This month Marvel introduces two new comics. Rather than rely on his main theme of super-hero comics, Stan Lee is diversifying into romance and horror comics. It could be argued that the long-running "Millie The Model" comic and its spin-offs are romance comics, but they're primarily comedy stories. "My Love" is a comic that tells serious stories in an anthology format, without recurring characters.
The comic was hosted by Suzan Lane, a new employee at Marvel. Each month she answered questions about romantic issues. Here is how she introduced herself in the first issue:
I find it amusing that she writes "This book is created for you by girls not too different from yourself". It was Stan Lee who wrote all the stories for the first 13 issues.
The comic ran for four years on a bi-monthly schedule, alternating with "Our Love Story", which will start next month. After this it turned into a reprint magazine.
The second new comic this month is a horror anthology magazine. This is a surprise to me. Marvel specialised in horror and science fiction anthology stories throughout the 1950's, with titles like "Strange Tales", "Journey Into Mystery", "Tales Of Suspense" and "Tales To Astonish". In the 1960's the anthology stories were phased out, and these comics were filled with super-hero stories.
Most of the issues contained three stories by different writers. For instance, in the first issue the stories were written by Jim Steranko, Johnny Craig and Stan Lee.
The comic ran for nine issues on a bi-monthly schedule, after which it was renamed "Creatures on the Loose".
Fantastic Four #90
Title: The Skrull takes a Slave!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Crystal
Villain: Mole Man, Slaver (Skrull)
Regulars: Susan Richards, Alicia Masters, Baby
Last issue the Fantastic Four defeated the Mole Man, and they have him tied up as a prisoner. They release him, and he scurries back below the Earth. Why?
"A man can be arrested for illegal parking, but there's actually no law against trying to conquer the planet". Is that true? I want to hear Matt Murdock's opinion on the subject.
Reed and Susan still haven't named their baby after ten months. This is getting ridiculous. I still think they should call him Victor.
The Fantastic Four don't have much time to stare at the cute little unnamed baby on their visiphone. (TM). The Mole Man sends signals to destroy their home. I hope Susan didn't pay too much for it.
The Thing walks into the city to meet Alicia. The Skrull known as the Slaver tricks him by impersonating Reed Richards. He captures him and takes him to space to an unspecified destination; unspecified until next month, at least.
Amazing Spider-Man #76
Title: The Lizard Lives!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Lizard
Regulars: Aunt May, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, Captain Stacy, Joe Robertson
Guests: Human Torch
The longer Curt Connors is the Lizard, the more his humanity fades away. Eventually, all he wants is revenge on Spider-Man for defeating him in the past. The last time was in Amazing Spider-Man #45. Spider-Man is in a dilemma, because he considers Dr. Connors to be his friend. He wants to defeat him without seriously hurting him.
When Spider-Man falls from a rooftop in the final battle, he's saved by the Human Torch, who takes up the fight against the Lizard. Lying weakened, Spider-Man is worried that the Human Torch will kill the Lizard.
The Crazy Credits call Sam Rosen hammy. That's not called for.
For months John Buscema has been described as the comic's innovator and Jim Mooney as the illustrator. It's unsure what this means. It's generally accepted that Buscema was the artist and Mooney was the inker.
Captain America #117
Title: The Coming of the Falcon!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Red Skull, Exiles (General Ching, Iron Hand Hauptmann, Cadavus, Gruning,Krushki, Baldini), Mordok, AIM
Regulars: Falcon
Captain America is sent to the small Caribbean island where the Exiles have been trapped by the Red Skull. In later comics this is called Exile Island. Even in the Red Skull's body he's a skilled fighter. It's lucky for him that the Red Skull has kept himself fit.
In the fight a falcon irritates the Exiles, giving Captain America a chance to run away. He takes off the Red Skull's mask. He finds a man from New York City, the owner of the trained falcon. The bird is called Redwing, but Captain America doesn't ask the man what his name is. Strange. He went to the island when the Exiles were looking for someone with a trained falcon, but when he arrived he saw that the island's inhabitants were being treated like slaves, so he's taken their side.
Captain America suggests that the man should make a costume and present himself as a super-hero. He puts on a snazzy skin-tight green costume with touches of orange and yellow, and he calls himself the Falcon.
The Avengers #68
Title: And we battle for the Earth!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Sal Buscema
Avengers: Thor, Goliath, Vision, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Black Panther
Villain: Ultron-6 / Ultimate Ultron
Guests: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones
This is the first comic drawn by Sal Buscema, the younger brother of John Buscema. Previously he had worked as an inker, beginning in Silver Surfer #4. Over the next 40 years he went on to become one of Marvel's most prolific artists.
Ultron pulls the level to unleash a nuclear explosion in New York City, but it doesn't work. Vision has destroyed the machinery. Ultron leaves to make new plans.
The Avengers tempt Ultron out of hiding by arranging a speech about Ultron to be held at the United Nations. The speaker, Dr. Maclain, is Hank Pym in disguise, though he's been hypnotised to forget who he really is. That's a dangerous strategy for a man who already suffers from schizophrenia. Ultron attempts to absorb Dr. Maclain's knowledge on robotics, but all he gets is the pre-programmed message, "Thou shalt not kill". This drives him mad and he attempts to destroy himself, but the explosion is contained by a shield made of Vibranium.
Why isn't Iron Man in this story? He was with the Avengers last issue, but he's missing now. Maybe he had a dinner date with Janice Cord.
Iron Man #17
Title: The Beginning of the End!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: George Tuska
Villain: Midas, Madame Masque, Morgan Stark, Tony Stark LMD
Regulars: Jarvis, Janice Cord
I admit that Archie Goodwin has been my least favourite writer for Marvel so far, but starting in this issue he has some very original ideas.
While flying back from Africa, Iron Man is attacked by a flying vehicle belonging to someone called Midas. This delays his return to his Long Island factory. At the same time someone called Madame Masque causes explosions to sabotage the factory. We've met her before, but her identity isn't revealed yet.
By a freak accident, the explosions charge the Tony Stark LMD that was used to fool the Mandarin in Iron Man #11. It becomes self-aware and takes over Tony Stark's life, believing it can be more efficient than a weak human with heart problems. The real Tony Stark is cast out as an imposter.
Tony Stark's cousin Morgan, still plagued by his gambling addiction, is now working for Midas, giving him information on Tony's factories.
Madame Masque takes Tony Stark captive.
Thor #168
Title: Galactus Found!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Villain: Galactus, Thermal Man
Regulars: Odin, Balder, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg
Guests: Watcher
The Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg) travel to Earth to assist Balder while he's recovering from the injuries inflicted by Loki last issue. They hear about a new menace called the Thermal Man, a giant android created by Communist China.
Thor embarks on his quest to find Galactus, but it's a very short search. Galactus has been waiting for him, because he wants someone to talk to. He begins to tell Thor how he came to be.
In Galactus' story the Watcher is mentioned. Stan Lee obviously meant this to be the same Watcher who has appeared in Fantastic Four comics, but in the post-canon years this Watcher was retconned to be one of his ancestors.
Daredevil #56
Title: And Death Came Riding!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Death's Head
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Debbie Harris
Now that Starr Saxon is dead, Daredevil's secret identity is safe. He swings to the offices of Nelson & Murdock to talk to Karen Page, but she's gone home to see her father, the famous scientist Dr. Paxton Page, the man who invented the Cobalt Bomb. He lives in Fagan Corners, Vermont.
When Karen arrives she finds out that her father has been kidnapped by a ghostly figure called Death's Head. He warns her to go back to New York as quickly as possible. In the meantime, Daredevil arrives, looking for Karen. Death's Head fights and defeats Daredevil. He dresses Daredevil in his own costume and puts him on a horse galloping towards the police.
Sub-Mariner #17
Title: From the Stars, the Stalker!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Kormok, Dynorr the Stalker
Regulars: Vashti, Dorma
Prince Namor doesn't trust the priest Kormok, but he has no justification for acting against him.
Kormok decrees that Neptune's Trident has to be renewed by being dipped in the eternal flames on the site of the original Kingdom of Atlantis. Namor swims and finds himself in a trap. An alien race, led by Dynorr the Stalker, wants to steal the Earth's water and transport it back to their own planet. First he wants to capture Namor as a specimen, though it's not clear why. Kormok has delivered Namor to him. Namor is sucked up into space.
The Incredible Hulk #119
Title: A Clash of Titans
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Maximus, Aireo, Falcona, Leonus, Nebulo, Stallior, Timberius
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross
Do you remember that Maximus and his followers fled from the Inhumans' Grand Refuge at the end of Fantastic Four #83? Did you wonder where they went? They've gone to the island of Costa Salvador in the Caribbean. Bruce Banner wakes up on the island and finds the inhabitants in a trance. Rays are emitting from a giant statue in the marketplace in the centre of the island. Everyone else falls under its spell, but not Bruce Banner. The strain of resisting its hypnosis turns him into the Hulk.
The Hulk fights with the six servants of Maximus: Aireo, Falcona, Leonus, Nebulo, Stallior and Timberius. I can never remember their names. The Hulk has the upper hand. President Nixon has sent fighter jets to the island, because the lack of communication makes him think an enemy country has invaded. Maximus points at the planes and tells the Hulk that they're the real enemies, not the Inhumans.
X-Men #60
Title: In the Shadow of Sauron!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Neal Adams
X-Men: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, Iceman
Villain: Sauron (Dr. Lykos)
Regulars: Alex Summers, Lorna Dane
Guests: Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Toad, Mastermind, Blob, Unus, Vanisher, Banshee
The X-Men brink Alex Summers to Dr. Lykos, a doctor who used to work with Professor X. Unknown to them, he's a mutant who drains the energy from other people. Mutants in particular make him stronger. After taking energy from Alex Summers, he turns into a pterodactyl form and calls himself Sauron. The Angel challenges him first.
Captain Marvel #16
Title: Behind the Mask of Zo
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Zarek, Ronan, Yon-Rogg
Regulars: Carol Danvers
Captain Marvel is stronger than the followers of Tam-Bor, but he doesn't resist them, because he wants to be captured and brought to Tam-Bor itself. When inside the statue he sees that it isn't an ancient relic, it's a modern scientific construction. Before he can destroy Tam-Bor, Ronan appears. All the powers that Zo has given Mar-Vell aren't enough to protect him against Ronan's attack.
A Sentry intervenes. instructed by the Kree Supreme Intelligence to protect Mar-Vell. Ronan fights and loses. Mar-Vell is brought to the planet Hala to meet the Supreme Intelligence. He's told that Zo was a fake. Illusions and scientific devices made Mar-Vell think he had received new powers. Behind Zo is Zarek, the second-in-command in the Kree Empire. Together with Ronan he's planning to overthrow the Supreme Intelligence. Yon-Rogg is also part of the conspiracy.
The Supreme Intelligence has already captured Zarek and Ronan. He wants to kill Yon-Rogg by destroying the Earth, but Captain Marvel asks for permission to handle him himself. The Supreme Intelligence agrees. He gives Mar-Vell new powers – genuine this time – and a new costume.
That's a lot better than his ugly old green and white costume, isn't it?
Captain Marvel flies back towards Earth, but he's sucked into the Negative Zone.
Silver Surfer #8
Title: Now strikes the Ghost!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Mephisto, Flying Dutchman (Joost van Straaten)
Regulars: Shalla Bal
Mephisto has been observing the Silver Surfer ever since he was defeated in Silver Surfer #3. He's determined to win the Silver Surfer's soul.
Centuries ago, Mephisto won the soul of Joost van Straaten, a sea captain, by tempting him with immeasurable wealth. Mephisto brings him back into the world and makes him a ghost with supernatural powers. He gives him a ship that flies through the sky.
According to a note from Stan Lee, this was originally written as a 40-page story, but from this issue onwards it will be a monthly 20-page comic, so the story has been split into two parts. Stan says that this was in response to demands from the readers, but I doubt it. Until now they've been paying 25 cents a month for 50 pages (40 pages Silver Surfer and 10 pages Watcher). Now they'll be paying 15 cents a month for 20 pages. Is that really what they wanted?
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #14
Title: A Day in the Life
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Hydra
Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Countess Valentina
The last issue ended on a cliffhanger, in which Nick Fury unmasked the Super-Patriot and saw his own face. This month we find out that all the events in Nick Fury, Agent Of Shield #13 were a dream. After killing Agent Rickard in Nick Fury, Agent Of Shield #12, Fury was arrested for treason, because nobody knew Rickard was an undercover Hydra agent. Nick Fury was put into a machine which monitored his dreams while he was drugged to dream about his greatest fear; and his greatest fear was that his patriotism would make him turn bad.
In this issue Nick Fury is back in the real world, but he's still being watched closely by his fellow agents. There are repeated attempts by Hydra to kill him for the whole day. At the end it's revealed that the man who examined Nick Fury in the dream machine, Dr. Kraus, is also a Hydra agent, and he's been using the information he learnt in the dreams to plan Hydra's attacks.
In past issues I criticised the artist Frank Springer for unsuccessfully trying to copy Jim Steranko's style. In this issue Herb Trimpe is the latest artist trying to imitate Steranko's style. While it's definitely not Steranko, I have to say that it's a well drawn comic.
I have less praise for the writer Gary Friedrich. The whole last issue was an imaginary story? That's a plot worthy of Brand Echh! I'm surprised Stan Lee didn't step in as editor to block the story.
Doctor Strange #182
Title: And Juggernaut makes three!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Nightmare, Juggernaut
Regulars: Clea, Wong
Guests: Eternity
This month the title and the credits are printed on separate pages, so I'll show you both pages.
Doctor Strange resorts to desperate measures in his fight against Nightmare. He enters the Crimson Cosmos of Cyttorak, where the Juggernaut has been trapped since X-Men #46. He frees the Juggernaut and calls on him to follow him to Nightmare. On arrival, the Juggernaut realises immediately that his only chance to return to Earth is to defeat Nightmare. While they're fighting Doctor Strange stands on the sidelines, recovering his strength.
When he realises that he's been tricked, the Juggernaut fires a magic bolt that accidentally frees Eternity. Eternity says that he could have freed himself at any time. He returns the universe to its original state before Nightmare altered reality, apart from one small detail. He's changed Stephen Strange's name to Stephen Sanders, offering him a secret identity.
Gene Colan always produces beautiful art and imaginative layouts, but in this issue he's excelled himself. It's difficult for me to pick just one example, I would have to post the whole comic to show how good it is. I'll limit myself to this one two-page drawing.
Other comics published this month:
Millie the Model #174 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
Chili #5 (Stan Lee, Stan Goldberg)
My Love #1 (Stan Lee, John Romita)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #70 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Captain Savage and his Battlefield Raiders #16 (Arnold Drake, Don Heck)
Tower of Shadows #1 (Jim Steranko, Jim Steranko)
Note: The Avengers annual released this month contains reprints only.
This is a very strange message from Stan Lee on the Bullpen Bulletin page. An end to continued stories? They're what make Marvel so special! It's what sets them apart from Brand Echh. Let's wait to see the fan reaction over the next few months.
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