| Journey into Mystery | |
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The first appearance of Thor, in Journey into Mystery #83 (August, 1962). Art by Jack Kirby |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Atlas, Marvel |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing series |
| Genre | Horror, Superhero |
| Publication date | (vol. 1) June 1952 - February 1966 (vol. 2) October 1972 - October 1975 (vol. 3) November 1996 - June 1998 (vol. 1 cont.) June 2011 - Present |
| Number of issues | (vol. 1) 125 (vol. 2) 19 (vol. 3) 20 (vol. 1 cont.) 3 (as of June, 2011) |
| Main character(s) | (vol. 1) Thor (#83-125, 622-) |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | (vol. 1) Stan Lee, Larry Lieber (vol. 2) Roy Thomas, Marv Wolfman (vol. 3) Tom DeFalco, Scott Lobdell, Marv Wolfman (vol. 1 cont.) Kieron Gillen |
| Penciller(s) | (vol. 1) Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko (vol. 2) Gil Kane, Jim Starlin, Gene Colan, Win Mortimer, Rich Buckler (vol. 3) Mike Deodato, Sal Buscema, Karl Kerschl (vol. 1 cont.) Doug Braithwaite |
| Inker(s) | (vol. 1) Joe Sinnott, Vince Colletta (vol. 2) Frank Giacoia, Ernie Chan, Mike Esposito |
Journey into Mystery was an American comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. It featured horror, monster, and science fiction stories. With the start of the Silver Age of Comics, Marvel switched the feature to superhero stories and in issue #83 introduced Thor, inspired by the Norse thunder god and by writer Stan Lee's musings that comic books were the mythology of the modern day.
Contents |
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. Beginning with issue #83 (Aug. 1962), the title starred the Norse god superhero Thor. 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). 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. 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.[1] An oversized annual publication, featuring Thor, was released in 1965.[2]
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.[3]
A second Journey into Mystery 19 issues (Oct. 1972 - Oct. 1975).[4] 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,[5] 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 (Oct. 1972), Chamber of Chills (Nov. 1972), Supernatural Thrillers (Dec. 1972), and, with a late start, Worlds Unknown (May 1973).
By issue #6, the magazine became a reprint title featuring science fiction and monster tales from the first Journey into Mystery series, as well as Amazing Adult Fantasy, Strange Tales, Strange Worlds, and Tales to Astonish.
As a consequence of "Heroes Reborn", Thor ceased to be the focus on his own series, which was restored to Journey into Mystery, beginning with issue #503. The series continued with the "Lost Gods" storyline (which ran through issue #513) and then with a rotating cast of characters, until finally ending with Journey into Mystery #521 in 1998.
Starting with Issue 622, Thor once again returned as the focus of Journey Into Mystery, written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Doug Braithwaite. This time, however, the star is Loki, who has been reincarnated as a child. He is planning to somehow stop the Serpent from killing Thor in the Fear Itself storyline. Issues 627 and 628 will instead star Mephisto. The run has so far been well-received both critically and by fans for its writing and artwork.
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