Published: February, 1963
Plot: Stan Lee
Script: Larry Lieber
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Dick Ayers
Letters: Ray Holloway
Last time, we talked about Sue Storm, and how some of the fans back in the 1960’s thought she wasn’t contributing enough. Reed and Ben put us straight, and I hope my remarks also helped to dispel any doubts about Sue’s value to the team. We came away from that issue knowing that, even though we are still in the pre-Women’s Lib era of the early 1960’s, Marvel comics believes that a woman CAN be a superhero.
I feel compelled to mention this, because in Journey Into Mystery #89, we find two other women who are not strong female characters like Sue Storm. Before we go on, I want to clarify that I understand when the creators portray these women—Jane Foster, and a guest appearance by Ruby, girlfriend of mobster “Thug”—I never thought they were saying, “Look at how weak and pathetic women are!” Here in JIM #89, they are simply presenting a female archetype that people could relate to. Also, this type of character works well in stories where the melodramatic is so prevalent. After all, every hero needs to have somebody to protect, and who better than a poor dear of a female?
JANE
So yes, a woman can be a superhero, but in this Thor adventure, we see two women acting like…women. That is, like typical women of the 1960’s. First we have Jane Foster. As Dr. Blake’s nurse, we’ve met her before; we know what makes her tick. I’ve surmised she’s a romantic, very much a “girlie girl.” And nothing’s changed in this issue, it’s just…if possible…moreso.
Early in this issue, we rehash the Thor origin story, including the desperate and ironic situation of both Blake and Jane longing for each other, but each afraid to profess their love. Due to this lack of communication, misunderstanding ensues and, believing that Blake is uninterested, Jane turns her attention to Thor instead. We see her daydreaming about how wonderful it would be, if she were part of Thor’s life. Ah, yes! Wonderful, indeed! She would polish Mjornir for him, iron his cape, cut his hair…
Wait! What? Are you kidding me? Is Jane really wasting her daydreaming on perfectly ordinary domestic tasks? Is that the best she can come up with—she wants to “look after him”?
And this is also odd: in her daydream, Jane refers to Thor as her “boss.” I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here. Previously, she’s mentioned that she would like to “work” for Thor; apparently that was not a typo, or a euphemism for something more intimate. She actually wants to work for him.
Listen. Someone has got to teach this girl how to fantasize! Or maybe even explain the facts of life! What are they teaching them in these nursing schools, anyway? I mean, I can think of a lot better things to do with Thor than iron his cape!
And what’s this about cutting his hair? Huh? I see this image, and right away I think of the Biblical tale of Samson, whose strength was in his hair, and when it was cut, he was weakened. I know that’s not what’s going on here, but I can’t help feeling that Jane cutting Thor’s hair is her subconscious desire to emasculate him, make him more “ordinary,” so that she will feel that he is on her level, and will not stray from her.
I’m sure Jane knows that as an ordinary human female she hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell with the Thunder God. But you know what? I don’t think she’s actually interested in him as a Thunder God. Obviously, or she wouldn’t want to cut his hair and domesticate him! What I do think is that Jane’s main attraction to Thor is that he’s manly, and gallant, and strong and brave—but more than that, in the past, he’s shown her some attention. That’s all she wants. And she’s not getting it from Blake, so she does a complete 180 and begins to crush on Thor.
A quick thought: They say women like to marry men like their fathers. Since Jane is equally smitten with both Blake and Thor, I have no idea what to expect, if we ever meet her father. Anyone want to hazard a guess?
By the end of this story, Thor has rescued Jane from the bad guys, flying her to safety, and telling her, “Do not be afraid, Jane!” Her reply: “I couldn’t be—with you here!” Also (breathlessly, I’m sure): “Is there nothing you cannot do, Thor?”
Yeah, apparently there is. Apparently he can’t iron his own cape, or polish his own hammer, or… Oh, my…
Something just occurred to me, but this blog is rated PG, so I won’t say it. I’ll just end this discussion by suggesting that perhaps our poor little dear of a nurse is so out of tune with her femininity and sexuality that even her daydreams are as symbolic as her night dreams.
Okay, let’s move on.
RUBY
We have another female character in this story: Ruby, the devoted girlfriend of nogoodnik Thug Thatcher. With their boss injured in a prison break, Thug’s thugs decide to “fetch him a sawbones” (that’s gangster for “doctor”). Blake complies in order to prevent Jane from being harmed, then treats Thug, not because of any threats, but because it’s his duty as a physician.
Still, despite all the kindness shown by the good doctor, Thug decides to “off” Blake anyway (that’s gangster for “kill”), completely ignoring the protests of his girlfriend Ruby.
Thor shows up and there’s a fight and a chase and some trees fall on a car. In the end, even though Thug tells Ruby to “Get lost!” and tries to shoot her, she says, “I still love him! SOB! I can’t help myself!”
That “SOB” should stand for “Son of a Bitch!” but it doesn’t. It’s Ruby crying, because the poor dear is still in love with a gangster who tried to kill her.
This is sad, very sad indeed.
And the saddest part of all? Even though this is only a story in a comic book, there are women like this in real life, back in the 1960’s, and even today—women whose self-esteem has been so mutilated that they set themselves up for abuse and heartache, thinking this is the life they deserve.
Poor Ruby. She has a good heart, she’s just had a tough life. Yes, she’s the gangster’s girlfriend, but she sticks up for Dr. Blake, pleading for his life. She encourages Thug to turn himself in to the police. She wants to do the right thing, but is ultimately defeated by overpowering forces that keep her firmly under the thumb of the louse she loves.
In a nice twist at the end, Thor sees all this, and calls on Odin to wipe her memory clean and make her “free of her tragic love! Free to find one who will be worthy of her!”
Of all the good things Thor has done in the stories I’ve read so far, this is the most impressive. We know Thor is strong in body and mind, but now we also see him strong in heart, caring for others who cannot care for themselves. What a hero!
However, if Odin’s memory wipe only removes the memory of Thug Thatcher, that might not be enough to free Ruby to find the one who will be worthy of her. I’m afraid this woman will need additional help to make her emotionally well. Thug may not have been the cause of her low self-esteem, only the symptom. Perhaps Dr. Blake has a colleague, a psychiatrist, who can pick up where Odin left off?
I don’t know if we’ll see Ruby again, and I don’t know if her life will be happy from this point on. I do know we’ll see Jane Foster, and I’ll bet we get lots more of this secret whining and pining, as she and Blake continue the charade of caring for each other only as co-workers.
Well, not good for Jane and Blake. But good for us. Because, as I mentioned earlier, that’s what melodrama is made of. And as I continue my travels through the Marvelous Zone, along with all this good old-fashioned action and adventure, I do love me some melodrama!
Even with all the melodrama going on in this story, we didn’t actually have a great villain to contemplate. But join us next time when we weave a web of scum and villainy the likes of which we have yet to see in the Marvelous Zone!
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hugging Ben with her foot in the air, calling him a “living doll” and moaning, “MMMMM MMM!” 
It seems there were some fans—and it must have been a good number, if Stan thought it necessary to address the issue—who felt that Sue did not contribute enough, and that the other three would be better off without her. To which I immediately say… what?
Well, Reed wastes no time in setting these little boys straight. Well, actually, he does waste a bit of time, first going off on a tangent about Abraham Lincoln’s mother which I didn’t actually understand. Sue is neither Abraham Lincoln’s mother, nor anyone’s mother, for that matter. The main point that Reed’s trying to make here is that girls can provide a lot of “behind the scenes” support for the men who are the actual heroes. You know, when I think about it that way, Reed is also being sexist. If he only went that far, with the Abraham Lincoln mumbo-jumbo, I might have a beef with him, but then he lists those examples of Sue actively contributing to their adventures.
Then, as they’re all enjoying cake, “Lumpy” the mailman arrives with another overflowing bag of fan mail! 
Ben played football in college—though I’m not sure what position…maybe Running Back?
Take a moment to look and read, and see how much is going on in this one panel. Kids are mesmerized by the FF. The FF are kind to their fans, and enjoying their celebrity. Well, except for Thing. But that’s so in character. And what’s also in character is this image of the family, side by side, arm in arm, out for a stroll in their Sunday Best. 
It’s a good name, don’t you think? The idea of the “impossible” conjures up all sorts of possibilities. But in fact, the Impossible Man is nothing more than an immature shape-shifter from outer space. With a “Pop!” he can instantly “evolve” into any form that suits his purposes. He knows nothing of earth customs or etiquette, and that contributes to his “Impossible” status as much as his shape-shifting. 
Wow. Could it really be that simple? Yes, it is.
Next time, in The Marvelous Zone, we’ll journey into the mysterious workings of the female mind, when the marvelous imaginings of the fantastic are replaced by the mundane fantasies of the domestic. Intrigued? Confused? Stay tuned!
With great casting comes…a great movie!
along with the strength of the origin story, is what makes this movie still feel fresh, even ten years later.
nerds—David Copperfield after his “make-over,” not before. But Tobey Maguire looks like an honest to goodness NERD.
too much like a costume, and entirely too immobile. The only time the mask works is when you can see Dafoe’s crazy eyes peering out. I get more evil vibes from the menacing stance of Osborne’s body on the glider than from the Green Goblin’s Halloweenish mask. 
canon and portray Aunt May and Uncle Ben exactly as they appear in the original comics. With that in mind, the actors are simply perfect in the roles. 
Now, I have only read a few Spider-Man comics so far, and I have not yet met Mary Jane or Gwen, so I can’t comment on which actress does a better job with their role (Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane, or Emma Stone as Gwen). However, I can say I love the hard-edged yet vulnerable demeanor of Mary Jane’s character. I also love her red, red hair!
his wrists and doesn’t have to mess around with gooey glue. First of all, of course, no glue could actually be THAT strong (no matter what Billy Mays told you). But more importantly…why not have spider webs shoot out of Peter’s wrists? The spider bite makes him super-strong, super-agile, able to scale buildings with his feet and hands. He has all the other attributes of a spider, why not webbing as well? 
But still, I’m confused. Who is it that has to avoid letting villains know his Achilles Heel? Spidey…or Peter? Obviously Spider-Man cannot have close personal relationships…but why can’t Peter? At the end of this movie, the only person who discovered Peter’s secret identity is now dead. So where’s the problem? What villain is going to come after those most beloved by nerdy Peter Parker? I mean, really…who cares?
