irving forbush – Page 2 – Coke ⊕ Comics

Tales to Astonish #84

Like a Beast at Bay!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: June 30, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Fabulous script: Stan Lee
Fascinating art: Gene Colan
Fantastic inks: Dick Ayers
Free-hand lettering: Sam Rosen
Fancy haberdashery: Irving Forbush
12 pages

Previous	#592	Next
Tales of Suspense #84, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #84, Story B
Tales to Astonish #83, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #84, Story B

You are too conspicuous, walking around the city in that manner! Find the nearest clothing store…

In Avengers #17, the Avengers search for the Hulk, and end up vaguely near him, but not meeting him. But it’s sort of a crossover. Not really, but sort of.

In this issue, Namor is searching for Hulk, because he’s been brainwashed by Number One of the former Secret Empire, who wants revenge on Hulk for destroying the Secret Empire. Even though Hulk has never met the Secret Empire and had nothing whatsoever to do with their demise.

I would suggest the writer of the Namor stories hasn’t been reading the Hulk stories, but both series are allegedly written by Stan Lee.

Tales of Suspense #83

Victory!

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

Previous	#588	Next
Tales of Suspense #82, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #83, Story B
Tales of Suspense #82, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #83, Story B

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.

Tales of Suspense #82, Story B

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

Previous	#587	Next
Tales of Suspense #82	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #83
Tales of Suspense #82	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #83

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.

Tales of Suspense #82

By Force of Arms!

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

Previous	#586	Next
Captain America Comics #6, Story B	PRELUDE
Tales of Suspense #81	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #82, Story B
Tales of Suspense #81, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #82, Story B

And now, you loud-mouthed, thick-skinned, empty-headed Volga Boatman–

Tony Stark’s testimony to Congress is delayed yet again when Titanium Man attacks.

We get an all-out battle between the armored foes.

Tales of Suspense #81

The Return of the Titanium Man!

Featuring: Iron Man
Release: May 3, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Stan Lee… writer
Gene Colan… artist
Gary Michaels… inker
Sam Rosen… letterer
Irving Forbush… armor polisher
12 pages

Previous	#585	Next
	PRELUDE	Captain America Comics #6, Story B
Strange Tales #150, Story B	Reading order	Tales of Suspense #82
Tales of Suspense #80, Story B	Tales of Suspense	Tales of Suspense #81, Story B

This feeling of total freedom… of being air-borne under your own power… like some great metal bird… makes all the hardhip, all the danger of the past, utterly meaningless… as inconsequential as some dim, half-forgotten nightmare!

We already read the second half of this issue to finish off Captain America’s battle with Red Skull. We held off on this first half as it starts a new arc for Iron Man with Titanium Man.

Where were we? Senator Byrd has insisted for a while that Tony Stark appear before Congress to reveal Iron Man’s secrets. Stark has been conveniently avoiding this summons by doing things like get kidnapped by the Mandarin. Growing impatient, Byrd had Stark factories closed. But now, after a battle with Sub-Mariner, he’s called Senator Byrd to offer to testify.

At some point, perhaps around the time he made this phone call, Stark also took a call from Hank Pym, and recommended his employee Bill Foster to help Pym’s research.

Earlier, an Iron Man in need of help had sought out the Avengers and found them not at home. An editor’s note suggested they were across town fighting Power Man and Swordsman, but I prefer to think they were in a hidden South American kingdom.

Elsewhere in the Marvel Universe, SHIELD has just defeated AIM and the Secret Empire, and deduced both were branches of Hydra returned. Dr. Strange has defeated Kaluu. Thor has won the Troll War. The Avengers have defeated the Sons of the Serpent. Daredevil has escaped the Owl’s island. Peter Parker has met a hot redhead. Sub-Mariner remains a pawn of Number One from the Secret Empire, on a mission to destroy Hulk. And Hulk just wants to be left alone.

Avengers #33

To Smash a Serpent

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

Previous	#579	Next
Avengers #32	Reading order	Strange Tales #148
Avengers #32	Avengers	Avengers #34

…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.

The net of their bigotry only widens.

Strange Tales #147

The Enemy Within!

Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Release: May 10, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Mickey Demeo
Lettering: Sam Rosen
Weapons: Forbush Novelty Co.
12 pages

Previous	#576	Next
Tales to Astonish #83, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #147, Story B
Strange Tales #146, Story B	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #147, Story B

…we of AIM feel we simply cannot deal with such an unlettered oaf! We find his very appearance offensive! The idea of America’s highest-priority counter-espionage leader going around in his shirtsleeves… unshaven, unkempt, and making a mockery of your own language– shocking!

Shadowy organizations. These secret power-hungry cabals. Hydra had been the big one, but they fell to SHIELD in Strange Tales #141. The Secret Empire seemed to collapse from within in Tales to Astonish #83. An unnamed shadowy cabal was behind Batroc in Tales of Suspense #75. Not sure if they are connected to one of these others, or their own thing.

Most relevant is the organization called Them. We learned they had employed the Fixer in Strange Tales #145. In Tales of Suspense #78, Fury warns Captain America that Them is a group of scientists looking to overthrow the government. We see they have beekeeper-like uniforms and work for someone called the Imperator. They send a Chemical Android after Captain America.

AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is a defense contractor looking to supply the US government weapons to make up for the shutdown of Stark Industries. Count Bornag Royale is their representative, and has claimed SHIELD needs someone more sophisticated than Nick Fury at its helm.

AIM and Them seem to be the same organization, with AIM the public-facing front. In Tales of Suspense #79, we see Them/AIM is responsible for the return of the Red Skull and the creation of the Cosmic Cube. Fortunately, Captain America dealt with both threats. Seemingly for good.

We open with Fury returning from having led a successful mission against a swamp headquarters for Them.

Tales to Astonish #83, Story B

Less than Monster, More than Man!

Featuring: Hulk
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Layouts: Jolly Jack Kirby
Art: Wild Bill Everett
Lettering: Whammy Sammy Rosen
Applause: Honest Irving Forbush
10 pages

Previous	#575	Next
Tales to Astonish #83	Reading order	Strange Tales #147
Tales to Astonish #83	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #84

If the man I love really is behind that grotesque face… does this mean I’ve lost him… forever?

“Less than Monster, More than Man!” A good title. Very Hulk.

These interactions between Betty and the Hulk give very significant insights into his character and their relationship.

Tales to Astonish #83

The Sub-Mariner Strikes!

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

Previous	#574	Next
Tales to Astonish #82, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #83, Story B
Tales to Astonish #82, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #83, Story B

…My Secret Empire may yet rise again!

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.

Daredevil #21

The Trap is Sprung

The Trap is Sprung
Featuring: Daredevil
Release: August 2, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
Spellbinding script: Stan Lee
Phenominal pencilling; Gene Colan
Dynamic delineation: Fearless Frank * Darlin’ Dick * Wild Bill
Laudatory lettering: Artie Simek
Bombastic bird-watching: Irving Forbush
20 pages

Previous	#554	Next
Daredevil #20	Reading order	Amazing Spider-Man #41
Daredevil #20	Daredevil	Daredevil #22

“Daredevil!! B-but how–??”
“Would you believe– blind luck??”

The credited inkers are Frank, Dick, and Bill. I presume that means… Frank Giacoia, Dick Ayers, and Bill Everett.

Is Colan the regular artist now? It suggested last issue was a fill-in. But he’s now drawn 2 issues in a row and is set to draw the next 80 or so.

On a personal note, this is the earliest issue of Daredevil that I own.