Journey Into Mystery #118: Review

Jul 1965

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

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Story Name:

To Kill a Thunder God!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Journey Into Mystery #118 Review by Arcturus (October 20, 2012)

Review: An auspicious debut for one of Thor’s most powerful (and in recent years, most overused) foes: The Destroyer! Created by Odin as a doomsday weapon for the direst of emergencies, the Destroyer can not only lift Thor’s hammer but break it! Epic battle scenes ensue as the hero faces off against an opponent who can’t be beaten, frightened, or tricked. For Marvel’s most powerful hero the stakes are high! Added bonus: Loki outsmarts himself! He couldn’t get away with Odin being stupid forever (see the previous issues)! A perfect issue—hot from the Silver Age! And yes, I’m being paid by the exclamation point!

Comments: 1. First appearance of the Destroyer. First mention of the Odinsleep.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Journey Into Mystery #118 Synopsis by Arcturus Jackson

Soldiers on the American line in Vietnam are surprised to see the Mighty Thor flying toward them from the battlefield. He drops off the refugee girl and hastens on his mission to return the Norn Stones to Asgard, proving his innocence in the Trial of the Gods (issue #116). Loki, watching from Asgard, hatches a scheme to delay the Thunder God: he locates an American hunter in the area (presumably by now Thor is in an adjacent country) and tempts the man into shooting Thor with a tranquilizer shell. The hunter, also seeking valuable antiquities, is subtly led by Loki into discovering an enormous temple in the Plateau of Silence. Inside he discovers a huge suit of armor and becomes aware that it is called The Destroyer; when he touches it, his consciousness animates the monster which has the power to destroy even Thor. Meanwhile, the drug has worn off and Thor pursues the hunter to the temple and faces the Destroyer, which he realizes he cannot overcome as it even has the power to lift Thor’s Uru hammer. Watching the battle awakens in Loki the realization that Thor could be killed (not in his plan) and that Odin would surely know he was responsible. The God of Mischief hastens to inform Odin so that he can stop his deadly creation but discovers that the All-Father is in the Odinsleep and cannot be awakened. The guards, not trusting his intentions, lock him in the Dungeon of No-Escape; he tries to escape by hypnotizing the guard but a second guard overpowers him and chains him up. Meanwhile, Thor is barely holding his own against the Destroyer. The armored foe fires a blast that slices the end off of Thor’s hammer then uses a magnetic force to draw his adversary toward him. Destroyer liquefies then solidifies the floor, trapping Thor to his waist. The super-powered creature than unleashes a bolt of elemental destructive power, which comes slowly toward the helpless Thor….

Story #2

The Crimson Hand! (Tales of Asgard series)

Writer: Stan Lee. Penciler: Jack Kirby. Inker: Vince Colletta. Letterer: Sam Rosen.

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

By Arcturus Jackson

Thor consults with Morduk the Wise, asking the sage for a map that will guide him and his heroes on their quest to learn who cracked the great Oversword of Asgard (last issue). Morduk also gives him the Crimson Hand, a gauntlet that, when worn, will force the wearer and anyone he clasps hands with to tell nothing but the truth. At this point, Loki enters with a warrior he introduces as Braggi, the new overseer of the ship’s crew. Thor shakes the man’s hand while wearing the Crimson Hand and Braggi is compelled to reveal that he is an assassin, hired to murder Thor on the voyage. Panicked, the villain draws his sword but Thor easily overcomes him and drives him from the camp. Thor suggests clasping hands with Loki to begin the quest, but the God of Evil, recognizing the Crimson Hand, makes excuses and departs. As Thor resolves himself for the rigors of the quest, a great horn summons to warriors of Asgard to Odin’s ship….

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