Galactus Cometh

Hatterday presents in the red corner Disputed, undefeated, weed whack a guy. Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere and in the blue corner. Extra strength. Eye drops that work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy acid. And the winner by knockout is Pataday. Patterday. Bring it on. We heard you. Nine years of bring back the snack wrap, and you've won. But maybe you should have asked for more. Say hello. While you can.

I'm Sam Groyer, and welcome to the morning news for November 4th, 1966. Anti war protests continue. Announced that the U.S. will be sending more troops to the ethnic. The Soviets make plans to send another craft into orbit. Rumors that our very own Fantastic Four are planning to return. for the Avengers. Once again, we are lucky that these heroes call our city round. Another robbery in progress foiled by the controversial figure known as Python.

Marvel and Stitcher present Marvels, based on the graphic novel by Kurt Busick and Alex Ross. Episode 1: The End of Everything

Are we rolling? Yep. It was the stark contrast, I think, that made it all feel so big. I spent that morning putting together my best work. Photos of the invaders fighting in the war. The Fantastic Four's very first press conference. Giant man towering over the city. Sights that most people spend their lives wishing they could see up close. I was proud of those photos. I am proud of those photos. And I was excited about putting them into a book.

Four months ago being Phil Sheldon was a pretty good thing to be. But after everything that's happened, what we saw that day, it made those shots look ordinary. Everything was dwarfed in comparison. You were there. Well, you saw the footage at least, you know how utterly enormous it all was. I thought I knew what too big to comprehend meant. I thought I'd seen it. I was wrong.

I knew to expect the best from thee, Phil Sheldon, but these these are extraordinary, some of your finest work. Thank you. But do you really think that people will be interested in a whole book of news photos? Hmm. People are fascinated by the marble. Marbles? Well, that's what I call'em, the superheroes. The public can't get enough of'em. That's certainly true, though not everyone is a fan. I know opinion is divided, but these are the greats, the favorites. So you're saying no mutants?

I want this book to be a positive view of the people who risk their lives to save ours, regardless of what they might be. Not everyone shares your views, Mr. Sheldon. I've seen them save this city, this country, time and time again. They deserve to be immortalized in a book of their best moments. That's quite the pitch, mister Sheldon.

I'll tell you what, I'll take these photos to our design department, get their eyes on it, while you write a sample chapter, and we'll go from there. Hey, that works for me. I'll give your agent a ring, but I think Empire Books will be very happy to be a home to what do you want to call it? Well I was thinking of Marvels, actually. Hmm. Simple. I like it. We'll see what marketing says. Thanks for coming in, Phil. All right, I look forward to working with you.

God, they had to evacuate the whole zoo! Do they know where all the water came from yet? No. It was a flat foot. It might go on strike again. That's just what we need, the New York subway to get even worse. You know, you'd think the city would have learned its less.

Keeps out here. What even the mutants there? Don't they have enough problems without adding Vietnam to the pile? They're people. They care about this stuff just as much as any of us do. Excuse me. Uh where are y'all headed? What what are those signs for?

A bunch of ESU students are protesting the war today. On campus? If they don't kick us off. And there's gonna be a group of mutants there? That's the word on the street. There's a group MFP mutants for peace or something. I think they're one of the organizers. Yeah, that doesn't mean they're gonna show up though. You never know.

I can't believe you saw him at first. Trust me, he was as grotesque as you'd expect. And did you hear he destroyed a cafe on Nancy Street the other week? I honestly don't know why Mr. Fantastic lets him stick around. Empire State University Please, extension 616. Hello, this is Marsha Hardesty. Hey Marsha, it's Phil. Oh, hi, Mr. Sheldon. How are you? I'm fine, Marsha, just fine. Listen.

I gotta run to the bugle today, but apparently there's a protest on campus, your campus. There are protests on campus a lot these days. Do you think you could take some shots of the one today? I won't have time to get out there myself, but I think it could be interesting. I heard some talk on the subway about some mutant group having a presence. MSP. It sounds like.

Are you and Mr. Yurik doing a story about mutants for peace? No, no, no, no. Not at the moment. It just sounded interesting to me and I thought you might appreciate the assignment. Absolutely I do. I was planning on going anyway, so You go to a lot of these protests? Don't tell my dad. What you do at college is none of my business. What w what do you know about this Mutants for Peace group? Have they had protests on campus before?

Um, no, not that I know of. I don't know much about them, honestly. The rally is the first I've heard of them. Same here. I feel like there's another new group popping up every day now. Just be sure to stay safe, Marsha. Of course, mister Sheldon. Campus protests are usually a bunch of hippies. They never really get that heated. Can't say it'll make for the most interesting photos. You never know, Marsha.

Good photographer can find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Easy for you to say. You get to take pictures of superheroes. If you want to photograph the larger than life, you have to start with the life first. Right. Will do. Thanks, Marsha. Uh You and Mr. Yurik are doing that Iron Man story, right? Yes.

How do you know about that? I think I could really be an asset. I've been practicing with my Bell and Howell, the eight millimeter, you know, getting movies of birds and whatnot, so I think I could probably get some decent shots of Iron Man flying. What did I just say? Start with the life, find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Exactly. Do that, and then maybe we can talk about Iron Man. Call me tomorrow with what you get at the protest. I'm on it. Thanks, Mr. Sheldon. Bye now.

You spare some chains, sir. Here you go. Be warned. He's coming. Uh I'm sorry. First comes the floods, and then the fires. He'll be here soon. He's coming. Right, uh yeah. Take care. Amen. Hataday presents in the red corner. Undisputed, undefeated, weed whack a- Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere. And in the blue color. Extra strength!

Eye drops that work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner by knockout is Pataday. Pataday. Bring it on. We heard you, nine years of bring back the snack wrap and you've won. But maybe Should have asked for more. while you can. New York City's a strange place to live. It's easy to stare at the ground, push through the crowds, and keep to yourself.

But if you bother to look up, you can get a glimpse of amazing things. Things that even the most jaded New Yorkers would be awed by. But a lot of people just never look up. Everyone looked up that day. It was impossible not to. I remember the moment it all started. I was at the Daily Bugle talking to Ben Yurik about a story that we were working on.

In other defense news, Iron Man was recently involved in a Stark Industries weapons test that went terribly awry. Senator Harrington Byrd was in attendance and says that Mr. Stark What'd the radio ever do to you, Yuri? Oh. Hey Phil.

It's been on the Fritz all morning. Was that Sam Reuter talking about a story? I think so. I could barely hear a damn thing. Doesn't sound like much of a story yet though. But you think there's more to it? This isn't the first time Senator Bird is giving Stark Industries trouble. My gut tells me the guy's up to something. Well, your gut's not often wrong. Say, have you heard anything about a group called Mutants for Peace?

Sounds familiar. One of those anti-Vietnam groups? Seems like it. They're hosting a protest at ESU today. I've sent Marsha Hardesty to take some photos. Might end up being a story. Mutants are a popular point of conversation these days. Wait, who's Marsha Hardesty? You know Jack Hardesty, don't you? Works on the national desk now. I'm the one who threw a uh a paperweight at Jameson. That's the one. Yeah, I know.

Well, his daughter's got the journalism bug. She's been shadowing me for a class this semester. Ah, and she's at ESU? Mm-hmm. She's got a decent eye too. But I think she'd rather be following you around than me actually getting to talk to superheroes instead of just photographing. Ha ha so she's like you. What do you mean? You know, starry-eyed, in the face of your marvel.

I am not starryed. Just because you're unimpressed by everything doesn't mean the world offers nothing to be impressed by. I could I could be impressed. I just don't have blind faith like some of these kids that superheroes can fix everything. Don't you remember being that age when you're twenty one you're just looking for something to believe in? And for you that something was always the marvel?

No, not always, but I had it easier in a sense. We had the war, it was a worthy cause, easy to believe in. Mm, it was a little different from these days. To put it mildly. I understand why these kids are floundering. There's nothing for them to hold on to. So they hold on to superheroes? To mutants? Who would you have them look up to? Um, they're adults. They shouldn't have to look up to anyone. They should be carving their own path. Mr. Yurik, you have to come and see this.

What is it? What's going on? Look outside. Have you ever seen anything like this, Phil? I saw a lot of things during the war, but this. First the floods, then the fires. What did you say? What in the hell is going on out here? Why is no one? Answering the damn phone! Over here, Jonah. What could be so important that all of you are to What in God's name?

Was that Johnny Storm? Unless the fire hovering over the city is becoming sentient. It sure looked like it. We should have known. That kid is always causing trouble. You think he did this? Let's see. Sky full of flames? Torch boy flying around treats the city like his own personal playground seems to add up to me. I don't think the human torch would go this far. What other explanation is there? Either way, you two get down there and find out the truth. I don't care if it's Johnny Storm, Mr.

Mysterio or a goddamn freak weather storm, I wanna know why the Manhattan sky looks like the inside of a bonfire. Someone find out what in the hell is happening! Well come on, we better get down there. Wait, look. It's gone. It's blue skies again. What? How? You think Johnny Storm could make all that fire disappear that quickly? I think someone is up to no good.

Let's go see what we can find out. Are those rocks? Eric, Shelf, what are you doing still standing around? Look at this, Jonah. The sky is filled with rocks. Then grab a helmet and get down, man! Thank you. Come on, Phil. I see police slice the block up. Let's go see if they know anything. Ben wait! Look up! You see that? There's a it's a a silver man. Grab a picture, Sheldon. Did you get it? I think so.

I wasn't being coy with Ben. For the first time since the beginning of my career, I genuinely wasn't certain that I'd gotten the shot. The surfer was moving so fast, the light reflecting off his metallic body, it was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Yeah. Of course I did get the photo. You've seen it. One of the most famous shots I'd ever taken. Though not the most famous. Not even the most famous photo I took that day.

Oh my god, we're being attacked! Do you think that was just happening better? Are we being invaded? That surfing man sure doesn't seem like he's from around here. The rocks. They're gone. Well, that's one less thing to worry about. Maybe not. What is that noise? Hello. Come on. What's going on up there? Some freak giant came down in a ship and landed on a building a few blocks up. He's gonna kill us all!

Look, the human torse is going after the the surfing. What is that thing? I need to get closer. Amen. Bill, are you getting this? Yeah. Ben, what is that? I don't know. Standing there with Ben Urick, cynical, unshakable Ben, as we both tried to comprehend what we were seeing. Even with both my eyes, it would have been too big to understand. I'd never seen anything so menacing it chilled me right down to the bone The try. Then slow down. If that giant steps off the roof, we'll be crushed.

She's trapped. Everyone just get out of here! Ben, you have to look where you're going. You're gonna get hit. It won't be a fallen straight sign that'll kill you. I love you. Come on Phil! Bed, wait! The building, it's not gonna hold. Bed, watch out!

That sounds terrifying. Yeah, it felt like the end of the world. Of course we know the truth now wasn't the end of the world. All that chaos and destruction. It wasn't even real. None of it was real. Marvel and Stitcher present Marvels, written by Lauren Chibin. Starring Cliff Methodman Smith as Ben Yurik, Anna Sophia Robb as Marsha Hardesty, Ethan Peck as Reed Richards, and Seth Barish as Phil Sheldon.

Directed by Paul Bay. Produced by Jennifer Minnell, Harry Goh, and T Square. A recording engineer and sound designer is Misha Stanton. Our theme music is by Evan Cunningham, featuring Alan Pontus, Alexander Salomont, Alan Walker, Alan Enlo, Bilal of Oz, Clark Carmichael, Zarina Mata, David Carl, Faye Yvette McQueen, Gayton Scott.

Paulus McCarthy, Isaac Beauchamp, Jake Hart, Jessica Di Giovanni, John Joseph Gallagher, Jolie London Glickman, Juliet Brett, Kyle Berry, Maddie Baelio, Michael Charles Roman, Michael Mulheron. Rami Margroone, Ryan Andes, Suzanne Torin, and Walter Richard Turney. First AD and script supervision by Rachel Whalen. Production Management by Jessica Shaw.

Casting by Suzanne Scheel with assistance from Ariana Rudes. Executive produced by Chris Bannon, Dan Buckley, Joe Casada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Romani, John Sarilli, Sarah Amos, and Daniel Fink. Story editing by Peter Clowney and John Delore. Production Assistants from Aisha Murray. Our consulting producers are Kurt Busick, Brandon Grugel, and Ellie Pyle. Production Legal by Eric Spiegelman and Michaela Gross.

Our associate producers are Kristen Torres and Tribble. Special thanks to Stitcher Studios, Ashley Warren, and SAGAftra. For more information, visit marvelspodcast.com.