Incredible Hulk No.141 (1971)

I love these one dollar Marvel True Believers reprints, and pulled this Incredible Hulk No.141 from 1971, introducing Doc Samson! Psychiatrist Leonard Samson helps General Ross and Major Talbot capture the Hulk, intent on using his inherent gamma force to reverse Betsy Ross' bizarre condition, turned to glass from an unfortunate blood transfusion with villain Sandman in issue No.138. Doctor Samson's calculations are inexplicably correct, and Betsy is miraculously returned to her corporeal form!

Later that night, Doctor Samson investigates a suspicion that remaining gamma energy from the transfer might enhance a person's physicality, and returns to the laboratory to test that theory on himself ...!

Doctor Leonard Samson then lives out his life-long dream to become the hero Doc Samson, and sets out to win the love of Betsy Ross. Filled with jealously, Bruce Banner resolves to do whatever necessary to win Betsy back ...!

In desperation, Banner returns to the laboratory, reviving his monstrous alter-ego in a horrific explosion! Doc Samson arrives on the seen, challenging the Green Goliath, resulting in a thundering brawl in the city streets...

Defeated, Doc Samson is spared further humiliation when Betsy breaks free of her father's restraint, rushing to the Hulk's fallen challenger. To Hulk's visible disappointment, Betsy's expression of concern for Doc Samson leaves the the behemoth again misunderstood and alone....

Follow the Super-DuperToyBox on Instagram!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Marvel Legends Doc Samson (2008)

I actually posted on this Doc Samson when I got him seven years ago, but never devoted an entire post to the figure due to his lack of accessories and somewhat underwhelming quality. He's made some guest appearances in other Marvel Legends posts here on the Super-DuperToyBox, usually when a Hulk figure is involved, because he just does better in groups with his contrasty outfit. Hailing from 2008's Hulk/Fin Fang Foom BAF Series, he did include a chunk of Fin's tail, which was useless to me. My interest in the character was thanks in part to Marvel Essential Hulk Vol. 6, which I was reading at the time. Doc doesn't appear until the end of the book, but it spurned my latent curiosity in the character.

Doc Samson was created by author Roy Thomas and artist Herb Trimpe in 1971, a psychiatrist who became affected by the same gamma that made Bruce Banner the Hulk while attempting to cure the scientist by siphoning the radiation from his body. Leonard Skivorski, Jr. then became the mighty Doc Samson! 2008 was the second year for Hasbro producing Marvel Legends, the rest of the Hulk Series more interesting than Doc here, but his presence was complementary, and helped Hasbro build that monstrous Fin Fang Foom BAF.

Of course my new 14.5" Hulk should make an appearance if we are showcasing Doc Samson ...

And while we have the Marvel Legends out, Hulk and Doc below with a few other favorites- Modern Thor, Commander Steve Rogers, and Iron Man III Series Iron Patriot ...

More Later- Make It FUN!

X-Factor #87, 1993

 I'd been reading assorted issues of X-Factor Vol.1 found in the dollar bins for some time now, up through where Havok, Polaris, Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, and Quicksilver took over for Beast, Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Archangel in issue #71. This new X-team wasn't as popular as X-Force or the X-Men, but has some good writing, popular culture references, and interestingly conflicted members. In X-Factor #87, "X-aminations", the team is required by government agent Val Cooper to submit to a counseling after any mission the government deems "traumatic"- part of their occupational obligations to their employer. This made for a fascinating little issue...

Rhane (Wolfsbane) is the first to be analyzed, telling of her strange dreams, the doctor offering her sense of self seems absent in them, such as in her "Ren & Stimpy" dream where she and Feral are morphed into the 90's cartoon characters. Joe Quesada did a fun job aping the Spumco style on the penciling here! They go on to discuss her attraction to her authority figures, including Havok, and Rhane turns ugly when Reverend Craig is mentioned- the abusive pastor who tried to kill her, later revealed to be her biological father. Talk about issues!

Quicksilver is as obtuse and fascinating as ever, clamming up when confronted about his loner status among his team mates, if he feels affection toward any one of them. "None of your business." Finishing the doctor's puzzle during their talk, Pietro compares his loathe of everyone's seemingly sloth-like speed to the incompetence of watching someone who can't operate a cash machine. Now we can begin to understand why he's always crabby  :D  Guess it's all relative! 

Polaris tries to be cold, but can hardly contain her self esteem issues that seem to repel those who try to get inside, ironically contrary to her mutant power of magnetism. The appointment ends in tears, her broken relationship with Havok remained unresolved.

Guido (Strong Guy) tells of the horrific moment as a nerdy teen when he discovered his mutant ability to channel kinetic engergy into mass and power. He then confesses that his wise-cracking ways are to mask the constant agony suffered due to his mutation.

 Jaimie Madrox attributes his need for attention to a fear of being alone- an odd phobia for the duplicitous nature of someone called Multiple Man, who creates a duplicate before the doctor to illustrate sarcastically.

  

 Alex Summers' inability to let down his guard are compounded by the struggle to maintain control over his team are rooted in self comparison to his brother Cyclops.  Havok shares many characteristics with Cyclops, most noticeably his sometimes overly serious and/or moody nature.

 Lorna returns later to defiantly proclaim herself free of repression, dressed in a sexy new outfit underneath the overcoat she wore, taking her counselor by surprise...

Anxious to be validated, the antagonistic Val Cooper demands their counselor reveal their psycholigical flaws...

Confounded by the couselor's answer, that the group is refreshingly human, Valerie stroms out his office. As she laments his prognosis, the indignant agent ponders resignation from her post before  being captured by some tentacled monster, and the identity of the counselor is revealed to be Doc Samson! I was delighted by this surprise! I also liked how the story title was on this last page, the credits listed on the windows down the hallway of the facility- nice touch!

 More Later- Make It FUN!

Hey, Mr. Postman!

How many toys have come in the mail since I started this blog two months ago, you ask? ALOT! Ha Ha! This haul actually came on Nov. 23rd, but I want to give you posts with some actual content, so I try to spread out installments of Hey, Mr. Postman! Enough blahblahblah, let's dive right in...

*Marvel Select Captain Marvel by Diamond Select Toys. I had a Captain Marvel comic as a kid and remember nothing about it, but I was impressed by this figure... I just bought it 'cause I liked it (the best reason)!

*D.C. Universe Classics Dr. Mid-Nite by Mattel... He comes with an OWL, okay?! No seriously, ever since I won my DCUC Starman on the Action Figure Blues comment contest, I've been hot for these toys! As some of you may have begun to suspect, I kinda have a thing for retro-styled heroes, and hailing from 1941, Dr. Mid-Nite is my kinda action figure... they come with a collector button, dammit! It says "adult collector" in the bottom corner?? Do I qualify?

*Marvel Legends Hulk Series Doc Sampson by Hasbro. This character is important because I was reading about him recently in Marvel Essential Hulk, Vol.6. Hulk was preparing t stomp his ass at the end of the book- guess I'll have to get Vol.7 if I want to know the outcome... *sigh*

*Watchmen Nite-Owl T-Shirt. I have a growing collection of superhero t-shirts, and this one is pretty high quality. On the back it says: "It's all crap. Who needs all this hardware to catch hookers and purse-snatchers?" Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl (1986)

SURPRISE DOUBLE BONUS ROUND of Hey, Mr. Postman!

That's right just a few short days later, I recieved ANOTHER box in the mail! If you get toys in the mail twice in one week, one or more of these things might be happening:

A.) You have recently experienced a life-changing event.

B.) You are addicted to toys.

C.) You are having a GREAT WEEK!

All of the above are true of course, so let's get on with it...

*D.C. Universe Classics Killer Moth by Mattel! Hooray!! Perhaps the most ridiculous looking action figure I have ever seen... this appeals to me. What does a criminal do when everyone makes fun of his costume? Make a deal with a demon to become the deadly half-man/half-insect, all-mad Charaxes! This is one of those "collect & connect" series figures- if you collect all of Wave 6 you have all the parts to make Kalibak. I would love to have Kalibak, but am unsure if I have the wherewithal to reach this goal anytime soon. In fact, I have an assortment of "collect & connect" parts that I'm unsure what to do with, the others consisting of mostly Marvel character parts...

Today is two months for this blog- I've somehow managed to write over 50 posts & get over 3,500 views during this time. I won't lie: I spend a lot of time photographing, researching, & writing, and I certainly enjoy it. I work on it almost every night, and I have more planned. Imagine if your high school teachers said, "We would like you to spend the entire semester writing about [insert your favorite subject], and don't worry about the other stuff." It is has been that much fun.

Everyone has been really accepting and supportive of my endeavor, in spite of my newbie status. I came into this new hobby at the time of a very serious lifestyle change, and also a time of great need- need for companionship & understanding. What I found was a group of the most wonderfully fun people, people that shared my love and enthusiasm for toys, people like you! Though some of you are far, far away geographically, it felt as though several arms were around my shoulders, "We are here, We've got you, You are safe here with us". I found this both comforting and empowering. So you see, these toys mean a great deal to me, these toys may very well have saved my life in a way- and you have played a part in that. Thank you... Thank you from the bottom of my heart.