Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: November 5, 1963
Cover: January 1964
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Jack Kirby
Inked by: P. Reinman
5 pages
We continue with the anniversary issue of Journey Into Mystery. There is the main Thor tale, then a prose story, a sci/fi tale, and this, a story from Thor’s childhood. We get an extra subtitle for the feature: “Tales of Asgard, Home of the Mighty Norse Gods!: The Boyhood of Thor”.
Up until this point, the series had focused on the earliest days of creation, with Odin as the main star, prior to the birth of Thor. We jump forward in time now to Thor’s childhood.
Thor and Loki go to perform a great deed, retrieving the golden apples of the goddess Iduna from the Storm Giant and his two sons. They succeed despite Loki’s attempts to sabotage the quest and kill his brother.
This issue is the first hint there might be a worthiness requirement to lift Thor’s hammer. Odin says: “After each deed of valor, my son Thor, you are able to lift my hammer a little higher!”
Though I will argue in a coming issue that they explain what they really meant here. Up to this point, my conclusion is that the hammer is very heavy and one must be strong enough to lift it. Most people aren’t strong enough. Young Thor is not yet strong enough.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 56/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol.1. It is also available in Thor Epic Collection vol. 1: God of Thunder. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Thor
- Loki
- Agnar
- Odin
Story notes:
- Clarifies Thor’s hammer used to be Odin’s and that Thor would have to earn it through deeds of valor.
- Loki is Thor’s brother. He seems to be eager to see Thor killed.
- Agnar, King of the Eagles, is prisoner of the Storm Giants, freed by Thor and Loki.
#137 story in reading order
Next: Sgt. Fury #5
Previous: Journey Into Mystery #100
