Bob wrote:
The Sub-Mariner also displayed some weird powers in the early 60's. In one issue, for example, he had "electric eel" powers and could store and discharge electricity.
Yup. He could also puff out his body like a blowfish.
The Human Torch exhibited all sorts of strange powers in the early Kirby adventures ( in F.F. and then in Johnny's solo appearances )
He created a "cold flame" flyswatter ( basically solid flame that didn't burn anyone )
He could control any flame within a few feet
He had some sort of infra-red "glow" power for a while too
...and I was never really sure how his flight-power worked.
When the Mad Thinker resurrected the Original Human Torch who battled Johnny, the OHT created a tornado via "heat-inversion."
Thor's hammer could do all kinds of stuff. Warp space, absorb magnetic currents, shoot the Super-skrull into space...
Spider-Man ( early Ditko/Lee ) used his power of "chest-expansion" to bust some chains.
Iron Man used to coax new behavior out of his armor by changing transistors around.
The Hulk could jump so high it appeared as though he was flying, but there are issues showing him turning in mid-air. I just imagined that he sort of swam on air like Pietro.
What about Man-Bat's "crime-sense" tied into his sonar?
Bob wrote:
It also seems to me that virtually every early Silver Age hero was a judo expert!
True. Many of whom cite Captain America as their trainer. The only established hero I remember getting a crash-course in self-defense from the good Captain was Tony Stark ( in the Layton-era Iron Man. )
Jim Lawless