Journey into Mystery #119
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeJourney into Mystery #119 is the birthplace of the Warriors Three — Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, and Volstagg the Voluminous — three entirely original Marvel creations who became the essential comic-relief-and-valor heart of the Thor supporting cast for decades. Their debut in the 'Tales of Asgard' backup gave Stan Lee and Jack Kirby a literary sandbox free from Norse mythology's constraints, allowing them to graft Shakespearean and swashbuckling archetypes directly onto Asgard. The issue also marks the second appearance of the Destroyer, cementing that armored engine of destruction as a recurring threat in Thor's mythology. As a unit, these two story threads — the main feature resolving the Destroyer arc and the backup launching the Odinsword Quest — represent Lee and Kirby's Asgardian world-building at its most confident and expansive.
In "The Day of the Destroyer!", Thor faces a relentless foe in a battle that tests his strength and resolve, while Loki's desperate intervention sets a chain of events in motion. With Odin awakened from the Odinsleep and the fate of Asgard hanging in the balance, Thor must prove himself in combat—only to emerge victorious at great cost. Written by Stan Lee and brought to life with dynamic art by Jack Kirby, this pivotal issue features a cover by Kirby and Colletta, capturing the clash of gods and the weight of destiny.
In "The Day of the Destroyer!" from Journey into Mystery #119, Loki, wary of the Destroyer’s might, intervenes to save Thor’s life—though his motives remain uncertain. As Thor fights for survival, Loki reaches out to Karnilla, the Norn Queen, to awaken Odin from his Odinsleep. When Odin rises, he watches his son’s struggle with pride, even as Thor refuses his father’s aid. The battle ends with Thor victorious, but his hammer broken and the Temple of Darkness in ruins. Odin, moved by his son’s courage, turns on Loki, condemning him to servitude under Ularic, the Royal Warlock.
In "Gather, Warriors!", a diverse band of heroes assembles as Thor prepares to sail, while Odin warns that Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the gods, may be nearing. The air is thick with tension as ancient forces stir and the fate of Asgard hangs in the balance.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The issue was written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby, with inks by Vince Colletta, colors by Stan Goldberg, and lettering by Artie Simek on the 'Tales of Asgard' segment and Sam Rosen on the main feature — the regular creative assembly for the Thor title in 1965. It carries a cover date of August 1965 and was released on June 1, 1965. Unusually, the cover was assembled from four interior panels rather than original cover art, a circumstance that one collector-blogger noted suggests the intended cover was either unfinished or rejected at the last minute. The issue also coincides with Marvel's brief, fan-rebuffed corporate rebranding: starting with this issue's September-dated contemporaries, publisher Martin Goodman changed the company trademark from 'Marvel Comics Group' to 'Marvel Pop Art Productions,' an experiment that lasted only a couple of months before reader backlash forced a reversal.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim, and Volstagg the Voluminous — the trio later known as the Warriors Three — in the 'Tales of Asgard' backup story titled 'Gather, Warriors!'
- The three characters are entirely original Marvel creations with no basis in Norse mythology; Lee modeled Fandral on actor Errol Flynn, Hogun on actor Charles Bronson, and Volstagg on Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff.
- The group was not officially labeled 'the Warriors Three' within a story until years later — the name first appeared in the letters page of Thor #244 (February 1976).
- Second appearance of the Destroyer, the near-indestructible Asgardian automaton who had debuted in issue #118; the main story, titled 'The Day of the Destroyer!', resolves his first rampage with Thor collapsing the Temple of Darkness around the armor.
- First appearance of Ularic, Odin's Royal Warlock, to whom Loki is sentenced as punishment for his scheming during the issue's main plot.
- Also introduces minor Asgardian characters Kroda and Magrat in the 'Tales of Asgard' segment, and features the ominous message 'Ragnarok is Coming' appearing on Odin's Royal Wall.
- This issue marks the debut of the 'Marvel Pop Art Productions' corporate trademark on Marvel covers — a short-lived rebrand that was quickly reversed after negative fan response.
- The 'Tales of Asgard' story has been reprinted in Marvel Spectacular #4 (November 1973), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 3 (2004), Essential Thor Vol. 2 (2005, black and white), and Thor: Tales of Asgard By Stan Lee & Jack Kirby #3 (2009); the Warriors Three have appeared in the MCU films Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
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Reprints
Reprinted in Fantastic! #51 (1968), Special Marvel Edition #1 (1971), Il Mitico Thor #18 (1971), Il Mitico Thor #21 (1972), Marvel Spectacular #4 (1973), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #42 (1973), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #43 (1973), Hulk #2 (1977), Edderkoppen #2 (1978), Spindelmannen #2/1978 (1978), Edderkoppen #2/1978 (1978), Edderkoppen Superseriealbum #[8] (1982), Spindelmannen presentalbum #[1982] [8] (1982), Biblioteca Marvel: Thor #1 (2001), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor #[3] (2001), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor #3 (2004), Essential Thor #2 (2005), Thor: Tales of Asgard by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby #3 (2009), The Mighty Thor Omnibus #1 (2010), Thor: Tales of Asgard #[nn] (2010), Thor: Tales of Asgard #[nn] (2011), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor #3 (2011), Marvel Gold. El Poderoso Thor: En Mis Manos, Este Martillo #[nn] (2013), Thor Epic Collection #2 (2016) + 7 more
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