Reviewing Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s ‘Essential Thor’

Rick Marshall

Rick Marshall was Online Managing Editor for ComicMix before joining MTV's SplashPage. Previously, he was Online Content Manager for Wizard Entertainment. He has written for several daily newspapers, alternative weekly newspapers, trade magazines and online media, and was named "Writer of the Year" by the New York Press Association in 2005.

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9 Responses

  1. Rick Taylor says:

    So, besides what you think about the character, any comments on the issues the volume covers, the story arcs, etc?You know, a real review.

    • Rick Marshall says:

      Rick, I think you might have missed the point of that post… I was just letting readers know about an interesting review I read on The Comics Reporter. I thought Tom did a great job writing the review, so I was posting an excerpt and telling people to check it out.Reading it over, I'm not sure what might've given you the idea that I was writing a review of the collection myself. I stated that it was a review on another site, posted some of the text I thought was interesting, and then provided a link to where one could go to read the review.You've got me puzzled on this one…

      • Rick Taylor says:

        Dunno.I think it was just mastering the sound byte review of a review…which had me puzzled.Whatever.

        • Rick Marshall says:

          Yeah, I thought I made it clear in that first sentence that it wasn't a review I was writing, but no worries…I guess I just have a naturally authoritative writing voice! ;)

  2. Mike Gold says:

    Back in the day, Thor was one of my least favorite Marvel titles — probably too much non-Kirby (or Kirby and Colletta) in the run to keep it consistently in mind. Over the years, though, I've really come to respect Jack's work on the feature: it was dynamic in a way that made most of his other work look a bit pale in comparison. I didn't need all the affected dialog, but the concepts were solid. All in all, Thor has been one of those features I've reconsidered since its original publication — and quite favorably. I'm slowly pouring over the Masterworks editions.

  3. Alan Coil says:

    The first several stories are a chore to get through, but then Lee and Kirby start hitting home runs. Kirby's creative mind…{{and I become speechless}}

    • Rick Taylor says:

      I REALLY like the Galactus stuff.The origin, fighting a god.Rilly cool.

  4. Mike Esposito says:

    I realize that my comment is a few years behind. The THOR and Tales of Asgard run, I think, will eventually eclipse the FF as Marvel’s most reprinted title. Great writing by Kirby and Lee, elaborate lay outs by Kirby and exquisite inks by Colletta. Comic books will never reach these heights again.

    • Mike Gold says:

      Lotta truth to that. And concrete evidence that Vinnie could really deliver when he wanted to. That stuff is gorgeous. I’m really glad they did the hardcover reprint number on Tales of Asgard.

      Geez. A four year gap between my comments! My opinion has only gone up in all that time!