The Silver Age magic starts to peter out just a bit. The quality of the writing probably isn't actually declining (it's never been very good to start with) but as the storytelling engines solidify, the fast and furious ideas that provided the energy to propel the mediocre writing is no longer really there. Stan Lee is still handling the majority of the writing himself, with Roy Thomas doing occassional fill-ins and handling Avengers and X-Men. Stan's writing is better, mainly due to the fact that there is a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness to his style. Thomas writes more earnestly, and while in an immediate sense it is to the detriment of the books he's writing, it is a good thing over all as it sets the groundwork for serious writers that will follow him. Thomas' books are also very reference heavy, which i enjoy.

Spider-Man is still the gem of the line, followed by Fantastic Four. In addition to having the best writing (the writing on Spidey is actually sometimes good, and on FF it varies) both have great art by Romita Sr. and Kirby (in his prime) respectively. Another highlight is Jim Steranko's Nick Fury stories in Strange Tales. Gene Colan is also doing a great job on Daredevil and Tales of Suspense's Iron Man, but unfortunately the stories don't live up to the art. The Hulk finally gets a consistent artist in Marie Severin, who is pretty good. Don Heck handles the Avengers for most of the year, but things get better when John Buscema takes over at the end.

Daredevil is the clunker of the line. His villains are terrible, the Foggy/Matt/Karen drama interminably drags at a time where the melodramatic romance dramas in Spidey, Thor, and Iron Man are finally moving on, and the Mike Murdock sub-plot is pure insanity.

From a shared universe perspective, the Marvel Universe is pretty much solid at this point. Villains move between books without any real hoopla at this point, and their backstories are handled well. The coordination between Captain America (the only character at this point who has his own book and is also a member of a team) and the Avengers is very tight.

Some significant events for this year:

• The Inhumans finally free themselves, leading Marvel to ask the question "What the heck do we do with them now?".
• The Thor/Jane Foster romance unceremoniously ends.
• Peter Parker moves out of Aunt May's house into his own apartment.
• Flash Thompson is drafted into the Viet Nam war.
• Hercules joins the Avengers, first unofficially and then for real. Crystal unofficially joins the FF.
• The concept of the Kree as an ancient alien race is introduced, although we only see Ronan, the Supreme Intelligence, and a Sentry so far.
• Captain America & Sharon Carter's on again, off again romance starts up.
• Baron von Strucker appears for the first time in the modern age.

Some of this years first appearances: Ulik, Sif, Banshee, Leap Frog, Shocker, Abomination, Blastaar, Kingpin, Robbie Robertson, Supreme Intelligence, Ronan the Accuser, Adam Warlock, MODOK, Contessa Valentina Allegra De la Fontaine, Clay Quartermain, Captain Stacy, Wrecker

Tales to Astonish #88-89  
Amazing Spider-Man #44-45  
Daredevil #24  
Fantastic Four #57-60 Inhumans free from Great Refuge 
Thor #136-139 1st Sif & Ulik 
Uncanny X-Men #28 1st Banshee 
Tales of Suspense #85-87 (Cap) / #92-94 (IM)  
Daredevil #25 1st Leap-Frog 
Amazing Spider-Man #46 1st Shocker 
Avengers #38 J: Hercules 
Tales of Suspense #88-90 (Captain America)  
Daredevil #26  
Amazing Spider-Man #47 Flash Thompson leaves for Viet Nam 
Avengers #39  
Tales To Astonish #90-91 1st Abomination 
Fantastic Four #61-63 1st Blastaar 
Daredevil #27  
Amazing Spider-Man #48-49  
Avengers #40  
Thor #140  
Fantastic Four #64 1st evidence of Kree (Kree Sentry) 
Tales of Suspense #91 (Captain America)  
Avengers #41-42  
Thor #141  
Tales To Astonish #92-93  
Amazing Spider-Man #50  
Thor #142  
Amazing Spider-Man #51-52 1st Robbie Robertson 
Thor #143  
Tales of Suspense #92 (Captain America)  
Avengers #43-44  
Tales to Astonish #94-100  
Fantastic Four #65 1st Supreme Intelligence & Ronan the Accuser 
Untold Legend of Captain Marvel #3  
Fantastic Four #66-67 1st Adam Warlock. 1st Enclave 
Fantastic Four annual #5 (Silver Surfer)  
Uncanny X-Men #35  
Thor #144  
Tales of Suspense #93-94 (Captain America) 1st MODOK 
Strange Tales #150-168 (Nick Fury) 1st Baron Strucker in modern age. 1st Countessa & Clay Quatermain 
Avengers #45  
Amazing Spider-Man #53-56  
Tales of Suspense #95-99 (Iron Man)
Iron-Man & Sub-Mariner #1 (Iron Man)
Iron Man #1 1st Whiplash & Madame Masque 
Thor #145  
Avengers #46  
Tales of Suspense #95 (Captain America)  
Fantastic Four #68-71