Silver Surfer #4
Title: The Good, the Bad and the Uncanny!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Loki, Mephisto (flashback), Galactus (flashback)
Regulars: Shalla Bal
Guests: Odin, Thor, Heimdall, Balder, Sif, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg
Hulk (cameo), Thing (cameo), Hercules (cameo), Zeus (cameo)
This story is slightly out of sync with the current Thor comics, as a consequence of being a bi-monthly comic. It takes place before last month's Thor #160.
Loki is pondering on a way to kill Thor. Scanning the Earth, he sees the Silver Surfer and learns of his past.
Loki visits the Silver Surfer while he's sitting with a lion talking philosophy. Of course, these are Stan Lee's own thoughts. Loki fights with the Silver Surfer to find out how strong he is. When he's satisfied that he's strong enough, he tells him that a tyrant called Thor wants to conquer Asgard. The Silver Surfer is childishly naive and believes him. Loki's power allows the Silver Surfer to cross Galactus' barrier and visit Asgard.
The Silver Surfer fights Thor and the other Asgardians, until he finally realises he's been tricked. Loki sends him back to Earth.
The splash page says that this is "perhaps the greatest fantasy saga of all time". I wouldn't go quite that far, but this is nevertheless a magnificent story, much better than you might guess from the shortness of my mini-review.
Title: The Terror of Tim Boo Ba
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Howard Purcell
This story is a retelling of a story from Amazing Adult Fantasy #9, published in February 1962.
Tim Boo Ba is a mighty tyrant who conquers, enslaves and murders people all across his world. Nobody can stop him, until a sudden flood wipes him away. His planet only existed on a table in a child's room. It was destroyed when the child's mother spilt water on it.
It doesn't matter how big you are, someone is always bigger.
Thor #161
Title: Shall a God prevail?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Galactus
Guests: Recorder, Ego
This is a truly epic comic. The story is mind-bending, and it contains some of Jack Kirby's best artwork.
Thor and the Recorder are rescued by aliens who call themselves the Wanderers. They come from one of the first planets destroyed by Galactus, and they live for revenge. The battle between Galactus and Ego continues. They're evenly matched, though Galactus has a slight edge. The spacecraft of the Wanderers is damaged and has to land on Ego. Thor channels Ego's force through his hammer, causing Galactus great pain. He leaves to find easier prey.
The Incredible Hulk #112
Title: The Brute battles on!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Galaxy Master
The Hulk fights against the Galaxy Master, a shape-changing being that has enslaved the planet. Princess Daydra, the niece of the planet's chief warlord, leads a rebellion to support the Hulk. The Hulk succeeds in killing the Galaxy Master and is sent back to Earth on a space ship. While he's travelling he turns back into Bruce Banner, and he begins to suffocate.
Sub-Mariner #10
Title: Never bother a Barracuda!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Naga, Karthon the Quester, Barracuda
The person that we saw reaching for the Helmet of Power last issue identifies himself as Karthon the Quester. He belongs to a race called the Lemurians who are distantly related to the Atlanteans. The helmet was created by their leader Naga to give himself eternal life, but he didn't know it would corrupt him. While they're fighting over the helmet they're captured by Captain Barracuda, who is sailing nearby in a submarine. We last saw him in Strange Tales #120.
While Sub-Mariner is fighting with Barracuda, Karthon escapes with the helmet.
Doctor Strange #177
Title: The Cult and the Curse!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Asmodeus, Sons of Satannish
Regulars: Clea, Ancient One
Asmodeus has cast Doctor Strange into a foreign world after removing his Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto. Fortunately Doctor Strange suspected this, so he made the Eye of Agamotto invisible and took it with him.
The Book of Vishanti returns to the Ancient One, because it's under a spell to always return to him. Asmodeus travels to the Ancient one, using Doctor Strange's form.
When Doctor Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto to return to Earth he's blocked, because his form is already on Earth. When did that become a mystical law? He bypasses this block by changing his appearance.
So this is the new Doctor Strange? Yuck!
Doctor Strange defeats Asmodeus, but not before he's cast a spell to unleash Ymir and Surtur on the world.
Ymir is the Frost Giant defeated by Odin in Journey Into Mystery #98. Surtur is the Fire Demon defeated by Odin in Journey Into Mystery #99.
Doctor Strange #178
Today I've taken the unusual step of listing next month's Doctor Strange issue a month in advance. It's not something I like to do, but Roy Thomas has forced me to do it. The release date is totally out of sync. This story in this issue is concluded in Avengers #61, which is released this month.
Title: With one beside him
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Tiboro, Sons of Satannish
Regulars: Clea, Ancient One, Victoria Bentley
Guests: Black Knight
After assimilating their mystic energy, Asmodeus banished the remaining Sons of Satannish to the kingdom of Tiboro, who we last saw in Strange Tales #129.
Only the Sons of Satannish know how to reverse the spell that has summoned Ymir and Surtur, so Doctor Strange has to go there to free them. He needs a mystic anchor to bring him back, so he goes to England to request Victoria Bentley's help. She's currently enjoying a party with her new neighbour, Dane Whitman aka the Black Knight. Doctor Strange recognises the mystic energy in the Black Knight's blade and asks him to accompany him.
The assistance was needed. It's the Black Knight who defeats Tiboro by destroying his wand.
The Avengers #61
Title: Some Say the world will end in fire, some say in ice!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Avengers: Hawkeye, Black Panther, Vision
Villain: Ymir, Surtur
Guests: Doctor Strange, Black Knight
This issue has a double splash page, which fortunately isn't a single picture. This is page one ...
... and this is page two. It's impressive, isn't it?
In next month's Doctor Strange #178 (sic) Doctor Strange rescued the Sons of Satannish from Tiboro's dimension. He finds out that the Crystal of Conquest, a weapon that we briefly saw in Doctor Strange #176, can defeat Ymir and Surtur. It's only one object, but several times in this issue it's also called the Crystals of Conquest.
Here's a major blunder. Roy Thomas should be ashamed of himself. The Black Knight was injured in a fight with Marduk, one of the Sons of Satannish, so Hawkeye asks Doctor Strange to operate on him. No way! The car accident in Strange Tales #115 damaged his nerves, so he could never operate again.
The Avengers delay the attack of Ymir and Surtur while Doctor Strange prepares the spell. The Crystal(s) of Conquest brings the two together, and their powers cancel each other out, sending them back to wherever they were summoned from.
And I still don't like Doctor Strange's new look.
Fantastic Four #83
Title: Shall man survive?
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Crystal
Villain: Maximus, Aireo, Falcona, Leonus, Nebulo, Stallior, Timberius
Regulars: Susan Richards, unnamed baby
Guests: Black Bolt, Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton
The Fantastic Four and the Royal Family of the Inhumans escape and fight Maximus, who's aided by Aireo, Falcona, Leonus, Nebulo, Stallior and Timberius, the same gang who helped him in Hulk Annual #1. Note that Stallior is still among the bad guys, even though he loudly proclaimed his innocence at the trial in Hulk Annual #1. It's Crystal who delivers the final blow to Maximus, proving her worth even though she's still a child. Maximus flees in a rocket.
But what else is going on in the world? Susan Richards is looking after her newly born baby boy. He looks enormous. Is he really only three months old?
A note to mothers: Susan lets him sleep on his stomach. There's a lot of argument about which is better for babies, sleeping on the stomach or the back. Even the experts can't agree, however many PhD's they have hanging on the wall. All I can say is that sleeping on the stomach is more common in America, while sleeping on the back is more common in Europe.
And she has to think of a name. After three months? What's the law in America? In England babies have to be named within 12 months, but in Germany the time limit is one week.
On the other side of the world the Thing is yelling his battle cry louder than ever before: It's clobbering time!
Johnny and Crystal are young lovers and have to celebrate their victory in the most natural way. Be quiet, Karnak! Weren't you ever young? But what a beauty Crystal is! I wouldn't hesitate to kiss her, child or not.
Amazing Spider-Man #69
Title: Mission: Crush the Kingpin!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jim Mooney
Villain: Kingpin
Regulars: Captain Stacy, Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Randy Robertson
Spider-Man has lost track of the Kingpin's getaway car – it was probably driving too fast – but he's still searching for him, aided by his spider sense. Eventually he finds him, and he defeats him after a short fight. Instead of fleeing the Kingpin lets himself be arrested and tells the police that Spider-Man will free him. The policemen believe this, because it confirms what they've read in the Daily Bugle.
Spider-Man retrieves the ancient tablet and wants to deliver it to the police, but they fire at him. This makes him so angry that it pushes him over the edge. If everyone treats him like a menace, he might as well be a menace!
Captain America #110
Title: No longer alone!
Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko
Villain: Madame Hydra
Regulars: Rick Jones
Guests: Hulk
Jim Steranko takes over the writing and drawing for Captain America, for a few months, at least. All I can say is that it's incredible. I don't know why, but his artwork is always best when he's the author as well. It must be because he's more motivated.
Captain America is strolling through New York, quietly smoking his pipe, when the Hulk comes smashing through the wall.
It's difficult to say exactly when this happened. The Hulk was in a rampage through New York in Incredible Hulk #104 to #106. It's difficult to fit the events into that story. They must have taken place after page 5 of Incredible Hulk #106, because that's the last time we see Rick Jones, but before page 8, which is when he's captured by Yuri Brevnov. Or maybe Jim Steranko just didn't care about continuity?
After the Hulk leaves, Captain America carries Rick Jones back to his apartment. He leaves him to recover, but when he wakes up, Rick puts on Bucky's old costume and says he wants to be Captain America's sidekick.
A few minutes later they're called into action. And what action! This double-page picture is a masterpiece. There's no gap in the middle, probably because it was the middle page spread. That's the only place double-page pictures should ever be used.
Hydra is attempting to poison the city's water supply, so they're down below ground.
Hydra has a new leader, who calls herself Madame Hydra. Wow! A skin-tight green catsuit and a whip! Hail Hydra!
Young, inexperienced Rick Jones is in over his head. He doesn't stand a chance against Madame Hydra. If I were in his place I wouldn't even try. If the last moments of my life consisted of being whipped by a beautiful woman, then having her wrap her whip around my neck, I'd be happy to die.
Rick isn't that lucky. Captain America saves him. But it's not as bad as it seems. If Rick doesn't die today, he lives to be whipped another day. I wonder what that is in Latin. I'd like it as my personal slogan. "If I don't die today, I'll live to be whipped another day".
Daredevil #49
Title: Daredevil drops out!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Biggie Benson (gangster)
Regulars: Willie Lincoln
Dropping out is cool. What does society have to offer anyway? But that doesn't apply if you're a super-hero. As Ben Parker once said, "With great power comes great responsibility". Matt Murdock obviously never had an Uncle Ben, so he quits. He doesn't want to be Daredevil any more. That's his plan, but he doesn't get very far. A robot attacks him in his apartment.
The robot has been sent by the gangster Biggie Benson, who we met in Daredevil #47. He wants revenge for being imprisoned after he set up Willie Lincoln. As you know, Marvel comics thrive on coincidences. When Matt is left unconscious on the ground, it's Willie who finds him.
Daredevil is attacked by the robot again. At the end of the comic it's crushing him to death.
Iron Man #10
Title: Once more the Mandarin!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: George Tuska
Villain: Mandarin
Regulars: Janice Cord, Jasper Sitwell
Guests: Nick Fury
The Mandarin tries to disgrace Tony Stark by publishing fake photos of him meeting with Communists. The meetings all took place while he was in action as Iron Man, so he doesn't have an alibi.
Tony Stark goes into hiding, only going out in public as Iron Man. Nick Fury and Jasper Sitwell stop Iron Man to talk to him, but when he refuses to answer they fire at him.
Iron Man answers a phone call from the Mandarin's fiancee, Mei Ling. When he arrives the Mandarin is waiting for him. The trap is too well prepared, and Iron Man is captured.
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #9
Title: The Name of the Game is Hate!
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Frank Springer
Villain: Hate-Monger (Adolf Hitler)
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Jimmy Woo, Laura Brown
Guests: Reed Richards (flashback), Susan Storm (flashback), Ben Grimm (flashback)
The Hate-Monger returns to kill Nick Fury. After he was killed in Fantastic Four #21 we found out he was Adolf Hitler. How can he be alive again?
Together with Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones and Jimmy Woo, Nick flies to the Hate-Monger's hidden lair. It's just in time, because he's planning to obliterate all of mankind so that the Earth can be inherited by a new master race.
With the help of Laura Brown, who was acting as an undercover agent, Adolf Hitler is killed again. But you know what they say: You just can't keep a bad man down.
Captain Marvel #10
The story itself is only average quality, but the front cover is brilliant. According to the Marvel Database, the cover was drawn by Marie Severin.
Title: Die, Traitor!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Number One
Regulars: Yon-Rogg, Una, Carol Danvers
The splash page shown here takes place at the end of the story. So let's start at the beginning.....
Captain Marvel is ordered to investigate the organisation that was responsible for building the giant robot that we saw in the last two issues, and if possible he should ally himself with its leader, known only as Number One.
As Walt Lawson he's travelling by car with Carol Danvers, when he sees the occupants of another car attempting to shoot them. He jumps out of the car, pulling Carol with himself. While he's distracted by a flying dinosaur the occupants of the other car kidnap Carol and say they want to talk to Walt Lawson. It's the so-called Organisation, still attempting to kill Dr. Lawson. Captain Marvel goes to the meeting place.
Captain Marvel fights with the Organisation and kills Number One. For this he's considered a traitor to the Kree, and Yon-Rogg orders his execution.
X-Men #53
Title: The Rage of Blastaar!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Barry Smith
X-Men: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, Iceman
Villain: Blastaar
Marvel Girl is experimenting with a device invented by Professor X that turns her thoughts into radio waves. This attracts Blastaar, who's been floating in the Negative Zone since Fantastic Four #53.
I don't quite understand the physics in this issue, even within the fantastic confines of the Marvel Universe. Blastaar says that he's afraid to touch the Earth, because he would be destroyed in an anti-matter explosion. Why? That didn't happen last time he was on Earth. Also, how did the machine draw Blastaar to Earth? Last time he needed a door.
Most of all, I don't understand Cyclops' scientific explanation of why Blastaar accidentally died after wasting his energy fighting with ice mannequins created by Iceman as a distraction. Does Arnold Drake know what he's talking about? I'm not saying that Stan Lee's scientific explanations were always scientifically accurate, but at least they made sense.
Iceman has advanced to the top of my hate list. "Sometimes I think we made our biggest goof when we gave women the vote". That's disgusting male chauvinism. I wouldn't even speak words like that as a joke.
This is the first comic drawn by the British artist Barry Smith. While visiting America in 1968 he drew five comics for Marvel, after which he went home. Was that even legal? Two years later he received a work permit and returned to America to become a regular artist at Marvel.
Title: Welcome to the club, Beast!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Artist: Werner Roth
X-Men: Professor X, Cyclops, Angel, Iceman, Beast
Hank McCoy rebels against the Conquistador, but he's too weak to overcome him. Professor X and the X-Men rescue him.
Curiously, Professor X states that he has telekinetic powers. That isn't true, is it? It looks like another Arnold Drake mistake.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #167 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Rawhide Kid #68 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #63 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Captain Savage and his Battlefield Raiders #11 (Archie Goodwin, Dick Ayers)
Not Brand Echh #12 (Roy Thomas, Marie Severin)
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