Amazing Spider-Man #26
Title: The Man in the Crime-Master's Mask
Writer: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Green Goblin, Crime-Master
Regulars: Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Frederick Foswell, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan
This issue was plotted by Steve Ditko.
A masked gangster called the Crime-Master is planning to take over all the criminal gangs in New York City with the help of the Green Goblin, last seen in Amazing Spider-Man #23.
We find out that Flash Thompson isn't all bad, despite his bullying. Peter Parker takes all the blame for a fight seen by the principal, so Flash goes to the principal and tells him that he was also to blame.
Spider-Man's costume was confiscated by his Aunt may in the last issue, so he has to buy a second-rate replacement from a costume store. That's embarrassing.
At the end of the story Spider-Man is knocked unconscious by the Green Goblin and presented as a trophy to a meeting of the gangs.
My guess is that Stan Lee made a mistake in the Crazy Credits. He should have said that his script was loving while Sam Rosen's lettering was stealthy.
Fantastic Four #40
Title: The Battle of the Baxter Building
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Doctor Doom
Guests: Daredevil
This is the concluding second part of the story that began last issue. Daredevil fights alone against Doctor Doom while the Fantastic Four attempt to sneak into the Baxter Building to get their powers back using the Stimulator ray. The story ends with a battle between Doctor Doom and the Thiing.
Doctor Doom should have recognised Ben Grimm. They went to university together. Maybe Victor Von Doom had his head in text books all day and didn't notice who else was walking around.
X-Men #12
Title: The Origin of Professor X
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Juggernaut (Cain Marko)
Regulars: Professor X (Charles Xavier)
Cerebro reacts to the arrival of a powerful mutant menace, the strongest that the X-Men have ever faced. Professor X reveals that it's his brother Cain. At least, he calls him his brother at first. It's actually his stepbrother.
I've seen people call them half brothers, but that's not correct. Half brothers share one biological parent. Stepbrothers have no biological relationship, they only become brothers by one of their parents re-marrying.
I've seen arguments about whether Juggernaut is a mutant or not. In this issue Cerebro identifies him as a mutant, but I consider that to be a mistake. In the early years Cerebro didn't just report mutants, it also reported non-humans (like the Stranger in X-Men #11) or enhanced humans like the Juggernaut. Maybe Stan Lee hadn't quite figured it out.
The Juggernaut's powers come from being affected by a mystic gem belonging to Cyttorak which he discovered by accident in Korea. He is now unstoppable, as his attack on Professor X's school shows.
The story is called "The Origin of Professor X" because he explains the story of his youth from the death of his father up to Cain finding the Gem of Cyttorak. This is the first comic in which we find out that his real name is Charles Xavier.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby deliver astounding work, while Sam Rosen does the same every time. That's not a problem if his usual standards are high. The bullpen has also been kibitzing again. That's great! The more kibitzing the better!
The Avengers #18
Title: When the Commissar Commands
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Communists
The Avengers travel to the fictional Communist state of Sin-Cong on the request of a fake message from the underground resistance asking for help. They're required to fight the leader, the Commissar, one by one to prove their inferiority. It turns out that the leader is only a robot controlled by one of the generals.
It makes a change for the Crazy Credits to praise Artie Simek so highly. This time Stan Lee is picking on the readers. So we're stoic? So what? We need a long time to turn the page because we're enjoying Don Heck's magnificent artwork.
Tales to Astonish #69
Title: Oh Wasp, where is thy sting?
Writer: Al Hartley
Artist: Bob Powell
Villain: Human Top
At the end of the previous issue the Human Top kidnapped the Wasp. Giant-Man pursues him with the aid of a giant wasp.
Stan Lee wrote the first part of this story, whereas Al Hartley wrote the second part. That's unfortunate, because it's lead to an error.
In the first half of the story, Tales To Astonish #68, Henry Pym said that he could no longer shring to insect size.
But that's exactly what he did this issue to save his life. I can understand why Martin Goodman was pushing Stan Lee to write less comics, but it's not a good idea. If Stan does it all himself continuity is guaranteed.
So everyone else works perfectly while Sam Rosen makes a few mistakes? This time the Crazy Credits are wrong. Al Hartley blundered. Nuff said!
Title: The Lair of the Leader
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Leader
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Rick Jones
The Leader captured the Hulk in the last issue by rendering him unconscious with gas. The Hulk escapes, and after a brief battle the Leader flees. He turns back into Bruce Banner, and General Ross's soldiers shoot him as a traitor. At the end of the story his heart stops beating.
I don't understand what the Crazy Credits are trying to say. Artie Simek shouldn't bother asking, he should just assume it's a compliment.
Journey into Mystery #118
Title: To Kill a Thunder God
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Destroyer
Regulars: Odin
In the last issue Thor found the norn stones, the proof that Loki cheated to win the Trial of the Gods. Before he can return to Asgard with them Loki awakes a creature called the Destroyer, hidden in an Asgardian temple in the forest. The Destroyer is more powerful than Thor and manages to destroy Thor's hammer. The story ends on a cliffhanger with Thor about to be killed.
The Crazy Credits praise everyone, except for Artie Simek, whose lettering is said to be couched in clichés. Stan Lee should be careful what he says. The clichés aren't in the letters, they're in the words the letterer is given by the writer.
Title: The Crimson Hand
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Loki
The cracks in the Odinsword were discovered last issue. This month the quest begins to find the one responsible.
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Vince Coletta are legendary, but the Crazy Credits tell us that Sam Rosen is just a letterer. Didn't Stan ever think about what would happen if he didn't have a letterer?
Tales of Suspense #67
Title: Where Walk the Villains
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Dream-Maker (Count Nefaria)
Regulars: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan
Count Nefaria, who we last saw in Avengers #13, has now broken his connection with the Maggia and prefers to call himself the Dream-Maker. He's created a machine with which he can induce dreams in someone the other side of the world. Wow! Stan Lee sure knows how to overdo things, doesn't he? The Dream-Master gives Iron Man a dream of battles with his deadliest foes. He recognises it's a dream, but what he doesn't know is that if he dies in his dream he'll also die in real life.
The Crazy Credits say nothing good but also nothing bad about Sam Rosen. Once more the reader is credited. Thank you so much for appreciating me, Stan!
Title: Lest Tyranny Triumph!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Red Skull, Adolf Hitler
This story continues from the last issue. Captain America has been hypnotised to act as an assassin for Germany.
Strange Tales #134
Title: The Challenge of the Watcher
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bob Powell
Villain: Kang
Regulars: Reed Richards, Susan Storm
Guests: Watcher
The Watcher wants to call on the Fantastic Four to carry out a mission for him, but only the Human Torch and the Thing are available. Kang has travelled from the 25th Century – not the 30th? – to the days of King Arthur to change the past in order to prevent the Avengers and all the other super-heroes ever being born. The Watcher transports the Human Torch and the Thing back in time to prevent Kang acting before it's too late.
Obviously Kang didn't think it through. If he changed time it would be unlikely that he would ever be born in the 40th Century.
At least the Thing has one last chance to utter his battle cry in Strange Tales: It's clobbering time!
Why the last chance? This is the last month in which the Human Torch and the Thing will be featured in this comic. Next month they'll be replaced by Nick Fury.
This month the Crazy Credits put Artie Simek on the same level as the other creators. However, I have to say that Bob Powell's art in this comic really is breath-taking. I know nothing about him except for his name. He's an underrated genius.
Title: Earth be my Battleground
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Dormammu, Baron Mordo
Regulars: Ancient One, Hamir (unnamed), Clea (unnamed)
This is the fifth part of the Doctor Strange-Dormammu-Baron Mordo epic. The Ancient One is still lying in a coma, muttering the word Eternity. Doctor Strange thinks that this might be the key to defeating Baron Mordo.
When the next battle begins, Clea distracts Dormammu by freeing the Mindless Ones.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Stan Lee is a legend and Steve Ditko is a genius, whereas Artie Simek is merely a pixie. He needn't worry about this. Pixies are magical!
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #129 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Kid Colt Outlaw #123 (Stan Lee, Jack Keller)
Two Gun Kid #76 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #20 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
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