Comics:Journey Into Mystery Vol 1 102

Thor, his powers halved by an angry Odin, has agreed to travel to the 23rd century with the criminal scientist Arthur Zarrko in order to prevent him from destroying 20th century Earth. The Thunder God has pledged to obey Zarrko until he has conquered his century.

Arriving in the future. the Tomorrow Man has Thor create havoc until the police of that time arrive to stop him. Thor uses his hammer to enthrall the officers, and orders them to take himself and Zarrko to the ruling World Council. Zarrko orders them to give him directions to the Master Machine which runs the planet. When they refuse, Zarrko has Thor begin searching for the Master Machine. Thor manages to leave a note behind for the Council.

The Council activates a protector Octi-Robot, but Thor is able to destroy it. A Councilman then gives them the location.

Flying to a lonely isle, Thor and Zarrko enter the Master Machine's chamber and are attacked by a C-Bomb. Short for "Cell-Bomb" because it creates a prison to hold intruders. But Thor is able to overcome the increased gravity with the cell and destroy it. Zarrko takes possession of the Master Machine, making him the ruler of 23th century Earth.

Having fulfilled his vow, Thor now turns on Zarrko, and they battle. Zarrko grabs the control of the Master Machine and threatens to destroy the Earth if Thor does not halt. But before he can throw any switches, the Master machine captures Zarrko in a ball of semi-energy, ending his threat.

An official scout ship arrives moments later and arrests Zarrko. Thor's note had asked the Council to let him handle Zarrko, and based on Thor's reputation they had decided to trust him.

Twirling his hammer, Thor creates a time warp and returns to the 20th century, while Loki and Odin watch from Asgard, and Loki muses that sooner or later he will defeat Thor forever.

Appearing in "Tales of Asgard: Death Comes to Thor"

Featured Characters:

Thor

Supporting Characters:

Sif (First appearance)
Balder

Villains:

Hela (First appearance)

Other Characters:

King Rugga
Norns (First appearance)
- Urd (First appearance)
- Skuld (First appearance)
- Verdandi (First appearance)
Storm Giants

Locations:

Asgard

Items:

Mjolnir

Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard: Death Comes to Thor"

The young Thor has found his way to the Three Fates (Urd, Skuld, Verdani), goddesses of destiny, in the hope they can tell him how to earn Odin's magic hammer. They tell him that he will have to met death first.

Returning to the palace, Thor learns from Balder that Storm Giants have seized his sister, the Lady Sif. Swearing to rescue Sif, Thor rides out only to be attacked by Giants near the castle of King Rugga. After opening a chasm with his hammer to capture the Giants, Thor enters the castle and confronts Rugga, who says he has given her to the goddess of death, Hela, in exchange for immortality.

Thor then confronts Hela, and offers to give his own life in exchange for Sif. So moved is Hela by his offer of sacrifice that she allows them both leave alive. It be a few days before Thor realized that he had faced death and so had won the Enchanted Hammer.

Appearing in "The Menace"

Not Available

Synopsis for "The Menace"

Not Available

Notes

At the time of this Tale of Asgard, Sif still had blond hair. She would later have her hair shaved by Loki, and replaced ebony black hair made by Trolls from "nothing".
The Tales of Asgard story is reprinted in Thor:Tales of Asgard #1

Trivia

Zarrko appeared last in Journey Into Mystery 101
Zarrko appears next in Marvel Team-Up 9

Links and References

http://www.immortalthor.net/journeyintomystery101-110.html

Comics:Journey Into Mystery Vol 1 102

From Marvel Database

Appearing in "Slave of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man"

Synopsis for "Slave of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man"