Journey Into Mystery #86

November 1962
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"On the Trail of the Tomorrow Man"

I'm not positive if I mentioned it previously or not, but Journey Into Mystery is my favorite of these early series.  There is something incredibly imaginative, exciting, and fun in these stories.  This matches the magic of Fantastic Four much more than Hulk or Tales to Astonish.  The Iron Man stories which will begin in Tales of Suspense roughly half a year later come close, but in November of '63, JiM wins my heart.

In this story, Stan and Jack introduce the readers to another great Thor villain: Zarrko the Tomorrow Man.  The issue begins three centuries into the future, a time of great peace and prosperity.  Zarrko is bored and abhors his fellow man. (this is a concept that somewhat gets recycled for Kang later). 

Zarrko has invented a time machine, which he desires to use to go back into the past to a time when mighty weapons existed; in his time, scientists devote themselves to civilization not war.  Zarrko zeroes in on the 20th century.  He arrives on a weapon testing ground where Thor happens to be helping the US army test some new weapons.  Zarrko quickly steals something called the C-Bomb and escapes back into the future. 

Thor flies off to the top of a mountain range, whereupon he calls upon his father, the all-seeing Odin.  Thor pleads with Odin to send him into the future so that he may bring Zarrko to justice and recover the stolen weapon.  Thor arrives in the future to discover he is one month behind Zarrko.  The madman has used the threat of the C-Bomb to rule over the hapless people of 2262. 

Thor confronts Zarrko in his stronghold.  After a brief battle (in which Thor loses his hammer for almost sixty seconds, threatening to turn back into Blake - a recurring problem), our hero defeats the villain.  Zarrko manages to suffer memory loss and can no longer recall who he is.  Thor leaves the future people to imprison the defeated tyrant and returns to the present with the C-Bomb.

Later that day, nurse Jane Foster tells Dr. Blake of the adventures of Thor that she read in the paper.  Jane secretly wishes that Blake could be more like the mighty Thor.

Incredible Hulk #4

November 1962
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Two stories in this issue.  "The Monster and the Machine" and "The Gladiator From Outer Space"

The issue begins with the Hulk strapped down to a new machine created by Banner.  Rick pulls the switch!  And Hulk reverts to meak, mild-manner Dr. Robert Bruce Banner. 

Only four issues in and Banner has discovered a way to not only turn the Hulk back into Banner but to also turn Banner into the Hulk.  Furthermore, the Hulk maintains Banner's intelligence.  Thus begins a new status quo (the fourth so far?) for our modern-day Jekyl and Hide. 

I find it fascinating that within this six-issue series Stan and Jack explore numerous different dynamics between Hulk and Banner.  Looking through the letters pages, some of these changes were driven by the fans, but nevertheless the constant changes are fun and interesting.  Even more interesting is that this series became a microcosm of the personality and status quo shifts that will fill the Hulk's book for the next 50 years.

There's not much else of substance in the first story in this issue.  In a flashback the Hulk battles the army for a bit and in the present, the Hulk saves a family from a burning building.  The family is terrified, shoots at the Hulk and calls the police.  The issue ends with the Hulk wondering if he will always be shot at and hounded.

In our second story, the Hulk battles another outer space villain, Mongu the Gladiator.  Mongu arrives on Earth and demands to fight the strongest there is or he will unleash havoc upon the planet.  Banner hears the threat, changes into Hulk, and goes to meet Mongu. Once he arrives, however, it is revealed that Mongu is not what he claims to be.  In reality, it is a communist trap!  Hulk defeats the commies in quick order.

With this issue, Jack continues to bring the magic on the art-side of things.  On the other side, Stan still hasn't delivered a true compelling antagonist for our hero. 

Tales to Astonish #37

November 1962
Writers: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"Trapped by the Protector"

Our story this issue revolves around a masked man who terrorizes local businesses with a protection racket, disintegrating the wares of the businessmen who even think of not paying.  The ants of the city inform our hero of this ne'er-do-well.  Ant-Man catapults himself out of his lab (landing on a nice soft pile of ants) and speaks to one of the threatened men.

Eventually, Ant-Man confronts the Protector.  The battle doesn't quite go as Pym hoped and the Protector hands him his first defeat.  Later, undaunted his foe, Pym lays a trap for the Protector.  Unfortunately for our hero, his plan doesn't pan out; the villains defeats Pym once again trapping him in a vacuum bag amongst heaps of dirt.  With the help of some friendly ants, Pym breaks free.  Finally, the Protector is defeated (by Ant-Man blowing the vacuum dirt into his eyes - you can't make this up).

This story was a bit too silly.  Even for this time period. 

At this stage in his career, Ant-Man is in dire need of a true villain.

The best part of this story is the art.  Without question.

Journey Into Mystery #85

October 1962
Writer: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"Trapped by Loki, God of Mischief"

Much to my delight, Stan and Jack did not waste much time before they introduced more Asgardians.  With this issue, we are introduced to Loki, Heimdall and Odin (the last very briefly).

The story begins with Loki trapped within a tree (a predicament that he has been in for 'ages').  Loki finally escapes by tricking Heimdall into breaking the curse.  Loki immediately vows vengeance upon Thor.

Loki travels to midgard, takes on a disguise and draws Thor out into public by turning some innocent bystanders into negative images (seriously).  Thor attempts to engage Loki in battle, but the trickster god hypnotizes Thor with his own hammer, through a complicated maneuver in which the sun glints off of the hammer at just the right angle and frequency.  Loki convinces the hypnotized Thor to give up his hammer.

Convinced that Thor is harmless, Loki turns his back.  Unfortunately for Loki, it has been sixty seconds since Thor lost the hammer - which means that he reverts to Dr. Donald Blake.  Blake himself is not under hypnosis.  Blake regains the hammer (and subsequently the power of Thor) and gives Loki chase through the city.

After a lengthy battle throughout the city, Thor defeats Loki atop the tallest skyscraper in the city (they still don't place this in New York, but it seems pretty obvious that this is the Empire State Building).  Thor spins the defeated Loki around and hurls him into space, whereupon Loki lands back upon Asgard (somehow).

I don't have much more to add to this story.  The introduction of Loki and Asgard feels a bit like Stan and Jack slowly dipping into that pool of Norse mythology.  In issues to come, they dive in wholeheartedly.  When the backup stories of young Thor in Asgard begin, this series really takes off.

Tales to Astonish #36

October 1962
Writer: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

"The Challenge of Comrade X"

More communist villains!

We appear to have jumped forward in time a fair amount from last issue to this one.  The issue opens with superhero Ant-Man stopping some bank robbers and everyone seems to know who Ant-Man is.  He's a famous hero now.

Meanwhile, behind the iron curtain, our communist villains have grown tired of Ant-Man's exploits and it is decided to send in Comrade X!  A little while later, a woman goes to the police station asking for help from Ant-Man.  He seeks her out and offers help, which promptly leads to a show-down with Comrade X.  After battling it out for a while (which involves Ant-Man tying Comrade X's shoes together.  really), Pym reveals that Comrade X is really the woman who sought Ant-Man's help.

With the day saved, Pym rides off into the sunset.  On the back of an ant.



A few things we learn this issue:
1. Ant-Man uses his hoard of ants to keep tabs on the city, including those positioned at the police station who relay important information to Pym.
2. He launches himself out of his lab by way of a catapult (shown below).
3. After launching, Pym lands on a pile of ants (this will continue to be his mode of travel for awhile).
4. He re-enters the lab through a tiny door and elevator (also shown below).