70 Years of Marvel - 1960

Some days I'll write a long screed of junk regarding the subject of the day. And some days I'll just post a picture of a monster named "Shagg" and let the material speak for itself. This is one of those days.

Elsewhere in 1960, Ricardo Klement fell into the hands of Mossad, beginning a slow but certain trip to the gallows. Francis Gary Powers literally fell into the hands of the KGB, and would spend a couple of years in a Russian prison before going home. (Incidentally, his wikipedia entry is worth a visit, if only to read about his hilarious death). And Kennedy was beating Nixon to the Presidency.

At the movies Kirk Douglas was playing games as Spartacus, while Yul Brynner was leading the Magnificent Seven. On tv, the Flintstones were debuting, and perpetually-running soap, Coronation Street, began.

Thor's Personality Profile

Journey Into Mystery #101-102, February - March 1964.
(By Lee, Kirby, George Roussos & Chic Stone)


Arrogance!


Selfishness!


Domineering Parentage!


Whiny!


Persistent Foes!


Still Arrogant!


Still Whiny!


Arrogance, Gullibility, and Something of a Lack of Imagination!


Equally Gullible Parent!


Sulky!


Not As Dumb As He Seems!


Really Sulky!


Determined!


Too Fond of Exposition for his Own Good!


Poor Anticipation Skills!


Reckless!


Definitely Not as Dumb as He Seems!

Oh, and about Thor's hammer:

Seriously, why doesn't he use it every other issue to save the day? I know I would...

The Stone Men From Saturn!

Journey Into Mystery #83, August 1962
(Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby)

Right, then. We've met Hank Pym, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and Spider-Man. Who's next?


Oh, him! Yes, I'm afraid it's time for the smuggest, most self-satisfied, most downright annoying superhero of them all to show up. Sorry. Let's get on with it, shall we?


Obviously, in a tale which deals with the return of a mythical Norse god, what we need is space aliens. Here they come.


The invading Saturnians are spotted by a local fisherman, and word quickly catches the ear of the visiting Dr Donald Blake, who sets out to investigate this improbable tale. Unfortunately, our Donald is spotted by the aliens, who pursue him into some nearby caves. Whilst hiding out from the aliens, Dr Blakes makes a shocking discovery.


Failing to use the cane to shift a fallen boulder, Dr Blake hits it off the wall of the cave, and-


Thus transformed, Thor quickly busts out of the cave, and, after bit of practice with the hammer, sets off to stop the Saturnian Stone Men.

Things go badly for the aliens.



And that's that. Thor turns back into Donald Blake, and heads back home.

At this point, you'll note that Blake retains his human persona whilst in Thor form. It's also pure coincidence that he becomes Thor at all. In the years to come, this origin story will get somewhat more complicated, but we'll get to that, later...