Featuring: Thor
Release: August 1, 1963
Cover: October 1963
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Jack Kirby
Inked by: Don Heck
13 pages
Kirby gets main drawing credit, but the faces (excepting the Lava Man) look more like Heck’s work to my eye. The action is very Kirby though.
Beneath the surface of the Earth, Mole Man rules an army of monsters. The immortal Tyrannus rules a kingdom of underworld natives. The kingdom of Atlantis had once sunk beneath the sea, and continued sinking beneath the world; when Iron Man visited, Kala was the ruler of Atlantis. We’re about to meet our fourth kingdom beneath the surface. Fortunately, the world is big enough for all of them.
First, Thor has to spend 3 pages rescuing a pilot. As usual, it feels like they’re struggling to fill 13 pages. Thor finally meets the Lava Man on page 8.
Before that, there is vaguely interesting drama concerning Thor’s doomed love for Jane that fills 5 pages, but it has nothing to do with Lava People.
On the soap opera, Don Blake considers giving up his Thor identity. The relationship between Thor and Dr. Blake has never been clear. Sometimes they seem like two people, sometimes like one. At first, he was clearly a mortal who could summon Thor’s form and powers. But then it quickly seemed like he really was Thor. But then why was he also Dr. Blake? We have no idea. We now learn Dr. Blake can choose to be Thor no longer and just be Don Blake.
All because Odin refuses to let Thor marry a mortal.
The other side of the drama is Jane. She is tired of Dr. Blake waiting to ask her out, so she is going to quit and go work for another doctor. The comic seems to equate being a doctor’s nurse with being in a relationship with that doctor. Because she couldn’t love Blake, she decided to date Dr. Andrews. And be his nurse. As these things go together, apparently.
It’s not clear if Dr. Andews’ first name is Basil or Bruce or both.
The entirety of New York is evacuated due to Lava Man’s attack. Where are the rest of New York’s superheroes?
Rating: ★★½, 47/100
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:
- Dr. Don Blake/Thor
- Jane Foster
- Odin
- Loki
- Lava Man
- Dr. Basil (Bruce) Andrews
Story notes:
- Thor petitions Odin to marry Jane. He is refused.
- Loki caused a volcanic eruption; he will now set the Lava Man against Thor.
- Dr. Blake considers forsaking Thor identity.
- The Lava Man claims the surface world for the Lava People.
#106 story in reading order
Next: Journey Into Mystery #97, Story C
Previous: Fantastic Four #19
