Stan, Jack, and Steve - The 1960's (1963) Butting Heads, Unexpected Success and Not Expected Failures! 3 3

[Prince Namor]

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Fantastic Four #24 - Letters Pages

[Steven Valdez]

On 6/8/2023 at 8:32 AM, Prince Namor said:

 

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Amazing Spider-man #10 - Written By: Smiling Stan Lee  Illustrated By: Swinging Steve Ditko  Lettered by: Sparkling Sam Rosen

Part One:

That's a Kirby Spider-Man on the cover of ASM #10.

[Prince Namor]

On 6/8/2023 at 5:51 AM, Steven Valdez said:

That's a Kirby Spider-Man on the cover of ASM #10.

You're right! Which means that Lee probably had the cover redone for some reason. Personally I like Ditko's original cover much better...

[Math Teacher]

On 6/8/2023 at 4:51 AM, Steven Valdez said:

That's a Kirby Spider-Man on the cover of ASM #10.

WITH a spider emblem on the front of his costume, no less!

[Steven Valdez]

On 6/9/2023 at 1:28 AM, Prince Namor said:

You're right! Which means that Lee probably had the cover redone for some reason. Personally I like Ditko's original cover much better...

Yes! That is the better cover.

 

[Dr. Haydn]

On 6/8/2023 at 7:47 PM, Steven Valdez said:

Yes! That is the better cover.

 

I think Lee had misgivings about covers that showed the protagonists in a bad light (in this case, Ditko showed Spidey being beaten up by the villains). Kirby's redraw is more heroic, though the layout a bit too sparse for my taste.

[Prince Namor]

On 6/8/2023 at 11:32 PM, Dr. Haydn said:

I think Lee had misgivings about covers that showed the protagonists in a bad light (in this case, Ditko showed Spidey being beaten up by the villains). Kirby's redraw is more heroic, though the layout a bit too sparse for my taste.

He did? I thought Spidey kinda had a habit of having his butt handed to him on the covers... in the issue before Electro knocks him completely out!

[Dr. Haydn]

On 6/9/2023 at 2:15 AM, Prince Namor said:

He did? I thought Spidey kinda had a habit of having his butt handed to him on the covers... in the issue before Electro knocks him completely out!

I do recall a couple of rejected Surfer covers (#5 and 7) where the hero was being beat up, and a rejected Daredevil cover (#43?) where DD had the drop on Captain America. Of course, those covers were later (1968-69).

Or maybe Stan was just being arbitrary in demanding changes.

[Steven Valdez]

On 6/9/2023 at 11:25 PM, Dr. Haydn said:

I do recall a couple of rejected Surfer covers (#5 and 7) where the hero was being beat up, and a rejected Daredevil cover (#43?) where DD had the drop on Captain America. Of course, those covers were later (1968-69).

Or maybe Stan was just being arbitrary in demanding changes.

It's weird that S Lee reprinted the rejected ASM #10 cover in that same issue, saying he doesn't know why it wasn't used.. surely it would have been his decision? Or maybe Goodman stepped in?

[Dr. Haydn]

On 6/9/2023 at 9:10 AM, Steven Valdez said:

It's weird that S Lee reprinted the rejected ASM #10 cover in that same issue, saying he doesn't know why it wasn't used.. surely it would have been his decision? Or maybe Goodman stepped in?

The original cover was revealed in a Marvel Tales reprint from the 1980s. (Marvel Tales 147, per the GCD)

Edited June 9, 2023 by Dr. Haydn
added info

[Prince Namor]

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Strange Tales #118 - Story By: Stan Lee  Art: Dick Ayers  Lettering: S. Rosen

 

[Prince Namor]

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Strange Tales #118 - AD

[Prince Namor]

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Strange Tales #118 - Written By Magical: Stan Lee  Drawn by Mystical: Steve Ditko  Lettered by Mysterious: Sam Rosen (He used his first name!)

[Prince Namor]

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Strange Tales #118 - Another AD

[Steven Valdez]

On 6/10/2023 at 7:15 AM, Dr. Haydn said:

The original cover was revealed in a Marvel Tales reprint from the 1980s. (Marvel Tales 147, per the GCD)

OH, I see. I was thrown by how it said "here's the alternate version of the cover that graces this very issue". Makes sense that it would be in a reprint a couple of decades later.

[Dr. Haydn]

Panel 3: Another first from Mighty Marvel! A character includes an editor's note in their dialogue!

[Dr. Haydn]

On 6/9/2023 at 6:00 PM, Prince Namor said:

ON NEWSSTANDS DECEMBER 1963

Strange Tales #118 - Written By Magical: Stan Lee  Drawn by Mystical: Steve Ditko  Lettered by Mysterious: Sam Rosen (He used his first name!)

Dear Stan:

 

Dr. Strange is nicknamed the "Master of the Mystic Arts" on pages 2 and 8. He's called the "Master of Black Magic" on pages 3 and 6. Please make up your mind!

 

Sincerely,

A Confused Fan

[bc]

On 6/11/2023 at 4:47 PM, Dr. Haydn said:

Dear Stan:

 

Dr. Strange is nicknamed the "Master of the Mystic Arts" on pages 2 and 8. He's called the "Master of Black Magic" on pages 3 and 6. Please make up your mind!

 

Sincerely,

A Confused Fan

PS - Page 7, 1st panel

"Mormammu"

-bc 

[Dr. Haydn]

PS - Page 7, 1st panel

"Mormammu" 

-bc 

The Mighty Mormammu is an example of Smilin' Stan's awesome alliteration, I guess. 

Perhaps he's the Dread Dormammu's big brother?

[bc]

On 6/11/2023 at 5:37 PM, Dr. Haydn said:

PS - Page 7, 1st panel

"Mormammu" 

-bc 

The Mighty Mormammu is an example of Smilin' Stan's awesome alliteration, I guess. 

Perhaps he's the Dread Dormammu's big brother?

Stan: "Hey Steve, we got a lot of reader mail about Dormammu"

Steve: "That's great, I'm working on a new story with him"

Stan: "I think what the readers want is another Dormammu"

Steve: "Um, ok...What should we call him?"

Stan: "Hmmm, they want More Dormammu, wait I got it! Mormammu!"

Steve: 

Steve: 

Stan: "Wait, I have some ideas for Spider-Man!"

-bc