Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: January 3, 1964
Cover: March 1964
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee
Illustrated by: Jack Kirby
Inked by: Paul Reinman
Lettered by: Art Simek
5 pages
Anybody else feel like this title would be more dramatic without the quotation marks, which seem to imply that death is not actually coming for Thor.
This completes a trilogy of stories of the Boyhood of Thor. The focus has been on his attempts to earn the right to wield Odin’s magic hammer. We learn from the title that Thor is now 18, a little older than in the last adventures. This is the tale of how Thor finally lifts his magic uru hammer.
It begins with the Three Fates, who warn Thor he will have to meet death before he earns the hammer.
We then see Balder, who has been injured in battle with the Storm Giants who have captured his sister, Sif. We caught a very brief glimpse of Balder once before, and get only a slightly better look now.
We meet Rugga, King of the Storm Giants. Thor battled Storm Giants two issues ago, but I think this is our first time meeting their king.
This blonde damsel in distress is not at all the Sif I am familiar with from later comics. She will change somewhat between this ancient tale and the present day.
While earning his hammer is the issue’s most significant milestone, it is not the only one. We are also introduced to Hela, Goddess of Death. We’ll definitely be seeing her again.
Here she is portrayed by Cate Blanchett on the big screen.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 57/100
Significance: ★★★★☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol. 2. It is also available in Thor Epic Collection vol. 1: God of Thunder. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Thor
- Three Fates
- Balder
- King Rugga
- Hela
- Sif
Story notes:
- Thor picks up the hammer!
- Sif is Balder’s sister. Described as “gentle Sif”.
- Hela promised Rugga immortality in exchange for Sif.
- Thor offers to trade his life for Sif’s. Hela is so impressed that she lets them both go.
#160 story in reading order
Next: Sgt. Fury #6
Previous: Journey Into Mystery #102
