tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post2299099368266058882..comments2024-03-28T18:40:59.101+00:00Comments on CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: THOR THE MIGHTY IN A JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-66660844221410960662016-07-17T14:18:13.721+01:002016-07-17T14:18:13.721+01:00I think you're overlooking one simple fact, L,...I think you're overlooking one simple fact, L, and that is Jack's notes in the margin don't disprove that he and Stan discussed the plot before Jack started drawing it. And Stan admitted from day one that Jack sometimes added to the plot while drawing the story (with whatever mag they worked on), and even sometimes told Stan what it was going to be in advance. As for those margin notes, as Jack paced the story and added bits as he went along, the notes were a reminder to Stan of what they'd discussed - and to explain what Jack had added.<br /><br />It's also not true to say that whenever Jack's not on the Thor title, we got 'lame-duck' characters. The Executioner (JIM #84), The Reds (JIM #87), Thug Thatcher (JIM #89), The Radioactive Man (JIM #93), The Lava Man (JIM #97) were hardly memorable characters, and Jack drew all these stories.<br /><br />I've got the DC Thor story, and apart from the design of the hammer, it bears little resemblance to Marvel's Thor. I therefore think you're massively overstating the case when you say it 'blows Larry Lieber's dubious story right out of the water". It doesn't, it merely demonstrates that Jack once drew a Thor-themed story for DC.<br /><br />However, regardless of whoever first came up with the idea of doing Marvel's Thor, the finished comic as it first appeared to the public was the result of a collaboration between Stan, Jack & Larry.<br /><br />I also think you'd get a lot of argument from fans over your contention that Spider-Man under Romita was stale (sales went up). Villains that were introduced in any strip's early days are usually the ones that become regarded as 'great', but The Tinkerer, Electro, The Big Man & The Enforcers, The Master Planner, The Meteor Man, The Molten Man, all seem like 'B' listers to me. Even The Vulture is just an old guy with wings.<br /><br />I'm afraid your case doesn't really stand up to examination, but thanks for the compliment.Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07224781868125924337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-29946462219402995652016-07-17T13:23:25.513+01:002016-07-17T13:23:25.513+01:00Being one firmly in 'the Kirby kamp' who s...Being one firmly in 'the Kirby kamp' who strongly believe Stan (mostly) merely provided the dialogue to Marvel's classic comics, I've not heard this version of Thor's invention. There does, however, exist a pre-Marvel DC tale penned by Kirby which also features a chap gaining Thor's powers by finding his hammer. I would have to dig it out as proof, but it blows Larry Leiber's dubious story right out of the water (and call me cynical, but let's not forget he is Satan Lee's brother! Er, that was a typo, but I think I'll leave it as stet - LoL!.<br /><br />I also think Thor is a good title to investigate just how shit Stan's ideas were whenever Kirby didn't happen to be drawing the book, something that's harder to prove with the Fantastic Four, as Kirby was the sole artist for its first 100 issues. <br /><br />Whenever Kirby's not on the Thor title, we get either lame-duck characters like Merlin or 'The Mad Magician', or simply retreads using Loki or other Kirby characters. And beyond all this, do I REALLY need to point out all of Kirby's margin notes on his original pencils, explaining the story to Stan? <br /><br />I firmly believe that the TRUE creative engines of Marvel were Kirby & Ditko (witness how stale the Spider-man book became when John Romita took it over - what great super-villains came after Ditko's departure? The Rhino & The Kingpin? And let's face it, in the case of The Kingpin, he was deathly dull until Frank Miller came along decades later).<br /><br />I rest my case! (Nice blog, otherwise, Kid! :-) )Lorenzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03009311296128549965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-32322597923394510312013-07-19T08:56:06.308+01:002013-07-19T08:56:06.308+01:00Nick, I thought these early Thor tales were great,...Nick, I thought these early Thor tales were great, as well as the early Iron Man stories. Just right for kids, but adults looking for a mild distraction for 20 minutes or so could also enjoy them.Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07224781868125924337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-2672342667223998342013-07-19T04:01:31.831+01:002013-07-19T04:01:31.831+01:00JIM 84 was the first cover I recall seeing as a sm...JIM 84 was the first cover I recall seeing as a small image on Marvel Tales. Those covers had a serious look to them that was so far removed from the light-hearted DC fare. Stan Goldberg's murky colors added to the sombre attitude, but it drew me in completely. I still have a soft spot for those early Thor's, where he's fighting communists and thugs.<br /><br /> Nick Caputohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05096100224095280865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-36232499594632152932013-07-18T12:34:44.540+01:002013-07-18T12:34:44.540+01:00JP, Larry also scripted Iron Man's first appea...JP, Larry also scripted Iron Man's first appearance and also (I think) Ant Man's. An excellent wordsmith.Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07224781868125924337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-27223922523319460552013-07-18T12:31:44.992+01:002013-07-18T12:31:44.992+01:00As Larry can invent/write like that ( I thought it...As Larry can invent/write like that ( I thought it was Stan's writing ) I'm going to have to check out some of those ATLAS (Mk.II) titles! John Pitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08035300858247327343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-2286630444139039982013-07-18T08:03:09.671+01:002013-07-18T08:03:09.671+01:00Phil, a good magician never tells his audience how...Phil, a good magician never tells his audience how his tricks are done. Oh, go on then. Yes, they're from the Masterworks volume, as I only have 5 original issues of the 10 featured (including #83).Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07224781868125924337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3740495193314269367.post-5326011301572457252013-07-18T06:07:30.324+01:002013-07-18T06:07:30.324+01:00Interesting to note that Thor must have picked up ...Interesting to note that Thor must have picked up a personal trainer after his first cover appearance as he becomes progressively more buffed on each cover after that. This is the best I have ever seen these look - are the scans from the Masterworks volumes?PhilSeenoreply@blogger.com