“What madness is this, Volstagg!!? I thought thou feared neither man nor beast!!” “In truth, I do not–!! But that is neither man nor beast– It is– my wife!!”
This is the fourth chapter of the Odinsword Saga. Let’s recap. The Odinsword was cracked by a mysterious enemy, so Thor is embarking on a quest to discover who is responsible. They are almost ready to leave.
Featuring: Thor Release: June 1, 1965 Cover: 1965 25 cents Mighty story by: Stan Lee Majestic art by: Jack Kirby Masterful inking by: Vince Colletta Mostly lettered by: Sam Rosen 15 pages
Thus, the Thunder God falls.. for time without end.. through a vast void of heavy nothingness… of shimmering energy barriers and mystic space disrupters…
This is the first Thor Annual. Your 25 cents is mostly buying you reprint stories. But you also get a 15 page new Thor story, which is perhaps more properly a Tales of Asgard story, focused as it is on an early adventure of Thor. In those tales, Loki is always scheming to kill him, but Thor seems blissfully unaware.
We’ve reviewed some early history of Hercules and Zeus. Marvel introduced a gigantic superhero named for Hercules then weeks later introduced a comedic hero named Little Hercules. A mythologically-confused version of Hercules gave his powers to Marvel Boy in 1940 and then to another Marvel Boy in 1943. Tommy Tyme witnessed the mythological Hercules’ legendary battle against Antaeus, which bore quite the resemblance to a Thor story we read where he battled Sigurd.
Jupiter was a recurring character in Venus, and the Jupiter of Roman myth is very similar to the Zeus of Greek myth. We saw Zeus unleash a Fury in a 1955 fantasy story. We know Zeus had given Pandora her box from a 1961 Tales of Suspense story. And that Pandora’s Box was later used by the Sorcerer to menace Johnny Storm. In the early days of our reading, we read a weird tale where Zeus came to Earth to prove his power, and was offered movie deals.
But those appearances of Hercules and Zeus are not necessarily part of our canon. This issue represents the proper Marvel Universe introductions of Hercules and Zeus.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: June 1, 1965 Cover: August 1965 12 cents Written with gallantry by: Stan Lee Drawn with greatness by: Jack Kirby Inked with grandeur by: Vince Colletta Lettered with a straight face by: Artie Simek 5 pages
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: May 4, 1965 Cover: July 1965 12 cents Story by: Stan Lee the legend teller! Art by: Jack Kirby the legend maker! Inking by: Vince Colletta the legend portrayer! Lettering by: Sam Rosen the letterer! 5 pages
This is the second part of what I’ll dub the “Odinsword Saga”. Unlike most sagas which we’ll try to read all together, I’ve deemed this one reads best one chapter at a time, as the backups to the main Thor feature.
To recap, warriors of Asgard were getting restless, when Odin revealed the Oversword was broken, and directed Thor and Loki to go on a quest to learn who was responsible.
Now Thor is visiting Morduk the map maker.
Is that candle holder a monstrous hand? That’s cool.
Morduk warns Thor’s course will take him… into the unknown.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: March 4, 1965 Cover: May 1965 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Pencilling: Jack Kirby Inking: Vince Colletta Lettering: Artie Simek 5 pages
Another early scheme of Loki. While Thor flirts with Princess Rinda, Loki schemes with King Hymir. Hymir issues two challenges Thor is honor-bound to accept. Those who fail Hymir’s challenges become his slaves.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: February 4, 1965 Cover: April 1965 12 cents Writer: Stan Lee Illustrator: Jack Kirby Delineator: Vince Colletta Letterer: Artie Simek 5 pages
This is the third Loki-centric story. Not really sure why this is a significant chapter in his life. I guess it’s an early example of him being evil. They seem to make a big deal that this is his first time forming an evil alliance.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: January 5, 1965 Cover: March 1965 12 cents By: Stan Lee + Jack Kirby Inking: Vince Coletta [sic] Lettering: Artie Simek 5 pages
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: December 3, 1964 Cover: February 1965 12 cents A Stan Lee and Jack Kirby fabulous featurette! Inked by: Vince Colletta Lettered by: Artie Simek 5 pages
The story is credited to Stan and Jack without any breakdown of who did what.
Stan refers to this as the “biographies-in-depth” series. There’s not that much depth. This is the second chapter of Loki’s “biography” and the third character spotlighted after Heimdall and Balder.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: November 3, 1963 Cover: January 1964 12 cents Majestically written by: Stan Lee Magnificently drawn by: Jack Kirby Masterfully inked by: Vince Colletta Magnanimously lettered by: Artie Simek 5 pages
We see this story described as the start of a new biography in-depth. There won’t be that much depth. What’s meant is that we have had sequences of this series devoted to Heimdall and Balder respectively. It’s now Loki’s turn to take the spotlight for the next few issues.
This story is set when Thor is a young child, and the universe as well is young. Odin is solidifying his rule and Asgard is at war with Jotunheim. Jotunheim is a land of giants and Laufey is their king. Odin seeks to end Laufey’s rule.
We have before met Frost Giants, Storm Giants, Rime Giants, and Mountain Giants. The inhabitants of Jotunheim are here just referred to as giants. Later comic stories will suggest Laufey is actually a Frost Giant, but he looks nothing like Ymir.
Odin is wielding what appears to be the uru hammer he would later give to Thor.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: October 1, 1964 Cover: December 1964 12 cents Superbly written by: Stan Lee Supremely drawn by: Jack Kirby Savagely inked by: Vince Colletta Sagatiously lettered by: Artie Simek 5 page
The theme of many of these early Thor stories is that Loki is still considered a friend and ally by Thor, yet Loki is always secretly trying to get Thor killed, usually in pretty non-subtle ways. This has been going on since they were children.
Loki has recommended a short cut through a forbidden forest, then goads Sigurd and Thor into battle. Balder is suspicious.
