unaware that he is observed by Karnilla and Haag.  Karnilla orders that there is to be no harm done to Balder while he is in her kingdom.  Back at the battle, Fafnir's flame has set some debris on fire.  Thor calls down the rain to quench the blaze, and Fafnir mistakenly believes that Thor will trap him again as he did before, and leaves.  Thor starts to follow, but is stopped by the raging river Fafnir unleashed in his tunneling.  In Asgard, Loki is enjoying the game he is playing between Thor, Fafnir, and Lorelei.  Thor changes back to Sigurd and checks on the woman he rescued.  She feels better in his arms, and falls asleep.  He then hears the same voice calling his name again in the language of old, and is determined to find it's source.

Thor #342           April 1984
no title given but should be "The Last Viking"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Terry Austin
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Odin, Saga, Lorelei, Surtur, Munin, Hugin, Balder, Karnilla, Fafnir, Eilif the Lost, Jerry Sapristi

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Eilif the Lost, 1st appearance of Saga

Synopsis:  In Asgard, Odin is considering the arrival of the last Viking.  Back on Earth, Sigurd and Jerry are surveying the destruction, when Sigurd is told that the girl he rescued wants to thank him before she is taken to the hospital.  She makes it very clear that she is attracted to him and wants to thank him properly, when she gets out.  As the ambulance drives off, one man notes that he didn't even get her name.  Sigurd again hears someone calling his name in the language of old, and decides to solve the mystery once and for all, he changes to Thor and flies off.  Elsewhere, the gigantic figure senses the arrival of Hugin and Munin, and strikes the first blow against the power of Asgard.  Back on Earth, Thor has followed the voice to Antarctica.  He discovers a valley teeming with life where the volcanic heat has made it cool, yet quite comfortable.  It is here that Thor discovers a village not unlike the towns the ancient Vikings lived in.  He calls about, but finds several of the huts empty and falling into disrepair.  He rounds a corner and finds a Viking graveyard filled with the stone ships.  They all point to an entrance into the side of a mountain, and Thor enters to investigate.  After entering the cavern, a giant door slams shut and hundreds of spears are launched all right at Thor.  In Asgard, Balder sits in the wilderness by a fire and calls to the darkness, telling the stranger to come forth.  The cloaked figure comes forth to join him and it is revealed to be Karnilla.  Balder tells her that what he has seen in Hel dogs him even in the empty wilderness.  She tells him that he cannot carry this weight forever.  She gets up to leave, telling him that her men have left provisions for him behind the rocks.  And if he tires of the outland, she will offer him the hospitality of her home.  Back in Antarctica, Thor smashes the spears, only to encounter other traps within the cave.  After going through them all, Thor meets a gigantic warrior, that hurls a spear at Thor.  he dodges the spear and swings at the warrior, knocking his helmet loose.  In another cavern, beneath NYC, Fafnir nurses his hatred of Thor and realizes that Thor couldn't hurt him.  Fafnir emerges near the South Bronx, screaming for Thor.  An in a penthouse overlooking Central Park, Lorelei is preparing a special brew of golden mead just for Thor.  Back in the cavern, Thor discovers that the warrior is really an old man, that tells Thor not to spare him and to finish the job.  Thor tells him that he won't slay an ancient and carries him outside.  Thor gets him outside and removes the armor and asks who he is.  He tells Thor that his name is Eilif the Lost and that his father's fathers founded the valley long ago, and could not get back out.  Eilif tells him that the labyrinth was the way to test themselves and become warriors since they had no enemies.  He wanted to trap Thor, whose temper is legendary, and win his way through to Valhalla.  But he failed and is content to die the straw death having lived to see the Mighty Thor himself.  Thor tells him that his fate no longer rests within himself.  That he did not come all this way to discover a dotard seeking Valhalla through deception.  The Gods of the icy north have answered Eilif's call and now his life belongs to Thor.

Thor #343           May 1984
"If I Should Die Before I Wake"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Fafnir, Lorelei, Eilif the Lost, Karnilla, Haag, Odin, Surtur, Munin, Valkyries, Toothgnasher, Toothgrinder, Heimdall, Greg Glenn, Cloudrider, Chuck Cherkle, Clancy

Significant Events:  death of Eilif the Lost (now Dragonslayer), death of Fafnir, 1st appearance of Greg Glenn, 1st appearance of Cloudrider, 1st appearance of Chuck Cherkle, 1st appearance of Clancy

Synopsis:  Fafnir is in New York on a rampage, screaming for the Son of Odin, and begins destroying buildings.  Elsewhere, Lorelei is wondering where Thor is.  But Thor is unaware of what's going on, because he's in Antarctica with Eilif.  Thor tells him that he is proud of his reckless courage, but the granting of Valhalla is beyond him.  Only Odin and the Valkyries can decide who sits in that realm.  But Thor tells him that for old times sake, he will take Eilif's fate in his hands.  For Fafnir awaits him in New York and he would take Eilif with him.  Thor then calls to Odin to grant him a sign that Eilif be his shield bearer.  After half an hour, out of nowhere, flies Cloudrider and Thor's own chariot pulled by Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder.  In Asgard, Karnilla is furious at what Loki has done to Balder.  Haag has put Balder in the room next to Karnilla's own.  Back in Antarctica, Eilif is overcome by events and begins to lose his courage.  Thor rails at him and calls for the warrior that lifted his weapon against the mightiest fighter in Asgard, and dared test the mettle of the Mighty Thor.  Rallied, Eilif rises and touches Mjolnir, and feels the fire of youth coursing through is limbs.  They mount up and begin to ride, but before they leave, they discover an old man that greets them and blesses Eilif's spear and as they fly off, Eilif looks gain and the old grey-bearded man has vanished.  Elsewhere, beyond the fields we know, and endless host chants as the giant figure finishes the sword - now named Twilight.  In the Bronx, Fafnir has grown tired of waiting and begins the serious destruction of the city.  Eilif and Thor arrive just in time and Thor's hammer opens the battle.  Fafnir strikes back with tail and flame, and the battle truly begins.  In Asgard, Heimdall sees the stars themselves blotted out, and within the darkness, Munin races for his life.  He falls to the bridge as the inky darkness races by and is gone.  Back in the Bronx, Thor lands a blow that is felt in Pennsylvania, but to no avail.  Fafnir strikes again at Eilif, and unhorsing him, Eilif falls into a building below.  Thor's concern causes him to be distracted, allowing Fafnir to land a tremendous blow.  Eilif comes to and realizes that Thor must be hurt, because the energy of youth is leaving him.  Summoning his courage, Eilif leaps down below him, and drives his spear into the dragon.  Thor, seeing that the spear has penetrated the dragon's hide, uses all his strength to drive the spear deep into Fafnir, killing him.  Thor then rushes to Eilif's side, and discovers that his companion and shield bearer is gone.  Thor begins to demolish some remaining building, and using the rubble, builds a funeral pyre.  Thor then lifts Fafnir's corpse and puts it at Eilif's feet, as the soldiers look on.  Thor then summons a storm and causes it to strike, and fire the holy mound.  No longer Eilif the Lost, but Eilif the Dragonslayer.  Out of the sky, fantastical horsed figures fly to collect the fallen hero, as father Odin looks on to welcome the last Viking.  Back in his apartment, Sigurd broods over his missing friends, when a knock on the door rouses him.  It's Lorelei, in disguise as Melodi, tells him that she wanted to thank him for saving her life.

Thor #344            June 1984
"Whatever Happened to Balder the Brave"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters:  John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Geri, Karnilla, Haag, Balder, Odin, Frigga, Lorelei, Surtur, Loki, Malekith, Munin, Heimdall, Silverhoof, Sons of Surtur, Jerry Sapristi

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Malekith, 1st appearance of Silverhoof

Synopsis:  To Nornkeep has come the wolf Geri, on a mission for Odin, and no barrier or man can stand in his way.  Geri has come to summon Balder home.  In Asgard, Odin broods upon his throne until Frigga enters to try to ease his heavy heart.  Odin tells Frigga that when he returned from Midgard the eve before, he found Heimdall waiting on him.  Heimdall took Odin to his home beside the bridge where Munin lay.  Odin and Munin spoke for a time until Odin learned what he needed to know.  Balder arrives before Odin and learns the mission he would be sent upon.  Balder must deliver a letter to Loki, he who is responsible for Balder's death and sojourn through Hel.  Odin wants only Balder as his messenger because even Loki acknowledges that the word of Balder is the very measure of truth.  Balder agrees on the condition that he will not raise a sword nor kill a soul.  In Bay Bridge Brooklyn, Sigurd is entertaining Melodi, by receiving a backrub from her.  As she works on him, she offers him some of her golden mead, only to find he's fallen asleep.  She's amused, since she fell asleep on him the first time they met.  She leaves, and leaves him a note that she wants to cook dinner for him next weekend.  In Asgard, Balder and Silverhoof ride for Loki's castle past the Living Landslide, through the Forbidden Forest, and across the Deadly Desert, until they reach the final path to the castle.  As he begins the trail, he is suddenly attacked by trolls, until he realizes that they're not trolls, but demons of the flame.  Elsewhere, the gigantic figure tempers the sword Twilight in a lake of molten lava.  Inside Loki's' castle, Balder finds himself bound and brought before Loki and his guest - Malekith.  Malekith orders his demons to kill Balder, while he and Loki discuss business.  Balder manages to slip his bonds, and dodges the demons swords and spears, until he no longer has a choice, and reaches for a sword.  Back on Earth at the construction site, Sigurd is working on cleaning up the rubble.  Jerry shows up and tells him to put on a hardhat since the insurance people are about.  Sigurd leaps off to get one, and Jerry is now convinced that Sigurd is an honest to god superhero - Spider-Man.  Back in Asgard, Balder begs the demons to let him pass, but they draw first blood, and Balder is forced to fight back in order to complete his mission.  Balder gets past the demons and bursts through the doors to Loki and Malekith.  Balder lunges at Malekith, but he fades away into the shadows.  Balder then hands Loki the letter from Odin, completing his task.  But Loki just tosses it away unread, for he has already accepted Malekith's offer.  Enraged at being forced to break his oath to not kill, Balder swings the sword one last time, taking Loki's head.  At Nornkeep, Karnilla is frustrated at not being able to see what's going on inside Loki's castle, when the alarm sounds.  On their mystic screen, they see the image of Balder riding fast with the look of the damned on his face.  Balder and Silverhoof race off into the desert to lose himself forever.  Back in Loki's castle, Loki's body still stands where it was, until it slowly reaches down and picks up the head, putting it back on.  Loki, enjoying the jest at Balder's expense, and well worth the price of a stiff neck.  For after all, the first thing a sorcerer of quality learns is to make himself as difficult to kill as possible.

Thor #345           July 1984
"That Was No Lady"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Lorelei, Balder, Surtur, Malekith, Jarvis, Sheila Ordway, Eric Willis, Marty, Silverhoof, Rosie Grier, Mr Strother, Roger Willis, Miss Blum, Agnar

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Sheila Ordway, 1st appearance and death of Eric Willis, 1st appearance of Marty, 1st appearance of Rosie Grier, 1st appearance of Mr Strother, 1st appearance of Roger Willis, 1st appearance of Miss Blum, 1st appearance of the Casket of Ancient Winters

Synopsis:  In an early morning Manhattan office, Dr Willis calls his secretary into his office, and attacks her.  He ties her to a chair and feeds her a burger, causing her to crumble to dust.  Two cops respond to her screams, and arrest him.  Elsewhere, Sigurd and Melodi take a carriage ride through the park together, and she reflects on her prize.  In the jail, Dr Willis is trapped, and one of the cops is acting suspiciously.  After giving all the other officers some cookies, she goes back to see Willis, and leaves him some of the unmortal wafers.  She tells him that all the other officers are now under the masters thrall.  At the law offices of Strother and Martin, Mr Strother is forced to open the Q-File.  In Asgard, Balder sends Silverhoof off on his own while he seeks to lose himself in the wilds, and seeks to die again.  While the mysterious figure watching him, is all too happy to help.  Back at Melodi's apartment, she and Sigurd make themselves comfortable.  In a Long Island home, a package is delivered to Dr Willis' son, who is decidedly older than his father.  Entrusting him to a sacred task, to guard the package with his life.  Back in the jail cell, Eric finds the french fry in his pocket that he had dropped in his pocket that morning.  He quickly hides the cookies, and when Grier comes back, he gets close and shoves the fry into her mouth, causing her to burst and crumble into dust, leaving just her uniform and the keys to the cell.  Eric makes his escape, and heads to Long Island to see Roger, but his pursuit is close behind.  Back in Melodi's apartment, she goes to slip into something more comfortable, while Sigurd makes a phone call.  He calls Avengers Mansion and Jarvis tells him that Mr Strother left him a message about the Casket of Ancient Winters.  Sigurd gets the lawyers address and leaves abruptly, telling Melodi that he must see a lawyer about a will.  He runs into an alley and changes into Thor and flies towards the lawyer's office.  Back out on the road, Eric's pursuers catch up to him.  He's about to be overrun, when a beautiful woman in a Ferrari screeches to a stop in front of him and tells him to get in.  She tells him that her name is Angel, and she didn't like the looks of that mob.  Thor arrives at the lawyer's office to find the truth of why Mr Strother spoke the name of Malekith the Accursed.  As Eric and Angel speed down the road, Eric seems to come under the spell of the music on the radio.  She stops the car and tells Eric that he wants to kiss her, which he does.  But first, she wants to know the location of the Casket of Ancient Winters.  Elsewhere, beyond the fields we know, the sword Twilight is finished and the anvil's work is done, and the flaming giant strikes, destroying the anvil.  Back at the car, Angel tells Eric that it was lovely, but that the Cask must now be found and opened as his lord commands, as she changes form to Malekith and flies to Manhattan, leaving Eric's desiccated corpse in the car.

Thor #346           August 1984
"The Wild Hunt"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Terry Austin
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Jarvis, Lorelei, Malekith, Balder, Surtur, Roger Willis, Mr Strother, Agnar, Cary, Jack

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Cary, 1st appearance of Jack

Synopsis:  Roger Willis has come to New York to follow up on his father's charge, when he's attacked by four men who have identified him as the one their master wants.  He manages to break away and leaps into a cab.  Meanwhile, Mr Strother tells Thor everything he knows about Roger and Eric Willis and the Casket of Ancient Winters.  Thor then heads to the police precinct where Eric had been held to find out what was going on.  When he gets there, they offer Thor one of their special cookies, and he begins to crumble weakly to the ground.  They tell him that he has tasted the enchanted food of faerie and is now a slave like they are.  After the officer is finished bragging, Thor has heard enough, and summons the lighting to strike the enscorceled mortals and knock them out.  Out beneath an abandoned section of the West Side Highway, Roger finds his goal - the Casket of Ancient Winters.  He puts it in a Macy's bag and quickly leaves.  But as soon as he turns the corner, than Malekith arrives and finds the empty canvas lying on the ground.  It's still cool to the touch so he knows his quarry is still close and pulls a horn from his pouch and calls out the Wild Hunt.  Roger is stuck in traffic in a cab, when the Hounds of the Hunter come roaring out of the sky.  Roger fights back with his .45 killing a few, when the Master of the Hounds arrives.  Out in the endless desert, Balder is waiting to die, when a woman runs at him followed by a Sand Devil.  Balder grabs a piece of wood and leaps to the attack, while the shadowy figure that had been following him looks on astonished.  Meanwhile. back on the bridge, Roger's clip is empty but has managed to slay the huntsman's mount.  But before the Huntsman can strike him down, lightening strikes him and the Huntsman's garb vanishes to reveal Malekith himself.  Malekith rallies his hounds and sicks them on Thor and Roger.  Elsewhere, beyond the fields we know, the flaming demon and his horde prepare for battle.  Back on the Queensboro Bridge, Thor finally realizes why the hounds have not attacked en masse.  They are surrounded by iron, bane of all inhabitants from the realm of faerie.  Thor strikes Malekith with an iron beam and forces him and the hounds to flee.  Back at Melodi's apartment, she hears a knock on the door and there stands Malekith.  Thor and Roger decide on where they can hide and plan, and they head to Melodi's apartment.  Once there, Melodi offers Thor a drink of golden mead, which he takes.  While watching this is Malekith and with him is Melodi.  Thor is instantly overcome with passion and sweeps Melodi up for a kiss when he realizes it's not really her.  It's just a stock of wood animated by faerie sorcery.  It tells him the only way to get her back is to bring the Casket to the Cotswalds of England.

Thor #347           September 1984
"Into the Realm of Faerie"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters:   John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Balder, Agnar, Malekith, Wyrd, Lorelei, Algrim the Strong, Heimdall, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg, Odin, Surtur, Roger Willis, Wormwood

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Algrim the Strong, 1st appearance of Wormwood

Synopsis:  Thor and Roger head to the Cotswalds of England to rescue Melodi from Malekith.  Balder meets the Norns, who tell him that they have been waiting to speak to him since the dawn of time.  In Asgard, Odin tells the Warriors Three to assemble the host of Asgard entire to prepare for war.  Malekith sends Thor and Algrim plummeting into a bottomless chasm while Roger lies blind.  As Malekith prepares to open the Casket, Surtur awaits to enter our realm.

Thor #348           October 1984
"The Dark and the Light"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Bob Wiacek
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Malekith, Wormwood, Wyrd, Balder, Agnar, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Odin, Lorelei, Surtur, Roger Willis, Algrim, Silverhoof, Chamberlain

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Chamberlain

Synopsis:  Roger manages to temporarily stop Malekith from opening the Casket.  Balder meets the Norns, and he discovers how important he is in the overall scheme of things.  He also sees how one small act by one person, can affect everyone else.  Thor saves himself from the pit, and he and Roger defeat Malekith once and for all.  In Asgard, the Warriors Three have gathered the host of Asgard for war.  While Thor is distracted by Melodi, Malekith grabs Roger's gun and hurls it at the Casket, shattering it.  The intense cold freezes the portal, allowing Surtur to shatter it, and enter our world.

Thor #349           November 1984
"Debts of Honor"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Malekith, Lorelei, Balder, Agnar, Odin, Heimdall, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Vili, Ve, Surtur, Beta Ray Bill, Roger Willis, Jerry Sapristi, Silverhoof, Chamberlain, Frigga

Significant Events:  Origin of the Odinpower

Synopsis:  With the Casket of Ancient Winters shattered, a supernatural cold spreads across Midgard.  Roger suspects Melodi is up to something, but with a spell, she prevents him from telling Thor.  Agnar and Balder arrive back in Asgard to tell Odin of the vision Balder has seen.  Thor brings Malekith back to Asgard, and Odin puts him in the Prison of No Escape.  With Malekith locked away, Odin tells them the history of the challenge they now face.  He tells them of Surtur, his brothers and the birth of the Odinpower, and of the coming war.  And to help in the coming battle, Odin summons Beta Ray Bill back to Asgard.

Thor #350           December 1984
"Ragnarok and Roll"

Writer:  Walt Simonson
Artist:  Walt Simonson
Inker:  Walt Simonson
Letters: John Workman Jr

Appearances: 

Beta Ray Bill, Sif, Odin, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg, Balder, Executioner, Enchantress, Tyr, Surtur, Heimdall, Frigga, Gunnhild, Starfox, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Karnilla, Haag, Lorelei, Hermod, Silverhoof, Sons of Muspel, Wasp

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Gunnhild

Synopsis:  With all the warriors gathered at the Plain of Vigrid, Odin lays out the battle plan.  Odin and Heimdall will stay in Asgard, Balder is to seek the aid of Karnilla, and Frigga is to take all the children away to safety.  Everyone else is to go to Midgard to head off Surtur and the Sons of Muspel.  Thor flies ahead to alert the Avengers (See: Avengers #249).  Meanwhile, the hordes begin attack Manhattan.  Karnilla, tells Balder that she will not help unless he swears allegiance to her alone.  The Asgardians arrive to battle, while Amora goes to retrieve Lorelei, who refuses to help.  As the Sons of Muspel begin to set the city aflame, Thor causes a downpour to put out the fires.  Unfortunately, that's exactly what Surtur wanted.  With the stopping of the storm, Bifrost is revealed.  Just as Thor realizes that Surtur is gone, the Gjallerhorn is sounded.