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Post by The Captain on Jun 8, 2016 8:07:34 GMT -5
Tales of Suspense #78 "Them!" Writer: Stan Lee Artist: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks) Cover Date: June 1966 SynopsisCap is in the middle of a training exercise (location unknown, but presumably Avengers Mansion) when a man approaches him from behind; the man, wearing a green suit, hat, and an eye patch over his left eye, is the one and only Nick Fury. Cap asks him what he's doing there, and Fury pulls out a miniature model of a human brain that a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent stole from an organization known only as THEM, explaining that if that model were dropped in a "hydroponic tank of chemicals", it would grow into the real thing. Outside of the building (now confirmed as Avengers Mansion), a flying craft touches down and a metallic humanoid steps out, walking toward the building and through the outer wall of the building. Inside, Cap and Fury are discussing the shadowy THEM when they are surprised by the humanoid, which continued to melt its way through walls until it reached them. Fury opens fire on it while pointing out the chemical tanks on the chest of their attacker, which Fury identifies as an android; Cap states that by "controlling the mixture of the chemicals which he's composed of, he can change the composition of his body at will." In an effort to combat the android, Cap activates the "Frigi-Defense circuit", designed to rapidly lower the temperature of the room they were just in to well below freezing. Seconds later, the android, covered in frost and ice, bursts from the room and quickly de-ices itself as Cap and Fury argue about who will battle it first; Nick enters the fray with a karate chop that proves ineffective when the android turns itself as hard as iron. Knocking Fury aside easily, the android is then on the receiving end of Cap's hurled shield just before Cap knocks it to the ground; however, Cap is taken off guard when it sprays him with some sort of gas, as which point Nick Fury reaches into his shirt for a mini-grenade. The scene cuts to two men in yellow-hooded suits watching the action on a viewscreen. They are pleased with how the android is performing, as they want to see the death of Nick Fury, a task they are certain they will not fail to complete. The men enter another room, where they find a large tank filled with numerous humanoid creatures resembling the one that Cap and Nick Fury were currently fighting. Back at Avengers HQ, Fury's mini-grenade has little effect on the android, but before it can strike him, Cap slams into it, arms extended and hold his shield in front of him. The android starts firing electric bolts at them, so the two men devise a plan to divide its attention so Fury can slip a S.H.I.E.L.D. knock-out pellet into its mouth. He does that and the android falls, but before they can secure it for examination, it withers into some dried material. Cap tells Nick that he'd been thinking about him and was trying to reach him, to see if there was a place in S.H.I.E.L.D. for him, with no luck, to which Fury replies that he was thinking about Cap as well because he felt they would make a great team. Cap says that too much time had passed and he couldn't leave the Avengers at that time, which Fury assumed would be the case, but as he leaves, he shakes Cap's hand and slips him a S.H.I.E.L.D. priority communicator in case Cap needs to reach him. Continuity Issues:Cap throws his shield at the android from behind as it attacks Nick Fury in the last panel on page five, with the shield ricocheting off to the right. In the first panel on page six, Cap is shown between the android and Fury, without his shield while kicking the android down, but in the second panel on that page, which flows directly from the previous one, his shield is strapped back onto his left arm. My ThoughtsThis issue is absolutely horrible, completely nonsensical from start to finish. The first problem is the atrocious "Silver Age science". I'm willing to overlook some things, but asking me to believe that an "android" can somehow change its composition by mixing some chemicals in its tanks is just ridiculous, as there is nothing even remotely scientific that would support that happening. In addition, the original brain model that Nick Fury shows Cap is clearly made of metal, yet he states it could be turned into a real human brain if placed in a tank of chemicals. How exactly does one change inorganic material into organic material, particularly something as complicated as a human brain? Also, how does a knock-out pill, designed for human opponents, have any effect against an android? Fury "suddenly figgered he (the android) had a mouth, just like anyone else", so he shoved a knock-out pill into the opening and it worked? What internal component did the chemicals in the pill work against, and how were those chemicals dispersed throughout the android's system, as there was probably no circulatory system to distribute them? Finally, Cap states that the "Frigi-Defense Circuit" will have the room "more frozen than the Antarctic in fifteen seconds", which is simply impossible. One of these in the issue would have been bad enough, but Stan scored a hat trick plus one of Silly Silver Age Science with this quartet. Another problem is the writing in regard to gaps in logic. Cap's statement that I quoted above about how it changes its composition comes from out of nowhere and isn't based on anything that was previously revealed in the story, so it's another WAG from him (much like the one he made regarding the Sleepers' mission in ToS #74). Later, when Cap is overcome by the gas spray, Nick Fury apologizes for not warning him about the android's "gas irritant spray", a feature that there is no reason he should have known anything about prior to that moment. On the plus side, I did like the back and forth between Cap and Fury. There were a few panels where they are basically in a pissing match with each other, each one trying to outdo the other and prove whose manhood was bigger. It made sense that these two seasoned soldiers would be measuring themselves against the other. Also, it was a nice touch that Cap mentioned that he'd been thinking about joining S.H.I.E.L.D., as he was far better suited for that sort of life than he was fighting alongside gods and monsters, but this issue takes place after the Avengers have been reduced to him, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver, so his feelings about his place with the team may have changed. Lastly, the below panel just makes me smile:  "We must continue to wear these ornate trappings to strike fear and dread into the hearts of those who serve us--and those who oppose us alike." Sir, you're dressed as beekeepers, and while evil apiarists may have been frightening to the normal citizenry of 1966, I'm not certain that folks in future generations are going to be as scared by your raiments as they are amused by their ridiculousness. My Grade: D+ This was a trainwreck of an issue, falling victim to poorly-conceived science and sloppy storytelling that relied on far too many assumptions from the characters to make things work. While I was leaning toward giving it a straight " D", the " +" was added for the budding bromance between Steve and Nick.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 8, 2016 9:30:05 GMT -5
Tales of Suspense #78"Them!" Writer: Stan Lee Artist: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks) Cover Date: June 1966 SynopsisCap is in the middle of a training exercise (location unknown, but presumably Avengers Mansion) when a man approaches him from behind; the man, wearing a green suit, hat, and an eye patch over his left eye, is the one and only Nick Fury. Cap asks him what he's doing there, and Fury pulls out a miniature model of a human brain that a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent stole from an organization known only as THEM, explaining that if that model were dropped in a "hydroponic tank of chemicals", it would grow into the real thing. Outside of the building (now confirmed as Avengers Mansion), a flying craft touches down and a metallic humanoid steps out, walking toward the building and through the outer wall of the building. Inside, Cap and Fury are discussing the shadowy THEM when they are surprised by the humanoid, which continued to melt its way through walls until it reached them. Fury opens fire on it while pointing out the chemical tanks on the chest of their attacker, which Fury identifies as an android; Cap states that by "controlling the mixture of the chemicals which he's composed of, he can change the composition of his body at will." In an effort to combat the android, Cap activates the "Frigi-Defense circuit", designed to rapidly lower the temperature of the room they were just in to well below freezing. Seconds later, the android, covered in frost and ice, bursts from the room and quickly de-ices itself as Cap and Fury argue about who will battle it first; Nick enters the fray with a karate chop that proves ineffective when the android turns itself as hard as iron. Knocking Fury aside easily, the android is then on the receiving end of Cap's hurled shield just before Cap knocks it to the ground; however, Cap is taken off guard when it sprays him with some sort of gas, as which point Nick Fury reaches into his shirt for a mini-grenade. The scene cuts to two men in yellow-hooded suits watching the action on a viewscreen. They are pleased with how the android is performing, as they want to see the death of Nick Fury, a task they are certain they will not fail to complete. The men enter another room, where they find a large tank filled with numerous humanoid creatures resembling the one that Cap and Nick Fury were currently fighting. Back at Avengers HQ, Fury's mini-grenade has little effect on the android, but before it can strike him, Cap slams into it, arms extended and hold his shield in front of him. The android starts firing electric bolts at them, so the two men devise a plan to divide its attention so Fury can slip a S.H.I.E.L.D. knock-out pellet into its mouth. He does that and the android falls, but before they can secure it for examination, it withers into some dried material. Cap tells Nick that he'd been thinking about him and was trying to reach him, to see if there was a place in S.H.I.E.L.D. for him, with no luck, to which Fury replies that he was thinking about Cap as well because he felt they would make a great team. Cap says that too much time had passed and he couldn't leave the Avengers at that time, which Fury assumed would be the case, but as he leaves, he shakes Cap's hand and slips him a S.H.I.E.L.D. priority communicator in case Cap needs to reach him. Continuity Issues:Cap throws his shield at the android from behind as it attacks Nick Fury in the last panel on page five, with the shield ricocheting off to the right. In the first panel on page six, Cap is shown between the android and Fury, without his shield while kicking the android down, but in the second panel on that page, which flows directly from the previous one, his shield is strapped back onto his left arm. My ThoughtsThis issue is absolutely horrible, completely nonsensical from start to finish. The first problem is the atrocious "Silver Age science". I'm willing to overlook some things, but asking me to believe that an "android" can somehow change its composition by mixing some chemicals in its tanks is just ridiculous, as there is nothing even remotely scientific that would support that happening. In addition, the original brain model that Nick Fury shows Cap is clearly made of metal, yet he states it could be turned into a real human brain if placed in a tank of chemicals. How exactly does one change inorganic material into organic material, particularly something as complicated as a human brain? Also, how does a knock-out pill, designed for human opponents, have any effect against an android? Fury "suddenly figgered he (the android) had a mouth, just like anyone else", so he shoved a knock-out pill into the opening and it worked? What internal component did the chemicals in the pill work against, and how were those chemicals dispersed throughout the android's system, as there was probably no circulatory system to distribute them? Finally, Cap states that the "Frigi-Defense Circuit" will have the room "more frozen than the Antarctic in fifteen seconds", which is simply impossible. One of these in the issue would have been bad enough, but Stan scored a hat trick plus one of Silly Silver Age Science with this quartet. Another problem is the writing in regard to gaps in logic. Cap's statement that I quoted above about how it changes its composition comes from out of nowhere and isn't based on anything that was previously revealed in the story, so it's another WAG from him (much like the one he made regarding the Sleepers' mission in ToS #74). Later, when Cap is overcome by the gas spray, Nick Fury apologizes for not warning him about the android's "gas irritant spray", a feature that there is no reason he should have known anything about prior to that moment. On the plus side, I did like the back and forth between Cap and Fury. There were a few panels where they are basically in a pissing match with each other, each one trying to outdo the other and prove whose manhood was bigger. It made sense that these two seasoned soldiers would be measuring themselves against the other. Also, it was a nice touch that Cap mentioned that he'd been thinking about joining S.H.I.E.L.D., as he was far better suited for that sort of life than he was fighting alongside gods and monsters, but this issue takes place after the Avengers have been reduced to him, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver, so his feelings about his place with the team may have changed. Lastly, the below panel just makes me smile: "We must continue to wear these ornate trappings to strike fear and dread into the hearts of those who serve us--and those who oppose us alike." Sir, you're dressed as beekeepers, and while evil apiarists may have been frightening to the normal citizenry of 1966, I'm not certain that folks in future generations are going to be as scared by your raiments as they are amused by their ridiculousness. My Grade: D+ This was a trainwreck of an issue, falling victim to poorly-conceived science and sloppy storytelling that relied on far too many assumptions from the characters to make things work. While I was leaning toward giving it a straight " D", the " +" was added for the budding bromance between Steve and Nick. I reviewed this issue from the perspective of Nick Fury and SHIELD (you can read it here). It's fascinating to me that we focused on almost completely different facets of the story and walked away with such different impressions. It is worth noting that this is the first appearance of A.I.M. (called "T.H.E.M." at the time). This cracked me up! |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 8, 2016 18:09:49 GMT -5
I reviewed this issue from the perspective of Nick Fury and SHIELD (you can read it here). It's fascinating to me that we focused on almost completely different facets of the story and walked away with such different impressions. It is worth noting that this is the first appearance of A.I.M. (called "T.H.E.M." at the time). I just went and read your review. Good stuff, and it certainly is interesting that while you more or less embrace the goofiness of the science, it is the part that works the least for me. Also, I learned a good deal from the comments following the review, particularly the part about a possible reshuffling of the split books and this story potentially being the test run for a Captain America/Nick Fury pairing. There is some debate about whether this is the actual first appearance of either THEM/AIM. The shadowy organization that hired Batroc in ToS #75 & 76 to recover the Inferno 42 element was not named, so some sources identify them as THEM (whether that was Stan's original plan or not) while others citing this as the first appearance of THEM, with the first actual appearance of AIM occurring the following month in either Strange Tales #146 or Tales of Suspense #79 (depending on which book was released first). Their appearance in ToS #79 occurs during an interlude that introduces the Cosmic Cube to the Marvel Universe, with the name Advanced Idea Mechanics appearing on something that looks like a whiteboard or small billboard in their lab. Glad I could provide a laugh. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jun 8, 2016 19:59:36 GMT -5
and it certainly is interesting that while you more or less embrace the goofiness of the science, it is the part that works the least for me. It's because it's Kirby. I wouldn't accept it from any other writer or artist, but Kirby's imagination is so wild and fun that having his ideas make sense is almost a buzz-kill. I mean, why in the world would any army ever possibly need these, for example?  But it's such a wild visual concept; it's so Kirby. I wasn't aware of this part. Fascinating! |
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Post by The Captain on Jun 17, 2016 14:48:33 GMT -5
Tales of Suspense #79 "The Red Skull Lives!" Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks) Cover Date: July 1966 SynopsisOn the middle of a street in New York City, Cap fights against four green-and-gold clad men. Cap gains the upper hand on the men, and as he does, a police officer approaches after hearing a gunshot fired by one of the men; however, the cop questions Cap regarding his actions, as he does not see the costumed men, who then scatter and escape. Pleading his case and pointing to the escape ship of his attackers as it takes off, Cap realizes no one else is able to see them and wonders if he may be going mad. The assassins report to their leader to inform him of their mission's success, a leader revealed to be Cap's nemesis, the Red Skull. He explains to the other men in his company how he survived his last encounter with Captain America and had saved all of their lives. It was then revealed that the Skull had joined forces with THEM, as their goals were similar, although the Red Skull stated he would only cooperate with them until it no longer served his purposes. He examines a helmet similar to those the assassins wore while fighting Cap in NYC, saying it is the key to doom of Captain America. Back in New York, Cap is meeting with a doctor, explaining the issues he's been having, when he is attacked by one of the Skull's assassins. They fight in the doctor's office, but the doctor, just as the policeman and pedestrians earlier, does not see the attacker, only observing Cap flailing about until the assassin jumps from the window. The doctor is sure Cap is suffering from hallucinations and wants Cap to stay for further study and treatment, but Cap leaves to seek help elsewhere. Back with the Red Skull, he sends yet another of his assassins to torment Cap, only this time the objective is to have Cap accused of murder, a murder the assassin with himself commit. The scene shifts again to the headquarters of THEM, who have renamed themselves A.I.M., which stands for Advanced Idea Mechanics, and whose goal is the destruction of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. They show one of their higher-ups, a man named Count Royale, their latest project, an item they are calling the "Cosmic Cube". Once more in New York City, Cap is on the street reading a newspaper when he is approached by a man who fought at his side during WWII who is seeking an autograph for his son currently serving in Viet Nam. Sneaking up from behind, the Red Skull's assassin draws a gun, intent on carrying out his nefarious plan, but Cap turns and attacks him, no longer under the influence of the assassin's hypno-helmet; he achieved this by having a circuit, designed by S.H.I.E.L.D., hidden under the "A" on his mask to jam any hypnotic signals in the area. The assassin mentions the Red Skull, which sends Cap into a panic, as he thought his oldest enemy was forever gone, a belief he now knows was dead wrong and that their battle would be joined once more. Continuity Issues: None My ThoughtsThis was a better issue that the last one, although that was not a high bar to clear, but that is not to say it was a good issue by any means. As with the last story, there is too much bad Silver Age Science to ignore, including: 1. How exactly did the hypno-helmets work? It seemed that it affected everyone but Captain America, effectively blocking out both sights and sounds from other viewers' minds, but why was Cap not affected? 2. How was the "circuit" in Cap's mask effective? It wasn't hooked up to a power source, so how did it jam the hypnotic signal emitted by the hypno-helmet? Also, how did Cap know that those around him were under the influence of hypnotic suggestion or was this just another one of his WAGs? On the plus side, this issue marked the first modern continuity appearance of the Red Skull, only previously seen in flashback in ToS #66-68 and in Cap's dream in ToS #72. Every great hero needs a signature villain, so it made sense for Stan and Jack to resurrect one from Cap's past to serve that role. My Grade: C- Buoyed by the return of the Red Skull, this was slightly better than the last one, but it ultimately fell victim to more nonsensical Silver Age science.
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Post by The Captain on Jul 2, 2016 15:19:26 GMT -5
Tales of Suspense #80 "He Who Holds the Cosmic Cube" Writer: Stan Lee Art: Jack Kirby and Don Heck Cover Date: August 1966 SynopsisThere is drama from the very outset, as Cap sees a plane explode in the skies above New York City. He notes that an escape pod jettisoned from the aircraft just before it burst into flames, so he races in the direction of the falling pod. It lands in the river, and Cap dives in after it, concerned the occupant will suffocate if not retrieved in time. Under the water, Cap notices the letters "A.I.M." on the vessel and mentally notes that he's heard of that organization before; putting that thought aside, he pries open the capsule and extracts the sole occupant, dragging him to the surface. Once out of the water, the A.I.M. scientist is heard babbling incoherently, saying that "he must be stopped" over and over. When questioned about who it is that must be stopped, he says it is the "Keeper of the Cosmic Cube"; Cap follows up by asking what the Cosmic Cube is, to which the scientist answers "it's the ultimate weapon" and says that the keeper is taking the Cube to the Red Skull. Cutting to the Red Skull's mansion, he and his second-in-command, a man named Wolfgang, watch the Keeper approaching in a plane; it is still being pursued by another A.I.M aircraft. The Skull shoots down the second plane, nothing that the pilot ejected safely. He then rants that he could not believe A.I.M. would think that he would serve them, calling himself the "prince of villainy". He turns to Wolfgang and thanks him for his service, shaking his hand in the process; this was not a friendly gesture, however, but rather a means to plant a miniature neuro-brain-tap into Wolfgang's palm, placing him under the Red Skull's hypnotic control, an act the Skull had previously done to the Keeper of the Cosmic Cube during their last meeting, which allowed him to command the Keeper to bring the Cube to him. As the Skull leaves the room, he commands Wolfgang to take out his own gun and undo the safety; once outside the room, the Skull mentally wills Wolfgang to end his own life. Up in the sky, Cap rockets toward the Keeper's plane in a S.H.I.E.L.D. missile, which he commandeered using the ID card that Nick Fury had given him during their last encounter. Maneuvering above the other plane, Cap leaps from his own vessel, using magnets fastened to his palms to cling to the side of the A.I.M. craft. Entering that plane, Cap engages the Keeper, who pulls a gun and fires, blinding Cap with the muzzle flash. They continue to fight, with Cap being guided by the sound of the Keeper's voice, and he manages to press the ejector seat button, sending both of them sailing high into the air. From the shore, the Red Skull watches the scene, noting that Cap is with the Keeper. As soon as the two men land, Cap takes out the Keeper with a shield throw, but the Skull retrieves Cap's shield and tosses it at Cap, catching him offguard. They begin to fight, arguing the points of freedom versus fascism, with Cap managing to anger the Skull into a fit a rage, leading the Skull to start brawling recklessly, which plays right into Cap's hands; Cap lands a couple of strong punches, knocking the Skull to the ground. Given a moment to collect himself, the Skull changes tactics, taunting Cap with the information that Baron Zemo was acting under his orders, so he was ultimately responsible for Bucky's death. An enraged Cap moves dangerously close to his enemy, allowing the Skull to gas him and escape. Now free, the Skull orders the Keeper of the Cube to give him the object. He monologues about how it will allow him to fulfill all of his wishes, the first of which is to send the Keeper to another dimension. Cap watches helplessly as the Skull then lifts a large boulder with but a thought, lamenting that the Skull, once his most-deadly foe, may now be truly invincible. Continuity Issues: During Cap's battle with the Keeper on his plane, it is shown that the Keeper is strapped into the pilot's chair. At one point in the fight, the Keeper is shown facing Cap completely, which is physically impossible unless he were an owl or had no skeletal structure. After Cap and the Keeper are ejected from the plane, Cap is shown clinging to the back of the pilot's chair with the parachute straps above his head. In the next panel, the straps are shown directly behind Cap as though they were coming from below him, but in the next panel, while being observed by the Red Skull, Cap is back to hanging onto the chair with the straps directly above him again. My ThoughtsThis was about on par with the previous issue. I liked how Stan was working the story to have Cap interacting with the ongoing battle between S.H.I.E.L.D. and A.I.M. from Strange Tales by including the Red Skull in the mix. I also liked the psychological battle that Cap and the Red Skull waged against each other during their fight; they knew what buttons to push with the other to get them off their game. Also, even though it makes no sense from a science standpoint, I am willing to accept the Cosmic Cube into the MU; it's just so out there that it doesn't have to have any basis in reality. The down points were more irritations that anything else. At the rate of speed that the escape pod was traveling and the fact that Cap was on foot, there is no way he could have caught up to it before it hit the river in NYC, as it had no parachute or means to slow itself down. As well, the Keeper's plane must have been squirrel-powered, as there is no conceivable way that Cap would have been able to see it fly by, chase down the escape pod on foot, question the A.I.M. scientist that he pulled from the river, get to a S.H.I.E.L.D. base that had a "missile" launch ready, commandeer that vessel, and catch up to the Keeper's plane. Lastly, I thought it odd that the Red Skull referred to himself as the "prince of villainy". He's an evil Nazi bent on world domination, not some garden variety megalomaniac. Proclamations like that should be left to folks like The Joker or Lex Luthor, as I find it hard to believe the Red Skull would utter something so silly. My Grade: C It was a fair issue, with some high points and some low points, with nothing standing out in either direction to warrant anything other than a mid-range score.
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Post by tingramretro on Jul 3, 2016 5:53:01 GMT -5
I thought it odd that the Red Skull referred to himself as the "prince of villainy". He's an evil Nazi bent on world domination, not some garden variety megalomaniac. Proclamations like that should be left to folks like The Joker or Lex Luthor, as I find it hard to believe the Red Skull would utter something so silly. Purely by coincidence, I was reading this issue yesterday in a trade collecting some of Cap's most memorable battles with the Skull, and that thought occurred to me, too. The Skull's lengthy monologue about mustering the forces of bigotry and oppression and how he gets closer to winning the more men turn away from truth, faith and brotherhood make it quite apparent that this is a character whose sole purpose in life is actually to be evil for the sake of it, which is uttery ridiculous; nobody thinks like that. The Nazis certainly didn't see themselves as villains, so the Skull's attitude is just baffling. Maybe his mask's on too tight? |
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Post by The Captain on Jan 1, 2017 17:44:50 GMT -5
One of my comic resolutions for this year was to resurrect this thread. I had written 12 new reviews last summer, but they sat in a binder untouched due to various factors (interviewing and starting my new job, along with my resurgence in interest in Magic: The Gathering). It's my intention to keep up with this in 2017, posting at least one new review per week, on average, which will also drive my reading habits. Going forward, I'm going to try to slim down the synopsis portion of the reviews, as I feel, looking back, I got pretty lengthy at times. My model is going to be Confessor and his work on the Star Wars review thread, as he boils the issue details down to just a couple of paragraphs, three if it's a particularly spicy issue. Tales of Suspense #81 "The Red Skull Supreme" Writer: Stan Lee Artist: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks) Cover Date: September 1966 SynopsisWe open to find the Red Skull holding the Cosmic Cube aloft, reveling in his victory, unaware that Cap is sneaking up on him from behind. Cap dives at his foe and knocks the Skull off-balance, but using the power of the Cube to create extreme heat, followed by shock waves, he forces Cap away. Red Skull begins to monologue about his plans not only for Earth but the whole galaxy; the Skull then taunts Cap by saying that although he could eliminate Cap with but a thought, he would rather do it in battle. Creating a humanoid figure from the mud, he sends it forth to fight Cap; a fight ensues, but just as it seems Cap is about to win, the Red Skull causes the humanoid to vanish, refusing to let his creation be defeated. Having tired of their fight, the Skull turns the power of the Cube on Cap, intent of erasing him from existence, and in a last-ditch bid for survival, Cap offers to serve the Red Skull, appealing to his ego and hatred toward Cap. As terms of the agreement, Cap says he will be the Skull's slave, devoting himself to the Skull's welfare. Finally sensing ultimate victory, Red Skull uses the Cube to create a suit of golden armor for himself. Cap approaches, complimenting him and further stroking the Skull's ego. In his power-drunk glory, Red Skull orders Cap to kneel before him in subservience, but as Cap does, he leaps forward, catching the Skull off-guard. The two men wrestle, and as they do, the Skull mentally commands the Cube to split the island in two to separate them; in an instant, the rocks divide, leaving Cap on one side of the gap and the Skull on the other. Sensing his chance to prevail, Cap swings his shield at the Skull, knocking the Cube from his grasp and into the water below. Desperate to regain his weapon, the Skull dives in after it, quickly sinking to the bottom under the weight of his armor, which he is unable to shed. Climbing to the top of a rocky knoll, Cap believes the Cosmic Cube lost beneath the rubble, praying it will remain hidden forever, and as almost in response to his desire, the Cube buries itself under the debris at the bottom of the ocean. Continuity IssuesIn the previous issue, the Red Skull was wearing a yellow scarf that he removed prior to a fight with Cap, tossing it aside; it was not seen again in that issue. As this issue opens, he's wearing the scarf again on the intro splash page, but it is missing by the next panel, only to be seen around his neck the rest of the issue. He would have had no chance to put it back on in the time between issues, which was mere seconds, although it could be written off that he willed a new scarf to appear with the power of the Cube. My ThoughtsThis is a pretty good issue, as Stan hits the right notes with the personalities of the two main characters. Cap is written as smart, knowing the vanity of his enemy and playing to it; because of his massive ego, the Red Skull eats it up, because he can't help himself. As well, Cap is tenacious, never giving up and fighting against seemingly impossible odds, which is what we as the readers have come to expect; he quickly formulates plans and then acts, risking sacrificing himself for the betterment of the rest of the world. As for the Skull, it's funny that he wants to beat Cap in battle, yet he creates a minion out of earth to do it, because the Skull knows he's no match physically for Steve; then, when the battle goes against his creation, he makes it disappear so that Cap cannot claim victory. He's a craven and a bully, and he refuses to acknowledge the possibility that someone might be his better. As much as I thought this was a good issue, I'm glad that this is seemingly the last we will see of the Cosmic Cube. It's too powerful a weapon and it makes no sense from a scientific standpoint; it would have fit well into a Silver Age DC story, but here, in the more-grounded MU, it comes off as a little silly. My Grade: B This was a nice wrap-up to the initial Cosmic Cube story, with both the hero and the villain hitting the right beats. While the Red Skull is the definitive Cap enemy, it will be good to see if he disappears for a while based on the events at the end of the issue, as he's running the risk of wearing out his welcome and making this series more like Wil E. Coyote vs The Roadrunner rather than something that exists in a much bigger universe. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 1, 2017 18:34:17 GMT -5
I love this issue.. Skull in his Golden armor is a great visual.. as is his drowning when he can't take it off... very cool.   |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 18:59:46 GMT -5
Glad to see this thread resurrected. I was going to try to read through ASM this year, but I think I may switch to Cap and see if I can catch up to read along.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Jan 1, 2017 20:48:26 GMT -5
Really glad to see the return of this thread!
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
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Post by Confessor on Jan 2, 2017 0:15:02 GMT -5
Let me echo that's good to see this thread starting up again. I have read this issue, but it was a long time ago. Still, I remember enjoying it and, as wildfire2099 says above, the Red Skull in his golden armour is a great visual. Regarding the 2 or 3 paragraph plot synopses that I use in my Star Wars thread, a lot of that comes down to my dislike of writing them. I find them an utter chore. I'm much more interesting in getting stuck into the review itself and my thoughts on a particular issue. In fact, when I re-start my Tintin review thread in a couple of weeks time, I'm seriously considering doing away with the story synopsis altogether and just providing a link to the plot outline for each book on Wikipedia. Still, glad you've found some inspiration in my succinct style.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 8:46:51 GMT -5
Nice to see this thread up and running again ... The Captain. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jan 2, 2017 10:17:25 GMT -5
Regarding the 2 or 3 paragraph plot synopses that I use in my Star Wars thread, a lot of that comes down to my dislike of writing them. I find them an utter chore. I'm much more interesting in getting stuck into the review itself and my thoughts on a particular issue. In fact, when I re-start my Tintin review thread in a couple of weeks time, I'm seriously considering doing away with the story synopsis altogether and just providing a link to the plot outline for each book on Wikipedia. Still, glad you've found some inspiration in my succinct style. I used to try to limit my synopses to a single run-on sentence. That proved unworkable, so now I try to keep it down to one paragraph. I agree that it's the portion I'm always least interested in writing. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 2, 2017 16:25:21 GMT -5
Regarding the 2 or 3 paragraph plot synopses that I use in my Star Wars thread, a lot of that comes down to my dislike of writing them. I find them an utter chore. I'm much more interesting in getting stuck into the review itself and my thoughts on a particular issue. In fact, when I re-start my Tintin review thread in a couple of weeks time, I'm seriously considering doing away with the story synopsis altogether and just providing a link to the plot outline for each book on Wikipedia. Still, glad you've found some inspiration in my succinct style. I used to try to limit my synopses to a single run-on sentence. That proved unworkable, so now I try to keep it down to one paragraph. I agree that it's the portion I'm always least interested in writing. I probably go overboard on the synopses on my Marvel reviews (on the odd occasion they show up). But I try to ramp up the humor. |
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