Fantastic Four #12: It's A Marvel Comic 10

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

I've waxed lyrical both on the podcast and on this blog about how much I love the conceit that in the Marvel universe, Marvel comics exist purely as a licensing entity, creating comics based on the real-life exploits of super-heroes. This panel is a very subtle example of Stan using the subtleties of this gimmick in his storytelling.

The original 'bathtub' Fantasticar has been replaced by the sleeker, more modular incarnation, and on his way down to New Mexico, Reed can't help showing it off to General Ross. However, he's not giving away the speed, oh no - he's even dropped a line to Marvel Comics to ask them not to mention just how fast The Fantasticar goes, hence this rather esoteric and wonderful editor's note.

However, this conceit does rather sabotage the entire plot of the story. We've previously seen Johnny reading a copy of The Incredible Hulk #1, so why, as soon as he sees Bruce Banner, go 'Hey, he's the Hulk!' and save everyone a lot of time?

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Blatant Sexism 1

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It may have been a sign of the times. It may have been playing into the pulp archetypes that made up the Fantastic Four. It may even have been a small extension of Stan's own attitudes. But there's not getting around it - there are times when the Fantastic Four is incredibly sexist.

If I was to try and document every moment of apparent sexism towards Sue, I'd get myself into some tricky waters. Is it sexist that Sue designed the costumes for the team way back in issue #3? If the book were written today, then most likely, even if it was written in an 'ironic' way. But most people would agree that in 1962, Sue designing and making costumes was simply a product of the times.

This, however, is utterly inexcusable. (Although you can give yourself a childish snicker if you read 'morale' as a euphemism).

And thus, with the idea that Sue, the Invisible Girl, is only around to make men feel good when they look at her (a task at which she must surely fail regularly), we have our first blatant piece of sexism.

It won't be the last...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Flamin' 'Eck 17

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Reed's gonna have to get his body a-stretchin' if he doesn't want to be overtaken by his young companion for the second time. By my count, one more inexplicably unlikely application of Johnny's powers will put him tied with Reed for second place on this blog, behind his catchphrase.

Of course, you could argue that it wouldn't be close if I didn't include imaginary instances, such as this one where Johnny tries to counter Ben's delusions of Hulk-smashing with the idea that his flame is substantial enough to prevent the Hulk from walking through it, and that he's intelligent enough to design a maze that the Hulk could not escape from. But it's because he believes that such a plan would be a success that this instance gets included.

I can't be held responsible for Johnny being a moron even in his own mind...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Flame On 22

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

We continue small step backwards in the development of the Human Torch's signature catchphrase in today's panel from Fantastic Four #12.

We've got quite used to a triumphant FLAME ON! being given prominence on the page. Its own speech balloon, often with a thicker or jagged edge, significantly larger font, orange or red fill. It's become an occasion to look forward to in the narrative. Which is why this one just seems to be a bit lacklustre, struggling for room in its own panel, and not standing out in the context of the page at all.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Hulk vs The Thing 0.5

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

There are many classic rivalries in comics that transcend the mere hero/villain nemesis relationship. Green Arrow and Hawkman. Wolverine and Sabretooth. Guy Gardner and Lobo. But the greatest of these has to be the ongoing battles between Benjamin J. Grimm of Yancy Street, and the Jade Giant himself, The Hulk.

This category will cover every bout between the two, and provide a running score of who wins.

In this not-quite-a-first-meeting, Ben imagines just how the fight would go down should the two meet. I'm pretty sure no battle between the two has ever been resolved this quickly.

The result: A staggering win for Ben Grimm. Such a shame that it's all in his own head and counts for nothing.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Property Damage 12

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

We left Ben surrounded by the elite of the US Army. I'm fairly sure we've yet to establish that his rocky exterior is bulletproof, so one would think that with a couple of dozen rifles pointed at him, Ben would be interested in making friends.7

Instead, he decides to rip up a fire hydrant and - in the next panel - belly dive the erupting water, using it to wash away the soldiers.

But props go out to the two soldiers who, having been told that they're on the hunt for the Hulk, decide to body-tackle an over-sized super-strong monstrous-looking guy.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Fantastic Four #12: Fear Of The Thing 7

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It's been quite a while since we've seen Ben, his appearance and his actions causing panic amongst his team-mates or the population of New York. Here, a combination of short-temper, bad timing, and Beethoven, means that Ben's irascibility inadvertently causes drastic consequences.

Exiting a symphony performance, an uppity yet surprised man accidentally knocks Ben's hat off when he points out the troops marching down the street. Ben retaliates, but, unaware that the troops are looking out for an enlarged, super-strong being, quickly becomes the focus of attention. It's a nice escalation of the normal bad-behaviour for Ben - the army has only got involved twice before, once when ordered to and once when a hate ray incited them to. Here, reacting to what would at the time have been a pretty unusual and borderline horrific event.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #12 in our tenth episode: Hulk? Smash!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Fantasticast_Episode_10_Final.mp3]

Strange Tales #105: Flamin' 'Eck 16

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

There comes a point when you look at panel after panel of inconsistent, scientifically implausible and, occasionally, downright lazy uses of Johnny's powers when you really struggle to come up with new and interesting ways to look at them. I could point out how ridiculous it is that Johnny can create a flaming saw that cuts - not burns - through the ceiling, causing the plaster to fall onto The Wizard's head. But you're not an unintelligent reader, far from it. Why point out the obvious?

I could talk about the overly slapstick nature of the action here, Stan and/or Jack had watched one too many Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons. I could talk about it being a weak and unsatisfactory conclusion to a story which did not do a good job of persuading the reader that The Wizard makes for a strong recurring villain. But I think I'll just point out that it's a bit crap, and move on to the next issue tomorrow.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #105 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Strange Tales #105: Flamin' 'Eck 15

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Today's madness comes courtesy of Moffatt's Own-Brand Patented Wibbly-Wobbly Timey-Wimey.

Two panels previously, The Wizard announced that Sue and Johnny had 10 seconds before the bomb went off. One panel previously, Sue noted that there were only 7 seconds to go. That means that in under 7 seconds, Johnny has come up with the idea of the flame catapult, put the bomb into it, and shot it up into the sky, all the while rushing through  about 9 seconds worth of dialogue in the four seconds allotted to the first panel shown.

And let's be clear: That's not a catapult that Johnny uses. It's a vertical cannon. With its own little flame supports to stop it from falling over. That are made from solid flame...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #105 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Strange Tales #105: Flamin' 'Eck 14

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Goodness gracious, great ball of fire!

Yeah, I fell about as good about making that joke as you do about reading it...

So, in The Wizard's asbestos-lined dungeon cell, there are multiple nozzles releasing nerve gas. Because having  a teenager hack up his own lungs in incredible, searing pain whilst dying in front of a pube-chinned genius psychopath would possibly contravene the Comics Code Authority, Stan and/or Jack as to come up with a way to allow Johnny to survive.

So, what he does is create an impenetrable dome of fire to prevent the gas from reaching him. What I'm challenging here is not the implausibility of the flame defeating the gas - it's very conceivable that intense heat would do something to the gas to negate its lethal qualities - but that Johnny have the intelligence to be able to make such a move in stressful conditions. As Andy has pointed out on numerous occasions, Johnny is a couple of brain cells short of an intelligence...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #105 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

A Thing Of Beauty...

I'm breaking the format of the blog today to talk about... this!

If you've been listening to the past couple of episode of the show, or following us on twitter or on facebook, then you'll have seen variations of this image popping up as cover pictures and avatars.

A few months ago, I was guesting on an episode of The MOMBcast with a friend of mine, Michael Georgiou. Mike is a 'drawthor', a writer/artist and the creative force behind the Elemental Micah series (available for just £9.99 from this link!), and a good friend of mine. Check out his links to his own site, Elemental Micah, and a series of images he did to celebrate 10 years of his original creation Steve and Bob featuring Bob in a variety of geek-related costumes!

Mike was a little drunk, and pestered me with abuse for a few minutes about bringing back my semi-regular podcast, 20 Minute Longbox. A couple of weeks later, whilst hanging out with Mike, he made me a deal - if I put out four episodes of the Longbox in the 6 weeks before MCM London Comic-Con, he would provide me with cover art for one of my shows.

Four episodes of the Longbox later, and I was in a position to request some artwork. I asked him for the name of the show, in the traditional Fantastic Four font, with the team interacting with the letters in some way. A couple of weeks later - outside the cinema waiting to go in for The Man of Steel on the night of my 30th birthday - Mike presented me with the above image.

No pun intended at all - it's fantastic, and far more than I expected when I was putting together an idea for the image.

Thank you Mike!

(And as for the 20 Minute Longbox? I then went on to produce four more episodes featuring interviews from the MCM London Comic-Con, and the show will return to carry on with random comic selection in a few weeks time)

Strange Tales #105: It's... ASBESTOS!!! 6

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Yay, more asbestos!

As before, The Wizard's house is full of traps designed to catch out an unwary fiery teenager. Top of the list is the trapdoor that drops down to an asbestos-lined dungeon. One hopes that The Wizard has learned from the US Army, who spectacularly failed to make an asbestos-lined cell fireproof way back in Fantastic Four #2.

Not that we get the opportunity to find out, as The Wizard has forgotten one key element of Johnny's powers: that he can fly. I really do hope that as The Wizard graduates to the Fantastic Four and forms the Frightful Four, we discover exactly how his intelligence upgraded itself.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #105 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Strange Tales #105: Flamin' 'Eck 13

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Ah, it's another flame duplicate. My favourite power usage.

Actually, this one's not too bad. Unlike previous uses, which have seen near-sentient duplicates battle villains, or follow them wherever they go, this one is designed to be a brief distraction and does nothing other than stand around. Of course, there's the matter of what fuel is being used to keep the fire burning, but answers to such questions are in very short supply.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Strange Tales #105: Flame On 21

Plot: Stan Lee

Script: Larry Lieber

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

If you've been reading Fantastic Four and FF over the past few years, you'll know that Jonathan Hickman has done a great job positioning The Wizard as a highly-dangerous sociopathic anti-Reed Richards. So much so that Reed adopted a young clone of the Wizard just to ensure that another version of him wouldn't come into the world, that some positive nurture would affect him and make him less of a risk to society.

Which is why it's so hilarious to return to these early stories where the entire scope of the Wizard was to humiliate a 16 year old boy, all whilst sporting some of the worst facial hair ever seen in comics.

In this story, the Wizard escapes from jail and returns to his house, which he is able to shield from the police. He then broadcasts to the entirety of Glenville/dale (I forget which one it is) that he will battle the Torch to prove who is the better man. And, being a 16 year old boy, Johnny doesn't see anything wrong with rushing head-first into battle.

Idiot.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Fantastic Four #11: Flame On 20

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Let's try this again, shall we? Evil WordPress ate my last attempt at writing this post.

In this final excerpt from Fantastic Four #11, the team still haven't conjured up any kind of plan to deal with the omnipotent shape-changing menace. So, they just attack him blindly with all of their powers. Which is why, when the Impossible Man takes to the skies, Johnny yells his catchphrase and gives chase.

Now, those of you reading this blog who are not seasoned comics readers may be looking at this panel and wondering to yourself, "Wow, there's a distinct lack of backgrounds, walls and floors there. It's almost as if this panel was rushed by Kirby and Ayers." Well, the more experienced readers will, of course, recognise that for this panel only, the entire Fantastic Four have been shunted into the Phantom Zone. Or the white room from Invincible. Yeah, that's it...

Sadly, none of the remaining panels from this issue are eligible for inclusion in the blog, so we are denied the enjoyment of watching an entire planet ignore the ADHD-ridden alien. My particular favourite is the shot of the boxers in the ring casually leaning against the ropes, yawning, whilst the Impossible Man desperately tries to get attention.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Fantastic Four #11: It's... ASBESTOS!!! 5

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Yes, it's been about three weeks since the last proper post. No, I don't have an excuse.

Let's get to it.

Today's panel sees one of my favourite ever uses of asbestos. It's so crazy you just have to love it.

The Impossible Man decides to go for a wonder, so he grows a pair of wheels, and an asbestos-coated buzzsaw pops out of his chest, keeping Johnny and the rest of the team at bay. This panel is so joyfully ridiculous that it's impossible not to love.

Go on, just stare at it. I'll be back tomorrow to distract you with another panel.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Fantastic Four #11: Reed's Stretchy Body 18

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Meaningless sentence before the break.

Today's panel sees the Impossible Man from Planet Poppup elude Reed's grasp by turning into a bullet and pinging about the room. Unable to keep up, Reed just about avoids tying himself in knots trying to grab him.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

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Fantastic Four #11: Flame On 19

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It's a classic example of self-immolation today!

This is about as good as a Flame On gets.

Johnny's powering forward towards the camera, fully ablaze, a trail of fire looping behind him. His speech balloon bursts out of the panel - the frames of the comic aren't strong enough to contain his energy.

'Nuff said.

(Apart from a note that this comes from the second story in the issue, the titular battle with the Impossible Man)

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for a chance to win digital copies of every Marvel NOW Fantastic Four and FF title!

Fantastic Four #11: The Humanity of Benjamin J. Grimm 5

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

It's about time we had a frivolous yet tantalising glimpse of Ben Grimm's human form, so let's have one!

I've been so busy listing tropes that I've not really talked about what's been going these past few pages. Well, I use the listing excuse, but the real reason is that not very much is going on. The first 11 pages of Fantastic Four #11 are devoted to a fluffy piece of filler. Basically, the team go shopping and answer some fan mail. Charming, but filler nonetheless.

This is really shown by these few pages, in which Reed randomly rubs Ben with a lotion, turning him human for a few pages before he turns back. There's no plot function served by this. Ben smiles a bit, reminisces about how he and his friends got their nutty powers, the turns back when the clock strikes midnight.

However, all of this can be forgiven, because we get some glorious Kirby artwork here. I love both of the "in-between" shots of Ben. Previously, Kirby's given us static headshots to show the transformation, but here, you can clearly see the emotion on Ben's face as he changes. The surprise at what's happening, the scepticism as to whether it'll last or not. The art is telling us so much more than the dialogue, and that's how it should be!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for a chance to win digital copies of every Marvel NOW Fantastic Four and FF title!

Fantastic Four #11: Yancy Street Pranks 2

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

11 issues into the series, and only our second Yancy Street prank.

And this is the first one that fits the classic antagonistic relationship between the gang and the Ever Lovin' Blue Eyed Thing. Considering that certain core elements of the series are in place so early on - Johnny's FLAME ON battle-cry, The Thing's temper tantrums - it's gently surprising that one of the defining features of The Thing has taken almost a year to appear.

There are two things that make this prank great. One is the set-up - Ben gets an elaborately wrapped box, embellished with the dedication 'To The Thing'. Ignoring the lack of a return address or any sign as to who could have sent it, Ben opens the box and receives a classic Acme boxing-glove to the face,

The other is how Ben receives the box. It's through the post, and for the first time, we see the unfortunate individual unlucky enough to have to deliver the fan mail to the Baxter Building. Yes, Fantastic Four #11 is the first appearance of the long-suffering mailman, Willie Lumpkin.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #11 on our ninth episode: Episode 9 - Patriotic Pedestrians Proceeding from Planet Poppup Prefer Poorly Produced Podcasts!

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_9.mp3]

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for a chance to win digital copies of every Marvel NOW Fantastic Four and FF title!