Coke & Comics

Fantastic Four #7

Prisoners of Kurrgo, Master of Planet X
It Came From the Skies!/Outlawed!/Bound for Planet X!/Twenty Four Hours Till Zero!
Release: July 3, 1962
Cover: October 1962
12 cents
Credits: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
24 pages

I read this comic in Fantastic Four Omnibus vol. 1. Dick Ayers is credited within the omnibus, but not the issue itself.

It sounded incredible the first time, maybe even the second…

This is at least the fourth time aliens have come to earth in recent months, if you accept that all the stories we’ve been reading take place in the same continuity. The government may have covered up some of them, but the Toad Men broadcast their demands for surrender globally. There is no reason for a US military commander to be shocked by the appearance of a spaceship. Even if the Hulk and Thor stories were their own thing, the military guy should at least know the Skrulls attacked earth.

In general, I would prefer we move toward less scenes of characters being shocked by fantastic things. I prefer Betty’s observation from Incredible Hulk #1, recognizing that the world has fundamentally changed: “…with the strange and supernatural forces all around us, I feel as though we’re on the brink of some fantastic unimaginable adventure!” Or the phrasing from Marvels #0: “…the world would know the presence of the unnatural and extraordinary as part of reality.”

This issue concerns the Fantastic Four being summoned to Planet X to help prevent the world’s destruction.

Incredible Hulk #3

Banished to Outer Space/The Origin of the Hulk!/The Ringmaster
Featuring: Hulk
Release: July 3, 1962
Cover: September 1962
12 cents
Credits: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
24 pages

I read this story in Incredible Hulk Omnibus vol. 1, which notes Dick Ayers is the inker. He is uncredited within the issue itself.

There are perhaps three distinct stories here, but we’ll treat them in one entry.

Banished to Outer Space

The first story concerns General Ross’ ‘Plan H’ to banish the Hulk into space in a rocket. This story perhaps inspired a modern story where Hulk was banished into space and landed on what became known as Planet Hulk, by Greg Pak and Carlos Pagulayan. Planet Hulk was adapted into an animated movie, and it partly formed the basis of the film Thor: Ragnarok.

This story picks up right where the previous one left off, the very same night. Hulk is trapped safely away in the underwater cell they built. The decision to let Hulk free requires some stupidity on Rick’s part. He is tricked by General Ross, but his actions are absurd and merely serve the plot.

Journey Into Mystery #84

The Mighty Thor vs. the Executioner
Release: July 3, 1962
Cover: September 1962
12 cents
Credits: Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
13 pages

I read this comic in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol. 1. The issue doesn’t seem to have formal credits, but the first page has the signatures of Kirby and Ayers. The collection’s table of contents notes Stan Lee and Larry Lieber are the writers.

There’s a revolution in the country of San Diablo (mi español es muy rusty, but I think that translates to “Saint Devil”, which suggests the requirements for sainthood have really loosened). A pro-communist dictator has seized power, but is engaged in civil war with a democratic faction. The dictator is called the Executioner because he executes a lot of people. Dr. Don Blake travels on a medical expedition to help out in San Diablo. The Executioner interferes as he wants the people weak and subservient. But, well… Thor.

Fantastic Four #6

Captives of the Deadly Duo!/When Super-Menaces Unite/When Friends Fall Out!/Trapped!/The End… Or the Beginning?
Release: June 12, 1962
Cover: September 1962
12 cents
Credits: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
24 pages

I read this in Fantastic Four Omnibus vol. 1. The table of contents credits Dick Ayers as the inker. The original comic just credits Lee and Kirby.

All posts regarding Fantastic Four comics featuring Namor are henceforth dedicated to my mother.

The plot of the story concerns Dr. Doom and Prince Namor the Submariner joining forces. It’s not clear if their duo has a name, and anyway the alliance won’t last long. Dr. Doom refers to them as the Diabolical Duo, which is what the cover calls them. So perhaps that’s official. But the story title calls them the Deadly Duo.

Notably, these are the first recurring nemeses for the FF, uniting the villains of the two previous issues.

Tales to Astonish #35

The Return of the Ant-Man

The Return of the Ant-Man/An Army of Ants!/The Ant-Man’s Revenge!
Featuring: Ant-Man
Release: June 5, 1962
Cover: September 1962
12 cents
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Penciler: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
13 pages

Previous	#14	Next
Venus #1	PRELUDE
Journey Into Mystery #83	Reading order	Fantastic Four #6
	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #36

So great a discovery must not melt into nothingness! I must concoct the serums again!

The credits are taken from the table of contents for Marvel Masterworks Ant-Man/Giant-Man vol. 1. The book’s table of contents gives the credits I put above. I don’t see any credits in the actual issue.

June 5, 1962. Marvel introduces Spider-Man. And their take on the mythological Thor. Also: their scientist Henry Pym gets a costume and superhero identity and becomes Ant-Man. A decent chunk of the cast of Avengers: Endgame was introduced on that day. Stan Lee was involved in all three. Jack Kirby designed Thor and Ant-Man and was involved in initial designs for Spider-Man, before Steve Ditko came on board. Larry Lieber was involved in scripting for both the Thor and Ant-Man stories. That’s a lot of simultaneous creativity going on for a small group of people.

To recap, in Tales to Astonish #27, we met Dr. Henry Pym. He was a mad scientist type, in a story that seemed similar to many others of the time, likely intended as a one-off. We get a recap in this issue, which describes it as a “nightmarish story”. I mean, I guess if you hate ants.

But 8 issues later, Henry Pym returns. At the end of the last story, he decided his shrinking serum was too dangerous and destroyed it. Here, we learn he had a change of heart a few weeks later. He decided to concoct a new serum and hide it away until the world was ready. Wait… if he still thinks the world isn’t ready for the serum, why make a new one only to hide it? Why not just wait to make the new batch? Unless you expect an urgent need for it?

Amazing Adult Fantasy #13, Story B

Great Zeus
Release: March 1, 1962
Cover: June 1962
12 cents
Story: Stan Lee
Art: Steve Ditko
5 pages

Zeus decides to head to earth to guide humans away from the path of self-destruction. At first, people think he is a crackpot. But when they see his powers, several agents want to sign him up. He is overwhelmed by the agents and retreats to Mount Olympus

PRELUDE: Venus #1

Venus
Release: May 15, 1948
Cover: August 1948
10 cents
22 pages

No credits are given. Online sources uncertainly credit Lin Streeter with inks. The GCD once credited Ken Bald with pencils and George Klein with inks, but has removed those credits.

There are two chapters and perhaps two different stories here. But neither has a name, and they flow together well enough. Online sources refers to them as two stories with implicit titles “Venus Comes to Earth” and “The 10 Goddesses”. I don’t know where those titles come from.

Since we just met Thor, I figured we should look back at other mythological figures in the Marvel Universe. We’d already met Medusa, and I skipped an appearance of Zeus, which I am correcting. But the most mainstream I know of before Thor is Venus, goddess of love and beauty. Her series lasted 19 issues in the late ’40s and early ’50s.

Now, this isn’t a superhero comic. It’s aimed at women (though the ad on the last page is addressed to both fellows and girls), so about romance and fashion and such. But later writers will treat Venus as a superhero, and the story has some elements in common with Thor.

Journey Into Mystery #83

The Stone Men from Saturn!

The Stone Men from Saturn!/The Power of Thor!/Thor the Mighty Strikes Back!
Release: June 5, 1962
Cover: August 1962
12 cents
Writing: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnot
13 pages

Previous	#13	Next
	PRELUDE	Venus #1
Ultimate Spider-Man #5	POSTLUDE
Amazing Fantasy #15	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #35
	Journey Into Mystery	Journey Into Mystery #84

Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor!

The credits are taken from the table of contents for Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol. 1. I don’t see any credits in the story itself.

How wild is it that Thor and Spider-Man were introduced on the exact same day? There are a lot of days in the last 80 years, and only so many super heroes as iconic as those two. In the last year, we’ve met the Fantastic Four and the Hulk. The pace is picking up. Within a year, we’ll meet many of our favorite heroes.

The opening splash page depicts Thor, with a distinctive “T” on his elaborate belt. Except for simplifying the belt, Kirby’s rendition of Thor will last for decades with only minor variations. Notice the smile on Thor’s face; we see that later in the issue as well. Kirby depicts Thor as full of mirth. There is generally a dynamic and playful quality to the art.

POSTLUDE: Ultimate Spider-Man #5

Life Lessons
Release: January 3, 2001
Cover: March 2001
$2.25
Story: Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis
Script: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert
21 pages

They have lowered the price by a quarter. Maybe that will sell the comic better than the awful cover.

This concludes our look at the first 5 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man. This final issue sticks pretty closely to the last 3 pages of the original Spider-Man story. Although it does open with 3 irrelevant pages about Green Goblin.

This really has nothing to do with anything.

We then get 4 pages at the crime scene, including a double-page spread.

POSTLUDE: Ultimate Spider-Man #4

With Great Power
Release: December 6, 2000
Cover: February 2001
$2.50
Story: Bill Jemas and Brian Michael Bendis
Script: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Art Thibert and Dan Panosian
22 pages

Continuing to read the adaptation of the Spider-Man story from Amazing Fantasy #15 into Ultimate Spider-Man #1-5. This issue covers the events of page 8 and the first two panels of page 9 in the original story.

It dedicates 4 pages to Norman Osborn, finally becoming Green Goblin. His assistant, Justin, appears dead. Harry and Dr. Octavius look quite wounded.

This big scary monster has literally nothing to do with the story yet.

4 pages are dedicated to Spider-Man’s wrestling career, including its end. The analogue in the original was his television career, which didn’t explicitly end in the original story. Perhaps it will be addressed later on. The previous issue had explained the mask/anonymity thing in terms of him being a kid who wouldn’t be allowed to wrestle otherwise. But now that schtick has gotten him into trouble. Somebody has stolen the petty cash and he gets the blame.