Marvel Mystery Comics #8

Marvel Mystery Comics #8

by Carl Burgos, Bill Everett, Joe Simon (Editor)

Namor is on a path of destruction through New York City, and it's up to the HUMAN TORCH to stop him!

Genres: Comics, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Classics, Adult

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Max Finkelstein created Jim Hamond, the Human Torch, for Timely Comics (later evolved into the Marvel Comics) in 1939, using the pen-name Carl Burgos. He also created the Thunderer for Daring Mystery Comics. Both series were published by Timely Comics, the forerunner of Marvel. He was drafted in 1942 and did mostly commercial art in subsequent years, occasionally drawing science fiction stories for Marvel, by that time known as Atlas. He also drew the first story featuring the Beetle (Abner Jenkins) in Strange Tales #123, starring Johnny Storm, the second Human Torch. Two years later, in Fantastic Four Annual #4, Marvel published a battle between the two Human Torches, resulting in the death of Jim Hamond. Although his daughter tried to preserve as much as possible, Burgos set fire to much of the Human Torch materials he had retained from the 1940s, considering the story an excuse to reassert trademark on a character they were not using simply to spite him.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sub-Mariner
Holy shit am I hype reading an old Marvel comic? This meeting is pretty intense! Namor frees the zoo animals on New York city causing massive havok! The Human Torch meets Namor as he's destroying the George Washington bridge and they have a very brief fight, really just testing each other's strengths. Next issue we get the thrilling conclusion! And while I'm excited I'm a little bummed it didn't just happen this issue, but that's because...

The Human Torch
His side of this epic meeting was mostly catch up. Torch spent the beginning of his story cleaning up the mess Namor made last issue, and in the zoo this time. Aside from talking to Namors girlfriend, nothing really new happened here, but again it's cool seeing the characters on page together. I've really got my money on the Torch though.

Aside: I loved when Namor is like "I'll get you you ass!" and Torch just chuckles and responds with "Maybe!" amazing rebuff. 10/10 honestly.

The Angel
Yeeeaaahhh the Angel sucks. His power of punching peoples faces in before they can shoot him apparently doesn't work against gun strikes. He's faster than a speeding bullet but not a gun punch to the back of the head. Then the story ends with the damsel fake fainting just so she can get in his arms. Barf.

The Masked Raider
Alright, this was a little more interesting than most Masked Raider. I could actually tell who was who, and The Masked Rider got a pardner in crime-stopping! Mexican Pete joins the party and helps our boy out. I'm fine with their friendship aside from two things:
1) let's not undercut Lightning the Horse.
2)Mexican Pete has a very stereotypical phonetic Spanish accent that has aged poorly, but he's still cool himself I guess

Electro: The Marvel of the Age
Man, don't you hate it when you create an invincible, all powerful, remote controlled robot and some jerks steal your controller? That's what happened here, Prof Zog was kidnapped by a gang and forced to use Electro to save their boss and steal jewels! This was 100% effective until the dragon-men of planet Litra come to Earth and steal Zog and Electro for themselves to overthrow the peaceful cat-men! Yeah, this one was fucking weird, but I definitely liked it, it wasn't just a robot solving like, the concept of crime.

Ferret: Mystery Detective
I'm pretty bummed how boring these have got. No Nosey this story either. I think he only works odd days. Anyway, our guy got captured again like he does everytime, luckily, since Nosey wasn't there to save him, he still managed to win the day.

Adventures of Ka-Zar the Great
I was actually kind of shocked at the beginning of this one, two dudes go into the jungle in search of a mine left behind from one of their fathers. The guys kid who's leading the expedition falls into a wild game pit trap, breaking his ankle. In answer his partner shoots him in the face. Wasn't expecting that! The rest of the story is pretty par - Ka-Zar shows up, freeing the slaves one of the men has acquired and freeing the captured elephants. It kind of sounds like something big might happen next issue of Ka-Zar, so I guess I'm looking forward to it.

[Victor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally an issue that averages two stars mainly because of the much anticipated conflict between The Torch and Sub-Mariner. While I rooted for The Torch on this first fight, because he averaged a 1.57 score instead of Sub-Mariner's 1.29 score in 7 issues so far, the result of their short confrontation was undecided. I liked the change of perspective for each character from within their own pages.





The rest of the heroes are up to their respective shenanigans, with the exception of ELECTRO - THE HERO OF THE AGES (read it with this voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwA0...) - who, after battling with the criminal and natural elements, is kidnapped with his master, to work his thing on another planet.

Also women, how do they work?

[Lser · Rating 5 out of 5]

E P I C. Best battle i've ever seen yet.

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The five star rating rides heavily on the shoulders of the anticipated crossover. It is weird to still feel this sense of glee and awe to see two characters crossover and meet for the first time. The structure was extremely well done, with Namor coming first, and then viewing Namor’s rampage through the perspective of The Human Torch. Though Namor is meant to be the misunderstood villain with the heart to do good, Torch is kind of the inverse being the obvious hero, but he is kind of a sod, especially shown with Betty in the burning car and his refusal to listen to her extol Namor’s inner worth.

After these two comics, it all goes downhill, with Ka-Zar being boring, though his I usually find at least worth reading. Everything else in here was very poor, with this being the most cringe inducing issue of Electro, who is made to serve crooks and then suddenly lizard aliens. Yes, it is that abrupt.

[Hafeez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This issue including the first ever Marvel Comics crossover between The Human Torch and The Sub-Mariner. The other stories includes are:
1. The Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner Meet
2. The Search for Sub-Mariner
3. The Captive in the Cabin (The Angel)
4. The Boomeranged Hold Up (The Masked Raider)
5. Dynamite's Doom (short story)
6. The Crook Who Controlled Electro (Electro)
7. Battle with Blackie Giles (Ferret)
8. Gold and Greed (Ka-Zar)

[Simon Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a common theme with most of these stories. A bank robbery. Robberies seemingly the most exciting crime at this period of time. It does get repetitive.

The saving light of this issue is the perspectives of the Human Torch against the Sub Mariner. I’m excited for the interactions.

[K G · Rating 3 out of 5]

The crossover was actually really good. Definitely one of my favorite golden age stories so far.

[cowboylikejoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5🌟

Finally. A comic that makes two characters connected in fighting and not busy being womanizers or racists.

[Alexis Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed the Namor vs human torch aspect

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good Marvel series, mostly just love and enjoy the Human torch and Kazar comics😄😻👍