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| ASTONISHING TALES No. 1, August 1970 |
Conceived as a ‘split title’ depicting the solo exploits of Ka-Zar and Doctor Doom in their own separate ten-page stories, this inaugural issue of “Astonishing Tales” not only provided its readers with “Two of Marvel’s mightiest together in one mind-shattering mag”, but also two markedly contrasting stories. Indeed, Roy Thomas’ ancillary adventure, “Unto You Is Born… The Doomsman!” is so much more noticeably complex when compared to Stan Lee’s singularly straightforward lead tale, that this particular publication is arguably an excellent example as to just why Lieber felt he could trust his eventual successor as “Marvel Comics” editor “enough that he virtually never again read anything I wrote.”
Happily however, despite these differences this comic’s opening yarn, “The Power Of Ka-Zar!”, is a great first feature for Kevin Plunder, following the son of an English nobleman simply being side-lined as a supporting character in “The X-Men” and “Daredevil”. Clearly the master of all he surveys in the “vast unchartered jungle, bordered by the ever-drifting glaciers of far-off Antarctica”, the Lord of the Jungle’s tenacity to free his ‘friendly’ sabre-tooth tiger drives the action forward at an admirable rate, and resultantly, this book’s audience don’t have too long to wait until the "Son of the Tiger" cataclysmically confronts Zabu’s abductor in a no holds barred wrestling match.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly though, the star of this story is undeniably Kraven the Hunter, who despite seeming to be rather overly-reliant upon his tranquilizer spray to defeat his foes, dominates each and every panel Jack Kirby pencils him in. In fact, even when Sergei Kravinoff’s face shows fearful incredulity as the “jungle savage” breaks his much-lauded grip, it is difficult not to still admire the dangerous nature of one of Spider-Man’s “most formidable enemies”.
Containing a far more convoluted narrative is Thomas’ “dramatic debut of a startling new series”, which depicts Victor Von Doom both developing “the ultimate weapon -- a super-powerful living being -- fed and activated by Cosmic Rays” and fending off an attempt by “the rightful ruler of Latveria” to depose him of his crown. Illustrated by Wally Wood, “a veteran of Nineteen Fifties EC Comics stories”, this entertaining mash-up of horror, romance and political intrigue soon bears an uncanny resemblance to one of Alex Raymond’s “Flash Gordon” escapades, courtesy of Prince Rudolfo’s rebels successfully attacking Doom castle whilst wearing jet-packs; “See how they gape, wide-eyed, at our flying belts!”
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| Writer: Stan Lee, Artist: Jack Kirby, and Inking: Sam Grainger |
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