Strange Tales #127: It's Clobberin' Time 7

Strange Tales #127, page 9, panel 6

Strange Tales #127: It's Clobberin' Time 7

Written by the Overlord of Originality… Stan Lee

Illustrated by the Archduke of Action… Dick Ayers

Inked by the High Priest of Highlights… Paul Reinman

Lettered by the Lama of Lexicography… Art Simek

I... What is Ben trying to do here? The preceding panel has him being taunted by the Mystery Villain, but the art here seems to depict Ben charing full pelt into the wall of the cave that they're in. It's a puzzling choice from Dick Ayers not to show Ben's target. I think he's going for a depiction of the force and fury of Ben's charge, but by having him run away from the camera, that's completely lost. It's a good example of how simply stringing a fight scene together with catchphrases and impulsive actions, rather than planning the fight through, just doesn't work.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #127 on our thirty-seventh episode: Yes, Mr Lister, Sir!

Strange Tales #125: It's Clobberin' Time 6

Strange Tales #125, page 11, panel 5

Strange Tales #125: It's Clobberin' Time 6

Written by Word-Slingin' Stan Lee

Drawn by Picture-Sketchin' Dick Ayers

Inked by Ink-Splatterin' Paul Reinman

Lettered by Pen-Pushin' S. Rosen

It's poorly-drawn, stiffly-posed, heavily-inked, just about avoids showing terrible blisters on Namor's back, and is missing one of the three required words for this category, but this panel is definitely one that was published in a comic and which I have chosen for inclusion on this blog.

I won't patronise you by trying to think of something write about this incredibly boring image.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #125 on our thirty-fifth episode: House of the Fallen Storm

Fantastic Four #31: It's Clobberin' Time 5

Fantastic Four #31, page 18, panel 3

Fantastic Four #31: It's Clobberin' Time 5

Written by: Stan Lee, The Man With The Talented Typewriter!

Illustrated by: Jack Kirby, The Man With The Power-Packed Pencil!

Inked by: Chic Stone, The Man With The Panoramic Paint-Brush!

Lettered by: S. Rosen - The Man With The Leaky Lettering Pen!

Let's list the things that make this panel great.

Moloids wearing tight underwear and little booties? Check. Moloids being hurled all over the place? Check. Glorious catchphrase with special colouring for the letters and the speech balloon? Check. Insane amounts of colour bleed, making it look like Ben has literally punched the colours out of the inks? Check. Reed holding Sue whilst she simpers about being rescued?

Well, not everything in this panel is great.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #31 on our thirty-fifth episode: House of the Fallen Storm

Fantastic Four Annual #2: It's Clobberin' Time 4

Fantastic Four Annual #2, page 19, panel 4

Fantastic Four Annual #2: It's Clobberin' Time 4

A Stan Lee Story Spectacular

A Jack Kirby Illustrative Idyll

A Chic Stone Delineation Delight

A Sam Rosen Lettering Landmark

The fourth instance of Ben crying 'It's clobberin' time' is the first time that it's treated as a moment of awesome within the story. Ben is placed front and centre, running towards the reader, eager to engage with Doctor Doom in battle. He's pushing Reed out of the way, Doom's lifelong nemesis, so keen is he to land a punch.

It's still a rather small panel, and in the wider context of this very busy story, it doesn't really stand out. But Jack is understanding the value of providing hero moments for the team, and Stan knows the power of a good catchphrase. And, let's face it, this is a huge step up from blurry figures battling in the mist.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four Annual #2 on our thirty-fourth episode: The Doomcast, with special guest host Alan Middleton

Fantastic Four #29: It's Clobberin' Time 3

Fantastic Four #29, page 6, panel 5

Fantasticast Four #29: It's Clobberin' Time 3

Written with a dash of greatness by: Stan Lee

Drawn with a hint of glory by: Jack Kirby

Inked with a touch of drama by: Chic Stone

Lettered with a bottle of india ink by: S. Rosen

Is this the most underwhelming use of the phrase 'It's Clobberin' Time' ever seen in the pages of the Fantastic Four? It's got to be one of the (dare I say it) laziest panels it's ever been used on, with Ben and his combatant drawn in the roughest strokes. Even John Byrne, with his infamous 'Snowblind' issue of Alpha Flight, would have balked at this. As much as I hate to say that a Kirby panel was rushed, lazy, or poorly done, the fact that if you take away the speech balloon you can't tell which blurry blob is the Thing speaks volumes.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, the first blurry blob turns out to be one of the Red Ghost's stupid apes. Oh, happy happy joy joy.

Happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy

Happy happy joy joy, happy happy joy

etc.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #29 on our thirty-second episode: Now With Genuine People Personalities

Fantastic Four #28: It's Clobberin' Time 2

Fantastic Four #28, page 11, panel 4

fantastic four #28: it's clobberin' time 2

Written by Stan Lee (The Leader!)

Drawn by Jack Kirby (The King!)

Inked by Chic Stone (The Master!)

Lettered by Art Simek (The Letterer!)

It's quite clear at this point that neither Stan nor Jack are treating 'It's Clobbering Time' as a proper catchphrase for The Thing. The phrase has clearly stuck with Stan from the previous issue of Strange Tales, but it has yet to embed itself into the strip in the same way that 'Flame On' has.

Which is why the second use of it comes on the page's smallest panel, snuck in between an overly-explanatory caption box and a minuscule drawing of Ben breaking free of Iceman's ice.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #28 on our thirty-first episode: Just Three Of The Guys, with special guest-host Shawn Engel.

Strange Tales #121: It's Clobberin' Time 1

Strange Tales #121, page 14, panel 1

strange tales #121: it's clobberin' time 1

Written in the sensational style of Stan Lee

Drawn in the marvellous manner of Dick Ayers

Lettered by: Art Simek

A historic moment in the history of the Fantastic Four. So historic that we completely forgot to mention it on the podcast. Well, to be fair, when looking for the first time The Thing utters his iconic catchphrase, 'It's Clobberin' Time', you'd hardly expect to have to be looking at an issue of Strange Tales featuring the Plant Man.

It's an inauspicious start for the catchphrase. Ayers' small panel and scratchy definition on the Thing makes it look like he's daintily stepping around the plants, rather than wantonly destroying them to save Dorrie Evans. In the context of this panel alone, it seems like Stan popped in a pithy, macho-sounding phrase simply to meet his own rule of ensuring that each character in a panel receives something to day. Except Dorrie, of course. Which is good.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #121 on our thirtieth episode: Horny Namor