Tales to Astonish #75

The End of the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: October 5, 1965
Cover: January 1866
12 cents
Story by: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencilling by: Admirable Adam Austin
Delineation by : Valorous Vince Colletta
Lettering by: Sagacious Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #74, Story BReading orderTales to Astonish #76
Tales to Astonish #74, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #75, Story B

Though I hold life most dear to me, I shall show how a Prince faces death!

It turns out abandoning the quest was the way to complete the quest.

Per Neptune: Every attribute of a Prince is yours… courage, strength, honest… and, most important of all… a heart which can love… a soul which can sacrifice!

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Tales to Astonish #74

When Fails the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: September 2, 1965
Cover: December 1965
12 cents
Devastating drama by: Stan Lee
Shattering spectacle by: Adam Austin
Explosive embellishment by: Vince Colletta
Cataclysmic Calligraphy by: Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #73, Story BReading orderTales to Astonish #74, Story B
Tales to Astonish #73, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #74, Story B

Though I am an Ancient of Atlantis, this one last deed can I do for the land we hold so dear!

After five pretty repetitive issues, finally we’re getting somewhere. Still two more issues after this one to resolve Namor’s dust-up with Krang, but at least the structure is starting to change.

Namor has abandoned his quest to save Dorma from the Faceless Ones. Since he had no idea where to go next in his quest anyway, why not.

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Tales to Astonish #73

By Force of Arms!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: August 3, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Art: Amiable Adam Austin
Inks: Valiant Vince Colletta
Lettering: Angelic Artie Simek
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #72, Story BReading orderTales to Astonish #73, Story B
Tales to Astonish #72, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #73, Story B

I am the Sub-Mariner! I am Namor, the Avenging Son! In truth, I am strength!

Hey, finally Hulk gets his due with the main cover spot, relegating Namor’s story to the bottom bit.

Namor has another clue to get and another threat to face on the way. Luckily this threat will turn out to have a weakness.

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Tales to Astonish #72

A Prince There Was!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: July 1, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Written in majesty by: Stan Lee
Drawn in grandeur by: Adam Austin
Inked in splendor by: Vince Colletta
Lettered in the suburbs by: S. Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #71, Story BReading orderTales to Astonish #72, Story B
Tales to Astonish #71, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #72, Story B

A Prince of the Blood must be true to his duty… though the sorrow in his breast be more than he can endure!

Once again, Namor gets to dominate the cover. Only the slightest mention that this is also Hulk’s comic.

To be completely honest, stories with a repetitive format get a bit dull to discuss. I can only make fun of how identical the plots are in so many different ways. Last issue, Namor defeated the creature guarding a clue on his quest, found the clue, went to the next spot, found a creature guarding the next clue. To be continued. Guess the plot of this issue?

Meanwhile, the Krang/Dorma drama continues. We get a new development there as he banishes her to the realm of the Faceless Ones for rejecting him.

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Tales to Astonish #71

Escape… To Nowhere!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Superlative story by: Stan Lee!
Sensational art by: Adam Austin!
Spectacular inking by: Vince Colletta!
Sufficient lettering by: Artie Simek!
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #70, Story BReading orderTales to Astonish #71, Story B
Tales to Astonish #70, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #71, Story B

For, no matter how long the quest shall be–no matter how deadly the dangers I face–naught but victory can be mine! I was born to rule!! I was born Namor, the Sub-Mariner!

His second issue and Namor gets the entire cover. Take that, Hulk.

Expected structure continues. Last issue, Namor found the first clue, met a threat, and it was to be continued. This issue, he resolved that threat, found the second clue, met a new threat, and now it’s to be continued.

Let’s see where next issue goes.

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Tales to Astonish #70

The Start of the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner
Release: May 4, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Story by Stan Lee, unchallenged king of the spoken word!
Art by Adam Austin, Marvel’s newest prince of pageantry!
Inking by Vince Colletta, lordly emperor of embellishment!
Lettering by Artie Simek (someone’s gotta carry the spear!)
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #69, Story BTales to AstonishTales to Astonish #70, Story B

Imperius Rex!

And… we’re back. Happy Labor Day!

Namor has been flittering through the Marvel Universe as a villain or anti-hero, fighting enough different heroes to help serve as the glue binding the universe together. It has been a decade since his last ongoing series was cancelled. He now makes his triumphant return and will again star in his own title for the next decade before again facing the ignominy of cancellation.

Giant-Man and Wasp just had their regular adventures cancelled. Giant-Man in various guises had been the star of this title since issue 35, sharing it with the Hulk for the last 10 issues. Now the title will be shared by Hulk and Namor. A fitting combo. Neither a hero per se, both acting primarily as villains across different titles for the last couple years, even teaming up once against the Avengers.

A bit of a pattern is taking hold. Tales of Suspense features two of Marvel’s more traditional superheroes, Iron Man and Captain America, the former having long shed any initial horror roots. Journey Into Mystery is entirely Thor’s title now, with the backup features telling stories of Asgard’s past. This series will feature Marvel’s anti-hero characters, Namor and Hulk. Leaving Strange Tales for the not-quite-superhero characters, Marvel’s resident spy and sorcerer, respectively. The combined titles remain a necessity of longstanding distribution difficulties on Marvel’s part, but now there at least seems to be some thematic consistency amongst the titles.

Adam Austin is Gene Colan. He’s learning. Colletta’s inking perhaps doesn’t show Colan at his best. You have to squint or know what you’re looking for to see hints of someone who will soon become one of Marvel’s greatest artists.

The style of layouts will already be different, and reflects a move these comics are slowly making, away from very even grids of pages with 6-9 panels to larger panels of varying shapes and layouts.

Interesting to have a new artist without Kirby to assist. Who is plotting the story? Lee? Colan?

Here’s the plan. They’ve set up a pretty standard adventure here. Namor has lost his crown and needs to go on this quest. There will be various clues. The issue takes him to the first clue.

I guess that seems like a plot Lee could maybe have come up with without Kirby.

We’ll keep reading Namor’s story while this quest is going on. Meanwhile, Hulk is embroiled in the “Leader Saga”. So we’ll read both stories from the next several issues of this title. As will happen often, Hulk’s story will reach a natural breaking point sooner than Namor’s, so we’ll break the comics up and read a little ahead in Namor’s story, and then try to get them back in sync later.

The story opens with the phrase “Imperius Rex!”. What does that mean? Sounds almost Latin. Something like “Imperial King”. I don’t know. I don’t speak Latin. I suspect Stan doesn’t either. Whatever it means, it is now Namor’s official catchphrase and will be for decades to come.

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Journey Into Mystery Annual 1

When Titans Clash!

Featuring: Thor
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: 1965
25 cents
Mighty story by: Stan Lee
Majestic art by: Jack Kirby
Masterful inking by: Vince Colletta
Mostly lettered by: Sam Rosen
15 pages

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Mystic #39, Story BPRELUDE
Daredevil #9Reading orderAmazing Spider-Man #28

Thus, the Thunder God falls.. for time without end.. through a vast void of heavy nothingness… of shimmering energy barriers and mystic space disrupters…

This is the first Thor Annual. Your 25 cents is mostly buying you reprint stories. But you also get a 15 page new Thor story, which is perhaps more properly a Tales of Asgard story, focused as it is on an early adventure of Thor. In those tales, Loki is always scheming to kill him, but Thor seems blissfully unaware.

We’ve reviewed some early history of Hercules and Zeus. Marvel introduced a gigantic superhero named for Hercules then weeks later introduced a comedic hero named Little Hercules. A mythologically-confused version of Hercules gave his powers to Marvel Boy in 1940 and then to another Marvel Boy in 1943. Tommy Tyme witnessed the mythological Hercules’ legendary battle against Antaeus, which bore quite the resemblance to a Thor story we read where he battled Sigurd.

Jupiter was a recurring character in Venus, and the Jupiter of Roman myth is very similar to the Zeus of Greek myth. We saw Zeus unleash a Fury in a 1955 fantasy story. We know Zeus had given Pandora her box from a 1961 Tales of Suspense story. And that Pandora’s Box was later used by the Sorcerer to menace Johnny Storm. In the early days of our reading, we read a weird tale where Zeus came to Earth to prove his power, and was offered movie deals.

But those appearances of Hercules and Zeus are not necessarily part of our canon. This issue represents the proper Marvel Universe introductions of Hercules and Zeus.

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Fantastic Four #43

Lo! There Shall Be an Ending!

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: July 8, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Daringly written by Stan lee
Dazzlingly drawn by Jack Kirby
Dramatically inked by Vince Colletta
Docily lettered by Artie Simek
20 pages

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Fantastic Four #42Fantastic FourFantastic Four #44

You thought you were the equal of the Fantastic Four– and nobody is!

Another great cover, and showing off Kirby’s versatility. Last issue had a cover beautiful in its simplicity, focused on two men locked in combat. Now we see a lot of complexity, that intricate machinery Kirby is so famous for drawing, but where the complexity frames the emotion of a defeated Fantastic Four.

When we left off, the Frightful Four had brainwashed Ben and Johnny into joining them. Now it’s up to Reed and Sue to fight off 6 enemies and restore their teammates’ minds. The startling conclusion of a 3-part battle.

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Fantastic Four #42

To Save You, Why Must I Kill You?

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Produced by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inking: V. Colletta
Lettering: S. Rosen
20 pages

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Fantastic Four #41Reading orderFantastic Four #43
Fantastic Four #41Fantastic FourFantastic Four #43

I am to blame for what happened to him! I can never escape that responsibility!!

Pretty awesome cover.

Last issue ended with Thing about to kill a helpless Mr. Fantastic. Let’s see what happens.

While his back is glued to the board, Reed’s plan of attack is to expand his belly. I didn’t need super powers to be able to do that.

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Fantastic Four #41

The Brutal Betrayal of Ben Grimm!

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: May 11, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Story by: Stan Lee, who has never lost his touch!
Art by: Jack Kirby, who has never lost his magic!
Inking by: Vince Colletta, who has never lost his flair!
Lettering by: Sam Rosen, who has never lost Artie Simek!
20 pages

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Avengers #18Reading orderFantastic Four #42
Fantastic Four #40Fantastic FourFantastic Four #42

You did this to me, Richards!! You turned me into somethin’ so ugly that they can only call me… a Thing!

I appreciate that they use Ben’s real name in the title, rather than his superhero name. It adds a certain something, though I suspect Stan did it for alliterative purposes: brutal, betrayal, Ben.

Notice this picks up right where the last issue left off, so no time has passed. Yet we’ve read 7 other comics in the meantime. The idea is all this stuff is happening close to concurrently.

Ben had been turned human again, but Reed felt they needed him to be super strong again to defeat Dr. Doom, so without permission, Reed fired a ray to turn him back into the Thing.

Ben is justifiably angry and quitting the Fantastic Four.

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