Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Joe Sinnott
"The Might Thor Battles... Sandu, Master of the Supernatural!"
We have a story drawn by Joe Sinnott this issue as we continue our Kirby-free stretch of JiM stories. Sinnott is a great artist (and preferable to the art in the previous issue, in my opinion) and he delivers a fun story along with Lieber brothers.
Our story this month features the return of the god of mischief, Loki (as the cover might suggest). The tale beings with the allfather Odin in Asgard. He hoists Thor's Belt of Strength and proclaims that is Thor were to don the belt his strength would be increased dramatically - to date his has not needed it, hence why it remains in the possession of Odin.
Down on Earth, Thor flies through the city and spots a bank flying through the sky. A moment later, the bank disappears. Thor changes into his mortal identity of Dr. Donald Blake and begins to question the crowd about the mysterious events. No one seems to know what happened, though Blake suspects that the perpetrator is none other than Loki. Blake changes back to Thor and flies to a tall mountain, whereupon he calls out to Odin, beseeching him to seek the location of the mischief-maker. Odin reassures Thor that Loki remains confined in Asgard.
What Odin doesn't realize is that while Loki does remain in Asgard, Thor is correct that Loki is responsible for the bizarre occurrence. The next day, another strange event takes place at a local race track, where hundreds of dollars in cash suddenly float into the air. Dr. Blake and his nurse Jane Foster experience a strange event themselves at a local circus; a mind-reader known as Sandu appears to be unerringly accurate in his statements about the crowd, including Jane. Loki sees this man, while spying on Thor, and decides that he must use this man by amplifying his nascent powers.
Suddenly flush with new-found powers, Sandu turns to a life of crime, while Loki laughs up in Asgard. Sandu goes on a crime spree and reveals his plans to conquer the world (a common desire among villains, it seems). After engaging the US Air Force, Thor takes the battle to Sandu. The magician defeats our hero and binds him with chains that he cannot break. Odin, upon seeing this, charges the Valkyries to bring Thor his belt of strength. (Note that the Valkyries are nothing like the warriors we come to know later)
The belt is fastened about Thor and he promptly breaks his chains. He jumps to his feet and hurls his hammer towards Sandu, missing thanks to the villain's subterfuge. Sandu attempts to lift Thor's hammer but cannot (cause he ain't worthy). He tries again and again, while Loki screams in futility from Asgard. Finally, his attempts to wield the hammer backfire, as he overloads his new powers and causes a short-circuit in his brain. Thor soundly defeats Sandu and thwarts Loki's plans.
Loki vows vengeance (once again) from on high.
We won't have to wait long for the next Loki story, for...
Next: More Loki! Will he achieve vengeance???
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