READING EVERY MARVEL COMIC EVER*

Like the other anthology titles, Suspense is now split between Iron Man & Captain America. I'm not sure what happened but Don Heck's art in the Iron Man story is really exceptional in this issue. He's really flexing here. It also ends on a fun cliffhanger.

The Cap story is a fun romp where we are introduced to Jarvis and the Avengers Mansion for the first time. Kirby has fun drawing Cap stomping some goons who think Cap is the weakest Avenger.

A Story: Lee / Heck

As usual, the Torch/Thing "A" story is... OK. At least they are taking on some actual FF villains and not Plant Man. The Mad Thinker & The Puppet Master bumble around and, ultimately, defeat themselves.

But the "B" story is where it's at! Dr. Strange takes on the Dread Dormammu for the first time. This is the first time Lee & Ditko really let loose with the psychedelic imagery and it is awesome!

A Story: Lee / Ayers / Reinman

The Howling Commandos continues to be a really fun action comedy book. Seriously. I was expecting a by-the-numbers WW2 book but what we have is action adventure where there are just as many gags as there are bullets.

Anyway, a new by-the-book CO shows up and it's up to Fury and the gang to turn him into a REAL soldier. It's literally the plot of a sitcom (in a good way).

A mysterious being arrives on Earth with a vendetta against the FF. After taking the form of the recently discovered Dr. Franklin Storm (Sue & Johnny's dad), he begins a rampage under the pseudonym The Invincible Man. Reed unveils the identity of the shape-shifter as none other than The Super Skrull! There is a shocking and tragic ending that lives up to the cover blurb.

One of the better stories in this early run of The Avengers. Simon Williams is on trial for embezzlement. Zemo, Enchantress, & Executioner whisk him off the South America and imbue him super powers. The plan is to introduce him as a hero in hopes of joining the Avengers and destroying them from within. Williams (now Wonder Man) has a change of heart and helps the Avegers in the end. Don Heck's art sells the drama.

Here we witness Peter's first (of many) real crisis of faith. After running to Aunt May's bedside during a fight with the Green Goblin (last ish), the world has branded Spidey a coward. To make matters worse, Betty refuses to return his calls. The whole world keeps piling on poor Parker. It's a rather meditative issue. There are no big fights. Just Peter contemplating whether he still wants to be Spider-Man. Thankfully, we already know the answer.

I gotta be honest. This is my least favorite title in the catalog so far. Pym is boring and Janet is poorly written. The villains are all weak tea.

But that may change. Now it's a double feature with the Hulk and we're immediately raising the stakes! We're introduced to Glen Talbot, a foil for Betty's affections. And we end on a cliffhanger as Thunderbolt Ross has finally captured the Hulk!

Magneto & the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants accidentally draw the attention of Thor while searching for the X-Men's secret hideout. Magneto attempts to recruit Thor to his cause, not knowing that Thor isn't a mutant. Thor throws down with Magneto but it is the sudden arrival of the X-Men that chases Magneto away. Thor takes that opportunity to make some time for Jane.

Killgrave, aka The Purple Man, is arrested for bank robbery, but you can't convict a man who simply asked for the money. Of course, his ego proves to be bigger than his common sense. When Daredevil proves to be immune to Killgrave's influence, he commands Karen to stay with him. DD figures out that it's his strange skin color that provides Kilgrave with his power and literally wraps up the story.

It's the classic Hero vs. Hero fight that would easily be solved if one of them just asked one simple question! Iron Man is fooled into thinking Captain America is actually The Chameleon in disguise. Why? Because The Chameleon disguised himself as Cap and told Iron Man that the other Cap was an imposter.

And Iron Man did not think to ask any follow-up questions. Genius billionaire, indeed.

When Namor returns to New York after his failed invasion (see FF Annual #2), Johnny & Ben set out to prove they've got what it takes to beat him. During the battle, Reed and Sue arrive to set things straight. Namor was there at Reed's request to settle things peacefully, but now Namor believes he was set up.

In the B story, Dr. Strange has yet another wizard battle with Mordo. Thankfully, these constant fights are getting more visually exciting.

A Story: Lee / Ayers / Reinman

The Howling Commandos head to Okinawa to rescue a captured intelligence officer before the entire island is carpet bombed.

I'm of two minds about this issue. On one hand, it's a rather fun, punchy story. On the other, the stereotypes and straight-up racism is a tough pill to swallow. Not unexpected but still jarring almost 60 years later. Thankfully it's just a one-off adventure in the Pacific. The Commandos are back in Europe next month.

The Mole Man makes an entire city block disappear underground. The FF jump into action but not before Mole Man kidnaps Sue and threatens to kill her if the FF interfere. Reed invents a "Sue Detector" (dope Kirby design) and the FF rescue her. Sue suffers a head injury and there are no doctors to operate... until a mysterious man enters. It's Sue & Johnny's father; a famed brain surgeon who recently escaped from prison! He saves Sue & returns to prison. Wild.

Flash Thompson organizes the first meeting of the Spider-Man Fan Club. Things heat up when the Green Goblin AND the Human Torch show up. Lots of drama ensues. Liz and Betty compete for Pete's affections and Aunt May has a heart attack, causing Spidey to run from his fight with the Goblin to be by her side. The next day, Spidey is publicly branded a chicken. The ol' Parker Luck holds true.

The X-Men graduate! Xavier takes this opportunity to tell the kids that he's leaving to "take care of some things" (the first of many times he will disappear on his students for extended periods).

The Professor puts Cyclops in charge and goes out for cigarettes. Meanwhile, the Blob regains the memories stolen by Xavier and joins Magneto.

We're falling back on old tropes as Ant Man crosses the Berlin Wall to save an old friend... from communists who have created intelligent gorilla henchmen. And we're reminded again that Hank was once married.

The B story features the return of the Incredible Hulk after over a year-and-a-half absence. Banner has built a robot that is even stronger than the Hulk. But more importantly, we finally establish that Banner becomes the Hulk from stress!

A Story: Lee / Ayers / Reinman

It's a game of missed phone calls when Thor ignores the summons of Odin to help a dying Dr. Strange. Loki takes that moment to strike. He steals Jane AND Mjolnir/Cane. Stuck as Blake, Thor calls out for the All-Father but is ignored (Odin was mid-battle). Blake calls in a favor with Dr. Strange for find his stick and help protect Jane during his battle with Loki. Odin finally picks up the phone and grounds Loki (again).