In a previous post, I introduced Marvel's largely-forgotten Celtic Thor-analog, Leir. Today, we examine Leir's second appearance in The Mighty Thor #398 (DEC 1988). This took place roughly a year after his introduction, in the full-flowering of a story arc that was seeded back during Leir's first appearance.
As Thor #398 commences Asgard is under siege by the forces of the Egyptian death god Seth. The status of the Golden Realm is quite precarious as neither Odin nor Thor are present in this hour of greatest need. Owing to the destruction of the Bifrost Bridge, Thor and a coterie of allies (specifically, the Black Knight, Earth Lord, Wind Warrior, and Skyhawk) apply a little reverse psychology to Seth's pretentiously-named minion, Grog the God-Smasher.
When the imprisoned Grog takes advantage of a momentary freedom by opening a mystic portal to the Heliopolitan cosmological plane, Thor and company follow him and are immediately engaged in a titanic battle with Seth's forces. After locating the death god's "secret weapon" (in the person of Bes) Thor ultimately frees the imprisoned Odin.
Meanwhile back in Asgard, the Golden Realm teeters near collapse. A rout seems all but certain following the grave wounding of Balder (temporary ruler of Asgard) and the apparent death of Heimdall. This latter is too much for the Enchantress, who lets out a primal dimension-piercing scream before charging headlong against Seth himself, in order to avenge her brother.
While Amara's attack is a spectacular failure, her war scream turns out to be much more productive. Though many beings in many realms hear the Enchantress's scream, only the Tuatha de Danaan respond...and I bet you can guess who's in the lead of the relief forces.
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