Appearing in "Prisoners of Doctor Doom!"
Fantastic Four #5
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom) (First appearance) (See chronology)
- Gunther the tiger (First appearance)
- Doom's pet vulture
- Doombot (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Blackbeard (Edward Teach) (Mentioned)
- Errol Flynn (Mentioned)
- Several pirates
- Mr. Spliny (First appearance)
- Merlin (Mentioned)
- Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie) (Mentioned)
- Hulk (Bruce Banner) (Photo)
- Unnamed New Yorkers
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Sol
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Adirondack Mountains (First appearance)
- Doctor Doom's Castle (First appearance)
- Hegeman (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- State University (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- New York
- United States of America
- Asia (Only in flashback)
- Atlantic Ocean
- North America
- Earth
Items:
- Doctor Doom's Armor and Time Platform (First appearance)
- Fantastic Four Uniforms
- Fantasti-Flare
- Stones of Merlin (First appearance)
- Doctor Doom's Net
- Doctor Doom's Machine To Suck Oxygen From the Area
Vehicles:
- Doctor Doom's Flying Harness
- Doctor Doom's Helicopter (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Prisoners of Doctor Doom!"
Fantastic Four #5
Part 1:
Johnny, while reading an issue of The Incredible Hulk, compares Ben to the monster.[Continuity 1] Ben grabs the comic, but Johnny sets it afire. Reed and Sue stop them before they come to blows. The lights go out, despite their emergency generator. Doctor Doom, in a helicopter, drops a net over the Baxter Building. When Doom calls out to them, Reed recognizes the voice: Victor von Doom, an old college classmate. After an experiment at university, during which Doom tried to communicate with the dead but instead caused an explosion, he was expelled.[Continuity 2] Doom demands Sue as a hostage, and she agrees, going to the roof.
Part 2
Doom takes the Invisible Girl aboard his ship, binding and gagging her. He then demands the rest of the FF must enter his ship and pledge not to attack him. The Thing agrees to this by sending off a flare. Doom lowers a cage over Reed, Ben, and Johnny and takes them to his castle. Once there, he tells them that he has invented a time machine and that they must retrieve Blackbeard's treasure chest from the past. With Sue as Doom's hostage, they must agree. Doom presses a button, activating the time platform they were unwittingly standing on. They appear in a port, where they come across two brigands arguing over a stolen bundle of clothes. Ben scares them off. With the clothes, they disguise themselves, including a heavy black beard for Ben. Looking for someone in Blackbeard's crew,[Continuity 3] they go to a tavern. Two pirates tell the barmaid to serve the strangers drugged grog.[Continuity 4]
Part 3
Reed, Ben, and Johnny wake up in the hold of a pirate ship. Ben bursts through the deck and subdues the entire crew with the help of Johnny and Reed. When another ship appears, Ben takes command and orders his crew to attack![Continuity 5]
Part 4
Johnny flames on, harasses the other ship, and raises a cloud of steam. Reed stretches to the other ship like a gangplank, over which their crew passes. A quick fight ensues. While Reed and Johnny haul a treasure chest out of the hold, the crew hails Ben as Blackbeard. Reed empties the chest, reminding Johnny that they only promised to bring back Blackbeard's chest, not the treasure itself, and he replaces the treasure with chains.[Continuity 6] On deck, they realize that Ben is the Blackbeard of legend. He refuses to return with them, ordering the crew to douse Johnny, wrap Reed in a sail, and set them adrift in a lifeboat. Before they can launch the boat, though, a huge waterspout strikes the ship and destroys it. Reed and Johnny make it to shore, where they find Ben and the chest.
Part 5
The time platform appears above them and returns them to the present. Doom says that the treasure includes gems enchanted by Merlin and that they will make him "invincible." He opens the chest and discovers that he's been cheated, which gives Ben the opportunity to attack. A single punch shatters the armor—and the machinery inside. It's a robot! The real Doom, in another part of the castle, activates a screen and tells them he will draw the air from their chamber. Sue, still his hostage, sees her chance. She turns invisible and short-circuits his control panel, which explodes. Doom is caught in the blast. She runs to the chamber and opens the door. Rather than confront Doom, who Reed assumes has traps everywhere, they decide to escape. Reed stretches through a window across the moat, Ben pushes that section of wall open while Reed pulls, and Johnny uses "atomic heat" to make a path across the crocodile-infested moat. Johnny then sets fire to the castle, and Doom escapes with his Rocket-Powered Flying Harness. Before he can catch Doom, Johnny's flame runs out.[Continuity 7]
Appearing in "Origin of Doctor Doom!"
Fantastic Four Annual #2
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Boris (First appearance) (See chronology)
- Werner von Doom (First appearance) (Only in flashback) (Death) (See chronology)
Antagonists:
- King Vladimir Fortunov (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Victor von Doom's mother (Mentioned) (Main story and flashback)
- Reed Richards (See chronology)
- Ben Grimm
- Daniel Kurtz (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Monks of Doom (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Zefiro (First appearance) (Main story and flashback)
- Doombot (Only in flashback)
- Fantastic Four (Named only)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Europe
- Latveria (First appearance)
- Doomstadt (First appearance)
- Doctor Doom's Castle (First appearance)
- Mount Doom (First appearance; unnamed)
- Doomstadt (First appearance)
- Alps (Mentioned in narration)
- Bavarian Alps (Mentioned in narration)
- Latveria (First appearance)
- North America
- Asia
- Tibet
- Himalayas
- Monastery of Doom (First appearance)
- Himalayas
- Tibet
- Europe
Items:
Synopsis for "Origin of Doctor Doom!"
Fantastic Four Annual #2
Doctor Doom is met by his minion Boris on the eve of his mother's death. Doom ventures out to the field where his life began and reflects back...
As a young boy, Victor von Doom's father --a gypsy healer-- is asked by the King's men to heal the King's wife. Werner von Doom tries his best but fails, and when the King's wife dies of her illness, he sends his troops to get Werner. Werner and his son Victor flee into the mountains, where the father wraps the boy in his own coat while they hide in the snow and ice. They are found by the rest of their clan and taken back to the village. Before he dies from exposure, Werner asks Boris to look after his son. Boris interprets this to mean to watch out for the boy, not look after him. Furious at the death of both his father and mother at the hands of the King, Victor digs up his mother's old chest, filled with mystical potions and books.
Doom soon becomes a master of science and sorcery, using both skills to protect his people and swindle the wealthy. He avoids execution by allowing the King's guard to capture robot duplicates of himself. Eventually, Victor's technological know-how attracts the administrators at State University, who offer him a full scholarship in America. Victor agrees, and while attending State University, he almost ends up sharing a room with Reed Richards. However Doom's arrogance and demands for private quarters prompts Richards to leave. This snubbing leads to Richards rooming with Ben Grimm. Victor becomes determined to contact the netherworld and one day, Reed enters Victor's room unannounced and looks over Victor's notes for the device that would allow Victor to achieve his goals. Victor catches him and instantly becomes angry, kicking Reed out and ignoring the warnings that some of his calculations are off.
When his device is complete, Victor has his assistant activate it, but the miscalculations cause the device to explode in his face. Scarred, Victor bandages his face and is ejected from school in disgrace for his unauthorized experiment. Victor travels the mountains of Tibet, where he finds an order of monks who teach him about magic. Later, Doom has them fashion him a suit of armor. Impatiently, Doom places the iron mask on his face before it has time to cool. Doom then leaves the monks and eventually takes over his homeland, where he becomes the arch-nemesis to the Fantastic Four.
... With his recollections over, Doctor Doom returns to his castle, leaving Boris to wonder when Doom will menace the human race once again.
Appearing in "The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!"
Strange Tales #126
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Ancient One
- Clea (First appearance) (Unnamed)
Antagonists:
- G'uranthic Guardian (First appearance) (Unnamed)
- Dormammu (First appearance)
- Dwellers Below
- Numerous unnamed members
Other Characters:
- Baron Mordo (Karl Mordo) (Mentioned in narration)
- Seraphim (Invoked)
- Vishanti (Invoked)
- Raggadorr (Invoked)
- Orini (First appearance; unnamed)
- Cyttorak (Invoked)
- Munnopor (Invoked)
- Valtorr (Invoked)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Faltine
- Chaos Lords
- Faltine Hybrids
- Dark Dimension Humanoids
Locations:
- Dark Dimension (First appearance) (Unnamed)
- Unidentified Dimension
- Earthspace
- Astral Plane
- Moons of Munnopor (Invoked)
- Limbo (Mentioned)
Items:
- Lesser Cloak of Levitation
- Amulet of Agamotto
- Spells
- Shades of the Seraphim (Invoked)
- Rings of Raggadorr (Invoked)
- Crimson Bands of Cyttorak
- Moons of Munnopor (Invoked)
- Hosts of Hoggoth (Invoked)
- Vapors of Valtorr
- Flames of Regency
Synopsis for "The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!"
Strange Tales #126
The Ancient One informs Doctor Strange that the Dread Dormammu has threatened to cross over from his Dark Dimension into that of Earth's. The Ancient One dispatches Strange to the Dark Dimension, to send a message to Dormammu personally.
Arriving in the Dark Dimension, Doctor Strange battle many warriors and creatures sent by Dormammu to bar his passage. A beautiful white-haired girl shows Strange the way to Dormammu's lair, and Strange warns Dormammu that before attacking Earth's dimension or threatening the Ancient One, he must first battle Doctor Strange.
Appearing in "Duel with the Dread Dormammu!"
Strange Tales #127
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Clea (Unnamed)
- Ancient One
Antagonists:
- Dormammu
- Mindless Ones (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed mindless ones
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Faltine
- Chaos Lords
- Faltine Hybrids
- Mindless Ones (First appearance)
Locations:
- Dark Dimension (Unnamed)
- Earthspace
Items:
- Lesser Cloak of Levitation
- Amulet of Agamotto
- Flames of Regency
- Spells
- Hosts of Hoggoth (Invoked)
- Rings of Raggadorr (Invoked)
- Vapors of Valtorr (Invoked)
- Eye of Agamotto (First appearance)
- Cloak of Levitation (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Duel with the Dread Dormammu!"
Strange Tales #127
While waiting for his duel against Dormammu, Clea shows Doctor Strange around the Dark Dimension, including the area of the realm which is sealed with a mystic barrier to contain the Mindless Ones. As the duel starts, Dormammu imprisons Clea. The mystical power Dormammu expends during the duel leads to a weakening of the spell keeping the Mindless ones at bay, and they escape. Doctor Strange helps Dormammu reestablish the barrier, and in gratitude, Dormammu agrees to a pledge not to invade the Earth's dimension. Returning to Earth's dimension, Doctor Strange is rewarded by the Ancient One with two new items: A cloak of levitation, and the Eye of Agamotto.
Appearing in "The Coming of Loki!"
Journey Into Mystery #112
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Odin's Legions
- Numerous unnamed Asgardian warriors
Antagonists:
- Hordes of Laufey (First appearance)
- Laufey (First appearance; dies)
- Numerous unnamed Frost Giant warriors
Other Characters:
- Loki Laufeyson (First appearance chronologically)
- Thor Odinson (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Asgard
- Jotunheim (First appearance)
- Utgardhall, Utgard (Mentioned)
- Jotunheim (First appearance)
Items:
Synopsis for "The Coming of Loki!"
Journey Into Mystery #112
- —Odin
Odin and his army battle the warriors of Jotunheim, where he kills their leader Laufey and adopts Laufey's son Loki as one of his own, following their victory in battle.
Appearing in "Tales of Asgard Home of the Mighty Norse Gods!: "The Boyhood of Loki!"
Journey Into Mystery #113
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Races and Species:
Locations:
Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard Home of the Mighty Norse Gods!: "The Boyhood of Loki!"
Journey Into Mystery #113
- —Loki
A ten-year old Thor watches a tournament with Loki when Thor predicts the winner. This incenses Loki as Thor is always right. Loki purposely wagers on the poorer fighter and then casts a spell he learned from the Norn witch women to make the more skillful combatant's quarterstaff shatter when Loki's behind Thor's back. The fighters realize they've been hexed and accost young Loki. Thor demands why do they only address themselves to his brother and they answer that they know Thor would never stoop to such a deed. Nevertheless, Thor insists, I was at Loki's side during the tourney and any punishment meted out ought to be shared by the two of us. Impressed by Thor's nobility, the fighters let the youths go on their way, although with ill forebodings about the destiny of Loki. When they're alone, Thor reveals that he was aware of Loki's trickery and admonishes him that it was foolish of him to interfere in the tournament. But the matter is quickly forgotten by Thor as the two of them take up riding practice and Thor offers to race Loki to the bridge. "Why should I?" Loki responds, "You've got the faster horse." To which Thor replies "The speed of the horse is not the only factor, but also the skill of the rider." Thor stays close to his brother to give him an even chance, but Loki broods darkly over the day's events. He wants the power that will force others to bow and scrape before him as they do before his "beloved" brother, Thor, and he realizes that some day Thor will have to be destroyed.
Appearing in "Tales of Asgard - A Viper in Our Midst"
Journey Into Mystery #115
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Odin
- Various unnamed Asgardians
Antagonists:
- Loki
- Storm Giants
- Ghan (First appearance)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Mjolnir
- Laevateinn (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Tales of Asgard - A Viper in Our Midst"
Journey Into Mystery #115
- —Ghan
Thor was leading a band of Asgardian warriors, who were riding out to stop Ghan, "the most deadly of Storm Giants", on his way to attack Asgard. Loki was, of course, resentful of Thor, thinking that he should be leading the warriors. As the battle begins, Ghan hurls a boulder at Thor, who blocks it with his hammer, causing it to shatter. Loki does not enter the battle, claiming that "the cunning Loki is far too clever to take needless chances!" and stays back in safety to plot the defeat of Thor. He then uses his magic sword to weave a spell to give Ghan the final victory. Before the spell can work, Ghan is driven back by the Asgardian's arrows. As the Storm Giant is being driven further back, they let loose their catapult, using a missile containing sleep fumes, to incapacitate him. The Asgardian task force go to where the giant should be sleeping, but find nothing. The rest of the party leaves, but Loki remains behind, saying he wanted to search more. He then "makes a mystic gesture" causing an eagle soaring nearby to return to the its natural form of the giant Ghan, saving him from the wrath of Thor. The giant then pledges his debt to Loki, and in return the Trickster reminds him not to forget it, "the day will come when I order you to repay this debt!" This was the first of many alliances with the forces of evil for Loki, as he plans and schemes to overthrow Asgard and destroy Thor.
Appearing in "The Vengeance of the Thunder God!"
Journey Into Mystery #115
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Harris Hobbs
- unnamed policemen
- Ann
- John
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Absorbing Man's Ball and Chain
- Mjolnir
- Laevateinn (First appearance)
Synopsis for "The Vengeance of the Thunder God!"
Journey Into Mystery #115
Thor was in the middle of a fight with the Absorbing Man, Crusher Creel, when he was alerted by Balder the Brave of the danger to Jane Foster; she had been kidnapped by Loki and brought back to Asgard. Meanwhile, the Absorbing Man had wandered off to cause trouble without the hindrance of Thor. The Thunder God immediately went to face his scheming half-brother, Loki. The two fought and exchanged insults, while Foster looked on in wonder and fear, not sure why she was the pawn in their fight.
Back on Midgard, reporter Harris Hobbs, helps the police in their search for Crusher Creel, the Absorbing Man, and explains to them what his powers are. Creel has in the meantime found a house in the suburbs, needing sleep and food, and walks in to take what he needs. Back in Asgard, Thor and Loki battle on, Loki tries to freeze the air around Thor, but he breaks out immediately, "The rage in my heart, the justice of my cause, the strength in my sinews, these are the spells which shall defeat the master of evil!!" At that moment, Odin causes an explosion of rock between them, and scolds them for engaging "in private conflict which hath not the approval of Odin". Loki then tries to blame the fight on Thor, claiming that he brought his mortal love, Jane Foster to Asgard to make her immortal as well, just as she faints, the strain of the ordeal too much. Odin is not sure who to believe, knowing that Loki is a trickster. He then calls for a "Trial of the Gods!" Thor then asks his father for 48 hours, to return Foster to her home and to defeat the Absorbing Man. After Foster is safely back in her home, Thor uses his powers to make her forget what she saw in Asgard.
Back on Earth, Creel is imposing his will on a couple in the Suburbs. They try to make him leave, but it is no use. Nearby, the police are closing in on him, while Thor arrives to help. The police find the house that Creel entered, while Thor tries to convince them not to try to take him down without his help. The reporter Hobbs then goes into the house and taunts him into smashing through the wall, and out of the house. Creel then finds himself surrounded by police, as Thor takes command of them and orders them not to fire. Thor then throws his hammer at him, causing him to absorb its strength and power. Thor realizes that he must not use his brute strength, but instead his power over the elements, and makes a trap of heat around him. Creel absorbs the heat, just as the police fire a grenade at him, which explodes and stuns Creel for a moment. Thor gives him one more chance to stop and give up, while Creel boasts that he is the strongest, and he is about to finish off the Thunder God by touching the ground and becoming a colossus made of multiple elements at once. Thor waits a moment for a reply, but when none is forth-coming, Thor whirls his hammer faster than a mortal eye can see, changing the air around Creel to Helium, causing him to absorb the properties of that element, and become a gas, and float into the atmosphere, and no longer a threat to humanity. The reporter, Hobbs, then tells Thor that he has realized that he is not the "conceited, costumed, show-off".
The Thunder God then takes off, having to take care of a few things before he is summoned back to Asgard for the Trial of the Gods. He flies back to take one last look at his beloved Jane Foster, for if he fails, it could be his last look at her. As he does so, Odin calls him back to Asgard, "whatever my fate, I shall face it, like a God!".
Appearing in "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull"
Tales of Suspense #66
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- Nazis (Main story and flashback)
- Red Skull (First Silver Age appearance) (Main story and flashback)
- Heer (Main story and flashback)
- Numerous unnamed soldiers
- Sturmabteilung (Only in flashback)
- Numerous unnamed members
- Adolf Hitler (Only in flashback)
- Gestapo (Only in flashback)
- Unnamed Chief (Only in flashback)
- Kriegsmarine (Only in flashback)
- Two unnamed sailors (Only in flashback)
- Schultz (Scientist) (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Bucky (Bucky Barnes) (Mentioned)
- Red Skull (George Maxon) (Mentioned)
- Sicherheitspolizei (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Three unnamed security officers (Only in flashback)
- Unnamed Allied Commander (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
Items:
Synopsis for "The Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull"
Tales of Suspense #66
Captured while attempting to sneak into Nazi Germany, Captain America is now the prisoner of his mortal enemy, the evil Red Skull. Reviving Cap, the two talk about how the man named Maxon whom Cap fought last month wasn't really the Red Skull but an impostor.
With this fact cleared up, the Red Skull decides to tell Captain America his life's story:
The young boy who would one day become the Red Skull was an orphan who lived on the streets and had to steal to survive. Finding himself in and out of jail and working as cheap labour, this young man would grow up full of hatred for others. During the rise of the Nazi party to power, the young boy was a bell hop for a hotel. One night, the young bell hop happened to have the opportunity to wait on Adolf Hitler, who was staying there. Realizing the boy's hatred and potential, Hitler took the boy under his wing and trained him to be his greatest soldier, eventually earning the costume and title of the Red Skull. A figure, that even Adolf Hitler would come to fear.
The Skulls story is interrupted when Cap tries to escape, however, the Red Skull easily knocks him down and continues his story.
From there he spoke of how during the early days of the war, he had managed to spread destruction and terror wherever he went. Slowly eliminating all who's ranks were above him until he was second only to Hitler himself.
Finishing his story, the Skull is attacked again by Cap, but suddenly a drug that was administered to him kicks in and Cap passes out. Joined by a Nazi doctor, it is revealed that Cap was given a drug that made his mind a clean slate ready for brain washing. Conditioning him to believe in the Nazi ideal, Captain America is ordered by the Red Skull to seek out and murder the supreme commander of the Allied armies.
Appearing in "Lest Tyranny Triumph!"
Tales of Suspense #67
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bucky (James Buchanan Barnes)
- America's top military commander (Unidentified)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Nazis
- Adolf Hitler
- Shultz (First appearance)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- Himmel (Heaven) (Invoked)
Items:
Synopsis for "Lest Tyranny Triumph!"
Tales of Suspense #67
Last issue, Captain America was captured by the Red Skull and brainwashed into going to assassinate the Allies' top military leader. Cap leads an army of Nazi soldiers on a training routine before going on their mission.
Meanwhile, Bucky, who was also captured by the Nazi's is about to be executed by a Nazi firing squad, however their guns weren't loaded and it was all a cruel joke, leaving them to wonder when they will really be executed. However, this never happens, as Bucky leads a rebellion which allows the prisoners and himself to get free. Bucky then begins searching around the Nazi base to find Cap.
Elsewhere, the Red Skull has brought Captain America to Hitler to show him that Cap is now fully under his control. Convinced, Hitler then orders an attack on London. Learning of the Nazi's plot, Bucky knocks out a Nazi soldier and takes his place on the plane. Landing in London which is in the midst of an air strike, the Nazi soldiers parachute onto British soil. There, Bucky tries to talk sense into Cap, however, he is taken down by a bunch of Nazi soldiers while Cap is ushered onward. Bucky manages to fight them off and chase after Cap.
Meanwhile, Cap and the Nazi troops make their way the Allied commander's office where Cap pulls a gun to shoot the commander, but pauses. One of the Nazi soldiers then has to force Cap to pull the trigger... This story is continued next issue.
Appearing in "The Sentinel and the Spy!"
Tales of Suspense #68
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bucky (Bucky Barnes)
- America's top general (Unnamed)
Antagonists:
- Red Skull (Johann Shmidt)
- Nazis
- Red Skull's special agent
- Wolfgang, a German POW
Other Characters:
- Adolf Hitler (Mentioned)
- Sgt. Mike Duffy
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earthspace
- Earth
- Europe
- English Channel (Mentioned)
- Earth
- Himmel (Heaven) (Invoked)
Items:
Synopsis for "The Sentinel and the Spy!"
Tales of Suspense #68
Last issue, Captain America -- brainwashed by the Red Skull -- had fought his way to the office of the leader of the Allied forces to assassinate him. However, Cap manages to snap out of his brainwashing before firing the fatal shot, saving the commanders life. With the help of Bucky, Cap manages to defeat the Nazi soldiers before the Allied forces can round them all up.
Word gets back to the Red Skull who has one of his operatives that is in a POW camp initiate a new plan against the Allies. The plan, dubbed "Project Vanish" was implemented by the Skull himself.
At this camp, the chosen soldier orchestrates events so that he is a lone prisoner taken under the care of an army troop for relocation (coincidentally the same troupe that Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes are a part of.) Using hidden gas canisters to escape, the Nazi flees into the woods and finds the cabin which contains the secret weapon that is part of Project Vanish, a disintegration ray.
Attacking the army patrol, Steve Rogers is forced to change into Captain America and battle the foe. However, during the battle the Nazi turns the weapon to full power, causing it to overload and explode injuring both of them. Bucky arrives on the scene and changes Cap back into uniform before Sergeant Duffy can arrive on the scene to have them taken away by medics.
Appearing in "Spidey Saves the Day! Featuring: The End of the Green Goblin!"
Amazing Spider-Man #40
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) (Origin revealed) (Appears in flashback)
Other Characters:
- Harry Osborn (Appears in flashback)
- Anna Watson
- Dr. Bromwell
- Mendel Stromm (Only in flashback)
- Enforcers (Only in recap)
- Fancy Dan (Daniel Brito) (Only in recap)
- Ox (Raymond Bloch) (Only in recap)
- Montana (Jackson Brice) (Only in recap)
- Human Torch (Johnny Storm) (Only in recap)
- Lucky Lobo (Only in recap)
- Crime Master (Only in recap)
- Ned Leeds (Vision or hallucination)
- Mary Jane (Mentioned)
- Harry's mother (Mentioned)
- Uncle Ben (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- US Midwest Rail road Station
- United States of America
- North America
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Pumpkin Bombs
- Goblin Formula
- Retroscope (First appearance)
- Goblin Armor
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Spidey Saves the Day! Featuring: The End of the Green Goblin!"
Amazing Spider-Man #40
Peter is trapped by Norman Osborn who’s revealed himself to be the Green Goblin. Pete stalls him, mentioning Harry and playing with his emotions to get him to talk. Norman tells how he worked constantly to provide and always paid more attention to work than to his son.[Continuity 8] He reveals how Professor Stromm only borrowed money from a shared account, but Norman called the police reporting it as theft, leaving the company in his hands. Norman continues, saying Stromm had left formulas behind, and he decided to research them. As he was working on one, it exploded and hospitalized him.[Continuity 9]
This transformation changed him and he planned to use his company’s resources to become a super-criminal. At home, Aunt May is worried sick over Pete not calling her and Anna Watson calls in Dr. Bromwell. Meanwhile, Betty Brant is in a train station realizing she must return to New York and face everyone but unsure how.[Continuity 10] Pete is still working on the steel bonds and the Goblin recounts when Spider-Man has fought him and skews them as victories.[Continuity 11] He finishes his story and frees Pete to fight him on even terms. As they fight, the Goblin pulls out stun bombs, an electrical whip, and finally a Goblin Cannon. As Spider-Man delivers a kick, the Goblin goes into a mixture of live wires and chemicals and a fire starts.
Spider-Man rushes over not wanting to kill him, but Norman doesn’t know where he is or why he’s in costume.[Continuity 12] Not wanting to destroy his reputation or Harry’s feelings, he’s quickly changed out of his costume for the police to take him to a hospital. Pete rushes home and Dr. Bromwell has just sedated Aunt May. Aunt May begins to take care of Pete’s “fever” and Harry visits his dad in the hospital.[Continuity 13]
Appearing in "The Abomination!"
Tales to Astonish #90
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Abomination (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Abomination!"
Tales to Astonish #90
The Stranger decides that humanity no longer deserves to live, so he implants a hypnotic command into the Hulk's brain, leading him to seek out and destroy the world's weapons bases. The Stranger leaves Earth and returns to the stars.
The Hulk, meanwhile, arrives at a missile base but transforms back into Bruce Banner. Fortunately, Banner's mind is not controlled by the Stranger's manipulations. He knows that he will turn back into the Hulk at some point, though, and decides that he must destroy himself or else risk becoming the Stranger's instrument of destruction. He heads back towards Gamma Base.
At the compound, General Ross addresses the troops and tells them that a spy has been committing acts of sabotage at the base and that he must be found at all costs. After the meeting, Glenn consults with Betty who is worried about Bruce. Glenn reminds her that the only thing Banner has ever done for her was break her heart.
Later, a spy named Emil Blonsky disguises himself as an MP and finds the laboratory that houses the Gamma Ray machine. Bruce is inside the lab and has prepped the machine to blast him with a deadly dose of Gamma Rays. Theoretically, the concentrated gamma energy should be enough to kill even the Hulk. Major Talbot and some soldiers enter the room and grab Banner. They are unaware of Blonsky's presence.
After Banner is dragged away, Blonsky decides to activate the machine. He has little idea of what its true nature is, but he quickly finds out as he is bathed in gamma radiation. The energy transforms Blonsky into a hideous green Abomination. He destroys the Gamma Ray machine before it overloads his body with radiation.
From the window of his holding cell, Banner sees the Abomination trashing the laboratory. The tension forces him to transform into the Hulk and the two gamma-spawned powerhouses begin fighting. Due to the concentrated energy levels provided by the Gamma Ray Projector, the Abomination is actually stronger than the Hulk. He also has the added advantage of maintaining his intellect. The Abomination clobbers the Hulk with repeated blows across the head until he falls over unconscious. He then turns, scoops up Betty Ross, and leaps away into the sky.
Appearing in "Whosoever Harms the Hulk...!"
Tales to Astonish #91
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
- Gamma electrodes
- Infinite Weapon
Synopsis for "Whosoever Harms the Hulk...!"
Tales to Astonish #91
General Ross has the Hulk revived after his defeat at the hands of the Abomination. When the Hulk tries to leave, not wanting anything to do with the situation, Rick Jones talks some sense into Hulk. It works and the Hulk changes back into Bruce Banner.
Banner uses a device to pull the Abomination back to Gamma Base. Transforming back into the Hulk, Banner battles the Abomination. This time, the Hulk gains the upper hand. Realizing that the Abomination is the ally he seeks, the Stranger teleports the Abomination away. After the battle everyone wonders what to do with the Hulk. However, the Hulk has other ideas. He wants to be left alone, and so he leaves.
Appearing in "The Power and the Prize!"
Silver Surfer #3
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Mephisto (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- female captured by Badoon
- Soviet Space Program
- NASA
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Silver Surfer's Surfboard
- Shalla-Bal's space ship
Synopsis for "The Power and the Prize!"
Silver Surfer #3
Brief Summary:
The Silver Surfer's power and nobility catches the attention of Mephisto. He sees the Surfer as an obstacle in his plan to tempt all of humanity into becoming his slaves. He brings Shalla-Bal to Earth as a way to torment the Surfer. But neither this or any other temptations can get him to falter. Mephisto resorts to brute strength by his demons and then himself to fell the Surfer, but nothing is successful. His only solace is the pain that the Silver Surfer feels when Mephisto sends Shalla-Bal back to Zenn-La.
Detailed Summary:
The Silver Surfer tracks down the woman that was severely injured by the Badoon. He tries to finish healing her with his cosmic powers, but the hospital staff and police try to intervene. Despite the police’s laser attack, the Surfer is able to save her life. However, angered by the human’s continued aggression towards him, he swears to get his revenge on mankind.
Flying above the Earth, the Silver Surfer uses all his power to bring civilization to a standstill. A series of his cosmic bursts envelope the entire planet, which shuts down all machinery, dims all lights, and blocks all communications. This attack causes mass panic everywhere and catches the attention of Mephisto.
The Earth is one of Mephisto’s prized places for lost souls and any threat to this planet concerns him. His mystic vapors reveal that it is the Silver Surfer that is the cause of mankind’s current panic. The Surfer’s nobility and power is a threat to Mephisto’s control over the Earth and he begins to devise a plan for his demise.
Mephisto transports himself to Zenn-La, into Shalla-Bal’s quarters. He promises to bring her to Norrin Radd if she does as he commands. Desperate to be with her beloved, she agrees to his request. They board a spaceship and head to Earth.
The Surfer, calming down and realizing the mass fear that he has caused, reverses the cosmic field that he had created, and the world was restored to order. Just then he notices a Zenn-Lavian spaceship entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Before he can react, the Earth’s nuclear defenses attack it. The Surfer destroys the weapons, but not before Shalla-Bal’s ship is damaged and she is injured. The Silver Surfer races to the crash site to find Shalla-Bal gravely injured. He uses his power cosmic to revive her, but Mephisto appears and vanishes with her.
Duel in the Depths
Mephisto retreats to his underworld lair with the captive Shalla-Bal. He doesn’t want to just kill the Surfer but make him his slave. Before he can continue with his plans, though, the Surfer surprises him by appearing before him. He had no problem tracking them to Mephisto’s realm. Mephisto warns him that he holds his beloved hostage and that he must destroy the Surfer so that his control over Earth is not diminished. He tries to tempt the Surfer with wealth, lust, and power, but fails to win him over.
Angered by this defiance, Mephisto attacks the Surfer with his demons. While each subsequent creature is stronger and deadlier than the last, none can stand up to the might of the power cosmic. Mephisto envelopes him amoebic energy, draining his strength and restricting his movement. While physically defeated, his soul is still not Mephisto’s to have. So Mephisto implants the Surfer into his own brain to slowly bend him to his will. However, Surfer’s purity caused Mephisto too much pain and he was forced to release him.
Finally, Mephisto threatens to send Shalla-Bal back to Zenn-La unless the Surfer swears his allegiance to him. Tormented to see their long-anticipated reunion cut short, both Shalla-Bal and the Silver Surfer realize that she must go back so that Mephisto’s plan will fail. Satisfied with their anguish, Mephisto sends them both away and vows to one day defeat the Surfer.
Notes
- Prologue, framing introductions, and epilogue by Stan Lee.
- In between stories a number of one page detailed art of the "Bad Guys" is presented. Some is recycled from previous work. Some is original like the John Romita Sr. art below.
- Only the main story is reprinted from Silver Surfer Vol 1 3 and not the Watcher back-up story.
Continuity[]
See Also
Links and References
References
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