Journey Into Mystery #121: Review

Oct 1965

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

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Story Name:

The Power! The Passion! The Pride!

Review & Comments

Rating:

Journey Into Mystery #121 Review by Arcturus (January 21, 2013)

Review: Issue-length battle is a lot of fun, despite some inconsistencies in how the Absorbing Man is portrayed. He can lift Thor’s hammer? I guess it’s no problem if he’s made of Uru too. He transforms into what he touches involuntarily, as when Thor hurls him at the glass window? Then why isn’t he always concrete from his feet constantly being in contact with the sidewalk? He can change size at will? Makes no sense but man was that full page panel of the giant AbsMan cool! Meanwhile, Loki schemes and we find Jane foster a captive of the mystery baddie. Tune in next ish for more!

Journey Into Mystery #121 Review by Peter Silvestro (January 21, 2013)

Comments: The cover image was used for Absorbing Man’s Marvel Value Stamp.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Journey Into Mystery #121 Synopsis by Arcturus Jackson

Thor is locked in deadly combat with the Absorbing Man on the streets of New York. A blow from his mighty hammer turns the villain into Uru, making him Thor’s match. But the Thunder God’s skill in battle gives him the edge and the Absorbing Man steals away at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, Loki watches the fight from Asgard, depending on a victory by his minion to put Thor out of the way so that the God of Mischief may challenge Odin himself. Back on Earth, the Absorbing Man draws on all the steel and concrete of the buildings around to grow into a powerful giant. He hurls a ball of twisted steel at his foe but the Thunder God smashes it into flinders. The villain, fearing being blinded by the shrapnel, resumes his normal size and the battle takes to the streets again. Unbeknownst to Thor he is being observed from a nearby window by Jane Foster, who is being held captive by a mysterious hooded man. Below, Thor flips his enemy into a huge window, turning him to glass; Absorbing Man flees to a bank where he touches the steel vault door then shuts himself inside. Thor rips the door off and engages his foe and with their strength once more equal, the fight crashes through the bank wall and into the street once more. Thor is distracted by saving a small child on the field of combat, allowing his enemy to knock him unconscious. The Absorbing Man declares victory!

Story #2

Maelstrom! (Tales of Asgard series)

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

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

By Arcturus Jackson

The Odinship approaches the deadly Pillars of Utgard ("to sail between them means instant destruction"). The panicked crew demands that Thor turn back but the Thunder God insists they sail ever onward. The tiller is broken and the ship is caught in a massive maelstrom; Thor calls for the mightiest of the warriors to break out the oars and row for their lives. Meanwhile, Balder the Brave climbs the ship’s figurehead dragging a massive horn behind him….

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