First Look Review Of Journey Into Mystery #96
One thing that bugs me about these early Thor stories is how there always seems to be a series of scenes where Jane Foster tears down Doctor Blake for not being a ‘real man’. Sure, I know he’s Thor and Jane doesn’t but he is a doctor after all, isn’t that good enough?
In any case, this issue goes through that sequence early on but not only does Blake turn into Thor to save a bus, he then prevents Merlin from controlling President Kennedy and causing all kinds of trouble.
Journey Into Mystery #96
Defying the Magic Of Mad Merlin by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein, and Joe Sinnott. Published by Marvel Comics, 1963.
The sarcophagus of Merlin is coming to America and the first stop is in Thor’s back yard. Dr. Blake has more pressing things to attend to, though, like saving a bus that’s fallen off a bridge. But as Thor saves the bus, Merlin’s 1000 year old plans are starting to come into shape. Escaping his enemies in the Middle Ages, Merlin entered a comatose state to be awakened when someone opened his resting place. The museum curators do just that and Merlin is freed to use his magic on an unsuspecting America.
To demonstrate his abilities, he interferes with the launch of a rocket and when Thor saves the day he suspects Loki’s involvement, but he’s still locked up on Asgard. Heading back to Earth, Merlin and Thor engage in a series of skirmishes involving the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, and the Lincoln Memorial and when it looks like the medieval magician is ready to do some serious damage to Washington DC, Thor shows him some magic of his own as he transforms into Dr. Blake. Merlin is convinced Thor’s magic is greater than his and agrees to go back into stasis for another 1000 years.
Other than the cool idea of brining Merlin into modern day society, the story is pretty weak. One shining point though is that there a reference to Merlin being a mutant. Could Merlin be the first mutant? Quite possibly…
I give this issue a First Look Rating of a C-.
This comic can be found on Marvel Unlimited, Comixology or at your local comic book shop.
Comic Corner | First Look Review of Journey Into Mystery #96