FANTASTIC FOUR 21
cover by Jack Kirby & Paul Reinman
TALES TO ASTONISH 50
cover by Jack Kirby & Sol Brodsky
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 7
cover by STEVE DITKO
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 99
cover by Jack Kirby & George Roussos
from the GCD: "Synopsis: Having been refused a job by Doctor Blake, Calvin Zabo becomes Mister Hyde and attacks the doctor. Meanwhile, Odin has agreed to let Thor marry Jane Foster if she proves worthy. After Mister Hyde learns that Blake survived ('saved' by Thor) it seems that Thor robs a bank, and the police issue a warrant for his arrest."
JACK KIRBY introduces another long-running villain for the burgeoning Marvel Universe. In this case, oddly enough, he would spend a good part of his criminal career teamed up with the previous THOR villain, The Cobra. This marks the first 2-parter in the THOR series.
DON HECK supplies full art, "ye editor" does dialogue (and takes credit and pay for the characters, the story, etc.-- what a slimeball).
"SURTUR THE FIRE DEMON"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: The Trolls ally with Surtur against Asgard, but Odin conquers them. Surtur travels to Earth to destroy it, but again Odin defeats him and traps him in the center of the planet. Their battle creates the moon and starts the rotation of the Earth."
JACK KIRBY supplies the 3rd "Tales Of Asgard" installment. While "ye editor" did the dialogue, there's some dispute as to who did the inks. No one's listed in the comic-- Bob Bailey at the GCD says it's George Roussos. But looking over my Masterworks reprint-- where, I admit, it's a bit hard to tell-- the lines reminds me a LOT of Kirby's early-50's stuff. So, Jack Kirby could have done the inks himself on this one. Anyone here care to field this one?
(2-4-2014)
Also for Dec'63: FANTASTIC FOUR #21 has "The Hate Monger!", which features not only the first modern-day appearance of C.I.A. Colonel NICK FURY (my single favorite Jack Kirby character), but also the first modern-day appearance of Adolph Hitler-- or one of his clones. TALES TO ASTONISH #50 has "The Human Top", the first 2-part GIANT-MAN & WASP story, which introduces one of the most annoying-as-hell villains they ever faced, with art by Kirby & Ditko. TALES OF SUSPENSE #48 has "The Mysterious Mr. Doll" (notice how "ye editor" keeps OVER-USING the word "mysterious" in story titles??), with Steve Ditko apparently using a new Jack Kirby villain (whose name was changed at the last minute due to objections from the Comics Code).
For Kirby, this was a relatively "off" month. But I'm sure he didn't notice-- he must have been knocking out stuff day after day, week after week, like crazy, in order to keep up with the INSANE schedule heaped upon him by his glory-mongering "editor".
If ever there was a single creator whose family deserved to be rewarded with riches for his efforts...
(2-4-2014)
STRANGE TALES 115
cover by Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko
Synopsis:
Reed tells Johnny the news that The Sandman has broken jail, and he thinks on the villain's earlier battle with Spider-Man. Johnny runs across him on the George Washington Bridge, but Sandman eludes him. Meanwhile, atop the Empire State Building, Spider-Man uses a loudspeaker to send out a message daring Sandman to fight him! Before long, Sandman shows up and knocks Spidey right off the building. But the Torch also shows up, and he & Sandman battle inside the building. Running thru a set of sprinklers, Sandman figures the Torch's flame will be put out, but suddenly realizes he's turning to mud-- his own weakness! After clobbering Sandman & turning him over to the police, Johnny departs, while Spidey thinks he doesn't like the Torch cutting in on "his" action.
Indexer notes:
2nd appearance of Sandman; previous app., in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #4 (September 1963); next app. in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 (September 1964). 1st time Sandman, originally Spider-Man's foe, fought the Torch. Sandman would eventually team-up with 2 other Torch villains, Wizard & Paste-Pot Pete, to form The Frightful Four, in FANTASTIC FOUR #36 (March 1965). Torch & Spidey last crossed paths in STRANGE TALES ANNUAL #2 (September 1963); would do so again the very next month in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8 (January 1964).
(8-17-2007)
"THE ORIGIN OF DR. STRANGE"
Synopsis:
At the The Ancient One's mountain home somewhere in the Himalayas (in India), Dr. Stephen Strange arrives seeking healing. The aged mystic discovers Strange was a surgeon who cared only for money, nothing for humanity-- until one day he was in a car crash, which damaged the nerves in his hands, destroying his career. Rather than become a consultant, he wasted his life & money seeking a cure, finally searching out possible occult means of restoring his talents. Because his motives are selfish, The Ancient One refuses to help, but suggests if Strange remain and study with him, he may find a cure on his own. Snowbound, he's left no choice but to remain. Before long, he discovers Baron Mordo, The Ancient One's disciple, is trying to kill his mentor thru mystic means, with the aid of some being named "Dormammu". Unable to warn The Ancient One because of a spell, he suddenly realizes the terrible dangers threatening all humanity-- and offers to become a disciple. Whereupon The Ancient One reveals he knew of Mordo's spell, and evil intent, and has been keeping a watch over him. Now, with Strange as his new disciple, there's hope that Mordo may one day be stopped. Strange begins years of study to become a Master of the Mystic Arts!
Indexer notes:
Episode #4. 1st mention of "Dormammu". "India" later changed to "Tibet". "Ye editor" says they "forgot" to tell Strange's origin before this. Judging by the evolution of the artwork, it appears this was at least the 9th episode drawn! All other episodes up to STRANGE TALES #120 (May 1964), Strange resembes Vincent Price; in this and later ones, he resembles Ronald Colman. Certain plot elements somewhat similar to those in the Frank Capra film, LOST HORIZON (1937). This is the only episode in Steve Ditko's run that actually feels like a Jack Kirby plot.
TALES OF SUSPENSE 48
cover by Jack Kirby & So Brodsky
(Continued in January 1964)
All Text (C) Henry R. Kujawa
Artwork (C) Marvel Comics
Restorations by Henry R. Kujawa
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