Welcome to Make Ours Marvel, the weekly show where Michael Kaiser and Jon M. Wilson read chronologically through Marvel Comics’ spandex adventures and discuss their thoughts with little to no authority.
In this episode…
- Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Oct 1964)
- The Avengers #8 (Sept 1964)
- The Fantastic Four #31 (Oct 1964)
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Well, the Green Goblin had some wonky weapons. I’m familiar with the variations used by the Hobgoblin much later, which do have some parallels here, like the bats and ghosts. But that frog. Brrrr! Creepy! Which maybe was the point of his weapons after all.
In two appearances of the Goblin, there’s been a guest star as well. First the Hulk, now the Torch. Question for you guys: does this actually help establish that the Goblin is too much for Spider-Man to handle alone, or trying too hard to make it seem that way, or just coincidence to have guest stars?
Another question: how do you blind someone whose eyes are covered in flames?
Oh that kooky Kang! That was an inspired observation that his costume is modeled after diving outfits. I’d never have thought of that! Well done!
On the one hand, I kinda liked the crazy bonkers plan of the Mole Man in FF #31. On the other, this was simply atrocious handling of Sue, and probably right that they completely forgot about her forcefield. Same old pattern you’ve noted before: she only does what Reed tells her to, no agency at all.
But I’m also noticing Kirby’s artwork evolving. Its starting to resemble what we’ll see in FF #48-50, which in my mind is Kirby’s “peak” FF. It’s not there yet, but getting closer. Very excited to see when that happens!
Until Kang meets a frog-faced version of himself, make mine Make Ours Marvel!