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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 20, 2015 12:47:44 GMT -5
Zemu (a distant cousin of Xemu) Grade for historic importance: D. It appears that we will have a return of Zemu, et. al. in the 70s, but overall this is a nothing story. Actually, when Zemu returns in the '70s his name is spelled Xemu. Cei-U! I summon the identity crisis! |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 11, 2015 0:28:32 GMT -5
Tales to Astonish 38 (Ant Man story)  Plot by Stan Lee Script by Larry Lieber Pencils by Jack Kirby Inks by Dick Ayers Cover: Our hero is stuck to flypaper as the menacing figure of Egghead is reaching for him. Unfortunately Egghead looks like a bizarrely shaped gnome. Marginal cover. The Story: We open with a splash of Ant-man being menaced by Eggead who is sporting some weird electronic device and the bane of Ant-Man...a bellows. The story itself starts with Edgar G. Robinson complaining to other mobsters that Ant-Man has stopped all crime in the city. They decide to hire Egghead, a nuclear scientist fired on suspicion of selling secrets to the enemy. Must be a right-to-work state as there is no proof. Egghead...who has an egg shaped head decides he'll study the ants, find out how they communicate and turn them against him. And being a nuclear scientist he is able to do so. He talks to the ants...who understand a number of human concepts and appeals to their greed and vanity (see). He sets them up to lead Ant-Man into a trap and then they will be the master and he the slave. The crooks pretend to rob a mansion of its jewelry and Ant-Man is lured in by his ant friends. Egghead awaits with a bellows, which he uses to blow Ant-Man into a box lined with flypaper (this becomes somewhat important). But oddly, Ant-Man isn't trapped. He jumps out of the box. While Egghead flees "to think of another plan" the crooks try to catch our tiny hero. He uses a nylon rope to grab Edward G by the hand, and since he retains his normal strength he's able to twirl him around and off his feet. Now why he can do this, which an ordinary strength man couldn't do...how is he blown off his feet by a bellows? And our hero's little ant buddies capture the crooks in a giant piece of flypaper. As the police arrive Ant-Man explains that ants don't feel greed or vanity, but see themselves as being his friends and partners in fighting crime. Ants are very concerned about human crime. He was able to escape the flypaper box because he bathed in non-stick oil before he came into the battle. And he had springs in his shoes that allowed him to jump from the box...because his human strength wouldn't do it. In the end...a down and out Egghead can't believe that he was outsmarted by ants
Thoughts… The Ant-Man having his normal strength at his size would take care of almost every trap he stumbles into...yet here it only comes into play on something that is pretty well physically impossible. So....yeah. Where exactly does one find giant sheets of flypaper? We don't see Hank Pym at all this issue. There really has been zero character development of any kind in this strip. And no supporting characters This is just straight up superhero plot stories. The art here takes a big step backward. The cover is not good and Egghead in the splash looks like his head is on backward. There's not a lot ot like here. The Story. This story is...well it's there. It isn't actively bad...but it's not terribly interesting too. The Art: Is pretty awful. Kirby and Ayers have generally been at their best on this strip. But his is kind of an abomination. The toll: A broken pearl necklace. A jewelry showcase. Hank is pretty darn good about not causing collateral damage. Grade for historic importance: C Egghead is Pymm's main villain...at least until Ultron. But that doesn't mean much. He's pretty lame and isn't historically very important. Story – C- Art – D+
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Post by Cei-U! on May 11, 2015 7:15:42 GMT -5
This was the second Marvel comic I ever read (well, the first, technically, since I couldn't actually read FF #3). I agree that the story is kinda dumb but Egghead wasn't so lame a villain that the producers of the '66 Batman show weren't willing to steal him. And I don't think the art is "pretty awful." It looks like typical Kirby/Ayers art, albeit hampered somewhat by following Lieber's panel breakdowns, which at its worst is better than 90% of most comics of its era at heir best.
Cei-U!
I summon a side of hash browns!
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Post by Ish Kabbible on May 11, 2015 15:51:30 GMT -5
A what if scenario that could have been nightmarish:
Around 1961 or so, Stan Lee was contemplating quitting the comic book business when supposedly his wife convinced him to hang in a little longer but to try writing material he would enjoy himself-hence The Fantastic Four would have an upgrade in stereotypical comic characterization and bits that would be appreciated amongst adults. But what if Stan did quit before the FF started? Who would publisher Martin Goodman turn to in taking over the major writing burden for Marvel comics?
Undoubtedly it would have been Larry Leiber-he was already working for the company and was part of Goodman's extended family. Larry Leiber for gods sake, writing all Marvel comics. In this parallel universe, Slam Bradley would never have wanted to continue reading them (well maybe the Ditko issues).
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Post by MDG on May 11, 2015 19:29:27 GMT -5
A what if scenario that could have been nightmarish: Around 1961 or so, Stan Lee was contemplating quitting the comic book business when supposedly his wife convinced him to hang in a little longer but to try writing material he would enjoy himself-hence The Fantastic Four would have an upgrade in stereotypical comic characterization and bits that would be appreciated amongst adults. But what if Stan did quit before the FF started? Who would publisher Martin Goodman turn to in taking over the major writing burden for Marvel comics? Undoubtedly it would have been Larry Leiber-he was already working for the company and was part of Goodman's extended family. Larry Leiber for gods sake, writing all Marvel comics. In this parallel universe, Slam Bradley would never have wanted to continue reading them (well maybe the Ditko issues). Or it might've been Joe Simon and/ or Jack Kirby--they were known quantities to Goodman and had fairly good track records in the business. Or. He might've tried to sell the business to DC, figuring they bought out Fawcett and Quality when they went out of business. Unfortunately, Marvel didn't have any valuable characters except Captain America, who hadn't been published in six r seven years. I think he most likely would've closed up shop. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 11, 2015 21:25:12 GMT -5
A what if scenario that could have been nightmarish: Around 1961 or so, Stan Lee was contemplating quitting the comic book business when supposedly his wife convinced him to hang in a little longer but to try writing material he would enjoy himself-hence The Fantastic Four would have an upgrade in stereotypical comic characterization and bits that would be appreciated amongst adults. But what if Stan did quit before the FF started? Who would publisher Martin Goodman turn to in taking over the major writing burden for Marvel comics? Undoubtedly it would have been Larry Leiber-he was already working for the company and was part of Goodman's extended family. Larry Leiber for gods sake, writing all Marvel comics. In this parallel universe, Slam Bradley would never have wanted to continue reading them (well maybe the Ditko issues). Or it might've been Joe Simon and/ or Jack Kirby--they were known quantities to Goodman and had fairly good track records in the business. Or. He might've tried to sell the business to DC, figuring they bought out Fawcett and Quality when they went out of business. Unfortunately, Marvel didn't have any valuable characters except Captain America, who hadn't been published in six r seven years. I think he most likely would've closed up shop. I don't think there's any reason to believe he would have closed shop. If he'd been going to do that he'd have done it when he had to go begging to DC for a distribution deal and was limited to 8 books a month. Stan or no Stan that was the time to close up shop. Goodman would have found another editor somewhere. |
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Post by Reptisaurus! on May 12, 2015 9:34:46 GMT -5
A what if scenario that could have been nightmarish: Around 1961 or so, Stan Lee was contemplating quitting the comic book business when supposedly his wife convinced him to hang in a little longer but to try writing material he would enjoy himself-hence The Fantastic Four would have an upgrade in stereotypical comic characterization and bits that would be appreciated amongst adults. But what if Stan did quit before the FF started? Who would publisher Martin Goodman turn to in taking over the major writing burden for Marvel comics? Undoubtedly it would have been Larry Leiber-he was already working for the company and was part of Goodman's extended family. Larry Leiber for gods sake, writing all Marvel comics. In this parallel universe, Slam Bradley would never have wanted to continue reading them (well maybe the Ditko issues). I have a feeling the whole "superhero" thing would never have got off the ground - I never got any sense that Larry cared at all about capes 'n tights. Marvel would probably have spun off a bunch more Millie the Model titles, westerns, and horror books. I thought his Atlas books were generally pretty strong if inconsistent. And short lived. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 15, 2016 22:29:14 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #9 “The End of the Fantastic Four”  Written by Stan Lee Pencils by Jack Kirby Inks by Dick Ayers Cover: Again this is an odd cover. Our heroes are leaving a boarded up broken windowed Baxter Building whlle a crowd throw bricks at them. We know that the Sub-Mariner is going to be involved in the shenanigans. Apparently in the M.U. you are a pariah, worthy of stoning if you can't pay your bills and are evicted. Who knew? The Story: Sub-Mariner is watching his undersea TV (how do the over the air waves get under the sea?) when a special report comes on telling us the F.F. are bankrupt. This apparently give him the opportunity he's been looking for. Apparently the gang is bankrupt because Reed invested and lost all their money in the stock market. While he may be a genius, apparently he isn't an economic genius. As the creditor and repo men hover about, Ben has a tantrum that results in multiple misdemeanors and at least one felony. Ben ends up at Alicia's apartment where she presents him with a "white knight" doll. Because he's a white knight who acts like a petulant criminal. Meanwhile at the Baxter Building a letter comes from S. M. Studios (hmmmm) offering the gang a million dollars to make a movie. Reed, who just a few pages back didn't want the gang to "rent themselves out to a freak show" is all fine with them renting themselves out for an exploitation movie. But they're so broke they have to hitch-hike to Hollywood. Upon arrival at S.M Studios we get a number of caricatures of Hollywood types before we find out that The Sub-Mariner is the head of the studio funding it with money that he finds in sunken ships. While they suspect a trap, they have to take the money...and while the boys are spending it on cars and clothes, Sue is being wined and dined by Subby. As the filming begins, the group is separated and it becomes clear that it is a trap. Reed has to take on a huge cyclops on a deserted island. Johnny is dropped into the midst of some VERY stereotypical "natives" that have a "potion" that makes them immune to fire. He's able to escape and ignites a volcano, causing untold ecological damage. Subby decides to take on Ben mano-a-mano...on the beach. After getting kicked around for a page and a half, Ben figures out that maybe he should get Subby away from the water. This apparently makes him a Coward in the eyes of Subby...who seems to think he should get to use the water to his advantage. Luckily for him Ben is hit by a lightning bolt and turned from the Thing into normal Ben Grimm who Subby is able to knock out. Subby returns to S.M. Productions to brag to Sue about defeating the boys and claim her as his bride. She declines, going inviso and he suddenly has all the powers of the creatures of the sea, including electric eel powers and "radar senses" he's never had before that allow him to see her when she's inviso...even though he's never been able to do that before. But just as he's caught her the boys show up and start to wallop him. Sue intervenes, saying it's three against one and they've never ganged up on anyone before...except the Mole Man...and Mastermind....and Dr. Doom...and Sub-Mariner...and well everyone. Subby agrees to release the movie, pay the team...and walks off into the sunset...er...ocean. Thoughts…  The debt collectors are perplexing. Someone claims that the FF owe him rent. But Reed later says they'll have to sell the Baxter Building. So I dunno what they were renting. I have no idea why Reed would have someone else do electrical work on the Fantasti-car. They're going to sell the Pogo Plane...seems like maybe a national security issue there. Ben commits at least four counts of battery and a felony injury to property in his tantrum. He's a super-villain. The idea of Subby getting money from sunken ships is pretty cool.  Another small move from monster Thing to sympathetic Thing. But the tantrums are still felonious. The FF hitch-hiking is cute. Johnny's powers still fluctuate in ability and strength. He can now pave roads with his flame and make multiple duplicates of himself...but he runs out of flame after a short time of flying around the native village. Again...Sue does NOTHING. Well she stops the fight against Subby for a completely nonsensical reason. Sub-Mariner again pulls powers out of his rear whenever they become necessary. He's never been able to see Sue before when she's invisible...but now he can. You'd think since lighting can apparently turn The Thing back into Ben that Reed might key into that in his experiments. I would think that if the "natives" have a potion that makes them immune to fire that maybe they might use that to make a little money. The plot…This is actually a pretty decent story. No it doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's not actively bad. The art...Again this is the decent Kirby/Ayers as opposed to the actively bad Kirby/Ayers. The toll: Ben destroys a taxi cab. Johnny triggers a volcano leading to who knows how much destruction. Grade for historic importance: B+. There's some marginally important characterization stuff here in the Alicia/Thing relationship and the Sue/Subby relationship. But overall...nothing super important. On the other hand there is a full-on credits box..and that is important. Story – C+ For all that was wrong with it...it was a pretty enjoyable read. Art – B
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 16, 2016 0:03:34 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery #87 (Thor story)  Plot by Stan Lee Script by Larry Lieber Pencils by Jack Kirby Inks by Dick Ayers Cover: Another decent cover. I have no idea what electronically treated chains are supposed to be or why Thor can't break them, but there's a palpable sense of menace here with the tied-up dudes in the background, a chained Thor and a whole passel of guns. The Story: Scientists are disappearing, apparently defecting to the Commies and leaving notes. Suspecting foul play, Don Blake decides to volunteer as bait. After the obligatory scene where he's reminded how lame he is by Jane Foster and he whines internally about it, he sets up the plan and becomes bait. The commies come knocking quickly and use hypno gas to capture Blake. He's transported to a Commie dungeon with the other ragged missing scientists (via a plane apparently parked in a residential neighborhood). As soon as Blake gets there the scientists are separated so that he can turn to Thor. Thor spends some time showing various powers of Mjolnir...for reasons. Instead of using it to break down a wall he makes “shock waves” by twirling it. He falls in a well and whips up a sharknado. And then has to surrender and be put in “electronically treated” chains so the Commies don't blow up the whole place killing everyone. Luckily he can escape when he changes back to Blake and becomes small and lame. Blake rescues the scientists, beats the Commies, destroys their HQ...and yet somehow he and his “friend” Colonel Harrison didn't come up with a way for them to be evaced from the Commie country. Joy of joys we get to end with more Don Blake/Jane Foster stupidity. Thoughts… And along with FF 9 we get a credit box. And the arrival of Artie Simak...at least as a credited creator. Commies Commies everywhere. If my numbers are still correct they have been the menace in a bit over one in five issues of the burgeoning MU. Deus ex Mjolnir again and again. It can now whip up shock waves by spinning it, heat sparks when it's rubbed (kinky) and sharknados.  .jpg) It's becoming clearer that Thor and Blake are sharing a consciousness. So I guess that's something. It appears that all scientists in the MU work alone in home labs. No government agencies, college campuses or corporate science in the MU. Interestingly, Thor almost doesn't appear in the first five pages of the story and is in probably less than half the panels. But this is really about a four to five page story stretched out to ten, so that may not be so surprising. After using magnets or radiation for every form of magic, now that magnets would make sense we get electronically treated chains. No really...the Don Blake Jane Foster thing is really damn old already. The Story. The plot isn't horrible. I can see Communist nations actually wanting to kidnap scientists, and vice versa. But beyond that germ of a plot there isn't much good happening here. The Art: Another decent outing. Still nothing terribly exciting. But passable. The toll: Commie HQ. Grade for historic importance: D Honestly I can't think of anythng important in this story. Story – C + It was okay. For all its hokeyness there was nothing wrong with it. Art – C +
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Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 16, 2016 3:21:01 GMT -5
I'm glad you fired this thread back up, Sam. Just hold in there till around 1964. By 1965, when things really start getting good, it'll all be worth it. Believe me, I know this era can be a slog.  |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Sept 16, 2016 7:00:30 GMT -5
Glad you're back on this, Slam! For all it's silliness, FF #9 is one of my favorites.. so silver age-y! The electronically treated chains drove me nuts, too. Stan really needed a 10th grader who was a fan and actually taking science in high school to proof him on this stuff.
I did always wonder why Thor cared about Communists.. Asgard seems pretty Socialist, with a Dictator for a leader.
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Post by Cei-U! on Sept 16, 2016 7:42:27 GMT -5
Journey #87 was the third Marvel comic I read as a kid and my first exposure to Thor. At the time I thought Ant-Man was way cooler.
Cei-U!
I summon one of my few vivid memories of 1962!
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Post by Nowhere Man on Sept 16, 2016 7:49:21 GMT -5
Glad you're back on this, Slam! For all it's silliness, FF #9 is one of my favorites.. so silver age-y! The electronically treated chains drove me nuts, too. Stan really needed a 10th grader who was a fan and actually taking science in high school to proof him on this stuff. I did always wonder why Thor cared about Communists.. Asgard seems pretty Socialist, with a Dictator for a leader. Plus you have Odin's legendary a-hole behavior and temper tantrums. I can't wait to get to that aspect of Silver Age Thor. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2016 19:58:17 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #9 “The End of the Fantastic Four” I agree that this issue is an enjoyable read Slam_Bradley ... and you summon it up quite well.
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Post by Prince Hal on Sept 16, 2016 23:29:50 GMT -5
That panel of Thor digging the tunnel might as well be taken from any random Superman issue in the same era. Whatever super-power you happened to need, like super-digging, Superman could command, and Thor was no diffferent there for a while. Well, it's Super girl, but the ability to super-dig runs in the El family.  |
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