For today’s comic book review, I moved on to read Journey Into Mystery #102, to get the second part of the epic story started in the prior months Journey Into Mystery, featuring Thor, as the slave of “The Tomorrow Man!”  in fact, the story is titled “Slave Of Zarrko, The Tomorrow Man!” and the title seems to hold true, as  Thor is locked to his oath to serve Zarrko and help him conquer the 23rd century.

But can anyone stop him and Zarrko on the path to conquest of a peaceful future, or is Thor doomed to serve him forever? 

Story

I feel this story got it right, it continued what was started, without much Retcon right from the start.  leaving us to get a recap of last issue summed up  in less than two pages, and then on with part two.

It indeed was a story that kept you wondering right until near the end on exactly how Zarrko was going to be stooped if Thor could not break his oath.

Artwork

The artwork was better this issue than last, and one of its strongest points is in looking at the 23rd century.  the detail that Jack Kirby put into the future is as strong as any world he puts us in, at no point do we not feel that we are in some strange and advanced time. even by today’s standards.

Originality & Continuity

As I said above, that I felt this fit well in with the last issue, but not just that, it seems to fit in with what we seen from Tomorrow Man’s first appearance in Journey Into Mystery #86.

This also does not reverse the greatest development of last issue, being Thor’s reduction in power and Loki’s overall goal to take advantage of this situation.

Characters & Development

Thor’s Oath

In this issue, we find out just how powerful and important the Oath of Thor is, or as they word it any immortal.  Thor is locked to and honor bound to keep his word, even if it is to do things he does not want to, or knows is wrong.

I hope strongly that this is a new element that we see used again.