Commie-Clobbering Kaiju STRANGE TALES "Fin Fang Foom!" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Favorite Comics Kaiju...

Aroused from his centuries-long slumber, Fin Fang Foom pursues the human who awakeened him, not realizing the human has an ulterior motive...using the kaiju as a living weapon against a Communist invasion force!

Yes, we know FFF was green on the cover, but orange on the inside!

It's another of those screw-ups that occur because covers (on slick magazine stock) and comic book interiors (on newsprint) are printed on different presses on different schedules, so they don't get processed or leave the publisher's offices at the same time!

And considering Editor Stan Lee was handling the entire Atlas/Marvel line all by himself, it's lucky FFF wasn't purple on either the inside or outside of Strange Tales #89!
When Fin Fang Foom began appearing in new stories, starting with Marvel's Astonishing Tales #23 (1974), he consistently remained green, though with red, purple or green shorts!

(BTW, you'll be seeing FFF's fellow kaiju It: the Living Colossus later this month!)

He's been a part of the Marvel Multiverse, numerous animated Marvel TV series and even the Marvel Cinematic Universe (named "Great Protector") in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!

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Commie-Clobbering Kaiju STRANGE TALES "Fin Fang Foom!" Part 1

You Know Him!
You Love Him!
You Can't Stop Saying His Name!

And now you're going to see his introduction (though not his origin) exactly as it appeared in Atlas' Strange Tales #89!

To be Concluded...TOMORROW!

You may wonder why we're going to break away.from the story just as the Chi-Com Clobbering is about to begin!

There's a very simple reason!

It's because editor/plotter Stan Lee, writer Larry Lieber, penciler Jack Kirby, and inker Dick Ayers ended the first chapter here!
You'll also note that Fin Fang Foom is orange, yet most fans are used to seeing him green, like this...

...and since the reprint (above) in Marvel's Where Monsters Dwell #21 (1973), he's been some shade of green!

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Russkie-Smashers SUB-MARINER "and the Secret Tunnel!"

While Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner is easily one of the most powerful Timely/Atlas/Marvel heroes...

...he ain't one of the brightest...or is he???

Written and illustrated by Subby's creator, Bill Everett, this tale from Atlas' Sub-Mariner Comics #40 (1955) was a classic example of the tricksters themselves being tricked!

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Russkie-Smashers CAPTAIN AMERICA "His Touch is Death!"

For the 4th of July, We Decided to Go with the Russkies' Attempt to Create Their Own Super-Soldier...

...Albeit One Powered by Electricity!

BTW, note the difference between how Electro, the Russkie "Super-Soldier" is shown on the cover and inside, even though both cover and interior art are by the same artist...John Romita Sr!

It's likely they were done a couple of months apart.

This cover-featured story from Atlas' Captain America V1N78 (1954) is written by Don Rico and illustrated by John Romita Sr.

Trivia: The name "Electro" was used by numerous heroes and villains at various comics publishers during the Golden Age, including a heroic robot appearing in Timely's Marvel Mystery Comics for several issues, making Ivan Kronov the second Timely/Atlas/Marvel character (and first villain) to use the name.
There have been two unrelated Marvel villains known as "Electro" since; Max Dillon and Francine Frye.

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Decades

Marvel in the '50s

Captain America Strikes!

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Russkie-Smashers MARVEL BOY II "Blast of Doom!"

Even though he was raised on Uranus, Robert Grayson is as all-American as anyone...

...and he'd defend the good 'ol USA against any and all Commie threats, whether they're Chi-Coms, North Koreans, or Russkies!

Note: the "Astros Invasion" involved an alien race, not Houston's baseball team (which didn't exist when this story was published in Atlas' Marvel Boy #2 (1951)!

Some days you just gotta let your inner nerd out!

Patriotic and a planet-saver!

Whatta guy!

Illustrated and likely written by Bill Everett, an under-appreciated creative who worked in comics from the beginning of the Golden Age in 1938 to the Bronze Age, when he passed away in 1973.

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which includes all of Marvel Boy's 1950-51 appearances as well as the 1953 re-intro of Captain America, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner
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Russkie-Smashers SUB-MARINER COMICS "Toying with the Russkies"

When in doubt, go with a classic...

...in this case, a Bill Everett-scripted and illustrated tale of his greatest creation doing what he does best...underwater combat!

C'mon, admit it!

This story from Atlas' Sub-Mariner Comics #34 (1954) gives you that satisified feeling that all will be right with the world, doesn't it?

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Russkie-Smashers YOUNG MEN COMICS "Captain America Turns Traitor!"

Last Time, We Presented a Captain America Pastiche...

...This Time, He's the Real Deal!

(At least 1950s readers thought he was, though he was later retconned into one of several Cap replacements before the real Star-Spangled Avenger was defrosted by The Avengers!)

The Super-Soldier Serum makes Cap invulnerable to psyche-controlling drugs?

Written by Don Rico and illustrated by John Romita Sr, this tale from Atlas' Young Men Comics #26 (1954) also features Bucky killing an entire Russkie sub crew!

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Decades

Marvel in the '50s

Captain America Strikes!

(Which reprints this story)

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