Saturday, 18 August 2018

Marvel Years 04.02 - February 1964


Fantastic Four #23

Title: The Master Plan of Doctor Doom

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Doctor Doom, Bull Brogin, Handsome Harry Philips, Yogi Dakor


Doctor Doom returns to take revenge on the Fantastic Four yet again. He last fought with them in Fantastic Four #17, but in the meantime he's battled Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #5.

Doctor Doom assembles a team of criminals and enhances their natural abilities. Bull Brogin is given super-strength, Harry Philips is given keen reflexes, and Yogi Dakor is made fireproof. In later comics they were called the Terrible Trio.


Here's a further detail about Susan Storm's new powers that were presented in the last issue. Her invisible force field isn't hindered by solid objects.


And once more the Thing shouts "It's clobbering time". I don't think I can point out every occurrence of this famous phrase, because it was used too often. Or maybe I can. I'll decide as I go along.




Amazing Spider-Man #9

Title: The Man called Electro

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko

Villain: Electro (Max Dillon)

Regulars: Aunt May, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant


Max Dillon is an electric lineman who gains the power to store and release energy in his body after being struck by a lightning bolt. In the following years he's a frequent enemy of Spider-Man and Daredevil.



Fake news is nothing new. J. Jonah Jameson invented it. He prints a series of editorials proving that Spider-Man and Electro are the same person.




Tales to Astonish #52

Title: The Black Knight Strikes

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dick Ayers

Villain: Black Knight (Professor Garrett)


Professor Garrett is a scientist who has been giving secrets to the Russians. He invents a serum to make a horse grow wings. He goes on a crime spree, using various weapons that he's invented.




Title: Not what they seem

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Larry Lieber

In this month's Tales of the Wasp feature the Wasp visits an orphanage to tell the boys a science fiction story. I'm sure they all had a crush on her for the rest of their lives.




Journey into Mystery #101

Title: The Return of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Loki, Zarrko, Mr. Hyde (flashback only)

Regulars: Jane Foster, Odin, Heimdall

Guests: Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp


After Odin's refusal to let him marry Jane Foster Thor goes on a rampage, smashing cars and other property in New York City. His fellow Avengers manage to cool him down. Odin sees Thor's rebellious attitude and punishes him by cutting his power in half and forbidding him to enter Asgard. Loki takes advantage of this by giving Zarrko (last seen in Journey into Mystery #86) his memory back.

Zarrko defeats Thor because of his weakened powers and forces him to go with him to the 23rd Century. This is the first half of a two-part story.




Title: The Storm Giants

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Gods: Odin, Thor, Loki, Heimdall

A group of Asgard's enemies break into the city. Young Thor holds them off at first until Odin can summon an army against them.

This five-page story shows the beginning of the style for which Jack Kirby later became famous. There are large panels, a maximum of four panels per page, which is in contrast to Marvel's usual six to nine panels per page. My suspicion is that Stan Lee had agreed to give Jack more freedom in drawing the Tales of Asgard series than he had in all the other comics.

This issue also contains a short anthology story.




Tales of Suspense #50

Title: The Hands of the Mandarin
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck

Villain: Mandarin

Regulars: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan

Guests: Professor X, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, Hulk


The Mandarin is introduced, a Chinese warlord who goes on to become Iron Man's greatest enemy.




Title: Journey's End

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Larry Lieber

This issue also contains an anthology story narrated by the Watcher.




Strange Tales #117

Title: The Return of the Eel

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dick Ayers

Villain: Eel

Regulars: Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm


The Eel is released from prison after serving his sentence. He returns to a life of crime.




Title: The Many Traps of Baron Mordo

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko

Villain: Baron Mordo

Regulars: Ancient One

Baron Mordo remains Doctor Strange's most persistent opponent.



Other comics published this month:

Modeling with Millie #29 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Patsy Walker #113 (Stan Lee, Al Hartley)
Patsy and Hedy #92 (Stan Lee, Al Hartley)
Kathy #27 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #38 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)

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