Reading pre-Moore Supreme - Supreme #21

After the diversion into two miniseries that added almost nothing of value to the story of Supreme, we're back to the really bad regular series! (Why did I decide to do this?) 

Supreme issue 21 came out in November 1994. Written, edited and lettered by Kurt Hathaway. Penciled by Joe Bennet and Cedric Nocon and inked by Norm Rapmund. Bennet would stick around for a while, being the first penciler on the series when Moore took over with issue 41.

We pick up with Thor in Asgard, still pissed off over losing his hammer to Supreme. I never thought this whole hammer thing would go on for as long as it has. I guess we're finally going to get the resolution to that and have Supreme end up with his powers again.

Anyway, Thor goes to see his father Odin, who has brought Supreme in as his guest. For no reason at all, Supreme has his older costume with the weird gold shoulder pads. Loki is watching as Odin decides there will be a contest between Thor and Supreme to see who can keep the hammer. Supreme initially doesn't want to do it but is goaded in by Thor.

They have a feast that night, during which time Supreme recounts how he was on the Washington Monument when the rainbow bridge opened up and brought him to Asgard. 

 

Loki takes a chance to talk to Supreme and offers to use his magic to help Supreme but Supreme is having none of it. Well, I'm sure that's the end of that. 

The next day, they have three contests. The first is picking up a giant golden statue. Supreme lifts it easily. Then Thor tries, but Loki makes it extra heavy. Thor still lifts it.

Next up, they're both sent to identical mountains to bring back the most valued treasure. There's all kind of riches and stuff, but Supreme brings back a wooden carving of Thor, saying that Odin's feeling for Thor are more valuable than any other treasure. Thor brought back a shield, in which he saw himself, the most valuable treasure.

So Odin sets up the tie breaker.  They have to fly around Asgard three times. Whoever is fastest wins. Supreme does it first and is fast. Then Thor goes, but feels fatigued and when he sees Loki, he realizes that Loki has been sapping his strength. So Thor blows up and starts attacking Loki. He then uses the hammer to turn into a living thunderbolt and finishes the race. 

Odin declares it another tie and says they have to fight. But that will have to wait for next time.