In this episode:
Mike and Ed discuss the impersonation of Thor by Mr. Hyde. We believe Thor because he has built up credibility and reputation over time. But how long are we going to accept these excuses or explanations for criminal behavior? Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm do NOT have Thor’s credibility, and yet they are claiming that they are not responsible for their fight (with each other) which destroyed not insignificant parts of the city because they were “mind controlled”. Are we expected to believe this as well? Also, Thor’s impersonator and the Fantastic Four’s mind controller have escaped and are still at large. Should that factor into our decisions on credibility?
In these issues:
Journey into Mystery #100
The public is unhappy with Thor, and the police actually fire their guns at him. Thor figures out that Mr. Hyde has been impersonating him while committing crimes. Thor then transforms to his mortal guise of Dr. Donald Blake, and as Dr. Blake, he takes his nurse Jane Foster out for dinner. Mr. Hyde kidnaps Donald and Jane, ties Donald up, and then takes Jane with him to steal a submarine. Donald transforms to Thor and battles Dr. Hyde, although Dr. Hyde escapes. The police then tell Thor that they had figured out that Mr. Hyde was impersonating him.
Strange Tales #116
The Puppet Master is back. He creates a Human Torch puppet and controls him to hit on his stepdaughter Alicia Masters, who is the Thing’s girlfriend. The Torch and the Thing fight, causing serious property damage in the city. Alicia figures out that her stepfather is behind the mayhem and intervenes, causing the Puppet Master to lose focus and thus control over the Torch, which causes the Torch to allow a flame fall out of the sky and burn the Torch puppet that the Puppet Master was using.
Assumed before the next episode:
The public has forgiven Thor but are not too sure about the Human Torch and the Thing.
This episode takes place:
After Mr. Hyde and the Puppet Master have been defeated.
Episode 97: Two super-excuses (Journey Into Mystery #100 + Strange Tales #116 Part 1) -- January 1964