The Avengers #4
Title: Captain America joins the Avengers
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp
Villain: Sub-Mariner, unnamed alien
Regulars: Rick Jones
Guests: Bucky Barnes (flashback)
This is a landmark issue, because it re-introduces Captain America, a American super-hero whose comics were published by Timely Comics from 1941 to 1950. Captain America was created by Joe Simon (writer) and Jack Kirby (artist) in 1940. This is the cover of the first issue of Captain America Comics, dated March 1941, but on sale from December 1940.
Isn't that cover picture enough to make any patriotic American smile? That's the case today, but it wasn't received so well in 1940. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 American opinion was divided. America had a large ethnic German population that considered Hitler a hero and accused England of aggression. There were even calls for America to enter the war on Germany's side. This comic was so unpopular with German Americans that police had to be posted outside Timely's offices to protect Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
Stan Lee's first ever story was a short story in Captain America Comics #3, cover date May 1941. As you can imagine, Captain America was a sentimental character for Stan and Jack, so they were proud to be the writer and artist for the comic featuring his return.
Sub-Mariner smashes an ice block that contains a man. When the ice melts the Avengers rescue the man from the sea, and it's Captain America. He's been in suspended animation since the Second World War. Together with his sidekick Bucky Barnes he jumped onto a plane loaded with explosives. When the plane exploded Bucky died and Captain America fell into the icy cold sea.
Note: In the post-canon years Bucky Barnes was resurrected.
Ironically, Rick Jones looks identical to Bucky Barnes.
Another important occurrence in this story is that Sub-Mariner finds his people again, after losing contact with them in Fantastic Four Annual #1.
On the last page of the comic Captain America is invited to join the Avengers. If you've been paying attention you'll know that he's the sixth Avenger, not the first Avenger, as is often falsely claimed.
One discrepancy in the comic is that Captain America and Sub-Mariner don't recognise one another. They had met and fought side by side many times in the Timely era. Was this a mistake? Or did Stan want to start a new chronology in the Marvel Age that was only partly based on the Timely Age? I prefer the latter answer. In the post-canon age apologists said that both Captain America and Sub-Mariner were suffering from memory loss after their revival. Bleh!
Note the credits box in this issue. This is the first in a long series of Crazy Credits which were used, primarily, to make fun of the letterers. That isn't so obvious yet, but watch the credits boxes as the months progress.
Fantastic Four
Title: The Mystery of the Infant Terrible
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Infant Terrible (an unnamed alien)
The Fantastic Four battle an alien creature of unimaginable power that's only a child. This story was probably the inspiration for the Star Trek episode "The Squire of Gothos".
Here's another Crazy Credits box, not too insulting. Yet.
Amazing Spider-Man #10
Title: The Enforcers
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Big Man (Frederick Foswell), Fancy Dan, Ox, Montana
Regulars: Aunt May, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant
The Enforcers are made up of three men. Fancy Dan is a very nimble Judo expert. Ox is as strong (and as dumb) as an Ox. Montana is an expert with the lassoo. They work for a criminal mastermind called Big Man, whose secret identity is Frederick Foswell, a journalist for the Daily Bugle.
The Crazy Credits box is still polite to the letterer. It won't last.
Tales to Astonish #53
Title: Trapped by the Porcupine
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dick Ayers
Villain: Porcupine (Alex Gentry)
Don't you think this picture on the splash page is kind of kinky? I'm sure that Giant Man really enjoys the Wasp walking on him in spikey heels. I know that I'd enjoy it.
The Porcupine returns, after last being seen in Tales To Astonish #48. His name is now revealed as Alex Gentry.
Here's another Crazy Credits box that's polite to everyone.
Title: When wakes the Colossus
Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Larry Lieber
Journey into Mystery #102
Title: Slave of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Zarrko the Tomorrow Man
Regulars: Odin
This is the conclusion of the two-part story that began in the last issue.
The 23rd Century has automated delivery vehicles. I wonder if those packages are from Amazon.
And the Crazy Credits... are you still paying attention to them?
Title: Death comes to Thor
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Balder, Sif
After Thor was shown as a small boy in the last few Tales of Asgard, he's now 18 years old and fully grown. This is the first issue in which he's able to lift the hammer Mjolnir.
Thor must face Hela, Goddess of Death, to rescue Sif. She's called Balder's sister, and she has blonde hair.
This issue also contains a short anthology story.
Tales of Suspense #51
Title: Face to Face with the Sinister Scarecrow
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Scarecrow (Umberto)
Regulars: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan
A skilful escape artist (similar to Harry Houdini) creates a costume and calls himself the Scarecrow.
Now the Crazy Credits are picking on poor Artie Simek. Didn't I tell you it would happen?
Tales of the Watcher
Title: The Primitive
Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Larry Lieber
This Tale of the Watcher is about the search for intelligent life on other planets in the 21st Century. The obvious question for Marvel fans is how this story fits into Marvel continuity. My answer is simply: it doesn't! This is simply one of Stan Lee's many anthology tales, half-way inserted into the Marvel universe (with a small U) by adding the Watcher as narrator. Later apologists created alternative universe numbers for all the stories that didn't fit in, and maybe there's even an Earth-xxx number for this story, but that's not necessary. It's just the Watcher telling a bedtime story for children.
This issue also contains another two short anthology stories without the Watcher.
Strange Tales #118
Title: The man who became the Torch
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dick Ayers
Villain: Wizard
Regulars: Susan Storm, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm
The Wizard escapes from prison after last being seen in Strange Tales #110. He captures the Human Torch and impersonates him to continue his attacks.
The Wizard has seemingly perfected his anti-gravity devices since his last appearances.
Title: The Possessed
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Aliens from another dimension
Doctor Strange travels to Bavaria, where there are reports of villagers being possessed by evil spirits. He discovers that the possessors are actually aliens from another dimension.
Did you notice the Crazy Credits box above? Stan Lee has nothing bad to say about Sam Rosen.Why not? In this month's Tales of Suspense #51 he said that Artie Simek can't spell, but I think Sam Rosen is the one who should improve his spelling. In this story he misspells Dormammu's name in an invocation, calling him Mormammu.
There's the proof, Sam. Your sins will find you out.
This issue also contains a short anthology story.
X-Men #4
Title: The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Magneto, Mastermind, Toad, Quicksilver (Pietro), Scarlet Witch (Wanda)
Regulars: Professor X
Magneto returns after last being seen in X-Men #1. Now he's the head of a team that he calls the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Mastermind can create illusions.
Toad can jump like a Toad, and he also has a long tongue.
Quicksilver has super speed.
Scarlet Witch has a hex power. This is an undefined power, even though there have been many attempts to specify it in later years. When she points at something her hex does something over which she has no control. All that she knows is that it will be a disadvantage to the person or thing she's pointing at, and indirectly an advantage to herself. The stronger the hex that she fires, the more of a catastrophe it will be to her target.
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are introduced as brother and sister. In later comics we find out that they are twins. Unlike the other members of the Brotherhood they're not really evil. They remain with Magneto out of a feeling of responsibility because he saved their lives.
Did you notice the subtle attack on Artie Simek in the Crazy Credits again? What's he done to deserve it?
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #119 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Kid Colt Outlaw #115 (Stan Lee, Jack Keller)
Two Gun Kid #68 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #6 (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby)
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