Marvel has published western comics for decades, long before it began super-hero comics in 1961. The new western tale, Ghost Rider, is a crossover between the genres. It's about a super-hero in the 19th Century who appears as a ghost. At first I felt tempted to include him in the Marvel canon, because he appears in later Marvel comics in connection with the silver age Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, but I changed my mind for a few reasons.
1. He's a character who was first created for another comic book company, Magazine Enterprises, in 1949. The stories were a crossover between horror and western stories, but they weren't allowed to be published after the introduction of the Comics Code Authority in 1954.
2. After Magazine Enterprises went bankrupt in 1958, Dick Ayers took ownership of the character. His version of Ghost Rider for Marvel changed the character's name from Rex Fury to Carter Slade and omitted the horror elements.
3. The Marvel Ghost Rider comics were reprinted in 1974, but he was renamed Night Rider to make him distinct from the Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider.
4. When Marvel wanted to re-introduce the character in the 1980's they weren't allowed to call him Night Rider, because a television show had copyrighted the name Knight Rider. Instead of going back to the original name they picked yet another name, Phantom Rider.
This bullpen announces another new writer, Gary Friedrich. His first work for Marvel was writing the script for Ghost Rider #1 based on a plot by Dick Ayers. Later he goes on to write many of the Marvel titles.
The same announcement points out that Roy Thomas is taking over increasing titles at Marvel. The days are gone when Stan Lee did it all himself.
Fantastic Four #59
Title: Doomsday!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Doctor Doom, Maximus
Regulars: Wyatt Wingfoot
Guests: Silver Surfer, Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton
While waiting for the final attack of Doctor Doom, another story unfolds. Black Bolt's greatest power is revealed. His voice projects a powerful sonic force even when he whispers, but when he shouts the result is cataclysmic. A single shout destroys the dome around the Inhumans, but it also wrecks every building in the city. Leaving the rest of the Inhumans behind, the royal family (Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak and Triton) will go to visit the outside world.
Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four are preparing for a new battle against Doctor Doom.
Whatever is happening, Stan Lee still has time for humour. Note the description of Johnny Storm's Ferrari.
In this issue we read that Wyatt Wingfoot is a Comanche. I think that's the first time his tribe has been mentioned.
Amazing Spider-Man #45
Title: Spidey smashes out!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Lizard
Regulars: Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Frederick Foswell, Ned Leeds
Spider-Man has to face the Lizard with his arm in a sling. Could it get any worse? Yes. The Lizard is able to control all lizards and other reptiles, so he's recruiting an army of millions to attack New York first, then the rest of the world.
But Peter Parker still has to live his life. He's now finished painting his motorcycle red, just to impress Mary Jane Watson.
All's well that ends well. Spider-Man defeats the Lizard by luring him into the refrigeration car of a train. Lizards are very sensitive to cold. I never knew that! He gives the semi-conscious Lizard a serum that turns him back into Doctor Connors and returns him to his family.
Sam Rosen has been given half a day off. He didn't have to fill in the speech bubbles in the farewell scene. Here's my text that I would have written.
Doctor Connors: Thanks for saving me every time I turn into a homicidal maniac!
Martha Connors: Have you noticed how tight Spider-Man's costume is? It shows everything!
Billy Connors: I know I'm only a kid, but I deserve a bigger speech bubble!
Spider-Man: Oops! I just noticed there aren't any skyscrapers to hang on to!
The Crazy Credits say that Irving Forbush untangles webs. That's a pointless occupation. Doesn't he know that Spider-Man's webbing dissolves after a few hours?
Strange Tales #153
Title: The Hiding Place!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Jim Steranko
Villain: Hydra, Supreme Hydra (Emir Ali-Bey / Agent Bronson)
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Jasper Sitwell
Jasper Sitwell and Gabe Jones are transporting Laura Brown, the daughter of Hydra's former supreme leader, to a safe house. On the way they're hijacked by Hydra agents. Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan travel to the scene and free her again, with the help of a SHIELD operative called Agent Bronson. What they don't know is that the Supreme Hydra has cast off his identity as Emir Ali-Bey and disguised himself as the real Agent Bronson, who was captured by Hydra while he was on vacation.
The Crazy Credits pick on Adorable Artie Simek again. They say his lettering is seldom legible. All I can say in response is that I've read hundreds of comics that he's lettered and I've never had to strain my eyes once.
We also read that Irving Forbush uses Jasper Sitwell's SHIELD slogan. That sounds like something he might do.
Title: Alone against the Mindless Ones!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Umar
Regulars: Ancient One, Clea
Doctor Strange fights against an endless army of Mindless Ones to free Clea. In the end he rescues her, but it's a trap. It's a Mindless One disguised as Clea.
This is the first Marvel story drawn by Marie Severin. She did a lot of amazing artwork for Marvel in the late 1960's and early 1970's, but I'm sorry to say that she started off badly.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Sam Rosen is sardonic, but at least his lettering is legendary. It's every bit as legible as Artie Simek's lettering.
Tales of Suspense #86
Title: Death Duel for the Life of Happy Hogan!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Mandarin
Regulars: Happy Hogan
Iron Man battles the Mandarin to save Happy Hogan's life. But isn't the arrow on the last speech bubble pointing the wrong way? The words only make sense if spoken by Iron Man. Who blundered here? Was it Sam Rosen? The poor man must be getting stressed.
The Mandarin has given the Chinese government a missile to test. What the Chinese don't know is that it's been pre-programmed to hit the American east coast. After defeating the Mandarin and freeing Happy Hogan, Iron Man flies to the missile and redirects it to hit the Mandarin's castle.
It's another story with incredible artwork by Gene Colan. That's at least three months in a row that he's done Marvel's best artwork.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Irving Forbush bites his nails. Hasn't anyone ever told him it's a bad habit?
Title: Secret!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: soldiers
Captain America travels to Yoshonka – if you know where that is you're smarter than me – to prevent the development of the Z-Ray, a deadly new weapon.
This isn't one of Stan Lee's best stories. It's just generic action sequences in a random Communist country against unnamed soldiers. I expect better from him. Maybe he was worn out from writing his incredible Fantastic Four stories.
In the Crazy Credits Stan Lee picks on himself for a change. He says that he and Jack Kirby produced the story with pandemonium. It shows.
Tales to Astonish #88
Title: A Stranger Strikes from Space!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Bill Everett
Villain: Attuma, Servo-Robot
Regulars: Lady Dorma, Vashti
The story opens with Atlantis, led by Prince Namor, in the middle of a battle with Attuma's army. Atlantis is victorious and Attuma retreats. By chance, a robot falls out of a space ship flying past the Earth. Attuma finds it and reprograms it to attack the Sub-Mariner.
Title: Boomerang and the Brute!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gil Kane
Villain: Boomerang
Regulars: Rick Jones, General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross
After defeating the Hulk-Killer the Hulk is treated as a hero, but it's a very precarious situation. The Hulk is nervous, not used to being treated well by people. The Boomerang is watching him from a building ledge. He throws an explosive disc at the Hulk, causing him to smash everything in sight. General Ross once more swears to destroy the Hulk.
The Hulk flees and is pursued by the Boomerang, who vows to destroy him with his improved explosive discs. He's underestimated the Hulk. The battle ends with the Boomerang falling to his death.
The American president Lyndon B. Johnson also appears.
Thor #137
Title: The Thunder God and the Troll!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Ulik, Guerridor
Regulars: Sif
It's amazing how fast Thor has forgotten his previous love, Jane Foster. He now sits watching Sif show off her prowess with spears. He's impressed not only by her skill, but also by her pride.
The two Asgardians are ambushed by a party of Trolls. Sif is carried away while Thor battles with Ulik, the mightiest Troll of all. In the battle they are evenly matched, until Ulik suddenly disappears. Guerridor, King of the Trolls, has sent Sif to Earth as Ulik's prisoner, so that Thor will follow them. Without Thor's interference Guerridor hopes to be able to conquer Asgard.
Title: There shall come a Miracle!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Fandrel, Hogun, Volstagg
A new story begins. A heavily wounded warrior is found who comes from Hogun's homeland. Before dying he says that he's been attacked by a sorceror called Mogul. Hogun wants to fight Mogul alone, but Thor, Fandral and Volstagg insist on helping hm.
The Avengers #37
Title: To Conquer a Colossus!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Ixar, Sirians (sic)
Regulars: Black Widow
Goliath frees himself and the other Avengers from the Sirians. The Ultroids surrender, but it's just a ruse to combine all their powers in one extra-large Super-Ultroid. The Avengers are defeated, but the Black Widow realises that Ixar is in the Burgomeister's body and threatens to kill him.
There's no way that Artie Simek's lettering is a failure, whatever the Crazy Credits say. Every sentence he writes is a magnificent triumph. Nuff said!
X-Men #29
Title: When Titans Clash!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Werner Roth
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl, Mimic
Villain: Super-Adaptoid
Regulars: Professor X
In a training session there's an argument between Professor X and the Mimic which leads to the Mimic quitting the X-Men. After he leaves the Super-Adaptoid attacks the X-Men. He's been resting since Tales Of Suspense #84, because he believed he had completed his mission to kill Captain America. The Super-Adaptoid temporarily incapacitates the X-Men with a gas-filled arrow.
At this point the Mimic returns to see what's happening, and he engages the Super-Adaptoid in battle. They're equally matched, until the Super-Adaptoid attempts to absorb the Mimic's powers in addition to his own. Since the Mimic's powers are artificial there's a psychic feedback that causes the Super-Adaptoid to lose his powers. The same feedback makes the Mimic lose his powers, and he's now just normal Calvin Rankin.
The Crazy Credits say that Irving Forbush is a skating instructor. Obviously he's not a good instructor, judging by how badly the X-Men skate on their day off.
And I can't help but ask... is Warren Worthington looking up Jean Grey's skirt while he's tying the laces of her ice skates? Is there any other reason why he would want to tie her laces?
Daredevil #25
Title: Enter the Leap-Frog!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Leap-Frog
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page
This is (yet another) landmark comic. It's the beginning of the Mike Murdock Saga. If you don't know who that is, shame on you for not reading the 1960's Daredevil comics!
Matt Murdock arrives back from England. At the airport someone is hopping around who calls himself the Leap-Frog. This is just a trial outing. A few days later he puts on a costume and goes out robbing banks and jewellery stores. He used to work making novelty items for toy companies, but now he's made electrically powered springs for himself. He's also quite strong, making him a dangerous opponent for someone like Daredevil.
Daredevil manages to beat the Leap-Frog when they meet, but what about Mike Murdock?
While Matt was away a letter from Spider-Man arrived saying that he'd figured out Matt Murdock was Daredevil. Caught on the spot, Matt told a whopper of a lie. "Daredevil isn't me, it's my twin brother". Lawyers lie for a living, but Matt is evidently too honest to have experience in telling credible lies. Now he has to produce the proof that he really does have a twin brother.
And here he is! Matt Murdock puts on sunglasses and ridiculous clothing, talks in a cool hipster way, and Matt becomes Mike. Foggy and Karen believe him, but they're not very impressed. Foggy sums it up aptly:
"So that's what a super-hero is like in real life! A swaggering, swell-headed, loud-mouthed clown!"
Matt/Mike isn't trying to win any popularity contests, so he's happy with the result. If he had been clever, this would have been Mike Murdock's first and last appearance. Unfortunately Matt enjoys it too much, so you'll be seing a lot of Mike in the next few issues.
Stan Lee might not be able to remember when the Tri-Android aka Tri-Man was presented, but I do. It was in Daredevil #22 and #23.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #146 (Dennis O'Neil, Stan Goldberg)
Patsy and Hedy #110 (Dennis O'Neil, Al Hartley)
Rawhide Kid #56 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Ghost Rider #1 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #39 (Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers)
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