Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: February 2, 1967 Cover: April 1967 12 cents A Stan Lee and Jack Kirby rhapsodic rabelaisian romp Inked by Vince Colletta Lettered by Art Simek 5 pages
There can be no doubt– ’tis Zanadu, wherein the accursed Mogul dwells!! Zanadu– whose hidden spires have been sought for ages– sought by those whose souls strive for justice– and for righteous retribution!! Zanadu– where the murderous Mogul rules with power absolute! But, he shall rule no longer! This doth Hogun swear!!
At last Thor and his three warrior friends find the Mystic Mountain.
Featuring: Thor Release: February 2, 1967 Cover: April 1967 12 cents Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inked with the prowess of Vince Colletta Lettered with the pen-points of Sam Rosen 16 pages
Mighty are the warriors of Asgard! Though hopelessly outnumbered… though faced with alien weapons… they did not succumb! Never hath Orikal seen the like!
“To Die Like a God!” I find that a compelling title and cover image.
At the end of last issue, Thor’s hammer was stolen, which means he will change back to Don Blake in 60 seconds. Thor then gave a long and melancholy speech, which must have taken most of that 60 seconds. As this issue opens with him still being Thor, this must be only a couple seconds later.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: January 3, 1967 Cover: March 1967 12 cents A Stan Lee and Jack Kirby super-spectacular Inking: Vince Colletta Lettering: Sam Rosen 5 pages
Featuring: Thor Release: January 3, 1967 Cover: March 1967 12 cents Garnished with grandeur by Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby Inked by: Vince (The Prince) Colletta Lettered by: Artie (The Smartie) Simek 16 pages
While they get a different nickname every issue, these nicknames we’ve seen several times and they are the nicknames which will endure. Stan The Man Lee. And Jack King Kirby.
An army of Trolls attacks Asgard, while Ulik attacks Manhattan. Thor has chosen to confront Ulik to save Sif and Midgard.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: December 1, 1966 Cover: February 1966 12 cents Fabulously presented at its full flavor peak by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inked by: Vince Colletta Lettered by: Artie Simek 5 pages
“By the sword I clutch– By the name I bear– I swear that Hogun’s fate shall be the fate of Fandral!” “So speaks Volstagg– the fearless flower of chivalry!” “In the name of Odin– so say we all!”
A new story arc begins. This will center on Hogun and his origins.
It begins with Thor and this three warrior friends coming upon a bound Saguta, whom Hogun recognizes as a warrior from his homeland. Saguta is dying, a victim of Mogul of the Mystic Mountain.
Featuring: Thor Release: December 1, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents In all the unmeasurable universe, surely there be none, save Stan Lee and Jack Kirby who couldst create such wonderment! And, ne’er again shall we see the like of Vince Colletta, inker, and Sam Rosen, letterer 16 pages
Last issue ended with Thor and Sif meeting. We pick up here with them hanging out. It’s not impossible he went to Earth between that meeting and now, but there’s no evidence he did. And I will need him with the Avengers on Earth soon. A new 3-part arc begins here. Thor will briefly travel to Earth in this story, but be busy. In the next arc, he travels to Earth and seems like he might have a bit of time on his hands.
This is to explain why we’ve gotten a bit far ahead in our Thor reading. We’re about to reach February 1967 for Thor, when we’re still in March 1966 for Hulk. Thor’s just been too busy for an Avengers meeting…. and Peter Parker already has his motorcycle for that meeting… and Matt Murdock was captured by the Owl when Spider-Man fought the Rhino… before Senator Byrd shut down Stark’s factories…
As last issue, Thor describes Sif as the raven-haired sister of Heimdall he knew as a child. But again, when we met Sif in her youth in Journey Into Mystery #102, she was described as the sister of Balder, and appeared to be blonde. Unless they are implying Heimdall and Balder are also brothers, this seems to be a contradiction. Or maybe there are two different women named Sif, sisters to Heimdall and Balder respectively.
Featuring: Spider-Man Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Stan (The Man) Lee, writer John (Ring-a-ding) Romita, artist Artie (stout-hearted) Simek, letterer 20 pages
Aunt May had been trying to set up Peter with Anna Watson’s niece since he was in high school. Her matchmaking finally paid off, and Peter met Mary Jane Watson at the end of last issue.
She was not quite as ugly as he’d feared.
Dinner is going well, but there are other things going on that will affect Peter’s life. For example, the Rhino is breaking out of prison. They took him out easily with some smoke gas last issue. But maybe they ran out of smoke gas?
Featuring: Spider-Man Release: August 9, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Smilin’ Stan Lee, writer Jazzy Johnny Romita, artist Slammin’ Sammy Rosen, letterer 20 pages
Featuring: Spider-Man Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, writer John Romita, artist M. Demeo, inker Art Simek, letterer 20 pages
I realize now– we never had anything in common! It’s just that she was the first girl I ever thought i loved!
One of the great things Ditko did was come up with a seemingly endless stream of memorable and enduring villains for Spider-Man to fight. A good many were animal-themed: the Chameleon, the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, the Lizard, the Scorpion, and the lion-themed Kraven the Hunter.
Romita needs to score with a bold new villain in that vein. The Rhino suffices.
For much of the Ditko run, Aunt May had been trying to set Peter up with Aunt Anna’s niece, Mary Jane Watson. Peter never made time for that date, and we’ve still never even seen Mary Jane’s face. Now we learn Mary Jane is moving out of Aunt Anna’s to get her own place.
A lot of teenagers in that neighborhood living with elderly aunts. I wonder how long she’d lived across the street from Peter without him ever even glimpsing her.
The Trap is Sprung Featuring: Daredevil Release: August 2, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Spellbinding script: Stan Lee Phenominal pencilling; Gene Colan Dynamic delineation: Fearless Frank * Darlin’ Dick * Wild Bill Laudatory lettering: Artie Simek Bombastic bird-watching: Irving Forbush 20 pages
