Saturday, April 12, 2014

January 1964

(Continued from December 1963)

FANTASTIC FOUR  22
cover by Jack Kirby & Dick Ayers
"THE RETURN OF THE MOLE MAN!"

One of the best sequels from this period, and the source of the very 1st F.F. cartoon to air from Hanna-Barbera & Alex TothJACK KIRBY supplies story & art.  Dialogue by "ye editor", inks by Dick Ayers-- tragically, his LAST on the series.
     (2-5-2014)


TALES TO ASTONISH  51
cover by Jack Kirby & George Roussos
"SHOWDOWN WITH THE HUMAN TOP"

Jack Kirby's last of 3 episodes introducing GIANT-MAN, and featuring a real grudge match, as he tackles the single most annoying bad guy in his entire run; dialogue by "ye editor", inks by Ayers.
     (2-5-2014)


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN  8
cover by STEVE DITKO
This issue features-- in the back!!-- "SPIDER-MAN TACKLES THE TORCH!"
Story & art by JACK KIRBY!!!  Dialogue by "ye editor", inks by Steve Ditko.  In a sequel to ASM #1, Spidey shows up at a garden party, gets on Johnny Storm's nerves, then leaves a "love-note" to Sue Storm.  Heh.
     (2-5-2014)


JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY  100
cover by Jack Kirby & Sol Brodsky
"THE MASTER PLAN OF MR. HYDE!"

from the GCD: "Synopsis: Mister Hyde kidnaps Don Blake and Jane Foster and then tries to steal a submarine using Jane as a hostage. Jane stops Thor from catching Hyde because she thinks that Don is still in danger. The police realize that Hyde framed Thor for the bank robbery, but Jane's actions convince Odin that she is unworthy of immortality."

The conclusion of the first 2-parter in this series, and the final of the 3 issues with DON HECK doing full art.  As always, JACK KIRBY supplied the story, "ye editor" the dialogue (while taking FULL CREDIT & PAY for Kirby's writing), and no doubt Stan Goldberg did the coloring (uncredited AS ALWAYS).

A series-within-a-series begins in "Tales Of Asgard": "The Boyhood Of Thor". This time out it's "THE STORM GIANTS".

from the GCD: "Synopsis: Thor and Loki (as children) defeat three Storm Giants and return the Golden Apples of Iduna."

JACK KIRBY continues to supply story & art!  "Ye editor" does dialogue (AND-- NOTHING ELSE!!!) while Paul Reinman supplies inks.
    (2-5-2014)


Meanwhile...
SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #5 has "At The Mercy Of Baron Strucker", who would become Fury's long-running nemesis in the series, and, as revealed in 1967, be a MUCH bigger part of the modern-day Marvel Universe than anyone (other than Jack Kirby or Jim Steranko) might have dreamed of.
     (2-5-2014)


STRANGE TALES  116
cover by Jack Kirby & Paul Reinman
"IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE PUPPET MASTER"

From Dick Ayers, "ye editor" & George Roussos (yes, the dreaded "George Bell" has arrived).  Although Kirby did the cover, and it's a good bet Ayers WROTE the story, it's hard to say who came up with the story idea-- Ayers, or Kirby.  (Or maybe the "editor" just said, "Hey, how about bringing back Howdy Doody this month?"  Remember, kids-- that's NOT a "plot".)
     (2-5-2014)

"IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE PUPPET MASTER!"

Synopsis:
We learn in flashback how the Puppet Master escaped death at the tentacles of a giant octopus.  He then takes control of Johnny, and sends him after Alicia romantically, in order to set him and Ben against each other.  8-page fight ensues!

Indexer notes:
Previous appearance of Puppet Master in FANTASTIC FOUR #14 (May 1963).  Next app. in FANTASTIC FOUR #28 (July 1964).  Spider-Man tackles The Torch this month in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8 (January 1964).

"RETURN TO THE NIGHTMARE WORLD!"

Synopsis:
Nightmare has discovered the ability to capture humans and bring them to his world while they sleep for study.  The police ask Strange's help, as a "last resort", to discover the cause behind a rash of people unable to awaken.  Strange tracks the cause down to the Nightmare World, and has a rematch with his old foe.

Indexer notes:
Episode #52nd appearance of Nightmare.
     (2007)


TALES OF SUSPENSE  49
cover by Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko
"THE NEW IRON MAN MEETS THE ANGEL!"

Story & art by STEVE DITKO (his final of 3 episodes re-vamping IRON MAN the same way Kirby revamped ANT-MAN), dialogue by "ye editor", inks by Paul Reinman (who was really getting around at this point).  Any Kirby contribution, apart from the cover?  Hard to tell.  But if I had to lay odds on anyone giving ideas to Ditko, I'd bet on Kirby more than the "editor" who took credit and pay for it.
     (2-5-2014)


X-MEN  3
cover by Jack Kirby & Sol Brodsky
Review  (coming soon)


THE AVENGERS  3
cover by Jack Kirby & Paul Reinman
"SUB-MARINER!"

This is the BIG one.  The company-wide crossover kicks into HIGH GEAR, as Subby, still pissed over having to flee Manhattan in FF ANNUAL #1, seeks out THE HULK, who's already angry at his short-time team-mates, and instigates a free-for-all.  JACK KIRBY does story & art, "ye editor" does dialogue, Reinman does inks.  WOW!!!  What a month.
    (2-5-2014)

(Continued in February 1964)

All Text (C) Henry R. Kujawa
Artwork (C) Marvel Comics
Restorations by Henry R. Kujawa

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