Beginning this month I shall be posting the splash page of every story. In the past I only posted the splash pages of the second story in comics with two stories (Strange Tales, Tales Of Suspense, Tales To Astonish, Thor) and particularly beautiful splash pages. I shall no longer post the credits boxes separately, because they're included on the splash pages.
Fantastic Four #55
Title: When strikes the Silver Surfer!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Silver Surfer
Regulars: Wyatt Wingfoot, Alicia Masters
Guests: Lockjaw
The Fantastic Four go different ways in this issue. Johnny Storm and Wyatt Wingfoot are searching for the Inhumans, in particular Crystal. Reed and Sue Richards are spending time doing the stuff that newly weds do. Ben Grimm goes to Alicia Masters' seaside retreat to check why she isn't answering her phone. He finds her talking with the Silver Surfer, who we last saw in Fantastic Four #50. Burning with jealousy, he starts a fight which he can't possibly win.
I call the Silver Surfer the villain in my magazine stats, but that's only from the Fantastic Four's perspective. Ben Grimm is in the wrong, so technically he's the villain.
According to Crazy Credits Honest Irving Forbush has applauded this modern masterwork. He would be dishonest if he did anything less.
Amazing Spider-Man #41
Title: The Horns of the Rhino!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Rhino
Regulars: Aunt May, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, John Jameson
I've never been a fan of John Romita's art. I don't consider him to be on the level of Steve Ditko or Gene Colan, but his artwork is solid and completely appropriate for a super-hero comic like Amazing Spider-Man. Take a look at the splash page of this issue. It's not a work of genius, in my opinion, but it can't be faulted. In the early days of comics the story was the most important part and the artwork came second. John Romita fits into this era. His artwork is perfect to emphasise the story, rather than stand by itself.
The splash page calls this the beginning of a new era in Spider-Man's life. This is such a great comic that I feel tempted to post every single page. Tempted, but I won't do it. The comic is copyrighted by Marvel, and you should become an Unlimited Member on their web site to read this comic, and many other masterpieces like it. Think of the following pictures as samplers to tempt you. So much is going on in this comic. How can so many ideas be crammed into 20 pages? Only Stan Lee could have done it, and John Romita was perfect to assist him.
It's not often that a hero's age is stated in the comics. Here we find out that Peter Parker is "almost 20". Of course, this is said by Aunt May's neighbour Mrs. Watson, not Aunt May herself, so she might not know his exact age. "Almost 20" can be anything from 17 to 19.
J. Jonah Jameson lets it slip that he invents the bad stories about Spider-Man, but he's quick to take it back. The other man with him is his son John, the astronaut that we saw in Amazing Spider-Man #1. We find out that on a previous journey into space – he's been on many space trips since Amazing Spider-Man #1 – he came back covered with space spores. There are no apparent side effects, but we can't expect the story to end there.
The comic's villain, the Rhino, enters the USA from Mexico. Someone needs to build a wall to keep these menaces out!
Betty Brant returns to New York, but Peter Parker is wiser now. He knows that he has nothing in common with her. He's a scientific genius, and she's only a secretary who never went to college. I can relate to that. I remember my first girlfriend, Mandy Stickland. She broke up with me after three months, and it broke my heart at the time. Within a few years I realised that she was just my first girl and not at all suitable for me, so I was glad it was over.
Spider-Man likes to listen to the sound effects while he's fighting. He can thank Artie Simek for the loud, resounding Phtunk!
Peter Parker buys his first motorcycle. This is something important, because it's the first step to becoming cool and acceptable to teenagers of his own age.
You see what I mean? Even Gwen Stacy, the hottest student in Empire State University, is impressed. Maybe I should have bought a motorcycle when I was a teenager.
Strange Tales #149
Title: The End of AIM!
Writer: Jack Kirby
Artist: Ogden Whitney
Villain: AIM
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Jasper Sitwell, Gabe Jones
AIM invades SHIELD to steal a Life Model Decoy (LMD) of Nick Fury. Unknown to them, Nick Fury has disguised himself as an LMD.
In recent Hulk stories in Tales To Astonish we saw a power struggle in the Secret Empire, leading to Number Nine killing most of the council members. We now find out that Number Nine was really Gabe Jones operating undercover.
Nick Fury finds clues that Them is another name for Hydra, which he thought SHIELD had destroyed in Strange Tales #141.
The Crazy Credits tell us that ammunition is supplied by Irving Forbush. I hope he doesn't sell it on the black market.
This is the first comic that I've read that was drawn by Ogden Whitney. He was a golden age artist for Atlas and Timely. In recent years he's been doing artwork for Millie the Model.
Title: If Kaluu should triumph
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Artist: Bill Everett
Villain: Kaluu
Regulars: Ancient One
Kaluu attacks Doctor Strange and the Ancient One, and they are unable to defeat him. He attempts to capture them, but they go into hiding.
The Crazy Credits tell us that technical advice is given by the ghost of Irving Forbush's family. Does Stan Lee really need advice from such a dubious source?
Tales of Suspense #82
Title: By force of arms!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Titanium Man
Regulars: Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts
The battle against the Titanium Man continues.
In the Crazy Credits we read that Irving Forbush provides the emergency first aid. Maybe that's because a fight broke out when the letterers asked Stan Lee for a raise.
Title: The Maddening Mystery of the Inconceivable Adaptoid!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Adaptoid
Regulars: Jarvis
Captain America is relaxing in the Avengers Mansion. He's attacked by long dead enemies from the past, making him suspect that he's going mad. He also sees his dead sidekick Bucky. He passes out under the mental strain. Then his true enemy, the Adaptoid, presents himself. He can take on the form of anyone.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Irving Forbush sharpens the pencils for the Marvel bullpen. Isn't that how Stan Lee started his career in 1940?
Tales to Astonish #84
Title: Like a beast at bay!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Krang, Number One
Guests: Hulk
The sole remaining member of the Secret Empire, known only as Number One, orders the amnesiac Sub-Mariner to find and defeat the Hulk. He goes into a cinema that offers exclusive newsreels of the Hulk to search for clues.
After Sub-Mariner leaves the cinema he flies over Warlord Krang's warship. He fires a missile at him, and his memory returns.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Irving Forbush supplies the haberdashery. Sub-Mariner has very little use for it. He doesn't even know how to button his coat.
Title: Rampage in the City!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bill Everett
Villain: Boomerang (newsreel), Gorki (unnamed)
Regulars: Rick Jones, General Ross (newsreel), Major Talbot (newsreel)
Guests: Sub-Mariner
This is another one of those stories in which almost nothing happens. The Hulk is looking for Betty Ross in New York City. Not wanting to be bothered by the police he walks into a cinema. He sees someone leaving in a hurry. It's Sub-Mariner, who never realised how close they were to one another.
In the New York subway the Hulk stops a train that would have been derailed. Some people are thankful, but others accuse him of trying to kill them.
The Crazy Credits say that Irving Forbush provides therapy. Who needs it? Definitely not Stan Lee. Maybe Artie Simek and Sam Rosen are suffering from paranoia after Stan's constant criticism.
Thor #133
Title: Behold the Living Planet!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Tana Nile, Ego
Regulars: Jane Foster
Guests: Recorder
Thor battles with Ego, finally defeating him with lightning blasts.
This is a typical Jack Kirby drawing. He likes his monsters! Also note the humorous box on the bottom right which apologises for Jack Kirby not taking photographs when he visited the planet Ego.
Tana Nile's colonisation of Earth is halted by Rigel's bureaucrats.
Two mysterious men offer Jane Foster a job.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek is responsible for a lot of little lettering. As long as his letters are big enough to read, that's all we need.
Title: Valhalla!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Fandrel, Hogun, Volstagg, Hela
Harokin is carried away, witnessed by Hela, the Goddess of Death.
The Avengers #33
Title: To smash a Serpent!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp
Villain: Sons of the Serpent
Guests: Bill Foster, Black Widow
Captain America is being held hostage by the Sons of the Serpent, so the other Avengers pretend to be supporting them.
After the final battle the leader of the Sons of the Serpent is unmasked. He's General Chen, who isn't a "real American". In fact, he isn't an American at all. I told you last month that racists are dumb.
The Crazy Credits tell us two things about Irving Forbush: he's invincible and he's a snake charmer. Couldn't he have given the Avengers a day off and defeated the Sons of the Serpent by himself?
X-Men #25
Title: The Power and the Pendant!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Werner Roth
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: El Tigre / Kukulcan
Regulars: Professor X
That's a beautiful splash page by Werner Roth, one of Marvel's best artists. Stan Lee adds an explanation of what this type of splash page is called. It's a symbolic splash, intended to underscope the deep socio-psychological significance of the story. I'm glad he told me.
A treasure hunter called El Tigre finds a half pendant in a Mayan pyramid. This gives him supernatural powers, such as mind control and telekinesis. He senses that the other half of the pendant is in New York City, so he travels to America to steal it.
El Tigre triggers Cerebro, even though he isn't a mutant. Professor X send the X-Men to find him. They find him breaking into a museum. At the end of the story he joins the two halves of the pendant and becomes the God Kukulcan.
The Crazy Credits tell us that this story is imitated by Brand Echh. I doubt they even had the talent to create imitations in the 1960's.
Daredevil #21
Title: The Trap is Sprung
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Owl
Now that the mock trial of Judge Lewis has been abandoned it's a direct fight between Daredevil and the Owl. A volcano erupts and the castle collapses around them.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek's lettering is laudatory. Is that the correct word? I would have called it laudable.
Irving Forbush is responsible for bombastic bird-watching. I suppose someone has to keep an eye on the Owl.
The bullpen seems chaotic this month. Why were three inkers needed for the comic? Frank Giacoia, Dick Ayers and Bill Everett.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #142 (Dennis O'Neil, Stan Goldberg)
Modelling with Millie #50 (Dennis O'Neil, Stan Goldberg)
Patsy and Hedy #108 (Dennis O'Neil, Al Hartley)
Rawhide Kid #54 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #35 (Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers)
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