In June 1962, I celebrated my 8th
birthday, receiving what would be a trio of perfect presents. The first comic
books featuring Spider-Man, Ant-Man and Thor were all cover-dated that month.
In Journey Into Mystery 83, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s thunder god would
stylize the basic concept of a character who had once been the most popular
superhero in comics, but who’d vanished nine years before (an eternity to an 8-year-old).
The idea of a small, weak person changed
by magic lightning into a super-strong flying champion would be further electrified
by Kirby’s art, so eloquent in displaying both angst and dynamic action. The
magic word “Shazam” would solidify into a cane that symbolized disability, then
transform itself into a hammer that symbolized power.
In his first adventure, Thor
repelled the Stone Men from Saturn. Alien invaders have the damnedest luck. So
many of them land on this planet, brimming with that vast, cool and
unsympathetic confidence, bristling with eerie super-weapons and eager to
scrutinize and humiliate a typical earthling, only to discover that he’s an
invincible superhero who can single-handedly kick their asses.
I mean, what are the odds?
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