Featuring: Iron Man Release: August 9, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Smilin’ Stan Lee, author Genial Gene Colan, artist Gleeful Gary Michaels, inker Affable Artie Simek, letterer Ineffable Irving Forbush, referee 12 pages
If only the day would come when force is no longer necessary– when men would reason together instead! But, until such a time, we should be thankful that power such as Iron Man’s exists– and can be used in behalf of freedom!
Titanium Man holds Pepper hostage. The battle continues in DC, delaying Stark’s testimony to Congress.
“…for the sake of freedom everywhere, I dare not lose…” claims Iron Man. That sounds a little overly melodramatic and self-important to me.
The Maddening Mystery of the Inconceivable Adaptoid!
Featuring: Captain America Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Stan Lee authored the script Jack Kirby pencilled the story Frank Giacoia inked the drawings Artie Simek lettered the panels Irving Forbush sharpened the pencils 10 pages
I consider it a rare privilege to serve the mighty Avengers, sir!
Bucky was Captain America’s partner in World War II, killed by Zemo, who was working for the Red Skull.
But he seems to be back somehow?
No, it’s just a photograph.
Jarvis is the butler to the Avengers. He’d previously worked for Tony Stark, but Stark has been loaning his mansion to the Avengers for some time, and has lent Jarvis with it.
We don’t yet know much about Jarvis. He was introduced to us in Tales of Suspense #59, but presumably had been serving the Avengers since early on. He probably had second thoughts about the job when Hawkeye tried to prove his merits to join the team by attacking their butler.
This issue is the most lines he’s had yet. He notes it’s a privilege to serve the Avengers.
He offers to draw a bath for Cap, but Captain America can shower by himself. He’s a big boy.
Featuring: Iron Man Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Gene Colan Inks: Frank Giacoia Lettering: Artie Simek Emergency first aid: Irving Forbush 12 pages
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: August 9, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Gloriously edited by Stan Lee Graniloquently scripted by Roy Thomas Gorgeously drawn by Wild Bill Everett Grudgingly lettered by Artie Simek 10 pages
It is the Sacred Griffin– the beast appointed by the priests of the Babylonian god Marduk to stand eternal vigil over the mystic text! It has ever been written in the Words of Flame that he who defeats the fearsome sentinel… is the destined possessor of the book!
Dr. Strange gets the cover again. Seems like he and Nick Fury will be trading off who gets featured.
We’re skipping the Nick Fury half of this comic to finish off the Kaluu arc.
O’Neill had been the writer for the last few issues, but Thomas fills in for this one. His scripting is described as “graniloquent”. Looks like Stan will return to the title next issue.
As you can see from the list down the page, Thomas is all in on the invocations.
So far, the Kaluu story has been terrible. Will Thomas turn it around?
Four issues into the battle, and Dr. Strange and Kaluu still haven’t met. So if we get that far, it will be a step up.
We’d heard Ancient One whine for several issues now about how powerful Kaluu is. But now Kaluu seems to fear that he will lose if his foes get any time to plan.
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Edited by: Stan Lee Layouts by: Jack Kirby Script by: Denny O’Neil Art by: Ogden Whitney Lettering by: Artie Simek Ammunition by the Forbush Pyrotechnic Co. 12 pages
Hydra can never be killed! Althrough you have captured Hydra’s body, its head is still free… It shall last forever! It has resources you have not dreamed of… resources that will insure its ultimate triumph!
It’s rare that the scripter doesn’t get credited ahead of the artists. When Lee was scripting, his name always came first. Now that Lee is editing, the editor’s name comes first. But then he put Kirby’s layouts ahead of the scripting and art in the credits.
The credits claim this issue’s writer and artist are surprises.
At this point, we know Denny O’Neil. He’s been taking over the scripting duties on Dr. Strange. But the name Ogden Whitney is new to us.
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: June 9, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Magical editing by Stan Lee Mystic script by Denny O’Neil Mysterious art by Bill Everett Makeshift lettering by Artie Simek 10 pages
“…he will be punished for whatever dark deeds he has committed! I, Dr. Strange, vow it!” “Enough! Your babbling is that of a callow schoolboy, Disciple!”
Finally, Dr. Strange is starting to get the cover slot sometimes.
You can see my own copy of the cover has seen better days.
For this issue, O’Neil copies the structure of X-Men #12. That structure didn’t work then and this won’t either.
In the X-Men story, Juggernaut is attacking the X-Men, but rather than prepare, Professor X insists the X-Men must first know his entire life story, instead of just telling them the relevant bits.
Same idea here. Kaluu has just attacked and stolen the Book of the Vishanti. The Ancient One will keep stressing how urgently they must stop him. But first he thinks he needs to tell Dr. Strange his entire life story.
Featuring: Avengers Release: August 9, 1966 Cover: October 1966 12 cents Stan (The Man) Lee, writer Dazzlin’ Don Heck, artist Adorable Art Simek, letterer Invincible Irving Forbush, snake charmer 20 pages
…beware of the man who sets you against your neighbor!
The cover features Scarlet Witch fighting against the Sons of the Serpent. But I think she’s in Europe and missing all the action.
The reprint of the story in Marvel Triple Action #25 corrects the cover, drawing instead Black Widow, who was in the story.
The Sons of the Serpent originally seemed to have the goal of getting all immigrants out of America. But when they attacked a Black American-born man, we saw their goals were a bit broader. Now, they mention creeds. They also are targeting people of different religions.
Featuring: Avengers Release: July 7, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, writer and raconteur Don Heck, artist and bon vivant Artie Simek, letterer and patron des artes Irv Forbush, scapegoat, junior grade 20 pages
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner! Release: June 2, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee Pencilling: Jolly Jack Kirby Inking: Darlin’ Dick Ayers Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek And, in the unlikely words of Irving Forbush: Imperius Rex! 12 pages
Jack Kirby takes on another issue of the Sub-Mariner. Perhaps Gene Colan remains out sick.
I had a choice here. I’ve got this comic, Tales to Astonish #83 in my hand. I could read it in order, as any normal person would. Starting at the first page, and then turning the pages in order until I reach the end.
Or I could realize that the story makes no sense if I do that, so instead turn to halfway through this comic to the Hulk story, read that, and then flip back to the beginning to read the Namor story.
The story makes slightly more sense to do it that way, but it doesn’t really make sense no matter how I read it. And certainly no kid picking this up in 1966 would have known to jump to the middle. Maybe some did anyway because they are big Hulk fans.
So I’m going to start this comic from the beginning, get very confused, then eventually get to the end of the comic, and resolve some, but not all, of that confusion.
Namor just had his big brawl with Iron Man, and then left to continue to pursue Krang and Dorma. As far as I know, the last thing Hulk did was rescue Betty Ross from Boomerang, who escaped with some goons from the Secret Empire, who as far as I know remain an active threat. As are Them/AIM.
Dorma is with Krang because he agreed to spare Namor’s life. But now he’s trying to kill Namor. So maybe that’s grounds for an annulment?
But Dorma hadn’t read the fine print. Krang agreed to spare Namor from the Behemoth, not to spare him generally. Again, I would just leave him now and find a lawyer to discuss the contract with.
Featuring: Hulk Release: May 5, 1966 Cover: August 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, writer Jack Kirby, designer Bill Everett, illustrator Artie Simek, letterer A touch of the muse, inspirer 10 pages
Where were we? Namor tired of fighting Iron Man and continues his pursuit of Krang and Dorma. Tony Stark has made the decision to give in to Senator Byrd and turn over the secrets of Iron Man to the US Government.
Hulk has just made his way back to the surface from the subterranean realm where Mole Man and Tyrannus are at war. Tyrannus’ prisoners Talbot, Betty, and Rick, had also recently returned to the surface. They weren’t back long before Betty was captured by Boomerang, who was hired by the Secret Empire to steal some type of weapon.
“No one shoots Hulk! No one!” exclaims Hulk.
Actually, people shoot at Hulk all the time. They just never hurt him.
Ross blames Hulk for his daughter’s abduction. He blames the Hulk for most everything. Note he is talking about Betty’s previous abduction by Tyrannus. He doesn’t know she’s been abducted again since then.
