MERRY MARVEL MARCHING ORDER 1965

IN THIS YEAR:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN    20-31 / Annual 2
AVENGERS (VOL. I)    12-23
DAREDEVIL (VOL. I)    6-11
FANTASTIC FOUR (VOL. I)    34-45 / Annual 3
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (VOL. I)    112-123 / Annual 1
PATSY WALKER    124
STRANGE TALES (VOL. I)    128-139
TALES OF SUSPENSE (VOL. I)    61-72
TALES TO ASTONISH (VOL. I)    63-74
X-MEN (VOL. I)    9-15

    "The Coming of the Scorpion!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, May Parker, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, ~ Dr. Farley Stillwell, Scorpion (MacDonald Gargan), J Jonah Jameson.
COM:   Ned being sent to Europe by the Bugle. JJJ pays Farley to create the Scorpion to destroy Spidey. Jameson's first appearance as the villain as the Scorpions boss. Origin of Scorpion. Dr. offers Scorpion an antidote but is refused. Death of Dr. Farley. Scorpion captured at story end, JJJ takes the credit. Ditko's name appears first in the credits.

    "This Hostage Earth!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers
PC:    {Thor I, Iron Man I, Giant Man I, Wasp, Captain America I }, Rick Jones, ~ Red Ghost, Mole Man, Monk Keefer (Ape Man I).
COM:   Keefer appears here as a nameless hoodlum. Fantastic Four seen in flash back. Giant-Man gathers the Avengers to fight Mole Man, but ends up fighting him solo and gets captured.   Mole Man teams-up with Red Ghost. The Avengers bore into Subterranea using a device created by Tony Stark, rescue GM and destroy the machine MM was going to use to conquer the surface. MM and RG escape, but no longer allies at story end.

    "A House Divided!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Alicia Masters, Claire and Thomas Gideon, ~ Gregory Hungerford Gideon, Comm. Van Vroot, Tamiroff, Favorsham, Ernie, Agent R, Yancy Street Gang.
COM:    YSG send Ben a Beatles wig. Gideon makes a wager with V, T, and F that if he can defeat the FF in a week, they will sell their businesses to him, pits the team against one another. Has a trap set at the Baxter Building based on Doom's time displacement equipment. Thomas, who is trying to warn the team, and the Thing get caught in the trap, but Reed saves them. Gideon sees the error of his ways and renounces his fortune. The Gideons leave one big happy family, and Ben sprains his pinky toe in a fit of anger at story end. Van Vroot, Tamiroff, Favorsham, Tamiroff, Ernie, and Agent R only appearance to date. FF pin-up page with Dr. Doom by Dick Ayers.

    "The Mighty Thor Battles the Incredible Hulk!" "Tales of Asgard: The Coming of Loki!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Chic Stone.
PC:    {Thor I, Giant-Man I, Wasp, Iron Man I}, Jane Foster, Sub-Mariner, Odin, ~ Hulk, Loki (as and infant), Laufey.
COM:    Avengers appearance (w/o Captain America). A group of kids are arguing about who is stronger, Thor or Hulk. Thor tells the extended story of their battle (in AV1 #3) when he and the Avengers were in Gibraltar fighting him and the Sub-Mariner. Thor decides to test his strength alone and gets Odin to grant him five minutes to retain his power without Mjolnir. They fight each other to a standstill, and are separated by a cave-in. Back to the present, Thor declares that power is nothing without virtue, but is doesn't solve the kids' argument. Hulk seen at story end eager for a rematch. In ToA: Origin of Loki. Odin and Laufey square off, Asgard against Jotunheim. Laufey is killed. Odin adopts Loki making him Thor's half brother.

    "Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch" "The Demon's Disciple!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Frank Giacoia (Ray).
PC:    Human Torch II, the Thing, Dr. Strange, ~ Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Yancy Street Gang, the Demon.
COM:    In Dr. Strange's feature: The Demon's disciple come to Strange for help. Demon and Strange do battle, but Strange has had a look at what spell he knows. Strange rescues the disciple and puts a "veil" over the Demon's mind at story end. cover by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia.

    "The Death of Tony Stark!" "The Strength of Sumo!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers, Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Inspector Flint, Captain America I, Jim Baker, ~ Mandarin, Koto, The General.
COM:    The suspicions of Happy and Pepper over the missing Stark come to a head. They resign their positions and take the matter to the police again, then they discover that Tony is okay, but still suspect that something isn't Kosher. Mandarin hits Stark's house with a giant laser beam, and it is assumed that Tony was killed in the blast, leaving IM in charge again. Stark has to travel to the Orient in disguise, attacks Mandarin's stronghold, gets captured, and at story end, is lashed to a giant wheel and threatened with Mandarin's impending origin. In Cap's feature: Cap is in Asia to retrieve a downed US pilot. Cap fights the General and escapes with Jim at story end.

    "The Gangsters and the Giant" "A Titan Rides the Train!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Carl Burgos, Chic Stone, Steve Ditko, George Roussos (Bell),
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Hulk, Gen. Ross, Maj. Talbot, ~ Wrecker II (Smith), Leader (Samuel Sterns), Chameleon.
COM:   Smith was leading a double life as owner of Smith's Hardware and mastermind of a protection racket where he was wrecking local businesses that didn't pay him money. The Police bring GM and Wasp in to investigate, and they set up a front by buying Smith's store. Smith initiates plan W, but when he attacks his old shop, he is defeated by GM and Wasp, unmasked, and turned over to the police at story end. In Hulk's feature: First full appearance and origin of the Leader (part. from last issue). 1st appearance of the Humanoids. Ross sends Talbot along with Bruce on a train laden with Banner's latest nuclear invention (the Absorbatron) on which Chameleon stows away disguised as a worker. Leader sics his Humanoid on the train, becomes first aware of another gamma affected being Hulk), and decides he must destroy him. Talbot has Banner locked up as a spy at story end. Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

    "Enter, the Avengers!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, {Thor I, Iron Man I, Wasp, Giant Man I, Captain America I}, ~ Lucifer.
COM:    Avengers appearance. Team on the way to join Prof. X in Europe. Jean reveals her love for Scott for the first time. Prof. X reveals that Lucifer caused him the loss of the use of his legs, faces him down. Avengers in Europe looking for Lucifer, too. Prof. X learns that Lucifer's heartbeat is tied into a Thermal Bomb, informs he team he must not be harmed. Conflict with the Avengers. Prof. X talks to Thor mentally and convinces him to leave the matter to the X-Men. The team defuses the bomb and they let Lucifer go at story end.

    "Where Flies the Beetle...!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Human Torch II, Betty Brant, J Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, May Parker, Doris Evans, ~ Beetle.
COM:   Beetle released from prison, wants revenge on Torch. Torch thinks Peter is hitting on Dorrie, and Betty overhears. Spidey feeling very sorry for himself at story end.

    "The Castle of Count Nefaria!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers
PC:    {Thor I, Iron Man I, Giant Man I, Wasp, Captain America I }, Rick Jones, {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, ~Count Nefaria (Count Luchino Nefaria).
COM: Fantastic Four and Teen Brigade appearances. 1st app. of the Maggia and Avengers' Emergency HQ. Nefaria lures team to his castle in Europe, captures them, and creates 3-D duplicates. The duplicates wage war on US. The Avengers are considered traitors. FF seen in single panel reaction to accusations. Avengers escape, capture Nefaria, and clear their names. Wasp hit by a stray bullet.

    "Trapped by...the Fellowship of Fear!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Wally Wood.
PC:    Daredevil, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, ~ {Mister Fear I (Zoltan Drago), Ox I, Eel I}.
COM:    1st app. the Fellowship of Fear. Mr. Fear uses Fear Gas for the first time. Origin of Mr. Fear. Foggy hospitalized trying to help DD but released by story end.

    "Calamity on Campus!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Charles Xavier, Scott Summers, Peter Parker, Dean Menckin, Prof. Gregson Gilbert, Albert, Hans, Wolfgang, ~ Dragon Man, Diablo.
COM:    Sue accepts Reed's marriage proposal. Origin of Dragon Man. Reed goes to State University to deliver a lecture. Prof. X and Scott on campus interviewing students. Peter on Campus looking to apply next year. Diablo escapes captivity (from FF1 #30), goes looking for the FF, ends up helping Gilbert to activate the DM using potions and a block of outer space material. DM battles the FF, shows an affinity and gentleness toward Sue, turns against Diablo, who did have control of him. Diablo and DM fall into Dead Man's Lake and are lost in all the underground caves. Repentant Gilbert swears to keep vigil to destroy DM if he ever appears again. As the Team prepares to leave State U, Reed pops the question , and Sue accepts. 1st and only appearance of Menckin, Albert, Hans, and Wolfgang to date.

   "A World Gone Mad!" "Tales of Asgard: The Boyhood of Loki!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Odin, Jane Foster, Balder, Honir the Hunter, Thor and Loki as children, ~ Grey Gargoyle, Loki.
COM:    Origin of Grey Gargoyle. 1st app. of Asgard Sky Ship. Thor defeats demon men of Jotunheim, returns to Earth. Thinking about renouncing his godhood. Odin removes Thor's powers and he's stuck as Don Blake. Loki prevents others from helping Thor, but in the end Odin returns his powers, and Thor fuses GG's molecules so he can't move. In ToA: Origin of Loki. Loki's hatred and envy of Thor is realized in childhood.

    "The Terrible Trio" "Beware Tiboro, the Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension"
BY:    Stan Lee, Don Rico / Dick Ayers, Frank Giacoia (Ray), Steve Ditko
PC:    Human Torch II, the Thing, Dr. Strange, Doris, Dr. Green, Dr. Shuyler, Mr. James, Ancient One, ~ {Bull Brogin, Handsome Harry Phillips, Yogi Dakor}, Tiboro, Lord of the Seething Volcano.
COM: Terrible Trio appearance, escape from jail and recaptured by story end. In Dr. Strange's feature: Origin of Tiboro. 1st app. of the Sixth Dimension. Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

    "The Origin of the Mandarin!" "Break-out in Cell Block 10!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers, Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    Iron Man I, Captain America I, Deputy Superintendent Carlson, ~ Mandarin, Deacon, Rocky, Thumper.
COM:    Origin of Mandarin. Redesign of Iron Man's helmet. IM trussed up on a giant wheel, gets Mandarin's origin. The death of M's parents. Taught to hate people by a bitter aunt. Travels to the Valley of Spirits and finds an alien spacecraft which contained ten power rings. he learns their uses and rises to power. IM recharges his armor and escapes. IM ruins M's missile test and gets him branded a traitor to the Reds. M escapes capture, and IM hitches a ride home on a military jet at story end. In Cap's feature: Cap lured to a prison to give a demonstration of his abilities and is taken captive. Revealed that Cap has removed the magnetic gimmicks that Tony Stark had installed in his shield. Cap beats the prisoners before Carlson can bring in the cavalry at story end. Cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta.

    "When Attuma Strikes!" "The Horde of Humanoids!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Leon Lazarus / Carl Burgos, Paul Reinman, Steve Ditko, George Roussos (Bell).
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Tim, Hulk, Maj. Talbot, Gen. Ross, Rick Jones, Betty Ross, ~ Attuma, Leader, Chameleon.
COM:    While building his new Remote Control Ant, Hank is short with Jan, and she decides it's the last time and leaves him.  Attuma, looking for a victory after his defeat by Namor (FF1 #33), uses his new island HQ to capture a commercial plane in his Apoxy Mist, so he'd have subjects to study and learn of any human weaknesses. He sends his Robotron in to select his first subject, and Jan, without her Wasp gear, is first in line. Hank, alerted by a winged ant of her peril, arrives in his Converti-Car and begins tearing the place apart at 50 feet tall. He releases Jan and refuses Attuma's offer to join him, and the pair best everything the warlord has to throw at them. Finally, Attuma offers to return to his own realm if they would spare him, and, at story end, Hank begs Jan's forgiveness. In Hulk's feature: Bruce is mistakenly in custody for trying to sabotage his own new nuclear invention (Absorbatron) taking tranquilizers for the first time to control the 'change'. Rick reveals Banner's secret ID to the President to clear him of charges. Absorbatron to be tested on and island (Astra). Informed by Chameleon, the Leader sends a legion of Humanoids to get it. Story ends with the Hulk fighting Humanoids while a military force is on its way. Cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta.

    "The Clown, and His Masters of Menace!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Liz Allan, Flash Thompson, Betty Brant, J Jonah Jameson, May Parker, ~ Ringmaster II, {Clown, Cannonball, Princess Python (Zelda DuBois), Great Gambonos}.
COM:   Circus of Crime out of prison, drop Ringmaster and become the Masters of Menace. Peter brushes off Liz and explains to Betty what happened with Torch and Doris Evans (last issue). Spidey uses Ringmaster's hat on him to find MoM. Princess Python damages Spidey's web shooters with electric prod. RM and MoM taken by police. May comes down on Peter for staying out so long without calling.

    "Even Avengers Can Die!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Paul Laiken, Jack Kirby / Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Chic Stone
PC:    {Thor I, Iron man I, Giant Man I, Wasp, Captain America I }, Rick Jones, Dr. Svenson, the Watcher, ~ Ogor.
COM:    1st and only app. of Svenson and Ogor. 1st app. of the Kallusians, and the Avengers' air ship.   Teen Brigade appearance. Wasp rushed to hospital from injuries incurred last issue, given 48 hours to live, can only be saved by Dr. Svenson.   Team goes to the North Pole. Kallusians flee Earth. Wasp is saved by story end.

    "The Frightful Four!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Jack Kirby / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Alicia Masters, {Thor I, Iron Man I, Giant Man I, Wasp, Captain America I, Rick Jones}, {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Spider-Man, Charlie Francois, ~ {'Madam' Medusa (Medusalith Amaquelin), Wizard, Sandman, Paste-Pot-Pete}, Yancy Street Gang.
COM: Avengers and X-Men appearances. 1st app. and origin of the Frightful Four. Reed and Sue's engagement party with the Avengers and X-Men in attendance. Sue has a new hair-do. Reed and Sue publicly announce their engagement (from FF1 #35) and the YSG sends them flowers. Flash back to how SM and PPP escape prison and rescue the Wizard (from ST1#118). Flashback to how Wizard recruited Medusa from the Mediterranean island (trying to connect her with the Medusa of myth). They form a team to take on the FF. The FF (minus Johnny) battle the F4 and are defeated, and sent into space with gravity disks. Johnny captures the Wizard and forces him to rescue his teammates. At story end, Wizard blows up his ship so his team can escape capture. Francois and Charlie's only appearance to date.

    "The Stronger I Am, the Sooner I Die!" "Tales of Asgard: The Golden Apples!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Harris Hobbs, Balder, Idunn, Haakun the Hunter, ~ the Absorbing Man (Carl 'Crusher' Creel), Loki, Fenris Wolf.
COM:    Origin of Absorbing Man. Created by Loki with a secret potion. Thor pursues the AM to the Black Mountain Swamp area. Thor recalled to Asgard in middle of the fight, informed that Loki has kidnapped Jane. In ToA: Idunn bringing the Apples of Immortality to Odin. Haakun's axe hurls Fenris into Varinheim.

    "Meet the Beatles!" "The Defeat of Dr. Strange"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Chic Stone, Steve Ditko.
PC:    {Human Torch II, the Thing, Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic}, Alicia Masters, Doris Evans, the Beatles, Dr. Strange, Ancient One, Haimer the Hermit (unnamed), Sen-Yu, ~ Baron Mordo, Dormammu.
COM:    Fantastic Four appearance. Beatles make a cameo app. Dorrie and Alicia treat Ben and Johnny out to see the Beatles in concert. 3 unnamed crooks steal the box office receipts; Ben and Johnny retrieve the money, but miss the show. Ben and Johnny in Beatles wigs on the cover. In Dr. Strange's feature: Mordo teams-up with Dormammu, giving him enough power to attack the Ancient One's retreat. AO is wounded in their escape. Strange leaves him with the trusted Haimer and creates decoys to lead Mordo away. With the help of Sen-yu, Strange tries to go incognito to Hong Kong, but is recognized. Strange incapacitates Mordo's henchmen, but not before they notified their boss. Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

    "Somewhere Lurks the Phantom!" "The Origin of Captain America!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers, Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray).
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Bill, Sam, and Pete, Captain America I, Bucky I, Dr Erskine, Dr. Anderson, Gen. Phillips, Sgt. Duffy,~ Phantom (Dr. Birch)
COM:    IM back at SI from last issue, solves his armor problem (from back in ToS1 #59) with a master transistor which boost his power levels so he can safely remove his power pods and the rest of the armor. Stark reappears in public, tells Pepper that he's engaged, and she immediately turns to Happy. The Phantom causes various accidents to happen at SI, causing difficulty from the Defense Dept. to Union reps. IM captures Phantom, revealed to be Dr. Birch at story end. In Cap's feature: Brief retelling of Cap and Bucky's origin. All characters seen in story length flashback to WWII. Cover by Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, and Vince Colletta.

    "Presenting The New Giant Man" "On the Rampage Against the Reds!"
BY:    Stan Lee, / Bob Powell, Don Heck, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers.
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Tabby, Hulk, Maj. Talbot, Prof. Stromm, ~ Leader.
COM:    New Giant Man costume. Hank finishes his Ultra-Cybernetic Headgear, and Jan convinces him to let her design a new costume. He tests the new ray on his cat, and in the excitement, one of the containers of his growth formula gets spilled onto a spider. Jan finishes the new costume, and while Hank tries it on, she is attacked by the giant spider. With a team effort, Hank reaches his new helmet, tosses the spider out a window, and shrinks it down to normal size. At story end, Jan giving Hank crap about not being romantic, but being used to it by now. In Hulk's feature: Hulk is knocked into the ocean, and Banner is rescued by a Russian sub, adding fire to Talbot's belief he's a spy. Russians try to force Banner to work for them, Hulk wrecks their base and is befriended by one of the other captive scientists. Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

    "The Coming of....Ka-Zar!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder), Zabu, ~ Maa-gor.
COM:    1st app. of the Man-Apes, Swamp Men, and the Savage Land (unnamed until DD1 #12). The main action of the story takes place in the Savage Land in Antarctica. Jean disassembles and reassembles a rifle telekinetically. X-Men travel to the Antarctic to investigate a "wild man", end up finding the Savage Land. Swamp Men capture Jean and Angel. The team, with Ka-Zar's help, rescue them. Ka-Zar tells them to leave and never come back and seals the tunnel after them at story end.

    "The Goblin and the Gangsters"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, May Parker, Betty Brant, J Jonah Jameson, Frederick Foswell (Big Man), ~ Green Goblin I (Norman Osborn), Lucky Lobo.
COM:    JJJ rehires Foswell, who just got out of prison. Peter jealous of Ned who sent Betty a letter from Europe. GG has new glider, escapes by story end but fails to take over Lucky Lobo's gang. Norman Osborn seen for the first time. 1st app. of the Midtown Business Executives Club. Lobo and his mob captured by Spidey.

    "Now, By My Hand, Shall Die a Villain!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Jack Kirby / Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Mike Esposito (Demeo)
PC:    {Thor I, Iron Man I, Giant Man I, Wasp, Captain America I, Rick Jones}, ~ {Baron Zemo I, Black Knight II, Enchantress, Executioner, Melter}, Zemo's pilot.
COM:    Giant-Man in new costume. Masters of Evil I appearance. Cap sends letter to Nick Fury asking for full time work with SHIELD. Enchantress and Executioner in NY, break Black Knight and Melter out of jail. Rick captured by Zemo's men, taken to Zemo's Amazon jungle base. Cap folows in XL-750. Stand off between MoE and Avengers. Cap saves Rick. Death of Baron Zemo I, when he is buried under a landslide.

    "In Mortal Combat with...the Sub-Mariner!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Wally Wood.
PC:    Daredevil, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Sub-Mariner, Dorma, ~Krang.
COM:    1st app. of DD's red costume. Subby comes to NYC to petition the UN, tries to hire Nelson and Murdock to represent him. Goes on rampage to get a court hearing. Dorma informs him of trouble in Atlantis (Krang) and he must return home. DD tries to stop him and gets thrashed before Namor leaves the city. At story end, Matt catches Karen when she trips and there is a question whether he's truly blind.

    "Behold! A Distant Star!"
BY:        Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Alicia Masters, Reverend Miller, Princess Anelle, ~ Warlord Morrat, Emperor Dorrek.
COM:    1st app. of the Druffs. The FF travels to the Skrull Home World. FF trying on their wedding clothes for Sue and Reed's impending wedding (FF AN #3). Reed invents a new Power Ray Stimulator. Sue wants revenge on the Skrulls for the death of her father (FF1 #32). Revealed that Morratt was the cause. FF go into space in a prototype rocket, travel to the Skrull Homeworld via sub-space. Skrull are yellow in this story. FF is captured and taken to Morratt, who decides to kill them to be acclaimed the galaxy's greatest hero. Skrulls battle the FF, but Dorrek intercedes, charges Morratt with treason, and condemns him to death. Sue saves Arelle, who tries to save her love. FF, in appreciation, are informed of Morratt's ID, and they are allowed to leave in peace, where they return home in time for their wedding rehearsal.

    "The Vengeance of the Thunder God" Tales of Asgard: "A Viper in Our Midst!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray), Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Harris Hobbs, Odin, Thor (in his youth) ~ Loki, Absorbing Man, Loki (in his youth), Ghan.
COM:   Thor battles Loki, who has kidnapped Jane and brought her to Asgard. Loki convinces Odin that Thor brought her, and Odin orders the "Trial of the Gods". Thor granted 48 hours grace, returns Jane to Earth, then uses Mjolnir as a cyclotron and changes AM into helium and lets him drift away up into the atmosphere. At story end, he returns to Asgard to prepare for his trial.   In ToA: Continuing the origin of Loki. Thor leads an armed force to battle Ghan. Loki is jealous and saves Ghan from Thor, and with him makes his first evil alliance. Cover by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.

    "The Bouncing Ball of Doom!" "The Hunter and the Hunted!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers.
PC:    {Human Torch II, the Thing, Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic}, Hennessey, Dr. Vega, Dr. Strange,~ Mad Thinker, Baron Mordo, Dormammu.
COM:    Fantastic Four appearance. Mad Thinker plans to collapse a bridge to cover a robbery, but the Torch and Thing unwittingly thwart his plans. So, to get revenge, he builds the ultimate weapon, the Ball of Doom, and unleashes it at an opening ceremony for a dam, where Ben and Johnny are due to officiate. The Ball does its job almost too well, punching holes in the dam as the boys fend it off, but Johnny finally melts it with his nova heat. At story end, not only are the boys still breathing, but the dam wasn't even critically harmed. In Dr. Stange's feature: Strange on the run in Hong Kong, trying to lure Mordo away from the injured Ancient One. Mordo searching everywhere for Strange, recruiting a lot of man power to his side. Strange realizes that he doesn't stand a chance on M's home turf, so he sneaks aboard a plane and escapes the city right under the noses of Mordo's new agents.

    "Hawkeye and the new Black Widow Strike Again!" "Among Us, Wreckers Dwell!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Chic Stone, Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray).
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Mr. and Mrs. Romanova (unnamed), Dr. Brushnev, Captain America I, Bucky I, Sgt. Duffy, Agent 13 (Peggy Carter), Omar, ~ Hawkeye, Black Widow, Vladimir, Nikita Khrushchev, Sando (Col. Wolfgang Von Krantz).
COM:    While Tony is upgrading his armor again, Widow, in her new costume, approaches Hawk to go after Iron Man again. Flashback to the origin of her new costume. Khrushchev wants her to attack Iron Man again, and, when she refuses, they threaten the lives of her parents. They equipped her and trained her in doo-dads befitting her name (allowing her to walk up walls and shoot out a retractable tether) and sent her back to the US. Happy pops the question to Pepper, and, after she tells him that she needs more time to answer, they are taken hostage to lure Iron Man into a trap. Tony arrives at the railroad yard and wants to exchange weapons designs for their lives, then changes to Iron Man and takes out the Red agents. Hawk tries to stop him with his new Acid arrow and Sonic arrow, but Iron Man wins with his new Burrowing Device and a few well placed electrical jolts. Both Hawk and Widow get away, and, at story end, pepper runs to comfort Tony, breaking Happy's heart.    In Cap's feature: During WWII, a mystic act was circulating that made amazing predictions about military disasters that would soon after actually occur, and Steve and Bucky go to check it out. They find out that it was a scam and a front for Nazi saboteurs, and, with the help of Agent 13, who had been posing as a reporter, they mopped the gang up and still make it back to camp LeHigh before taps.

    "The Menace of Madame Macabre" "The Power of Doctor Banner!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Frank Giacoia (Ray), Steve Ditko, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Tabby, Hulk, Maj. Glenn Talbot, Gen. Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross, Prof. Stromm, ~ Madame Macabre, Gogo, Kalya, Mandarin, Leader, Chameleon.
COM:    Minor changes to Hank's costume and he now sports a crew cut. News about the shrinking and enlarging powers of Macabre are out, and she wants to add the powers of Giant Man to her own, which only affect inanimate objects, and only those carved of a special plastic by Gogo. She comes to Hank's HQ, relates her origin, and tries to get him to join her in ruling the world. he refuses, and she set in motion a plan to kidnap him which involves kidnapping the Wasp first to lure him into the trap. She captures him in ant size in a box and gives him one last chance, when he refuses again, she's about to crush him, but the Wasp comes to the rescue. There is a tussle, and her size changing powers are revealed to be the electronic circuits in her hair. And, at story end, her threats of revenge are added to their growing list. In Hulk's feature: Hulk still in a communist European nation. (Cameo of Stalin?) Reds kill his friend and Hulk destroys their base. Talbot volunteers for the mission to retrieve the "spy" Banner from behind the Iron Curtain. Chameleon is seen only in a view screen. Leader decides to take no action Hulk on rampage against Russian army at story end.   Jack Kirby cover.

    "Spider-Man Goes Mad!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Flash Thompson, J Jonah Jameson, Frederick Foswell, Betty Brant, Liz Allan, May Parker, ~ Mysterio (Dr. Ludwig Rinehart).
COM:    Peter sees note to Betty from Ned, gets jealous and brushes her off. JJJ starts new series of getting public opinion of why they hate Spidey. Flash still Spidey booster, gets angry at Peter, who is supposed to start tutoring Liz. Mysterio, posing as the psychiatrist, Rinehart, tries to drive Spidey mad. JJJ blows his cover, then realizes what he has done. Liz brushes off a friend for peter. Flash on cloud nine because he saw Spidey in action. May worrying about Peter's welfare.

    "The Old Order Changeth!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Jack Kirby / Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers
PC:    {Thor I, Iron Man I, Giant man I, Wasp, Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, Rick Jones, Edwin Jarvis, Happy Hogan, ~ Sub-Mariner, Black Widow, Mole Man, Kang, {Executioner, Enchantress, Black Knight II, Melter}, Erik Josten (unnamed).
COM:    Masters of Evil I appearance. The Avengers (w/o Cap) face off against the MoE. Thor trasports them all (except the Enchantress and Executioner) to an alternate dimension to save NY. Cap, still in S America, buries Zemo, then he and Rick make their way back to NY. Black Knight and Melter back in police custody. Flashback, told by Hawkeye, shows Black Widow shot and taken by her "Red Masters". Sub-Mariner offered position on Team. X-Men and Brotherhood of Evil Mutants I appear in flashback only. Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch join the team, while Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp, and Thor all take leaves of absence. Moleman, Kang, and Immortus seen only in reaction to the new roster. Hulk seen in last panel teaser. By later continuity, Erik Josten (Power Man I) appears unnamed as one of Zemo's mercenaries.

    "Defeated by the Frightful Four!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Alicia Masters, ~ {Medusa, Wizard, Sandman, Trapster (Peter Petruski)}.
COM:    Frightful Four appearance. PPP adds new trap gimmicks to his repertoire and becomes the Trapster w/ new costume. Medusa also has a new costume. Sue's hair is longer, abducted by the F4. The F4 have taken over a pacific atoll for their new HQ, where the Wizard has salvaged a Q-Bomb. F4 Capture Johnny and Reed, and Ben follows in the Pogo Plane. FF battle the F4, rescue Sue, but are left on the doomed atoll. The Q-Bomb detonates, but Sue saves the team with a force field, but they are all unconscious at story end and the Thing is inexplicably changing human at story end.

    "The Trial of the Gods!" "Tales of Asgard: The Challenge"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Odin, Balder, Daredevil, {Rick Jones Iron Man I, Giant-Man I, Wasp, Captain America I}, Princess Rinda, ~ Loki, Executioner, Enchantress, Yagg, {Sandman, Wizard, Medusa, Trapster}, King Hymir.
COM: Avengers, Teen Brigade, and Frightful Four appearances. The trial of the Gods is a trial by contest. Thor and Loki are sent to Skornheim weaponless. Loki shows Thor vision that the Executioner and the Enchantress have taken Jane. Odin sends Balder to rescue her. Loki cheats by using Norn Stones and beats Thor back to Asgard. In ToA:

    "The Sinister Space Trap!" "Face-to-Face at Last with Baron Mordo!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Larry Ivie / Bob Powell, Steve Ditko, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    {Human Torch II/Doug Brown, the Thing/Dr. Josiah Verpoorten, Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic}, Doris Evans, Mr. Pearson, Dr. Strange, Clea, Orini (unnamed), Haimer the Hermit (unnamed), ~ Professor Jack, Baron Mordo, Dormammu.
COM:    Fantastic Four appearance. Pearson comes to the FF for help with a two fold project. NASA needs a pilot to take their special magnets into space and to keep an eye on the project designer, who has just been listed as a security risk. Johnny volunteers, causing Dorrie to break up with him. While Torch snoops, Dorrie approaches Ben to get her back with Johnny, and he arrives on base just in time to save Torch from a failed experiment. Jack figures their secret IDs, and plans death traps for both, Johnny in space and Ben in his lab. They both escape and simultaneously take down the villain, and, at story end, Johnny gets back with his girl. In Dr. Strange's feature: Strange back in NYC, Mordo still pursuing him. Eternity first mentioned. Ancient One still in hiding with Haimer. Strange fake his way into his Sanctum Sanctorum in costume to consult the Eye of Agamotto. D using Mordo to eliminate Strange so he can attack Earth. Strange battles Mordo, who, with boosted power, is victorious. At story end, as he fades into darkness, Strange figures out who's behind Mordo. Cover by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Mike Esposito.

    "When Titans Clash!" "The Red Skull Strikes!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Mike Esposito (Demeo), Jack Kirby, Chic Stone.
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Charlie, Pete, Captain America I, Bucky I, Sgt. Duffy, Maj. Croy, Gen. Curtis, ~ Weasel Wills, Red Skull (counterfeit)/John Maxon.
COM:    In an effort to give Happy and pepper some time alone together, Stark goes to their Mid-West Rocket Plant for the new Mangler Missile test, and while he's gone, Wills sneaks into SI and finds his attaché case with the armor inside. He figures its operation out pretty quickly and goes on a crime spree, prompting the return of Stark, who pulls out his old boiler armor. He challenges Wills, and old and new Iron Mans fight, which ends when the bogus one uses up all his stored energy and the real deal kicks his butt. At story end, Tony worried about Wills spilling his guts about his secret ID, but somewhere during the fight his cheese slid off his cracker. In Cap's feature: Back in 1940, before the US was too concerned about security, Pvt. Rogers drives Croy home, and he's attacked by the Skull, who sprays him with a gas that would remove his memory for the next several months. Cap and Bucky look into it and uncover a nest of saboteurs, but the Skull gets away. A few days later, at the army air base, Maxon, of Maxon Aircraft Corp, is on site to watch the test of his new bomber, which crashes with crew aboard. Cap goes to visit the General to get background on Maxon, and they find him wounded and the Skull still in the house. They capture him and discover he's been impersonating the real Maxon; but before they can press further, his goons arrive and he gets away. At story end, Cap finds his hit list, and that he and Bucky were the next to be hit.

    "The Mystery of...the Hidden Man and His Rays of Doom!" "Where Strides the Behemoth"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Bob Powell, Steve Ditko, Frank Giacoia (Ray), Chic Stone.
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Hulk, Maj. Talbot, ~ Hidden Man (Supremor), Loko, Kanga Khan, Hakun Gantu.
COM:    Supremor came to Earth with world domination in mind using his Green Ray and with the help of his human accomplice. When his ray failed to work on GM, he used it on his trained bee, which, forgetting its training, stung the Wasp. Pym shrunk down to treat his partner's wound and, in this more susceptible state, lost his shrinking powers to Supremor. Still retaining his growth power, GM captured Supremor and Loko, but at story end, authorities from Supremor's home world arrested the Hidden Man, took him away, and reversed the ray's effects.    In Hulk's feature: Hulk still in communist Europe, heads for Mongolia after taking out the Russian tank force. Talbot sent undercover to retrieve Banner from Kanga. Talbot and Bruce escape during an attack by Hakun Gantu, and are both toppling off a ledge at story end.

    "The Triumph of Magneto!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Chic Stone
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, ~ {Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Magneto, Toad, Mastermind}, the Stranger.
COM:    Brotherhood of Evil Mutants I appearance. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver leave the Brotherhood. 1st app. of X-Copter. Mags tries to recruit the Stranger. Stranger turns MM into a solid block of matter. Stranger revealed as an alien, returns to outer space taking Mags and Toad with him. At story end, Prof. X removes Mags, MM, and Toad from Cerebro, which then identifies unnamed mutant which turns out to be Juggernaut.

    "Captured by J Jonah Jameson!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Betty Brant, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, May Parker, Mary Jane Watson (face unrevealed), Norman Osborn, J Jonah Jameson, ~ Spencer Smythe.
COM:    Peter makes a spare costume. Betty angry at Pete for selling out Spidey to JJJ. Flash after Peter for two-timing Liz. Liz and Betty end up at the Parker's at the same time as Mary Jane. May finds Peter's extra costume and takes it so he can't wear it. Spider-Slayer robot proto-type.

    "Four Against the Minotaur!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, (Jack Kirby), Dick Ayers
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver}, Rick Jones, Hulk, ~ Leader, Mole Man, the Minotaur.
COM:    1st app. of the Avengers' Jet Stream Cruiser. First adventure with the new roster. Rick chaffing about not being made a full member. Flashback to TtA1#69. The search for the Hulk begins. Avengers lured out into the New Mexico desert by Mole Man, who sics the Minotaur on them. MM is defeated and sends the team back to the surface. Cap worried about the team. Kirby stops doing the layouts.

    "The Stilt-Man Cometh!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Wally Wood.
PC:    Daredevil, Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, Carl Kaxton, ~ Stilt-Man (Wilbur Day).
COM:    Origin of Stilt-Man. DD drives a car for the first time. Detailed schematics of DD's billy club. Cut away plan of Matt's brownstone. DD battles SM for the first time. Karen tries to talk Matt in to getting an eye operation by Dr. Van Eyck; Foggy walks in and misunderstands the exchange. Day hires Matt to sue Kaxton for patent theft of his hydraulic lift, then steals Kaxton's Molecular Condenser. In the final fight with DD, it gets turned on and SM shrinks to nothing and is assumed dead. Matt manages to alienate both Foggy and Karen by story end.

    "A Blind Man Shall Lead Them!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray), (Wally Wood).
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Daredevil, ~ Doctor Doom.
COM:    The FF rescued by a passing sub (the USS Seahawk) after being adrift at sea for 24 hours. Revealed that the Ff have lost their powers from the Q-Bomb blast (FF1 #38). Reed starts Operation Artificial Powers, where he has created devices to imitate their individual powers, including a remote controlled Thing. Doom's memory from FF AN #2 returns and he vows the death of the FF. FF grant Matt Murdock the power of attorney if something should happen to them. Doom attacks the FF and their new mechanical powers fail. Doom takes over the Baxter Bldg, and the team, sans powers, are preparing to take him on (with DD's help) at story end. Wood inks Kirby's pencils on DD and Murdock figures.

    "Into the Blaze of Battle!" "Tales of Asgard: The Sword in the Scabbard"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Odin, Balder, Karnilla, Cho, Kim, ~ Loki, Executioner, Enchantress, Minh Chu, Hu Sak.
COM: Thor sent to Earth to prove that Loki cheated in the Trial of the Gods (last issue) find the Norn Stones, ends up in Viet Nam. Death of Cho and Hu Sak, and Thor takes Kim with him at story end. In ToA: Odin orders Thor and Loki to find and stop whoever is responsible for causing cracks in the Oversword (Odinsword) of Asgard, which heralds Ragnarok. The Odinsword quest begins next issue.

    "The Terrible Toys!" "A Nameless Land, a Timeless Time!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Mike Esposito (Demeo), Steve Ditko.
PC:    Human Torch II, the Thing, Alicia Masters, Doris Evans, Dr. Strange, Clea, Haimer the Hermit (unnamed), ~ Puppet Master, Baron Mordo, Dormammu, Shazana, Nazaka (unnamed).
COM:    The girls bring the boys to a department store art exhibit, and, when Alicia touches one of the life like mannequins, they are approached by the curator, who gives them free tickets to the show and an invite to his studio in the sub-basement afterward. While the girls appreciate the exhibit, the boys slip downstairs with the plan that it would enable them to leave for someplace more interesting sooner, but the curator is revealed to be the Puppet Master, and catches them in specially designed traps, a giant clamp and an icy animated mannequin. Johnny slips behind the clamp so he can flame on, melts Ben's device releasing him, and the Thing smashes the ice maiden dummy. They both go after the Puppet Master, and he accidentally stumbles into his own Chemi-Ray and is turned into a mannequin. The boys call the police and waltz out with the girls like nothing happened at story end. In Dr. Strange's feature: Dormammu informs Mordo that Strange escaped him from last issue by slipping into another dimension. Clea wants to warn Strange against their plot. Strange ends up in the Nameless Land, helps Nazaka against her sorceress sister, Shazana. Ancient One still sick and in hiding with Haimer from Mordo. Strange uses his Amulet to look into Shazana's past. Origin of Shazana. He destroys the globe containing her power, and Nazaka gains her rightful place on the throne. At story end, Strange leaves their dimension. Cover by Jack Kirby and Bob Powell.

    "If I Fail, a World Is Lost!" "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Chic Stone, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Sen. Harrington Byrd, Captain America I, ~ Attuma, Red Skull (Johan Shmidt), Adolf Hitler, Shultz.
COM:    In Iron Man's feature: Byrd arrives at SI for the test of their new Mini-Sub, very disapproving to everything about Tony. Happy, in order to impress Pepper, insists on being allowed to run the test himself, but, when Stark refuses, he quits his job, also impressing the Senator. Iron Man takes the sub out and runs dead in the middle of Attuma's latest attempt to take over the surface world, this time with a huge gun that would fire a Nautilium shell into the atmosphere and make the air unfit to breath. His men attack Iron Man with a Pincer Tank, and his is trapped in a radioactive cage; but, even with his oxygen flagging, he crashes his sub into the gun, destroying both. At story end, Iron Man returns without the sub, and Byrd threatens that he'll never get another governmental dollar. In Cap's feature: 1st modern app. and origin of Red Skull. WWII adventure. Cap is captive of Skull. Hitler takes Skull under his wing, creates ultimate Nazi agent. Skull brainwashes Cap and prepares him to kill the "supreme commander of the Allied forces." Cover by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia.

    "Peril from the Long-Dead Past!" "Back from the Dead!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Boopsie, Frank, Hulk, Maj. Glenn Talbot, Gen. Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross, Rick Jones, ~ Human Top, Leader.
COM:    New Human Top costume. Hank, having lost his ability to shrink (last ish), is out in the country testing his growing serum to determine his most efficient size, and gets attacked by Cannon in a small plane, but the attempt fails. Hank returns to his HQ and after some further experimentation, determines that 35 feet is the perfect height and adjusts his helmet to take him only to that height, and more slowly than before. Human Top designs a new costume that allows him to fly, and Hank has his HQ redesigned to accommodate his new size. Hank creates a Cybernetic Helmet for Jan to control her new wasp, and Top gets in to see them posing as a reporter from the Globe. With his new power of flight, he dumps hank out a window, and, at story end, kidnaps Jan. In Hulk's feature: Hulk saves Talbot and leaves him in Mongolia before returning to Gamma Base. Leader has developed a way to reduce his Humanoids to microscopic size, still plans to steal the Absorbatron from Astra Island. Banner back in jail as a traitor. Talbot (back in the US) is certain he and the Hulk are in league with one another. Leader attacks Astra Island with thousands of Humanoids. Some of them emit gas vapors, and the Hulk is rendered unconscious at story end.

    "The Man in the Crime-Master's Mask!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Patch (Frederick Foswell), May Parker, J Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan, Mr. Davis, ~ Crime-Master I (Nick 'Lucky' Lewis).
COM:    Peter looking for his costume which May took from him.    Goblin and CM part ways. Betty still angry at Peter. Peter takes on Flash and three other guys. Liz stops him and says she's through with both of them. Peter takes the heat from the principal for the incident, but Flash sets him straight. Peter has to buy a Spidey costume from a shop, but he has to hook it together with webbing to keep it from riding up. Patch tips off the police to the big mob meeting. GG captures Spidey, brings him to the meeting at story end. Crime-Master's given name revealed in ASM #27.

    "When the Commissar Commands!"
BY:    Stan Lee/ Don Heck, Dick Ayers
PC:    {Captain America I, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye}, Edwin Jarvis, Nick Fury, ~ Maj. Hoy.
COM:    1st app. of the Commissar robot. Cap waiting for Nick Fury's answer to his letter from AV1 #15, thinking of leaving the team. Avengers lured to Sin-Cong by the Commissar. Wanda defeats the Commissar and exposes him as robot run by Maj. Hoy. Sin-Cong is freed at story end.

    "The Battle of the Baxter Building"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Daredevil, ~ Doctor Doom.
COM:    The FF are still without their powers (since FF1 #38) and are trying (with DD's help) to regain their HQ which has been taken over by Doom (last issue). While the FF go in the front, DD sneaks in and confronts Doom. DD uses his cane as a rifle and as a shield. Reed uses the Power Ray Stimulator (from FF1 #37) to restore the team's powers. Ben doesn't want to change back, but Reed doses him anyway because the team needs his strength. Thing defeats Doom, who is allowed to walk away with a 'broken pride' and broken hands to match, but is so angry at the injustice of being made a monster again, quits the team at story end.

    "To Kill a Thunder God!" "Tales of Asgard: The Crimson Hand"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Kim, Morduk, ~ the Destroyer, Loki, Braggi.
COM: Thor still in Viet Nam. 1st appearance of the Temple of the Destroyer. Loki guides an evil bounty hunter to reawaken the Destroyer. Odin sleeping the "Sleep of Life" for the first time. Kim handed over to GIs and makes no further app. in the MU. Loki thrown in the "Dungeon of No-Escape". Destroyer able to lift Mjolnir, cuts the hammer in two. Thor in very dire straits at story end. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest begins. Morduk gives Thor the Crimson Glove of Truth. Loki and Thor prepare to set sail in Odin's ship on a quest to find who's causing the cracks in the Oversword of Asgard. Cover by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta.

    "The Challenge of....the Watcher!" "Earth Be My Battlefield"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Bob Powell, Wally Wood, Steve Ditko.
PC:    {Human Torch II, the Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl}, the Watcher, Merlin I, King Arthur, Dr. Strange, Clea, Ancient One, Haimer the Hermit (unnamed), ~ Kang, Baron Mordo, Dormammu.
COM:    Fantastic Four appearance. End of the Torch/Thing stories. Kang has imprisoned Merlin and taken over Arthur's court in medieval Britain, and the Watcher recruits the boys to go back and stop him before he wrecks the future timeline. The boys face all the troops and wild weapons Kang could throw at them, and victory seemed easy until Kang extinguished Johnny's flame. While Ben is outnumbered alone, Johnny gets Merlin's help to flame on again. Things go bad for Kang, particularly when he discovers that the freed Merlin has drained the energizer in his time ship and none of his weapons will work, so he teleports back to safety and leaves the time period. Watcher brings the boys back home, where they rest up after their ordeal, and Reed and Sue accuse them of being lazy. In Dr. Strange's feature: Mindless Ones appearance. Strange returns home from the Nameless Land to face the forces of Mordo again. He visits the Ancient One who is still hiding with Haimer, but is now in a coma. Strange begins his quest to find the meaning of the word, Eternity. Mordo still hunting for Strange. Clea releases the Mindless Ones to distract Dormammu, who temporarily withdraws his power from Mordo, causing him to fail in his latest attempt on Strange. Dormammu returns the Mindless Ones to their confines and is looking for who released them at story end. Cover by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia.

    "Where Walk the Villains!" "Lest Tyranny Triumph!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Mike Esposito (Demeo), Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray),
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, 'Gramps' Hogan, Captain America I, Bucky I, Gen. Montgomery, ~ Red Skull, Adolf Hitler, Dream Master (Luchino Nefaria).
COM:  In Iron Man's feature: Count Nefaria becomes the Dream Master. Pepper mad at Tony and Iron Man for Happy quitting last ish, and Happy is off to Shannon, Oreland to visit his grandfather. Nefaria drops his name and all connection with the Maggia and decides to get revenge on the Avengers through their dreams starting with Iron Man. Focusing on him with his World-Wide Electro Scanner, he sics Unicorn and Crimson Dynamo I on him. He wakes up shaken, gets another dressing down from pepper, and goes to fetch Happy home. happy rebuffs him, and the Dream Master hits him again adding Gargantus, Jack Frost II, Melter, and Black Knight II to the roster. When Iron Man starts winning against his old foes, it overloads Dream Master's machine and it explodes, leaving him severely injured. At story end, Iron Man returns to the cottage to find that pepper had talked Happy into returning home. In Cap's feature: WWII adventure. Brainwashed by the Skull, Cap being prepared to kill the "supreme commander of the Allied forces". Bucky escapes a firing squad and infiltrates the mission. Cap presented to Hitler, goes to London, but is unable to pull the trigger on Montgomery. Another soldier makes him fire at story end.

    "Oh Wasp, Where Is Thy Sting?" "Trapped in the Lair of the Leader!"
BY:    Al Hartley, Stan Lee / Bob Powell, John Giunta, Jack Kirby, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Giant Man I, Wasp, Boopsie, Andrew, Mildred, Hulk, Maj. Glenn Talbot, Gen. Thunderbolt Ross, Rick Jones, ~ Human Top, Leader.
COM:    Top has kidnapped Jan, and, while Giant Man frantically searches for her, he brings her back to his lab where she recovers from Vortex Vertigo. He offers to take her on as his partner, and, when she refuses, he reveals his plan to kill Giant Man in the gigantic pit trap he's had prepared around his perimeter. Jan sends her wasp to retrieve Hank, and he comes to the rescue riding the super sized Boopsie. His reflexes dulled by the Laser Impulse Beam, Top dumps Hank easily into the trap, which is revealed to be a giant flash freezer. Jan tries to save him and is trapped in with him when he's frozen then sealed in epoxy. They escape, and while Hank knocks Top into the freezer, Jan fetches the police. At story end, after it's revealed how they cuddled at insect size to survive the freezing, Hank hints that he's thinking about retiring from the hero business. End of Giant Man/Wasp stories. In Hulk's feature: Leader takes the captured Hulk and the Absorbatron from Astra Island to his hide out in New Mexico, where he extensively studies the Hulk. Talbot believes that Banner was involved in the theft, gives orders to have him shot on sight. Hulk destroys the Absorbatron, but Leader gets away. Hulk is shot, and Banner is pronounced dead at the story end. Cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky.

    "The Origin of Professor X!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Vince Colletta.
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Sharon Xavier, Dr. Kurt Marko, ~ Juggernaut (Cain Marko).
COM:    Origins of Prof . X and Juggernaut. Sharon and Dr. Marko appear only in flashback and were deceased at the time of the story. Dr. Xavier's death is revealed but he is not shown. 1st app of the Temple and the Ruby of Cyttorak. First time Prof. X's full name 'Charles' is used.   X-Men prepare the Mansion for the approach of their newest threat. Death of Kurt Marko. Xavier develops his ESP powers, has a falling out with Cain. Brothers in the military. Cain caught in a cave in and assumed dead. Juggernaut enters the Mansion and appears only in a final panel teaser.

    "Bring Back My Goblin to Me!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, J Jonah Jameson, Frederick (Patch) Foswell, Betty Brant, May Parker, Barney Bushkin, ~ Crime-Master I, Green Goblin I.
COM:    Spidey frees himself from GG. Crime-Master shot and killed by police, revealed as 'Lucky' Lewis. Spidey's store-bought costume still coming apart. Peter sells pics to Bushkin of the Daily Globe instead of to the Bugle. Peter sewing a new costume.

    "The Coming of... the Swordsman!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Dick Ayers
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, ~ the Swordsman.
COM:    1st app. of Carson's Carnival of Traveling Wonders. Origins of Hawkeye and Swordsman. Hydra appearance. Swordsman want to join the team for an Avenger's ID card, breaks into HQ, turned down because of his excessive criminal record. Cap's letter from Nick Fury has arrived, removed by Hydra agents, and sold to Swordsman. Swordsman forges a new letter for a trap. At story end, Cap is dropped, hogtied, from a sky scraper in front of the rest of the team.

    "That He May See!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Wally Wood, Bob Powell.
PC:    Daredevil, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Dr. Van Eyck, ~ Duke Klaus Kruger.
COM:    Death of Dr. Eyck. DD is shot, goes to Lichtenbad to cure his blindness.

    "The Brutal Betrayal of Ben Grimm!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II}, Alicia Masters, Mr. Curtis, ~ {Medusa, Sandman, Wizard, Trapster}, the Thing.
COM:    Frightful Four appearance. 1st and only app. of Mr. Curtis. Ben leaves the team (from last issue), ands up in NJ, where he is captured by the F4. Curtis recommends Reed move their HQ to a "Lonelier" part of the city. Alicia finds out Ben is gone, team goes looking for him. Lots of dissention in the F4 ranks. Wizard takes control of Thing's mind with his Id machine, and he joins their team. FF finds F4's hideout, but Thing helps his new team mates to capture the old. At story end, Ben has been primed up to kill Reed and the rest.

    "The Day of the Destroyer!" "Tales of Asgard: Gather Warriors"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Karnilla, Ularic, {Hogun, Fandrall, Volstagg}, Balder, Odin, Braggi, ~ the Destroyer, Loki, Kroda, Magrat.
COM:    Loki saves Thor from the Destroyer from the cliffhanger last issue, send Karnilla to awaken Odin. Odin transfers the bounty hunter from the Destroyer back to his own body. Thor demolishes the Temple of the Destroyer. Odin sends Loki into servitude to Ularic. Mjolnir still damaged, unable to be used to fly. Thor uses instead one of Loki's Norn Stones to find a forge to repair his hammer. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest Pt. 2. Thor and crew prepare to sail into the unknown to learn what has cracked the Oversword (Odinsword) of Asgard which portends Ragnarok. 1st app. of the Warriors Three (unnamed).

    ""Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD/ The Man For the Job" "Eternity Beckons!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko.
PC:    {Nick Fury}, Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, Clea, ~ {Imperial H (Arnold Brown), Agent H (Laura Brown)}, Sir Baskerville, Baron Mordo, Dormammu..
COM:    Nick Fury/Doctor Strange double features begin. 1st app. of SHIELD and Hydra. Nick Fury becomes a Colonel and the Director of SHIELD. Origin of Nick Fury. 1st app. of Life Model Decoys. 1st app. SHIELD Helicarrier. Fury placed in charge of SHIELD at story end. In Dr. Strange's feature: Mindless Ones appeance. Strange travels to England in an attempt to find the meaning of the word, Eternity, consults Baskerville, who betrays him to his former master, Mordo. D discovers that Clea is the culprit who released the MOs from last issue and plans his revenge. Mordo sends agents to capture Strange but fails because of a trick played with his cloak. Mordo teleports to England himself only to find Strange long gone and, At story end, vows to not rest until Strange exists no more. Cover by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia.

    "If a Man Be Mad!" "The Sentinel and the Spy!"
BY:    Al Hartley, Stan Lee / Don Heck, Mike Esposito (Demeo), Jack Kirby, Frank Giacoia (Ray).
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Captain America I, Bucky I, Sgt. Duffy, Gen. Montgomery, ~Sen. Harrington Byrd, Count Nefaria, Morgan Stark, Red Skull, Wolfgang.
COM:    While Happy is welcomed back to SI from his trip to Ireland, Nefaria (back to his old appearance from last ish) using Morgan's outstanding gambling debt as leverage, gets him to help in a plan to make Stark look crazy (revenge for his defeat last ish?). Using Nefaria's Visio-Projector, Morgan makes Stark believe he's seeing space ships and aliens all over the place, and when the press gets hold of the story, Byrd wants to stop Stark's getting any more defense contracts. Iron Man goes back to the landing site to investigate further, and Morgan uses an Ionospheric Echo Ray, but a real spacecraft arrives.   Iron Man not only thwarts their ideas of invasion, but saves his cousin as well, so Morgan, not being a complete crumb, feels obligated to exonerate Stark. Sen. Byrd's legislation fails, and Tony ships his cousin back to Monte Carlo, where, at story end, he has to face an unhappy Nefaria. In Cap's feature: Continuing the WWII stories. Cap breaks brainwashing from the Red Skull and with Bucky's help take apart the Nazi team sent to kill Gen. Montgomery. Skull changes gears and starts an operation to steal Project Vanish. Steve and Bucky lose a Nazi agent who steals the PV weapon. The agent is killed when Cap tricks him into overloading the gun at story end.

    "The Start of the Quest!" "To Live Again!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Gene Colan (Austin), Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Sub-Mariner, Dorma, Neptune, Hulk, Gen. Ross, Maj. Talbot, Rick Jones, Betty Ross, ~ Krang, Leader.
COM:    Sub-Mariner/Hulk double features begin. Krang has seized the throne of Atlantis. Dorma turns Namor over because he rejects her affections. Dorma frees Namor and his quest to find Neptune's trident (so he can reclaim his throne) begins. 1st modern app. of Neptune. But Krang is wise to his plan and sets a trap, sealing Namor in a cave with a giant squid at story end. In Hulk's feature: Rick steals Banner's body and takes it to one of his hidden labs and changes him to the Hulk to save his life, canceling his debt to him (IH #1). Hulk has the brain of Banner. Russians not happy with Leader's failure, send him to destroy Gamma Base. He uses five hundred foot tall Humanoid. Betty still won't believe Banner is a traitor. While Hulk is fighting the giant Humanoid, Ross decides to use the "Sunday Punch" missile on it. Rick rushing to warn the Hulk at story end.

    "The Molten Man!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Mr. Davis, Liz Allan, Flash Thompson, May Parker, Anna Watson, J Jonah Jameson, Mr. and Mrs. Allan, ~ Spencer Smythe, Molten Man (Mark Raxton).
COM:    Peter finds out that Flash went to bat for him with the principal (from their fight in ASM #26). Liz brushes off both Peter and Flash. Smythe shows Peter the upgrade on his robot. 1st and only app. of Mrs. Allan. Origin of Molten Man. Covered in an experimental liquid metal that he and Smythe had created. Spidey's web doesn't stick to MM, beats him with webbing rope in the dark, turns him over to the police. Peter graduates high school. JJJ speaks at Peter's graduation. Liz admits to Peter that she had a crush on him and gives him the big goodbye. Flash reveals that he and Peter are going to the same college. Final frame of story shows Peter, Liz, and Flash going their separate ways.

    "Vengeance Is Ours!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Wally Wood
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Swordsman}, ~ Mandarin.
COM:    The rest of the team rescues Cap from the cliff-hanger at the end of last issue. 1st app. of Mandarin's Teleporter. Mandarin rescues Swordsman from capture, modifies and increases the power of his sword. Hawkeye very vocal in his disapproval of Cap. Swordsman joins the team briefly. Mandarin uses a 'projecto-image' of Iron Man I to get Swordsman inducted into the team. He turns against the Mandarin but the Avengers don't give him time to explain, and he is forced from their ranks.

    "To Save You, Why Must I Kill You?"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II}, ~ the Thing, {Medusa, Wizard, Sandman, Trapster}.
COM:    Frightful Four appearance. Thing has been hypnotized by the Wizard (last issue) and is ready to kill the FF who he helped the F4 capture. Team escapes, but Thing battles them along side the F4. Sue and Reed escape, but Johnny apparently falls under the Wizard's control with the Id machine. Reed counter attacks using the Wizard's own toys and almost succeeds, but Wizard sics Johnny on them at story end. Alicia finally gets her last name and origin from Kathy Goles in the Letters column.

    "With My Hammer in Hand!" "Tales of Asgard: Set Sail"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Odin, Ularic, {Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch} Nama Thaxton, the Janitor, Harris Hobbs (only in shadow), {Volstag, Hogun}, Gudrun (unnamed), Master of Prophesy, ~ Loki, Absorbing Man, Kroda, Magrat.
COM:    Avengers appearance. Thor travels to Pittsburgh to reforge the broken Mjolnir, loses one of the Norn Stones, proves to Odin that Loki cheated in the Trial of the Gods from JiMI #116. Loki escapes from Ularic, taking the old man prisoner. Thor returns to Earth, looks for Jane (who is being held against her will by unseen Hobbs) and meets the new team of Avengers. Rent on Blake's office overdue. Loki reconstitutes Absorbing Man and returns him to Earth. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest Pt. 3. Thor and crew set off on their voyage to find whoever is causing the cracks in the Odinsword and stop Ragnarok.

    "Find Fury or Die" "What Lurks Beneath the Mask?"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Severin
PC:    {Nick Fury}, Dr. Strange, Clea, Aged Genghis, Rama Kaliph, Wong, ~ {Imperial Hydra, Section Leader B}, Dormammu, Baron Mordo.
COM:    SHIELD and Hydra appearances. Death of Section Leader B. In Dr. Strange's feature: Strange still looking for secret of Eternity to save the Ancient One. Mordo still hunting Strange down with the power boost from Dormammu.

    "If I Must Die, Let It Be with Honor!" "Midnight in Greymoor Castle!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Dick Ayers.
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Sen. Harrington Byrd, Burgomaster of Alberia, Captain America I, Bucky I, Dr. Cedric Rawlings, Celine Rawlings, ~ Titanium Man I (Boris Bullski), Maj. Uberhart.
COM:    In Iron Man's feature: Iron Man working on his new Sub-Miniature Reverser and taxes his heart too hard, and, after recharging, he invites pepper and Happy to the Frug-A-Go Go. In Siberia, Bullski is made the new Commisar of a work camp peopled with famous scientists, and he tricks several of them into creating a suit of armor for him to rival that of Iron Man. While they work, he studies every available piece of footage on Iron Man, and when they're done, he sends a challenge to SI. Tony refuses because of his weakened heart, but after a temporary adjustment to his chest plate to make it stronger and a lot of leaning from Byrd, he finally accepts. The 'neutral' combat area in Alberia is rigged, so, when the contest begins and Iron Man naturally begins to win, he is led into a mine field at story end. In Cap's feature: Continuing the WWII stories.

    "Escape....to Nowhere!" "Like a Beast at Bay!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Gene Colan (Austin), Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Sub-Mariner, Vashti (unnamed), Dorma, Hulk, Rick Jones, Maj. Talbot, Gen. Ross, ~ Krang, Seaweed Man, Leader.
COM:    Namor moves to the next step in his quest for Neptune's trident. Krang declares that Dorma can't be his while Namor still lives. Vashti journeys in from the outer reaches of Atlantis to declare his fealty to Namor. Krang losing the support of his people by poor treatment and leveling heavy taxes. Namor encounters the Seaweed Man and is "helpless" in his grasp at story end. In Hulk's feature: The "Sunday Punch" missile stops the giant Humanoid. Military follows Hulk and Rick back to one of Banner's hidden labs. Ross threatens to nuke the area. Hulk gets Rick to safety. The Leader (as a Projecto-Image) offer to save the Hulk if he swears to serve him at story end.

    "Where Walks the Juggernaut!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Werner Roth (Jay Gavin), Joe Sinnott
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Human Torch II, Matt Murdock, ~ Juggernaut.
COM:    Teen Brigade appearance. 1st app. of the Mento-Helmet. Prof. X faces down Juggy. Revealed that his "psionic helmet" protects him from mental attack. Team unable to beat him. Prof. X sends out a mental distress call which is received by the TB, Matt Murdock, and Human Torch II, but unheeded. Juggy defeats Scott, Bobby, and Angel. Prof. X gets through to Torch, who uses his flame to blind Juggy. Angel pulls off his helmet, and Prof. X mind blasts him. Torch has his memory wiped and is sent on his way, and, at story end, the male X-Men are in the infirmary recovering from their injuries.

    "Never Step on a Scorpion!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, J Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Frederick Foswell, May Parker, ~ the Scorpion, Master Planner (Dr. Octopus).
COM:   Scorpion breaks out of jail. Ned back from Europe. Betty brushes Peter off for Ned. Scorpion has threatened JJJ's life. Scorpion and Spidey wreck JJJ's office. Betty very upset over the attack, consoled by Ned, who takes her home. Spidey captures Scorpion and leaves him for the police. JJJ writes himself up as the big hero. May having dizzy spells, keeps them from Peter.

    "The Bitter Taste of Defeat!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Wally Wood
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, Tony Stark, ~ Power Man I (Erik Josten), Enchantress.
COM:      More contention between Hawkeye and Cap. Wonder Man, Zemo, and Executioner only app. in flashback to AV1#9. Erik Josten named.   Origin of Power Man I, where Enchantress gives Power Man his powers in Zemo's old Amazon jungle HQ in the same way she did Wonder Man; they come to NY and she helps him discredit the Avengers. Several members are arrested. City Council get a court order to disband the team. End of story, members questioning whether the decision was right or not. Avengers helicopter replaced.

    "While the City Sleeps! Pt. 1: The Organization!"
BY:    Wally Wood / Bob Powell, Wally Wood.
PC:    Daredevil, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Bernard Harris, Deborah 'Debbie' Harris, Milton Monroe, Milt, Harry, ~ Organizer (Abner Jonas), {Frog-Man I (Francois LeBlanc), Cat-Man I (Townsend Horgan), Bird-Man I (Henry Hawk), Ape-Man I (Gordon 'Monk' Keefer)}.
COM:    1st app. of Ani-Men I (unnamed). 1st appearance of Reform Party and the Organization. The Organization has Cat-Man break Monk out of federal prison using a Blackout Bomb and recruits him and the rest of the Ani-Men, giving them their new costumes. They begin a crime spree (including the theft of the Rajah Ruby) to throw the city in an uproar. Foggy announces he's been asked to run for DA by the Reform Party, and at a party on Jonas' yacht, they meet the other Reform candidates. Foggy rekindles a relationship with Debbie, his sweetheart from Fillmore Junior High, and Frog-Man makes an attempt on their host. DD twats the attack, but looses him on the way back to their HQ at the Chemco Building (cut-away schematic of the HQ). When DD stops their next caper, stealing the campaign funds fro the Reform Party Campaign Headquarters, they decide to frame DD in a bank robbery. Debbie sweeping Foggy off his feet; Foggy invites a confused Karen to a penthouse party that she is throwing. Monroe trying to back out of his bid to be assemblyman when the Ani-Men kidnap Debbie. DD looses all but Cat-Man, and, so he won't spill his guts to the police, Ape-Man is sent to kill him. DD stops the assassination and follows Ape back to their HQ, and, at story end, learns that Debbie is involved with the bad guys just as Bird-Man is sneaking up behind him.

    "Lo, There Shall Be An Ending!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, ~ {Medusa, Wizard, Trapster, Sandman}, Doctor Doom.
COM:    Frightful Four appearance.   The Wizard, with Ben (FF1 #41) and Johnny (last issue) in his control, is hunting down the last two members of the FF. Reed and Sue get away with Ben, but the F4 discover that Johnny has been faking. Reed changes Ben to normal using Cosmic Waves. Doom, in his NYC embassy, is healing from issue 40, but holds a big grudge against the Thing for crushing his hands. F4 attack the Baxter Bldg.. Ben revives enough to crush Wizard's anti-grav. controls, freeing Johnny. Medusa gets away, but the rest of the F4 are turned over to the police at story end.

    "The Power! The Passion! The Pride!" "Tales of Asgard: Maelstrom!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Balder, Odin, Ularic, Harris Hobbs (face unseen), Phil, ~ Loki, Absorbing Man, Magrat, Kroda.
COM: Thor is battling the Absorbing Man, but the two are too evenly matched and don't seem to be gaining any ground. Balder comes to check on Loki and finds him still at Ularic's not realizing the old man is now the captive of the evil Asgardian, rather than the other way around. AM grows to an enormous size and pitches a ball of girders at Thor, who knocks them back in a shower of splinters that forces him to return to normal height. Nearby, Jane still a captive of Hobbs, who wears a hood throughout the story, and Loki puts in motion his plan that will rock Asgard (with a focus on the Norn Stone from #120). AM is tricked into becoming glass and tries to escape into a bank vault, but when Thor follows, he absorbs his power. The fight carries out into the street, and Thor, distracted by saving a child,gets defeated at story end. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest Pt. 4 Thor and crew still on quest to prevent Ragnarok, searching for the hidden forces of evil who threaten Asgard, reach the Pillars of Utgard in the Sea of Fear. Crew, upon encountering the maelstrom, are grumbling under Thor's leadership and want to return home (Dragon of Utgard 1st mentioned). And, while Thor rallies the men, pitting their strength against the whirlpool, Balder climbs the figurehead of their ship with a horn at story end.

    "The Prize Is Earth" "When Meet the Mystic Minds"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / John Severin, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko.
PC:    {Nick Fury}, Dr. Strange, Clea, ~ {Arnold Brown (Imperial H)}
COM:    Hydra appearance. 1st appearance of the Betatron Bomb. In Dr. Strange's feature: Cover by John Severin, Steve Ditko, and Gabe Jones.

    "Fight On! For a World is Watching!" "If This Be Treason!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Mike Esposito (Demeo), Jack Kirby, George Tuska.
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Sen. Harrington Byrd, Captain America I, Bucky I, Celia Rawlings, ~ Titanium Man, Countess Stephanie de la Spiroza, Dr. Cedric Rawlings, Maj. Uberhart.
COM:    Begin alternating cover features w/ Cap even #s and Iron Man odd #s. IM still battling TM in Alberia. The jilted Countess gets revenge on Tony by stealing an important transistor device (the Sub-Miniature Reverser). Happy gets it back and takes it to IM on the battlefield, is critically wounded, but "dies happy" knowing Pepper loves him and not Stark. IM facing off with TM and their most powerful weapon at story end. In Cap's feature: Continuing the WWII stories. Cap lured to Greymoor Castle to save Bucky, and is captured. Uberhart double crosses the doctor, and Cap, Bucky, and Celia are loaded aboard a V-2 rocket aimed at London at story end.   Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

    "A Prince There Was!" "Within the Monster Dwells a Man!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Gene Colan (Austin), Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Sub-Mariner, Dorma, Hulk, Gen. Ross, Maj. Talbot, Rick Jones, Watcher, ~ Krang, Seaweed Man, Zantor, Leader.
COM:    Begin alternating cover features w/ Sub-Mariner even #s and Hulk odd #s. Namor defeats the Seaweed Man (last appearance in the MU) and moves to next step in his quest for Neptune's trident. Kang presses Dorma to choose between him and Namor. When she refuses, he banishes her to the world of the "Faceless Ones". Zantor sends her on her way. Faceless Ones seen only as shadows. Namor reaches the "Diamonds of Doom" and realizes too late that they are sapping his strength. In Hulk's feature: Hulk agrees to Leader's offer (last issue) and is transported to Leader's HQ in Italy. Revealed how Humanoids are created. Talbot figures there's a connection between Rick and Banner and the Hulk. 1st app. of camouflaged and amphibious Humanoids. Hulk fighting the 'change' to Banner because of the bullet still in his head (TtA #69) at story end.

    "The Claws of the Cat!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Betty Brant, J Jonah Jameson, May Parker, Anna Watson, Frederick Foswell (Patch), Flash Thompson, Ned Leeds, ~ Cat Burglar (Prowler II), Master Planner (Dr. Octopus, as voice only).
COM:    May begins fainting spells. JJJ offers $1,000 for the Cat. Peter gently punches Flash out cold after a bout of jealousy over Liz. Ned proposes to Betty; Peter takes the news badly and won't let her explain the really loves him. Spidey investigating the rash of robberies in town. 1st appearance of the Master-Planner's gang.

    "The Road Back"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Wally Wood
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, Iron Man I, Giant-Man I, Thor I, ~ Power Man I, Enchantress, {Ringmaster II, Clown, Princess Python, Cannonball, the Great Gambonos, Bruto the Strongman}
COM:    Circus of Crime appearance. Avengers under orders to disband. Each member goes their separate way, but can't make a go of it alone. CoC out of prison, hire Hawk, Wanda, and Pietro. Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Thor seen in single panel cameos. Cap in disguise, gets a confession from Power Man. PM surrenders and is turned over to the police. Team back together with their names cleared. Cap threatens to leave the team at story end.

    "The Gentleman's Name Is Gorgon! or What a Way to Spend a Honeymoon!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott.
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Medusa, ~ Gorgon, Dragon Man.
COM:    1st app. of the Inhumans as a race. Johnny and Sue move into the Baxter Building from their Glendale residence after Reed and Sue's wedding. Reed invents a fully automated dish washer. Medusa kidnaps Johnny to get away from Gorgon (who is working for Maximus and trying to return her to the Great Refuge) and they end up near State U. Dragon Man escapes form the ground (from FF1 #35) and mistakes Medusa for Sue. Gorgon attacks the Baxter Bldg. and steals a helicopter, has a run in with DM who is now protecting Medusa. Revealed that Gorgon and Medusa are of the same race. At story end, DM takes Sue, and Gorgon grabs Medusa and collapses the building they were all on.

    "Where Mortals Fear to Tread!" "Tales of Asgard: The Grim Spectre of Mutiny!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Jane Foster, Odin, Harris Hobbs, {Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg}, Balder, ~ Loki, Absorbing Man, Magrat, Kroda.
COM: Loki still has Ularic prisoner. Thor rescues Jane, but in doing so has his picture taken as Blake by Hobbs, who is revealed as the man in the hood who was holding Jane. Loki brings AM to Asgard, using him to overthrow Odin. Jane in the hospital. Thor convinces Hobbs to destroy the pictures but in return he gets to visit Asgard. Odin goes toe to toe with AM. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest Pt. 5. At the foot of the Pillars of Utgard, Loki and his lackies incite a mutiny. Everyone is halted when Balder blows his horn. Cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

    "Sometimes the Good Guys Lose!" "If Eternity Should Fail!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Jack Kirby, John Severin, Steve Ditko.
PC:    {Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Dum Dum Dugan}, Tony Stark, Leslie Farrington, Vincent Vandergill, Hodges, Wilson, Dr. Strange, Ancient One, Eternity, ~ {Imperial Hydra, Agent H, Fox Divisional Leader}, Baron Mordo, Dormammu.
COM:    Hydra appearance, 1st appearance of the Hydra Divisional Staff.  Nick and Gabe 40 miles above the Balkans using a Televiewer Tube to locate the Hydra launch site, but they're too late to stop the Betatron missile, but not too late to dust the base. Agent H openly defiant to her father and the precepts of Hydra, and he contacts the Fox Division to present terms for surrender to the nation's capitol. Nick At Stark Industries viewing the Bomb in space via the "Space Watch" satellite, and petitioning Stark for a weapon to stop it. With inside help, a Tiger Division infiltrates the plant trying to get at the latest invention the Braino-saur (1st mention), but Nick Hold them at bar until they wrap an Automatic Strait-Jacket around him. A 'Rhino' Tank arrives and evacuates their commandos, and, they all escape inside the Sky Missile Jet mounted in the tank. Farrington really forcing his will on the other board members at Imperial Industries Incorporated, and Vandergill looking to unseat him. The meeting breaks up and one of the members dons his hood as Imperial H and goes down stairs in the Hydra hideout to gloat about his victory to Nick at story end. In Dr. Strange's feature: Strange enters the land of Eternity through his Amulet and faces Eternity for the first time, looking for more power but is denied. Returns to find the Ancient One has been kidnapped from his hiding place. Strange is brought to Dormammu by Mordo's spirits at story end.

    "What Price, Victory?" "...When You Lie Down With Dogs...!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Wally Wood, Jack Kirby, George Tuska, Joe Sinnott.
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, Dr. Schiller, Sen. Harrington Byrd, Countess De La Spirosa, Captain America I, Bucky I, Celine Rawlings, ~ Titanium Man I., Cedric Rawlings, Maj. Uberhart.
COM:    IM still battling Titanium Man. Happy is in a coma (both from last ish). IM wins the contest using the Sub-Miniature Reverser to counter TM's disintegrator ray, and is considered a hero, but Stark isn't much thought of. The Reds don't accept defeat. Tony brushes off the Countess to rush in a doctor for Happy, having second thoughts about driving Pepper away at story end. In Cap's feature: Finale of the story begun in ToS1 #69. Cover by Jack Kirby and Sol Brodsky.

    "By Force of Arms!" "Another World, Another Foe!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Gene Colan (Austin), Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Bob Powell.
PC:    Sub-Mariner, Dorma, Hulk, Watcher, ~ Krang, Demon of the Diamonds, Leader.
COM:    Namor still on the quest to find Neptune's trident (started in TtA #70). Namor defeats the Demon of the Diamonds with an electric eel, learns the last step of his quest and that Dorma is a prisoner of the Faceless Ones. People of Atlantis revolting against Krang, who barricades himself inside the royal palace. Namor turns aside his quest to rescue Dorma. First full appearance of the Faceless Ones. In Hulk's feature: Leader dissolves the bullet lodged in Hulk's skull (from TtA #69), saving his life, and bathes him in full intensity gamma rays, which may have sealed his identity. Leader does extensive testing on the Hulk, teleports him to the "Blue Area" on the Moon to steal the "Ultimate Machine". At story end, Hulk runs into another super alien with the same intent.   Cover by Gene Colan, Jack Kirby, Bob Powell, Mike Esposito, and Vince Colletta.

    "Among Us Stalk...the Sentinels!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Werner Roth (Jay Gavin), Vince Colletta
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Kathryn and Warren Worthington Jr., Zelda, Bernard the Poet, ~ Dr. Bolivar Trask.
COM:    1st app and origin of Mark I Sentinels. First mention of the Master Mold. Angel mentions for the first time that his wings didn't sprout until he was in military school. X-Men still recuperating after Juggernaut's attack (last issue) so Prof. X sends the team on vacation. Trask fans the flames of the "mutant menace". It is revealed how Cyke's visor works. Jean and Warren return to their homes; Warren suspects the love between Jean and Scott. Prof. X confronts Trask on TV. Sentinels stop obeying Trask and take control themselves. Prof. X calls the team back. Sentinels adjusting to their powers, kidnap Trask and take him back to their HQ. Prof. X learns of the Master Mold from a felled Sentinel (3R) The X-Men follow the Sentinels and are attacked by their hidden fortress defenses at story end. Title goes monthly.

    "If This Be My Destiny...!"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Harry Osborn, Gwendolyne 'Gwen' Stacey, Prof. Miles Warren, Flash Thompson, Dr. Bromwell, May Parker, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, J Jonah Jameson, Frederick Foswell, Dean Corliss, ~ Master Planner (Dr. Octopus), Foxy Briggs.
COM:    Peter registers at Empire State University. May's spells get worse and she is hospitalized. Gwen and Harry pair up with Flash; Gwen attracted to Peter. He brushes her off unintentionally twice. Patch tips Spidey on robbery by Master Planner's gang. 1st app. of Spidey's gas mask. Doctors pronounce that May "can't last much longer" at story end. Ned asks Betty for answer to his proposal from last issue, but she has to talk to Peter first.

    "Once An Avenger..."
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, John Romita
PC:    {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, Princess Ravonna, Carelius, ~ Kang.
COM:    Cap has quit the Avengers. Kang strikes at the weakened team, kidnaps them to 31st century Earth to prove his worth to win Ravonna. Cap follows. The team sides with Ravonna and faces Kang's army's advance at story end. John Romita's first silver age work for Marvel.

    "While the City Sleeps! Pt. 2: A Time to Unmask!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Bob Powell, Wally Wood.
PC:    Daredevil, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Debbie Harris, Bernard Harris, Milton Monroe, Mr. Nesbit (voice only), ~ {Organizer/Abner Jonas, {Ape-Man 1, Bird-Man 1, Frog-Man 1}}, Townsend Horgan.
COM:    Organization and Ani-Men I (unnamed) appearance. DD outside the Chemco Building and just found out Debbie is working with the bad guys (from last ish) when he is attacked by Bird-Man. He then 'rescues' Debbie, but can't bring himself to tell Foggy of her duality. Townsend spill his guts to the police after the assassination attempt on him by his team mates, and Foggy and Matt set a trap for the Reform Party trying to uncover the leader of the Organization. Someone takes the bait, but they don't know who because none of the suspects will talk to them the next day. Debbie, who was in love with Jonas) drops from the Organization when they plan to kill the mayor, and she helps DD against them. DD trades costumes with Frog-Man, ands him over to the police, and sets up the Organizer. At the Campaign HQ, Jonas tries to put the blame on Monroe, and even has the remaining Ani-Men try to kidnap him, but DD takes them out and Foggy tackles Jonas, who is revealed to be the Organizer. At story end, Matt realizes (after the office rent goes overdue) that their firm needs to downsize, and take a leave of absence to make the decision easier, breaking Karen's heart. Title goes monthly.

    "Among Us Hide the Inhumans!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, {Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Black Bolt (Blackantor Boltagon), Triton, Crystal (Crystalia Amalquelin), Lockjaw}, ~ Dragon Man, Sandman, Trapster.
COM:    1st app. of the Inhumans (as a team). 1st app. of the FF Air-jet Cycle. Maximus and the Seeker are made reference to but not named. First time the race is called the Inhumans. First appearance of the long time romance between Johnny and Crystal.

    "While a Universe Trembles!" "Tales of Asgard: The Jaws of the Dragon!"
BY:    Stan Lee/ Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta
PC:    Thor I, Harris Hobbs, Odin, Volstagg, Balder, ~ Absorbing Man, Loki, the Demon II.
COM:    Thor takes Hobbs to Asgard. Origin of the Demon. Asian witch doctor finds the missing Norn Stone from JiMI #120. Absorbing Man destroying Asgard. Odin hands Scepter Supreme over to Loki, but sends he and AM out into the void of space as punishment. Thor returns Hobbs to Earth minus his memory of the trip. In ToA: The Odinsword Quest Pt. 6. Ragnarok approaches Asgard. Thor's quest to prevent it continues. In the Sea of Fear at the Pillars of Utgard, their ship is almost destroyed by the Dragon of Utgard, but they are saved by Balder blowing his horn.

    " "
BY:
PC:    Patsy Walker, Hedy Wolfe
COM:    Feature is a non-MU teenage fashion and romance story. Series ends.

    "The Brave Die Hard" "Beware, Dormammu is Watching"
BY:    Stan Lee / Joe Sinnott, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko
PC:    {Nick Fury, Dum dum Dugan, Gabe Jones}, Agent H, Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, Clea, Ancient One, ~ Imperial Hydra, Dormammu, Baron Mordo.
COM:    Hydra appearance. Hydra holding the United States hostage, trying to force a total surrender because of the Betatron Bomb they have poised in orbit. Tony Stark working on his Braino-Saur to counter the weapon, while Gabe and Dugan looking for their missing leader. Agent H helps Nick escape and at story end they are faced with a Hunter robot.    In Dr. Strange's feature: Strange faces down Mordo and Dormammu. Mordo still has the Ancient One, and D has Clea. Strange fools Mordo by creating a bogus spirit form and starts winning the fight; and D withdraws his help, and at the end of the story, prepares to take a more active role in beating Strange. Cover by Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, and Marie Severin.

    "Hoorah for the Conquering Hero!" "The Sleeper Shall Awake!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Don Heck, Jack Kirby, George Tuska, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Iron Man I, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, {Captain America I, Wasp, Hawkeye, Giant-Man I, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch}, ~ Mad Thinker, Awesome Android, Red Skull, Von Kimmer, Wolfmann.
COM:    In Cap's feature: Avengers appearance. Flashback to Cap's last clash with Skull during WWII. First mention of the 3 Sleepers. Von Kimmer wakes the first Sleeper. Cap goes to Gortmund but can't stop the giant robot, realizes it's going to rendezvous with the other Sleepers.

    "When Fails the Quest" "The Wisdom of the Watcher!"
BY:    Stan Lee / Gene Colan (Austin), Vince Colletta, Jack Kirby, Bob Powell, Mike Esposito (Demeo).
PC:    Sub-Mariner, Dorma, Hulk, the Watcher, ~ Krang, Leader.
COM:    In Hulk's feature: Hulk battle the super alien for the "Ultimate Machine" and defeats him. Hulk returns to Earth. The Leader puts on the device and it overloads his brain. He is pronounced dead at the story end.

    "Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold!"
BY:    Stan Lee, (Jack Kirby) / Jack Kirby, Werner Roth (Jay Gavin), Dick Ayers
PC:    {Prof. X, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Norton and Edna McCoy, ~ Dr. Bolivar Trask, Master Mold I.
COM:    Origin of Beast. 1st app. of the Psycho-Probe. Mark I Sentinels appearance. X-Men attacking the Sentinels' stronghold, Hank and Bobby get captured. Trask taken before the MM, ordered to give of the secret of their "reproduction", realizes fully the error he's made against mutants. Beast's parents seen only in the flashback where he is recruited by Prof. X. Prof. X tries using his Astral Form to beat the MM but fails. The rest of the team is captured. At story end, MM orders Trask to create and army of thousands of Sentinels.

    "The Wondrous World of Dr. Strange!" "Spider-Man" "The Uncanny Threat of the Terrible Tinkerer" "A Gallery of Spider-Man's Most Famous Foes" "Marked for Destruction by Dr. Doom"
BY:    Stan Lee, Steve Ditko / Steve Ditko
PC:    Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, ~ Xandu.
COM:    Xandu takes control of two thugs and send them after Dr. Strange to get the other half of the Wand of Watoomb. 1st app. the Wand of Watoomb. Spidey sent to another dimension. Two thugs are freed. Strange drains the Wand of its power and wipes Xandu's memory. 2nd and 3rd features are reprinted from ASM #1 and 2. 4th feature is a pin-up gallery. And the 5th feature is reprinted from ASM #5.

    "Bedlam at the Baxter Building!" "Captives of the Deadly Duo!" "A Visit With the Fantastic Four" "The Impossible Man"
BY:    Stan Lee, Jack Kirby / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Steve Ditko
PC:    {Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, the Thing}, Alicia Masters, Doris Evans, Iron Man I, Thor I, Henry Pym, Janet Van Dyne, {Captain America I, Hawkeye, Quicksilver}, Spider-Man, {Prof. X, Cyclops, Beast, Angel, Iceman, Marvel Girl}, Daredevil, Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, {Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones}, Dr. Strange, the Watcher, Reverend Miller, Millie 'the Model' Collins, Patsy Walker, Heddy Wolfe, ~ Doctor Doom, Puppet Master, Mole Man, Red Ghost, Piotr, Igor, and Miklho, Mandarin, Black Knight II, Kang, Mad Thinker, Awesome Android, Super Skrull, Grey Gargoyle, Cobra, Mister Hyde, Executioner, Enchantress, Unicorn, Electro, Melter, Beetle, Eel I, Human Top, Attuma, Diablo.
COM:    Appearances of Avengers (w/o Scarlet Witch), X-Men, SHIELD, Hydra. 1st app. of Millie, Patsy, and Hedy in the Marvel Universe. The wedding of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl. Sue Storm becomes Sue Richards. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby cameo. Most of the bad guys in the MU decide to break up the wedding of Reed and Sue. Most of the MU heroes assist in taking care of the baddies. Watcher gives Reed a device to "displace" all the bad guys. Ben is best man and Alicia is the brides maid. Reed and Sue are married. At story end, Stan and Jack aren't allowed into the ceremony. Ditko assists on penciling and inking Spider-Man. 2nd feature is reprinted from FF1 #6. 3rd and 4th features are reprinted from FF1 #11.

    "When Titans Clash!" "Asgard" "Trapped by Loki, God of Mischief" "The Mysterious Radioactive Man" "The Mighty Thor Battles the Lava Man"
BY:    Stan Lee / Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta.
PC:    Thor I, Hercules, Zeus, Loki.
COM:    1st app. of Olympus and the Olympian Gods in MU. 1st modern app. of Zeus. Thor and Loki in Jotunheim seeking adventure, run across two Storm Giants trying to uncover the secret entrance to Olympus. After a short battle, during which Loki makes himself scarce, Thor falls through the portal and ends up in Olympus. he butts heads with Herc over a river crossing and a titanic battle ensues. When they have shown that they are too evenly matched, Zeus intervenes and praises both, making both shake hands as friends. He then sends Thor back to Asgard and covers the portal over with a mountain of rock. At story end, Thor decides to keep the ordeal to himself and wonders if he'll ever meet Herc again. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th features are Thor stories reprinted from JiM1 #85, 93, and 97.