This month Stan Lee presents the first appearance of a new super-hero, Captain Marvel, although it isn't clear from the first story that he'll be a hero. He has all the traits of a villain. He will go on to become one of Marvel's most powerful heroes in the 1970's.
If you're wondering why this comic is starting with issue 12, it's the continuation of the king-size bimonthly Fantasy Masterpieces that ran for 11 issues from February 1966 to October 1967. Each month it reprinted approximately 60 pages of stories from the 1940's and 1950's, the so-called Golden Age of comics. This month the comic's name has changed, and it features one new story each month. Captain Marvel will only be featured for two months before being given his own monthly magazine. After that a different super-hero will be featured each month.
Marvel Super-Heroes will run for 105 issues, until January 1982, but original stories will only be included until Marvel Super-Heroes #20. From issue 21 onwards it will revert to containing only reprints.
Marvel Super-Heroes #12
Title: The Coming of Captain Marvel!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Regulars: Yon-Rogg, Una
In Fantastic Four #64 the Fantastic Four destroyed a Kree outpost on Earth. In the following issue Ronan the Accuser was sent to Earth to punish them, but he was defeated. Now a Kree space ship has been sent to Earth to carry out the mission that Ronan failed to complete. The ship's commander is Colonel Yon-Rogg. On board is Captain Mar-Vell and his lover, the medic Una. In order that the mission may be better planned, Mar-Vell is to spend 24 hours reconnoitring the Earth before approaching the Fantastic Four.
The Kree cannot breathe the Earth's atmosphere. Before leaving the ship Mar-Vell is given a potion that will allow him to take off his helmet for 60 minutes. Apart from that he must wear his helmet at all times.
Mar-Vell gets too close to an American missile base, so he's attacked by soldiers. Not wanting to get involved in a fight at this stage he flees and checks into a hotel.
Fantastic Four #69
Title: By Ben Betrayed!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Mad Thinker
Regulars: Crystal
After being turned evil by the Mad Thinker's ray last issue, the Thing battles with the other three members of the Fantastic Four. It's an amazing battle in which the Thing has the upper hand, because his teammates don't want to hurt him.
The story will be continued next issue.
The Crazy Credits tell us that Artie Simek's lettering is lustrous. That's ridiculous! It's plain and simple black and white.
Amazing Spider-Man #55
Title: Doc Ock Wins!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Doctor Octopus
Regulars: Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Ned Leeds Joe Robertson, John Jameson
Spider-Man has been searching for Doctor Octopus all over the city. The closest he gets is finding his henchmen's lair.
Doctor Octopus makes a second attempt to steal the Nullifier and succeeds this time. He goes to Tony Stark's factory to test it. It deactivates everything that runs on electricity. Spider-Man goes to the factory to challenge him. After a short fight Doctor Octopus fires the Nullifier at Spider-Man, not knowing what the effect will be. Because of the radioactivity in Spider-Man's blood, caused by the spider that bit him, the Nullifier makes him lose his memory. Doctor Octopus tells him that they are partners.
The Avengers #47
Title: Magneto walks the Earth!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Avengers: Captain America, Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hercules
Villain: Magneto, Toad, Whirlwind (disguised)
Regulars: Black Widow, Dr. Whitman
In Tales Of Suspense #73 the Black Knight died after a battle with Iron Man. His nephew, Dr. Whitman, found and disposed of his body. Now he wants to make amends for the bad deeds done by his uncle. He's trying to make contact with distant planets by sending magnetically coded messages into space.
Only one person intercepts the messages. It's Magneto, who has been trapped on the Stranger's planet since X-Men #18. He's in the company of the Toad, who has been trapped on the same planet since X-Men #11. The two of them have been left alone because the Stranger has lost interest in them since capturing the Abomination in Tales To Astonish #91. Magneto uses the magnetic transmissions to beam himself and the Toad back to Earth.
In parallel events, Captain America informs the Avengers that he's quitting. After this the Avengers leave to do their personal business, leaving Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch on duty. They receive a coded message calling them to the Black Knight's castle. Magneto asks them to join his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants once more, but they refuse. Magneto defeats them easily in battle.
Hercules returns to Olympus and finds the city deserted.
Strange Tales #163
Title: And the Dragon Cried Death!
Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko
Villain: Yellow Claw, AIM
Regulars: Jimmy Woo, Countess Valentina, Clay Quartermain
Guests: Captain America
Nick Fury escapes from the giant octopus and returns to SHIELD. Jimmy Woo sends a message that the Yellow Claw aims to steal a weapon called the Ultimate Annihilator from AIM. Nick Fury and his team attack AIM, but only manage to steal an oriental statue. This puts them on the trail of the Ultimate Annihilator's creators, who the Yellow Claw wants to kill. Nick Fury impersonates the last surviving man and waits for the Yellow Claw to attack. The Yellow Claw knocks Nick Fury out by hypnosis and destroys him with the Ultimate Nullifier.
Here's a small sample of Jim Steranko's artwork. There's nobody else like this at Marvel.
Title: Three Faces of Doom!
Writer: Jim Lawrence
Artist: Dan Adkins
Villain: Nebulos, Living Tribunal
Regulars: Victoria Bentley (vision)
The Living Tribunal challenges Nebulos to a battle, because his staff has absorbed all of the mystic energy released by Zom. Doctor Strange tries to stop the fight, because he fears that if Nebulos is destroyed he'll never find out where Victoria Bentley has been hidden. The battle between the two beings is evenly matched, but Doctor Strange helps the Living Tribunal win by stealing Nebulos' staff.
The Living Tribunal rewards Doctor Strange by sending him to the place where Victoria Bentley is hidden.
The Crazy Credits say that Al Kurzrok's quill is quivering. On the contrary, I'm sure that his hand was always steady.
Tales of Suspense #96
Title: The Deadly Victory!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Grey Gargoyle
Guests: Jasper Sitwell
The Grey Gargoyle throws Iron Man off the roof, threatening to smash his stone body when he hits the ground. His only hope is that Jasper Sitwell will drive the nearby sand truck to break his fall.
And Jasper does just that. But is the convenient sand truck a hastily invented deus ex machina?
No. The last panel of page 10 in the last issue shows the sand truck.
The Grey Gargoyle searches for Tony Stark's new cobalt weapon in the factory. It's so new that Stan Lee still hasn't thought up a name for it! This gives Iron Man time to recover.
Jasper Sitwell wants to quote his SHIELD slogan again. Luckily Iron Man stops him just in time. Enough is enough!
Iron Man defeats the Grey Gargoyle, but his transistor power is drained and he falls unconscious. The story ends with Jasper Sitwell about to remove his mask to give him medical attention.
Title: To be reborn!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Sniper
Guests: Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan
Since Steve Rogers' retirement announcement, Captain America imitators are appearing all over New York City. They're becoming targets for members of the underworld who are hoping to eliminate the real Captain America.
An expert marksman called the Sniper (with a capital S) is hired to find and kill Steve Rogers. Steve ventures into the open to help a costumed imitator in danger. Nick Fury has planted a Life Model Decoy to distract the Sniper and make him fire at the wrong target.
Nick Fury gives Steve Rogers a memorable pep talk. "You can't give up being Captain America because you are Captain America". Well said. After a whole issue without appearing in his costume he vows to become Captain America again.
Tales to Astonish #98
Title: To Destroy the Realm Eternal!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Werner Roth
Villain: Plunderer
Regulars: Dorma, Vashti
Guests: X-Men (Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl) (flashback), Ka-Zar (flashback)
The Plunderer sails to Atlantis, planning to destroy it. The defensive shots from Atlantis are ineffective. An American submarine travelling higher up hears the explosions and thinks it's being attacked by Atlantis. They drop depth charges. One hits the Plunderer's submarine, damaging it so badly that he has to abandon it in a small escape craft. The others fall on Atlantis, badly damaging the city.
The elders of Atlantis, who still think that Namor has become a traitor, order an all out attack on the surface world.
Title: The Puppet and the Power!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Living Lightning
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross
The Hulk attacks the army base, doing a lot of damage. The Hulk is rendered unconscious by gas pellets, one thing he's helpless against. The Living Lightning uses the distraction to take over the base. General Ross is captured. The unconscious Hulk is put in the same prison cell as his daughter Betty Ross.
Thor #147
Title: The Wrath of Odin!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Circus of Crime (Ringmaster, Princess Python, Clown, Cannonball, Great Gambinos)
Regulars: Odin, Sif, Balder
Thor has now broken free of the Ringmaster's hypnosis. His first action is to protect Princess Python from the police bullets. His second action is to put the stolen Golden Bull back on its stand. The Circus of Crime flees, but Thor stays behind and is arrested.
Loki was banished into space by Odin in Journey Into Mystery #123, but we saw him briefly in Thor #142. Now Odin ends his punishment and allows him to return to Asgard. Loki wastes no time when he sees that Thor has been stripped of his godly powers. He travels to Earth with the intention of killing him. First he bails him from jail, then the battle begins.
Balder and Sif go to Earth to protect Thor from Loki's attack. Odin sees this and prepares to punish all four of the Asgardians.
Title: The Reason Why!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inhumans: Randac
Guests: Sentry 459
We saw Sentry 459 in Fantastic Four #64, which took place in the present day. Now we see him in the distant past. He visits Attilan, the island kingdom of the Inhumans. He informs them that they are more advanced than all the other creatures on the Earth because the Kree boosted their evolution when they visited the planet.
Randac emerges from the Terragen mists with enhanced powers and announces that all other Inhumans will also enter the mists.
X-Men #39
At the end of this story the X-Men get new costumes, designed by Jean Grey. I like the sexy costume she's made for herself. A mini-dress with a low cut top that shows off her cleavage. She's my favourite teenage mutant.
Title: The Fateful Finale!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Don Heck
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Factor Three (Mutant Master, Changeling, Blob, Vanisher, Unus, Mastermind)
Regulars: Professor X, Banshee
Cyclops and Iceman are attempting to save the American missile base, fighting the soldiers who don't believe they're trying to help. Mastermind and Unus arrive to make sure the X-Men don't succeed.
Angel, Beast and Marvel Girl are in East Germany, trying to prevent an explosion that will kill all the delegates at a political conference. The Blob arrives to stop them succeeding.
After both teams succeed in their mission they fly to Factor Three's hideout in the American Midwest. Mastermind, Unus, Vanisher and the Blob are already waiting for them. Professor X claims that the leader of Factor Three, the Mutant Master, wants to destroy the whole world, including his allies. At first the evil mutants don't believe him, but then Banshee destroys the Mutant Master's floating platform, revealing to everyone that he's not even human, he's an alien from a distant planet. The X-Men team up with the evil mutants to battle the Mutant Master's androids. Finally the Mutant Master commits suicide rather than face capture. Everyone leaves.
Here's another look at the X-Men's new costumes. In case you're wondering what Professor X has to say, he tells the X-Men that now they've proved themselves in battle they should look like individuals, not products of an assembly line. Funny... that was never a problem for the Fantastic Four.
Title: Lonely are the Hunted!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Werner Roth
X-Men: Professor X, Cyclops
Villain: Jack O'Diamonds (unnamed)
Scott Summers has to flee from the mob who consider him a menace after he saved their lives. Professor X tries to find him, but the first mutant that Scott encounters is a man who tells him that it's Scott's destiny to rule the world.
Daredevil #35
Title: Daredevil dies first!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Trapster
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page
Guests: Susan Richards
The Trapster breaks into the office of Nelson and Murdock to ask for legal advice. Couldn't he have rung the doorbell like anyone else? He wants to know if he can be tried for murder if the body is never found. It's a murder he hasn't yet committed. He wants to kill Daredevil. After his repeated defeats by the Fantastic Four he needs to kill a super-hero in order to win the respect of his peers.
We last saw the Trapster in prison in Fantastic Four #45.
Needless to say, as soon as Matt Murdock is alone he changes into his Daredevil suit. He sees the Trapster waiting nearby, floating on his anti-gravity craft, which was supplied by the Wizard. After a brief fight the Trapster throws sticky anti-gravity discs at Daredevil which carry him into the sky.
The Trapster disguises himself as Daredevil and visits the Baxter Building. The only one at home is the mother-to-be Susan Richards. Taken by surprise, she's easily defeated by the Trapster. He plants a bomb that will explode as soon as another person enters the room.
Daredevil frees himself from the discs and heads to the Baxter Building.
I'd like to comment on Gene Colan's artwork. In this issue he's progressed to drawing only large panels, each one at least half a page in height. Until now only Jack Kirby has drawn layouts like this in Tales of Asgard and the Inhumans. Artwork as good as Gene Colan's deserves to be drawn larger.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #156 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #61 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #49 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Not Brand Echh #5 (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby)
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