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Post by sabongero on Aug 30, 2019 14:48:46 GMT -5
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Post by sabongero on Aug 30, 2019 14:49:37 GMT -5
 Thor #126"Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" (March 1966 @ 0.12 ¢) Writer: Stan Lee Penciler: Jack Kirby Inker: Vince Colletta Letterer: Artie Simek Editor: Stan Lee Editor-in-Chief: Stan Lee Synopsis: Thor vs Hercules for Jane Foster. Thor was holding back a bit, but the battle still went back and forth, with either of the gods getting the upper hand. Until Odin decided on Thor's punishment for leaving Asgard, thus breaking His law, and waylaying Heimdall in the process. Sapped of his strength, the Thunder God fell to Hercules. The media at citizens cheered the winner and turned their back on Thor. Comments: Both Norse God and Olympian God acted as though they weren't immortal, but bragging men with huge egos. Thor kept telling Hercules to cease the battle because innocents can get hurt, yet he continues to slug it out with him. Why didn't he just fly away to avoid the conflict? Hercules kept jibing at him that he is undefeated and will never quit, but in his mind, he is very much concerned with Thor's might. He even thinks Mjolnir is a better weapon than his own Mace as it whirled back immediately to Thor's hands each time it left. Thor was holding back, but little does he know that Odin is about to punish him. And his strength was sapped and he fell in battle against Hercules. I like the way the public was portrayed here. Most people when watching or following professional sports would say good things and praise the first place team or champion. Most people are termed "front-runner" often just following winners, and putting down losers and turning their back on the losers, even though they cheered these same losers a while back when they just happened to be winners at the time. And Hercules, true to being a conceited Olympian God relished the fan approval of the people. A defeated Thor just meekly walked away even being put down by a few of the remaining people. But he still couldn't believe he lost. Odin is supposed to be "all-wise" but he comes across as not treating men and women equally. Ordering Jane Foster to follow and comfort his son, Jane immediately obeys and still is a damsel in distress type at this juncture. I suppose Stan and Jack portray some of their women still as second class citizens to men at this time. "The Summons!" Synopsis: This is a secondary story in which Thor rescued an enshackled Loki from Ula, the Queen of the Flying Trolls. She told him that she'd release Loki in return from Thor's never leaving and sharing her throne. A lightning bolt crackled and Thor holding Loki escaped, going back to the Odinship, where the Warriors Three along with Balder the Brave were interacting. Thor and Loki arrived and all cheered. Odin's image appeared telling them their mission is completed and that they needed to go back to Asgard which is in danger. Comments: Other brief tales of Asgardians is a welcome sight in early Thor stories. It helped give the other Asgardians personality and their interactive banter is very entertaining, and Jack Kirby showcased not individuals but funny moments as well, such as when Volstagg's enormous girth almost inadvertently threw overboard the other Asgardians as he sat to row the Odinship with them. |
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Post by profh0011 on Aug 30, 2019 15:03:23 GMT -5
Possibly the funniest thing "ye editor" ever did: "INSTANT RECAP DEPT.: Hercules has come to Earth! He's got the big eye for Thor's chick! Goldilocks is bugged, but good! So they're fighting it out. (There, that's as painless as we could make it.)"
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Post by profh0011 on Aug 30, 2019 15:08:09 GMT -5
from a few years back...
"WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY!"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: Thor and Hercules fight over Jane Foster. Odin, still angry because Thor revealed his identity to Jane, removes half Thor's powers by giving 'Odin Power' to Seidring. Hercules defeats Thor."
Possibly the single most overblown, bombastic, over-the-top one-on-one knock-down drag-out in all of 60's Marvel is presented herein! Hercules beats Thor, but ONLY because Odin wanted him to. After, dejected, feeling he is not worthy of Jane's love, Thor wanders off, only for Jane, who started the whole thing by flirting with Herc because she felt she was being ignored, regrets her deeds, and, at Odin's urging, goes after her man! Sheesh.
JACK KIRBY supplies story & stupendous, eye-popping artwork; ye "editor" completely overdoes it with the dialogue, having the characters talk talk talk NON-STOP even though such should be impossible in the midst of such a heated battle; and Vince "Who's the hero again?" Colletta lays waste the rubble with an endless barrage of fine-line inking. NOT to be missed! NOT to be BELIEVED!
I first read this in MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #3 (1974).
"THE SUMMONS!"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: The Argonauts are called home to Asgard by Odin."
Thor flies to confront Queen Ula face-to-face, demanding that she set Loki free. Makes a complete farce of Loki's life-long claims that Thor NEVER stuck up for him, doesn't it? Ula reminds me an awful lot of the "Lightning Lady" from CAPTAIN VICTORY, which makes sense, if you figure in reincarnation in the cycle of the gods. Before much can happen, the entire crew of the Argo is summoned home by Odin, who apparently has found out some important information about something called... "RAGNAROK".
JACK KIRBY supplies story & art! Ye "editor" does dialogue! Vince "Geez, how many characters are in this thing?" Colletta lays down the ink lines. A CLASSIC!
(3-8-2014)
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Post by sabongero on Sept 4, 2019 15:44:55 GMT -5
 Thor #127"The Hammer and the Holocaust!" (April 1966 @ 0.12 ¢) Writer: Stan Lee Penciler: Jack Kirby Inker: Vince Colletta Letterer: Sam Rosen Editor: Stan Lee Editor-in-Chief: Stan Lee Synopsis: Thor left Jane Foster wanting to be alone and ponder in thought as he cannot believe he lost to the Mighty Hercules. In Hollywood, a new Hercules movie is being prepared, but Pluto, the Greek/Roman god of the dead is planning something dreadful for the unbeknownst Hercules. And in Asgard, a double-cross from Odin's most trusted right-hand, Seidring, struck down the lord of Asgardians with his own usurped Odin-Power. Thor returned to Asgard to see that a great mishap has happened to the Asgardians. He battled Seidring, and was about to fall in battle, until he made it to the chamber housing the Odin Sword and threatened to destroy all Asgard and Asgardians than be subservient to one as not noble as Seidring. Fear engulfed Seidring and ceded the Odin-Power back to Odin and the return of Odin's presence made him flee in fear of his life. Odin lifted the unconscious body of Thor from the Odin Sword chamber. Comments: Thor was valiant in his battle against Sedring, but was vain and too proud to admit his defeat in the beginning of the story. So when Odin, called him the noblest of all Asgardians, sometimes it doesn't fit. Perhaps Balder would be more qualified as the noblest Asgardian. But he is just a supporting character or a "ham-and-egger" at this point in time in the Thor series. Pluto is presented as a sinister character, but Kirby's pencils make him out to be a monster, with a disfigured face. Albeit the sunglasses can make even a monster look somewhat "cool." Unpleasant to look at, but kind of cool. I'd like to see Hercules and Pluto come to blows, hopefully in the next issue. "Tales of Asgard: The Meaning of Ragnarok!" Synopsis: Odin summoned all the Asgardian warriors from the quest to listen to the prophetess Volla talk about the prophecy of Ragnarok, where the gods will be consumed with battle amongst each other. Then the evil forces will go to the Bifrost Bridge and destroy it, and as the Asgardians battle and kill each other, the finality and doom will arrive with the Midgard Serpent unleashed to consume all that remained of Asgard and the Asgardians. Comments: I wonder why Stan Lee called the Asgardians, Argonauts for some reason in this back-up story. Anyways, Ragnarok, the end story of the Norse mythology. There's no coming back from this. Of course... let's see what happens in the next issue, on how it can be forestalled. |
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Post by profh0011 on Sept 4, 2019 16:10:38 GMT -5
from 2014:
"THE HAMMER AND THE HOLOCAUST!"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: The weakened and defeated Thor returns to Asgard where he finds Seidring has taken over. He battles the 'odin power' and defeats Seidring only to collapse himself."
Seems like Odin can't trust ANYBODY except the SON who's proven over and over and over to him how loyal and truthful he is. It's like Dale Arden & Flash Gordon in the newspaper strip. No matter how much Flash PROVED himself, no matter how much he risked his LIFE to save her, Dale KEPT accusing him of chasing every other woman in sight. Maybe Flash should have hooked up with Prince Barin. Those two could have given Dale & Aura something to think about.
JACK KIRBY doth supply wondrous story & art beyond the normal scope of mere funny-books! Yon weasely "editor" doth filleth in the word balloons while cravenly STEALING credit & pay for the entire story; and Vince "sword-carrier" Colletta maketh with the multitudinous ink lines. MISS IT NOT!!
"THE MEANING OF RAGNAROK!"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: Volla reveals the events of the day of Ragnarok."
The cycle of the gods is UNVEILED in all its darkly portent. The only question one MIGHT ask is... are the events on display a foreboding a a future yet to come-- or a look into the dim recesses of the past, showing how an EARLIER cycle of Norse gods didst destroy themselves, but were reborn in the form of the "Marvel Universe" Norse gods??? OR-- BOTH???
JACK KIRBY supplies story & art, ye "editor" does dialogue, and Vince "I don't get it" Colletta does inks. VERILY!
While I read the lead story in MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #3 (1974), the back-up I have in MARVEL SPECTACULAR #12 (also 1974). Oddly enough, this issue is one that falls thru the cracks in between THOR MASTERWORKS Vol.3 and ESSENTIAL THOR Vol.3, and so is one of many I've either had to track down originals of, or, read the poorly-reproduced 70's reprints of. I just didn't feel like buying an entire extra reprint volume to get a FEW issues I was still missing.
(3-11-2014)
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Post by sabongero on Oct 2, 2019 12:14:41 GMT -5
 Thor #128"The Power of Pluto!" (May 1966 @ 0.12 ¢) Writer: Stan Lee Penciler: Jack Kirby Inker: Vince Colletta Letterer: Artie Simek Editor: Stan Lee Editor-in-Chief: Stan Lee Synopsis: Thor is bed-ridden and recovering from his wounds, as a result of getting beaten up by Hercules after his power was cut in half by Odin. A guilt-ridden Odin summoned Seidring and condemned him to the realm of the Rock Trolls who think he's the king of their infertile world. Meanwhile in a Hollywood studio in California Hercules was taken to a movie studio set and unaware that it is a front for Pluto and Hippolyta, did a screen test and defeated a machine, thus being rewarded a giant feast by Pluto. Distracted by the feast, Pluto had him sign an Olympian Contract which Hercules foolishly signed, thus binding him to take over as ruler of Hades forever. After ice fishing with Balder, a recovered Thor requested Odin that he be allowed to battle Hercules on a rematch and was granted. At California, Thor arrived to see Hercules under attack by hordes of Pluto's minions. He helped the Olympian battle as a gloating Pluto and Hippolyta teleported away, and with their disappearance, the minions disappeared as well. Hercules explained to Thor what happened and feeling sorry for Hercules, Thor departed and not even thought about the rematch. Comments: Brash. Foolish. And not checking to see what's in store for him. Come what may come. This is what makes Hercules interesting. And it usually results in something bad that eventually goes his way. Like in mythology, these gods are more foolish at times than people. But then, that's so the story becomes more entertaining. And that's what comic books are for. So you also have a remorseful father ticked off. But hey, Thor recovered his strength within less than half the issue, and looking forward to kicking Herc's behind in a rematch, is a sort of letdown with Herc being a Jerk and signing that contract. There goes the slugfest rematch, and Thor just tweedles his thumb feeling sorry for the Olympian at the end. "Tales of Asgard: Aftermath!" Synopsis: Odin told the Asgardian warriors about the prophesies of Volla, of the coming destruction of Asgard and the Asgardians from Ragnarok, and that Loki is they key component leading the revolt. Then the Midgard Serpent will lay waste to Asgard, and Surtur will rise and set afire to Asgard. But then life after the destruction would restart again and eventually return to it's former self. Loki defied Odin's tale and said the old woman's visions are not rational. Odin still believed Loki is the cause of Ragnarok. Comments: And the God of Mischief is the cause of the fall of Asgard and its gods. But Loki defiant as ever calls it foolhardiness. After all, who wants to be embarrassed in front of your peers that you are the cause and result of their destruction. But if that is your fate, then it is your fate... for those who believe in fates. I feel that Loki gets a bad rap, but that's his cause in life. Someone has to be the "Judas" after all. At least the Asgardians won't be blind-sided from a "Pearl Harbor attack" and know in advance what to expect during their time of doom. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Oct 2, 2019 13:38:00 GMT -5
Here, again, Pluto/Hades is mis-represented as an evil figure. Hades is the name, not the place (Pluto to the Romans) and is no more or less evil than any other god. He rules the Underworld, where all dead reside, both virtuous and vile. Western theology and literature bastardized this into equating him with the Judeo-Christian Satan and use Hades as a term for Hell. Comics are even worse than English literature for mixing pantheon names and reassigning attributes not found in classic myth.
Most accounts seem to indicate that Thor was far more Kirby's book than Stan's, much like Dr Strange was more Ditko than Stan, with Tales of Asgard being pretty much all Kirby, except dialogue (and Stan stuck more to Kirby's suggestions on those stories). We will probably never really be able to say what percentage is one's contribution vs another, and how much a suggestion by one was carried out by the other. however, Thor has far more in common with Kirby's own work to reinforce the claims that he was pretty much plotting this one solo (or with minimal input from Stan), compared to the FF, which definitely feels more of a synthesis of the two.
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Post by sabongero on Jul 2, 2020 13:17:46 GMT -5
 Thor #129"The Verdict of Zeus!" (June 1966 @ 0.12 ¢) Writer: Stan Lee Penciler: Jack Kirby Inker: Vince Colletta Letterer: Artie Simek Editor: Stan Lee Editor-in-Chief: Stan Lee Synopsis: Thor appeared in Manhattan, and a cab driver took him from onlookers and he arrived at Jane Foster's home and was met by her new roommate Tana Nile, who somehow compelled him to kneel in front of her. At Mount Olympus, the Greek Gods were having festivities when Pluto made his appearance and announced he has found someone to take his place as ruler of the Netherworld. Hercules. Hercules was making his way towards Olympus to plead his case in regards to the trickery utilized by Pluto, but was met by a Titan. And they battled, with Hercules besting him, but a lightning halted his heading to Olympus as Zeus ordered him to stay his ground and the only way to avoid his rulership of the Netherworld was for someone to volunteer to battle for him risking being trapped in the Netherworld as well. Thor proposed to Jane Foster and willing to sacrifice his godhood. Tana vowed to be rid of Thor as he might ruin all of her plans. Thor made it to Asgard and was met by Balder telling him regarding the Day of Three Worlds. Hercules couldn't convince the other Greek gods to battle for him, but Thor made his presence known and will battle for Hercules. Comments: For all of Thor's powers, why the heck does he ride a taxi cab to Jane Foster's home dressed up in his costume. And worse still he doesn't pay the cab driver any fare. Arrogant isn't he? Then he has foolish problems like he's going to marry Jane Foster and give up all his powers. If there ever was a jabroni move on the Thunder God's part that was it. It's like Superman going mortal in Superman II and then wishing he never gave up his powers after getting beaten up by a truck driver at a diner. Bonehead. At least we still have Herc being a jerk, but it should be more of being Herc and Jerk with Thor being a jerk in this issue. "Tales of Asgard: The Hordes of Harokin!" Synopsis: Loki is taken to a chamber where is placed in suspended animation. The Hordes of Harokin marched to Muspelhiem and on to Asgard with the power of the Warlock Eye which was powerful enough to knock out the defenders. And Thor and the Warriors Three approached the Horde. Comments: It's interesting to note that advanced technology placed Loki in suspended animation. Technology and not godlike powers of magic imprisoned Loki. What the heck do Asgardians need technology for, if they are godlike beings? |
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Post by sabongero on Jul 2, 2020 13:18:20 GMT -5
For some reason, Thor in issue #129 rubbed me the wrong way.
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Post by nerdygirl905 on Jul 2, 2020 16:32:05 GMT -5
Ah, yes. The old Thor stuff. Good.
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