The Mighty Thor #206, Page #27 (Buscema/Colletta) (1972) (Thor vs:Absorbing Man)

Reposted (with my own picture)

December 1972, Thor #206, Page #27, John Buscema pencils/Vince Colletta inks, "Rebirth",

An astounding John Buscema page from my grail issue of Thor. I am elated beyond belief to have found this page to add to my collection. The Absorbing Man is my favorite Thor villain. Colletta’s scratchy inks are incredible here. The Absorbing Man refers to “the creed who gave me all my powers” on the bottom double panel, which is LOKI, the god of mischief, and his dog minions.
The back of the page also has some very nice pencil sketches of The Absorbing Man and possibly Captain Fate (the pirate introduced 3 years later in 1975 in Man-thing #13).

This classic story-line reintroduces The Absorbing Man back into Marvel continuity from his last appearance two years earlier in Incredible Hulk #125 (1970);

The story begins at dusk on a late summer night in Rutland, Vermont, where two boys are fishing. They witness a shooting star in the sky (that is really the Absorbing Man). This page is evidence that Big John is unparalleled as an artist. Add intense nostalgia to artistic perfection and that is why this page is engrained in my mind since 1972, as an 11 year old kid.

In the next issue, #207, the Rutland, Vermont Halloween cross-over began, which was the first unofficial Marvel/DC crossover,with its prologue beginning here in issue #206.