November's Thor "journeys into the mystery" of Dr. Don Blake

(Image credit: Olivier Coipel (Marvel Comics))

Donny Cates and Nic Klein's current Thor series will be delving into one of the greatest modern mysteries of Marvel Comics: where has Doctor Donald Blake been the past few years?

(Image credit: Greg Hildebrandt (Marvel Comics))

When the mighty Thor made his Marvel Comics debut in August 1962's Journey Into Mystery #83, he was not just banished to Earth by his father Odin; he was trapped away from Asgard – until the mortal scientist Dr. Donald Blake found his mystic Uru hammer Mjolnir (disguised as a walking stick) and traded places with Thor, allowing the God of Thunder to roam free and save the world.

Now, the mystery of Donald Blake – how did he find Mjolnir, where did he go when Thor appeared, and perhaps, where the heck is he now, will be answered in November's Thor #9 - as just revealed in Marvel's just-released November 2020 solicitations.

"The 'Prey arc starts here! Once upon a time, a mortal man bore within him the spirit of a god," reads that issue's synopsis. "With a crack of his cane upon the ground, the Mighty Thor would appear!"

(Image credit: Olivier Coipel (Marvel Comics))

"But it's been years since the King of Asgard required his human ward," it continues. "Where has the good doctor been all this time – and what does his reappearance mean for the God of Thunder? Donny Cates and Nic Klein journey into a mystery left unsolved since 1962!"

Donald Blake was previously revealed to be a creation of Odin meant to help Thor learn the humble ways of humanity – a saga familiar to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Dr. Donald Blake is mentioned as Jane Foster's ex. Eerily, he was last seen as a divine, decapitated head having been tricked by the Enchantress.

Thor #9 goes on sale on November 4.

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)