“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Giant-Size Super-Stars Featuring the Fantastic Four No. 1

28 Thursday Nov 2024

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1974, Fantastic Four, Gerry Conway, Giant-size, Giant-Size Super-Stars Featuring the Fantastic Four No. 1, Rich Buckler

“The Mind of the Monster!”
Published Feb. 1974
Writer: Gerry Conway
Pencils: Rich Buckler
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Colors: Petra Goldberg
Editor: Roy Thomas
Cover: Buckler and Sinnott

Editor’s Note: OK, this requires a little explanation. When I set out to blog every issue of the Fantastic Four, the idea was to limit it to the regular book and annuals just to make the project manageable. Thus, no Strange Tales issues with the Human Torch and I don’t plan to blog about Marvel Two-in-One featuring the Thing (I figure I will decide what to do with the FF-starring mini-series when I get to them). Because of this, I didn’t give much thought to the issues of Giant-Size Fantastic Four, in part because I believed them to be reprints, along the lines of recent annuals (notably, there were no annuals with new material printed between 1968 and 1976). Belatedly, it came to my attention that the five issues of Giant-Size published in 1974 included new Fantastic Four material, with the stories serving as sort of a cross between an annual and a second FF series (the issues also include reprints, making them “Giant Size”). The stories take place in FF continuity, but are unconnected to the main book. Since they seem to fall under the “regular book and annual” rule I made for myself, I’m going to blog about them here. Unfortunately, I discovered this a bit late, so the first few of these are going to be out of order. This issue, for example, falls between FF 146 and 147, when Reed and Sue are still separated.

Adding to the confusion, this first issue was called Giant-Size Super-Stars (which is one hyphen too many) because it was originally intended to be an anthology book. But it was later decided each of the comics would get their one Giant-Size editions (ie. Giant-Size Spider-Man), and this run was renamed to Giant-Size fantastic Four but it kept the numbering.

Synopsis

Finding himself in New York City, Bruce Banner seeks the help of Mr. Fantastic to prevent his transformations into the Hulk. Reed is absent, but with the Thing’s help, Banner uses the equipment in the Baxter Building to build a device to cure both he and Ben of their monstrous forms. Instead, the device switches their brains, and the now-enraged Hulk ends up in the Thing’s body and vice-versa. The two battle throughout the city, joined by Thundra, and are only stopped when Reed tranquilizes the Hulk’s body, returning him to Bruce Banner’s form

What’s going on here

This is a truly nutty issue, but very fun in an unhinged way. Almost nothing in it makes sense — from Banner’s crazy idea of using the radiation in his and Bens’ bodies to cancel each other out, to their minds being switched to Thundra’s random appearance to Reed’s deduction of what happened. But the story moves along briskly, the scenario is novel enough to be interesting and the fight between the Hulk and Thing never gets boring (as it did in FF 112) in part because of the swapped identities.

Hulk / Thing fights are a staple of Marvel comics and of the half dozen or so I can recall, this is one of the more enjoyable ones.

What I liked

There are some fun touches throughout the issue, including this exchange between Ben and Banner about Reed’s coffee maker (although I found it odd that Ben can get him coffee but not a shirt):

Buckler does a great job depicting the Hulk, including one of the best transformation sequences I’ve seen:

I also liked this exchange between Reed and Medusa (who, again, is otherwise basically sidelined in this issue):

What I didn’t like

I was willing to accept a lot of this issue’s goofiness, but the idea that Reed could plunge a needle into the Hulk — whose skin repels machine gun fire — was a bridge too far.

There’s also a lot of self-referential editor’s notes in this issue, like this mention of “Marvel Time Paradox No. 74.” They’re unnecessary and distracting.

This sequence also includes one of my pet peeves: the hopelessly confused treatment of New York City real estate. Are we really supposed to believe the FF are in a rent-controlled building?

Overall

This issue was a hoot!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 153

24 Sunday Nov 2024

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1974, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 153, Tony Isabella

Fantastic Four 153
“Worlds in Collision!
Published Sept. 1974
Writer: Tony Isabella
Pencils: Rich Buckler
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Petra Goldberg
Editor: Roy Thomas
Cover: Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia

Synopsis

Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing manage to escape their confinement on Machus, the male-dominated world of Mahkizmo, only to be to sent to an arena, where they battle monsters alongside Thundra. Medusa arrives with Femizons from Thundra’s world, and the Thing and Thundra deal Mahkizmo a blow that detonates his nuclear power, and (somehow) merges Machus and the Femizon world, while returning the FF and Thundra to Earth.

What’s going on here?

There’s a lot to deal with here, but probably the most important development of FF 153 is that it was written by Tony Isabella, not Gerry Conway. The previous issue was Conway’s last on the FF, after a respectable 21 issue run (from 133 to 152) as either writer or scripter. His departure isn’t noted or addressed in the comic, and since it comes midway through a complicated arc, I suspect he didn’t leave on good terms. Conway was writing an insane seven or eight comics a month at this point, and maybe he just had enough. Isabella only lasts for one comic before Len Wein takes over for a handful of issues.

Isabella was a relatively new Marvel writer at this point — and he was enough of a fan that he had a letter to the editor printed in the FF only a year or two earlier — and unfortunately the handoff from Conway was not a smooth one. This issue is full of plot holes, clichés, and uses some awkward deus ex machina devices to reconcile a complicated story in a few pages. It’s unfortunate because, despite the clumsy Battle-of-the-Sexes framing, the multiverse concept Conway (and I’m guessing Roy Thomas) introduced here is a an intriguing one, and deserves more than the rushed treatment it gets here.

Also, it’s worth noting the cover is by Gil Kane, with inks by Frank Giacoia. Not their best work.

What I liked

There’s not much in this comic to get excited about. Bucker’s art, usually sturdy, felt rushed, but I did like this Kirby Krackle filled sequence.

What I didn’t like

It’s a long list. Probably the most egregious flaw in the comic is Isabella’s attempt to solve how the brutes of Machus and the Femizons will coexist. Basically, they’ll resolve their conflict by making out. While Conway and Isabella thankfully don’t dwell too much on this male/female parallel-worlds construct, it’s as painful and silly as the World of the 1950s / 60s storyline from about a dozen issues earlier. I can understand the impulse for why these writers want to tackle meatier subjects, but please guys, don’t tackle social commentary unless you have the space and ability to do it properly.

Equally maladroit was the explanation of why Thundra was returned to the FF’s dimension. Apparently “natural forces” wanted her there.

Also disappointing was the resolution of Medusa’s story arc and her mysterious disappearance. She traveled to Thundra’s world to recruit the Femizons, which would have been a cool way to defeat Mahkizmo, expect they last all of two panels.

There’s a lot of other goofy details, including various power- and will-sapping rays and cages, none of which are really necessary to the story and don’t make a ton of sense. There’s also the return of the FF-Must-Fight-For-Survival-In-The-Arena plot device, something we’ve seen at least twice so far in the Fantastic Four and will again many more times.

And, needless to say, Sue is nowhere to be seen in this issue, even after the heroes return to Earth.

Anything else?

This response in the letters page, probably by Thomas, was interesting and addresses the implications of Sue returning to Reed after their separation. It’s too bad they didn’t print the letter from Denys Howard, which sounds more thoughtful than most of the what got printed. A quick Google search reveals Howard went on to be active in the fanzine world in the late 70s.

Overall

Blech

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 152

10 Sunday Nov 2024

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1974, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 152, Gerry Conway, Marvel comics

Fantastic Four 152
“A World of Madness Made!”
Published Aug. 1974
Writer: Genny Conway
Pencils: Rich Buckler
Inks: Jim Mooney
Letters: Artie Simek
Colors: Jan Brunner
Cover: Buckler and John Romita

Synopsis

Thundra confronts Mahkizmo, who had just defeated most of the Fantastic Four, and as they battle they are transported to Machus, his male-dominated world (yes, I know – aren’t they all?). Mr. Fantastic modifies Dr. Doom’s time machine so the FF can pursue them, but when they arrive in the future dimension, they are again defeated and enslaved by Mahkizmo. Medusa escapes, but instead of freeing the rest of the FF, she uses the time machine to travel elsewhere.

What’s going on here

This issue continues the arc that began in FF 151. By now Mahkizmo and his bombastic rhetoric is starting to get tedious, and the story feels padded out with fight scenes that are pretty repetitive. I still like the multiversal plot, but the execution is not idea. The twist with Medusa is promising — we’ll see if Conway can stick the landing next issue.

The big development is the change of inker. Jim Mooney fills in for Joe Sinnott (John Romita Sr. chipped in to ink the cover) and the difference is pretty noticeable, with a rougher, thicker line. By this point, Mooney had been around forever, with his first credit in 1940 (!), and he worked pretty regularly until 1991. A true comics lifer.

Here are some representative examples of Mooney’s inks:

He’s not Sinnott (who is?) but the change is interesting.

What I liked

There were some fun moments in this comic, such as this exchange between Reed and Ben. I also liked Reed’s screen, which seems to use the Time magazine logo.

I also liked this line from the Torch. Very Walter White.

What I didn’t like

Sue is technically back, but in such a limited role that she might as well not be here. Of course, once she returns to the team she is immediately shunted to the side. Also, the way she’s carrying that machinery makes me wonder if it wasn’t initially drawn to be Franklin, then redrawn later.

Yes, I have complained Medusa doesn’t have enough of a role. And she’s a lot more present here. But this sequence doesn’t make sense. Mahkizmo, who bounces back from Ben’s blows, is knocked out by a wine bottle?

Anything else?

This feels an April Fool’s joke. Did Marvel really produce a comic called HITLER? (If it exists, I can’t find a record of it).

Overall

Pretty typical

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 151

02 Saturday Nov 2024

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1974, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 151, Gerry Conway, Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four 151
“Thundra and Lighting!”
Published July 1974
Writer: Gerry Conway
Pencils: Rick Buckler
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Colors: Petra Scotese
Editor: Roy Thomas
Cover: Buckler

Synopsis

The Thing and Human Torch’s clothes shopping is interrupted when an interdimensional warrior, Mahkizmo, invades the Baxter Building, demanding the whereabouts of Thundra. As he battles the FF (minus the Invisible Girl), Thundra explains to Medusa that Mahkizmo comes from a male-dominated planet parallel to her’s.

What’s going on here

Frequent readers of this blog know I regard this era of the Fantastic Four as a fairly uninspired one. While there are a few high points, mostly it’s a pretty dreary stretch between the end of Lee / Kirby and the beginning of the Byrne run. If anything , the period is notable for its silly plots and goofy villains, and while we’ve yet to get to the goofiest (Gaard, anyone?) I was bracing myself for this issue and the absurdly named Mahkizmo. Surely if any character embodied the lazy crutch of seizing on the news of the day and making it a comic story, it would be Mahkizmo, who—in his inevitable clash with the Femizon, Thundra—would caricature the mid 1970s, anti-ERA strain of American politics.

And yet, the issue wasn’t all that bad. There’s some fun characterizations, the plot is more nuanced than I expected and, despite the awful name and weird character design, Mahkizmo is a servicable villain. So much for judging a comic book by its cover.

What I liked

What redeems Mahkizmo is his absolutely savagery. As written by Gerry Conway, he just pummels the male members of the FF. There’s been other brutal characters, of course, but it’s hard to recall one that so completely overwhelms the FF.

His costume is a bit odd, and with all its straps, seems to foreshadow the 1990s look. Also, he appears to have taken off his shoes and is fighting in his socks in the double-page spread above.

Mahkizmo is really good at insults that reflect his contempt for his sissy-like enemies. My favorite is “male-ling.”

I liked the multi-verse explanation of Thundra and Mahkizmo’s origins, with their parallel universes being drawn together, which seem obviously inspired by the Fourth World stories Kirby was cranking out at DC. Some Kirby-esque character designs, too (no surprise there).

This is as cogent and concise and explanation for the multi-verse concept as I have seen (and this imagery will become familiar in about a decade):

And lastly, I liked the small bits of character development, from Ben and Johnny bonding over clothes shopping to Reed’s happiness at being reunited with his son and daughter.

What I didn’t like

Speaking of Sue and Franklin, where are they? You might think the issue after Sue is reunited with her husband and Franklin is returned to health might merit an appearance, but you clearly don’t think like Conway. Despite all th events of last issue, they are, shockingly, absent.

And despite my prediction that Medusa would at last be shuffled out of the team, she’s back, although she again serves no real purpose but to be a confidante to Thundra.

Anything else?

If you think the phrase “the Nuclear Man” is familar, you’re not wrong. Conway repurposed it for Firestorm, a hero he invented for DC a year years later.

Richard Pini, who later became half of the team of creators behind the legendary indie comic ElfQuest, has a letter to the editor (he’s not too happy with the book’s current direction):