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…
- Sgt. Fury #17 (Apr 1965)
- Strange Tales #132 (May 1965)
- Tales of Suspense #65 (May 1965)
Images from Discussion:
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Strange Tales #132: Spacetrap! These Torch/Thing stories have definitely been “strange”. And not Johnny burning thru a wall and resealing it. Not having the teenager become an astronaut. Not picking the hero who’s power is becoming a ball of fire to be shot into space in a confined space pumped full of oxygen. No, the strange part is … how many of these stories finish with a Ben/Johnny men-hug! Rolling on the ground, hugging each other, and laughing. Should Alicia and Dorrie be worried?
Dr Strange disguising himself as a supervillain to get into his own home. Oh, if I had a nickel for every time I had to do that. But honestly, as if that wasn’t bonkers awesome enough, Strange just decks the guy inside! I never realized Strange was so rough-n-tumble in the early days. I’ve seen it in the occasional later story, but didn’t know it started this soon. As always, your show brings the learning!
Then I had a thought. Strange gave up surgery because of hand injuries. But now he just up and punches people? Even if his hands are healed, that would still hurt! I took Tae Kwon Do classes in my 20s, complete with the board breaking. I have reasonably healthy hands, but I’ll tell ya, hitting something solid with a fist is NOT easy, and if you don’t do it well, it gonna hurt. Granted, Strange might be using magic to help, but I don’t think they’ve said he is.
Tales of Suspense #65: Cap and Red Skull. It was definitely interesting to read the story bringing the Skull into the Marvel era. But Bucky’s costume! That’s the important thing! I always dug the contrast between his color scheme and Cap’s. Red gloves for both, blue tops for both, opposite colors for legs and boots. It was burned into my brain from the first story I ever read with Bucky: Cap’s Treasury Edition sized Bicentennial special. Great stuff.
Iron Man vs Iron Man. I was stunned by this story. Of course by how lax Stark security must be for this chucklehead to steal the armor. But also by the parallels I found in the much later Iron Man #192. Rhodey wearing the latest armor, not Tony.Tony wears older version to fighter newer version. And the wildest part, the fight happens because Rhodey is having mental problems caused by the armor’s interface not being adjusted for his brain waves. And the shmuck in this story has a breakdown! Did this story lay the groundwork for the armor causing brain damage to others? WHOA!
Another delightful episode as always! Until the Torch gets a job as a firefighter, make mine Make Ours Marvel!