Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: March 14, 1967 Cover: June 1967 12 cents Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby have done it again! And so have… Joe Sinnott, inker Sam Rosen, letterer 20 pages
I did not suspect that almost all Earth beings possessed super-powers of their own!
Where were we? Triton rescued Mr. Fantastic from Sub-Space, also called the Negative Zone. Or the “Negative Zone of Sub-space”. Not to be confused with the Negative Zone which surrounded the Inhumans’ Great Refuge.
But the criminal known as Blastaar followed them through and struck an uneasy alliance with Sandman. And now… they attack!
These Super-Villain team-ups date back to Doom and Namor.
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: February 14, 1967 Cover: May 1967 12 cents Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inking: Joe Sinnott Lettering: Sam Rosen 20 pages
There is so much yet to learn… so much to see, and marvel at…! What a pity it must all end so soon… before I have a chance to unravel the myriad mysteries of this strange, uncanny universe! But, there will be others… those who come after me… and they will unlock the secrets of the cosmos… one by one… For, the mind of man is the greatest key in the world… the key which may one day open the door to… immortality!! And each of us, in his own way, does what he can for those who will follow! That is the only true legacy we can leave to those we love… that we have made the world a little better than we found it!
Last issue saw Reed trapped in Sub-Space hurtling toward his imminent death. With none who could save him.
I guess we may as well start preparing ourselves emotionally.
Though the title is “And One Shall Save Him”… so maybe there is one who can save him. Can’t imagine who, though.
Tell her… how much… I loved her… tell her… I’ll.. always lover her…
Featuring: Fantastic Four Release: January 10, 1967 Cover: April 1967 12 cents Extravagantly executed with exbullient erudition by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inked by: Joe Sinnott Lettered by: Sam Rosen 20 pages
Ya mean… after lickin’ Galactus… clobberin’ Klaw… an’ whumpin’ Doc Doom… we’re gonna be polished off by a kaboodle of sand?!!
We just finished the epic “Doom Surfer” saga, coming soon after the introduction of Black Panther, coming immediately after the masterful This Man This Monster, coming immediately after the Galactus saga, coming immediately after the Inhumans saga, coming soon after the wedding of Reed and Sue, another excellent battle against Dr. Doom alongside Daredevil, and several encounters with the Frightful Four.
I consider that run of twenty or so issues the height of the series. We’re past that height now. But it’s still going to be excellent.
Recall where we left off. Sandman had broken out of prison, but Wizard’s escape was thwarted. Sandman broke into the Baxter Building to try to steal equipment to free his partner. The FF fought him to a standstill and Sandman got away.
Dr. Doom captured the Silver Surfer, and stole his powers and surfboard. This led to an epic battle, which ended when Dr. Doom tried to fly to space, to learn Galactus had left measures to keep the Silver Surfer trapped on Earth. Those measures took out Doom. Perhaps he’s dead. We’re not sure. We last saw the surfboard flying back to Castle Doom where the Silver Surfer is imprisoned.
Johnny and Wyatt had been searching for the Inhumans with Lockjaw, but left the search to aid in the battle against Doom. Meanwhile, Black Bolt finally spoke, and the power of his voice destroyed the Negative Zone barrier surrounding their city, as well as the entire city. Black Bolt led his royal family and court into the world, while the rest of the Inhumans stayed behind to rebuild their city.
Don’tcha even get a coffee break in this blasted super-heroin’ business?
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: Fantastic Four Release: December 8, 1966 Cover: March 1967 12 cents Dazzlingly depicted by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inking by: Joe Sinnott Lettering by: Sam Rosen 20 pages
I… never felt… pain.. like this… before..! ..Never knew anything… could hurt… so much… But… can’t let go… can’t knuckle down…! All I got is… my strength..! If I let that fail me… there’s nothin’ left…! Nothin’..! Fight it, Ben… fight it!! Fight… ya ugly , good-fer-nothin’ orange-skinned meathead… fight..! What’s a little bit… of pain… to a big beautiful slob… like you..!
Black Bolt has spoken, and his voice had the power to destroy the Negative Zone surrounding the Great Refuge. And now he along with the Royal Family and Court of the Inhumans venture forth into the wider world. Meanwhile, Dr. Doom continues to wield the cosmic power of the Silver Surfer.
As noted, I’m here for Doom on a surfboard. That’s what this story is about to me. And this is the best image of that yet.
The Human Torch tries to take on Dr. Doom by himself. It won’t go well.
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: Captain America Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Produced with pandemonium by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Inking by: Frank Giacoia Lettering by: Artie Simek 10 pages
…you were one of the greatest! Don’t ever forget that!
Before we start, I’d like to note the date. Tomorrow, December 20 2025, marks 85 years since the introduction of Captain America, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
December 20, 1940, almost a year before Pearl Harbor, at a time American policy and popular sentiment was still against involvement in the war in Europe, here was Captain America punching Adolf Hitler in the face.
There are those on the internet who claim comics have become too political in recent years. To my mind, they’re not political enough. This cover was a bold political statement, and remains one of the greatest comic covers of all time, a fine introduction to one of Marvel’s greatest superheroes.
Superheroes should stand for what is right, not for what is popular. That’s how they become timeless.
Captain America is on a mission in the Orient, trying to rescue a double agent.
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: November 10, 1966 Cover: February 1967 12 cents Seldom-equalled editing by Stan Lee Seldom-surpassed scripting by Roy Thomas Seldom-lacking layouts by Jack Kirby Seldom-rivaled rendering by Jim Steranko Seldom-legible lettering by Artie Simek 12 pages
The hour of Hydra has come at last– And nothing that the human race can do will cease our relentless march toward world domination!
Steranko takes on the cover solo, and does an impressive job. He probably won’t need Kirby’s handholding much longer.
Inside, it’s still the Kirby/Steranko art team, with the art seeming more and more Steranko each issue. What’s changed is the writer. Thomas has been the regular on X-Men and Sgt. Fury and occasionally filled in elsewhere. This is in that fill-in category. He won’t be a regular writer on this series.
We open in the barbershop. Not clear the status of it after the attack by AIM. Is it still a SHIELD base? Is it still secret?
We recognize the two agents working in the barbershop, but still haven’t learned their names.
