Fantastic Four #21: Reed's Stretchy Body 52

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

It's hard to sympathise with comic book henchmen. Cities like Gotham and New York are full of bozos who would happily put on any crazy costume if it meant they got to wield a gun or punch a lycra-clad teenager in the face. And to make it even harder, these specific henchmen have signed up with Hitler, who is wearing a tie-dye Klan costume. Sympathy is in short supply.

And then they make a completely stupid move, like not questioning a perfectly flat, brand-new blue road in the jungle. Of course it's Reed who, presumably, was quite happy to lie face-down in the jungle whilst a dozen henchmen trample across his back.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: Reed's Stretchy Body 51

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

It's going to be 'Reed's Stretchy Body' week, as we showcase Mr Fantastic's impressive one-man assault on the nation of San Gusto and the forces of the Hate Monger. As for how the Hate Monget gets his forces to San Gusto... Well, you're best off listening to the episode for an attempt at explaining the reverse rocket thrust subterranean travelling device...

Anyway, I just love the comedy of these two panels, although I have to wonder just who designed the missile carriage system  to allow the missiles to come off so easily that Reed's arms don't even travel with the plane briefly...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: Flame On 51

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

The plot continues with Reed heading off to South America (How appropriate is it that Nick Fury's first modern appearance should feature him getting a hero to do his dirty work? That's been the basis of most stories featuring him over the past decade or so!). The rest of the team witness the Pogo Plane depart and, despite having broken up the Fantastic Four mere pages earlier, decide that they don't like being left behind. Hence, Johnny's impressive 'Flame On' here.

But of far more interest is the helicopter. The ridiculous, mis-proportioned, top-heavy helicopter. I would love to see the reference used for this panel!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: ATOMIC POWER! 8

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

Having disbanded the team, Reed returns home to find that an old friend from his days as a soldier in World War II. Yes, it's Nick Fury, clean-shaven and working for the CIA (presumably his last job before joining SHIELD). He's dropped by to ask Reed to lend a hand with one of the CIA's favourite activities - supporting regime change in a South American country.

This is the spur for the plot of the second half of the book, but we're pausing for a moment to note that Reed has a completely spurious nuclear activator whirring away loudly for no reason at all. Note the lack of radiation shielding, or warning notices. Did he not learn a costly lesson about the harmful effects of radiation?

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: Three/Two/One/None 2

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

Goodness, it's been a long time since I've used this category. I guess the team was far more stable in the early days than popular memory might suggest

Anyway, under the influence of the Hate Monger, the team decide that if they can't beat each other to death, they can at least go their separate ways. And so, without consulting Sue at all, they decide to call it a day and disband the team. For the next few pages, at least, the Fantastic Four doesn't exist.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: Reed's Stretchy Body 50

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

The fight between the team-members continues, with Ben taking the opportunity to knot Reed's hands around a fire hydrant and trying to use his body as a giant slingshot.

Pity, though, the poor bloke in purple who looks like his entire body has been bisected by Reed's right arm. An unfortunate use of perspective there...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Fantastic Four #21: Reed's Stretchy Body 49

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: George Bell

Lettered by: Art Simek

The Ayres era is over, and we start a seven issue run of inking by George Roussos, credited as George Bell. We were big fans of Roussos's inking at the start of his brief run, although that opinion would change as time went on.

Issue 21 is also the debut appearance of the minor villain, The Hate-Monger, revealed in a rather hilarious final twist to be Adolf Hitler (later stories would retcon this to be a robot double, which is only slightly more believable). Clad in a Klan-esque costume, Hitler has a hate ray which promotes aggression and... well... hatred in those it hits. Almost immediately, the Fantastic Four are targeted and spend several panels beating each other up.

This panel features a nice twist on the classic 'Reed restraining Ben' pose, with Reed dressed in his civilian clothing (made from unstable molecules, naturally). What I like is the way that the suit is clearly loose-fitting, refusing to tighten as it stretches out.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #21 on our twenty-first episode: Powered By Hateful Hate From A Hate Raygun, with special guest host David Wynne.

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_21.mp3]

Strange Tales #114: It's... ASBESTOS 17

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: S. Rosen

I'm not sure why Johnny should be so surprised that he has been outsmarted yet again - with the levels of intelligence he's previously displayed in Strange Tales, it's hardly surprising that one of his enemies has gained the upper hand. Of course, he probably wasn't expecting an asbestos-lined delivery truck.

Nobody expects an asbestos-lined delivery truck.

It's chief weapon is fear. Fear and surprise. It's two weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency. It's three weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to extinguishing fire.

Amongst its weaponry are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to extinguishing fire, and nice grey walls. Oh, damn...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #114 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret Wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Strange Tales #114: Flame On 50

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: S. Rosen

As the story progresses, it becomes clear even to Johnny that Captain America is not the heroic patriot of the Second World War. A lengthy tussle occurs when he finds the fake Cap robbing a bank. The fight is only curtailed when 'Cap' uses a damp mop to extinguish Johnny. Thankfully, a passing caretaker is able to focus several electric fan heaters onto our hero, drying him out and enabling him to ignite once more.

More importantly, this is our 50th 'Flame On' since Johnny coined the catchphrase, and the first 'POV' shot as well. I guess there's a level of appropriateness in celebrating this milestone with a very atypical representation of this trope.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #114 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret Wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Strange Tales #114: Property Damage 22

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: S. Rosen

Johnny's first encounter with 'Cap' does not go well. The two end up tussling, and 'Cap' ends up getting all the credit. As Dorrie Evans starts to fawn over the WWII hero, Johnny accidentally ignites, spilling soda and melting linoleum.

Even funnier than the inadvertent flaming-on-as-teenage-sexual-anxiety parallels is the almost casual way that Dorrie resolves the linoleum damage. Barely has Johnny scampered out of the door and she's on the phone demanding that someone send round some linoleum immediately. No details as to size, colour or pattern... just... some...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #114 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret Wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Strange Tales #114: Flame On 49

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: S. Rosen

There was very little to take from Fantastic Four #20, so we quickly find ourselves in the midst of Strange Tales #114. This issue is notable for three reasons. It's the first issue to only feature a Human Torch and a Doctor Strange story. It's the return of Jack Kirby to the Human Torch solo strip. And it's the first appearance of Captain America... sort of...

Testing the waters (something admitted at both the end of the story) to see if there was interest in the return of the most famous Timely Comics hero, this issue actually features our favourite Silver Age villain The Acrobat (aka Zante) dressing up as the Sentinel of Liberty as cover for his crime wave.

But before all of that begins, the car show at which 'Captain America' is due to appear is attacked by thieves, who steal a vintage car. Johnny's response is to bust out the flames, and Kirby nicely captures the mid-ignition moment. One assumes that Reed has made Johnny's shirt, pants and tank-top (sweater vest for the American readers) out of unstable molecules...

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #114 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret Wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Fantastic Four #20: Property Damage 21

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: Art Simek

The fiery ball continues to cause chaos across New York, so Ben decides that if Johnny can have his flame extinguished by dew, a good burst of water from the mains supply will take care of the ball. Without checking to see if any hospitals are relying on this pipe for their water supply, he just decides to rip it from the ground. So, in one swoop, he's adding to the congestion in New York and depriving a neighbourhood of their water. Nice one, Ben.

And nice one, Uatu. Keep up that non-interference!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #20 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret Wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Fantastic Four #20: Reed's Stretchy Body 48

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inked by: Dick Ayers

Lettered by: Art Simek

Fantastic Four #20 is Dick Ayers' final contribution as inker to the main Fantastic Four series. He'll still be a regular contributor as penciler and inker of Strange Tales (after a brief return from Jack Kirby). It's a shame that he had to leave with this issue, as the first appearance of the Molecule Man is one of the weakest stories from the 102 (and-a-bit) issues created by Stan and Jack.

Readers would have known that things were a bit off when the presence of a fossil in the core of a meteor is proof to Reed that some form of life can exist in outer space, forgetting about the Skrulls, Planet X-ians, Poppupians, Ovoids and Watchers that he's met so far in his adventures.

The glowy ball seen here hasn't escaped from the TinTin adventure 'The Seven Crystal Balls. Instead, it's the Watcher's way of subtly contacting the Fantastic Four without revealing his presence of inadvertently interfering in the lives of the New Yorkers terrified by the floating ball of silvery fire... Nice on Uatu!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #20 on our twentieth episode: The (Pre-Emptive) Return of Captain America (Secret wars II Continues In This Episode)

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/FF_Episode_20.mp3]

Strange Tales #113: Flamin' 'Eck 34

Story plot: Stan Lee

Script: Jerry Siegel

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

If you were a hero who could generate fire across his entire body, and you found yourself up against sentient plants and trees, how would you apply your powers to the situation?

Would you:

A. go nova and incinerate any vegetable matter in a 50 yard radius, leaving the mad gardener with nothing to take control of?

B: Launch a fireball into the sky to evaporate all of the moisture out of the plants in an instant, without ever causing anything to catch fire, especially not all the dried leaves that would suddenly appear?

I know what you would choose, I know what Johnny chose, and sadly, the two are incompatible.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #113 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Strange Tales #113: Flame On 48

Story plot: Stan Lee

Script: Jerry Siegel

Art: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

The second of Jerry Siegel's scripting contributions to Strange Tales takes the form of the completely barmy Plantman story, whereby a gardener, armed with a pair of techno-shears, believes that, contrary to all scientific evidence, plants have intelligence and his shears can increase their IQ. Lightning strikes his shears, and suddenly he can command any plant matter to do anything he bids, no matter how impossible or lethal to those plants. Naturally, he decides to become a criminal, and terrorises the town's parks.

10 pages into the 13 page story and Siegel manages to include one of the tropes of the series, having become rather distracted with plants. Here, in a fairly underwhelming heroic moment, Johnny races towards the door, dropping his catchphrase like it's an afterthought.

Check out our coverage of Strange Tales #113 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Fantastic Four #19: Reed's Stretchy Body 48

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

Today's panel throws up some interesting thoughts. Reed is threading himself through control circuits on Rama-Tut's ship to locate the control, and Rama-Tut himself. Kirby, as usual, gives us a great visual, with the tilted camera angle adding to the energy and exuberant fun of the final third of this issue.

But the unintended consequence of this panel is that we have proof that Reed can change his size. We've seen him slip his body through a crack between a door and the floor before, but the implication is that he was just flattening his body, like rolling out ball of dough. Here, he's working his way through what is presumably microcircuitry, with his body in proportion. Unless the rest of him is standing in a corridor with a minute tendril disappearing into the wall, he has clearly reduced the mass of his body to allow him to perform this feat.

I seem to recall that somewhere in the expanded universe of Star Trek, it was theorised that the Changelings, the shape-shifting of which Odo was a member, had the biological ability to shift a portion of their mass into another dimension, allowing them to alter their size without altering their density. I wonder if Reed's doing the same thing here. It certainly sounds like the kind of explanation Warren Ellis would have used on Ultimate Fantastic Four, if that series hadn't attempted to draw parallels between the Four's powers and the elements.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #19 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Fantastic Four #19: Reed's Stretchy Body 47

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

Way back in Fantastic Four #3, we saw Reed use himself to replace a burst tire on a car. Here, he goes one better, using his powers to turn himself into a giant wheel that can roll over water, to ensure he reunites with Ben and Sue as quickly as possible.

I'm not sure what I like more - the line detail that shows us his arms looping into the wheel, or the fact that once he reaches the shore, his face will repeatedly get mashed into the sand.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #19 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Fantastic Four #19: Reed's Stretchy Body 46

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

Ouch. This has got to hurt.

I think it's a shame Johnny turned up at this point to free Reed. I'd have liked to have seen Reed reach the citadel walls, before turning himself into some kind of shielded ladder, allowing Rama-Tut's army to climb up and  invade. A bit like the Siege of Gondor, but with less orcs and more elastic.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #19 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Fantastic Four #19: (Ancient Egyptian) Property Damage 21

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

Look, just because the damage occurred 58 centuries doesn't meant that it escapes our notice!

Rama-Tut's plans are falling apart, and three of the Fantastic Four have broken his mental control. As the time-travelling Pharoah attempts to escape, Ben intercedes as only he can - grabbing hold of a giant pillar and breaking it into a cylindrical chunk, using that to roll down the stairs at the guards.

I'm sure the British Museum might wish to chide Ben for his actions, but as he saved the course of history from being affected by a bored inhabitant of the 30th century, I'm sure he'd be let off.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #19 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]

Fantastic Four #19: The Humanity Of Benjamin J. Grimm 8

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: S. Rosen

I'm a big fan of this transformation from the Thing to Ben. Unlike several in the past, this is not really random, and it serves the plot. Without this happening, the Four would likely still be slaves of Rama-Tut.

However, it is a bit surprising that the inciting element for the transformation would be a really hot sun. If this was all that was needed, then Reed would be able to put Ben on the next ICBM to modern-day Egypt and let him enjoy being himself. A better way of looking at this would be that it was a combination of Rama-Tut's will-sapping ray and the hot sun, causing a unique reaction within The Thing's body. With all those caption boxes, Stan surely could have squeezed in a better explanation than 'it got really hot'...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #19 on our eighteenth episode: Pharoahs And Plants, Spiders And Soldiers

[audio FF_Episode_18.mp3]