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Origin & 1st app of Thor (Doctor Don Blake); Jack Kirby cover/art; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 10 (CBI)
Melding elements of Norse mythology with the by-now-standard superhero tropes of the funny pages, Stan Lee followed up his Jekyll & Hyde-style Hulk with this cosmic, high-camp treasure. The book was initially scripted by Stan's brother Larry (to give the overworked Lee some down time), and penciled with surprising grace and elegance by Jack Kirby. Another instant favorite, the comic confirmed Lee's Midas touch in the early 1960s as the title soon became the bedrock for Marvel's more theatrical and grandiose styling. In recent years, the character has enjoyed yet another renaissance thanks to Marvel's savvy cinematic exploitation, and this debut appearance, already extremely rare thanks to an unusually low print run, has become in even greater demand.