Journey into Mystery # 85




Writer:Stan Lee
Scripter: Larry Lieber
Artist : Jack Kirby
Artist Inks: Dick Ayers



Plot summary:

Loki is introduced in the series. He’s freed from imprisonment in Asgard by manipulating the tree he was trapped in to make Heimdal shed a tear. He goes to earth to get revenge on Thor. He changes some people to negatives of themselves and does other things to place Thor on a chase through the city. Ultimately ,Thor captures him by throwing a large cylinder and placing him in the river , where he loses his powers.


Comments:

Oh man, here we go. Is it too late to bail ?

Loki and Asgard are introduced into the series and we see that Lee and Kirby want to make this book more than a Superman ripoff. All the settings of Asgard are displayed; the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdal. Odin, Balder, Tyr. But there is no explanation about Thor's relationship to them. To this point he knows only of the legends surrounding the Norse Mythology.

Loki jogs Thor's memory of him but he only recognizes him from the legends and not as his enemy or brother.





Does Jane find EVERYONE  handsome ?

It's Beginning to look like the Hammer can do anything the writer wants it to do. It Blows antiMatter at some people that Loki has turned into negatives of themselves curing them. I’m guessing a magic Hammer doesn’t have to make sense, but anti matter seems like it would be harmful. Paging Cei-U! !

At the end of the story when Loki is placed back in Asgard, Odin comments that his eldest son has beat him. There is no explanation made about the Blake/Thor situation or why the Hammer was in a cave in Norway. He just accepts that Thor is around.
If I remember correctly, it will be a while before this entire relationship is explained. But in the meanwhile, the readers will be scratching their collective heads about why Thor even knows who Odin is.

One more thing, Loki is helpless in water ? Is that something that was ever shown again ?

Goofy moments:

Loki takes Thor's hammer away by having him hand it to an illusion of himself.

Once again like last issue, Blake transforms into Thor in front of witnesses but there’s no repercussions.

At the end of the story When Thor finally captures Loki, He climbs to the top of the Empire state Building and throws ( !) him all the way to Asgard. This happens all within 60 seconds , in order for him to not revert to Blake.

Let me type that again. He THROWS him all the way to Asgard. 



How does Thor even know where Asgard is ?

Some "Superman"moments



Bending train tracks works every time



Super breath ?

I apologize to Hoosier X . Maybe we should have started with # 97...

Honestly, I think it’s a lot more like the Martian Manhunter than Superman. Thor has whatever powers he needs for that issue. The stories are very short and make very little sense. He’s appearing in an anthology title.

And while Superman is paired with Lois Lane from the very start (and not forgetting that 1940s Lois is awesome), both Thor and the Manhunter will struggle in the “supporting character” department for a while.

I always liked the way Kirby drew Loki in everyday earth-man clothes, making him look just as sinister as in his traditional Asgardian garb.

Thor = Superman.

Jane Foster = a less interesting Lois Lane.

Loki = Mr. Mxyzptlk

Just don't tell Jane.

Now that he's said it, I think Hoosier's comment that he's more like Martian Manhunter seems a better analogy to me.   

Of course one could argue Martian Manhunter is ALSO a Superman analogue...

Martian Manhunter is nothing but Superman with his head shaved and green body paint.  And with no discernable supporting cast.