Journey Into Mystery #121

Title: “The Power! The Passion! The Pride!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Thor tells Creel that only Loki could have brought him back to fight him again. Creel tells Thor that he won’t be around long enough to worry about it. He tells Thor to remember that no matter how strong Thor is that he can’t hurt him. He says that Thor’s strength is now his. Thor says that it doesn’t matter. He says that he beat Creel once and that he will do it again. Creel tells Thor not to count on it. He swings his ball and chain and wraps it around Thor’s hammer. Creel yanks his chain and pulls the hammer out of Thor’s grasp. Thor realizes that it was careless of him to forget that Creel’s ball and chain can absorb the properties of his hammer. Creel laughs and says that he is the only one that can take Thor’s hammer from him like this. Creel holds Thor’s hammer and becomes Uru. Creel says that there is no way for Thor to beat him now. The hammer starts to break from Creel’s grip as it starts to return to Thor. Creel says that is fine with him and that he will even help it along. Creel hurls the hammer at Thor and says that he will show Thor what it feels like to be on the receiving end for a change. Thor dodges the throw and says that this is like fighting himself. He says that he must forget all the old rules and be prepared for anything. Thor’s hammer continues and smashes through a street light and a wall behind it. Thor leaps at Creel when he becomes flesh and blood again. Thor hits Creel, but Creel absorbs Thor’s strength and shrugs off his blow. Thor thinks to himself that it is like he is battling Hercules again. Thor says that they may be of equal power, but that he was born to battle and that Creel will never match his skill. Thor hits Creel with two punches. Thor’s hammer starts to return to Thor, but it takes a large chunk of the wall it was embedded in and the entire thing hits Thor allowing Creel to escape. Creel says to himself that he needs to get his breath back. Thor tells Creel to come back and learn that equal power alone will never get him victory. He says that he will never stay the wrath of Thor. Thor realizes that Creel will be doubly careful now and that his task just got harder.

Loki watches the battle and says that Creel must defeat his half-brother. He says that it is only when Thor is completely destroyed that he will be free to challenge the rule of Odin. Loki hears someone approaching and turns off the orb in which he views the fight. Loki turns and sees Balder. He asks Balder why a friend of Thor has come to the place where Loki is confined. Balder says that it is because of his friendship with Thor that he is there to make sure Loki never does him further harm. Balder asks where Ularic is. Loki lies and says that Ularic is on an errand for Odin, and that he has been ordered to replenish the sorcerer’s potions until he returns. Loki thinks to himself that Balder is so trusting and innocent that he will never think to doubt his word. Balder turns to walk away. Loki asks where he is going now. Balder says that he is off to any place where the air is not laden with the aura of Loki’s evil. He says that the sight of Loki is offensive to his eyes. Loki thinks to himself that Balder’s tone will be much different, if he is still alive, when he is Lord of Asgard. He says that when Thor is defeated that moment will soon be there.

Thor rushes through the fleeing people as Creel causes panic in the streets. The cop tells Thor that their bullets are useless and that he just seems to absorb them. Thor tells the cop to hold the crowd back and that his power is needed there. Thor says that he dare not fail and flies into the air at a gigantic Crusher Creel. Thor says that Creel couldn’t defeat him before and so now he seeks victory by absorbing the steel and concrete of the buildings around him… by transforming himself into a colossus. Creel says that Thor can call it whatever he wants, but that he made the biggest mistake of his life attacking him. Creel swings his fist at Thor, but Thor strikes the hand with his hammer. Creel roars in pain and swats Thor away like a flea. As Thor hurtles away, he uses his hammer like a grappling hook to catch a nearby rooftop. Creel holds his hand and says that Thor isn’t going to get another chance to hurt him. He says that he will swat him like an insect. Creel grabs the skeleton of a condemned building and absorbs the steel. Thor says that Creel’s strength increases with each passing second, and that no man or immortal has ever fought such a foe. Thor says that he is the Prince of Asgard and that he would chose death over a moment’s cowardice. Creel hurls a large ball of crushed up girders at Thor. Thor shatters the ball with his hammer and sends shrapnel flying everywhere. Creel closes his eyes and then shrinks down into human form to avoid giving Thor another chance to hit him. Creel says that with his power that he should be able to defeat anyone, but that fighting Thor is like fighting a whirlwind. Thor tells Creel that there will be no respite for him until he surrenders. Thor leaps at Creel and pins him against the ground. Creel says that he keeps absorbing Thor’s power and that he will smash him yet. Creel shoves Thor off of him. Creel swings his ball and chain at Thor and says that not only does he absorb Thor’s strength, but that he keeps his own normal power which gives him the edge. Creel says that he will defeat him and the whole world will be at his feet. Thor blocks the ball and chain with his hammer and says that must never be. He says that Creel’s brutal words have given him the will to win.

The police bar the people from getting too close to the fight.

Jane Foster looks out the window at the fight and thinks that not even Thor could help her now since he is now fighting for his life against an all powerful enemy. Jane is told to come away from the window and that she isn’t to be seen by anyone. Jane asks why not and asks her captor when he is going to explain all this to her. Her masked captor says that it won’t be until the time is right. He asks if she has not been treated well. He asks if her privacy hasn’t been respected and granted every convenience and comfort. Jane says that is true, but that she still doesn’t know why she was brought there or why she isn’t allowed to leave. The masked man says that he can only say that it is for her own good. The man turns on the television coverage of the fight and says that so long as the battle is outside that she must stay inside. The man starts to leave. Jane tells him to wait and to tell her who he is and why he wears the dreadful hood. The man says, “Not yet!” Jane thinks to herself that it is no use. She thinks that the man’s voice sounds familiar, but that she can’t identify it.

Loki uses a device to check and make sure that Ularic is still asleep in captivity. Loki looks and sees that Balder has begun a patrol of Asgard’s borders and figures he doesn’t have to worry about him anymore. Loki even checks on Odin finding him concerned with sport and game. Loki says that the stage is set for his greatest feat of evil. He says that it is so daring and sublime that it will rock the very stones of Asgard.

The Norn stone lies on the ground.

Creel swings his ball and chain and says that time is on his side. He says that Thor will get more and more tired, but that he gets stronger and stronger as he continues absorbing his strength. Thor ducks the ball and chain and realizes the truth is Creel’s words. Thor gets Creel to swing his ball and chain around a lamppost. He grabs Creel’s chain and pulls him off his feet. Creel says that all he has to do is absorb another piece of concrete or steel. Thor says that is why he hurled him toward a glass window. Creel realizes his vulnerability. Thor goes to smash Creel, but then pulls back and remembers his oath never to slay a mortal human. Creel doesn’t understand why Thor missed him. He runs into a bank and says that he has to touch some steel like the bank vault. He gets to the vault and pulls it closed do he can have time to think. Thor tells the guard on duty to leave and that the sudden concussion in there may prove fatal to a human. Thor pulls and pulls on the vault door and yanks it off its hinges. Thor says that no place on Earth is a haven from him and that Creel’s time of reckoning has come. Creel and Thor collide. Creel says that he has Thor’s strength, plus his own, and asks why he can’t beat him. Thor says that he can never possess the fighting heart of an immortal. Thor and Crusher crash through the wall. Creel launches Thor off of him with his legs. The cops try to keep the crowd back. Thor thinks about how he cannot fail. Creel backs down from Thor knowing that this is the moment of decision. Just then a little kid breaks through the crowd and runs toward Thor. Thor grabs the kid and hands him off to his mother. The mother tries to warn Thor, but Creel hits Thor from behind with his ball and chain. Thor falls to the ground. Creel stands over him and says, “That’s what ya get for stoppin’ to help some brat! I’ve beaten you at last! Only someone as strong as Thor himself coulda done it! Only… the Absorbing Man!”

Lightning Crashes rating: 10 out of 10

Every great villain deserves a win or two over their main opposition and here is Crusher Creel’s! An outrageous fight issue! Kirby does such a good job in this issue. The giant stone Creel… the glass Creel… the scope of his battle is just epic!

Title: “Maelstrom!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Hoping to postpone Ragnarok, Thor leads a crew of Argonauts into the Sea of Fear. Thor says to beware and that they are approaching the Pillars of Utgard. He says that to sail between them means instant destruction. Some of the men plead with Thor to let them turn back while there is time. They say that no ship could brave this maelstrom. Thor tells them to remain at their posts and that as long as he is in command that they will sail onward. One of the men asks why Loki isn’t in charge and that they would have set sail for home by now. Another of the men tells Thor not to listen to the words of cowards and that they will triumph over this storm and many more like it. One of the men says that they will be doomed if the winds send them between the pillars of Utgard. Loki tells Thor that this is madness, and that if he doesn’t have the wit to order their return to give him control of the ship. Thor says that will never happen and that they pledged to Odin to journey until they have found the forces of evil. He says that they will keep that pledge. Loki says that he isn’t afraid of anything, but to look at his crew.

The men all plead with Thor to turn back.  Thor says to let him have the tiller and that he will put his own shoulder into it. One of the men tell Thor that the tiller is broken. He says that they are at the mercy of the storm. One of the men says that legend has it that the pillars of Utgard are merely the dragon’s feet and that his mouth lies open for every ship that passes. Another man tells him to cease his prattling and that even death can be glorious in the service of Thor. Thor thinks to himself that even though he is the god of thunder that his power of the storm is useless in this world, but that he must not let his men down when they need him the most. Thor orders the men to oars to match their muscle against the maelstrom. One of the men thinks to themselves that it is hopeless, but Thor tells all not to despair and to let Odin steady their hands.

As Thor cheers the Argonauts on, Balder climbs the ship’s figurehead with a great horn.

Lightning Crashes rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by The Leader

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