Strange Tales #143

To Free a Brain Slave

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

Previous#480Next
Strange Tales #142, Story BReading orderStrange Tales #143, Story B
Strange Tales #142, Story BStrange TalesStrange Tales #143, Story B

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
  • Green Lantern #26, 1947
  • Mr. District Attorney #6, 1948
  • Mystery in Space #1, 1951
  • My Greatest Adventure #29, 1959
  • The Brave and the Bold #51, 1964
  • Sea Devils #16, 1964
Continue reading “Strange Tales #143”

Strange Tales #142, Story B

Those Who Would Destroy Me!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: December 12, 1965
Cover: March 1966
12 cents
Extravagantly edited and written by… Stan Lee!
Painstakingly plotted and drawn by… Steve Ditko!
Lovingly lettered and bordered by… Artie Simek!
10 pages

Previous#479Next
Strange Tales #142Reading orderStrange Tales #143
Strange Tales #142Strange TalesStrange Tales #143

I was born to battle the forces of evil– and though death be my reward, I would have it no other way!

Ditko’s time on this title draws short, and Lee is starting to hand off more and more of his scripting duties. So this is the final Dr. Strange story to be written by the team of Lee and Ditko. (I use the word “team” a bit loosely, as Ditko is by this point utterly refusing to even speak to Stan Lee.)

Dr. Strange’s adventures had been characterized by stories that fit entirely within 10 pages. Then his first battle with Dormammu lasted two issues and 20 pages, the size of a normal Spider-Man or Fantastic Four comic.

Then Strange Tales #130 ended with a cliffhanger. Dormammu and Mordo had teamed up; they’d seriously injured the Ancient One, and Dr. Strange was on the run. Without a break, Dr. Strange struggled against this duo of foes for a full 12 issues. Then finally it seemed as though Mordo and Dormammu were defeated, and Dr. Strange could rest.

But not quite! The woman from the Dark Dimension who befriended Strange remains a prisoner. Dormammu was humbled by Strange but remains a threat. And Mordo’s servants remain at large, and in fact have planted a bomb in Dr. Strange’s sanctum, and the last issue ended with the bomb about to go off.

We then paused and checked in with the many other Marvel titles. That was 8 months ago our time. Thank you for your patience in learning what’s up with that bomb. We won’t quite see the resolution of all the threads at present, but at least we’ll resolve this bomb question.

It’s actually a clever resolution. This cleverness is important as sometimes it seems Dr. Strange could maybe magic his way out of anything, so it’s good when we understand how. The villains left an ordinary bomb, because he would have sensed a mystical trap. And they erased traces of their presence, so he would not detect they had been there.

But… he sensed no trace of evil presences! And knew Mordo had been there recently, thus realizing someone had used a spell to eliminate traces of evil presences! See, clever. Anyways, this puts him on guard, and he finds the bomb. It was a close one, though.

And while he evades the bomb, he’s caught in the shockwave and captured by the baddies.

Mordo’s servants don’t know what’s happened in the Dark Dimension. They just know they can’t contact Mordo. They are unaware Dormammu had him banished for being a pathetic loser.

Continue reading “Strange Tales #142, Story B”

Strange Tales #142

Who Strikes At— SHIELD?

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

Previous#478Next
Amazing Spider-Man #37Reading orderStrange Tales #142, Story B
Strange Tales #141, Story BStrange TalesStrange Tales #142, Story B

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!

Continue reading “Strange Tales #142”

Amazing Spider-Man #37

Once Upon a Time, There Was a Robot…!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: March 10, 1966
Cover: June 1966
12 cents
Edited and written by: Stan Lee
Plotted and drawn by: Steve Ditko
Lettered and cherished by: Artie Simek
20 pages

Previous#477Next
Amazing Spider-Man #36Reading orderStrange Tales #142
Amazing Spider-Man #36Amazing Spider-ManAmazing Spider-Man #38

The penultimate chapter.

Of the greatest run of comics in history. Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Though it ends with more of a whimper than a bang. Its great climactic finale was 4 issues earlier. We then had a couple forgettable rematches with minor villains, then the introduction of a forgettable villain. This issue also introduces a new villain, but again not the most memorable one.

This issue has some things going for it though. It rises above the last few issues, though not to the heights of the first 33. It’s almost over.

Continue reading “Amazing Spider-Man #37”

Amazing Spider-Man #36

When Falls the Meteor!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: February 10, 1966
Cover: May 1966
12 cents
Script + editing: Stan Lee
Plot and artwork: Steve Ditko
Lettering ‘n stuff: Art Simek
20 pages

Previous#476Next
X-Men #19Reading orderAmazing Spider-Man #37
Amazing Spider-Man #35Amazing Spider-ManAmazing Spider-Man #37

Just because I flunked science in school doesn’t mean I can’t discover the secret of the universe! I’ve as much chance as anyone else!

“Uncanny” is an adjective Stan likes. It will be more famously applied to a superhero team.

In the previous issue’s announcement, Stan said they were thinking of calling this villain the Meteor Man. But seem to have changed their mind. Apparently they settled on the Looter. Naming is a thing Ditko often leaves to Stan, and Stan certainly gets final say over the name. I feel like they must have intentionally chosen a silly one here. Right? I feel like the entire character is Ditko having a laugh. He’s created so many enduring villains, and now, nearing his final issue, he’s like, sure Stan, here’s the Looter.

Later writers will change the villain’s name to the Meteor Man, and that name will also end up used for an unrelated movie superhero.

Continue reading “Amazing Spider-Man #36”

X-Men #19

Lo! Now Shall Appear– The Mimic!

Featuring: X-Men
Release: February 3, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Story: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jay Gavin
Inking: Dick Ayers
Lettering: Artie Simek
(All that, and Forbush too!)
20 pages

Previous#475Next
Daredevil #15Reading orderAmazing Spider-Man #36
X-Men #18X-MenX-Men #20

The danger is clear– the task is yours– the moment is now!

This Irving Forbush fellow was mentioned in the last Daredevil post as well. What’s that about?

X-Men #10-18 took place over a very short span of time, with one adventure right after the other, likely knocking out of alignment with the other titles. There is now a big gap before this adventure, which hopefully brings us closer to alignment. The X-Men are healed from the battle against the Sentinels. Cerebro has been rebuilt.

Bobby and Zelda seem to be going steady now, so Zelda is setting Hank up with her friend Vera so they can have a double date. Prior to the blind date, Hank stops at the library and meets a woman… and they do not get along at all.

Guess who his date turns to be?

The already fraught romantic situation heats up when Calvin Rankin shows up. He’s basically a stalker who has been pressuring Vera to go out with him and refusing to take no for an answer. Well, he’s angry to find her out with another man and conflict ensues.

Continue reading “X-Men #19”

Daredevil #15

And Men Shall Call Him… Ox!

Featuring: Daredevil
Release: February 3, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Unsurpassed story by: Stan Lee
Unexcelled pencilling by: John Romita
Unparalleled inking by: Frankie Ray
Unabashed lettering by: Artie Simek
20 pages

Previous#474Next
Sgt. Fury #29Reading orderX-Men #19
Daredevil #14DaredevilDaredevil #16

The cover is evocative of Kirby’s style with the high melodrama and sense of characters leaning forward out of the page, but it is by the now regular Daredevil artist, John Romita, with inks by Frank Giacoia.

John Romita passed away last month. I thought about making a note of it on this blog at the time but didn’t quite have the words.

I didn’t really know John Romita. Never met him or spoke to him. I just know his work. So my reaction to his death isn’t the same as that of his family, or even those professionals or fans who knew him better. The question is, what does the death of someone I just know through their work mean to me.

I’ve had cause to ask this too many times in the last several years. Tom Palmer. George Pérez. Steve Ditko. Stan Lee. The first artist death to really hit me was John Buscema about 20 years ago. What do these people I only know through their work mean to me?

Everything. They mean everything. Their deaths fill me with a profound sense of sadness and loss.

That said, John Romita was 93 when he passed. He lived a full and good life and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy. Not the least of which is his son, John Romita Jr., a legendary comic artist in his own right.

Continue reading “Daredevil #15”

Sgt. Fury #28

Not a Man Shall Remain Alive!

Featuring: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
Release: January 11, 1966
Cover: March 1966
12 cents
Story by: Stan Lee
Art by: Dick Ayers
Inking by: John Tartaglione
Lettering by: Sam Rosen
20 pages

Previous#472Next
Amazing Spider-Man #35Reading orderSgt. Fury #29
Sgt. Fury #27Sgt. FurySgt. Fury #29

Without weapons, without organization, even without hope, the spirit of free Frenchmen cannot be snuffed out!

We come to Stan Lee’s final issue as writer on this title. It ends with a cliffhanger, though a rather exciting one.

We see some conflict between Hitler and Strucker. Baron Strucker is an aristocrat who hates Hitler, who thinks him a madman. But Strucker follows orders to crush the resistance in Cherbeaux, even if he must kill the entire town to do so.

Continue reading “Sgt. Fury #28”

Amazing Spider-Man #35

The Molten Man Regrets…!

Featuring: Spider-Man
Release: January 11, 1966
Cover: April 1966
12 cents
Script + editing: Stan Lee
Plot + artwork: Steve Ditko
Lettering + loitering: Art Simek
20 pages

Previous#471Next
X-Men #18Reading orderSgt. Fury #28
Amazing Spider-Man #34Amazing Spider-ManAmazing Spider-Man #36

“Once I’ve beaten you, there’ll be nobody left to stop me!”
“Don’t kid yourself! There’s always Irving Forbush!”
“Who’s he?”
“Forget it! It’s an ‘in’ joke!”

Last issue’s story was… Spider-Man fights Kraven again.

This issue… Spider-Man fights Molten Man again.

Spider-Man happens to be swinging past the jewelry store just as a disguised Molten Man is robbing it. That’s just lazy writing.

But then Peter uses his wits to solve the mystery. “Boy he sure packed a punch like iron… Iron! Iron’s a metal! And his punch felt like metal! It’s a long shot– but it could be– the Molten Man!” That’s some crackerjack reasoning, Peter.

Continue reading “Amazing Spider-Man #35”

X-Men #18

If Iceman Should Fail–!

Featuring: X-Men
Release: January 4, 1966
Cover: March 1966
12 cents
A fair story by: Stan Lee
Adequate art by: Jay Gavin
Tolerable inking by: Dick Ayers
The world’s greatest lettering by: Artie Simek (Marvel’s birthday boy of the month)
20 pages

Previous#470Next
X-Men #17Reading orderAmazing Spider-Man #35
X-Men #17X-MenX-Men #19

The final X-Man– the youngest– and weakest of them all! He dares to challenge me!!!

The joke in the credits is a reversal. Usually, Artie is the punchline. Here, everyone else is.

Art Simek was born January 1916. He turned 50 the month this comic was released. He would unfortunately pass away too young at age 59.

The birthday note gives us a bit of insight into production. Stan knew when this comic would be released to give the birthday wish. The comic is cover-dated March 1966, and was likely prepared a few months prior to January 1966, but Stan knew it would go on sale in January.

As Lee brings in more and more new (to Marvel not the industry) artists, we see a similar pattern. At first he doesn’t trust their storytelling abilities, though he trusts their draftsmanship. So Kirby does layouts for the comic, and the artist fills in the art. That has happened with Werner Roth for the last several issues. Kirby laid out the story. Roth filled in the art. Now Stan is ready to give Roth a proper go, laying out the story himself. Stan is still the credited writer, so it’s at least plausible he’s giving Roth guidance on what the story is about.

Roth had the setup. Magneto had defeated the X-Men and put them unconscious in a balloon headed to space, where they would suffocate and die. Why not just kill them? This inefficient deathtrap is a villain cliché, but not all that common a one in these stories. It was common in the cliffhangers for serial films of the 1940s, including the superhero films. And it will be very common for the cliffhanger endings of a TV series which debuts this month.

Continue reading “X-Men #18”