Gundar!
Featuring: Odin
Release: December 10, 1963
Cover: March 1963
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Steve Ditko
5 pages
A short story we’ll cover for a couple reasons. One is that it’s the other new comic story in the issue that introduces Iron Man. So noteworthy in and of itself. Another is that it includes Odin. And this is after Odin has become a regular in the Thor stories. That doesn’t mean Stan sees any particular connection between this Odin and the one in the Thor stories. But Odin is here.
A shipwrecked man finds immortal vikings trapped there by a curse. Their captain Gundar had been evil, and they once questioned his orders, so he attacked and ultimately cursed them. Odin apparently took Gundar’s side in the conflict; so he’s not entirely benevolent here. Or perhaps he’s just literal-minded about the laws– the crew had taken up arms against their captain; that he attacked them may be immaterial to the laws Odin enforces.
It all ends happily enough though.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 55/100
Significance: ★☆☆☆☆
Decent enough yarn. Masterful art by Ditko.
Characters:
- Gundar’s descendent
- Gundar
- Odin
Minor characters
- Lars (one of the cursed vikings)
#49 story in reading order
Next: Amazing Spider-Man #1
Previous: Tales of Suspense #39
