Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: April 2, 1964
Cover: June 1964
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee
Illustrated by: Jack Kirby
Inking: Geo Bell
Lettering: Art Simek
5 pages
Recall that last issue, we learned the origin of Heimdall. This issue we get another Heimdall tale, before the spotlight shifts to Balder starting next issue.
Nedra hatches a plot with Brimer, King of the Storm Giants, to invade Asgard, even under Heimdall’s watch. Nothing can escape his sight or hearing, but the air creatures known as the Vanna can be neither seen nor heard.
Nonetheless, Heimdall senses the approaching Vanna and lashes out. He misses and is uncertain whether to trust his own instincts.
Odin is able to catch the Vanna after Heimdall’s warning. Heimdall believes he has failed and is ready to accept punishment, but Odin thinks he has served Asgard nobly.
Last issue, we noted some chronological confusion. I had hoped we could move on from it, but it comes back to haunt this issue. Here, Brimer is King of the Storm Giants. In issue 102, Rugga was king. It thus becomes important to know which story came first so we properly understand the order of succession.
I think the correct answer is to trust Kirby’s art and not Lee’s script. The art tells a consistent story. It’s only the dialogue in issue 104 that creates confusion. Let’s review.
In #101, Thor does not yet wield his hammer; Heimdall is already at his post.
In #102, Rugga is King; Thor wields his hammer for the first time.
Last issue, we see a Storm Giant from the back who appears to be Brimer; dialogue tells us Thor already has his hammer, but Thor is never shown; Heimdall first takes up his post.
In this issue, Brimer is King of the Storm Giants; Thor is not shown or mentioned; Heimdall is at his post.
The art suggests to me that Heimdall’s watch started before Thor got his hammer, and that makes the most sense. It’s a piece of stray dialogue that tells us Thor had his hammer before Heimdall’s watch began. Probably best ignored or explained away. (e.g. Odin meant to say the hammer that would one day belong to Thor..)
We conclude Brimer was King of the Storm Giants some time before Rugga, and that Heimdall’s watch began long before Thor’s childhood.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 54/100
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:
- King Brimer
- Nedra
- Heimdall
- Odin
Story notes:
- Brimer, King of Storm Giants. We had previously met King Rugga in Journey Into Mystery #102.
- Nedra summons the Vanna, air creatures.
- Heimdall has been at his post a long time by this point.
- Heimdall does not see the Vanna, but senses it and lashes at it, but decides he was wrong to do so.
- Odin exerts all his power to sense the Vanna and make it reveal itself.
- Odin’s legions set out across Rainbow Bridge to the land of Frost Giants.
#209 story in reading order
Next: Journey Into Mystery #106
Previous: Journey Into Mystery #105
