#JackedKirby - War of the Gods! 💥💥💥 This is one of Jack’s best “pinch hit” covers of the 70s for Marvel. It is also one of my favorite Thor stories ever (even though Jack didn’t do the interior art or the story (Big John Buscema drew interiors and Steve Englehart was on the story). But this cover is absolutely beautiful.... portraying the Gods as only The King could! 💥💥💥 The Mighty Thor #Annual5 was published in September of 1976, not to long after Kirby’s return. He did a SLEW of covers for the line upon his return to the Bullpen, from big series like Iron Man to new series like Nova... he filled in a lot! But this one is gotta be right there with one of his best. 💥💥💥 The story takes place back in history during an Earthly battle between some Vikings and some Greeks. The Vikings pray to the Norse Gods for help and arbor shows up... and the Greeks pray to their Gods for assistance and HERCULES shows up! The two sides fight with each champion lending a hand... until they decide to up the ante. The two Gods decide to meet back one week later with the OTHER GODS in their realms. Thor will bring all the Asgardians and Herc will bring all the Olympians... and they will see who is the best of the best. 💥💥💥 Against the wishes of Odin and Zeus the two groups meet for battle (with a little trickery from Loki egging on the action of course). A great battle ensues... and the Asgardians are victorious! But to Thor’s surprise Athens is unharmed. Odin explains that this is because their followers still believe in the Olympian Gods and worship them! Thor is disheartened, but is cheered up when Karnilla shows him his future alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes... The Avengers! 💥💥💥 Odin and Zeus’s signature floating heads and Herc & Thor springing into action make this a classic Kirby Cover. But it’s the other soldiers and their small details that make it so special. The helmets, weapons and the use of Kirby Krackle in the background sky make this whole image come together. I love the Dr Fate looking yellow helmet guy. Awesome. 💥💥💥 #JackKirby #Kirby #KingKirby #Thor #Hercules #Odin #Zeus #OlympianGods #AsgardianGods #GreekGods #NorseGods #Loki #Mythology #Annual https://www.instagram.com/p/B0E7nMjhM66/?igshid=1q7m4d6hgvauk
