Journey into Mystery

Journey into Mystery

The debut of Thor, in Journey into Mystery #83 (Aug. 1962). Cover art by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott
Publication information
Publisher Atlas, Marvel
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre Horror, Superhero
Publication date
  • June 1952 - Feb. 1966
  • (vol. 2) Oct. 1972 - Oct. 1975
  • (vol. 1 cont.) Nov. 1996 - June 1998
  • (vol. 1 cont.) June 2011 - Oct. 2013
Number of issues
  • 125
  • (vol. 2) 19
  • (vol. 1 cont.) 20
  • (vol. 1 cont.) 35
Main character(s)
Creative team
Writer(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)

Journey into Mystery is an American comic book series initially published by Atlas Comics, then by its successor, Marvel Comics. Initially a horror comics anthology, it segued to giant-monster and science fiction stories in the late 1950s. Beginning with issue #83 (cover dated Aug. 1962), it ran the superhero feature "The Mighty Thor", created by writers Stan Lee and Larry Lieber and artist Jack Kirby, and inspired by the mythological Norse thunder god. The series, which was renamed for its superhero star with issue #126 (March 1966), has been revived three times: in the 1970s as a horror anthology, and in the 1990s and 2010s with characters from Marvel's Thor mythos.

Publication history

1950s-1960s

The first Journey into Mystery series was initially a horror-fantasy anthology published by Marvel Comics' 1950s forerunner, Atlas Comics, with a first issue cover-dated June 1952.[1] Artist Joe Kubert, who would later become one of the main war comics artists for DC Comics, drew the story "The Hog" in Journey into Mystery #21 (January 1955).[2] Issue #23 was the first to be approved by the Comics Code Authority, which led to restrictions on horror comics. The title was caught in the collapse of Atlas' distributor, and publication was suspended for a year between issues #48 (Aug. 1957) and #49 (Nov. 1958).[3] Xemnu the Living Hulk, a huge, furry alien monster first appeared in Journey Into Mystery #62 (Nov. 1960)[4] The character reappeared in issue #66 (March 1961). Since then the character has been a mainstay in the Marvel Universe, and was renamed Xemnu the Titan.[5] Journey into Mystery #69 and the teen-humor title Patsy Walker #95 (both June 1961) are the first modern comic books labeled "Marvel Comics", with each showing an "MC" box on its cover.[6]

Beginning with issue #83 (Aug. 1962), the title starred the Norse god superhero Thor.[7] The anthological stories, by now primarily science fiction-fantasy, gradually diminished after this, with the Thor-spinoff backup feature "Tales of Asgard" beginning in issue #97 (Oct. 1963).[8] They were dropped entirely with issue #105 (June 1964), when the "Thor" feature expanded from 13 to 18 pages. With the previous issue, the cover logo had changed to Journey into Mystery with the Mighty Thor. In 1965, the title was Marvel's biggest seller.[9] Its final issue was #125 (Feb. 1966), after which the series was retitled The Mighty Thor in its trademarked cover logo and simply Thor in its postal indicia copyright notice.[10] Thor's evil adoptive brother Loki was introduced in issue #85 (October 1962).[11] Other adversaries for the new hero included the Radioactive Man introduced in #93 (June 1963),[12] the Enchantress and the Executioner in #104 (April 1964),[13] the Absorbing Man in #114 (March 1965),[14] and the Destroyer in #118 (July 1965).[15] An oversized annual publication, featuring Thor, was released in 1965 and introduced the Marvel version of the Greco-Roman demigod Hercules.[16][17] Comics historian Les Daniels noted that "the adventures of Thor were gradually transformed from stories about a strange-looking superhero into a spectacular saga."[18]

Volume 2 (1972)

A second Journey into Mystery ran 19 issues (October 1972 - October 1975).[19] The title was one of four launched by Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Roy Thomas to form a line of science fiction and horror anthologies with more thematic cohesiveness than the company's earlier attempts that decade,[20] which had included the series Chamber of Darkness and Tower of Shadows. Whereas those titles generally presented original stories, these new books would instead adapt genre classics and other stories. With the four titles' debuts set to be staggered over the course of four months, Marvel premiered Journey into Mystery vol. 2 (October 1972), Chamber of Chills (Nov. 1972), Supernatural Thrillers (Dec. 1972), and, with a late start, Worlds Unknown (May 1973).

The first five issues of Journey into Mystery vol. 2 featured such adaptations as Robert E. Howard's "Dig Me No Grave", by writer Thomas and penciler Gil Kane, in issue #1; Robert Bloch's "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" by Thomas and Ron Goulart and penciler Kane, in #2; and H. P. Lovecraft's "The Haunter of the Dark" by Goulart and penciler Gene Colan, in addition to anthological horror stories by writers including George Alec Effinger, Steve Gerber, Steve Englehart, and Steve Skeates, and pencilers such as Billy Graham, Jim Starlin, Ralph Reese, and P. Craig Russell. Most issues also included a reprinted story from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics. By issue #6, however, the magazine became a reprint title featuring science-fiction and giant-monster tales from the first Journey into Mystery series, as well as from the "pre-superhero Marvel" anthologies Amazing Adult Fantasy, Strange Tales, Strange Worlds, and Tales to Astonish.[19]

1990s series

As a consequence of the company-wide crossover "Heroes Reborn", Thor ceased to be the focus of his own series, which was restored to Journey into Mystery beginning with issue #503 (Nov. 1996). The feature "The Lost Gods" ran through issue #513, followed by issues starring Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu and the Black Widow for three issues each, and reluctant vampire Hannibal King for two, ending with issue #521 (June 1998).[21]

2010s series

The Thor title resumed its original numbering based on the 1990s Journey Into Mystery and intervening issues of Thor in 2009, with Thor #600. Starting with issue #622, the series for a second time had its title restored to Journey Into Mystery,[22] which accompanied the launch of a new title, Mighty Thor. Thor's supporting cast returned as the focus of a run written by Kieron Gillen, who had written Thor from #604 to #614, and drawn by Doug Braithwaite. Starring was the Thor antagonist Loki, who had been reincarnated as a child following his sacrifice in the series Siege. Gillen's run was favorably reviewed,[23][24][25] with one critic writing:

Gillen's work has always been big on theme and interconnectedness, and this is no exception. The finale encapsulates the run as a whole — ambitious, ambiguous, clever and uncompromising, as challenging as it is entertaining. Sometimes those qualities hurt it, and although sales were never especially healthy it's to Marvel's credit that they helped keep it afloat long enough for a proper ending when the alternative would have surely been easier.[26]

In Gillen's final issue, a letter from Tom Hiddleston, who portrays Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was published, in which he praised Gillen for his take on the character.

With issue #646, the focus of Journey into Mystery changed with its rebranding under the Marvel NOW! imprint. Written by Kathryn Immonen and drawn by Valerio Schiti, the series began starring the Marvel Asgardians, with the Lady Sif as its lead character.[27]

The series was cancelled with issue #655 (Oct. 2013).[28]

Collected editions

In other media

References

  1. ↑ Brevoort, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1950s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 53. ISBN 978-0756641238. From a historical perspective, the most important title that Atlas released in 1952 was the first issue of Journey into Mystery.
  2. ↑ Schelly, Bill (2011). The Art of Joe Kubert. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-1606994870.
  3. ↑ Brevoort "1950s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 71: "In November [1958], Marines in Battle ended in favor of a revival of Journey into Mystery, one of Martin Goodman's steadiest mystery titles, which returned to the schedule after an absence of just over a year."
  4. ↑ DeFalco, Tom "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 79: "The lead story of [Journey into Mystery] issue #62, 'I Was a Slave of the Living Hulk', introduced a giant monster called the Hulk - similar in name only to the future Hulk."
  5. ↑ Christiansen, Jeff (March 15, 2012). "Xemnu the Titan". The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ Marvel : MC (Brand) at the Grand Comics Database.
  7. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 88: "[Stan Lee] had always been fascinated by the legends of the Norse gods and realized that he could use those tales as the basis for his new series centered on the mighty Thor."
  8. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 95: "These backup stories originally began with updated versions of Norse mythology, but later switched to the adventures of a younger Thor."
  9. ↑ Miller, John Jackson (n.d.). "1965 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ Journey into Mystery at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 89
  12. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 92
  13. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), pp. 100-101
  14. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 107
  15. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 109
  16. ↑ Journey into Mystery Annual at the Grand Comics Database
  17. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 110: "Thor accidentally crashed through a mystical barrier and found himself in Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. Thor later encountered Hercules."
  18. ↑ Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 124. ISBN 9780810938212.
  19. 1 2 Journey into Mystery vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
  20. ↑ Roach, David A. (May 2001). "Shadows and The Darkness" (13). Comic Book Artist via OhTheHorror.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008.
  21. ↑ Journey into Mystery (1996 revival) at the Grand Comics Database
  22. ↑ Journey into Mystery (2011 revival) at the Grand Comics Database
  23. ↑ Scheeden, Jesse (October 24, 2012). "Journey into Mystery #645 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  24. ↑ Scheeden, Jesse (April 14, 2011). "Journey into Mystery #622 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  25. ↑ Sava, Oliver (October 26, 2012). "Three Marvel series go meta for spectacular finales". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.
  26. ↑ Hunt, James (October 25, 2012). "Journey into Mystery #645". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012. (Archive requires scrolldown and text blocking for visibility)
  27. ↑ Campbell, Josie (August 14, 2012). "Immonen Leads Sif on a "Journey into Mystery"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.(Archive requires scrolldown)
  28. ↑ Schedeen, Jesse (June 14, 2013). "Marvel Cancels Journey Into Mystery: No more JIM? We say thee nay!". IGN. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
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