July 1966: Where Pounces The Black Panther!

Daredevil 18
Our story


Still using the ruse that he might be Daredevil to impress Karen, Foggy heads off to a creepy costume shop. The head proprietor is a big, sullen goon who occasionally shouts a lot in anger. Foggy has him design a Double D suit specifically for him to hopefully get Karen to marry him. Once he lets the costume shop’s proprietor know it’s to impress a dame, the goon/owner ups the ante by working out a deal where he will dress up like a bad guy and let Foggy defeat him in front of Karen to make the deception look even more impressive.


Once Foggy leaves the shop, we are allowed into the twisted villain’s head, and we learn about what he really wishes to accomplish. Having been jealous of super-heroes for a long time, the costume maker has been working for years on his own battle suit that he believes will allow him to defeat any hero in combat. His outfit has a lot of nifty saw-like contraptions and a powerful helmet. He dubs himself The Gladiator and promises to take out fake Daredevil Foggy so that the real Double D will come out to face him!


The real Daredevil has been monitoring his own friend out of concern that he will brag to the wrong people and villains will come looking to tear him a new one. He trails faux-Daredevil Foggy and the Gladiator to their supposedly fake fight. The Gladiator knocks out Foggy with one blow, so Matt moves in to make the save. While the Gladiator and the real Daredevil are brawling up and down the pier, Karen walks off in a dizzy spell and goes back to the law office. At the office, a mysterious man inquires about the rent, but Karen passes out and is sent to a hospital. Meanwhile, after a tough fight, Daredevil is able to subdue the Gladiator until the police arrive. The story ends with Daredevil mad at Foggy for making him look bad; our hero decides that the best thing for Foggy would be to expose him.

Pretty close

Jack: Wasn’t it nice of Smilin’ Stan to take a writing credit and then note in fine print that Denny O’Neil wrote two thirds of the story?

PE: I wonder if Dandy Denny was impressed. Seems odd that company man Stan would pull up stakes and hoof it "south" in the middle of a deadline. O'Neil would return to DD as its regular writer in 1983, following Frank Miller's epic run on the title.

Tom: I was actually looking forward to reading this issue. I only collected a couple of comic books in my youth that had the Gladiator in them and was always intrigued by what his background might be. I’m pretty sure he never even had his own biography, at least not in the collected editions of Marvel Universe that I owned, so I always had to wonder what his deal was. A former boxer turned hood? An ex-mafia loan shark’s collector who went over the edge? Sure, he might not have won any battles in the comics I had, but just like this issue, he always presented himself in a powerful fashion. Just goes to show that some things are better off left to the imagination, as this origin story proves that the Gladiator might as well have been a distant, mentally impaired cousin of Mr. Fear, owning a costume shop instead of a wax museum. 

PE: This story line reads like vintage Not Brand Ecch! or an issue of Fatman, the Human Flying Saucer. I think it must be Karen Page who's blind if she thinks doughboy Foggy is The Man Without Fear! More like The Man Without Lite Beer. How is it that these dopey and dumpy support acts like Foggy and Happy (and Sleepy and Bashful) end up finding more trouble than their masthead superheroes?

Jack: I always liked the Gladiator, especially his very cool costume. Those rotating wrist blades still make me nervous!

PE: Well, Professor Jack, you won't have to wait too long to see him again. Bizarrely, The Gladiator returns next issue. Evidently, he's got a change of wardrobe too, as he's got green spandex on the cover art but blue on the interior. Seems a pretty silly motive to become a bad guy though. Spend your entire life savings, invent nifty gadgets and then break the law all because superheroes rub you the wrong way.

Jack: The scenes down by the docks are very atmospheric. Hmm . . . down by the docks . . . it’ll be dark . . . Professor Matthew, Foggy should have brought his big spoon!

PE: As silly as the "Foggy Nelson is Daredevil" arc has become, I can't wait to see how it's resolved.

The Avengers 30
Our story


It’s a crisis of confidence among the Avengers as the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver think their powers are diminishing and Goliath feels like a freak. The brother and sister team head back to Eastern Europe, hoping that the old country will revive their abilities, while high pockets heads to South America to seek aid from his old professor, Dr. Anton. Meanwhile, Hawkeye is left to take on the Swordsman and Power Man alone, with the Black Widow waiting in the wings as either friend or foe! In South America, Goliath discovers the Keeper of the Flame, a nutty priest who threatens Dr. Anton.

Janet van Dyne wins hottest
Marvel babe for the umpteenth
month in a row!

MB: Man, this is the goods, starting with another stunning Goliath cover that features those “floating heads” of which many of us older readers are so absurdly fond. This issue is an excellent showcase for two of my favorite characters; I’m prouder of Hawkeye here than I have been since he joined the team, and however foolhardy his decision to tackle the Swordsman and Power Man single-handedly may have been, his motives are completely understandable. As for Hank, just seeing his new duds and stature—so well served by the dynamic Heck/Giacoia art—gets me juiced enough to forgive silliness like his pointing the air car south and ending up on Dr. Anton’s doorstep (despite being a man, he obviously stopped somewhere to ask for directions!).


PE: To me, this comes off as a recycling of the Inhumans arc we just read over at Fantastic Four. Race of quasi-humans hiding in a "hidden land" who may or may not be peaceful. And Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch suddenly realizing their power is draining and the perfect solution has to be returning to their home land makes me scratch my head.


Jack: It's funny that Professor Matthew should mention the floating heads. Whenever I see an old Justice League cover with the heads going down both sides in columns I still get excited!


PE: I'd like to know when "Ol' high-pockets" started referring to himself in the third person. Where and when did he get the super-strength he's constantly boasting of? He's still just a ten foot tall scientist with a really bad case of "Woe is me!"









Tales to Astonish 81

Sub-Mariner
Our story


The Sub-Mariner is in a horrid mood as he believes that his lady Dorma has betrayed him and eloped with the evil Krang. Sub-Mariner even puts relatives of Dorma’s into the dungeons for payback. Krang has created a chemical that will change skin color so that he and Dorma both look human. His plan is for them to go to the surface world where they will blend in. Namor is alerted of their actions and takes flight after them.

Tom: My favorite series that I’ve never read before has regained its ground! Namor’s series continues to come off as more mature and fun when compared to this week’s Daredevil/Foggy impostor angle. As always, great artwork for this comic.

Stan gets preachy!

Jack: After reading quite a few Sub-Mariner stories in Tales to Astonish, I am beginning to get impatient for answers to two questions: why does Subby have pink skin when the rest of the Atlanteans have blue skin, and why does he have little wings on his ankles? I vaguely remember him being able to fly, but I haven’t seen any evidence of it yet. Krang’s machine to change skin color seems strangely prescient in this post-Michael Jackson world!


PE: Interestingly enough, Subby is portrayed as a villain (albeit a love-confused one) for the first time in this, his own strip. We've seen him fill the heavy role over in Fantastic Four umpteen times but he's usually written as a man (or fish) of honor and righteousness in the Tales that Astonish us. Here, he's a mad dog (or ornery catfish), lashing out at the innocents around him. With the colors painted such a grey, this strip only gets better. Dorma with human skin instantly vaults to Number One (with a bullet) on the Marvel Babe-alicious chart. Damn, that Colan could cook.

Kirk, Uhura and Spock

Hulk
Our story


While viewing secret hidden footage of one of the Hulk’s last escapes against Ross and the military, several hooded spies relate to each other how they would like to capture the Orion Missile that is one of the U.S. military’s most powerful resources. They contact a former pro baseball pitcher who is now acting as a villainous agent named Boomerang. He agrees to capture the missile for the right price.


Back in the underground catacombs of the earth, the battle between the Mole man and Tyrannus rages on. Now back to his human form, Bruce Banner coaxes out of Tyrannus that that he has let the kidnapped Talbot, Betty Ross, and Rick Jones return to the surface world, as they were no longer of any use to him. We see the three back in the desert, but Boomerang kidnaps Betty with the promise of letting her go if Ross hands over the Orion Missile. Back underground, Tyrannus finds moisture on the ground that he believes will save his once youthful looks. Bruce Banner finds the machine to transport him back home.


Jack: Beam me up Scotty! Tyrannus’s matter transmitter beat Star Trek to the punch by about six months.

Tom: Lots of crazy Hulk stuff going on, and for the better in my humble opinion. I remember Boomerang as a Spidey villain, among others, and actually think that his old arsenal of mini-boomerangs is a better idea than him having full-sized ones like he would in later comic book appearances. At least it was something different.

The Mole Men look silly!

Jack: I always think of Boomerang as the guy with all the faucet washers. There is very little Hulk in this Hulk story. I find I like Bill Everett’s civilians better than his Hulk, though I have to admit that no one has yet done a great job on the Hulk with any consistency.


PE: It's apparent to me, with this issue, that Stan gave Bashful Bill Everett two oars and little else and told him to row up Niagara Falls. Not only does Everett's Jolly Green Giant resemble nothing we've seen before but his alter ego seems to be a new man as well. Who is this guy? Not the stringbean Banner we're accustomed to, that's fersure. Bill's art is alternately frustrating and retro-fun. Many of his background characters might just as well be stick figures but for some reason I get a big kick out of Everett's art regardless. I find the plot, however, to be more of the meandering mumblings that plagued that horrendous Leader multi-issue arc we just escaped not too long ago.








The X-Men 22
Our story


We once again launch into our tale in the Danger Room, where Professor X has created a robot menace to best his students (thank goodness he's not an evil genius!). Anything to teach them a lesson in the importance of teamwork, which fortunately will come in handy as the mutants face Count Nefaria and his team of Strange Tales rejects. Each member of the team is taken down one-by-one by the likes of the Plantman, the Scarecrow, the Porcupine, the Eel, and the Unicorn. Brought before Count Nefaria and chained up, the X-Men are then offered the chance to join him (a mailed invite might have been more warmly received). When they decline, Nefaria explains his plan to steal the US Capital... in the next issue.


PE: Is it me or is Professor X always dismissing his X-Kids for a vacation just before they're attacked by nefarious forces? If I was team leader Cyclops, I'd politely decline the offer. LOL-panel of the issue: When Warren (The Angel) hears over the radio that an X-Man has been observed over Central Park, he wonders aloud if it might be The Blob! The Blob? Has the obese fifth-tier bad guy joined Jenny Craig?

JS: You know you're in trouble when Cyclops says, "This must be homecoming week for obscure villains!"


PE: In what solar system do the following qualify as "super villains:" The Plantman, The Scarecrow, The Porcupine, The Eel , and The Unicorn? Count Nefaria (himself a sixth-tier baddie last seen in Tales of Suspense #67) must have been turned down by The Vulture, Doctor Doom, The Mandarin, and just about any quality villain on the market. It's a soup that will surely remind those of you who have stuck with us from the beginning how difficult it was to get through those early issues of TOS, TTA and ST with our eyelids open. Add in The Maggia for muscle and the panels start to get really crowded at points.

JS: Again we get an issue that feels like filler, yet filler that will carry over for at least one more issue. Roy takes some time to play out the romantic angles... with Warren taking out Jean AND Scott while the rest of the boys go out on their own. At this rate Peter Parker is going to land Mary Jane Watson before Scott and Jean hook up. My favorite panel has to be where The Beast mistake a sixties long-hair rock and roller for his date Vera (which frankly doesn't bode well for Vera).

The Amazing Spider-Man 38
Our story


Average everyman Joe Smith has flunked out of boxing and wrestling but now his manager has gotten him something he's sure to excel at: an extra in a Hollywood horror film as the alien monster. Poor Joe can't even get that right as, when he lays into a balsa set for the cameras, he's accidentally electrocuted and contaminated with chemicals lying around. The shock makes Joe super-powered but it also makes him super angry. His temper is uncontrollable. Spider-Man finds out very quickly that this unnamed bad guy is not just a lightweight.


Meanwhile, lots of subplots in Peter Parker's world: Norman Osborn hires underworld thugs to dispatch Spidey; Peter finds out that Betty Brant didn't elope with Ned Leeds when Ned confronts Parker about the whereabouts of the missing secretary; the newly collegiate Parker must ignore the usual cattle prods of Flash Thompson, Harry Osborn, and Gwen Stacy; and May Parker's favorite nephew misses out on his introduction to (future wife) Mary Jane Watson yet again.

The Green Goblin masquerades as Doctor Strange in street clothes

PE: More of those awkward pre-unmasking moments of Norman Osborn. In a way, it's hard to see how anyone would be surprised to learn The Goblin's identity by the villainous way Stan has Osborn carrying on, it's also hard to understand why Osborn would put on a fake mustache and present himself to the hoods as a regular guy. In fact, why would a sociopath like The Green Goblin hire out in the first place? Other than that nit, I really liked the story. Sure, Joe Smith's "origin" is dime a dozen, but there's so much going on in these pages, the main event comes off more like the undercard. The Ned Leeds encounter is intriguing and - I can't believe I'm about to type this - I'm very interested to see what's going on with Betty Brant. Knowing that Gwen becomes Peter's girl and Harry a close friend makes the antagonism displayed head-scratching but, again, I'm along for the ride.


MB: The titles of Ditko’s final efforts show what a study in contrasts they are: right from its generic cover (and I might add that it’s bad news when both the cover and the splash page are divided up into panels), “Just a Guy Named Joe” revels in the ordinariness of its, shall we say, anti-villain. Nothing wrong with that, particularly in light of the fireworks about to be unleashed, but it’s as though Stevey set the bar very low for himself, including another totally superfluous sound-effects page. Socially, he leaves Spidey treading water—despite the fact that Betty’s departure several issues ago allowed some of us to hope he was ready to move on—down to one last iteration of the wheezy “Oh, Peter, you just missed that nice Mary Jane Watson” gag.

PE: As Professor Matthew notes, Ditko seems to be on auto-pilot as that door is smacking him in the behind (probably serving as an encore after Stan's expensive shoe). His backgrounds look unfinished. Hell, some of his foregrounds do as well. A character's face may be merely a few pencil lines. After Osborn Sr. dramatically rips twenty thousand dollars in half and gives part of it to an underworld goon, promising the other half on delivery of Spidey in a coffin, I would have liked to see the follow-up story where the thugs have to tape the bills back together.

Tales of Suspense 79

Iron Man
Our story


Left near powerless and wandering the streets, Iron Man ponders what a sad, strange trip it's been. Meanwhile, Krang has high-tailed it from Atlantis, Lady Dorma in tow. Surfacing at the waterfront, Krang decides that defeating Iron Man might get Dorma to treat him with a little more respect. Krang's "twin-bolt Alpha Beam blast" knocks the wind out of Shellhead but, with an assist from Dorma, Iron Man manages to send Krang's ship back to the depths of the sea. Left near powerless yet again (do we sense a pattern?), the Iron-clad Avenger must speed back to his factory to recharge, only to find an obviously annoyed Sub-Mariner. Some days, you just can't catch a break.


PE: "I think I'll stop at Pepper's and change. But I'd have to reveal my secret identity. Oh well, I'm gonna die anyway and I need to see her just one more time. Oh, I'm so stubborn. Why can't I love? Hey, here's an open fire exit. I'll change here. But I'll go up and see Pepper anyway. I might be dying and I just need to see her one more time. Damn, she's out. Of course, she's a hot fox. She's got a date. Wonder what Foggy Happy is up to tonight. I've just got to see him one more time before I check out. Damn, he's out. Wonder if he and Karen Pepper are hooking up. Even The Avengers are out of town. What can a Golden Avenger do on a Saturday night when his circuits are all shorted and he's dying? I'll turn myself in to the police. Yep, that's it. Hold on, that would be embarrassing." 6 pages of this tripe. By page seven, you're screaming for The Puppet Master and The Trapster to team up again.

MB: As if the continued cross-pollination between this book and Strange Tales were not enough, we now get a Sub-Mariner cross-over that starts here and winds up in next month’s TOS and Astonish…although, as we shall see, the fact that Colan pencils both strips provides less continuity than expected. Namor doesn’t even show up until literally the last panel, which isn’t too surprising since half the story is devoted to Tony moping over his personal and professional woes while looking for a fix of electricity. Of course the playing field isn’t very level, with Iron Man practically down to his last joule already when Krang attacks him out of the blue, but true to form, Dorma provides an equalizer by risking her life to thwart Krang’s scheme.

PE: A little bit of left field thinking on Kang's part? "I know Dorma's still sweet on Namor so I'll destroy Iron Man to show her who's boss!" Right. The "cross-pollination" (a brilliant term used by my colleague above but which others might amend to "cross-pollution") on exhibit here could very well be the first instance of the deep overlapping that would flow through Marvel's veins for the next 40+ years and give rise to asterisks in pert near every panel. I know there have been some minor tie-ins in the past but this is involved. Even though it means we have to get lost now and then ("* For the last time Puppet Master used his Zircon clay, see Fantastic Four #89"), I love the shared-city (and shared-moment) vibe. This is the first issue in which veteran Jack Abel uses his real name rather than the "Gary Michaels" pseudonym he'd used since #73. Not even Colan's mastery can save this one. If I was a comic buyer in 1966, I'd be pissed by the cover's cheat.


Captain America
Our story


The Red Skull has been resuscitated from a decades-long suspended animation by "Them." Joining forces with the terrorist organization, The Skull begins his plot to destroy Captain America by leading the Avenger to believe he is losing his mind.

PE: A major disappointment in that The Red Skull's presence is explained away with a lame story of suspended animation gas. Was the scenario that led the Skull and his two cronies to be buried under tons of rubble thought out beforehand? If so, this guy's a genius. Did he have similar "escape hatches" all around his compound and i he was such a genius why didn't anyone come around to unbury him, say, twenty minutes (rather than years) later? One of the most slipshod re-intros of a major villain I've read. The Skull's not even introduced in shadows or a backed-turn pose. He's just suddenly there. Kirby and Lee knew better by this time.


MB: My collection is a little light this month, but some of what I have contributes a lot to the mythos; in fact, this story’s almost a little too much to take in, as we learn that the Red Skull not only survived WW II via a suspended-animation accident a bit similar to Cap’s icy slumber, but also is affiliated with those pesky varmints, Them. Stan, coyly calling A.I.M. (see this month’s S.H.I.E.L.D. yarn) “still another secret organization,” introduces still another seminal tile in the ever-growing mosaic of the Marvel Universe, in the form of what “well may be the most potent device in all the world,” the Cosmic Cube. And we get a dollop of uncharacteristic wit from Cap: “It wasn’t me, Doc! It was just an hallucination—like you said!”

PE: More cross-pollination this issue. It must have been so easy for a reader to get lost if you'd pick up Strange Tales #146 before Tales of Suspense #79. But, as with the Iron Man/Sub-Mariner story above, I admire that the Stan and Jack put a little more effort into creating the shared world feel.




Strange Tales 146

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Our Story


Having traced the chemical adversary featured in Suspense #78 to a swamp, Fury leads in a team that is attacked by amphibious androids, confirming his theory that Them can breed artificial beings for any purpose. Following these fishmen to their base, the S.H.I.E.L.D. squad encounters two agents of Them, who after a stalemate are trampled to death by the accidental release of their own hammer-hand androids. Intercut with all of this is a visit to the Helicarrier by Count Bornag Royale, who hails from “a neutral European nation,” represents the scientific cartel called Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.), immediately gets into a kerfuffle with Fury’s personal security men, and then impugns his intelligence eight ways from Sunday.

Shameless plug #99999

MB: Although the possible connection between A.I.M.—here named for the first time—and Them is not made overt until the last page, and in spite of the former’s allegedly being “completely above suspicion,” we seasoned Marvel veterans were merely waiting for the other shoe to drop (having seen those telltale yellow uniforms over in last month’s Suspense). However, given the number of times members of each group compare its intelligence unfavorably with that of Fury et alia, it might have been as obvious to contemporary readers as it is in hindsight. Sadly, Stan’s script is sub-par, peppered with ponderous expository dialogue and other lines that call attention to same, e.g., “Thanks for the info, Junior!”; even Fury’s Marvel plug seems desperate rather than clever.

No doubt Kirby was involved!

Jack: Other than the first appearance of A.I.M., I found this story strangely uninvolving. It seems like the Nick Fury series got off to a bang-up start but has now settled into a slow period.


PE: Couldn't agree more, Professor Jack. This is a series that I'm dreading right now. There's no flow to it. It's just one "hilarious" Fury insult after another followed by boring androids and lots of running around. If this is what we can expect from the Lee-Heck team in the near future, Strange Tales #151 can't come fast enough for me.










Doctor Strange
Our Story


Dormammu is determined to destroy Dr. Strange, but he fears Eternity would stand in his way. He travels to Eternity’s dimension and encases the being in a trap. He then tricks Dr. Strange into coming to his dimension by means of a false plea from Clea. Dr. Strange and Dormammu battle briefly before Eternity bursts out of his prison and confronts Dormammu. Their battle appears to destroy them both, and Dr. Strange is saved by the Ancient One, who draws him back to our world. Dormammu’s seeming death frees Clea, Baron Mordo, and everyone else who had been under his spell. Clea finally reveals her name to Dr. Strange before he goes home to rest.


MB: It’s clearly here, in the aptly titled “The End—at Last!,” that Ditko, aided and abetted by Denny O’Neil, decided to go out with a bang, tying up 17 months’ worth of plotlines in a breakneck but satisfying fashion. Within a mere 10 pages, Dormammu makes his move, Eternity returns, the Ancient One bails out his disciple instead of vice versa for a change, Clea and Baron Mordo are released from extra-dimensional banishment—along with a cadre of potential allies—and Clea gets a name after a trifling 21 issues. Of course, the centerpiece is the “final cataclysmic clash” between Dormammu and Eternity, which necessitates not one but two full-page shots, and from which (spoiler alert!) Dormammu will need some time to reconstitute.


Jack: A very impressive exit for Steve Ditko, this story sure feels like his big farewell to the character of Dr. Strange. The art is as good as anything I’ve seen from him, and he really goes wild with full and half-page panels that burst with vibrant color. We finally learn Clea’s name and I have a funny feeling this is not the end of either Dormammu or Eternity.

JS: I was a bit surprised that after longing for Clea, Strange is reunited with her, only for them to split up and go their separate ways—for now...




The Mighty Thor 130
Our Story


The Mighty Thor has vowed to fight for the freedom of fellow immortal, Hercules, who has been tricked into signing an unbreakable contract that will make him replace Pluto as ruler of the Netherworld forever. The stakes are high; if Thor fails, he will be bound to suffer said fate instead. Pluto scoffs at Thor as the Thunder God traverses the dimensional door into the dreaded realm below… First up is the giant Cerberus, guardian of the depths. Though fearful to behold, Thor dispatches him with no quarter. Hercules, forbidden to fight, and sapped of much of his strength, is about to be “crowned” by the hordes when Thor calls out his challenge to the assembled warriors, whose means of menace are many. In the ensuing battle Thor is captured in a turbulence chamber; an icy chill crosses his heart, and that of his beloved Jane Foster. While she ponders the whereabouts of her beloved Thor, her mysterious roommate Tana Nile has compelled Jane to go “far away,” out of reach of Thor when he might return. Jane, unable to resist Tana’s power, senses that something is amiss with Thor. With renewed motivation, the Thunder god breaks free of the chamber, and neither the grip of the Crusher nor a shower of arrows can stop him. Ironically, it is Pluto who calls off the battle; realizing that he would not win, and that his place is in the world below. He tears up the Olympian contract, and Thor and Hercules depart together.


In Tales Of Asgard, Thor and the Warriors Three continue their efforts to free the realm of Muspelheim from the barbarian warriors of Harokin. When Thor defeats him in battle, (sharing something of a likeness) Thor passes himself off as Harokin, to better find the deadly weapon, the warlock’s eye.


JB: This is a worthy conclusion to the most epic saga yet in the pages of Thor. The cover is beautiful; the split-screen between Olympus and the Netherworld is a stunner. The battle feels a little too easy for Thor; as my fellow professors have mentioned, those few pages lost to the TOA story would fill things out a touch more completely. The symbiotic moment as Thor/Jane feel each other’s pain is a nice touch, and an indication of the depth of their love that could have been made more of over the preceding months.

PE: Ho-hum. Another issue, another fabulous story magnificently illustrated by "The King," whose art I am being drawn into as we speak. Before we launched this project, I unfairly judged Kirby's work as "rocky." That is, everything looks like a rock. The characters, the landscapes, the buildings. But, having had to delve into each panel of each story to this point, I've begun to appreciate what majesty this man brought to a lot of his comic books, in particular The Mighty Thor. Most Kirby scholars, I'd venture, would hold high his 100-issue run on FF as Jack's pinnacle. I'll argue, not for the first time, that here is where you'll find the best of the best.

MB: The cleverly titled “Thunder in the Netherworld” takes our inter-pantheon mash-up to its ne plus ultra as Thor, despite having troubles of his own, risks all on behalf of former foe Hercules, who is hypocritically jolly toward his new BFF. I found the resolution—Thor prevails not merely by force of arms, but because both his might and the rightness of his cause persuade Pluto to call a halt to the hostilities—satisfying, and Herc’s boorishness, blustering at Pluto after the victory is won, very telling. Alien babe Tana Nile looks more plausibly human than she did last issue, despite there being no change in the remarkably consistent Kirby/Colletta art team, still capable of faces that appear deformed (page 7, panel 2, reprinted left) or too sketchy (page 16, panel 4).


PE: Hercules' vanity and taunting of Pluto in the climax is genius. It beautifully illustrates the yin and yang of the two Gods. While Thor ponders life and love, Herc would rather raise a stein with Goldilocks and mayhap enjoy a few fair maidens. I've gained an enthusiasm for Herc's return visits that I didn't think I'd have. Hercules was never much on my radar as a youngster and my only exposure to him was in The Champions and his mini-series in the early 1980s (neither of which I have fond memories of). My loss. The Tana Nile subplot has captured my fancy and I'm on the edge of my seat to see if Jack and Stan can deliver a reveal worthy of the build-up. Pity the outcasting of Nurse Jane is temporary. As Professor Jim mentioned, the almost psychic link between Thor and Jane in that sequence is handled well, but I'd rather not waste time on the soggy soap. The highlight, for me, is the panel where Thor confides to Pluto that the Underworld is a lot more fun than Earth. Just moments before these two were lusting for each other's blood but, once the joust is over, as in  The Godfather, nothing is personal. It's all business.


JB: You could argue endlessly as to the best “decade” of Thor issues. The 120’s could be it, with the mixing of Greek/Norse legends, and Thor’s greatest trials so far. My personal choice, if only by a hair, would be the upcoming 130’s, which feature a mix of mythology with some great science fiction, some key villains (and allies), and the change of Thor’s love from Jane Foster to Sif (more on that later).




Fantastic Four 52
Our Story


As a gift inviting them to come visit his kingdom, an African chieftain has sent the Fantastic Four a super-fast and highly maneuverable flying craft powered by magnetic waves. An emissary of the Wakanda tribe, ruled by this chieftain, who is called simply the Black Panther, promises a great hunt awaiting them. Intrigued, the F.F. accept the offer. The team surprise Johnny at Metro College where he’s finished his exams and is getting ready for break. The Torch is eager to come, and asks if they’d mind if his college friend Wyatt Wingfoot comes along. They don’t and he does. As our friends travel halfway around the world, Johnny briefly forgets about Crystal, the Inhuman girl he has fallen in love with, and who is trapped under the negative energy zone surrounding their city. The Inhumans are themselves trying to find a way to break the barrier, as yet, to no avail. The Fantastic Four arrive in Wakanda, in what at first appears to be a dense, isolated jungle. However, as get closer to the Black Panther’s kingdom, they see he has constructed an artificial canopy of trees to hide a man-made mechanical forest concealing technological devices to give even Reed pause. Upon landing, the emissary pilot flees. The F.F. have by now sensed something amiss, and Ben pursues the tribesman, only to be weakened by an electric shock. At this moment the Black Panther, now dressed in a black costume befitting his namesake, appears—and attacks. There will indeed be a hunt, but they are the hunted! He is a chieftain, but also a marvel in the art of combat and a brilliant scientist, who has set up a myriad of traps and devices to defeat the Fantastic Four. The Panther tricks the Torch into flying into a fireproof chamber. He uses his cat-like senses to find Sue when she turns invisible, rendering her unconscious with a harmless sleeping gas. Ben, weakened by a drink of devitalizing fluid, is more on par with the Panther’s human strength. In the struggle, Ben is temporarily frozen by the shock from a refrigeration unit. Mr. Fantastic can’t move fast enough to grab his opponent, and ends up in titanium cuffs. Ironically it is Wyatt Wingfoot, who has followed his instincts and stuck away, who turns the tide. He disables an observation post, where some tribesmen are viewing the battle, and frees the human torch from his trap. Johnny then frees Reed, and Ben and Sue have recovered. Having lost the advantage of surprise, and with Wingfoot’s unexpected interference, the Black Panther admits defeat. He vows to cease any further attack, and prepares to tell them of his origin.

JB: Whether intentionally or not, this is an interesting take on the concept of The Most Dangerous Game, the classic short story by Richard Connell. In this case, it is not stated directly (but implied), that the Black Panther doesn’t intend any permanent harm to the Fantastic Four. Throughout the story, I’m fascinated to hear the origin of the Panther, where he got the means and brilliance to create his jungle kingdom, but we’ll have to wait for next issue for that.


PE: Hopefully, we'll hear it without all this "Crazy, man, crazy" lingo we're wading through this issue. Jack and Stan must have had a herd of beatniks come in to tour the Bullpen in mid-66. At one point, The Thing calls Reed "Baby," The Torch exclaims "Like wow! That's the gearest!" and, most inexplicable of all, Stretch tells Johnny to "gimme five, new brother-in-law." Are we about to see a new chapter in the genius' life where he tells his babydoll Sue to hand him the whatchamajig and look good doin' it? As far as I can tell, The Invisible Girl still wears a bra. Oh, those swingin' sixties (read that as : bring on the Sensational Seventies!). What the hell is "the gearest?"

We're all hip here in the MU, Daddy-O!

MB: I’m a bit baffled by this story, if only because the Black Panther we meet is so different from the one we’ll get to know better in The Avengers and elsewhere later on. Yes, I realize we’re gonna get some explanation for his actions next time, but the arrogance the king of the Wakandas shows toward the FF seems as much out of character as his unprovoked attacks on them, and I’m also not too keen on how readily they stepped into the trap, despite being tempted with that high-tech sky-car. Speaking of new characters, I’ve never been too familiar with Wyatt Wingfoot, whom we encountered at Metro College (presumably a cross-river rival of ESU) over the past two issues, but I’ll gladly second the Thing’s assertion that “the kid’s got what it takes!”


PE: Not to ruffle any feathers but if Stan and Jack were the trailblazers that historians claim with their creation of the world's first Black superhero (even though he wasn't such a good guy in our intro) why not simply The Panther? And, further, the intro of Wyatt as a Native American super-guy (with an amazing gift for tracking just like his ancestors) is a tad tarnished by referring to said ancestors as "red-skinned." I'm not here to question the creators on their ethnic choices but I have a sneaky suspicion that Stan will be making a lot of righteous claims in letters pages to follow and I'm just not 100% convinced that these characters were created because it was "the right thing to do." Stay tuned. I may be eating crow.

JS: I've read these issues before, but I must have forgotten the odd manner in which BP was introduced. Maybe it will all become clear next issue.


JB: Wyatt Wingfoot apparently does “have what it takes,” Professor Matthew. Having him be the one to turn the tide of battle is an unexpected and satisfying way to end the story.


PE: Wyatt may have what it takes to be a lasting support act but why in the world would Reed Richards agree to take him along to Wakanda? Is the Negative Zone that holds The Inhumans captive the same kind of N.Z. that claimed the life of Fauxthing last issue? How could the Kirby world that's on display on page nine (see panel to the left) be hidden, even with a "concealing of giant trees?" It's the same sort of conundrum that takes me out of stories involving the underworld domain of The Mole Man. I can swallow giant kilt-wearing planet suckers but not vast enclosed structures, with octopus arms reaching into the stratosphere, undetected by NASA. How could The Thing be so stupid as to stop and wash his face in a pool of water amidst a load of booby traps? Why does Crystal dress like a nurse? Why doesn't Jane Foster? My head is hurting!


Also this month


Kid Colt Outlaw #129
Marvel Tales #3
Millie the Model #139
Sgt Fury and His Howling Commandos #32
Two-Gun Kid #82


SOME HIGHLIGHTS

After starting out life as an Annual, Marvel Tales becomes the publisher's third regular reprint title this month. #3 reprints the entirety of The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (featuring the intro of The Lizard), the first solo Human Torch story (originally from Strange Tales #101), the second Thor appearance (from Journey Into Mystery #84), and an Ant-Man story from Tales to Astonish #38. Sixty-eight pages. Twenty-five cents. Pure magic. I thought it might be interesting to track just what Marvel Tales would reprint in the next few years. Obviously, its centerpiece is Spider-Man and, for the most part, Marvel would do a good job of reprinting the series in chronological order (with a few hiccups such as the omitting of issues #11, 12, 28, and 29) until 1971 when all semblance of order is thrown out and Spidey is presented willy-nilly. At this time, MT runs two ASM issues in their entirety but ignores continuity. The apex is Marvel Tales #29-31 which presents Amazing Spider-Man #39, 40, 58, 41, 37 and 42 in that order! Things got exciting though when the title was rebooted with #137 (March 1982) and the chronological reprinting of the early run beginning with Amazing Fantasy #15. I had pretty much given up on Marvel Comics at the time but this title went back on my buy list and, in these early pre-Masterworks days, I wondered why the company didn't launch similar titles featuring their other standards.