Reviewed Comics:
-
Tales to Astonish #61:Now Walks the Android
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 2 StarsThis Ant-Man and wasp tale features Egghead whom we last seen in issue 57. In this issue he escapes from Jail, and sets out to get revenge on Giant-Man for besting him. As a villion goes it is more about proving himself the superior intellect then anything else at this point for the antagonist. This…
-
Journey Into Mystery #111:The Secret of Sigurd
Cover Date: Dec 1964 | Review: 3.5 StarsIn this tale, we see Loki again attempt to get at Thor through manipulation instead of direct assault. We see how well Loki can plan, read people and push things his way as he gets Thor and Balder to join him on a shortcut through Sigurd’s forest, knowing that he can get the God of…
-
Journey Into Mystery #111:The Power of the Thunder God!
Cover Date: Dec 1964 | Review: 4.5 StarsWhile the old saying “don’t judge a book by the cover” should still apply, this month, I find myself called to at least start my review by doing just that. After all, the cover Art is part of the comic, even perhaps one of the most important (selling) pieces. But due to the placement of…
-
Journey Into Mystery #110:Every Hand Against Him
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 4 StarsThis story starts with Thor hunting for an evil he senses somewhere within the city, although he is unsure what the evil is or where it is. Failing to find it, he returns to his office and his identity as Dr. Don Blake. Meanwhile, in disguise, Loki pays the bail to free The Cobra and…
-
Journey Into Mystery #110:The Defeat of Odin!
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 1.25 StarsSo for those who have been following the past few months after my return, you might have expected to see something different after last week—perhaps, at a minimum, the first story from this issue instead of my jumping right to the second. Well, the first story is part one of two, and in a desire…
-
Journey into Mystery #109:Banished from Asgard
Cover Date: Oct 1964 | Review: 2.5 StarsToday we start by finding Thor, who in this story is not yet 20, being banished from Asgard for daring to fight a Duel against Odin’s wishes. In a similar fashion to Journey Into Mystery #107, Odin’s mind seems set, and he is unwilling to heed the advice of his subjects to reconsider. But perhaps,…
-
Journey into Mystery #108:Trapped by the Trolls
Cover Date: Sep 1964 | Review: 4.75 Starsthis month we follow who is at first an unknown asgardian into the kindom of the dewarfs where he is captured and given to the Trolls as a slave. This however quickly proves to be a ruse and a plan to free the slaves from the Trolls. It also serves as a message ending with…
-
Journey into Mystery #107:Balder Must Die
Cover Date: Aug 1964 | Review: 3.25 StarsIf there is one thing Loki cannot stand, it is anyone being held in Odin’s favor, at least more than him. Jealousy for Balder is the source of the conflict in this issue, and despite the title suggesting it features Balder, in my opinion the protagonist (even if a villous one) is Loki. In this…
-
Journey into Mystery #106:Balder the Brave
Cover Date: Jul 1964 | Review: 3 StarsFor this “Tales Of Asgard” story, we have Balder the Brave, who appears before Odin is questioned about why he deserted the fight. It is quickly revealed it was to save a bird that fell from the nest. This this Odin sentences him to the test of Mortal death! Even with the begging and petitioning…
-
Journey Into Mystery #105:When Heimdall Failed
Cover Date: Jun 1964 | Review: 4.5 StarsWhile the previous story in the Tales of Asgard series was anticlimactic, this one, from the moment you read the title “When Heimdall Failed” offers promise and suspense. This story is true to the title; it is of the hero failing and the consequences he and Asgard face for that failure. Perhaps as importantly, it…
-
Journey into Mystery #104:Heimdal Guardian Of The Mystic Rainbow Bridge!
Cover Date: May 1964 | Review: 2.75 StarsIn this issue, we get the origin of Heimdall as the guardian of the rainbow bridge. But is this story dramatic and everything we would hope for it to be, or is it a biography that, while having value, falls short of what is promised on the introductory page? Story The story starts with Heimdall…
-
Journey Into Mystery #103:Thor’s Mission to Mirmir!
Cover Date: Apr 1964 | Review: 4.75 StarsAs I wrote my review for the Tales of Asgard backup in Journey Into Mystery #103, I decided to start with praise and a warning. First, I will praise this tale from the start; it proves to be an enjoyable read that I will get to below. The reason for this high praise in the…
-
Journey Into Mystery #102:Death comes to Thor
Cover Date: Mar 1964 | Review: 4.25 StarsThis tale, like the last two, features the “boyhood of Thor” although he is now “at the age of eighteen” per the opening page. In this adventure, Thor learns from the fates that he must meet death to win Odin’s enchanted hammer. But we must continue reading this fateful tale to know what that means.…
-
Journey Into Mystery #101:The Invasion of Asgard!
Cover Date: Feb 1964 | Review: 4.75 StarsIn this five-page story, we have the Gods of Asgard preparing for an invasion by the “forces of Evil” Thor, however being a kid is sent off by Heimdall. However Loki informs his brother Thor that he knows of a secret hole in Asgard’s defenses that needs protecting. Story We learn that Loki is the…
-
Journey Into Mystery #100:The storm Giants
Cover Date: Jan 1964 | Review: 3.75 StarsWe started with Buri and glanced over Borr before moving to two stories that feature Odin. Now, we have moved on to the featurette staring a young Thor. In this tale, we follow him on his mission to accomplish deeds of valor so that he may one day inherit Odin’s enchanted battle hammer. Story More…
-
Journey Into Mystery #99:Surtur The Fire Demon!
Cover Date: Dec 1963 | Review: 3.25 StarsThis time, the adventures of Odin continue, but where last time he battled against Ice this time he is up against the firey Surtur. Story One thing hat does stand out, is the style is more in line with the first then the second, Telling the story without dialogue bubbles The story is starting to…
-
Journey Into Mystery #98:Odin Battles Ymir, King of the Ice Giants
Cover Date: Nov 1963 | Review: 3.75 StarsFor the second installment of the Tales of Asgard, we find ourselves joining Odin as he battles against Ymir and the ice giants. Story The story this month is more focused than the first issue. We follow Odin into battle, and the action takes place more in a traditional comic book style with dialogue bubbles.…
-
Journey Into Mystery #97:Home Of The Mighty Norse Gods
Cover Date: Oct 1963 | Review: 4.25 StarsThe five-page short that starts out the “Tales of Asgard” series acts a bit like a genesis for the Norse mythos at least as it pertains to the Marvel comics universe. I cannot claim to be well versed in actual notes mythology that serves as the bases for this story, but even if I was…
-
Reviewing Comics Return
So, it has been years without a review for various reasons. But now we are back, with a revamped site and backend for our meta data. Our hope is to return to providing reviews of primarily classic marvel. A this current time, my plan is to post 1 review per week while also working to…
-
Tales of Suspense #59:Captain America
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 4.25 StarsThe second feature for Tales of Suspense #59 features Captain America in his first silver aged solo adventure. In this issue we have captain america left as the Avenger tending to Avengers mansion while the others are out. Then we have Bull, a criminal ringleader, thinking to take advantage of the situation, seeing the captain…
-
Tales of Suspense #59:The Black Knight
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 4.75 StarsAs I sit down to write a comic book review of the story titled “The Black Knight” featuring Iron man, published in Tales Of Suspense #59, I find that this story (despite a later cover month) would clearly fit before the events of Avengers #9. That small fact out-of-the-way (and the impact on the avengers…
-
Strange Tales #127:Duel with the Dread Dormammu!
Cover Date: Dec 1964 | Review: 5.25 StarsAfter reviewing the story from Strange Tales #126 that featured Dr. Strange, I found my self all to eager to read the second part; to bare witness to the conflict between the Doctor and the Dreaded Dormammu. In fact, in the early pages of this adventure, we learn that this Duel does come with a…
-
Strange Tales #126:The Domain Of the Dread Dormammu
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 4 StarsWhile yesterday I established that the first tale from Strange Tales #126, left me lacking; today we explore the Realm of Darkness and face off against Dormammu himself with none other than Dr. Strange. This story starts off, with The Ancient One summing Strange just a short time after the events of the last story, then informing…
-
Strange Tales #126:Pawns of The Deadly Due!
Cover Date: Nov 1964 | Review: 1 StarsThe first story of Strange Tales #126 features The Human Torch and The Thing, but this time with a bit more Fantastic Four support then we are used to. Of course the Duo are taking on another Duo of Former fantastic Four Villains, The Puppet Master and The Mad Thinker. In this story…