Fantastic Four #49
Title: If this be Doomsday!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Galactus, Silver Surfer, Punisher
Guests: Watcher, Alicia Masters
There's no doubt about it. This is one of the best comics ever written. Go to Marvel.com and become an Unlimited Member. It's worth it for this cosmic saga alone, and you'll find so many other wonderful comics you can read.
The Watcher has a strange way of keeping his oath of non-interference while protecting the Earth from Galactus. There's only one weapon in the universe which can stop Galactus, and it's lying on a shelf on the Watcher's homeworld. The Watcher won't give the Fantastic Four the weapon, because that would be interfering. However, he tells the Human Torch what it looks like and sends him to get it himself. It looks like it only counts as interfering if the Watches touches something with his own two hands.
The saga of the Silver Surfer unfolds, making him one of Marvel's most popular characters of the 1960's. After summoning Galactus in the last issue he made no attempt to defend himself from the Thing's blow. Now he wakes up on the roof of Alicia Masters' building. He talks to her, and she persuades him that the Earth is worth saving. At the end of the issue he's determined to challenge Galactus.
In the absence of the Silver Surfer Galactus sends a servant called the Punisher to fight with the Fantastic Four on his behalf. Nothing is said about him, except that he's a cyborg creature, part robot part living being. He's very fast and very strong.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Sam Rosen barely finished his lettering on time, but that's not his fault. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby should have given him his work a day earlier.
Amazing Spider-Man #35
Title: The Molten Man Regrets...!
Writer: Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Molten Man
The Molten Man, who we last saw in Amazing Spider-Man #28, is released on a suspended sentence. In case you're wondering about the title, the only thing he regrets is that he was arrested. After apologising to the judge, as is expected from all repentant criminals, he makes plans on how to be a more successful robber. The main part of his plan is that he shouldn't fight with Spider-Man any more, but that doesn't last long.
Spider-Man warns the Molten Man that Irving Forbush aka Forbushman will stop him. The Molten Man has no idea who that is. Only people who read Marvel Comics know him, so we can deduce that the Molten Man isn't cool enough to read Marvel.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek loiters. Why? Instead of loitering he should help Sam Rosen finish his work faster. Maybe it's a problem that the editor – Stan Lee himself – has allocated the work between the two letterers unevenly.
But wait! Artie Simek has been given the chance to express his creative skills with two pages of sound effects. Here we go!
Thwop! Puh-Twee! Brrakkk! Ka-Pow! Wok!
Spwat! Ka-Boppp! Rakkk!
This should show Stan Lee what he would be missing without a master letterer. Without Artie Simek there would be no thwopping or rakkking. How poor the comics would be without him!
Tales of Suspense #76
Title: Here lies hidden... the Unspeakable Ultimo!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan (as Adam Austin)
Villain: Happy Hogan, Mandarin, Ultimo
Regulars: Pepper Potts
Happy Hogan reverts to his normal form, but he's lost his memory and doesn't recognise Tony Stark or Iron Man.
Senator Byrd issues a subpoena to Tony Stark, forcing him to travel to Washington to reveal Iron Man's secret identity. On the way Tony Stark is kidnapped. A transporter ray carries him to the Mandarin's castle in China.
The Mandarin awakes a giant creature from a volcano whom he calls Ultimo. The Mandarin has knocked Tony Stark's attache case out of his hands into the castle moat, so he has no way to become Iron Man.
I don't know why Gene Colan has disguised himself as Adam Austin again this month. In last month's Tales To Astonish #77 he revealed his true name to the world.
The Crazy Credits suggest for the second time this month that Sam Rosen only just finished his lettering on time. Why should the poor man be put under so much stress while Artie Simek has time to spend loitering in the bullpen?
Title: The Gladiator, the Girl and the Glory!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Batroc
Regulars: Agent 13 (unnamed)
Captain America is still fighting alongside Batroc to retrieve the vial containing the unstable Inferno 42, which is capable of destroying the whole city. When Captain America objects to being called "Mon ami", Batroc first calls him "Mon cher", then "Mon Vieux". Captain America should have been happy with "Mon ami".
When he realises he's been tricked Captain America fights with Batroc. He pretends to lose and feigns unconsciousness, so he can follow Batroc back to the organisation that has hired him. The organisation isn't named, but it's evidently in control of highly advanced technology.
This month's Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek is adorable. I agree, even though he loiters in the bullpen.
Strange Tales #143
Title: To free a Brain Slave
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Mentallo, Fixer
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabriel Jones
Guests: Tony Stark
In the last issue Nick Fury's head was enclosed in a device that would make him obey Mentallo's commands. Evidently it didn't work, because he still has his free will. He's kept trapped and hooked up to a hydrogen bomb which will explode if he attempts to move. He can only escape by thinking loud thoughts that are intercepted by SHIELD's ESP team.
In the summary of the story so far Stan Lee says that he and his colleagues forget a lot. He's much too modest. It's only a rare exception when he forgets something. Even if he does forget something there's no need to worry, because I'm here to remind him.
The Fixer mentions that he's being supported by an organisation that he only refers to as "Them". This is the same mysterious organisation that we see in the current Captain America stories.
Title: With none beside me!
Writer: Steve Ditko, Roy Thomas
Artist: Steve Ditko
Villain: Mordo's henchmen
This is the second part of the epilogue after the 12-part Dormammu-Mordo-Doctor Strange epic. The Demon and the other remainders of Baron Mordo's henchmen have trapped Doctor Strange, and he can only move in his astral body.
As in most of the previous issues, Steve Ditko is responsible for plotting the story. This month it's Roy Thomas who writes the text. The young writer is being prepared for bigger things.
Tales to Astonish #78
Title: The Prince and the Puppet!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan (as Adam Austin)
Villain: Puppet Master
Guests: Henry Pym, Janet Van Dyne
The Sub-Mariner is threatening the scientists responsible for drilling into the ocean floor. Before he can continue the Puppet Master, who we last saw in Fantastic Four Annual #3, takes control of him and makes him swim to America. Janet Van Dyne changes into the Wasp to fly to America to warn the Avengers, as we saw in last month's Avengers #26.
After revealing his true identity in last month's issue, Gene Colan goes back to using his pseudonym as Adam Austin. Was it a mistake? If so, does he think that nobody noticed?
Here's an example of Gene Colan's efficiency in drawing comics. When the Puppet Master is thinking about the Fantastic Four Gene Colan didn't have time to draw them, so Jack Kirby's drawing from the cover of this month's Fantastic Four #49 is reprinted. That's smart thinking.
According to the Crazy Credits everyone who worked on this story received a prize, but Artie Simek only received a booby prize. That doesn't matter. At least he got to write two pages of sound effects in this month's Amazing Spider-Man.
Title: The Hulk must die!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bill Everett
Regulars: General Ross, Betty Ross, Major Talbot, Rick Jones
In the last issue Rick Jones thought the Hulk was dead, so he revealed to Major Talbot that Bruce Banner is the Hulk. In this issue he also tells Betty Ross. Then the Hulk returns from the future. Both Major Talbot and Betty Ross find Rick Jones' words difficult to believe.
The Crazy Credits say it's obvious that Stan Lee wrote the story and Jack Kirby did the layouts. It's not so obvious to me why Jack should have done the layouts. It's a simple job that any artist could do himself. As for it being surprising that Bill Everett drew the art, I agree. Last month it was John Romita, so why has Bill Everett taken over this month? It's inevitable that Sam Rosen did the lettering. It's a hard job, but somebody has to do it, or the comics will never be printed.
Thor #127
Title: The Hammer and the Holocaust!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Seidring, Pluto, Hyppolita (unnamed)
Regulars: Odin, Heimdall, Balder, Jane Foster
Guests: Hercules
After losing half his strength and being defeated by Hercules, Thor returns to Asgard to plead with his father. He finds all of Asgard's warriors in chains. In the last issue Seidring was given Odin's power in order to punish Thor. Now he has used this power to become the ruler of Asgard.
Hercules has been offered a job starring in a big budget Hollywood movie. What he doesn't know is that the producer is Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, and the leading lady is the Amazon Hyppolita. Pluto wishes to trick Hercules into signing a contract to take his place in the Underworld.
Thor defeats Seidring, but he's left weakened by the battle.
Title: The Meaning of Ragnarok!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Odin, Thor, Loki, Balder, Fandrel, Hogun, Volstagg
Thor and his companions return to Asgard. The prophet Volla tells them what will happen on the Day of Ragnarok.
The Avengers #27
Title: Four against the Floodtide!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Wasp, Giant-Man
Villain: Attuma, Beetle
The mystery villain that we saw in the shadows last issue is now revealed. Hawkeye doesn't recognise him, and Stan Lee won't tell us either.
Every true Marvel fan will recognise him as the Beetle, who we last saw in Fantastic Four Annual #3. Where else? Before that he was an enemy of the Human Torch, and we also saw him in Amazing Spider-Man #21.
After defeating the Beetle Hawkeye rushes to help the Avengers in their battle against Attuma. After defeating him they realise that they still don't know where the Wasp is.
The Crazy Credits tell us that everyone is crazy. All I can say is that it's not true. None of it. Not one word.
X-Men #19
Title: Lo! Now shall appear the Mimic!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Werner Roth (as Jay Gavin)
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Mimic (Calvin Rankin)
Regulars: Professor X, Zelda, Vera
The X-Men face a villain who is capable of imitating their powers. Due to an accident when he was young he now has the knowledge, skills and powers of anyone close by. He wants to take revenge on mankind after his father was killed by ignorant townspeople.
This issue has the first appearance of Hank McCoy's girlfriend Vera. Bobby Drake introduces her when he takes Hank on a double date with his girlfriend Zelda.
There's no getting away from Irving Forbush! At least that means that the Crazy Credits will leave the letterers alone.
Daredevil #15
Title: And men shall call him Ox!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Ox, Karl Stragg
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page
The Ox, who we last saw in Daredevil #6, is sharing a cell with a criminal mastermind called Karl Stragg. Stragg promises that if the Ox helps him break out of prison he'll make him intelligent. It's a lie. After breaking out they go under a machine which transfers their minds into one another's bodies. Karl Stragg battles against Daredevil while in the Ox's body.
Oh Stan! What are you doing now? He's awarded himself a no-prize for the most complicated sentence. I wish I could have won a no-prize.
The Crazy Credits tell us that the comic's creators all excel. Even Artie Simek has nothing to be ashamed of. He's a proud letterer, and even when he's loitering in the bullpen he can still hold his head high.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #136 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Modelling with Millie #46 (Roy Thomas, Stan Goldberg)
Patsy and Hedy #105 (Roy Thomas, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #51 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #29 (Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers)
This month Roy Thomas takes over as the regular writer for Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos. His writing for this series has been highly praised, so I need to read the stories, even if I don't consider them part of Marvel canon.
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