June 1967
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D #2
“Crisis”
Fury has been Strucker’s prisoner for 12 hours, but now the Baron announces that the impregnable dome over Hydra Island will keep them safe from the "Death Spore" plague, and plans to use Fury's body as the basis for an army of Hydra androids to "police" the world, once he's dead from the Alpha Ray beam. Meanwhile, SHIELD searches their Heli-Carrier for the bomb and get some false alarms, but have yet to find the bomb.
On Hydra Island, Fury moves around stealthily, sabotaging Hydra, until Strucker confronts him for another one-on-one rematch. Thanks to the deadly Satan Claw glove, Strucker gains the upper hand, and Fury is lucky to escape again with his life.
Script, Pencils: Jim Steranko
Inks: Marie Severin
Fantastic Four #63
“Blastaar the Living Bomb-Burst!”
Later that evening, the Sandman and Blastaar go on a crime spree in downtown Manhattan, robbing store after store. The police are no match for their power and Daredevil, when he shows up, is sent scurrying for cover. Johnny and Crystal are out on a date, but Thing and Invisible Girl take Lockjaw with to capture Blastaar. Mr. Fantastic had retrieved the broken containment suit from the Negative Zone, examined it for flaws, and is working on improving it.
Sandman, meanwhile, has discovered that Blastaar is out of control -- he doesn’t just want to steal, he wants to destroy and conquer. The Sandman decides to cut out when Ben, Sue, and Lockjaw show up. Blastaar’s bomb bursts keep Thing and Lockjaw at bay until Invisible Girl starts deflecting them with forcefields so the two can get in close.
Johnny and Crystal see the Sandman while on their date and go after him. Working together with heat, they easily manage to fuse his sand structure and render him immobile just before he can flee to the beach. By coincidence, the Sub-Mariner is on that beach, and is glad to see the Human Torch. Asking for forgiveness for their past quarrels, Sub-Mariner asks the Torch for an audience with the rest of the FF.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fantastic arrives with a containment unit. Thing and Lockjaw have Blastaar pinned down by now and toss him in it. Thing advises tossing him back into the Negative Zone, but Mr. Fantastic wants to find out who exiled Blastaar to the Negative Zone, and why.
Script: Scott Casper
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #92
“The Coming of …It!”
Three weeks have passed. Dorma is still on the run, but has been caught by Aquarian soldiers. Before they can arrest her, Sub-Mariner arrives with Tereve, their captain. The soldiers are quickly brought up to snuff on what has transpired, how a vote of no confidence in Byrrah has removed him from the throne of Aquaria and the Sub-Mariner and Dorma are no longer criminals.
Meanwhile, back in Aquaria, Byrrah is forcing an old sage to lead him down secret tunnels to where It, the Silent One sleeps in the Cavern of Darkness. Byrrah throws food into the cavern to wake It, to have his revenge on everyone. Byrrah then knocks out the sage and leaves him as a snack for It before fleeing.
Soon, Sub-Mariner and Dorma are meeting with the Council of Elders, a legislative body currently in control of the city. They are considering offering the city back to the Sub-Mariner, but he counters that he is still considering asking for it. Dorma talks about how this is their heritage and does so with such conviction that she convinces him, but not how she expected. He goes back to the council and asks them to consider making Dorma their princess.
While discussing it, word reaches them that It has broken through the city, killed some people, but then headed out to sea and destroyed a U.S. submarine. The Sub-Mariner, familiar with how the U.S. will react to this, vows to hunt It down.
Script: Scott Casper
Pencils: Gene Colan
Inks: Vince Colletta
The Incredible Hulk #2
“Turning Point!”
Gamma Base is getting ready for the Abomination’s return. Betsy and Talbot are arguing about if they need Bruce as the Hulk or not. Bruce Banner interrupts and agrees with Talbot; he’s done all he can with his mind and next they’ll need brute strength.
As Bruce climbs into the gamma machine that will change him back into the Hulk, General Ross and Talbot debate how they could use this moment to end the threat of the Hulk forever. The Stranger appears and asks them why they don’t. Talbot talks about taking the risk they know over the risk they don’t know, but Ross surprises him by talking about knowing when your enemy deserves respect. The Stranger leaves.
The Abomination lands within sight of Rick Jones, who radios Gamma Base. The Hulk leaps out to meet the Abomination, despite being told he needs to lure the Abomination in range of the gamma siphons. The two monsters clash, with the Abomination driving the Hulk back, because Banner’s machine is still drawing the Abomination towards it. Eventually he gets in range of the siphons, which now target him specifically and ignore the Hulk. The Hulk gets the upper hand.
The Stranger appears and says he has chosen the Abomination to serve his needs. The Abomination has all the strength he needs, but the Hulk’s true strength comes from his connections with those who admire, love, or respect him. The Stranger leaves with the Abomination, for parts unknown.
Script: Roy Thomas
Pencils: Gil Kane
Inks: Marie Severin
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