Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: March 2, 1967 Cover: May 1967 12 cents A glory-drenched masterwork by: Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby Inking: Vince Colletta Lettering: Sam Rosen 5 pages
As we’ve discussed, I just read these Thor back-up stories along with the Thor comic they appear in. With the main stories, I try to combine story arcs into one or otherwise think through the continuity.
Because of that, we’re just kind of reading the middle chapter of this Arabians Nights saga in isolation.
I found the story doesn’t really read any better if I tried to condense it.
So we need to remember what happened, but not much happens in these stories.
Featuring: Thor Release: March 3, 1967 Cover: May 1967 12 cents Conceived and created by the noblest collaborative combo in comicdom: Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby Inking by: Vince Colletta Lettering by: Sam Rosen 16 pages
Thanks to thy valor– thy matchless devotion– Asgard endures! But, many are the battles that lie ahead! Many are the foes we yet must face! Many the dangers to be overcome! Yet, verily I say unto thee– Whate’er may befall… we shall face it together!!!
We are pretty far ahead in Thor’s story compared to the rest of the characters. This comic is from March 1967, but we’re still in July 1966 in the other comics.
This is really because Thor attends an Avengers meeting in an August 1966 comic. And there’s just no space in Thor’s saga for that to happen in a long window of time. A lot happened at once for Thor, involving Hercules, Tana Nile, Ego, and the High Evolutionary. It was go, go, go for lots of issues. Things calmed down a few issues back. But it was clear that Thor was in Asgard chilling with his new crush, Sif. And not on Earth. And then the Troll War broke out.
So we jump ahead to this comic which at last returns Thor to Earth and gives him enough breathing room to attend an Avengers meeting. We’ll discuss as we go through the issue what clues there are as to how long he’s been away.
We open with celebrations marking the end of the Troll War.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Art: Gene Colan Inking: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Sam Rosen Nail-biting: Irv Forbush 12 pages
Featuring: Iron Man Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Pencilling: Gene Colan Inking: Frankie Giacoia Lettering: Artie Simek 12 pages
From this moment on, Iron Man is more invincible than ever before!
In a plot greatly echoing a recent Daredevil story, Mandarin now believes Happy to be Iron Man, because Happy had been going around in the suit. In the Daredevil analog, Foggy had put on the Daredevil suit to impress Karen. Here, Happy was a bit more noble. He was trying to help preserve the secret identity, as the press was starting to suspect that Tony Stark was Iron Man. On the basis of the fact that it’s ridiculously obvious to anybody paying attention.
Flash Thompson has also gotten himself into similar trouble by wearing the Spider-Man outfit.
Unfortunately, Tony is still recovering from his recent heart attack. It’s not clear he’s in any shape to help Happy after the Mandarin captures him. And even wearing the armor, Happy is no match for Mandarin. He just doesn’t have the practice with it.
Featuring: Hulk Release: June 30, 1966 Cover: October 1966 10 pages Script… Stan (The Man) Lee Art… Almost the whole blamed bullpen Lettering… Artie (Smarty) Simek Therapy… Honest Irving Forbush 10 pages
Can a green-skinned introvert, with anti-social tendencies, find happiness and fulfillment in a modern materialistic society?
I leave it to your eagle eyes to determine who drew what in this issue. Some artwork may or may not be due to Bill Everett, Jerry Grandenetti, Gene Colan, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, John Tartaglione, Mike Esposito, Sol Brodsky, or others.
Can a green-skinned introvert, with anti-social tendencies, find happiness and fulfillment in a modern materialistic society?
We’d seen a similar question posed at the beginning of Hulk’s current series in issue 60.
Can a man with green skin and a petulant personality find true happiness in today’s status-seeking society?
In this issue’s Namor story, we learned Hulk was in the city. And this story is conveniently titled “Rampage in the City”.
Hulk thinks saving Betty from Boomerang means people won’t hate him anymore. Good luck with that.
Hulk used to be an Avenger, so he goes to New York to ask them to help him find Betty.
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner Release: June 30, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Fabulous script: Stan Lee Fascinating art: Gene Colan Fantastic inks: Dick Ayers Free-hand lettering: Sam Rosen Fancy haberdashery: Irving Forbush 12 pages
You are too conspicuous, walking around the city in that manner! Find the nearest clothing store…
In Avengers #17, the Avengers search for the Hulk, and end up vaguely near him, but not meeting him. But it’s sort of a crossover. Not really, but sort of.
In this issue, Namor is searching for Hulk, because he’s been brainwashed by Number One of the former Secret Empire, who wants revenge on Hulk for destroying the Secret Empire. Even though Hulk has never met the Secret Empire and had nothing whatsoever to do with their demise.
I would suggest the writer of the Namor stories hasn’t been reading the Hulk stories, but both series are allegedly written by Stan Lee.
Solve Everything
By Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham
It’s a terrible thing for someone not to reach their full potential… I know. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that I do not have the character to be both good and great at the same time. But you do, Reed… and as such, all my hopes and desires rest in you becoming what I am not. When you grow up, I expect more. Son… I expect better. I want you to be a better friend than I was. Be a better husband. Be a better father… Reed… be a better man.
New Fantastic Four movie out. Fifth attempt. First four were awful. This one was excellent. Between that and Superman, a good time to go to the cinemas and catch a superhero flick.
I wanted to spotlight a great Fantastic Four story to go along with it. But, well, we’ve already read the best Fantastic Four stories. It’s #48-51. Here’s the link to issue 48. And we have some great ones coming up in our Marvel reading. I have a fondness for the Doom Surfer story in FF #57-60. But we’re not there yet. That’s Marvel Universe story #630 and we are only on #592.
And I don’t want to cover Fantastic Four stories from the ’70s or ’80s now, because our normal reading might get there eventually. Maybe.
But here’s a story from 2009. We’re in 1966. I’m confident I’ll be dead long before this blog gets to 2009. It’s not part of our Marvel Universe reading, but I have another section for Reading Great Comics. And I’ve got a 2009 FF story that’s one of my favorite comics.
But… my focus for both sections of the blog has been digging into single issues. And this is a 3-part story. I thought about just highlighting one of the three parts. But it doesn’t work. It’s a 3-part story.
However, I believe two things.
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Rules were meant to be broken.
So here is Fantastic Four #570-572 from 2009 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham. Collectively known as “Solve Everything”.
Featuring: Captain America Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby powerhouse production Delineated by: Fearless Frankie Giacoia Lettered by: Swingin’ Sammy Rosen 10 pages
After all these years… all the countless battles… and the scars which will never fade… here I stand… still a loner– a human anachronism. All I’ve ever loved… all I’ve held dear… vanished with the past… while the memories remain to haunt me forever! But, I must be true to my trust! Every man has a purpose… a destiny to fulfill… and, whatever mine may be… I’ll never shirk it!
Captain America calls in the Avengers to deal with the Adaptoid. The Tumbler he just left to the police.
Hawkeye recalls the original Avengers foe the Space Phantom, and suspects a connection. But Cap notes the Adaptoid is a robot, while Space Phantom was an alien. Goliath and Wasp, the only ones present who actually fought the Space Phantom, do not weigh in.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Art: Gene Colan Inking: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Sam Rosen 12 pages
SURVEY SHOWS THAT STARK AND IRON MAN NEVER SEEN AT THE SAME TIME TOGETHER
It’s been a year coming. Back in Tales of Suspense #72, Senator Harrington Byrd planned to summon Tony Stark to Washington to make him reveal Iron Man’s secrets, so the US military could use the technology. The following issue, he tried to confront Stark in his office with the summons, but found only Pepper. The next issue, he got Iron Man on the phone, and says he’ll come to New York with a subpoena unless Stark comes willingly to Washington. In the next issue, he made good on the threat and showed up with the subpoena at Stark offices, only to find Iron Man battling Happy, who had turned into the Freak. Once that resolved, he had police escort Stark to a car, to personally escort him to Washington. Only Tony Stark was transported from that car en route to DC, and found himself in Asia a prisoner of the Mandarin. Then Iron Man had to fight Mandarin and Ultimo. Only to return home and find all his factories shut down because he’d failed to answer the summons to Congress. He needed to recharge, rest, and deal with Namor. But finally he called Senator Byrd and agreed to come to Washington. And he did go to Washington. Only to be attacked by Titanium Man. With Titanium Man defeated, Stark should finally be able to appear before Congress a dozen issues after being summoned.
And here he is.
Ready to reveal the secrets of Iron Man.
Until he has a heart attack before the first question gets asked. How convenient.
