Comics:Journey Into Mystery Vol 1 96

Thor overheard a shore crew state that they are unloading the sarcophagus of the lengendary Merlin. He wonders what it would be like if Merlin were alive today. Then entering his office window, Thor returns to his identity of Dr Don Blake. He emerges from his office to be scolded by his nurse Jane Foster because he has been ignoring his patients for over an hour. He can not tell her he was busy saving a busload of people who fell off a bridge into the river.

At the museum, Merlin's sarcophagus is opened to reveal his body still in perfect condition. As soon as the workers leave, Merlin awakens and recalls how he use to use his mutant powers of telepathy, leviation and teleportation to fake magic. Reading a newspaper he learns of missle test at Cape D'or and uses his powers to send the missle off course.

Alerted by a radio broadcast, Thor arrives and corrects the missle's course. He then goes to Asgard to see if the imprisoned Loki is behind the mishap. Loki reveals that Merlin is the one responsible. Thor heads to the museum to check out Loki's claim.

But Merlin has teleported himself to Washington DC, where enters the White House to try to take the country from President Kennedy. Thor arrives, and a battle follows with Merlin using the Washington Monument as a super-lance and animated the statue from the Lincol Memorial.

Their powers evenly matched, Thor decides to take a gamble. He strikes his hammer, returning to the form of Blake. He then convinces Merlin that he is a shape shifter and able to became thousands of more powerful forms. He orders Merlin to return to his sarcophagus for another 1000 years.

Later, in the operating room, Jane comments that when it comes to the operating table, Dr Blake is a magician.

Appearing in "Call Her Medusa"

Not available

Synopsis for "Call Her Medusa"

Not Available

Appearing in "Frederick Fenton's Future"

Not available

Synopsis for "Frederick Fenton's Future"

Not Available

Notes

Dispite his claims in the issue, the "Merlin" featured here is not the legendary wizard who served in Arthur's court. He is a mutated human who reappears under the name Maha Yogi. He possesses a fragment of the Bloodgem, which grants the wearer immorality.
The Thor story is reprinted in Essential Thor 1, Fantasy Masterpieces 8, Marvel Masterworks: Mighty Thor 1

Trivia

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Links and References

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Comics:Journey Into Mystery Vol 1 96

From Marvel Database

Appearing in "Defying the Magic of Mad Merlin"

Synopsis for "Defying the Magic of Mad Merlin"