“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 81

27 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Crystal, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 81, jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Wizard

Fantastic Four 81
“Enter — The Exquisite Elemental!”
Published Sept. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

Crystal, the Inhuman girlfriend of the Human Torch, appears in a Fantastic Four costume of her own design and makes the case she should join the team to fill-in for the Invisible Girl, who has just given birth. As the rest of the team expresses doubts because of her age, the Wizard attacks. Johnny rushes out to confront him alone, but is soon joined by Mr. Fantastic, the Thing and Crystal. The FF battles the Wizard, and Crystal demonstrates both her strategic savvy and power, subduing the Wizard almost singlehandedly. The Wizard escapes but the team welcomes Crystal as its first replacement member.

What’s going on here?

After a tense and momentous annual (Annual 6 – read all about it), and before another multi-issue arc begins, this issue feels like an opportunity for everyone to catch their breath. The Wizard is a useful villain for this sort of story: threatening enough to keep it interesting, but not so dangerous that he can’t easily be beaten in a few pages.

The introduction of Crystal as a member of team is obviously the big development here, and the story serves as a reminder she has considerable superpowers of her own. After spending most of the last year sidelined as Sue’s companion and nurse, it would have been easy to forget. Also worth noting is the great cover, which highlights Crystal.

A cast of thousands

Crystal is the first replacement member, but there have been many over the years. Here’s a round up of the most notable, both official and unofficial, new members.

Crystal’s cousin Medusa also replaced the Invisible Girl:

*Fantastic Four 132 (1973, Thomas/J. Buscema/Sinnott)*

Power Man, better known today as Luke Cage, famous replaced the de-powered Thing for a few issues:

*Fantastic Four 168 (1976, Thomas/Buckler/Sinnott)*

She-Hulk also replaced the Thing. after he elected to stay on Battle World following the Secret Wars:

Under writer Steve Englehart, both Reed and Sue were replaced, by Ms. Marvel (Sharon Ventura) and Crystal again.

*Fantastic Four 307 1987 (Englehart/J.Buscema/Sinnott)*

During Tom Defalco’s run, Ant-Man (Scott Lang) was hired by the team as a replacement scientist for Reed. I don’t recall if he ever became an official member, but he hung around for a long time.

*Fantastic Four 384 (1994, Defalco/Ryan/Bulanadi)*

After the Civil War, in which Reed and Sue were on opposite sides, the two took a leave of absence and were replaced by Storm and the Black Panther (who were married at the time).

*Fantastic Four 544 (2007, McDuffie/Pelletier/Magyar)*

And when Johnny apparently died—he was actually captured by Annihilus—Spider-Man stepped in.

The sexist sixties

Virtually this whole issue could qualify as an example of Stan and Jack’s casual sexism, starting with the title (“the exquisite elemental”). Sue never appears, and he decision to replace her is made without any discussion with her. Crystal is dismissed and condescended to throughout, up until the final panel where Reed asks her to join the team, and Johnny makes a “powder-puff” reference. The Wizard is particularly bad, though.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Joe Sinnott

I don’t highlight Sinnott’s inking enough.

Crazy credits

It’s been a while since we had one of these:

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Some more great splash pages in this issue:

And this one:

Also on newsstands

What else was on sale in September 1968?

Next issue: The return of the Inhumans!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four Annual 6

24 Thursday Nov 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Annihilus, Annual, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four Annual 6, Franklin Richards, jack Kirby, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four Annual 6
“Let There Be … Life!”
Published Nov. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The story begins with Mr. Fantastic frantically looking for a way to save the Invisible Girl, who is about to give birth to their child, from the “cosmic radiation” that remains in her blood following the accident that gave the team its powers. Reed has determined that one element, found only in the Negative Zone, can save her, and as he prepares to enter the zone to retrieve it, the Thing and the Human Torch insist on joining him.

Once in the Negative Zone, Reed is attacked and captured by a Scavenger, a creature in the employ of Annihilus, an insect-like warlord. Eventually Ben and Johnny are also captured, and the three are sent to the arena, where they are subject to Annihilus’s torture devices. The team overcomes them, and Reed realizes Annihilus’s control rod, which he wears around his neck, contains the element he needs to save Sue.

Reed steals the control rod and the team escapes, only to be pursued by Annihilus and his minions. Eventually the trio reaches a zone where “space is transformed into antimatter” (last seen in issue 51) and where they are powerless. Trapped, they strike a deal with Annihilus, who returns their harnesses, which allow them to travel through the Negative Zone, in return for the control rod, (save for a small amount of the element within Reed keeps t save Sue).

The team returns to earth in time to deliver the element to the hospital, and after an anxious wait, find Sue has given birth to a healthy (unnamed) son.

What’s going on here?

This is a big issue, with a lot going on. Aside from some very notable first appearances, it’s just a great story, one of the best of Stan and Jack’s run. The stakes are high and there is genuine suspense, and even if Negative Zone science is a little peculiar, it all make sense. Jack’s art has never looked better, and the extra page count (it’s 48 pages of story) gives him room to stretch out, with six splash pages, including one double-page splash, just the second in his FF run to date.

This comics was voted the 38th best Fantastic Four story in a CBR poll, but I would argue it’s better than that, one of the best of the Lee / Kirby run.

While technically a King Size Special, this comic really functions as an annual, with its numbering consistent with other annuals. And it has all the elements of a great comic annual, with an exciting story anchored by a Big Event. Often it’s a wedding, but here it’s the birth of Franklin Richards.

Who’s the new guy?

The birth of Franklin Richards added a significant new dimension to the Fantastic Four. He helped solidify the family nature of the team, and was often playing with toys or getting underfoot in the Baxter Building. He also was often thrust into the hands of baby sitters—usually Alicia Masters or Agatha Harkness—and opened Reed and Sue up to accusations they were negligent parents (this became a story arc in J. Michael Straczynski’s run in the 2000s). After Dan Slott’s run sent Reed, Sue and their kids into space for six years, Franklin is now a surly teenager who inexplicably died his hair black (I suspect it’s to distinguish him from Johnny in group shots) and uses the horrible codename Powerhouse. Here he is mouthing off to his dad.

*X-Men/Fantastic Four 3 (2020), Zdarsky/Dodson/Dodso*n

After it was revealed Franklin had mutant powers in FF 130, generations of Fantastic Four writers haven’t been able to resist tinkering with him in various ways, whether it’s him using his powers as a child, prematurely aging him, or introducing us to teenage or adult Franklins from the future or other dimensions (or both). Franklin has been depicted by so many writers and artists in so many different ways over the years it would be impossible to show them all, but here are some of the more noteworthy (or egregious) examples.

For a long time, this was Franklin’s basic look (I always loved the “4 1/2” sweatshirt). This is a John Byrne image, but not sure from where.

This is a pretty typical depiction of this era. Note Agatha Harkness.

*Fantastic Four* *Annual 14 (1979) Wolfman/Perez/ Marcos*

Here he is prematurely aged:

Here’s an alternate future version of Franklin:

*Fantastic Four* 377 (1993) Defalco/Ryan/Bulanadi

Another (short-lived) alternate future version, from the classic Days of Future Past

*Uncanny X-Men 141 (1981) Claremont/Byrne/Austin*

A painful stint as a super hero in the present, as part of Power Pack

As a superhero in the future:

*Fantastic Four 605 (2012) Hickman/Garney*

And finally, a future version with his present self:

Enter the bad guy

The other major debut in FF Annual 6 is Annihilus, who becomes a top-tier Fantastic Four villain, maybe trailing only Doom as an FF bad guy. Almost every Negative Zone story features him in one way or another, and he was responsible for the apparent death of Johnny Storm in Johnathan Hickman’s run. Although I’m tempted to post his major appearances as well, I think I’ll just go with these great Kirby panels from this issue.

Reed Richards is a Jerk

I get that Reed is stressed, but jeez man, chill out.

It’s Clobberin’ Time

Of course it is.

The sexist sixties

Of course fathers aren’t allowed in the delivery room. That would be crazy!

Read all about it

Surely this is a HIPPA violation:

Weird science

That’s “Mr. All-Engulfing Sonic Sponge” to you.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

This issue is frankly a bit insane. Almost every other page has an example of over-the-top Kirby craziness, so I’m going to restrain myself to showing the very best examples. Hold on!

First up of course is this beauty:

More splash pages:

And some other amazing panels:

And some more:

And some more:

Really, I could go on. It’s a hell of an issue for Kirby fans.

Also on sale

August 1968 was a great month for comic covers. Here are a few more classics, from Carmine Infantino, Joe Kubert and Gene Colan:

Next issue: Crystal (finally) joins the team!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 80

13 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 80, jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Wyatt Wingfoot

Fantastic Four 80
“Where Treads the Living Totem!”
Published: August 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The Human Torch and the Thing are lazing around the Baxter Building avoiding housework when they receive a letter from Wyatt Wingfoot, Johnny’s former roommate, asking for help defeating a “living totem.” While the Invisible Girl is still expecting her baby, Mr. Fantastic says she is still a week away from delivering and the doctors urged him to leave the hospital.

As the three teammates fly west, Wyatt encounters Tomazooma, which appears to be legendary figure in the form of a gigantic Native American totem set on destroying him. While he flees the totem and is eventually overcome, Johnny briefly skirmishes with members of Wingfoot’s tribe before the three members of the FF meet with Silent Fox, the chief and Wyatt’s grandfather. He explain the tribe is wealthy because of its oil reserves, but they are fending off the Red Star oil company “from behind the iron curtain.”

Soon it becomes clear that Tomazooma is actually a giant robot designed to scare the tribe from its lands for their oil. After a battle, the FF helps Wyatt and his tribe defeat the robot, while what appears to the real Tomazooma is glimpsed in the distance.

What’s going on here?

This is a zany issue, full of over-the-top action, big Kirby splash pages, some highly cringe-worthy depictions of Native Americans, and a plot ripped straight from the pages of Scooby-Doo. Unlike recent issues, FF 80 has little impact on the bigger Fantastic Four narrative, aside from reintroducing Wyatt Wingfoot. Rather it’s a one-and-done adventure with a gimmicky villain and lots of glorious splash pages. It certainly feels dated now, but I imagine this would have been a lot of fun for kids to read in 1968.

Indigenous issues

First things first, FF 80’s depictions of Native Americans and their culture is highly problematic, bordering on the racist. Basically, every pop-culture stereotype about Natives is trotted out, short of peace pipes and smoke signals. The story may be set in 1968, but its Native Americans are apparently still stuck in 1868.

Stan and Jack attempt to blunt their depictions of Wyatt’s tribe by giving them wealth and technology, not unlike how they elevated their Wakanda from a African backwater to a technologically superior nation. But in the case of Wakanda, they took the time to build a country and its culture. Here, we get a few Native Americans with ray guns, and a lot of clumsy writing.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also get references to “red skins” and “pale faces.”

About that plot

As it turns out, the giant Tomazooma isn’t actually the living incarnation of Native American myth, but a giant robot the Red Star Oil company deployed to seize oil fields. All that’s missing is Tomozoom pulling off its mask and saying “I would have gotten away with it if weren’t for you kids!”

Still, there’s a lot that goes unexplained. What is the significance of the villainous company being from behind the iron curtain (surely there are evil American oil companies), and how could they drill on US soil anyway? And who built a robot so powerful it thwarted three member of the Fantastic Four? None of this is addressed.

The sexist sixties

Not only is Crystal in charge of cleaning the Baxter Building, but she wears a French maid’s apron to do it in. Plus she gets left behind to look after Sue when the boys go on their adventure.

Shenanigans

Not entirely sure why this scene merited a splash page, or what song Ben is singing, but it sure is something.

It’s clobbering’ time!

Is it ever!

Weird science

Why can’t Tomazooma shoot laser beams like all the other killer robots?

Never leave home without it

Apparently Wyatt travels with a portable bazooka at the ready

The incredible Mr. Fantastic

This is a new trick for Reed

Letters page

This is a great letter, from a fan who says the FF was better in the Good Old Days of four years earlier, in part because there were more panels per comic (he also anticipates the infamous Hulk story by John Byrne, which ran in Marvel Fanfare 29, where every page was a panel, or every panel was a page).

Bullpen bulletins

All sorts of juicy details in this months bulletin: John Romta has a new car, Roy Thomas has a Nehru jacket, Stan has grown a beard …

This is new

The cover has a message for retailers about a new marketing program. It’s as boring as it sounds, but it’s odd they felt they needed to mar the cover to get the message across.

For sale

All sorts of stuff on offer, from horse posters to plastic pillows. And I’m kind of digging these Cheerios ads.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

The show stopper is this splash of Tomazooma, although it’s not clear if he is the Totem that Walks, or the Death that Walks. I guess it can be both

An excellent sequence

Also on newsstands

August 1968 was just a stellar month for covers. I chose three great Marvel covers, from John Romita, Jim Steranko, and John Buscema, but there were another dozen just as good.

Next issue: Annual 6 and Annihilus!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 79

06 Sunday Nov 2022

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 79, jack Kirby, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 79
“A Monster Forever?”
Published July 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Jack Kirby
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

Fantastic Four 79 opens with the Human Torch, Crystal and the Thing hanging out in the Baxter Building, celebrating Ben’s return to human form. As Johnny and Crystal head out for a day on the town, a nervous Ben takes a taxi to see his girlfriend, Alicia. In his anxiety, he absent-mindedly brings along the Wizard’s “wonder gloves,” confiscated after their battle last issue.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fantastic is confronted with test results that show the Invisible Girl’s pregnancy might be threatened by her exposure to the cosmic rays that gave her powers. When Sue asks him what’s wrong, he deflects and doesn’t share his concerns.

Elsewhere, the New York police are examining the workshop of the Mad Thinker, last seen in issue 71, when they inadvertently awaken his Android Man, which has been programmed to seeks out a signal sent by the Thinker. For reasons not really explained, the Android Man picks up a signal from the Wizard’s wonder gloves, and crashes into the restaurant where Ben and Alicia are dining in pursuit of the holder of the gloves. In the confusion, Alicia hangs on to the gloves, and Ben, in human form, tries to slow the Android. But with Alicia in danger, Ben forces himself to transform back into the Thing, knowing the change will be irreversible, and defeats the android.

What’s going on here?

This is an excellent issue, full of humor, drama, and tension. The focus is really on three couples: Johnny and Crystal, who are enjoying being young in New York; Reed and Sue, who are expecting a child and full of worry; and Ben and Alicia, who are struggling to adjust to the dramatic change in Ben’s appearance.

The Android Man is a useful villain, even if its appearance doesn’t make a ton of sense (did the Thinker make the Wizard’s gloves? it’s never explained). There is an inevitability to Ben returning back to the Thing, but it doesn’t make the moment any less poignant.

Ben and Alicia

There is a painful awkwardness between Ben and Alicia’s meal together …

.
… which is —almost thankfully—interrupted by the Android looming in the window, then bursting through it.

Clobberin’ time

This is an all-time-great use of Ben’s signature line.

In a family way

Reed’s unwillingness, or inability, to be truthful with Sue about her condition is equally uncomfortable. Thus far, this is as close to appearing pregnant as we’ve seen Sue.

We also get this splash-page portrait of Reed and Sue, apparently due to popular demand:

Young love

There’s a lot of fun, flirty banter between Johnny and Crystal.

Top O’ the Mornin’

FF 79 marks the debut of Sergius O’Hollihan, the Baxter Building’s doorman and a (very) minor supporting character distinguished mainly by his caricatured Irish brogue.

He shows up a few more times over the years including, bizarrely, as a a mental construct the Thing conjures up while stuck on Battleworld in 1985’s Thing 21 (by John Byrne, Ron Wilson and Joe Sinnott).

Little Red Corvette

Johnny’s car gets a lot of attention in this issue

Mid century-modern

More intriguing decorating choices in the Baxter Building

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Some cool panels:

Also on the newsstands

What else was on sale in July of 1968?

Next issue: Wyatt Wingfoot returns!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 78

23 Sunday Oct 2022

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 78, jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Wizard

Fantastic Four 78
“The Thing No More!”
Published June 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The three male members of the Fantastic Four have returned from their adventures in the microverse, and while Mr. Fantastic checks on the Invisible Girl—who is pregnant and now bed ridden—the Thing and the Human Torch putter around the Baxter Building.

Meanwhile, the Wizard, a villain last seen in issue 57 is out of prison and threaten his revenge with new weapons, his Wonder Gloves (TM). Also, Crystal the Inhuman, who has been at Sue’s side, learns that Sue’s pregnancy may be at risk because of the effects on her cells of the cosmic radiation which gave the team their powers.

Back in the Baxter Building, Reed summons Ben and Johnny and tells them he has at last found a method to return Ben to human form. Ben drinks Reed’s concoction and changes back, only for the team to be attacked by the Wizard. Ben charge into the fight, forgetting he’s no longer the Thing, and Reed saves him but is knocked out in the process. Johnny eventually subdues the Wizard and removes his gloves, but the villain escapes. Ben asks Reed to devise a way for him to change back and forth so he won’t be a liability, but as the issue ends Reed says he can only be Ben or the Thing, not both.

What’s going on here?

This is a very good comic, and nice recovery after last issue’s dud. It’s well paced, there’s plenty of character building and some nice moments between team members, there’s an ominous development about Sue’s pregnancy, and there’s some genuine complexity in the question of Ben’s duty to himself and to his teammates. The story also has the hallmarks of what later would be called a “quiet issue” when deployed by Chris Claremont in the X-Men. After a big, multi-issue adventure, Stan and Jack give the team—and readers—time to catch their breaths and take stock. It’s an important but overlooked tactic in writing superhero books. Fans want action, of course, but they also want their characters to evolve as people, and that happens in their downtime.

The centerpiece of FF 78 is Ben’s transformation back to human form. Jack shows his change in a dramatic sequence:

When I first read it, the sequence reminded me of this sequence from Jack’s New Gods that came after his jump to DC a few years later. When I look at them together, in retrospect they don’t have much in common, but you can decide.

Ben’s transformation also produces this agonizing decision, and reveals his depth of feeling for Reed, whom he has every right to resent (and occasionally does):

While it’s not explicitly mentioned, the Wizard started as a Human Torch villain in his solo stories in Strange Tales, so it’s satisfying to see Johnny take him own without the help of Ben and Reed. Johnny often feels like a junior partner in these stories and we can forget he’s more than capable of fighting bad guys on his own.

They’re (not) fighting again

FF 78 also gives us some fun banter between Ben and Johnny. So many of their interactions have them fighting so it’s good to see these moments of companionable friendship.

Read all about it

Once again newspapers are the preferred media of communication

Ooops

This cultural reference doesn’t hold up so well

Bullpen bulletins

Technically this came from the letters page but it feels bullpenny.

For sale

Some intriguing ads in this issue. First up, Pete Duncan – “Dropout,” which is quite the saga. It’s like a John Updike story in 11 panels.

Next up, some science to go with your breakfast cereal. The connection between the two seems tenuous, but I’m OK with it (not sure what an Early Bird is, though.)

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Less cosmic grandeur in this issue, but still a few panels worth highlighting:

On the newsstands

What else was on sale in June of 1968?

Next issue: Ben has to make a terrible choice!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 77

16 Sunday Oct 2022

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Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 77, galactus, jack Kirby, Psycho-Man, Silver Surfer, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 77
“Shall Earth Endure?”
Published: May 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The three male members of the Fantastic Four are in the Microverse, where in the last issue they persuaded the Silver Surfer to return to Galactus and spare the earth by finding him another planet to consume. The FF, minus the soon-to-give-birth Invisible Girl, remained behind to pursue the Psycho-Man, and in the opening pages of FF 77, they are whisked via teleportation to the villain’s headquarters. There, they confront him only to discover they were fighting an illusion created by his emotion warping powers.

Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer has returned to the earth’s dimension, and flies across space to convince Galactus to spare the earth. Galactus commands the Surfer to find him another planet to consume, which he somehow is able to do quickly. But when the Surfer asks to be released from his imprisonment on earth, Galactus refuses, saying he needs to be able to find him.

Back in the microverse, the FF fight first a giant version of the Psycho-Man, then one in armor outfitted with weaponry. The FF eventually triumph when the Thing collapses his headquarters around the Psycho-Man, trapping him. But Mr. Fantastic orders him freed, explaining they need him to return to earth since they have been teleported away from their Reducta-craft. Reed tells the Psycho-Man that Galactus threatens his universe as well, and when he examines Reed’s mind and sees he’s telling the truth, returns the FF to their dimension to battle Galactus.

What’s going on here?

This issue concludes the four-issue Galactus/Pyscho-Man arc and unfortunately it ends with a fizzle, not a bang. The story’s problems started last issue, when Reed tells the team they need to remain behind to end the menace of the Psycho-Man. But how he intended to do that is never clear, and even when they have trapped him, it’s not clear what the next move was supposed to be—arrest him? murder him? The confusion about their purpose in the microverse speaks to the general aimlessness of the issue. The Surfer’s reunion with Galactus is unsatisfying and anti-climactic—he finds him new planet to consume in what seems like minutes—and the FF’s confrontation with the Psycho-Man ends with Reed sheepishly needing him to give the team a ride home.

On the plus side, Kirby is on the top of his game in this issue.

They’re fighting again

When I first read this panel, I assumed the Psycho-Man was using his mood altering powers to pit the team against each other. Nope, just their usual bickering.

Crazy Credits

Nil Nisi Optimus translates from latin as “nothing but the best is good enough.” If only that were true.

It’s Clobberin’ Time

Well, sort of.

Mid-century Modern

More Baxter Building interior decor. Is that a Cezanne?

Weird science

Why, yes, it is a computerized matter receiver.

Ladies and gentlemen, Joe Sinnott:

A master at work.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Some great splash pages in this issue. Like this one:

and this one:

And this sequence:

Also on the newsstands

What else was on sale in May of 1968?

Next issue: The return of the Wizard!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 76

09 Sunday Oct 2022

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Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 76, jack Kirby, Psycho-Man, Silver Surfer, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 76
“Stranded in Sub-Atomica!”
Published: April 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

In the previous issue, Mr. Fantastic vows to find the Silver Surfer for Galactus, and deduced he shrunk himself into the microword, a dimension between molecules and home of the Psycho-Man. Fantastic Four 76 opens with Reed, Ben and Johnny—Sue is still sidelined because of her pregnancy—boarding the Reducta-Craft and shrinking in pursuit of the Surfer. The team quickly finds him and when they try to corral him, a battle ensues and they are badly beaten by the perturbed Surfer.

Meanwhile, as they fight, the Psycho-Man stumbles upon them—what a coincidence!—and dispatches what appears to be an indestructible android to retrieve the Surfer. But it instead encounters the FF, and battles them to a standstill. Realizing time is running out, Reed sends Ben and Johnny to capture the Surfer while he prepares to battle the android, to his death, if necessary. But just as Reed prepares to grapple with it, the machine disappears, removed by the Surfer. After overhearing the FF, the Surfer now realizes the fate of the earth is at stake, and he says he will voluntarily return to Galactus. The issue ends with the Surfer riding off and the three members of the FF determined to pursue the Pyscho-Man.

What’s going on here?

While there are some cool visuals, and great interplay between Reed, Ben and Johnny, this issue unfortunately feels like padding. The confrontation with the Surfer seems pro-forma, and the fight with the indestructible android reads a lot like other recent battles, such as with Galactus’s Punisher two issues ago, or with the Mad Thinker’s android in issue 71. All these enemies are really proxies for more potent foes, and they lack the same stakes or sense of urgency as when the FF fight the actual villain themselves. This issues ends with a fizzle, too, as the Surfer bails out the FF, and decides to resolve things with Galactus. Reed’s decision to stay in the microverse makes a lie out of the title, “Stranded in Sub-Atomica.”

Best pals

There are some nice moments between the three teammates, such as here when Reed admits his mistake and Ben is quick to forgive him.

And here, when he apologizes for implying Ben and Johnny didn’t take the mission seriously enough.

The sexist sixties

As she has for the last few issues, Crystal continues to patronize Sue by telling her everything is fine.

Doctor who?

In this issue, we learn Sue is nearing full term, despite never appearing visibly pregnant. We also learn that doctors still made house calls in 1968, and men still wore hats.

Weird science

This whole issue is basically all weird science, but I particularly liked Reed’s explanation of how the Reducta-Craft is powered.

Bang! Pow!

Some cool sound effects in this issue. Maybe things sound different in the microverse.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

We have to start with this splash page

Other cool images:

Also on the newsstands

Here’s what else was on sale in April 1968

Next issue: The conclusion to the Galactus / Psycho-Man story!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 75

02 Sunday Oct 2022

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 75, galactus, jack Kirby, Silver Surfer, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 75
“Worlds Within Worlds!”
Published: March 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

Fantastic Four 75 follows closely behind FF 74, when the team—minus the pregnant Invisible Girl—got wrapped up in Galactus’s quest to locate the missing Silver Surfer, his former herald, so that the Surfer could find new planets for him to consume. FF 75 opens with Mr. Fantastic, the Thing and the Human Torch on an unnamed island off the coast of New York City, waiting for Galactus’s next move.

Galactus—still light years away on his space ship—initially destroys the island, then pulls the trio into space where they black out, before they are revived on the once-again intact island. The team then confronts doppelgängers of themselves created by Galactus, and after a long battle, finally defeat them by switching up opponents. Finally, when Galactus threatens to destroy Manhattan by dropping a massive meteor on it, Reed pledges to find the Surfer. The issue closes with the trio preparing to shrink into the mircoverse, where they suspect the Surfer has traveled.

What’s going on here?

This is a fun issue, with high stakes, great action and some amazing gee-whiz Kirby art, although not all of it makes a lot of sense. It’s not really obvious that subjecting the FF to various trials was supposed to force them to give up the Surfer’s location—Galactus doesn’t make his demands known until after they fight the doppelgangers—and at any rate, it seems like killing them would not be an effective way to get information. Mostly it’s an opportunity to show off Galactus’s power, and have the three FF members fight evil versions of themselves.

The sequence with the FF being lifted into space, nearing death, then waking up on the ground is a particularly good one.

He wears short shorts

This might be Galactus’s last appearance in shorts:

By the time of his next appearance, in Silver Surfer 1 later that year (technically a flashback), he’s in long pants:

Silver Surfer 1 (19868, Lee/J. Buscema/Sinnott)

He’s also wearing long pants in his subsequent appearances in Thor, which Kirby drew.

The sexist sixties

Once again, Sue is not just sidelined, but patronized as Crystal keeps her from learning her team is battling for their lives.

They’re fighting again

Technically they trade blows since they fight versions of themselves, but also in this spirited argument between Ben and Reed.

The incredible Mr. Fantastic

Reed vs. evil Reed

It’s Clobberin’ time

**Weird science**

Johnny is as skeptical about Reed’s “thought waves” as the rest of us.

Say what?

Halavah, more commonly known as halva, is apparently a middle eastern desert made of sesame seeds and honey. It’s not at all clear why Ben is thinking about it here.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Some cool comic stuff from Jack

Also on news stands

Looking at what else was on sale in March 1968:

Next issue: Into the micro-verse!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 74

25 Sunday Sep 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 74, galactus, jack Kirby, Punisher, Silver Surfer, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 74
“When Calls Galactus!”
Published Feb. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The Thing enters the apartment of his girlfriend, Alicia Masters, only to find the Silver Surfer there in a state of distress. When Ben, jealous, moves to confront the Surfer (in an echo of issue 55), he and Alicia explain the Surfer has been recalled by Galactus, indicating the planet-devourer must be desperate and that earth is in danger.

Galactus has sent the Punisher, the cyborg he used to attack the FF when he last visited earth, to bring back the Surfer. After blasting it with his cosmic power, the Surfer collapses and Ben and the Human Torch take on the Punisher, without much success

After again shunting the pregnant Invisible Girl aside, Mr. Fantastic joins the fight. The Punisher, however, vanishes, returning to its master in space, leaving the team to ponder Galactus’s next move.

What’s going on here?

Fantastic Four 74 is a place-setting issue, putting the pieces in place for a multi-issue arc, but it’s a pretty effective one. It reintroduces Galactus as an earth-destroying threat, and by once again using the Punisher as a foil, Stan and Jack emphasize Galactus’s power (if his minion can throttle the FF, what is Galactus capable of?)

After his appearance in a flashback in Daredevil 37 (discussed last week), in Thor 134, and now here, Galactus is by now pretty thoroughly integrated into the the Marvel Universe. Stan and Jack apparently hadn’t planned that—they wanted him to appear sparingly, to maintain his grandeur—but Stan, listening to fan requests, decided to bring him back. As a result, we got epic splash pages like this:

Incidentally, Jack liked that image so much he re-used it the next year, in Thor 160 (this time with inks by Vince Coletta):

About that name

The Punisher is a pretty cool concept.

Unfortunately it shared a name with a lot more important Marvel character, which probably is one reason it appears so infrequently. Here it is Thanos 4, from 2003, by Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom.

The sexist sixties

For the last few issues, Sue has been deliberately kept away from the action, ostensibly to protect her and her unborn baby. Her exclusion is taken to more ridiculous levels, when Reed won’t even tell her what’s going on and instead treats her like an invalid (and enlisting the similarly wasted Crystal to help him do his dirty work).

Follow that car!

Ben needs to take a cab to rejoin the action.

It reminded me of this dramatic scene when Ben was again in a cab, from Fantastic Four 259 (1883) by John Byrne.

Clobberin’ Time

Speaking of Ben, it’s been a few issues since we had one of these

He’s all grown up

Nice character developing scene here with the Torch, who is shown taking on more responsibilities despite still being a teenager. He too often gets written as a yahoo, and he has more maturity than that.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Some cool cosmic stuff in this issue.

**Also on newsstands**

Other comics on sale in February 1968

Next issue: The return of Galactus!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 73

18 Sunday Sep 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 73, jack Kirby, Spider-Man, Stan Lee, Thor

**Fantastic Four 73**
“The Flames of Battle…”
Published: Jan. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

**Note:** Apologies for missing last week. A family event intervened. I try to write these posts every weekend but unfortunately it’s not always possible.

Synopsis

Fantastic Four 73 follows not another FF issue but Daredevil 38, the first time the FF readers have needed to read another Marvel comic to keep track of an FF story.

Daredevil 38 is the third issue of a convoluted arc that starts with Daredevil fighting the Trapster, who subdues the Invisible Girl and plants a bomb in the Baxter Building. Daredevil rescues the Sue and disposes of the bomb, then battles the Trapster. After taking a beating, Daredevil is dazed in the New York subway, where he is confronted by Dr. Doom.

Doom captures Daredevil and eventually switches bodies with him, part of a plot to defeat the FF. Daredevil, in the body of Doom, uses a radio to warn the Fantastic Four of the switch, then orders Latveria to attack its neighboring countries. Doom quickly switches the bodies back to avoid a war, but uses a voice modulator to impersonate Daredevil and convince the FF that he is still in Daredevil’s body.

Daredevil 38, Stan Lee/Gene Colan/Frank Giacoia

Fantastic Four 73, then, begins with the FF preparing to fight Daredevil, who they think still contains the consciousness of Doom. Daredevil tries to convince them he’s really himself, but the FF won’t hear it. After tangling with the Human Torch, Spider-Man arrives and realizes Daredevil will need reinforcements to take on the FF. He recruits Thor, who is dazed from a battle with Wrecker, and eventually the three heroes battle the FF, with Daredevil taking on Reed, Spidey fighting Johnny (for about the 100th time) and Thor battling the Thing (possibly for the first time).

The fight finally ends when Sue intervenes, saying that she saw Doom in Latveria on the 6 pm news. Reed apologies and Daredevil says it’s no big deal.

What’s going on here?

This is a peculiar issue. No only does is it require readers to have read a few issues of Daredevil prior, but the plot is incredibly flimsy and contrived. Spider-Man and Thor are shoehorned into the comic with the weakest possible explanations—literally they were just passing by—and then serve no real purpose except to provide sparring partners for the FF. Usually in a superhero team-up situation, after they fight and they realize it was all a big misunderstanding, they join forces to go after the bad guy. Not here: Once Sue let’s them know it was a mistake, they all go their separate ways. Of course it’s fun to see the Thing battle Thor, or Reed fight Daredevil, but it would be a lot more satisfying if it was in a more coherent story.

Making it even more frustrating is that the Daredevil stories leading up to it are much more fun and interesting. Yes, the switching bodies is a bizarre plot device, but Lee explores how Daredevil would react to having sight again, and Doom’s confusion over Daredevil’s radar sense. We also get an explanation of how Doom—who, last time we saw him, had stolen the power of the Silver Surfer—survived running into Galactus’s barrier (Galactus, sensing it was not the Surfer, gently transported Doom to Latveria). And Gene Colan knocks it out of the park with his art.

Oops

Fantastic Four 73 also has a surprising number of errors and goofs. One obvious one: In one panel, Jack draws Daredevil’s mask so you can see his eyes, then changes back to his eye-covers (or whatever you want to call them) for the rest of the comic.

Here, it seems like Stan is writing around Jack’s art to explain how Daredevil could stun Ben with a kick. Stan’s explanation: Reed used a “nerve blast ray” on Ben.

And perhaps most perplexing is how Thor is dealt with. His appearance apparently come between panels in Thor 150 (although there is no mention of it in the Thor comic), where he has apparently lost his powers. After he is recruited by Spider-Man, he can’t fly, and has to hitch a ride on Spidey’s webs. This is just weird:

Then as he battles Ben, this happens:

No further explanation is provided, until the last page, when Ben say Thor hold him he had to fight the Wrecker. But we have no idea of what happened in the above sequence. Maybe a subsequent story has addressed it, but I’m not aware of it.

Weird science

Along with the aforementioned “nerve blast ray,” there is also a “demolo-gun.” (And this isn’t the first time Reed has left extremely dangerous, and easily engaged, weapons lying around his lab).