- "Your hammer blow was too powerful!! It will make me grow so large, that Earth itself cannot hold me!"
- ―Growing Man
"The Growing Man!" | |
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Thor | |
Title: | "The Growing Man!" |
Volume: | 1 |
Number: | 140 |
Cover price: | .12 |
Cover date: | May, 1967 |
Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
Credits | |
Chief: | Stan Lee |
Writers: | Stan Lee |
Pencilers: | Jack Kirby |
Inkers: | Vince Colletta |
Cover artists: | Jack Kirby |
Cover inker: | Vince Colletta |
Letterers: | Sam Rosen |
Editors: | Stan Lee |
Navigation | |
Previous: | Thor #139 |
Next: | Thor #141 |
"The Growing Man! is the first story featured in issue #140 of the first Thor ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It was written by Stan Lee with artwork by Jack Kirby and inks by Vince Colletta. It was lettered by Sam Rosen. The second story is a "Tales of Asgard" feature titled "The Battle Begins". It is also brought to you by the team of Lee, Kirby, Colletta, and Rosen. Both stories were edited by Stan Lee. This issue shipped with a May, 1967 cover date and carries a cover price of .12 cents per copy.
"The Growing Man!"[]
In the Realm Eternal, a celebration is held in the Golden throne room to signify the end of the Great Troll War. Odin gives a rousing speech that fetches cheers from the assembled crowd. Afterward, he goes to rest in the Pool of Peace. Thor is troubled and feels that he has been away from his adoptive home Midgard for far too long. With Odin's blessing, Thor returns to Earth where the takes some time to catch up on the affairs of Doctor Donald Blake.
Meanwhile, the staff of a museum make a curious discovery. A strange doll, which seems to be growing in size incrementally has appeared. The "doll" awakens and swats away at the museum staff and security guard. The guard begins firing at him, but each bullet strike actually prompts this Growing Man to get even bigger. The Growing Man stomps off, seeking a sense of purpose in his life, and cannot find fulfilment until he receives instruction from his "master".
The Growing Man begins tearing through New York, ripping about store fronts and uprooting entire structures. Donald Blake learns about what is happening and investigates as Thor. The Asgardian fights the robot, but each strike with Mjolnir only makes the Growing Man even bigger.
The Growing Man's creator finally makes himself known. It is Kang the Conqueror. Kang brought the stimuloid here to the 20th century where he could hide it easily. Though he would wish for nothing more than to continue his conquest of modern day Earth, his priorities direct him to continue his war of conquest in his own future timeline.
While Thor continues to busy himself with the Growing Man, Kang sneaks up from behind and temporarily stuns Thor with a cobalt attack from his gauntlets. He then uses his de-energizer ray to shrink the Growing Man back to doll size. Kang tries to escape in his disguised Time-Ship, but Thor uses the mystical power of Mjolnir to place the time machine into a universal infinity vortex - a vortex that Kang may never escape from.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Growing Man (1st appearance)
- Kang
Minor characters
- Charlie
- Olson
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- City of Asgard
- The Golden Throne room
- Pool of Peace
Items
- De-Energizer
- Force field
- Handgun
- Kang's armor
- Lances
- Maces
- Mjolnir
- Rifles
- Robot
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
"The Battle Begins!"[]
Thor and the Warriors Three continue their battle against the giant Jinni Devil in the peaks of the Mystic Mountain. Hogun is driven to bring the fight to the Jinni's master - his nemesis, Mogul. They strike with sword and with mace, but the creature suffers no damage. Even Thor's vaulted hammer, Mjolnir, is ineffective.
Deep below, in the land of Zanadu, Mogul and his advisors observe the battle. Although the Jinni Devil may be of superior strength, time favors the Asgardians. For once the sun deepens, and the first shadow strikes the Jinni, his powers will wane. As predicted, sunset falls upon the land, and the Jinni Devil is forced to disappear in a puff of smoke.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Jinni Devil
- Mogul
Minor characters
- Abu Dakir
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- Mystic Mountain
- Zanadu
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The comic book version of Thor was created by writers Stan Lee & Larry Lieber and artist Jack Kirby based on the figure from Norse mythology. He first appeared in Journey Into Mystery #83 in August, 1962.
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- According to the Copyright Office at the Library of Congress, this issue shipped to retailers on March 2nd, 1967.
- On page 16, Mjolnir is mis-spelled as "Mjolnar". Get it together, Rosen!