NOT A "MATTED MASTERWORK OF MURDEROUS MALIGNANCY" - BUT DEFINITELY A MASTERWORK...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Just out - the MARVEL MASTERWORKS edition of The MIGHTY THOR Volume 9, featuring the last of JACK KIRBY's run on the title.  This bombastic book also contains two NEAL ADAMS and three JOHN BUSCEMA illustrated tales, which provide an interesting contrast to Jack's artwork.  Golden Age Great BILL EVERETT inked some of the Kirby tales in this volume, foreshadowing the look that MIKE ROYER was later to give Kirby's pencils, but it's the VINCE COLLETTA finished stories which steal the show.

Since he died, Colletta has been unfairly (in my opinion) much-maligned for some of the shortcuts he took on Kirby's art, but he was a favourite with readers at the time.  (Apparently the book dipped in sales when Everett inked it.)  VC's finishes gave Jack's pencils a far more illustrative look which totally fitted the mood of the comic - in fact, it was Colletta's inks which were largely responsible for that mood.  Say what you like, but Vinnie's inks gave more to Jolly Jack's pages than they ever took away.

With an introduction by WILL MURRAY and reprinting The MIGHTY THOR #s 173-183.

Run, don't walk, to your nearest comics store and pick up your copy now.  (Pay for it first though.)

ISBN # 978-0-7851-4200-1.

And still available is the softcover edition of the first volume of Thor Masterworks, containing JOURNEY Into MYSTERY #s 83-100.  This recent printing of the book contains the best and most faithful presentation of Thor's origin since it was first published, and is a must-have for every true believer.

ISBN # 978-0-7851-4568-4.

So, what're you waiting for?  Rush out and buy it today!