Featuring: Thor
Release: October 1, 1964
Cover: December 1964
12 cents
Written with the mastery of: Stan Lee
Illustrated with the genius of: Jack Kirby
Delineated with the delicacy of: Chic Stone
Lettered with the India ink of: Artie Simek
16 pages
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| Journey Into Mystery #110, Story B | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #111, Story B |
| Journey Into Mystery #110, Story B | Journey Into Mystery | Journey Into Mystery #111, Story B |
It is a pretty cover. I would argue the box about not having captions counts as a caption.
The two panels devoted to the love of Odin’s youth is far more interesting than the many pages devoted Thor fighting Cobra and Mr. Hyde.
It’s tantalizingly sparse in details. Balder sings a song of Odin’s youth and own forbidden love, until Loki interrupts, fearing Balder is trying to sway Odin to be fairer to Jane. Odin and the unnamed girl he was forbidden to marry took “one last ride over the eternal chasm together”. What does that even mean?
I presume the woman is not Fricka, as she and Odin are currently married, so presumably have not taken any “last ride” yet. We don’t yet know much about Fricka, as we’ve only seen the back of her head.
Wise Odin entrusts Loki with the task of finding a healer that can save Jane, even though Thor just told Odin Loki was responsible for Jane’s kidnapping in the first place, and even though Loki has betrayed Odin’s trust literally every time. Balder does not trust Loki and undertakes the quest himself. And yet Odin is the all-wise one.
In general, Balder’s quest to find Hardol is the type of thing I’d like to see the series focus more on. With less Cobra and Mr. Hyde.
The issue features a pin-up of Loki.
We’ve reached October 1964. I like to peek at what else was going on in the world of comics. Let’s just browse a few covers, courtesy of Mike’s Amazing World and the Grand Comics Database.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol. 3.
It is also available in Thor Epic Collection vol. 1: God of Thunder. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Thor
- Mr. Hyde
- Cobra
- Jane Foster
- Odin
- Balder
- Girl Odin loved as a youth
- Loki
- Hardol, the Healer
Story notes:
- Full title: The Mysterious Mr. Hyde and the Serpentine Cobra feel… “The Power of the Thunder God!”
- Balder fights a phantom whose touch means death.
- Balder’s quest takes him through: the forest of eternal nightmare plants; the valley of swords; the valley of avalanches.
- Balder attaches medicine for Jane to his sword and sends it to Earth. The sword then returns to him.
| Previous | #278 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Journey Into Mystery #110, Story B | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #111, Story B |
| Journey Into Mystery #110, Story B | Journey Into Mystery | Journey Into Mystery #111, Story B |
