Stan Lee himself refers to this month as "the start of the second golden age of Marvel". It's customary for comics fans to refer the the 1960's as the Silver Age of Comics, but Stan saw it differently. The 1960's may have been the silver age for comics in general, the second best phase, but for Marvel it was their best ever time, worth calling the golden age. Brand Echh was struggling with a steady sales decline in their silver age, but Marvel was still growing stronger in leaps and bounds.
The comics dated April 1968 (which were actually released in late January and early February) brought in sweeping changes. Throughout the 1950's Marvel printed a series of anthology comics, including Tales Of Suspense, Tales To Astonish and Strange Tales. In the 1960's the anthology stories were phased out and replaced by super-hero stories. These comics kept their names and were used to feature two stories each, half issue stories with a length of 10 to 12 pages. Now it's time for a change. The anthology comics will be cancelled and renamed, each being replaced by two new comics. There's a three month transition period from April to June 1968.
Note that Stan Lee announces an end to calling the competition company Brand Echh. He still refuses to name DC Comics by name, it's just "our competition". This is just being polite on the surface. It's true that many writers and artists who worked at DC were personal friends with people at Marvel, but it doesn't change the fact that DC was a second rate company which churned out second rate comics month after month. It wasn't until the mid 1970's that DC began to improve, one comic at a time.
DC started the 1960's as the market leader in the comic book industry. When did Marvel overtake them? That depends on your definition. Some people say 1966, some say 1971. It wasn't until 1971 that Marvel sold more comics than DC, but Marvel was already making a bigger profit in 1966. In the 1960's DC was a large company with a lot of overhead. Marvel was a small company that could work more efficiently. DC and Marvel had different target audiences. DC wrote comics primarily for children, whereas Marvel wrote comics primarily for young adults, 18 and upwards. That doesn't mean that children couldn't appreciate Marvel – I began to read Marvel when I was six – but there were more serious themes in Marvel's comics that attracted older readers.
For me DC was still Brand Echh, and to be honest, Stan Lee still treated his competition as Brand Echh. This month's issue of Not Brand Echh features a backup story by Roy Thomas, "The Origin of Stuporman", in which the stupidity of 1960's Superman stories is mocked. This story is so good that I feel tempted to publish it here, but I'll refrain. If you don't want to take my word for it, sign up to Marvel Unlimited.
The Incredible Hulk #102
Title: This world not his own
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Enchantress, Executioner
Regulars: General Ross (flashback), Rick Jones (flashback)
Guests: Odin, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Thor (flashback), Silver Surfer (flashback)
The last issue of the Hulk's solo comic was Incredible Hulk #6 in March 1963, but now the numbering has jumped to 102. This is because the comic has adopted the numbering of Tales To Astonish.
This comic features more outstanding artwork by Marie Severin.
The story in Tales To Astonish #101 ended with the Hulk turning into Bruce Banner and falling to his death. He's caught by the Enchantress, who is planning to conquer Asgard with the help of the Executioner and an army of Rock Trolls. We last saw the Enchantress and the Executioner in Avengers Annual #1, but the Executioner says he remembers meeting the Hulk in Tales to Astonish #77. That's strange, because that issue takes place in the 25th Century. It's possible that the Executioner travelled into the future with the Enchantress's help and returned to the 20th Century after he was defeated.
The Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg) consult the oracle Oldar for information about the Hulk. She recounts the Hulk's origin from Incredible Hulk #1. Meanwhile, the battle against Asgard begins. Bruce Banner turns back into the Hulk and joins the fight on the side of Asgard. Odin wants to reward him, but the Hulk isn't intelligent enough to realise that Odin is an ally and attacks him.
Odin changes his mind and wants to punish the Hulk, but he's stopped by Fandral. Odin must be confused in the heat of battle, because he gets his name wrong and calls him Balder. Odin sends the Hulk back to Earth.
Captain America #100
Title: This monster unmasked!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Baron Zemo
Regulars: Agent 13
Guests: Black Panther, Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Thor (dream), Iron Man (dream), Giant-Man (dream), Wasp (dream), Sub-Mariner (dream)
This is the first issue of Captain America's solo comic, but it starts at 100. This is because the comic has adopted the numbering of Tales Of Suspense.
At the end of Tales Of Suspense #99 Captain America and the Black Panther were lying unconscious at the feet of Baron Zemo. Captain America dreams about how he was found by Sub-Mariner and joined the Avengers in Avengers #4.
Agent 13, disguised as Irma Kruhl, refuses to shoot the two captives. This gives them the chance to wake up. Agent 13 drops her disguise, and the three of them fight against Zemo. Captain America unmasks Zemo and reveals that he's an imposter. He is Zemo's former pilot. When Zemo's guards see this they surrender.
This is the first time I've seen Captain America using a gun.
As they fly home Captain America asks the Black Panther to replace him in the Avengers. He says he'll consider the offer.
The Crazy Credits say that the story is treasured by Irving Forbush. I treasure it as well.
Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1
This is a one-off special issue continuing the story of Iron Man from Tales Of Suspense #99 and Sub-Mariner from Tales To Astonish #101. Next month they'll be given their own magazines. The question can be asked why they weren't immediately given their own magazines after the cancellation of those two comics. I suspect that their 11-page stories had already been written, so it was too late to write full length stories. Whether or not this was the case, this is a beautiful special issue, a treasure in the collection of any true Marvel fan.
Title: The torrent without, the tumult within!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Big M, Whiplash, AIM
Guests: Jasper Sitwell
At the end of Tales Of Suspense #99 Iron Man was trapped by being held on a magnetised table while the Maggia's casino ship was sinking. He uses a wire dangling from the ceiling to give himself a charge, enough to escape. AIM and the Maggia fight for control of the ship. Big M and Whiplash flee, while Iron Man is sucked into AIM's submarine.
Title: Call him Destiny, or call him Death!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Destiny
Namor is still unable to remember when and where he met the man who calls himself Destiny. While he's trapped, Destiny tells him how he came to get his powers. He was born with the ability to read minds, something he used in carnival shows, but he wanted to increase his powers. He heard of beings called the Ancients, so he travelled to Antarctica in the ship of Captain Leonard McKenzie, Namor's father. He found a helmet which increased his powers and gave him new abilities, such as projecting images into people's heads.
Namor breaks free, and the walls of the ice cavern collapse. Destiny assumes that Namor is dead.
The Crazy Credits claim that Sam Rosen's lettering is fitful. Not at all! It's completely steady and consistent from the first to the last page.
Fantastic Four #73
Title: The Flames of Battle
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Guests: Daredevil, Spider-Man, Thor
This story continues from last month's Daredevil #38.
Daredevil plans to visit the Fantastic Four to warn them about Doctor Doom. Unknown to him, the Fantastic Four still think he's Doctor Doom in Daredevil's body. The Human Torch attacks him, but he accidentally flies into a water tower that puts out his flame. Spider-Man sees this fight and offers to help Daredevil. Thor is nearby, so his help is also recruited. Stan Lee says in the notes that this story takes place while he's searching for the Wrecker. This must have happened between pages 15 and 16 of last month's Thor #150.
When Spider-Man and Thor attack, the Fantastic Four assume they're Doctor Doom's robots. Daredevil fights Mr. Fantastic, Thor fights the Thing, and Spider-Man fights the Human Torch.
Thor and the Thing trade battle cries. Which one do you prefer?
"For Asgard and Honour Imperial!" – "It's clobbering time!"
The battle continues until Susan Richards returns from California and breaks it up. She says she's seen Doctor Doom on television, so it can't possibly be him.
Yet again, the Crazy Credits call Artie Simek's lettering laconic. I'd rather call it apt.
Amazing Spider-Man #59
Title: The Brand of the Brainwasher!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Kingpin
Regulars: Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson, Captain Stacy, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn
Peter Parker returns after a few days in which he lost his memory. He has the perfect explanation. He says that Spider-Man captured him because he didn't know who he was.
Mary Jane Watson has a new job dancing on stage at the Gloom Room A-Go-Go. That's something I'd definitely want to see! In between her acts she has to take photographs of the customers who sit at specially marked tables. What she doesn't know is that the flash bulbs in her camera hypnotise the people being photographed. Police chiefs and judges are being hypnotised to let criminals out on bail. The club workers call their boss the Brainwasher, but his real name is the Kingpin, who we last saw in Amazing Spider-Man #52.
Peter Parker goes to the club with Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn. He sees Captain Stacy acting strange after being photographed, so he follows him. He's grabbed by the Kingpin.
To be continued.
The Crazy Credits say that Peter Parker's clothes have been supplied by Forbush Fashions Inc. He does look pretty snappy in his suit at the Gloom Room A-Go-Go. If Irving Forbush keeps it up, Peter can do a guest appearance in Millie The Model.
Strange Tales #167
Title: Armageddon!
Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko
Villain: Yellow Claw, Doctor Doom
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Countess Valentina, Clay Quartermain, Jimmy Woo
I've praised Jim Steranko's artwork before, but this story reaches another creative peak. Look at the cover. Look at the splash page. No other artist at Marvel has ever reached this level. Not even Steve Ditko.
I'm very critical of the two-page pictures that artists like Jack Kirby sometimes draw. The page divide spoils the overall effect. One page should be the maximum. However, Jim Steranko pushes the boundaries even further. He's drawn a four-page picture. Yes, FOUR pages. He recommends in the comments box that readers should buy two copies of the issue and lay them side by side. The readers of my blog can simply click on the picture to enlarge it.
The only complaint comes from Stan Lee. Martin Goodman should give him a raise.
Every single page, every single drawing in this story is a masterpiece. Did I ever tell you you can find Jim Steranko's complete comics online at Marvel Unlimited?
Nick Fury faces the Yellow Claw in a final battle in the space-time continuum beyond human reach... whatever that is. It's finally revealed that the Yellow Claw is just a robot. The true enemy was Doctor Doom.
Title: This dream, this doom!
Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Artist: Dan Adkins
Villain: Yandroth
Regulars: Victoria Bentley, Ancient One
Dennis O'Neil takes over as writer in this issue. There's no consistency to Doctor Strange's stories. Ever since Stan Lee gave up the writing the series has been of lesser quality. At least the artwork is good. Until now I've never considered Dan Adkins a great artist, but his artwork in this issue is beautiful.
The Ancient One tells Doctor Strange that he didn't really die in Strange Tales #157, he just let himself be trapped inside the pillar of Stonehenge so that he could bequeath his power to Doctor Strange? Bequeath? That sounds like dead to me.
Doctor Strange pursues Yandroth into an alien dimension which is governed by the laws of imagination, not reality. While distracted by mythical beasts and warriors, Doctor Strange doesn't notice that Yandroth is pointing a gun at him.
Thor #151
Title: To rise again!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Loki, Norn Queen (Karnilla), Destroyer, Ulik
Regulars: Odin, Sif, Balder
Thor battles the Destroyer, not knowing that it's being controlled by Sif. If he kills the Destroyer, Sif will also die. At first Sif refuses to fight, but as Thor repeatedly strikes the Destroyer its instincts take over and it fights back against her will.
The religious reference in this panel is unmistakable.
Loki and the Norn Queen are gloating over their certain victory, when they're challenged by Ulik the Troll, last seen in Thor #139. He says that the Troll wizards have now made him even more powerful. Balder offers to defeat him if the Norn Queen will free him. The Norn Queen agrees, but Ulik mocks him.
Odin gives Thor his powers back. Now he has more of a chance against the Destroyer.
The Crazy Credits say that the comic has been lovingly lettered by Sam Rosen. It's always good when a man takes pride in his work.
Title: Inhuman at large!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inhumans: Triton
Triton allows the film crew to transport him back to New York City. When he hears them say they'll find a stronger cage on land he breaks free and smashes the ship. He swims to shore while the others escape in a lifeboat.
The Avengers #51
Title: In the Clutches of the Collector!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Avengers: Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America (cameo), Hulk (cameo)
Villain: Collector
Guests: Black Panther (cameo)
Stan Lee apologises for Goliath being drawn on the cover with his old blue and yellow costume, not his new red and blue costume. Don't worry, I forgive John Buscema. But there's another error that Stan didn't notice. He must be having too many late nights as a result of the new comics he's having to write this month. The cover shows the Wasp in her red and blue costume, but when Thor appears in the story she's wearing a green bikini. How could Stan miss something like that? I demand a No Prize!
The Collector, who we last saw in Avengers #28, still wants to collect a complete set of the Avengers. I understand what it's like to be an obsessive collector. I'm like that as well. It's essential for me to own all of Klaus Schulze's albums, even the ones that I don't like. There are a few of inferior quality. Luckily very few.
The Collector has already captured Thor. He's given him an Obedience Potion (TM), which forces him to obey him. This is said to be just after he regained his immortal, invincible powers. He regains his powers in this month's Thor #151, but he doesn't return to Earth until Thor #153 (June 1968), so I assume that this story takes place immediately after the events of Thor #153.
While the Wasp is sunbathing in a sexy green bikini the Collector captures her with an electrified comb that pulls her into space. Goliath and Hawkeye grab her and are carried with her into the Collector's flying ship. The Collector sends Thor to capture Iron Man. This is slightly out of sync with the current comics. It must take place after Iron Man #1 (May 1968). Yes, he's getting his own comic!
The Avengers escape and defeat the Collector in battle, aided by Goliath who regains the ability to grow in size after being subjected to the Collector's machines.
After the adventure Thor and Iron Man go their own ways. Captain America radios the Avengers and recommends Black Panther as a new member.
The Crazy Credits say that Sam Rosen enjoys this comic. It's always good to appreciate what you do.
X-Men #43
Title: The torch is passed!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: George Tuska
X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl
Villain: Magneto, Toad, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Regulars: Professor X (recording)
As we saw in Avengers #49, Quicksilver has rejoined Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. His sister Wanda, the Scarlet Witch, is still weak after a bullet grazed her skull. She has difficulty concentrating, and her powers have gone.
Quicksilver visits the funeral of Professor X, but he's afraid to face the X-Men, so he runs away without talking to them.
Magneto has been destroying ships for weeks to use their metal as building materials. The X-Men discover the island that he's using as his new base of operations. They attack him, but he defeats them after a short battle.
This month there's no X-Men Origins story. In its place there's a five-page featurette on how Cyclops' eye blasts work. This is the sort of featurette that Marvel usually puts in its annuals, but the X-Men haven't had an annual yet. They won't have their first annual containing original content until 1979. Be patient, I'll get to it eventually.
Daredevil #39
Title: The Exterminator and the Super-Powered Unholy Three!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Exterminator, Ape-Man, Bird-Man, Cat-Man
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Debbie Harris
Guests: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm
This story takes place after this month's Fantastic Four #73.
Do you remember the four ridiculously named villains from Daredevil #11? Ape-Man, Bird-Man. Cat-Man and Frog-Man? What happened to the D and the E? They could have had a Dog-Man and an Elephant-Man. And why stop there? They could have had a whole alphabet of super-villains, from Giraffe-Man to Zebra-Man. Anyway, Frog-Man is still in prison, so only the first three alphabet animal criminals are at large, and Daredevil calls them the Unholy Three. They're now working for a new criminal mastermind called the Exterminator. It figures that they aren't smart enough to plan their own crimes.
The Exterminator has invented a weapon called a Time Displacement Ray (TM). I'm not sure exactly what it does, but it puts its victims out of sync with our normal reality. He gives his three stooges copies of the weapon.
Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson take Karen Page and Debbie Harris on a double date. The Unholy Three attack and temporally displace Debbie, intending to hold her as a hostage to threaten Foggy Nelson if he becomes the next district attorney.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #158 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #63 (Ron Whyte, Larry Lieber)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #53 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Not Brand Echh #7 (Stan Lee, Marie Severin)
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