Welcome back for another installment of my journey -- or is it a forced march? -- through the Marvel Universe.
That saintly fellow named Travis Starnes has been toiling on a reading order taking you through the entire Marvel Universe all the way from Fantastic Four #1. I'm making slow progress through the Silver Age.
Last week, I wrote about the first truly awful issue in the order -- from the Human Torch spin-off in Strange Tales. Did things improve this week? We shall see.
3. Tales To Astonish, Issue #27
Publication Date: January, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Don Heck
Had to do a little back-tracking, after the good and oh-so-thorough man compiling this order went back to add an issue at the very beginning of the order, to include the first appearance of Dr. Hank Pym – who would later become the Ant Man.
Three short stories here, the first focusing on Pym and those oh-so-troublesome reduction serums. Pym gets freaked out after using the shrinking serum on himself, and ends up running INTO an anthill to escape a swarm of ants. Hmm. That's like slathering yourself in gravy and jumping into a bear pit. Anyway, Pym survives after using judo to defeat one would-be creepy-crawly combatant and finding the only friendly ant in the hill to help him reach the enlarging serum.
This was actually the weakest of the three smaller stories in the issue, which by and large was fast-moving and read well.
Rating: 3 out of 5 – Entertaining
22. Fantastic Four, Issue #8
Publication Date: November, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
An interesting read, as it had a plot very similar to some of the abbreviated stories in Tales To Astonish #27 or the Amazing Fantasy #14 issue. Dark elements, and an ironic twist brings down the bad guy.
We also got some solid character development—namely centering around The Thing, and the first appearance of his blind female companion, Alicia. She was central to the best elements of the issue, whether it was using her enhanced senses to detect Sue, or her interactions with Thing.
The Thing smashing his way through a prison jailbreak also made for a cool visual. Even the Silver Age screwball science here was fun, with the radioactive clay used to sculpt the controllable puppets, and the Puppet Master being able to house a giant robot and a jet-powered winged horse inside a small apartment.
Lots to like here.
Rating: 3 out of 5 – Entertaining
23. Tales To Astonish, Issue #37
Publication Date: November, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
I guess they realized once they gave Ant Man his own title that the “I'm too small for my voice to be understood” schtick in issue #27, which I read earlier, wouldn't work with a recurring character.
Sweet lord, this was stupid. The third or fourth instance in the past 10 issues or so where the writer resorts to the “And the bad guy was the random character introduced at the start all along!” gimmick. At some point... you kind of see it coming, no?
The novelty of seeing someone really tiny solve crimes has worn off.
Oh, and bugs still creep me the hell out. At least the art was pretty good.
Rating: 2 out of 5 – Mediocre
24. Strange Tales, Issue #103
Publication Date: December, 1962
Writer: Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby
If I wasn't such a completist, I think I'd be skipping these Human Torch spin-offs by now. Let's see if the third installment represents a significant improvement.
And, surprise, this one was actually better. We had another Scooby Doo type plot device seemingly in the works regarding the identity of the villain, but the story changed that up nicely by whisking Torch to the 5th dimension where he ended up embroiled in an inter-dimensional coup of that realm's dictator.
The crazy thing about these early issues is that Torch's powers (everyone's really, but ESPECIALLY his) are so subjective. Torch has the power to burrow under ground thanks to his heat, which makes no sense, especially considering the second time he did it he melted the foundation of a building and the first no such mishap occurred. Torch's vulnerability to asbestos came up again, but unlike last time, he was powerless against it because that better fit the story.
2 out of 5 – Mediocre
25. Fantastic Four, Issue #9
Publication Date: December, 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
This was actually a lot of fun. The Fantastic Four lose all their money when Reed Richards makes some poor investments in the stock market, then get a chance to climb out of pennilessness by shooting a movie. And hilarity ensues from there.
Take your pick between the Fantastic Four having to hitch hike to Hollywood or—my personal favorite—Sub Mariner (the money man behind the movie... yes, really) with a cigarette holder in his mouth. That second one really needs to be on a T-shirt. Seriously, I'd buy it.
See what I mean??? Smoking Sub-Mariner = greatness.
All in all, the plot of this one is just good, campy fun. What really drives this issue is more character development. The kinda-sorta-unsure romance between Sue and Namor is left simmering. Meanwhile, we get some more interaction between The Thing and his blind lady friend Alicia, which is by far the best long-term story telling yet in these early stages of the Marvel Universe.
Rating: 4 out of 5 – Very Good