What do you get when you toss Norse mythology into a blender with a pinch of fairy tale and a sprinkle of melodrama? You get “The Golden Apples,” a delightful romp from the silver age of Marvel’s “Tales of Asgard” that’s equal parts mythology, fable, and campy action. This short story serves up some serious Little Red Riding Hood vibes—if Red was actually a Norse goddess and the Big Bad Wolf was Fenris, the Wolf God of legend.

The story opens with the ever-graceful Iduna (Marvel’s take on Iðunn of Norse myth) on her annual quest to deliver the Golden Apples of Immortality to Odin. Armed with a basket that screams “plot device” and rocking an Asgardian twist on the classic red cape, Iduna struts into the enchanted woods, where danger looms like Jack Kirby’s patented dramatic clouds.

Enter Fenris, the snarling Wolf God, who is so hungry for those apples that he’ll abandon all subtlety and shapeshift into a human form straight out of a medieval cosplay convention. Fenris’s human disguise is about as convincing as Clark Kent’s glasses, and Iduna immediately clocks his weird vibe. But before you can say, “My, what big hands you have,” the wolf makes his move, and chaos ensues.

Just when it seems like Iduna’s fate is sealed, our knight in shining armor— Haakun the Hunter swoops in to save the day. His enchanted battle-ax slices through dimensions, dispatching Fenris with all the flair you’d expect from a god-tier weapon. Fenris flees to the mysterious world of Varinheim , and Iduna resumes her journey with nary a scratch.

While The Golden Apples nails the fantasy and spectacle, it’s not without flaws. Iduna’s portrayal as helpless in the final moments feels dated, especially since she starts the story with such bold independence. Fenris, for all his scheming, goes down a little too easily, which robs the finale of some tension.

Character & Development

Iduna

Iduna might carry literal immortality in her basket, but she’s written with more confidence than common sense. Her interactions with Fenris start strong—she’s skeptical of his clumsy lies and not afraid to call him out—but she quickly gets relegated to the “damsel in distress” trope. It’s 1965, so I’ll cut Stan Lee some slack, but it’s hard not to wish Iduna had a little more agency in the climax.

Fenris

Fenris is the standout here, chewing the scenery like, well, a wolf. From his over-the-top declaration of hatred for all things good to his transformation into a not-so-trustworthy human, he’s every bit the mustache-twirling villain I love to hate.

Haakun the Hunter

Haakun is basically Thor-lite, but his enchanted battle-ax is so cool I don’t even mind. His arrival is perfectly timed, his dialogue is delightfully bombastic, and his ax cuts through not just Fenris but reality itself. It’s hard not to cheer when he takes center stage.

Artwork

Jack Kirby delivers on his promise of larger-than-life visuals with lush forests, imposing wolves, and dynamic action shots. Vince Colletta’s inks give the piece an almost storybook charm, fitting for its fairy-tale inspiration. Special shoutout to that final splash panel of the ax slicing through infinity

Tales of Asgard: The Golden Apples is a charming slice of 1960s Marvel, blending Norse myth with fairy tale whimsy in a way only Stan Lee and Jack Kirby could pull off. Sure, it’s campy, but that’s half the fun. With Fenris bringing the villainy, Haakun wielding reality-slicing axes, and Iduna adding a touch of goddess glamour, this tale is an entertaining, if slightly dated, addition to the Asgardian mythos. A fable with flair—just don’t expect too much depth beneath the dazzling surface.