Featuring: Sgt. Fury Release: December 8, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Herculean editing by Stan Lee Halcyon scripting by Roy Thomas Heroic plotting and drawing by Dick Ayers Heavenly inking by John Tartaglione Homogenized lettering by Artie Simek 20 pages
Featuring: Daredevil Release: December 8, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents A Stan Lee * Gene Colan epic extravaganza! Inked by: Frank Giacoia Lettered by: Art Simek 20 pages
We’re both lawyers, Matt! You know how thin that story sounds!
Where were we? Matt had the weirdest plan yet to protect his secret for Karen. Strong, strong emphasis on the word “yet” there. He thought he would put on a Daredevil costume in front of her and pretend to be pretending to be Daredevil to diffuse a hostage situation. Over the course of events, “Matt in disguise as Daredevil” disappears and the “real Daredevil” appears. And then finds himself transported to Europe and trapped there for a bit.
Fortunately that whole act seemed to basically have Karen fooled. But now Matt has disappeared along with Daredevil. And she opened a letter written to Matt from Spider-Man which said that Spidey knew Matt was Daredevil but would keep his secret.
Not very well, apparently.
Now, Matt is back from Europe and will need to scramble to explain his disappearance and protect his secret. He’ll need a plan even crazier than the last one.
Meanwhile, Leap-Frog is a new menace on par with Dr. Doom.
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner Release: December 8, 1966 Cover: March 1967 12 cents Story by Smilin’ Stan Lee Art by Wild Bill Everett Lettering by Adorable Art Simek 12 pages
I? I am Prince of the Realm! I am Atlantis! Thus, here do I stand!
Recall that passing aliens accidentally dropped a robot on Earth, which landed in the ocean. Attuma has taken control and turned it into a weapon against the Sub-Mariner. I think that’s literally all that happened last issue.
This issue Namor actually fights the robot.
My life belongs to the people– to the Realm Eternal! I do what I must– I cannot do less!
Featuring: Hulk Release: April 1, 1975 Cover: July 1975 25 cents Len Wein writer/editor Herbe Trimpe & Joe Staton illustrators Glynis Oliver Wein colorist Arty Simek letterer 18 pages
Why? Why is there so much Hulk does not understand? All Hulk wants is a place where Hulk can find peace… a place Hulk can call… home! Why is Hulk forever lost? Where is Hulk? Where–? Nowhere! Hulk is always nowhere!
After a hiatus of a half-decade, the X-Men have returned, now with an all new team, including Wolverine, who we just met when he battled Hulk a few issues back. Of course, Len Wein was the writer on both titles, making for a smooth crossover.
We recall that in Hulk #187, Hulk tagged along on a SHIELD mission to Siberia to rescue Glenn Talbot, only to find him brain-swapped with a Soviet agent. The Gremlin erased the Soviet agent from his mind, so Ross and Quartermain only brought back a mindless husk. As they left, SHIELD destroyed the Gremlin’s Siberian base with Hulk still inside fighting the Droog monster. Presumably Hulk is now dead.
Except as we see on page 1, Hulk unexpectedly survived the destruction.
Back East, I remember reading about a fictitious gun-fighter named the Two-Gun Kid! I don’t know whatever happened to him, but I think I’ll borrow the name!
We see the signatures for Lee, Kirby, and Ayers. The GCD credits the coloring to Stan Goldberg, and the letters to Artie Simek.
We just met Marvel’s original Two-Gun Kid, Clay Harder from 1948. In 1962, Marvel introduced the new Two-Gun Kid. Marvel had been reviving the idea of superheroes with the Fantastic Four and Hulk. And just two months earlier introduced Thor, Spider-Man, and Ant-Man.
Stan and Jack bring the sensibility that had been working for them on the superhero titles to the western genre as they reimagne the Two-Gun Kid. For example, this new one will have a mask and secret identity.
Featuring: X-Men Release: November 3, 1966 Cover: January 1967 12 cents Stan Lee editor Roy Thomas writer Werner Roth artist J. Tartaglione inker Artie Simek letterer Irving Forbush noise-maker 20 pages
How could these puny humans– who dwell among the smoke and noise that they call civilization– hope to appreciate such matchless beauty?
So my normal standard for making posts is to prepare the post one day, but not publish it the same day. I sleep on it and give it a last lookover before publication.
I’m skipping my usual standards today. Because today is St. Patrick’s Day. So I’m posting this without my usual extra day to edit. And from a pub. While some number of drinks in.
As seems appropriate.
This issue feels appropriate for St. Patrick’s Day because it introduces the character of the Banshee.
Who I think is Irish. Though they don’t say so. At least, I associate banshees with being Irish. Of course, I also associate banshees with being women, so shows what I know.
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.
