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Post by Cei-U! on May 25, 2015 7:59:50 GMT -5
Maybe Protector got his gear from the Tinkerer in exchange for a percentage of his loot.
Cei-U! I summon the tenuous explanation!
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 29, 2015 0:59:18 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #9Credits
Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Artie Simek Synopsis: The Fantastic Four are bankrupt after Reed Richards sinks all the FF's money into stocks. The Sub-Mariner is scheming to use this to his advantage and offers the Fantastic Four one million dollars if they star in a film that he's producing. Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing discover that the film project is a setup, and after a brief altercation between the Invisible Girl and Sub-Mariner, the film is produced and an unwilling Sub-Mariner pays the FF their money. First Appearances: None Comments: The idea that a scientist as brilliant and as calculating as Reed Richards would gamble everything in the stock market is a hard pill to swallow, even this early in the FF's career. I do get that this was an amusing way to show that in the Marvel Universe all bets are off, and even successful superheros can run into trouble if they fail to pay their bills. The scene where the FF have to hitchhike to California is still one of my favorite scenes, even though such a thing would be unthinkably goofy even a few years down the line when the FF really come into their own. The idea that the Sub-Mariner would have access to near limitless wealth is a clever one and a concept that John Byrne would us to great effect during his run on Namor the Sub-Mariner in the early 90's. The art was particularly good in this issue. We still haven't come to Kirby's peak period yet, but some of the close-up facial expressions of the FF, not to mention the cameo celebrities, was the best work Kirby has done in this regard, at least at Marvel, up to this point. I do wonder how much of this was Ayers, though. Kirby certainly could move away from his unique style when he needed to, but some of the likenesses seemed a bit more Ayers than Kirby to me. Regardless, it was some masterful comic book penciling/inking. Characters Development: I think this is the issue where the Thing went from anti-hero to full fledged hero. He basically turns that corner right before our eyes. He'd always be gruff and cynical, but it's interesting to me how he comments to the FF that he wouldn't be above turning to a life of crime to make ends meet, but after his meeting with Alicia, who encourages him and points out his true heroic nature, he openly admits that he's ashamed of himself and then rushes off to rejoin his teammates, given them bear hug in the process. I love those two scenes. Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 8/8. I enjoyed this issue a lot and give it a high rating because of the pure fun of the issue and how gives us a nuanced looks at the psychology of the characters. I also think it's important simply from the aspect that something like this had never been done before in superhero comics. Superheroes making financial mistakes and getting evicted in the process? Revolutionary!
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 29, 2015 3:29:58 GMT -5
From my Complete Fantastic Four DVD ROM. I had to...sniff.
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 30, 2015 0:22:33 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery #87CreditsScript: Stan Lee (plot); Larry Lieber (script) Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Art Simek GCD Synopsis: In order to solve the mystery of a rash of defecting American scientists, Dr. Blake uses himself as bait and is abducted by communists. He is imprisoned with the other missing scientists, but is able to transform into Thor and free them all. First Appearance: None (save for Colonel Harrison and other unimportant supporting characters that probably don't return) Comments: I've made it known by now how much I dislike these communist plots, so I won't go into much of that this time. Beyond the fact that it's simply an unimaginative story, it's very similar to Tales to Astonish #35 that featured a communist plot to capture American scientists. It also features some of the first examples of overblown Thor depowering. I don't think any of us can buy that any sort of "electronic chain" could hold Thor for more than two seconds, much lest bind him and render him helpless. Maybe the commies got a hold of adamantium somehow? I demand a retcon! You also have to love how the communists conveniently leave the room, allowing Thor to revert to Blake so he can slip from the chains. No wonder communism failed. Anyway, I think it's clear that the further away you take Thor from Asgard and cosmic conflicts, the weaker the stories become. You'd think later writers would have learned from these early mistakes, but no... I don't know what it is about communist plots with Stan and Larry or why they ever thought they were interesting foils for a god. I do recall reading a Stan Lee interview (I think it took place in the late 70's or early 80's) where he openly states that he regretted these stories. As far as the art goes, it was another solid Kirby/Ayers production. I particularly like the opening splash-page, even if I have to endure the absurdity of Thor being bind by those absurd electronic chains. Great art, though. Character Development: The only development of note is that in this issue there is no indication to the reader that Jan Foster is attracted to Don Blake, unlike in the previous issues; she plays mother hen to him, making sure he's taking care of himself since he's so frail, but she is clearly shown to be fantasizing about Thor. Since the love triangle returns, I wonder if this was simply Stan and Larry pondering a new status quo and abandoning it? Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 4/4. I have to give this issue below average marks on both accounts. This seems to me to be one of those afterthought stories that needed to be done to get an issue out that month. There is no world-building or use of Thor's Norse trappings, so it holds little interest for a big Thor fan like me.
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 30, 2015 6:35:00 GMT -5
Strange Tales #103CreditsScript: Stan Lee (plot); Larry Lieber (script) Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Artie Simek GCD Synopsis: The Human Torch discovers an impending invasion from the 5th Dimension, but he is captured by that dimension’s tyrannical ruler. The Torch is freed by the tyrant’s opponents and helps them defeat his troops, freeing his subjects and saving Earth from invasion. First Appearances: Zemu ("Xemu"), Valaria, Phineas, Theos Comments: I think this issues is a drastic improvement over the previous two issues. Sure, it's a tad silly that an advanced extra-dimensional race would have one of its agents pose as a crazy old hermit/hillbilly giving seemingly insane warnings about "swamp demons", but I found the overall plot and sci-fi feel of the story to be entertaining. There is something amusing about the pranksterish nature of the aliens causing the houses to sink every night and the perplexed reaction of the builders. Once we get to the 5th Dimension (Nevermind that it seemed every bit as 3-D as our reality) the story takes off and we basically get a mini-FF adventure sans the rest of the FF. The Torch even gets to experience his first star-crossed romance with Valaria. (Marvel, without question, has cornered the market on hot green women.) Character Development: Johnny shows a lot of restraint (for him) in turning down Valaria at the end. Even though he daydreams about her in class in the closing scene, we all know how he would have handled that situation later on as his "horn dog" persona developed. Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 6/5. This is a solid above average issue of the Human Torch's adventures in Strange Tales, which is a hell of a lot praise given the overall quality of the strip. Nothing all that important happens, but given the look at a new alternate dimension, this slight expansion of the Marvel Universe warrants an average score in terms of historical importance. (For the record, I don't think I'll be scoring many comics bellow average in terms of historical importance. It'll take something as blatantly insignificant as a "talking heads" issue that makes no character or mythos progress for me to award as score like that, I think.)
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 30, 2015 7:44:38 GMT -5
Awww.. Thor Vs. the communists was fun! I think the issue wasn't depowering as much as having an excuse to use the body switch in clever ways. He's definitely plenty powerful in the next couple.
That Torch story sounds alot like a DC story!
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 30, 2015 7:55:33 GMT -5
Awww.. Thor Vs. the communists was fun! I think the issue wasn't depowering as much as having an excuse to use the body switch in clever ways. He's definitely plenty powerful in the next couple. That Torch story sounds alot like a DC story! That's exactly what I was thinking about the Torch story! I forgot to add that it felt like a Silver Age DC story. Drat. Yeah, you're right about the transformation escape, but it's still funny to think that something they cooked up in their tech lab, most likely designed to constrain bears, was able to hold the god of thunder.
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Post by Cei-U! on May 30, 2015 8:21:39 GMT -5
Stan Lee specifically cited the plot of FF #9 as one of the ways he found to make his characters more "realistic" in his 1973ish appearance on the game show "To Tell the Truth."
Cei-U! I summon Kitty Carlisle!
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 30, 2015 12:30:12 GMT -5
Stan Lee specifically cited the plot of FF #9 as one of the ways he found to make his characters more "realistic" in his 1973ish appearance on the game show "To Tell the Truth." Cei-U! I summon Kitty Carlisle! I think I stumbled over that once while watching Stan Lee interviews, but I skipped it at the time. I need to go back and check it out.
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Post by Farrar on May 30, 2015 15:23:46 GMT -5
Stan's segment starts circa 14:00.
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Post by Nowhere Man on May 31, 2015 5:00:22 GMT -5
Tales to Astonish #38CreditsScript: Stan Lee (plot), Larry Lieber (script) Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Johnny Dee Synopsis: An scientist is hired by crooks to defeat Ant-Man. He tries to turn the ants against the hero and trap him, but the ants are loyal to Ant-Man and he foils Egghead's scheme. First Appearances: Egghead Comments: Egghead may not be the most menacing villain in the Marvel Universe, but at least he's a nice change of pace from commie spies. I love the comments he makes to the Atomic Energy Board after he was caught trying to sell secrets to the highest bidder. After they ask him what he has to say for himself his blunt response is, "Nothing! To a genius like me your insipid patriotic ramblings are laughable! I sneer at you all!" Now this guy doesn't mince words! I do think it was slightly clever how Stan and Larry make you think that Ant-Man is walking into a classic deathtrap, only to have the hero turn the tables on the overconfident villain. Perhaps Egghead should have done a bit more research beyond simply skimming "All About Ants" and running ahead with his madcap scheme? Kirby and Ayers continue to turn in fine performances, though the art appears to be a bit rushed to my eye. This might have something to do with it only being a 10 page story. It's interesting how anachronistic the gangsters are in these early Marvel Universe tales; they're driving around in 1930's model cars and there always seems to be one guy that looks exactly like Edward G. Robinson. Character Development: None of note. This is the same Ant-Man we've seen since his first appearance. Personal Rating/Historical Significance: 5/6. This is an average issue in terms of art and story. It's basically more of the same, with the addition of a slightly interesting new villain. Eggheads first appearance is enough to warrant an above average score in terms of significance.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on May 31, 2015 14:10:15 GMT -5
I really liked the fake out in Strange Tales # 103. It starts as a spooky haunted house type story and then 180s into this science fiction/alien story - something I never would have expected!! Fun/surprising stuff all 'round.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jun 3, 2015 19:16:15 GMT -5
Fantastic Four #10Cover Date: January, 1963 Credits
Script: Stan Lee Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Artie Simek Synopsis: Doctor Doom returns from his unwanted journey in space and visits Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in order to make them set a trap for the Fantastic Four. Doom tells how he managed to return to Earth with the help of the Ovoids and then he changes bodies with Mr Fantastic using Ovoid technology. Doom convinces the rest of the Fantastic Four that he is Mr Fantastic. Doom (as Mr. Fantastic) displays his new shrinking-ray and Mr. Fantastic (in Doom's body) escapes his captivity in Doom's castle. Doctor Doom and Mr. Fantastic get their bodies back and Doom is put under his own shrinking-ray and shrinks down to sub-atomic size. First Appearances: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (of the Marvel Universe!) Comments: What a gloriously ridiculous and creative issue. The concept that Marvel Comics exists inside the fictional world of the Marvel Universe was a stroke of genius in my book. I've always loved the idea that creators at Marvel cut a deal with the FF, Avengers, etc, to adapt their adventures for the comics. This is the sort of inventive satire that superhero comics desperately needed in the early Silver Age and this was probably the true beginning of the Marvel Age movement in many ways. As far as the return of Doctor Doom goes, this issue really illustrates for the first time how ambitious and willful Doom is and sets a precedent for his obsessive nature that later creators would run with. There was a surprisingly disturbing tone to the scenes where Doom is impersonating Reed that elevated this story beyond a simple hero vs villain plot. This was personal. The art by Kirby and Ayers continues to improve. Hands down my favorite scene was the Thing struggling to hit Doom (really Reed) and not being able to do it. The way Kirby and Ayers clearly displayed the Thing wrestling with his emotions was masterful storytelling. The pin-up of the Invisible Girl (with Fantasticar details to boot) is probably my favorite pin-up so far. Characters Development: As I mentioned above, we see Doom take his hatred of Reed to a whole new level. The Thing continues his evolution into lovable softy when he uses the FF flair to show his teammates the figures that Alicia had sculpted of their enemies. I particularly like the scene where Ben and Johnny engage in a little horseplay with Reed. Personal Rating/Historical Importance: 8/8. This is one of my favorite FF issues so far and just a joy on multiple levels. The sense of fun that Lee and Kirby were having with this issue was palpable. It's also a very important issue historically since it adds some important aspects to Doom's character that will resurface many times in future appearances.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jun 3, 2015 19:18:29 GMT -5
I have no idea why I've omitted the cover date up until this point. From this point on I'll be including it in my format for these reviews.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 3, 2015 21:21:20 GMT -5
The concept of a super hero appearing in a comic book within a comic book was previously done in a Captain Marvel story in the 1940s. EC comics also had at least 2 stories featuring their bullpen of artists. And of course there was the famous Golden Age Superman tale where he went to the movies with Lois to watch the latest Superman animated cartoon. (He had to avert her attention before she saw Clark change to Superman within the cartoon. Talk about bent reality craziness!!)
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