Hi anons, let try out a new type of storytime. As most probably know, the Marvel Universe proper debuted in August 1961 with the release of Fantastic Four #1... but that was of course not the only comic book Marvel was publishing at the time.
During the 1950s, Marvel, then known as "Timely" or "Atlas" (they didn't really market their books under a specific label and had a ton of different publishing labels) was publishing an absolute ton of titles, but in 1957 Martin Goodman in his infinite wisdom decided it would be a good idea to shut down his distribution company and have his books distributed by American News Distribution instead. American News Distribution went bankrupt very soon after signing their deal with Marvel, and a scrambling Goodman had to settle for having his books distributed by the DC Comics-owned Independent News instead. Independent News limited Marvel to only 8 comics a month, so Goodman ended up canceling pretty much his entire line of comics and change the few titles he had left to bimonthly books so he'd at least get 16 different titles on the shelves. This is known as the Atlas Implosion and was a pretty significant milestone in Marvel history.
In 1960, Goodman eventually managed to talk his way into getting 10 books a months, and in 1961 he had just managed to argue forth an increase to 11, which in actuality ended up being alternating months of 10 and 12 books each. August 1961 was the first of these 12-book months, and one of the new bimonthly books he added to his lineup was of course Fantastic Four.
But why don't we take a look at EVERYTHING he was publishing at the time? These 10 and 12 book months are pretty easy to split up into 5 and 6 books per thread, so this time we'll check out the remaining 5 books from November 1962.
Previous threads August 1961, part 1 August 1961, part 2 September 1961, part 1 September 1961, part 2 October 1961, part 1 October 1961, part 2 November 1961, part 1 November 1961, part 2 December 1961, part 1 December 1961, part 2 January 1962, part 1 January 1962, part 2 February 1962, part 1 February 1962, part 2 March 1962, part 1 March 1962, part 2 April 1962, part 1 April 1962, part 2 May 1962, part 1 May 1962, part 2 June 1962, part 1 June 1962, part 2 July 1962, part 1 July 1962, part 2 August 1962, part 1 August 1962, part 2 September 1962, part 1 September 1962, part 2 October 1962, part 1 October 1962, part 2 November 1962, part 1
Nathan Johnson
The other 5 November 1962 books were all published November 8th, and are the same batch we've always been getting in the second week of odd numbered months:
Especially since Patsy is a minor. Maybe Leonard at the Code thought the art was tasteful and non-prurient enough. Or maybe he was laughing at the comic and let it slide.
Dominic Ortiz
Interesting parallell.
Hudson Ortiz
This issue's text story. Reprint from Millie the Model #42 from 1953.
Joan would have been twelve, But writers in general observe and make mental notes about all kinds of human behavior. I imagine he heard all kinds of parental wisdom from the many people he knew and worked with..
Ah! An original Picasso table lamp, then, Very avant-garde, mais non?
Carson Thompson
Amusingly, that story about their fan clubs from some months ago proved Hedy absolutely right. She had very loving fans, while Patsy's fans were demanding bitches.
Hah! Number One is dressed like her role in that movie with Leslie Nielsen as the romantic lead.
Michael Cruz
Hahah, this is almost the same story as the one from a while back where Patsy pesters Buzz into taking up basketball to begin with... except Patsy and Hedy's roles have been swapped around. I love how their personalities are actually similar enough they're able to do that.
You've touched on one of the reasons I like these stories so much, Neither girl is all good or all bad, they can show a range of emotions and attitudes while still being themselves.
In some of the stories, a panel will show Patsy and Hedy with completely identical thought balloons and smiling sweetly.
Lincoln Lewis
Rawhide Kid: "Beware of the Barker Brothers!" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby/Dick Ayers, lettering by Dick Ayers
With this issue Rawhide Kid finally makes the move to having a longer lead story, leaving Love Romances as the only Marvel book with only short stories.
I've noticed quite a lot of Rawhide Kid stories have the Kid in areas where he's not wanted, looking for a job. Makes you wonder why he doesn't just stick to those places, he doesn't feel as lawless as Kid Colt does.
Daniel Long
This issue's text story. Reprint from Gunsmoke Western #37 from 1956. We've read this one before when it got reprinted in Kid Colt #102 back in October '61.
