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A pretty good re-telling of a seminal GA Cap story, i.e. the introduction of Red Skull. The original story (from Captain America Comics #1) was called "Captain America and the Riddle of the Red Skull", while the 60s version has much more generic name, "Red Skull Strikes!". The plot is pretty predictable, but Kirby and Stone provide such dynamic action scenes that small details regarding (thin) plot and (non-existent) character development are easily ignored and forgiven. I mean, just look at this final page! Classic Kirby Aktion, gangsters and tommyguns!




It such be noted that in the original story "Mister Maxon" dies at the end, while here he escapes. But even in the GA apparent death couldn't keep a good man down, and so the Red Skull returned already in Captain America Comics #3.

Awright! The final showdown between Dr Strange and the Dormammu-enhanced Mordo. The events leading to the battle are handled really well, I especially liked the way Dr Strange disguised himself as a wanna-be sorcerer supreme, complete with a funny yellow costume. The way Mordo is revealed to more and more powerful as well as crafty (putting the trap spell on the Eye of the Agamotto) really has me worried for our good Doctor.... And Dormammu's thoughts about Mordo not knowing the true extent of his powers, spooky! The yet-unnamed Clea also makes an appearance, again worried about Doc Strange.

I think in this issue Mordo is much more menacing than previously, I wonder if Ditko did this on purpose. This final page of the story is so powerful, have to post it here. Look at Mordo! And the desperation of Dr Strange as he understands who has been behind Mordo all the time, very nicely underlined by the face disappearing into black void. Wheh!

DeBricazar wrote:

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C-Dad, interesting full-page from the Iron Man story in TOS #65. Hogan's face becomes less thug-like every month, doesn't it?

Yep, he's already approaching Tony's level of handsome... Far cry from the ex-boxer we saw only some time ago.

Adamantno1 wrote:

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In the next Skull story we learn that the Skull was immune to the poison, and got up and left shortly after.

Hah, that was one of the lamest things I've ever seen. They just left the body of Red Skull to lie there? Mmmhhokay... I think the first killing he does (in the GA story) it is actually difficult to tell what he is doing since he seems to have also hands around the victim's neck.

This time around the Frightful Four get their act together and ALMOST succeed in destroying the Fantastic Four. It just goes to show that with little concentration and effort you can do almost everything! The Wizard comes across as a serious threat instead of a slightly amusing buffoon AND the Paste-Pot Pete changes his name to Trapster! (And the Wizard keeps calling himself "Wingless Wizard.)

The villains' plot actually makes sense as they kidnap Sue and use her to lure the rest of the FF to a remote island where they plan to detonate "atomic Q-bomb" (WTF?). In the beginning the Fantastic Four playfully bicker among themselves, as they usually do, but their Frightful counterparts are much more serious in their internal disagreements, and the (Wingless) Wizard has to crack the whip a few times to show people who's the boss. The resulting splash page (p.6) is great, villains flying every which way in their matching purple outfits. Oh, the art by Kirby and Stone is generally quite good, although again some faces do look a bit odd. The opening page splash may featue the greatest Kirby Machinery so far.

There are a couple interesting things. First, Sue is able to free herself and then she actually saves her team mates from the atomic blast. No mean feat! And Medusa is shown to compliment Trapster ("The Trapster! Your new name has a thrilling ring to it! And you look most impressive in your new costume, my handsome one!") AND wonder about the (Wingless) Wizard ("The aura of total evil about him even terrifies me!"). And the final panel shows the Thing changing back into Ben Grimm!

The letter col has ten letters, and four of them are from female readers. I wonder if this reflected the true distribution of the letters they received or if Stan wanted to publish all the letters from ladies he got? Duwanna Strubel notes the similarity of Mr Fantastic to another superhero character who's out there, and says that also he has a wife called Sue. Stan is not worried about any problems with copyright or some such nonsense. "Lots of people have wives! Anyway, since when do we have competitors?"

Two great panels. In the first one I wouldn't talk about catching anyone, I'd talk about giving someone a good spanking. They both seem to enjoy it too! No harm done, I guess.



A great panel of Medusa. I think this is the best her hair has looked so far.

Pretty good conclusion to the Absorbing Man story! I like the way Thor disposes of the Absorbing Man in the end, although I don't know what it means to spin the hammer at "cyclotronic speed".... The scenes where Creel breaks into the house of the businessman and his wife feel like they are straight from some 30s gangster movie, with Creel being in his prison trousers and all. "I'm still hungry! Bring me more grub -- and be quick about it!" At which point the enraged hubby lands one on Creel, POW! Good stuff. Also, on page 13 the Absorbing Man looks very much like a monster from the pages of Atlas comics.

Again I must say that I don't understand Odin. Is the High Father so blind he can't see how Loki is pulling his strings?!? Look at these two panels, for example. (Man, Kirby really loved drawing close-ups of Odin's face/eyes!) First Odin doesn't believe Thor,



but then suddenly Thor's word is his bond. What gives, All-Daddy?!?



The art team of Kirby and Giacoia is very good. Even the non-battle panels are dynamic, like scenes where the policy look for Creel. And the Masterworks seems to reproduce Giacoia's inks pretty well. However, Colletta's inks in the Tales of Asgard do seem a bit faded, and they did look the same in the recent Thor #600. Anyone have a copy of the original? ToA is much better than last month, we see Loki gaining his first "evil" ally. And look at the final panel. What a perfect depiction of a stuck-up SOB!