art simek – Coke & Comics

Thor #136

To Become an Immortal!

Featuring: Thor
Release: November 3, 1966
Cover: January 1967
12 cents
A proud phantasmagoria of pageantry, presented by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Delineated by Vince Colletta
Lettered by Artie Simek
16 pages

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Thor #135, Story B	Reading order	Thor #136, Story B
Thor #135, Story B	Thor	Thor #136, Story B

I did but provide the time– the setting– But, only in the heart can be found the final enchanted ingredient– men call love!

Let’s reflect on the relationship between Jane, Don, and Thor. To understand this love triangle, we first need to understand the relationship between Don and Thor. And we don’t.

We reflected on the nature of their relationship back in issue 129. It seems Don is Thor and Thor is Don. They have two bodies, but one mind, one set of thoughts, and one heart, one set of feelings.

There is plenty of evidence to contradict that interpretation, but that is how they are usually written. Don is Thor and Thor is Don. Don is mortal and Thor is immortal. Thor is ancient, older than humanity, and had a life long before Don. And Don presumably had a life before Thor, before he found that cane in the mountain. Though we have learned very little about that life, only that he had studied medicine and become a world-renowned surgeon and robotics expert. We’ve seen no glimpses of his past life, nor met any relatives. But presumably he has these things. But now he is Thor. Mind, heart, soul.

In fact, Thor and Don seem closer than Hulk and Banner. Who definitely seem to to be two distinct characters with opinions about the other, who share only some thoughts and feelings.

So where does Jane fit in?

Thor #135

The Maddening Menace of the Super-Beast!

Featuring: Thor
Release: October 4, 1966
Cover: December 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby feature fantasy!
Delineation by: Vincent Colletta
Lettering by: Artie Simek
16 pages

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Thor #134, Story B	Reading order	Thor #135, Story B
Thor #134, Story B	Thor	Thor #135, Story B

“The universe is vast, beloved– and doth contain worlds without limit! One such world shall someday be home for the Knights of Wundagore! Then mayhap a new star shall burn more brightly!”
“And when it does, we two will know the reason why!”

It will be later in the issue before anybody names this new villain. The title and cover suggest his name is the Super-Beast. So that is what we will call him. Though the next issue blurb last issue had referred to him as the Man-Beast.

Super-Beast’s thing is that he has undergone a million years of evolution. He’s a mix not just of man and wolf, but of where man and wolf will be in a million years.

So he knows future karate and generally has knowledge of future combat. He knows science that won’t be discovered by humanity for tens of thousands of years.

But does any of that make sense? Is knowledge an evolutionary or genetic trait?

Thor #134, Story B

When Speaks the Dragon!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: September 1, 1966
Cover: November 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby pictorial presentation
Delineated by: Vincent Colletta
Lettered by: Artie Simek
5 pages

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Thor #134	Reading order	Thor #135
Thor #134	Thor	Thor #135

In this land once lived an evil race who dared defy regal Odin himself! So monumental was Odin’s wrath, that he laid waste to the countryside, so that nothing here could live!

We get a clean beginning to a new arc. The cleanest break between stories in a while, but I’m still just reading these Tales of Asgard stories alongside the main Thor adventures without regard to their flow.

Thor and his three warrior friends ride to Nastrond. Here there once lived “an evil race” who “dared defy Odin”. So Odin laid waste the countryside so that nothing could live there. This is referred to as Odin’s kingly wrath.

Perhaps it’s worth reflecting on how righteous Odin really is here. Or how wise. Thor does not take this time to reflect. He just seems rather impressed by what to me seems like Odin’s utter madness.

Thor #133

Behold… The Living Planet!

Featuring: Thor
Release: August 2, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Star-studded script: Stan Lee
Planet-pounding pencilling: Jack Kirby
Real Rigellian rendering: Vince Colletta
Lots of little lettering: Artie Simek
16 pages

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Thor #132, Story B	Reading order	Thor #133, Story B
Thor #132, Story B	Thor	Thor #133, Story B

Every part of this planet upon which we stand is verily a part of Ego! He is everywhere– he is everything! He is a living world!

I’d like to say I own this comic, but really I own some fraction of this comic, as a lot of pages have been ripped out of my copy. I’m sure I didn’t know that when I bought it. I’m not too picky about condition. I look for “readable” copies… but readable includes having all the pages.

Wonder what I paid for it. I have no idea because I have tens of thousands of these things. Not even sure where I bought it. Probably at some comic convention with a couple hundred other comics I thought would help me complete the Marvel Universe so that one day I could read through all of them in order. Presumably it was pretty cheap– that’s what I was always looking for.

I spoke at length about how cool I thought it was when Ditko introduced a being that was also a universe. So of course I also think it’s cool when Kirby introduces a being who is also a planet. Not as cool as being a universe, of course. But still cool.

Thor is also impressed, and you figure this is a guy who’s been around and seen some stuff. He says that the planet developed a face right in front of them and then they heard it speak.

Now, even if a planet could speak, there’s presumably no way it could transmit that voice across space. Unless the substance of this Black Galaxy is really different from our universe. Or unless the planet is broadcasting its speech through some other means than sound, some form of transverse wave.

Reminder of where we are. Tana Nile has conquered Earth via a Space Lock. The Space Lock was controlled from Rigel, so Thor went there to free Earth. The Rigellians agreed to free Earth if Thor dealt with the menace of the Black Galaxy. So here is Thor, accompanied by a Recorder, confronting Ego, the living planet.

Thor #131, Story B

The Warlock’s Eye!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Lee wrote it!
Kirby drew it!
Colletta inked it!
Simek lettered it!
5 pages

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Thor #131	Reading order	Thor #132
Thor #131	Thor	Thor #132

So! Thou wouldst trifle with Volstagg? Know you that my very belly is more than a match for a dozen such as thee!

It’s been a minute. We were in the middle of the Harokin/Warlock’s Eye saga. I’ve decided not to worry about the flow of the Tales of Asgard feature, and just read them as back-ups to the Thor comics, as they were published. So because we paused Thor’s story in the main stories, we paused here.

But now it’s been 9 months and we need to remember things. Harokin has used the Warlock’s Eye to conquer Muspelheim. Thor looks enough like Harokin that he thinks he can disguise himself as Harokin and do some subterfuge.

Thor #131

They Strike from Space!

Featuring: Thor
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Jolly Jack Kirby
Inks: Vivacious V. Colletta
Lettering: Affable Artie Simek
Celestial guided tours: Honest Irving Forbush
16 pages

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Sgt. Fury #32	Reading order	Thor #131, Story B
Thor #130, Story B	Thor	Thor #131, Story B

Ay! The gladness in his heart doth make mine own regal soul rejoice! Too long hath he been brother to sorrow! Too long hath grim duty o’ershadowed his days! Yet, a feeling of unease lies within my heart! I fear that happiness may still be denied to the so-richly-deserving, most noble Thor!

Thor’s comic has become one ongoing saga to the point where it’s hard to figure out where to cut. We obviously did cut after the last issue, which basically ended the Hercules/Pluto saga. But here we are picking up right where that left off, with Thor and Hercules returning from the Netherworld to Olympus.

We’re just going to plow through the next 6 issues of Thor, getting a bit ahead in time of the rest of the Marvel Universe. There are probably 3 distinct arcs among them, but they all just flow together. Really, the main plot of this issue has been building for a bit now. Jane has had a strange roommate named Tana Nile, who’s up to some stuff. It’s been in the background, but now comes to the foreground. And Jane’s encounter with Tana Nile will be the springboard for the next two arcs.

Of course the other springboard is Thor’s decision to marry Jane, even though a god and a mortal may not marry. Thor is ready to surrender his immortality for this.

Amazing Spider-Man #39

How Green Was My Goblin!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: May 10, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Jazzy Johnny Romita
Inks: Mighty Mickey Demeo
Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek
20 pages

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Fantastic Four #53	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #40
Amazing Spider-Man #38	Amazing Spider-Man	Amazing Spider-Man #40

And so, at long last– The Green Goblin will introduce himself– Take a look, Parker– a good, long look– It’s the last face Spider-Man will ever see– It’s the real face of the Green Goblin– the face of [SPOILER REDACTED]

Steve Ditko has officially left Marvel, which won’t leave me with too many other excuses to bring up Steve Ditko. However, this is the first issue of Spider-Man to not be drawn by Steve Ditko. Which is a fine excuse for bringing up Steve Ditko.

Which is good, as Rolling Stone just put out this piece on the man’s life, based on interviews with relatives, and I’m happy to have an excuse to share it: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/steve-ditko-spider-man-life-legacy-1235047781/

Among those interviewed was Steve’s younger brother, Patrick Ditko, who passed away just last month.

I’ve made no secret how much I love Steve Ditko’s work on Amazing Spider-Man, and have spent this blog clumsily trying to explain why over 38 issues worth of posts. Perhaps this characterization of Spider-Man from the Rolling Stone article gets to the core of how I see myself reflected in the character.

He lacked social skills.

A more charitable interpretation of my own character is perhaps found in their characterization of Steve Ditko as a man…

…who never fit into social norms, yet cultivated thriving relationships.

They go on.

Similar to how Peter Parker never lets loved ones get too close for fear it would put them in danger, Ditko compartmentalized his life, keeping work and family distinct to retain some power in a world that overwhelmed him. And the same way Spider-Man’s neuroticism makes him amazing, the traits that people marginalized Ditko for are what transformed comics forever.

…he had much more in common with his most popular co-creation, Spider-Man, especially his alter ego, Peter Parker. They had the same lanky build. Same comb-over. Same thick glasses. Same bumbling social skills. Ditko’s senior-yearbook photo could have been Parker’s. With their collared shirts and slacks, it looked as if they shopped at the same clothing store —

The late comics retailer Bob Beerbohm assembled this high school photo of Ditko next to high school Peter Parker. Perhaps there is a lot of Ditko in Peter.

So what then is Spider-Man without Steve Ditko? Is the series over?

In some sense, it is plainly not. We have here issue 39. Stan Lee continues to write the comic and has found a new artist to draw it (and probably soon to do most of the writing as well).

If issue 38 was the ending, it wasn’t a clean one. Lots unresolved. Betty is missing. Gwen and Peter are growing closer. Norman Osborn is up to some shady stuff. We never learned the secret of the Green Goblin.

Some say the reason Ditko left Spider-Man is because he and Stan disagreed over the secret of the Green Goblin. We’ll reflect on that at the end of the post.

For now, let’s see what life after Ditko looks like for the Amazing Spider-Man.

John Romita is on art. Unlike Ditko, he tends to draw good-looking people. His career in advertising taught him well to draw good-looking people.

Fantastic Four #53

The Way It Began..!

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: May 10, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Lettering: Artie Simek
Native Dances: The Ballet Forbush Terpsichorean Troupe
20 pages

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Fantastic Four #52	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #39
Fantastic Four #52	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #54

From this moment forth– I live with but one thought– one aim– one goal!! This deed must be avenged! Klaw shall pay– in full measure! I shall be as strong– and as fearless– as the sacred Black Panther!! This do I swear to T’Chaka– my father who is no more!

I’m sure my highly literate readers don’t need me to tell that that terpsichorean means “referring to dancing”. It’s obviously not a new word to me either, as I’ve read this comic plenty of times before. But this was the first time I bothered to look it up.

Thing is perplexed by the contrast between the advanced scientific gizmos and the primitive customs. Perhaps he should reflect on what it means to be primitive. Maybe he is the primitive one?

X-Men #23

To Save a City

Featuring: X-Men
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Edited in ecstacy by Stan Lee
Written in rapture by Roy Thomas
Drawn in delight by Werner Roth
Delineated in depth by Dick Ayers
Lettered in a lawn-chair by Artie Simek
20 pages

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	POSTLUDE	Marvels #3
X-Men #22	Reading order	Daredevil #18
X-Men #22	X-Men	X-Men #24

It is only in this form, in which I have no solid substance, that I can know anything like the thrill of walking again!

Werner Roth had been referring to himself as “Jay Gavin” these last several issues. But now he’s ready to use his real name in the credits.

We pick up where last issue left off, with the X-Men prisoners of Count Nefaria and the new Maggia, with lieutenants picked from an assortment of titles.

Now Nefaria executes his plan, holding Washington DC hostage, blackmailing America, and framing the X-Men.

X-Men #22

Divided– We Fall!

Featuring: X-Men
Release: May 3, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Editor emeritus: Stan Lee
Script by: Roy Thomas
Art by: Jay Gavin
Inking by: Dick Ayers
Lettering by: Artie Simek
Colosso by: Irving Forbush Robotics, Inc.
20 pages

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Sgt. Fury #31	Reading order	X-Men #23
X-Men #21	X-Men	X-Men #23

And, we did it as a team! No one of us could have done it alone!

The cover shows quite the assemblage of super-villains, with the X-Men reduced to floating heads.

As noted before (such as in the last X-Men arc), I find it interesting when super-villains treated as major threats upon their debut get relegated to henchman status. This starts to get them categorized as miscellaneous villains, but at least keeps them from being forgotten.

The story begins in the Danger Room, the most common place for an X-Men story to begin, then as now. Professor X has created a robot named Colosso for the X-Men to fight. And the robot was created to teach a very particular lesson. He can counter all the powers of the individual X-Men, but they can beat him as a team.