Tales of Asgard: Journey into Mystery 104 and 105

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery #104 (May 1964)
"Heimdall, Guardian of the Mystic Rainbow Bridge!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Don Heck

Karen: This time around, we're focusing on one of Thor's supporting cast, that far-seeing guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall. You'll notice the inker on our first tale is Don Heck, and of the various inkers we've seen on these short stories, I'd probably place him in the middle of the pack. He's not bad but I still prefer Colletta far and away on Kirby when it comes to Thor.

Doug:  Karen had mentioned to me in an email after she was done with the framework for this post that we were going to see a "new" inker over Kirby in this story.  I was surprised when I opened the tpb for reading that Heck was on the assignment.  However, after much scrutiny I declare that I really couldn't tell that it was the Dashing One doing the embellishing.  In fact, I'll wager that I could have guaranteed that it wasn't Vinnie, but would have been hard-pressed to identify which of Kirby's other Silver Age inkers I was seeing.  It's Vinnie all the way for me as well.

Karen: This tale tells us how Heimdall became the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. It seems that the enemies of Asgard have been using the bridge to make their attacks upon Asgard, and Odin has decided he must appoint someone to guard it. Makes sense. But as with all things in the godly realms, rather than just look over resumes, Odin has selected three candidates and he summons them before him to make a case for themselves. The first, Agnar the Fierce, demonstrates his powerful lungs by blowing the enchanted dragon horn of Asgard. It's such a powerful blast that it sends the Asgardians running for cover. Agnar says he can warn all of the realm if any foes were to attack. The next candidate, Gotron the Agile, describes how he took down seven storm giants that attacked the realm the previous year. 

Doug:  The Asgardians have nothing on the Inhumans in the exploitation of other races department.  As the Inhumans kept the Alpha Primitives as subservient, here the Asgardians have "a force of trolls" doing repair work on the damaged Bifrost, while in an earlier story we saw Thor journey to Mirmir to encounter a gang of dwarfs, who "forged all the enchanted weapons of Asgard".  Now maybe these little dudes are just good at their various crafts, but it does look a little suspicious when the much-larger Nordic-looking gods are free to make use of the toil of these "little people".

Karen: It seems like Stan used the terms "trolls" and "dwarves" somewhat interchangeably for a while, but yes, your point is well-taken. In the myths the Dwarves did produce awesome goods for the gods but usually there was payment. Here it does have that uncomfortable feeling of the caste system -or worse.

Doug:  I thought Agnar (at first I misread that, and thought I was getting Angar the Screamer!) and Gotron were typical blowhards, while Heimdall displayed a reserved nobility.  Fandral's a blowhard, but he's not all about self-promotion.  And think what these guys were applying for -- am I correct that Heimdall never leaves his post on the Bridge? 

Karen: Finally, Odin turns to Heimdall the Faithful and asks him what he has to say. Heimdall removes his rather large helm and tells his sire that he can sense danger approaching before anyone else can. To prove it, he lies upon the ground and places his ear to the grass. He tells Odin that he can hear a tiny plant starting to sprout in the Hidden Hills. This outrages his two competitors, who accuse him of lying. Odin silences the men, and then sends his gardener out to the hills to check on Heimdall's claim. The gardener is rather rotund and reminded me of Volstagg -but of course he predates that mighty warrior. The gardener goes out to the desolate hills, which had been scorched by a dragon's breath, and is stunned to find a small plant just breaking through the soil. He brings it back to Odin and the All-Father is pleased, but remarks that he has heard that Heimdall has other powers still. The warrior says yes, he can see across time itself, and at this moment, he sees a war party of giants not two days out from Asgard. Odin sends a force of warriors out to check and they come back with the king of the giants in tow. This is all Odin needs to make his decision. He declares Heimdall guardian of the Rainbow Bridge "forever!"

Doug:  OK, so I'm back to a question that I asked two weeks ago.  Do all of the Asgardians have certain powers, and/or are they all the God of This-or-That?  And I'm wondering if Odin was just being conversational when he said he'd "heard" that Heimdall had other powers.  Ya think he'd know!  Maybe omniscience ain't what it used to be...  I really liked, though, this two page explanation of and display of Heimdall's powers.  There have been times throughout comics history when creators have done a nice, yet subtle, job of bringing new readers along.  This explanation fits very organically into the story.  I enjoyed this one -- these short tales are fun.  And I think we've heard some commenters voice concern over the Claremont/Bolton add-ons in the back of Classic X-Men as retconning the classics.  I don't have that sense here -- this is more like an "untold tales" sort of deal, and in my mind does not offend the material either in the front of Journey Into Mystery or any Thor stories that had come before. 

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery #105 (June 1964)
"When Heimdall Failed!" 
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: George Bell

Karen: Another story, another inker! This time it's George Bell, aka George Roussos. I wasn't a big fan of his FF work, and I think his inking comes off a bit heavy here, particularly in comparison to Colletta's feathery work. Our story is another Heimdall-centric tale. It begins with King Brimer of the storm giants conspiring with Queen Nedra to attack Asgard. They know that nothing escapes Heimdall though, and must come up with a way to break the realm's defenses. Nedra is apparently some sort of witch or conjurer and she summons up and air elemental -a Vanna -to serve her. She says that even Heimdall will be unable to detect it, and it can move through Asgard, spying for them. The sprite-like creature agrees to serve (not like it has much of a choice) and goes flying off towards Asgard.

Doug:  In the panel at the bottom of page 2, I thought we were seeing the return of the Impossible Man!  The little sprite looked just like Impy!  Are we to assume that Nedra is a giantess?  If she is not, then there were some major problems with scale in the introductory scene.  So we should assume that Heimdall is susceptible to magicks of concealment?  I find that difficult to believe, since he can see across space and time, but I'll roll with it here.

Karen: The Vanna flies towards Heimdall as he stands watch on the bridge. Although he is unable to see it, the warrior feels something is amiss and even swigs his sword in the air, berating himself for acting so oddly. He's gripped with a sense of uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Vanna flies over Asgard, noting the weaponry and troops available to Odin. The little bugger gets so full of himself, he even flies into Odin's royal chambers, where the All-Father is holding a counsel. A messenger arrives and informs Odin that Heimdall says even though he has seen nothing, he feels the realm should be on alert. This concerns Odin, and he focuses his powers. As he does, the Vanna flies past him and the All-Father commands the creature to show himself. The lord of Asgard grabs the sprite in his gauntlet, astounding his men. The creature proclaims his innocence but Odin orders him to be silent. Heimdall is summoned to the chamber. The guardsman is dejected -he tells Odin he has failed and deserves whatever punishment Odin sees fit to give him. But Odin will have none of it. He tells him to rise -he hasn't failed! Even though he couldn't see the Vanna, he sensed the evil creature and risked the scorn and derision of others by reporting his fears to Odin. Odin tells Heimdall that he has a place in his heart second only to Thor. Wow - he really caught Odin on a good day! So Heimdall goes back to guarding the bridge and all is well with Asgard. 

Doug:  Is it just me, or did the Vanna look like a pink sperm making its way around Asgard?  At first I was going to say "segmented worm", but upon further inspection...  As I said last week, I'm always amazed at Kirby's juxtaposition of the archaic and the cosmic when depicting Asgard.  Here we see beings of great power who dress in some stew of Greco-Roman/medieval garb and weaponry, but with these huge laser cannons.  It's a weird sort of awesome.  

Karen: I think that interpretation is all you buddy, but now that you mention it, I do sorta see it...OK, that's kind of disturbing now.

Doug:  Then we have indeed crossed into new territory on the BAB, with the inaugural use of the word "sperm".  I'm glad we've finally gotten that out of the way! 

Doug:  It would be difficult to decide who is the nobler soul -- Balder or Heimdall.  Each is about as selfless as they come.  I loved the depiction of Heimdall in the first Thor movie -- along with the Destroyer, he was one of the real bright spots in that picture. 

Karen: Just as an aside, the final caption of this story is a "personal note" to the readers thanking them for their enthusiasm for these Tales of Asgard. I wonder if this was just more Marvel hyperbole, or if there really were a lot of letters written praising the series? I think these early stories are nice, but the later, continued ones, like the Harokin one, were really something. I'm sure we'll get around to reviewing those eventually. But I wonder now what the actual reader response was?

Doug:  That is indeed an interesting query.  We're troubled by our doubt of that due in no small part to Stan's unabashed promotion of himself and of the company, but we also live in a world where people can gain employment as "paid reviewers" of consumer goods.  One does have to wonder.  But, and I have no insight, my guess is that they did get a positive response to this series.  I know that I really like it!  I can honestly say that in books I read from the Silver and Bronze Ages, I do not at all mind when the feature is only 14-15 pages and a nifty little "extra" was tucked in the back.

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery 115 and 116

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery #115 (April 1965)
"A Viper In Our Midst!"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/Vince Colletta

Doug:  More Loki!  Hey, who can get enough of the God of Mischief, especially as done by Stan and Jack (and Vinnie, too)?  Surely not us!  We pick it up several years past our last installment, when Thor and Loki were probably around 12-years old.  Today it would appear that they are around 20 or so.  You know, that's a question I've always had about immortals -- do they age at the same rate as we humans?  And if they do through childhood and adolescence, does their aging process simply slow in adulthood?  I would assume it's taken untold millennia for Odin to acquire that silver beard -- yet we know that he can die.  What sayest thou?

Karen: I think even in the original myths it was implied that the Norse gods were not immortal but long-lived. They had to eat the apples from the goddess Idunna's tree to stay that way. But yeah, I always wondered about the aging process. Would they have a childhood that spanned centuries? Or how does that progress? I don't think the ancient Norse people were very consumed by such details.

Doug:  You're probably right.  But the history teacher in me is curious!  To begin, Thor leads a group of Asgardian warriors against a threatening storm giant.  As the engagement is about to happen, we see Loki stealing away to the side, muttering to himself that he should be the one leading the charge.  The attack occurs, from a very large and very ugly giant who hurls a boulder at the gods.  Thor steps directly into its path and shatters it with Mjolnir.  "Cunning" Loki, however, hides in the thatch.  He decides to augment the powers of Ghan the Giant, but before his spell can take effect the giant flees.  The Asgardians' barrage of spears and arrows have forced the giant back.  But as he turns to flee, Thor orders a larger weapon be brought forth -- and here is where I always marvel at the juxtaposition of Jack Kirby's mythic and technological imaginations.  Whereas the first assault had been perpetrated with primitive arms, the Asgardians now bring forward a cosmic-looking catapult (complete with cosmic-looking projectile!).  The large casing is launched, the hope that its payload of "sleep fumes" will put the giant down.

Karen: There's so much to love about this art. I have to say, I don't mind the revamped coloring at all -in fact, I rather enjoy it here. I like the effect of Loki's spell-casting by using his sword as a wand, leaving a light-trail in the air. And this might be the first and only time we have seen the god of mischief wear a purple cape. Ghan the Giant reminds me of nothing less than a Ray Harryhausen creation, full of strange strength and fury.

Doug:  Thor and his warriors track the giant, but are mystified to find no trace of him!  Thor and his mates walk around (what, like it wouldn't be obvious there was a giant laying around?), as we would in search of a lost contact lens.  Thor, befuddled at his fate, wonders aloud how a being with no magiks could seemingly conjure a spell to exit the premises.  Ah, but sly Loki remains on the sidelines, his half-brother not the slightest bit aware of the treachery.  Loki offers to remain behind and search further as Thor and the war party quit the place.  Thor praises his brother...

Karen: The kind way to look at this is that Thor simply had a blind spot when it came to Loki, who was after all, his adopted brother. Another way to look at it is that Thor was something of an idiot.

Doug:  Alone at last, Loki summons a large eagle, which lands at his feet.  With a spell, the eagle transforms into Ghan the Giant!  Ghan thanks the godling, asking no questions about Loki's betrayal but offering only his debt.  Loki promises he'll one day collect.  As Ghan stalks away, Loki is full of himself -- we have witnessed his first attempt at allying with the dark side.  The first step in the overthrow of Odin and the murder of Thor has taken place!

Karen: Loki truly was single-minded, wasn't he? He pursued that goal all his life -or at least as long as I was reading comics. Even in the new films, it is the defining purpose of the character. I guess when you have something so primal, why mess with it? It worked for Shakespeare, after all.

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery #116 (May 1965)
"The Challenge!"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/Vince Colletta

Doug:  I'm going to say from the top, that's the best Kirby-crafted lid of all time!!  Dude looks to have a buffalo locked inside a dinosaur fossil!  And hey, a quizzical look be upon my visage due to the narration box at the top of the splash page.  It notes "Thor #63", but certainly in those days that sort of renumbering wasn't on anyone's mind, and this issue's indicia clearly would have named it Journey Into Mystery #116.  Shoot, if you subtract 83 (Thor's 1st appearance in the mag, natch) from 116 you get 33...  Where in the world did the notion of Thor #63 come from?

Karen: Hymir's entire outfit is completely whackadoodle! With that fur piece and his brutish appearance, I suddenly made an odd mental connection between him and the huge Rigellian warrior from the Star Trek pilot "The Cage", which was incorporated into the episode "The Menagerie". Of course, that was broadcast in November 1966, so Kirby couldn't have been inspired by it. But still...there are similarities. Anyway -the strange "Thor #63" caption makes no sense at all. I was able to find the original issue and as you can see someone took some liberties with the captioning, though why they felt the need to include any reference to the previous tale is beyond me. You can also see how very different the coloring is. Honestly, I prefer the new version. (I'm ducking behind my desk!)

Doug:  I like the new coloring better as well.  But what I notice the most is that the recolorist (if that's a job title) chose not to use the original schemes and went far away from the published intent.  For example, in the updated version Hymir's sister wears white instead of green.  And Hymir, ugly as he is, does look better in the new version, for sure!

Doug:  Above, we saw Loki's first attempt at securing an ally in his festering schemes to dispose of the status quo in Asgard and anoint himself ruler of the Realm Eternal.  In this episode he courts a King Hymir as an aide against Loki's half-brother Thor.  The God of Thunder flirts with Hymir's sister.  We learn that Odin has sent his two sons on a diplomatic mission to Hymir.  But one of the godlings is up to no good.  Loki requests that Hymir give a challenge to Thor, to force the Odinson to prove his worthiness to even enter diplomatic negotiations.  Hymir licks his chops at the potential of embarrassing Thor, of dishonoring him.  So a lackey delivers to Thor a scroll with a task to perform; Hymir's sister implores Thor to put it down.

Karen: I love all the details -Hymir's sceptre and his costume, the princess' outfit -Vinnie didn't erase everything!

Doug:  Hahaha!  Thor is despatched on a fishing boat, his charge to bring back on fish from the Sea of Darkness.  The ship's crew reach a point and then say that they can go no further -- that Thor must complete the task alone.  The Thunder God scoffs at the challenge he's been given.  Bring back one fish?  But suddenly one of those fish breaks the surface -- a fish the size of a sea serpent!  Thinking quickly, Thor hurls Mjolnir at the creature's noggin, and then secures it to the boat to bring back as his trophy for King Hymir.

Karen: The "fish" reminded me of Monstro...

Doug:  Back at the king's court, Thor walks in with an air of confidence; Loki stands near the king.  Hymir shows no frustration, but warns that Thor has performed only the first challenge.  Hymir then orders the Thunder God to break a goblet... and he'll give him two minutes to do so.  Thor again wonders to himself just how difficult this can be.  He sizes up the goblet and Loki comes near to goad him.  Thor thinks that Loki must surely be up to something.  Hurling the container against a column, it is not the goblet that shatters but the pillar!  Next Thor attempts to strike the object with Mjolnir.  Also, a failed attempt.  As he picks it up to look it over, Thor wonders aloud if his only recourse might be in killing King Hymir -- if the king is dead, then there can be no challenge to collect on.  But Thor thinks that the king's sister, Princess Rinda (who he certainly seems to fancy), might be heartbroken.  She stands just outside the chamber, listening.  She puts her face to a crack in the door and assures Thor that she most certainly would not be heartbroken were her brother slain.

Karen: This was interesting -Thor actually contemplates killing Hymir! Very unusual for a super-hero -but then again, this is also a Viking god we're talking about.

Doug:  Did he ever think about it!  Thor hurls the goblet at the king's face, but it strikes his incredibly large chapeau, splintering into pieces.  The king is knocked from his very throne at the force of the blow.  Thor smugly turns to leave, Asgard's honor preserved.  Loki questions how Thor knew that there was enchantment in the king's crown that caused the goblet to be unbreakable.  Thor gives him a brotherly "that's for me to know and you to find out" line and off he strides.  But the prize scene in this story is the last two panels when Hymir smites Loki upside the head and blames him for warning Thor of the king's machinations.  Loki assures him that he did not, and seethes.

Karen: What a crazy ending! Thor just sort of waltzes out while Loki gets slapped around like a dog. No wonder he got madder and madder.

Tales of Asgard: Journey into Mystery 112 and 113

Tales of Asgard: Journey into Mystery  #112 (January 1965)
"The Coming of Loki!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Vince Colletta

Karen: This tale brings us the backstory behind possibly Thor's greatest enemy -his adopted brother, Loki. We begin ages ago, with mighty Odin, wielding the hammer Mjolnir, facing off against Laufey, king of the giants of Jotunheim. Laufey desires nothing less than Asgard itself, which of course Odin will fight to the death to defend! Their battle is nothing less than cataclysmic, and it seems that in Jotunheim, the land bows to Laufey's will. Odin realizes he must end the fight quickly, and he hurls Mjolnir at his foe, shattering Laufey's war club!

Doug:  This is the fourth or fifth story we've reviewed out of the Tales of Asgard tpb where we've seen a younger Odin.  I've enjoyed seeing the All-Father kick a little tail.  That splash page (above) is a real homage to David vs. Goliath -- and it looks like Laufey just got off of an equally-large horse!  Talk about some bowed legs!  And of course this battle -- even with the imposing opponent -- is never in doubt due to the power of Mjolnir.

Karen: Seeing their king disarmed riles the giants and they surge forward. Odin calls his Asgardian warriors to his side. The battle is met, as god wages war with giant! After the passage of time, the Asgardians eventually prove victorious. The giants flee the battlefield under cover of darkness, to regroup at Laufey's castle, but Odin and his men are right behind. 

Doug:  Jack Kirby gives Big John Buscema a run for his money in terms of ugly barbarian guys.  What a motley crew of giants -- you can almost hear the slobbering and heavy stinky breathing!  I'm not really sure how the Asgardians triumphed.  Were all of their weapons enchanted?  If so, then that would even the odds.  But in sheer physicality, I'd have to say that the giants should have had the advantage.  I liked that Stan wrote that the battle wrote of the magnitude of the battle that time had no meaning -- it could have lasted for minutes, hours, or days.  

Karen: Laufey dies at the hands of Odin, and most of the other giants are slain as well. But Odin finds something wriggling in a sack in Laufey's throne room. He discovers a small child. He recognizes it as Loki, Laufey's son. The king was shamed by him, as he was not of giant stature. While one of Odin's warriors says that the very name of Loki has a sense of evil to it, Odin says the child is still regal. He declares for all to hear that he will raise Loki as his own son. "For better or for worse, Loki is forevermore an immortal of Asgard!" You think he knew he was asking for trouble?

Doug:  Well, not only is Odin pretty spry in these early adventures, he's as dense as he would be in the adventures of Thor as an adult.  I wouldn't say that Odin dispensed justice -- just brutal old-school law-of-the-land type stuff.  Was it ever explained why Loki was of "normal" stature, rather than a giant?  Talk about an inferiority complex from the get-go!  Oh, and I'm feeling better now that Vinnie Colletta is on the inks.

Tales of Asgard: Journey into Mystery #113 (February 1965)
"The Boyhood of Loki!"
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Vince Colletta

Karen: We've moved ahead years so that Loki and his brother Thor are now young lads. They are watching a tournament. Two men fight using grappling staffs (it reminded me of the "Amok Time" episode from Star Trek!). Thor is positive one of the contestants will win, as he is more skilled. Loki, full of spite, bets on the other fighter, and to make sure he's proven right, he casts a spell he learned from the Norn Witch Women to cause Thor's fighter's staff to blow up. Well, that's not suspicious at all! The men are startled but look around and spot the boys watching. Loki's first reaction is to flee, but Thor being Thor, immediately begins to climb down to face the men.

Doug:  This little tale (as well as the one above) is dear to my heart, as I first encountered it in the pages of Bring On the Bad Guys! on Christmas day, 1976 when I was 10 years old.  I loved it then and I do now, as well.  Vinnie's inks are perfect for the young Thor; how about Jack drawing Loki's hair turned up as if he has little devil horns?  The monogrammed tunics are a great touch as well -- I guess Loki always had an affinity for green.  And as I stated above in our first review, Kirby is really doing a nice job with the some-craggy, some-handsome Asgardian warriors.  Have you ever wondered, in regard to the immortals, if they were all the god or goddess of something?  We know Balder is "the Brave", but is he the god of anything in particular?  Sif?

Karen: As soon as the two young princes enter the arena, the men begin pointing fingers at Loki and telling him it's illegal to use magic on the contestants. Thor innocently asks why they only speak to his brother. The men say they know that Thor would never cheat. But Thor, being the Odinson, tells the men that if they are going to punish Loki, they'll have to punish him too. Seeing this, the Asgardian warriors relent and  declare there will be no punishment. This only causes Loki to seethe even more. The two boys head towards the stables while the men contrast the young princes' qualities.

Doug:  Thor's just a good guy, isn't he?  I recall wondering about how the men would punish the boys -- it's sort of a taboo to spank someone else's child, isn't it?  And I'd think the fact that these lads' dad was, I don't know -- the ruler of the Asgardian universe -- might be sort of an issue.  The posture of the two godlings is very well-played, with Thor up front and confident and Loki in the background and looking small.

Karen: Thor is oblivious to Loki's rage and as they mount their horses he offers to race him. Loki's mind is filled with hatred for his brother, who is loved and accepted by everyone, and seems so much better at everything than he is. He swears to himself that he shall gain power and someday destroy Thor!

Doug:  You can see Stan and Jack doing a great job with this script in showing Thor's somewhat dull mind in terms of noticing his surroundings, combined with his aforementioned nobility -- his two predominant character traits early in the chronicling of his adventures.  Thor just makes it worse with a comment that he gave not  a second thought to, that the skill of the rider was more important that the steed on which he rode.  And Loki -- his attitude is like those coals at the bottom of the grill, just smouldering.  Looking into his young face, I have no doubt that he truly will plot to make his subversive dreams come true.  Ever the outsider...

Karen: Ah, the seeds are sown! This was a fun little story to read. Far less subtle than the way the first Thor film portrayed Loki and Thor's relationship. The comic book Loki really never had a chance!
 

Tales of Asgard: Journey Into Mystery 102 and 103

 

Tales of Asgard -- Journey Into Mystery #102 (from the Tales of Asgard tpb)
"Death Comes to Thor!"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/Paul Reinman

Doug:  Welcome to November, where our Mondays will feature a series of short stories from the back end of Journey Into Mystery.  Today we're going to check in on the Godling of Thunder -- that's right.  Today we'll review tales from Thor's youth.  Both stories are from 1964.

Karen: One thing I do wish the TPB would do is list somewhere which issues of Journey into Mystery these stories are from. You've done some work to figure it out but a line of text at the bottom of the first page would've been appreciated.

Doug:  I couldn't agree more.  I had to look through each issue of Journey Into Mystery via the Comic Book Database in order to match-up the titles of these little vignettes with their appropriate home issue.  It wasn't too tedious, but definitely unnecessary had editorial merely added a Table of Contents!

Doug:  As we begin our first story, Thor has sought out the three Fates.  He wants to find out if he will ever possess the hammer of Odin.  But the Fates are mysterious -- they answer the question before he asks it!  And they give him a condition:  he will possess the hammer, yes... if he meets Death first.  So the over-confident godling rides off to find his fortune.  Back in Odin's palace, Thor again approaches the hammer, but can raise it only slightly off the ground.  Suddenly Balder staggers into the chamber, nearly dead.  He reports that storm giants ambushed him, and captured his sister -- the fair Lady Sif!  As you might imagine, Thor ain't pleased!

Karen: You have to love the expression on Thor's face as he tries to lift Mjolnir -it's pretty funny! I notice that we never see Balder face-on, but what we do see appears different from how we know him to look (ex. clean-shaven). Now two web sources state that Balder first appeared in JIM #85, but I wonder if it was just a throwaway appearance and whether Balder as we know him had been established yet?

Doug:  As guards enter the room, Thor swears to Balder that he will rescue Sif.  And wouldn't you know it -- as his Asgardian adrenaline begins to pump, that hammer comes right off the floor!  But, was it his strength, or something more?  Remember -- "Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."  Let's find out just how worthy.  Claiming his steed, Thor rides right into the heart of the storm giant lands.  Two uglies come out to meet the Son of Odin, with one warning his comrade to beware.  By now Thor's got himself worked into a lather and strikes Mjolnir against the ground, splitting it!

Karen: That's a successful use of modern coloring there, with the blurring effect and the bright orange color, to really get across the power of Thor's blow as he breaks open the ground.

Doug:  The two guards fall into the chasm, and Thor rides off.  He recognizes his surroundings as the palace of King Rugga, and leaves a trail of bodies as he finally reaches the king's throne room.  Demanding that Rugga set fair Sif free, Thor instead is greeted with an almost apologetic cry from his adversary.  Rugga explains, basically, that he made a deal with the devil.  The Goddess of Death, Hela, had promised Rugga that she would make him immortal if he delivered Sif.  So he did.  Thor, now blind with rage, grabs Rugga and demands to know where he might find Hela.  Thinking the godling crazy, Rugga tells him -- and advises Thor to leave it alone.

Karen: So just who or what is Rugga? He doesn't look to be a giant. Hmmm....

Doug:  Thor finds and confronts Hela, and offers his own life as an offering in exchange for the life of Sif.  Hela is so taken aback by Thor's offer that she allows him to leave her dark realm -- and take the young Sif with him.  "...if he be worthy..." indeed!  This, then, is the tale of how Thor came to possess Mjolnir as his own.

Karen: I believe this is the goddess of death's first appearance. Her headdress is already quite complicated but the rest of her costume hasn't quite caught up yet. She's much more easily won over here than she would be later on. 

Doug:  I liked this story -- sort of simple, but that's what you get in a 5-pager.  I thought Jack Kirby did a good job of really getting us to believe that Thor was a youngster not yet fully into adulthood.  Sif looks even younger, which I suppose she was.  If Thor and Balder were contemporaries, then Sif must have been a younger sister.  She's nonetheless Kirby-beautiful.  Speaking of the art, though, I found myself missing Vinnie Colletta's familiar inks.  Feathery, yes, but Colletta's line is an integral part of Silver Age Thor mags!

Karen: Although I hate to say it, when it comes to Thor, I agree with you, Colletta did make a good combo with Kirby.

Tales of Asgard -- Journey Into Mystery #103 (from the Tales of Asgard tpb)
"Thor's Mission to Mirmir!"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/Chic Stone

Doug:  Our second story is also from the era before Thor had become an adult.  Odin has sent Thor on a mission which he must not fail.  It begins in the Asgardian mountains, in the homeland of the dwarfs.  These strong little people forge all of Asgard's weapons, and Thor has come specially to see Sindri, the king.  Sindri commissioned the construction of a tiny Norse ship -- but one that will grow to be large enough to transport Thor and his mates to any place in the universe!  Using it for the first time, Thor sails through space to the Dark Sea which surrounds the land of Mirmir.

Karen: I really love that Kirby and Lee took elements from the Norse myths and built stories around them. I recall reading about the amazing ship Skipbladnir from library books on Norse mythology when I was a wee child. It's fun seeing those things depicted in comics form.

Doug:  Mirmir looks like a craggy, desolate version of Skull Island.  As Thor comes ashore, he's met by Skord the flying dragon.  With typical braggadocio, the young Thunder God whirls his hammer in the beast's face.  But as the dragon surely prepared to be hit, Thor instead struck the ground, projecting a large boulder up and into the lizard's mouth.  Moving along his way, Thor next encountered a giant anthropomorphic warthog named Gullin.  Armed with his own hammer, the boar attacked the Odinson with a fury fraught from his incredible mallet.  But alas, enchanted Mjolnir was superior, and Gullin was forced to allow Thor to pass.

Karen: Only Kirby could draw a giant boar in armor and make me believe it...

Doug:  At last Thor reaches the palace of Mirmir, where the king sits awaiting.  There is no animosity here, no aggression.  Instead, it is as if Mirmir has been expecting the Son of Odin.  Thor produces a large twig, allegedly plucked from the Tree of Life.  Mirmir takes the switch and dips it into an enchanted fountain.  Swirling it gently, some of the mystical water runs over the edge of the bowl and drips down through time and space to light on Midgard.  Falling onto an alder and an ash, the water transforms the two trees into human beings -- Aske and Embla, the first humans, made in the image of the Asgardian gods!

Karen: The second part of our tale though varies a lot from the myths as I recall them! "Mirmir" sounds like "Mimir," the well/being where Odin would sacrifice an eye for knowledge. And the creation of mankind (Aske and Embla) was different in the books I read, with Odin and his  brothers breathing life into tree trunks. But hey, creative license and all. It looks good in any case.

Doug:  Stan remarks at the end of the story that this plot was freely lifted from the Norse myths.  It's a nifty little story, and an interesting take on the Creation story.  I have enjoyed these Tales of Asgard thus far -- there really is a fair share of action and characterization packed into the five-page parameter.  I'm still missing Vinnie, though.  Maybe next week?

 

Doug:  In case you missed the news yesterday evening, longtime DC artist Nick Cardy passed away Sunday at the age of 93.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.  Thanks for some very fond memories, Nick!

Tales of Asgard Tuesday: Journey Into Mystery #101

Tales of Asgard -- Journey Into Mystery #101 (from the Tales of Asgard tpb)
"The Invasion of Asgard"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/George Bell

Doug: You know what I've always wondered? How does an immortal age? I ask, because in this story we see Heimdall for the first time. Having read many a Thor yarn through the years, I always assumed that Thor and all of the warriors were approximately the same age. Yet here is a young Thor again, perhaps 13-14 years of age (he looks older than he did in last week's story), and Heimdall is much older than he. Additionally, and I think we've mentioned it before, Odin is old! What sayest thou?

Karen: I sayest, don't think about it! Although I would posit that the Heimdall we see here looks younger than the one we see circa the Buscema period.

Doug: Loki's at it again. There have been rumblings of "the forces of evil" launching a unified assault on Asgard. Wanting to do his part, Thor offers to help Heimdall guard the Rainbow Bridge. But Loki asks him to come away, so that Loki can show Thor a secret passageway. Loki claimed to have found a tunnel whereby the bad guys could gain access to the Realm Eternal. Loki urges Thor to guard this hole, and Loki will then run for reinforcements. Thor, ever brave and just a bit gullible, agrees.

Karen: Well, young Thor is certainly very trusting, which is a virtue I suppose. Although Loki has already shown his true colors, as we saw in the previous story, so maybe Thor just isn't that bright! I love the panel where Heimdall tells Thor he can't help him. He's totally freaking out!

Doug: The forces of evil include a pantheon of uglies: a troll, an ice giant, two wolf gods, rime giants, and the Norn hag atop a dragon. Not so good. So there's lil' Thor to face them with but a shield and sword. But if he's not long on brain, he is on brawn and guile. Pulling a trick from his father's book, Thor cleaves the ground with his sword, forcing a geyser that drives back the initial assault. He then uses the same sword as a bat and rifles large chunks of rock at the assemblage. However, their numbers are two great and their sorcery too strong, and Thor eventually succumbs. As they are about to kill him, help finally arrives!

Karen: I really like all those different creatures Kirby drew, but the rime giants -what the heck is a 'rime'? - are the coolest looking.

Doug: Well, since you asked (and I thought it was a made-up term, too)... Ymir was the first and greatest of the Rime Giants, according to cybersamurai.net. Apparently Kirby didn't make it up, and the Marvel Wiki details all of the giants of Jotunheim. So there you have it -- see, you can learn stuff reading comics! I always told my mom that!

Doug: Loki, you see, didn't go for help. It was only the sounds of battle that alerted the Asgardian warriors -- led here by Odin. As the forces of evil are driven away, Thor is rewarded with newfound strength -- he can almost lift Mjolnir! And Loki smolders...

Doug: We are going to take leave of this series for awhile. It's been really fun going through these stories -- they really did augment the Journey Into Mystery books of the day. As we said at the outset, we were both reluctant to embrace the re-coloring, but if I can speak for both of us, I'll say we've been won over. The next time you see this at your LCS or local bookstore, give it a look-see. It's been a fine addition to my library.

Tales of Asgard Tuesday: Journey Into Mystery #100

Tales of Asgard -- Journey Into Mystery #100 (from the Tales of Asgard tpb)
"The Storm Giants"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby/Paul Reinman

Doug: I know we've only done three of these reviews (and I've enjoyed reading and reporting on all three), but it seems like it's about time we got to seeing Thor and Loki! Well wait no longer, friends! Today is a really neat tale, for me very reminiscent of Jack & the Beanstalk.

Karen: Somebody definitely had their book on Norse mythology handy! I recall reading about Thor and Loki dealing with giants in just this same manner when I was into mythology as a kid.

Doug: I don't think it says, but I'd guess that in this story Thor and Loki are around 11-12 years old. They are off on a mission, and it's not clear if they've been sent or are on their own -- my guess is that they've gone off so that Thor can be a hero -- in a spin borrowed from Greek mythology, in order to inherit the hammer of Odin Thor must perform many deeds of valor. These "untold tales" are really a lot of fun, and Stan and Jack did a great job of taking what they'd already built up in terms of characterization and showing us some foundational elements to the then-present. Here we see the brash Thor and the crabby Loki on a mission into the castle of storm giants, to retrieve the golden apples of Iduna, which have been stolen. Say, did you happen to notice a no-prize worthy misplacement on a word balloon on the second page? Stan obviously wasn't paying any attention to Jack's pencils when he dialogued it.

Karen: Thor's awfully cute with his little page-boy haircut. The twosome's personalities are already set.

Doug: Opportunistic Loki is having none of Thor's mission. First chance he gets, he shoves Thor from their hiding place, into full view of the storm giants. They quickly identify him as an Asgardian, but Thor is not one to cower. He in turn threatens them, and it's game on. Thor's strength, at such a young age, is unbelievable yet makes for some great images. Wielding a sword, he hacks through one of the table legs and immediately follows that with an assault with... pepper. This is fun!

Karen: I laughed out loud when I saw Thor riding that pepper shaker! This was just good, fun stuff, and imaginative as heck. I bet Kirby was having a blast.

Doug: It was only a matter of time before the giants turned the tide, and at that moment Loki stepped in to save the day. Pushing a pile of wet leaves (were these just laying around the castle?) into the fireplace, the room fills with acrid smoke (was the flew not open?). Thor uses the distraction to free himself from the giant's grip, before Thor runs after Loki.

Doug: The godlings make their way to one of the ramparts, where the apples are stored atop a giant bald eagle. Loki leaps atop the bird and threatens to leave Thor behind. As the giants approach, Thor's having none of Loki's scheme, so slashes the bird's tethering and away they go.

Karen: Even as a kid, Loki was nothing but trouble! I love how the virtuous Thor automatically assumes that Loki was trying to help him by setting those leaves on fire. Of course Loki reveals his true motives in the next instant.

Doug: Of course when they return to the throne room it's Thor who is praised by the Allfather, while Loki does his usual slow burn. And what of the hammer Mjolnir? Almost... Thor can almost lift it.

Tales of Asgard Tuesday: Journey Into Mystery #99

Tales of Asgard -- Journey Into Mystery #99 (from the Tales of Asgard tpb)
"Surtur the Fire Demon!"
Stan Lee-Jack Kirby

Karen: Our third entry in the early days of Asgard deals with Odin facing yet another foe of his people -the fire giant Surtur. We also see a whole lot of trolls in this story, and they are depicted here far differently than they later would be. They are more like fairy-tale trolls, the kind who dwell under bridges, spindly and frightening, with iron grips. Their grips are so strong in fact, that we are told only Odin has the strength to break them.

Doug: The trolls are creepy little fellows, and very reminiscent of Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Odin is one bad dude, isn't he? Makes one wonder why there was ever really a threat to Asgard. He's strong, smart, and has an indelible fighting spirit. And still all of the goons try to invade the Realm Eternal...

Karen: When Odin reaches Surtur, he finds him in a sea of flame. As I mentioned before, the coloring is especially vivid and you can almost feel the heat radiating off the page. Odin hauls down ice chunks from space and beats Surtur back.

Doug: Stan and Jack gave us a nice dichotomy with the Ice Giants last issue and now Surtur. This truly is mythology -- as we go through the tpb, we see all of Stan's hyperbole about the series. But I'm thinking that to have read this as it originally appeared, it must have been an eye-opening departure from the superhero yarns that ran in the front of Journey Into Mystery. I'm not always a fan of the split books with two shorter stories, but I'm thinking this must have been quite a bit of fun!

Karen: We get a little bit of science in the story too; when Surtur flees to the center of Earth, he casts out "A huge chunk of matter...a chunk which flies into the sky where it will spin around the Earth...and forever be known as...the Moon!" If you replaced Surtur with a giant asteroid hitting the Earth, that's pretty much what modern theory say for the origin of the moon.

Doug: As I said, this is just fun. I think back to the reading books I used in the 4th and 5th grades that had some mythology in them... Shoot, this was as good as Classics Illustrated!

Karen: Odin loves Earth -wait a minute, he loves Earth? Seems like he was always willing to sacrifice it, or mess with it...OK, I guess when he was younger he loved Earth. Anyway, he loves Earth so in order to protect it from Surtur, he causes it to spin rapidly, and the resulting centrifugal force keeps the fire giant trapped within, supplying heat and energy to the planet.

Doug: Yeah, Odin loving the Earth was funny. I guess that's where Thor got it, huh?

Karen: I suspect it was from his mother! Another fun creation myth explaining how the moon was formed and why our planet rotates. But buckle your seat belts: next time up, we get lil' Thor and lil' Loki!