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…
- Strange Tales #143 (Apr 1966)
- The Fantastic Four #49 (Apr 1966)
- Amazing Spider-Man #35 (Apr 1966)
- The Avengers #26 (Mar 1966)
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Strange Tales #143: You hit in on the head with the conclusion of the Mentallo-Fixer story. Mentallo didn’t do anything. Why was this mort considered such a big threat? The buildup just didn’t have a payoff. Very meh.
Now about Stark’s role in the series. I’m in the camp thinking it’s really cool that he’s just here being science guy without the armor. I get your point that it would confusing for a reader that wasn’t collecting Suspense. But I wonder if it comes up enough in the letters page or the blurbs about the other comics in the same month, so pointing it out in the story isn’t that important. I dunno for sure, but I wonder.
Wait, both Nick Fury and Doctor Strange were shackled with masks over their faces in this issue? That’s a lot of bondage for a kid’s comic, Stan!
So Dr Strange has metal mittens on, and climbs a ladder on the water tower. That’s dang difficult and pretty dangerous without grabbing with your fingers. Technically not impossible, but adding on his astral form playing peek-a-boo thru the mask every few seconds, and that’s crazy!
But I am pretty glad to see this story wrap up. Here’s hoping the inevitable rematch with Dormouse is a good ‘un.
The Fantastic Four #49: Simply put, I LOVE this issue. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Even the wonkiness. I don’t care. Those moments make me love it even more.
For example, the Thing is taking a bath. Are you kidding me? The Thing is taking a bath! And that panel where he’s drying his foot with a towel. It’s such an ordinary moment, but when it’s the Thing doing it, suddenly it’s awesome!
That page with Galactus dropping bug spray on Ben was just perfect. I’m trying to figure out if that capsule was in one of those pill packages where you push it throw the foil, or if Big G has them in his pocket, and it’s so small. “Hold on, I just need to grab one, aw sheesh, it keeps slipping away, gimme a sec.”
Ben and Reed knocking Big G off the Baxter Building is a great bit of teamwork! It gives just a moment when it seems like they can get somewhere. But just for a moment.
“Frog Castle” seriously needs to be a thing! Hilarious, guys! But also, when I read this as a kid, this Punisher was seriously intimidating. Those super-fast fists blew my mind.
Ok, last issue, Silver Surfer “let” himself fall off the building since it “wouldn’t hurt him.” This issue, he stumbles senselessly into Alicia’s apartment. Seems like he was hurt to me. I know, it was probably Stan putting more into the dialog than needed. Just a weird thing I notice.
Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS ISSUE?
Amazing Spider-Man #35: Moltener Man. I’ve shared before that I had Marvel Treasury Editions as a kid. This issue was in one of those treasuries. I think they edited some parts out, so it was pretty much just an action fest. And they might have done what you suggested: left out Molty being released from prison, and went straight to the jewel heist. If so, it was a very effective way to tell the story. And it probably left out the pages with “Veronica” at the Bugle, since there was no other context for that subplot. So I have nostalgia for this story, but it’s not the best Spider-story, especially since there’s almost zero Peter drama.
But Spidey beats Molty by tying him up. *cough* bondage *cough*
The Avengers #26: I don’t have much to say about Cap’s kooky quartet. More a point I can’t shake. You know when a bug lands on water, it can just stand there or float easily. And a full-grown human has to work hard to float on water. So why did Jan grow to full size to float, instead of staying small? And why didn’t Hank “I’m an ant expert” Pym point this out?
Another great month of comics covered, and FF #50 almost here! I’m excited! So until next time, or until Galactus changes his color scheme again to gold, make mine Make Ours Marvel!
Check out the Marvels Podcast (https://marvelspodcast.com/) to see what Spider-Man at least was doing during the first Galactus story.
If I recall correctly the last issue of Marvel Saga also addresses this.