Thor Annual #9

The cover by Al Milgrom sets the stakes immediately: Thor and Umar are tiny figures on a cosmic chessboard, caught between the massive reaching hand of Dormammu and the imposing presence of Odin — pawns in a deadly game between two of Marvel's most formidable powers. Writer Chris Claremont and artist Luke McDonnell deliver "The Great Game!" as the 1981 King-Size Annual epic, and the sheer scale of that chessboard composition — with shadowy chess pieces looming around the embattled heroes — promises something grander than a typical Thor adventure. If you enjoy stories where the odds are genuinely cosmic and the players are gods and sorcerers, this Annual looks like a rich place to spend an afternoon.