“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 84

18 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Dr. Doom, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 84, jack Kirby, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 84
“The Name is Doom!”
Published Dec. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

After their adventure with the Inhumans last issue, the Fantastic Four—Mr. Fantastic, the Thing, the Human Torch and Crystal filling in for the Invisible Girl—are flying back home through the Himalayas in a “gyro-ship,” a gift from Inhuman king Black Bolt. They are intercepted by Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan of Shield, who need the FF’s help with a secret army amassing in Europe. As Fury shows the FF a robot arm sent by a Shield agent, the arm takes on a life of its own, grabbing a gun and blasting the FF before Johnny destroys it.

Reed suspects the robot is the handiwork of Dr. Doom, and the team travels incognito from a neighboring Communist country to Latveria, where their car is quickly destroyed and they are surrounded by Doom’s robots. While Reed urges the team not to fight back—his plan is for them to be captured to learn Doom’s secrets—Johnny attacks when they seize Crystal, and the rest of the team battles back before they are subdued. The team awakens in a comfortable inn, and are greeted warmly by Latverians. Doom, monitoring them, reveals they have been hypnotized into not using their powers

Eventually they are reunited with Crystal in a town square, and only when Reed attempts to escape does Doom warn the FF that they must remain in Latveria as his prisoners, where they must be happy or die.

What’s going on here?

This is a promising set-up for a Doom story, with Doom engaged in his typically sinister machinations, this time with Latveria as the backdrop. While we’ve seen Latveria before, this is the first time the FF (or readers) have spent much time with Latverians, and it adds to the more nuanced view of Doom and Latveria that Marvel writers have developed over the years. Yes, Doom is an absolute monarch and a dictator, but he ensures his people are cared for and happy, provoking questions about security vs. freedom. It’s a bit of a simple construct for political analysis, but hey, it’s a comic book.

There have been too many depictions of Latveria and Doomstadt to count, but they generally use the template established here by Stan and Jack, of a kind of story-book, fairy-tale European kingdom. John Byrne took the ball and ran with it here in FF 258 (from 1983). In Latveria, the men are all strong, the women are all pretty and the children are all above average. Just don’t ask too many questions.

Where are we?

Geographically, we are told in this issue Latveria lies “deep in the heart of the Balkans,” which is more or less consistent with how it’s described over the years and where it’s depicted in a Marvel Universe map from 1987.

Yet here in FF 84 a dissident tries to escape via the sea. At least it looks like the sea. Maybe it’s a big lake.

The sexist sixties

The comic again pays short shrift to Sue and her (still) unnamed baby. Reed at one point mentions he’d like to go home and see his baby, but he is overruled by Nick Fury, who seems to command anyone at will. Well, at least he tried.

Deus Ex Fury

Fury’s appearance here is typical of how he’s used in many Fantastic Four (and Avenger) comics over the years: He shows up briefly, asks he super-team to investigate someting, then vanishes. It’s an effective way to getting the plot rolling, even if it becomes a bit of a cliche.

It’s Clobberin’ Time

Indeed it is.

Red Menace

A reminder that it’s still the Cold War.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Here’s a totally nuts opening splash page:

Plus another excellent splash:

This is an outstanding page:

And a cool panel:

Also on sale

What else was on the newsstands on December 1968? (Sheng the Savage is not to be confused with Ming the Merciless).

Next issues: In the clutches of Doom!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 83

11 Sunday Dec 2022

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 83, Inhumans, jack Kirby, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 83
“Shall Man Survive?”
Published November 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

After the events of last issue, in which Maximus the Mad imprisoned the Inhumans and the Fantastic Four, Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing attempt to escape a sealed room, but can’t because Maximus’s hypno-rays leave unable to fully use their powers.

Elsewhere, as Maximus prepares to unleash his hypno-gun on humanity and conquer the earth, Black Bolt uses his voice power to shatter the glass enclosure, freeing the rest of the Inhumans. Separately, the Fantastic Four breaks free after Reed convinces Ben and Johnny to concentrate and realize they weren’t actually trapped. The three then quickly defeat Zorr, Maximus’s robot, before it can use the hypo-powers that beat them last issue.

The Inhuman and the FF then converge on Maximus, and as Crystal destroys his hypno-gun, Maximus escapes.

What’s going on here?

Fantastic Four 83 is a mostly satisfying conclusion to the events of last issue. It’s full of action, has some fun art, and lots of Ben cracking wise. The Inhumans’ escape seems a bit too easy—surely Maximus would have accounted for Black Bolt’s voice—and ultimately Maximus’s plan is foiled without much trouble. But the story is well paced, and we get a lot of Maximus as a mustache-twirling super villain.

The only big development in FF 83 is we finally see Sue and her baby, three issues after his birth in FF Annual 6. It’s only a few panels, but it’s a sign of life!

Silent Night

Unusually, FF 83 has a long sequence of the Inhumans battling without word balloons, sound effects or narrations. It’s the first time I’ve seen this in the FF, and I wonder if it’s related to Black Bolt’s silence. It reminds me of a sporting event, when the announcers shut up after a big moment (in this case, it was after the Inhumans freed themselves).

Those Wacky Inhumans

Jack clearly has fun coming up with zany Inhuman characters. A centaur, a flying guy, a tree guy etc.

The sexist sixties

This may be the most pathetic example of Sue’s helplessness. I can accept her needing Reed’s help to fight Dr. Doom, but to name a baby????

It’s Clobberin’ Time

These get better and better

Reunited

This is a fun panel

Dig that Kirby Krackle

We get two full page splash pages in this issue. If I’m being honest, I don’t love the Inhumans one – Black Bolt’s proportions seem off.

Some other cool panels

Also on sale

What else was on the newsstands in November 1968?

Next issue: The return of Dr. Doom!

“The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” Fantastic Four No. 82

03 Saturday Dec 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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1968, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 82, Inhumans, jack Kirby, Maximus the Mad, Stan Lee

Fantastic Four 82
“The Mark of the .. Madman!”
Publiched Oct. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Artie Simek
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

With Crystal now a member of the Fantastic Four—filling in for the Invisible Woman, who recently gave birth—she tells the rest of the team she needs to secure permission from her family, the Inhumans. But as soon as she speaks it, Lockjaw teleports into the Baxter Building, followed by a horde of Alpha Primatives who capture her and disappear with her and Lockjaw. Back at the Inhumans Great Refuge (still not called Attilan), Crystal discovers Maximus the Mad has subdued the rest of the Inhuman Royal family via his “hypno-potions,” and capturing Crystal was his final blow.

Meanwhile, the three male members of the FF pursue Crystal via the FF’s ICBM, and once they arrive in the Himalayas, they are first trapped in a chamber by Maximus, then attacked, and eventually subdued by a robot called Zorr. The issue ends with Maximus planning to conquer the rest of the Earth. (For what’s it’s worth, the scene on the cover appears no where in the comic).

What’s going on here?

This is a fairly straightforward adventure comic that feels somewhat predictable. It features the return of the Inhumans, so naturally the villain is Maximus, and of course his plan is conquering the world. For the second issue in a row, Sue (and her still unnamed) baby are noticeably absent. I get why Stan and Jack wouldn’t want to bog down a comic with too much domesticity, but part of the FF’s appeal is it’s focus on family. Surely checking in on Sue and her new baby once wouldn’t be too much to ask?

If anything helps this comic rise about the average, it’s Jack’s great pencils and layouts. The art looks better than ever, and as we enter the final quarter of his run on the FF, he’s clearly letting his art air out. There’s more four- and even two-panel pages, and more splash pages, including two in this issue. It wasn’t uncommon to go many issues without a single splash page (aside from the opening page) and now they’re a regular feature.

I’m not a robot

Zorr is yet another very human-like robot the FF have fought in the last dozen or so issues. Along with the Kree Sentry, there was also Galactus’s Punisher, and the Thinker’s Android Man. All had very human-like speech patterns and behaviors (aside from the Punisher, but that was specifically described as half creature, half machine). It’s not clear if this is just a coincidence, or a conscious decision by Stan and Jack, but seems worth noting.

These guys look familiar

The Inhuman Alpha Primatives here look a lot like the Parademons Jack would create in a few years when he jumped to DC.

Oy vey

Another very specifically Jewish reference from Ben (a megillah is literally a scroll from the Book of Esther). Ben wasn’t explicitly identified as Jewish until much layer (not until in 2002). but he was the character that most resembled Jack (both grew up on the Lower East Side etc) and it made sense that Ben to sounds like a New York Jew, whether or not Stan and Jack intended to make him Jewish.

Who?

Reed calls Ben “Benjy” here. Which seems like a mistake.

It’s Clobberin’ Time

A pretty good one, at that.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you Joe Sinnott

More great inks from the master.

For sale

Live monkeys? Seriously?

We get letters

Someone had too much time on their hands

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Along with the great splash pages, there are some impressive smaller panels.

Also on newsstands

What else was on sale in October 1968?

Next issue: Does Maximus conquer Earth?

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

27 Sunday Nov 2022

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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

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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. 75

02 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by percivalhenry in The World's Greatest Comic Magazine

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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.