"Tales of Asgard" was a coda to the actual "Thor" comic strip, rather than just a backup mini series, that gave more depth and mythological history to the Thor character and comic, making it more than another superhero comic, even for a Marvel superhero comic at the time. It was a shame when it finished and was replaced by "The Inhumans", which was out of place there. The earlier inking looked slick, better than what Vince Colletta did, but Kirby still looked good. Colletta's rough inking suited "Thor's" comic book character, despite it's crudeness.
The reason Thor was so popular in the Sixties and Seventies is because he had long hair. All of us long haired hippie dope smokers back then read him because of his long hair.
With their limited staff and sudden expansion of superheroes, there's a lot of improv in those early Marvels. It's apparent after the fact that Stan and Jack had no idea where they were going and simply trusted their own creative instincts to get them out of this month's episode. When a decision was made to phase out the fantasy/horror backups that were left over from the Atlas era, all of the anthologies acquired superhero-related back-ups (presumably to allow for the shorter lead stories already on the schedule). The Watcher was a back-up in Tales of Suspense (Iron Man), Dr. Strange showed up in a 5 page story in Strange Tales, and The Wasp had a feature in Astonish. Tales of Asgard may have happened just because they were casting about for a way to fill out Journey into Mystery along the same lines. It turned out to be a vehicle for a new kind of comic, and what Kirby evolved into was arguably not superheroes anymore, by the time he brought the motifs to his New Gods series.
I have the Thor,"Tales of Asgard" all in one volume, collecting the backup strips from Journey Into Mystery #97- 125 and Thor #126 - 145, plus Thor's first appearance from Journey Into Mystery #83. It's absolutely awesome.
I had all the issues of The Champions, an LA based superhero group that had Hercules. Much like LA itself, it failed....but I loved it while it lasted 😢
This was cool to have both you and Steve tigether again! Its my first true comic book Wednesday! Ive never given much attention to Thor, other than the Fraction and Aaron runs which were great. But you and Steve have convinced me to try the Tales backup. Stan and Jack doing epic Norse fantasy sounds like a winning recipe. Awile back I was working my way through all of vol. 1 of Daredevil. I got up to when he shared the title with Blackwidow. I should try to revisit that. Its fun to see the ups and downs of early Marvel.
I think what's written on Mjollnir appears in the language of the reader, so it's English for Don Blake but it would be in Norwegian if a local had found it. Eventually the Ancient Egyptian pantheon would also be introduced into Thor and I think the Thunder God ends up battling Set. For me, FF just edges out everything else that Lee and Kirby did. Great overview of those early JIM/Thor issues, Michael.
I like the idea of reading a whole run of a comic. The only one I could probably do that on would be the original run on Conan. Those early Thor comics were great but could have been an artistic tour de force if they hadn't thrown Vinnie Colletta in as inker. I know people are divided on him, but he ruined the artwork, in my opinion.
Errr no, I dont wanna start reading from the beginning 🤭 The movies work well for me. Glad they didnt do the Donald Blake thing. Or did they ? I dunno I slept through some of them. 😴
Epic comic book Wednesday! But shouldn’t Thor be talked about on . . . Thorsday.
Well, Wednesday is Wodensday after Odin, Thor's pappy...no Odin, no Thor, so it's 💯 legit! Lol
"Tales of Asgard" was a coda to the actual "Thor" comic strip, rather than just a backup mini series, that gave more depth and mythological history to the Thor character and comic, making it more than another superhero comic, even for a Marvel superhero comic at the time. It was a shame when it finished and was replaced by "The Inhumans", which was out of place there. The earlier inking looked slick, better than what Vince Colletta did, but Kirby still looked good. Colletta's rough inking suited "Thor's" comic book character, despite it's crudeness.
"...it felt like something you might read in DC comics" ...No Journey into Mystery there, it's Shots Fired! 😂
The reason Thor was so popular in the Sixties and Seventies is because he had long hair. All of us long haired hippie dope smokers back then read him because of his long hair.
With their limited staff and sudden expansion of superheroes, there's a lot of improv in those early Marvels. It's apparent after the fact that Stan and Jack had no idea where they were going and simply trusted their own creative instincts to get them out of this month's episode. When a decision was made to phase out the fantasy/horror backups that were left over from the Atlas era, all of the anthologies acquired superhero-related back-ups (presumably to allow for the shorter lead stories already on the schedule). The Watcher was a back-up in Tales of Suspense (Iron Man), Dr. Strange showed up in a 5 page story in Strange Tales, and The Wasp had a feature in Astonish. Tales of Asgard may have happened just because they were casting about for a way to fill out Journey into Mystery along the same lines. It turned out to be a vehicle for a new kind of comic, and what Kirby evolved into was arguably not superheroes anymore, by the time he brought the motifs to his New Gods series.
I now need to read "Trapped by the Carbon-Copy Man".
Love how Blake was totally dropped or I should say never picked up for the movies.😂😂😂
I have the Thor,"Tales of Asgard" all in one volume, collecting the backup strips from Journey Into Mystery #97- 125 and Thor #126 - 145, plus Thor's first appearance from Journey Into Mystery #83. It's absolutely awesome.
I had all the issues of The Champions, an LA based superhero group that had Hercules. Much like LA itself, it failed....but I loved it while it lasted 😢
This was cool to have both you and Steve tigether again! Its my first true comic book Wednesday! Ive never given much attention to Thor, other than the Fraction and Aaron runs which were great. But you and Steve have convinced me to try the Tales backup. Stan and Jack doing epic Norse fantasy sounds like a winning recipe. Awile back I was working my way through all of vol. 1 of Daredevil. I got up to when he shared the title with Blackwidow. I should try to revisit that. Its fun to see the ups and downs of early Marvel.
Great video
THOR! Still hot.
They jade some dopey stories in the early days.
I think what's written on Mjollnir appears in the language of the reader, so it's English for Don Blake but it would be in Norwegian if a local had found it.
Eventually the Ancient Egyptian pantheon would also be introduced into Thor and I think the Thunder God ends up battling Set.
For me, FF just edges out everything else that Lee and Kirby did.
Great overview of those early JIM/Thor issues, Michael.
Thanks!
Bronze age caveman is new, silly and worthwhile...check it out
Great video!
I like the idea of reading a whole run of a comic. The only one I could probably do that on would be the original run on Conan. Those early Thor comics were great but could have been an artistic tour de force if they hadn't thrown Vinnie Colletta in as inker. I know people are divided on him, but he ruined the artwork, in my opinion.
me-ole-near
Myes!
Errr no, I dont wanna start reading from the beginning 🤭 The movies work well for me. Glad they didnt do the Donald Blake thing. Or did they ? I dunno I slept through some of them. 😴