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Fantastic Four #62

…And One Shall Save Him!

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

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Fantastic Four #61	Reading order	Fantastic Four #63
Fantastic Four #61	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #63

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…

Fantastic Four #61

Where Stalks the Sandman?

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

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Sgt. Fury #40	Reading order	Fantastic Four #62
Fantastic Four #60	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #62

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?

X-Men #30

The Menace of Merlin!

Featuring: X-Men
Release: January 10, 1967
Cover: March 1967
12 cents
Stan Lee, editor
Roy Thomas, scripter
Jack Sparling, designer
John Tartaglione, delineator
Artie Simek, letterer
Irv Forbush, manicurist
20 pages

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Tales to Astonish #91, Story B	Reading order	Sgt. Fury #40
X-Men #29	X-Men	X-Men #31

Because it pleases me, I shall explain my master plan to you…

Last month we saw Jack Sparling drawn a Captain America story.

This is his second Marvel work, and his last one for a very long time.

Sparling is drawing some uniquely structured pages compared to the rest of our Marvel reading.