Marvel Masterworks Marathon Part 45: February 1965 in Collected Editions: Discussion and Review Board Forum

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Marvel Masterworks Marathon Part 45: February 1965

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DeBricazar	Marvel Masterworks Marathon Part 45: February 1965	Lead	[-]
Posts: 5362 Aug 30 09 8:33 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : thor, hulk, avengers, human torch, nick fury, iron man, captain america, sub-mariner, daredevil, spider-man, fantastic four, wasp, giant-man, black knight, doctor strange, trapster, wizard, baron mordo, thing, loki, absorbing man, invisible girl, medusa, mysterio, red skull, sandman, baron zemo, melter, executioner, enchantress, howling commandos, mr fantastic Another month into 1965, we see Thor's second showdown with Crusher Creel! Spidey goes nuts! Daredevil gets a new costume! The Red Skull returns! Steve Ditko's final take on the Hulk until the late '70s! The death of a major villain in Avengers! Definitely things are in full swing in the Marvel Age of Comics. ALSO: Check out the ever-growing mass cover gallery at http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/7980 ! JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #115: This is the final round of Thor's battle with the Absorbing Man, and possibly one of the great fight scenes of all time! See why Thor has been acclaimed one of the best-drawn, most dramatically-written magazines in the mighty Marvel line-up! DAREDEVIL #7: It's so exciting we can't wait to tell you! You're going to see a full-length epic in which Daredevil battles the one, the only, the ever-popular Sub-Mariner! No matter how good you expect it to be, we have to be honest with you -- it's even better! TALES TO ASTONISH #67: A dramatic new twist affects the incredible like of the Hulk in "Where Walks the Behemoth!" It's the usual Lee/Ditko contemporary classic! As for Giant-Man, he faces a new off-beat menace and loses one of his powers! Which one? Well, that would be telling! AVENGERS #15: This one is for all those who claim villains are never polished off for good in our mags! All we'll say is -- wait till you read "Fight to the Finish with Zemo!" This is one time the Avengers really do some avenging -- and if you like lots of super-villains, this one's for you! SGT. FURY #17: Even we in the bullpen can't understand how each ish of "the war mag for people who hate war mags" manages to top each previous ish! This one, "While the Jungle Sleeps," marks a new plateau of greatness for the hysterical Howlers! Try it -- we know you'll agree! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #24: The title alone should be enough to sell you! It's called "Spider-Man Goes Mad!" You've never seen a superhero crack up like Spidey does here! It took a lot of nerve to produce this ish -- but we think our gamble's going to pay off! FANTASTIC FOUR #38: The one you've been waiting for! In answer to countless requests, the seemingly unbeatable, super-powered Frightful Four returns to challenge the F.F.! And -- you'll never forget the unexpected shock ending! TALES OF SUSPENSE #65: This one features the story you never expected to see! Remember the old Iron Man -- heavy, bulky, slow-moving? Well, he lives again -- to battle the new Iron Man! It's a gasser! And Captain America meets his greatest foe from the fatal Forties -- the fearsome Red Skull! STRANGE TALES #132: The Human Torch and the ever-lovin' Thing find themselves menaced by "The Sinister Space Trap!" And, the way Bob Powell draws it, it's a doozy! As for Dr. Strange, he finally comes "Face to Face with Baron Mordo," and comicdom will never be the same! MILLIE THE MODEL #128: Just kidding, folks! Catch all past threads at http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/forums/5 A complete and updated list of which comics we covered in which leg of this marathon is at http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/7980?page=1 Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall Last Edited By: DeBricazar Aug 30 09 10:04 AM. Edited 5 times.
DeBricazar		#1	[-]
Posts: 5362 Aug 30 09 8:54 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, that's it for another month. While I'm at it, I should tell you that Thor #115 was awesome ... the combined villainy of Crusher Creel and Loki was classic, and the story leads into the greatest Thor story arc yet. Spider-Man #24 is another foray into greatness, delving into the dramatic pathos which is Pete Parker's persona, making this Marvel's all-around best title at the time for my money. The Hulk pic on the cover of Astonish #67 will be used for the Jade Jaws' corner box in the months to come, despite the fact it looks like he's doing a sloppy tango. Avengers #15 is a welcome conclusion to the ongoing Masters of Evil arc, ending the first chapter of Avengers history so that #16 can begin the second next month. And keep an eye on Daredevil #7 ... it's the unofficial beginning of Namor's ongoing series, which kicks off in a few months in Astonish #70! Here's a classic panel from DD #7, one of 100 shown at http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/08/24/vote-for-your-top-ten-iconic-marvel-panels-of-all-time/?fark (Thanks for starting the thread about this, Mr. Bromberg!). Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall Last Edited By: DeBricazar Aug 30 09 11:37 AM. Edited 1 times.
Comicsdad	ToS #67 (Giant-Man)	#2	[-]
Posts: 3812 Aug 31 09 2:25 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh my, another of those "bad alien tries to conquer the world only to be taken out by his space-buddies at the end" stories. They're so.. 1962, don't you think? It's kinda funny that the Wasp rides a bee.. Couple nice Powell touches. Look at this panel progression, and how the professor's panels get smaller, while the evil alien reaches ever higher and conquers more panel space! I kinda like how the Wasp's headgear sticks out from panel border. ============= Comicsdad
Comicsdad	ToS #67 (Hulk)	#3	[-]
Posts: 3812 Aug 31 09 3:49 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hmm, this is kinda like a transition issue. The MAIN story with the Leader does not progress at all, we get a LOOONG fight with Commie tanks, and then some action in Mongolia! The tank fight is kinda entertaining, but there's no real suspense. We know these guys in their funny little tanks have no chance. In the end they're just happy to see Hulk hop to -- Mongolia! Maybe it's just the influence of the concurrent Dr Strange story, but many of the scenes remind me of 30s adventure movies, perhaps set in India or Afghanistan. I mean, look at these panels. I wonder how Major Talbot actually arrived in Mongolia, which was very much a loyal ally of the Soviet Union? I guess those sneaky Army guys have their ways... Oh yeah, reproduction of this issue is very good, much better than for many of the preceding issues. And in the end we're told Ditko is leaving the title, to be replaced by Jack Kirby. Wow, how many books is he drawing now? Was Steve unhappy to be drawing three books (one full-length and two shorter ones) a month? I guess the King was always there to pick up the slack... ============= Comicsdad
DeBricazar		#4	[-]
Posts: 5362 Aug 31 09 7:06 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ditko's Hulk work on TTA #67 seemed tired, and I loved Kirby's work on #68-70. Then Mike Esposito took the "finishing" chores (over Kirby's layouts), and all went downhill until #77. Definitely a transition issue, C-Dad. Good point. Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall
MakeMineMarvel		#5	[-]
Posts: 7775 Aug 31 09 10:54 PM Registered Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This was a GREAT month for Marvel! The introduction of one of my ten favorite villains- Absorbing Man! (Really!) The Marvel Age intro of another Top ten villain- the Red Skull! One of the best DD issues ever! One of Ditko's greatest issues of Spider-Man. The final issue of the original Avengers (for the most part) and the FF is ready to embark on it's greatest run ever! The only classic Marvel Age title I haven't read is Ant Man/Giant Man. It bugs me that I haven't, but it just doesn't look appealing to me
Indefatigable Fjor		#6	[-]
Posts: 8142 Sep 1 09 12:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	MakeMineMarvel wrote: The only classic Marvel Age title I haven't read is Ant Man... It bugs me ...
Chris of The Old School People		#7	[-]
Posts: 1228 Sep 1 09 12:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is the period my father was buying Marvel fairly regularly, and I came along later this year. By the time I was 3, I was absorbing issues from this period left and right. The TOS issues from this era are what made me a huge Iron Man fan. I distinctly remember being fascinated by the battle between the old and new Iron Man. This is also the peak of the first cover blurb era, just before Marvel would go into a period where they refrained from that cover design and leaned towards quieter covers overall. Of course, eventually, beginning around '71, Marvel would begin Cover Blurb Era 2. All three of those eras, BTW, I love. Last Edited By: Chris of The Old School People Sep 1 09 1:18 PM. Edited 1 times.
DeBricazar		#8	[-]
Posts: 5362 Sep 1 09 7:47 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's actually weird to see a word balloon on a Marvel cover at this point ... Marvel had rarely been using them since late 1963. Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall
Comicsdad	Sgt Fury #17	#9	[-]
Posts: 3812 Sep 2 09 3:42 AM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Bah, what a waste of paper. The story as such is mundane at best. And there are -- again -- so many inconsistencies with reality that I, well, I am this close to saying some bad words! Hmm, the Howlers are in Sahara (presumably Southern Sahara which never saw any action), and then they just reach the jungle "soon"?!? Hmm, Stan, would it be sooo difficult just take a look at a map to figure out where the African jungles are?!? And I won't even mention the fact that Messerschmitt 109 is used here as a dive bomber... Oops, I guess I just mentioned it! Bah. Art (Ayers and Colletta) is pretty rushed as well. I mean, look at this panel below. And in some places it looks like some heavy re-touching had been going on. In fact, the only good panels feature Lady Pamela Hawley at the end... ============= Comicsdad
Adamantno1		#10	[-]
Posts: 2346 Sep 2 09 1:58 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sgt. Fury #17 was the first Fury story I ever read (it was reprinted in the 70s series War is Hell), and I remember loving it. Great mix of adventure and humor, a large group of very strongly defined characters each playing an important part, and an exciting climax high on action. As such, it defines the Fury series very well. Taken on their own, this recent batch of stories are all very good stories, but they're just too similiar to each other for people not to get tired of them quickly. The characters are great, but there's no character development, and they play the same role in each issue, so you grow tired of them, too. There are no subplots, there are no supporting characters worth their salt, and the stories seem to have stagnated into "okay, the Howlers get a new mission in a new area" territory. The stories themselves being good doesn't help when they just feel like retreads of material you've already read, and the series really needs to evolve if it wants to keep readers around for more than a couple issues. New readers will love it, but the series just isn't able to keep them interested enough to stick with it. Out yonder, under the shining vault, among men the saying goes: 'Man, be thyself!' At home here with us, 'mid the tribe of the trolls, the saying goes: 'Troll, to thyself be-enough!'
Comicsdad		#11	[-]
Posts: 3812 Sep 2 09 3:26 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Adam, you're exactly right. Well, the only thing different in this issue is that it continues almost directly from the previous one, usually there is not even that connection between issues. ============= Comicsdad
ScottMcIntyre	TTA #67	#12	[-]
Posts: 42 Sep 2 09 9:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Inspired by Storytime, I will have my youngster's comment on the issue on tap. I don't have young kids, so my three pugs, Alexis, Max and Neumacks, will be doing the honors. ScottMcIntyre: "So, Alexis, what did you think of Tales to As---" Alexis: "Snoooorrrrt. Snorrrrt." Jumps off bed. ScottMcIntyre: "Oookay. Max. Hey, Max" Snaps fingers twice. Whistles. "Maxxxxx." Max farts then jumps down. One pug left. ScottMcIntyre: "Hiya, Neumacks. How's my buddy?" Neumacks: "Pant pant pant pant." ScottMcIntyre: "Do you love daddy? Cuz Daddy loves yoooo!" Neumacks: "Arooooo." ScottMcIntyre: "I love yooooo!" Neumacks: "Ah ruh roooo!" ScottMcIntyre: "What a good boy, what a good boy! So about Tales…" Neumacks: "Ar-ruh-rooooooo!" ScottMcIntyre: "Screw it. I'll just do my own review instead of stealing another guy's schtick. Let's go pee-pee." 15 minutes later: Okay, anyway, on with the review. Cover: I like the Hulk image a lot. It does look like he's skipping or dancing, but it's a nice illo by Kirby as Hulky dodges missiles. To the right, we see Giant-Man falling down for the second issue in a row. Like frustrating Daleks by running down stairs, you can stymie Giant-Man by tipping him over. What a tool. Moving on to "Where Strides The Behemoth" The first thing I notice is how smooth the art is, thanks to the inking. Coletta's work the last issue was fine, but rough. Frank Ray (or whatever) gives a fine solid polish to the Ditko pencils. It is some of the most pleasing art for the strip so far. The only real hang-up I have over the Ditko run is that his Hulk never truly looks angry. I'm not buying the rage. The first panel on page 2 is a fine example of of the Hulk losing his monstrous appearance and taking on a more handsome visage. Actually, pit a beard on him and he's a green Wolfman Jack (someone else is gonna have to do scans). The battle with the tanks is very well recreated in Ang Lee's Hulk film. That sequence is the best part of the movie, when they really captured the Astonish run. However, even Ang Lee didn't have the Hulk pull up a road like it was a strip of carpet. Awful, neither the first nor last time Marvel did this ridiculous stunt. Page 5, panel 3: again, no sense of anger or force in the thunderclap. The bottom of the page has Hulk in a favorite Ditko pose, with arms akimbo, looking like he's pushing out a stool. More un-angry Hulk on page 6 as he leaps to Mongolia. FINALLY, on page 7, the story settles down and we meet bad guys are are not dirty, stinking Red Communist Gas Bags. Now we get Kanga Khan, bandit chieftain who holds on to Banner after the good doctor tells him the US will pay big bucks to get him back. Of course, the brass sends Talbot (notice it's not Ross who sends him, probably to justify the pro-Banner dialog). While rival bandits plan a siege of Khan's Kamp, Talbot, who looks a lot like Tony Stark here, comes and banters with Banner. Banner suddenly is a wise cracking idiot and Talbot…well, he's still a douche. Kahn's rivals fire ONE shot and Khan flees for the hills. Jeez, this guy is such space filler. We never see if these rivals ever incur the Wrath of Khan. Oh God, why did I just do that to you guys? More Banner cracks as he says to Stark, I mean Talbot: "All right, Sunny Jim. Have it your way. From now on, I'll stick to you like glue, okay?" Sunny Jim? At least Talbot tells him to shut up. Then we end the Ditko run with a really fun, and very literal, cliffhanger. The resolution is easy enough to guess, but for now, thanks for the memories Steve D. I don't have Giant-Man reprints (he is such a tool), so that's all for now.
DeBricazar		#13	[-]
Posts: 5362 Sep 2 09 11:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'd just like to point out (thanks to a pointer from Jeph York) ... that today is the THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIGHTY MARVEL MASTERWORKS MARATHON!!! How cool is that? Thanks for keeping the torch burning, folks! See http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/1496 for the beginning ... Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall
MakeMineMarvel		#14	[-]
Posts: 7775 Sep 3 09 1:22 AM Registered Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	MakeMineMarvel wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only classic Marvel Age title I haven't read is Ant Man... It bugs me ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indefatigable Fjor wrote: Seriously- that was with no pun intended! Last Edited By: MakeMineMarvel Sep 3 09 1:25 AM. Edited 1 times.
Comicsdad		#15	[-]
Posts: 3812 Sep 3 09 2:38 AM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	ScottMcIntyre wrote: Cover: I like the Hulk image a lot. It does look like he's skipping or dancing, but it's a nice illo by Kirby as Hulky dodges missiles. To the right, we see Giant-Man falling down for the second issue in a row. Like frustrating Daleks by running down stairs, you can stymie Giant-Man by tipping him over. What a tool. Hmm, wasn't this cover image of Hulk used later in those cover corner boxes? As long as your dogs didn't pee on your comics, I guess everything's OK. ============= Comicsdad
Comicsdad	Avengers #15	#16	[-]
Posts: 3812 Sep 3 09 3:59 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	After a few lacklustre issues, a surprisingly good one! I suspect this has a lot to do with Jack Kirby doing the layouts, which also means he plotted most of the issue. Which is kinda confirmed by the credits "Script: Stan Lee". Anyway, Zemo and the Masters of Evil return, and much action ensues. It is nice to see some worthy adversaries for Thor and the rest of the gang, none of that fur heist crap. For once the villains seem to be sensible, springing their old buddies from prison so they have more manpower and so on. This issue is also noteworthy in that the Captain America writes to Nick Fury asking for a job in "counter-espionage". Still, the plotting and pacing really leave something to be desired. On the last page we have the big showdown between the Cap and Baron Zemo, which has been building up for the last ten issues. And then, in the last four panels, Zemo is killed! Just like that, no big finale, no building of suspense... Also, the fight between the rest of the Masters of Evil and the Avengers is cut very abruptly on page 19, and then at the very end Stan sticks a small blurb indicating that the fight will continue.. Oh yeah, on page 13 the Melter welds Iron Man on the roof of a building, and we see the Melter attack with his ray "to full intensity"... But on page 17 they both are on ground, and Iron Man says "I was hoping I'd find you again, buster!" Uh, WTF? Art is pretty good, although I mostly see Heck and to some extent Esposito, I guess Kirby provided mostly stick figures. This panel cracked me up, I guess even the Norse gods need to rely on cabs when in New York. Look at the Executioner! Here I really like their eyes... This image of Enchantress is very nice, and I like how the wavy lines indicate spells. ============= Comicsdad
Chris of The Old School People		#17	[-]
Posts: 1228 Sep 3 09 4:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	DeBricazar wrote: It's actually weird to see a word balloon on a Marvel cover at this point ... Marvel had rarely been using them since late 1963. True about balloons; but they were definitely using blurbs big-time at this point. Sometime in 1966-67 or so they gradually changed that approach and had quiet covers for the rest of the 60s.......Then around '71 the noise level began to rise again.
Adamantno1		#18	[-]
Posts: 2346 Sep 3 09 5:06 PM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Comicsdad wrote: This issue is also noteworthy in that the Captain America writes to Nick Fury asking for a job in "counter-espionage". Keep an eye on this subplot, they're going places with it. Out yonder, under the shining vault, among men the saying goes: 'Man, be thyself!' At home here with us, 'mid the tribe of the trolls, the saying goes: 'Troll, to thyself be-enough!'
Comicsdad		#19	[-]
Posts: 3812 Sep 4 09 1:43 AM Bronze Age Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Adamantno1 wrote: Comicsdad wrote: This issue is also noteworthy in that the Captain America writes to Nick Fury asking for a job in "counter-espionage". Keep an eye on this subplot, they're going places with it. I know, I know, I just didn't want to be a spoiler... ============= Comicsdad
DeBricazar		#20	[-]
Posts: 5362 Sep 4 09 8:57 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"True about balloons; but they were definitely using blurbs big-time at this point. Sometime in 1966-67 or so they gradually changed that approach and had quiet covers for the rest of the 60s.......Then around '71 the noise level began to rise again." Yeah, you're right, Chris ... blurb city indeed. I love the quiet covers, just allowing the gorgeous artwork to shine on its own. I always hated when Stan (who of course I love unconditionally) would acknowledge the awesomeness of a panel of art with a large blurb that read "We don't want any lengthy explanation to cover up the sheer mastery of Jolly Jack's fight scene." But dammit, Stan, your blurb did just that! (See the cover to JIM #111, for example.) Anybody know when the first all-quiet Marvel Universe cover was? I think we're a year or two off at this point. Visit my web page and Facebook, as well as iTunes and Amazon.com, to check out my CDs, Sandpapered Dreams and Memorywall

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Marvel Masterworks Marathon Part 45: February 1965

Marvel Masterworks Marathon Part 45: February 1965