THE Cte GREATEST Co Se rn v Da La erie ka Py na ee PN ga) 7 ae OE eed SUPER-DUPER GUEST STARS!THE FABULOUS (alPs THOUGHT THEY HAD TROUBLE ENOUGH, BUT THEN. BENS SUE! LOOK SHARES THE GUARDS ARE UNCONSCIOUS WHEN WE ANSWERED THE CALL TO COME TO STATE PRISON, WE FELL INTO A 7R4P/ | Moda FEATURING? THE SINISTER SPECTER OF THE SENSATIONAL _ = SAW ERR = BLAST ITS EVEN MY AUNT PETUNIA WOULDN'TA BELIEVED A NUTTY STORY LIKE TH AT-- BUT WE _HAD‘TA FALL FER IT/ GUYS IS AN EXPERT WHUMPER FROMM ‘WAY BACKS wat a ' PANORAMICALLY PRODUCED BY: STAN 9 JACK LEE ° KIRBY SAOCITIONAL PROOF, IF ANY STILL. BE NEEDED, THAT THIS 15; NOW ANP FOREVER, y JOe'SINNOTT THE MARVEL AGE OF COMICS! ARTIE SIMEK FANTASTIC FOUR is published by CANAM PUBLISHERS SALES CORP. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 625 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y, 10022, SECOND CLASS MAIL PRIVILEGES AUTHORIZED AT NEW YORK, N.Y. ADDITIONAL ENTRY AT Meriden, Conn. Published monthly except November, semi-monthly. Copyright ©1966 by Canam Publishers Sales Corp., all rights reserved, 625 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10022. Vel. 1, No: 57, December, 1966 issue, Price 12¢ per copy. Subscription rate $1.75 and $2.25 Canada for 12 Issues Including postage. Foreign subscriptions $3.25 in American funds. Prices do not include King Size Special November ssui similarity between any of the names, cheracters, persons and/or institutions in this magazine ith those of any living or dead or institution js intended, and any such similarity which may exist is pi seintidental. Printed in the U.S.A, by The Eastern Color _ Printing Co. Waterbury 20, Conn. Martin Geodman, Publisher.IT'S THE SANPAIAN/ HE'S YA BLAMED INCREASED HIS SIZE / WALKIN’ STRING: CAN'TCHA EVER JUST SHOUT FORCE FIELD AROUND ENOUGH OF IT. NO CRUMMY HUNK’A SAND ONCE I GIT My YOU BRAINLESS BABOON! 1S GONNA POLISH OFF THE |} | AdWS ON YA, THERE| HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THING! if’ WON'T BE ENUFF “T'S HOW I CAN REFORM MY 5s LEFT TA FILL AN OWN BODY MOLECULES? BUT, T AINT GONNA WASTE) MISTER, HOW MANY My TIME POUNDIN' H/A4/ | TIMES bo T HAVE TO SO CAN I INSTANTLY MAKI NOT WHEN ¥OU@E AN SEAT YOu BEFORE MY BODY ROCK HARP --HARP I \ FAS/ER TARGET, RICHARDS!} YOU'LL REALIZE HOW BNOUGH Sy 3 HURT== THI = : (RONG YOU ARE? nie Renae AR WIRE SneeEEROE ON TV faBUT, REED-- THAT DUCT * HE'S AWAY, AWRIGHT, HE AND THE SOME) BIG FAT HERORS | 7! SANOMAN MUSTA WERE! BEEN PLANNING THIS : FOR MONTHS! THEY TOOK US ALL BY SURPRISES BUT, AT LEAST THE WIZARD DIDN'T GET AWAY! AND AES SUPPOSED To Be HEY! EASY WITH THAT ARM OF YOURS! A THING LIKE CH-- SORRY, FELLAS DIDN'T. HE CAN NEVER ACTUALLY SEPARATE HIS BODY! HE CAN'T eine LONG AS) fi YOURSELF THAT TIME, YOU £0045, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HOLD M4Z, WHILE. THE SANDMAM IS FREE OUTSIDE? THIS WAS HOW I PLANME® IT! WITH MY POWERFUL AART= WER AT LARGE, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF HOLD O70. WM, BOYS! THAT. BOZO'S ALAAOST AS SANOMANY HIMSELF S SS LUCKY HE DOESN'T HAVE HIS ANTI-GRAYCHLOROLORM CAPSULES--TAPED, TO hiIS WRISTL S0,7HAT'S HOW YOU MANAGED TO KNOCK OUT E GUARDS JY IT WAS SIMPLICITY ITSELF TO FEIGN 4ELNESS; AND THEN TO POCKET THESE CAPSULES WHEN I WAS TAKEN TO TH. ___DISPENSARY/ i] YOU REALIZE | BY WOW--NOT OTHING ea 7; PERUAPS | ANO; MENACE WHICH _ GENE POSSIBLY THE Ir AM NTRIGUE! NEVER BEFORE HAVE I TOOD IN THE PRESENCE OF EARTHLY MOVALTHMS YOU'RE SMART, ALL RIGHT./ SO SMART THAT YOU'VE SPENT HALF YOUR WORTH- LESS LIFE SEMIND GAK. REED, DARLING~-JOHWNY¥ IS STILL SEARCHING FOR THE (NALIN ANS --\WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THE S/LVER SURFER WILL RETURN--THE MYSTERY OF SUB-SPACE |S ALWAYS BECKONING--AND NOW 7AIS-- OLP MENACES, THREATENING US ANEW! . FORGET IT, SUSIE/ AFTER A GUY LIKE GALACTUS, THESE TWO CRUMBS DON'T HARDLY RATES /NEX BUT--GALACTUS I5_ GONE-- AND, THEY'RE STILL WERE,’ A MESSAGE~ BEARING CYLINDER HURTLING TO ME FROM THE CASTLE, “YONDER SAND, IN ACL THE NOW, LET US UNIVERSE, THERE | | DISCUSS THAT CAN BE NO Gi R ae GREATER TRUTH HAS EVER BEEN THAN-— My GOD-- KNOWLEDGE IS POWERS IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT DURING A FIGHT BETWEEN! YOU ANI THAT WHICH SPEAK OF IS AWESOME ACCOUNTS OF YOUR PROWESS HAVE EVEN REACHED 7W/S FAR-OFF LANDS IT iS SAID yOu ARE A BEING FROM SPACE ~-WITH POWER BEYOND DESCRIPTION-- BEYOND MORTAL COMPREHENSION!} I AM-~-THE S/LVER SURFERS WHY DO YOU RULE OTHER HUMAN BEINGS? WHAT QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP Do YOU POSSESS THAT SO SETS YOU APART? AND SUCH ENERGY CAN WEVER BE DESTROYVED-~ NOT EVEN WHEN IT” ele IN PHYSICALLY GONTINUED AFTER NEXT PAGESEE IT FORMING=~ MOLECULE BY MOLECULE, >; Pec laeS HOW IT Bad: FORM ITSELF, MONARCHS MERELY TAP IT GENTLY AGAINST YONDER: WAIT! A RIPPLE OF FORCE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM IT-- GROWING EACH HOW CAN I BELIEVE vou? ¥ I HAVE NOT SEEM YOU CREATE A SINGLE OBJECT! LET US CONSIDER SILVER SURFER! ~~ AND OBSERVE! jm cALL VPLT |S ALMOST , WEIGHTLESS: T HAVE NO & INTEREST IN MERELY ALL THAT. Yeu HAVE TOLD ME, THEN-- 1S TRUE! WATCH AMUNIR\WISIL SUPER-HEROES ON TVWITH A WEAPON SUCH AS FAVS, 1 COULD CONTROL A WORLEY EVEN han, ACCURSED G WOULD BE HELPLESS BEFORE MES a ge POINT, O TRUE BELIEVER, WE ASK R TOLERANCE FOR THE SILVER SURFER! HOW CAN HE, AN ALIEN CASTAWAY FROM END= LESS SPACE, BE EXPECTED TO KNOW THAT HE |} io one ‘HIMSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE SY DEADLY--THE MOST SZANGEROUS-- THE ost UTTERLY LEMOMIAC VILLAIN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH: CONCLUSION THAT BUT NOW, a oet RESTORE YOUR CHAMBER THERE 1S NOWEED THEREFORE, FOR THAT / MY SERFS STANP. SHALL SET IT TO RIGHTS / Z I HAVE STUDIED a PLANET FOR MAi COME--WE HAVE LONG MONTHS; AND MANY MATTERS OF HAVE REACHED THE OR Doe eeer AAEANWHILE, BACK IN NEW YORK, THE EVER-LOVIN® THING SEARCHES FOR THE ESCAPED SANDMAN IN HIS OWN MERRY WAy--/, HEY, STRETCHOS es Bi 3 MUCH LONGER BO T HAVETA FLOAT CRUMMY, CHICKEN eH AROUND _UP P\ HERE? INE Beye Twars/ I! D BE BETTER OFF WORKIN’ FER THE Y4VCX IF _YOU DON'T STOP GR/PING, Jent ae LOOKS UP THERES ae one "Yer Crvelez? BENS SPEAKING OF YANCY STREET--IE YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED. THERE YET, OO ATSSORRY, RICHARDS,! iif YOU FORGOT How IT FIGURE YOU GOT Y{#AND, SO LONG As \ DON'T MIND] THAT'S OVE HOPE EASY T CAN CLIMB LL THE stuee in “Tt Herp eNTO THIS| Ae, MY THAT AINT GONNA Joa UP A SHEER MLZ, THIS £48 THAT I'LL pA CHEK OF YOURS, | DARLING! COME TRUE, i UH? BA Y EED--TO FREE THE ‘ts yf YOU _AINT ABOUT /9 WIZARE. TO STOP ME! BUT, EVEN A ROCK- LIKE FIST CAN'T HUR’ SOMEONE -- IF IT CAN'T}; I'M GONNA DO SOMETHIN! TOUCH HIM! I SHOULD‘A DONE A £0WG — TIME AGO I'M GONNA TO THE MIBDLE'A EEK ah yREMEMBER--I Yoo= CAN CHANGE AY BODY AROUND, JUST_LIKE JOU ‘CEPTIN' /M1_ A HECKUVA LOT STRONGER S S50 7HAT’S IT! Vou? WELL, HOW LONG DO YA THINK YOU MUST A “A MLL LETCHA KEEP 7HAT UP? SURROUNDED | = WM WITH YOUR P= INVISIBLE FORCE FIELD, HUH? AS LONG AS MY HUSBAND MAE, SANDMAN! NeW, SUE! OROP 17 6 REMOVE YOUR FORCE FIELD, AND FAKE wow, YOU SAND= COATED SNAKE; IT'S My TURN TO CALL THE SHOTS/ SAN IS s SUSCEPTIBLE TO HIGH POWERED ELECTRO~ CHARGES! | WEES IT! YOU DON'T SCARE J) WEY T-I CAN'T GET CLOSE ~ENCUGH TO GRAB YA/ WEN, AT THE VERY SPLIT=SECOND THAT THE PORGE T geht ee AIM THI SANDMAN SvERHEAD, ZOOMING TO Me WALL I HOPE THE Biante is CHARGEO--$ a 45 | i . = ; U WATCH MIA SUPER-HEROES ON TVI WAS 4 £00. TOC einer RICHARDS! HE'S TOO SMART-- Ora oie IF I SHOOTA HE 7AINKS TOO FA Sif THEN. BS ee WAITS FOR THE CHARGE To BE DISSIPATED... ag MOLECULES-~SLITHERING HNCEG Te De AGE ROOM HE TOOK WHAT- EVER HE COULD, CARRY WITH HIM S HE MUST HAVE FIGURED THAT EVEN IF #E& COULDN'T UNDERSTAND. IT, THE ARE: COULD! LUCKILY, HE LEFT SOME OF MY MOST VALUABLE | COMPONENTS SEMIN! IF I'D_STOOD My GROUND FoR ANOTHER SECOND, THAT ELECTRICALLY. Chas eee Given ne eA Para SOUNDS LIKE HE! TEARING THE PLACE APART ~-AND WE CAN'T STOP HIM! e/ THAT SANDY BODY OF HIS CAN ABHERE TO THE SIDE OF A WALL, SO IT WAS SIMPLE FOR HIM TO MAKE HIS ESCAPE THRU THE iS ‘OH, REED-~HOW CAN WE eee piaeaeBSOLUTE MONARCH OF ZATYERIA GIVES ERIMENTAL WORKSHOP-CO: T AMAZING INSTALLATIONS. IN EXISTENCE’ ThIS IS STRANGE TO ME, I SENSE THAT YOUR PURPOSE IS ONE CF WORLD-WIDE PESTRUCTIONSYOU WRONG MEV) THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, GREATLY? iS MY MOBILE, ALL- POWERFUL PACHFIERS, I HAVE BEEN WAGING A CEASELESS BATTLE BUT, IN THE COURSE OF THAT BATTLE, I NEED WEAPONS YOUR VO/CE MOUTHS SOOTHING \ WORDS OF PEACE ANP RIGHTEOUSNESS--| AND YET, EVERY FIBRE OF MY BEING ME TO | RECOILS AT THE LUST FOR POWER LEARN! J WHICH PERVADES. THE VERY ATMOSPHERE! T YOUS IT 1S A AUTY THAT YOU DO NOT UNDER~| But, Av THAT Ver A THOUSAND PARDONS, SIRE. I PID STUMBLE AGAINST YOUR CLOAK/ ACTUALLY, TAM Wi) MY ONLY DESIRE 1S TO MAKE THE GENTLEST, (APPY-=AND TO THE MOST UNAMEITIOUS OF, MONARCHS! I HAVE BEEN W INFORMED THAT My DEVOTE OF MY NAMES YOU DAREP LAY A WORTHLESS, INSUFFERABLE Ms o Ki Ha (AND UPON THE CLOB/ DOC YOU KNOW WHAT SACROSANCT PERSON “THis MEANS PF fi ‘OF YOUR LORP AND J 77 MASTER PR! AIOW GO. MY LOYAL SUBJECT, | THEN, I AM SO@GIVEN, TARE THE Rest OF THe Dav. | Sige? 2 NEED NOT OFF, FOR YOU LOOK WAN AND| EXPECT THE LETUMATE. WEARY,! WE ees Eon OF | PUNISHMENT 2 OH, MOST AN ACCIDENT. CAN HAPPEN ; MORE! JX MERCIFUL Nene O ANYONE T AM RELIEVED z a INIURE FORGIVING, SOVEREIGN! J POOR FELLOW/ SO JIT 1S NOT A SIMPLE MATTER NO MERE WORDS ap eae Be fe ipl te DEPENDENT UPON HIS TO BE A WORTHY MONARCH CAN’ BO JUSTICE THER TH! 2O0K-~ LIEGE/ SO TRUSTING, ==TO RULE WITH JUSTICE, TO THE WONPZERS an ACTUAL, NM EMPORAL ‘PHOTO $0 INNOCENT! AND WITH LOVE / YOU ARE ABOUT VERSE, TAKEN BY. < TO BEHOLD’ AY OWN ORBITING SATELLITE! fa (BuT, 1 TRY! NO MATTER — THE LONG HOURS-- THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS -— MY 1S--TO SERVES T WERKED!S T RNEW HOW HE NOW, @PLYCKLY-- PUT THE APPARATUS UPON ME-- SILENTLY-- CARE- Muer MISS THE DEEPS OF BE oe/ | FULLY--ONE SLIP NOW, AND YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR IT WITH YOUR Kin ew res (AT. Aanaee WOULD HOLD 7% Lives! THIS SHALL BE My GREATEST. eS MO; SH.SIRES THE eect IT 1S 700 LATE FOR CREA HIM MY INDUCTOR 'S STRUGGLES To HAVE ON st aie ae} FREE HIMSELF/ J] TO PRAW HIS Cosmic. POWER INTO MY OWN EQUIPMENT’ NOW--STAND pee FINAL, MOST AND D THEN, W RELEASE THE SILVER BACK? SHIELD OWERFUL RELEASE OF AWESOME Ri URFER / HE CAI your EyES/T ENERGY-THE LAST cosmic CRACKLING SUBSIDE: MENACE US NOLONGERE ABOLIT To INTERCHANGE FROMA THI AAPPEN--/ att VER SURFER: JO DOCTOR Dif NOW, IT 1S 2 WHO. rosaeee THE COSM, poise WHICH “\ ONCE WAS HIS! : EVER BEFORE HAS ANY ONE UMAN BEING BEEN AS TOTALLY SUPREME--AS INVINCIBLY SUPERIOR--AS If WOW LET ee: HAS ATTAINED POWERS wWirHour| LIMIT ==POWERBUT, THE WORKINGS OF AN INSCRUTIBLE F47E ARE STRANGE INDEED! For, EVEN AS THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL ARCH-VILLAIN STANDS AT THE VERY. PINNACLE OF HIS NEFARIOUS CAREER, A WEARY, DiS- COURAGED HUMAN TeERCH EXPERIENCES ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF SEEMINGLY ENDLESS 44/LU2ES-- ANOTHER STRIKE \ IT'S SOME SORT OF TOTALLY WATTS | DIFFERENT O/MEMS/ON--FURTHER UST THE WRONG Poe ae ON SPORTED Lg! =a = TED US! PLACE AGAIN! be 5 =o 4S TO REACH, J i CRYSTAL f Og JL Hh DON'T DESPAIR, JOUNNYS HELE BRING US To GOOD/ THAT'LL GIVE ME SOMETHING TO 2O/ SIT TIGHT, BIG BuDDY--T'LL FLY OFF AND (PEST T= GATE THEM SOUNES-- FROM OFF IN THE OISTANCE/ SHRUBS--NO- GRASS--AND § THE GROUND SOME WAY TO MAKE LOCK IAW CUT OUT AND EAST! MANS NO WONDER THE GROUND'S SO £LA, THEY CRUSH WHATEVER THEY STEP ONS NO SMALLER FORMS OF LIF WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE HERE-- WITHOUT BEING STAMPED OUTS - AST,* THIS IS ONE PLACE WE DON'T WANNA STAKE A CLAIM TO,} | PALS TRYING TO FRALM LOCK IAW,/ NOW, LET'S SEE IF HE'LL FINALLY OBEY 4 SPOKEN COMMABUT WE CAN'T LET HIM ]\t TAKE US AMZ4Y, Boys DO. . COMMIT SUICIDE, YOU WEAR ME? TAKE US HE'S REACTING LIKE A INN ZZ CAN SAVE MYSELF BY LOOK! HIS ANTENNAE INNING To SUIVER! A. ORMAL CANINE! HE'S A WATCHDOG AT| |ELVING OVERHEAD--BUT R > "MINOT LEAVING. if | ARE BEG: i Irs Ak iP HE ONPERSTANDS, HEART-~- PEARLES: AND PROTECTIVE, Now! NO, A SPL UT, WHAT OF THE TRAPPED ‘MHLMANS? IN AREMOTE HHEMOTHS STORM ONTO TH! "MOUNTAIN FASTNESS, NESTLED IN ONE OF THE MOST VICTIMS ARE GOW: ISOLATED AREAS OF EARTH, THE,SEEMINGLY IMPENE= TRABLE WEGAT/ & STILL STANDS--AS FROM THE CAPTIVES WITHIN, THE TURMOIL AND TENSION CON- TINUE TO MOUNT-=~ g 5 BUT, IT WAS THAT VERY SCRE WHicH BLACK BOLT HAS IF HE:-DOES Wor-= \ GORGON WAS RIGHTS S] HE week RECOVER / HE MUST WO7- PERISH! HE HAS EVER. Ber On LE ooo HEART SHALL: CRE WSE | COOK HIS BREATH GROWS STRONGER! BEEN THE THE MOST MALIANT OF ALLS BE--FOREVER CEAD,?. EVEN MORE THAN \ HE SHALL : THAT, TRITON/HE | RECOVER, 1S=-FIRST AND | KARNAK/ IT [= AND THEN=-AS THE WORLD'S. STRANGEST GROUP OF LIVING BEINGS WATCH, PR Ge EN KING IN SILEN’ PRAYER==THANK HEAVENS THE OU, CAN SEE, Rg suRe WHEN HE \ BUT, THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN CRISIS IS COVERY HIS OF (NERGY MEETS THE EYE! ELECTRON- POWER ; CRACELING. OVER HIS YOu KNOW HIM BLILPING UP ONCE HEAD! SLACK BOLT SPEAK TO. BETTER THAN AMY MORE--/ WILL LIVES MEDUSA, / WAT | HIS HO/CE-- AT LASTS, you HAVE \ BUT, THERE IS NO COACHED HER Love LOST BETWEEN WELL, BLACK US THO; MY BROTHER! BOLT--HAVE YOU |} NOT? SHE WOULD: NEVER BETRAY THEREFORE, WHAT HAVE “og YOUHIDPEN [TA FROM US? ‘S IN TRUTH, WHAT A BUT, HE REFUSES TO DO sof As WA/7/ PERHAPS THERE FANTASTIC JEST IT 1S REASON IN WHAT HE REFUSES -- THOUGH HE (23 MAXIMUS SAYS! KNOWS LULL WELL--WHEN THE ABILITY TO BLACK BOLT 7AZKS--YOU'LL } DON'T YOU SEEF SPEAKS ALL BE FREES UST ASK HE TRIES TO TURN : - US AGAINST EACH OTHERSBUT, THERE. IS STILL AWOTHER AYSTERY To BE UNRAVELLED--A FAR GREATER MYSTERY--A FAR MORE DEAPLY ONG--WITH THE FATE OF ALL ANAND HINGING ON ITS OUTCOME,’ THUS, WE TURN ONCE MORE TO THE KINGDOM OF LATVER/A SEE 2 THE RUMORS ARE TRUES OUR. AAONARCH'S CASTLE GLOWS ITH STRANGI EYES BEHELD ‘$0 MACABR: SO MENACING WHERE WE. FIND-~ jo ANC, IN TRUTH, 1S IT MOT A DEMON WHO NOW. ROCK! FORM, ~~ ata? oe é Jo7 ETS HIGH OVERHEAD 22 A DEMON IN AGATANLEE, YOU MORTAL OOLS/ LEE BEFORE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE, STILL is ULL anon (EWORANT OF THE ALMOST aINCON= iT FACES ANITY, RETURN 70 OTHE E EABLLOUS AAANTASIIC EotiR. 7E DOES ie seerese, FOR Age. e 4 STILL mossin’ 7 oI PYELUUPON THIS. INST PE ean . HAPLESS PLANETS, ARL| WILL THIS BE THE TERRIBLE Evo OF THE HUMAN RACE LY HEY! CAN'T YOU TWO SMCOCH SOMEWHERE €t5E2 YER MAKIN' ME MISS THE WHOLE BLAMED COMMERCL REED, T HAVE SUCH A STRANGE AFTER ALL, WE CAN WORR’ FEELING--AS TH SOME 4BOUT SUFeR- VILLAINS FR/GLE LIES GUST AHEAD OF Ua) TIME--BUT HOW OFTEN DOT GET A CHANCE THE PRETTIEST ¢ GALT IN Nl TOWNE SUE--SWEETHEART--PLEASE! YOU'VE GOT To SNAP QUT OF IT/ T FEEL IT, ALSOf BUT, T MUSTN'T |Z CAN'T HEC # IT, ADMIT IT Te sue! DEAR, I'VE NEVER . FELT $0--SO YoU TUST T NEED, A CHANGE, HONEY! WHY DON'T WE ‘ae PINGS eer DEFEAVED! WATCH WONNE SUPER-HEROES ON. TVITE The response to Gentleman Gene Colan’s amazing artwork on DAREDEVIL was so wildly enthusiastic that we've de- cided to let him continue drawing D.D.'s thrillers! This will give Jazzy Johnny Ro- mita more time to concentrate on your friendly neighborhood SPIDER-MAN, and to take a breather once in a while after drawing all those crrrrrazy webs! Mean- while, to make things easier for Gene, we've assigned the Sub-Mariner strip in this month's ASTONISH to a new bullpen luminary—and we'll be on pins and needles waiting for your opinion. There—if that isn’t enough to confuse everybody, then we've goofed again! ITEM: It looks as though Marvel really IS taking over the world! Those of you tn the New York area have probably already no- ticed the way Channel 9 (WOR-TV) is blan- keting the metropolitan zone with the Mar- vel message — splashing the news of our swingin’ TY shows on everything from sub- way posters te milk cartons! (Grade A care tons only, we hopel) We assume that a zillion other stations thruaut the frees world, where the Marvel madness is about to be unleashed on the home screen, are doing likewise! But, if you find that YOUR local channel isn't marching along with us, do your duty, tiger—tell em they won't get = no-prizel ATEM: Our six star-studded 25¢ Specials are probably all sold out by now, but we thought we'd mention ’em again anyway, in case you wanna try to prove us liars! 4 For those of you who've been living in a well for the past few months, the titles ar FANTASTIC FOUR SPECIAL, SPIDER-MAN SPECIAL, THOR SPECIAL, MARVEL SUPER- HEROES SPECIAL, SGT. FURY SPECIAL, and (ulp!) MILLIE THE MODEL SPECIAL! If you ean still find one on sale anywhere, give yourself two extra points—and, if you buy it, go to the head of the classi ITEM: Smilin’ Stan is so delighted witH the way Wild Bill Everett has been drawing Dr. Strange (in STRANGE TALES, natch), that the old hambo couldn't resist writing the newest mystical masterpiece himself. Also, for the benefit of the Johnny-Com Latelies among you, we've included a riot ous resumé of much that has gone before, to bring you up to date. So, if you wanna see how wild a yarn can be, latch onto the start of Doc’s newest adventure inte nec- romancy—like right now, hear? ITEM: It's time for you to meet some of our behind-the-scenes big-wigs who, though rarely mentioned in our cavol credits, are as much a part of the Marvel mythos as Irving Forbush himself! Now pay. atten- tion—a quiz may follow! At the top of our hectic heap sits the king-of-the-hill, Merry Marty Goodman, publisher, and peerless Purveyor of profound policy, pulsating plaudits, and palpable pay-checks! When he speaks, we listen! When he frowns, we tremble! When he smiles, we know that somewhere one of you has bought another Marvel mag! And, buried beneath a moun- tain of sales figures, we find Jovial Johnny Hayes, our circumventing circulation man+ ager. You should see him fly into a frenzy —hurl himself into a fit of sheer hysteria— Let's meet 26 more Danny Gu Joelton, Tenn. Robert Johnson - Bisbee, Ariz. Lance Barber Chicago, III, Bernard Gulteras Brooklyn, N.Y. M.M.MLS. members! Charles Bly Gary, nd. Mike Fox Oxford, Ohle Robert Cohen Rego Park, N. Y, Ronnie Fisher ‘St. Anthony, lowa Christine Capone Vincent, N.Y. James Field ‘Oklahoma City, Okla. Toronto, Ont. whenever he learns of some deprived dealer who may not have received our Marvel mags on time! Wait, whom have we here? Who sits thus spinning records, watching TV, fondling plastic super-hero models, inspecting sweat-shirts and bub- ble gum cards with equal aplomb? ‘Tis none other than Cheerful Chip Goodman, master of Marvel merchandising, who dar- ingly dispenses our goodies to all the aes- thetic areas beyond the printed page! But, how remiss we would be if we failed ta salute Admirable Arthur Jeffrey, keeper of our MMMS files, guardian of our club cou- pons, and defender of the faith! And what of Nifty Nancy Murphy? Shall we ever for- get her soulful self-sacrifice in the face of our daily Marvel subscription list snafus? Or Delicious Doris Siegler, the most wel- come sight in all of Marveldom, for it is she, our benevolent bookkeeper, who doth dole out our salaries each week! So, let us pause for a moment in silent, somber hom- age as we ponder the grave and momen- tous import of that which hath been re- vealed! ITEM: Judging by your mountain of mail, we've been made painfully aware that most of you true believers have expected a battle between Subbie and ol’ Green Skin in the recent ishes of ASTONISH. It would have been easy for us to accom- plish. We did toy with the idea. But then we decided against it— simply because it was such an obvious development. You know us—we'd rather do things the oddball way. We got a boot out of the idea of two super-powered cats being in the same area, at the same time, and NOT running into each other. It seemed to fit the usual mixed-up Marvel mold, as we saw it. How- ever—now that we know how much you'd like Namor to tangle with our Jolly Green Giblet, we promise you this — sooner or later, somewhere, somehow, we'll DO it! But, in the meantime, send us your sug- gestions as to the proper artist for such an epic. Should it be Gentleman Gene? Wild Bill? Should we lasso Jolly Jack away from Asgard for a while? Or have you any other ideas? Thus do we await the thun-” derous voice of Marveldom! Thus do we command thee, in tones most stentorian —FACE FRONT, frantic one! The best is yet Scott Cutler New York, N. Y. Arthur Cucruel Bristol, Conn. Richard Chaput Mariton, N. J. Alan Campbell Yuba City, David Brown M.-H. Benson Odessa, Tex. Jerry Bails Warren, Mich. Frank Barone THE MIGHTY MARVEL CHECKLIST Marvel-ous Mags On Sale Right Now! SPIDER-MAN #43: The Origin of the Rhinol More of Mary Jane Watson! One of the most high-powered hand-to-hand battle scenes ever illustrated! 'Nuff said! AVENGERS #34: Introducing @ sensation- ally different type of villain! This one man has power enough to bring the mighty Avengers to the brink of defeat! And, when he meets the Wasp—look out! X-MEN #26: A cataclysmic, catastrophic combat, asthe world’s most unusual fight- ing team battles the reincarnation of # Mayan god! And, one of the mighty mu- tants is gravely wounded—by a fellow X- Man! You must not miss DAREDEVIL #22: A super-villain riot! New super-foes! Old super-menaces! A million ; twists and surprises as the Man Without Fear tries to defeat a foe who can't be beaten! And, talk about action---! THOR #134: We confidently predict that the stupefying theme of “The People Breeders” will be argued about and re- membered as long as literature endures! Only Marvel would dare pit a Thunder God against—well, you'll see! STRANGE TALES #151: Nick Fury Is cap- “tured by Hydra! The Overkill Horn is about to sound! Smilin’ Stan and Wild Bill join forces on Doc Strange! It's a block-buster! SUSPENSE #84: The most dramatic, un- expected even the history of Iron Manl This one’ll take your breath away! And, wait till you see Cap battle the Super- Adaptoid! It's pure Kirbyesque magic! ASTONISH #86: What will the Sub-Mariner do with Warlord Krang and Lady Dorma dying before his eyes? As for the Hulk, he finally faces a foe he cannot frighten, a menace that even he cannot overcome! SGT. FURY #36: The hard-hitting Howlers take on a trainload of Nazis in the heart of the towering Alps, as newcomer Eric Koenig must prove himself in battle — against his best friend! A categorically contemporary, controversial classic! MARVEL COLLECTORS’ ITEM CLASSICS #6: The fabulous Fantastic Four! The In- vincible Iron Man! The dynamic Dr. Strange! The incredible Hulk! Another block-bustin’ bargain from your big-heart- ed bullpen! MARVEL TALES #5: Spidey — Thor — Ant- Man—the Human Torch—the way-out, wonderful Wasp! All for 25¢ — the biggest bargain since Manhattan Island! FANTASTY MASTERPIECES #5: Three more glorious Golden-Age goodies with Captain America — plus a titanic trio of yester- year's greatest fantasy sagas! =o ee” Alex Belka Bancroft, Wis. Arthur Jackson New York, N.Y. Leon Carlock Joshua, Tex. Bill Countryman Collegeville, Pa. Clayton Lewis. New Orleans, La. Barry Lowry Fork Union, Va. Johnny Badex Phila, BR: Rudy Gates Morristown, Ariz, Cal.