Hey comic enthusiasts! Today we're diving into a classic issue of Journey Into Mystery featuring The Mighty Thor #119 from 1965, where cosmic drama meets epic battles in true Marvel fashion.
This issue features Thor and his carefully selected warriors embarking on an important quest - they must discover what mysterious force has managed to crack Odin's mighty Oversword of Asgard. But before our heroes can properly begin their journey, they face a deadly encounter with one of Thor's most formidable foes: The Destroyer!
Key Story Elements:
• Thor assembles an army of hand-picked warriors for the quest
• The Destroyer makes a dramatic appearance
• Loki (being Loki) sends a desperate message to Karnilla, the Norn Queen
• Odin is trapped in the Odinsleep at a crucial moment
• The story features a tense battle as Thor faces off against the Destroyer
In one of the issue's most compelling moments, Thor discovers the Destroyer's weakness - its connection to its human form. The Destroyer, while incredibly powerful, is reluctant to risk damage to its human body, giving Thor a strategic advantage in their confrontation.
This issue was brought to life by the legendary creative team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, with inking by Vinnie Colletta, giving the artwork a distinctive look that differs from Joe Sinnott's style on Fantastic Four.
This issue is particularly notable for Marvel collectors as it features the first appearance of Hogun, adding another important character to Thor's expanding mythology.
Jack Kirby's dynamic artwork, combined with Colletta's inking, creates a visual feast that brings the godly battles and cosmic drama to life in that unmistakable Marvel style of the mid-1960s.
Fun Fact:
This issue hit newsstands in 1965, the same year that would see the birth of what we now know as the Super Bowl! While Thor was battling the Destroyer in the pages of Marvel Comics, the NFL and AFL were working out the details of their historic merger, which would lead to the first-ever Super Bowl (though it wasn't even called that yet) in January 1967. Two epic battles of very different kinds!
