Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: April 12, 1966 Cover: July 1966 12 cents Far-fetched script by Stan Lee Fantastic layouts by Jack Kirby Fabulous pencilling by Don Heck Fanciful inking by Mickey Demeo Freehand lettering by Sam Rosen 12 pages
We’re dealin’ with an outfit that can turn out artificial men to do any kinda job… just like Marvel can grind out comic books!
The word of late has been Them. Them financed the Fixer. Them sent a chemical android to attack Nick Fury and Captain America. Them consists of several brilliant scientists.
Spinning right out of the Captain America adventure, Nick Fury has traced that android to this swampland.
In a bit of bravado, and a wink at the other titles, Fury notes that SHIELD agents aren’t superheroes. They don’t always win.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: March 10, 1966 Cover: June 1966 12 cents Writer: Stan Lee Penciller: Jack Kirby Inker: Joe Sinnott Letterer: Artie Simek 20 pages
He paid the full price– and, he paid it– like a man!
After introducing the Inhumans, and then introducing the Silver Surfer and Galactus in perhaps the best and most iconic FF story ever immediately after, you’d think Stan and Jack would want a break from the iconic stories that will be remembered for decades to come.
But this is perhaps the most iconic issue of Fantastic Four ever. It’s perhaps the best Fantastic Four comic ever. It might be the best comic Stan and Jack ever made.
It might be the best comic anybody ever made.
The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine indeed.
I won’t ruin this image with my clumsy words. You can just appreciate the opening page for yourself. I just suggest that you take a minute with it.
This picks up from last issue in a couple ways. Alicia and the Silver Surfer grew close during the events, enough to make Thing jealous and wander off morosely. There were even newspaper headlines about Thing being seen wandering the streets feeling sad. We saw a mysterious man reading those headlines. We didn’t learn his name, but we learned he intends to destroy the Fantastic Four.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: February 10, 1966 Cover: May 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Inks: Joe Sinnott Lettering: S. Rosen 20 pages
Master! For the first time I realize the dread enormity of what you plan to do! You must not tamper with other worlds! You cannot destroy the entire human race!
Would you hesitate to tread upon an ant hill? These creatures are of no consequence to Galactus!
These are not ants, Master! They think… they feel… they have even created the primitive civilization which we see all about us!
Master! Say we may leave this world! My heart grieves at battling one with whom I shared… a universe!
You speak of me as though I am a monster! Do not the humans themselves slay the lesser beasts for food… for sustenance? Galactus does no less!
Galactus is not evil! He is above good.. or evil! He does what he must… for he is Galactus!
Emulate the Watcher! Stand and observe! Try to fathom the cataclysmic forces which have been unleashed! For you shall never see their like again!
Long have I cherished the stumbling, bumbling, but always aspiring human race!
Consider the courage they display! Though they are still in their infancy, you must not disdain them! Did not your race… and mine… evolve from such humble beginnings? Do they not possess the seed of grandeur within their frail, human frames?
And at last I perceive the glint of glory within the race of man! Be ever worthy of that glory, humans… be ever mindful of your promise of greatness! …For it shall one day lift you beyond the stars.. or bury you within the ruins of war!! The choice is yours!!
Generally, my plan is to pick a single quote from each issue to open these posts. I cheated last issue and am doing so again this issue. Too many great quotes. Also too many great images.
This isn’t the worst cover we’ve seen, but it is the most disappointing. Compare it to the awesome first page.
That’s a cool image. But the cover? No Galactus? The FF just as floating heads? Just a shot of the Silver Surfer. With the corner of the cover devoted to Johnny at college? What?
Notice they seem to have gotten the coloring of Galactus basically right now. Purple over red, wearing pants. Still bare arms, but that’s fine. Third time’s the charm. Here’s how it looks in the digital version with modern coloring.
I think the conclusion of the Galactus saga is excellent, but the structuring of this issue is again weird. To appreciate that, I’d like to peek ahead a few pages.
Recall where we were. Galactus is about to destroy the entire world in order to convert its resources into energy to feed himself. His herald has been convinced by Alicia that human life matters, so Silver Surfer has decided for the first time in countless eons to defy his master. Meanwhile, the Human Torch has journeyed across the universe to the giant space station that is Galactus’ home, to find the one weapon that may yet save them.
With all that to wrap up ahead of us, this is page 15.
We meet Coach Thorpe, who is very concerned his college football team is performing poorly. And his star quarterback is giving him attitude.
I cannot even begin to explain the surreality of the contrast between the first and fifteenth page of this comic.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: January 1, 1966 Cover: April 1966 12 cents Written in the masterful manner of Stan Lee Illustrated in the magnificent mode of Jack Kirby Inked in the majestic mood of Joe Sinnott Lettered in the nick of time by S. Rosen 20 pages
Of what import are brief, nameless lives… to Galactus??
It is not my intention to injure any living being! But… I must replenish my energy! If petty creatures are wiped out when I drain a planet, it is regrettable… but unavoidable!
I am supreme unto myself… I am Galactus!
This planet contains the energies to sustain me! I shall absorb it at will… as I have for ages in countless galaxies throughout the cosmos!
Destroy is merely a word! We simply change things! We change elements into energy… the energy which sustains Galactus! For it is only he that matters!
No! No! We all matter! Every living being… every bird and beast… this is our world! Ours!
Perhaps we are not as powerful as your Galactus… but we have hearts… we have souls… we live… breathe… feel! Can’t you see that?? Are you as blind as I?
Never have I heard such words… sensed such courage… or known this strange feeling… this new emotion…! There is a word some races use… a word I have never understood… until now! At last I know… beauty!
But look! Look at the city below you! Look at the people! Each of them is entitled to life… to happiness… each of them is… human!
All I need do is link these two igniters… and all the seas of Earth shall be transformed into purest energy… enough energy to sustain me until I find the next such planet somewhere in the endless cosmos!
Trust me! Banish fear from your heart! You shall travel by time space distortion! We must force open the very fabric of time itself! Let it be done… now! You are traveling back… far, far back… into the center of infinity!
There’s always a chance, darling… so long as we’re alive!
Perhaps for the first time within memory… I have found something worth protecting!
This is the middle chapter of the Galactus saga. In many cases, the middle chapter of a saga is the weakest. But the odd structuring of the story makes this the best issue. The first issue was beset by having to finish off the Inhuamns saga before getting started. The last issue will oddly finish halfway through and then become about college football.
Making this the only chapter that dedicates 20 pages to being about Galactus.
I have a book collecting some Jack Kirby Collector magazines, which includes some pencils for this issue. Comparing Kirby’s pencils with the finished artwork can help us understand what Joe Sinnott brings to the table with his finishes.
Let’s dive in and I’ll make some comments as we go.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: December 12, 1965 Cover: March 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, writer without peer! Jack Kirby, penciller of the year! Joe Sinnott, inker most sincere! Artie Simek, how’d he get in here! 20 pages
My journey is ended! This planet shall sustain me until it has been drained of all elemental life! So speaks Galactus!
There’s a lot going on in this issue, and a lot to say. So we’ll break it into sections.
The end of the Inhumans saga
We were reading the Inhumans saga in Fantastic Four #44–47. And it wasn’t done. Maximus, the mad would-be king of the Inhumans, was just about to wipe out all humanity with his weapon.
Despite this cliffhanger, we left the saga behind to check in on the rest of the Marvel Universe. We’ve read 70 other stories over the 9 months since we left ourselves hanging. The story concludes this issue. Prior to issue 44, the longest FF saga was 3 parts in the previous 3 issues, #41–43, clocking in at 60 pages. Before that, the longest FF saga was the 2-part #39–40, clocking in at 40 pages.
We’ve already ready 4 issues and 80 pages of the Inhumans arc, and we’re not done! Here we are on the 5th issue. Since this issue is another 20 pages, does that mean it’s a 100-page long saga?
I would say no. I would put it at about 86.7 pages.
That’s right. There are less than 7 pages left.
The Fantastic Four have found the Great Refuge within the Andes. Black Bolt wants them to leave immediately. Reed wants Black Bolt to stop hiding from humanity. Crystal and Johnny want each other.
And Maximus… he fires his “atmo-gun”, which will send vibrations that only affect humans into the air, leaving the Inhumans the rulers of the world.
Featuring: Captain America Release: March 10, 1966 Cover: June 1966 12 cents Wondrous words by: Stan Lee Awesome art by: Jack Kirby Incredible inking by: Frank Giacoia Lop-sided lettering by: Artie Simek 10 pages
…the world will soon tremble before the power of– Them!
In Captain America’s recent battle with Batroc, Batroc was working for some secret cabal. In the pages of Strange Tales, we learned the Fixer was working for some secret cabal called Them. They had some plot involving miniature brains. I don’t know if these two cabals are connected.
Nick Fury confronts Captain America at Avengers HQ. This is their first meeting in the present. Captain America refers to him as “Sarge”, but it’s Colonel Fury now. They reference fighting together, presumably referring to Sgt. Fury #13. That is the only prior meeting we know of.
When Fury notes Cap hasn’t aged much, Cap says Fury seems pretty well-preserved himself. Is this just a compliment? Or a first hint that Fury uses some form of special formula to keep himself young. They last met 20 years ago. Fury could have been in his ’20s then and ’40s now.
Featuring: Captain America Release: February 10, 1966 Cover: May 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Layouts: Jack Kirby Penciling: John Romita Inking: Frank Ray Lettering: Sam Rosen Kibitzing: Irving Forbush 10 pages
Oh, Cap… Cap… will this war never end? Will we never be able to lead normal lives? How can we speak of love… when the world is in flames… when I don’t even know your name!
With famed romance artist John Romita on pencils, we will learn the story of the “girl from Cap’s past”. There’s going to be some confusion here. A lot of confusion, in fact. So let’s review what we know.
Two issues ago, Cap encountered a female SHIELD agent who reminded him of an old flame. This SHIELD agent has an older sister who once dated a man named Steve Rogers.
We see the final parting of Cap and this woman in his memory. We’ll recall it here for reference.
Not a lot of details about this woman to go off, but enough that this issue will find a dozen ways to contradict them.
A documentary about Cap’s role in the liberation of Paris stirs up Cap’s memories. He notes it’s been over 20 years. He lost her that day and never learned what became of her, if she survived the war or not.
“That lightning and thunder… it’s like the angry roar of the past… trying to capture me again!”
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: March 10, 1966 Cover: June 1966 12 cents Writer: Stan Lee Designer: Jack Kirby Penciller: Don Heck Inker: Mickey Demeo Letterer: Sam Rosen Badge polisher: Irving Forbush 12 pages
A simple smoke grenade should do the job nicely in this instance… and it won’t cost the taxpayers as much as a noisy, explosive grenade! For we guardians of the public trust must ever have the average citizen’s interests close to our hearts!
Quite the opening page. Somewhat disturbing.
Curious if it inspired images in the modern horror series, Locke & Key.
Where were we? The Druid wants to destroy SHIELD for some reason. He pretends to have mystical powers, but technology underpins everything he does. Oh, and we just met the eager new recruit, Jasper Sitwell.
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: February 10, 1966 Cover: May 1966 12 cents Writer: Stan Lee Designer: Jack Kirby Penciller: H. Purcell Inker: M. Demeo Letterer: Sam Rosen 12 pages
It is given to few men to serve the forces of SHIELD… and those of us who are chosen dare not take the challenge lightly!
We are back for the new year! And Howard Purcell is back on art. He was credited with an assist last issue, but now is credited as the penciller, with Kirby as the “designer”. Which presumably means layouts by Kirby, finished pencils by Purcell, followed by inks by Esposito. Or something like that.
Strange Tales has oddly shared its pages of late between the spy stories of Nick Fury and the mystical stories of Dr. Strange. It seems like the writer has finally mixed up the two and tossed a Dr. Strange villain into Nick Fury’s story.
Featuring: Tales of Asgard Release: May 3, 1966 Cover: July 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby Inking: Vince Colletta Lettering: Sam Rosen Costumes: Asgard Haberdashery 5 pages
My glorious record proves that Volstagg knows not the meaning of fear! But, why do we race so quickly into a land where death lurks everywhere?
The meandering Odinsword Saga came to an unclimactic resolution, but this led into a couple good issues showing us Ragnarok, the end of Asgard and the death of the gods. That’s led into this story of Thor and friends battling Harokin to retrieve the Warlock’s Eye.
Kirby does cool things with the 5-page/at-most-17-panel format when doing sweeping arcs of abstract history, but it’s limiting when trying to tell a piece of a more standard story. It just doesn’t get very far.
