AVENGERS #23: Pictures and Words

Published: December, 1965

I always enjoy reading the credits on the splash, and here noticed new name John Romita as the “dazzling delineator.” Romita…Romita? I remembered often hearing that name lauded in the Land of Marvel, so I asked Russ for further details. What most jumped out at me is Romita’s background in romance comics.

Yes! I like it. I like it a lot.

In the past, I’ve noticed that some of the female characters in these 1960’s Marvel superhero comics are not as attractive as they could be. At first, I wondered if this was simply a generational style difference, but then I read some Millie the Model and Patsy Walker comics and realized the women in these stories are a lot prettier than the average superhero gal. So! It IS possible to have attractive women in comics in the 1960’s. (And by the way, in this sampling of Romita’s work, the guys don’t look so bad either!)

Secret Hearts 90

Secret Hearts 89

Secret Hearts 86

Secret Hearts 69

Girls Romances 89

Girls Romances 96

Girls Romances 84

I guess it just wasn’t a high priority in the superhero arm of Marvel Comics. At least not in the beginning, when the audience primarily consisted of little boys with dimes and pennies in their pockets. Hormones had not yet kicked in enough for them to give two hoots about these sub-par female depictions. But now high school and college kids have been reading these comics for quite a while, and you’d think they would have a much greater interest in seeing beautiful women. It only makes sense…

So: is Romita the right man at the right time? I have high hopes that his experience in depicting female characters will move this needle in the right direction.

QUESTIONABLE FASHION CHOICES
However, having said all this, and despite all his previous works in the Romances, I must say I find some of his fashion choices questionable.

Though Princess Ravonna is very nicely drawn, I have misgivings about her outfit. Why does she wear a clear shield over her eyes? Was Romita simply looking for some odd, otherworldly fashion accessory to separate her from Patsy and Millie? Or is this just me, looking backwards from 57 years in the future? (Case in point: Uhura’s go-go boots and mini skirt?)

And while we’re at it: What is it with Kang’s boots? Did Romita’s background of drawing women in fancy outfits lead him to dress Kang in those ridiculously tall boots? They must be unbearably hot and uncomfortable! Or, is it for protection, like armor? What is the purpose? Those crazy boots are a distraction, drawing me out of the story, making me question either the artist or the character…or both.

FRAIL?
But now, let’s put in a good word for Wanda. She looks especially pretty in this comic. Which is why I don’t understand why the Narrator describes her as a “frail-looking beauty”? I’m sorry, but despite any other artistic shortcomings, no artist has ever portrayed Wanda as “frail.” Even if some others have not done a great job with her face and hair, her frame has always looked, shall we say, “robust.” The Narrator misses the boat on this one.

TROUBLE WITH THE NARRATOR
But that’s just the beginning of my troubles with the Narrator. In comics, art helps the story along, but ultimately the writer bears the burden. And sometimes the writer pushes that burden on to the shoulders of the thankless Narrator. As much as I appreciated the art in this issue, I often found myself at odds with the Narrator. His job is to set the scene and provide exposition, but I found many of his comments simply confounding.

IT’S…COMPLICATED… First, the Narrator tells us Kang is “in a far distant century.” Then “A short time later, back in the 20th century…” And again, “At that moment, centuries away…” Phrases like this blow my mind! It’s hard enough for me to keep track in time travel stories, but when time and space references are nonsensically mixed, my finite mind gets lost. At that very moment, and in this very place.

HEY! A LITTLE HELP HERE… So while the Narrator offers too much confusing and conflicting information at one point, later, when most needed…crickets! I’m missing the assistance of Helpful Stan as Kang the Conqueror declares he wants to “make them pay for the humiliating defeats I have suffered at their hands!” This is exactly where I’m looking for a little yellow box to remind my plot-challenged brain when and how this humiliation took place, because honestly, reading all these different comics with all these different stories and villains, some rise to the top, but they can’t all be at the top, and anything that happened with Kang…sorry, I simply don’t remember.

AHHH…YOU FIGURE IT OUT… So I’m a little baffled and frustrated with this story, and at one point I’m feeling the Narrator is in the same place. On page 14 he inexplicably gives up and invites the readers to “write your own caption.” Huh?

BRAGGING RIGHTS. Finally, the Narrator tidies up this tale by crowing about how one day you, the reader, will be “bragging about it to your children.” I don’t yet know how well this particular narrative stands the test of time against the thousands of other Marvel stories handed down through the decades, so it’s hard to judge how true this might be.

On the plus side, however, I just saw Quantamania, where Kang makes his second appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Those who thought him troublesomely villainous in the Loki Disney+ series had not yet begun to guess what a menace this guy will be. Apparently, you can kill him, but…so what? An alternate version will just appear in any universe at any time. He’s worse than Michael Myers!

So yeah…Kang is big news, and any iteration of him is likely to cause mayhem, but if I’m not mistaken, “bragging” is reserved for great feats that you yourself have accomplished—not the activities and accomplishments of others. (Well, unless they’re your kids, then go ahead, brag all you want.) But the simple act of reading this story is not a feat worth bragging about.

However, that being said, I understand the enormity of the thought the Narrator is trying to convey. I simply think he chose the wrong word. But when you’re telling a story, words are your tools, and if you don’t use them right, your story will needlessly suffer. Just saying…

FUDGED OVER. Anyway, let’s get back to the story. At one point, Cap arrives on the scene via the “Recreater,” and someone named “Smiley” helpfully provides an editor’s note to remind us that this is the “accursed instrument which Iron Man once used to probe recent past.” (Incidentally, the word “the” appears to be left out—see my nitpicky previous comment about words being tools that need to be used properly. But let’s not quibble…)

Stan plainly admits they can’t remember exactly when Iron Man used this accursed instrument to probe recent past, only that it was “issues ago.” Which leaves me asking: If the editor can’t remember, why should we? Unless…we’re not actually expected to remember? Because they are so busy trying to confuse us? In order to cover up a gigantic plot hole?

The Recreater may have pointed Cap in the right direction, but remember, this direction is “in a far distant century,” and on a far distant planet. How exactly did Cap get there? No explanation is given, and I guess the writer hoped we would all be so busy trying to figure out when we last saw Iron Man using the Recreater that we wouldn’t think to ask the more pertinent question of how this amazing instrument was able to effortlessly transport Cap to the exact time and place he needed to be.

IT’S NOT PERSONAL, IT’S JUST BUSINESS
So Kang wants revenge on “the Avengers,” even though almost all the individual members have changed. He feels he’s been humiliated by “the Avengers” and just wants to restore his dignity by putting this group in their place. At first, this seems juvenile and illogical, but then I remember…football. Every week, we root for and against certain football teams, not based solely upon the threat they pose to our team this season, but because we are still harboring grudges from previous years—even though those players and even coaches are long gone. So I’ll give this to Kang. Perhaps illogical and petty, but somehow oddly…dare I say it?…human.

HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN
Also oddly human, the way Steve Rogers applies “sweet lemons” to his current situation. In his quest to forget the Avengers, Rogers contemplates that he is now “useful again” by working as a sparring partner for a boxer. Being an Avenger wasn’t “useful”? (And the Avengers are asking… “So! What are we?Chopped liver??”)

It’s hard to believe our outstanding hero would think this way, unless he was totally drunk on that sweet lemonade. And I wonder: if he only knew how much Wanda missed the sight of him working out in their private gymnasium, would that change his attitude?

Well, it doesn’t matter, because in the end, Captain America does indeed return to assist the Avengers, and it looks like all might be put right, once again.

More next time, I’m sure.

BULLISH ON ROMITA
But enough about the Narrator, the writer and the writing! Let’s finish up with a few more positive words about John Romita. First impression: He is a welcome addition to the Bullpen. I’ve read about Stan Lee inviting Romita to a three-hour lunch, offering him whatever he wanted, and not letting him leave until he agreed to come on board. I applaud Stan’s effort, but wonder “Why?” Why was he so determined to get Romita on the team? Did he just need a new hire, or was a conscious decision made that the female characters needed to look better?

History tells us that over the next 50-plus years, the art of Marvel will improve. They tell us evolution takes a long time, but here I’m seeing it right before my very eyes. Is the Romita Effect a fluke, a serendipitous side-effect of a good hire, or is everything in the 1965 Marvel Universe now gearing up to take off at full speed?

More next time, I’m sure.