Free Comic Book Day 2011

Find a participating store near you by clicking HERE!

Video Fridays: Thor vs the Destroyer!

 Since one of the main "set pieces" in the new Thor movie is a battle with The Destroyer, let's look at it as dramatized using Jack Kirby's art on the Marvel Super Heroes Show...

C'mon admit it, it's KOOL!

It's THORSday! All Hail MIGHTY THOR!

Inks by Chic Stone

To celebrate the Mighty Thor big-budget movie opening tomorrow and starring Chris Hemsworth and (yum) Natalie Portman, here's a selection of pix by co-creator Jack (King) Kirby with various inkers...

Inks by Dick Ayers

Inks by George Roussos aka George Bell

Inks by Joe Sinnott

Inks by Joe Sinnott

Inks by Dick Ayers

Inks by Don Heck

Inks by Joe Sinnott

Inks by Joe Sinnott

Inks by Joe Sinnott

Silver Age Green Hornet Comic Art

A few odds-and-ends from the Gold Key Green Hornet Silver Age comic.
The first two were the inside covers for #1, and were probably the proposal pieces submitted to the licensor for approval.

You'll note that the illustrations are of the characters in costumed form.
The next one is from the inside back cover of #3 showing the Hornet's equipment...

The Hornet Sting shown is the original version seen in the pilot and early promo photos.
The later version had a...focusing dish or somesuch on it...

But, the mask shown is the later, molded-to-the-face version, not the one used in the pilot episode and promo photos...

 ...which I think looks kooler and actually hides the wearer's identity better, but limited Van Williams' and Bruce Lee's peripheral vision, potentially making fight scenes hazardous.
BTW, all art was by Dan Spiegle.

Hope you've enjoyed reading them as much as I've enjoyed bringing them to you.
There's much more Golden Age Green Hornet stuff coming up in the Reading Room, so keep an eye on this blog!

And don't forget to check out our...

Classic Green Hornet

Comic Collectibles Store

Origin of the Golden Age Thor: God of Thunder

He's muscular, super-strong, has long blonde hair, uses a hammer named Mjolnir, and can control lightning, but he's NOT Don Blake!
Nor is he the real Thor!
Confused, True Believer!
Well, read on and all will be made clear...probably...

So, while Grant transforms into a Thor, the real Thor (with the mythologically-correct red hair and beard) sits comfortably back in Valhalla and watches the fun.
This version of Thor would run from Weird Comics #1 (this appearance) to #5, never once making the cover.
Interestingly, issue by issue, he lost elements of Thor's costume (including the helmet, cape, and long hair), until by his final appearance in #5, he just looked like Grant Farrel in a blue swimsuit!
After that, he disappeared until 2008, when he, and an assemblage of forgotten Golden Age heroes, popped up in Savage Dragon #141, in full "Thor" regalia.

We'll be posting the other four adventures of the first Thor over the next few weeks.

Watch for them.

Check out the

Collectibles Store!