sam rosen – Coke & Comics

Thor #136, Story B

There Shall Come a Miracle!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: November 3, 1966
Cover: January 1967
12 cents
Garnished with glory in the Marvel tradition by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Delineated by: Vince Colletta
Lettered by: Sam Rosen
5 pages

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Thor #136	Reading order	Daredevil #19
Thor #136	Thor	Thor #137

Never before hath a blessed blanket of rain so caressed the barren wasteland of Nastrond! Rain… which is truly the harbinger of life… the promise of the new day which is yet to be! And, in time to come, the soil shall turn green once more… the grass shall grow, and plants shall sprout above the place where Fafnir fell! For, such is the way of life… life universal.. which can never vanish whilst faith endures!

We come to the finale of the battle in Nastrond. Its king Fafnir had once rebelled against Odin and he and the entire land were sentenced to death in Odin’s wrath. But Fafnir lived on, transformed into a dragon. He now battles Thor for the fate of Nastrond.

It is claimed that if Thor can defeat Fafnir, there will be a miracle in Nastrond.

Thor #135, Story B

The Fiery Breath of Fafnir!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: October 4, 1966
Cover: December 1966
12 cents
Proudly produced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Delineation: Vince Colletta
Lettering: Sam Rosen
5 pages

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Thor #135	Reading order	Thor #136
Thor #135	Thor	Thor #136

So be it! No matter what may now befall… the flesh of my flesh shall face it as one to the manner born… as only the Thunder God can! The Son of Odin knows full well… evil hath many faces… And, wheree’er it may be found… no matter what its guise… it must be summarily crushed… for such is the will of Odin! Only with the defeat of Fafnir can the dead domain of Nastrond live again! Thus must it be! And that which must be, ever shall be! For such is the wonder! Such is the way! Now, verily… I have spoken!!

We continue the Fafnir saga. Last issue, Volstagg was captured by the dragon king Fafnir.

This issue Thor and his remaining two warrior friends confront Fafnir.

Thor #134

The People-Breeders!

Featuring: Thor
Release: September 1, 1966
Cover: November 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee * Jack Kirby fantasti-classic!
Inked by: Vince Colletta
Lettered by: Sam Rosen
16 pages

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Thor #133, Story B	Reading order	Thor #134, Story B
Thor #133, Story B	Thor	Thor #134, Story B

I am accomplishing… in one brief experiment, what nature would take a million centuries to achieve!

I loved the Galactus saga and the character of Galactus. Fans of the era also loved Galactus. What to do with that? Move on and never see him again? Or recycle the Galactus story again? The former is better than the latter. Best is to use him sparingly when there is a new story to tell about him.

With these ageless characters like Eternity and Galactus, we must remember that years to us may be like moments to them. How many different times should they run into humans in those brief moments? Eternity had noted Dr. Strange was the second mortal to ever stand in his presence. The first must have been a few centuries earlier, like yesterday to Eternity.

Galactus had been devouring planets for eons, but Earth was the first planet he attempted to consume that contained an advanced civilization. So you expect it to be some time before it comes up again. And since he vowed to never consume the Earth and Galactus’ word is “cosmic truth itself”, we expect he’ll never do that again.

So when would we see Galactus? Well, Galactus is the devourer of worlds. Ego is the living planet. Conflict seems almost inevitable.

Why the conflict now, when both are ageless? Perhaps Thor’s battle with Ego attracted Galactus, and it’s not just coincidence.

Either way, Galactus journeying into the Black Galaxy to confront Ego a galaxy away from Earth is a good and sensible use of the character. A character I am excited to see again. As long as they don’t overdo it, and the stories they tell with him are new stories.

Thor #133, Story B

Valhalla!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: August 2, 1966
Cover: October 1966
12 cents
A Stan Lee-Jack Kirby production
Inked by: Vince Colletta
Lettered by: Sam Rosen
5 pages

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Thor #133	Reading order	Thor #134
Thor #133	Thor	Thor #134

From out of the mists she hath come… She… before whom all who live must one day bow!

As we saw in the last post, my version of this comic has been well looted of pages, and this entire story has been absconded with. So we’ll look to the digital version for our images.

The battle with Harokin and his Warlock’s Eye to retake Muspelheim was entirely forgettable. But it led to this fairly unique coda, two issues devoted to the death of Harokin. Last issue was an ominous and ritualistic issue about acceptance of death. A drumbeat, an approaching black horse…

Now is time for Harokin to make his last journey.

Thor #132, Story B

The Dark Horse of Death!

Featuring: Tales of Asgard
Release: June 30, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Script writing: Stan Lee
Picture drawing: Jack Kirby
Panel inking: Vince Colletta
Word lettering: Sam Rosen
Armor polishing: Irving Forbush
5 page

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Thor #132	Reading order	Thor #133
Thor #132	Thor	Thor #133

Well do I know that ominous drumbeat! It summons the Great Black Stallion of Doom! It means the death of a mighty warrior is near at hand!

The battle is won. Harokin defeated and Muspelheim liberated.

Thor and this three warrior friends take a bath.

Thor #132

Where Gods May Fear to Tread!

Featuring: Thor
Release: June 30, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Astonishing script: Stan Lee
Awesome artwork: Jack Kirby
Artful delineation: Vince Colletta
Amazing lettering: Sam Rosen
Alien translations: Irving Forbush
16 pages

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Thor #131, Story B	Reading order	Thor #132, Story B
Thor #131, Story B	Thor	Thor #132, Story B

Already the Stygian darkness looming ahead… blotting out the comforting glow of a thousand stars…!

Where were we. While Thor was fighting Pluto in the Netherworld, Jane’s roommate Tana Nile sent her away with mind control. Tana Nile has since been revealed as a Rigellian and conquered earth via a Space Lock from Rigel. Thor has traveled to Rigel to destroy the Space Lock.

The Rigellians have some pretty advanced technology, and aren’t used to losing. But Thor is Thor.

Sgt. Fury #32

A Traitor in Our Midsts!

Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: May 10, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Exquisitely non-edited by: Stan Lee
Ecstatically scripted by: Roy Thomas
Excitedly drawn by: Dick Ayers
Elatedly inked by: John Tartaglione
Eventually lettered by: Sam Rosen
20 pages

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Amazing Spider-Man #40	Reading order	Thor #131
Sgt. Fury #31	Sgt. Fury	Sgt. Fury #33

“Now lissen, ya blasted goldbricks, and lissen good! This medic’s come all the way from the States to find out what makes us Howlers tick, an’ anybody that gives him trouble will answer to me! The doc’s here to see to it that none’a you jaw-flappin’ hyenas conks out on a mission! Like the sayin’ goes, a chain’s only as good as its weakest link!”
“Ain’t that pretty, Reb?”
“It sho’ nuff is, Gabe! Hey, Sarge… y’all think up that li’l ol’ speech by yoahself?”
“Shuddup!”

Stan has something of a mixed reputation amongst fans today. One of the common complaints against him is that he took more credit than was due, that he accepted the credit and pay of a writer on works where his role was closer to that of an editor.

As he’s been handing off scripting duties to folks like Thomas and O’Neil, he’s stopped taking writing credit. But still gets his name first in the credits, now as an editor. (Interestingly, Roy Thomas is facing a bit of controversy lately for claiming to much creative credit from his later role as an editor.)

Amusingly, the credits admit Stan is now on vacation and wasn’t able to edit this particular book. So he claims credit for not editing the comic.

And still gets his name at the top of the credits!

We’d recently read a Daredevil comic from the same month where O’Neil had to finish the script because Stan took a vacation.

This actually may be the first comic we’ve come across that Stan Lee claims no credit for.

It’s possible this was Stan’s first vacation in five years.

Amazing Spider-Man #40

Spidey Saves the Day!

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

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Amazing Spider-Man #39	Reading order	Sgt. Fury #32
Amazing Spider-Man #39	Amazing Spider-Man	Amazing Spider-Man #41

Only you know who the Green Goblin is! … Just as I know who Spider-Man really is!

We left off at an exciting moment. A captured and unmasked Spider-Man faces an unmasked Green Goblin, revealed to be Norman Osborn.

Norman doesn’t want Harry to learn his identity, just as Peter doesn’t want May to learn his.

Fantastic Four #52

The Black Panther!

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: April 12, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Script by: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art by: Jolly Jackie Kirby
Inking by: Gentleman Joe Sinnott
Lettering by: Hammy Sammy Rosen
20 pages

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Daredevil #18	Reading order	Fantastic Four #53
Fantastic Four #51	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #53

The time has come for the Black Panther to stalk once more!

I’m going to repeat something I’ve been saying for the last year’s worth of Fantastic Four stories: just how impressive this moment in time is. What they accomplish in four consecutive stories arcs is unparalleled in comics history. Unprecedented and unequalled. To introduce the Inhumans, then have that story bleed into introducing Galactus and the Silver Surfer, then have that story bleed into the seminal “This Man This Monster”, to then immediately follow that up with the introduction of the Black Panther. Next issue will introduce the villainous Klaw and tell the origin of the Black Panther.

That’s a run of 10 incredibles issues. This run was preceded by the famous wedding, which was preceded by an epic three-part battle with the Frightful Four, which was preceded by one of their most iconic battles against Dr. Doom over the previous two issues…

The comic has been on fire with a sustained level of quality no other comic series has ever reached.

It can’t last forever. Fantastic Four #54 is a solid but ultimately forgettable comic. Though the stretch of stories that follow is also excellent, on par with anything except this incredible 10-issue stretch.

Let’s dive into the story without further hyperbolic build-up, and then we’ll take some time at the end to reflect on this new character we’ve just met, the Black Panther.

Daredevil #18

There Shall Come a Gladiator!

Featuring: Daredevil
Release: May 5, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Story by: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art by: Jazzy Johnny Romita
Inks by: Fearless Frank Giacoia
Lettering by: Swingin’ Sammy Rosen
20 pages

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Marvels #3	POSTLUDE
X-Men #23	Reading order	Fantastic Four #52
Daredevil #17	Daredevil	Daredevil #19

Karen is about 99% convinced that I’m really Daredevil! But, she still hasn’t said she’ll marry me!

Next to the credits, we learn Stan had scripted 7 pages before taking a vacation, and that Denny O’Neil finished the script.

We met Dennis O’Neil on the final two issues Ditko’s Dr. Strange, his first comics work. He won’t be at Marvel long. He’ll go on to pretty good things at the Distinguished Competition.

Foggy enters a costume shop featuring various superheroes and villains. Recall how we saw a lot of superhero sculptures from Wally Wood to show off his takes on the characters; this is Romita’s chance to show he’s qualified for a variety of titles. Unfortunately Wood left before trying his hand at other Marvel characters.

Romita will be with Marvel for the rest of his days, and have generally more positive things to say about Stan and their relationship than the artists we’ve been seeing up until now. And Romita will get plenty of chances in the future to draw the characters he’s depicting here.