ON THE SPINNER RACKS 61 YEARS AGO TODAY

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #101 was the 15th and final Thor appearance to hit the racks in 1963.

There was a 13 page lead story guest starring the Avengers, plus a 5 page "Boyhood of Thor" back-up. Both drawn by Jack Kirby and George Roussos.

I was buying comics back then but instead of that I chose to buy this

If only they had put young Thor on the cover, given him a dog and had Curt Swan draw it, maybe I wouldn't have waited 3 years before I bought my first Thor comic.

ON THE SPINNER RACKS 60 YEARS AGO TODAY

Thor's 29th 1964 comic appearance.

Not only does the 16 page lead story that deliver what the cover promises but there also is a 5 page Tales Of Asgard back-up featuring a childhood tale of  Thor and Loki. Art by Kirby. Cover and lead story embellished by Chic Stone. 

Vince Colletta did the TOS finishes.

It was Loki's 7th 1964 appearance.

The stop-motion Christmas special, RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER debuted on American TV in color.

Rudolf is established as the son of Santa's lead reindeer, Donner, a slight variation from his 1939 origin. This version has become canon.

ON THE SPINNER RACKS 59 YEARS AGO TODAY

If you read the previous issue you would have recognized the shadow on this Jack Kirby/Vince Colletta cover as telegraphing the 3rd appearance of Hercules in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY.

Hercules was not the villain, of course. It was actually this poor over-matched (even with a Norn stone) schmuck. Art by Kirby/Colletta

ON THE SPINNER RACKS 58 YEARS AGO TODAY

Not only was it Ulik's debut,

it was also the third appearance of Sif.

If you liked this issue you were in luck. The next 2 issues would also feature Ulik and Sif . They would also be the product of the same creative team, Lee/Kirby/Colletta.

Neither Don Blake nor Jane Foster appears.

IN YOUR LCS 3 YEARS AGO TODAY

THOR #20 $3.99

(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Nic Klein

"GOD OF HAMMERS" PART 2 of 5

Mjolnir is on a rampage across the realms and leaving death and destruction in its path! Thor must act fast to save his kingdom for the deadly prophecy of the God of Hammers is about to be unleashed!

BIANCHI VARIANT

 DEVILS REIGN VILLAIN VARIANT

IN YOUR LCS TODAY

MARVEL HOLIDAY TALES TO ASTONISH #1

(W) Gerry Duggan, Various (A) Phil Noto, Various (CA) Lee Garbett

HOLIDAY HIJINKS IN THE MIGHTY MARVEL MANNER!

You're invited to the Fantastic Four's Holiday Party! But who are the uninvited guests? Then, in a tale of Hanukkahs past, can Kitty Pryde scramble to save the day while struggling to shop for gifts for her merry X-Men? And ring in the New Year, with Peter Parker and Miles Morales, as only Spider-Men can!

LEE GARBETT WRAPAROUND HOMAGE VARIANT

ON THE SPINNER RACKS January/February 1967

 Thor's 89th appearance.

What the cover promised the story delivered - Jack Kirby trolls! 

Plus the second appearance of Ulik
- Mightiest of the Rock Trolls

Although Ulik doesn't appear in this trollfest splash, or the other  2 splashes either, he does appear on half of the 16 pages.

Sif 's 4th appearance and a 5 page Thor-centric Kirby/Colletta Tales of Asgard back-up featuring the Warriors Three make this a better than average issue. Both stories are continued.