Strange Tales #123

TITLE: Strange Tales #123

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

COVER DATE: August 1964

COVER PRICE: $0.12

8 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

We're finishing up the last of the three reprints from Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2, so there's not a whole lot of new insight to bring to the preamble at this point.

Steve Ditko makes his reappearance here the Random Longbox, after being absent for more than a year. He's illustrating a Dr. Strange story this time around, which makes me downright giddy. Throw in the fact that we'll get to see his version of Thor as well, and I may not be able to concentrate enough to do the review.

Sorry for the bit of excess hyperbole, all of these Stan Lee issues in a row must be rubbing off on me.

My apologies also to anyone who stumbles upon this review after googling the issue number, looking to read about the debut of the Beetle. We're technically reviewing the Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2 and it only includes the Dr. Strange story, not the Human Torch and Thing team-up against the Beetle. And not to get too sidetracked, but I just googled the original cover and boy did the Beetle have an awesomely retro costume. It makes me sad that that's not the one I'm familiar with from my reading.

"The Challenge of Loki!"

• Written by Stan (Miracle Man) Lee
• Illustrated by Steve (Marvel Man) Ditko
• Inked by George Roussos
• Lettered by Art (Magical Man) Simek

So what did George do to piss off Stan this month that he didn't get a merry Marvel moniker added to his credit?

It's an average day in the Sanctum Santorum that finds Dr. Strange practicing the mystic arts that make him the Sorcerer Supreme. Unfortunately for the good doctor, he's being watched by none other than Loki, the Asgardian God of Lies! With Loki forced to stay on Asgard by Odin himself, he needs to dupe somebody else into doing his dirty work for him. Who better than a mere mortal like Dr. Strange.

Using his spirit type, Loki appears before Dr. Strange to plead for his help. Appearing in chains, he explains to Dr. Strange that Thor has been fooling everybody into thinking he's a force for justice. In reality, he's been plotting to conquer mankind. Only Loki stands in his way, if only he wasn't bound by these damnable chains he could act to stop Thor!

Hmmm...who to trust...the god of lies or a founding member of the world's premier super-hero team?

A quick check with doc's magic amulet, and he can feel the evil in those chains. Loki explains that only the hammer of Thor can set him free, and he appeals to Dr. Strange to use his mystical powers to snatch it from the god of thunder.

Using a sliver of the leather handle that Loki has stolen from Thor long ago as an anchor of sorts, Dr. Strange calls upon Dormammu, Vishanti, and the Hosts of Hoggoth to create a giant mechanical hand that goes forth to steal the mighty Mjolnar.

While Loki is distracted by the sight of Thor falling to his death without his hammer to keep him aloft, Dr. Strange does a little investigating of his own. His magical amulet reveals that there is no evil to be found in the strand of leather from the handle of Mjolnar. The evil coming from the chains that he sensed earlier could not have come from Thor, so it must be Loki up to his old tricks.

An epic battle breaks out between a Sorcerer Supreme and an Asgardian god. Neither are able to gain the upper hand, until Loki pulls out a secret weapon.

So that's what those comically oversized horns are for on that helmet. And here I thought Loki was just overcompensating all these years.

Using the energy bands generated by his horns, Loki traps Dr. Strange in a shimmering cage. Calling upon the might of his amulet once again, Dr. Strange is able to counteract Loki's energy bands with a little light show all his own. When all of the smoke clears, there stands six separate sorcerers supreme!

While Loki is distracted in dealing with the duplicate Dr. Strange's, the real deal uses his astral form to sneak up behind Loki and reverse the spell which he used to steal Thor's hammer. With Thor now reunited with Mjolnar, and closing fast on the Sanctum Santorum, Loki realizes that the jig is up and he beats a hasty retreat back to Asgard.

With Loki no longer on Midgard, the hammer of Thor senses no further disruptions, and Thor continues on his way unaware of the battle that just transpired in which he was just a pawn. Doctor Strange, meanwhile, ponders the fact that he just barely beat a god and wonders what's to happen when next they meet.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

I love seeing heroes go up against villains outside their wheelhouse. You'd think that Loki would be a natural villain for Doctor Strange to match wits with, but from what I can tell there confrontations have been fairly limited. There's this story, an early appearance in Dr. Strange, and a three-parter in The Defenders (there are those pesky Defenders again, I swear I just need to bite the bullet and buy a complete run).

This story is rather simple, but it was fun seeing the two go toe-to-toe with the fancy light shows and contorted hand signs. The fact that Steve Ditko supplies the visuals makes the battle look more dramatic than it probably was.

Thor's appearance was altogether too brief, which basically just teased us with Ditko's versions of the Norse gods. His Doctor Strange is the real draw, and we got a nice three page battle out of it.

All in all, this is a great little 8-pager from the glory days of Marvel's Silver Age.

All characters and artwork reproduced are (c) Marvel Comics

Related links for your surfing pleasure...

• As always, you can do no wrong by checking out neilalien for all of your Dr. Strange needs
• Need more Ditko in your life? Head on over to the Steve Ditko Comics Weblog for that.

Daredevil #21

TITLE: Daredevil #21

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

COVER DATE: October 1966

COVER PRICE: $0.12

20 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

This is the second story that makes up the "triple" part of the Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2 that we started reading earlier in the week. This time around, we get a story from the early years of Daredevil's title.

This is definitely going to be the oldest Daredevil story that I've ever read, as I can't recall ever reading a Daredevil issue from before Frank Miller came on board. So yeah, my history with the character is spotty at best, so we're going into this one cold.

The Trap Is Sprung

• Spellbinding Script: Stan Lee
• Phenominal Pencilling: Gene Colan
• Dynamic Delineation: Frank Giacoia, Dick Ayers, Bill Everett
• Laudatory Lettering: Artie Simek
• Bombastic Bird-Watching: Irving Forbush

The story picks up with Daredevil held captive by the Owl in a giant birdcage. All the action happened in the previous issue, but thankfully we're given a brief recap before we get to the meat of the issue.

It seems that the Owl had forced Matt Murdock to act as counsel in a trial, defending an ex-judge, where the Owl and his thugs were judge and jury. Sometime during a break in the proceedings, Matt was able to change to Daredevil and promptly got himself caught.

Let's take a quick sidebar here to play a little Super-Hero/Super-Villain association game. We'll name a super-hero, and I'll reply with the first super-villain that comes to mind.

• Superman...Lex Luthor
• Spider-Man...Green Goblin
• Fantastic Four...Doctor Doom
• Daredevil...The Owl

The Owl? Really?

Yep. You'd think it would be the Kingpin, Elektra, or Bullseye, but for some reason I just always think of the Owl. I assumed it was because he debuted in the first issue along with Daredevil, but he didn't make his first appearance until the third issue. In fact, outside of Bendis' run, I can't recall ever reading an Owl story.

Now I'm curious to actually read this issue to see just what's up with the Owl, and find out what's so special about him to become linked so prominently to Daredevil in my mind. Now, back to the review.

Using his special powers to be able to glide on the slightest breeze, the Owl soars to the top of the cavernous chamber were he has hung the captive Daredevil.

With the press of a button, Daredevil goes careening towards a bottomless pit. The Owl has worked up a "by-the-numbers" Silver Age death-trap, so not only does the hanging cage have a retractable floor that will send Daredevil to his death, but the bars are heated which prevents him from holding on for dear life.

Unfortunately for the Owl, he forgot to take away Daredevil's billy clubs when he locked him up, as he's easily able to use its grappling hook to hook the cable above and swing himself up and out of the deathtrap.

The Owl sics a couple of his generic thugs on Daredevil, but they are easily dispatched as he lassos the Owl with his billy club and sends him careening into his own men.

It's still too early to count the Owl out just yet however, as he has a back-up death-trap ready to go. All he has to do is lure Daredevil into the Forbidden Chamber!

So the chase is on, as the Owl leads Daredevil ever further throughout the labyrinthine passages that go farther and farther down. While this is happening, the very base that they're running through is being rocked by explosions from a nearby volcano.

Hopefully that forbidden chamber has a good safe room.

The Owl is able to use his uncanny gliding powers to keep one step ahead of the determined Daredevil. Inside the dreaded forbidden chamber, we get a glimpse of the Owl's secret weapon...a giant-sized electronic owl!

It may look bumbling and slow, but that's not the case as the speed and dexterity of its swooping attacks keep Daredevil from apprehending the owl. He still manages to throw a carefully aimed billy club at the control panel, which soon sends the mechanical owl careening out of control.

At this same time, the volcanic island base is rocked by another explosion which starts to bring the fortress down around their heads. Normally, this would be a bad turn of events, but lucky for the two of them there's a wild and out of control mechanical owl that they can hijack to take them away from the crumbling headquarters.

The momentum of the fight now changes hands, as the sky is definitely the Owl's milieu. His gliding powers give him the edge, as he can dance around on the surface of the mechanical owl while Daredevil is forced to hold on for dear life.

Daredevil didn't get to be the Man With No Fear by hiding from a challenge, so when the Owl lunges for him he lurches to the side, causing the Owl to fall from the safety of his mechanical namesake.

If you give the Owl some lemons however, he'll just make some lemonade. You see, he can use his gliding power to reach the mainland while Daredevil will plunge to his certain doom on the back of his crippled electronic owl.

You know you can't count Daredevil out that easily, however, so while this is the last we see of the Owl, our hero still has to rescue the judge from the crumbling island base. Using his senses to feel the subtle shifts in the wind currents, he's able to shift his weight and control the electronic owl. Flying back to the island, he's able to rescue the judge as the island explodes in the background.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

There was something odd about this issue, as we read the whole thing and The Official Stan Lee Hyperbole Meter (that we introduced last review) never went off once! By rights, that should've sent it into the red right there.

This issue came out a month later than the Avengers issue that we just read, but it feels like it was written by a completely different person. It's probably just the nature of the story being told, as this one is almost all action with nary a ham-fisted, moral lesson in sight. The story is better for it, and was actually pretty fun.

I may have to rethink my position on Daredevil, as I never considered myself a big fan but this makes two Daredevil books that the Randomizer has picked that I enjoyed quite a bit. Now that I think about it, they're both essentially the same story, with Daredevil avoiding the thugs and death-traps of the issues villain. It makes sense, as his enhanced senses provide plenty of opportunity to escape from the impossible with panache.

For this story, the villain was the Owl, and I can't say that I really now him any better than I did before I read this. His only super-power appeared to be the awesome ability to glide. Other than that, he relied pretty heavily on his henchmen and inventions to do the dirty work. I'm not sure if I immediately think of an owl when I hear those attributes, but it was the sixties and everyone needed a shtick.

Gene Colan handles the art here, and he gives the story a quick pace and lots of fluidity to the artwork. It doesn't remind me at all of the early Marvel, Kirby work that I instantly think of when someone mentions a silver age Marvel book. Even the fact that this issue had three inkers didn't detract from the pencils.

So there you have it. We've looked at two out of the three stories from Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2 and came up with one winner and one not-winner. It'll be up to Dr. Strange and Thor to break the tie, as their half of Strange Tales #123 closes out the issue.

All characters and artwork reproduced are (c) Marvel Comics

The Avengers #32

TITLE: The Avengers #32

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

COVER DATE: September 1966

COVER PRICE: $0.12

20 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

So this is the first of three reprint issues from Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2 that we'll be reading and reviewing. I was actually quite pleased when this issue came into my possession late last year, as the three stories are all ones that I haven't read yet.

My Avengers collection starts around issue #90, with a handful of earlier issues sprinkled here and there. Most of those early issues feature two of my favorite characters, either the Vision or Kang, including their first appearances. This story that we're reading today includes neither, so it's a new one for me.

Who do we have in this issue? Well Hawkeye's here, and any Avengers story worth its salt features Hawkeye. Hank and Janet are back, but Wanda and Pietro seem to be missing. And as always during these early years, Cap is leading the way.

"The Sign Of The Serpent!"

• Writer and Raconteur: Stan Lee
• Artist and Bon Vivant: Don Heck
• Letterer and Patron des Artes: Artie Simek
• Scapegoat, Junior Grade: Irv Forbush

Before we actually get started, there's a helpful tip from Stan about something we should be aware of with this issue.

I did a little googling about this issue, and it would appear that it never did win any prizes, so I'm assuming that Stan Lee is using a bit of his trademark hyperbole. In fact, it might be a good idea to turn on our patented Hyperbole Meter so we're not caught off guard and accidentally hurt ourselves when we come across it.

We barely even get a chance to introduce it and it's already going off!

So here come the Avengers back from their latest adventure when they're attacked..by their own headquarters!

That's right, deactivation codes are for wimps! Who needs 'em when you can use your own super-powers to shut it down. Which then begs the question...how secure is your base when your defensive measures can be thwarted with cutting edge stone age technology like a shield and a bow and arrow?

They don't get much of a chance to rest however, before Hank goes into one of his "woe is me" episodes. It seems he's been stuck in an enlarged state and is depressed about not being able to shrink back to normal size.

We're hitting the yellow on the meter, I'd look out if I was you Hank!

It may seem like Cap has lost his mind, but it's all part of some tough love as he tries to get Hank to snap out of his depression. A page and a half of fighting later, and Cap is able to break through to Hank and make him realize the his problem will not by solved by moping around. Off to the lab goes Hank, as Cap receives a kiss from the Wasp in thanks.

So now that everything's hunky-dory with the Avengers, let's check in with the general populace of New York City as the Sons of the Serpent are in the middle of a new recruiting drive. Who are the Sons of the Serpent, you ask? Well let's check in with the old Hyperbole Meter.

Hello? Is this thing on?


I guess old Stan was ahead of time as the Sons of the Serpent just don't sound that crazy today. In fact, there's a certain modern day "patriotic" political movement that they'd probably be right at home in.

Yep, the Sons of the Serpent are looking to rid the country of all of those "furriners".

And who is that working undercover to get inside the inner serpent circle? It's none other than Natasha Romanoff, giving the Black Widow her first (if brief) appearance here at the Random Longbox.

I guess this thing is working after all, and we're pushing the red zone. Let's check back in with the Avengers to see what all the commotion is about.

Wait a minute...Did Hank just hit Janet? It was just an accident, but honestly...there's just no place for a "chattering female" in the lab. After all, Hank is under a lot of pressure to get himself back to size. Janet's a strong-willed woman, however, and she storms out of Hank's lab as she will not be talked to in such a fashion.

A quick call to Tony Stark, and Hank soon has the the star of Stark's Baltimore Plans and Research Division to come over and lend a hand. Coincidentally enough, Hank's new assistant is African American. I smell trouble brewing with the Sons of the Serpent.

That didn't take long. Luckily for Bill, Hank heard the struggle and comes outside just as the Sons of the Serpent are making a hasty retreat. Enraged by their actions, Hank calls a stop to his labwork so that the Avengers can be assembled to take on this venomous group personally.

Captain America decides to check in with Nick Fury to see if S.H.I.E.L.D. knows anything about these jokers, while the rest of the Avengers strategize about the best way to take 'em down.

The next day, the Avengers call a press conference to announce that they are declaring war on the Sons of Serpent. After their recent attempt to kill a travelling foreign dignitary, they can't wait any longer. Luckily for them, they don't have to as Captain America is soon sucked up into a mysterious looking cloud.

It turns out it wasn't a cloud after all, but the hidden base of the Sons of the Serpent. And now that he's on board, he gets a personal introduction to the sons themselves.

Alas, they're just too many snakes and Captain America is soon captured. It's all part of the Serpent's plan, as now that they have an Avenger at their mercy they're using him to blackmail the rest of the Avengers to stay out of their business...or else they'll never see Captain America alive again.

So with their backs against the wall, how quickly do the rest of the Avengers get their stuff together to take the fight to the serpents in the cloud?

Unfortunately you'll have to get the next issue to find out, as Hank has a plan and it involves making the world think that the Avengers have gone soft.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

Now if you remember, right off the bat we were told to expect one of "the most deeply-moving, off-beat thrillers of the year." We never did get the ol' Hyperbole Meter up to the red zone during the course of the story, but I imagine if we fired it up now, that prologue blurb would be enough to do the trick.

Stan Lee was nothing, if not the mediums greatest pitch man. He's in full force here, as I found this story neither deeply-moving, or very off-beat. I think even calling it a thriller is a bit of an overstatement.

I can definitely see the story that Stan was trying to tell here, and it's a story worth telling, but I'm not sure Stan's your man. I realize that you have to view a story in the context of the era in which it was written, but...

We have a story dealing with the serious topic of racism, but how are we supposed to take it seriously when this is how the Avengers deal with the female members of their own team.

Quiz time...which one of these statements was actually said to the Wasp, to her own face no less.

• "Butt out of this lady!"
• "Look lady -- I know you've been trying to help and I appreciate it -- But it's just no good"
• "And I'll get one -- A top notch scientist -- Not a chattering female!"

The answer? All of 'em!

So all of Hank's blustering about the injustice and bigotry involved with what the Sons of the Serpent stand for, and that's how the Avengers treat a fellow hero just because she's a girl? Remind me to tell Hank and the boys about pots and kettles and the color black the next time I see 'em.

Don Heck handles the art chores on this issue, and while he's not one of my favorite Avengers artists, he does okay with this issue. The story doesn't leave a lot of space for visual fireworks, but he has some good action panels when the story picks up.

A regular reader (thanks Thelonious Monk) recommended that I pick up The Defenders #21-25 last year when the I reviewed another Defenders issue, and the Son of the Serpent are the main villains of that story arc. Now I'm doubly curious to track those down to see how these jokers and this topic are handled by the likes of Steve Gerber writing the story.

All characters and artwork reproduced are (c) Marvel Comics

Superman #215...Superman's 10 step process to overcoming grief

TITLE: Superman #215

PUBLISHER: DC

COVER DATE: April 1969

COVER PRICE: $0.12

24 pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

This issue came out over a year before I was born, so there's not a whole lot I remember from when it was actually released. It then only took the better part of three decades or so before it found it's way into my collection.

As I mentioned yesterday, this is one of the imaginary stories that used to appear with some regularity in and around the sixties. If I remember correctly, this one is pretty entertaining as we watch Superman deal with his grief over the loss of his wife, Lois Lane.

Now before you start calling for my head on a stake for taking pleasure in Superman's loss, you have to remember that this is a Superman book from the 60's. You know he'll be making some questionable moral and ethical decisions.

Lois Lane...Dead...Yet Alive

• Writer: Otto Binder
• Penciler: Curt Swan
• Inker: Jack Abel
• Editor: Mort Weisinger

The story opens up as Lois' closest friends and family mourn her recent passing.

So how did it come to be that Superman now stands graveside, a devastated man? Did Brainiac or Luthor finally find the way to break Superman once and for all?

No, it took the brain power and foresight of a master villain like the Dimension Master?! Hmmm...can't say as I ever remember coming across him before now. I guess he's kept a pretty low profile while perfecting his ultimate crime (and by the look of his outfit, working summers part time at the renaissance festival).

His master plan involves shooting Superman with his Blast-Ray, hoping to scatter his atoms to the winds. Unfortunately, the blast ricochets off of Superman's chest and strikes Lois. In a puff of smoke, she was gone.

Now Superman is left to cope without his wife, while also having to raise their daughter, Laney, all by himself. Needless to say, Superman makes some rather odd parenting choices. Without further ado, let's take a look at Superman's fool proof plan for finding love and happiness again in ten easy steps.

#10. It's never too early to make your kid feel like an orphan

This one's a two-fer! After the sudden loss of your mother, what child would not want to then be separated from her father until after the funeral? And as a father and a husband, how could you not want to be even closer to your kids after such a tragedy. Ah well, grief does strange things to people.

#9. Who needs to make sure your Fortress of Solitude is safe for a toddler when you have a robotic babysitter

Once settled in to the Fortress, Superman lets Laney play on his super-exercising bars...right in front of the one door she should never open! Well, it's not like he'd ever do anything foolish like leaving his kryptonite samples right next to where his half-Kryptonian daughter is playing.

#8. The only thing better than a robotic babysitter is a dog

While continuing his secret identity as Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet, it's left to Krypto and the occasional robot Superman to babysit little Laney. I don't see anything wrong with that.

#7. Artificial intelligence is better than nothing

What better way to honor the memory of your mother than to create a robot to mimic her looks and mannerisms. Happy one year anniversary of your mother's death, Laney!

#6. Artificial love is better than nothing

So that's why you built the robotic Lois, eh Clark? Even a superman must get cold and lonely at the Fortress from time to time. Unfortunately for him, her battery life fizzles out five panels later.

#5. If you thought robotic Lois was fun, wait until you meet parallel world Lois

So remember that door that Laney wasn't supposed to open? Well she did, and guess what? There was red kryptonite back there after all. The exposure to it sent Laney to another dimension. When Superman follows her there, he finds that the Lois of this world is still alive!

#4. Nothing says emotional stability like impromptu proposals

After saving this world's Lois from a giant octopus (don't ask), Superman proposes at her bedside. I'm sure she'll be all right knowing that she's a replacement Lois for a Superman that's not even from her dimension.

#3. It's always best to wait until after the wedding to introduce your wife to the daughter that you had with the parallel version of herself

Well that's one way to introduce your daughter to her new mommy, and vice versa.

#2. Or you could just keep everyone in the dark and hope for the best

What could possibly go wrong with this plan? It's not like Lois is a whip-smart, investigative reporter who uses her skills to piece together stories that people more often than not don't want told...

Wait a minute, she is? Oh...

Well, it's not like Laney is a precocious six-year old, and they never catch you off guard asking uncomfortable questions...

Yeah, I foresee some problems in the near future.

#1. Live happily ever after knowing you just pulled one over on the people you supposedly love the most

So yeah, happily ever after. Now if he could only find two Lois' who are both alive at the same time! After reading this story, I'm sure Superman's got the skills to be able to pull that one off.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

I'm not sure we learned anything, or at least anything useful, in this story.

If you did, I think you may need to re-evaluate how you look at love, parenting, relationships, etc...

At least this issue had a nice Neal Adams cover. In fact, he probably did too nice a job, as it was easily the most emotionally satisfying part of this book. In this case, you definitely can't judge a book by it's cover.

I do have one last rather trivial thought about this issue. It looks like at this point in Superman's history that the writers have started to get lazy coming up with new double "L" names for the females in his world. I mean, honestly...Laney Lane? What if they had had a son instead of a daughter? You just know there's a parallel world out there somewhere with a little Kenty Kent running around.

Click here for the second story from this issue, following the exploits of Superbaby!

All characters and artwork reproduced are (c) DC Comics

Comic Book Review: Captain Atom #85

TITLE: Captain Atom #85

PUBLISHER: Modern Comics

COVER DATE: 1978

COVER PRICE: $0.35

24 Pages


WHAT I REMEMBER...

This book, I'm going in stone cold on. I've never read it before, nor have I ever read any of the original incarnation of the Charlton characters from the 60's. My only experience with them has been from DC Comics, when they were incorporated into the DCU after Crisis on Infinite Earths.

This particular issue is a reprint from the original run of Captain Atom from 1966. It features two stories, one with Captain Atom and the other with The Blue Beetle. This is another serendipitous pick, as DC is premiering their new co-features this month. And two of the characters appearing in the new format are none other than Blue Beetle and Captain Atom!

So let's take a trip back to the hey-day of the Silver Age to see just what is it about these characters that they just keep on coming back.

Strings of Punch & Jewelee

• Script: Dave Kaler
• Pencils: Steve Ditko
• Inks: Rocke, Mastroserio

Right off the bat, I know we're in for a book with a high level of quality when Jewelee's name is spelled wrong in the actual title of the story.

We open this story up with two scientists who are taking a break from their studies on a golf course. They are delayed by an attractive golfer who has misplaced her ball. It's a trap, naturally, as the beautiful golfer is Jewelee, who with her partner in crime Punch, are kidnapping noted scientists.

It's funny that how whenever I see a nine panel grid these days, I instantly think of Watchmen. Is this another one of the influences that Alan Moore took from Charlton and it's characters when creating Watchmen? I'm sure it's just coincidence. We'll have to see how many more nine panel grids we get this issue.

As the story continues, Captain Atom and Nightshade are reclining by the pool with a scientist friend of theirs, Alec Rois. Captain Atom is intrigued about a series of kidnappings that he has read about in the paper. Nightshade tries to distract the Captain, but he's all business as he tries to get Nightshade to tell him more about herself. Maybe she would have better luck distracting him if she lost that swim cap.

That's interesting, as Nightshade was until very recently played as more of a villain in the DCU. I wonder if her reluctance to share her past here has any relevance to her current status, or if I'm just misreading something and projecting it into current continuity.

Lucky for her, a giant gem appears out of nowhere and envelops Alec Rois and disappears with him inside it. Captain Atom's inquiries will have to wait, as it's time to suit up into their action togs. Speaking of suiting up...those have to be two of the worst costume designs I've ever seen.

A dark blue unitard, with powder blue full sleeves, accompanied by reddish/orange tights and blue boots. Tie it all together with a yellow belt, and it's all just too much. I can see why they went in completely the opposite direction with this character in the DCU by giving him a very basic and understated costume. After wearing this getup for 20 years, he deserves it. And the less said about Nightshade's bug mask, the better.

They get their orders from the Pentagon, and are told to split up. Obviously, the best thing to do with the only two witnesses of their friend's disappearance is to send them in opposite directions on separate cases. I'm not sure that's the call the I would have made, but I don't run the pentagon so what do I know!

We cut to Punch and Jewelee, who revel in the success of their recent kidnapping by recapping exactly how they got their new found powers. It seems that they found a chest floating on the Jersey shore recently, and discovered it contained some flying shoes, hypno gems, and sting strings.
The shoes and gems I can understand, but what exactly are sting strings. Yeah, it rhymes and sounds cool, but what the hell do they do?

I should not have been so hasty, as three panels later it's revealed that Punch and Jewelee had been puppeteers in the past. Of course, what would a puppeteer turned super villain use to commit crimes if not sting strings! No coincidence is too far fetched for a good silver age story.

And speaking of coincidences...it just so happens that the next scientist on their list to kidnap is the very one that Captain Atom was ordered to report to to undergo some testing. The silver age was such a smaller world back then.

After a full day of testing, Captain Atom is too weak to put up a good fight and ends up under the control of Punch's sting strings. I don't know what is more painful, the sting strings or Punch's horrible puns. Before he is rendered unconscious, he does have the state of mind to activate the homing signal in his belt.

Nightshade picks up on it and heads to the source of the signal, Coney Island. She senses that Captain Atom is in danger and uses her Shadow power to gain entrance unnoticed. She calls her shadow form "that dreadful power" and uses it reluctantly.

Meanwhile, with Captain Atom their prisoner, Punch and Jewelee boast about their diabolical plan of recording all of the information from the brains of the world's leading scientists and selling it to the highest bidder. The brain of Captain Atom, and the secret of his power, is just icing on the cake.

Nightshade attacks Jewelee as Captain Atom regains enough of his power to break free. The rematch between Captain Atom and Punch is back on, with puns and horrible one liners flying free. It doesn't take long, however, for Captain Atom and Nightshade to capture them and free the scientists. As they tend to the scientists, Jewelee manages to get her hands on one of her jewels and escapes using its illusion powers.

All's well that ends well for our weary heroes, except of course that Jewelee is free to strike again. They are also unaware that their scientist friend is in reality, The Ghost! I have no idea who he is, but they didn't see him teleport some of Punch and Jewelee's devices during the heat of battle. He also made no attempt to stop Jewelee from escaping, so I can only assume we'll see them teaming up in the near future to give Captain Atom and Nightshade some more hassles.

We never did see any more nine-panel grids, so it would appear that the misspelled character name in the title was more of an omen on the quality of the story than the early Watchmen influence.

Between the disjointed and coincidental storytelling, the horrible dialogue, and the one-dimensional characters...there's really not that much here. The biggest disappointment was Captain Atom himself. He is so flatly written and unexciting, that I wonder how this series made it to 85 issues in the first place. Although knowing the silver age, Captain Atom probably took over an existing title and kept the original numbering.

There were two things that I did find interesting, however, and they were the characters of Nightshade and The Ghost. I liked the intrigue with their powers, and the fact that they were plainly hiding things from Captain Atom. They were definitely the most entertaining parts of the story.

Even Steve Ditko's pencils looked a little uninspired. By this time in his career Ditko had already made history with Spider-Man, so it's disappointing to see something so lackluster here. There was some flashes of greatness in some panels, but overall it was rather boring.

We still have another story to go, so let's see if the Blue Beetle can save the day...

The Blue Beetle

• Concept and Art: Steve Ditko
• Script: Gary Friedrich

Right off the bat, you can tell a huge difference in the art. Whether this is due to Ditko connecting with the character more or the fact that he inks himself, I couldn't say. What I do know, is that it is definitely a more entertaining story to read as a result.

We pick up the story with Ted Kord being interrogated at a police station to reveal what he knows about the disappearance of Dan Garret, the original Blue Beetle. Ted Kord plays dumb, and is released with the knowledge that the detectives will be keeping a close eye on him.

When Ted gets back to his Beetle Lab, he hears about an airliner being hi-jacked by a spy. You gotta love the 60's, when spies were as plentiful as Nazis were in the 40's. I guess today's anachronism would be the terrorist.
With barely a second to get dressed, the Blue Beetle is off to the rescue.

Flying over the ocean in his Beetleship, he catches up to the airline and stops it from plunging into the ocean. The captain of the airplane has managed to wrestle control back from the spy, only to have him jump overboard to a waiting submarine. You think there would be better ways to get out of the country than by hi-jacking a passenger airline to catch a ride on a submarine waiting off the coast.

The chase is on underwater, as the Beetleship turns Beetlesub and plumbs the ocean depth looking for the enemy sub. Finding the sub, he dons scuba gear and a bazooka and swims out to blow up their propellers. He's met by enemy frogmen and only has a chance to disable one of the propellers before the sub veers into a reef, which damages it's guiding systems, taking it and the Beetlesub on a trip to the bottom of the ocean.

Desperate to disable the antenna lock and radar hold that the Beetlesub has on the submarine, he swims after the plunging crafts. How either an antenna or radar can tether two ships together is beyond me. I guess this uses the same technology that allowed transistors to power Iron Man's armor in the 60's.

Anyway, back to the story as Blue Beetle must now contend with a giant octopus. With both arms ensnared in tentacles, he barely manages to activate his remote control panel under his glove to disable the radar hold that ties his ship to the enemy sub. You think that would've been easier to do before he got mixed up with the octopus.

After he has freed his ship, he uses his ever versatile antenna to shock the octopus with an electrical charge. Stunned, the octopus releases the Blue Beetle. He makes it back to his ship just in time to see bubbles floating up, spelling the end of the enemy sub on the ocean floor below.

The Blue Beetle returns to the surface, knowing the country is safer with one less enemy spy abroad.

The two pages of underwater action is quite well choreographed by Ditko, as the storytelling and action are well paced. They are the highlight of this book by far and allow you to get a glimpse of what makes Ditko a legend. The scripting is not quite as corny as the Captain Atom tale and holds up somewhat better over time. All in all, it's a neat little tale and I can definitely see how Blue Beetle has fared better than the other Charlton characters over time.

SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN...

I think the main thing that we learned from this book is that Alan Moore really is a genius. How he saw these characters and found in them the potential for Watchmen is beyond me. I guess it's true what they say, that there are no bad characters, only bad writers.

Related links for your surfing pleasure

• WFMU has a very entertaining history of Charlton Comics
• Steve Ditko's official website
• A Steve Ditko comic weblog