The Green Goliath Cometh by Night!

"Mr. McGee don't make me angry...you wouldn't like me when I'm angry (spoken by Bill Bixby playing Dr. David Banner in "The Incredible Hulk" tv series). Anger and The Incredible Hulk; two things that have been associated in comicdom as strongly as Captain America and the red/white/and blue. Now, this is where things get interesting so sit back and enjoy and let Jubilant Jeff V tell you of a time, way back in the beginning of the shimmering silver age, when "The Green Goliath Cometh by Night!"

 

Though comicdom might find it hard to believe, there was a time when the Hulk was not simply "a big green angry rage monster" (Tony Stark, The Avengers). In fact, when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby collaborated and created The Incredible Hulk, rage had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Bruce Banner's transformation into the emerald behemoth. Instead of rage (a factor that to a certain extent was at least under Dr. Banner's control),the factor that initiated the Hulk metamorphosis was...sunlight! When darkness fell and the world of men lay down to rest, that is when The Green Goliath awakened to walk the earth! 

 

To complicate things further for Dr. Banner, Stan and Jack made it so that no matter where he was or what he was doing, when the sun set Dr. Banner would be no more. In Bruce's place would be THE INCREDIBLE HULK! The Incredible Hulk, a creature relentlessly hunted for the havoc that he was capable of wreaking upon the world; hunted by night like a vampire hunted by the mythical Van Helsing! The hunter of the Hulk had a name even almost as colorful as Van Helsing...the huntsmen known as "Thunderbolt" Ross 

The main problem with this hunt is that what Ross does not realize is that "what" he is hunting is really a "who" and that who (Bruce Banner) has no control over his Green Goliath counterpart, being completely unaware of his actions as The Incredible Hulk! Day after day Dr. Banner would awaken in terror, not knowing what havoc the Emerald Behemoth might have wreaked the night before! 

Stan and Jack's early run on the Incredible Hulk (#1-5) is some of my favorite collaborative work of the early silver age. I find Stan's stories enthralling and Jack's artwork magnificent! Through each of the five issues Jack changes how he draws The Hulk and I must say, I like that! You can see him tinkering, trying to find a style that matches the pathos of the issue just right and on that note I salute the shimmering silver age and The Green Goliath! 

Marvel Monster Gallery!

As a follow up to "Marvel Monster Mayhem", I just wanted to include my favorite covers from The Mighty Marvel Monster's Bullpen! The names that Stan came up with for the monster's are simple, sensational, and vintage silver age!

Marvel Monster Mayhem!!!

Hey there loyal followers of SAS! I, Jubilant Jeff V, am pleased to welcome you to MARVEL MONSTER MAYHEM! Before Marvel hit it big in 1961 with Fantastic Four #1, The Merry Marvel Bullpen was churning out a plethora of monster comics under titles that all of comicdom would one day come to not only know, but ADORE! So, as any Merry Marvel Marcher might guess, the three main men behind these offbeat Silver Age Sensations were none other than Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko and the titles that they wrote for were: "Tales of Suspense" (this is the title that would see the introduction of The Invincible Iron Man in issue #39), "Journey into Mystery" (this is the title that would see the introduction of The Mighty Thor in issue #83), "Tales to Astonish" (this is the title that would see the introduction of The Astonishing Ant-Man in issue #27) and Strange Tales (this is the title that would see the introduction of Dr. Strange in issue #110). But before these heroes graced the covers and pages of their respective titles, comicdom was treated to what I feel is like a mini sci-fi film series of monsters, mayhem, and lessons! Let's start with the first of these wonderful little sci-fi vignettes that I was lucky enough to read compliments of beleatednerd.com.

 

So this tale features story by Stan Lee and art by Steve Ditko. Now, of all the silver age art that I have had the privilege to view ( art penciled by the likes of Jack Kirby, Carmine Infantino, Don Heck, Gil Kane, Dick Ayers, Herb Trimpe, Gene Colan) there is truly no art that can match the simplistic beauty and style of Steve Ditko. Ditko's art just feels like poetry in motion and has a quality that makes the reader feel transported into the story itself. 

 

Now "The" Collection unfortunately does not yet feature any authentic Ditko art, as I have only had the privilege of enjoying the Ditko style via digital comics so far, but this is a problem that will be remedied come Christmas time :D Here's a quick peek at Jubilant Jeff V's Silver Age Christmas List, in no particular order:  

1. Tales of Suspense #48 (featuring art by Steve Ditko, one of few early Iron Man's drawn by Ditko) 

 

2. Tales of Suspense #55 

 

3. Fantastic Four #28 

 

4. X-Men #12 

 

5. Amazing Spider-Man #34 (Tops on my list bc this would be my VERY first Ditko Spider-Man issue!)

 

Ok, side trip over, back to the show! How bout that Ditko artwork in Tales of Suspense #23! Ditko makes me even want to see more of an elderly couple traveling through a swamp to meet a swamp creature, that's how BRILLIANT his artwork truly is. Now, with Stan penning the stories for these monster tales, there is no way that there would not be some heart felt moments and maybe a lesson or two mixed in here or there. It is this wonderful union of short and sweet story telling, story telling with a purpose accompanied by art that tells a story all by itself, that truly made the Marvel Method work. 

 

Needless to say, I am now keeping my eyes open for some Marvel monster tales to add to "The" Collection because these issues are a wonderful change of pace and make me feel like I am sitting in a movie theater watching a Universal monster movie and watching Boris Karloff absolutely light up the screen with that eerie monster movie feeling that I feel is unique to him alone!

Super-Blog Team Up Presents "The Day They Walked Away", #1 of 6 in a limited series

Welcome reader to THE crossover event; THE most new and exciting series in comicdom; THE SUPER-BLOG TEAM UP OF THE BLOG UNIVERSE!!! What awaits you inside this post and the other 5 posts in this Super Team series? We’re glad you asked! Together, the Super-Blog Team and I will be taking you on a journey of both heroism and heartache; a journey of triumph and tribulation; a journey that sees the heroes we love on….

“THE DAY THEY WALKED AWAY!”  

Our story starts in the Silver Age of Comics (1956-1970) and it begins with a creation of Stan “The Man” Lee and Jack “King” Kirby. Benjamin Grimm, alias “The Thing”, was always the most reluctant member to join the Fantastic Four. The “Ever-loving” Thing was not loving the idea of what a trip into space with Reed Richards, Susan Storm, and Johnny Storm transformed him into. As Susan so eloquently puts in the opening pages of The Fantastic Four #1 “Run, Reed Darling! He’s turned into a—a—some sort of THING! He’s strong as an ox!!”  

 

From the earliest pages of his silver age infancy, Ben outwardly displayed his distaste for this little group that he got roped into piloting into space to study Reed’s “cosmic rays”. Ben’s distaste stemmed from several factors, factors that in one way or another, we can all relate to. Ben was jealous of the smart guy who gets the girl that he doesn’t deserve (Reed) and he was jealous of the suave “hotshot” who got whatever he wanted out of life (Johnny). The cosmic rays turned Ben into exactly what he felt the world saw him as; a brute whose greatest asset was his strength. 

If you, the reader, take a moment to dwell on this next point, I think you’ll dig what I, Jubilant Jeff V, is laying down! So I’ve just mentioned Ben; now let’s take a moment to visit the other three members of the fantastic four and think about how their powers are near perfect foils for the people that they are! Oh yes, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are every bit the geniuses that we all think they are and let me show you why! 

Let’s start with Reed Richards; alias Mr. Fantastic. Reed is a scientist, one of the most brilliant scientists in the world actually. One of the primary functions of a scientist is to stretch scientific “truths” and principles; stretching them to such a degree that new truths and principles are discovered and this cycle perpetuates itself throughout time. Now, what is the new and magnificent power that Reed Richards is endowed by the cosmic rays that he was bombarded with? Oh, that’s right, the ability to stretch to new and truly fantastic bounds that were previously unprecedented! 

 

Now, let’s move on to Johnny Storm; alias The Human Torch. Johnny is the youngest member of the Fantastic Four and as such, designed to be the representation and voice of his era. Johnny is everything that a boy his age would have wanted to be. Johnny was debonair, slick, witty, and a ladies man (he was basically everything that Peter Parker was designed not to be). Now, also being the youngest member of the Fantastic Four meant that by definition, Johnny would be the one most sure of himself, most ready for action, and most ready for a fight. Johnny Storm was hot tempered and wanted to set the world ablaze, as any teenager could most likely relate to. Johnny’s passion burnt like a flame inside him; all Stan and Jack did was move that flame from the inside to the outside and the Human Torch was born!  

Ok readers so 3 down and 1 to go. Lastly we have Susan Storm and I decided to save Susan for last because Sue’s case is different from the aforementioned cases of her other three fantastic team members. Sue was the embodiment of the modern day woman. She looked, played, and sounded the part. Often Sue would be the most rational of the four and the most cautious. Sue also enjoyed the latest fashions and enjoyed being seen and appreciated (honestly, isn’t being seen, heard, and appreciated what we all truly want?) To counter these desires, Susan’s power was one in which enabled her to become invisible, to not be seen. This power was most interesting early on as Sue did not yet know how to control her power and would fade in and out of view without meaning to do so.  

 

With all four of these powers now laid out, and the knowledge that Stan was writing for an older audience, a target audience of teenagers as he has often said in countless interviews when asked about the origins of his most famous characters, it becomes clear that each of these powers could be looked at as a slice of a much bigger pie. Each slice of the pie comprises the search for identity and identifiableness that we all embark on at some point during our lives. Are we the logic ridden and knowledge driven Reed Richards? Are we the suave and passionate Johnny Storm? Are we the rational and voice of reason Susan Storm? Or are we Ben Grimm, the Thing, someone who feels that they cannot relate to anybody therefore hides behind a façade of pure power? In part I of The Super-Blog Team Up, “The Day They Walked Away”, I will now delve into that lastly mentioned member of the FF; Benjamin Grimm, alias The Thing, and explore just why this founding member of the Fantastic Four decided to walk away.  

If somebody were to ask you why you decided to walk away from something that you had once been IMMENSELY dedicated to, what might your answer be? Perhaps you simply grew bored of it. Perhaps you did not feel appreciated for all your efforts. Or perhaps it was just time for a change. For Ben Grimm, the answer was quite simply all of the above.  

Ben grew tired of playing, what he believed to be, second fiddle to the rest of the FF. Ben believed that he was being exploited, used and needed only for his strength. Ben never felt that he could be truly accepted; his “gift” left him disfigured and hideous to his own eyes. The cosmic rays left Ben as an unknown for he was no longer a man, he was now a Thing! Where would a Thing fit into this world? In a world full of niches and categories, where would this member of the FF now fall? Ben had to rediscover who he was and all that he really knew was that he was “different” from the other three and he hated them for that.  

 

So with all of this been said and having seen what unfolded, why would Ben return to the FF? Sometimes we all need to take a break from something, to step back and examine what is right there before our very eyes. When Ben stepped away from the Fantastic Four he realized something. He realized that he WAS the Thing; it is who he is. Ben comes to realize that his outward appearance is simply the embodiment of all that he represents. Ben is a rock (you see what I did there) on which a team can be built upon and the strength of his will and his heart is unparalleled. He realizes that while he may be a “Thing”, and while he may be different, he is still loved and valued and that is really all any of us trying to figure out who we truly are can ask for.  

 

The Super-Blog team up continues on so follow the links to the next installments and read on true believers to see what else unfolded on the “The Day They Walked Away!”

#2 LongBox Graveyard: Captain America (http://wp.me/p1yye7-225) 

#3 Flodos Page: Green Lantern (http://flodospage.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-day-they-walked-away-green-lantern.html) 

#4 SuperHero Satellite: Superman (http://wp.me/p2N3Qb-dd) 

#5 Chasing Amazing: Spider-Man (http://wp.me/p1wQNx-16N) 

#6 Fantastiverse: Hank Pym … COMING SOON!

The Power of a Kirby Cover

The work of Jack Kirby is truly masterful! Each line, each stroke, tells a story over pages that a reader often hopes will never end. In this post I just wanted to share my favorite Kirby covers from my collection that truly capture "THE POWER" of King Kirby!

1.  

2.

3.

4.

Each of these covers simply seem to explode with power, beckoning the reader to find out wait awaits them within its pages. That my loyal SAS readers is the power of Jack Kirby. 

BEWARE THE ATOMIC GRENADE!

So I have to admit, I am and have always been a self proclaimed carrier of the "Make Mine Marvel" flag. However, as a comic book fan, and avid minion of those comics that fall into the category of silver age sensations (silver age comics or comics from 1956-1970), but by boycotting DC I was simply cutting out half of a truly beautiful and glimmering silver age universe. I knew the history that DC had with comic books, being the "inventor" of the superhero when Action Comics #1 hit the newstands in June of 1938. 

Ok, before anybody gets too excited, that is not my hand holding this issue open, it's google images. Perhaps a version of me in one of the myriad of universes in the DC multiverse? ;) I know that DC had begun with the ability to capture a reader's imagination. Honestly, just try and imagine what it must of been like to open this issue. Did you try and imagine? If yes, then DC just proved my point and still can capture a reader's imagination! If no, well there is always Marvel ;) Knowing the power that DC can pack into it's pages, and always having a certain affinity for Carmine Infantino's Flash and Gil Kane's Green Lantern, I've been diving into a lot of DC silver age sensations that I nabbed up and this week we have an issue that I was BEYOND excited to dive into and the Scarlet Speedster did not disappoint. 

 

I first added this issue to my Hopeful Additions to the Collection while reading a book that I HIGHLY recommend: "The Physics of Superheroes" by Dr. James Kakalios. In the book, Dr. Kakalios explores the physics principle of centrifugal force, a concept that is not only used in this issue, but used correctly and accurately describes a physics principle in a way that I would actually want to learn more about!

So I would just like to say thank you DC and thank you Flash for still being able to capture my imagination and curiosity!

GL and the MIGHTY yellow lamp!

Morning true believers and followers of SAS! So I've received some feedback asking for these posts, penned by none other than myself, Jubilant Jeff V, to focus more on some personal collecting stories and feedback while I tie in some commenting on this week's theme. This week's SAS was Green Lantern #5. "The Power Ring that Vanished". Now, I always start out with HIGH hopes for a silver age Green Lantern comic and usually as the story unfolds my hopes are left as ablaze as The Human Torch. I JUST DON'T GET IT! JOHN BROOME IS THE WRITER! HE WROTE FOR THE FLASH AND THOSE PLOTS WERE WELL DEVELOPED, SCIENTIFIC, AND WITTY! (this is now the point where I turn into the rage comics guy) JOHN BROOME, Y U RUIN GREEN LANTERN FOR ME!!!!!

 

That's right folks, in Green Lantern's first appearance in Showcase #22 GL can apparently handle many things for he is THE MIGHTY EMERALD GLADIATOR! Except yellow lamps, that is where he draws the line. 

 

I really do try and like GL, the concept behind it always fascinated me but the silver age green lantern, what Glorious Gil Kane is often best known for, just irritates me because I really do try to like it. Looking back on the character, I understand what DC was doing as they were writing for a young audience. The stories Broome penned for GL are often simplistic, vocabulary is not very advanced, and GL tends to feel like he is deliberately trying to teach instead of just letting that happen naturally while the story unfolds. GL #5 that I read this week was no different and disappointing as this week GL was taken out by a tree limb which is the catalyst that sparked this week's love/hate post. I have a few more GL's that I acquired in my DC haul about a month ago so once again, my hopes will be high. Ya know, its strange. After reading a bad SAS that I really had high hopes for, it actually puts me in a funk for about a day or so. It just feels like such bitter disappointment that I inherently get angry at my comics and then, inevitably I'm like, its ok, I still love you. 

The Cowled Crusader

This week’s SAS involves the Caped Crusader, the Gotham Gangbuster, the Cowled Crusader...THE BATMAN! This week’s issue is Batman #201 (1968) and entitled “Batman’s Gangland Guardians!” So this is the first official silver age Batman to land in “THE” Collection and one of 6 sensations that I landed at my first live auction a few weeks ago. The auction was an estate sale and there were 18 total comics up for auction, in lots of 6. So with the comics being divided up into 3 lots of 6 comics the winner of each lot had their choice of what they wanted. Before the auction there was a preview of all the items so I got to wander about and inspect these silver age sensations up close and personal. The comics were bagged and all spread out over a table and upon inspection I discovered that amongst the comics were Hawkman #1 and Hawkman #2, both in Good + to Very Good condition and could have brought in a nice chunk of change in resale! So I priced all the comics that had good resale value of the 18 and sat back down in my seat to scope out the competition and identify potential threats to my acquisition of the winged wonder of Thanagar. I identified one major threat and I am apparently an expert marksman, amongst the ranks of Hawkeye and Green Arrow we’re talking about here, as I was 100% correct! As the auction began and item after item came up, my mark bid on NOTHING! When the comics came up the battle began. I knew that he knew the Hawkmans were the catch of the day and I knew that he knew SO DID I! I had my number that I was willing to pay, keeping in my mind that though it was Hawkman #1, Hawkman is still considered to be a second tier hero and therefore not as collectible which would reflect in my resale ability. So I drove him up, I backed down, he won the first lot and of course chose the lot with Hawkman #1 and #2 in it. Oh well, I still came away with a lot at a much cheaper price with some great comics, keeping three issues for myself and reselling the other three for a modest profit. Now, onward with Batman #201!  

What drew me to this issue was that on the cover the police were shouting that they had orders to shoot to kill Batman. Naturally, this piqued my attention. As the tale unfolds we learn that a west coast gang is trying to move in and take over the crime world in Gotham City. We discover that there is a group that is not so keen on a hostile takeover, a group consisting of: the Penguin, the Joker, Catwoman, the Mad Hatter, the Clue Master, the Getaway Genius, and Johnny Witts. The Penguin learns that this new gang is planning to start their takeover with a set of death traps for the Caped Crusader and the Penguin and the rest of the group agree that it would be better for business if Batman lived because if Batman dies then they will most certainly be next! So unbeknownst to the Cowled Crusader, at each of these “death traps”, a gangland member of Gotham City is lurking behind the scene to save The Batman: 

 

Finally the West Coast mob gets fed up and nabs Batman themselves with the plan to end their caped and cowled headache once and for all. 

In the end, the Dark Knight emerges victorious, though puzzled by his “luck” throughout the last few nights. Chalk it up to all in a day’s work for the Batman and his Gangland Guardians. I really enjoyed this story, penned by Gardner Fox. The tale kept its intrigue the whole way through and kept the reader wondering how Batman would avoid a planned and certain death on each page. My only complaint in this issue is the panel layout and transitions as I am not a fan of having to follow arrows to try and figure out where my next panel is. So other than the panel flow being a bit clunky, I would give this issue a B+ and definitely deem my first adventure with the Dark Knight a success! 

Part 2 of Special Double Size Post!

So this week we are off and running with the scarlet speedster, the sultan of speed….The Flash! Just wanted to mention a quick aside to give you, the readers of SAS (Silver Age Sensations), a look behind the curtain to see the direction SAS will be heading in the coming weeks and if there may be any requests for a detour here or there. So a few weeks ago I scored a haul of Silver Age DC Sensations featuring: Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lantern, The Atom, Wonder Woman, Batman, and World’s Finest Comics. I will be reviewing one of these sensations a week, in no particular order, but if anyone had a suggestion for one of those newly added titles for me to grab from “THE” Collection and review or wanted me to dive into my collection for a Silver Age Marvel Sensation for review I would be as happy as The Joker on the perfect day for a masterful crime to oblige to any such requests. Now, away we go into The Flash #118!  

 

Flash #118 “The Doomed Scarecrow!”, published in 1961, features a story penned by John Broome and artwork by one of my favorite artists of the Silver Age…Carmine Infantino. Infantino is most notably known for his work drawing The Flash and rightfully so as it was he who completely redesigned and reoutfitted this original Golden Age hero and it was quite the transformation.  

A few weeks ago, browsing the shelves of a Barnes and Noble, I read a previously unpublished interview with Infantino in which he described his redesign for The Flash. In this interview we learn that Infantino wanted to completely scrap the look of Jay Garrick, the original Flash, and make this new updated version more sleek and streamlined. One of Infantino’s major motivations was to make his new Flash, the Barry Allen Flash, look like an actual runner, complete with a slender but toned physique. Infantino also understood that there would always be the challenge of drawing “speed”, a challenge that any artist would have to overcome when the character that he is drawing is dubbed “the scarlet speedster”. One of the methods that Infantino employed to get around this obstacle is to use simple and subtle symbolism to prime the idea of motion and speed in the reader’s mind. Infantino utilized the use of something that we all inadvertently associate with speed….the symbol of lightning. Those streaks of lightning and lightning bolts emblazoned upon Flash’s costume are not merely for show as these symbols helped Infantino communicate “speed” to the readers, a simple yet brilliant technique.  

Now, onward we go into this week’s issue! In this issue The Flash finds himself in Hollywood as a consultant for a movie that is being made about him and he is there as a fill in for when the cameras simply cannot find a way to create the illusion of the Flash’s speed since the Flash is being played by a completely normal and run of the mill actor bereft of super speed, an actor by the name of Steve Palmer. Flash learns that attempts are being made on Steve’s life whilst on set so Flash decides to switch places with him and investigate as to what is really happening on this set in Hollywood. Well, after a swift knock to the back of the head with the butt of a gun, things start to make sense for the sultan of speed! 

After things begin to clear up for Barry (these things take time after being clubbed over the back of the head with the butt of a gun) he begins to formulate a plan to utilize a rather unique talent he possesses. The Flash is able to move back and forth so quickly that it causes his entire molecular structure to vibrate and with those molecules moving so rapidly, he is able to effectively do this: 

So, all in all I would give this issue a C+. I’m more of a fan of a hero vs. super villain story line, or a story line with a bit more tantalizing of a plot so this issue didn't really do it for me but hey, I got to enjoy Carmine Infantino’s artwork so I’ll take it.

Part 1 of Special Double Size Post!

So after compiling my first post on the winged wonders of Thanagar and publishing it for all admirers of comicdom to see, I wanted to treat my readers to a special double size issue posting, but fear not true believers, no quarter is necessary for payment of this double size issue! What awaits you, the reader, inside this posting? Well this special posting will be broken up into two separate posts with this post being #1 of 2 with #1 featuring a bit of origin story if you will; a place where it all began.

I had not always been an avid member of comicdom, as I am now. I had always loved superheroes, they had fascinated me beyond belief and quite frankly the fact that they still do as an adult is what makes the ideas of Stan Lee, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Jack Kirby, Carmine Infantino etc. truly immortal. So what was the spark that lit the fire that set my love for silver age comics as ablaze as The Human Torch? 

 

Well, the answer to that question and more awaits you, the reader, as you follow me on a journey.  

 

Journey into Mystery with the Mighty Thor #114 will always be what I measure silver age comic books against. Though there may be more valuable issues, issues with more color or pop on the cover, issues that are in better condition than mine or those that feature a more pivotal story inside; this book truly encapsulates the silver age of comics. #114 is penned by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby and it was this union, though at times an unhappy one, which brought sheer joy to the readers that would open up a Stan Lee and Jack Kirby masterpiece! This issue was my first first and as it can be for many members of comicdom, you never forget your first first.The cover of this issue features the Mighty Thor squaring off against a new villain, THE ABSORBING MAN and garnishes the tag line “The Stronger I am the Sooner I Die!” The Absorbing Man has been given a most unique power, a power bestowed on him by Loki, God of Mischief.  

  

As the story progresses, Thor finds that he is quite literally battling himself. Like a heavyweight title bout, the Absorbing Man matches Thor punch for punch and pound for pound.  

 

Thor comes to the realization that this is a battle that he simply cannot win. This is where things get interesting. Thor is summoned, in the middle of battle, back to the realm eternal, back to Asgard itself! It is here that we see the brilliance of a Stan Lee and Jack Kirby epic:  

 

Now, as I mentioned in my first post, Marvel loved their multiple part story lines, which from a bottom line standpoint I 100% understand. As a collector, I can’t help but despise this brilliance just a little bit. Regardless of that though, it is this comic, Journey into Mystery with The Mighty Thor #114 that sparked a love that I will forever be indebted to Stan and Jack for creating and sharing. A love that I now want to share with all you, my new and loyal followers of SILVER AGE SENSATIONS (SAS for short)! Oh, and as always……EXCELSIOR!

P.S. Head on over to part 2 of this special double sized issue post for my weekly review of a new (new to “THE”collection anyway) Silver Age Sensation! This week we have a review of The Flash #118 “The Doomed Scarecrow!”