The Merry Marvel Marching Society advertises on the cover of some but not all of this month's comics.
Amazing Spider-Man #24
Title: Spider-Man goes mad
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Mysterio
Regulars: Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Frederick Foswell, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan
Mysterio poses as a psychiatrist and tries to persuade Spider-Man that he's going mad.
There's an advertisement for the MMMS on the cover.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Sam Rosen provides quantity, not quality.
But look at what Sam does here. He can even write upside down!
Fantastic Four #38
Title: Defeated by the Frightful Four
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Frightful Four (Wizard, Trapster, Sandman, Medusa)
Paste-Pot Pete has grown tired of his ridiculous name, so he now calls himself the Trapster.
The Frightful Four kidnap Susan Storm. Then they lure the remaining members of the Fantastic Four to a remote atoll on which there's a Q-Bomb. I have no idea what that is, but it sounds dangerous. The Frightful Four fly away before the bomb explodes. The Fantastic Four are protected from the blast by Susan Storm's invisible shield, but they're left unconscious, barely alive.
The Thing has the chance to shout his battle cry: It's clobbering time.
There's an advertisement for the MMMS on the cover.
X-Men #11
Title: The Triumph of Magneto
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Magneto, Toad, Mastermind, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Regulars: Professor X
Guests: Stranger
Cerebro detects a very powerful mutant in New York. In a way, it's a false alarm. The person detected isn't a mutant, he's a very powerful being from another planet. He calls himself a stranger, which becomes his name in future stories.
Magneto tries to recruit the Stranger for his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but he refuses to join them. He easily defeats them in battle. The Stranger immobilises Mastermind by turning him to stone. Then he takes Magneto and Toad back with him to his home planet. Only Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are left behind, and they swear to give up evil. They say that they want to retire to Eastern Europe, but this doesn't last long, as we see in this month's Avengers #16.
The Crazy Credits tell us that everything about this issue is exceptional, even Artie Simek's lettering.
The Avengers #16
Title: The Old Order Changeth
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Masters of Evil (Enchantress, Executioner, Black Knight, Melter)
Kang (cameo), Immortus (cameo), Mole Man (cameo), Black Widow (flashback)
Regulars: Rick Jones, Jarvis
Guests: Happy Hogan, Sub-Mariner
This is a landmark issue. It features a new line-up of the Avengers. The original group had very powerful members, as far as strength goes. The new team has weaker members who have to rely on their skill.
First the battle against the Masters of Evil is wrapped up. In the last issue Baron Zemo died in his battle against Captain America in South America. The other Avengers were left facing the Enchantress, the Executioner, Black Knight and the Melter in New York City. Thor creates a dimensional warp with his hammer to take them somewhere where there are no bystanders who might get hurt. The Enchantress and the Executioner escape just in time, but Black Knight and the Melter are transported to another dimension where they're quickly defeated.
That's the first four pages. The remaining 16 pages tell the comic's most important story.
Thor has to leave to face the Trial of the Gods. I assume that Journey into Mystery #114 and #115 took place between page four and page six of this comic.
Iron Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp decide to take a leave of absence from the Avengers.
Hawkeye, who is no longer associated with the Black Widow, joins the Avengers.
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch retired to Eastern Europe in X-Men #11, but it didn't last long. They return to America to join the Avengers.
Sub-Mariner is invited to join the Avengers, but he turns the offer down.
One strange thing is the way the Avengers' enemies are following the news of the membership changes. I can understand Mole-Man, the Enchantress and the Executioner sitting glued to their television sets, but why is Kang watching from the future? He lives in the 40th Century, so he ought to have known about all the changes in the Avengers from reading history books, long before he met them. The same applies to Immortus.
I can't help feeling that Stan Lee wants to say something bad about Artie Simek in the Crazy Credits, but it doesn't end up too bad. Lettering ought to be delicate. We need to be able to read the comics.
Tales to Astonish #67
Title: The Mystery of the Hidden Man and his Rays of Doom
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bob Powell
Villain: aliens
An alien from another planet comes to Earth, attempting to steal the knowledge and abilities of human beings. To do this he uses a green ray.
There's an advertisement for the MMMS on the cove
According to the Crazy Credits Stan Lee, Bob Powell and Chic Stone are swinging, but Artie Simek is a square. Who cares as long as he does his work?
Title: Where strides the Behemoth
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Communists, bandits
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot
The Hulk is still behind the Iron Curtain in an unnamed country, probably Russia. He flees towards Mongolia, where he turns back into Bruce Banner. He's captured by bandits who hold him for ransom. Major Talbot travels to Mongolia to pay the ransom.
This is one of the more curious Crazy Credits boxes. "Stan Lee created the Hulk". That's true.
"Steve Ditko adopted the Hulk". That's also true, although he's scheduled to leave the comic next issue. Maybe we should say that he fostered the Hulk.
"Frank Ray fears the Hulk". That's probably true. Who wouldn't?
"Artie Simek looks like the Hulk". I doubt it. If he really looked like the Hulk Stan Lee would have more respect for him.
Journey into Mystery #116
Title: The Trial of the Gods
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Enchantress, Executioner
Regulars: Odin, Balder, Jane Foster
Guests: Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp), Rick Jones
Frightful Four (Wizard, Trapster, Sandman, Medusa), Daredevil
The Trial of the Gods begins. Just like the Vikings' justice system, it's trial by combat. Thor and Loki are sent to the savage world of Skornheim, where they have to fight against one another and against the elements. Whichever one of them returns to Asgard first has proven that he is innocent of the charge of lying to Odin. I fail to see the logic in that.
To distract Thor, Loki sends the Enchantress and the Executioner to threaten Jane Foster, chasing her through the streets of New York. Balder travels to Earth to protect her.
There are continuity errors in this story on page 12. Look at the following pictures.
During the Trial of the Gods all of the other members of the Avengers are having a meeting.
But in Avengers #16, page five, the Avengers had a meeting just after Thor left for the Trial of the Gods. Captain America is missing because he hasn't returned from fighting with Baron Zemo in South America. Is it possible that the Avengers had another meeting after Captain America returned?
No. Because when Captain America finally returned on page 17 the Avengers already had new members. Any meeting with Captain America would have included Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.
The mistake is that Captain America and Rick Jones are drawn with the Avengers on page 12 of the Thor story. Jack Kirby blundered, and nobody else noticed his mistake.
But as always, if a mistake is made we can always blame the letterer. In the Crazy Credits Jack Kirby is declared impregnable. Artie Simek is the one who's called impossible. Poor Artie! How did he ever put up with the constant abuse in the Bullpen?
Title: The Challenge
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Loki
Thor and Loki have been sent on a diplomatic mission to King Hymir. Loki persuades Hymir to challenge Thor to a fight.
There's a mistake on the splash page. This time it's Stan Lee's fault. The text at the top reads "In Thor #63 we saw how Loki won himself an ally". There's no such comic as Thor #63. The story he's referring to was in Journey Into Mystery #115. Maybe if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby stopped picking on the letterers they would make less mistakes.
Tales of Suspense #65
Title: When Titans Clash
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Weasel Wills (a burglar)
Regulars: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan
Anthony Stark goes on a business trip and leaves his attache case with his armour behind. A burglar steals the case and learns how to operate the Iron Man suit. He carries out many successful robberies until Stark returns and puts on his old armour to fight him.
There's an advertisement for the MMMS on the cover.
The Crazy Credits have another new word for me. I don't know what persnippy means, but I'm sure it's nothing good.
Title: The Red Skull Strikes
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Red Skull
This is the third story in a row that has been rewritten from Captain America Comics #1 (December 1940). Unlike the previous two stories, which closely followed the originals, this story has a few subtle plot changes.
The Red Skull is a Nazi saboteur who's working in America to weaken the American military.
Strange Tales #132
Title: The Sinister Space Trap
Writer: Larry Ivie
Artist: Bob Powell
Villain: Professor Jack (a scientist)
Regulars: Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Doris Evans
A scientist is suspected of sabotaging a new space program. Johnny Storm goes undercover as a young astronaut to see if the suspicions are true. When he's trapped in space the Thing has to come to his rescue.
The Thing yells his battle cry: It's clobbering time! Did you notice that he also says it on the cover?
Also on the cover is an advertisement for the MMMS. But that's not enough. It's also mentioned in the story. It's good that Johnny Storm and Doris Evans are Marvel fans. Wouldn't it be terrible if they preferred to read DC comics?
While everyone else goes about their work with energy and zeal, the Crazy Credits tell us that Sam Rosen has a soggy pen. I don't believe it. His lettering is much too clear.
Title: Face-To-Face at last with Baron Mordo
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Dormammu, Baron Mordo
Regulars: Ancient One, Hamir (unnamed), Clea (unnamed)
This is the third part of the Doctor Strange-Dormammu-Baron Mordo epic. Doctor Strange returns to his sanctum in New York, where Baron Mordo challenges him.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko are unique, whereas Artie Simek was the last choice for this comic. Why's that? Was Sam Rosen too busy lettering the latest Spider-Man story?
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #128 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Kid Colt Outlaw #122 (Stan Lee, Jack Keller)
Two Gun Kid #75 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #18 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
Here's a special announcement from the Merry Marvel Marching Society. From next month onwards all the names and addresses of the members will be printed in the comics. Gee whiz! Stand up and be counted!
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