Inhumans! Mandarin! Kirby!

 

In August of 1970, Marvel Comics launched both Amazing Adventures and Astonishing Tales, two bimonthly books with split-story formats that recalled the success of the company's earlier trio of titles from 1964 which eventually adopted the same double-feature presentations--Tales To Astonish, Tales Of Suspense, and Strange Tales, all of which shifted their focus from monster/mystery/macabre tales to super-hero adventures in 1962-63.

In some of his last work for the company before his departure, artist Jack Kirby would be assigned work on each book's premiere issues. Having already seen Kirby's work with writer Stan Lee on the Ka-Zar feature of Astonishing Tales, we turn to his contribution to the first four issues of Amazing Adventures, a title where the uncanny Inhumans would be featured until the beginning of 1972 (on a bimonthly publication schedule). In this assignment, Kirby would not only provide artwork but also write both stories--to my knowledge, the last of only four scripting jobs he would turn in during his nine years with the company (apart from his earlier work with Timely/Atlas comics), a rare opportunity to see a Marvel story executed exactly as Kirby conceived it.

Since the Inhumans (like the issue's other featured star, the Black Widow) would only be allotted one-half of each issue due to the split-feature format, Kirby's work for these four issues would essentially comprise two regular-sized stories. And we have quite a lineup of guest-stars, with the Inhumans coming into conflict with the villainous Mandarin as well as none other than Kirby's signature characters at Marvel, the Fantastic Four.

It stands to reason that any dispute between the Inhumans and the FF would be the result of a misunderstanding, since the four have been in good standing with Black Bolt and the royal family for some time--in addition to the fact that one of their own, Crystal, is part of the team (though not for much longer). At any rate, the ball gets rolling just as the Inhumans detect an apparent attack launched against their Great Refuge, at a time when their race is already skittish about the possibility of humans invading their sanctity.

Of course, it may come as no surprise to readers who are familiar with the Inhumans to discover the identity of the true instigator of this hostile act--Black Bolt's spiteful brother, Maximus, who wishes to regain the throne he once usurped at any cost, even if it leads to war.

(Assuming there's a Great Refuge or any Inhumans left after that war--much less a throne, you lunatic.)

Maximus is correct, however, in his assumption that the power of Black Bolt will likely be enough to avert this crisis; in fact, in the scene which follows, it's fair to wonder (as his family all but admits here) just what the Inhumans would do without the presence of their king, who is their first (and apparently sufficient) line of defense against an attack of this nature. But there is a more pressing concern:  during these tense moments, the Inhumans are forced to consider that since these weapons are directly targeting the Refuge, whoever fired the missiles knows of their location--and the evidence they discover seems to be conclusive as to who must be held responsible.

And yet, while the assault on the FF proceeds, Black Bolt has sent Triton to verify the other suspect in this matter--and when confirmation as to the true culprit has been obtained, a message is sent which only (again, who else?) Black Bolt is equipped to receive. And just in time, too, judging by the state in which we (along with Reed and Sue) find the FF.

Maximus's annoying ranting aside, Triton would have done well not to have cut him off, as we would later see this madman gain his revenge as well as the throne he craved. As for Medusa's parting words--while they strike a conciliatory tone, there really wasn't any "pausing" done on the Inhumans' part until after they had first ambushed and neutralized the three members of the FF in residence (including their own cousin and Medusa's sister, Crystal). It's rather easy to lay claim to an enlightened posture, once you've dealt with your targets, eh, madam?

Sometime later (as in the following issue), the Inhumans continue to take action to prevent discovery of their Refuge--only this time, someone else takes notice from afar and schemes, like Maximus, to use them for his own purpose.

At this point in time, the Mandarin is far more capable of aggressively confronting the royal family than Maximus, and he makes an impressive showing against Karnak, Gorgon, Triton, and Medusa. But, as before, it's Black Bolt whose power is depended on to end the threat. How gratifying, then, to discover that the Mandarin is ten steps ahead of them all in cunning, giving this story its second wind.

With Stan Lee serving in an editorial capacity, I couldn't help but notice that these stories thus far have been noticeably lacking in Kirby's curious tendency to place emphasis on words that don't necessarily reflect how a speaking person might sound using the same sentences. As a result, both stories have been a smooth read from start to finish, and their dialog less distracting than it otherwise might be (assuming that Lee indeed took an active hand in making such adjustments).

As the Mandarin indicates, Black Bolt acts as the villain had predicted and has decided to investigate just why the Mandarin fought so fiercely to lay claim to the area. The answer lies in an ancient temple discovered beneath the surface, and a chamber that houses an idol where rests the prize that the Mandarin has sought--a source of power which the Inhumans have all but delivered to their enemy's waiting hands.

Seeking to more quickly track down the object, the Inhumans separate--and, one by one, they discover that the Mandarin is not only alive, but that his rings are far more powerful than what they faced before. Consequently, Karnak and his cousins again fall to the forces that the Mandarin brings to bear, at which point we discover the madman's plans for the entire planet. Yet again, however, it's Black Bolt who carries the ball for the other Inhumans, wresting victory from almost certain death.

Considering that one of the Mandarin's rings delivers a hypnotic effect, being defeated by Black Bolt's hypno-pattern must be especially stinging to him.

Despite Black Bolt's sealing away the Mandarin's rings, our villain would be able to use an alien headband to regain them and go after Iron Man (with the Unicorn tagging along as the Mandarin's mindless "eleventh ring"). As for Mr. Kirby, he was spending his time more productively, busily churning out amazing product for DC Comics.

COMING UP: Jack Kirby's other scripting work, circa 1966-69.