Thor, Sif, and Balder have defeated the now powerless Enchanters Magnir and Brona and turned them over to police custody. While in Asgard, Odin has emerged from his duel with Forsung as the victor and vows the death to all foes of Asgard. This is furious over this attack on himself, and so he teleports Magnir and Brona away from Earth, where he might punish all three of the Enchanters himself.

Back on Earth, Thor, Balder, and Sif are contacted by Odin, who tells them of the Enchanters' defeat and orders them to return to Asgard. Balder and Sif comply; however, Thor refuses, and the furious Odin decides to punish his son once more by stripping him of his all his powers except for his strength. Thor is found after and revived by Donald Blake's janitor, who suggests that Thor seek Blake's help. This is a notion that Thor refuses and leaves Blake's office and decides to start a new life.

Elsewhere, the Circus of Crime is back in operation; however, they have hit a snag in their performance when Bruto is laid out because he over strained himself trying to lift an elephant. Needing a strong man for their act, the Ringmaster begins auditions for a temporary replacement while Bruto recovers from his injuries.

The tryouts are less successful until Princess Python's prized snake gets out of its cage and attacks Thor (who has assumed street clothing and just happened by.) Horrified by seeing Thor fight off her snake, Princess Python attacks, gathering the other members of the Circus of Crime. The Ring Master is impressed by Thor's strength and asks him to prove he can pull off other feats of amazing strength. Thor proves that he has super-strength, and when the Ringmaster is convinced that Thor is an asset to their act, he uses the Hypno-disc on his hat to put Thor into his thrall so that they can exploit the Thunder God in their crime capers. The Circus of Crime, however, believes Thor is an imitator, not the genuine article.

Deciding the put the entranced Thor on one final test: Planning to steal a statue of a bull made out of gold, the Ringmaster orders Thor to lift a lead mock-up that weighs the same as the statue they intend to steal. Impressed that Thor can lift the tremendous weight, the Ringmaster decides to use Thor for his current plot, takes Thor out of the trace (commanding him to remember nothing of what happened), and informs Thor that he has the job.

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