STRANGE TALES #137

“The Prize Is…Earth!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Art: John Severin
Letters: Art Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
At a Balkan train station, a SHIELD agent transfers a microfilm to a fellow agent, just before he’s slain by HYDRA. HYDRA boards the train, but the SHIELD agent tosses the film to two more agents on a racing car. The car heads into the ocean and converts into a submarine, but when HYDRA surrounds them, they self-destruct. Fury reveals that HYDRA plans to launch a betatron bomb into orbit, and he leads a team to stop it. Later, over his daughter’s objections, Supreme Hydra launches the bomb.

WHAT’S HOT
GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. There are no comical notations this time around for the production credits on the splash. They are simply, quietly and innovatively placed on a computer screen. It’s innovative because this is probably one of our first displays of an actual “computer screen” (that isn’t also a “vision-o-matic,” “visi-probe” or some such thing) but also because it’s one of the rare times that the credits are not part of a joke.

GQ. Tony Stark is Q, inventing spy apparel for Fury’s obvious Bond. Nice!

ARTFULLY DONE. New artist John Severin gives us a very square-jawed Fury, hard-edged with nothing goofy or soft about him. Could you imagine Jack Kirby illustrating this title?

GEE WHIZ! With the introduction of the HYDRA big-shot’s daughter, Agent G, the G certainly stands for intriGuing! Love the dose of family drama. Feels like she could be significant in the future.

OLD FRIENDS. I don’t know much about the Howling Commandos, but I do recognize Dum Dum Dugan and Gabe Jones as part of Fury’s former team. It’s nice to see the band getting back together.

WHAT’S NOT
CURSES! Fury says “blamed” a lot. Is “blamed” the new “damn”? He mixes it up with an occasional “blasted,” but honestly, he just says “blamed” too blamed often.

BARK IS WORSE THAN HIS BITE? Fury comes across as gruff and caustic, a man’s man who is always “barking” orders and making snide remarks. I understand he’s not here to win any personality contests, and I just praised the artist for making him “hard-edged,” but if they don’t soften his speech at least a bit, he may be perceived as so unlikeable that the readers might actually start rooting for HYDRA.

CONFUSION. The whole story is so fast-paced, I can’t keep up! With a sort of disjointed vibe, this almost feels like a movie edited for time-constraints. Are we supposed to recognize that Farrington is the HYDRA leader, or are they purposely being coy, to retain an air of mystery?

OUTDATAED. Is this where the spy movie trope of valuable information on microfilm started, or had this already been a staple of spy stories? Either way, it now feels so dated. But I guess that’s to be expected from an old story full of newfangled ideas—à la the 23rd century female Enterprise crew members in miniskirts and go-go boots.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE. The SHIELD agent on the train feels a lot like Coulson…but then, he gets killed, so….perhaps not? Okay, I guess I’ll have to take this one back, but I’m sticking by my original “Coulson sighting” in the first issue of this new comic, when an unnamed man in a green suit escorts Nick Fury around the particulars of his new duties—and some of that escorting is in a flying car! My logic: If he’s not named, and he doesn’t die, who’s to say he isn’t Coulson?

“He’s the head of SHIELD—
That makes him answerable only to the President!”
— Gabe Jones

“When Meet the Mystic Minds!”
Plot: Steve Ditko
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Steve Ditko
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
In an effort to discover the secret of Eternity, Doctor Strange attempts to pry it from the brain of the Ancient One. Strange uses his amulet to overcome the Ancient One’s mental defenses. Strange realizes that the only way to enter his mentor’s mind is to open up his own mind. The Ancient One reveals how to contact Eternity. Later, on a lonely mountain peak, Strange repeats the mystic incantation. His amulet opens a portal and Strange steps through, moments before Mordo’s frustrated arrival.

WHAT’S HOT
MYSTERY. At one point, the Ancient One’s faithful servant refers to Dr. Strange as “Man of Mystery.” And the writers also choose to remain mysterious by not detailing the Ancient One’s message about Eternity, or the actual spell Strange casts, only telling the readers there are “words so secret, phrases so soul-shattering, that we dare not reveal them here.” Wise choice to keep mum!

PSYCHEDELIC. I’ve never done psychedelic drugs, but I imagine the Ditko/colorist’s collaborative use of yellow, green and orange, along with Strange’s misshapen hands is probably a good representation of hallucination and “aimless imagery.”

WHAT’S NOT
S…L…O…W… As fast-paced as the Nick Fury story is, that’s how slowly this story is moving. Of course, it’s totally appropriate, a nice contrast between the two genres, but really…painfully slow. Still, I guess that’s what you get, when the concept of “Eternity” is the driving force behind the narrative.

“Even in a coma, hovering on the brink of death—
the power of the Ancient One is virtually beyond belief!”
— Doctor Strange

TALES TO ASTONISH #72

“A Prince There Was!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Adam Austin
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
Namor breaks free from the Seaweed Man and creates a whirlpool to defeat the monster. He discovers an iron door on the ocean floor, and upon opening the door a fish speaking in Neptune’s voice gives him the next clue: the Diamonds of Doom, located at the furthest corner of the realm. Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Krang plots to take Dorma as his bride. When she refuses, he banishes her to the world of the Faceless Ones. At the same time, Namor finds the Diamonds of Doom and is ensnared by their life-draining brilliance.

WHAT’S HOT
HE LIKES ME! HE REALY LIKES ME! Too bad Dorma couldn’t hear Namor lamenting her banishment with a proclamation of the sorrow in his breast that is more than he can endure. When he’s with Dorma, Namor doesn’t always treat her with love and respect. I think she would enjoy knowing how badly he feels about her current predicament.

DOME OF DOOM. Say it again, like you mean it…Dome of Doom! Sigh…Such an epic image! Such sensational alliteration! Frankly, I’m perplexed that I am only now running into this portrayal of peril!

SLAY ME. Speaking of epic etymology, I am once again reminded of my college professor who famously said, “Some of the language in here just slays me!” I am slayed by Namor’s distress as he pulls open the huge, rotting hinges of Neptune’s hidden door. “Nothing!” he inwardly exclaims. “There is naught but water below! What grim jest…what hollow mockery is THIS?” This, dear reader, is WHY I read Marvel Comics.

GROOVY. Zantor looks like a beatnik in his aviator sunglasses.

WHAT’S NOT
NOT GROOVY. Zantor looks like a beatnik in his aviator sunglasses. (Why does he need sunglasses in the ocean? Perhaps to shield his eyes from that crazy kaleidoscope?)

GROSS! Still not a fan of the art. In too many panels, Namor looks like he’s got a bad skin condition. I understand the desire to make him appear strong and muscular, but surely there’s a way to do that, without making him look like someone you would avoid on an elevator.

“A Prince of the blood must be true to his duty…
though the sorrow in his breast be more than he can endure!”
— Sub-Mariner

“Within the Monster Dwells a Man!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Art: Mickey Demeo
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
After fighting off multiple assaults by the army, Hulk agrees to join forces with the Leader, who teleports them to his hidden Italian base. When Hulk hears the Leader’s plan to make mankind his slaves, he rebels, but the Leader knocks him out with sleep gas. Meanwhile, Talbot convinces Ross that Rick is in league with the Hulk, and Ross orders Rick’s arrest. Later, when Hulk awakens, he battles the Leader’s humanoids, desperate to fight off the transformation to Banner, which could kill him.

WHAT’S HOT
IF A MISSILE LAUNCHES IN THE DESERT…? I guess it makes this sound: WHOOEEEOOM! Well, now we know.

LESSER OF TWO EVILS. Hulk only agrees to go with the Leader because he has no other options. Even as the rocks are literally falling down around him, he finds himself in the classic “rock and a hard place” predicament.

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY! The Leader’s Matter-Portation device is so much like the Star Trek transporter, I marvel at how chockful of science fiction mumbo jumbo the early 60’s must have been.

BODY-WISE. Rick wisely says, “I won’t believe the Hulk is dead until we find the body!” Guess he’s been reading too many comic books…

WHAT’S NOT
DUH! General Ross reveals he is not too bright when he openly expresses his astonishment at the possibility that Hulk could have been a product of one of Banner’s secret experiments.

IS THAT YOU, MRS. ROBINSON? The Leader boasts that his humanoids protect him “with all their plastic strength!” I was right on board until he got to the word…plastic.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HULK. If the Leader is such a brainiac, why didn’t he anticipate that Hulk might come out of his stupor faster than expected?

ONE THING AT A TIME! Perhaps the Leader is simply too cocky about his great brain. In addition to underestimating Hulk, he is also overextending himself by working on plans to conquer both the surface world and the undersea kingdom of the Sub-Mariner at the same time. I predict this will come back to bite him in the butt.

“Nuts! I don’t want any part of this crummy world! You can HAVE it!”
— Hulk

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #121

“The Power! The Passion! The Pride!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
While Thor battles the Absorbing Man, Loki looks on from Asgard. His plans for challenging Odin’s rule depend on Thor’s defeat. On Midgard, Absorbing Man transforms into a colossus by absorbing the city’s concrete and steel. Meanwhile, Jane, who has been abducted by a mysterious hooded man, watches the battle from a high-rise apartment window. During the brawl with the Absorbing Man, Thor rescues a toddler. Absorbing Man takes advantage of Thor’s distraction to knock him out.

WHAT’S HOT
MYSTERY, NOT MENACE. A mysterious hooded figure holds Jane captive, but she has not been harmed, her privacy is respected, and she has been granted every comfort and convenience. There is a sense of mystery to her situation, but not menace. When the hooded figure tells Jane it is for her “own good” that she is not permitted to leave, I believe him.

SICKENING. It makes total sense that Loki would think of Balder as “sickeningly noble.”

NO STONE UNTURNED. The Norn Stone, carelessly abandoned on Earth in the last issue, makes a brief appearance, just long enough for the writers to tease us with the certainty that it will soon come into play.

PANIC IN THE STREETS. I always love the way Marvel displays panic in the streets. Why are they so good at this?

HEROIC NON-HEROES. The police are fully engaged in this conflict, but wisely holding back, running crowd control, trying to protect the public, fully aware all they can do is try to contain any peripheral damage. But it appears their hearts are fully in it.

WHAT’S NOT
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN DO BETTER. The fight scenes quickly get tiresome, just going round and round as Thor and the Absorbing Man constantly best each other and brag about it. As some off-screen presence wonders on page 15, I also just want to know, “How can it ever end?” We could be here all day…or we could move on to the juicier parts of the story?

ACHILLES HELL. The Absorbing Man can be tricked into turning into a vulnerable material like glass. But no matter, since Thor’s Achille’s Heel is his oath to never slay a mortal, which prevents him from taking advantage of his foe’s Achille’s Heel. Again, I ask…How can it ever end?

TAKE SMALL CHILDREN BY THE HAND. Whenever you want to inject a dose of drama into a story, you can always fall back on the old favorite trope of a child innocently wandering into harm’s way. On the same day that I read this Thor story, Russ and I started watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, where, in The Crawling Eye, a child goes back for a mislaid toy, surely at risk of getting squeezed to death by a gigantic tentacled eyeball, if heroic Forrest Tucker doesn’t jump in to save the day. That incident just provided a temporary diversion, while Thor’s nobility could prove his undoing, but the moral of both stories is the same: Parents! Tether your tykes!

“You TRICKED me last time! But now I’m too smart to—HEY!”
— Absorbing Man

“Maelstrom!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Hoping to postpone the day of Ragnarok, Thor sails his ship into the Sea of Fear, searching for the forces that threaten Asgard. Some of the crew, fearing the Pillars of Utgard, wonder aloud why Loki is not in command, while others pledge their support to Thor. As Loki plots mutiny, Thor urges the sailors to fight the storm, and against their instincts, they obey. Meanwhile, Balder climbs the ship’s figurehead, hauling a great horn behind him.

WHAT’S HOT
SUNBURST. For such a short story, the narrator’s sunburst recap on the splash perfectly brings us up to date, concisely reviewing all the major concepts and setting the scene for this new leg of their journey.

WHAT’S NOT
NOT ENOUGH TIME! The only bad thing I can say about this story is that each installment is so short, just a few quick snapshots. By the time you feel engaged…it’s over! (Till next time, anyway…) But this installment seemed exceptionally short with two pages of only three panels, and two full-page layouts.

“Even DEATH can be glorious in the service of one such as THOR!”
— Sailor

AVENGERS #21

“The Bitter Taste of Defeat!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Wally Wood
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
The Avengers continue their bickering, almost coming to blows. Meanwhile, the Enchantress approaches one of Zemo’s henchmen and grants him super-strength in return for aiding her revenge against the Avengers, dubbing him Power Man. They create several disasters in the city, framing the Avengers. When Cap is framed, the other Avengers investigate individually, but the villains charge them with trespassing. Left with no choice, the city council orders the Avengers to disband.

WHAT’S HOT
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! On the splash, as Hawkeye changes a fuse, he laments “one faulty fuse and a zillion electronic gizmos go on the blink!” This made me chuckle as I thought of one of my favorite lines in my favorite Christmas comedy song, The Twelve Pains of Christmas. (If you’re not familiar with it, treat yourself to an early Christmas present!)

BOSS LADY. He has the brawn, but she has the brains. He may be “Power Man,” but the Enchantress pulls his strings. Power Man placates himself by grumbling that he’ll “go along” as long as it suits him. Of course, he has to tell himself that; otherwise, how can he face himself in the mirror?

WHAT THE WELL-DRESSED ENCHANTRESS IS WEARING THIS SEASON. Traditionally, the Enchantress is seen in her classic low-cut green leotard with the golden pleated skirt, but on page 12, we see her in a slightly different outfit. What’s this? On her way to yoga class? Perhaps her pajamas? Or is she in fact turning into a woman of fashion?

WHAT’S NOT
EMASCULATED. The Enchantress slows down and impedes each Avenger as Power Man fights them. Why? Does she not have faith in his “powers”? Not willing to take any chances? Or is this her way of keeping him in his place? (See BOSS LADY, above.)

RESTITUTION. The Avengers have to make restitution for “tearing the street apart.” This is not the first time this has happened. Perhaps they need to look into some superhero malpractice insurance?

TOO EASY. My biggest problem with this story is that it’s all too easy. All it takes is a little magic and deception for the Avengers to quickly fall out of favor with the public. And this has happened to them before. It also happened to the Fantastic Four as early as their second issue, and is always happening to Spidey, thanks to his unfriendly neighborhood newspaper publisher. This is apparently an issue for superheroes. They have to come up with a plan to nip this in the bud, before it can even get started.

“If you ask me, this is real CORNBALL stuff—
but if it will make you happy…”
— Power Man

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #29

“Never Step on a Scorpion!”
Plot: Steve Ditko
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Steve Ditko
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
The Scorpion escapes from prison, eager to extract vengeance on Spider-Man and Jameson. Meanwhile, at the Daily Bugle, Peter discovers that Ned Leeds has returned from Europe, but brushes off Betty and Ned when he learns of the Scorpion’s escape. While Spidey patrols the city, Scorpion attacks Jameson at the Bugle. Realizing his mistake, Spider-Man returns to the Bugle, and fights Scorpion. Spider-Man wins, but JJJ protrays himself as the hero. Later, at home, May gets dizzy and nearly faints.

WHAT’S HOT
WHERE IS THIS LEEDING? Ned Leeds is back! I like that they haven’t forgotten about him, and as it now appears Peter may be leaving behind his high school crowd, we may well need a new source of soap opera suds.

GROWING BOY. The story starts with Peter noting that he must be putting on weight, since his clothes are snug. And later, as Spider-Man, he certainly looks less lanky, more muscular than usual. Is this what happens when a boy graduates from high school and becomes a college man?

LOVE TO HATE. Jameson is truly the man I love to hate. His performance in this issue is classically despicable—so over the top despicable, you can’t help but enjoy it!

WHAT’S NOT
ART PROBLEM #1. Peter wears a yellow striped vest and…a black and white shirt? Is the black design actually part of the fabric, or is the inker prophetically anticipating the gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows”? I can’t figure out what’s going on here, but it’s certainly distracting.

ART PROBLEM #2. Channeling my inner Jerry Seinfeld, “What’s the deal with Scorpion’s teeth?”

NO REST. Aunt May gets dizzy and drops a glass. Oh no! Does this foreshadow further medical issues? Please, Stan! Leave the poor old lady alone!

“Say! I wonder what Ed Sullivan would pay for an act like this?”
— Spider-Man

DAREDEVIL #10

“While the City Sleeps!”
Plot: Stan Lee
Script: Wally Wood
Layouts: Bob Powell
Art: Wally Wood
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
The mysterious masked Organizer collects a group of animal-based henchmen–Ape-Man, Bird-Man, Cat-Man and Frog-Man–in his plot to discredit the city government. The next morning, Foggy announces that he is running for District Attorney, and introduces Debbie Harris, an old girlfriend, to Matt and Karen. Later, Cat-Man kidnaps Debbie, but Daredevil discovers that she is actually part of the Organizer’s plot. DD is unaware that Bird-Man is about to strike.

WHAT’S HOT
DOUBLE DUTY. Wally Wood is both artist and writer, which is unusual, and on the cover and the splash we are promised this issue will be off-beat, different, stunning, and the strangest. Okay, I’m ready!

PROMISE FULFILLED. I very much enjoyed the art. There was a unique almost ghoulish look to the villains, and in contrast, the good guys always appear so fresh and clean!

WHAT’S NOT
FORM OVER CONTENT. I started out wanting very much to enjoy this story. Of course, I immediately noticed the many unusual page layouts. At first, I found the novelty refreshing, but after a while, for this relatively inexperienced comic book reader, the lack of standard formatting taxed my brain.

UNFORTUNATE MONIKER. The villain is “The Organizer” …which unfortunately made me think of those tough ladies on Hoarders who are always pushing people to give up way more of their stuff than they want to. After that, it was hard to take him seriously.

A CREEPY PEEPY BY ANY OTHER NAME…I’m always amused to run into these inventive names for newfangled gadgets; but when the minions wear “Creepy Peepy” TV cameras on their chests, I’m thinking…hmmm…maybe Wally could have thought this one through a little more…

TOO MUCH, TOO FAST. It’s a good story, but rather intricate and involved, suffering from the introduction of way too many characters in only a few pages. I recognize this tale will continue in the next issue, but perhaps it would have worked better if all the information in Part 1 had been introduced at a more leisurely pace. (They certainly could have sold more comics that way!)

ART IMITATES LIFE. Someone’s trying to steal an election? Please! Let’s not go there again…

ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA. Is Daredevil just now discovering that underwater, his radar becomes sonar? Didn’t he know this before? Even if he hadn’t already fought Namor in an underwater battle (DD#7), he should have at least tried it out in the bathtub.

WTF #1. The diagram of the building on page ten is confusing. Why is the air lock chamber for water travel above the helicopter hanger? That doesn’t seem very efficient or practical, especially for someone whose moniker is “The Organizer.” Is this part of the “off-beat” we were promised on the splash?

WTF #2. Karen wonders if Matt will be at the penthouse party, but somehow he never got invited. Why not? (Am I looking for holes in the story at this point?)

WTF #3. Why does Daredevil need a “snooper scope” to hear?

“How easy it is for me to defeat my enemies by remote control!”
— Organizer