IN YOUR LCS 2 YEARS AGO TODAY

NORSE MYTHOLOGY III #6 (OF 6) 

(W) Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell (A) Galen Showman (CA) P. Craig Russell
In the finale of Ragnarok: The Final Destiny of the Gods, artist P. Craig Russell illustrates the death of the gods, the end of the world, its renewal, and concludes the epic run of Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology.    

IN YOUR LCS 37 YEARS AGO TODAY

THE GREAT WALT SIMONSON'S 3rd THOR COVER.

Like the previous two, it was embellished by Joe Sinnott.

It was the 5th issue that Simonson did the story art for.

The 4th time that he collaborated with Tony DeZunga.

Writer/editor Len Wein provided a worthy plot that gave Simonson/DeZunga the opportunity to depict Loki, Odin, Sif, Balder, Fandral, Hogun, Executioner, Enchantress and Karnilla. Plus there's a shocking last panel foe appearance.

ON THE SPINNER RACKS Jul/Aug 1964

 

Loki's 7th cover appearance.

Art on all 7 of those covers by Jack Kirby.

Plus Doctor Strange meets Doctor Blake.

                         

Thor also starred in AVENGERS #8

Plus Thor was in TALES TO ASTONISH #59 on the splash page and 3 panels (but not on the cover)

Thor had a guest appearance (along with the rest of the Avengers) in (but not on the cover of ) FANTASTIC FOUR #31 

It was the first time that 4 Thor appearances shipped the same month.

IN YOUR LCS TODAY

ULTIMATES #2

 (W) Deniz Camp (A) Juan Frigeri (CA) Dike Ruan

SHOCKING SECRETS OF THE ULTIMATE UNIVERSE REVEALED!

Captain America reckons with the Maker's dismantling of nations...by visiting the White House! Leading to a massive brawl between MIDAS and this young band of freedom fighters... ...but Midas has been holding a superhuman hostage as a power source! PLUS: The dark history of what used to be the United States on Earth-6160...

NICK BRADSHAW Variant

ON THE SPINNER RACKS July/August 1970

 NEAL ADAMS FILLS THE VACUUM LEFT BY KING KIRBY

If this Adams cover were to make you think that Thor had succumbed to another bout of Warrior Madness, you'd be wrong.

Loki and Thor appear together in a Marvel comic for the 51st time.

That's right! It's Stan Lee Comic Plot #23 (Villain/Hero bodyswap)

Thor fans get their first look at A(dam)sgard.

ON THE SPINNER RACKS July/Aug 1965

As a Sixties Thor fan this was the best you could hope for,  a Lee/Kirby/Colletta collaboration!

The first 3 pages once again showcases how well Thor relates with mortals

Loki appears for the 25th time
Jane Foster appears for the 35th time
A 1965 addition to Thor's Rogues Gallery, the Absorbing Man appears for the 3rd time.
The 16 page lead story and the 5 page Tales of Asgard back-up (with the first appearances of  Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun) are both the first installments of continued stories.

Not only is Thor on the cover of this Annual. He also appears on 5 pages.

ON THE SPINNER RACKS Jul/Aug 1968

You could have easily assumed that this was a symbolic cover (or a no-scene-remotely-like-this-inside cover)

The Mangog saga Lee/Kirby seemed to be trying surpass their  earlier FANTASTIC FOUR Galactus trilogy. Instead of merely eating the Earth, it aimed to destroy the universe by unsheathing the  Odinsword. 

The four years Marvel paid Jack Kirby to hone his monster-designing  skills (1958-1962) was indeed money well-spent.