Last week, I wrote about taking on my awesome, or insane, or awesomely insane (depending on one's point of view) project of reading the continuity of the entire Marvel Universe, in order.
Had the chance to read a few more issues in the past week -- it's amazing how even during a busy time reading a 20-page comic can clear your head.
Unless it's a Human Torch spin-off. But we'll get to that later.
On with the reviews!
One quick note: Since beginning this endeavor, the man in charge at the Complete Marvel Reading Order added an issue near the front that includes the first appearance of Hank Pym. I haven't had time to go back and knock off that one, but the numbering has changed accordingly.
Here we go...
9. Journey Into Mystery, Issue #83
Publication Date: August, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
More history being made... we just read about the debut of Dr. Doom, and now we get the introduction of Thor! The ol' God of Thunder was never my favorite growing up, but I did enjoy his recent cinematic incarnation. So, let's see how this goes...
This is the first installment in the Marvel continuity not written by Stan Lee. Instead, Stan's brother Larry fills in on this book.
There is a TON of reliance on dialogue to explain what's going on in this issue, even by Silver Age standards. Ol' Don Blake, the frail chap who stumbles across the hammer of Thor in a Norwegian cave, sure does like to explain verbally in detail what he's doing and how he's using his newfound powers. Eating dinner with him must be an experience... “Watch as I pour the chocolate syrup into my milk... Yes! They're mixing! It's turning brown!"
We also have YET ANOTHER invading alien race. Don't these extra-terrestrial civilizations have anything better to do than constantly assault our little backwater planet? That's three alien attacks in eight issues so far, for those of you scoring at home. (Hey, if I'm writing a review of EVERY issue in a continuity that's going to be thousands upon thousands of issues by the time it's complete, you could be keeping score. It could happen. In fact, why AREN'T you keeping score? Slacker...)
This issue did a fine job as a debut, introducing Thor and his powers. And he definitely looked like a badass smashing his way through the Stone Men. An abbreviated issue at only 14 pages, and they got the most out of every page. All the explanatory dialogue was a killer, but it's made up for with some really fantastic artwork.
4 out of 5 – Very Good
10. Journey Into Mystery, Issue #84
Publication Date: September, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
Two straight Thor issues? After that strong debut, I have no problem with this. We also get our first “realistic” villain, with a Communist dictator who shows the appropriate amount of evil for the anti-red time period. We're also introduced to Blake's assistant Jane, and right off the bat a Blake/Jane/Thor love triangle gets established.
Unfortunately, this issue is a step back in quality thanks in large part to subpar writing. Take your pick between two gaping plotholes—Blake turning into Thor right in front of a firing squad with no one figuring out the trick, or Jane calling Blake a coward after he volunteers for medical service in the war-ravaged country AND after he challenges the Executioner to a fight.
Be sure to check out the battle between Thor and the Commie tank batallion, though. Some fun stuff there.
3 out of 5 – Entertaining
11. Incredible Hulk, Issue #3
Publication Date: September, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Fair to call this a very disjointed issue. The most significant development is that Rick Jones, Bruce Banner/Hulk's teenage buddy and without question the most annoying recurring character as of yet introduced in the Marvel Universe, now becomes even more crucial to the plot as an electrical shock gives him the power to control the Hulk's actions—but only when young Rick is awake. Somebody's gonna develop an amphetamine problem...
The narrative of the book is all over the place. Hulk gets captured, shot into space, crash lands back on Earth, falls under the control of Rick and fights a typical Silver Age-era villain in the Ringmaster who hypnotizes entire circus audiences so the other circus performers can rob the town blind. Oh, and there's also a flashback to the origin of the Hulk! All this in one issue.
The overall effect leaves you feeling like you do after eating too much from a buffet.
At least we get to see what happens when the Hulk meets a human cannonball. That was pretty fun.
2 out of 5 – Mediocre
12. Fantastic Four, Issue #6
Publication Date: September, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Another strong issue, thanks in large part to the presence of not one but two strong antagonists. Dr. Doom and Sub Mariner join forces against the Fantastic Four in what would become a calling card of the Marvel Universe – the team-up, be it by superheroes or in this case, villains.
Of course, it turns out Sub Mariner's not all bad. Namor and the Invisible Girl have been sweet on each other since issue 4 (they keep photographs of one another, you see), and it probably doesn't help the Atlantean's attempt to stay on the dark side when he's immediately double crossed by Dr. Doom.
If you can get past the ridiculousness of Doom using his magnetic devices to lift the entire Baxter Building (named for the first time in this issue) into outer space, there's lots to like about this issue. A good plot, and the strongest character development yet.
4 out of 5 – Very Good
13. Tales To Astonish, Issue #35
Publication Date: September, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
The Ant Man makes his debut. And, considering he's a scientist, there's a very healthy dose of Silver Age screwball science. Good ol' Henry Pym is able to use the shrinking and enlarging serum and still keep his costume tailored immaculately thanks to the stretchy steel mesh fabric (don't ask)... Throw in the helmet used to talk to ants, the fact he retains his man-sized strength when shrunk to the size of an ant, and then commands the colony in battle against four Russian spies.
Oh, and also... apparently Ant Man found the only ants in nature that make honey—and can make it on command to jam the barrel of a gun. I'm sure all this comes off awesome if you're a kid growing up in the 60s, however.
Have I mentioned that ants and basically every bug except spiders and honeybees freaks me right the hell out?
2 out of 5 – Mediocre
14. Journey Into Mystery, Issue #85
Publication Date: October, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
Another iconic villain makes his Marvel debut here, as Thor goes against his arch-nemesis Loki for the first time. Don't think this version will have fangirls swooning the way Tom Huddleston did during The Avengers. We shall see...
One gripe I have with these early Thor stories is that the first actual page of the book is a splash page that basically serves as a second cover. These issues are already short—14 pages opposed to the 24 that the Fantastic Four and Hulk get—so I'd like to have seen a better use of that space.
Loki's ingenious plan ends up being... well, far less than genius. He's definitely the center piece of this issue, and he's responsible for some comedy that I assume is unintentional (“Begone pigeons!”) Meanwhile, this story created more questions than it answered. Such as... how much of Asgard does Thor remember? And why can't he return there the way Loki did? Still, this is a fine introduction to what would become the core story of the Thor character in the coming months and years. We also get our first glimpse at Heimdal and a brief cameo by Odin himself. A good story, too, and well-drawn.
Meanwhile... Jane—Blake's would-be main squeeze—apparently thinks Loki is as dreamy as Thor. She'd have ended up being one of Zeus' baby mammas back in Greece, I bet.
Rating: 4 out of 5 – Very Good
15. Fantastic Four, Issue #7
Publication Date: October, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
You've got to suspend disbelief to enjoy this issue, but there is a good bit to enjoy, if only because of the sheer ridiculousness of the way Reed Richards solves the problem of a planet-sized asteroid on course to destroy another planet.
Reducing gas, of course! Silver Age screwball science saves the day again!
Enjoyed Kirby's art in this issue more than I did the last couple, and there's also some satisfying comeuppance in the fate of Kurrgo.
Several hanging plotlines, though. Not only does Kurrgo, the leader of Planet X, turn all of Earth's population against the Fantastic Four, there's no indication when or how the “hostility gas” is diffused... Kurrgo also quickly breaks down a way to neutralize every member of the FF. Think Doctor Doom was taking notes?
Rating: 3 out of 5 – Entertaining
16. Strange Tales, Issue #101
Publication Date: October, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
Marvel's digital service has a rating system, 1 star at the lowest and 5 stars at the highest. I've read a couple of bad issues so far, but none of them met that “lowest of the low” criterion.
Until now. This issue is just a mess. Let's start with the fact that the Torch now seems intent on protecting his secret identity, which flies against the whole original premise that the FF would be superheroes who were also well known celebrities. Apparently, only four people outside the super group know the Torch's identity—all buddies sworn to secrecy. Never mind that in the most recent issue of Fantastic Four Johnny Storm appears as himself IN FRONT OF CONGRESS. Sheesh.
Throw in a substandard plot with a saboteur who ends up being the front man for a ring of Communist spies (yay Silver Age!) and this one belongs on the scrap heap.
Rating: 1 out of 5 – Poor
17. Amazing Fantasy, Issue #14
Publication Date: October, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko
Billed as “The Magazine That Respects Your Intelligence.” In the Silver Age? We'll see.
This was a definite change of pace, and I liked it. The issue was broken up into five short stories, consisting of only a few pages and panels each, and all five were well done. How about that? Tjis issue really did respect my intelligence.
Also historic, as the concept of mutants was introduced for the first time.
Rating: 4 out of 5 – Very Good
18. Tales To Astonish, Issue #36
Publication Date: October, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
Another forgettable effort with the Ant Man. Where to begin? The fact he retains his man-sized strength but can't bust his way through a pane of glass? Or the fact he can't transmit to his ant buddies through glass—but he's able to receive messages from his network of creepy crawly buddies in his office, which has windows, and therefore, means they're received through glass?
Then there's the villain, another forgettable Commie who is rather dumb at that.
Did I mention how bugs creep me out?
The best part? When the issue refers to the “red seamen.” I chuckled.
Rating: 2 out of 5 – Mediocre
19. Journey Into Mystery, Issue #86
Publication Date: November, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
The splash pages continue to bother me, only because the space for these Thor stories is so abbreviated as is. I've been trying hard to avoid spoilers while traversing through the history of the Marvel Universe, but I'm really tempted to see how they explain Thor's sporadic knowledge of his Asgardian heritage. Pretty sure that makes this my favorite of the recurring titles thus far introduces?
More fun with time travel here, and oh... Thor can travel through time if he so chooses. There's a Thor dopple-ganger running about in the fairly-distant future, but the story here's just a little blah to me, starting with the military basically using Thor as a guinea pig to test the cobalt bomb. Oh, and Thor avoids getting blasted to another dimension by... um... blowing really hard. OK then.
Also... I thought that only Thor could pick up the hammer? But apparently robots from the future can too.
Rating: 3 out of 5 – Entertaining
20. Strange Tales, Issue #102
Publication Date: November, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Steve Ditko / Jack Kirby
The last issue of Strange Tales was awful. This one was actually entertaining in a car-crash kind of way. Human Torch able to sustain his flame and just walk around fiery for long periods of time. The Wizard... who's the smartest man in the world, but then takes pictures of himself imitating the Torch ON PURPOSE as part of his master plot.
This one's actually worth reading for the ridiculousness.
Rating: 2 out of 5 – Mediocre
21. Incredible Hulk, Issue #4
Publication Date: November, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Two! Two! Two Hulk stories in one!
Some more character development here, as the relationship between Betty and Bruce Banner gets a little more play. Not much in the way of story here, but there is yet another change to the character of the Hulk, who now has Bruce Banner's brain when he transforms. Better than having annoying teenage sidekick Rick being able to control the Hulk. After initially having the changes triggered by nightfall, now Banner takes a full blast of gamma radiation every time the change is made. Well, that just doesn't seem healthy now...
Also... apparently, the Hulk can pretty much fly. And... Thunderbolt Ross loves blowing up shit. But that's not a huge shock, now, is it?
In the second story, we meet Mongu. Consider him an intergalactic Dan Dority, here to challenge Earth's toughest warrior to a fight. No cool battle here, though... Mongu is just part of a Communist plot (blast those Silver Age Commies and their constant scheming). Dividing this issue into two didn't lead to either story being improved, and the art in the second half wasn't great either. All the close-ups of Mongu looked like something I'd draw. Not a compliment.
Rating: 2 out of 5 – Mediocre