COMIC BOOK PROFILE: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85

 

COMIC BOOK PROFILE

Wow...it's been some time since I've had a chance to do one of THESE blogs, but I do enjoy them when I get the opportunity.  And...upon reflecting what I have called this section of my little page here, I decided to make a change.  It's no longer going to be a "Comic Book of the Week", because--obviously--I haven't DONE this on a weekly basis.  However, with the new name, I think it fits better, because that's what we do here.  And with that little tidbit out of the way, let's bring us to the book that is our focus this time around.  And, I have to admit---I planned this to coincide with the Disney Plus show LOKI.  So, what a better time....especially since Episode 5 was titled "Journey Into Mystery", that we take a peek inside the first Silver Age appearance of The God of Mischief.

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85

COVER ART:  Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Stan Goldberg, Artie Simek

WRITER:  Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

ARTIST:  Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Steve Ditko

INKS: Dick Ayers, Don Heck, Steve Ditko

LETTERS:  Artie Simek, Jon D'Agostino

COLORS:  Stan Goldberg

EDITOR:  Stan Lee

COVER DATE:  October 1962

PUBLISHER:  Marvel Comics

TAGLINE: Never before has the Mighty Thor faced a foe as dangerous as LOKI, The God of Mischief!!  Take these other Journeys into Mystery in this great issue:  "Filbert's Frightful Future" & "Off Limits" 

STORY TITLE:  "Trapped By Loki, The God of Mischief", "The Clock", "Filbert's Frightful Future", "Off Limits"

Journey Into Mystery #85 is now considered, by Marvel nowadays, as the first Silver Age appearance of Loki.  Considering Marvel's previous publication history as Timely/Atlas Comics, they new consider all of the previous comics under their original name canon, and thus Loki made his first actual appearance in Venus #6 (I'll have to research that one), but it was in the Timely/Atlas comic Journey Into Mystery that gave us--first--The God of Thunder Thor in issue #83, but we get introduced to his mischievous and sinister half-brother in this issue.  Marvel would end up using this comic as the platform for the Thunder God to establish his world and his entry into the Marvel Universe.  The series ran until issue #125, until it was renamed for our Norse God Avenger with issue #126 as The Mighty Thor.  Loki would return many time to plague Thor, The Avengers, and everyone else in the Marvel Universe, in his quest for power and hijinks.  And when the Marvel Cinematic Universe got started off...they did lay the groundwork in Thor's movie debut for his big role as the villain in The Avengers.  He's not only made appearances in the other two Thor features, but in more Avengers movies, as well as anywhere else he can be inserted into.  Tom Hiddleston's performance has been magical and captivating, and has brought this character to life in magnificent ways.  And now with the TV show, he's been allowed to expand on his own as the main character, and show us aspects that we've not gotten before.  Hiddleston's portrayal has given Loki's stock as a character an immense boost.  

THE STORY:  Loki has been trapped in a tree, having been put there by his father Odin for past misdeeds.  He is in the tree until someone sheds a tear, and releases him.  He manages to get a leaf to fall into the eyes of Heimdall, who sheds a tear, thus releasing the God of Mischief, who then plots his revenge against his half-brother, Thor.  Loki then spends the story trying to obtain Thor's hammer in order to destroy him.  

"The Clock" is a story reprinted from Marvel Tales #148.  Where an old clockmaker nearly dies from severe cold, only to be saved by the wooden figures that are a part of his clocks, of which he's given part of his soul to.

"Filbert's Frightful Future" is about a man who invents a time machine to become extremely wealthy off of future events, only to realize that his time machine cannot go into the future with him until it reaches the present, where there is nothing.

"Off Limits" sees Rip Van Winkle as an alien being visiting Earth in violation of Galactic travel guidelines, which declared the planet off limits due to the being's dormitive effect.

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This issue continues to bring Thor's mythology into the Marvel Universe by introducing us to his devious half-brother, and sets up THEIR long rivalry over the next 60-plus years.  Lee and Kirby deliver again with great action and storytelling for their time, and bring yet another villain into the Marvel Universe. We also got some short stories from Lee & Ditko as well, along with Don Heck.  If you're a collector and a fan of Loki...this SHOULD be on your list if you're able to find it....and afford it.

NEXT TIME:  We go back to the historical racks for yet another classic....