Post by Tana Nile on Apr 20, 2007 18:44:30 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery 116-120
credits for all issues:
writer: Stan Lee
penciller: Jack Kirby
inker: Vince Colleta
letterer: Artie Simek
Thor and Loki race against each other in the treacherous realm of Skornheim, in the Trial of the Gods. While Odin forbade the use of any weapons, and Thor was stripped of Mjolnir, Loki managed to smuggle in the mystical Norn Stones. Despite a valiant effort by Thor, Loki wins the race. Thor objects to Odin that Loki won by use of the Norn Stones, but Loki has transported them to Earth. Odin gives Thor 24 hours to find the stones and bring them back. The stones turn out to be in Vietnam, where Thor has encounters with communist forces. Eventually, he locates the stones.
However, Loki, back in Asgard, realizes that if Thor returns with the stones, he will receive a great punishment. He therefore manipulates a hunter into uncovering the Temple of Darkness. Hidden inside is Odin's ultimate weapon - the Destroyer! The hunter's mind enters the armored guardian and battles Thor. Thor realizes he can not defeat the Destroyer by physical force, and therefore tricks the hunter into leaving the Destroyer's body. Before the hunter can re-join with the Destroyer, Thor demolishes the titanic temple.
Issue 120 is mostly notable for the follow-up to this tale. During the fight with the Destroyer, a chunk of Mjolnir was sliced off! Thor then heads to...Pittsburg, of all places, to fix it! "I knew that here in the great blast furnaces of Pittsburg I would find a giant forge to mend my hammer!"
He also visits Avengers mansion only to find Quicksilver, Hawkeye, and the Scarlet Witch, all newly recruited to the team. His reaction to them is amusing, to say the least. "Through many battles have I fought with the old Avengers! But -- these new, brash, arrogant youngsters--I can not bring myself to request the aid of such as they!" How times would change...
Of note in these issues:
-first appearance of the Destroyer. A classic Kirby design, simple yet full of power and menace. His powers truly do seem limitless here -he manipulates magnetism, appears to be able to transmute elements, and of course he has that very deadly disintegration ray.
- Thor is knocked out by an artillery shell, and put to sleep by an elephant anesthetic. Obviously he was not nearly so invulnerable here as he would later be depicted.
- If you've been wishing for years that you could see Odin take a bath, and then put on his Odin-jammies (complete with furry slippers), issue 116 is for you. Also, issue 118 probably has the first instance of the Odin-sleep.
credits for all issues:
writer: Stan Lee
penciller: Jack Kirby
inker: Vince Colleta
letterer: Artie Simek
Thor and Loki race against each other in the treacherous realm of Skornheim, in the Trial of the Gods. While Odin forbade the use of any weapons, and Thor was stripped of Mjolnir, Loki managed to smuggle in the mystical Norn Stones. Despite a valiant effort by Thor, Loki wins the race. Thor objects to Odin that Loki won by use of the Norn Stones, but Loki has transported them to Earth. Odin gives Thor 24 hours to find the stones and bring them back. The stones turn out to be in Vietnam, where Thor has encounters with communist forces. Eventually, he locates the stones.
However, Loki, back in Asgard, realizes that if Thor returns with the stones, he will receive a great punishment. He therefore manipulates a hunter into uncovering the Temple of Darkness. Hidden inside is Odin's ultimate weapon - the Destroyer! The hunter's mind enters the armored guardian and battles Thor. Thor realizes he can not defeat the Destroyer by physical force, and therefore tricks the hunter into leaving the Destroyer's body. Before the hunter can re-join with the Destroyer, Thor demolishes the titanic temple.
Issue 120 is mostly notable for the follow-up to this tale. During the fight with the Destroyer, a chunk of Mjolnir was sliced off! Thor then heads to...Pittsburg, of all places, to fix it! "I knew that here in the great blast furnaces of Pittsburg I would find a giant forge to mend my hammer!"
He also visits Avengers mansion only to find Quicksilver, Hawkeye, and the Scarlet Witch, all newly recruited to the team. His reaction to them is amusing, to say the least. "Through many battles have I fought with the old Avengers! But -- these new, brash, arrogant youngsters--I can not bring myself to request the aid of such as they!" How times would change...
Of note in these issues:
-first appearance of the Destroyer. A classic Kirby design, simple yet full of power and menace. His powers truly do seem limitless here -he manipulates magnetism, appears to be able to transmute elements, and of course he has that very deadly disintegration ray.
- Thor is knocked out by an artillery shell, and put to sleep by an elephant anesthetic. Obviously he was not nearly so invulnerable here as he would later be depicted.
- If you've been wishing for years that you could see Odin take a bath, and then put on his Odin-jammies (complete with furry slippers), issue 116 is for you. Also, issue 118 probably has the first instance of the Odin-sleep.
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