warriors three – Coke & Comics

Thor #130, Story B

The Fateful Change!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: May 3, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby
Inking: Vince Colletta
Lettering: Sam Rosen
Costumes: Asgard Haberdashery
5 pages

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Thor #130	Reading order	Daredevil #16
Thor #130	Thor	Thor #131

My glorious record proves that Volstagg knows not the meaning of fear! But, why do we race so quickly into a land where death lurks everywhere?

The meandering Odinsword Saga came to an unclimactic resolution, but this led into a couple good issues showing us Ragnarok, the end of Asgard and the death of the gods. That’s led into this story of Thor and friends battling Harokin to retrieve the Warlock’s Eye.

Kirby does cool things with the 5-page/at-most-17-panel format when doing sweeping arcs of abstract history, but it’s limiting when trying to tell a piece of a more standard story. It just doesn’t get very far.

Thor #127, Story B

The Meaning of… Ragnarok!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: February 3, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Pencilling: Jack Kirby
Delineation: Vince Colletta
Lettering: Artie Simek
5 pages

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Thor #127	Reading order	Thor #128
Thor #127	Thor	Thor #128

In the name of the omnipotent Odin– in the name of eternal Asgard– by the power of my hammer– for the glory of our cause– onwarrrrd– to victory!

The Odinsword Saga might be over now. Unclear. The story never seemed to be going anywhere and in the end it didn’t go anywhere. The whole thing was a ruse by Odin, who felt his warriors needed a bit of adventure.

So why was the Odinsword cracked if there was no enemy? Was it really cracked? Had it just always been cracked? We’ll never know. We’re moving on.

Journey Into Mystery #125, Story B

The Queen Commands

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: December 2, 1965
Cover: February 1966
12 cents
None but Marvel’s Stan Lee could tell such a tale!
None but Marvel’s Jack Kirby could draw such a tale!
None but Marvel’s Vince Colletta could ink such a tale!
None but Marvel’s Artie Simek could be such a pussycat!
5 pages

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Journey Into Mystery #125	Reading order	Thor #126
Journey Into Mystery #125	Journey Into Mystery

We seek no needless battle– though we surrender to none!

“By the bristling beard of Odin”, says the Narrator. An oath Thor exclaimed in the first part of this issue.

Journey Into Mystery #124, Story B

Closer Comes the Swarm!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: November 4, 1965
Cover: January 1966
12 cents
How gallant, this script by: Stan Lee
How glorious, this artwork by: Jack Kirby
How gracious, this inking by: Vince Colletta
How come? This lettering by: Artie Simek
5 pages

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Journey Into Mystery #124	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery #125
Journey Into Mystery #124	Journey Into Mystery	Journey Into Mystery #125

Is it not passing strange that the Grim One– the taker of countless lives in battle–should be so eager to protect the single life of Balder?

Ah, the Odinsword Saga. I made the decision not to read the whole thing at once, but that means we need to remind ourselves where we left off. In theory, the impetus for the Saga is that an unknown enemy has cracked the Odinsword, and Thor is leading a voyage to find the culprit. Along the way, Loki schemes to kill Thor, and the voyage encounters obstacles unrelated to the main quest. They just resolved one, involving a Dragon and Balder blowing a Horn. This issue introduces another such obstacle.

Journey Into Mystery #122, Story B

The Grim Specter of Mutiny!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: September 2, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
A Stan Lee story spectacular!
A Jack Kirby pencilling panorama!
A Vince Colletta delineation drama!
An Artie Simek lettering landmark!
5 pages

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Journey Into Mystery #122	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery #123
Journey Into Mystery #122	Journey Into Mystery	Journey Into Mystery #123

Last issue, Balder was about to blow a horn. This issue, he blows the horn. Maybe next issue we’ll find out why.

Last issue opened and ended as they were approaching the dreaded Pillars of Utgard. This issue they are… even closer to the dreaded Pillars.

…

Journey Into Mystery #119, Story B

Gather, Warriors!

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

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Journey Into Mystery #119	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #63, Story B
Journey Into Mystery #119	Journey Into Mystery	Journey Into Mystery #120

Third chapter of the Odinsword Saga. Loki and Thor are almost ready to begin their quest to discover who has broken the Oversword of Asgard.

Loki has more new recruits. His last recruit tried to assassinate Thor.