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October 1962

Fantastic Four #4 (vol. 1)

“Prisoners of Kurrgo, Master of Planet X”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

Writers: Stan Lee

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Colorist: Stan Goldberg

Letterer: Artie Simek

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: October 1962

Release Date: July 1962

Pages: 24 Cover Price: $0.12

The story opens on Kurrgo, an inhabitant of Planet-X. In order to keep his home planet from crashing into an asteroid, he sends a robot to Earth to capture The Fantastic Four, whom he believes are the only beings in the galaxy capable of saving Planet X from imminent destruction.

Meanwhile, The FF are preparing to travel to Washington, D.C. for a banquet in their honor. The group boards The Fantasticar and Ben notices Kurrgo’s spacecraft entering the atmosphere. Reed explains they have no time to investigate, as they are due in the Capital immediately. As the team make their way, Kurrgo’s robot lands in an isolated valley and uses an “Atomic” scanner to try and locate them.

After arriving in Washington, the group receives accolades and a trophy from members of Congress. At that moment, the robot finds the team and activates a “Hostility Ray” which affects the entire city. Falling under the effects of the ray, the mood of the banquet quickly changes as the FF are declared menaces to society and the crowd turns on the heroes. The group is forced to use their powers and hurriedly escape via The Fantasticar. The robot notices the getaway and engages them immediately, forcing Reed to attempt several acrobatic maneuvers to evade the pursuing spacecraft. Unable to shake the assailant, the group land atop The Baxter Building and the robot announces that team must accompany him back to Planet X.

Outside, throngs of people affected by the hostility ray are gathering and preparing to storm the building. The robot informs them that they will no longer find quarter on Earth, and the only chance for refuge is by accompanying him to his home world. Reed reluctantly agrees, and the team travels to Planet X.

After arrival, Kurrgo regales the team with the scientific triumphs of his people, save the impending collision with the runaway asteroid, and pleads with Reed for assistance. Ben and Johnny are hostile at first, with The Torch attempting to utilize his “Super Nova” power, until a cool-headed Reed and Sue convince them to stop.

Working under the tremendous pressure of a 24 hour deadline and a planet that is beginning to shake apart, Reed works frantically to produce a reducing gas that will allow the planet’s populace to escape aboard the only available spacecraft.

Having solved the problem, Reed and team narrowly escape aboard Kurrgo’s craft as the planet succumbs to gravitational forces caused by the imminent collision. Meanwhile, still on the planet, Kurrgo hastily hatches a plan to control his people on the new planet, but is left behind to perish, a victim of his own power-hungry desires.

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October 1962

Journey into Mystery #85 (vol. 1)

“Trapped by Loki, the god of Mischief”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

Writers: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Letterer: Artie Simek

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: October 1962

Release Date: August 1962

Pages: 13

Cover Price: $0.12

In Asgard, Loki, the God of Mischief has been trapped by the other Gods in a tree, where he was to remain until his plight causes someone to shed a tear. Loki has gained control over the tree and commanded a leaf to break off and fall into the eye of Heimdall causing him to shed a tear and Loki was set free, vowing to get revenge on the one most responsible for his capture: Thor!

Loki uses his magic to locate Thor on Earth. Loki goes to Earth and disguises himself so as not to stand out. Loki decides to create a disturbance that will bring Thor to him. Dr. Don Blake and his nurse Jane Foster hear cries of help. They see several people who have been turned into negatives of themselves.

Dr. Blake runs into an alley where transforms himself into Thor and makes his way to the negative people in need. By spinning his hammer very fast, Thor is able to create anti-matter particles and blow them over to the negative people causing them to transform back into positive people. The crowd cheers for Thor as Loki makes his way to Thor and sheds his disguise, which jars Thor’s memory.

Loki challenges Thor to battle. Loki uses his magic to make a carpet begin to fly so that they can battle in the air. Thor follows Loki into the air by spinning his hammer overhead, which causes the sun to reflect back into his eyes each time it passes. Loki uses this to hypnotize Thor and put him under his control.

Loki makes several unsuccessful attempts to trick Thor into giving him his hammer. Finally, Loki conjures up another Thor and tricks the real Thor into giving the hammer to the image. Loki then orders Thor to release the animals from a nearby zoo. Loki, distracted by a group of people who are trying to lift Thor’s hammer, does not notice Thor transform back into Dr. Blake, due to not touching the hammer for 60 seconds, is set free of the hypnotic spell.

Dr. Blake touches the Hammer and transform back into Thor. After several skirmishes between Loki, using magic, and Thor, Thor spots an opening when finds large sections of pipe and hurls one at Loki. Trapped in the pipe, Loki falls into the water, where his magic is useless, and is rescued by Thor. With Loki still wet, Thor takes him to the Empire State Building and hurls his hammer with Loki attached back to Asgard.

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Henry “Hank” Pym was a scientist who created two serums: one that could shrink things to a fraction of their size and the other which could return them to their original size once more. He invented them as a solution to the high cost of shipping as well as making the transportation of military men and equipment less complicated a task.

Pym realizes that in order for the serums to be used on soldiers, he would first have to test them on himself. Unfortunately, the formula worked too fast and shrunk Pym to a much smaller size than he anticipated. He shrunk to the size of an ant.

Some ants spotted him and began chasing him. Cutting off all other avenues of escape, Pym ran up the ant hill and dropped down into it. When he landed in and became stuck in some honey, a miraculous thing happened – an ant extended a leg for him to catch on to and pulled him free of the sticky mess.

No sooner was he free, however, than he found himself surrounded by the other ants again. He spies a white-tipped wooden match sticking up out of the ground, and in desperation, threw a rock at it. The rock skipped across the tip of the match, igniting it.

While the ants were confused by the fire, Pym escapes back outside. He looked up and saw the test tube of serum that would return him to his normal size perched precariously on the window ledge far above him.

Then he noticed the ants were all coming up out of the anthill, closing in on him. But at the last second, one ant, the same one who had pulled him from the honey, helps him. He climbs onto its back and it carries him up the wall to the test tube.

Pym quickly bathed himself in the serum and immediately returned to his normal height. The first thing Pym did was to pour the rest of the serums down the drain, realizing that they were much too dangerous.

But shortly after this experience, Dr. Pym became extremely interested in ants. He created a cybernetic helmet which he could use to communicate with and give orders to ants. He also brought back his shrinking formula in order to be able to more closely observe them when he communicated with them, and a special suit that would protect him in case any ever posed a threat to him.

Eventually, he met Janet Van Dyne and recruited her as his partner, The Wasp.

Later, he created another serum which allowed him to grow from his normal height to several stories tall. From this point on, he called himself Giant-Man.

Later still, he would take on other personas, including Goliath and Yellowjacket.

September 1962

Tales to Astonish #35 (vol. 1)

“Return of the Ant-Man”

EIC: Stan Lee

Writers: Stan Lee

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Letterer: John Duffy

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: September 1962

Release Date: June 1962

Pages: 13 Cover Price: $0.12

First Appearance of:

• Ant-Man

SYNOPSIS:

Dr. Henry Pym created two formulas, one that could reduce the size of a object and another to return it to its normal size. Dr. Pym grew increasingly interested in ants learning everything he could about them.

In order to communicate with the ants Dr. Pym built a helmet that will pick up the wavelengths and translate them as well as translate his commands so that the ants will understand him. He also developed a suit to protect him from ant bites or stings.

This story begins with the government giving Pym an assignment to create a gas to make people immune to radioactivity and four assistants to help him. The communists learn of the research and plan to steal the formula.

When Pym refuses to give them the formula they threaten to get it from the assistants, but since each only worked on part of the formula they do not know the whole of it. The men decide to search the lab for the formula themselves and lock Pym into his office.

Realizing that he is trapped Pym decides to use his reducing formula and field test his suit and helmet. Pym uses a rubber band to launch himself to the window, climb underneath it and lower himself to the ground using a strand of thread. Once outside he heads to a nearby ant hill and immediately begins to feel the vibrations in his helmet.

While he works on adjusting the helmet to fully understand what the ants are communicating, they notice his presence and move in to attack him. Once Pym gets his helmet working he is able to stop all but one of the ants from attacking.

During the attack Pym realizes that he had retained all his strength at his normal size and easily lifts the ant and tosses it aside. The ant charges again and bites Pym but is unable to penetrate his suit and Pym strikes him with a judo chop knocking the ant out. He then sends a message to the remaining ants to follow him.

Once outside he runs into a beetle who Pym defeats by digging a deep hole and tricking the beetle to fall into it and bury it long enough to get away. Pym next rides an ant up the side of the building, with the rest following, and makes his way under the window.

Now inside Pym makes his way to his assistants, who are tied up and works to untie them. Pym then orders the ants to attack one of the communist, forcing him to drop his gun, and then sending honey ants into the gun to clog it up.

The ants make their way to the other communist and distract them enough for the lab assistants to overpower them. With things under control in the lab, Pym makes his way to his office and returns to his normal size and joins the others while they await the police to take the communists away.

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September 1962

Journey into Mystery #84, vol. 1

“The Mighty Thor vs. The Executioner”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott

Writers: Larry Lieber

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Letterers: Artie Simek

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: September 1962

Release Date: July 1962

Pages: 13 Cover Price: $0.12

Dr. Don Blake is at the hospital where he is treating a patient. We find out that Dr. Blake has feelings for his nurse, Jane Foster, and that she also has feelings for him, although neither is aware of this mutual affection.

Dr. Blake learns that a revolution has broken out in San Diablo led by a communist known as The Executioner. Dr. Blake is given a chance to go to San Diablo to help the people there. Jane Foster joins Dr. Blake on this trip, although it might prove to be a dangerous one.

While on the way to San Diablo the ship is attacked by the Executioner’s planes. Dr. Blake has to transform into Thor who is easily able to destroy the planes. After, he dives into the water unseen so that he can transform back into Dr. Blake.

In San Diablo, the Executioner learns that his planes have failed to accomplish their mission of destroying the ship and he orders the commander be taken to firing squad.

After landing at San Diablo the doctors make their way to the sick who need help, but are ambushed by the Executioner’s soldiers. Dr. Blake, while hiding behind a rock, hits his staff twice on the ground to summon a storm which disorients the soldiers and causes them to flee.

After continuing on their way for a bit, the doctors run into a squad of tanks. Finding a hiding spot, Dr. Blake transforms himself into Thor and easily over powers and destroys all the tanks. During the fight, Jane is taken hostage and Thor flees, seeing no way to save her at the moment.

Jane is taken to face the Executioner when Dr. Blake shows up and offers a trade, him for her. The Executioner takes Blake’s cane and orders him to face the firing squad. Jane, not wanting to see the man she likes killed, offers to marry the Executioner in exchange for Blake’s life. Not wanting to see this, Dr. Blake taunts the Executioner into fighting him without the cane.

When the Executioner drops the cane, Blake picks it up and hits it on the ground transforming into Thor. Before the soldiers are able to recover themselves from the bright flash of the transformation, Thor hurls his hammer into a nearby tent bringing it with the hammer when it returns. The tent falls onto the soldiers as the troops for the Democratic faction arrive.

Seeing that the Executioner’s troops fleeing, Thor strikes his hammer four times causing a nearby mountain to erupt, blocking them from fleeing. In the confusion, the Executioner tries to escape with as much money as he can. Seeing this, his troops realize that he is only in it for himself and kill him before he can get away.

After the fighting, Jane asked Dr. Blake where he was while everything was going down. When he tells her that he was hiding, Jane thinks him a coward and how handsome and courageous Thor was.

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September 1962

The Incredible Hulk #3, vol. 1

“Banished to Outer Space”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

Writers: Stan Lee

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: September 1962

Release Date: July 1962

Pages: 24

Cover Price: $0.12

SYNOPSIS:

Rick Jones is on his way to Bruce Banners cottage when the military spot him and take him to see General Ross. General Ross tricks Rick into helping to get rid of the Hulk by telling him that they need the Hulk to test a new space ship for the G-forces in the name of national defense.

Rick goes back to the secret lab to release the Hulk. The Hulk is angry that Rick had locked him up and begins chasing him to the military base and up the ship. Rick traps the Hulk inside the ship.

General Ross launches the ship. Once in space the Hulk, transforms back into Dr. Banner just before the ship passes through a radiation belt. Rick Jones over hears General Ross celebrate ridding the Earth of the Hulk. Rick goes to the control panel and turns the ship around.

The capsule plunges toward Earth with its chute deployed and slams into the ground. As Rick approaches the ship he is surprised to discover that it is the Hulk who is leaving the capsule as it is the middle of the day. Hulk, angry that Rick led him into the ship chases Rick to a cliff with nowhere to run.

Rick pleas to the Hulk to stop and is shocked when the Hulk obeys him. No longer in danger, Rick makes the Hulk take him to Banner’s cottage to sleep. Right after falling asleep Rick is awakened by a noise only to discover that he has escaped and has to chase him down.

Rick catches up to him just as the Hulk begins destroying a town and the troopers shooting at him. He is able to regain control of the Hulk and has him take the both of them back to the secret lab. Rick tries his best not to fall asleep, afraid of whether or not the Hulk will remain sealed away.

The issue now shifts to the town of Plainville, a town that has been looted clean and the inhabitants standing around in a trance. A small group of FBI agents search for clues as to what is going on in this town and several others that have been hit in the same manner.

The scene shifts to a big top of a circus where the Ringmaster begins to hypnotize the audience and sends the rest of the circus performers to loot the town, hypnotizing anyone they come across. Rick Jones has managed to stay awake all night but is feeling the effects of doing so.

Rick decides to leave the Hulk where he is so that he can get cleaned up at his aunt’s house. On the way back from his aunts he notices a crowd of people gathered for a circus and decides to take a look.

Before falling completely under the Ringmaster’s hypnotism,  Rick is able to summon the Hulk. The Hulk reaches the circus and begins to take out the circus folk who stand in his way, until he suddenly stops to await further commands from Rick.

At this moment the rest of the circus folk take the Hulk down and take him hostage to the next town they visit. While at the next town the FBI catch up to the circus and the Hulk. Upon hearing Rick the Hulk breaks free. The Ringmaster tries to escape during the chaos but the Hulk stops him with the main tent support pole.

After catching the Ringmaster, armed troops arrive to capture the Hulk, but Rick is able to escape with him, with General Ross swearing to capture the Hulk no matter how long it takes.

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September 1962

Fantastic Four #6 (vol. 1)

“Captives of the Deadly Duo!”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

Writers: Stan Lee

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Dick Ayers

Colourist: Stan Goldberg

Letterer: Artie Simek

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: September 1962

Release Date: June 1962

Pages: 24

Cover Price: $0.12

Fantastic Four assemble on the roof of the Baxter Building following the their conflict with Dr. Doom from the previous issue. Johnny has been searching for him but states he cannot locate him.

Elsewhere, Dr. Doom searches the ocean depths in his personal submarine, looking for Namor, the Sub-Mariner. He finally finds him, and after introductions, travel to Namor’s underwater dwelling.

Doom convinces Namor that he will help him in his quest for vengeance against the surface world. Namor agrees, but with one caveat – Susan Storm must not be harmed.

Doom shows Namor one of his scientific creations, a magnetic device he calls “the Grabber” which can be used to retrieve objects via magnetism. He gives it to Namor and reveals his plan for the conquest of the surface worls.

Back at the Baxter Building, Johnny Storm finds a photo of Namor among Sue’s things and asks her about her feelings for the Sub-Mariner. Sue confesses to having feelings for him even though she is engaged to Reed Richards, the FF’s leader, Mr. Fantastic.

As if the mention of his name summoned him, Namor appears, having entered through a window, stating he is on a peace mission. Reed has to restrain Ben from attacking Namor, but Johnny attacks him.

After a brief skirmish, Namor insists he is there as a friend. But the Fantastic Four don’t trust him and search the building for any booby traps.

Suddenly, a loud noise is heard outside as the building begins to shake. Dr. Doom has employed his Grabber to seize the Baxter Building and carry it into space with his ship.

Before they suffocate in the airless coldness of space, the team put on space helmets. Johnny finds he can’t use his flame powers due to the lack of oxygen.

Ben blames Namor for their capture, and attacks him. Meanwhile, Doom is carrying the Baxter Building in the direction of the sun, intending to send the structure into its fiery depths.

When Namor realizes that Doom means to kill them all, he immerses himself in a water tank to replenish his strength. He then flies into space to confront Doom.

Reaching Doom’s craft, Namor forces his way inside. Doom attacks him. But Namor, possessing the powers of an electric eel, turns the electric shock back towards Doom, who is forced to eject into outer space. Unable to control his trajectory, Doom is carried away by a passing meteor.

Namor takes control of Doom’s ship and guides the Baxter Building back to its foundation in New York City. The Fantastic Four find and dislodge the Grabber device from the building as Namor returns to the sea, his true home.

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Marvel Masterworks Thor Volume 1 (Vol. 18 in the Marvel Masterworks Library)
Reprints: Journey into Mystery #83-100

BIO

Dr. Don Blake was an American physician vacation in Europe when he over heard an old man telling people of stone men from outer space. They, of course, thought he was nuts, but Dr. Blake believed him and decided to have a look for himself.

These stone men came from the planet Saturn and had increased strength and invulnerability thanks to Earth’s atmosphere. Dr. Blake overheard the stone men speaking about killing any who discover them and he fled in fear.

He entered a cave, and unable to find another exit, conceded defeat. Dr. Blake leaned back against a wall, revealing a hidden door. Behind it, he found a hidden room where lay a very old walking stick. With hope growing, he tried to use the stick as a lever to move a boulder blocking a secondary exit from the cave. In his frustration at not being able to budge the enormous stone, he struck the boulder with the cane. There was a sudden blinding flash of light and Blake discovered that he had been transformed into Thor.

As Thor, Dr. Blake easily moved the boulder and escaped the cave. Outside, based on what he had read about Norse mythology, he tested his abilities . He quickly discovered that if he let go of the hammer for more than 60 seconds, he returned to his normal form.

Further tests showed the hammer’s ability to return to him when thrown, destroy a tree, summon storms, as well as stop them. He also finds that hitting the hammer on the ground once returned him to normal and the hammer back into a walking stick.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the stone men attack fleet entered the atmosphere and were picked up by military radar. The stone men’s ships were protected so that the missiles couldn’t harm them. Seeing this, Dr. Blake transformed back into Thor and hurled himself with his hammer into the middle of the landing party. The stone men couldn’t match strength with Thor and his hammer, and were quickly defeated.

Thinking that all humans must be like Thor, the stone men fled the planet. As soldiers arrived on the scene, Thor transformed back into Dr. Blake and walked away without anyone taking a second look.

August 1962

Journey into Mystery #83 (vol. 1)

“The Stonemen from Saturn!”

EIC: Stan Lee

Cover Artists: Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott

Writers: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

Pencilers: Jack Kirby

Inkers: Joe Sinnott

Letterers: Artie Simek

Editors: Stan Lee

Cover Date: August 1962

Release Date: June 1962

Pages: 13

Cover Price: $0.12

First Appearance and Origin of:

• The Might Thor/Dr. Donald Blake

SYNOPSIS:

Dr. Don Blake is an American physician vacation in Europe.

As he explores the countryside, he overhears an old man telling people of stone men from outer space. They of course think he is nuts, but Dr. Blake believes him and decides to have a look for himself.

These stone men come from the planet Saturn and have increased strength and invulnerability thanks to Earth’s atmosphere. Dr. Blake overhears the stone men speaking about killing any who discover them and flees to hide in a nearby cave.

Unable to find another way out of the cave, Dr. Blake leans back against a wall revealing a hidden door. In the secret chamber he finds a very old walking stick, which he uses as a lever to try to move the huge boulder blocking a secondary exit from the cave. Unable to budge the enormous stone, he strikes the boulder with the cane in a fit of frustration. Suddenly, there is a blinding light, and the feeble Dr. Blake is transformed into…

As Thor, Dr. Blake is easily able to move the boulder and escape the cave. Outside he tests his abilities based on what he had read about Norse mythology. If he lets go of the hammer for more than 60 seconds, he returns to his normal self.

He tests the hammer’s ability to return to him when thrown, throwing it through a tree, summons storms, and stops them before hitting the hammer on the ground once to return himself to normal and the hammer back into a walking stick.

At that time, the remainder of the stone men attack fleet enter the atmosphere and are picked up by military radar. The stone men’s ships are protected so that the missiles cannot harm them. Seeing this, Dr. Blake transforms back into Thor and hurls himself with his hammer into the middle of the landing party. The stone men cannot match strength with Thor and his hammer, and are quickly defeated.

Thinking that all humans are like Thor, the stone men flee the planet. As soldiers arrive to the scene, Thor transforms back into Dr. Blake and is able to walk away without anyone taking a second look.

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