Unstable Molecules

Over the last year I've been reading and researching material for the Unstable Molecules podcast, looking at the influences on the early Marvel universe's comics and creators. What I thought would be two or three episodes looks like being at least ten - before I even get to Fantastic Four #1. I'm hoping to get to that point by the end of the year. There's so much that feeds into the early Marvel comics universe that my original plan to get an episode out monthly has been held up be the sheer amount of reading I've needed to do. I've probably read around 1000 comics plus background material and criticism. On top of that I have a busy job and a family - so getting UM episodes out frequently as I'd hoped has been tough. My plan with Panel Breakouts is to share some of the work I'm doing in between the episodes: from thoughts about a single issue to historical facts I've found out. Nothing polished or edited: just a quick look at something interesting that ties into the main podcast. I'm preparing an episode of Unstable Molecules about Atlas Comics' romance titles and the influence they had in establishing the tone of the early Marvel comics (plus looking at the influence of Simon and Kirby on the Romance genre). This episode of Panel Breakouts takes a look at Patsy Walker #95.

We take a look at Jack Kirby's creation of the first Silver Age superhero team, The Challengers of the Unknown. Plus Kirby's work on Sky Masters of the Space Force. 0:00:00 - Kirby & the creation of The Challengers 0:04:12 - Kirby talks about Challengers (interview) 0:04:25 - About The Challengers 0:06:45 - Who are The Challengers? 0:07:52 - Showcase #6 0:10:53 - Showcase #7 0:16:50 - Showcase #11 0:18:30 - Showcase #12 0:19:52 - Challengers of the Unknown #1 0:21:54 - Challengers of the Unknown #2 0:23:37 - Challengers of the Unknown #3 0:25:17 - Challengers of the Unknown # 0:27:53 - Challengers of the Unknown #5 0:28:59 - Challengers of the Unknown #6 0:31:51 - Challengers of the Unknown #7 0:33:07 - Challengers of the Unknown # 0:38:21 - Kirby & the creation of Sky Masters 0:41:22 - Legal trouble! 0:42:46 - "Washed up at Atlas" 0:43:57 - Thanks for listening "Something Happens" by NICOCO (www.jamendo.com) "Falling Skies" by Bane Djakovic (www.jamendo.com) "Action Inspiration Trailer" by Blue Giraffe (www.jamendo.com) "Emotional Theme" by Blue Giraffe (www.jamendo.com) "Epic 3" by Blue Giraffe (www.jamendo.com) "Epic Trailer" by Blue Giraffe (www.jamendo.com) "Inspire" by Blue Giraffe (www.jamendo.com) "Adventure" by Celestial Aeon Project (www.jamendo.com) "Opener Into Teaser" by Celestial Aeon Project (www.jamendo.com) "Phoenix" by Circus Marcus (www.jamendo.com) "Fragrance of Hope" by Mattia Vlad Morleo (www.jamendo.com) "Epic Success" by Music for Your Media (www.jamendo.com) "Epic Action" by Musway Studio (www.jamendo.com) "Soundtrak01" by Naturalbody (www.jamendo.com) "Cinematic Romance" by The JR Sound Design (www.jamendo.com) Twitter: @MarvelUMpodcast Website: www.marvelunstablemolecules.com Email: [email protected]

The next episode of Unstable Molecules will be in the feed soon. It's all about Kirby's work on The Challengers of the Unknown before he joined Stan Lee at Atlas in 1958. After that I'll be adding episodes on War comics, Romance and Steve Ditko. In the meantime, here's a little something about the Challengers themselves...

This time we look at Marvel's first attempt to create an ongoing superhero in 1961 before The Fantastic Four... The Amazing Dr Droom, occult detective. 0:00:00 - Intro 0:00:14 - "My eyes... They're becoming slanted!" 0:00:40 - Introducing Dr Droom 0:03:50 - Amazing Adventures #1 (June 1961) 0:06:40 - Comparison with Dr Strange's first appearance (Strange Tales #110) 0:08:30 - Amazing Adventures #2 (July 1961) 0:11:07 - Amazing Adventures #3 (August 1961) 0:12:35 - Amazing Adventures #4 (September 1961) 0:14:24 - Amazing Adventures #6 (November 1961) 0:16:25 - Retcon 0:16:52 - thanks for listening

Season Zero Episode Three: Giant Monsters! This time we look at what type of comics Atlas/Marvel were creating at the end of the 50s and why the giant beasts and alien invaders of the Monster Age became a crucial component of the formation of the Marvel Universe. It's these types of fantasy and SF comics that brought together the Marvel architects: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. 0:00:00 - “I say there are better things left unsolved!” 0:01:00 - monsters: the context 0:03:01 - monster movies of the 50s 0:04:28 - SF movies of the 50s 0:06:23 - Atlas Comics joins the monster craze 0:08:30 - monster names 0:09:42 - Strange Worlds (December 1958) 0:11:13 - Monstroso attacks! 0:13:06 - Strange Tales #70 (The Sphinx) 0:15:44 - Tales of Suspense #8 (Monstroso) 0:17:53 - Strange Tales #75 (Taboo) 0:20:29 - Tales of Suspense #15 (Goom) 0:24:11 - Strange Tales #83 (Groog) 0:27:18 - Amazing Adventures #1 (Torr) 0:30:57 - Strange Tales #89 (Fin Fang Foom) 0:35:53 - monster comics become super-hero comics 0:38:12 - thanks for listening "Something Happens" by NICOCO (www.jamendo.com) "Le Beau Blaireau" by NICOCO (www.jamendo.com) "Come Here (Piano)" by NICOCO (www.jamendo.com) Stan Lee talking about Fin Fang Foom from “Stan Lee’s Amazing Marvel Universe” Trailers for: It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Twitter: @MarvelUMpodcast Website: www.marvelunstablemolecules.com Email: [email protected]