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The surly Sub-Mariner doesn't appreciate the surface world headlines that broadcast stories about an ancient beast, the Kraken, looting and pillaging ships. Namor is really ticked off because the headlines blame him as the main culprit behind the monster's wrath. Seeking the help of Diane Arliss, Namor quickly comes into conflict with the sea monster. Just like he thought, the Kraken is not real, but a giant underwater robotic vessel that is under the control of Commander Kraken and his crew of pirates. They capture Subby temporarily, until he is able to break free and give the villain a traumatic beat down. In a smart move, Namor is able to lead the fake Kraken vessel into the lair of the real monstrous Kraken. The giant sea beast destroys the Kraken ship along with all the bad guys as Namor rescues Dorma and Diane Arliss from further danger.
Tom: The nice twist ending saves this story from being mediocre. This is why I like Namor, he's not bloodthirsty per se, but he has no problem letting his enemies meet an untimely death when the situation calls for it.
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| Does he or doesn't he? Only Lady Dorma knows for sure! |
SM: For the first time, I'm reading the splash page and it hits me; Namor spends most of his time sitting around in his underwear. Everyone else around him has clothing, shoes, helmets, gloves, whatever. Namor? Trunks and bracelets. Period. It's not like he's too big, will burst into flame or turn to ice and has to keep it down to his underpants. Also, this issue's splash gives the impression he's sitting naked on his throne, and the blanket over the seat looks like it's there so he doesn't leave a royal skidmark. (shudder) Moving on…
MB: Now that Our Pal Sal has succeeded Severin on this book, a Bullpen Bulletin trumpets that Merry Marie “will be doing a new superhero feature for us once again….[so] you’ll no longer be deprived of our favorite femme’s fantastically fabulous far-out artwork,” but I don’t believe such a strip ever materialized. Meanwhile, back in Atlantis, the Buscema/Gaudioso team is growing nicely into the gig, with the full-page shot on page 14 very nicely laid out, and both of the Krakens, one man-made and one real, look awesome. I like what Roy’s been doing with the tensions between Atlantis and the surface: it isn’t necessarily the primary focus of the plot each time, but it does serve as a kind of a through-line, giving recent issues the feel of a unified theme.
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Cap answers a summons, ostensibly from the Avengers, but actually a ruse by the returning Man-Ape. Cap is getting his star- spangled butt kicked when the rest of the Avengers arrive, allowing Quicksilver to save the shield-slinger from a deadly fall, with the help of the Vision. They learn that Cap was lured by a forged note left at SHIELD to come at once. The Man-Ape vows to destroy them all, but is mostly interested in exacting his revenge on the Black Panther. Man-Ape kidnaps Monica Lynn and uses her as insurance to get the Panther to fight him to the death. The battle begins and the Panther is tricked by a replica of Monica which promptly explodes, knocking T'Challa unconscious. When he comes to, the Panther begins to discern Man-Ape's lethal plan when the villain's allies arrive: the Living Laser, Power Man, the Swordsman and The Grim Reaper - who have formed a new evil team called The Lethal Legion!
PE: Extremely short-sighted of M'Baku (aka Man-Ape) to run around with gorilla's chompers digging into his forehead. Don't tell me that can't be detrimental in the midst of a battle.The Lethal Legion seem to be just the same ol' batch of sixth-tier villains who've gathered together before. Or maybe it's just that these sub-par bad guys are all melting into one in my mind.
SM: Sal and Tom bring forth dynamic art, which has recently been a strong suit in this book. Roy is starting to feel as overworked as Stan was in his busy period. Having Quicksilver slow his plummet off the building after catching Cap by vibrating swiftly was a hoot. After the Vision catches them, the android says what's on my mind: "your words are superfluous, Pietro and they waste time!" Amen, Vish. Overall, an average start to another two-parter.
Our Story
Cap is helping Nick Fury test a new Protecto-Suit by flinging his shield at the head of SHIELD (see what I did there?). It works, thanks to the genius of the newly hired Dr. Ryder. Cap splits, ticked at Fury who keeps making comments about Cap's love life. Later, Fury and his goons are in their new suits fighting the men of AIM when one of the agents is hit - the suits have been compromised! There's a traitor in SHIELD! Is it the newly hired guy who invented the suits? No, it HAS to be Cap because "anyone can wear a mask and costume - even the guy who took off his mask at the end of the test, proving he's Steve Rogers. But never mind, Cap could be a traitor!" So they test him by making him fight an android only the real Cap can beat. He does so and he is finally told the whole deal is a maneuver to flush out the real traitor, the aforementioned Ryder (gasp!). Rather than explaining this to Cap, they tricked him, making Cap (and the rest of us) wonder how a man can protect himself from his friends.
SM: This story sucks. I'm sorry, but it's just chock full of Marvel Misunderstandings, people who refuse to explain their motives to their friends and who make idiotic decisions simply to get us to the next page. First, Cap and Fury are on speaking terms again when the last time they were together, Fury "lied" to Cap about Sharon's SHIELD status. He's still got the stinkeye for Sharon, but apparently Fury was easily forgiven. Considering Fury turns on a dime when it comes to how he treats Cap, I'd never trust the guy. Especially when he gives the job of telling Cap he's on the outs to the guy in the barber shop who fogs the windows. I wonder, does this barber shop get any of the street customers? Doesn't anyone notice the fogging and the coming and going of Cap and later The Falcon?
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| Strangely enough, Cap, with Wally Wood on board, we don't want her to face you! |
MB: A Bullpen Bulletin boasts, “wait’ll you see Wondrous Wally Wood’s incomparable inking on Genial Gene Colan’s action-packed presentation of Captain America! It’s just too much!” I don’t know how Wood was lured back into the fold, yet in spite of their decidedly different styles they’re a good team, certainly making Colan better suited to the book. This issue also benefits from guest-star turns by not only usual suspects Fury and Stark but also, more surprising, the Bugle’s Robbie Robertson. However, I am once again a little disappointed with Stan’s story; we seem to have racked up an awful lot of yarns in recent months in which an innocent man is suspected of betraying S.H.I.E.L.D., or Cap and Sharon have another falling out.
SM: My synopsis was pretty snarky, but this really was a turd of an issue and a chore to summarize. Yes, granted, the reveal at the end at least gives Fury and Sharon a reason to act out of character by suspecting Cap, but there's no excuse for Cap once again being played by these jerks. Why he keeps going back to SHIELD says more about Cap than Fury. It's funny how Cap tears a strip off Fury by saying his love life is off limits "even to him." Since when? Cap routinely barges in, whines or makes demands about Sharon. Now he says it nobody's business? God, Stan, step down. Please. Good art, but not worth it.
Our Story
At the murdered actor Ross Archer’s funeral, Daredevil sneaks in to pick up clues. He finds nil, then is ejected by a less-than-respectful officer. In L.A., it seems, ol’ DD doesn’t get the respect New Yorkers afford him. Under the unusual circumstances, the network gives the cast and crew the choice of whether to continue the show. It’s a unanimous “yes.” Lester, the effects man, shows Karen Page a blueprint he’s secretly designed for an exo-skeleton suit. Leading man Vince Sterling interrupts; both, it seems, have an interest in Karen. DD, watching, determines almost everyone has a possible motive for murder. When Daredevil later sneaks into Lester’s office, he is surprised by . . . Brother Brimstone: Ka-Pow!! Coming to later, DD gets a clue regarding Karen’s whereabouts: the La Brie Tar Pits Museum, where Lester has asked her to meet him at closing time. Our hero hurries there, hampered by L.A.’s smaller buildings. Lester is a no-show so Karen’s about to leave when the lights go down, fortunately an unlocked door provides an escape. Phew, until out pops Brother Brimstone, and Karen faints. He’s about to toss her into the Woolly Mammoth display, under which are tar pits, left over from California’s prehistoric times. Our pointy-eared friend arrives in the nick of time, but Brimstone’s no slouch: the two tangle in the tar pit. DD rips off a mask accompanying the stolen exo-skeleton (thus the missing heartbeat)—Vince Sterling! The sly actor planned to steal the blueprints for his own wicked plans, and figured to silence Archer, Lester and Karen, thereby protecting his identity. DD attempts to pull them both out, but Sterling slips away, sinking into the tar to preserve his immortality in a different way.
JB: A very satisfying conclusion to a complex little whodunnit, one that was served much better as a two-parter than a single issue. I’m left wondering what happened to Lester; did Brimstone/Sterling already send him to his fate in the tar pit, or did he just lose his nerve to come meet Karen? Agreed that L.A. is a nice change for D.D.; maybe living there would be a compromise Matt and Karen could both live with?
NC: For a girl who is supposedly nursing a broken-heart and thinking over whether she wants to be in a relationship with DD, Karen sure goes out on a lot of dates! Karen is a trooper though, waiting for 2 hours after being stood up sure shows confidence! I must admit I just assumed Lester would be our man (even though he’s a bit scrawny) because he was such a stalker type, but – expect the unexpected. Beyond the “love” story I thought this was a fun and fantastic mystery!!!
SM: I really enjoy this sojourn to the West Coast. Pulling DD out of his element makes the series fresher. It's great to see him without annoying Foggy in tow, or once more battling Stilt Man or Leap Frog. I'm not saying the murder of Brother Brimstone is all that fantastic, but just having DD in a new venue really adds life to the series. It's a shame he wasn't kept there. New York is a tad overcrowded with super-heroes. Since the place is so hot with do-gooders, you'd think a bunch of villains would leave for other cities like Chicago or Tucson. The mystery murderer is exactly who I thought it would be: always keep an eye on the nice guy (at least he didn't invite Karen on a Coke date this time). Not too bad, really. I enjoyed this without much reservation. The art and story were quite good.
JT: "Trapped in the Tar Pits of Death"? I don't think the LA Tourist Board would be too keen on that headline!
Our Story
The F.F. are returning from the home of the Inhumans when their craft is shot out from under them. Luckily Crystal is returning with them, and she makes the air around them solid enough to carry them safely to the ground. Their craft is in pieces. But who fired on them? The answer is not long in coming: Kang the Conqueror, or is it Dr. Doom? Crystal, whose powers are unexpected from their foes, drops a tree on the duo, and on examining the bodies, Reed realizes they’re androids, as only the Puppet Master can create them. Combining his talents with those of the Mad Thinker, the two send a procession of the deadliest foes our heroes have met against them, android style. While the androids are dangerous, they lack the human element necessary to out-think the Fantastic Four, and one by one the evildoers are done in. When the Puppet Master and the Mad Thinker pull out their ace in the hole—the Incredible android-Hulk—he turns against them rather than take orders. The Puppet Master’s defensive gunfire ignites an explosion; a fitting ending? Our heroes return home.
JB: This issue is like a movie that casts every name in Hollywood into two hours, and does none of them justice. I suppose the fact the super-villains here are androids (Reed figured that out fast!) is more realistic than having us accept that their real counterparts would co-operate. Still, if not for the number, I’d have scarcely noticed this issue was anything special. They can’t all be classics!
JT: A landmark issue for this pre-teen, from the beautifully overcrowded cover to the story packed with villains (fake as they may be, I used to flip for more, more, more back in the day) to an android Hulk to some classic art & dialogue.
Our Story
The Leader is in a state of 'glum' after losing so many times to the Hulk. In response, he uses his mind control powers to revert himself back into his former normal human self just in time to give a hitchhiking Bruce Banner a ride home. After a sit-down in a restaurant, the Leader learns from Bruce that one of the few foes, the Hulk has ever fought, that has ever gathered any sympathy from him, is the monstrous Glob. Using his advanced technology, the Leader resurrects the Glob from the gooey swamps of Florida and sicks him on the Jade Giant. Once the two monsters clash under the sewer systems, it's an ugly sight to behold as each creature is equally matched, with the Glob brainwashed into believing that the Hulk is out to hurt Betty Banner. Knowing that he can't knock out the Glob, the Hulk lures him up an electrical tower. The Hulk then electrocutes the Glob with an open wire, causing him to plummet into a shack of 'dynamos,' blowing The Glob into smithereens.
MB: This one is certainly different, right from the Leader’s hitherto unknown ability to undo his own creation—the name Sam Sterns rang a bell, but I had him mixed up with Sam Smithers, so while I knew he was no ordinary truck driver, I was poised for him to turn out to be Plantman instead! It’s curious that although Hulk calls the Glob by name when he first appears, he thereafter refers to him only as “you/it/the one who fights him/him/he/[the] other one.” I like that Roy makes explicit the connection between Mogol and the Glob as Hulk’s potential friends (however unrealistic either might have been), as well as sowing the seeds of the Glob’s eventual return in this very issue; meanwhile, the unfiltered Trimpe artwork remains uniquely distinctive.
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| SPLOOONSH? |
Our Story
In the Midwestern Bay City, black militants set up a gypsy camp to disrupt the ground-breaking ceremony for a new community center, courtesy of the Iron Man Foundation, but while native son Eddie is reluctant to be its director, he agrees to join Iron Man as guests of honor. A confrontation between the police, the militants, and councilman Lyle Bradshaw—who dismisses their demands—is inflamed by the rabble-rousing Firebrand’s thermo-bursts. During a cooling-off period, activist Helene Davis tells Eddie that they would rather see the money used to set up black-owned businesses, and they soon learn that Bradshaw secretly heads the realtor and construction firm involved; Firebrand, who was trained by S.I., flees after kidnapping Bradshaw.
MB: Whatever else I’ve said about Goodwin’s last few issues, he couldn’t wind up his long TOD on the strip—as he will next month—without introducing a final noteworthy character in the form of Firebrand (the initial article was later dropped) and bringing back another, Eddie March. That’s the good news. Now for the bad news. In last month’s Captain America, we saw a white guy revealed to be stoking racial tensions in the black community for his own self-interest, which as noted already felt like a Sons of the Serpent rehash. Here, we see a white guy revealed to be stoking racial tensions in the black community for his own self-interest. In the middling news department, Heck and Craig seem a little better attuned to each other, but still appear unpolished.
PE: Yep, it's the same kind of racially-charged drama that's been clogging up way too many comic books this month so why do I think this one's a bit better handled than the Cap fiasco? Could be that I'm partial to Archie as a writer and truly believe he may have wanted to make a statement. It also confounded my expectations as, by page three, I was convinced that it was the Congressman who had donned a yellow suit and learned how to talk jive. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. Firebrand will be back several times in Iron Man during our journey through the 1970s.
SM: I like Eddie March, he'll make a good supporting cast member, but it's easy to make him another Sam Wilson (who will be pushing the "helping my people" mantra until it's worn to the bone). I'd be interested to see how this situation plays out, if and when they come back to it. I just wonder how close to reality the black point of view was, considering the writers of these tales were just a bunch of white guys. Don Heck does better this issue than last. I don't have a lot of problems with the art. I am starting to long for more realistic inks coming later on in the decade, though.
JT: The earliest Iron Man ish I owned, this one brings back nice memories, especially for the cool cover and the nifty costume on Firebrand.
Our Story
Victory won for Asgard against Surtur the fire demon, Odin calls for a feast, but Thor senses something is amiss. It is the Abomination, the Gamma ray creature transformed from Soviet spy Emil Blonsky. He was brought to Earth, then later returned (see Silver Surfer #12) to the mighty being, the Stranger, who collects specimens from throughout the universe. The Abomination arrives back on the Stranger’s world free, and vows to attain revenge on his captor. The Stranger has zeroed in on another victim on his space scanner and departs to personally test this ones power. With him gone, the Abomination watches the scanner change scenes, a different world every few seconds. When the Gamma-green goliath accidentally hits a switch, he teleports the person in view to the Stranger’s world: it is the Thunder God! The Abomination convinces Thor to free the other captors, which sets off an alarm, calling back the master. Thor takes up the battle against the Stranger. Reaching a stalemate, he decides to study this world before resuming the cause. Reasoning that within the identity of Don Blake lies his best hiding place, he stumbles upon the Abomination encouraging the masses to fight the Stranger. He realizes the Stranger’s captives are evil, but too late: they grab him! Without his walking stick, Blake faces certain death, but they let him slither away, considering him beneath their notice. Rescue comes from the lovely Sif, who identifies her beloved’s location, and returns his stick. The aliens appear, and Thor turns back time to when he first faced the Abomination, whom he imprisons before returning to Asgard.
MB: “There’s a surprise awaiting you in this month’s Thor! It’s illustrated by ol’ Johnny Buscema, who switched off with Jolly Jack this month just for kicks,” asserts a Bullpen Bulletin. “Meanwhile, the King is making comic book history by drawing Silver Surfer #18, on sale ’most any minute!” In point of fact, said issue—the last—would not appear for two months; Jack drew only one more Thor; and Big John would take over permanently after a two-issue fill-in by Neal Adams, yet perhaps Marvel was just trying to paper over the cracks at that point. This Bradley Bulletin is more succinct: “The Stranger? The Abomination? Buscema? What’s not to like?” (Well, okay, since I have asked, Colletta, who besmirches Buscema’s pencils, but never mind...).
SM: John Buscema steps in before Kirby's final issue, but the Colletta inks made the first two pages seem a lot like Jack's work. The layout of the splash is very Kirbyesque and if I didn't know better, I'd swear the first panel on page 2 was done by Jack. Aside from that, this is very much a "marking time" story. Abomination comes back from Space and fights Thor and Thor wins. The pictures are pretty, but nothing of importance seems to really happen.
Our Story
Reeling from his battle with the Kingpin, Spider-Man swings towards home, unaware he’s being watched by Black Widow, who wants to find the secret of Spidey’s powers to combine them with her own. A Reader’s Digest version of Widow’s tragic origin and personal life ensues, and she decides the affluent Madame Natasha needs to go and the Black Widow must rise in her place! A groggy Spidey swings home and changes into a groggy Peter, who walks in to Harry and the Stacys, with Gwen blaming Spider-Man for Peter’s bruised face and sniping. Can his spider-strength be fading? A slick new costume brings the Widow into the “swinging seventies” as she sets out to find Spidey again. After he stumble-swings around, Widow attacks, but easily bests the hurtin’ hero—until instinct kicks in and Widow ends up fleeing, realizing Spidey’s powers are his own and should remain a secret. After making it home, Peter decides to check his blood to see what exactly is wrong with him, but ends up hesitating and pondering his fate.
JT: Stan’s hyperbole meter is on high this issue, which for Mr. Lee says a lot! Spidey’s strangest battle! Um, not really. A sensational NEW costumed adventurer comes into being.. Eh, not so much. Well, OK there is a new costume but that’s not really what he said. At least Stan is honest enough to admit the whole Black Widow appearance was just to promote her new book Amazing Tales (really Amazing Adventures…tomato, tomahto…), kinda like the guest appearance by Edith’s cousin Maude on All in the Family, which led to the spinoff Maude. Yeah, that’s a stretch, but hey, trust me!SM: As mentioned, this story appeared in the Fireside book The Super-Hero Women, which is where I first read it. It's a nice intro to the "new" Black Widow and a delayed explanation as to why Natasha dumped Clint Barton in The Avengers a month ago. I appreciate the cross-title continuity, but I'd really prefer it if character story arcs were resolved in the pages of their own books (like Wanda's powers being fully restored in The Hulk rather than The Avengers). Romita's art makes Natasha drop dead gorgeous. He really could draw hot women and Natasha is just super sexy.
JS: Anybody else think that since we last saw her, Natasha caught a Catwoman episode of the Adam West Batman series?
JT: I just went back and read the first couple pages again, and they sorta look a little Heck-ish, but you're right it's hard to tell.
SM: It's nice that this isn't another Marvel Misunderstanding story. Natasha wants to test her mettle and Spider-Man is the logical choice for her. Of course, Spidey has to be under the weather and "still reeling from the fight with the Kingpin" to give her something of an edge, but I love how he just gets sick of the bullshit and explosively frees himself. Seeing him apparently breaking out of his trap so easily causes Natasha to reevaluate her methods as she begins her new career (coming soon!). Yes, once again, Gwen is a bit of a pill and more and more of the Gwen mystique is chipped away. By the time she's offed, I suspect there will be fewer outraged tears from the Faculty. Next issue, though, will be a good 'un.
JT: The art overall is, as always, terrific. Romita-Mooney is quite the team. Page 19 has some knockout panels depicting the sickly web-swinger that are as believable as the sweaty Parker on the final page. Great stuff! Great JJJ cameos also. And I have nothing against Black Widow, but her guest spot seems kinda unnecessary. But it works in places. Her battle scene is fast fun and her dialogue more Richmond Hill than Russia, but she’s drawn as well as the other redhead in this strip which is the biggest plus of all. Can we just say this issue helped lay the groundwork for Marvel Team-Up?
Chili #15
Kid Colt Outlaw #148
Li'l Kids #1
Mad About Millie #13
Marvel Super-Heroes #27
Marvel Tales #27
Mighty Marvel Western #9
Millie the Model #184
My Love #6
Rawhide Kid #78
Ringo Kid #4
Tower of Shadows #6
Two-Gun Kid #93
Where Creatures Roam #1 ->
Where Monsters Dwell #4
