Monthly Archives: July 2005

Odin on a rampage, gotta like that. See those Asgardians quivering in the face of his just and merciful wrath.

Odin cracks me up every time.

Thor feels the anger of Odin in this issue as he’s stripped of his powers, other than his strength, and left on Earth following a major battle. He decides to try this out and get a job, and ends up applying as the strongman at a circus, not knowing that it’s a front for the Circus of Crime, who are planning a major theft that needs a strongman. Thor impresses them but then gets hypnotized by the ring-master to prepare for their heist.

The “Tales of Asgard” back-up concludes in this issue, with the final battle against Mogul, the tyrant who has enslaved various lands, including that of Hogun the Grim. Ends kind of abruptly, but has a lot of action leading up to there, capturing the grandeur of the modern myths they were weaving.

Colletta inks the cover, 16-page lead and 5-page backup.

Published 1967

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The action-packed middle of the “Sackers” saga in KAMANDI finds out hero enslaved at a racetrack in what was once Florida, part of the empire of the snake trader Sacker (people have read some allegorical bits into this story about Kirby’s feelings towards DC at this time, and they’re probably there, but at its core it’s an action story). Lots of fun, as Kam goes from being almost trampled in a horse-race to witnessing a motorcycle race with an odd prize and violent rules:

Somehow Kirby can sell dialogue like “I’d rather ‘Do or Die’ for Kamandi Enterprises’ than the Sacker’s Company”.

The story just gets more exciting with Kamandi chased by helicopters while riding his giant grasshopper pet Kliklak and then finally being drawn into battle with one of the savage humans, Bull Bantam, who sees Kamandi as a rival for Spirit, the sister of Kamandi’s recently deceased love Flower.

Mike Royer inks the 20-page story and cover.

Published 1974

And thanks to James Burns for the new logo uptop, inspired by Kirby’s wayout tech designs

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This story (technically retitled “Krang”) is reprinted from TALES TO ASTONISH #14 (1960), a 13-page Kirby/Ayers story featuring one of the classic elements of stories from that era, giant insects. In this case, Professor Carter wants to employ giant insect power, but can’t get funding for his formula. He goes to Europe, where a key ingredient can be found, and sets up shop in an old castle where a servant named Ludwig works. Unfortunately, in his greed Ludwig plans to steal the formula and gives an overdose of it to an ant, causing it to quickly grow and gain intelligence.

Krang goes on a rampage trying to get the formula so he can rule an insect army and rule the world. Fortunately Ludwig redeems himself (I suspect the art was meant to show him dying, though the script just has him injured) letting Carter escape and use the formula to come up with a natural foe for Krang.

Very fun story, there’s just something about seeing a giant Kirby/Ayers ant running up the stairs of an ancient castle that cracks me up. Definitely one of the better of the monster stories of that era.

Kirby did a new cover for this issue, inked by Klaus Janson, with the usual elements of a fleeing crowd, a monster causing great damage and a hidden menace.

Published 1976

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