Left Crying at the Altar: Leir's 10th and Final Appearance

 

The Mighty Thor #426 (NOV 1990)

In my last post, I wrote of the way that Leir's most recent story arc, which began with his effort to marry Lady Sif (way back in Thor #....) got more or less leap-frogged.  We wound up in the previous issue with Sif finally seeing Thor (her beloved and the only real reason she'd been entertaining Leir's advances in the first place) and immediately engaging in some good ole' Asgardian lip-wrestling.

I can only suspect that someone at Marvel back in the day noticed this and said, "Y'know...we really need a better resolution than just Leir slinking off like the band nerd who got rejected by the head cheerleader who'd been stringing him along, only to surprise him in front of the whole school by saying, "Later nerd!  I'm going to prom with the quarterback!"  And so...as the cover of #426 suggests, we finally get some resolution here.

Having defeated Ymir and Surtur and forestalled Ragnarok, Asgardians are due for a little downtime.

Odin, like any old man, chooses to take a nap.  (Sorry...I guess I should call it an Odin-Nap).

We get a bit of a political plot twist next.  In Odin's absence, the Father of Asgard will not be leaving Balder the Brave in charge, but instead...Heimdall!!  Perhaps this is appropriate, since the first action of Asgard's interim liege lord is to rebuild the Rainbow Bridge.

In the midst of such multi-hued reverie, Hercules informs Thor that he's going to make a quick round of the Asgardian ladies before heading to Olympus for his own homecoming.  Thor muses about how he's always all alone, but his cognitive pity party is interrupted by...

Having announced his intentions, Leir proceeds without further ado.

In response to Thor's natural question:  "Ummm...why're you hurling lightning bolts at me, again?"  Leir provides a quick run down of how they got to this moment.

First of all, I went back and re-read The Mighty Thor #417 (MAY 1990) wherein the attempted wooing of Lady Sif began.  There is nothing in there about Leir having to "defeat a champion of Sif's choice."  In fact, what is there is this little announcement:

"The Lady Sif has accepted [Leir's] chivalrous
proposal!" (Does that sound like she's putting any
conditions on the acceptance?)

So we have a pretty blatant plot hole here, created (I assume) to prevent acknowledging that Sif has straight up used Leir for over half a year of publication.  Hold onto your seat, though, because the humiliation of Avalon's premiere warrior is just beginning.

Now, understandably, Thor's still pretty ticked at being attacked while standing by a rainbow bridge, minding his own business.  I think we can all understand Thor's desire to take Leir down a peg or two.  His next statement, however, is...well... You decide.

"thy foul and loathsome touch"?!  Really, Thor?  I mean...the guy did just
help save Asgard from destruction, after the good Lady strung him along
under false pretenses. 

Despite Thor's unbecoming trash talk--Remember, Goldlilocks, this guy did just help you fight off a fire demon and an ice giant--he will not be the one to face Leir in combat. 

 

Instead, Sif herself is going to add injury to insult.

 

An an observer, I'm really beginning to feel sympathy for Leir.  The dude has done everything that was asked of him, and his reward is getting slandered, beat up, and now mocked by his wing man!?

 

And with that, Leir (lord of lightning and god of the spear) vanished from the Marvel universe.  Despite his arrogance, Leir still proved himself a loyal hero.  He deserved a better send-off than this.

[SIDENOTE:  Reviewing Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 (FEB 1992), I was reminded that yet another of my favorite Marvel characters also tried to wed Sif.  What was the deal?  Is she that irresistable?]

et tu, Warlock?

Resist Ragnarok Like There's No Such Thing as a Broken Heart: Leir's 9th appearance

The Mighty Thor #425 (OCT 1990)

Today we come to the ninth appearance of Leir in the Marvel canon.  Not surprisingly, once again we find our crimson-maned champion within the pages of The Mighty Thor.  This particular issue tries to wrap up a number of threads.  First, we see the resolution of the impending threat of Ragnarok.   Ragnarok was supposed to be the final battle between the powerful Elementals Surtur (the Fire Demon) and his counterpart Ymir (the Frost Giant).  In previous issues is was revealed that Odin had possessed Surtur the Fire Demon in an attempt to use his power to forestall the prophesied End. As this story begins, the two Elementals are engaged in a ruinous battle in Asgard.

Meanwhile, Thor, Hercules, and Eric  Masterson are wrapping up a cosmic sojourn in which they witnessed the birth of a new celestial, met the High Evolutionary's New Immortals, saw Hercules "restored", the High Evolutionary made comatose, and Thor and Eric finally separated.  After everyone has said their obligatory goodbyes, the poignant moment is interrupted by a dimensional warp out of which comes Lady Sif, Caber, and our man in Avalon--Leir!

After updating Thor on the current threat to Asgard, Sif and the Celts transport Thor & co. back to the Realm Eternal.

 

While the Asgardians fight a futile rear-guard action to save their home, the Vizier tells Thor the last remaining hope--isn't there always just "one last chance"?--to save Asgard will be for the Prince of Asgard to retrieve the Twilight Sword from the Dimension of Death.

Naturally, the attempt to do so will threaten Thor's very life, but he doesn't hesitate to go.  At this point we have the dramatic "I'm going off to war" scene between Thor and Lady Sif.  Given their passionate kiss and Leir's obvious distaste for the spectacle, I can only assume that the good Lady finally admitted to Leir that she'd just been using him all along and wouldn't really marry him.  (Regardless of how arrogant Leir can be at times, ya gotta feel some sympathy for the guy here.  He basically went on an inter-dimensional jaunt and got roped into fighting Elementals for a girl who dropped him like a hot potato for her old flame.)

Not cool, Sif...not cool at all.

After breaking the seal between his lips and Sif's, Thor heads into the Dimension of Death where he promptly gets old and has to fight a bunch of bat demons...or something.  Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Leir doesn't get much opportunity to lick his emotional wounds.  Fortunately for him, Leir is more 1930s alpha male than 2000+ hipster.  Does he sit around crying in his mead?  Heck no!  He picks himself up, dusts himself off, and jumps right into the middle of life-threatening battle!

 

This page gave me an epiphany about why Leir may not have caught on.
Essentially, he was Hercules' classic character, mixed with Thor's power,
a few extra inches, and a handlebar moustache.  I guess it made sense
when Marvel was trying to "mature" Hercules.

Despite their bold (or foolhardy?) actions, fortunately for Herc and Leir someone on the battlefield had the sense to recognize, "the better part of valor."

While Caber's busy keeping his buddy alive, Thor triumphs over the Death Dimension's bat demons thanks to the timely assistance of mere mortal Eric Masterson.  (I know...don't ask questions, just go with it.)

Thor and Eric successfully retrieve the Twilight Sword and return to Asgard. The Sword turns out to be little more than a macguffin, as it really isn't the mechanism for defeating Ymir and Surtur that we've been led to expect (but I won't spoil that aspect of the story for you, in case you want to read it yourself).

Everything wraps up nice and tidy, complete with the obligatory celebration panel.

 

(On a side note:  I think this was a missed opportunity to make the otherwise annoying Eric Masterson a compelling and sympathetic character.  Allowing Eric to die in order for Thor to complete his mission would've made a nice wrap-up...but that's a topic for another day).

Leir Stands Around, as Plot Holes are Poorly Patched: (Marvel) part 7

 

The Mighty Thor #418 (JUN 1990)

The seventh appearance of Leir in Marvel lore is yet another back-up feature.  This time it's from The Mighty Thor #418, and it picks up from the previous month.  Leir, smitten with love (or is it merely lust?) for the Lady Sif has traveled to Asgard to "claim" her as his bride.  To everyone's astonishment, the previously Thor-enamored Sif agrees to marry Leir...on one (as yet unmentioned) condition.

Since I don't own this comic myself, I can only rely on what I can find out on the web.  As it turns out, this splash page (courtesy of SuperMegaMonkey's Marvel Comics Chronology) is basically all the Leir-related material I could find.  As SMM puts it, basically what we have here is the attempt to plug a rather gaping plot hole.

The Tales of Asgard back-up continues the "visit" from the Celtic gods, with Sif having agreed to marry Leir in return for getting out of Asgard. The question, which feels like a response to questions posed by fans, is why is it that other people can enter and leave Asgard, such as the Celtics and, for example, the New Mutants, but not the Asgardians. The answer at this point is basically, "It's magic!".

Otherwise, we learn that Odin has apparently been possessed or something, as he shockingly attacks the Grand Vizier.

Leir the Lady's Man: (Marvel) part 6

The Mighty Thor #417 (MAY 1990)

The sixth appearance of everybody's favorite lightning slinging Celt, is in a back-up story from The Mighty Thor #417.  (For Leir's previous appearances, see here)

At this time, Asgard was adrift in the Negative Zone, consequently obstructing passage from Asgard to Midgard (i.e., the realm of Earth).  In the Golden Realm, the Lady Sif pines away for her beloved Thor (who is on the other side of this dimensional barrier).

In Avalon, the Celtic gods have learned of the Asgardians' inter-dimensional wanderings; and the reader learns that Leir has, "fallen (swollen) head over heels" for Sif.  Somehow or other, the Tuatha de Danaan open a portal to Asgard, which Leir promptly charges through in order to claim his "chosen" wife.

I'm curious how that was pulled off.  If Asgard is inaccessible from earth, I would've expected it to be cut off from Avalon as well.  Maybe Dagda is way more powerful than I realize.

Leir shows up outside Sif's chambers, pompously announcing the great honor and joy she ought to feel at having been "chosen" to be his bride.

While Leir's busy with Sif, Caber (who, like any good wingman, has followed his buddy through the portal in the vain attempt to keep him out of trouble) has gotten into a stand-off with the Warriors Three.  The only thing that saves the fleet-footed Celt is the timely arrival of the now-happily(?) engaged couple!

Leir (Marvel): part 5

Marvel Comics Presents #30 (OCT 1989)

The fifth appearance of Marvel's Leir (lord of lightning and god of the spear!!) was an odd-little tale in the monthly anthology, Marvel Comics Presents.  Like many MCP stories, this one felt like a throw-back to the old standalone Golden Age tales.  It takes up a mere 8 pages...and by the time you finish it, you may wonder why those 8 were so utilized.

As the above splash page depicts, the story launches with Leir fighting a monster.  When the monster mysteriously disappears just before Leir can destroy it (essentially rehashing Leir's introduction to the Marvel universe), our hero is fuming.  This is despite the best attempts of Dagda (leader of the Celtic gods) to congratulate him on a job well done.

Dagda explains that the creature was sent by the Fomorians, ancient enemies of the Celts.  It's not explained why Dagda shares this information.  One might assume it's because he wants to support Leir's desire for vengeance.  However, when Leir (accompanied by Caber) travels to the realm of the Fomorians and is on the verge of victory, he is driven back--by Dagda!?!

Leir's question is perfectly valid.  I've got a follow-up: 
Does Dagda have a split personality...or does he just enjoy jerking Leir around?

In the words of SuperMegaMonkey, "that, without a doubt, was a story that lasted eight pages."

Leir (Marvel): part 4

In previous posts (here, here, and here) we've looked at the introduction of Leir, lord of lightning and god of the spear, in the pages of The Mighty Thor.  Today, we'll consider his brief contemporaneous cameo in West Coast Avengers #41 (FEB 1989).  The War in Asgard arc (which was wrapped up this month in Thor) serves as the macguffin to wrap up dangling plot lines in The West Coast Avengers.

The opening splash page represents the first and last appearances of Leir in this issue.  (At least he doesn't announce that he's "lord of lightning and god of the spear!").  Against this backdrop, Seth has despatched a lieutenant to ensure that the Egyptian moon god, Khonshu, does not participate in the resistance to Seth.

Meanwhile on earth, the estranged West Coast Avengers: Mockingbird, Tigra, and Moon Knight have sought out the aid of Daimon Hellstrom (AKA the Son of Satan) to investigate Mockingbird's accusation that modern-day Phantom Rider, Hamilton Slade, is a reincarnation of his ancestor, Lincoln Slade.  (Lincoln, as it turned out, had raped Mockingbird in a previous time-traveling storyline.)

While discussing possession with the skeptical Hamilton, Hellstrom's gaze leaves Khonshu (who had previously taken full possession of the human Marc Specter, AKA Moon Knight) wondering if his cover has been blown.

 

During Hellstrom's exorcism of Slade, not one--but two Phantom Riders spirits exit!  One is the spirit of the aforementioned Lincoln Slade, while the other is the spirit of Carter Slade (the original, heroic Phantom Rider).  The noncorporeal Hamiltons battle each other to a virtual standstill.  Hellstrom then announces a third spirit is needed to settle this phatasmagorical donnybrook.

No sooner does Khonshu appear, however, than Seth's minions do as well. At this point the general melee environment increases exponentially. Seth's forces are trying to eliminate Khonshu through use of the "etheromic phase out cannon"...and everyone else is pretty much engaging in the super-equivalent of a barroom brawl.

Of course, Seth's forces are eventually defeated and retreat back through a portal to Asgard.  The spirit of Carter defeats the spirit of Lincoln Slade, and then calls for Hamilton to embrace his destiny as this century's Phantom Rider.

With the immediate threat of Seth and the etheromic phase out cannon gone, Khonshu announces he's going to answer the call to resist Seth in the mystic realm, giving Specter back full control of his own body.

Shaken by these revelations, Specter announces he's leaving the Avengers, as being a member had been Khonshu's desire...not his own.  Mockingbird, having been brought face-to-face with the consequences of her previously relaxed attitude toward killing, is filled with similar doubts and refuses Tigra's call for them to rejoin the West Coast Avengers.

Other sources on The West Coast Avengers #41

• http://berkeleyplaceblog.com/2019/08/20/west-coast-avengers-41/ 

Leir (Marvel): part 3

The third appearance of Marvel's Leir, came in The Mighty Thor #400 (FEB 1989).  This wrapped up the arc that saw the Egyptian death god Seth threatening all life.

As issue #400 begins, Thor (to whom Odin had previously imparted the Odinforce) is engaged in a cosmos-spanning battle against the All-Father's eternal enemy, Surtur the Fire Demon.  As for Odin himself, the true liege of Asgard has returned to his shattered home to rally its defenders.

Leir is...well...he's being Leir.  But at least his Caber finally said what we've all been thinking:

While Caber is launching his one-man intervention, the Earth Force in a final act of rebellion attacks their creator Seth.  Sadly, despite their nobility, none of the three possess anywhere near the power necessary to defeat the death god.

With the Earth Force dispatched, Odin steps into the gap to tackle Seth in a mano-a-mano fight, proving that even without the Odinforce, the old guy's nothing to sneeze at.   Nevertheless, the sudden appearance of the dimension-hopping battle betwixt Thor and Surtur momentarily distracts Odin, allowing Seth to seize the upper-hand and potentially kill the Lord of Asgard.

At this dramatic apex, DeFalco does a great job (IMHO) of supplying deliverance from very unexpected sources.  The Black Knight, who has been struggling against the slow advance of the ebony blade curse--which has been turning him into an extension of that mystic blade--is completely paralyzed.  Hogun the Grim, who we've been repeatedly reminded is "marked for death" by Seth, decides to accept his fate by launching one last assault on Seth in an effort to save Odin.
Hurling the paralyzed Knight like a spear, the mystic properties of the ebony blade are able to pierce Seth's head, killing the death god.

 Following the defeat of Seth, and the (momentary) knocking out of Surtur, the Thor returns the Odinforce to his father.  Odin, in turn, serves as the deus ex machina by "absorbing the very essence" of Surtur into himself, so as to imprison the fire demon forever.  (Of course, if defeating Surtur was this easy, it begs the question why Odin didn't do it millennia ago.)

Note the largely tertiary Leir positioned behind Fandral, while Caber is on the other side of the panel.  Maybe the "lord of lightning and god of the spear" didn't appreciate being reprimanded?

Other sources on The Mighty Thor #400

• http://peerlesspower.blogspot.com/2014/12/to-rise-again.html

• http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/thor_396-400.shtml