Everything from (Man-) Ape to Zo!

 Week Ending 3rd January 1976

I hope you are all well and had a joyful Christmas. But as it's a time to think of others I'll offer a plug for Drawn Under the Influence issue 4. DUI is published by the crazy cats from The Awesome Comics Podcast with strips, articles and all sorts of stuff and nonsense from the Awesome Comics Podcast Slack. They talk about it on their September Podcast. It's a great and fun read, with some stuff that might interest British Marvel Comic fans. As a non-profit comic, all the contributors gave their talents for free, with the money that was raised going to the Cartoon Museum. Check out this link if you are in the UK and fancy buying a copy. It's worth a look. Now on with the blog.

The Mighty World of Marvel #170

This Herb Trimpe cover originally appeared on the front of the Incredible Hulk issue 167. The top tag line reads "The Fantastic Four! Daredevil! and asks "What more could you ask for?" Which is pretty damn hard to answer. 

The Incredible Hulk “To destroy the monster!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Able 

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #167

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

In fine Herb Trimpe fashion three panels show the Hulk getting closer and closer as he wanders the countryside just outside of the city, with a bigger panel focusing on him being startled by an airplane passing overhead. This plane is carrying General Ross, returning after his prison ordeal in Russia. Ross grimly wonders how to break the news to Betty that her husband Glenn, seemingly perished in the Generals rescue attempt. So consumed in his thoughts, he dismisses seeing the Hulk leap past the plane as just his imagination.

When Ross lands he is led through the terminal by Colonel Armbruster and reunited with Betty. When he breaks the news she suddenly snaps, accusing him of killing her husband and slaps him across the face before storming off. With the attention of the press too much Betty suddenly faints. A reporter asks the General what all the secrecy and the "nutty chick" is about? His answer is a punch in the face from the General. Meanwhile at the secret headquarters of AIM, MODOK is informed about the situation at the airport by one of his spies. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, MODOK makes plans to get revenge on the Hulk as he watches the final touches being put on his gigantic robotic body and plots to use gamma radiation to create a creature more powerful than the Hulk, who he determines that the best subject for it would be Betty Talbot. While near the airport, Jim Wilson finds the Hulk, who when trying to recall what has happened since they had last meet changes back into Bruce Banner. Jim hands Bruce some clothes while filling him in on the latest news about Betty's nervous breakdown, he suggests that they go and pay her a visit. That visit will happen next week and so will the "Hulk vs MODOK!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Mike Griggs PMM from Kent is absolutely against the return of the "drab" old non-glossy covers. He points out that the old glossy Avengers weekly comics have stayed in better condition than the MWOM and SMCW comics from the same time. Iain Burne RFO, KOF also from Kent writes his first letter and asks why are't the Specials coming to "good old" Kent? Stephen Milford KOF, RFO, QNS from the Isle of White rates the strips in three weeklies as a percentage of quality. In MWOM the Hulk is improving with 82%. Daredevil is great on occasions, 89% as for the Fantastic Four, if Reed and Sue leave, 88%, if they đon't 79%. In SMCW Spider-man gets 94% if he loses four of his arms, Iron-Man is gradually improving with a 88%. Thor is quite good with 87%. With the Super-Heroes the X-Men gets 97% when the art is good, Giant-Man is an Okay, 86%. While the Cat could be good it gets 86%. Keith Stevenson from Scotland is writing in on behalf of all Marvel fans in Scotland. The recent Marvel full-colour 100-page Treasury Editions are nearly unobtainable in Scotland, could Marvel make them available for fans in the north. 

Andrew White from Liverpool wonders do Marvel readers consider themselves philosophers? He's noticed hidden morals in Marvel's stories. For example, "Brother Take my Hand." A

great Daredevil story and the Avengers story "Thou Shall not

Kill" about the ultimate Ultron, what a twist. Spider-man represents the age-old irony that the fact that the attainment of power does not necessarily bring happiness. Gut Sutton from Buckinghamshire gets two comics a week, MWOM and the Super-Heroes. He thinks it was a good move putting Conan in the Avengers weekly. Uran Goyal from East Ham writes that Steve Englehart is the best writer for the Hulk and that the art on the X-Men has improved since Werner Roth has took over. He also writes that 1975 has been the best year for Marvel fans, what with two new mags and lots of special editions. Marvel also heard from Anthony Bitton from Kent, Daniel Brophy from London, Christian Green from the Wirral, John Hilary from London, Micheal Mason from Fife, Tony Taglione from Bradford, Howard Cartlidge from Belfast, Jonathan Davies from Salop, Mark Heald from Lancashire, Russell Burridge from Castleford, Matthew Martin from Essex, Steven Daniels from Wigan. Hasan Traylani from Newcastle, Stephen Crowley from Cardiff, Micheal Sanderson from Glasgow and  Robert Pluck-rose from Norwich.

Daredevil “...To stop Starr Saxon!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Daredevil #52

Cover date May 1969

(Published in March 1969)

This second part opening splash page was originally the front cover artwork from Daredevil issue 52 by Barry Windsor-Smith with inks by Johnny Craig. Matt Murdock had attack the Black Panther, but had finally come to his senses afters an episode of delirium caused by his reaction to medical treatment and the radioactive particles in his blood reacting badly. The Panther follows Murdock and recognises his voice is the same as Daredevil.

The Black Panther follows Murdock to an apartment where Starr Saxon is holding Karen Page hostage. Starr sees a feature lurking in the shadows, the villain teases the hero by moving Karen closer to the window. She calls out to warn Daredevil. The Panther enters the dark apartment sensing someone radiating sheer evil. Starr is ready for him, but is shocked to discover it isn't the man without fear. This distraction gives Daredevil the chance to attack, freeing Karen Page and dis-arming Starr. The police and Foggy arrive, the doctor checks Daredevil out and finds a sizeable cut on his right hand had drained off just enough blood to save his life together with his amazing recuperative powers. The doctor asks how he got the cut as it looks like a glass cut, this makes both Karen Page and Daredevil recall that Matt also cut his hand while on his date with Karen. Will his secret be revealed? 

Bullpen Bulletins

Scintillating yet superfluous squibs about super-heroes and so forth!

This week's Bullpen Bulletins appear in MWOM, the Avengers weekly, Dracula Lives, POTA, the Super-Heroes and the Titans, so instead of doing the review in one go I'm going to spread it across the blog. The first Item says that the book every one is talking about lately isn't War and Peace, but the more classier title, Son of Origins of Marvel Comics! By none other than Stan Lee. Volume Two in the hysterical history of the magnificent Marvel Age of Comics, in fabulous full-colour, featuring factual flotsam and behind-the-scenes info, is now ready to take its place on your bookshelf beside the original Origins bestseller. The second Item while they're dropping' names, they can't resist mentioning one more, the legend of Red Wolf! Watch upcoming issues of the Avengers weekly and all shall be made clear. Part two of this Bullpen Bulletin review comes later in the Avengers weekly section.

This Marvel Masterwork pin-up of the Fantastic Four was drawn by Brian Moore as per his signature. I not sure who this Brian Moore was, there was a Brian Moore, (14/9/1946 to 12/3/2011) who was a cartoonist from Belfast who drew Republican and Socialist political cartoons under the name Cormac. I wonder was this the same person? Possibly not.

The Fantastic Four “The Thing no more!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #78

Cover date September 1968

(Published in June 1968)

Johnny, Reed and Ben return to Earth from the Microverse, after defeating the Psycho Man and are happily surprised to find the threat of Galactus has been averted. The Torch flies out of the Baxter Building to celebrate. His path crosses over the crowd, one of them reads the Daily Bugle, with a front page head line that declares "Wizard released from prison vows vengeance on the Fantastic Four", the reader turns out to be the Wizard.

When Johnny returns he joins the Thing in clearing up the damage in the Baxter Building. Suddenly Reed calls both of them to the monitor room to tell them that he has successfully perfected a new formula that has a chance of curing the Thing. Meanwhile the Wizard has also been working on his own scientific wonder, creating "Wonder Gloves", gauntlets that increase his strength. After testing the weapons out, he flies towards the Baxter building to get revenge on his foes. At the Baxter Building Reed prepares Ben to take the formula that will change the Fantastic Four's strongest member back to a normal human. Surprisingly this time it works with no side effects. Just then the Wizard attacks, and without the added strength of the Thing, Reed and Johnny are unable to match the villain's new powers and are knocked out leaving "the ever-loving' Ben Grimm" to face the Wizard in next week's conclusion.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #151

This week's cover, which sees Spider-man snared by the Spider-Slayer, was drawn by Arvell Jones with inks possibly by Aubrey Bradford. 

Spider-man “Web of Doom!”

Writer: Roy Thomas 

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #106

Cover date March 1972

(Published in December 1971)

This second part opening splash page was produced by an un-named artist to link last week's issue with this one. Spider-man had realised that cameras positioned around the city had caught him changing into his civilian identity, using a latex mask he then fools who ever is watch him that he had been wearing a fake mask to hide his identity. The watcher had been Spencer Smythe who was angered because he hadn't convince criminal gang leaders that his plans to use the police system are perfect, threatens to prove his ability by beating Spider-man with his Spider-Slayer.

Spider-man spots protesters in front of the police station, protesting  against the privacy invasion caused by the polices cameras system spread throughout the city. Surprisingly J Jonah Jameson is lending the crowd his support. Spider-man briefly joins in with them, saying that he agrees with them before slinging off. Returning to his civilian identity Peter checks in on Harry when Mary Jane and other revellers come with pizza. Mary Jane asks Peter if he wants to join them, but he tells her he's got a date with Gwen. When Peter meets up with Gwen, they go to check in with Flash Thompson, who Gwen is worried about since he's come back from Vietnam. When Flash answers the door he loses his temper over their concern, so the couple decides to leave him be and go out for a romantic evening together instead. After his date Peter changes into Spider-man, when he detects that he's being monitored by the security cameras again. Soon he finds out who's been watching him when he's attacked by Smythe in his new bigger Spider-Slayer robot.

The Web and the Hammer

For the second week running the Web and the Hammer features a seasonal theme as holly runs around the edges. Paul Pattinson from County Durham awards Marvel Uru-plated, cosmic-coated, web-walled, repulsor-reflecting, "Yes-Prize" because of the fantastic strips in Spider-man Comics Weekly. Dave Bell from Berkshire also writes in to tell Marvel how magnificent Marvel mags are, as they seem to be improving each week, with the way fact and fiction are combined, which makes the mags something to look forward to. This is especially demonstrated within the pages of Spider-man, with stories like "The riots on the campus" a few issues back and more recently, Harry's run-in with drugs. Mike Melsom from Wiltshire was silent when the epic Conan/Elric saga was portrayed in SSOC #15-17. He was silent when Kane drew Conan in SSOC #18. He was silent with any opinion on the lack of sales of SSOC that meant it had to merge with the Avengers. But he wants to have his say on the "shocking ending" that happened SMCW #138. With "no cop-out" it was worth reading. Neil Forster from Suffolk writes that Doc Savage in the Super-Heroes is his favourite hero, but as well as that comic he also gets MWOM, SMCW and the Avengers weekly too.

Steven Lazenby from Essex gives his four month review of six of the British Marvel weeklies. He describes Spider-man Comics Weekly as a fantastic mag and he's liked Spider-man ever since he first see him. Susan Stuart from York wonders what Marvel ranks she qualifies for as she is a long serving Marvel reader of nineteen years of age and remembers getting Fantastic and Smash from the sixties. The next letter is from an anonymous writer who only signs it with the initials ELF, the Ever Lasting Fan. They have been looking back at over thirty years old Spider-man mags and recall some amazing adventures including "The Claws of the Cat", "If this be my Destiny", "Man on the Rampage" and "The Final Chapter." But "The legions of the mysterious Master-planner" was the best ever. He goes on to write that John Buscema and Dan Adkins bring the Silver Surfer soaring right off the page. Super-Heroes #30 was the best cover yet. Christopher Anderson from Lancaster has got to hand it to Marvel that the Spider-man art has really improved. Although he says if they need a spare artist his Dad is better than Gil Kane. I bet he wasn't.

Iron Man “Vengeance...cries the Crusher!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #6

Cover date October 1968

(Published in July 1968)

The Crusher has freed himself from the centre of the Earth, after Iron Man defeated him and let him fall there, as seen in SMCW #126. Crusher attacks an outpost of his former master, El Presidente, in order to steal a boat to travel to the United States to enact his revenge on Iron Man. Meanwhile in the States, Tony Stark tries to console Janice Cord by sending her flowers after her father's death, as seen in SMCW #144. As the Crusher travels to America, he informs his prisoners how he managed to survive being trapped at the Earth's core. There he returned to normal and stumbled upon the subterranean lair of Tyrannus, where he used the underworld conqueror's devices to restore his powers. Nearing America he plans to face his enemy as next week's "The Crusher vs Iron Man!"

A Marvel Masterwork Pin-up featuring Iron Man. The artist is un-nammed but whoever drew it copied the style and pose of the armoured Avenger breaking a chain on the right of his body like Jack Kirby used in his artwork that was inked by Frank Giacoia and was used on many posters and t-shirts in the sixties. Only this artist up-dated shell-heads armour by adding a nose slit.   

The Mighty Thor “The Immortal and the mind slave!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Bill Everett

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #172

Cover date January 1970

(Published in November 1969)

Returning to the office of his mortal ego, Don Blake, Thor finds that someone is waiting for him. The Thunder God transforms into his mortal form and discovers it is Jim North, the doctor whom Jane Foster had been working for since she left Blake's employment. North warns Blake that Jane is in danger, then he hands him a letter written by ruthless billionaire Kornin Krask.

Krask has kidnapped Jane in order to force North into performing a forbidden experiment for him. Blake inquires why Jim didn't go to the police. Jim explains that with Krask's wealth and influence he would be dismissed as a hoax, so he came for Blake's help, hoping he could contact Thor. Blake tells him he will see what he can do. Blake praying to Odin to bring good fortune, those thoughts reach Odin, whose curiosity makes him use a visi-scan to look upon the realms. He sees Loki scheming, as well as Balder being cared for by Karnilla following his battle with the Thermal Man. His last look is upon the mortal visage of Kornin Krask, whom Odin feels will be no match against his son. Later on Earth, Jim North has been instructed by Blake to go to the home of Kornin Krask. There he is brought before Krask who proves that Jane is alive. Then, in a moment of poorly planned bravery, North pulls out a revolver and attempts to try and force Krask to release Jane. However, Krask's guards soon train their guns on Jim and he is forced to surrender. Krask explains to the Doctor that he will assist Doctor Waghastein in performing the first ever mind transfer. Krask explains that he wants to escape mortality and cheat death. With no options available, North agrees to aid Krask's mad scheme even though it's unlikely that he'll let them live after. Find out who will receive "Krask's brain!" next week. 

"Hey Galen, what's the difference between a bunch of bananas and the latest Apes mag?" 

"Er, I don't know!"

"I thought as much! You must have eaten my latest copy!!"

An in-house advert for the latest issue of Planet of the Apes, now featuring the Marvel comic strip adaption of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. It's a great way to use photo's from the film to promote the British Marvel Comic, although shouldn't the joke have had Zira addressing the male chimpanzee as Cornelius inside of Galen? May be who ever created it hadn't seen the films but did catch the TV series instead that obviously starred Roddy McDowall as Galen. Either way the intention was right and the joke was funny, so I agree with the bottom tag-line, "Why don't you place a regular order right now...it's a winner!" 

Avengers Weekly #120

This British Marvel Comic commissioned cover was drawn by Keith Pollard with inks by Frank Giacoia. I like it, its a very close call for for my Cover of the Week. 

Conan the Barbarian “Flame winds of Lost Khitai!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Ernie Chan

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #32

Cover date November 1973

(Published in August 1973)

Although Roy Thomas uses Robert E Howards barbarian hero, Conan, in this story to fantastic effect, the novel that he bases the plot on was freely adapted by him from the novel "Flame Winds" by Norvell Page, who was an American pulp fiction writer, journalist and editor who later worked for the American government intelligence services. His best known work being the Spider pulp magazine novels. His creation, adventurer Hurricane John, was very much in the mould of Howard's Conan. Buscema and Chan are on great form matching Thomas's brilliance. 

 

Conan is smuggled into Wan Tegri by a shepherd on a mission given to him by Narim-Bey, his commanding officer in Aghrapur. He is to spy on the western most Khitan city of Wan Tengri to check if she is ripe for conquest. At the gates guards poke the shepherd's load of sheep's wool carried on the back of his ox pulled cart, getting within inches of the Cimmerian. Luckily no blades hit any body parts and the Shepard is bid to carry on. Upon his arrival in the city Conan sees the sky above the city is covered in a reddish, harmless flame. Conan pays the man the agreed amount for his passage, then as he enters he heads towards the highest tower in Wan Tengri, where he steals a purse from a passerby. As he does he is surprised that the magical flame wind whispers to him to halt as it has alerted the guards to his location. Soon he is chased by several soldiers, but he manages to shake them off and heads to Tsien Hui, the shepherd's contact in the city to cash in the stolen gems. Unfortunately, the purse belonged to a wizard, who magically teleports the gems away and replaces them with a viper. Frustrated, Conan kills the viper just as he does a cry rings out declaring that they have found the thief who had dared to defy the Wizards of Wan Tengri! Continued next week.

Avengers Unite!

Jeff Porter RFO, KOF from Paisley has been a Marvel reader since the publication of the first ever FF mag, but the merger of Conan into the Avengers has prompted him to write his first letter, which he feels was a disappointment, but also a necessity as the back-up strips had started to catch up. Jeff goes into deep levels of thought as he points out that Conan shows man's baser side of violence and fear, yet he is lit by the hope of betterment, shown by his more lucid and poetic moments, which are not scary. The Vision or even the much-maligned Iron Man, is to some degree the hoped-for betterment. He is a man, though technologically birthed, has immense power over himself and obstacles blocking his advance, but as a "full" man he is spoiled by present day man's greed and mistrust. Doctor Strange is what man may be, the spiritually advanced being, with knowledge of, appreciation and respect for the outside forces controlling his life and thus fully able to exist in harmony with life and what it holds. His letter is a lengthy read but worth it, including the last part when he answers the question of why a 19 year-old student of literature and philosophy at Glasgow University would waste his time with comics. Simply he looks upon the work as science-fiction in pictures, with great, possibly over melodramatic, story-lines. superb characterisation and overall magnificent artwork. Mark Splading from Birmingham feels that Shang-Chi has been treated badly when Paul Gulacy doesn't do the artwork. Alistair Billam from Lancashire prints a poem from his brother, Martin, who thinks Marvel is rubbish. John Porter RFO, KOF, QNS from Surrey says his tortoise reads The Avengers, does a cartwheel, climbs onto the garage roof and does impressions of Captain America! Apart from the silliness he offers a service that answers Marvel questions too.

The Avengers “The Man-Ape always sticks twice!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in The Avengers #78

Cover date July 1970

(Published in May 1970)

Sal Buscema takes over the art chores from his older brother John and you can't instantly tell the difference as the big energy, action and drama is still there. Captain America returns to the Avengers Mansion when he's ambushed by the Man-Ape. The two clash and as much as Cap puts up a good fight the Man-Ape gains the upper hand. The perimeter security devices alert Goliath, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch to the melee, as they rush to the roof, where the struggle is taking place, the Man-Ape throws Cap off the roof.

Quicksilver rushes over the side of the building to grab the Captain down, making enough time for the Vision to materialise on the pavement below to grab both falling Avengers. Goliath and the Scarlet Witch take on the Man-Ape, but with help from his aide N'Gamo, he escapes. The Avengers wonder why the Man-Ape would target Captain America, an Avenger he's never encountered before. Cap produced a forged note requesting that he report to the Avengers Mansion, signed by T'Challa. M'Baku fought the Black Panther last in the Avengers weekly #91. Elsewhere, the Black Panther pays a visit to Monica Lynn and tells her of his activities as a school teacher. After a while he leaves her to go to Avengers Mansion, minutes later the Man-Apes breaks in and kidnaps Monica. The Black Panther arrives at Avengers Mansion and learns about the Man-Ape's earlier attack and reads the fake note. The fate of Miss Lyne, T'Challa and the rest of the Avengers will be revealed next week.

Bullpen Bulletins

After the hint in the previous Bullpen Bulletin Item about the coming of Red Wolf to the pages of the Avengers weekly, the third Item tells readers to be on the look out for "three totally titanic and thunderous" new features scheduled to begin appearing in the Super-Heroes! They drop three names, the Black Knight, Wood God and Moon Knight. Well let's see if they turn up in those pages, we're still waiting for the Phantom Eagle to land! The next Item appears later in Dracula Lives.

Doctor Strange “Time Doom”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Frank Brunner

Inker: Ernie Chan

Originally published in Marvel Premiere #13

Cover date January 1974

(Published in October 1973)

The Sorcerer Supreme travels back through time to make an  attempt to stop Baron Mordo from altering history after the evil magician had stole a spell from the Book of Cagliostro. However when Strange fails to stop him in the time stream, he travels to where Mordo is intended to go, 18th Century France to face him again there. 

Traveling there in Paris he meets the infamous philosopher and sorcerer Cagliostro, who is honoured like a god. It was him who wrote the Book that gave both Baron Mordo and Doctor Strange the secret that unlocks traveling in time. Strange meets up with Cagliostro, telling him that he seeks Baron Mordo, but the sorcerer  is unconcerned with other mens affairs and departs. Strange then decides to pose as Cagliostro and wait for Mordo to arrive. When the Baron does arrive he tells "Cagliostro" that a fiend from the future wishes to destroy all other magicians from all other time periods. Strange's disguise is revealed and the Baron attacks him. Neither magicians can employ their full strength of magic for some unknown reason. Strange manages to trap Mordo and using the Eye of Agamotto to find out why. The evil Baron hints that Strange would know if he had studied Cagliostro's book as he had done. Find out some answers in next week's "Time-warp terror!"

Dracula Lives #63

This week's cover uses the Gil Kane (pencils,) with Tom Palmer (inks,) artwork was taken from the cover of Tomb of Dracula issue  29. The Man-Thing gets a mention on the top tag-line that says he stalks the dead of night!

The inside page features an in-house advert for the Titans weekly,  that itself contains five big features in every issue, including Captain America, Sub-Mariner, the Inhumans, Captain Marvel and Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD. 

Dracula “Vengeance is mine! Sayeth the Vampire!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #29

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1974)

Over the deserted streets of England, Dracula seeks out another female victim to feed his hunger. He violently takes her down, the noise of her struggle brings people out of their home to try and save her. Dracula slaughters them all before feeding on the girl. The police arrive and an officer attempts to arrest Dracula, but the vampire lord simply laughs and flies away across the countryside in his bat form back to his mansion. His thoughts drift to events that saw Shiela Whittier leaving him, dismissing his mixed feelings he decides to deal with humans another night.

Later that afternoon at the home of David Eschol, Shiela raises her concerns over the chance that Dracula may try to get revenge on them for walking out of him. Realising that Dracula still poses a real threat, David decides to go to Shiela's old mansion and kill the vampire once and for all, despite Shiela's warnings. Armed with his Star of David and a wooden stake, he believes he is well prepared to deal with Dracula. Meanwhile in India, Taj cries over the vampiric form of his son which has been sedated and given a blood transfusion to keep him alive. Taj's wife reflects back to the day when Dracula came to India with an army of vampires, attacking their village. An attack that lead to Taj's son being turned into a vampire, his wife crippled, and Taj's vocal cords being permanently damaged when Dracula attempted to feed from him as well. Taj and his wife would be saved by Rachel van Helsing who had traveled to India in her on going quest to destroy Dracula. prompting Dracula to flee the scene. Those events lead to Taj leaving India with van Helsing to seek revenge against Dracula for all the damage he had inflicted on the village.

Cryptic Correspondence

Gary Taylor from Dorset congratulates Marv Wolfman on his fine writing on Dracula, which really gets to grips with the vampire lord's character and that the best part of these tales and possibly the most chilling are that they are set in contemporary Britain. David Fielder from Hertfordshire really enjoyed the Neal Adams' story "One Hungers" in Dracula Lives #50. He adds that Neal is certainly an extremely talented artist, who portrays immense detail and subtlety in his work, his style combines well with Dan Adkins' inking. Chris Gray from Norwich has spotted a No-Prize in issue 50, which I mentioned in that blog, where in the Dracula strip two teams are seen supposedly playing Rugby, with a round  ball?!! T F Seppings from Suffolk writes that Marvel mags are marvellous while both Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes are the best. 

Werewolf by Night “A crusade of murder”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Pon Perlin

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #26

Cover date February 1975

(Published in November 1974)

You probably don't take much notice of the letterer's name in the credits, which is wrong, but understandable. The letterer plays an important role in the creation of a comic and they are the unsung heroes without whom the story would be very different. I'm guilty of not mentioning their importance more often, but time and space is often against me. This week I'm going to point out Werewolf byNight's letterer. Here at the time of the original strip was known as Karen Pocock, she would later marry the writer Bill Mantlo and take his surname.

The Hangman has caught the Werewolf with his noose, as the beast struggles against the tightening grip of the rope. The psycho villain had witnessed the Werewolf battling the crazed fiend known as DePrayve. The beast escapes from the noose when the Hangman's scythe slices through the rope by accident. The Hangman was last seen trapped under rubble from a derelict building in Dracula Lives #33. The villain tracks down DePrayve's alter-ego Winston Redditch at the Metro General Hospital. Over powering Redditch's nurse and rendering his victim unconscious the Hangman takes Redditch to his hideout in an abandoned cinema. The story continues next week,

Another Planet of the Apes in-house advert for this week's issue, this time it uses the cover artwork from that issue with a couple of panels from this week's tale, to tell readers that beginning in this issue the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes comic strip adaption. 

Another nice Marvel Masterwork Pin-up featuring Tigra, the Were-woman. I've been unable to name the artist who drew this pin-up, but who ever it was it she looks great.

Man-Thing “Night of the Nether-spawn!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Rich Buckler

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in Adventure into Fear #11

Cover date December 1972

(Published in September 1972)

Amateur witch Jennifer Kale has stolen one of her grandfather's occult textbooks and with her younger brother Andy they find a quiet spot to make some magic. Under the hidden gaze of the silent Man-Thing they take it into the swamp and attempt to conduct a ritual. Jennifer's first attempt at a conjuration spell fails. So the young siblings leave and head off to the cinema. 

Little does Jennifer or her brother realise that she had actually opened a tiny dimensional rift. The Man-Thing witnesses a formless force emerge from the rift, turning a harmless dragonfly into a creature that grows and grows until it becomes a thing of lurking intellect with a sinister purpose, a thing of monstrous evil, a demon known as the Nether-Spawn. Jennifer and Andy arrive in town to take in a movie, never realising that they are now being hunted. The Man-Thing follows the Nether-Spawn as the demon smashes through the wall behind the cinema screen. Its target is the young would be witch, who the demon attacks but luckily the Man-Thing has been following the Nether-Spawn and intervenes. Grabbing the demon's tail the swamp monster smashes it into the floor repeatedly until it begins to fear its attacker and burns to ashes in the Man-Thing's hands. With no sense of triumph the creature returns to its home in the swamp.

Bullpen Bulletins

The fourth Item gives a few words on the British based Bullpen production team of British Marvel Comics. Starting with the London editor "Nebulous" Neil Tennant and our three artists and graphical geniuses "Ambidextrous" Alan Murray, King of the cow-gum, "Jocular" John Pearce, skilled with the scalpel, and "Taciturn" Tony Essam, practiced with a pen. These are the lads who make and meet each and every production deadline and without whom there would be no Marvel Weeklies in England's green and pleasant land, not to mention Scotland, Wales and Ireland! More in Planet of the Apes.

Planet of the Apes #63

I was hoping for a more impressive cover to launch the beginning of the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes adaption. May be one of the beautiful Ken Barr painted covers from the Marvel/Curtis Magazine, possibly the cover from issue 18 which would work perfectly. Instead we get this standard Ron Wilson affair. Inks possibly by Dan Adkins. 

In a weird paradox of time travel this is how it began, in the future three astronauts crash land on Earth. An Earth no longer ruled by man, but by apes. 

This is a photo from the original Planet of the Apes film from 1968. Starring  Charlton Heston as astronaut Taylor, seen here with his fellow crewmen, Dodge, as played by Jeff Burton and Landon, as played by Robert Gunner, as they abandon their space craft.

The fourth film was released on the 14th June 1972 in the US and on the 24th September 1972 in the UK.

Now Marvel Comics presents its adaption of the fourth film in the series, "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes." The simian saga  continues...

Planet of the Apes “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Part 1 Slaves”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Alfredo Allala

Inker: Alfredo Allala

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #17

Cover date February 1976

(Published in December 1975)

The simian saga continues with Marvel's comic adaptation in the capable hands of Doug Moench, whose script remains very faithful to the vision of the film. Alfredo Allala returns to the Planet of the Apes strip, bringing the same beautiful art he had produced on Beneath the Planet of the Apes adaptation as seen in POTA #35 to 46. It's North America 1991 and an armed gun man patrols the empty nighttime streets.

With little spoken words and no description Moench and Allala open the strip with a cold scene of a man shooting down what readers find out later is an ape. As morning breaks all is seen as normal.

Later armed police stop and check Señor Armando's papers and those of his "pet" chimpanzee. When they leave Armando tells Caesar to walk more like a primitive chimpanzee the next time they meet other humans. Caesar replies to his "master". Caesar was the child of the two fugitive apes from the future who had swapped their baby "Milo" with the baby of Armando's circus chimpanzee, now he's grown up but his intelligence has to remain hidden from the totalitarian state that has rose to power in those years. This is the first time that Caesar has come to the city so Armando tells him to be prepared for a shock. As they move through the city we find that apes are used as workers performing menial jobs and treated like slaves. They are pushed if they stop working and are surrogated from human areas. Caesar whispers to Armando to ask why he had told him that the humans had treated apes like pets, but instead they are treated like slaves? Armando takes Caesar to a pet memorial and tells him about a virus brought back from outer space by an astronaut in 1982, that wiped out every cat and dog in the world. Humans replaced their lost pets with marmosets and tarsier monkeys, then people learned how quick and easy it became to train them, the choice of pets got bigger and bigger unit they became servants to the humans. Next week we find out more in "Onward Caesar!" 

A photo pin-up of a scene from the 1972 20th Century Fox film of "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes" featuring Armando, as played by Ricardo Montalbán, leading Caesar, as played by Roddy McDowall, through a shopping mall in a city set in 1991. Where he sees his enslaved fellow apes for the first time. 

Ape Mail

Susan Bowles from Suffolk had found a pen pal through reading the Planet of the Apes comic, but wants to have an "Ape fan" friend who she can meet in person, She was at the time seven and a half. In the mid seventies that was quite a positive thing, sadly these days my mind becomes suspicious of the replies she might receive. She loves the adaptation of the films and is looking forward to more of them. As of the other stories in the comic, she likes them, particularly "Day of the Triffids" but she thinks that perhaps they could have a magazine of their own. The next letter is from another female reader this time from Sussex, who thinks that as the comic is called Planet of the Apes the Ape stories should have a greater share of the pages, in issue 50 it only had seven pages. The editor explains that obviously the problem is filling the schedule of a weekly comic with limited Ape material. Kevin Conlan from Merseyside writes that the lead story in POTA has been greatly over-shadowed by the back-up features. The so-called back-up features represent some of the best Sci-Fi ever written. In his opinion "The Apes" lack one essential ingredient and that is "class". Francis Wilson from St Helens always looks forward to reading POTA, especially the Ape stories and the articles. They write the only thing wrong is it should hold only Apes stories, not those other stories. Not that they aren't good, for they are excellent, but POTA should be a mag only about Apes. Joe Murphy from Essex congratulates Marvel on POTA become their best mag. He adds the POTA story is the best he's ever read and the artwork was fantastic. He was overjoyed to see Captain Marvel alongside Warlock as these are his favourites.

Black Panther “Rituals of ego, heritage of blood”

Writer: Don McGregor

Artist: Rich Buckler

Inker: Klaus Janson

Originally published in Jungle Action Vol 2 #8

Cover date January 1974

(Published in October 1973)

This second part opening splash page is unsigned, yet after carrying out some internet research I found the original artwork on-line. At the top of the page David Wenzel's name is printed on the page board. A new story title, catch boxes and credits are added. Monica Lynne interrupts a ritual performed on T'Challa, lead by the royal herbalist, Mendinao, who is responsible for maintaining the growth and purity of the sacred heart-shaped herb that enhances T'Challa's Panther abilities. Angrily Monica pushes Mendinao to one side.

W'Kabi is grabs the American singer's arm, angered at the final indignity of the "outworlder" whose very presence profanes the ceremony. T'Challa orders his chief of security to unhand Miss Lynne, much to W'Kabi's dislike. The Panther discontinues the ritual and escorts Monica inside the Royal Palace. There they discover an unconscious guard. Suddenly Monica alerts the Panther to a flying spear that only misses him thanks to his panther like speed. Killmonger had sent Malice to break Venomm out of the royal holding cell. The Panther fights the spear mistress while W'Kabi enters the fray. Malice escapes when T'Challa's attention is distracted as W'Kabi strangles the life out of Venomm in anger for his past crimes against Wakanda people. T'Challa places his hand on W'Kabi's shoulder telling him that he too knows his rage, but would his death leave him with a memory as damning as the ones he had mentioned. W'Kabi stops. This is not the way. Not this night... not any night. Next week "Baron Macabre!"

A schematic layout of the Central Wakanda's Royal Palace. This feature originally appeared in Jungle Action Volume 2 issue 8 and was designed by Rich Buckler, Klaus Janson inked the page. The original artwork, with the Wakanda map artwork, that was printed in the same comic and appeared in the UK comic POTA #58, was sold at auction on the 5th June 2023 for $3,308.55. Which in pounds would be around £2,448. This page together with the Wakanda map  would go on to be the main reference material used in the production of the 2018 Black Panther feature film and can be seen in one of the behind the scenes features.

Bullpen Bulletins

The fifth Item asks readers were you at the Roundhouse on Monday the 20th October 1976? If not, you'll live to regret it! An audience of nearly one thousand thrilled to the words of the Mister Lee and the doodles of Happy Herb Trimpe. But if you couldn't get hold of a ticket, as they sold out in a week, all is not lost! In the week ending the 10th January issues there will be a special picture feature, preserving for posterity a record in words and pictures of the unforgettable Evening at the Roundhouse.  More from the Bullpen in the Super-Heroes.

Ka-Zar “They stalk the concrete jungle!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #15

Cover date December 1972

(Published in September 1972)

This second part opening splash page is by an un-named artist, at a pinch I might suggest it was by David Wenzel, who drew the splash page on this week's Black Panther opening page, but I have no proof. Ka-Zar is accosted by the New York police who don't like his attitude. After beating them off he flees and meets up with his friend, Barbara Morse, who drives him and Zabu away.

Elsewhere a group of drug pushers, lead by a big thug called the Pusher, attack a group of youths. injuring a number of them. As Ka-Zar and Barbara pull up at the building where Doctor Calvin had been taken too, they see an ambulance awaiting outside and their unconscious friend being loaded into it. Ka-Zar asks why she should be moved? Then the Savage Lord remembers one of the "Doctors" as being a thug he had fought in an alleyway earlier. Ka-Zar fights the men, but Barbara warns him that Doctor Calvin needs urgent treatment and the thugs flee as Ka-Zar and Barbara lift the doctor into the spurious ambulance the thugs had left behind. Later at the hospital the police arrive and want to arrest Ka-Zar but Barbara shows them her SHIELD badge to cool things down. The Story continues next week.

This Marvel Masterwork Pin-up of Ka-Zar and Zabu is taken from the Daredevil Annual #1, the American type of course not the glorious British hard back treasures, cover dated September 1967, published June 1967. It was drawn by Gene Colan and inked by John Tartaglione.  

The Super-heroes #44

Keith Pollard penciled this British commissioned cover with Mike Esposito applying the inks. I have to say the action of Giant-Man battling the Human Top kind of takes away the presence of the Scarecrow, who is, as the text above the demons he's fighting says, "really the end of the Scarecrow!?" Well we'll have to find out inside. 

The inside promotion for next week's Super-Heroes bring news that the loveable blue-eyed Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four will starting his own "smash" series in issue 45. Each week will see him teamed up with another Marvel super-star in a strip with more action and super special surprises than ever before. The first guest star is none other than the Incredible Hulk. Future guest stars include Iron Man, the Man-Thing and Captain America. The fantastic artwork used to promote the new strip is taken from the cover of Marvel Feature issue 11, cover dated September 1973, published June 1973 and was drawn by the incredible Jim Starlin with inks by John Romita Sr.

Giant-Man and the Wasp “Stop the Top”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Dick Ayers

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #55

Cover date May 1964

(Published in February 1964)

This specially commissioned page by an un-named artist was used as this story's second part opening splash page, with a new story title and credits added. Giant-Man and the Wasp have missed the Human Top's robbing of a bank, but as they return to their home the super fast villain has been tracking them. Then in a surprise attack the Top snatches Giant-Man's belt of size capsules and uses one of the capsules to grow in size. He easily dispatches Giant-Man by hurling him into a closet and locking the door, then he captures the Wasp in a jar before escaping. Now there's two things either the Pym's have got to stop leaving empty jam jars around or the Wasp needs a special ring that shatters glass like James Bond once used. 

Using his ants to retrieve a shrink capsule Giant-Man shrinks to the size of his ants and crawls under the closet door. Then regaining his discarded capsule belt he chases after his foe. He tracks down his enemy and frees the Wasp. Now Giant-Man battles the Top using his mastery of changing size, the Wasp, and nearby ants to defeat his foe, who is not used to fighting at giant-size. Tricking him into smashing through a weakened roof top, they make the Human Top surrender and make him take a reducing capsule to return to regular size. Once again Giant-Man and the Wasp witness the Human Top's real face yet in future tales have completely forgotten what he looks like when he goes under cover as Janet Van Dyne's chauffeur. The next day, Giant-Man and Wasp tell the story to their fan club and read the newspaper's report about the Human Top's defeat. More sixties silliness next week.

Super-Mail

Andrew Coster QNS, RFO, KOF from Essex pens a massive letter detailing the origins of many Marvel characters in alphabetical order including the Abomination, the Beetle, Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the Juggernaut and the Silver Surfer, with the issues where those origins had appeared in. Duncan Light from Ayrshire thinks that John Buscema really catches the air of the situations in the Silver Surfer and the X-Men started off badly, but have had an amazing comeback. David Heaton from Middlesex explains how the machine that the Silver Ziggurat managed to conducts electricity over vast areas, as seen in Doc Savage story in issues 23-28. If you want to know the science around it read his letter. Paul Cooper RFO, KOF, QNS from Liverpool asks where has the Silver Surfer gone? He also says the X-Men are getting better and better. Fintan Wardell from Cleveland the Super-Heroes comic has improved by bringing in the Cat and Giant-Man into the line-up. He didn't mind the Silver Surfer being removed if it ment that two stories would join and the X-Men would still remain.

 

A Marvel Masterworks Pin-up featuring the Scarecrow. Drawn by David Wenzer and inked by Duffy Vohland.

The X-Men “The day of the Locust!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Werner Roth

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The X-Men #24

Cover date September 1966

(Published in July 1966)

This specially commissioned page by an un-named artist was used as this story's second part opening splash page, with all the usual bits and bobs added. The X-Men have pieced together the possible identity of the Locust  thanks to information from Jean Grey. The Professor send the X-Men to stop the eccentric college professor. While the X-Men battle the Locust's giant insects, an old man tries to convince the unhinged Hopper to renounce his evil ways. The Locust grows even larger insects for the X-Men to fight but Marvel Girl telekinetically curls his antennae, to disrupt his control of his creations causing the giant bugs to turn on him. 

The X-Men destroys the insects and Hopper's lab. The Locust breaks down after finally listening to the old man. Professor Hopper turns himself in to the authorities. The identity of the old man is revealed to be Professor X in disguise after once again utilising his mechanical legs to walk. Next week the X-Men face another menacing figure who discovers an incredible power that the fiend intends to unleash on the unsuspecting world. 

Bullpen Bulletins

The sixth Item asks horror fans what they think of the awesome advent of the murk-dwelling Man-Thing in Dracula Lives and the plethora of pulsating poster pin-ups British Marvel has been appearing in various of our titles lately. It's the bottom of the bulletins page and there's nothing left to leave over for its appearance in the Titans. Well wait and see what I fill that part in with at the end of this blog.

The Scarecrow “The Scarecrow strikes!”

Writer: Scott Edelman

Artist: Ruben Yandoc

Inker: Ruben Yandoc

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #26

Cover date February 1976

(Published in November 1975)

The Howard Chaykin (pencils,) with Al Milgrom (inks,) cover from Marvel Spotlight issue 26 is repurposed as this week's second part opening splash page with a new story title, catch up box and credits added. Harmony is menaced by demon as she is trapped in the room. Suddenly the Scarecrow appears and battles the demons. 

Then suddenly Bartolome, a member of the Cult of Kalumai, who goes by the name of the Piper, conjurers up a portal to converse with the Kalumai. The Demon Lord orders his servant to direct his demon on Earth to attack the Scarecrow and forget his missing horn and the girl Harmony. Through the sounds of his flute the Piper instructs Kalumai's demons to attack the Scarecrow with more aggression. The Scarecrow rushes forward, but not at them, instead at the aquarium exhibit, smashing the tank. With the tatty hero and Harmony save above the water the Scarecrow creates whirlpool that swallows all the demons and fish up, causing them all to disappear. The Scarecrow opens the door, which had previously been locked, to allow Jess, who had been watching events and drawing sketches of the scarecrow and the Demons, to enter.  The Scarecrow mysteriously disappears as Jess runs towards Harmony. The only evidence of the supernatural hero being there was a sketch on Jess's pad, leaving Jess and Harmony to wonder about the Scarecrow's true identity. Meanwhile, in another dimension Kalumai watches in bitter frustration over the whole failed mission and vows that one day soon he will destroy the Scarecrow. To be continued...someday...but not in the Super-heroes.

The Titans #11

This cover features the artwork of Keith Pollard (pencils,) with Frank Giacoia (inks,) showing the Sub-Mariner being attacked by the menacing hand of the Behemoth! But what is more menacing in the dreaded Deadline that nears us all. As did this issue of The Titans and the twelfth issue too. The Top headline reads "Sorry fans..Emergency 8p issue this week!" But that line was possibly not the first thing they noticed about this issue that signalled it was different. It no longer sported a glossy cover, instead it had the old style newspaper print matt cover. The price drop, for two weeks, to eight pence also may have come as a surprise. Some change for an extra penny sweet from the penny tray. This week's covers haven't been great, the artwork on this one is really pretty good, so for that and the novelty of an "emergency" issue I'm going to award this cover my Cover of the Week award. 

The Inhumans “..In his hand...the world!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Mike Sekowsky

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Amazing Adventures Volume 2 #10

Cover date January 1972

(Published in October 1971)

Magneto  has captured Black Bolt and three members of the Inhuman Royal family, Karnak, Medusa and Gorgon, believing them to be mutants. The master of magnetism has developed a machine that can create or enhance mutants. He uses that machine to further develop the powers of one of his mutants in order that the mutant can enslave Black Bolt's will. Magneto wishes to use Black Bolt as a weapon to which he can break in to a government research facility which is developing a new cosmic power source that Magneto wants. 

The process works and Black Bolt obeys Magneto's commands. They leave with a small army of Magneto's mutant followers. Karnak, Medusa and Gorgon are left prisoners, Elsewhere the. young boy named Joey, who had helped Black Bolt when he first came to the streets of San Francisco after he was affected by the evil Inhuman Maximus' new power that left Black Bolt with amnesia. Suddenly a strange light in the sky lifts the boy upwards, leaving his fate for another tale. Magneto's ship breaks into the government research facility in Southern Washington, while at the same time Medusa seduces a mutant guard and escapes the prison that Magneto had left the three Inhumans in. Next week the story's conclusion ends with "on with the fight!" 

The Sub-Mariner “To the death!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #80

Cover date June 1966

(Published in March 1966)

On returning to Atlantis, Lady Dorma and the Sub-Mariner confronted by a giant creature known as the Behemoth, as it rampages through the ocean after breaking free from its prison below Atlantis. Unknown to them the creature is under the control of exiled Warlord Krang who used a puppet created by the Puppet Master to control the beast. Namor sends Dorma to Atlantis while he struggles with the monster.

The Puppet Master reminds Krang that he promised to let him go unharmed in exchange for a puppet to control the Behemoth. Krang angrily dismisses him, which proves to be his undoing as at that moment Namor summons electric eels to shock the Behemoth. This shock transfers back to the doll, causing a jolt of electricity that makes Krang drop the puppet relinquishing his control over the gargantuan beast. As the Behemoth is distracted, Namor swims around the creature, luring it to the Quagmire of Doom where the monster sinks to its demise. Krang arrives there before Namor and confronts Lady Dorma. Showing her the useless puppet of the Behemoth, he bluffs her into believing that he is still in full control of the creature. If she wishes Namor to live, she is to leave and marry him at once. Not wishing harm to come to her true love, Dorma agrees and leaves. She contacts Lord Vashti to tell him that she is leaving to marry Warlord Krang, but doesn't explain why as the video call is terminated. Vashti tells Namor the bad news upon his arrival. Next week's story "When a monarch goes mad!"

Captain America “Where walks the Sleeper!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and George Tuska

Inker: George Tuska

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #73

Cover date January 1966

(Published in October 1965)

This classic Captain America was one of a handful of Marvel strips that were made into cartoons. I remember waking them on Saturday morning as a kid but you can find this story and many more with a YouTube search. Captain America has followed the first of three Sleeper robots that have been awoken by Nazi sleeper Agents, Under orders left during the dying days of the Second World War by the evil Red Skull. 

The second Sleeper is awoken by another Nazi sleeper agent Erica Wolfmann, an Ex-Nazi SS officer who carried out her task twenty years after the defeat of the Third Reich. This giant robot flying machine awoken in the German town of Telbeck, bears an uncanny likeness to a giant manta-shaped creature. Its waker Wolfmann was killed in the explosion that frees that freed the robot. After trying to stop the second Sleeper, Cap finds it also is impervious to his attacks. So instead he opts to hitch a ride on the flying machine as it combines with the first Sleeper robot and flies off to meet the third and final Sleeper. Elsewhere the third Nazi Sleeper agent, Agent 3, another ex-Nazi SS officer called Schlag, prepares to awaken the third Sleeper. Just then Captain America is then forced to jump off the flying combination of the first and second sleeper due to an attack by NATO aircraft. He manages to land in the ocean, but with the joining of the third sleeper with the shield-slinger face his "Final Sleep!"? Find out next week.

The Marvel Masterwork Centre-Spread number eleven featuring Captain America with images from is past adventures during World War Two and the Avengers who he meet in 1963! the artist is un-named.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “The end of Hydra!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and Don Heck

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Strange Tales #140

Cover date January 1966

(Published in October 1965)

Don Heck finishes off Jack Kirby's layouts in this strip and Joe Sinnott applying the ink makes a fine job of an unexpected combination that has become a pretty cool read. Colonel Fury with ex-Hydra operative Agent G are able to fight off the Hydra Tigers, the evil organisation's elite fighting force and meet up with SHIELD agents Dugan and Jones as well as the other Agents of SHIELD's assault force, helping them in their battle. Meanwhile, Tony Stark, without his Iron Man suit of armour, personally pilots the Braino-saur into orbit with a mission to deactivate the Betatron bomb. Next week's conclusion is "Escape!"

Captain Marvel “That Zo might live... ...a galaxy must die!”

Writer: Arnold Drake

Artist: Dick Ayers

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Captain Marvel #15

Cover date August 1969

(Published in May 1969)

This week's Captain Marvel adventure is best described as a "hippy-trippy-trip!" Captain Mar-Vell finally meets up with the cosmic entity known as Zo, what looks like a pulsating star in space. The entity replays events from the birth of a star spawned planet to, perhaps it's fiery death! It seems to be a history of Earth from the dawn of time. The Zo shows him a vision of Mar-Vell back in the Kree Galaxy, planting some sort of mechanical device, a bomb! The an explosion that destroys his home planet!

Zo shows him a utopian garden, a land of beautiful perfection, but the journey has not ended. He sees another version, a version of hell! The realm of eternal human suffering. Zo has shown Mar-Vell the balance of the universe and what would happen if Zo's will is not done. He explains to Mar-Vell that the followers of the Kree god Tam-Bor, who have built an idol to their god, that uses a magnetic force that threatens to destroy the whole universe. Mar-Vell agrees to do as Zo asks. Suddenly he is transported to the city of his birth, where he steals a ship to fly to the location where the worshipers of Tam-Bor reside. Part of his plan is to allow himself to become captured, in hopes, that he will be take them to their headquarters as a "Prisoner of Tam-Bar!".

 

Bullpen Bulletin/Titanic Transcripts

The Bullpen Bulletin page is printed on the back page of the landscape comic, but only with room for four of the Items and one picture of Stan Lee's Son of Origins of Marvel Comics book to go with the first Item. The rest of the page is given over to the first Titans letter page titled, Titanic Transcripts. The first and only letter comes from Howard Sinclair RFO, KOF from London who wonders how Marvel can cram so much good action into one mag? He's writing about the Titans which he says he has never seen a single Mag filled to the brim with so many stories, superheroes and villains. Even if it only lasts half as long as the MWOM. it will have more action in those 80-odd weeks than most comics have in 150 issues. He asks Marvel to not fold up the Titans at issue 17 like they did with SSOC. (Well it was actually issue 18, but you get the point.) He heard Stan Lee on Capital Radio and Howard agrees with every word he said, except he thinks that Doctor Strange is Marvel's best super-hero. The editor replies to his letter by saying there's no need to worry about the Titans folding up. As far as we're concerned it's here to stay! Well will that be true? Stick with the Power of the Beesting through out 2026 and find out how long it lasts. I hope you had a mighty Marvel merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, it you haven't had it already, depending on when you read this blog. Already in the fading days of 2025 I'm preparing the next blog for the British Marvel Comics dated the 10th January 1976, which hopefully if all goes to plan will be on-line Sunday night the 4th January 2026. Until then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.