Ant-Man: "The Man in the Ant Hill!"

Tales to Astonish #27 (1962)

By Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers

Background: Horror and gruesome sci-fi tales had been very popular in the '40s, until the publication of the book Seduction of the Innocent by psychologist Fredric Wertham in 1954 resulted in a public outcry and later on in the creation of the Comics Code Authority. The now self-regulating publishers were forbidden to depict violence and gore in crime and horror comics, as well as sex or sexual innuendos. Sci-fi and horror stories survived but only in very toned-down form. This is one of those stories.

So, What Happens? Ridiculed scientist Henry Pym has created a serum that can shrink objects to miniature size or restore them to normal. He dreams of using it for the good of mankind, but first needs to try it on a living subject and decides to test it on himself. It works so quickly that the antidote is now out of reach, so he panics and runs out in the garden, where a colony of ants take notice and attack. He tries to hide inside the ant hill, where he almost drowns in the ants' stores of honey. Saved by a different ant, he finds a matchstick and lights it up, keeping most of the colony away. After fighting off another ant with a judo move, Pym finally exits the ant hill and sees the antidote on the window ledge. The ant that had saved him earlier helps him again, this time carrying him up to the ledge so that he can access the serum and go back to full size. Realizing the danger, Pym destroys all the chemicals.

Fantastic Four: "The Red Ghost And His Indescribable Super-Apes!"

Fantastic Four #13 (1963)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko

So, What Happens? At the FF's lab, Reed has discovered a booster fuel powerful enough to win the space race and send a manned rocket to the Moon. Since the fuel came from a meteor similar to the one that fell in Siberia some time before, Reed fears the Soviets are close to achieving the same results and wants to build the rocket as soon as possible to reach the Moon and explore its mysterious Blue Area, but Ben convinces him to take the entire team along. Unbeknown to the Fantastic Four, a Soviet scientist named Ivan Kragoff is about to undertake the same journey together with his three trained primates: a strong gorilla, a baboon capable of using firearms and a orangutan who can use and repair machines. The two spaceships depart at the same time, but Kragoff has purposely neglected to equip his with radiation shields so that he and the monkeys can be bombarded with cosmic rays and get powers like those of the Fantastic Four. In space, the FF see the Soviet ship and the Torch flies off to investigate, discovering that the cosmic rays have indeed been effective, giving superstrength to the gorilla, the ability to morph into almost anything to the baboon and magnetic rays to the orangutan. The latter sees the Torch and uses his powers to hurl him back to Reed's ship, where he reports to the rest of the team. However there is little time to ponder as both ships are about to land on the Moon, where they immediately discover that the Blue Area is an ancient abandoned city, built by some long-gone civilization and with a breathable atmosphere. Whilst Reed, Sue and Johnny go off to investigate, the Thing is left behind and attacked by the apes and Kragoff, who has discovered the power to turn intangible at will and now calls himself the Red Ghost. However the battle is interrupted by the powerful and mysterious Watcher, a gigantic alien living in the Blue Area and belonging to a race of observers pledged to watch but never interfere. Refusing to let America and the Soviet Union bring their war to the Moon, the Watcher orders the conflict to be limited to the FF and the Red Ghost. As soon as Ben has started explaining the situation to the rest of his team, the Watcher transports them all in the abandoned city and a battle begins, with the Red Ghost proving victorious thanks to the powers of his apes and kidnapping Sue. However, the Invisible Girl manages to turn the tables, feeding the ravenous monkeys and breaking Kragoff's hold on them just in time to save the rest of her team from a trap. The Red Ghost flees into the Watcher's house, but is angrily expelled by the powerful alien, who crowns the Fantastic Four the victors and before departing promises human beings will never be alone in the vastness of the universe. While Kragoff tries to escape his apes, the FF return on Earth.

Avengers: "The Mighty Avengers Meet The Masters of Evil"

Avengers #6 (1964)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Chic Stone

Background: The current roster of the Avengers is Thor, Iron Man, Giant Man, Wasp and Captain America, who has just joined the team.

So, What Happens? After his last mission with the Avengers, Captain America tests the new transistors Iron Man has built inside his shield, allowing it to always fly back to Cap's hands. Despite a bunch of fan letters from all over the world rejoicing his recent return among the living, Cap can't forget what happened to Bucky and vows to get revenge against the man who killed him. The villain in question is Baron Zemo, who has spent the last several decades in the South American jungle waiting for the creation of a solvent capable of removing the Adhesive X gluing his mask to his face. Reading that Captain America is alive, the Baron angrily remembers how it was the hero who made Adhesive X fall on his face and decides to form a group of villains to defeat the Avengers. He quickly enlists the Black Knight, the Melter and the Radioactive Men, who spray Adhesive X all over the city. The Avengers arrive and a battle begins, but soon Cap and Giant-Man get stuck to the road and the heroes need to fall back and regroup to find a way to free them. After a few failed attempts, the Wasp remembers about Paste-Pot Pete, an adhesive expert and former foe of the Human Torch, who indeed does have a super-dissolver that frees the two Avengers. With the help of the Teen Brigade, the Avengers replace the Adhesive with the dissolver, freeing the entire city, and have a rematch against the Masters, this time switching foes to take them by surprise. The Black Knight, Radioactive Man and Melter are quickly captured, leaving only Zemo for Captain America. Cap is a fury and Zemo is about to be defeated when one of his soldiers fires his gun and grazes the Avenger. Zemo looks about to escape with a can of super-dissolver, but Cap had replaced it with tear gas, so that the Baron loses control of his heli-overcraft and can be arrested by the police.

Fantastic Four: "The Skrulls From Outer Space!"

The Fantastic Four #2 (1962)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky*

Background: The Fantastic Four have only recently been formed.

So, What Happens? The Fantastic Four appear to go on a crime spree, but it's actually the shape-shifting green alien Skrulls, who wish to discredit the quartet whom they consider their only obstacle to conquering the planet. The real Four meet to discuss the situation, but the army find and imprison them in special holding cells. Nevertheless, they quickly escape and come up with a plan, using the Torch as bait to reveal the real culprits. The plan is successful and the Fantastic Four battle the Skrulls, quickly gaining the upper hand and pressuring them into explaining their plan. In order to avoid the invasion, the Four pretend to be Skrulls and reach the alien mothership, where they convince the Skrull commander to leave as the planet would be too dangerous for them. As the Four re-enter the atmosphere, the Thing briefly turns back to Ben Grimm, giving Reed hope of finding a permanent cure for him. After having showed the prisoner Skrulls to the police - hence clearing their name - the Four talk them into turning into cows. Reed then hypnotizes them to make sure they stay as cows, even though one has apparently escaped. 

Thor: "Thunder In The Netherworld"

Thor #130 (1966)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta

Background: Pluto tricked Hercules into signing a contract imprisoning him into the Netherworld as its ruler. Thor risks his own freedom to face the armies of Pluto and free the Olympian.

So, What Happens? Judging the fate of Hercules unfair, Thor wows to be his champion. Upon entering the Netherworld, his first foe is mace-wielding Cerberus, but he is no match for the power of Thor and is quickly defeated. The Thunderer breaks into the throne room where Hercules is about to be crowned against his will, and once again promises to fight on his behalf, much to Herc's relief and admiration. Thor smashes past the footsoldiers of Pluto and relentlessly destroys their cannons and warmachines, further motivated by a feeling of danger menacing someone he loves. He breaks out of Pluto's traps, throws away the mighty Crusher, crumbles the archers' towers and is about to create a tornado when Pluto himself stops the battle. The Olympian realizes that going on would only further destroy his realm and accepts to rip apart the contract binding Hercules. Free once more, a grateful Herc calls Thor his friend, and the two of them leave together discussing the responsibilities of power.

Poll Of The Month: Favourite Classic Marvel Artist

After a trial run, let's introduce the Age of Marvel Comics blog's Poll of the Month. And what better way to start than with six legendary classic artists? Competing in the poll on the right side of the blog's home page (right in between the "popular posts" and "featured post") for the title or best classic Marvel artist are:

Fantastic Four: "The Black Panther!"

Fantastic Four #52 (1966)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott

Background: Johnny is going to college, where his roommate is Wyatt Wingfoot.

So, What Happens? The Fantastic Four are gifted a flying ship by an African chieftain called the Black Panther, and invited to his kingdom of Wakanda for a special hunt. Intrigued by the advanced technology of their gift, Reed accepts the invitation and the team goes to Africa together with Johnny's college roommate Wyatt Wingfoot. They soon reach Wakanda, an incredible country where the lush African jungle hides science and technology so advanced even Reed is impressed. Unfortunately, the invitation turns out to be a trap as the Black Panther appears in a full-black stalking costume and declares the Fantastic Four will be the hunted. After weakening the Thing with an electric shock, the Panther easily traps the Human Torch and causes the rest of the trio to separate, so that he can fight them individually. Susan is the first to fall when the Panther proves able to detect her by hearing and smell, and a weakened Thing is eventually defeated in a hand-to-hand fight. Reed himself doesn't fare much better at the beginning, but unbeknown to the Panther Wyatt has managed to disable his communication system and free the rest of the Fantastic Four. Together again, the team corner the Panther, who surrenders and takes off his mask to tell them his tale.

Thor: "Behold... the Living Planet!"

Thor #133 (1966)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta

Background: Thor and the Recorder have travelled into the mysterious Black Galaxy on behalf of the Rigellians. There, they have come face to face with Ego, the Living Planet.

So, What Happens? Thor and the Recorder are astounded at the gigantic sight of Ego, the Living Planet, who's capable of showing a humanoid face and of talking to them. Landing on the surface, they see something similar to enormous living cells and realize that Ego is indeed a planet-size living being. Wanting to talk to them, Ego probes their minds for a familiar surface and then changes the environment around them into something resembling and Asgardian forest, where he appears as a knight. Thor and the Recorder realize that Ego is capable of reshaping matter as he wishes, and that his power is also limitless. The Living Planet intends to conquer space and wants to test himself by beating someone as strong as Thor while in human form. He proceeds to create an army of human-shaped antibodies to battle Thor, who manages to travel under the surface but has to contend with both the antibodies and the ever-shifting environment. Eventually the Recorder is almost destroyed, but Thor saves it and hits Ego with a "universe-shaking thermoblast", a thunderstorm powerful enough to damage even the Living Planet. Conceding defeat, Ego allows the two foes safe passage and promises never to threaten the rest of the universe again. Successful, Thor starts the journey back to Earth.