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 #36
- Tales of Suspense #84
- Amazing Spider-Man #43
- Fantastic Four #57
Images from Discussion:
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Tales of Suspense #84: I remember Happy being in the armor from a Marvel Super-Heroes cartoon, but couldn’t recall exactly how it happened. This was actually a pretty good reason, hearkening to Silver Age secret identity shenanigans and then twisting it into a legit threat for Happy.
Stark wearing a plain grey chest plate? Must be his business suit version of the plate. Yeah, I don’t buy it. There’s a few ways to no-prize it, but mine aren’t terribly clever. It’s more shocking to have Tony’s medical condition exposed so publicly, since he’s tried to hide that just as much as being Iron Man. I’d like to see this revelation lead to more problems. Fingers crossed.
Mandarin can watch anybody anywhere and teleport them to him. Excuse me, but that’s hella stalky and terrifying, beyond normal super-villain levels. Too much power, thank ya very much!
Cap vs the Super-Adaptoid. Because being just “the Adaptoid” isn’t good enough anymore? Gotta be “super”? And I guess “green” is the color of “super”? But you know, I’m also loving that Cap held his own against the one-man-Avengers robot!
Wait, Daredevil fought the android that adapted the abilities of 3 guys, and Super-Adaptoid absorbed 4 heroes! 1. Is S-A actually the Quad-Man? 2. Did A.I.M. have a fire sale on power-adapting androids?
Amazing Spider-Man #43: You guys noted how the women in this issue are not just love interests for Peter. I had hoped that would be the case before reading this issue, lamenting how tired I was getting of Jane’s/Pepper’s/Karen’s/Jean’s/Clea’s treatment in the other comics. And yes, this did not disappoint! Just delightful!
Mary Jane is such a total beatnik, I love it! I can see why she became such a fan favorite from the beginning. Yowza! That chick is happening, baby! (I’m sorry, I don’t speak 60s well.)
You discussed which writer introduced the concept that MJ knows Peter is Spider-Man. It was Tom DeFalco, somewhere in the 250’s of ASM.
Rhino is definitely not a smart cookie. Much later, in the series Tangled Web, one of the storylines was “Flowers for Rhino”, with the familiar premise of him being made much more intelligent. I thought it quite good, and knowing the story “Flowers for Algernon” doesn’t spoil the ending.
Fantastic Four #57: Wow, this era of Marvel must have been a favorite of future FF writer-artist John Byrne. It was his stories that first showed me Ego, introduced the fight between Ego and Galactus, and that Doom stole the Silver Surfer’s powers. And we’re seeing them all right now. Pretty wild.
Oh, and also in the future, Doom will steal Galactus power in the first Secret Wars! That’s all to say, this may be the moment that truly defines Doom as a world-class threat. Of course he’s always been dangerous. But IMHO, this takes him to a whole new level.
And by contrast, I’m so underwhelmed by the Sandman parts of this issue. He gets locked in the armory, and Reed needs 5 minutes to unlock the door, while Sandman escapes out the window. Mister stretchy couldn’t have gone outside and caught him AT THE WINDOW?! Oh Reed, the one time you *don’t* think outside the box.
Delightful show as always. Until next time, or until Tony is replaced by 6 Iron Legionnaires*, make mine Make Ours Marvel.
* – Iron Man #299-#300, while Tony recovers from having been dead, because that happens, Rhodey gathers all of Tony’s closest friends to wear different versions of the armor to fight Ultimo.