STRANGE TALES 132 (1965)
by Larry Ivie & Bob Powell
cover by Jack Kirby
I honestly had absolutely no idea of who Larry Ivie was, but apparently he was a big deal in the history of fandom.
A rare acknowledgment that NASA exists in the Marvel Universe, as they wish to recruit the Fantastic Four for help.
Turns out that the latest space program involving magnets that stabilize satellites (???) is having trouble because the project’s designer turned out to be one of the bad guys.
You’re just discriminating against goatees and monocles.
So we need someone to be inside the capsule. It can’t be the Thing he’s too heavy, it can’t be Mr. Fantastic because they need a smart person on the ground, and it can’t be the Invisible Girl because how can you possibly pilot a space capsule if you have ovaries?
So that leaves the guy who is definitely focused on the mission.
Pretty sure that being an astronaut wasn’t exactly a turn-off for girls in 1965.
That’s more serious than it looks: Dorrie will break up with the Torch six months later on Fantastic Four #45 (conveniently, the first appearance of his next girlfriend Crystal).
I wonder why they broke up. Other than being whiny, petty, obnoxious, manipulative and absolutely terrible, she’s fine.
The Torch infiltrates the mad scientist’s base (which totally isn’t an evil lair) by pretending to be a legitimate astronaut.
The idea of the Human Torch going undercover will never not be funny to me.
The mad scientist probably suspects that he’s the Human Torch.
I’ve seen the Thing being able to go unnoticed if he wears bulky clothes, but COME ON!!!
(the fake name is an obvious reference to Marvel inker John Verpoorten)
Except the ridiculous disguise that shouldn’t fool anybody… *gasp* didn’t fool anybody!!!
So the Torch is stuck in space and the Thing is trapped by a magnet.
Or not. Well that was anticlimactic!
As for the Torch’s catastrophic atmospheric re-entry…
…he’s fine. Well that was anticlimactic, AGAIN.
Well this is embarrassing.
This is funnier without context. It’s not like knowing the story would make it interesting.
And so we end with the Torch going back to his girlfriend… for now.
I was going to say something about not understanding what the bad guy’s plan was.
Then I found this little gem in the letters page where Stan Lee straight up roasts Larry Ivie.
On one hand, that was a dick move.
On the other hand… this story really sucked.
Historical significance: 0/10
If it wasn’t for the very last two panels, it would’ve been influential as the breakup with Dorrie. We don’t even get that!
Silver Age-ness: 11/10
Yes, one of the rare occasions where Marvel goes beyond a 10/10.
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
Stan Lee makes it a point to highlight that it sucks!
When the face of the company known for constantly hyping everything they publish roasts you, that’s a BAD sign.