Journey into Mystery, #96
Published: September 1963
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Merlin the Mad!
"Behold, Thor... your power is nothing compared to the mystic arts at my command!"
Characters
- Thor [Doctor Donald Blake]
- Merlin [Maha Yogi]
Credits
- Script: Stan Lee
- Pencils: Jack Kirby
- Inks: Sol Brodsky
- Colors: Stan Goldberg
- Letters: Artie Simek
Story Notes
Brodsky cover inks credit from Nick Caputo via the GCD Errors list, January 2009. Original indexer credited Dick Ayers.
Boys! Men! My Secret New Dynaflex Method
Characters
- Mike Marvel (photo)
Story Notes
Ad for Dynaflex body-building course for $1.98 inside front cover.
Defying the Magic of... Mad Merlin!
"Hey, professor!"
Storyline
Merlin is awakened after a thousand years and immediately decides to try and take over the world. He battles Thor using familiar Washington D.C. monuments. Thor defeats Merlin and forces him to return to sleep.
Characters
- Thor [Doctor Donald Blake]
- Merlin [Maha Yogi] (introduction)
- Jane Foster
- Loki (cameo)
- President John F. Kennedy (cameo)
- Caroline Kennedy (cameo)
- Pierre Salinger (cameo)
- King Arthur (cameo, flashback)
Credits
- Script: Stan Lee
- Script: Marie-Christine Demeure
- Pencils: Joe Sinnott
- Inks: Joe Sinnott
- Colors: Stan Goldberg (uncertain)
- Letters: Blake Seals
Story Notes
This 'Merlin' was revealed to be an imposter in Avengers Annual #22. In most of his later appearances he calls himself 'Maha Yogi'.
The Traveler
"Bill Swift hated his set, daily routine."
Storyline
A bored man working on an assembly line is taken to outer space in his dreams, and is given an idea for an otherworldly invention.
Characters
- Bill Swift
- Mr. Allen
Story Notes
Between pages 5 and 6 of previous story sequence. Continues in next issue.
"Free with any purchase"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Centre Coin Company’s Lincoln Penny Album. On top half of page between “The Traveler†prose story and page 6 of the Thor comic story.
"Record your voice at home"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Honor House Products Corporation’s recording equipment. On lower half of page between “The Traveler†prose story and page 6 of the Thor comic story.
"Curious coins! Odd paper money!"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Littleton Coin Company’s packet of coins and money. On top half of page between pages 10 and 11 of the Thor comic story.
"Instant live sea animals"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Bargain Company's exotic Saskatchewan Brine Shrimp (Sea-Monkeys). On lower half of page between pages 10 and 11 of the Thor comic story.
"America's most lovable characters from ...Walt Disney's wonderful world"
Characters
- Mickey Mouse
- Jiminy Cricket
- Dopey
- Cinderella
- Donald Duck
- Sleeping Beauty
- Peter Pan
- Davy Crockett
- Pinocchio: Zorrro
Story Notes
Advertisement for Mother Hubbard's king-size latex toys. On top half of page.
"Reward $11,750.00 for this coin!"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Best Values Company's 1963 catalog. On lower half of page.
Call Her...Medusa!
"You who are mortal, beware!"
Storyline
The gorgons of myth were aliens and send an agent to modern Earth preceding an invasion. She cannot turn the first men she encounters to stone, but since she doesn't know that they're blind the invasion is cancelled.
Characters
- John
Credits
- Script: Stan Lee
- Script: Larry Lieber
- Pencils: Larry Lieber
- Inks: Paul Reinman
- Colors: Stan Goldberg (uncertain)
- Letters: Artie Simek
Story Notes
Job number revealed on original art. Info per Nick Caputo: http://www.artnet.com/artists/larry-lieber/larry-lieber-and-paul-reinman-journey-into-uKnuwcG9uKiVXx0-Dug_3g2
"Grog grows own tail"
Story Notes
Advertisement for Western World Products product. On top half of page.
"Boys 12 or older make $1 to $5 weekly in your spare time"
Story Notes
Advertisement for GRIT Publishing Company's bundle of papers, selling help and prize offers. On lower half of page.
Marvel Comics Group Ushers in the Marvel Age of Comics!
Featuring Strange Tales
Characters
- Spider-Man
- Human Torch [Johnny Storm]
- Sub-Mariner [Namor]
- Mr. Fantastic
- Invisible Girl
- Thing [Ben Grimm]
- Dr. Doom
Credits
- Script: Stan Lee
- Pencils: Jack Kirby
- Inks: Dick Ayers
- Inks: Sol Brodsky (uncertain)
- Colors: Stan Goldberg (uncertain)
- Letters: Artie Simek
- Letters: Sam Rosen
Story Notes
Advertises the Fantastic Four Annual (Marvel, 1963 series) #1 (1963); Strange Tales Annual (Marvel, 1962 series) #2 (1963)[unpublished version with word balloons and backgrounds] and a blurb and logo announcing the X-Men (Marvel, 1963 series).
Stamps; Shop by Mail (1)
"Stamp collecting outfit"
Story Notes
Multiple small ads for stamps and other products.
Frederick Fenton's Future!
"Frederick Fenton had one burning ambition--to visit the future!"
Storyline
An arrogant rich man builds a time machine in order gain the secret to eternal life from the future. When he arrives he finds that humanity has left Earth to go to a paradise planet, and his time machine will not take him back.
Characters
- Frederick Fenton
Credits
- Script: Stan Lee
- Pencils: Steve Ditko
- Inks: Steve Ditko
- Colors: Stan Goldberg (uncertain)
- Letters: Artie Simek
Story Notes
This is a retelling of "The Man in the Iron Box" drawn by Carl Burgos in Strange Tales (Marvel, 1951 series) #69 (June 1959); the earlier story uses suspended animation to achieve the same effect. Job number from Tom Lammers and Ger Apeldoorn via the Atlas/Timely discussion group.
"Give me just one evening and I'll teach you to hypnotize easily!"
Story Notes
Ad for hypnotism lessons.
"Amazing new home training plan in auto repairing"
Story Notes
Ad for a home study course teaching auto mechanics.
"100 toy soldiers"
Story Notes
Inside back cover. Ad for toy soldiers, vehicles, vessels and planes.
"Boys, girls, men, women"
Story Notes
Back cover. Ad for the Wallace Brown line of Christmas cards.