Marvel Tales #16

(September 1968)

Where Flies the Beetle...! (Table of Contents)

Spider-Man / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stan Lee

Pencils:

Steve Ditko

Inks:

Steve Ditko

Colors:

Stan Goldberg

Letters:

Sam Rosen

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Reprinted:

• from Amazing Spider-Man, The (Marvel, 1963 series) #21 (February 1965)

The Serpent Strikes (Table of Contents)

Marvel Boy / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bill Everett

Inks:

Bill Everett

Colors:

Stan Goldberg

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Reprinted:

• from Astonishing (Marvel, 1951 series) #5 (August 1951)

"The Coming of the Plantman!" (Table of Contents)

Human Torch [Johnny Storm] / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stan Lee (Plot); Jerry Siegel [as Joe Carter] (Script)

Pencils:

Dick Ayers

Inks:

Dick Ayers

Colors:

Stan Goldberg

Letters:

Sam Rosen

Content Information

Genre:

Superhero

Characters:

Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Doris Evans (Intro); Plantman [Sam Smithers] (gardener) (Intro); Mr. Evans (Doris' father) (Intro)

Synopsis:

Johnny has a date with Doris Evans, who drives him crazy as she's the only girl he's gone out with who's not impressed with his being The Torch, and prefers him as "Johnny". He sees her father fire his gardener, Sam Smithers, for "fooling around" with an invention designed to increase the intelligence of plant life. Shortly, in a "million-to-one freak accident", lightnight strikes and alters Sam's device so "it works!" Not only does it increase plants' intelligence, they also follow his mental commands. Donning a costume, he robs the store where Doris' father works and plants evidence to frame him for the crime. Johnny swears to clear Evans' name. Soon Johnny & The Plantman are engaged in battle, and The Plantman demands the city be turned over to him! (Talk about rising megalomania.) Johnny manages to break the plant-device, but The Plantman gets away, promising himself, "Next time my plan will be foolproof!!"

Reprinted:

• from Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #113 (October 1963)

Indexer Notes

1st appearance of The Plantman, whose costume resembles that worn by The Shadow; he would redesign his costume & return in STRANGE TALES #121 (June 1964). 1st appearance of Doris Evans, who would continue as Johnny's semi-reluctant girlfriend until the end of his solo series.

"Slave of Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man!" (Table of Contents)

Thor / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Stan Lee

Pencils:

Jack Kirby

Inks:

Chic Stone

Colors:

Stan Goldberg

Letters:

Artie Simek

Editing:

Stan Lee (Original Editor)

Job Number:

X-573

Content Information

Genre:

Superhero

Characters:

Thor; Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man; Loki; Odin

Reprinted:

• from Journey Into Mystery (Marvel, 1952 series) #102 (March 1964)
• in Incroyable Hulk, L' (Editions Héritage, 1968 series) #34