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Journey Into Mystery #120

With My Hammer in Hand!

Featuring: Thor
Release: July 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Written in the fire of inspiration by: Stan Lee
Drawn in the flame of dedication by: Jack Kirby
Inked in the heat of devotion by: Vince Colletta
Lettered in the other room by: Artie Simek
16 pages

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Sgt. Fury Annual 1	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery #120, Story B
Journey Into Mystery #119, Story B	Journey Into Mystery	Journey Into Mystery #120, Story B

There! It is done! My hammer can strike once more!

Continuity. How do these many titles all fit together? At present, Thor is the character making it the most difficult. It’s been over 6 issues since his title has given him a chance to breathe, yet we squeezed his last Avengers adventure in there somehow. We’re going to have to squeeze in a wedding somewhere. By the time of the wedding, his hammer should be intact, and he should have formally resigned from the Avengers.

At present, his hammer is broken and he is not yet aware of the new Avengers.

There will be difficulties and contradictions to come, so just remember where we are. Loki cheated in the Trial of the Gods. Thor must get the Norn Stones to Odin as proof. En route, he encountered the Destroyer, who destroyed his hammer. Loki has been punished and sentenced to serve Ularic for his role in awakening the Destroyer. Prior to the Trial of the Gods, Thor had defeated the Absorbing Man by turning him into helium and sending him drifting into space. Somewhere in all that, he also fought the Viet Cong and joined the Avengers against the Masters of Evil. He has not been in contact with the Avengers since that battle, and much has changed. He has not returned to Asgard since the Trial of the Gods.

We open with Thor at a Pittsburgh factory, repairing his hammer. I would have guessed more mystical means would be needed. With Dwarves or such. Maybe Pittsburgh is more mystical than I think. (I have at least one regular reader from Pittsburgh; perhaps he can tell me.)

Sgt. Fury Annual 1

Commission in Korea!

Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: July 1, 1965
Cover: 1965
25 cents
Story: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Darlin’ Dick Ayers
Inking: Frisky Frankie Ray
Lettering: Artful Artie Simek
15 pages

Previous	#391	Next
Tales to Astonish #76	Reading order	Journey Into Mystery #120
	Sgt. Fury Annual	Sgt. Fury Annual 2

They have been shown, in the only way they understand, that free men can always strike back!

We check in with Sgt. Fury during the Korean War. The Commandos are sent on a secret mission across the 38th Parallel. Based on a cursory knowledge of the war, the massive American presence combined with a reticence to cross the 38th Parallel would place this story in July-August 1950.

The remaining Commandos all survived WWII and re-enlisted when the Korean War broke out. All of them have attained at least the rank of Sergeant, but they still seem to be in the same formation with the same personnel from 1943.

The narrator reminds us that the US are the good guys, who play by the agreed-upon rules of war. Unlike those Reds.

Tales to Astonish #73, Story B

Another World, Another Foe!

Featuring: Hulk
Release: August 3, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
You’ll never forget Stan Lee’s script!
You’ll never forget Jack Kirby’s layouts!
You’ll never forget Bob Powell’s art!
You’ll never forget Artie Simek’s –eh– let’s see now, what did Artie do?
10 pages

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Tales to Astonish #73	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #74
Tales to Astonish #73	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #74

I’m no good to anyone– including myself! The world hates me– fears me–

Mike Esposito has drawn the last few issues over Kirby’s layouts. This time the art goes to Bob Powell, a semi-regular name by this point. Powell brings a distinctive level of details to Hulk’s facial expressions. The failure to find a consistent creative team over this extended story arc is one of the things keeping Hulk from greatness. It would have been better if Ditko could have stayed on, but he clearly never had his heart in this title. Still, the work Ditko phoned in was enough to lay a foundation for the character that writers have spent decades building on.

Notice these need longer and longer exposition boxes at the beginning to explain the plot so far. Hulk is about to turn back into Banner, at which point the bullet in his brain will kill him. But he is also helpless against the Leader’s Humanoids.

Tales to Astonish #73

By Force of Arms!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: August 3, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Amiable Adam Austin
Inks: Valiant Vince Colletta
Lettering: Angelic Artie Simek
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #72, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #73, Story B
Tales to Astonish #72, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #73, Story B

I am the Sub-Mariner! I am Namor, the Avenging Son! In truth, I am strength!

Hey, finally Hulk gets his due with the main cover spot, relegating Namor’s story to the bottom bit.

Namor has another clue to get and another threat to face on the way. Luckily this threat will turn out to have a weakness.

Tales to Astonish #71, Story B

Like a Beast at Bay!

Featuring: Hulk
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Stunning story: Stan Lee
Lavish layouts: Jack Kirby
Awesome art: Mickey Demeo
Luscious lettering: Artie Simek
10 pages

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Tales to Astonish #71	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #72
Tales to Astonish #71	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #72

Don’t ever call me “Doc”! Dr. Banner is dead! From now on, I’m just the Hulk!

Notice Kirby is only credited with layouts. Mike Esposito (alias Mickey Demeo) is the credited artist.

We get a scene with a poetic callback, perhaps intentional. Rick rushes into the path of a blast to save Hulk just as Banner had once raced into the path of an explosion to save Rick.

Are they using nuclear weapons on American soil? That seems like a big deal. Oh, I guess this is a “clean bomb”, which leaves no radioactive fallout. I feel better, I guess.

The new status quo is pretty confusing. Hulk apparently has Banner’s mind, but also insists Banner is dead. And his speech reminds us more of Hulk’s.

Tales to Astonish #71

Escape… To Nowhere!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Superlative story by: Stan Lee!
Sensational art by: Adam Austin!
Spectacular inking by: Vince Colletta!
Sufficient lettering by: Artie Simek!
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #70, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #71, Story B
Tales to Astonish #70, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #71, Story B

For, no matter how long the quest shall be–no matter how deadly the dangers I face–naught but victory can be mine! I was born to rule!! I was born Namor, the Sub-Mariner!

His second issue and Namor gets the entire cover. Take that, Hulk.

Expected structure continues. Last issue, Namor found the first clue, met a threat, and it was to be continued. This issue, he resolved that threat, found the second clue, met a new threat, and now it’s to be continued.

Let’s see where next issue goes.

Tales to Astonish #70, Story B

To Live Again!

Featuring: Hulk
Release: May 4, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Take a Stan Lee story,
add Jack Kirby artwork,
mix with Mickey Demeo inking,
and Artie Simek lettering…
Presto! Instant confusion!
10 pages

Previous	#380	Next
Tales to Astonish #70	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #71
Tales to Astonish #70	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #71

And the madder I get, the stronger I get–!

A little surprising this series is continuing since last issue ended with Bruce Banner dead. But then, the title of this issue is “To Live Again!” So maybe we shouldn’t give up on him.

We’d probably have gotten around to this story sooner if I hadn’t just assumed he was dead and it was over. Now I’m beginning to think this Hulk guy is Immortal.

Plus, the threat of the Leader still looms.

Are we going back to the days of the constantly changing status quos for Hulk? We’d been able to hold on to this one for an entire dozen issues. Now we’re back to: always Hulk, Banner’s mind. Perhaps all creators except for Ditko struggle with how to deal with a non-heroic protagonist.

Tales to Astonish #70

The Start of the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner
Release: May 4, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Story by Stan Lee, unchallenged king of the spoken word!
Art by Adam Austin, Marvel’s newest prince of pageantry!
Inking by Vince Colletta, lordly emperor of embellishment!
Lettering by Artie Simek (someone’s gotta carry the spear!)
12 pages

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Strange Tales #136	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #70, Story B
Tales to Astonish #69, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #70, Story B

Imperius Rex!

And… we’re back. Happy Labor Day!

Namor has been flittering through the Marvel Universe as a villain or anti-hero, fighting enough different heroes to help serve as the glue binding the universe together. It has been a decade since his last ongoing series was cancelled. He now makes his triumphant return and will again star in his own title for the next decade before again facing the ignominy of cancellation.

Giant-Man and Wasp just had their regular adventures cancelled. Giant-Man in various guises had been the star of this title since issue 35, sharing it with the Hulk for the last 10 issues. Now the title will be shared by Hulk and Namor. A fitting combo. Neither a hero per se, both acting primarily as villains across different titles for the last couple years, even teaming up once against the Avengers.

A bit of a pattern is taking hold. Tales of Suspense features two of Marvel’s more traditional superheroes, Iron Man and Captain America, the former having long shed any initial horror roots. Journey Into Mystery is entirely Thor’s title now, with the backup features telling stories of Asgard’s past. This series will feature Marvel’s anti-hero characters, Namor and Hulk. Leaving Strange Tales for the not-quite-superhero characters, Marvel’s resident spy and sorcerer, respectively. The combined titles remain a necessity of longstanding distribution difficulties on Marvel’s part, but now there at least seems to be some thematic consistency amongst the titles.

Adam Austin is Gene Colan. He’s learning. Colletta’s inking perhaps doesn’t show Colan at his best. You have to squint or know what you’re looking for to see hints of someone who will soon become one of Marvel’s greatest artists.

The style of layouts will already be different, and reflects a move these comics are slowly making, away from very even grids of pages with 6-9 panels to larger panels of varying shapes and layouts.

Interesting to have a new artist without Kirby to assist. Who is plotting the story? Lee? Colan?

Here’s the plan. They’ve set up a pretty standard adventure here. Namor has lost his crown and needs to go on this quest. There will be various clues. The issue takes him to the first clue.

I guess that seems like a plot Lee could maybe have come up with without Kirby.

We’ll keep reading Namor’s story while this quest is going on. Meanwhile, Hulk is embroiled in the “Leader Saga”. So we’ll read both stories from the next several issues of this title. As will happen often, Hulk’s story will reach a natural breaking point sooner than Namor’s, so we’ll break the comics up and read a little ahead in Namor’s story, and then try to get them back in sync later.

The story opens with the phrase “Imperius Rex!”. What does that mean? Sounds almost Latin. Something like “Imperial King”. I don’t know. I don’t speak Latin. I suspect Stan doesn’t either. Whatever it means, it is now Namor’s official catchphrase and will be for decades to come.

Strange Tales #136

Find Fury or Die!

Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Script by the unpredictable Stan Lee
Layouts by the unmatchable Jack Kirby
Art by the unbeatable Johnny Severin
Lettering by the unsinkable Art Simek
12 pages

Previous	#380	Next
Sgt. Fury #21	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #70
Strange Tales #135, Story B	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #136, Story B

Hail Hydra! Immortal Hydra! We shall never be destroyed! Cut off a limb and two more shall take its place! We serve none but the Master– as the world shall soon serve us! Hail Hydra!

We get a new artist, described as another returnee from the Golden Age. John (Johnny) Severin. I’m a big fan and excited he’s joining us.

Kirby is on the layouts, but John will provide most of the details. This of course means Kirby is responsible for the storytelling.

He’s been with the industry almost 20 years by this point, working off and on for Marvel, but doing his most famous work for EC. Here’s a sampling.

Prize Comics Western #72 (Prize, 1948)
Actual Romances #1 (Marvel, 1949)
Two-Fisted Tales #19 (EC, 1951)
Frontline Combat #1 (EC, 1951)
Mad #1 (EC, 1952)
Sergeant Barney Barker #1 (Marvel, 1956)

Notice that the colorist for the EC books, including Mad, was John’s sister Marie Severin. We’ll be hearing more from her soon.

Of those titles, Mad is the most famous, and would endure in some form for 65 years until finally shutting down in 2018. Perhaps the world had grown too farcical by then to satire.

What, me worry?

Sgt. Fury #21

To Free a Hostage!

Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Story by: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencilling by: Darlin’ Dick Ayers
Inking by: Cheerful Carl Hubbell
Lettering by: Adorable Artie Simek
20 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2	Reading order	Strange Tales #136
Sgt. Fury #20	Sgt. Fury	Sgt. Fury #22

I’m sorry kid. I know what it’s like– to lose someone!

The Howlers seem to have been betrayed by their Czechoslovakian bomb maker, Dr. Zenish.

They deduce that it’s because his family is being used as hostages against him.