Fantastic! #39

(11 November 1967)

Somewhere Lurks the Phantom! (Table of Contents: 1)

Iron Man / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Pencils

Don Heck

Inks

Dick Ayers

Letters

Sam Rosen

Genre

superhero

Characters

Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Pepper Potts; Happy Hogan; Phantom [Dr. Birch]

Synopsis

Pepper and Happy are mourning Tony Stark's "death". Meanwhile, Stark builds a transistorized chest device that enables him to appear in public without his armor. Stark then leaves his lab, revealing that he is very much alive. This revelation causes Pepper to faint. Stark realizes that Happy loves Pepper. Stark then upsets an employee, Dr. Birch, by not making time to speak to him. Iron Man goes on to stop industrial saboteur the Phantom, who turns out to be an embittered Dr. Birch. Pepper and Happy go on a date. Tony is left alone to brood because he secretly loves Pepper too.

Reprints

• from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #63 (March 1965) [Black and white.]

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2) (Expand) /

News from the Floor of 64 / in-house column / 0.5 page (report information)

What a Way to Start a Story! (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

The Avengers / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.5 page (report information)

Want To be a Helicopter Pilot... (Table of Contents: 4) (Expand) /

Marx toys / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

"A World Gone Mad!" (Table of Contents: 5)

Thor / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Chic Stone

Letters

Artie Simek

Genre

superhero; fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Thor; Jane Foster; Odin (guest star); Don Blake; Balder (guest star); Loki (villain); Grey Gargoyle (villain)

Synopsis

Thor upsets Odin again by declaring his love for Jane Foster. Don Blake reveals his secret identity to Jane, but she doesn't believe him. He stamps his cane and nothing happens because, unknown to him, Odin has removed the enchantment which allows him to become the God of Thunder. The Grey Gargoyle appears and attacks Don and Jane. They flee. A group of Thor's friends meet to discuss how they can aid Thor even though Odin has forbidden them to help him.

Reprints

• from Journey into Mystery (Marvel, 1952 series) #113 (February 1965) [Black and white. Pages 1-9 only.]

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

Fantastic Fan Mail [UK] / letters page / 0.875 page (report information)

Script

Alf Wallace (credited as Alf); Bob Bartholomew (credited as Bart)

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Letters from Salim Mitha, Mark Williams, Peter Milne, Stephen Swann, Michael Whiting, Stuart Tamblin, Toto Thiodosion and Michael Norris

Free 20 Different Great Britain Commemorative Stamps (Table of Contents: 7) (Expand) /

advertisement / 0.125 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 8)

Johnny Future / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Alf Wallace

Pencils

Luis Bermejo

Inks

Luis Bermejo

Letters

?

Editing

Bob Bartholomew

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Last week we saw Johnny wrap up Mr Opposite!

Genre

adventure; science fiction; superhero

Characters

Johnny Future [John Foster]; Villain: The Master; Villain: The Brain; Villain: The Brute; Villain: The Hunter; Rick Harwood

Synopsis

As Johnny's heroic exploits are broadcast on T.V., the Master assembles a trio of ne'er-do-wells to bring him down. Rick Harwood bids goodnight to John Foster as he leaves the Harwood Electronics building in London. He reaches the street just in time to witness a giant hawk menacing pedestrians.

Reprints

• in The Complete Johnny Future (Rebellion, 2020 series) (2020)

Keywords

London

John Learns The Hard Way (Table of Contents: 9)

public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

?

Characters

John (a smoker); Graham (John's younger brother)

Synopsis

John and his younger brother, Graham, are rock climbing when Graham breaks a bone in his leg. John goes off for help, stopping on the way for a quick smoke. Later, John brings a mountain rescue team back to the scene of the incident. Graham has by now fainted. Graham rues the fact that, if he hadn't been winded as a result of his smoking habit, they would have got back to Graham sooner. John gives up smoking and is able to tackle more difficult climbs as a result of his improved fitness.

Indexer Notes

This anti-smoking public service announcement previously ran in Fantastic! #10 & 19

I, Lucifer... (Table of Contents: 10)

X-Men / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Roy Thomas

Pencils

Werner Roth (credited as Jay Gavin)

Inks

Dick Ayers

Letters

Artie Simek

Genre

superhero

Characters

The X-Men [Professor X; Cyclops; Marvel Girl; Angel; Beast; Iceman]; V: Lucifer; the Blob (cameo); Unus the Untouchable (cameo)

Synopsis

Professor Xavier relates the events of his first encounter with Lucifer. The story explains how the professor lost the use of his legs. The X-Men board a jet and prepare to confront Dominus.

Reprints

• from The X-Men (Marvel, 1963 series) #20 (May 1966) [Black and white. Reprints pages 13-20. 'New' splash page.]

Indexer Notes

A 'new' splash page is a paste-up of page 16, panel 1 and page 11, panels 1 & 4.

Boys! Get This Fabulous Starter Kit Worth 17/6 (Table of Contents: 11) (Expand) /

Modern Science Programme / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

The Grey Gargoyle (Table of Contents: 12)

Power House Pin-Up / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

?

Letters

typeset