Featuring: Thor
Release: December 3, 1964
Cover: February 1965
12 cents
A tale told with gusto by: Stan Lee
A drama drawn with grandeur by: Jack Kirby
An idyll inked with gallantry by: Chic Stone
A legend lettered with glee by: Artie Simek
16 pages
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| Daredevil #6 | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #113, Story B |
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Jack opens the story with Odin and Thor leading Asgardian soldiers aboard a giant sky ship into battle against the “demon men” of Jotunheim.
And Stan basically apologizes for that, assuring readers that Thor will soon be on Earth fighting a super-villain that’s no match for him and pining over Jane.
Stan and Jack are not on the same page with the direction Thor stories should take. I’m with Jack.
While it’s true that Stan is basically joking, he carries on with it for two pages while neglecting to actually script or provide real narration for the epic battle he seems somewhat embarrassed by. He offers us only, “For Asgard– and freedom!”
Nice sentiments, but I’m not convinced that “freedom” is a key value in Asgard, where an absolute monarch has ruled for millennia according fickle whims that must be obeyed without question, while seeming to exist in a state of perpetual war with all their neighboring realms.
We learned last issue that the men of Jotunheim are giants, like Loki’s biological father, Laufey. They don’t seem particularly giant as depicted here.
Odin tells Thor he has been on Earth for many months now; it is time to return to Asgard and take up his duties as the prince.
This is a reminder that the Thor story up to this point makes very little sense, as much is unexplained. Thor didn’t decide a few months ago to leave Asgard and go live on Earth for a bit. Dr. Don Blake found a magic cane that seemed to transform him into Thor. At least, in body. His mind was still that of Dr. Blake’s. Soon, perhaps as he grew into the persona, we learned he also had Thor’s mind and memories, and now they seem to be one mind that thinks of itself as both Dr. Blake and Thor, as though they are and have always been the same person. We also learned Thor was an actual person who lived in Asgard and had been missing. None of this has been explained.
Thor says he must continue to live on Earth because his mission is not finished. It is not clear what the mission is. Odin believes the mission is to marry Jane and throws a temper tantrum.
Thor makes the decision that he will no longer be Thor. He will tell Jane the truth, renounce godhood, and live out his days as the mortal Don Blake.
Meanwhile, Grey Gargoyle was accidentally rescued from the river he had been trapped in.
Loki, once again not a prisoner, is always happy to offer Odin council. Odin wonders if Loki may be the better son. No, Odin. He’s not. Remember when he freed Surtur just a couple months ago?
Odin decides to strip Thor of his powers. This is in line with what Thor was wanting to do, but Thor has planned to surrender his powers after demonstrating them to Jane. Odin wrecked his chance of impressing the girl. Jane does not believe Dr. Blake is Thor’s secret identity, though she does seem to assume Thor has a secret identity. Why would she think that?
Giving up superheroing never works. It’s never that long before a super-villain attacks and you suddenly appreciate the powers you just gave up.
When Grey Gargoyle attacks, Blake tells Jane to call the Avengers. Calling in reinforcements from other superheroes is a strategy superheroes should employ more often.
When Loki foils the attempts of Balder and others to aid Thor, a mystery warrior is sent to Thor’s aid. He gives Thor back his powers for just 30 seconds. Thor knows this is enough time to beat Gargoyle. This again suggests that Thor is battling villains outside his weight class.
Who is this warrior? SPOILER WARNING!! It’s Honir the Hunter.
I attempted to jokingly pretend the revelation of Honir was a big deal, but it really has me wondering. They went to a lot of effort to keep Honir’s face in shadow and have him act from just outside the panel, always concealing his face. They really did build up the Honir revelation. But… it’s Honir. Who on Earth possibly cared that it was Honir.
The story’s title was “A World Gone Mad”. It’s not obvious to me in what way the world went mad.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 53/100
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/Dr. Don Blake
- Odin
- Jane Foster
- Grey Gargoyle/Paul Duval
- Loki
- Balder the Brave
- Honir the Hunter
Story notes:
- Jane thought Dr. Blake was at a medical seminar in Chicago.
- Asgardian warriors want to help Thor; Balder tried, but Loki puts a sleeping sickness on his horse. Then Loki commands the others to patrol the eastern sector of the realm.
- Grey Gargoyle has power of limited flight.
- Thor sends bolt of electrical energy to fuse Grey Gargoyle’s stone molecules together.
- Blake decides to keep being Thor and not tell Jane his secret.
| Previous | #303 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Daredevil #6 | Reading order | Journey Into Mystery #113, Story B |
| Journey Into Mystery #112, Story B | Journey Into Mystery | Journey Into Mystery #113, Story B |
