In this court– presided over by the Owl– I make my own laws!
I’m a little confused about who the inker is. GCD claims Esposito, who we see credited in the reprint below by his standard pen name, Mickey Demeo. The GCD also claims the original comic has this credit. UHBMCC claims that the original comic credits Giacoia. Earth’s Mightiest Blog has a scan of what looks like the original credits, and it’s Giacoia.
Looking at various collections on my shelves, the Epic Collection and Marvel Masterworks volumes credit Frank Giacoia; but the Essential Daredevil credits Esposito.
Here’s the original art for the issue, which has Giacoia, though you can see it appears to be a last minute change over a whited-out name.
Note about pencilling that John Romita is too busy polishing off the Amazing Spider-Man Annual. Though he only does the layouts for that comic.
In fact, Colan turns out to not just be filling in. As of this issue, he’ll be the regular penciler on Daredevil for the next several years, freeing Romita to focus on Spider-Man.
Featuring: Spider-Man Release: June 9, 1966 Cover: September 1966 12 cents Writer: Stan Lee Penciller: John Romita Inker: Mickey Demeo Letterer: Sam Rosen 20 pages
And so, at long last– The Green Goblin will introduce himself– Take a look, Parker– a good, long look– It’s the last face Spider-Man will ever see– It’s the real face of the Green Goblin– the face of [SPOILER REDACTED]
Steve Ditko has officially left Marvel, which won’t leave me with too many other excuses to bring up Steve Ditko. However, this is the first issue of Spider-Man to not be drawn by Steve Ditko. Which is a fine excuse for bringing up Steve Ditko.
Among those interviewed was Steve’s younger brother, Patrick Ditko, who passed away just last month.
I’ve made no secret how much I love Steve Ditko’s work on Amazing Spider-Man, and have spent this blog clumsily trying to explain why over 38 issues worth of posts. Perhaps this characterization of Spider-Man from the Rolling Stone article gets to the core of how I see myself reflected in the character.
He lacked social skills.
A more charitable interpretation of my own character is perhaps found in their characterization of Steve Ditko as a man…
…who never fit into social norms, yet cultivated thriving relationships.
They go on.
Similar to how Peter Parker never lets loved ones get too close for fear it would put them in danger, Ditko compartmentalized his life, keeping work and family distinct to retain some power in a world that overwhelmed him. And the same way Spider-Man’s neuroticism makes him amazing, the traits that people marginalized Ditko for are what transformed comics forever.
…he had much more in common with his most popular co-creation, Spider-Man, especially his alter ego, Peter Parker. They had the same lanky build. Same comb-over. Same thick glasses. Same bumbling social skills. Ditko’s senior-yearbook photo could have been Parker’s. With their collared shirts and slacks, it looked as if they shopped at the same clothing store —
The late comics retailer Bob Beerbohm assembled this high school photo of Ditko next to high school Peter Parker. Perhaps there is a lot of Ditko in Peter.
So what then is Spider-Man without Steve Ditko? Is the series over?
In some sense, it is plainly not. We have here issue 39. Stan Lee continues to write the comic and has found a new artist to draw it (and probably soon to do most of the writing as well).
If issue 38 was the ending, it wasn’t a clean one. Lots unresolved. Betty is missing. Gwen and Peter are growing closer. Norman Osborn is up to some shady stuff. We never learned the secret of the Green Goblin.
Some say the reason Ditko left Spider-Man is because he and Stan disagreed over the secret of the Green Goblin. We’ll reflect on that at the end of the post.
For now, let’s see what life after Ditko looks like for the Amazing Spider-Man.
John Romita is on art. Unlike Ditko, he tends to draw good-looking people. His career in advertising taught him well to draw good-looking people.
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: 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: Hulk Release: November 4, 1965 Cover: February 1966 12 cents Script: Stan Lee Layout: Jack Kirby Pencilling: Scott Edward Inking: Mickey Demeo Lettering: Artie Simek 10 pages
Stay back!! Back!! You’re just a pack of men– but me, I’m the Hulk!
I like to think I know Marvel decently well, but I’ve never heard of Scott Edward. Usually means a regular DC artist is moonlighting at Marvel on the down low. Indeed, Scott Edward is the already legendary Gil Kane. He’s got some great work at Marvel ahead of him. Of course, Gil Kane isn’t actually his name either. His birth name is Eli Katz, but we all know him as Gil Kane.
But let’s see what he’s done in his 20+ years in comics before getting here. We technically did meet him as one of the artists working with Wood on Thunder AGENTS.
By this point in his career, his biggest claim to fame is the creation of the new Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.
As well as the new Atom, Ray Palmer.
Inks by Murphy Anderson
Arguably, the sleek stylish sci-fi looks of Gil Kane– along with those of Carmine Infantino– are what gave birth to DC’s Silver Age of comics.
Featuring: Hulk Release: October 5, 1965 Cover: January 1966 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Layouts: Jack Kirby Illustrations: M. Demeo Lettering: S. Rosen Enjoying: That’s your job, pussycat! 10 pages
At last I got somethin’ to smash out against… somethin’ to fight… a chance to do the thing I can do better than anything that lives!
This picks up right where the last issue left off, though we paused for a bit since reading the last issue and since reading the earlier half of this comic.
Hulk had just acquired the Ultimate Machine for the Leader from the Watcher’s world. Leader’s attempt to use the machine resulted in his death.
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: January 11, 1966 Cover: April 1966 12 cents Story: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby with an assist by: Howard Purcell Inking: M. Demeo Lettering: A. Simek 12 pages
Howard Purcell is a new name to us, but he’s been in the business since 1940, mostly doing work for the companies that would become DC. He’s not going to be a regular Marvel artist. It’s not even clear what he did this issue. Some form of finishing Kirby’s pencil art before handing it off to Mike Esposito to finish in ink.
Here’s a sampling of his work for DC.
Adventure Comics #53, featuring Mark Lansing of Mikishawm, 1940
World’s Finest Comics #2, feat. Lando Man of Magic, 1941
All American Comics #25, 1941
All American Comics #26, feat. Sargon the Sorcerer, 1941
Sensation Comics #1, feat. The Gay Ghost, 1942
Comic Cavalcade #15, feat. Johnny Peril’s Surprise Story, 1946
Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD Release: December 9, 1965 Cover: March 1966 12 cents Stan Lee, writer! (Our answer to Bond) Jack Kirby, penciller! (Our answer to UNCLE) Mike Demeo, inker! (Our answer to Brand echh) Artie Simek, letterer! (Our answer to Rosen) 12 pages
We’re a team, blast it! We trained month after month ta live like a team– fight like a team– die like a team!
I’d like to open this post with a happy birthday to the issue’s artist, Jack Kirby. He would be 106 years old today.
The story breaks have become increasingly unclear. Last issue seemed to both end the Hydra saga and begin this Mentallo/Fixer saga we find ourselves embroiled in. We took a pause at the end of the last issue, so let’s recall where we were.
Hydra was finally defeated, the Supreme Hydra murdered by his own agents; Nick allowed his daughter Agent H to escape because he had a soft spot for her. We were then introduced to the “Thinkers”, SHIELD’s ESP division. Mentallo had been a former agent of this division, who had gone rogue. Mentallo decides to form an alliance with a villainous inventor called the Fixer. And Nick Fury realizes Mentallo must be stopped at all costs.
This issue opens with a robot out of control. Lee, as the narrator, lets us know this robot has nothing to do with the main story. Sometimes it feels as though he is offering his commentary on Kirby’s storytelling as we go.
But whatever, Stan. Check out Jack’s awesome robot design!
