2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Captain America (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (25 Feb 1981).
First Appearances:
Airlift Limited (We Fly Anything-Anywhere!) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #53 (24 Feb 1962).
Dan Dare [2] in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Flesh in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Harlem Heroes in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
John Probe (M.A.C.H. 1) in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Bill Savage (Invasion!) in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Tharg the Mighty in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Births:
Alan Hunter (1923); Paul Sample (1947); Leslie Ash (1960)
Deaths:
Achille Beltrame (1945)
Notable Events:
Douglas Bader took his first solo flight, after only 11 hours, 15 minutes flight experience, in 1929.
First episode of Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School broadcast on BBC in 1952.
A blue plaque from The Ramsgate Society, was unveiled by Sybil Burr's son William and Lucy Mangan, in 16 Sotheastern Road, Ramsgate, in 2011.
Scorer newspaper strip ended in 2011.
Revolutionary War: Super Soldiers (Marvel) #01 (Feb 2014) released in the US.
Showing posts with label Captain America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Captain America. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Justice League Double Double Comics #1
1968. Cover price 2/6.
132 pages. Full colour.
Thorpe & Porter
Cover by UNKNOWN.
Contents:
Note: Rebound copies of
Note: Variations on content are the rule, rather than the exception. You can expect pretty much anything within the pages of a Double Double title.
There's lots of reading in this, although with both packaging and contents showing little regard for consistency, it is difficult to imagine that many readers would be entirely satisfied with this. Capt. Storm is the best of the four titles pulled together for this, though the glimpses of Boltinoff art scattered throughout are a highlight worth savouring. I'm not sure if there were actually Justice League comics interspersed throughout the remainders used, justifying the cover, but it doesn't really matter.
132 pages. Full colour.
Thorpe & Porter
Cover by UNKNOWN.
Contents:
3 Superman & Batman The Crown of Crime w: Bill Finger; a: Al Plastino.
11 A Collector's Item... advertisement for House of Mystery (half page). / Cap's Hobby Hints (half page) w/a: Henry Boltinoff.
14 Free! Captain Action's Super Hero Parachute advertisement.
23 Build This Really Far Out Aurora Hobby Kit advertisement.
24 Cape And Cowl Comments readers' mail.
25 A New Year's Resolution for YOU from DC! advertisement for The Inferior Five.
26 The Editors' Round Table Interplanetary Swap Shop w: Sid Gerson; p: Murphy Anderson, i: Joe Giella.
30 Countdown on Excellence public service announcement. w: Jack Schiff; a: Sheldon Moldoff.
33 Superman Interviews Supergirl (half page) advertisement for Supergirl 80 Page Giant. / Free! Kingdom of Bhutan Stamps (half page) advertisement.
34 Direct Currents
35 The Invincible Iron Man "The Uncanny Challenge of the Crusher!" w: Stan Lee; p: Gene Colan, i: Frank Giacoia, lettering by Sam Rosen.
39 Marvel Bullpen Bulletins
40 Fellows! Here's a Swell Way to Make Lots of Money and Win Prizes Too! (half page) advertisement for Grit Publishing. / Order-by-Mail Specials (half page) advertisement for Dollar Bargains.
45 Now! 30 Days of Driving on a Single Tank of Gas! advertisement for American Automotive Units Inc.
50 Marvel Super-Hero T-Shirts (half page) advertisement. / Hang Loose, Frantic Ones... (half page) advertisement for Super-Heroes Club.
51 Coin Collector Specials! (half page) advertisement for Coin Wholesalers. / 48" Talking Monster from Outer Space (half page) advertisement for Regency Mail Order.
52 Captain America "The Last Defeat!" w: Stan Lee; p: Gil Kane, i: Joe Sinnott, lettering by Al Kurzrok.
55 Shop By Mail classifieds.
61 Classifieds
65 Mails of Surprise readers' mail.
66 "Let Me Show YOU Too, How to Make Yourself ASTRONAUT TOUGH" advertisement for American Body Building Club.
67 Metal Men Attack of the Sizzler w: Bob Kanigher; p: Ross Andru, i: Mike Esposito.
73 Look What's New on Route '66' (half page) advertisement for AMT Kits. / 217 Different Stamps (half page) advertisement for Zenith Company.
74 Special - An 80 Page Giant Batman (half page) advertisement. / A 2nd Star Collection! (half page) advertisement for World's Finest.
81 Batman Magic Photo Kit advertisement.
82 See the New Superheroes - Saturdays on CBS advertisement.
96 Metal Scraps readers' mail.
97 Spaceman Strength and Endurance advertisement for American Body Building Club.
98 Famous Name Prizes or Cash advertisement for Olympic Sales Club.
99 Capt. Storm Sink Capt. Storm! w: Robert Kanigher; a: Irv Novick.
105 Cap's Hobby Hints (half page) w:/a Henry Boltinoff. / Direct Currents
106 Natural Beauty - Everybody's Fight public service announcement; w: Jack Schiff; a: UNKNOWN.
107 Look What's New on Route '66' (half page) advertisement for AMT Kits. / Be My Guest at Palisades Amusement Park, New Jersey (half page) advertisement.
117 Rocky and Bullwinkle Cheerios advertisement.
118 Readers-Sound Off! readers' mail.
119 Frying Pan Seat! w: Robert Kanigher; p: Ross Andru, i: Mike Esposito.
122 A 2nd Star Collection of the Strange Lives of Batman and Robin! advertisement.
123 40 Army Navy Marine Medals & Insignias (half page) advertisement. / 100 Individual Magnets (half page) advertisement.
129 Shorty UNTITLED [Oh Boy - A Carrier!] w:/a: Henry Boltinoff.
130 Friend, Dare You Risk a Dime? advertisement for American Body Building Club.
Note: Rebound copies of
World's Finest Comics (DC Comics) #165 (Mar 1967).
Tales of Suspense (Marvel Comics) #91 (Jul 1967).
Metal Men (DC Comics) #22 (Oct-Nov 1966).
Capt. Storm (DC Comics) #14 (Jul-Aug 1966).
Note: Variations on content are the rule, rather than the exception. You can expect pretty much anything within the pages of a Double Double title.
There's lots of reading in this, although with both packaging and contents showing little regard for consistency, it is difficult to imagine that many readers would be entirely satisfied with this. Capt. Storm is the best of the four titles pulled together for this, though the glimpses of Boltinoff art scattered throughout are a highlight worth savouring. I'm not sure if there were actually Justice League comics interspersed throughout the remainders used, justifying the cover, but it doesn't really matter.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
The Avengers Vol.1 #1
22 Sep 1973. Cover price 6p.
36 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Cover montage:
Free Superhero Transfers.
Contents:
Unfortunately we do not get to see Cap being given a guided tour of the Avengers' mansion, as the story immediately goes into a flashback showing Cap's journey from ice-cube to being revived. When he comes to his senses, he has his own flashback to WWII's climax, recounting events that led to him being frozen. Interestingly, he is aware that he was worshiped by Eskimos - a fact he could only have known if he was aware of events around him while frozen. Nestled flashbacks are an extremely difficult writing trick to pull of well, and this shows how not to do it. With each passing panel we are moved further from the beginning of the story, further from immediacy.
When the Avengers are turned to stone, but Captain America's first impulse isn't to investigate the strange statues - checking out the attractive women gathered nearby instead, then wandering off in order to look at modern buildings. A police officer directs Cap to a nearby hotel, where he somehow gets a room despite being in full costume and having no discernible money. The dialogue here really stretches credibility, as he states that he has never seen television, despite WRGB having broadcasted from the General Electric facility in Schenectady since 1928. There were many exhibitions of the technology, and shops had televisions on display - especially in New York, where Cap is from.
Rick Jones breaks into Cap's hotel room (his criminal skills are on a par with Doctor Doom), and despite Rick's insistence that he needs help finding the Avengers, Cap is more interested in the fact that Rick is the spitting image of Bucky. Cap quashes his emotional outburst (resisting the urge to ask Rick to put on Bucky's tights for, uh... nostalgic reasons), and sets off with the youngster to a dark room. Sorry, a darkroom, where they look at perfectly innocent photographs together. They discover that one of the photographers who greeted the Avengers on the docks was wielding a gun of sorts.
Cap says they need to find the man, and Rick alerts the Teen-Brigade. These eager teens start snapping candid photographs of men for Cap to peruse at his leisure, but Cap finally discovers the man he is after by staring through windows like a peeping Tom. Smashing his way into the room, the strange man's gunsels open fire, but Cap's shield quickly dispenses with their weapons. They flee when they discover that their employer is an alien, then we are privy to another flashback in which the alien's story is laid out - from a far distant galaxy, the alien's ship crashed on Earth centuries before, embedding itself in into the bottom of the sea.
During the narrative, Cap works out that the gun - which can turn people to stone for one hundred hours - and the alien's hair were responsible for the Medusa legend, and that Namor was behind the attack, convincing the alien he would free his ship in return for taking out the Avengers. Cap convinces the nameless alien to restore his new friends, promising that he will free the ship in exchange for his assistance. The Avengers are restored, then set out to get the ship from its location under the sea, which Thor accomplishes easily. Before they can celebrate, Namor and his warriors attack the Avengers.
Captain America, however, merely sits back, enjoying the spectacle - imagining what he could have done with a man such as Namor back in the day.
Namor reveals that he has taken Rick hostage, which finally prompts Cap to stop daydreaming and enter the fight. It is a battle swiftly concluded as the alien has concluded his repairs, and is readying his ship for take-off. Iron Man scolds Cap for waiting so long to use his his fists, and Wasp reveals that she was 'powdering her nose' during proceedings. And yes, that is actually the phrase she uses.
Iron Man then proposes to Captain America. That he join the Avengers, that is. Meanwhile, Rick is conflicted: "He's the greatest guy I ever met - and I can tell he wants me to be his partner! But what about - the Hulk? He's sure to return some day... and when he finds out that Captain America has replaced him - will anything be able to stop him then??!"
There is no more infuriating opening that one which is never revisited. Without the splash page of Captain America entering the mansion this could have been a straight-forward story, but by framing it as a flash-back builds in the notion that events of the past will have bearing on that moment. To completely disregard the present in favour of staying with what has happened previously means we are left wondering what occurred past that moment. I'd like to imagine that Cap asked if he could have a room near Rick's. Or Wasp - he isn't too choosy.
Bad plotting is bad plotting, irrespective of medium or genre. The Avengers story here is lumbered with an over-abundance of easy get-out clauses for characters to enjoy - had they simply sat around chatting with Namor and his forces instead of engaging in fisticuffs the outcome would have been identical. The actions of the alien through the ages isn't explored in any detail, nor the fate of Eskimos at the beginning of the story, leaving far too many loose ends.
Without pausing, the issue moves on to another reprint:
Having completed a successful operation, Stephen celebrates by lighting a cigarette and disregarding a colleague who tells him that his patient wants to thank the surgeon who saved his life. Moving forward in time, Ancient One sees the car crash which changed Stephen's life - nerve damage to his hands leaving him unable to perform surgery ever again. One day, when hanging around on the docks (as he does) he hears two men talking about a man with the ability to cure any manner of affliction.
Having seen enough, the Ancient One tells Strange that he sees within the surgeon a spark of decency which he might be able to fan into a flame. Ancient One offers Strange the opportunity to study with him, but is refused. A convenient snowstorm means Strange can't walk out on the offer, and he soon witnesses the proof of the Ancient One's magical abilities - and happens upon Mordo using black magic to attack his master. Bound and gagged, he is unable to warn about the threat within, but the Ancient One sees and knows all...
An effective and well-paced story which reveals pertinent details of Strange's past without overdoing the magic elements. Use of nine-panel pages works well, with enough variation to maintain visual interest. Although Mordo is too one-note villainy to convince as a rounded character, the personalities of characters are all clearly defined, with scenes set in Strange's past - being hilariously rude - the highlight. If there's one strip calling out to be written, it is Strange's story prior to his accident.
36 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Cover montage:
Doctor Strange p:
r: Strange Tales (Marvel Comics) #?? (## ### ####).
Iron Man p: Jack Kirby, i: George Roussos.
r: cover element from The Avengers (Marvel Comics) #04 (1963).
Thor p:
r: Journey into Mystery (Marvel Comics) #?? (## ### ####).
Captain America p: Jack Kirby, i: George Roussos.
r: cover element from The Avengers (Marvel Comics) #04 (1963).
Free Superhero Transfers.
Contents:
.2 Count Dracula's Deadly Secret advertisement for Wall's ice lolly; a: UNKNOWN.
.3 The Avengers Captain America Joins The Avengers! w: Stan Lee; p: Jack Kirby, i: George Roussos (uncredited), lettered by Art Simek.
r: edited from The Avengers (Marvel Comics) #04 (1963).
13 Hi There, Adventure Lover! (three quarter page) introduction. / 144 Different Stamps FREE! advertisement (one eighth page) advertisement. / Free Stamp Collector's Outfit (one eighth page) advertisement .
26 The Insult That Made a Man Out of 'Mac' advertisement for Charles Atlas 'Dynamic Tension' book.
27 Dr. Strange "The Origin of Dr. Strange" w: Stan Lee; a: Steve Ditko, lettered by Sam Rosen.
r: Strange Tales (Marvel Comics) #115 ().
35 The Adventures of the Cresta Bear advertisement; a: UNKNOWN.
36 It's Disneytime Again advertisement for Disney Storybook, and Movees Starter Packs.
The cover, picking out iconic images of featured characters, is surprisingly effective given disparate sources, though the overdose of text is awful. Not only does the text manage to give the issue the appearance of a high street marketing leaflet, it is also done in a range of styles which clash horribly - this is what a comic-book designed by an eight-year-old looks like, and in no way encourages confidence. This is not a good start.A tale destined to become a milestone in the Marvel age of comics!Stan Lee, despite his numerous faults, knew that wowing readers with hype worked. In many ways Lee's style anticipates the trend for "moments" being emphasized above cohesive storytelling, with splash pages and melodrama overshadowing narrative clarity. Thor, Iron Man, Wasp, and Giant-Man stand (in costume) to greet Captain America (also in costume), who has decided to join the Avengers. Do these people live in their costumes? When do they wash them? It is moments such as this opening scene which fundamentally breaks the genre's credibility for me.
Bringing you the great super-hero which your wonderful avalanche of fan mail demanded!
Unfortunately we do not get to see Cap being given a guided tour of the Avengers' mansion, as the story immediately goes into a flashback showing Cap's journey from ice-cube to being revived. When he comes to his senses, he has his own flashback to WWII's climax, recounting events that led to him being frozen. Interestingly, he is aware that he was worshiped by Eskimos - a fact he could only have known if he was aware of events around him while frozen. Nestled flashbacks are an extremely difficult writing trick to pull of well, and this shows how not to do it. With each passing panel we are moved further from the beginning of the story, further from immediacy.
When the Avengers are turned to stone, but Captain America's first impulse isn't to investigate the strange statues - checking out the attractive women gathered nearby instead, then wandering off in order to look at modern buildings. A police officer directs Cap to a nearby hotel, where he somehow gets a room despite being in full costume and having no discernible money. The dialogue here really stretches credibility, as he states that he has never seen television, despite WRGB having broadcasted from the General Electric facility in Schenectady since 1928. There were many exhibitions of the technology, and shops had televisions on display - especially in New York, where Cap is from.
Rick Jones breaks into Cap's hotel room (his criminal skills are on a par with Doctor Doom), and despite Rick's insistence that he needs help finding the Avengers, Cap is more interested in the fact that Rick is the spitting image of Bucky. Cap quashes his emotional outburst (resisting the urge to ask Rick to put on Bucky's tights for, uh... nostalgic reasons), and sets off with the youngster to a dark room. Sorry, a darkroom, where they look at perfectly innocent photographs together. They discover that one of the photographers who greeted the Avengers on the docks was wielding a gun of sorts.
Cap says they need to find the man, and Rick alerts the Teen-Brigade. These eager teens start snapping candid photographs of men for Cap to peruse at his leisure, but Cap finally discovers the man he is after by staring through windows like a peeping Tom. Smashing his way into the room, the strange man's gunsels open fire, but Cap's shield quickly dispenses with their weapons. They flee when they discover that their employer is an alien, then we are privy to another flashback in which the alien's story is laid out - from a far distant galaxy, the alien's ship crashed on Earth centuries before, embedding itself in into the bottom of the sea.
During the narrative, Cap works out that the gun - which can turn people to stone for one hundred hours - and the alien's hair were responsible for the Medusa legend, and that Namor was behind the attack, convincing the alien he would free his ship in return for taking out the Avengers. Cap convinces the nameless alien to restore his new friends, promising that he will free the ship in exchange for his assistance. The Avengers are restored, then set out to get the ship from its location under the sea, which Thor accomplishes easily. Before they can celebrate, Namor and his warriors attack the Avengers.
Captain America, however, merely sits back, enjoying the spectacle - imagining what he could have done with a man such as Namor back in the day.
Namor reveals that he has taken Rick hostage, which finally prompts Cap to stop daydreaming and enter the fight. It is a battle swiftly concluded as the alien has concluded his repairs, and is readying his ship for take-off. Iron Man scolds Cap for waiting so long to use his his fists, and Wasp reveals that she was 'powdering her nose' during proceedings. And yes, that is actually the phrase she uses.
Iron Man then proposes to Captain America. That he join the Avengers, that is. Meanwhile, Rick is conflicted: "He's the greatest guy I ever met - and I can tell he wants me to be his partner! But what about - the Hulk? He's sure to return some day... and when he finds out that Captain America has replaced him - will anything be able to stop him then??!"
There is no more infuriating opening that one which is never revisited. Without the splash page of Captain America entering the mansion this could have been a straight-forward story, but by framing it as a flash-back builds in the notion that events of the past will have bearing on that moment. To completely disregard the present in favour of staying with what has happened previously means we are left wondering what occurred past that moment. I'd like to imagine that Cap asked if he could have a room near Rick's. Or Wasp - he isn't too choosy.
Bad plotting is bad plotting, irrespective of medium or genre. The Avengers story here is lumbered with an over-abundance of easy get-out clauses for characters to enjoy - had they simply sat around chatting with Namor and his forces instead of engaging in fisticuffs the outcome would have been identical. The actions of the alien through the ages isn't explored in any detail, nor the fate of Eskimos at the beginning of the story, leaving far too many loose ends.
Without pausing, the issue moves on to another reprint:
In answer to an avalanche of requests, we present:In India, land of mystic enchantment, we find a haggard figure entering a strangely silent chamber - Doctor Stephen Strange, for it is he, asks the man inside if he is "the Ancient One," who is said to have healing powers. Strange is told that he has has to prove himself worthy, as the power of magic must not be wasted on those who are undeserving. Ancient One uses his powers to peer into Strange's brain, into his memory, to learn the truth, seeing his life in America as a famous surgeon.
"The Origin of Dr. Strange"
Who is he? Where does he come from? How did he get his powers?
Having completed a successful operation, Stephen celebrates by lighting a cigarette and disregarding a colleague who tells him that his patient wants to thank the surgeon who saved his life. Moving forward in time, Ancient One sees the car crash which changed Stephen's life - nerve damage to his hands leaving him unable to perform surgery ever again. One day, when hanging around on the docks (as he does) he hears two men talking about a man with the ability to cure any manner of affliction.
Having seen enough, the Ancient One tells Strange that he sees within the surgeon a spark of decency which he might be able to fan into a flame. Ancient One offers Strange the opportunity to study with him, but is refused. A convenient snowstorm means Strange can't walk out on the offer, and he soon witnesses the proof of the Ancient One's magical abilities - and happens upon Mordo using black magic to attack his master. Bound and gagged, he is unable to warn about the threat within, but the Ancient One sees and knows all...
An effective and well-paced story which reveals pertinent details of Strange's past without overdoing the magic elements. Use of nine-panel pages works well, with enough variation to maintain visual interest. Although Mordo is too one-note villainy to convince as a rounded character, the personalities of characters are all clearly defined, with scenes set in Strange's past - being hilariously rude - the highlight. If there's one strip calling out to be written, it is Strange's story prior to his accident.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
The Thing is Big Ben #1
28 Mar 1984; Cover price 18p.
32 pages. Colour, tone & B&W.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by Chris Gill.
Cover by UNKNOWN.
Free paper cap.
Contents:
What an odd cover: Ben wearing a free push-out cardboard cap, with a host of characters from Marvel Comics looking on incredulously. Much like people would stare at you if you had worn this in 1984. The sartorially-challenged Marvel Bullpen should be studiously ignored in all matters fashion related. If you didn't already know, that is.
The initial strip isn't promising - The Thing making his way through Cairo Airport after having investigated a freshly-uncovered pyramid. Internal dialogue during this opening section hints at the events of a previous adventure, where the Sphinx wrecked his Pogo Plane. I'm not sure who the Sphinx is, nor why The Thing had a plane named after an old Walt Kelly newspaper strip, but I'm sure there is an interesting story behind it.
The authorities make Ben go through a metal detector, which he wrecks, before making his way to the plane. At which point (entirely at random) a bunch of terrorists drive up, firing their rifles at security types. Ben takes them out without any trouble, then gets on the plane. Three pages of story to say, essentially, "We are starting this in the middle of a story, even though this is the first issue." A wonderful way to treat readers.
There's an interlude with a woman who shoots blasts of energy for reasons that aren't explained, before it cuts to the Fantastic Four, where Reed is working on a Beta Ray detector. Allegedly the device is to warn of any harmful radiation, but it might be to stop annoying Thor wannabes from dropping in unannounced. Alicia asks Reed why he is taking so long to cure Ben, but before he can think up a plausible excuse an alarm sounds. Reed quickly checks the monitor, and... We are back with Ben on the plane.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the script for this story was dropped, and the pages put back in the wrong order.
There's an amusing protest march outside the airport when Ben arrives in New York, with one placard reading "Bring back Stan Lee!" It is the first deliberate smile this issue has raised so far. It isn't until the eighth page of story that the mysterious woman from earlier is identified as Jocasta. There's no excuse for such flabby, incoherent storytelling, especially in a first issue of a title. If I had bought this on release I would have felt ripped off. As it is, it pains me to have handed over money for something so amateurish.
Anyway, Jocasta has a screw loose. Happens with robots all the time, but she's desperate to get fixed rather than going on a rampage. Until Reed can give Jocasta her 100,000 miles check-up and a quick service, she is placed in a spare room in the Baxter Building. One, hopefully, that contains an electrical outlet. That Reed immediately Skypes Captain America rather than doing any work raises many, many questions about the state of his marriage.
The poster, which ought to be a selling point for this issue, is one of the most disturbing images Marvel have ever published. The Thing looks like a giant, ugly baby in a blue diaper, doffing a comedy hat as if he's just stepped out of a Hal Roach comedy short. To make the image all the more horrific, his facial expression seems to be somewhere between angry and stupid. It is the kind of image I associate with Mad magazine knock-offs, and which should come with a health warning.
There's an Iron Man strip thrown in randomly, albeit one which is easily ignored.
Donald Dogfly is... a real oddity here. A Hunt Emerson strip which runs visual gag after visual gag. It is a fun strip, with a strange sense of humour, but it doesn't feel like it belongs in the same title as The Thing and other superhero types. And then there is a Captain America strip, which is a reprint of Team America's first appearance. A few changes have been made, such as the fact the cast of Cats musical aren't involved in any way, shape or form... No, wait. It is the other Team America. The pointless one.
This is bad. Really, really bad.
32 pages. Colour, tone & B&W.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by Chris Gill.
Cover by UNKNOWN.
Free paper cap.
Contents:
.2 Bombs Land on Britain advertisement.
.3 Fist & Foremost introduction. / Contents / Indicia
.4 The Thing "This Evil Returning..!" w: Tom DeFalco; p: Ron Wilson, lettering by Joe Rosen.
r: Marvel Two-in-One (Marvel Comics) #92 (Oct 1982).
15 Big Ben's Colouring Competition!
16 The Thing poster. a: Terry Austin.
18 Iron Man Siege!, part one, w: David Michelinie, plot co-written by Bob Layton; p: John Romita, Jr., i: Bob Layton, lettering by Joe Rosen.
r: Iron Man (Marvel Comics) #148 (Jul 1981).
23 Artists Assemble readers art.
24 Donald Dogfly UNTITLED w:/a: Hunt Emerson.
25 Captain America A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste! w: J.M. De Matteis; p: Mike Zeck, i: John Beatty, lettering by Jim Novak.
r: Captain America (Marvel Comics) #269 (May 1982).
31 Next Week in-house advertisement.
32 The Amazing Spider-Man record advertisement.
What an odd cover: Ben wearing a free push-out cardboard cap, with a host of characters from Marvel Comics looking on incredulously. Much like people would stare at you if you had worn this in 1984. The sartorially-challenged Marvel Bullpen should be studiously ignored in all matters fashion related. If you didn't already know, that is.
The initial strip isn't promising - The Thing making his way through Cairo Airport after having investigated a freshly-uncovered pyramid. Internal dialogue during this opening section hints at the events of a previous adventure, where the Sphinx wrecked his Pogo Plane. I'm not sure who the Sphinx is, nor why The Thing had a plane named after an old Walt Kelly newspaper strip, but I'm sure there is an interesting story behind it.
The authorities make Ben go through a metal detector, which he wrecks, before making his way to the plane. At which point (entirely at random) a bunch of terrorists drive up, firing their rifles at security types. Ben takes them out without any trouble, then gets on the plane. Three pages of story to say, essentially, "We are starting this in the middle of a story, even though this is the first issue." A wonderful way to treat readers.
There's an interlude with a woman who shoots blasts of energy for reasons that aren't explained, before it cuts to the Fantastic Four, where Reed is working on a Beta Ray detector. Allegedly the device is to warn of any harmful radiation, but it might be to stop annoying Thor wannabes from dropping in unannounced. Alicia asks Reed why he is taking so long to cure Ben, but before he can think up a plausible excuse an alarm sounds. Reed quickly checks the monitor, and... We are back with Ben on the plane.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the script for this story was dropped, and the pages put back in the wrong order.
There's an amusing protest march outside the airport when Ben arrives in New York, with one placard reading "Bring back Stan Lee!" It is the first deliberate smile this issue has raised so far. It isn't until the eighth page of story that the mysterious woman from earlier is identified as Jocasta. There's no excuse for such flabby, incoherent storytelling, especially in a first issue of a title. If I had bought this on release I would have felt ripped off. As it is, it pains me to have handed over money for something so amateurish.
Anyway, Jocasta has a screw loose. Happens with robots all the time, but she's desperate to get fixed rather than going on a rampage. Until Reed can give Jocasta her 100,000 miles check-up and a quick service, she is placed in a spare room in the Baxter Building. One, hopefully, that contains an electrical outlet. That Reed immediately Skypes Captain America rather than doing any work raises many, many questions about the state of his marriage.
The poster, which ought to be a selling point for this issue, is one of the most disturbing images Marvel have ever published. The Thing looks like a giant, ugly baby in a blue diaper, doffing a comedy hat as if he's just stepped out of a Hal Roach comedy short. To make the image all the more horrific, his facial expression seems to be somewhere between angry and stupid. It is the kind of image I associate with Mad magazine knock-offs, and which should come with a health warning.
There's an Iron Man strip thrown in randomly, albeit one which is easily ignored.
Donald Dogfly is... a real oddity here. A Hunt Emerson strip which runs visual gag after visual gag. It is a fun strip, with a strange sense of humour, but it doesn't feel like it belongs in the same title as The Thing and other superhero types. And then there is a Captain America strip, which is a reprint of Team America's first appearance. A few changes have been made, such as the fact the cast of Cats musical aren't involved in any way, shape or form... No, wait. It is the other Team America. The pointless one.
This is bad. Really, really bad.
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