Publication History
The 68-page comic book, bearing a cover price of 25ยข and distributed via mail-order, featured the Marvel characters the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, who were debuting in half-hour animated series that fall, as well as stories based on the upcoming animated series Journey to the Center of the Earth, King Kong, George of the Jungle, and Casper the Friendly Ghost. The cartoon block, which also included the series The Beatles, ran Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The main cover image and possibly the insert art was penciled by comics-industry notable Jack Kirby and inked by either George Roussos or Joe Sinnott (sources differ). All were Marvel Comics regulars. The image of the Fantastic Four in the top right-hand box is a partial reproduction of the Kirby-Sinnott cover of Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966).
The story contents consisted of, in order:
- a 10-page, edited Casper reprint, "The Flying Horse"
- a 10-page, edited reprint of the 22-page "Prisoners of the Pharaoh", by writer-editor Stan Lee, penciler Kirby and inker Dick Ayers, from Fantastic Four #19 (Oct. 1963)
- a 10-page, edited reprint of the 20-page "The Birth of a Super-Hero", by writer-editor Lee and penciler-inker John Romita Sr., from The Amazing Spider-Man #42 (Nov. 1966)
- the 10-page Journey To the Center of the Earth original story "The People of the Styx", by an unknown writer and penciler-inker Paul Reinman, a Marvel Comics regular
- the 10-page King Kong original story "Kong Joins the Circus", by an uncredited creative team, and
- the 10-page George of the Jungle original story "Shep's Burial Ground", also by an uncredited team.
Read more about this topic: America's Best TV Comics
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