Fantastic Four #42
Title: To save you, why must I kill you?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Frightful Four (Wizard, Trapster, Sandman, Medusa)
This is the second instalment of the three-part battle between the Fantastic Four and the Frightful Four. The stories in the Fantastic Four series are slowly becoming longer. In the last issue the Thing was brainwashed by the Wizard's Id Machine to turn against his team members. In this comic the Human Torch is also captured and subjected to the Id Machine.
Amazing Spider-Man #28
Title: The Menace of the Molten Man
Writer: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Molten Man (Raxton)
Regulars: Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan
This is the fourth issue in a row plotted by Steve Ditko.
Peter Parker visits the home of Dr. Smythe, the man who invented the spider killing machine in Amazing Spider-Man #25, because he thinks he still has his original Spider-Man costume. While there he witnesses an argument between Smythe and his assistant Raxton. Raxton stumbles and is covered with an experimental liquid alloy which turns his body into malleable molten metal. (Whew! I'm alliterating as much as Stan Lee today).
This is also the issue in which Peter Parker graduates from high school. Peter is given a scholarship to Empire State University, and Flash Thompson is given an athletics scholarship to the same university. This means that it's approximately two years since Peter Parker became Spider-Man.
Liz Hilton? Has Peter forgotten that his beautiful classmate is called Liz Allan? It might be all the distractions of the graduation ceremony, but I suspect that Peter is daydreaming about booking a hotel room with her. Teenage boys and their hormones!
Stan Lee can't just alliterate, he can also write rhymes. The Crazy Credits tell us that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko put all their loving care and talent into the stories, while Sam Rosen has a vacant stare. In a way I can understand that. Lettering must be a dull, repetitive job. It's possible that the mistake with Liz Allan's name was made by Sam Rosen. He might have been the one daydreaming of a hotel room with a high school girl.
Strange Tales #136
Title: Find Fury or Die
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Severin
Villain: Hydra
The art is by Johnny Severin, while the layouts are by Jack Kirby. That's a distinction I haven't seen before. I assume it means that Jack Kirby just told Johnny how big the panels should be and where the speech bubbles should be, leaving the rest up to him.
After his appointment as head of SHIELD Hydra steps up its attempts to assassinate him. First they trail him in an attempt to find SHIELD's headquarters.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek is unsinkable. That's good. It takes more than the regular insults from Stan Lee to stop him doing his job.
Title: What lurks beneath the mask?
Writer: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Dormammu, Baron Mordo
Regulars: Hamir (unnamed), Clea (unnamed)
Steve Ditko is once more credited as this story's plotter.
This is the seventh part of the Doctor Strange-Dormammu-Baron Mordo epic. Doctor Strange continues his search for Eternity. In his haste he uses an incorrect spell and has to fight his way out of an alien dimension.
At first I thought the Crazy Credits are being kind to Artie Simek, until I read them closer. First they say he's lovable, which is a beautiful compliment. Then they say he's laughable. How can he put up with being the bullpen's laughing stock? He's a better man than me.
Tales to Astonish #71
Title: Escape to Nowhere
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan (as Adam Austin)
Villain: Krang
Regulars: Dorma, Vashti (unnamed)
Prince Namor continues on his quest to find Namor's trident. Warlord Krang sends soldiers to hinder him.
Quests seem to be a recurring theme for Stan Lee this month. Doctor Strange is on a quest to find Eternity, while Thor and Loki are on a quest to find the one responsible for damaging the Odinsword.
The Crazy Credits praise all the collaborators on this story except for Artie Simek, whose lettering is merely sufficient. Isn't there a letterers' union he can complain to?
Title: Like a Beast at Bay
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Villain: Leader
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Rick Jones
The Hulk, now endued with Bruce Banner's intelligence, is still running from General Ross and the US army.
Rick Jones is trying to persuade him not to fight.
The Hulk might have Bruce Banner's intellect, but he's still motivated by the Hulk's aggressive nature.
The Hulk's new series has been plagued with repeated changes of artist. First the story was drawn by Steve Ditko, then Jack Kirby. They're both excellent artists, though with very different styles. Now Mike Esposito has taken over, using the pseudonym Mickey Demeo.I know every artist is different, but I don't like the way he draws the Hulk's facial features.
The Hulk returns to Bruce Banner's laboratory to check on the gamma ray machines that he has to use every 48 hours to remain the Hulk. Wait! Didn't we read last issue that it was a potion stopping the change?
Yes, here's the proof from the last issue. By reading the Hulk's thoughts it's obvious that it's a potion.
Now this is more like it! After being told his work is merely sufficient in the comic's main story, here the Crazy Credits tells us that Artie Simek's lettering is luscious. I couldn't agree more!
Tales of Suspense #69
Title: If I must die, let it be with honour!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Titanium Man (Comrade Bullski)
Regulars: Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan
Comrade Bullski, a notorious Russian prison camp leader, wants to win a propaganda victory against the West. He promises imprisoned scientists their freedom if they build him a suit more powerful than Iron Man's. They're allowed to use the laboratory of the Crimson Dynamo before he defected to America in Tales of Suspense #46. They build him a suit made of titanium. Then he issues an official challenge to Iron Man to face him in the fictional neutral country of Alberia, which is presumably based on Albania. As can be expected, Bullski cheats in the fight, and the story ends with Iron Man seemingly defeated.
The Crazy Credits describe the popularity of the story's creator in circles. Stan Lee is the idol of millions. Don Heck is the toast of two continents, which could be a larger or smaller circle, depending on exactly how many millions of admirers Stan has. I'm assuming it's a large number of millions, because Stan's ego would never allow him to praise an artist more than himself. Vince Colletta is merely the pride of the bullpen, a small group, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. I'd rather be highly treasured by my immediate peers than loved by anonymous millions. But what about Sam Rosen? He's just an angry man without admirers. If I were in his position I'd be angry as well. He ought to team up with Artie Simek. They should at least have mutual respect for one another.
Title: Midnight in Greymoor Castle
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Dick Ayers
Villain: Nazis
A British scientist who lives in Greymoor Castle has developed a shrinking ray that he has built for the Red Skull. He feels that he's never been appreciated in England, so he prefers to serve the Nazis. Nazi infiltrators attempt to lure Captain America and Bucky to the castle, but Private Steve Rogers is currently on a mission in France, so only Bucky is captured.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek is fearless. That's an essential quality for him to turn up to work every day, not knowing what Stan Lee will say about him next.
Journey into Mystery #120
Title: With my Hammer in Hand
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Absorbing Man
Regulars: Odin, Jane Foster
Guests: Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Thor repairs his hammer in a blast furnace in Pittsburgh. After this he returns to Asgard to present the norn stones to Odin as proof that Loki cheated in the Trial of the Gods. As Thor flies away he accidentally drops a powerful norn stone and leaves it lying in a forest.
While Thor was away from New York (in Skornheim and in the tropical jungle fighting the Destroyer) Jane Foster disappeared. She's being held captive by a mysterious character.
While Thor is searching for Jane Foster, Loki brings the Absorbing Man back to Earth from where he's been floating in space since Journey into Mystery #115 in helium form.
The Crazy Credits tell us that only Artie Simek has to work in the other room. Is that because of the noise made my his scratchy pen? It's not too bad. It's better than having to work in a cage. Unless, of course, the cage is in the other room.
Title: Set Sail!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Odin, Thor, Loki, Hogun, Volstagg
The quest to find the one responsible for damaging the Odinsword continues. I'd tell you which part it is, except I've forgotten. In this episode the ship departs.
The Avengers #20
Title: The Coming of the Swordsman
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Swordsman, Mandarin
On the cover there's a box drawing attention to the fact that Wally Wood is responsible for the inking in this story. It's the first time an inker has ever been mentioned in this way. Probably it's because Stan Lee was particularly excited about having a prestigious artist like Wally Wood working for Marvel, even when it was only as an inker.
This story continues from the last issue. The Avengers defeat the Swordsman, but before they can capture him he's transported to China by the Mandarin, who suggests an alliance. He wants the Swordsman to join the Avengers, and then kill them by planting a bomb in their headquarters. The Mandarin sends a holographic image of Iron Man recommending the Swordsman as a member, after which he sends the Swordsman back with a bomb.
As I already mentioned, Stan Lee is full of praise for Wally Wood this month. The Crazy Credits offer dynamic words for Stan Lee, Don Heck and Wally Wood, but all they have to say about Artie Simek is that his lettering is rather nice. Didn't Artie deserve a "Zing" or at least a little "Clink"?
X-Men #13
Title: Where walks the Juggernaut
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Werner Roth (as Jay Gavin)
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Juggernaut
Regulars: Professor X
Guests: Human Torch, Daredevil (cameo)
After the Juggernaut's lengthy introduction last month the battle finally begins. The X-Men are unable to defeat him. This is the real invincible Juggernaut, not the watered down weaker character of the post-canon years. Professor X sends out a psychic cry for help, to which the Human Torch responds. His powers are all that's missing in order to win the battle.
It looks like Jack Kirby was off sick this month. That's three different comics for which he only did the layouts and left the artwork to someone else. Or maybe he was on strike to show his sympathy for the letterers. If so, it must have worked. The Crazy Credits say that Sam Rosen is "swinging", which is a very neutral thing to say about him. Are the days of the big insults over? Next month we'll find out.
This month the artist is Jay Gavin? Jay who? You guessed it. It's yet another DC artist working under a pseudonym to hide his connection with Marvel. The artist's real name is Werner Roth.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #130 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Modelling with Millie #41 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Kid Colt Outlaw #124 (Al Hartley, Jack Keller)
Two Gun Kid #77 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #22 (Stan Lee, Dick Ayers)
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