ON THE SPINNER RACKS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

 cover by Rich Buckler, Joe Sinnott and Frank Giacoia

Thor appears on 10 of the 20 pages.

The issue is a middle chapter of a continued story.

 cover by John Buscema

Thor appears on 13 of the 20 pages.

This is the final chapter of a continued story.

55 YEARS AGO TODAY

The first Marvel comic I ever bought was fighting for attention on the nation's spinner racks.

Thor's 8th appearance of 1967. His 96th appearance of all time.

Balder's 2nd appearance of 1967. His 22nd appearance of all time.

Sif's 5th appearance of 1967. Her 8th appearance of all time.
Sif's 2nd cover appearance of 1967 and of all time.

Plus the epic introduction of Brona, Forsung and Magnir - the Enchanters!!

The issue was so good that I didn't even mind that both the lead story and the Tales of Asgard back-up were continued stories.

Stan Lee prided himself on making sure that every comic he worked on was a good jumping on point for new readers. He certainly succeeded with THOR #143. First, the Kirby cover had to get my attention!

The least important page in the issue?

Marvel waited 8 years to reprint THOR #143 in MARVEL SPECTACULAR #14. By then, to stay competitive, they had raised the price of their books and cut the page count by one.  Fortunately a full-page pin-up of Odin with a voice-over by Thor explaining who Odin is wasn't vital to the plot?!

IN YOUR LCS 5 YEARS AGO TODAY

3 DIFFERENT THORS APPEARED

AVENGERS #8 $3.99 

(W) Mark Waid, Jeremy Whitley (A) Phil Noto (CA) Alex Ross
    The Avengers have to decide whether the Infamous Iron Man is friend or foe! It's hard to trust an "ally" you've been fighting against for years! Lady Thor is on the cover and the inside too!

NOVA #7 $3.99

(W) Jeff Loveness, Ramon K. Perez (A) Scott Hepburn, Ramon K. Perez (CA) Dan Mora
    As Richard Rider struggles to come to terms with the revelations from his return to the Cancerverse, Sam Alexander struggles with homework, his family and dating! Cancerverse Thor has a brief scary appearance.

ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE #2 $4.99 

(W) Yusaku Komiyama, Jim Zub (A/CA) Yusaku Komiyama
   The original manga is adapted into English for the first time!  Earth's Mightiest Heroes must fight to contain an outbreak of horrifying zombies, and stop them from spreading across the Earth!  Thor Odinson goes full zombie.   

THE ONLY NEW THOR APPEARANCE IN YOUR LCS 5 YEARS AGO TODAY

DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME #8 $3.99
(W) Robbie Thompson (A/CA) Javier Rodriguez
    Sir Isaac Newton, scientific genius, pioneer and now nigh-omnipotent sorcerer, has come to the present-day Marvel Universe. First order of events? Take down Lady Thor and the Avengers. 

That's right - there was no new Thor Odinson appearances!

IN YOUR LCS 5 YEARS AGO TODAY

MIGHTY THOR #19 $3.99

(W) Jason Aaron (A) Russell Dauterman, Valerio Schiti (CA) Russell Dauterman
    The gods of the Shi'ar make their final play against Lady Thor and her allies! With the Phoenix Force unleashed, it's up to Quentin Quire to quell its destructive power...if he feels like it.  Plus Thor Odinson has returned - but what awaits him in war-torn Asgardia?

IN YOUR LCS 5 YEARS AGO TODAY

SECRET EMPIRE #1 $4.99 

(W) Nick Spender (A) Steve McNiven (CA) Mark Brooks

   The moment has arrived for Steve Rogers to step into the light and declare his allegiance to Hydra! How can the heroes of the Marvel Universe cope with this shattering betrayal by the most trusted figure among them? And what will this mean for the world? Lady Thor ONLY appears on the cover. Thor Odinson has a minor appearance in the issue.

 Adi Granov variant cover

 Todd Nauck party variant cover

  

CHAMPIONS #8 $3.99

(W) Mark Waid (A/CA) Humberto Ramos

     The fallout from the team's encounter with the Freelancers continues! The Champions realize they have to reframe their purpose. Lady Thor not only appears on the cover, she also has a 1-panel cameo inside.

MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ULTRON REVOLUTION #10 $2.99
(W) Joe Caramagna (A/CA) Various
   When their new allies the INHUMANS find out that ULTRON is bringing a dangerous weapon to Earth, the AVENGERS  (including Thor Odinson) must rally to help their new allies fight an old foe.

IN YOUR LCS 7 YEARS AGO TODAY

AVENGERS OPERATION HYDRA #1 $3.99 

(W) Will Pilgrim (A) Andrea DiVito (CA) Micheal Ryan (Variant Cover) Jack Kirby    

   Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the Hulk on an all-new adventure against a secret Hydra splinter cell!     
   PLUS: Reprinting Avengers #16, presenting the story that brought Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch onto the team for the first time!   

AVENGERS WORLD #20 $3.99

(W) Frank Barbiere (A) Marco Checchetto (CA) Sanford Greene
   The fall of The Avengers ! Namor's fury unleashed! The Cabal rises...no world is safe! A dramatically posed (but silent) Thor Odinson appears on one page.
 

HULK #15 $3.99    

(W) Gerry Duggan (A/CA) Mark Bagley
   The battle between Doc Green & Red Hulk changes the Marvel Universe forever !  Doc Green proves once and for all: science is difficult, even for the smartest of us .  The US military makes a surprising change to their gamma-monster policy. A dramatically posed (but silent) Lady Thor appears on one page.