To Infinity and beyond!

 Week Ending 11th August 1976

After I watched the brilliant Spider-man: Brand New Day last week, I'm really up for some classic 70's Spider-man adventure and what better place to get that fix is in British Marvel comics Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. This week's batch of mags are also packed with magnificent Marvel memories, including the middle of the Avengers Kree/Skull war, Conan at his barbarian best, kick-ass Spider-man action, epic Thor adventures, psychedelic journeys in the Planet of the Apes, macabre ghost stories in Man-Thing, the Fantastic Four's one hundredth tale, super agent action from Steranko and cracking Kirby capers as Captain America must face the fourth Sleeper. I'll give no spoilers for the Spidey film, other than it's absolutely amazing! As for the British weeklies from 1976, only the spoilers you want to know lay ahead.

The Mighty World of Marvel #202

I really love this original cover commissioned especially for this British weekly. It's great that the Avengers get to feature on the cover without the Hulk making an appearance, especially as they are co-headliners under the Mighty World of Marvel logo. The piece was drawn by Jeff Aclin, as you can see with his signature to the left of the Super-Skull's leg. The inker was probably Dan Adkins according to the Grand Comics Database. One other thing about this cover is that the price as increased by a penny to nine pence. The last price increase of this weekly was with MWOM #125 on the week ending 22rd February 1975.

The Incredible Hulk “Fury at 50,000 volts!”

Writer: Len Wein

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #183

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1974)

The Hulk standing on rail tracks only leads to one thing and that's trouble as an oncoming train steams towards him. Of course the brute child-like logic only sees it as a big machine attacking him so he punches it off the rails. Then with fury he demands to know why humans can't leave him alone. As no answer is given by the shocked locomotive driver the green giant leaps away eventually landing in Lake Michigan, where then he has to swim across the vast water to the city of Chicago. After expanding all that herculean effort both physically and mentally while contemplating his next move the Hulk rests. Falling asleep in an alleyway he reverts back into Bruce Banner.

Banner eventually awakens with no clue where he is and no money. Finding a newspaper he finds out that he's in Chicago. In ad section he finds an opening for a janitor at Soul-Star Research Ltd, After finding some clothes he checks out if the position is still open. It's ironic that a nuclear physicist ends up cleaning up around the science lab when he would have in another life been the one pushing the buttons instead of a broom. The lab is run by Stan Landers, Mark Revel and Alexandra Knox. Both men love Knox, but she is only attracted to Stan. Their current project is a device that will hopefully absorb electrical brainwaves released into the atmosphere and theoretically gain access to every thought throughout human history. As they perform their first test Banner enters the room to clean up. Overhearing their scientific problems he offers them his scientific expertise, and when his advice works they are surprised to find that the world famous Bruce Banner is working as a meagre cleaner. Inviting Bruce to assist them, they all put on special suits and activate the electronic cannon that would absorb the electrical brainwaves. However, instead of pulling the thoughts of humanity over the ages they bring back the deadly energy of the creature known as Zzzax, who was destroyed by Hawkeye in the Hulk strip from MWOM #169. Its resurrection causes an explosion that knocks Alexandra. At risk to his own life Stan races to help refit his colleagues personal protection equipment and push her to safety. Zzzax consumes Stan in an electrical fury, his dying thoughts are his love of Alexandra. Next week be shocked by the danger from a "Battle atop a skyscraper!" 

The Avengers “To the victor belongs..Earth!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Neal Adams

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in The Avengers #93

Cover date November 1971

(Published in August 1971)

This fourth part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Crazily British Marvel decided to add "Part Six" next to the story title even though it was only the fourth week of the weeklies serialising of "This Beachhead Earth". While the Avengers engage in a cataclysmic conflict on Earth against three Skulls who have taken the forms of Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing, their friend, Captain Marvel desperately struggles to escape from his confinement on board a hidden Skull space craft. Not as the caption at the top of the opening page says "in the far-distant Skull Galaxy." Carol Danvers watches as he strains against his bonds.

I have to say that Neal Adams artwork on this story is an absolute joy, partly thanks to Tom Palmer's superb inking. It may be in Roy Thomas's writing or it might be Adams artistic eye but the way that two scenes are unfolded over three pages simultaneously, with the top half of the pages showing Captain Marvel and the clever reveal and the lower half's all out action between the Avengers and the fake "fantastic three", It's a masterclass in comic strip creation. 

Mar-Vell frees himself and Carol. The Kree captain explains to Carol that the two alien races have been at war across thousands of worlds, whose names they scarcely know, over countless "light-centuries". Carol asks him does his people know that the Skulls are on Earth? With a sense of duty he begins to construct an "Omni-wave projector" to send a message back to his planet. When the device is used he calmly destroys it, as in the wrong hands it can also be used as a devastating weapon. Mar-Vell deduced that "Carol" wasn't who she professed to be. Among other things her calling him Mar-Vell" instead of Marvel, as on Earth only the Avengers know his true name. "Carol" reveals himself to be none other than the Super-Skrull in disguise!

As the Avengers seem to be beating the three Skrull warriors the Super Skrull's sudden attack allows him to defeats Mar-Vell, using "nerve-vapour". With his other captives, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, the Super-Skrull sets the ship to blast off. The Farm house starts to shake to reveal the hidden Skull saucer beneath it. Goliath leaps onto the alien craft and starts hammering away at its hull. This worries the Super-Skull as the craft was built to withstand ethereal winds and light-storms of hyper-space, but not the sheer impact of the giant's hammering fists. Just then Goliath starts to shrink as the craft rises. As he grows smaller his grip weakens and he starts to fall.

With the three skrulls defeated Thor is free to rescue his teammate, but in doing so the saucer escapes. Clint Barton hadn't taken Hank Pym's growth serum for days. His pride was hurt by his need to be rescued and his failure to free his friends. The Super Skrull escapes...with Mar-Vell, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch as his prisoners, leaving the Avengers battered and bruised with no idea what they must do next in this intergalactic war that started "20,000,000 years to Earth!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Richard Poynor from Stockport has returned to Marvel after a few years away, triggered by reading Stan Lee's Origins of Marvel Comics a few week's ago which brought home the brilliance of Marvel comics. He wished that he hadn't given away all his American Marvels, the Oldham's weeklies like Fantastic and Terrific several years ago, in the mistaken belief that such delights were "childish". He remarks that British Marvel is a project that must be saluted as a great cultural event. The Titans format is a superb idea. He can sympathise with the reader who spoke of one strip detracting from another, but for his money the more the better. He suggests that the original American number and date of each story could be included in the British mags because readers would find such credits useful for reference. Ivor Davis from Dunbartonshire asks is Damian Cahill keeping secrets from him???? Ivor can't understand what he means by "MWOM and SMCW promote a DC Super-friend type of image". Ivor doesn't indulge in DC mags except for Swamp Thing so he wouldn't know what a "DC Super-fiend Image" is. He asks for some clarification!

Barry Winetrobe from Glasgow ask while not wishing to lose continuity, how about missing out some of the early Iron-Man and Avengers stories? Don Heck as artist makes him skim through these tales, because his art undramatic. He also ask that Thor or Dr. Strange are not dropped, as they are your best strips after Spidey. To those who criticise Thor in their letters as a boasting show-off, Lee/Kirby's Thor is a noble warrior-god, hence the flowery speech. Gary Bell RFO, KOF, TTB, QNS, FOOMer from Preston writes that "Spin-out on Fifth Avenue" was another in the long line of Daredevil classics. They really started with "Cal him Fear" and they bring back DD to his highest. The only complaint is that six pages of Daredevil are not enough. Gary looks forward to Dardevil's future with saying that Gerry Conway one big mistake made during his stint on DD was introducing the Black Widow, but he's thankful of Marv Wolfman taking up the writer's pen. Chris White KOF, RFO, QNS from Buckinghamshire thinks that Conan is the greatest thing Marvel has done. Roy Thomas regularly produces masterpieces, with his adaptions of the Robert E. Howard stories. All this and the best artists such as Smith, Buscema, Chan, Starlin, Milgrom, Sinnott, Adkins, Alcala, Marcos, Kane, De Zuniga, Adams, Ploog and many more have worked hard to make Conan the most consistently best-drawn mag ever.

Conan the Barbarian “The rats dance at Ravengard!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Dick Giordano, Terry Austin and Dan Adkins

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #48

Cover date March 1975

(Published in December 1974)

This Conan adventure continues its adaptation of the original material taken from Gardner F Fox's novel "Kother and the Conjurer's curse." Conan and Stefanya continue dragging the wizards Zoqquanor's corpse on their journey towards Phalkar, the westernmost province of the border kingdom. The girl pleads with Conan to tell her more about himself and any strange things he's seen. He tells her that compared to dragging a corpse about the countryside his youth in Cimmeria was dull, until about his fifteenth year when his tribe sent him out in the mid-winter on his initiation rite, testing his ability to survive in the wilderness. 

With only a sword and a bear-skin to keep him warm he went out in to the wild wooded hills. Born on a battlefield with a sword in his hand it was second nature to him. On the day he managed to slay three wolves to get to their kill, a baby deer. That night he fed well and slept under a fallen log. He could have gone back the next morning but he had eyes set on wilder horizons. As he climbed the snow covered hills that border his home two great white bears rise up in front of him. Bears that are never seen by man except in the farthest reaches of Aesgaard and Vanaheim. Suddenly a beautiful Priestess of the Wild appears standing between the hulking beasts, wrapped in the snow-pure pelt of a third bear, her black hair flowing in the Korean wind. She asked him his name and told him hers was Ursla. She notes that not many boys of his age or older would be as curious to journey to the hills. She offer to led him to her dwelling and spellbound he accepts her hospitality. That night in front of the warm fire he lays down with her. The next day Conan returns to his village. The elders didn't believe his tale until he showed them the brooch Ursla had given him. They laughed and slapped him on his shoulder, vowing to take him south when they marched on Vanadium. Ursla had told him that he later will encounter more priestesses like her. Stefanya tells Conan about her earliest memories, raised by Zoqquanors as if she was his own daughter. 50 years on from this mag I read and understood the subtle way Roy and John gently showed the readers how Conan lost his virginity, I'm not sure as a child I would have read and understood that page, maybe the subtleties would have gone over my head. Meanwhile back to the strip, some days later their journey is interrupted by the robber baron Torkal Moh of Ravengard and his men, who demand tribute for the pair's passage through his lands. Find out who will be the winner in that match when "Torkal Moh takes all!"

Action..mystery..and villains galore!! This one's got it all! And that's just the Fantastic Four strip in this week's The Titans comic, as seen in this in-house advertisement. Also in the comic is the Sub-Mariner who takes on the Thing in "The rage of Battle!" More on all that later in the blog. 

Under that in-house ad, there's a paid for advert for Norvic Boys' Shoes. Now I have to be honest I don't remember Norvic Boys' Shoes at all, we always had Clarkes shoes for school, but this advert offers a free Norvic Man when you bought a pair of Norvic shoes. Now in the picture they look like action men toys, but they were six and a half inches high with movable parts to arrange them into all sorts of fighting positions. "He's a cowboy or a combat man with a walkie-talkie and gun." the advert says. Would the offer, or me nagging my mother for them make her buys the shoes? Probably not.

Daredevil “The killing of Brother Brimstone”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Daredevil #65

Cover date June 1970

(Published in April 1970)

The fog comes swirling in like some silent stalking animal directly in the path of Karen Page! She can feel someone following her. She can't hear him but she can feel his lurking presence. She's been walking in circles in the fog. His footsteps coming nearer and nearer. Then out of the mist a shadowy figure blocks her path. She cries for help but his heavy hands grab at her around her neck as she screams! Suddenly a voice shouts "CUT!"

The director orders the film crew to stop. Karen has taken a job as an actor in Hollywood, settlings in to regular acting roll. Her most recent part is working on the soap opera "Strange Secrets", a series that is popular because of its mysterious villain known as Brother Brimstone. The director Mister Wheeler is over the moon with Karen's acting, telling her she'll go far in the acting business, calling her a trouper. However, moods on the set are tense especially from the actor who portrays Brother Brimstone, Ross Archer. Who is angry with the blundering stand in/assistant Lester Dant. The director isn't pleased with Lester either. He's managed to walk into shot again, meaning another re-shoot. Meanwhile Daredevil has found Karen's friend Sally Weston's apartment, who just happens to be the assistant director on "Strange Secrets" has been lying to Matt Murdock when she said that she hadn't heard from Karen since she came to Los Angeles. Her apartment is full of clues that Karen has been spending time there. Back on the soap opera set the director lays into Lester Dant, but the lead from the soap, Vince Sterling steps in as peacemaker. Ross Archer, in his Brother Brimstone make-up gets into a fight with the script-writer, Lawson, who has written his character out of the show, under the orders of the producers. The drama continues next week.

This fantastic Mighty Marvel Masterwork of Conan is by British artist Barry Windsor-Smith, signed beautifully in the bottom righthand corner as Barry Smith. This beautiful piece of art originally appeared on the May month of the Marvel 1975 calendar. It's fit for any wall on any month of the year. 

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #183

The cover that this landscape cover was based on is a classic! John Romita Sr. drew that iconic Amazing Spider-man #134 cover that has just been homaged to in the latest MCU film, "Spider-man: Brand New Day!" The positions and poses of Spider-man, the Tarantula and the police officers are perfect for the 2 second cameo, the only thing changed in the film is the villain's costume, but that's fine the modern look feels more realistic. Larry Lieber knew what not to change when he re-drew Romita's dynamic cover. The only changes to the characters positions are necessary to fit it onto the landscape cover comfortably. Only Spider-man's right leg is reoriented and the police officers are posed differently. The text, speech and thought bubbles are also reoriented to suit the shape of the landscape cover. Frank Giacoia inked Larry's pencils. This cover is as amazing as the original, so I can't help but make it my Cover of the Week!

Spider-man “Danger is a man named...Tarantula”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Ross Andru

Inker: Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #134

Cover date July 1974

(Published in April 1974)

This landscape splash page was drawn especially for this British weekly and was very much based on Ross Andru's original splash page. That original page sold on Heritage Auctions for $19,200 back on the 23rd June 2024, I wonder how much this copied version is worth? The artist behind this version is unnamed, however the ferry mooring has a company name above it that reads "Vohland-Bender Lines". So it's a very good chance that Duffy Vohland and Howard Bender worked on it. Generally Bender was the penciller and Vohland was the inker, but judging by the order of their names it might be the other way round for this piece of art.

This week's strip has connections to the latest Spider-man movie "Brand New Day" not only for the re-creation of the iconic cover, as detailed earlier, but also for a returning guest star, whose identity will be revealed later. It's Spring time in Manhattan, the season when people come alive and enjoy the simple pursuits, bicycling, stickball in Central Park or taking a boat ride along the Hudson River. Peter Parker is running late for a cruise trip with Flash Thompson, Mary Jane, and Liz Allan. Spidey web-slings to the docks then changes back to Peter Parker, making it just in time as the four young friends race up the jetty just in time before the ferry sets off. What should be a nice day out starts to turn sour when Peter is alerted by his spider-sense to three suspicious looking men. Peter is distracted by his thoughts over the last few week's events. Then a fight breaks out on the upper deck, Flash rushes over to stop it but Peter pulls him back when the culprits reveal themselves to be hijackers lead by the costumed mercenary known as the Tarantula, who intends on ransoming off the passengers for one million dollars.

Peter slips away and changes into Spider-man to attack the Tarantula. However, the Tarantula knocks some of the crew overboard, so Spider-man is forced to jump and rescue them meaning he has to abandon the ship to the hijackers. When he realises that he's out of web fluid he cannot swing back to the ship. Flash is a little suspicious over Peter's sudden disappearance. Spidey rushes back to his apartment to quickly grab his spare web-cartridges. When he leaves he fails to notice Harry Osborn spying on him. This is the point that Harry discovered Peter's secret identity. As word of the ransom demands reach J Jonah Jameson, Spider-man manages to web-sling back onto the ship to resume his fight with the Tarantula. Although he is tagged by the drugged tips of the Tarantula's boots, Spider-man manages to put up a good fight against the South American foe. However, the drugs kick in causing the web-slinger to briefly blacks out. When he comes finds the Punisher pointing a gun pointing at him and seeking to take control of the situation. Next week the startling conclusion to this mini epic entitled "Shoot-out in Central Park!"

As if you didn't already know the Super-Skull returns and he appears in the pages of this week's Mighty World of Marvel in the pages of the Avengers strip. 

The Mighty Thor “The end of Infinity!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #188

Cover date May 1971

(Published in March 1971)

The All-mighty Odin has fallen beneath the spell of the entity known as Infinity. In the royal court of Asgard watch on the giant Cosmi-screen Odin in the service of Infinity as the pair strike at planets one by one throughout the cosmos. The assembled warriors of Asgard fear for the worse as Infinity continues to absorb the universe into his World Beyond. The Odinsword slowly continues to be drawn from its scabbard, as chaos erupts all over Earth and the universe. 

On Asgard the Trolls and Giants storm the gates of the Golden Realm. Balder and the Warriors Three go out to defend the kingdom while Thor tells Sif the origins of Infinity. Thor recounts the time that Loki briefly usurped control of Asgard and the God of Mischief sent Odin's body to the Sea of Eternal Sleep, as seen in SSMwtSH #161. At that time while Thor faced Loki, Balder had set out to rescue Odin, but before he could Hela appeared before Odin and attempted to take his soul, however Odin being more than man withstood the overtures of death. The Goddess of Death could not completely take his soul but managed to separate a portion of it which she moulded into a being that would serve her. She dubbed that entity Infinity a being she could manipulate into taking over the entire universe.

As the chaos continues throughout the cosmos Thor rallies his friends, even though the odds are against them, he will face Death and stop the merging of Infinity with Odin, as that would bring about the end of everything. With the invasion of trolls and giants at the gates of Asgard distracting them from the most important mission Thor summons a powerful storm that sweeps away the attacking forces out of the kingdom. Out near the World Beyond Infinity edges closer to the All-Father, all looks to be lost. Find out next week if the two halves of Odin's soul are "To be one, or perish!"

This Airfix advert is printed sideways on the page that is the back of the this week's centre spread, which is good because if you did want to pull the centre spread out to pin up on your bedroom wall  you wouldn't spoil any of the story pages. But I wonder why it wasn't saved to the back page, that is until you see what's on the back page. This advert offers readers the opportunity to win a flight on Concorde to the States with Airfix. All they needed to do was buy an Airfix Concorde kit and you've every chance of flying to the USA on the real thing. The full details of the competition and an entry form can be found at your local Airfix kit stockist. The first prize was a flight for two to the US on Concorde plus four days holiday with £100 spending money. Which would have been worth about £935 fifty years later. The second prizes are binoculars, while the third prizes are radios.

I can't imagine that many British readers at the time of this comic knew who WoodGod was. Jason Schachter from the Facebook group The Art of Marshall Rogers attributes this piece of art to artist Marshall Rogers. It was also credited to Rogers in issue 25 of the British fanzine Comic Media News, cover dated March-April 1976, which makes this its second appearance. Comic Media News was edited by Richard Burton who had a lengthy career at IPC Magazines and was known to readers of 2000AD as Burt, Tharg the Mighty's bumbling assistant. Later Richard Burton would morph into Tharg as 2000AD's editor.

The Web and the Hammer

Tony Speer from Middlesex has spent his life reading Spider-man first in the 60's with the POW comic. Now they are all gone because he was too young to realise their value. But since 1st October 1972 his dad bought him MWOM #1 and he got the bug again. Since then he's become a regular reader of SMCW and has marvelled at the Spidey LP record, Spidey on TV and a Spidey model. At 15 he's still livin' and collectin'. Peter Bullen from Blackpool writes that the Superman vs Spiderman treasury was fantastic. A masterpiece of art and story, with Ross Andru and Dick Gierando handling the art it was well-worth 75p. John Dawson from Humberside just read the latest issue of Super Spider-man and was shocked to find out that Gwen Stacy is dead. John asks "Can't you get Dr. Strange to take her through the Orb of Agamotto in the way he did when he was stabbed by Silver Dagger?" That sounds like a modern Spider-man plot. Francis Waters from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne really digs the new Super Spider-man, the free poster was fab. He thinks the only thing you could do to make this mag better is to have a Marvel team-up instead of the space used on Doctor Strange and the Human Torch.

Iron Man “To rout the Red Ghost!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #16

Cover date August 1969

(Published in May 1969)

 

This landscape splash page opens this week's third part, it was drawn by an unnamed artist. Iron Man and Unicorn have formed an alliance and flown to a secluded SHIELD outpost in an African jungle to stop the evil Red Ghost.

The Ghost and his newly powered apes have invaded the facility to used the technology secretly housed there to activate his device to empower his primate army. The Red Ghost and his two gorillas Alpha and Beta beat Iron Man and the Unicorn. Gloating about his victory and that soon the brainless band of gorillas will serve him just like Alpha and Beta in his super army. Beta mentally stops the Red Ghost, telepathically revealing his enhanced intellect that rejects the Ghost's plans for power. Beta orders Alpha to destroy the Intensifier, which he does while the apes return to the jungle. While the Ghost is stunned Iron Man asks the Unicorn for help in restraining him, but instead the Unicorn knocks the armoured Avenger out , then after doing the same to the Ghost abducts the villain in the hope that the Communist scientist will restore his powers to their peak. He leavesIron Man behind to repair his armour. 

Bullpen Bulletin

A Jovial Jamboree of Jaunty Jingles and Jesting Jabs, Jury-rigged to Jettison Your Jim-Jams!

The first Item in this week's Bullpen Bulletin page restates the philosophy behind the No-Prize. Nearly nobody likes to be a loser, everyone likes to be a winner, so, if they give an actual prize for spotting some major mistake, there will be some losers who won't be getting anything. Therefore, Marvel created the No-Prize! Awarded for the discovery of some error of major proportions that cannot be explained by a Bullpenner, or for some meritorious feat of research, or for any act of Marveldom heroism, above and beyond the call of sanity! The No-Prize eliminates losers, 'cause how can there be a loser for a No-Prize? So that clears things up. (Not really.) The second Item takes a look at the "new look" vertical titles, Mighty World of Marvel and Planet of the Apes. Marvel wanted to give readers more for your money, so now each title now has four strips per issue. That, coupled with the five far-out features in each issue of both The Titans and Super Spider-Man With the Super-Heroes, make for a lot of great reading each week. The third Item is the biggest news this week, is a Bombastic new British Weekly! In that Item they don't go into any details other than it'll star one of readers all-time favourite Marvel strips. But before they unleash the name readers will have guess what it will be? This week's Bullpen Bulletin also features in The Titans, so we'll take a look at the next three Items later in the blog.

The Thing and Morbius..together! “The return of the Living Eraser!”

Writer: Bill Mantlo

Artist: Arvell Jones

Inker: Dick Giordano

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #15

Cover date May 1976

(Published in February 1976)

The Marvel Two-in-One strip returns after Moon Knight briefly took its slot. But one of the lamest villains appears to hassle Ben Grimm. Thank goodness a certain vampire livens the strip up. Morbius the living vampire attacks Alicia in her apartment. As Ben walks up the corridor to her door he hears her scream. He smashes her door down to fight off Morbius. Their battle takes them to the street below.

Their battle is interrupted by the arrival of the Living Eraser, the lame villain I mentioned earlier, who first appeared in the Super-Heroes #31 and fought the Giant Man. He has come to once more to attack the Earth in hopes of winning over his people in Dimension Z following his ousting of the Supremacy. Those events happened following the conclusion seen in the Super-Heroes #32. His appearance attract the attention of Morbius who attacks him. That ruckus brings the Thing into the fight. You know that I joke about the Living Eraser, but I do find the quirkiness of the character a little bit charming in an odd way. Find out what happens next week in "Prisoners in another dimension!"

Doctor Strange “The death of Doctor Strange”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer 

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #44

Cover date May 1976

(Published in February 1976)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Doctor Strange searches for the fiend who caused the death of his faithful manservant, Wong. That villains name is Dracula, who the Doctor is following the undead's life-patterns back to his resting place using the Eye of Agamotto. The trail leads to Boston where he arrives at Dracula's lair. The Sorcerer Supreme's presence does not go unnoticed as Dracula detects the mystics presence the moment he arrives.

Strange attacks Dracula with a mystical force binding him with the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, however he manages to free himself by changing into his mist form. Doctor Strange uses the spell Images of Ikonn to wreak havoc in Dracula' mind by forcing him to suffer through his passions and fears of the past. The two are transported into an illusion where Dracula relives his battle against Turac, before he became a vampire, with Doctor Strange playing the role of Turac. The battle ends with Dracula's "death", and subsequent transformation into a vampire, which ends the illusion. Strange then demands that Dracula assist him in the resurrection of Wong, but Dracula refuses and advances on the Doctor who cannot seem to marshal enough mystical forces to keep Dracula at bay. Then using his hypnotic powers Dracula easily over powers Strange and puts him into a trance. Dracula then prepares to turn the sorcerer into a vampire. Now if you read last week's blog or noticed in the original published credits this strip was actually taken from Tomb of Dracula, in the original US comic the scene switches to Blade watching an apartment as he waits the vampire who killed his mother to return, when someone enters. Blade realises that they are not the one he's been looking for, but Hannibal King, the vampire detective. Missing this important Dracula sub-plot signals that the Vampire lord wouldn't be returning for a while. However the supernatural magic mystery of this crossover returns next month.

This Mighty Marvel Masterpiece is a page taken from the Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man treasury, cover dated and published January 1976. Writer Gerry Conway, artist by Ross Andru with inks by Dick Giordano. 

Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives #95

This British commissioned cover was drawn by David Wenzel and inked by Duffy Vohland. The top banner promotes more thrills and action from Ka-Zar and Man-Thing inside..

Planet of the Apes “Demons ofthe Psychedrome”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #19

Cover date April 1976

(Published in February 1976)

This two panel opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Last week Lightsmith discovered a mysterious cavern which may lead to the long sough Psychedrome. While lightsmith was lead through the labyrinth by the shaman leader of the ape village near the site, Jason had eaten a cactus button earlier in the day which lead him to have a psychedelic trip. The fever dream involve a nightmare in which their enemy Brutus had chased him in a strange world and ended with his friend, the chimpanzee Alex kissing their human friend Malagueña. In a fit of jealousy and rage Jason struck Alex and had to be pulled away by the returning Lightsmith.

Alex explains that Jason mist be mistaken as apes would never kiss a human. Lightsmith thinks it best to keep a eye on the two of them for the day, so he takes Jason and Alex with him while he returns to the Psychedrome with some "boomsticks", sticks of dynamite to us, to force his way into the metal dome he discovered deep in the caverns. It works a they blow a hole in it's side. As the explorers make their way inside they discover a maze of ramps and causeways that deadens their senses, so much so that no one hears the soft flapping sounds until it's too late. Winged monkey demons attack them, with one lifting Lightsmith away. Jason instantly squeezes the trigger on his machine gun as flashes from its barrel sweep through the air dropping several of the creatures. Lightsmith orders Jason to stop incase he is hit. Two of the winged ape demons carry Lightsmith away through an opening in the wall marked as "Psychedrome!" It leads to a chamber filled with gleaming futuristic decor. Silently the demons strap the human to a table and attach electrodes to his skull. Meanwhile Brutus and allies, mutant drones with their war machines attack the cliff-face dwellers city. An avalanche of rubble falls down destroying buildings and homes. Inside the cavern the exit is blocked by rock fall meaning that Jason and Alex have no other choice but to head deeper into the Psychedrome. Next week we'll learn more about the winged monkey demons and who they serve in the weirdly titled "The society of the Psychedrome.”

Apes Fang-Mail

Kevin Johnson from Worcestershire thinks POTA is great, terrific, magnificent even, except for how many pages are actually devoted to the ape saga. The back-up stories so far these have been great. But could more pages be devoted to the ape saga, Chris Percival from Hertfordshire thanks Marvel for at last giving readers the first Howard the Duck story. Howard could prove to be the best thing that has happened to comics for a long time. Alastair Mellis RFO, KOF, FOOMer from Surrey wonders "Which is the best part of comics, the art or the writing?" He points out that the art and the way a story is written, whether the conversation in word balloons or the descriptive panels, are both of equal importance. Without the pictures, a story would become normal prose. Lacking the great verbosity of your great writers, the story would lose most readers about a quarter of the way through. Comics should be a perfect balance between the two. His final point is since art and script are completely different, good art can bring up a badly-written story and an excellent story can improve bad art. Thomas Brown from Liverpool is trying to get together with Ape fans and make a POTA fan club. With the fee of forty pence, the member gets a POTA membership card, all the apes stories, a scrap sheet with Ape photos and an info sheet and each month will receive a POTA mag with latest info on the apes. Stephen Tivey from Staffordshire points out that Man-Thing is undoubtedly Marvel's best monster creation. He seems to run on the same lines as the Hulk, but when Man-Thing is being good he knows it, unlike The Hulk. A Jones QNS, RFO from London wonders who is working for Marvel? Is it Jack the Ripper or the Boston Strangler? He asks because at first Gwen Stacy is bumped off, then Marvel kills the Green Goblin and Professor X, not to mention Count Dracula, Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock and poor old Howard the Duck. Okay, so the last four were brought back to life, but there does seem to be a pattern. All I can say to A Jones is that no one dies forever in comics. 

Man-Thing “...If the Critics cry death!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Man-Thing #6

Cover date June 1974

(Published in March 1974)

This third part opening splash page was drawn by Marshall Rogers. It was sold by Heritage Auctions for $660 on the 25th October 2023, which would be around £493. The ghostly spectre of Darrel Daniel as so far failed to convince a ghastly panel of hooded Critics that he deserves a second chance of life. Darrel's ghost with the aid of the Man-Thing and four unwilling actors continue to replay his early life and his career as a clown, desperately hoping he will not be forced to face the catastrophic consequences if the Critics cry death!

The final act begins on a fateful day in 1968 when Darrel joined Garvey's Carnival as a circus clown. Alya the trapezes artist helps Darrel to find his voice as a clown and develop his skills. The carnival strongman, Tragg, recognises Darrel as the son of a millionaire and tells the Carnival's owner Garvey as much. Garvey lets him stay because his money might come in handy in the future. Garvey persuades Alya to get closer to Darrel to act romantically towards him so that they could take his money.  Darrel finds out that Ayla is only with him for his vast wealth, this eventually leads him to committing suicide. The ghostly Critics decide that Darrel made a failure of his life and blamed others. The price he must pay for that is his soul. They are about to destroy it when the Man-Thing intervenes and fights them. When Ayla finally voices her inner guilt, feeling responsible for Darrel's death and her genuine love of Darrel. The Critics overturn their verdict and allow Darrel to enter paradise. All witnesses are surprised to find that Darrel's corpse with a smile on his face. Alya wonders if they finally understood that a man who can inspire laughter and joy is the holiest man of all? With that the indifferent Man-Thing slowly with returns to the swamp.

SFX on the Planet of the Apes

This article, part one of two, was written by James Glenn, in which he goes into great detail of how certain special effects were achieved in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. Originally it appeared in the Marvel/Curtis Magazine version of Planet of the Apes issue 20, cover dated May 1976, published March 1976. Part two of this article will follow next week. 

Ka-Zar “Beyond the vale of savage time”

Writer: Doug Moench and Gerry Conway (plot)

Artist: John Buscemi

Inker: Fred Kida

Originally published in Ka-Zar Vol 2 #10

Cover date August 1975

(Published in April 1975)

Ka-Zar is alerted by a barrage of frenzied snarls when the sabre-toothed tiger, Zabu is attacked by a berserk rage filled gorilla. Zabu thrashes its raking talons deeper into the flesh of the massive foe, but the mad gorilla does not let up. Leaping onto the gorilla's back Ka-Zar plummets his blade into the ape's body, cutting to the bone. Reacting to the glaring pain the ape reaches behind and in one move grasps and hurls his human attacker over the ledge in a lengthy arch Ka-Zar plunges into the foliage below. 

Zabu continues to fight but as Ka-Zar returns the sabre-toothed tiger lies unconscious at the apes feet. With a thrown dagger pain the jungle lord attacks the ape once more. Recklessly Ka-zar grapples with the giant ape, but is unable to reach the embedded blade he falls victim to the implacable crush of a death-embrace. His ribs become bands of constricting fire. Breath is squeezed from his chest as ape's fangs draw closer. Ka-Zar's arms shoot forwards, his palm punching the ape's chin, forcing the grotesque head back. Both neck and ribs stain to breaking point, until the ape finally falls. With the last effort his body throbs in agony, he staggers across the blood-splattered clearing and falls near Zabu in closing darkness. Later, queasy, the darkness subsides into shifting grey. He hears a soft voice that bids him to lie still and rest. When his consciousness is fully formed he discovers he is riding a veiled howdah that lurches left then right in a stately rhythm on the back of  a mastodon. The woman tells Ka-Zar that he is currently part of a caravan on the Tordon-Na which is approaching a waterfall she names as the Curtain of Gods Tears. Through a narrow passageway tunnel they re-enter the light  to find a vast hidden valley. The girl tells Ka-Zar that her name is Illyana and she is taking him to the Golden city of Tordon-Na. Next week Ka-Zar enters "The temples of Ilak-aron!"

Planet of the Apes “The men of 20 centuries!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #1

Cover date August 1974

(Published in June 1974)

Jason Schachter from the Facebook group The Art of Marshall Rogers attributes this third part opening splash page to Marshall Rogers. I really can't see it myself, but Jason knows his stuff so who I'm I to disagree. Three astronauts have crash landed on a strange world, but the don't know how far and how long they have travelled from their own Earth. The first question is life on this barren sphere friendly or hostile. With their rations dwindling they continue their search for life. Next week they come "face to face" with it.

The Titans #43

Steven Stiles pencilled this landscaped cover featuring the Fantastic Four which was based on Jack Kirby's cover from the American Marvel comic the Fantastic Four 100. Mike Esposito inked Stiles work.

The Fantastic Four “The long journey home!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #100

Cover date July 1970

(Published in April 1970)

This landscape opening splash page is based on Jack Kirby's original splash page, but it was re-drawn by an unnamed artist. It looks a little like Larry Lieber's work, but I have no proof either way. The original US comic that this story featured in had reached its one hundredth issue so this story is a homage to the many foes the Fantastic Four had fought against. 

The Fantastic Four and Crystal had left the Inhuman Great Refuge after last week's events, in the confiscated Skull flying saucer. Some unseen force had shot down the saucer. The passengers float to the ground thanks to the efforts of Crystal's elemental powers which made the air currents heavy enough to support them.  When they examine the flying saucer's wreckage they are shot at by Kang the Conquerer. The team work together to defeat him but suddenly they are attacked by Doctor Doom with a "self contained missile!" But it fails to break through the Invisible Girl's force field. Kang and Doom try to flee when Crystal uproots a redwood tree and tries to crush them to the ground with it. Meanwhile we find out who really is behind the two villain's attack. The Mad Thinker and Puppet Master have teamed up in their latest scheme to get revenge on them, this time by using android duplicates of the Fantastic Four's various enemies. The next duplicate they are working on in the fiends machine is the Incredible Hulk.

Reed Richards examines the two fallen foes and discovers that they are android versions of Kang and Doctor Doom, that possess the powers and rudimental memories of their human counterparts. Reed leaps to the correct conclusion that the duplicates are the Puppet Master's doing. The next duplicate to attack is the Kree android Sentry, the Thing manages to clobber that robot. The Human Torch gathers some transport for his teammates now that the saucer is damaged beyond repair, in the shape of two camels. The team is next attacked by the Dragon Man and later when they change their transport to a fibre boat to navigate a river, Namor and a small horde of Atlantean warriors attack. The never ending onslaught continues with the Hate-Monger, Diablo, the Super-Skrull, the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes, the Wizard, the Trapster, and the Sandman. One by one the androids are defeated by the Fantastic Four leading the two villain's attempt to send their final and most powerful android to attack the heroes, a replica of the Hulk. However the Puppet Master had miscalculated the amount of control clay that would be needed to control the Hulk duplicate. Before the Thinker and the Puppet Master can release it against the Fantastic Four the android runs amok. In desperation to stop it, the Puppet Master ignores the Mad Thinker's warning and he fires shots at it, but instead hits the explosives located behind it which destroys their base with them still inside. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four return to the States aboard a specially-requisitioned NATO plane. Next week the Fantastic Four face "Bedlam at the Baxter Building!"

The Sub-Mariner “In the rage of battle!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema 

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Sub-Mariner Vol 2 #8

Cover date December 1968

(Published in September 1968)

This week story starts with an old Daily Bugle newspaper, in a bin. The headline read "In the rage of battle!" above a picture of the Sub-Mariner fighting the Thing. At a desk an unknown female writes an entry into a journal while what she has to write is fresh in her mind. Following last week's adventure a few seconds after the madman named Destiny fatally plunges to the ground. Lady Dorma feeling faint falls into Namor's arms as she can't breathe. The pills she took to breathe on the surface have run out.

Suddenly the police arrive wanting to take Namor in for questioning. The Atlantean Prince rushes past them with Dorma in his arms as he takes to the sky. Diane Arliss leaves in a taxi that is stopped by Namor as soon as it's out of sight from the police. The taxi takes them to Diane's apartment where they give Dorma another pill and let her rest. While she does Diane asks Namor if there was ever anyone else in his heart. He tells her that there was another whom he did love. Many years before Diane was born in the dark days before World War Two the surface men had angered him by causing the accidental destruction of his sub-oceanic domain. This provoked him to vent his wrath against them. A young woman by the name of Betty Dean tried to reason with him. Her courage had worked before the original Human Torch had attacked him. Betty Dean would show him that the damage had been caused by the Nazis and eventually Namor oppose the true enemies. In the present, news on the radio reports that Destiny's Helmet of Power is being transported to Washington. Namor leaves to destroy it completely. Meanwhile, the Thing is hired to escort the Helmet on its journey. Come back next week to see "The Battle Begins!"

Titanic Transcripts

Kenny Thompson Nottingham wants to know if he qualifies for  KOF because he has started his brother Colin collecting Marvel mags. He also wants to say a big thank-you to Jim Ivers and Mike Mittlestadt for their very impressive letters, which he, like many others find enjoyable. Andrew Russel KOF, RFO from Norwich reviews the four weeklies. He thinks that the new format is working out great in Super Spider-man. For MWOM he says that the Hulk is getting better in leaps and bounds. The Titans are superb, brilliant, an all-time great. Andrew is finally getting round to liking the Conan strip in the Avengers weekly. Soto Sideras from London joins in the discussion regarding the quality of comics and its effect on their entertainment value. Various statements have been made as to the merits of both, such as Mr. Mittlestadt, who seems to think that quality and fun are mutually exclusive. Soto's overriding answer to all questions and criticisms of quality, or lack of it, comes down to the audience for which the magazine is intended. It is no use criticising a comic for being too banal or childish because it is simply written for an audience which is not intellectually or emotionally mature enough to take in anything more profound as yet. Taking it a step further, it is no use producing an aesthetically pleasing master-piece, which will cater for an intelligent client, when that client either doesn't know that comics exist or doesn't even exist himself. Over the past few years he is happy to say that you have read your patrons well enough to know that there exists a group large enough to sustain titles such as Dr. Strange, the Black Panther, Warlock as well as a whole line of B&W classics. Philips Greenaway Mid-Glamorgan looks at the recent controversy concerning British Marvel stories. At first he thought it wouldn't work. But reconsidering it he thinks that a British artist is as good as any American one, all he needs is a bit of practice. 

I couldn't find out who drew this centre spread of Doctor Strange surrounded by a host of mystical enemies including Shuma-Gorath, the Living Buddha, Baron Mordo, the Dread Dormammu and Satannish or possibly a minor demon. If you know the original artist let me know through the usual channels.  

Bullpen Bulletin

Continuing the hints about the new British weekly the editor teases in the fourth Item that it will be the biggest thing since the Mighty World of Marvel #1. The fifth Item will be of interest to lovers of literature when they hear that the third Marvel Origins book will come out in the Autumn. It's called Bring On The Bad Guys and features the odious origins of seven of Marvel's most villainous villains! Which ones? Why none other than the Green Goblin, Doctor Doom, the Red Skull, Mephisto, Doctor Octopus, the Dread Dormammu, and the Abomination! The final Item this week lists the winners of the US comic industry's own Academy of Comic Book Arts, called the "SHAZAM" Awards. The blushin' Bullpen walked away with so many of them they need to hire a truck to get them back to the office! The Dramatic Division winners were Best Writer: Archie Goodwin, Best Penciller: John Buscema, Best Inker, Dick Giordano, Best Letterer: John Costanza, Best Colorist: Tatiana Wood, Superior Achievement by An Individual: Roy Thomas, Best Continuing Feature: Conan, Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell. And the Humour Division winners are Best Writer: Steve Skeates, Best Penciller: Marie Severin, Best Inker: Ralph Reese, and the Hall of Fame Award: Jack Kirby. 

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “Death trap!”

Writer: Jim Steranko

Artist: Jim Steranko

Inker: Jim Steranko

Originally published in Strange Tales #155

Cover date April 1967

(Published in January 1967)

Last week I should have waxed lyrical about the gorgeous Jim Steranko art especially the full page splash featuring the invincible Dreadnought. It was beautiful! Not only was his artistic talent on display as penciler and inker but Steranko has fully taken over the writing chores too. But as the deadline for the blog was running out I knew I could always write about it in the story's second half printed in the following week's comic, which would be reviewed in this week's blog. The only thing is that second half didn't get printed! The following story takes its place instead, which was maddening because I really wanted to find out how Nick Fury managed to defeat the Dreadnought. Thank goodness I've got the Ultimate Graphic Novel: Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD, Part one that features that story.

Any way Fury defeated the Dreadnought but is still no wiser about the true identity of the Supreme Hydra. SHIELD's next mission is to take on a number of VIP's on board the Heli-Carrier, as well as Professor Anton Trojak, the inventor of the "Q-Ray machine" for a demonstration. Colonel Fury reports to the President of the United States who stresses the importance of this new weapon. Later Nick returns to his quarters to get some sleep, while he does a secret panel opens and two Hydra assassins emerge. Over the long years as a soldier and a spy Fury has developed a sort of six sense of danger, even when he sleeps. He fakes deep sleep, his battle-trained instincts guide him to the precise moment when to strike and takes the Hydra hoods by surprise just as they had hoped to surpass him. Later Fury calls an emergency meeting with Jasper Sitwell, Gabe Jones, DumDum Dugan and Agent John Bronson, who at this point Fury doesn't know he is the Supreme Hydra in disguise. After the meeting ends Fury heads off to the AUTOFAC chamber to see if the super computer has discovered the Supreme Hydra's identity. When he's gone Bronson uses a Hydra ring to hypnotise the other three agents. Meanwhile Professor Trojak is already in the AUTOFAC chamber, he receives a radio message from the Supreme Hydra warning him that Fury is on his way. Trojak sabotages the computer in such a way that the main panel becomes electrified. Fury is paralysed with a jolt of electricity but still remains conscious as the Hydra agent ties him to the super computer and rigs an "Aphonic bomb!" More stunning espionage and adventure from Nick Fury's greatest artist in next week's issue.

Ghost Rider “Wheels on fire”

AWriter: Gary Friedrich

rtist: Jim Mooney

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in Ghost Rider #3

Cover date December 1973

(Published in September 1973)

This week's Ghost Rider jumps two Ghost Rider comics and one issue of Marvel Spotlight, which was a Son of Satan tale, to get to this week's story. Fear not British Marvel fans those stories had already been printed in Dracula Lives #81 to Dracula Lives #86. which shows what happens next to the Witch Woman and how she and the Ghost Rider ended up in Hell. It was a strange way of doing it and it must have confused many readers. So to recap the Son of Satan had rescued the Ghost Rider and Linda Littletrees from the hordes of hell and return them to the Arizona desert. 

The Son of Satan abandons them in the desert with no way to get back to the city. When the Witch Woman comes to, she shows the Ghost Rider how to make a motorcycle out of his hellfire. It will only stay solid as long as Johnny Blaze remains in his demonic form, which will be until sunrise. As Linda has lost her Satanic powers she can't ride with him so he must get help before dawn. The Ghost Rider is racing off powered by hell-spawned energy. Mean while Roxanne Simpson is also lost in the desert. She is exhausted, frightened and on the run from the biker Big Daddy Dawson, who captures her and takes her back to his home. Near the city the Ghost Rider reaches the highway just as the sun rises. He transforms into Johnny Blaze, but in doing so his Hellfire bike disappears from under him, sending him falling into the busy traffic. Next week more danger in "Concentration--confrontation!”

An in-house advert for this week's Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes, which sees Spidey against the Tarantula. What a match! You can read about that and all the other regular features in that great mag. 

Captain America “...Legions of the Red Skull!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Captain America #101

Cover date May 1968

(Published in February 1968)

This second part landscape splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Following the Nazi war criminal Werner Von Krimm, via a SHIELD homing device, Captain America's aircraft has been shot down on a heavily guarded remote Caribbean Island.

Cap manages to survive the crash but then has to fight his way through the Red Skull's security. He makes his way through them but is struck from behind and taken captured. Elsewhere on the island Von Krimm finally delivers a "soni-crystal" key for the fourth Sleeper to the Red Skull. Krimm questions why the Sleeper should be activated so soon, as it was only to be operated at a certain date in the event of the Skulls death. Just then the guards enter with the captured Captain America. The Skull sees the perfect opportunity to gloat to his arch nemesis the power of the Sleeper. Suddenly the key begins to vibrate with power causing the Sleeper to awake. A giant robot that can fire blasts from its face and travel through solid matter. It can no longer be kept in its crypt as it breaks free to carry out its mission, to destroy important American targets. As the Sleeper fights off everything in its path and begins its swath of destruction across the United States, Captain America breaks free from the guards and attempts to get the crystal key from the Red Skull. The Skull flees down an escape tunnel deep beneath the island base and out to sea. With the creature destroying key strategic bases in the United States. Attempts by the military to stop it fail as its rampage continues. Nick Fury informs Agent 13 that Cap has died in his attempt to stop the Skull. However Captain America has survived as he floats to the top of the ocean, having prized the crystal key from the hand of the Red Skull. Come back in a week to enjoy more of this classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby masterpiece as "the Sleeper Strikes!"

This Mighty Marvel Masterwork artwork drawn by John Romita Sr. was featured as the July page of the Marvel 1975 calendar. Later the artwork was reused as the variant cover (14) for Captain America #750, cover dated September 2023, published July 2023. I'm not sure how many British readers would have recognised the Falcon in 1976, but still it would interest curious Marvel minds to find out more. Come back next week to find out more curiosities with the Power of the Beesting. So until then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.