This is a big month for Marvel, as far as the quantity is concerned. The quality has always been outstanding! Not one, not two but three yearly specials have been released this month: The Avengers Annual #1, Daredevil Annual #1 and Millie the Model Annual #6. I haven't been reviewing Millie's stories because I don't consider them part of the Marvel canon, but they shouldn't be dismissed outright. Stan Lee's long experience of writing romance stories has influenced the romantic subplots of his super-hero comics.
Fantastic Four #66
Title: What lurks behind the Beehive?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Regulars: Alicia Masters, Crystal
Alicia Masters has disappeared from her apartment. The Thing immediately assumes that she's seeing another man, but Reed Richards suspects foul play.
The man who led Alicia away last issue is identified as Dr. Hamilton. He's one of a group of top scientists who have faked their deaths so that they can continue their research in private. They're trying to abolish war, crime and illness by creating a new race of perfect human beings. They've succeeded in creating one creature so far, but they can't see him because he's surrounded by a blinding light. They want Alicia, who's a renowned blind sculptress, to feel his facial features and make a statue of him.
Dr. Hamilton leads her into the vault where the creature is being kept, but there is evidence that he has great superhuman powers.
Amazing Spider-Man #52
Title: To die a hero!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Kingpin
Regulars: Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Joe Robertson, Frederick Foswell
In best James Bond villain fashion, the Kingpin condemns Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson to a slow, lingering death. They're tied together in a basement that is slowly flooding, and he doesn't bother to watch them die. Spider-Man wakes up before the water rises too high, and he's able to free JJJ and himself.
The Kingpin flees rather than face Spider-Man, leaving his goons to battle him. They're easy pickings for Spider-Man. Frederick Foswell dies when he throws himself in front of JJJ to protect him from a bullet.
On the soap opera front, Flash Thompson is on leave from Vietnam.
Strange Tales #160
Title: Project Blackout
Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko
Regulars: Jimmy Woo
Guests: Captain America
This story illustrates the fact that the Marvel stories weren't supposed to take place in a parallel universe, a fictional Earth-616, they happened in the world where we live.
On 9th November 1965 there was the largest electricity blackout ever. 30 million Americans in New York and the surrounding areas were without power for 13 hours. This story tells how the blackout occurred. It was caused by the invasion of an unidentified force in New York that could only be stopped by the joint efforts of Nick Fury and Captain America.
This is the area that suffered from the blackout.
Jimmy Woo is an FBI agent who was last seen in 1957 in Yellow Claw #4. After his re-introduction in the so-called silver age of comics we'll be seeing more of him.
Once more the artwork by Jim Steranko is phenomenal. Don't just take my word for it. Sign up for Marvel Unlimited and read everything for yourself.
Title: If this planet you would save!
Writer: Raymond Marais
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Baron Mordo, Living Tribunal (flashback)
Regulars: Victoria Bentley
The presence of Zom on Earth has unleashed mystic power on Earth which is being used for evil. The Living Tribunal has given Doctor Strange a limited amount of time, until the sand has run through an hourglass, to remove this mystic power from the Earth. Doctor Strange transfers this power into Baron Mordo. Is that really a good idea? Evidently not, because Mordo uses his increased power to attack Doctor Strange.
This comic features the return of Victoria Bentley, who we last saw in Strange Tales #114. Have you forgotten her already?
I have no idea who the writer Raymond Marais is. I've tried to find information about him, but without success. He only wrote six comics for Marvel, all in 1967, so he must have been a freelance writer. I'd still like to know who he is, though. All that's said about him in the monthly bullpen bulletin is that he has a big beard and he's young.
On the other hand, everyone knows who Irving Forbush is. The Crazy Credits tell us that Forbush of Transylvania Ltd supplied the robes worn in the story. Silly me. I always thought he's from Brooklyn.
Tales of Suspense #93
Title: The Golden Gladiator and the Giant!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Half-Face, Titanium Man
Guests: Jasper Sitwell
Iron Man meets Half Face's "secret weapon". It's none other than the Titanium Man, who we last saw in Tales of Suspense #83.
Stan Lee isn't too sure when they last met. Aren't you glad you can ask me? The battle actually took place over three issues, from Tales Of Suspense #81 to #83.
Iron Man loses to the Titanium Man because his transistor power is almost depleted. He looks on as the Titanium Man is about to create mass destruction in Vietnam which will be blamed on the Americans.
Title: Into the Jaws of AIM!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Modok, AIM
Regulars: Agent 13
Captain America attempts to enter an AIM submarine to rescue Agent 13, but he's detected and captured. He's led to Agent 13, who tells him that her undercover mission was to find out about AIM's new leader, known only as Modok. After a brief fight Captain America and Agent 13 are overwhelmed again. An AIM agent prepares to execute Captain America.
Tales to Astonish #95
Title: The Power of the Plunderer!
Writer: Roy Thomas, Raymond Marais
Artist: Bill Everett
Villain: Plunderer
Regulars: Dorma
While out swimming Prince Namor and Lady Dorma discover a city built on the ocean floor. The surrounding dome identifies it as a construction of surface dwellers. Namor is about to destroy it when he meets Dr. Walter Newell, the city's designer. He tells Namor that he has only peaceful intentions. He's seeking a way to find more food for the overpopulated surface world.
Note: there's already enough food to go round. The problem is that the available food is poorly distributed.
Dr. Newell tries to persuade Namor that he means no harm, but he's given 24 hours to evacuate the city. As Namor and Dorma swim away they see an underwater craft attacking the city, rupturing the dome and firing at the inhabitants as they attempt to flee. Namor is angered by the injustice of this act and attacks the craft. It belongs to the Plunderer, who we last saw in Daredevil #24.
Dr. Newell's ship rescues Dorma when she's caught in a current, but Namor has too much hatred for surface dwellers to show gratitude. He pursues the Plunderer's ship as it sails away.
Here are two small examples of Stan Lee's humour. In the first editorial caption he says that Bill Everett can't draw a more detailed picture because of patents pending.
In the second caption Stan Lee jokes about the Plunderer having a new weapon.
Title: A world he never made!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: High Evolutionary
Last month I credited the High Evolutionary as a guest, this month as a villain. He's transporting the Hulk to his new planet Wundagore, because he thinks that the Hulk can help him overcome his rebellious creations. Shortly before his arrival the Hulk turns back to Bruce Banner. This makes him useless as a fighter, so the High Evolutionary quickly makes other plans. He knocks Bruce Banner unconscious and puts him in a machine that will evolve him by millions of years.
Thor #144
Title: This Battleground Earth!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Enchanters (Forsung, Brona, Magnir)
Regulars: Odin, Heimdall, Sif, Balder
Brona and Magnir battle with Thor, while Forsung challenges Odin to personal combat in Asgard. Thor is separated from Balder and Sif, so they can't come to his aid. Thor almost loses the battle, but something unexpected happens. In order to have a fair fight, Odin and Forsung agree that all Asgardians should relinquish their power and the talismans that give the Enchanters their power should be disabled. This means that the battle between Thor and the two Enchanters will be decided by strength alone, giving Thor a clear advantage.
This also means that Thor, Balder and Sif can't return to Asgard to see how Odin is faring.
In this story we find out that the Enchanters are three brothers. Forsung is the oldest.
Title: The Beginning of the End!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Gods: Thor, Fandrel, Hogun, Volstagg
Thor, Fandrel and Hogun are fighting against Mogul's greatest warriors, the Horsemen of Satan. Is that just a name, or are they really connected to Satan himself, who we'll see in future Marvel comics? The odds are overwhelming, but the horsemen are destroyed in a single blast by Volstagg, wielding the mystic rod that he retrieved from the cavern of the Mutaurus.
Meanwhile, Mogul is preparing to unleash the Deadly Spotted Plague, which will kill everyone in the kingdom of Zanadu.
The Avengers #44
Title: The Valiant also die!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Red Guardian
Regulars: Black Widow, Hercules
Wow! Don't you think that this is brilliant cover art by John Buscema?
While the other Avengers fight with Colonel Ling's men, Captain America engages the Red Guardian in one-on-one battle. They're evenly matched in strength and agility, but Captain America has more experience. When it looks like Captain America is about to win, Colonel Ling electrocutes him, making the Red Guardian angry, because he wanted a fair fight. The Colonel attempts to shoot the Black Widow as she escapes, and the Red Guardian blocks the bullet with his body.
The Psychotron is destroyed, and the Avengers leave with Hercules and the Black Widow. The Red Guardian has died a hero.
X-Men #36
Title: Mekano Lives!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Ross Andru
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Factor Three, Mekano (Tom Regal)
The story starts with two burglars breaking into Professor X's school for gifted children in Westchester, New York. Bad idea. The Beast quickly defeats them. The trouble is that they now know that the school is the X-Men's headquarters. But Cyclops has a solution.
Cerebro doesn't just detect mutants, it can hypnotise people. That's a crazy new ability. I wonder if Stan Lee agreed with Roy Thomas making these changes.
And the end result is hilarious.
In the last issue Jean Grey, aka Marvel Girl, located Professor X's position in Europe. They want to go to rescue him from Factor Three, but they don't have enough money. Everything is in Professor X's name, and they don't have access to his wealth. The first half of the story is a series of amusing vignettes in which they attempt to raise money. They beg their parents for money; they ask the bank for a loan; they apply for part-time jobs on a construction site; they even do acrobatic acts in the street to get money from appreciative onlookers.
Then they have to battle a new super-villain called Mekano, a man wearing an exoskeleton that increases his strength and agility. He is threatening to destroy a new library. After he's defeated it's revealed that he's the son of the library's owner. He only wants to destroy the library to get his father's attention. I hope his father can afford to pay for a good psychiatrist.
The father offers the X-Men a reward, but all they want from him is a loan of $1500, the price of their plane tickets to Europe.
The guest artist for this issue is Ross Andru. Unannounced, he only drew two issues of X-Men, presumably on a free-lance basis. At the time he was one of DC's most popular artists, having drawn Wonder Woman since 1958. It wasn't until the early 1970's that he joined Marvel on a full time basis.
Daredevil #32
Title: To fight the impossible fight!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Cobra, Mr. Hyde
Regulars: Foggy Nelson
At the end of last issue the Cobra grabbed Daredevil in the street. Rather than struggle with him, Daredevil submits, because he wants to be taken to Mr. Hyde. He assumes (quite correctly) that Mr. Hyde has an antidote to the liquid that's caused him to lose his powers.
The Cobra and Mr. Hyde take Daredevil to their lair in an off-shore lighthouse. Once there Daredevil turns off the lights to fight them in the dark, minimising his disadvantage while trying to find the antidote.
Nine pages of the comic are drawn in blue/black/white night vision. Gene Colan is brilliant. Did anyone ever doubt it?
Here's a spoiler: Daredevil finds the antidote, regains his powers and defeats his opponents. Mr. Hyde jumps into the sea and swims to safety, but the Cobra is arrested.
The Avengers Annual #1
Title(s): The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin! (pages 1 to 11)
Part 2: To perish by the sword (pages 12 to 21)
Part 3: Struggle in a strange land! (pages 22 to 29)
Part 4: And a monster shall stalk the land! (pages 30 to 39)
Part 5: Showdown in space! (pages 40 to 49)
Artist: Don Heck
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Mandarin, Ultimo, Enchantress, Executioner, Living Laser, Power Man, Swordsman
Regulars: Hercules, Jarvis
Guests: Nick Fury
My praises go out to Roy Thomas and Don Heck. Avengers Annual #1 contains the longest story in a single Marvel comic so far, 49 pages, breaking the record set by Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (41 pages). It's possible that this is the longest Marvel story ever written. Am I correct?
The story starts relatively quietly. Tony Stark is demonstrating new security equipment in a high security prison. While he's there – coincidences, coincidences – Arthur Parks, aka the Living Laser, attempts an escape. Tony changes into Iron Man to stop him, but Arthur is teleported away from the prison without warning. He arrives at the headquarters of the Mandarin, who's in the presence of the Enchantress, the Executioner, the Swordsman and Power Man. The Mandarin says that he's putting together a team for a big job, and he wants the Living Laser to join him. After a few minutes of typical macho posturing he agrees.
The Mandarin was last seen Tales Of Suspense #86, where he seemingly died in an explosion.
The Living Laser was last seen in Avengers #35.
Swordsman and Power Man were last seen in Tales Of Suspense #88.
The Enchantress was last seen in Avengers #38.
The Executioner was last seen in Fantastic Four Annual #3, and before that in Journey Into Mystery #117.
Iron Man visits the Avengers to inform them of the Living Laser's escape. Thor is also at the Avengers Mansion to tell them that the Enchantress and the Executioner have returned to Earth.
Nick Fury informs the Avengers that attacks by super-powered villains are simultaneously taking place in three different continents. Not knowing that the Mandarin is behind the attacks, the Avengers split into smaller groups to stop them.
In Part 2 Goliath, the Wasp and Iron Man face Power Man and the Swordsman in South America.
In Part 3 Hercules and the Scarlet Witch face the Enchantress and the Executioner in Asia. Wishing to defeat Hercules in a fair fight, the Executioner transfers the four combatants to an empty city called the Citadel of Silence.
In Part 4 Thor and Hawkeye face the Living Laser and Ultimo, the giant robot that the Mandarin last used against Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #78.
The common theme of all three locations is that the villains are trying to steal large amounts of diamonds from places where they're mined.
In Part 5 we see that Captain America and Quicksilver have stayed behind, waiting for new information. When they find out that the Mandarin is behind the attacks, they fly to his orbiting space station to challenge him. The Mandarin boasts that he has invented a hate ray that makes people attack one another. It's already operational, but if powered by thousands of diamonds it can affect the whole Earth at once. They're joined by the other Avengers, who have all defeated their opponents. After briefly fighting with one another in a hate ray induced stupor they defeat the Mandarin. He falls into space and dies again.
Iron Man and Thor suggest that they'll return to the team more often. This is the start of a new trend of the Avengers having a large number of members, of which only a few are active. Over the years the membership continues to swell.
Here's a diagram of the Avengers Mansion. Please click on it to enlarge the picture.
This is a portrait of the Avengers in their original line-up (Avengers #1) and their current line-up.
These are the sexy female Avengers. I agree that Don Heck is very talented at drawing beautiful women, probably the best artist at Marvel.
Now why doesn't Scarlett Johansson wear a sexy costume like that in the films?
Stan Lee says that he doesn't want to reveal the ages of the three women. We very rarely read the precise ages of anyone in Marvel comics, but Janet Van Dyne aka the Wasp is an exception. We read in Avengers #43 that she can claim her inheritance because she's just turned 23.
Daredevil Annual #1
Title: Electro and the Emissaries of Evil!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Electro, Matador, Gladiator, Stilt-Man, Leap-Frog
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page
Though not as long as this month's Avengers annual, 39 pages is still a good length for a story. It's a common theme for the annuals, having a super-villain team-up, pitting the heroes against insurmountable odds. I just have one question about this story: would any villain call his team the Emissaries of Evil? What a mouthful! That's just a phrase taken out of Stan Lee's Alliteration Handbook (TM).
This annual is a good introduction to Daredevil for anyone who missed him by living on the Moon for the last three years. The first five pages show Daredevil exercising and talking to himself, explaining who he is and what his motivation is. This isn't a replacement for the individual comics, of course. After reading this annual you should go back and read the first 32 issues at Marvel Unlimited. That's two plugs for this wonderful web site today. I don't get any money for recommending them, I just do it because I sincerely think it's something that no true comics fan should miss out on.
Electro is no planner like the Mandarin. There isn't a global master plan that he's following. He just wants to defeat (read "kill") Daredevil, and he thinks that five villains can do it better than one. There are a series of fights with the individual villains that all end in stalemate. Finally Daredevil finds Electro's lair in a power station – where else? – and defeats all five because they're inexperienced at teamwork and get in one another's way.
In case you're wondering, Electro was last seen in Fantastic Four Annual #3, before that in Spider-Man Annual #1. The last time he faced Daredevil was in Daredevil #2.
The Matador was last seen in Daredevil #5.
The Gladiator was last seen in Daredevil #23.
The Stilt-Man was last seen in Daredevil #27.
The Leap-Frog was last seen in Daredevil #26.
Also in the annual are eight pin-up pages and three featurettes about Daredevil's powers. Finally there's a parody about the Marvel comic creation process, featuring Stan Lee and Gene Colan themselves. I'll post this historic short story in full.
Title: At the Stroke of Midnight!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Heroes: Stan Lee, Gene Colan
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model Annual #6 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Millie the Model #153 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Kid Colt Outlaw #136 (Dennis O'Neil, Dick Ayers)
Two-Gun Kid #89 (Gary Friedrich, Ogden Whitney)
Ghost Rider #5 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #46 (Gary Friedrich, John Severin)
Not Brand Echh #2 (Stan Lee, Marie Severin)
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