TALES TO ASTONISH #73

“Another World, Another Foe!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Art: Bob Powell
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
The Leader discovers the bullet lodged in the Hulk’s brain and dissolves it with a gamma laser. The treatment saves Hulk’s life, but also forces him to remain as the Hulk–with Banner’s brain–forever. The Leader conducts experiments on Hulk to reveal the extent of his powers, and in return for saving his life, Hulk agrees to help the Leader. Leader sends Hulk to the Watcher’s home planet to retrieve the “ultimate machine.” Just as he reaches for the radiant sphere, Hulk is attacked by “the most powerful creature in the galaxy.”

WHAT’S HOT
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. I’m liking this new and improved Hulk. Now he thinks the intelligent thoughts of Bruce Banner, rather than pitching toddler fits, speaking in sentence fragments and referring to himself in the third person. What a lovely moment when, viewing the curiosities on the Watcher’s home planet, huge gruff Hulk, “like a child, let loose in some enchanted wonderland,” holds his hands out in amazement and exclaims, “This world is a scientific storehouse of treasures beyond measure!”

BOOOOORRRRRING. The Watcher tempers his abilities with “There is almost nothing I do not see—almost nothing I do not know.” Because really, if he saw and knew all, wouldn’t that make him a terrific bore, and drain all the fun out of the Marvel Universe?

TRAINING MONTAGE. The entirety of page five looks like a training montage from any movie about an athlete overcoming impossible odds. “He’s back! He’s Bannner! And he’s better than ever!!” You can almost hear Eye of the Tiger playing in the background.

ULTIMATE MACHINE. “The Ultimate Machine” sounds like the name of a pro wrestler.

JUMPS THE PAGE. In the last panel, the Narrator talks of “our future episodes,” which makes me wonder if there is a conscious effort to get the audience to think of these comic stories as they might a continuing movie serial or television saga. Any effort to get the reader to visualize the action as something taking place on celluloid rather than newsprint seems a push in the right direction.

WHAT’S NOT
NOT A BANNER DAY. The writers have been tweaking Hulk since the beginning, and this episode brings lot of changes, most of them “new and improved,” but I’m not sure I’m sold on “I’m destined to REMAIN the Hulk—forever! With Banner’s brain!” Now, as much as I like Hulk with Banner’s brain, I would be very sad to never actually see the mild-mannered scientist again. But, as I’ve learned in comics, as well as in life… “Never say never.” So, I will choose to believe Hulk is mistaken about the future for his alter ego.

“With such an ally,
I cannot only conquer the earth,
but the entire galaxy!”
— Leader

“By Force of Arms!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Adam Austin
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
As Sub-Mariner’s strength ebbs, the Demon of the Diamonds appears, eager to capture him. They fight, and Namor realizes that the Demon’s helmet protects him from the life-sapping brilliance of the diamonds. Namor summons a swarm of eels, and the eels absorb the diamonds’ power, freeing him. He receives a message warning him that Dorma is endangered by the Faceless Ones, and he abandons his quest, in order to help Dorma. Meanwhile, in Atlantis, the citizens begin their revolt against Krang.

WHAT’S HOT
“T-EEL-OGRAM.” In a land devoid of technology, eels and fish carry messages across the sea. I’m at first reminded of the “barking chain” in 101 Dalmatians that alerts Ma and Pa Dalmatian to the location of their missing pups; but we can find a closer correlation in the classic SNL landshark “candygram” skits.

THE GOOD OF THE ONE…AND THE MANY… Namor faces the epic quandary of so many heroes: whether to save the lives of many, or the single life of the one he loves. Of course, we’re not yet sure he actually loves Dorma, but the fact that “her love for me has never faltered,” is enough to sway his action in her favor. Well, it’s a start.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE! I enjoyed seeing the oppressed citizens of Atlantis band together against Krang’s tyranny. Together they are a commanding character that might change the outcome of this story.

“THAT SELFSAME SPLIT SECOND.” The alliteration alone is mesmerizing, so poetic. But I especially appreciated Stan’s efforts to break down the limitations of linear storytelling. “Split second,” is no longer good enough, now he feels compelled to tell us that two events are happening “at that selfsame split second.”

WHAT’S NOT
WHO DAT?? A new foe abruptly appears on the splash of this story, briefly described as “another dread menace,” and indirectly named the “Demon of the Diamonds.” But wouldn’t it have been much more dramatic (and a lot less confusing) if this character had made his sudden appearance at the end of the previous issue, rather than on the first page of this one? An obvious opportunity was inexplicably squandered.

“I am the Sub-Mariner!
I am Namor, the avenging son!
In truth, I AM strength!”
— Sub-Mariner

X-MEN #14

“Among Us Stalk…the Sentinels!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Pencils: Jay Gavin
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Professor X gives the students a vacation, and the teenagers split up to have fun on their own. Xavier engages in a televised debate with Dr. Bolivar Trask, who believes that mutants will ultimately enslave humans. During the debate, Trask reveals his army of robotic Sentinels, which he created to defend mankind. The Sentinels determine that they know best: they will protect humanity by enslaving it. The X-Men reunite and attack the Sentinels’ stronghold.

WHAT’S HOT
MONTHLY. The X-Men comic will now be published monthly. Good! ’Nuff said.

STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE. While still hoping to maintain a certain level of secrecy regarding his involvement, Professor X puts himself out into the world to defend mutants. Bravo for his bravery!

FACE IT, THIS IS GOOD ART. I believe this is the first time I’m seeing the artwork of Jay Gavin, and I find it cleaner and lighter than some others. He does faces very well.

GINORMOUS! I appreciate the artistic decision to make the Sentinels literally HUGE!! Being robots in purple suits is not enough to evoke an aura of menace, but as giants, they are clearly a force to be reckoned with.

DR. FRANKENSTEIN, I PRESUME? In the vein of Frankenstein, Terminator, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and countless other works of fiction, Dr. Trask has created a monster he cannot control.

TRASK. This Trask predates Dark Shadows. Marvel’s Boliver Trask is on a metaphorical witch hunt, while the Dark Shadows’ Rev. Trask engaged in an actual witch hunt. Coincidence? Or perhaps, some of the Dark Shadows writers were big fans of Marvel comics?

WHAT’S NOT
SLOW NEWS DAY. The Daily Globe reports “Mutant Menace” with a huge headline, when nothing has actually happened but an expert offering his opinion. (Is this perhaps why that headline is on the last page, rather than the front page? See below…) In any case, I’m getting the impression that the Daily Globe is more akin to the National Enquirer than the The New York Times.

“We were created to be the guardians of mankind!
And, to guard them properly, we must RULE them completely!”
— a Sentinel

TALES OF SUSPENSE #71

“What Price Victory?”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Wally Wood
Letters: Art Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Iron Man and Titanium Man face off for a final confrontation, while Pepper is in tears as she watches an ambulance whisk Happy to the hospital. Back at the battle, Titanium Man suffers a humiliating defeat at the hands of Iron Man. Later, Iron Man brushes off Byrd’s congratulations when he hears Happy is alive. At the hospital, Pepper is bitterly angry at Tony for his absence. After surgery, the doctors provide a grim diagnosis, leaving Tony alone with his thoughts.

WHAT’S HOT
I WAS RIGHT!! Happy is NOT dead! Told you so…

SMILE! YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA! Once Iron Man realizes he’s gotten the best of Titanium Man, he absolutely delights, for a good two pages, in humiliating him in front of the cameras. Icing on the cake.

PRIORITIES. As the Countess demands Tony’s attention in the hospital, he snaps, “Shut up, Countess!! A man is DYING in there!” But only a moment before, comforting Pepper, he wonders, “Is this her natural concern for a friend? Or, is it something more?” I was ready to chide Tony for the inappropriateness of that thought, but in the last panel he gets back on track with “I’ve no right to think of my problems while Happy lies dying!” So I’ll forgive him, and put his confused state down to a mixture of sorrow and guilt.

HOT TEARS. We see Pepper’s face twelve times, and in half those images, a tear or two graces her perfect cheek. In most of the others, her head is turned, so you might imagine the unseen tear. Nice decision by the artist not to overwhelm us with her tears, but to some degree, let us imagine the depth of her sorrow.

IRONIC MAN. Because Tony was not there during the fight and did not immediately follow Happy to the hospital, Pepper now despises him. Oh, if only she knew where he really was, and not, as he feebly explains, engaged in “a most important deal” for his business. But alas, behold the loneliness of the secretive superhero: “My heart must remain as cold as the armor I wear—forever!”

NO NOTS. The most “hot” thing about this issue is that I have nothing bad to say about it. There was only that momentary blip when Tony selfishly thought of his romantic future with Pepper while Happy lies in a coma, but…I worked that out, and all in all, this was a splendid story!

“And so it goes—the Reds protesting—the free people rejoicing!”
— the Narrator

“…When You Lie Down With Dogs..!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Pencils: George Tuska
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
German soldiers load Captain America, Bucky and Celia Rawlings inside a V-2 missile that they plan to fire directly at London. Cedric tries to save his sister, but he is thrown in the dungeon. Cap and Bucky escape, but the Germans hold Celia hostage. She is shot during her own escape attempt. Bucky frees Cedric, but he is too late to save Celia. In retaliation, Rawlings reprograms the missile to strike at the soldiers attacking Cap’s unit.

WHAT’S HOT
STATS. We learn that Cap weighs 180 pounds. (Add that to his eharmony or Facebook page?)

WHAT’S NOT
VOT ISS GOING ON HERE? PART I. I always find it distracting when unusual spellings indicate a character is talking with an accent. But I was even more brought out of this story when I noticed that while some Germans spoke in heavy accents, others did not. I took the time to compare word balloons within this issue, as well as go back to the previous two issues to conclude that German officers speak very good English, while the common soldiers do not. I’m guessing ven vee see da worts wrrrritten like dis, we are supposed to assume they are actually speaking German. Okay. I’ll go with it. But still… it’s distracting.

VOT ISS GOING ON HERE? PART II. There’s a further problem, however. In page 2, three word balloons spoken by two different characters are linked together, so you can’t be sure who’s speaking at any given time. First, an offscreen character speaks good English, so this is apparently Major Uberhart from the previous panel, whom I’ll assume completed his formal education in Switzerland, where he no doubt learned to speak at least five different languages, all with perfect accents. But then a second “perfect English” word balloon sits atop a third, where a soldier exclaims, “Und you vill remain in dere…to reflect upon vot a FOOL you vere to TRUST us!” The placement of the balloons makes it look like the soldier is also giving the second speech, but the speech patterns indicate otherwise. The fact that all three balloons openly connect, one to the next, doesn’t help. It’s not a big deal, really…just another moment of confusion for me, the reader.

“In a war, Bucky, many people suffer!
It isn’t necessary to be in the armed forces…to be a casualty!”
— Captain America

AVENGERS #22

“The Road Back”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Wally Wood
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Over Cap’s objections, the Avengers break up and go their separate ways. Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch unwittingly join the Ringmaster’s Circus of Crime, but the Ringmaster’s machinations eventually lead to a police manhunt for the three young Avengers. Meanwhile, Cap, disguised as a press agent, tricks Power Man and Enchantress into admitting on tape that they framed the Avengers. The other Avengers arrive and help Cap defeat the villains and restore their honor, but fed up with their attitudes, Cap storms out, quitting.

WHAT’S HOT
LOOKER. Wanda doesn’t look half-bad when she’s not wearing that ridiculous headpiece.

AVENGERS VS. CIRCUS. When Hawkeye, Pietro and Wanda can’t get work anywhere else (not even Ed Sullivan will take them!), they finally accept a job with the circus. As desperate as this move seems, I can’t help thinking that if Stan Lee were suddenly out of work, the circus is the first place he would apply!

HOOK. Cap is done with the Avengers?? Tune in next time, folks!

WHAT’S NOT
ACHILLES HEEL? Wanda says she cannot use her hex while her eyes are covered. Did we already know this? Or is this new information that might hamper her in the future?

WELL, THAT WAS AWFULLY EASY…When the cops hear Power Man’s voice on the tape confessing that he and Enchantress framed the Avengers, they believe it, and all is instantly put right. Nobody tries to discredit the evidence; nobody calls out “Fake News!” Ahh…simpler times…

“But I can sing!”
— Scarlet Witch

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #122

“Where Mortals Fear to Tread!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Loki transports Absorbing Man to Asgard, abruptly cutting short the battle with Thor. They agree to team up to defeat Odin, intending to share dominion of the universe. Meanwhile, on Earth, with the battle ended, Thor rescues Jane Foster from the hooded figure, who reveals himself as Harris Hobbs. Hobbs photographs Thor changing into Don Blake, intending to blackmail the Avenger. When Thor shows what he could do to Hobbs, Hobbs relents, but asks that Thor take him to Asgard, and Thor agrees.

WHAT’S HOT
SAFE AT LAST? Jane is out of danger…FOR NOW. But she’s a human magnet for abductors. Somehow I doubt this is the last time she’ll be used as “bait.” If the girl weren’t so head over heels for her boss, I’d advise her to look for a new job.

BAH, HUMBUG! When Thor takes Hobbs on a trip to the past and the future, neither of which are happy or acceptable, I’m thinking Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Like Scrooge, Hobbs has a wake-up call. (Or…does he?)

WHAT’S NOT
DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST, PART I. Why did Jane “daringly cause a gas explosion to shatter her bullet-proof window glass”? Would gas really break bullet-proof glass? And why was she willing to risk her life in a gas explosion in order to escape a captor who had so far not physically harmed her?

DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST, PART II. How did Hobbs get a still photograph of Thor transforming into Blake? Did he snap just before the transformation, just after, or was there a selfsame split second where the elements of both Thor and Blake were oddly intermingled?

DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST, PART III. I’m not buying that Hobbs is perfectly fine with Thor wiping his memory of a visit to Asgard. What newspaperman—or any man, for that matter—wants experiences they cannot even remember, never mind write about? More importantly, if Thor can erase memories, why not go back to the beginning and simply make Hobbs forget he saw the Thor/Blake transformation? Maybe it makes a better story if Hobbs goes to Asgard, but story wise, it doesn’t make sense.

“Brute strength alone can never be enough!”
— Thor

“The Grim Specter of Mutiny!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
As Thor’s ship enters the maelstrom, the crew panics, and Loki makes his bid for mutiny. Thor and Loki square off, each with a small army of warriors at his side. Fandral fends off a handful of Loki’s men with his sword, while Hogun barrels through others, but it is Volstagg who singlehandedly topples half of the mutineers when he stumbles and falls on them. Meanwhile, Balder, unseen, lashes himself to the masthead and uses a horn to lead the ship through the Pillars of Utgard.

WHAT’S HOT
EPIC BATTLES. Even though I’m not a big fan of “fight, fight, fight,” the colorful combination of swords and archaic boasts gives these few short pages a classic feel more akin to Lord of the Rings rather than the stark violence of Kill Bill.

WHAT’S NOT
EPIC BRAGGARTS. Fandral refers to himself as “Fandral the Dashing.” If “dashing” means what I think it means, humility is beyond his ken! Of course, Volstagg brags “The mere sight of my noble self makes strong men TREMBLE!!” So when the time comes for the next Annual Marvelous Zone Awards for “Biggest Boast,” it looks like the competition is going to be awfully stiff!

“Driven by your mad vanity, you are leading us to our DOOM!”
— Loki

FANTASTIC FOUR #44

“The Gentleman’s Name is Gorgon!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinott
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
Medusa seeks Johnny’s help in evading a mysterious pursuer, Gorgon. They accidentally reawaken Dragon Man, who mistakes Medusa for Sue. Gorgon attacks as Medusa begins to explain. Gorgon threatens to tear down the city by stamping his hoof-shaped feet, unless the Fantastic Four gives up Medusa. Recognizing the real Invisible Girl, Dragon Man abducts her, but before the rest of the FF can give chase, Gorgon stamps his foot, causing the building they were standing on to collapse beneath them.

WHAT’S HOT
TWO OF A KIND. Gorgon is of the same race as Medusa. We don’t get any additional information in this issue, but from the 2017 TV show, I know they are Inhumans. And I sense we’re about to find out more, in the next issue!

NOW YOU DON’T SEE ME, NOW YOU DO! Dragon Man is a piece of unfinished business from issue #35. So…we begin to see how all the pieces are weaved together. I wonder when #35 was written, was it always the plan to have Dragon Man reappear, or did they only later decide to revive him?

MR. CLEAN. Did Reed Richards invent the dishwasher?

WHAT’S NOT
RIDICULOUS DOMESTICITY. Sue looks absolutely absurd In that pink and white apron. Surely that was meant as a joke?

FREE RENT. The newlyweds are living with Johnny and Ben? This is no way to start a marriage! And there’s no excuse for it. Sure, they’re busy superheroes and socialites, and the wedding did seem to happen awfully fast, but they certainly have enough money to hire a real estate agent to quickly find them a place—any place!—where they can be alone in their wedded bliss, away from the sophomoric antics of Torch and Thing. They might not yet be buying a new skyscraper to call home, but I’m not buying this excuse for continuing cohabitation.

CONFUSED MALE. Why is Torch helping Medusa? Is it really only his fear of her “vacuum gun”? Or…could it be MORE?? Despite their differences in the past, by his own admission, Johnny is apparently willing to “let bygones be bygones.”

CONFUSED FEMALE. But Medusa is not. “Do you think Madam Medusa would accept help from any member of the Fantastic Four??” Conveniently forgetting that only moments before, she had pretty much done exactly that.

CONFUSED ANDROID. Sorry, but Sue’s hair and Medusa’s hair are nothing alike, not enough commonality to allow Dragon Man to make the connection. If there was an identifying feature, it would make more sense for Dragon Man to be a “Boob Man.”

THAT DAMMED CODE! The Hero’s Code comes into play again, making things more difficult than they need to be. Gorgon has already proven he can be destructive, and no doubt could kill if he felt it necessary, but he also knows that Torch has pledged never to use his flame to cause bodily harm. So now he can move about with impunity.

HOW MANY? Why is this a difficult choice for the FF: either surrender Medusa, who has previously been their enemy, or risk the lives of millions of people? “The good of the many outweighs the good of the few…or the one…” Where is Mr. Spock when you need him?

GIRL POWER…SHORT CIRCUITED. Why does Medusa call Sue “Richards’ wife”? I’m sure the wedding was well reported in all the society magazines and even Medusa would have heard the news, but why does she reduce Sue Storm, The Invisible Girl, to “Richards’ wife”? You think as a girl she would be more cognizant and supportive of her fellow female.

“I’ve had enough of this domestic bliss bit!
Hanging around here is like being on the set of Ozzie and Harriet!”
— Human Torch