Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby modern day masterwork! Delineation by: Joe Sinnott Lettering by: Artie Simek 20 pages
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby powerhouse production Inked by: Joe Sinnott Lettered by: Artie Simek 20 pages
“Hah! The once-mighty Silver Surfer! Now, barely able to move a muscle since your new master has stripped you of your power!” “Master? Galactus had been– my master! You– are but– a flea!”
Dr. Doom’s head appears in the air. I appreciate that Reed just thinks it’s a random pattern from the electrical storm. Smartest man in the world.
But then the pattern randomly looks like Dr. Doom again, and Reed begins to do the math on the odds of that.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Panoramically produced by: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Inking: Joe Sinnott Lettering: Artie Simek 20 pages
It is you I wish to learn about! For power has ever been my god– And, in all the universe, there can be no greater truth than– knowledge is power!
One thing we’ve seen going back to issue 36 is a tighter continuity amongst a larger cast. These aren’t isolated adventures anymore, but part of a larger whole. I mention issue 36 because it introduced the Frightful Four. The character of Medusa led us to the Inhumans, who have essentially become supporting characters on this title, as we check in with them often. The FF have had three battles against the Frightful Four, but now Sandman and Wizard are attempting a prison break.
After the Inhumans saga, we met the Silver Surfer, who has also become a supporting cast member in essence.
Sandman is an interesting character, as he was created to be a Spider-Man villain but at this point seems to have been adopted by the Fantastic Four. Which leads me to a question. Is Sandman a Jack Kirby creation?
Sandman was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man by Steve Ditko. But I believe Ditko has been quoted that he got occasional help on Spider-Man’s villains from Jack. And I wonder if that refers to the Sandman.
Ditko’s first Spider-Man super-villains were: Chameleon, Vulture, Dr. Octopus, Lizard… and Sandman. Who stands out in the group. Spider-Man has an excellent rogues gallery, and Stan and the other artists have brought many of them around to threaten other heroes… but Kirby has shown no interest in using any of them in his comics… except for Sandman, who is essentially a regular Fantastic Four character at this point.
I don’t know any of this. I’m just speculating out loud. But at this point, Sandman has been adopted by the FF as a villain… and I wonder if Jack Kirby created him?
Featuring: Avengers Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Spellbinding story: Smilin’ Stan Lee Awe-inspiring artwork: Dashin’ Donnie Heck Lots of little lettering: Adorable Artie Simek 20 pages
This is Stan Lee’s final credited issue of The Avengers. He may have had a hand in next issue. But starting next issue, the official scripting duties will be passed to Roy Thomas.
He leaves without much fanfare. Especially for a man so known for talking to his audience. No goodbye, no notes about it. He wrote 34 issues of one of the most beloved superhero teams of all time, and then just handed off the duties.
And he doesn’t try to go out with a bang, not really. It’s the first part of a two-part story. I wonder if he does that intentionally, thinking it’s easier for a new writer to finish off a story than come up with a new one. His final Spider-Man (comic book) story will have a similar flavor, introducing a new villain and then leaving the second part to the incoming writer.
Last issue’s blurb about this issue, went “Next: Goliath changes!”
I took that to mean he was going to finally change his clothes and wash this outfit. The blurb in the letters page hinted at more, that this would relate to Goliath’s efforts to return to normal size. It also hinted we’d see the return of Bill Foster, and of Wanda and Pietro.
We do get the return of Bill Foster, not seen since, well, last issue. But nothing else along those lines happens in this issue, and we get an editor’s note apologizing and assuring us that a big change is coming for Goliath. I think the pun is intended.
Featuring: Captain America Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Produced with pandemonium by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inking by: Frank Giacoia Lettering by: Artie Simek 10 pages
…you were one of the greatest! Don’t ever forget that!
Before we start, I’d like to note the date. Tomorrow, December 20 2025, marks 85 years since the introduction of Captain America, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
December 20, 1940, almost a year before Pearl Harbor, at a time American policy and popular sentiment was still against involvement in the war in Europe, here was Captain America punching Adolf Hitler in the face.
There are those on the internet who claim comics have become too political in recent years. To my mind, they’re not political enough. This cover was a bold political statement, and remains one of the greatest comic covers of all time, a fine introduction to one of Marvel’s greatest superheroes.
Superheroes should stand for what is right, not for what is popular. That’s how they become timeless.
Captain America is on a mission in the Orient, trying to rescue a double agent.
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: January 10, 1967 Cover: April 1967 12 cents A mystical Marvel masterwork by: Stan Lee and Marie Severin Lettered by: Artie Simek 10 pages
So long as this bridge endures– this bridge which is not a bridge– and yet, which is more a bridge than any other– Just so long shall hope of escape remain alive within us–
In an opening page clearly meant to evoke Ditko, Dr. Strange hurtles at the speed of thought to outrace the death spell Umar has sent toward Clea.
At last, Dr. Strange has rescued Clea, but it’s a long road to get her to Earth. They encounter many hazards along the way. Perhaps too many for a ten page comic, as each is too easily evaded.
But some of them are cool, like when they get caught in a road of repetition, stuck in a loop.
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Seldom-equalled editing by Stan Lee Seldom-surpassed scripting by Roy Thomas Seldom-lacking layouts by Jack Kirby Seldom-rivaled rendering by Jim Steranko Seldom-legible lettering by Artie Simek 12 pages
The hour of Hydra has come at last– And nothing that the human race can do will cease our relentless march toward world domination!
Steranko takes on the cover solo, and does an impressive job. He probably won’t need Kirby’s handholding much longer.
Inside, it’s still the Kirby/Steranko art team, with the art seeming more and more Steranko each issue. What’s changed is the writer. Thomas has been the regular on X-Men and Sgt. Fury and occasionally filled in elsewhere. This is in that fill-in category. He won’t be a regular writer on this series.
We open in the barbershop. Not clear the status of it after the attack by AIM. Is it still a SHIELD base? Is it still secret?
We recognize the two agents working in the barbershop, but still haven’t learned their names.
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents Truly hath Stan Lee authored yon awesome epic– Verily hath Bill Everett such scenes depicted– And, finally didst Artie Simek the lettering incribe! 10 pages
I’d say this issue picks up where the last issue left off, but nothing happened last issue. Except that Clea was captured by Umar after a recap of the last 40 issues.
Everett’s depiction of Dark Dimension is fine, maybe even good. Maybe I’m just in a bad mood since Ditko left and am being unfair to Everett. I do appreciate Everett for his work on Sub-Mariner, Venus, and Daredevil… just not here.
The Power of SHIELD! Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD! Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee Layouts: Jolly Jack Kirby Artwork: Jaunty Jim Steranko Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek 12 pages
So long as men such as you exist– men who are dedicated not merely to the cause of nationalism– but to international freedom– to global justice– so long will the lamp of liberty continue to burn bright– until men of good will, everywhere, put down their arms and come forth to reason together!
Once again, Kirby is on layouts with Steranko on art, but the character work looks more like Steranko this issue than last, perhaps suggesting looser layouts from Kirby.
Worth noting this will be Stan Lee’s final work on Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD. He remains the editor, of course.
Last issue, Nick had escaped Hydra, but was unwittingly piloting their Overkill Horn. We pick up there this issue. Sitwell is in charge of SHIELD, and manages to destroy the Horn, fearing he has killed Fury in doing so. But Nick gets free.
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Script by Stan Lee, defender of the faith! Art by Bill Everett, keeper of the flame! Lettering by Artie Simek, printer of the word! 10 pages
By the Demons of Darkness! By the oath I now speak! Umar commands– reveal what I seek!
At the end of last issue, we briefly met Dormammu’s sister Umar.
Given how weird and cool Dormammu looked, it’s disappointing to see his sister look just like a human woman. You can try to explain it off as these beings having amorphous forms or such. But it mostly seems like a failure of creativity and design.
