THOR EPIC COLLECTION: TO WAKE THE MANGOG [NEW PRINTING]

Like the Marvel Masterworks series the Marvel Epic Collection is now quickly getting my attention. I ordered this book along with the Epic Collection Avengers Vol 1 and I am pleased to find yet another great source of classic Marvel entertainment.I must start by saying that Stan Lee was not my favorite writer at Marvel, as I always gravitated toward the later stories by Roy Thomas and Steve Engelhart and I won't deny that Jack Kirby was never my favorite artist - as I much preferred the art of John Buscmema and Neal Adams but much to my delight, this book is a goldmine of classic Marvel magic and Lee and Kirby are at their pinnacle in this book.(since buying this book - I have purchased several other Marvel milestone volumes with other characters/titles and Kirby's work is unbelievable - I now have a much greater admiration for his work and I now understand why he is called the "king")This edition collects THOR #154-174 and in these pages possibly some of the most enthralling panels among this title - as it contains two monumental battles - first - the chapter "To Wake the Mangog" - which is the centerpiece story in this collection - and second The Thunder God's first encounter with Galactus. The other stories are smaller in scale but still action-packed - especially fascinating is the chapter where Thor crosses paths with an alien known simply as "Him" - this character of course as any Marvel fan knows - would go on to become Adam Warlock.Kirby's artwork is nothing short of sensational - the signature Kirby images with intricate cosmic machines and spacecraft...and the unmistakable "Kirby crackle" is ever present - all is an absolute delight in this book and as another reviewer pointed out - Thor is at his most powerful best in these panels - I will add that never better has The Thunder God thrown himself and Mjolnir into action and in a way that you expect from the Mighty Thor (*If they presented Thor more like this in the films - they would have a cinematic blockbuster)A huge reason Thor was always my favorite hero at Marvel, not just the noble figure, powerful beyond measure, always ready to battle and protect others and a founding member of the Avengers, but most of all - it was the stories - the other-worldly adventures, which was a welcomed contrast to the other heroes, who most often were stationed around NYC -- this book takes the reader to worlds far beyond - Asgard of course but also the world of the alien Rigellians, Ego the Living Planet and a very fascinating look into the planet Taa - which is where Galactus came from - and all captured brilliantly by Kirby's art.This book is over 400 pages of "epic" adventure and lives up to its title - take a journey along with The God of Thunder to wonderful alien worlds, irresistible cosmic battles and powerful beings beyond imagination -- get this book! - it will not disappoint.

These new Epic Collections are better than its predecessor Masterworks because it has more issues than in those volumes, and because the collection allows you to purchase issues from different periods of the Thor saga. In this volume, we still see the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby team at work here, both revealing a more mature style in writing and illustration. This period covers probably the last or close to Kirby's last stand with Marvel before leaving for DC. Although the title is To Wake the Mangog, the volume covers other miniseries after that, since it follows chronological order. Besides fighting the Mangog, Thor also fights Galactus, the Wrecker, and Ulik among others; he also discovers the origins of Don Blake; and readers get to see other developments with Balder the Brave and Queen Karnilla. I do keep noticing that every time Kirby reintroduces his characters his artwork improves. Take for example, the recorder, Balder the Brave, or Queen Karnilllia.Another difference from Masterworks is the glossy paper. I don't know if that makes a difference in impact, but there is no doubt that Marvel is probably trying to broaden its audience with young generations of comic book readers who probably prefer this format. It doesn't make a difference to me. Kirby's artwork is astounding under any format. Anyhow, this volume is worth the price and the stories are always enjoyable.

This collection Captures my fondest memories of Stan and Jack’s collaboration on this title. Both were at their story telling peak (but not V. Colletta, yeah!). Excelsior!

This collection offers the best - and worst - of Jack Kirby's later years during his first legendary stint at Marvel. The best is represented in the Mangog/Ragnorak storyline, perhaps the ultimate Thor narrative. The worst comes near the end of the book, when Marvel briefly limited their storylines to single issues and the epic nature of the usual Thor continuing sagas are suddenly shut down, leaving us with quick battles against the likes of the Wrecker. But that's not Jack's fault. Artwork is as usual spectacular.

Witness Thor's evolution with writer Stan Lee and artist extrodinare Jack Kirby. You can see Kirby's dramatic chanvges in his work. The art growing ever more powerful and expressionistic. You'll notice the earlier cartoony style grow into a harsher and blocky type of figure rendering. His lines are more confident than ever before. All the early villains are here. Loki,Mangog, and a list too numerous to mention here. You won't be let down here. If you like Thor and the world of Asghard, this collection will give you a brief glimpse into that world!

these stories feature the absolute pinnacle of Jack Kirby's artwork, visuals that total shame any of the "modern" comic books on the shelves today.no words can describe the spectacles that he created, with his patented perspective and exaggerated male physiques....All exquisitely reproduced in a manner that blows away the originals with vivid colors and sharpness.This is the King at his best!!

As of today this is the first of four mainstream marvel epic collections to be manufactured by the notorious Quad Graphics. It is also the only one without any serious production errors. While there is nothing at all wrong with the content of this book, it is the production side of things that I will be addressing.For whatever reason, Quad Graphics has decided to use a lower quality of paper than the other manufacturers. As a result their epics are always considerably thinner than the rest and utilize glossy paper. This does not look right, and does not gel with the remainder of your collection when viewed side by side.If you are into collecting these books I recommended you avoid this volume until Marvel sees fit to reprint. If production quality does not matter to you and you simply want to read the material you get some great issues here.BUYER BEWARE

Die Epic-Reihe ist immer ein schöner und preiswerter Lesespaß. Das Fehlen eines größeren redaktionellen Teils ist dem Umstand geschuldet, dass es sich hier eben nicht um eine teure Sammleredition handelt, ergo kann das kein Kritikpunkt sein.Die Produktion ist einwandfrei und die Storys und das Artwork sind natürlich ausgezeichnet. Und für den deutschen Leser ist es ein besonderer Leckerbissen, weil dieser Band ungefähr an dem Punkt fortsetzt, an dem die hervorragende Publikation des Williams Verlages 1979 endete (Thor war Zweitstory in der "Spinne").Aber leider ist das Fehlen eines echten Handletterings und die Verwendung von hochweißem und glänzenden Papier, was immer eine Genussbremse ist, bei Thor besonders unattraktiv. Wir haben es hier nun einmal mit einem mystischen Stoff zu tun, der in fantastischen Welten spielt. Die Farbgebung erzielt auf dem heute verwendeten Papier einen "Plastik-Bonbon-Effekt" der einfach nicht dazu paßt.An der Stelle kann ich die Neucolorierung von Thor sehr empfehlen, die fantastisch auf jedem Papier wirkt. In der Reihe von Hachette ist ein Band erschienen, der die "Tales of Asgard" rund um Thor sammelt. Da kann man sich für kleines Geld einen guten Eindruck verschaffen. Und einen ganz kleinen Eindruck, verschafft einem schon das Cover dieses Bandes. So sieht es nämlich dann aus.

Paper quality was excellent thick and glossy, not like some of the newer Epic collections. Great Stories The Mangog Saga, a Dr Donald Blake Origin, Battles with Galactus, Adam Warlock, Ulik the troll and the wrecker Nuff said.

Not bad

Los tochos Epic Collection están permitiendo ver amplias etapas de las colecciones de marvel a una muy buena relación calidad/cantidad/precio. Son como los marvel Essential pero a color. este de Thor incluye una de las etapas cumbres de la serie a manos de su creador, el gran jack Kirby

The twenty-fifth book (my, how time flies) in the ever-impressive Epic Collection series brings us this, Volume 4 in the eventual complete run of Thor stories, collecting material from 1968 to 1970. It is essentially the end stretch of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's years-long collaboration on the title, and as such showcases the very best of those creators' work.By this stage in Thor's adventures, things had definitely developed a grandiose, cosmic scale; while the thunder god still spends plenty of time on his adopted home planet of Earth, many of the stories presented here deal with the glittering realm of Asgard, and the fantastic gods and monsters who dwell there. This is not a superhero who foils bank robberies each night; this is a champion who battles vast, inconceivable forces at the behest of the all-powerful Allfather.The book opens with the titular storyline, in which Thor is summoned back to Asgard to prevent Ragnarok at the hands of the Mangog, a monster with the power of a "billion billion" beings. Their clash shakes Asgard itself amidst storms, floods and volcanic eruptions. Then, the Mighty one is drawn into a titanic battle between the world-eater Galactus and Ego, the Living Planet, learning the first hints of the former's origins along the way. In fact, much of this volume deals with Odin's concern over the threat of Galactus, a threat even gods may fear.There are many other stories contained here, as well, as Thor takes on Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, mysterious lifeform Him (later to be better-known as Adam Warlock), unstoppable android the Thermal Man and the brutal villain known as the Wrecker. Together with subplots including Balder's continuing and complex relationship with the villainous Norn queen Karnilla, the pace never lets up.Lee's dialogue and prose has never been more gloriously overblown; the cod-Shakespearian, archaic voices of the Asgardians and the dramatic, doom-laden tones of the narrator contrast with the peppy, exclamatory words used by the Earthlings. It all works to give the book a unique flavour that is both exciting and different.Kirby, of course, has rarely been better, letting his imagination run riot with the baroque fashions and gloriously ornate machines of Asgard. In the vast, cosmic scenes he manages to infuse the pages with real power - several spreads see him experiment with photomontage techniques for the backgrounds to great effect. His heroes and heroines are dynamic, gorgeous, larger than life; his villains monstrous and threatening. A Kirby fight scene is something to behold, with exquisite storytelling and energy in even the smallest scuffle.The stories contained in this book showcase the very best of what the Thor title can be; wonderful mythic tales fused with the modern legends of the superhero. Bonus pages contain original Kirby art, much of it unused, and help to round out another essential collection.