Featuring: Avengers
Release: September 3, 1963
Cover: November 1963
Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Jack Kirby
Inking: Paul Reinman
22 pages
Cover box of the second issue matches the first. Wasp is still left out. Ant-Man has not yet been updated to Giant-Man.
Now that Ant-Man is Giant-Man, his strength is at least vaguely in the same class as the rest of his male teammates. The giant-formula has not been shared with his partner, the Wasp. And will not be any time soon.
Thor comments on Hulk’s outfit. We saw a similar exchange in Avengers #1½.
This scene confuses me a little. Apparently, the fact that Ant-Man can change sizes is something of a secret, which he carefully divulges to his trusted teammates. Yet, he’s a person who was the size of an ant. That size-changing was involved seems like a fair supposition. That he is now the size of a giant would seem to confirm that supposition. So I don’t know why the secrecy.
Space Phantom seems to be following a pretty standard alien invasion protocol. They have an entire fleet ready to attack, but are sending a single scout first. That scout will fail in his task, and so the whole fleet will retreat. At least, that’s what I presume will happen. The ending actually makes no mention of Space Phantom’s invasion fleet. They defeat the Space Phantom and then we are led to infer the threat is ended.
I also find it odd that after careful observation of earth, he decides the Avengers are the team to beat to prove their power. The Fantastic Four have overcome at least 3 separate alien invasions, an invasion from the underworld, an invasion from under the sea, and countless super-villains. That we’ve seen, the Avengers have only so far fought amongst themselves. Even the X-Men have accomplished more by this point in our reading.
Giant-Man notes that Hulk sometimes rampages. I’m a little unclear on the status quo of the Hulk, and I suspect Stan Lee is as well. There are also likely differences between the truth and what little he has told his teammates about the truth. But this should not be the same Hulk from the first two issues of his series who would rampage. This should be Bruce Banner in control and able to change back and forth at will. Except that Rick noted that he seems a bit different in his Hulk form, suggesting aspects of Hulk’s personality are mixed with Dr. Banner’s at present.
“Two beings who are exactly the same cannot occupy the same world.” I feel like this scientific fact will become important in the decades to come. This suggests the duplicate of Thor created by Professor Zaxton must not have been exactly the same as Thor.
The plot of this issue is basically the same as the first issue. A villain frames Hulk for some crimes and convinces the Avengers to battle him. Then the villain gets revealed, so they stop fighting. Last time, Hulk forgave them and joined their team. This time, Hulk’s feelings are hurt, so he resigns.
Pretty early in the series to shake up the line-up, but there you have it. It is true that members of the Fantastic Four quit pretty frequently, starting with Human Torch in issue 3. But those resignations never last long, and usually are resolved by the end of the issue. This resignation will last much longer.
I think it will be Infinity Gauntlet #3 (1991) when Captain America agrees with Hulk he should still be an Avenger and Avengers #1 (1999) before we actually see Hulk with the Avengers again, and Avengers #1 (2013) before he’s actually a regular active member again.
Thor notes Space Phantom’s power only affects humans. Actually, we have also seen him turn into a meteor and a wasp. But it doesn’t work against gods. When he tries, he ends up in Limbo.
Aside from the Hulk’s resignation, this issue is important for introducing the concept of Limbo. We’ll see that dimension again in many contexts. Rick Jones will get to know it well.
We learn some odd facts about Wasp’s powers. Apparently Wasp is confident a real wasp would never attack her. Also, she is “hyper-sensitive to certain stimuli” and able to sense evil.
Avengers told to contact Don Blake if they want to get in touch with Thor. Does nobody find that odd?
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 54/100
Significance: ★★★★☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers #1. You can also find it in Avengers Epic Collection vol.1: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Hulk
- Thor
- Iron Man
- Giant-Man
- Wasp
- Space Phantom
- Rick Jones
Minor characters:
- Bill (Army Officer)
Story notes:
- Ant-Man now Giant-Man with original costume, indicating this takes place between Tales to Astonish #49 and #50.
- Avengers meet in Anthony Stark’s library; Avengers will meet regularly to get to know each other.
- Iron Man in original costume, suggesting this takes place before Tales of Suspense #48.
- Space Phantom travels through space without ship; changes form to meteor to come to earth.
- Space Phantom duplicates people, and sends those he duplicates to Limbo… one at a time.
- Limbo described as “silent world between shadow and substance”.
- Space Phantom had been observing the Avengers from space. He knew Iron Man’s secret identity, but not Hulk’s. Then Rick Jones told him Hulk’s secret identity.
- Stark built Multiple Anti-Missile gun for military; Hulk seems to steal it and set it off.
- Officer notes Iron Man is on Stark’s payroll.
- Rick Jones visits a member of the Teen Brigade, whose parents enjoy the excitement.
- Giant-Man still wears a cybernetic helmet; he’s just made it very thin.
#117 story in reading order
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