The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 061 - X-Men #46 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Sixty-One

X-Men #46 (July, 1968)
"The End of the X-Men!"
"... And Then There Were Two"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Pencils - Don Heck, Werner Roth, & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione
Letters - Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12c

Back behind the mic after a long hiatus... jumping back in with the Silver Age X-Men, just as they're getting set to split up! This being a Chris-show, expect the first half-hour of it to be full of stuff you probably couldn't care less about... but, once I finally get to the comics-content, it's a pretty good time! Two "ehh" stories, the Mutant Mail-Box, and Bullpen Bulletins are all here!

Huge and sincere THANK YOU for your patience and lack of new episodes over the past few months.

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 58 - X-Men #45 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Eight

X-Men #45 (June, 1968)
"When Mutants Clash!"
"And the Mob Cried... Vengeance!"
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - Johns Tartaglione & Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen & Irving Watanabe
Colors - ?
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

On the eve of Avengers vs X-Men: Round Two -- we get to experience a slapfight between Cyclops and Quicksilver!  Not much more to say about this one!  Our "Origins of the Uncanny X-Men" backup is sillier than ever... and, speaking of silly - boy, wait'll you hear how the X-Faithful eulogized Professor X in the letters pages!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 57 - X-Men #44 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Seven

X-Men #44 (May, 1968)
"Red Raven, Red Raven...!"
"The Iceman Cometh!"
Plots - Roy Thomas
Writer - Gary Friedrich
Layouts - Don Heck
Pencils - Werner Roth & George Tuska
Inks - John Tartaglione & John Verpoorten
Colors - ???
Letters - Sam Rosen & Artie Simek
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

We're finally back for a stint in the Silver-Age... where one of our teen-age heroes meets a fella outta Marvel's Golden Age!  It's the coming (and going) of Red Raven!  Hold on to yer harnesses gang, this one's gonna be a barn-burner!  We've got us a new writer to boot!

Plus - The Origins of the X-Men backup strip focuses on Kid Kool as he gets roughed up by some Strong Island street toughs, and thrown in the clink!

Also - our normal Silver-Age back-matter - Letters Pages (featuring future pros Keith Giffen and Carl Gafford), an abridged Bullpen Bulletins bit, and an absolutely overflowing MIGHTY Marvel Checklist!

It's great to be back in "the long ago", I sure hope you'll join me!

--

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 056 - X-Men #43 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Six

X-Men #43 (April, 1968)
"The Torch is Passed...!"
"Call Him... Cyclops"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Pencils - George Tuska & Werner Roth
Inks - John Tartaglione & John Verpoorten
Letters - Sam Rosen & Artie Simek
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Back to the flagship... but still with Magneto!  A wildly convenient little ditty today, which starts at Professor X's somber memorial... and ends up on the electrified floor of Island M.  The hows and whys are part of (if not ALL of) the fun...

Also: A backup strip to shut up some of the more annoying... err, prolific... letterhacks, finally explaining how Cyclops' powers work!

Speaking of letterhacks, we'll be covering 7-8 of those, then hopping into the Bullpen Bulletins to talk about the 1968 Marvel Explosion, I kvetch s'more about variant covers... and much, much more!

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode 054 - Avengers #48 (1968)

The Essential X-Lapsed, Episode Fifty-Four

Avengers #48 (January, 1968)
"The Black Knight Lives Again!"
Writer - Roy Thomas
Art - George Tuska
Letters - Artie Simek
Colors - ???
Edits - Stan Lee
Cover Price: 12¢

Continuing our sidebar into Avengers, where we're following the grand return of Magneto!  Today's episode answers the question "Is that a microphone down your pants, or are you just happy to see me?", and sees the All-New, All-Different Black Knight take flight!  Also, the Avengers are verrrrrrry sloppy without the guidance and leadership of Captain America!

Plus: We discuss a portion of an essay written by Roy Thomas in 2003 wherein he reflected on his first go-round with Marvel's Merry Mutants.

--

https://www.patreon.com/xlapsed

X-Lapsed Voicemail: 623-396-5375 (or, 623-396-JERK)

Twitter: @acecomics / Instagram: @90sxmen

weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com

chrisandreggie.podbean.com

The All-New, All-Different chrisisoninfiniteearths.com

facebook.com/groups/90sxmen

Secret Origins #4 (1986)

Secret Origins #4 (July, 1986)
"The Secret Origin of Firestorm, the Nuclear Man"
Writer - Gerry Conway
Pencils - George Tuska
Inks - Pablo Marcos
Letters - John Costanza & Carrie Spiegle
Colors - Nansi Hoolahan
Assists - Paul Kupperberg & Robert Greenberger
Edits - Janice Rice
Cover Price: $0.75

I feel like I preface the same way every time we discuss Firestorm... but, this was a character (and a title) I never really glommed onto.  That might sound like heresy, especially to say such a thing on the internet... but, I ain't about to lie to y'all and proclaim myself to be some sort of expert.

I've tried... Lord knows... to "get into" Firestorm.  Mostly because, it's one of those books that I'm told I "should like".  It's the most Marvel-ish of the DC books... and, as a Marvel Boy, should have felt more like "home" to me than many of DC's other standbys.  And yet, I just didn't get it.  Still don't, in fact!  I like the idea, the concept, and even the character... just not enough to actually sit through a hundred issues (or pages) featuring him.

Maybe one'a these days I'll come around... til then, however, let's take a peek into (part of) his "secret origin".  Perhaps this will help make all of those pieces fall into place for me?

--

We open with Firestorm on-the-job... and a little back 'n forth between his two halves.  Professor Stein is happy that Ronnie is so excited to help the Pittsburgh P.D. with all of their troubles... but, really needs to be somewhere.  What he's trying to say is, maybe some cats ought to be left in trees... or something.  More like, let the actual police have some of the fun, I guess.  The two split up, and... somewhat surprisingly (at least to me), it's Stein we follow back to the "real life".  We rejoin him at Vandemeer University, where he's met by his... assistant (?) Wendy.  She asks if he'd like to join her downtown for some Chicago-Style pizza.  I'll... fight the temptation to mention that New York pizza is world's better.  Stuffy ol' Stein declines the offer... and would rather just stand pensively in his window having a flashback...

... All the way back to his college days at Jessie Spano's alma mater, Stanford... err, Sanford.  Likely a technical school having to do with waste management then?  We catch up with him as he's being bullied by a very Tuska-looking tough guy.  This is Brad, somethin' or 'nother... and he wants to cheat off of him on the upcoming "Semester Exam".  Stein (who the bully calls "Stern") refuses at first... until Brad rams his finger up his nose... at which time, our man reconsiders.

Humiliated, Stein drops to the ground to pick up his books.  He's approached by Crystal Frost, who would like nothing more than to comfort him.  Instead of accepting this, Martin tells her to scram... unwittingly setting off a series of events that would end in her becoming the villain, Killer Frost.  Oops!

Next, comes the day of testing... and young Marty has himself a plan.  He will indeed let Brad copy off his paper... but, here's the thing, he's going to answer every question incorrectly himself!  This gets Stein a rather sizable knuckle sandwich.

We jump ahead to Stein using this beat-down as a way of digging down and finding his determination.  He'd tune out the world completely, and devote his life to his studies.  He'd eventually graduate, and receive both his Masters and Doctorate on the same day.  From here, the world was his oyster... he'd get a great gig at S.T.A.R. Labs... and yet, even with all of these accomplishments under his belts... his self-esteem still sucked!  Anytime he'd hear people laughing nearby, he'd automatically assume they were laughing at him.  Whew, it's not just me who feels that way then...

All of his self-doubts and fears ultimately turn Martin Stein toward... the drink.  He's self-medicating, and making no apologies.  One night at the disco, he's approached by a beautiful (?) woman (it is a George Tuska drawing, after all).  She is immediately smitten, and so, drags him out to the dance floor.

Seven days later... they're married!  This is Martin's wife, Clarissa... with whom he was "deliriously happy".  That's what we in the biz call "famous last words", right?

It doesn't take too terribly long for that other shoe to drop.  Ya see, Ms. Clarissa... liked to spend money.  What's more, she liked to spend money Marty didn't have.  This leads to a massive blowup, that ends with Martin "putting hands" on her.  He wrenches her arm, which freaks them both out... she ultimately storms out.  They would eventually divorce...

... and so, Marty went back to his cruel mistress... booze.  Around now, he's left S.T.A.R. Labs for a lead gig at Hudson Nuclear.  Here, he designed the world's first fully automated nuclear power plant... or, at least that was the plan.

Now, nuclear energy was (and is) a hot-button issue... and so, there were many people looking to protest the development of this new facility... including a brutish looking fellow who refers to Stein as "Stern".  This sends Martin reeling into a flashback to his tormented college days, and he shoves the dude into the fence.  Turns out, it's just some other young knucklehead and not Brad-the-Bully.  Stein's assistant, Danton Black sweeps our man away to a nearby car before he can do anything he might regret.  They head directly to the bar so Marty can tie (another) one on.

The whole chat here is... weird, and kind of a heartbreaking look into the mind of a paranoid victim of bullying.  Even though he's like top dog right now, he can't stifle the feelings that everyone views him as weak... and are laughing at him behind his back.  Danton lent our man an ear... which seems like something a friend might do... but, in reality... he was just confirming his own suspicions that Martin Stein is a drunk.  We jump ahead to a point in time where Danton decides he's going to steal an isotope... and, considering what he now knows about Stein... there ain't much he can do to stop him!

Danton tells Stein that if he dares fire him, the whole world will find out that he's a raging alcoholic.  After being whacked with a briefcase, Stein decides calls his bluff...

... which is something he'll soon regret.  Two days later, the entire operation is shut down.  Stein decides "screw it", and proceeds with the launch anyway.

Turns out, at that very moment... a "racial" antinuclear group was putting some explosives in place to tank the entire place... and probably render much of the East Coast unlivable for a rather long time.  I'm going to assume they meant to describe these goobers as "radical" and not "racial", right?  The Prof gets backhanded when he attempts to intervene... and winds up laid out by the bombs alongside some kid named Ronnie.

The timer on the bomb ticks down... and Ronnie wakes up.  Rather than rushing off to save himself, he decides to try and pull the Prof out of harm's way.  This doesn't work out well for either of them!  Also, Danton Black was still lingering around the place, and got hit with a blast of radiation himself!  This is how he'd wind up becoming the villain, Multiplex.

From here, we get the quick and dirty on what Firestorm is and does... and our flashback finally ends.  Stein stops to think s'more and decides life's too short to spend it alone with your papers.  We wrap up with him joining Wendy and the gang at that pizza joint.

--

Now, up to this point I knew diddly and squat about Professor Stein.  I mean, I knew of him... and who he was, but outside of pointing him out in a line-up, I couldn't tell ya all that much.  This issue, I feel, did a great job of filling in many of those blanks for me.

I think, up to this point, I always just assumed the Professor was a cold, stodgy, no-nonsense, colorless, flavorless, odorless sort of character.  Just something we dealt with while we waited for Ronnie's scenes.  Does that make any sense?  I mean, I'm coming at this as an ignorant outsider... but, the idea of following around the Professor for an entire issue, at first blush, seems like a really bad idea.  Almost like we lost a bet or something.

Instead... what we get is... pretty damned good!  We (or I) meet this Martin Stein, and find him to be downright relatable!  Someone with as many flaws as he has accomplishments... and, I tell ya what, this is one very successful fellow.  While I do feel that the alcoholism angle might be like an "easy" way to give him a vice or a failing... everything that led up to that actually felt organic and meaningful.  What I'm trying to say is, seeing him turn to the drink didn't feel "outta nowhere".

My main takeaway here, if I had to pick one, is despite Stein's many successes... at the end of the day, he still sees himself as an impotent (in the helpless sort of way) victim of bullying.  These bits really resonated with me, in that... I (and I assume many) can definitely relate to such feelings.  I can't quite say that anything I've done (or will ever do) could measure up to ya know nuclear ingenuity... but, I've had my fair share of "successes".  Unfortunately, anytime they might be acknowledged, I suspect whoever's speaking is being either sarcastic or patronizing.

Even today, though... as a dude in his forties... if I'm in a classroom, and I hear a group of people chuckling... I automatically assume they're laughing at me.  It's really hindered my ability, self-esteem, and self-efficacy over the years.  I feel like I'm too busy guarding myself to allow myself to just "be".  Ya know?  I'm not a drinker, thankfully... I guess my vice is the back-issue bins.  If I were starring in this issue, I'd jump from having my face rubbed in the dirt to my rubbing my own face in some ancient newsprint.  There's an image for ya!

Anyhoo, outside of all the heady-stuff, this was still a great little primer on Stein.  I really appreciated how Multiplex and Killer Frost's origins were tied in here.  Thought that was a neat little bit of completistness... completionism... whatever it is I'm trying to say.  The art from George Tuska was.... Tuska-y.  I swear Bully Brad showed up in every crowd shot here... even though he actually didn't.  I guess what I'm trying to say is... some of these characters looked very "stock".

Overall... thought this was pretty cool... and, I learned a whole lot about Professor Stein's origins... from, ya know, a half-dozen reboots ago.  I don't know how much (if any) of this still stands in our current DC Comics landscape... and, ya know what... I bet the folks actually collecting paychecks at DC don't either!

--

(Not the) Letters Page:

--

Interesting Ads: