Fantastic Four #81
Title: Enter the Exquisite Elemental!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Crystal
Villain: Wizard
This is a landmark issue for the World's Greatest Comics Magazine. After seven years and eighty issues, the Fantastic Four need a replacement. Susan Richards is still in hospital with the baby that she had in last month's in Fantastic Four Annual #6. Who can step into her shoes while she's incapacitated? None other than Johnny Storm's girlfriend Crystal.
Reed Richards is reluctant to accept her as a new member because of her age. He says she's still a child. To that, the only thing I can answer is that she's like no child I know.
The Wizard attacks the Baxter Building with his newly designed Wonder Gloves. He's adapted them to the abilities of the Fantastic Four. He hasn't reckoned with Crystal, and it's her elemental powers that defeat him.
Think of this as Crystal's audition. Now she's one of the team, looking hot in her skin tight blue costume. Am I allowed to say that? She's only a child.
Not everyone is happy about the new member. The Crazy Credits tell us that Yancy Street is protesting. They're probably worrying that the Thing will be replaced next. He might even be replaced by the Fantastic Forbushman!
Thor #159
Title: The answer at last!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Storm Giants (flashback)
Regulars: Odin, Heimdall, Balder, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg
This is a landmark issue in the story of Thor. Last month Doctor Blake asked himself where the real Thor was after he became Thor. He goes to Asgard, and Odin gives him the answer. Thor used to be rebellious and proud, seeking battle even when his father told him it was a time for peace. To teach him humility, Odin removed his memory and sent him to Earth as a mortal, Donald Blake, on the day of his admission into college. On the day when he found his hammer in Journey Into Mystery #83, it was because Odin had subconsciously led him to Norway.
To sum up, Doctor Blake always thought that Thor was his secret identity. Now he's found out that he's always been Thor, and Doctor Blake is his secret identity.
Amazing Spider-Man #67
Title: To Squash a Spider!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Mysterio
Regulars: Aunt May, Anna Watson, Captain Stacy, Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Randy Robertson
In the last issue Spider-Man was shrunk to six inches by Mysterio. Now he has to fight for his life.
In the middle of his battle, Spider-Man speaks the words that all men like to hear: "Size doesn't matter". Remember that the next time you feel like six inches isn't enough.
In this case, it's all in the mind. Mysterio has used his illusions to make Spider-Man think he's small. He wins the fight when he realises that he's bigger.
It makes a change for the Crazy Credits to pick on the inker, not the letterer. Stan Lee says that Jim Mooney is a madman. Maybe he is. I'd have to ask his wife. She'd probably reply, "He must be mad to work for that Stan Lee!"
The Incredible Hulk #110
Title: Umbu, the Unliving!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Umbu, Swamp Men
Guests: Ka-Zar
Bruce Banner has turned back into the Hulk and no longer remembers that a machine is about to destroy the Earth. Ka-Zar fights with him , trying to remind him that he must deactivate the machine.
The Swamp Men pray to a giant robot called Umbu that was brought to Earth centuries ago. It wakes up when it senses that the machine is active. The Hulk fights with the robot, because he always attacks whoever is biggest. The robot fires gas at him, which makes him fall asleep and turn back into Bruce Banner. When Bruce wakes up he remembers the machine. He deactivates the machine, which also deactivates Umbu.
Sub-Mariner #8
Title: In the Rage of Battle!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Thing
Regulars: Dorma, Diane Arliss, Betty Dean (Betty Prentiss)
Guests: Goliath (cameo), Vision (cameo)
In the last issue the villain Destiny, known to the surface world as Paul Destine, fell to his death. Now the police have seized his Helmet of Power. They ask the Thing to deliver it to Washington. Prince Namor hears about this and fears that it could corrupt someone else to evil, so he fights the Thing to get the helmet and take it back to Atlantis, where it can be safely stored.
When the fight gets heated up the Thing yells his battle cry: It's clobbering time!
The battle would have carried on for longer, with Namor too proud to back down, but they're interrupted by Betty Prentiss, who was Namor's lover Betty Dean during the Second World War. This calms him down, so he takes the helmet and ceases the fight.
The Avengers #59
Title: The Name is Yellowjacket!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Avengers: Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Black Panther, Vision
Villain: Yellowjacket
Regulars: Black Widow, Jarvis
Guests: Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan
A new super-hero called Yellowjacket – one word and no hyphen – captures some petty crooks in New York. He's immediately praised by J. Jonah Jameson, which should be enough to make anyone suspicious. Yellowjacket breaks into the Avengers Mansion and tells them that he should be accepted as a new member because he's just defeated Goliath and left him for dead. The Avengers fight with him, but he takes the Wasp hostage and flees.
When the Avengers arrive to rescue the Wasp she tells them not to hurt him because she is going to marry him.
I remember when I first read this story. It took my breath away.
The story arc that begins with Yellowjacket's arrival is a major storyline that continues for years.
Captain America #108
Title: The Snares of the Trapster!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Trapster
Regulars: Sharon Carter
The Trapster has captured Sharon Carter, because he wants her to tell him about Project Fireball. That sounds like the name of a new cocktail in a long glass with a little umbrella.
Captain America defeats the Trapster and frees Sharon, after finding out that he's working for the Red Skull.
Daredevil #47
Title: Brother, take my hand!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Biggie Benson (gangster)
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page
Daredevil is in Vietnam entertaining the troops. Among them is Willie Lincoln, a man whose eyes have been damaged by an exploding grenade. During the performance he loses his eyesight completely. Daredevil speaks to him afterwards, and Willie tells him that he used to be a policeman.
These are Daredevil's thoughts on war. It would be more accurate to say that they're Stan Lee's thoughts.
Back in America, we find out that Willie Lincoln has been suspended for taking a bribe. He denies this and says he's been set up. Matt Murdock successfully defends him in court. Afterwards the gangster Biggie Benson sends his hoods to beat up Willie, but Daredevil easily overcomes them. The fight takes place in the dark, so he tells Willie to pretend that he was the one who defeated them, to scare them away from making future attacks.
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #7
Title: Hours of Madness, Day of death
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Frank Springer
Villain: foreign agents
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Jimmy Woo
Jim Steranko has drawn the cover, but Frank Springer is the artist for the story itself, once more attempting to imitate Steranko's style.
Nick Fury is investigating a foreign embassy. They inject him with a drug that will give him hallucinations for six hours, then kill him. Dum Dum, Gabe and Jimmy take him back to the SHIELD helicarrier to receive the antidote. It's a close call, because the doctor on the helicarrier is a double agent who works for the foreign government.
Doctor Strange #175
Title: Unto us, the Sons of Satannish!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Sattanish, Asmodeus, Sons of Satannish
Regulars: Clea, Wong
This issue has a double splash page, but not a single image. This is page one...
... and this is page two. I much prefer this to single pictures spread over two pages.
I don't know what Roy Thomas was thinking when he wrote this story. Is Satannish supposed to be the Biblical Satan? In later years other writers introduced Satan as distinct from Satannish, but is that what Roy intended back in 1968? I don't know.
Doctor Strange has rented an apartment for Clea in a nearby part of New York. While travelling by taxi he's attacked by those calling themselves the Sons of Satannish. He defeats them in his astral form without informing Clea.
Later in the evening Clea is visited by Wong, who tells her that he has to bring her to Doctor Strange. It's really Asmodeus, the leader of the Sons of Satannish, in disguise.
Iron Man #8
Title: A duel must end!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: George Tuska
Villain: Gladiator, Whitney Frost, Count Nefaria (flashback), Masked Marauder (vision)
Regulars: Jasper Sitwell, Janice Cord
Iron Man fights with the Gladiator and finally defeats him, despite his armour and weaponry being heavily damaged.
We find out that Whitney Frost is the daugther of Count Nefaria, the first leader of the Maggia.
Iron Man flies to his factory, but the Gladiator recovers and follows him. Once more Iron man defeats him, and the Maggia agents flee. Jasper Sitwell has a chance to stop Whitney fleeing, but he lets her go.
Captain Marvel #8
Title: And fear shall follow!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Aakons, giant robot
Regulars: Yon-Rogg, Una, Carol Danvers
An Aakon warship is damaged and needs to stop near the Moon for repairs. The Aakon's are enemies of the Kree, so Yon-Rogg orders an attack.
After the battle Captain Mar-Vell returns to Earth and investigates the life of Dr. Walt Lawson, the man whose identity he has adopted. He finds that he's built a giant robot with the mission to kill himself. The robot is already active and searching for Dr. Lawson. Mar-Vell defeats the robot and thinks it's been destroyed, but it's in the process of repairing itself.
The security chief Carol Danvers flings herself at Captain Marvel to thank him for his help. He might be able to fight giant robots, but when a beautiful woman kisses him he's helpless to resist. His girlfriend Una is watching from space and fears the worst.
X-Men #51
Jim Steranko's artwork for the cover and the splash page is excellent, but on the other pages it's merely good. Wasn't his heart in it? Would he rather have been writing the adventures of Nick Fury?
Title: The Devil had a Daughter!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Jim Steranko
X-Men: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, Iceman
Villain: Mesmero, Demi-Men, Magneto, Erik the Red
Regulars: Lorna Dane
The Avengers fight against Magneto, but when Mesmero and the Demi-Men join the fight they realise they're outnumbered and withdraw. They want Lorna Dane to leave with them, but she prefers to remain with her father.
Back in the school, the X-Men argue among themselves. Cyclops says that Iceman is jeopardising their work by having feelings for Lorna.
A few days later a powerful mutant calling himself Erik the Red approaches Magneto's compound.
Title: The Lure of the Beast-Nappers!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Werner Roth
X-Men: Professor X, Cyclops, Angel, Iceman, Beast
The Conquistador captures Hank McCoy and demands that he should join his team. He's captured Hank's parents so that he can force him to obey.
Professor X and the three X-Men in his school are attempting to find Hank.
Silver Surfer #3
Titles: The Power and the Prize!
Duel in the Depths
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Mephisto
Regulars: Shalla Bal
This is a single 40-page story split into two parts with different titles. Judging by the split in the middle, it seems like Stan Lee was keeping his options open to publish the story in two normal length comics.
The Silver Surfer goes to the hospital to check on the health of the girl that he rescued last issue. He cures her with his cosmic energy, but the police and security guards attack him because they think he's trying to cure her. Angry with the human race, he unleashes chaos by causing electrical equipment to fail worldwide. He only does this for a few hours, until he calms down.
This attracts the attention of Mephisto, the Lord of the Underworld. In this month's Doctor Strange comic Roy Thomas seems to be equating Satannish with the Devil, but here we have Stan Lee's version of the Devil. He sees the Silver Surfer and realises he's a good person, so he wants to corrupt him.
First Mephisto brings Shalla Bal to Earth. Then Mephisto tempts the Surfer to give up his soul, for riches, lust, power or simply the love of Shalla Bal.
These two panels make Mephisto look like the Biblical Devil, don't they?
The Silver Surfer resists Mephisto's temptation and is allowed to leave Mephisto's kingdom. Shalla Bal is sent back to her home planet, Zenn-La.
Title: Why won't they believe me?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
This story is a retelling of a story from Amazing Adult Fantasy #7, published in December 1961.
A man finds a crashed space ship. There's a log book that says that one of them has come to Earth and has disguised himself as a human. If he's discovered the aliens will leave, but if he remains hidden the aliens will invade the Earth. Nobody believes the man's story, until he finally visits a scientist, who recognises the truth. The man himself is the alien, suffering from amnesia after the crash landing.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #165 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #67 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #61 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Captain Savage and his Battlefield Raiders #9 (Archie Goodwin, Dick Ayers)
Not Brand Echh #11 (Roy Thomas, Tom Sutton)
Note the change of name for Captain Savage's comic.
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