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Journey Into Mystery #113

Feb 1965
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

Story Name:

A World Gone Mad!


Synopsis

Journey Into Mystery #113 synopsis by Arcturus Jackson
Rating: 3 stars
Image from Journey Into Mystery #113

As the story opens, Thor is with the warriors of Asgard, aboard a sky ship, doing battle with the demons of Jotunheim alongside his father Odin. When the Aesir are victorious, Odin commands his son to return to Asgard to take up his duties as a prince; Thor demurs, insisting he must remain on Earth. Odin correctly divines that it is Thor’s love for Jane Foster that is keeping him bound to Midgard so in anger Odin orders Thor to go where he pleases. Back on Earth, Thor makes the fateful decision to renounce his godhood for Jane’s sake. Turning back to Don Blake, he finds Jane in the office and confesses to her that he has another identity—the mighty Thor….

Meanwhile at a nearby museum, scholars are examining a stone statue which was recently discovered at the bottom of the Hudson River. To their surprise, the statue moves and is revealed to be the Grey Gargoyle, whom Thor (actually Don Blake) sent to the bottom of the river in issue #107. The petrified villain turns his rescuers to stone then heads off to further his original scheme, wresting the secret of immortality from Thor (pausing briefly to recount his origin for the readers)….

In Asgard, Loki takes advantage of Odin’s rage to persuade him of his own loyalty—so Odin removes Thor’s powers…. Back in the medical office, Don tries to prove to Jane that he is Thor by tapping his stick on the floor—but nothing happens. Jane concludes that Don has been working too hard. At that moment, the Grey Gargoyle beaks in, demanding to know where to find Thor. The two mortals flee and make it to an elevator but the villain pursues them down the shaft and into the street….

In Asgard, Thor’s friends choose Balder to head to Earth to protect Don Blake but Loki, claiming to speak for Odin, orders them all to the Eastern Sector of the realm—but Loki does not see a mysterious figure heads down the Rainbow Bridge to Earth…. The Gargoyle pursues Don and Jane through the streets, petrifying everyone in his path until he corners them in an alley. As things look bleak, a hidden figure fires an arrow which burst with light, blinding the villain until the mortals can escape (good thing they weren’t looking too). The Gargoyle quickly recovers and leaps over rooftops to intercept their car and finally has them at this mercy, when the mystery figure grabs Don’s wrist and restores to him the power of Thor for thirty seconds. Don transforms into the Thunder God and makes short work of the villain, channeling electricity through his Uru hammer to fuse the stone molecules together, turning the Gargoyle into an obelisk. The restored power wears off and the mystery ally returns to Asgard, where he is revealed to be Honir the Hunter, dispatched by a concerned Odin to protect his son. Don convinces Jane that his claim to be Thor was a temporary fit and they profess their love for one another.



Story #2

The Boyhood of Loki!

Writer: Stan Lee. Penciler: Jack Kirby. Inker: Vince Colletta. Colorist: ?.

Synopsis

By Arcturus Jackson
Rating: 5 stars
Young Thor and Loki are watching the warriors of Asgard compete in an athletic tournament. The perceptive Thor recognizes that Uller will win the quarterstaff battle; the contrary Loki bets on his opponent to win and secretly casts a spell that causes Uller’s staff to break apart, losing him the contest. The men realize that only magic could have caused the staff to break and spot Loki and Thor and head up to question them. Loki wants to flee but Thor insists on standing firm. When they accuse Loki of trickery, Thor insists on taking responsibility with him. Impressed by the young god’s gallantry, the men bow to him and permit the two godlings to depart, aware of the different destinies that await the two. As they train in horsemanship, Thor challenges Loki to a race which he wins easily because of his superior riding skill. The embittered Loki determines to devote his life to gaining power in Asgard and destroying Thor….

 

Review / Commentaries


Journey Into Mystery #113 Review by (April 14, 2012)
Review: After an epic opening which even Stan Lee admits has nothing to do with the story but was an opportunity for Jack Kirby to draw a battle scene, we zip into a mostly all-action issue, the highlight of which is the chase scene which set my imagination firing as a kid picturing the thing as a movie! Comics used to be fun, Stan could talk to the reader and let us know that he thought so too! Now the only time this happens is with heavy handed irony! Magical moment: Thor needs only 30 seconds to whup the Grey Gargoyle! What do you expect from a baddie who was defeated by Don Blake on his first appearance?

Comments: 1. It was established in issue #107 that the Grey Gargoyle could turn people to stone only with his right hand; here he can do it with his left as well. The cover image was used for the Grey Gargoyle’s Marvel Value Stamp. 2. Part two of the origin of Loki.


> Journey Into Mystery comic book info and issue index

Elektra

This comic is in the following collection:
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Collecting JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #83-120 and ANNUAL #1

Excelsioring your collection:
Kotobukiya Marvel Universe: Thor The Bronze Age ARTFX Statue, Multicolor
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

Jack Kirby
Chic Stone
?
?
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Balder
Balder

(Balder the Brave)
Grey Gargoyle
Grey Gargoyle

(Paul Pierre Duval)
Loki
Loki

(Loki Laufeyson)
Thor
Thor

(Odinson)

Plus: Honir the Hunter.