Professor H Reads Comics: July 1967

(Continued from June 1967)

ONE book reviewed so far this month!

STRANGE TALES 158
cover by Marie Severin & Herb Trimpe

"FINAL ENCOUNTER!"

Synopsis:
The battle between Fury & Strucker continues, with the "Satan Claw" electrifying the floor, until Fury manages to get it off Strucker's hand. But surrounded by HYDRA thugs, Fury dives into a pit of water, and after not emerging for 5 minutes is presumed dead. Big mistake-- as Fury had used an oxygen pellet to wait out the thugs, then raced ahead of Strucker. Minutes later, as HYDRA thugs enter the room, they discover 2 Struckers! One of them is revealed to be wearing a mask, panics, and winds up incinerated in an "Alpha-Particle Reactor Cube". The other orders Laura put aboard the Dyna-Soar, and he takes off from Hydra Island, despite the imminent detonation of The Death Spore bomb. Surprise-- it's Fury, who used Strucker's "face-changing gizmo" to disguise both himself and Strucker, to fool the guards. He also reveals that when he left the Heli-Carrier, he brought the bomb WITH him, even though at the time he didn't know what it was. It detonates, and thanks to the impenetrable dome, only Hydra Island and all within are wiped off the face of the Earth! Fury heads for NYC, as the rising sun seems to signal "new hope".

Indexer notes:
Part 9 of 9. Although HYDRA's leader and main base were destroyed, their branch organization, A.I.M., resurfaced the very next month against Captain America in TALES OF SUSPENSE #92 (August 1967). HYDRA itself would return in CAPTAIN AMERICA #110 (February 1969). Baron Strucker would appear to return, without explanation, in the guise of "The Hood" in CAPTAIN AMERICA #131 (November 1970); however, this was proved to be only a robot in CAPTAIN AMERICA #247 (July 1980). Baron Strucker remained dead for 24 years, until he was brought back to life in NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #20 (February 1991). HYDRA's formation by Baron Strucker would be revealed in flashback in CAPTAIN SAVAGE #2-4 (March-July 1968).
     (8-5-2007)

"THE SANDS OF DEATH"

Synopsis:
The Living Tribunal announces that because Strange has unleashed upon the cosmos a menace to "worlds beyond worlds", Earth must be destroyed. Before he can recite the "Incantation of Oblivion", he recounts the events leading up to his decision, agreed upon by his 3 faces of Equity, Revenge & Necessity. He explains that the equilibrium of mystic powers has been upset, the framework of infinity "rent asunder". Throughout the Earth, latent mystic powers have begun to grow, and due to Zom's evil nature, it is evil's side they favor, and before long, they will unite. Strange challenges the Tribunal to allow him to deal with the menace, as he has always waged battle with the forces of darkness. Proving himself by restoring his Cloak of Levitation (burned to a cinder by Zom), Strange is granted a reprieve-- but only for the time it takes the "Sands of Death" to run out of "The Glass Of Doom", which The Tribunal produces and upends, setting it down in the middle of Stonehenge. Strange departs to dispel the menace-- wondering if he'll be able to succeed in time...

Indexer notes:
Part 12 of 22; part 1 of the Living Tribunal sequence.
     (8-7-2007)

FANTASTIC FOUR 64
cover by Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott   (rejected)

cover by Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott

“THE SENTRY SINISTER!”

On an island in the South Pacific, a team of archeologists discover a vast, ancient, long-abandoned underground spaceport built by an alien race—The Kree. This was the 1st time this name was mentioned in a Marvel Comic (any earlier connections were established long after-the-fact). Trouble starts when it turns out a genetically-engineered “Sentry” is STILL alive and STILL looking over the island! His mission is to guard the spaceport, and destroy all invaders. By a wild coincidence, the F.F. arrive for a vacation, and almost get killed in the process. An epic battle ensues-- NOBODY drew epic battles like Kirby—and in the end, the heroes barely escape with their lives, while The Sentry awaits his own annihilation, the island about to be destroyed when its energy station, damaged in the fight by The Human Torch, explodes. In the finale, The Sentry stands, pondering the fact that he has not been contacted by The Kree for “untold ages”, and wonders if they’re long since dead—or not. It’s almost sad.
(11-6-2003 / originally appeared in an issue of "KLORDNY")

TALES TO ASTONISH 93
cover by Marie Severin & Frank Giacoia