Classic Issue Thor Annual #13

Just replaced this issue during the week having spilled beer or coffee on the last copy I owned many moons ago. It's from 1985 and occurs during the aftermath of Asgard's battle with Surtur, Thor #353 (I think) . Simonson provides the striking cover, left.
  The story itself involves Mephisto trying to destroy Thor, who is in deep mourning following the loss of his father Odin during the aforementioned Surtur saga. His spirit is broken. Mephisto sees this and secures the services of Ulik, the mightiest of trolls to battle him. He kidnaps Ulik's brother to force Ulik to seek out Thor. Thor and Ulik battle, and it's a pretty good fight sequence, with Thor as broken in spirit as he is, pummeling Ulik in the end. Ulik tells Thor about Mephisto's machinations and Thor journeys to Mephisto's realm to confront him. A pretty mediocre and unimaginative premise. A plot that looks like a straight lift from Lee/Buscema's Silver Surfer comics of the late 60's. Actually, the whole thing reads like a love letter to those stories from writer Alan Zelentz. So Sparky, you may ask, why is this issue a classic?. In a nutshell, the artwork by John Buscema (who also inks) is absolutely mind-blowing, that's why!!!!

'No sooner bid than done Master!'

Buscema's depiction of Mephisto's realm is so beautifully rendered, eerie strange creatures (see left) and scenes of torment and human anguish.
As a purely visual experience this is as good as anything I've seen Big John ever illustrate. It is a far cry from his wonderfully slick Joe Sinnott inked pages on Fantastic Four and more akin to the amazing work he was doing in Savage Sword of Conan. It's no secret that Buscema was sick of Superheroes at this stage of his career.As it is plain to see from the workaday look of his pencils on Fantastic Four in 1987.(Still good, but 'twas clear Big John's heart wasn't in it) But, the scene of Mephisto's domain must have got his creative juices flowing again, and how.

Writer Alan Zelentz appeared to turn in a journeyman job until the last couple of pages when he redeems himself with a wonderfully wicked and clever twist, that I don't want to spoil if you haven't read this mag. It leaves the reader with a wonderfully satisfied feeling that you've in fact contrary to what you've thought during the book that you've read an absolute epic. Quality rating 8 out of 10. Check out the greatest depiction of Mephisto in History!