STRANGE TALES 126
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
THE HUMAN TORCH AND THE EVER-LOVIN' THING tackle the same miserable excuse for recidivists that the FF fought in FF #28 (Jul'64) only 4 months earlier-- The Puppet Master & The Mad Thinker. You know, SOME villains really can be described as "over-used", and these 2 annoyng A**H***s fit the bill. DICK AYERS does story & art, ye "editor" does dialogue, and Paul Reinman is still hanging around doing inks.
And, although it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Jack Kirby (so sue me), I can't let this issue be mentioned without mentioning that in the back is one of the GREATEST episodes in the entire history of the DR. STRANGE series-- "THE DOMAIN OF THE DREAD DORMAMMU!" Creator, writer & illustrator STEVE DITKO kicks the whole damn thing up several notches with this one, while his "editor" does dialogue that, for once, is utterly beyond reproach. (Yes-- I genuinely believe he did possibly the BEST work of his career on this series, by actually "playing it straight" for once.)
(2-15-2014)
"PAWNS OF THE DEADLY DUO!"
Synopsis:
The Mad Thinker once again wants to tackle the F.F., though The Puppet Master at first wants nothing to do with it. Under mind-control, Ben fights Johnny while in mid-flight. However, the shock of seeing Johnny falling to his death causes The Thing to change back to Ben Grimm, freeing him from control. He rescues Johnny, then gets help from Reed. A specially-designed helmet worn by Ben causes psychic feedback. Reed hopes The Puppet Master, knowing they have a defense against him, will never strike at them again.
Indexer notes:
Mad Thinker & Puppet Master last seen in FANTASTIC FOUR #28 (July 1964). Mad Thinker's next app. in STRANGE TALES #131 (April 1965); Puppet Master's next app. in STRANGE TALES #133 (June 1965).
(8-18-2007)
"THE DOMAIN OF THE DREAD DORMAMMU!"
Synopsis:
Returning home after having beaten Mordo, Strange is suddenly whisked bodily to the side of The Ancient One. The Dread Dormammu-- whose name has been spoken in the past-- threatens to leave his dimension and come to Earth-- which must never be! Strange's mentor is now too old to face him, so Strange travels to his domain. He faces one danger after another, each one causing Dormammu's rage to build. All the while, a mysterious girl watches Strange's progress, finally revealing herself in an attempt to warn him back to where he came from. But Strange says he must face the Dread One, and she wonders why she risked his wrath to warn the stranger. Strange confronts Dormammu, and warns him not to invade Earth. But Dormammu will not speak with "underlings", and demands The Ancient One face him. Strange tells Dormammu he cannot attack his mentor while he lives-- and Dormammu accepts the challenge!
Indexer notes:
Episode #15. Part 1 of 2. 1st continued story in the series, the culmination of things that have been building almost from the beginning. 1st appearance of Dormammu & Clea (who eventually became Dr. Strange's romantic lead).
(8-18-2007)
FANTASTIC FOUR 32
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
The FF tackle a bizarre "mystery" villain who turns out to be connected to some of their oldest enemies. JACK KIRBY does story & art, ye "editor" does dialogue, and the incredible CHIC STONE continues on inks. WOW!
(2-15-2014)
TALES TO ASTONISH 61
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
This is a rather controversial episode in the career of GIANT-MAN & THE WASP, not for what happens in the story, but behind the scenes. It seems after 3 issues of DAREDEVIL, Joe Orlando was given a shot at doing this series. I imagine it must have been because DICK AYERS was needed elsewhere. Well, the "editor" caused Orlando to have to RE-WRITE (and therefore, RE-DRAW) so many pages, he WALKED off the book-- and OUT of the company-- NEVER to return!! I guess that's a real "UP YOURS!!!" moment, huh?
Since something had to get to the printers, Steve Ditko was roped in to finish the story, and you can tell. So, one might ask, WHO wrote this thing? I'd say, it was an amalgamation of Joe Orlando, Steve Ditko, and the "editor", though it's just as like HE only really supplied dialogue. George Roussos inks the whole shebang.
"CAPTURED AT LAST!"
This introduced a dangerous new foe for THE HULK, in the form of Army Major Glenn Talbot! I NEVER noticed until I read this particular episode the 2nd (or 3rd) time, but in his debut, he was a DEAD RINGER for actor Lee Van Cleef!! (No wonder he was such a RAT!) STEVE DITKO supplies story & art, while ye "editor" does dialogue & George Roussos does inks.
(2-15-2014)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 18
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY 110
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
I don't believe this... NO sypnopsis at the GCD. Oh well. Only 4 MONTHS after THOR beat the crap out of the newly-formed team of The Cobra and Mr. Hyde, those two sick bastards have the NERVE to try AGAIN!!! This time, they lure Thor to a house loaded to the gills with death-traps. And somehow (I admit, I forget the details), Jane Foster's life is in terrible peril. She'll DIE if Thor doesn't get his hands on an antidote to some kind of poison... only, he's gotta go thru these 2 murderous animals. What a predicament!
JACK KIRBY does story & art on yet ANOTHER 2-parter, while his "editor" does dialogue and the fabulous CHIC STONE continues on inks. WOW.
"THE DEFEAT OF ODIN!"
from the GCD: "Synopsis: Was Odin is defeated by an army of men, or did he stage the battle to teach a lesson?"
JACK KIRBY supplies story & art on the latest installment of "Tales Of Asgard", while his "editor" does dialogue, and Vince Coletta is already up to his 5th episode on inks!
(2-15-2014)
TALES OF SUSPENSE 59
cover by Jack Kirby & Dick Ayers
DON HECK has IRON MAN tackle the former GIANT-MAN & WASP and AVENGERS baddie (for no apparent reason). Heck supplies story & full art (perhaps from an idea from Jack Kirby-- WHO ELSE?). Ye "editor" does dialogue, while stealing credit & pay for the story AS ALWAYS.
"CAPTAIN AMERICA!"
CAP is awarded his own solo series for the first time since the early 1950's (or late 40's, or early 40's, depending on your take on "continuity"-- heehee). JACK KIRBY completely lets loose with a non-stop action romp without letting any pesky nonsense like "angst" get in the way. While Cap house-sits Avengers Mansion, some mercenaries invade, hope to rob the place, before he single-handedly POLISHES them all off. After, he advises them, "It's a lucky thing the other Avengers weren't here when you broke in-- some of them are REAL tough!" Kirby does story & art, while ye "editor" does dialogue & the stupendous CHIC STONE does inks. This one's a BLAST!!!
(2-15-2014)
"CAPTAIN AMERICA"
Synopsis:
While Cap lounges around Avengers Mansion, thinking about Bucky and his place in the world, a gang of costumed thugs break in intent on stealing any secrets or weapons Stark may have lying about the place, to sell for profit. They figure Cap's "just an acrobat". They figured WRONG. He mops up the place with them single-handed, then comments how lucky they were his partners weren't around-- "They’re really tough!"
Indexer notes:
1st new solo story since 1954. Cap's own series has continued non-stop to this day!
(2007)
X-MEN 8
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
THE AVENGERS 10
cover by Jack Kirby & Chic Stone
Well, NO, not really... The truth is, between the story title & the HIGHLY-MISLEADING cover, this feels like one of those infamous "DC" covers where someone came up with a gimmick idea for a cover, and then tossed it into the hands of the creative team to try and make some kind of sense out of it. Since JACK KIRBY had been supplying DON HECK villains and story ideas for months on end anyway on IRON MAN, why not do it here as well?
DON HECK does story & art, introducing another new Kirby baddie, "Immortus", who would go on to become a long-running character, although in his case, it would take until the 70's before he made his first return appearance. The "editor" does dialogue, and Dick Ayers does inks. Although only his 2nd issue, Heck is already improving drastically-- though I have to say, I dearly WISH someone slicker would have been doing the inks. (Ayers, who never liked inking anyone but himself, would have preferred someone else did it as well.)
(2-15-2014)
SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING WHATAMACALLITS #12
"When A Howler Turns Traitor!"
Behind a GLORIOUS Jack Kirby-Chic Stone cover, DICK AYERS supplies story & art, while ye "editor" does dialogue & George "inky" Roussos does what he does (oh, take a guess).
(2-15-2014)
(Continued in December 1964)
All Text (C) Henry R. Kujawa
Artwork (C) Marvel Comics
Restorations by Henry R. Kujawa
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