And we’re back for another week of comic analysis. It’s a pretty solid month in comics. The Fantastic Four is back with villains so good that they just couldn’t wait an issue to have them return. We’re going to deal with an interesting issue of the Hulk that throws the status quo into question. Three issues in, that didn’t take long. Then we return to Thor and work on his supporting cast and what makes him interesting. Finally, we have the return of Hank Pym. It’s a lot to delve into, so let’s get started.
Fantastic Four 006
Alright, so let’s start off with a notable mention. Firstly, we have Reed answering a question about his suit and it’s unstable molecules that lets him stretch in it. This is a bit that they tend to do, we’re going to see some Q&A in later issues. Stan Lee also has a habit of explaining plot holes in his dialogue, he was fairly thorough.
Another point to make note of, is that this is the first mention of the Yancy Street Gang. Stan Lee sets it up very subtly, he clearly was planning some future stories involving them. You’ll have to wait for those.
In this issue, we have the return of Doctor Doom and Namor. At this point in time, they are the biggest and best baddies that the Fantastic Four have faced. With no time to catch their breath, Doom is back and manipulating Namor into joining his side. Together, they might be too much for our heroes.
Again, we deal with Sue’s conflicted feelings towards the Sub-Mariner. They really set up this love triangle here that doesn’t bode well for Reed. Weren’t they supposed to be engaged in the first issue? All it takes is one handsome villain in boy shorts to push them apart? Things are not looking good for Reed.
So, although Doom was trying to manipulate the Fantastic Four in the previous issue to get Blackbeard’s treasure and become unstoppable, that is not the case in this issue. Now, Doom is trying to manipulate Namor and destroy the Fantastic Four. However, Namor is not someone to be trifled with. Combined, they could be more than a match for the Fantastic Four, but by turning on Namor, Doom gets in over his head.
In a ridiculous story that involves the Baxter Building flying into space, Namor turns against Doom and ends up saving the day. Now, the part I find most interesting about any comic is how it bodes for the long term plot of the series. Last issue, Doom got away, in this issue, things are a little more convoluted. Doom actually escapes on a meteor flying off into space. Stan Lee is a master of making you think that a villain is gone for good, only to have him return in some ridiculous twist. How Doom is going to return from his space-cation is beyond me.
Incredible Hulk 003
This issue of the Hulk is slightly unorthodox. It was basically written as two shorter stories that tie in together. Important things happen though, especially when the long term plot is concerned.
Firstly, we come to realize that as powerful as the Hulk is, he still has his weaknesses. At this point in time, he would be vulnerable during the day as Bruce Banner. Since Bruce is a genius, his biggest weakness is Rick Jones. He places all his trust in Rick and sometimes Rick doesn’t know the right thing to do. So, Thunderbolt Ross tricks him into getting the Hulk into a spaceship, saying it’s for the good of the planet. Rick falls for it. Also notable is another unusual weakness of the Hulk: he can’t run fast enough to catch Rick.
So, Hulk is trapped in a spaceship and launched out where he can’t do any harm. However, once he’s in the light of the sun, he turns back into Bruce. Then he is hit by a radiation belt which transforms him even more. Being hit by radiation while in a spaceship, very original Stan Lee. Anyway, Rick tries to redeem himself by bringing the shuttle back to Earth and somehow the radiation travels through the controls into him.
This is where things get interesting. The radiation turned Bruce back into the Hulk, so he is no longer affected by the day and night cycle when it comes to his transformation. Another added side effect is that Rick Jones can control the Hulk due to being hit by the radiation himself.
However, the Hulk runs amok whenever Rick goes to sleep, so his control over Hulk is very limited. This puts all the pressure of the Hulk’s power on Rick and takes Bruce completely out of the equation.
In the second part of the story, we are introduced to the Ringmaster. With his hypnotic top hat (that hypnotism trope again) and his varied circus of villains, he robs every town he passes through. The Ringmaster ends up adding the Hulk to his circus shows as well.
Naturally, none of this lasts. Apparently only Rick can control the Hulk and so they bust away from the Ringmaster and jump off into the sunset together. Thunderbolt Ross is even more adamant about ridding the world of the Hulk. Rick Jones gains control of the strongest creature on Earth. The Hulk gains the ability to jump so high that he’s basically flying, yet somehow can’t run fast enough to catch up with a regular teenager. Things can only get crazier from here.
Journey Into Mystery 084
Now that Donald Blake is back from his vacation in Norway where he found Mjolnir, we can get a sense for his normal life. While he has a successful practice as a doctor, his love life is a mess. Don has some real confidence issues and believes that his coworker, the nurse Jane Foster, can never love a man with a limp. In a frustrating but effect bit of writing, Jane loves Donald but believes that he would never be interested because he’s so cold and professional to her. This lovers conundrum where feelings can’t be reciprocated due to unusual circumstances is a trope Stan Lee will definitely use again.
Another trope we explore in this issue is the Red threat. See the communist symbol all over that plane Thor is destroying? Apparently hammers are cool with him, but once you add a sickle to it, you better watch out.
Another frustrating development for our protagonist’s love life is that Jane finds Thor to be incredibly handsome. In a typical turn of events, Jane starts to fall for Thor and grow more and more distant from Donald as she finds that Thor is everything Donald is not. The obvious irony of this situation is that Donald is Thor, so Jane is falling for him but also falling out of love with him. Poor Donald. Look at him use that walking stick to summon thunder, he’s not so bad.
Another funny writing cheat that Stan Lee likes to use is Thor using the light from his transformation to make sure no one can find out his secret. Donald constantly worries about his secret identity and making sure that no one finds out that he’s Thor, but whenever he transforms, everyone conveniently doesn’t make the connection between the flash of light Donald creates and the sudden and unexpected appearance of Thor. Great writing, Stan.
Also, he stamps Mjolnir four times in this issue. This wasn’t really explained in the previous issue, so I’m assuming that’s so he can summon two lightning bolts? This might not be relevant to the long term plot, but I thought it was worth noting.
Once again, the red villain, known as the Executioner, is bested by the hero of our story. In a common Silver Age twist, the red villain flees cowardly as his compatriots gun him down while praising the Americans and declaring that the U.S. citizens are really their friends, not communism. Very subtle.
Again, Thor comes out on top while Donald is left worse off than he was before. The love triangle between Jane and our protagonists two identities has begun. He really is his own worst enemy in this case.
Tales to Astonish 035
Hank Pym comes home. From a seemingly stand-alone story comes a super hero. All he needed was an identity. Using the serum he concocted to shrink and becoming fascinated with the insects he stumbled upon was all he needed. Ant-Man was born.
So, the helmet is the most iconic part of the outfit. It’s what he uses to communicate with ants, which is really the most important power he has at this time. While he decreases his size, he keeps the strength of a full-grown man. This is handy, but doesn’t have the applications you would expect from the Ant-Man movie. Not yet, at least.
The costume is also a woven steel mesh with unstable molecules. This is the same stuff that lets the Fantastic Four’s outfits change with them. Plus, it looks pretty sharp. Also, Hank Pym still knows Judo. This still counts as a super power in the Silver Age. Apparently one judo blow is enough to do just about anything.
So, nothing really special with the story here. Hank and his fellow scientists are held hostage by a communist threat. Yup, communists again. He shrinks and calls upon the ants for help. He defeats a beetle single-handed. He uses the ants to untie his coworkers and to attack the Reds. After an unusual origin story, Lee and Kirby really just needed to showcase Ant-Man’s skills and his costume in a fun story. From here on out, his stories just get better.
So, that’s it for this month in Marvel. From here on out, we’re going to be monthly with Fantastic Four, Journey Into Mystery starring Thor, Tales to Astonish starring Ant-Man and the new Strange Tales which starts showcasing the Human Torch in solo stories. The FF start dealing with more space threats and Thor deals with some Norse mythology. Until next week!
Wandering Jade 