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…
- Tales to Astonish 101
- The Avengers 49
- The X-Men 41
- Marvel Super-Heroes 13
- Amazing Spider-Man 58
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“I want to say there was some kind of cannibalisms going on.” – Mike
You are correct, sir! From the “I’m going to fight against this prophecy but actually make it come true” Department, the downfall of the Greek Titans was caused by Cronus (aka Saturn). You see, there was a prophecy that Cronus would be overthrown by one of his children. Kind of like how Cronus led the Titans to overthrow their parents (Gaea and Uranus). So, as each one was born, he did what any well thinking being would do and … swallowed them. That is until #6 came along.
Rhea, sister & wife of Cronus, wrapped a rock in a blanket and presented it to Cronus, who swallowed it just like the others. Rhea then took the baby, who she named Zeus (aka Jupiter) and hid him. When Zeus was grown, he came back and used a drug in Cronus’s food to make him vomit up the children that he swallowed. Those children being Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. The Gods then fought and overthrew the Titans, banishing the previous generation to Tartarus (which is much closer to the Christian Hell than the Norse Hel is).
That is, of course, a very over simplified telling of the story, but I’m the Asgardian Advisor not the Olympian Oracle. 😉
So for the occasional comment on “why are they ending on Tales to Astonish #101 instead of #100?” I dunno, but for comparison, Dan Slott’s final issue of Amazing Spider-Man was #801, which was “big story” in #800, and epilogue in #801. Apples and oranges, but just interesting to me.
If Tales to Astonish had turned into a Hulk/Sub-Mariner team book, would they have been named the Astonishers rather than the Defenders?! Or the Incredibles!
Captain Marvel’s story is very intriguing. I’m totally getting an “alien invader” vibe the entire time. When I read it that way, his decision to fight the Sentry *almost* makes more sense, than reading him as a super-hero. “Almost”. But I’m curious to see where he changes into more of a hero.
Wally Lawson to Billy Batson. Oooo, I hadn’t thought of that! Excellent point, Jon!
That’s about it. Until next time, or until Quicksilver joins a non-evil team of mutants*, make mine Make Ours Marvel!
* The All-New All-Different X-Factor in issue #71