Thor #126
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThor #126 is the foundational issue of one of Marvel's longest-running solo titles: it marks the moment Journey into Mystery — a horror anthology that had been running since 1952 — was officially renamed The Mighty Thor, giving the Thunder God his own title for the first time and cementing him as a first-rank Marvel franchise character. The issue also delivers the first appearance of Seidring the Merciless, Odin's ruthless chief counselor, whose introduction immediately seeds a two-issue power-struggle arc. Beyond the title change, the Thor-versus-Hercules brawl that fills the main story set the template for Marvel's inter-pantheon clash storytelling — a format that writers and artists returned to repeatedly across decades — while the cover composition proved so resonant that it was homaged in at least six subsequent Marvel publications. Wikipedia's Thor article identifies this issue as the inflection point when Hercules became a major recurring character in the Thor corner of the Marvel Universe, a relationship that shaped both characters for years to come.
In "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!", Thor's struggle with his own identity reaches a breaking point when Odin, furious over Thor's secret revealed to Jane Foster, strips him of half his power and transfers it to the warrior Seidring. With his strength diminished and pride wounded, Thor faces off against Hercules in a clash that tests not just their might, but the very foundation of their rivalries. Written by Stan Lee and brought to life with dynamic energy by Jack Kirby, with inks by Vince Colletta and letters by Artie Simek, this 1966 classic features a cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta that captures the epic tension of gods at war.
In "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!", Thor's rivalry with Hercules takes a dramatic turn when Odin, furious that Thor revealed his identity to Jane Foster, strips him of half his powers and transfers them to the warrior Seidring. With his strength diminished and his pride tested, Thor must face Hercules in a battle that puts his worth as a hero to the ultimate test.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
By early 1966, writer-editor Stan Lee and penciler Jack Kirby had been co-plotting the Thor feature in Journey into Mystery since #101 (February 1964), steadily expanding its mythological scope through the companion 'Tales of Asgard' backup strip. Marvel's distribution constraints had forced most of its heroes to share anthology titles rather than anchor dedicated books; with Thor commanding every story page in the magazine by issue #105, the renaming with #126 was an organic acknowledgment of commercial reality, retaining the legacy numbering for postal and legal continuity rather than restarting at #1. Vince Colletta inked both the cover and interiors over Kirby's pencils, and Artie Simek provided the lettering; the indicia lists the on-sale date as January 4, 1966, against a March 1966 cover date.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First issue of the Thor solo title: Journey into Mystery was officially renamed The Mighty Thor (cover) / Thor (indicia) beginning with this issue, continuing the series numbering at #126.
- Created by writer Stan Lee, penciler Jack Kirby, inker Vince Colletta, and letterer Artie Simek; Stan Lee also served as editor-in-chief.
- First appearance of Seidring the Merciless, Odin's highest-ranking council member, who is granted the Odinpower and uses it to halve Thor's strength during his battle with Hercules.
- Main story titled 'Whom the Gods Would Destroy!' — Thor and Hercules clash across New York City (including atop a moving subway car and at a construction site) over Jane Foster, with Hercules ultimately winning after Odin's punishment weakens Thor mid-fight.
- Backup feature is 'The Summons!' (Tales of Asgard, Part 9 of the Odinsword Quest), scripted by Stan Lee, penciled by Kirby, inked by Colletta; features Balder, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg, and Odin as the Argonauts are called home to Asgard.
- The cover composition — Thor and Hercules grappling — was subsequently homaged in Thor #338 (1983), Thor #429 (1991), Thor #458 (1993), Thunderstrike #10 (1994), Incredible Hercules #113 (2008), and an Avengers Vol. 4 #5 Super Hero Squad variant (2010).
- Widely reprinted: domestic reprints include Marvel Spectacular #11 (1974) and Marvel Treasury Edition #3 (1974); collected in Essential Thor Vol. 2 (2005, black & white), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 4 (2005), and The Mighty Thor Omnibus Vol. 2 (2013), among many international editions.
- The issue's letters page carries the final Statement of Ownership for Journey into Mystery, recording the title's publication history before its rebrand.
Cast · 14 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Los Vengadores #34 (1966), Fantastic! #64 (1968), Fantastic! #65 (1968), Álbum Gigante [O Poderoso Thor] #27 (1969), Special Marvel Edition #4 (1972), Il Mitico Thor #25 (1972), Il Mitico Thor #27 (1972), Marvel Treasury Edition #3 (1974), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #56 (1974), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #57 (1974), Eclipso #42 (1974), Marvel Spectacular #11 (1974), Thor #3 (1977), Thor #5 (1978), Amazing Heroes #13 (1982), O Incrível Hulk #4 (1983), Strange Spécial Origines #205 (1987), Biblioteca Marvel: Thor #1 (2001), Essential Thor #2 (2005), Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor #4 (2005), Thor: Tales of Asgard by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby #4 (2009), Thor: Tales of Asgard #[nn] (2010), Thor vs. Hercules #[nn] (2010), Thor: Tales of Asgard #[nn] (2011) + 15 more
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