This featurette begins with our heroes tinkering with a “thingamajig” (as one does) when their girlfriends call to share some breaking news: they bumped into The Beatles! Naturally, they suggest the four of them head to the concert. From there, comic hijinks ensue, a robbery interrupts the fun, and our heroes take off to recover the stolen ticket revenue.

Who are the Beatles?

For those living under a pop culture rock outside of comic books, it’s worth explaining who The Beatles were in 1965. This Liverpool-born band—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—wasn’t just a big deal; they were the deal. At the time, they were the face of the “British Invasion,” a cultural phenomenon reshaping American music charts. Their catchy tunes, charismatic energy, and groundbreaking appeal made them the hottest act on the planet. These were the guys who held the first stadium rock concert at Shea Stadium in New York. Simply put, The Beatles weren’t just making music—they were redefining pop culture, fan devotion, and stardom.

With that context in mind, the question becomes: what was Marvel’s goal in bringing The Beatles into the mix? Was it (A) a marketing ploy to boost sales by invoking the Fab Four’s name, or (B) a way to ground our heroes in the “real world” by having them rub elbows with contemporary icons? Honestly, it feels like a bit of both. Either way, the result is… well, let’s discuss.

The Review itself

Normally, I break my reviews into sections, but for this one, I’ll dive straight into my main point: this story and its accompanying art were underwhelming. The action leaned heavily on wacky antics, with low stakes and a sense that our heroes were holding back their true potential. It felt like the plot was being stretched out to fill the 12-page quota rather than delivering anything compelling.

The artwork, while occasionally showing strong facial expressions, mostly came across as flat. Alicia, in particular, suffered from repetitive and uninteresting depictions—being blind seemed to translate visually into “always sad” in most panels, which didn’t do her character any justice.

If you enjoy slapstick comics where logic takes a backseat to absurdity, you might find this a fun read. However, for me, the tone just doesn’t resonate. It’s hard to reconcile this lighthearted romp with Marvel’s broader goals during this era or even the tone of the stories in Strange Tales up to this point.

One Last thing…

Let’s talk about that moment: Human Torch electrocuting himself with the “energizer” (conveniently at hand) to dry off and rejoin the fight. This scene felt like the proverbial straw breaking the camel’s back—or, in my case, the moment I felt like pounding my head on the desk. Was it clever? not really. Was it ridiculous? Definitely. Either way, it’s a fitting exclamation point for a story that struggles to find its footing.

In summary, “Meet the Beatles!” feels more like a missed opportunity than a meaningful or memorable adventure. While it has its charm if you’re into slapstick fun, it ultimately falls short of what Marvel was capable of delivering during this time.