Strange Tales Annual #2: Flame On 45

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Steve Ditko

Lettering: Art Simek

I mentioned a few posts ago how rare Steve Ditko inking Jack Kirby was, and this annual is (I think) the final instance of the two working together. With Amazing Spider-Man going monthly, with Ditko slowly taking over plotting the strip, the need to provide inks to maintain a regular paycheck (presumably) lessened to the point where it just wasn't a requirement.

This lovely close-up of Johnny presents a much softer face than Ditko would provide by himself, and with a lighter touch than Ayers would give to the same pencils. I rather like it, and it's an interesting view into another world where circumstances meant that Ditko's inking would be more common than we saw in ours.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales Annual #2 on our sixteenth episode: The Best Of Annuals, The Worst Of Annuals. It's the one where Steve walks out over the utter ridiculousness of the story, leaving the show in the hands of Andrew and guest-host Jon M. Wilson.

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Fantastic Four Annual #1 Flame On 44

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Another superb Flame On today as Johnny gives chase to Namor to rescue his sister. This panel encapsulates so much that is great about Kirby and Ayers working together - it's a small panel (one of eight on this page) and yet it's bursting with detail, from the insinuation of Johnny's physique beneath his flame to the richly rendered building in the background.

At the same time, it shows the frustrations of these small panels - Kirby designs this panel to be a feature moment, yet it feels lost on the page, tucked away in the top corner to allow space to be given to the soapy Namor/Dorma/Sue love triangle. If this annual had come two years later, this moment would have been given more space to breathe, and would have had been more impactful.

Don't forget to let us know your feel-good Fantastic Four reading experiences!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four Annual #1 on our sixteenth episode: The Best Of Annuals, The Worst Of Annuals.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_16.mp3]

Fantastic Four Annual #1: Flame On 43

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Goodness me, we've jumped a fair few pages. Sadly, the lack of trope material means that we won't be covering the team's holiday, their abduction by Namor, or the history of Atlantis given at the UN (although I'll be doing a Bollocksfish post at the end of the coverage of this annual).

Instead, we jump right to the opening shots of the Atlantis/Earth war, where Namor invades New York (and other cities off-panel). One of his initial shots is to encase the top floors of the Baxter Building in a fast-drying cement, but thankfully, this cement isn't enough to stop a speeding, flying, flaming teenager.

Don't forget to let us know your feel-good Fantastic Four reading experiences!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four Annual #1 on our sixteenth episode: The Best Of Annuals, The Worst Of Annuals.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_16.mp3]

Strange Tales #111: Flame On 42

Plot: Stan Lee

Story: H. Huntley

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Harold

I've been sitting here for ages, trying to work out how to use the fact that this is the 42nd Flame On to contrive a link between this panel, and The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. I haven't been able to do so.

So, instead, just enjoy the rare sub-belt ignition from Johnny as he decides to use his head as well as his flame to defeat the Asbestos Man. Based on past form, this probably isn't going to help all that much...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #111 on our fifteenth episode: Whence Came The Man of Asbestos

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_15.mp3]

Fantastic Four #17: Flame On 41

Story: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

You remember how Walt Simonson, in Fantastic Four #350, revealed that many of Doctor Doom's appearances had actually been Doombots when the real Doctor Doom showed up? And how a rumour grew that he had a master list of Doom's appearances, detailing which ones were Doctor Doom and which ones were just Doombots? (That rumour was false by the way) Well, I really wish Doom's appearance in this book was just a Doombot.

Why? Because his plan, certainly at this stage, is just really weird and strange. He creates these cloud-like, insubstantial robots to follow the team around, obstensibly to scan them and their powers. However, there is absolutely nothing subtle about these robots at all, instantly alerting the team to the fact that something clearly isn't right. The visual also looks as goofy as hell, meaning that this story looks as weird as it sounds.

Don't forget to let us know your favourite under-rated Fantastic Four stories!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #17 on our fifteenth episode: Whence Came The Man of Asbestos

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_15.mp3]

Strange Tales #110: Flame On 40

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: HE Huntley (Ernie Hart)

Art: Dick Ayers

Letterer: John Duffy

It's back to Strange Tales, a place neither Andy or myself ever really want to go again. But if I can bear to trawl through these uninspiring early appearances of The Wizard and Paste Pot Pete to ensure that nary a Flame On is missed, then you can come along with me.

Ernie Hart is the man behind the pseudonym behind the script today. Best known as the creator of the Marvel Comics funny animal character Super Rabbit, this issue of Strange Tales is one of only a very small handful of Silver Age superhero comics that Ernie was involved in the creation of.

Anyway, it's had to context this 'Flame On', as it is the first thing to happen in the comic. Johnny's exercising in his backyard, as the caption tells us. Which is good, as not a single panel in the first page detailing this sequence ever manages to depict that backyard.

Don't forget to let us know your favourite under-rated Fantastic Four stories!

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #110 on our fourteenth episode: The Return of Doctor Doom

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_14.mp3]

Fantastic Four #16: Flame On 39

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

This landmark 201st post features a lovely image of the three currently-visible members of the team running towards the camera, with a catchphrase used to unite the team. You could easily replace Reed, Ben and Johnny with Thor, Cap and Iron Man, Flame On substituted for Avengers Assemble. It's a wonderfully iconic shot, one that would surely have been given greater prominence a few years down the road, where the pacing of the stories over multiple issues allowed Kirby to let moments like this shine in the form of a half-page panel.

The three members of the Four are charging to beat up Doctor Doom, although the fact that it's page 21 of a 22 page comic suggests that either the fight will be brief, or Doom will make an improbably easy escape. As it's the first part of the title's first two-part story, my money's on the latter.

And as for Sue... she's busy freeing Ant-Man.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #16 on our fourteenth episode: The Return of Doctor Doom

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Fantastic Four #16: Flame On 38

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Today's Flame On is redundant. Completely and utterly.

In the preceding panels, Johnny has set fire to the wieners of his friends, and done fiery sky-writing. Just how much of him at this point is not alight and thus would ignite with a flourish when he cries his catchphrase?

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #16 on our fourteenth episode: The Return of Doctor Doom

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_14.mp3]

Fantastic Four #16: Flame On 38

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Another new issue of Fantastic Four, another fiery Flame On from Johnny Storm. We've reached the first two part story in the Fantastic Four, a moment of real change not only for the title but for Marvel comics. So many of the classic stories of the 1960s are multi-part epics. The Sleepers, The Eternity Saga, Spider-Man No More, The Master Planner, The Galactus Trilogy. The history of Marvel comics would have been very different if Stan and his collaborators hadn't wanted to push stories beyond the 22 pages of a single issue.

Appropriately enough, the first multi-part story for the Fantastic Four features the team being menaced by Doctor Doom, who starts his campaign of terror by randomly shrinking members of the team. OK, it's a very different form of terror from any that he might have used in the future. But when an issue opens with Johnny almost falling into an engine fan and getting chopped to pieces, it's certainly a high-stakes start to the adventure.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #16 on our fourteenth episode: The Return of Doctor Doom

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_14.mp3]

Strange Tales #109: Flame On 37

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: R. Berns

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Marty Epp

Gosh, that didn't take long at all. This story was so dull that I couldn't even drag any of the normal tropes out of it, apart from this brief fiery moment from the final page.

That's a fire demon from Pandora's Box there, but I'm not going to tell you why it's out of the box as that would require re-reading an issue of Strange Tales that I had completely forgotten about.

And I'd like it to stay that way.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #109 on our thirteenth episode: The Thinker's Fantastical Predictions!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_13.mp3]

Strange Tales #109: Flame On 36

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: R. Berns

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Marty Epp

Is it me or does Johnny look... different? I'm pretty sure it's not me.

This is the last issue of Strange Tales to be drawn by Jack Kirby for a little while, and I think, looking at the art across this story, that he was providing little more than layouts at this point. A lot of the faces look very un-Kirby, and it seems fairly clear to me that Ayers is shouldering the lion's share of the work for this issue.

Anyway, it's another Flame On, and it comes in one of the most forgettable issues of Strange Tales ever. The story of the Sorceror and Pandora's Box (insert New 52 joke here) is so bland that I'm going to try and not mention it at all during the panels from this issue.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #109 on our thirteenth episode: The Thinker's Fantastical Predictions!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_13.mp3]

Fantastic Four #15: Flame On 35

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Thankfully, the antics of The Painter are well and truly behind us. I can't stand villains with ridiculously over-complicated schemes and powers whose assumed name is a brief description of what they do. So, let's move on to Fantastic Four #15, featuring - The Thinker! Oh, bugger...

I'll get onto why I dislike The Thinker in a future post, as today we're dealing with an early panel from the book. It's only the second time that the book has opened with a series of scenes depicting the members of the team off living their lives, only to be summoned to the Baxter Building by a flare. It's a great little device that easily sets up the characters before bringing them together.

Here, Johnny's out on one of the last pre-Dorrie dates with a poor, quickly-abandoned young lady named Peg. I think his Flame On is as much about igniting his fire as it is about showing off to her. Enjoy it whilst it lasts, Johnny - Dorrie will not be a fan of your showing off!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #15 on our thirteenth episode: The Thinker's Fantastical Predictions!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_13.mp3]

Strange Tales #108: Flame On 34

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Robert Bernstein

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Terry Szenics

We seem to come across them on almost every page of the comics we're currently covering on the show, but earlier in the run of the show, these widescreen panels by Jack Kirby were a real rarity. It's great to see him stretch what he can portray in the space of a panel, and this shot of carnival mascots coming to life is really rather fun to look at.

Unfortunately, this is also the point where both the plotter and the scripter forget everything established about The Painter so far in the book. It is spelled out pretty darn clearly that The Painter paints something, and it appears. Here, The Painter uses his powers to somehow animate an already-existing object. Is he painting fast enough to literally animate them? It's a very inconsistent approach to the villain.

Anyway, the point of this post is to catalogue yet another Flame On from Johnny, and here, letterer Terry Szenics treats it almost as an afterthought, extruding the out of the speech balloon and into the sky. Again, it's different, but not quite right.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #108 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

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Strange Tales #108: Flame On 33

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Robert Bernstein

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Terry Szenics

A page later and we're seeing almost the same thing as we did yesterday. The Human Torch flies into action in a great piece of posing by Jack and Dick, threatening to burst out of the page and right at the reader. We get the same, spikily-rendered 'Flame On' catchphrase as well.

I suggested yesterday that the unusual style of lettering didn't fit with the house style at Marvel, and I think you can really see this with the little kid in the panel. I can't really think of any lettering like it in Marvel at this time. The uneven line, the exclamation marks near-bursting with energy. It's all actually rather appropriate for a fast-paced, throwaway tale full of action, but it does read uncomfortably when compared to the contemporary efforts of Art Simek and Sam Rosen.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #108 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.mp3]

Strange Tales #108: Flame On 32

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Robert Bernstein

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Terry Szenics

It's business as usual in the town of Glenville. Or is it Glendale? Two months-or-so after we finished covering Strange Tales, I really can't remember. And I really can't be bothered to look it up either. Anyway, a truckload of precious furs has been stolen, which begs the question - what building or establishment in Glenville/dale sold or manufactured enough furs of a previous variety that they could fill a van full? Yes, I know it's a shorthand trope to draw Johnny into action as quickly as possible, but still...

Anyway, new letterer Terry Szenics - the first credited female in Marvel super-hero comics - gives us something a little different with her rendition of Johnny's catchphrase. Note the spiky arms on the 'F' and 'E', contained in a rare spiky speech bubble. Such things were not in vogue at Marvel, and went against the house style, which may explain why she never joined the ranks of Silver Age Marvel letterers (well, both of them at least...)

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #108 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.mp3]

Fantastic Four #14: Flame On 31

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Now, this is a more interesting Flame On.

Captured by Namor (who, I should point out, is being manipulated  by The Puppet Master), the male members of the team are confronted with the Sub-Mariner's death trap for Sue - she's encased in an air bubble in a tank, being menaced by a large octopus. To free her, the team will have to fight Namor.

As it's his sister in peril, Johnny is the first one up. The image we have is an interesting one that I like to describe as being a couple of frames early. His body is on fire, but the flames haven't reached their full density and the unstable molecules in his suit haven't finished reacting to the combustion around him, meaning that his costume is partially visible beneath the fire.

The panel also shows us that his flame starts low and moves up - his head has yet to ignite, allowing Kirby and Ayers to communicate his anger, rage and feeling for his sister.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #14 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.mp3]

Fantastic Four #14: Flame On 30

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It's time for another instance of Johnny bursting into flames that really should be cross-posted under 'Flamin' 'Eck'.

The Four (plus Alicia) are heading into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, hunting for Namor. Unfortunately, Namor is the one hunting them, sending a giant needle-firing anenome and a whirlpool to challenge them. Therefore, Johnny decides that he's actually immune to the flame-dousing effects of water - as long as he burns white hot - and can actually do something about this underwater.

This is a trick that Stan's tried a couple of times to pull off, where Johnny burns so hot that the water evaporates around him. Unfortunately, he also goes to extreme lengths to make domestic amounts of water a threat to the Human Torch, culminating in a moment where a few drops of dew extinguish his flame. It's very hard to marry these two moments. But then again, it's very easy to ignore Strange Tales...

Assuming this actually works, what happens to all the salt in the waters? Surely Johnny should be covered in it!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #14 on our twelfth episode: HYPNOFISH!!!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_12.mp3]

Strange Tales #107: Flame On 29

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Are you starting to get deja vu with this issue? The background details may have changed slightly, but this is the fourth panel we've had featuring Johnny flying up and to the right whilst crying FLAME ON! And, at four 'Flame On's so far, this is the most populous issue to date for Johnny's catchphrase.

This time, Johnny exhibits a natural waterproofing as he manages to ignite despite being underwater.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #107 in our eleventh episode: Red? Yes! Communist? Yes! Russian? No!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_11.mp3]

Strange Tales #107: Flame On 28

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

So, Namor beat Johnny up with his asbestos-clad fist. And then tied him to the back of a dolphin. And swam away.

So, Johnny decided to ignite small parts of his body, burning through the tethers without even gently heating the dolphin.

Which is how we get to this panel, where Johnny - presumably un-dampened by his proximity to the ocean, as we've seen how even the tiniest amount of dew can retard his ability to ignite - flies away from a dolphin. And, if you look closely at the artwork, you can see the dolphin's back actually on fire.

So much for taking care...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #107 in our eleventh episode: Red? Yes! Communist? Yes! Russian? No!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_11.mp3]

Strange Tales #107: Flame On 27

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

After a few well-earned days off, I find myself hankerin' for a picture of a teenage boy self-immolating whilst flying, with no harmful effects. And, surprisingly enough, that's exactly what I get.

The ridiculous conceit that Johnny's flame would randomly run out without warning came into play once again this issue. Out for a flaming joyride, Johnny finds himself out over the sea, flameless. Landing on a handy ship, he is put to work by the sceptical sailors until the mists creep in, forcing Johnny to re-flame and help them out.

I love the sailor's surprised reaction to the fact that they had the Human Torch aboard all this time - "Well, I'll be! And we had 'im manicurin' the deck!". Larry Lieber's wonderful wordplay creating a great piece of speech.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #107 in our eleventh episode: Red? Yes! Communist? Yes! Russian? No!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_11.mp3]