Comic Books – Coke ⊕ Comics

Tales to Astonish #81

When a Monarch Goes Mad!

When a Monarch Goes Mad!
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: April 5, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Amazing story: Stan Lee
Astonishing art: Gene Colan
Astounding inking: Dick Ayers
Agonizing lettering: Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #80, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #81, Story B
Tales to Astonish #80, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #81, Story B

The color of one’s skin is but a chance accident of fate! It alters nothing else about the person!

Namor was fighting a Behemoth last issue, and Krang convinced Lady Dorma that Namor’s only chance for survival was for him to relinquish his control on the Behemoth, which he would only do if Dorma agreed to wed him.

This issue picks up right where that left off. Dorma had told Vashti she was to wed Krang, but not why. And Vashti has just delivered the news to Namor.

Namor declares the mention of Dorma’s to name to be treason. Rational. Namor claims he has the fury of youth. He had been a youth 25 years earlier when introduced in 1939. Not sure how long he can use that excuse. Vashti notes Namor had been the gentlest and noblest of monarchs. I am not sure that is true.

Thor #139, Story B

The Secret of the Mystic Mountain!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: February 2, 1967
Cover: April 1967
12 cents
A Stan Lee and Jack Kirby rhapsodic rabelaisian romp
Inked by Vince Colletta
Lettered by Art Simek
5 pages

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Thor #139	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #80
Thor #139	Thor	Thor #140

There can be no doubt– ’tis Zanadu, wherein the accursed Mogul dwells!! Zanadu– whose hidden spires have been sought for ages– sought by those whose souls strive for justice– and for righteous retribution!! Zanadu– where the murderous Mogul rules with power absolute! But, he shall rule no longer! This doth Hogun swear!!

At last Thor and his three warrior friends find the Mystic Mountain.

Thor #139

To Die Like a God!

Featuring: Thor
Release: February 2, 1967
Cover: April 1967
12 cents
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inked with the prowess of Vince Colletta
Lettered with the pen-points of Sam Rosen
16 pages

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Thor #138, Story B	Reading order	Thor #139, Story B
Thor #138, Story B	Thor	Thor #139, Story B

Mighty are the warriors of Asgard! Though hopelessly outnumbered… though faced with alien weapons… they did not succumb! Never hath Orikal seen the like!

“To Die Like a God!” I find that a compelling title and cover image.

At the end of last issue, Thor’s hammer was stolen, which means he will change back to Don Blake in 60 seconds. Thor then gave a long and melancholy speech, which must have taken most of that 60 seconds. As this issue opens with him still being Thor, this must be only a couple seconds later.

Thor #138, Story B

The Quest for the Mystic Mountain!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: January 3, 1967
Cover: March 1967
12 cents
A Stan Lee and Jack Kirby super-spectacular
Inking: Vince Colletta
Lettering: Sam Rosen
5 pages

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Thor #138	Reading order	Thor #139
Thor #138	Thor	Thor #139

If he wouldst fight as valiantly as he doth snore…

Last issue we learned Hogun’s origin, and met his arch-nemesis, Mogul of the Mystic Mountain. Hogun and his friends now seek the legendary Mountain.

Thor #138

The Flames of Battle!

Featuring: Thor
Release: January 3, 1967
Cover: March 1967
12 cents
Garnished with grandeur by Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby
Inked by: Vince (The Prince) Colletta
Lettered by: Artie (The Smartie) Simek
16 pages

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Thor #137, Story B	Reading order	Thor #138, Story B
Thor #137, Story B	Thor	Thor #138, Story B

To thine avenging master, eternal Mjolnir!

While they get a different nickname every issue, these nicknames we’ve seen several times and they are the nicknames which will endure. Stan The Man Lee. And Jack King Kirby.

An army of Trolls attacks Asgard, while Ulik attacks Manhattan. Thor has chosen to confront Ulik to save Sif and Midgard.

Thor #137, Story B

The Tragedy of Hogun!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: December 1, 1966
Cover: February 1966
12 cents
Fabulously presented at its full flavor peak by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inked by: Vince Colletta
Lettered by: Artie Simek
5 pages

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Thor #137	Reading order	Thor #138
Thor #137	Thor	Thor #138

“By the sword I clutch– By the name I bear– I swear that Hogun’s fate shall be the fate of Fandral!”
“So speaks Volstagg– the fearless flower of chivalry!”
“In the name of Odin– so say we all!”

A new story arc begins. This will center on Hogun and his origins.

It begins with Thor and this three warrior friends coming upon a bound Saguta, whom Hogun recognizes as a warrior from his homeland. Saguta is dying, a victim of Mogul of the Mystic Mountain.

Thor #137

The Thunder God and the Troll

Featuring: Thor
Release: December 1, 1966
Cover: February 1967
12 cents
In all the unmeasurable universe, surely there be none, save Stan Lee and Jack Kirby who couldst create such wonderment!
And, ne’er again shall we see the like of
Vince Colletta, inker, and
Sam Rosen, letterer
16 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man #43	Reading order	Thor #137, Story B
Thor #136, Story B	Thor	Thor #137, Story B

The invasion is begun! Asgard must fall!

Last issue ended with Thor and Sif meeting. We pick up here with them hanging out. It’s not impossible he went to Earth between that meeting and now, but there’s no evidence he did. And I will need him with the Avengers on Earth soon. A new 3-part arc begins here. Thor will briefly travel to Earth in this story, but be busy. In the next arc, he travels to Earth and seems like he might have a bit of time on his hands.

This is to explain why we’ve gotten a bit far ahead in our Thor reading. We’re about to reach February 1967 for Thor, when we’re still in March 1966 for Hulk. Thor’s just been too busy for an Avengers meeting…. and Peter Parker already has his motorcycle for that meeting… and Matt Murdock was captured by the Owl when Spider-Man fought the Rhino… before Senator Byrd shut down Stark’s factories…

As last issue, Thor describes Sif as the raven-haired sister of Heimdall he knew as a child. But again, when we met Sif in her youth in Journey Into Mystery #102, she was described as the sister of Balder, and appeared to be blonde. Unless they are implying Heimdall and Balder are also brothers, this seems to be a contradiction. Or maybe there are two different women named Sif, sisters to Heimdall and Balder respectively.

Amazing Spider-Man #43

Rhino on the Rampage!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: September 8, 1966
Cover: December 1966
12 cents
Stan (The Man) Lee, writer
John (Ring-a-ding) Romita, artist
Artie (stout-hearted) Simek, letterer
20 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man #42	Reading order	Thor #137
Amazing Spider-Man #42	Amazing Spider-Man	Amazing Spider-Man #44

Petey-O, you’re right from Groovesville!

Aunt May had been trying to set up Peter with Anna Watson’s niece since he was in high school. Her matchmaking finally paid off, and Peter met Mary Jane Watson at the end of last issue.

She was not quite as ugly as he’d feared.

Dinner is going well, but there are other things going on that will affect Peter’s life. For example, the Rhino is breaking out of prison. They took him out easily with some smoke gas last issue. But maybe they ran out of smoke gas?

Amazing Spider-Man #42

The Birth of a Super-Hero!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: August 9, 1966
Cover: November 1966
12 cents
Smilin’ Stan Lee, writer
Jazzy Johnny Romita, artist
Slammin’ Sammy Rosen, letterer
20 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man #41	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #43
Amazing Spider-Man #41	Amazing Spider-Man	Amazing Spider-Man #43

Oh well… I guess I better meet her and get it over with! She may not be as bad as I expect! She’ll probably be worse!

For the first few issues of his tenure, Romita has been inked by Mike Esposito. This issue we get to see Romita on his own to compare.

I claim this is a good comic. Even a very good comic. Lots of good things about it.

But it’s mostly remembered for a single panel that ends the issue. We’ll get there. Let’s see what else is going on first.

Amazing Spider-Man #41

The Horns of the Rhino!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: July 7, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Stan Lee, writer
John Romita, artist
M. Demeo, inker
Art Simek, letterer
20 pages

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Daredevil #21	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #42
Amazing Spider-Man #40	Amazing Spider-Man	Amazing Spider-Man #42

I realize now– we never had anything in common! It’s just that she was the first girl I ever thought i loved!

One of the great things Ditko did was come up with a seemingly endless stream of memorable and enduring villains for Spider-Man to fight. A good many were animal-themed: the Chameleon, the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, the Lizard, the Scorpion, and the lion-themed Kraven the Hunter.

Romita needs to score with a bold new villain in that vein. The Rhino suffices.

For much of the Ditko run, Aunt May had been trying to set Peter up with Aunt Anna’s niece, Mary Jane Watson. Peter never made time for that date, and we’ve still never even seen Mary Jane’s face. Now we learn Mary Jane is moving out of Aunt Anna’s to get her own place.

A lot of teenagers in that neighborhood living with elderly aunts. I wonder how long she’d lived across the street from Peter without him ever even glimpsing her.