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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 8, 2014 11:20:27 GMT -5
Pages 1-3 are inked by Joe Sinnott but the rest is distinctly Ayers. Cei-U! I summon the multiple hands! I'm not going to argue with you. Nor was I really arguing with the GCD. I'll just say that from what I recall, this is probably the best Kirby/Ayers ever looked. But it's a team I find to be generally okay at best and frequently pretty awful. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 12, 2014 13:11:43 GMT -5
I've read both Journey Into Mystery 84 and Incredible Hulk 3...but life and particularly Work are kicking my butt. But the comics cover dated September '62 are kind of important. So I"m thinking I'll start doing a monthly wrap-up.
Why is September '62 important? Because with Ant-Man appearing on the cover of Tales to Astonish, Marvel now had 1/3 of its 12 books published that month being, at nominally, super-hero comics. That's a big commitment to the genre that Marvel had abandoned some time before. They also committed to Fantastic Four being published monthly. Given the distribution limits that Marvel had at the time that was a huge commitment to the title and the genre.
1/3 of the books for Sept. '62 are romance books. That does include a Millie the Model Annual. That's a significant percentage. And those are pure romance. This is before Millie changed format and became a Betty & Veronica clone.
2 westerns and 2 Marvel Monster books round out the 12. Marvel still isn't a super-hero centric publisher...but the signs are there.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 12, 2014 21:58:17 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery #84 (Thor story)
Plot by Stan Lee
Script by Larry Lieber
Pencils by Jack Kirby
Inks by Dick Ayers
Cover:
Dr. Don Blake is in front of a firing squad and Thor can't save him because it would reveal his identity. Which is kind of a moot point if you're dead. There is a LOT of copy on this cover. Along with a cut-rate Che Guevara.
The Story:
This one opens with an actual splash page, the first one I've seen so far. It's not great...but it's there. We then get a one-page recap of Thor's origin, because it was all the way last issue. We then finally think about seeing the story start with Dr. Don Blake who has returned to the states. We also meet Nurse Jane Foster. Blake loves Foster, but he can't show it because he's lame. He's definitely lame, and I'm not talking about his leg. Of course Nurse Foster could love him if only he'd throw her over his shoulder and carry her off like a cavewoman. Or maybe show some interest.
Meanwhile there is a revolution going on in San Diablo between a ruthless pro-Communist dictator and democratic factions. The Commie leader is known as “The Executioner” because of his use of a firing squad for his enemies. He also looks like Che Guevara. As a result a number of doctors determine to go to San Diablo because disease is rampant. Among these doctors is lame-o Don Blake. The doctors travel to San Diablo on a ship, which is attacked on its way to San Diablo by jets with orders from The Executioner to sink the ship. He doesn’t want the peasants cured because he's a nasty Commie. Blake turns in to Thor and takes out the planes. He then changes from Thor back to Blake in the water, because he can't do it in the same place he changed from Blake to Thor, for some reason. So they have to fish Blake's lame butt out of the ocean.
The doctors land and are attacked by sniper fire. You'd think the attack on the ship would have made them get the hint they aren't wanted. Blake whips up a Thor-storm to cause the snipers to “slip down the mountain in mud.” Yeah...it's as silly as it sounds. As the American doctors continue inland they're met by The Executioner's tanks. They start to think maybe he's out to get them. Thor reappears and takes out at least three tanks. But...oh noes! Jane Hostage, I mean Foster, is taken hostage. And Thor with all his strength and powers dares not attempt to take her back from three dudes. Instead he decides to change to Blake and demand her release from the blood-thirsty Commie who has been trying to kill the Doctors. Brilliant plan.
But Che the Executioner is having none of this. He orders Blake's execution...but he'll stop it if Jane Foster marries him. Because she's just that damn desirable. Blake calls him out to fight mano-a-mano and The Executioner agrees. But it's all a ruse to get his hands back on his Thor-stick. Blake changes to Thor (so the cover lies to us) and proceeds to defeat Che's army with the help of a tent (no really) lighting bolts that cause a volcano to erupt (no really) and a bit of help from the rebel army (but they're good rebels). The Executioner is executed by his troops as he tries to take off with the treasury. And the American doctors cure everyone in San Diablo of every ailment they have. Jane Foster can't figure out where Blake went during the fighting...because she watched him turn in to Thor (but there was lightning. Blake claims he was hiding and Jane wishes he were “brave and adventurous like Thor.”
Thoughts…
The “she won't love me because I'm lame thing drives me nuts. I hated it when it was Iron Man and Pepper Potts and I hate it here. It's stupid and insulting to both parties. Almost as annoying is the “I'll save him if you marry me” thing. I'm the leader of a country. I can have any woman I want. But I GOTTA have this gringo who just showed up. Marvel is dealing in cliches here that were already old at the time.
And frankly, why would Blake want Foster anyway. She's dull as dishwater. And she wants him to be “brave and adventurous like Thor.” Ummm...the guy came single-handedly and demanded your release. Then he was going to fight a tough guy even though he's lame. Jane, you ignorant slut, what else do you want him to do. Sorry he doesn't have flowing golden locks and a funky hat.
Oh...and Jane Foster is Jane Nelson in this story.
The Story. Honestly, this is awful. Easily the worst story I've read so far for these reviews. There is simply nothing interesting going on here at all. A pedestrian story filled with stupid cliches. Even the superheroics aren't very super.
The Art: On the other hand, the art isn't bad. Nothing stands out as spectacular, but it's well above average. Especially for Kirby/Ayers.
The toll: Three jets. One head of the Air Force, executed because the jets were lost. Unknown damage from a severe rain and thunder storm that caused mudslides. At least three tanks. One enormous supply tent. Untold damage from making a volcano explode. One Che Guevara look-alike.
Grade for historic importance: C- First Jane Foster (but who cares)
Story - D
Art – B-
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 12, 2014 23:53:29 GMT -5
Life is short Slam.And here you are,planning to subject yourself to a long run of Larry Leiber scripts.Good luck,buddy
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Jun 14, 2014 13:08:23 GMT -5
Man, I really think the first year and a half-or-so of Thor is the worst of Silver Age Marvel. Agreed with everything you said! Instead of cool villains like the Fantastic Four and Spider-man got, they were trying to make Thor the "realistic" book - but still aimed at very young readers - and it just. didn't. Work.
And screw those winking last panels. "Brave and adventurous like Thor!" Like the freaking lame doctor DIDN'T just volunteer to head off for a hostile foreign power! Man, these stories just bug me.
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Post by Action Ace on Jun 14, 2014 13:11:49 GMT -5
Life is short Slam.And here you are,planning to subject yourself to a long run of Larry Leiber scripts.Good luck,buddy Ish, the man knew what he was getting into when he bought the comics. I say let him crash... er...read!  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 14, 2014 16:28:50 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #6 “Captives of the Deadly Duo” We open with a look at the way the normal folk of the not-quite-yet Marvel Universe look at the Marvels among them. The look at The Meanwhile, Johnny is looking in a bookcase and finds an 8x10 glossy of Subby. Sue is upset becomes it belongs to her. Johnny burns it and Reed feels Sue “them” an explanation. Not him...her fiancee...but them the team. Just to pick a nit- I wasn't aware that Sue And Reed were engaged until Much later. I want to say issue #35...Last page. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Jun 14, 2014 16:57:08 GMT -5
And you'd be correct. He bought the ring in #27 and proposed in #35.
Cei-U!
I got it rawcheer in my notes!
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 14, 2014 18:16:03 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #6 “Captives of the Deadly Duo” We open with a look at the way the normal folk of the not-quite-yet Marvel Universe look at the Marvels among them. The look at The Meanwhile, Johnny is looking in a bookcase and finds an 8x10 glossy of Subby. Sue is upset becomes it belongs to her. Johnny burns it and Reed feels Sue “them” an explanation. Not him...her fiancee...but them the team. Just to pick a nit- I wasn't aware that Sue And Reed were engaged until Much later. I want to say issue #35...Last page. Yeah...You're right. I jumped the gun. Still it was pretty clear they were a item. And yet he doesn't seem to care that Namor is beating his time. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 14, 2014 23:29:30 GMT -5
Just to pick a nit- I wasn't aware that Sue And Reed were engaged until Much later. I want to say issue #35...Last page. Yeah...You're right. I jumped the gun. Still it was pretty clear they were a item. And yet he doesn't seem to care that Namor is beating his time. I always viewed it as Reed being insecure and awkward around women tat prevented him from "Claiming " Sue. Namor had confidence, which we all know, women are attracted to. |
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Post by tolworthy on Jun 15, 2014 1:50:55 GMT -5
To be fair to Slam, Sue calls herself Reed's fiancee in issue 1, on the way to the spaceport. As far as Sue was concerned they were engaged, but Reed didn't get round to setting a date until issue 35, as Cei-U said. Probably Reed's dithering is part of what made Namor so attractive.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 15, 2014 9:27:53 GMT -5
Hey Slam, Although you haven't reached the latter issues of the silver age Thor run, It's interesting how Lee and Kirby hadn't fully committed to all of the Thor back story. I'm reading the first Appearance of Loki in JIM #85 and the story doesn't refer to the sibling relationship at all. Neither does Odin call him Thor's brother at the end of the story.  |
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Post by Icctrombone on Jun 15, 2014 9:31:17 GMT -5
To be fair to Slam, Sue calls herself Reed's fiancee in issue 1, on the way to the spaceport. As far as Sue was concerned they were engaged, but Reed didn't get round to setting a date until issue 35, as Cei-U said. Probably Reed's dithering is part of what made Namor so attractive. lol, Sue might have said that but once Namor came along, she was entertaining switching up. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 15, 2014 12:31:35 GMT -5
To be fair to Slam, Sue calls herself Reed's fiancee in issue 1, on the way to the spaceport. As far as Sue was concerned they were engaged, but Reed didn't get round to setting a date until issue 35, as Cei-U said. Probably Reed's dithering is part of what made Namor so attractive. Thanks for the catch. I was sure I didn't pull it out of thin air. Much appreciated. |
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Post by benday-dot on Jun 15, 2014 20:51:59 GMT -5
Man, I really think the first year and a half-or-so of Thor is the worst of Silver Age Marvel. Agreed with everything you said! Instead of cool villains like the Fantastic Four and Spider-man got, they were trying to make Thor the "realistic" book - but still aimed at very young readers - and it just. didn't. Work. And screw those winking last panels. "Brave and adventurous like Thor!" Like the freaking lame doctor DIDN'T just volunteer to head off for a hostile foreign power! Man, these stories just bug me. Yeah, it wasn't until, probably Kirby reminded Lee that Thor is after all a mythological character, so that maybe it would be a neat thing to actually bring some of that mythology into the book, that the series started to find its footing and take off. The testing ground for this approach came in the Tales of Asgard back-up strips. Obviously the experiment was a success, because the main part of the book would soon enough follow in the footsteps of the back-up. Eventually it was bye bye Thug Thatcher and hello Ragnarok. |
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