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Post by Hoosier X on Apr 20, 2024 19:49:19 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery #114 is a book that I wish I could scrub my brain clean of just so that I could read it again for the first time, it's that good and I'm very happy that Hoosier's advice lead me into reading it and falling madly in love with Thor From here to about #140 is among my Top Five Comic Book Runs EVER! And then it's kind of iffy for a few issues. And then the Wrecker is introduced and then Hela shows up and then Ulik frees the Mangog and then Ego returns and then Galactus shows up with the intent to consume Ego and then Galactus's origin and then a bunch of other amazing stuff for 20 great issues. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 23, 2024 5:03:06 GMT -5
Journey into Mystery #115
April 1965 "The Vengeance of the Thunder God" This is my copy  Comments:
Nice issue that wraps up the origin of the Absorbing man and lays the groundwork for the open hostility of the Loki/Thor conflict. Odin realizes that their animosity with each other has to be dealt with. As for the fight with Creel, I enjoyed the display of the absorbing power. But with many of these types of abilities, I like to see the writer outline some limitations. It seems that Creel can absorb any element or power. He gets struck by a glass and absorbs it, so I have to assume that he intentionally allowed himself to be turned into glass. Otherwise, he is subject to turning into elements against his will. Walking on the ground will turn him into concrete against his will, etc. He must have control over when he transforms. In the SA, there wasn't a learning curve to dealing with newfound powers. Characters got abilities and instantly were experts with them. Anyway, Thor uses his hammer at cyclotronic (?) speed to transform the elements that Creel has absorbed and turns him into helium. Man, why didn't he use this from the beginning? The hammer has the potential to become problematic. It's the ultimate deus ex machina for any difficult situation. Well, Maybe Hoosier X is right. Comics are dumb. Or I can default to the Slam_Bradley philosophy that comics are all unrealistic and not to worry about it too much. Interesting bits:
Thor and the other Avengers have official authority to take over a situation  The flames that Thor hurls at Creel are absorbed creating a nice " Human torch" visual.  So Thor can wipe your memory ?  Handkerchiefs are a thing of the past  Miscellaneous items from my actual Copy-
I took pics of the house ads in the book. Things like this is what makes me want to acquire the actual books.    |
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 23, 2024 5:16:20 GMT -5
Sorry, forgot the Tales of Asgard feature.
Another chapter in Loki's hatred for Thor, but it also shows that he has no loyalty towards Asgard.
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Post by kirby101 on Apr 23, 2024 8:58:47 GMT -5
I want to point out what a great job Frank Giacoia did here. (called Frankie Ray) His strong inks always looked great on Kirby. Next month Vinnie the eraser takes over.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 23, 2024 20:14:54 GMT -5
the cover makes Absorbing Man look like a giant monster from the 50s!
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Post by Marv-El on Apr 24, 2024 18:24:49 GMT -5
I agree with the sentiment about getting the actual issue(s) to see the house ads within. They're fun, dynamic, and they still work! I've gotten plenty of back issues that I initially saw through house ads in other issues.
I have to ask though, about the cover to #115, what is up with Loki? Is he flying? Is he lording over the fight? Is he leaning over an invisible wall? It's just an odd placement to me.
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 24, 2024 18:43:32 GMT -5
I agree with the sentiment about getting the actual issue(s) to see the house ads within. They're fun, dynamic, and they still work! I've gotten plenty of back issues that I initially saw through house ads in other issues. I have to ask though, about the cover to #115, what is up with Loki? Is he flying? Is he lording over the fight? Is he leaning over an invisible wall? It's just an odd placement to me. I was going to mention that the cover is poorly designed. Loki's figure diverts the eye from the action and he's missing his torso. |
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Post by Marv-El on Apr 24, 2024 18:53:40 GMT -5
The fight scene is engaging enough as it is especially Absorbing Man. If Loki's name was mentioned in the story title maybe I can see adding him to the cover instead he looks like he was added onto it as an afterthought.
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 28, 2024 6:31:02 GMT -5
Journey into Mystery # 116
“ The Trial of the Gods” Writer Stan Lee Artist: Jack Kirby Artist Inks: Vince Colletta
Plot summary: Thor and Loki are called in the presence of Odin to take part in something called trial of the Gods. It is essentially a race through the land of Skornheim , which is perilous and can result in their deaths. They are forbidden to take any weapons with them and the person who returns to Asgard is the winner. Once transported to that land it is revealed that Loki has magical Norn stones to aid him. While in the dark land, Loki reveals to Thor that he has sent the Enchantress and the executioner to abduct Jane Foster while they undertake the challenge. Loki uses this to gain a psychological advantage and distract the Thunder God in the contest. Immediately, Loki uses the stones to become intangible and pass a thorn forest that can tear through even steel. Thor has to use his helmet covered by his cape to pass. All the obstacles will place Thor at a disadvantage without any weapons. In the meanwhile , Balder informs Odin that the Enchantress and Executioner are placing Jane in danger and Odin uses his Celestial screen to verify that Balder is correct. Odin sends him to earth to protect Jane. In Skornheim, Thor and Loki are confronted by a huge being called Yagg who is there to slay all intruders to the land. Again Loki uses the stones to escape while Thor has to defeat Yagg using the David and Goliath method to fell the giant. Meanwhile on earth we see a teen Brigade member try to summon various heroes to battle the Enchantress and her partner to no avail, but Balder arrives and goes to challenge the duo. The issue leaves us at a cliffhanger when Loki passes through dimensional Barrier leading to Asgard and seeming victory. To be continued Comments: This was an exciting issue that had many great Kirby visuals including incredible creatures and dangerous landscapes for the two to traverse. The fantasy element is just amazing and Thor is at his best when he is on a quest through these types of mysterious lands where even his power is not an advantage. Loki is his usual scumbucket self and his having a hidden weapon was a weak point in an otherwise great story. The two should have been searched before going to the land of Skornheim. Surely Stan could have written that the stones were planted in Skornheim for Loki to obtain later. Another weakness is that this contest should have been monitored by someone in Asgard. In this issue , Odin uses a device to see what is happening on earth. It seems to me that this trial should also have been likewise available for viewing. Despite these problems, i found this to be an exciting read from start to finish. Sorry Hoosier X but it turned into another GET JANE FOSTER chapter while Thor was in battle in Skornheim. Cool moments:The Avengers , this time including Captain America , are given cameos at a meeting wondering where Thor was. In the same two page sequence, you see what's happening for various other Marvel heroes. Daredevil is shown swinging by in pursuit of the Submariner and the Frightful Four are seen near the Baxter building seeing if the Fantastic Four survived their last encounter with them. With this issue it appears that Vince Colletta is the regular Inker replacing Chic Stone.  I love all cameos by the original Avengers. And you see a cameo by Daredevil plugging his own book. The Frightful Four get chased away when they think Balder is the Human Torch. I love these connections to the events of other Marvel books.  Tales of Asgard:
Thor and Loki are on a diplomatic mission to visit King Hymir. Loki urges the King to challenge Thor to a contest which will result in his enslavement if he loses. He has Thor catch a fish , but when he is at sea, it is not a simple fish, it is a huge sea monster. Thor uses his hammer to slay the beast. When he returns to the palace, the King gives him the main challenge , which is to break a simple drinking goblet. Thor soon finds out that the goblet is enchanted and cannot be destroyed. He finds put that he has been tricked and decides to kill the king in order to escape enslavement. The King's sister Princess Rinda reveals that Thor has indeed been tricked and it is justified. Thor throws the goblet at the Kings head and shatters his crown, halting the magical properties of the crown. Comments: This is the first time that Thor has shown that he is willing to kill an opponent and his cold blooded assessment made the story compelling. The trick challenges was a nice touch. The King's crown , which is enchanted , saves the king's life and head.  Thor is baddass and will take your head clean off. This is the best TOA story so far. Miscellaneous:There's an ad in the book to join the MMM society. 
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Post by kirby101 on Apr 28, 2024 8:15:33 GMT -5
For that terrible drawing of Thor in the MMMS ad, I would guess it's Sol Brodsky. He was the only other salaried employee besides Stan in the office. So they wouldn't have to pay for the art.
As for Loki, even as wee lads back then, we questioned why Odin continued to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's like wondering why the Robinsons hadn't Spaced Dr Smith.
As for those panels with the other heroes. They do not look like they were drawn by Kirby. The posses and layouts are not like Kirby's. That DD figure outside the window isn't Kirby. I think the panels with the Frightful Four are Kirby. So this element of other heroes was probably in the book, but maybe not the Avengers and DD. Perhaps Stan wanted different heroes to promote.
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Post by Icctrombone on Apr 28, 2024 8:55:08 GMT -5
I beg to differ. The DD pose looks like it was similar to poses I saw in Fantastic Four 39 or 40. The Avengers looks like some of the panels from maybe Avengers 16. The inking might be the problem. ( see, I don’t think Colletta is perfect).  |
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Post by Hoosier X on Apr 28, 2024 9:53:10 GMT -5
( see, I don’t think Colletta is perfect). That’s very reassuring. |
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Post by kirby101 on Apr 28, 2024 12:05:51 GMT -5
All the DD in those FF issues where drawn by Wally Wood. So that is not a good comparison. And beyond the pose, which doesn't look like Kirby to me. The anatomy and musculature is not Kirby's.
And the Avengers panel just looks to static to be Kirby, the Wasp's pose is very awkward. And the next panel 3 shot is also unlike Kirby.
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Post by Cei-U! on Apr 28, 2024 12:15:43 GMT -5
All the DD in those FF issues where drawn by Wally Wood. So that is not a good comparison. And beyond the pose, which doesn't look like Kirby to me. The anatomy and musculature is not Kirby's. And the Avengers panel just looks to static to be Kirby, the Wasp's pose is very awkward. And the next panel 3 shot is also unlike Kirby. The DD figures in FF #39 are inked by Wood but pencilled by Kirby; those in FF #40 are Kirby and Colletta. One figure in the latter is nearly identical to the JiM panel. The Avengers figures are also Kirby. Just look at Iron Man's hands in the second panel. I can't think of any reason for Stan to have those panels redrawn. Maybe it's just Colletta's sloppy inks that are throwing you off.
Cei-U! I summon my eye for art!
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Post by kirby101 on Apr 28, 2024 12:36:25 GMT -5
All the DD in those FF issues where drawn by Wally Wood. So that is not a good comparison. And beyond the pose, which doesn't look like Kirby to me. The anatomy and musculature is not Kirby's. And the Avengers panel just looks to static to be Kirby, the Wasp's pose is very awkward. And the next panel 3 shot is also unlike Kirby. The DD figures in FF #39 are inked by Wood but pencilled by Kirby; those in FF #40 are Kirby and Colletta. One figure in the latter is nearly identical to the JiM panel. The Avengers figures are also Kirby. Just look at Iron Man's hands in the second panel. I can't think of any reason for Stan to have those panels redrawn. Maybe it's just Colletta's sloppy inks that are throwing you off.
Cei-U! I summon my eye for art!
I'll check FF 40, but I take your word for it. Those don't look like Kirby hands to me on IM. As for why, just speculating that Stan might have decided on different heros to highlight, for instance, Rick Jones might have been with the Hulk. Update, I looked and don't see any DD pose identical to this one in 40. What page? |
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