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 #74 (Nov 1965)
- The X-Men #14 (Nov 1965)
- Sgt. Fury #24 (Nov 1965)
- Strange Tales #139 (Dec 1965)
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Tales to Astonish #74: Do you remember how in the last part of Namor’s story, I depicted Krang as feeling like the victim where the citizens are never happy? It’s still going! “For pity’s sake, I’m shooting them down in the street! What more do they want?!” And yeah, why streets in an underwater city? So the murder robot tank has something to drive around on, of course!
I really liked the part where Aquaman dove into the Trench to save Mera. … Wait a minute… Seriously, fighting the Faceless Ones was so similar to that part of Aquamovie, I couldn’t read it any other way.
Now is it me, or is the art in Namor giving almost a 70s vibe? It seems … slicker? More fluid in the action? Probably just me, but I’m digging it.
Oh yeah, and Hulk did stuff too.
I totally remembered this chapter adapted to the Marvel Super-Heroes cartoon! I haven’t watched it in decades, but that hovering yellow ball of death, I clearly pictured it before reaching those pages of the story. Whoa!
You know when the Hulk turned back to gray during Peter David’s tenure as writer? That’s exactly how Hulk’s dialog reads in the last couple of issues. It was a big point that “Mr Fixit” was not Banner, but a distinct personality. Perhaps, but fascinating to see more instances of “thug” but not “primitive” Hulk back then.
X-Men #14: Jean alternating between “Miss Not Appearing In This Issue” and “Look I can fly!” Ugh! I don’t know why she gets so little to do. I mean, it’s not like she can *only* fly. How lame would that be for a superhero? (slowly turns to Angel)
So, I’m a computer programmer, and I gotta say, if Trask was actually able to build and program killer robots, then I shouldn’t have wasted my time on a CS degree and shoulda studied Anthropology instead. I wanna build me some killer robots!
Strange Tales #139: From the matrix sequence Fury was trapped in: “Look, it’s the Brainosaur, shooting fire out of its mouth! But wait, the Brainosaur can’t do that because it’s not actually a dinosaur!” That’s how Fury figured out the opening scenes weren’t real? Because Nick confused a dinosaur with a dragon? Excuse me, I’m going to go lie down for a while.
…
I’m back. Ok, aside from that, I enjoyed the spy hijinks, even the ridiculous parts like exploding freeze-dried food. Ooo, maybe that’s how you power your killer robots!
Dr Strange versus Baron Mordo was excellent! I viewed it like Strange was using the magical equivalent of Aikido, redirecting his opponents force away, and sometimes Judo, using Mordo’s force against him. (I have Martial Art dabbled.) Maybe my brain filled in the blanks to make up for the art, but I felt like that’s how it worked, letting Mordo waste his power. Really looking forward to next issue’s big finish! Right? … Right??
Until next time, or until another big red guy whose name rhymes with “bulk” knocks out the Watcher with one punch, make mine Make Ours Marvel.