User blog:M1shawhan/Marvel Mystery Comics Vol 1 5

This was another odd one for each of the stories. Sadly (and surprisingly), I liked the Angel and Masked Rider probably the best out of all of them. Marvel needed to begin pulling continuing characters in their stories. The stories that did this: Angel, Human Torch, Sub-Mariner and even Ka-Zar - continued to do well and even went on for years to come. The smaller stories never did this and they lost readers more quickly. Note to Marvel editors reading this -- character continuity was the marvel of Marvel. It gives readers a connection to the story -- they can follow their favorite villain, main character, or even some random sidekick. Either way, it keeps them reading and that is what any writer/editor wants, right?

Human Torch - Was disappointed in this one. Mainly because it has the cover appeal and it had NOTHING to do with the story. He also seemed to command fire in this issue - sure, he's the Human Torch and can turn fire on and off of his body on a whim. We're not talking about that... he actually "talks" to the fire and tells it what to do... HUH??!?!? Luckily, he kills the bad guys at the end of this one. Also lucky, that they were escaped prisoners who tried to con the snowed in isolated town-folk who probably would never tell anyone of their "accidental" deaths anyhow.

The Angel - The Angel was actually kind of funny in this one. He knows that bank robbers are hitting the bank, but he plans to turn over all the cars in the area so that when they try to get away, they can't. Great plan! He even gets the assistance of a New York policeman... properly named "Mulligan" to overturn the cars with him. His plan somewhat works and the robbers hail a cab instead. Lucky for the Angel, that his quick-wit and speed help him get them in the end. Of course the policeman takes all the credit. Sheesh, Mulligan!

The Sub-Mariner - After a complete 180, Namor now wholeheartedly trusts Betty Dean. He returns to the Atlantean Ice Castle and asks to help out the Americans. He returns to New York and of course they try to kill him at first glance. Like most New York officers, they fire into the air aimlessly hoping to hit the high flier. They even attack him with planes. One hits him and the firefighters on the ground have their net in the perfect spot to save him from hitting the ground unconscious... okay. Once he awakens, he is knocked out by an EMT that knocks him out with a chloroform-laced sponge. Glad they don't use those these days. Betty Dean saves him from his accusers and he promises to help them. No sooner is there a need by a flooded subway that gives way to a larger plot for robbers to steal from the New York Treasury. Sub-Mariner saves the day like only he can... giving a smug reasoning for how he was smart enough to catch the robbers.

Masked Rider - I think the Masked Rider stories are growing on me. This plot was actually pretty good. They even threw in the accusation against "Injun Joe" and then they randomly find him pinned under rocks though it had nothing to do with the story by that point. I can't ever tell though if these characters have been in previous issues. I wish there were common ties in each story... other than the Masked Rider's horse, Lightning.

It's in the Cards - The first of the written stories that I enjoyed. Though I still don't understand what they are doing in a graphic comic book. This is one of those "bad guy gets his" type of story. He is a drunk and throws knives at people for a living... never a good combination. One day he makes a mistake and he kills his stagehand. Luckily the Carver's, others who have a card show in the troupe, have an "ace up their sleeve".

Electro - Electro battles an army. He's a robot that follows your commands. I am waiting for when that robot turns on his masters. I still don't understand why Professor Zog had to get 12 operatives to help him with Electro though... he only used two to fight a whole army in another country. Are 12 really needed?

Ferret - In this issue... Ferret actually gets a ferret. The police commissioner in this story REALLY hates this guy and thinks he is making them all look bad. I still don't know how or why the writer (or even the editor) think we are supposed to follow how he solves the mysteries though. He pulls most of them out of his a**. I think that there must have been panels that they made and then pulled or ran out of room after making too many. Either way, very disjointed stories so far for the ferret.

Ka-Zar - Ka-Zar gets revenge!!! Now that the main antagonist is killed though, his only other main villain is a leopard. Not sure WHY Ka-Zar stories went on longer than this fifth episode, but they did. Guess I wasn't editor-in-chief at the time.

--M1shawhan 04:34, May 4, 2010 (UTC)