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: Daredevil Release: October 11, 1966 Cover: December 1966 12 cents Story: Stan (The Man) Lee Art: Gentleman Gene Colan Inks: Fearless Frank Giacoia Lettering: Swingin’ Sam Rosen 20 pages
Surrender, Daredevil… or suffer the fatal consequences!
We seem to have two very similar opening splash pages.
Stan explains that Gene had drawn both, and they liked both, so they used both. I think Gene just likes his splash pages because it’s less pictures to draw.
As part of a brilliant plan to protect his secret identity, Matt told Karen he was going to pretend to be Daredevil. And he put on a Daredevil costume in front of her. They then went to the arena, where the real Daredevil showed up. And then she couldn’t find Matt in his Daredevil costume.
Featuring: Daredevil Release: September 1, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Written with rapture by: Stan Lee Drawn with drama by: Gene Colan Delineated with delight by: Giacoia & Ayers Lettered with the ball game on by: Sam Rosen 20 pages
I know it’s utterly insane, but I can’t help thinking of Daredevil every time I look at Matt! I know a blind attorney can’t possibly be a costumed super-hero… and yet…!
We checked in with Daredevil at the start of the Secret Empire mess because his story was entangled with Spider-Man’s battle against the Rhino. We paused, but now need to look back and remind ourselves where we were some.
Matt Murdock was wanted for Rhino’s defense council, but he couldn’t be found, because he was a prisoner of the Owl. When the Rhino broke out of prison, we saw that Matt had returned safely from the Owl’s island, and considered going after the Rhino, but decided to let Spider-Man handle it.
We now go back in time a bit as this issue opens with Daredevil just escaping from Owl’s island.
But by page 3, we are back in the present, in a scene set after his appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #43. So, the first two pages took place a few days back. But it’s been quite the few days in the lives of the Marvel heroes. And starting on page 3, a longer saga begins.
I hope this is the last time I refer to the continuity of the Secret Empire saga.
Featuring: Avengers Release: September 8, 1966 Cover: November 1966 12 cents Spellbinding story: Smilin’ Stan Lee Awe-inspiring artwork: Dashin’ Donnie Heck Lots of little lettering: Adorable Artie Simek 20 pages
This is Stan Lee’s final credited issue of The Avengers. He may have had a hand in next issue. But starting next issue, the official scripting duties will be passed to Roy Thomas.
He leaves without much fanfare. Especially for a man so known for talking to his audience. No goodbye, no notes about it. He wrote 34 issues of one of the most beloved superhero teams of all time, and then just handed off the duties.
And he doesn’t try to go out with a bang, not really. It’s the first part of a two-part story. I wonder if he does that intentionally, thinking it’s easier for a new writer to finish off a story than come up with a new one. His final Spider-Man (comic book) story will have a similar flavor, introducing a new villain and then leaving the second part to the incoming writer.
Last issue’s blurb about this issue, went “Next: Goliath changes!”
I took that to mean he was going to finally change his clothes and wash this outfit. The blurb in the letters page hinted at more, that this would relate to Goliath’s efforts to return to normal size. It also hinted we’d see the return of Bill Foster, and of Wanda and Pietro.
We do get the return of Bill Foster, not seen since, well, last issue. But nothing else along those lines happens in this issue, and we get an editor’s note apologizing and assuring us that a big change is coming for Goliath. I think the pun is intended.
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: Dr. Strange Release: January 10, 1967 Cover: April 1967 12 cents A mystical Marvel masterwork by: Stan Lee and Marie Severin Lettered by: Artie Simek 10 pages
So long as this bridge endures– this bridge which is not a bridge– and yet, which is more a bridge than any other– Just so long shall hope of escape remain alive within us–
In an opening page clearly meant to evoke Ditko, Dr. Strange hurtles at the speed of thought to outrace the death spell Umar has sent toward Clea.
At last, Dr. Strange has rescued Clea, but it’s a long road to get her to Earth. They encounter many hazards along the way. Perhaps too many for a ten page comic, as each is too easily evaded.
But some of them are cool, like when they get caught in a road of repetition, stuck in a loop.
Featuring: Dr. Strange Release: December 8, 1966 Cover: March 1967 12 cents A mystic Marvel masterwork by: Stan Lee and Marie Severin Lettered by: Sam Rosen 10 pages
I must endure their blows… regardless of the pain… By the Omnipotent Oshtur, I shall not fail… I shall not fall!
After Ditko left, Bill Everett became the regular artist on Dr. Strange for the next half dozen issues. And I was unimpressed. But I do really like Bill Everett. Last post, I rattled off Sub-Mariner, Venus, and Daredevil. All great works by him.
We get a new artist. Marie Severin. We haven’t seen her work yet. We saw her coloring when we read an old tangentially related EC comic. We saw an issue of Nick Fury illustrated by John Severin. Some possible connection, there. Siblings, perhaps.
But she’s actually been with Marvel for the entirety of our reading, just one of those unsung heroes behind the scenes, working on the production of the comics, sometimes as a colorist, perhaps lending a hand to some bits of art here or there.
