Beware the Juggernaut, my son!

 Week Ending 13th March 1976

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

      The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

      The frumious Bandersnatch!”

That was part of a poem by Lewis Carroll sometimes called the Jabberwocky although really it's called the Jabberwock. It's a nonsense poem about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock." But what British Marvel readers have to be aware of is the monster of continuity that occurs in British Marvel comics, mainly due to the stories running at different times. Hopefully the Power of the Beesting makes some sense of that continuity. If it doesn't just enjoy the stuff and nonsense in this blog. Oh and look out for that Jabberwock, it's as fierce as Xorak the Outcast!

The Mighty World of Marvel #180

This cover artwork was originally from the Incredible Hulk issue 172 by Herb Trimpe, but it has been expanded on the right and left hand sides. If you look closely you can see where the art bodger has added to Trimpe's original cover. On the left of the cover you can see Trimpe's signature on Colonel Armbruster's back, which would have been on the edge of the original page, everything to the left of that is new. On the right hand side it's a lot harder to make out the joint, but it is there.

The Incredible Hulk “And canst thou slay...the Juggernauts?”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #172

Cover date February 1974

(Published in October 1973)

The Hulk has been captured using dubious means by Colonel Armbruster, following the brutes' battle with the Abomination and the Rhino. General Ross is furious as he's finally managed to connect with the Hulk who had started considering Ross as a friend. Armbruster actions may ruin any chances of getting the Hulk to cooperate with them. Armbruster sees it as his duty, something that he believes that Ross had forgotten. Ross leaves with his daughter, Betty Talbot and Jim Wilson with intentions of helping the Hulk.

After some phone calls are made Colonel Armbruster receives a call from Doctor Peter Corbeau, who tells him that he has a solution to ending the threat of the Hulk once and for all. Just as Corbeau arrives the Hulk furiously goes on a rampage in his cell, causing the entire base to shake. Base scientists believe that the Hulk might be able to break out of his cell within two days, prompting Corbeau to work quickly. Coming up with a device to banish the Hulk in a space-time warp. The new device transports the Hulk away to another realm. However in doing so, Corbeau unwittingly releases the Juggernaut from his mystical exile, swapping places with the Hulk. He begins to break out of the cell as well. In a desperate attempt to send the Juggernaut back, the machine malfunctions, pulling the Hulk back to Earth. The now confused Hulk is calmed by the Juggernaut, who explains how he once was Cain Marko until the discovery of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak had empowered him as the Juggernaut. As seen in the Super-Heroes #17 to #20. He would clash with his brother, Charles Xavier, and his students, the X-Men, until they banished him to the Crimson Cosmos, as seen in this week's issue of The Titans, see later in this blog. In the Crimson Cosmos he would battle Dr. Strange, as seen in the Avengers weekly #83, which turned out to be weirdly his first appearance in British Marvel continuity. One day he would escape to battle "a strange dimensional creature!" In fact that was the Beast, but British Marvel didn't want to tell readers that as that tale hadn't yet been told in the UK. However, the powers that reside in the Crimson Cosmos try to teach him an abject lesson by making him believe that he was aging rapidly until death but restored him to life when he was brought back to the realm. And with that the Hulk feels he can trust the Juggernaut and the pair break out of their cell. Next week we'll discover "...And none can stop them!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Paul Watson RFO, KOF, QNS, TTB, PMM from Kent is very chilled with the current stories in the Marvel weeklies. He does hope that they will be featuring more book reviews, he sent off for the Marvel Super-heroes Index that had been reviewed previously. Mark French from Essex questions what does Zip mean when he wants to send off for offers in the US mags. Andrew Gardener RFO, KFO, QNS from Inverness has been an avid reader of Marvel for over a year now. He used to think POTA was best, but now because of Conan the Avengers weekly is best. Here's what he thinks about the mags, MWOM, POTA and the Avengers weekly are great, SMCW is even better, the Super-Heroes is fantastic, but when the Scarecrow, Bloodstone and Phantom Eagle run out a barbarian strip like Solomon Kane, Red Sonja or Kull would be a great replacement. Dracula Lives is great, but not as good as the others. The new format is great. Peter Watkins RFO, KOF, QNS, TTB, PMM and FOOMer from Suffolks gives a review of the strips from the super-heroes weekly titles.

Daredevil “To meet fear again!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Daredevil #55

Cover date August 1969

(Published in June 1969)

The Gene Colan cover artwork is repurposed as this week's second part opening splash page with a new story title and credits added. Mister Fear continues his crime spree by attempting to rob an armoured car. The police try to apprehend him but he uses his "Repello-Ray" to dispatch them. The vehicle's driver panics and speeds off with Mister Fear still on the roof, again using his gun he blinds the driver and the vehicle crashes into a wall. Daredevil enters the scene ready to stop him. Mister Fear fires at him, but this time his gun jams.

The villain summons his gravity deifying flying disc and challenges the hero to follow him if he dare. Daredevil accepts the challenge and swinging on his billy club cable swings up to take the fight to him. During the fight, Daredevil informs Mister Fear that he knows that the villain isn't Zoltan Drago, the original person behind the Fear mask, as a report from the state prison's psychologist listed that Drago suffered from a whole list of phobias, including a cringing terror of heights and so he would never use a flying device, like the one the two where fighting on. Mister Fear admits he knew that as he had killed Zoltan Drago week's ago, continuing to brag he tells Daredevil that he had used Drago's last fear pills on the hero. But Daredevil had already figured that out too, as well as the real identity of his masked foe. As they grapple Daredevil pulls off Mister Fear's mask, revealing him to be none other than Starr Saxon. With his plot foiled, Saxon says that Daredevil is of no further use to him and lunges towards the hero's billy club, but in doing so he falls from the floating platform, falling to his death. Daredevil reveals that Saxon placed Drago's fear capsules in the billy club while he was in possession of it and they triggered his bouts of cowardice.

Bullpen Bulletin

Bite sized bits of beatific Bullpen bromides! 

Only two Items in this version of Bullpen Bulletin, which appeared in the Avengers weekly, Dracula Lives, Planet of the Apes as well as this issue of MWOM. The first Item was aimed at the readers of the first three mags as it tells them to not miss this week's Mighty World of Marvel, because believe it or not-Stan the Man and Jolly Jack Kirby finally conclude the titanic tale they began five issues ago! It has been a Fantastic Four adventure chock full of the usual action and thrills, but the big news is that it features the birth of Reed and Sue's bouncing baby! They don't and I won't give away whether it's a baby boy or a baby girl, because that story is coming up next, as if you don't already know. It does bring readers the questions will the child have super-powers, how can super-hero parents raise a child while saving the world? The future answers those questions. The next Item looks at British Marvel's newest (merged,) title Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes and it's headline feature in which Spidey is so troubled with doubt that he actually runs away from battle! The story was scripted by Gerry Conway with penciled and inked by John Romita Sr. The story is called "Spidey Cops Out!" but there's no cop out from Gerry and John, who it says have broke their backs to bring you this masterpiece.

The Fantastic Four “Birth!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four Annual #6

Cover date November 1968

(Published in August 1968)

I have no idea who drew this fifth part opening splash page.  After the Thing, the Human Torch and Mister Fantastic had stolen Annihilus's Cosmic Control Rod, the three had found themselves trapped on a floating rock drifting towards the barrier between positive and negative matter. The villain had caught up with them, giving them an ultimatum, return his Control Rod or die. After reaching an agreement Annihilus returns Reed and Ben's flight harnesses, as Reed siphons off some of the Element X. 

Once they have escaped the gravitational pull of the barrier between positive and negative matter Reed hurls the Rod behind Annihilus, towards the barrier, knowing that the fiends body chemistry and wings would allow him to resist the anti-matter pull and give them much needed time to reach the distortion area that leads back into the Positive matter universe. In no time the heroes return with Element X to save Sue and the baby's life. Shortly in a hospital waiting room an anxious father paces the floor. Needing a cigarette he asks one of the two men reading papers for a light. he gets a shock when the Torch ignites his hand to light the cigarette for him. Soon Reed returns waiting with his partners. After what seems like long minutes Ben thinks he can hear the noise of a baby crying.

Suddenly Crystal with Sue's doctor rush in with news, Reed Richards is a father, Sue has given birth to a healthy baby boy with no further complications. Reed asks about Sue's health, Johnny is delighted to become an uncle and Ben can't wait to see the little guy! The press have their story with lots of happy pictures of the Fantastic Four family. Then it's personal time as they meet the new born. Reed thinks that the boy seems so helpless in a world that's so gigantic, filled with so many unknown dangers. Ben says he won't have to worry about any dangers, not with them around. Johnny adds they'll never stop trying to make the world a better place so he can grow up in peace. It's not the end only the beginning!

Creature Classic “It was only a simple Barber shop...or was it??!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in Tales of Suspense  #29

Cover date May 1962

(Published in February 1962)

With the Daredevil and Fantastic Four stories being split up over three and five parts respectively, five pages were left this week for a short Creature Classic story. The opening splash page is classic Steve Ditko, simple but mysterious, the shadow of a stranger approaching a barber's shop with little more to see other than a frightened black cat. That shadow belongs to a man on the run for murder. Escaping from the police he ducks into an alley where a passerby directs him to the barbershop at the end of the lane. The criminal assumes that it's a mob front. The barber tells him to take a seat in the barber's chair. He promises him that the cops won't find him. To his surprise the barber tosses a sheet over his head. He has committed unpardonable crimes, including murder and had escaped punishment. The barber has kept his promise, when the barber removes the sheet the murderer has disappeared permanently.

All the British weeklies this week, save for the Avengers weekly feature this colour back page in-house advert for the latest edition of the Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. Showing of what readers of that comic will find tucked between the pages, as long as your copy didn't lose it as it dropped out when you picked it from the newsagent's shelves, a free "Stick with Super Spider-man" sticker! More on that right up next.

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #161

  

This cover was created especially for Super-Spider-man with the Super-Heroes by Ron Wilson (pencils,) with Mike Esposito (inks,). The original artwork was sold at Heritage Auctions .com on the 3rd August 2019 for $2400 (that's around £1,796) and also again on the 24th November 2024 for the same amount. As you can see from the original artwork the Thing was part of the same art-board, but the buildings to the left of Spider-man and the right of Doctor Strange have been extended by an art bodger and the Thing has been moved further right to a panel that mirrors the left-hand logo panel.

The top headline states "Free Colour Sticker! See Inside". Sadly my second hand copy didn't come with one. I imagine that many of the stickers went missing as fans stuck them to school books, windows, cupboard doors, bedroom walls or anywhere else you can think of, but I did find this picture taken from an auction site, of the comic and the sticker. What I also noticed was that my copy has been guillotined slightly differently. Mine has been cut higher showing a blue line at the top and so the bottom is cut closer to Spidey's and the Doctor's feet. 

Spider-man “Spidey cops out!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: John Romita Sr.

Inker: John Romita Sr.

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #112

Cover date September 1972

(Published in June 1972)

It's interesting that in the credits John Romita Sr's name is before  Gerry Conway, a possible sign that Romita had a greater input into the plot and story than usual. Spider-man has dropped off the Gibbon at the local hospital after last week's confrontation, then resumes his search for Aunt May. Avoiding a number of criminal activities so that he can continue his search for Aunt May, much to the general public impression that Spider-man has backed down from stopping crime, as implied by the front page headline and article published in the Daily Bugle that conveys it as a sign of cowardice. Later at the Bugle Jameson presses Peter to take more pictures or have a freeze put on his regular pay for the Bugle. On his way out of the Bugle, Peter gets his condolences from Betty Brant. 

Leaving the Bugle Peter breaks up a fight between two boys, over whether or not Spider-Man is a coward. As he does he meets Mary Jane and her Aunt Anna, who have been out looking for May as well. When he shows Aunt May's letter she points out that May's handwriting appears forced, it gives credence that May's disappearance might be linked to several recent kidnappings. Peter decides to go into action as Spider-man and seek out the kidnappers, whom he had encountered earlier in the story. He tracks down one of the goons. After questioning him he learns that other than a phone call from his employer, he has no other information about the people he's been hired to kidnap and that the recent crimewave has started between his boss and some other crime lord. Spider-man recognises another kidnapper in a group of crooks trying to break into a warehouse. One of the group has super-strength as he was wearing a mechanical harness to boost his strength. Spidey believes it's an important clue, but before he can look into it, he is suddenly confronted by Doctor Octopus, the mastermind behind the scheme. Who is sick of him meddling in his affairs. To be continued next week!

Doctor Strange “The tea party”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Frank Brunner

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange #2

Cover date August 1974

(Published in May 1974)

This second part opening splash page uses page 17 from last issue as its inspiration, seeing the same scene from a point of view from behind the Surfer and the Doctor towards the seated heroes. The positions don't quite line up but never mind. The artist for this page is unnamed. 

Strange and the Silver Surfer have followed Stephen's body to a castle. Within the two find Strange's body sitting at a table with the Knights of the Rostrum, beings who resemble the Defenders and other allies of Strange, they are having a tea party. Once Strange reunites his astral and physical bodies, the group is joined by their queen, who has the appearance of the Valkyrie. Now this might have confused British readers as this was not the Valkyrie as seen fighting the Hulk in MWOM #111 and #112, nor was it the Valkyrie seen in this week's Avengers weekly. Time and stories will unravel that continuity knot. The heroes take the Doctor leaving as an insult and try to kill him but he overcomes them. Spotting the now-conscious Soul-Eater approaching, Strange fears that it may steal the souls of his fallen friends but the queen and the Silver Surfer explain that, for the same reason that the knights reacted so murderously and unpredictably because none of them have souls they are in no danger from the Soul-Eater. 

Only Strange has a soul and thus only he can live or die. This revelation causes Strange to realise that his true foe has always been Death. When Strange declares he must get to the centre of the Orb. The queen offers him her stallion to take him there. Strange flies off, astride an unreal Aragorn. I have sung loudly the praises of Frank Brunner's art work on Doctor Strange, but just marvel at the panels on this page, specially the six on the bottom half of the page. It's like a cinematic cut from one scene to another as Doctor strange flys off into the unknown on his winged stallion, turning into a silhouette before the sun into the features of the Silver Dagger who has been showing Clea the Doctor's plight. Simply wonderful. The Silver Dagger torments Clea with that fact that although his scheme has gone somewhat awry, Strange is actually suffering a fate worse than death. He turns his attention towards breaking down Clea's resistance. And there it ends until next week.

This in-house advert for the Planet of the Apes hints at a new story coming soon, in which apes and humans band together to face an unknown menace in "Death on a river named Simian!" The artwork is from the cover of Planet of the Ape issue 74, which would go on sale on the 14th of March and contain the conclusion of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, not the new story advertised here. But the issue in which it does feature will be on sale the following week. So the "On sale March 20th" line isn't that far wrong.

The Web and the Hammer

Tony Watkins, Michael Regan, D Dongray and S O Neill from Pembroke College Oxford are four budding Oxford undergrads reading B.M. (Batchelor of Marvel) in the Super-Heroes, they wish to protest most vehemently at the decision, withdraw The Cat in favour of The Scarecrow. Ray Matthews from London writes to "moan" about the British Marvel covers. With MWOM they are mostly good, SMCW sometimes good, the Avengers weekly hardly ever bad. Dracula Lives quite good, but now getting a bit boring. As for the POTA covers somehow they manage to make a gentle chimp look like Urko's mother-in-law? The Super-Heroes have some really good covers, especially to see different characters on the cover each week. As for the Titans covers, time will tell. ?????????? from Essex reviews the comics from the week ending 22rd November 1975. SMCW. The Spidey story was brilliant, especially Gil Kane's art. Iron Man story is the same as before. Jack Kirby is doing his best work on Thor. POTA is Marvel's best magazine. If only Mike Ploog did the art on "Beneath...” it would be perfect. Man-Gods are fantastic! ”Slow-Glass” is great! Finally the guest stars are rotation on the cover of Dracula Lives. As for the Avengers weekly, compare John Buscema's work on Conan with that of the Avengers. What a difference a few years make.

This week's centre-spread features Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts with the Spectacular Spider-man. The artist is unnamed, any ideas who drew it?

The Thing and Captain America..together! “A funny 'Thing' happened on the way to doomsday!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #4

Cover date July 1974

(Published in April 1974)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist with a new story title, catch up text box and credits added. While Captain America joined the Fantastic Four at the Baxter Building after helping the Thing in Central Park last week, when an alarm goes off, alerting them to an intruder. A woman appears on the time-platform, transported to the 20th century when the Thing accidentally switched on a Time Machine device that Reed Richards had been working on.

After recovering from the shock she tells them her name is Tarin and all about the Badoon invasion of her future world. They came about seven years ago, in the year 3007 and conquered all but the furthermost colonies of Earth. Most of humanity died on Earth, all those left became slaves. She tells them that the name Captain America was a symbol of liberty as it was the name of the ship piloted by the leaders of the underground resistance, who call themselves the Guardians of the Galaxy. Captain America, Sharon Carter, and the Thing agree to return with Tarin to the 31st Century so that they can help in freeing Earth. When they arrive in the future they're immediately attacked by the Zoms, living machines programmed to kill by Badoon. Even though they are out numbered by the Zom hordes, Thing, Captain America and Sharon hold their own until the surprise arrival of the Monster of Badoon, who overpowers them, knocking them unconscious. The defeated heroes are carried away to meet the leader of the Badoon in next week's episode.

It's the third week of Marvel's Sea-Monkeys offer. You need to collect six of the eight coupons to apply for a half price Sea-Monkey kit for cost of only 75 pence. This week's coupon features a chimpanzee's face, previously seen in the corner box of the Planet of the Apes comic from issues 1 to 49. Readers would have to keep their coupons safe until the 17th of April. 

Iron Man “The threat of the Hulk!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #9

Cover date January 1969

(Published in October 1968)

This week's second part opening splash page uses the cover artwork from Iron Man issue 9, by George Tuska (pencils,) with Johnny Craig (inks,). Like a living juggernaut the green skinned monster lumbers across the city with orders to kidnap the person on a newspaper article. But when he crashes into the office of Cord Industries to find Tony Stark in a meeting with Janice Cord and her accountant and head attorney, Vincent Sandhurst, it isn't Stark who is kidnapped. Instead Janice Cord is taken.

Quickly Stark dons his Iron Man armour and jets off after the angry green giant. Soon he manages to intercept the brute making him release Janice. Soon the two titans clash, but the a sledgehammer blow from the Hulk send Iron Man flying through a wall. Before he can recover and repair his still malfunctioning jet boots, the Hulk has gone, taking Miss Cord with him. Making on the hoof repairs Iron Man jets off in pursuit. The story concludes next week. 

The Mighty Thor “To end in flames!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #176

Cover date May 1970

(Published in March 1970)

Loki and one of his followers, "Igron", escape the destruction of Asgard at the hands of Surtur, by fleeing to Earth. However Surtur's coming has also caused environmental upheaval on Earth itself. Loki hopes that his hated half-brother, Thor, might finds some way to defeat Surtur. Meanwhile back in Asgard, the royal city has been set ablaze by the coming of Surtur, prompting Thor to gather an army of warriors to oppose the fire demon. With help of Thor's mystical hammer, they break through Surtur's flame barrier and charge toward the fire demon himself.

Elsewhere, Balder and Sif seek out Igron, an evil mystic loyal to Loki who was responsible for sending Odin to the Sea of Eternal Night. Now can I just stop you there, the evil Asgardian named Igron would later feature in Thor adventures wearing the garb of Loki's follower as seen in the opening splash page. So is this second character Igron as named by Balder, or is it the first? Maybe that outfit was all the fashion for evil Asgardians back in the day and later this Igron would copy the design. Balder tells him of their quest to free Odin if Odin isn't found all of Asgard would be destroyed by Surtur. On the battle field Thor takes on Surtur despite his great strength and mystical hammer he can only keep Surtur on the defensive, but the noble Thunder God refuses to give up. Meanwhile back in Igron's lair, Balder agrees to being transported to the Sea of Eternal Night, even though within moments of his arrival he will rapidly wither and die. When he does with every heartbeat his limbs grow weaker, his nerves throb, his senses fail. With every breath his body ages as his flesh withers with every passing moment. Yet Balder manages to make it to the capsule where Odin slumbers the "OdinSleep," continued next week.

Avengers Weekly #130

This cover's artwork, drawn by John Buscema with Tom Palmer's inks, originally appeared on the front of the Avengers (US Edition,) issue 83.

Conan the Barbarian “The curse of the Golden Skull!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Neal Adams

Inker: Neal Adams

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #37

Cover date April 1974

(Published in January 1973)

"The Curse of the Golden Skull" is inspired by the Kull of Atlantis short story written by Robert E Howard, published in 1967. Here the beginning is reproduce in this strip before turning into a Conan the Barbarian story. L Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter took that story and produced "The City of Skulls" as a short story that was first published in the paperback collection Conan. Originally Marvel had only obtained the rights to Robert E Howard's material, so Thomas adapted that version, but later other adaptions came available, like de Camp and Carter's Conan. On Mike Vosburg's request Marvel did produce a comic strip version written by Thomas, which was more closer to the L Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter version that would appear in the Savage Sword of Conan (US Magazine Version,) issue 59, cover dated December 1980, published September 1980. Juma the Black was a creation of L Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, who given Thomas their permission to use him.

Neal Adams took over the art chores from John Buscema for one story. Adams' art is intense but as he inks his own work I imagine that it becomes difficult to keep it up. Which is a shame as his work is always a joy to see. Eons in the past, the Lemurian sorcerer Rotath falls at the hands of the warrior, Kull of Atlantis. Dying, Rotath places a curse upon his own bloodline and invokes the name of an unspeakable deity. Fourscore centuries later, a hillman discovers a citadel of death and decay. Between the columns he sees sprawled on the steps a solid gold skeleton. As he reaches out to touch it his deadly shriek breaks the stillness as fresh flows from one set of bones to another. Afterwards the silence once more falls in the temple of the nameless gods. Months later a Turanian party lead by Captain Kiribor are escorting Princess Yolinda, the daughter of Prince Yezdigerd, back to Aghrapur through the northern hills of Turan. Conan does not like the choice of route, as he knows well from past experience, as seen in Avengers weekly #118.  The Hillmen are well organised with a ruthless determination they attack the Turanian escort. The Turanians are defeated, but Conan and a Kushite comrade named Juma are captured. The raiders bring them back to their base in the Valley of the Sun.

The Avengers “Come on in...The revolution's fine!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in The Avengers #83

Cover date December 1970

(Published in October 1970)

This Avengers tale would be remembered by readers of last Christmas the Avengers Annual 1976, which featured this story with two other Avengers tales in full colour. Fluttering on gossamer wings in the light of a full moon the wondrous Wasp returns to the Avengers mansion, Hearing voices coming from the meeting room she gets quite a surprise when she is welcomed in by...  

...a warrior woman who calls herself the Valkyrie. Also around the Avengers meeting table are the Black Widow, the Inhuman known as Medusa and the Avengers' own Scarlet Witch, who have formed their own all-female group called the Liberators! They have united to battle males who they feel have oppressed women for ages. Valkyrie explains that she was a scientist in a male-dominated science lab, but when attempting to prove that she was more than capable at her job, she exposed herself to a chemical that gave her superhuman strength. Then she created a new persona as the Valkyrie, she decided to form this female super-hero group, by pointing out how badly treated they were by their male super-hero colleagues. How Yellowjacket would grab all the attention and glory from the Wasp, how Wanda's arrogant brother, Pietro, took the credit in the papers when they stopped some Maggia crooks and she was only name checked as his sister. The Black Widow had been rejected for Avengers membership many times in the past and as for Medusa, her lover does not speak, yet she hangs on his every non-syllable. With all of them siding with her, Valkyrie takes them aboard her chariot and heads off to Rutland, Vermont.

Where we find Tom Fagan dressed as Nighthawk, the organiser and host of the annual Rutland Halloween festivities which are attended this year by the guests of honour, the Avengers. This year it is Rutland's eleventh Halloween Parade and like every year before the townspeople all dress up as super-heroes or super-villains. Among the guests this year are Roy and Jeanie Thomas, who have come to watch the parade, Jeanie is excited to meet the Avengers and asks her husband which one is Mrs Peel? The revellers are completely unaware that the Klaw, the Melter, the Whirlwind and the Radioactive-Man have escaped from prison to reform the Masters of Evil. Also in attendance is Doctor T W Erwin, an eminent mathematician, from the Miskatonic University, Vermont. The doctor is an expert in theories and research in to parallel time and the Masters of Evil plan to steel his strange apparatus that never leaves his side and hold Doctor Erwin hostage. Boarding the float they are spotted by the Avengers, find out what happens next week in "Night of terror!"

Avengers Mailbag

Jimmy Hill gives his rundown on MWOM, SMCW and starting with the Avengers weekly, which he considers it the best of the mags. The artwork on the Avengers story Sons of the Serpent is out of this world, so is the artwork on Conan. The Hulk stories are getting more interesting each week. In SMCW the artists for Iron-Man and Thor are both good, but the stories lack a good plot. Rod Summers RFO, KOF, QNS, TTB, PMM, FFF writes a Conan Quiz to test you with, 1) Where is the Island of Bal Saggoth? 2) First King' of Brutheim? 3) City where Conan met Jerva? 4) Where did Yag-Kosha come from? 5) Capital of Aquilonia? 6) The Red Priest's trusted' servant? 7) The Queen of Zahmahn? 8) Zukala's daughter? 9) Where is Yezud? 10) Creator of Elric of Melnibone? 11) Fafnir's homeland? 12) High Priest of Bal Saggoth? Answers later. Steve Lunn from West Midlands thinks that the Mighty Marvel Bi-centennial calendar was very well worth the £2.10. The monthly posters were excellently drawn and looked fantastic in full colour. Steve asks will there be a follow up to "Sons of Marvel Comics"? 

Glenn Dakin from Cambridgeshire writes a massive letter about his thoughts on Shang-Chi, he believes Master of Kung Fu is Marvel's best strip, pointing out that the Marvel portrayal of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu was successful enough that it copied his elusiveness, honour and genius. But he hopes they will refrain from giving his pointed, Spock-style ears in the future, though your treatment of the Si-Fan leaves something to be desired. More details in his letter. Bert Cort from Buckinghamshire wants to complain about John Finch's letter from Avengers weekly #107, because it makes a change to have less of Conan and more of the Avengers. After all the comic is called "Avengers". Duanne Harwood RFO, KOF from Coventry is prompted to congratulate Doug Moench on his humorous work on the Shang-Chi story in Avengers weekly #109-111 that is surpassing, even, the work he has done on Planet of The Apes. C Green ROF, KOF from Cheshire says that after reading about Stan Lee taking over the Round House and potentially the world, they were thrilled to meet him in person. Here's the answers to Rod Summers Conan Quiz from the first part of the Avenger's Mailbag. 1) In the middle of the Vilayet Sea, 2) Kiord, 3) Shadizar, 4) The Green Planet Yag, 5) Tatantia, 6) Thak, 7) Fatima, 8) Zephra, 9) Zamora, 10) Michael Moorcock, 11) Vanaheim and finally 12) Gothan.

Iron Fist “Valley of the damned!”

 Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: John Byrne

Inker: Frank Chiarmonte

Originally published in Iron Fist #2

Cover date December 1975

(Published in September 1975)

Iron Fist knows that he has failed, he has failed his friend in rescuing Colleen and it isn't pleasant but it's the truth. As he visits Professor Lee Wing in the hospital he recalls how he had failed once before reflecting on a time when he was still living in K'un-Lun. 

It had been a week before the test of the many and the one. He had been ambushed on his way home from meditation, by Merrin, a fellow citizen of K'un-Lun who had become jealous of Iron Fist for beating Shou-Lao, and wanted the Iron Fist power for himself. Merrin and his men heavily out numbered Danny until he is helped by a mysterious masked fighter. During the fight Iron Fist's helper soon unmasked and revealed to be Miranda. The attackers are shocked as it is against the law for women to practice martial arts in K'un-Lun. She and Danny are both helped with the intervention of Conal D'Hu-Tsien who also helps defeat the last of Merrin's thugs. Conal explains to Danny that he has been secretly training Miranda. Merrin tries to kill Miranda by flinging a knife at her, but Danny's speedy reactions allows him to grab the dagger in mid-air, then hethrows it back at Merrin, pinning down his shoulder. The trio are soon stopped by the guards and arrested by the order of the Dragon Lord Yu-Ti. Continued next week.

Creature Classic “To build a robot!”

Writer: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Christopher Rule

Originally published in World of Fantasy #18

Cover date June 1959

(Published in March 1959)

With four pages spare another Creature Classic is applied to fill the gap. This short sci-fi/horror originally appeared in the Atlas Comic ongoing series World of Fantasy issue 18, but was later reprinted in the Marvel comic Tomb of Darkness issue 11, cover dated November 1974, published July 1974. Dexter Scott, a young engineer attempts to acquire funding for the world's first thinking robot from Luther Worthington, the wealthy president of Titanic Motors. Worthington takes Scott on a tour of his automobile plant in which machines assemble cars and vans, as well as in the accounting and bookkeeping department. Yet all the production is control by humans as robots can do more than act exactly as they are built to act and cannot think creatively. Worthington dismisses the inventor and later ponders how he would have spoiled everything as for years he had tried to discourage any experimentation in thinking robots as he didn't want competition from another robot. With that he turned to reveal that under his shirt hides his robot body.

Dracula Lives #73

This cover uses Gene Colan's artwork from Tomb of Dracula issue 34 with some minor alterations, most noticeably the snow from the top edges of the alley's buildings. Tom Palmer inked this cover. 

Dracula “Showdown of blood!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #34

Cover date July 1975

(Published in April 1975)

In Brazil, Frank Drake is set on by a horde of zombies unknowingly by order of Dracula. He shoots at them but his gun is useless. The zombies grab him and attempt to throw him off a cliff. At the last moment he is saved by the arrival of Brother Voodoo who sends his brother Daniel's spirit to enter Frank Drake's tumbling form, snapping his body's arms and legs into a taut athletic machine. Drake somersaults in mid air until he gains the much needed momentum to carry him to safety.  But he's not safe yet as the zombies continue to advance toward him and Brother Voodoo.

Meanwhile in England Bennington gives Count Dracula the government file on him. Unfortunately for Dracula, Inspector Chelm has followed his minion and as the exchange is made takes a shot at Dracula with specially made silver bullet. His first shot misses Dracula, then the vampire lord uses Bennington as a human shield to give him time to pounce on Chelm. Dracula is completely unaware that he is being watched by another vampire who vows not to let the vampire lord out of his sight as he has plans that will involve the Count. Before Dracula bite the Inspector Officer Tinkerton arrives and saves him by striking Dracula with the butt of his gun. Inspector Chelm orders to shoot, but before he can open fire upon the vampire, who turns into mist to make his escape. A whole continent away in India, Taj Nital returns home with his wife after burying their son he decides that he is going to stay with her and so he starts to pen a letter to Rachel van Helsing. A final farewell as he will not be rejoining her quest to destroy Dracula.

Werewolf by Night “Death in white”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Don Perlin

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #31

Cover date July 1975

(Published in April 1975)

Relieved that Lissa, Jack Russell's younger sister has been cured of lycanthropy Jack and Topez try to cajole her into taking a break and join them on a ski weekend trip. Ever the sensible one Lissa won't go as she needs to study as her exam is on Monday. So instead Jack, Topez and Buck go taking Buck's new lady friend, Elaine Marston, a young widow, with her young daughter Button.

So the five head north to a ski resort. There is no location for this resort named in the strip, although later the Westwood hospital is named in next week's second half. There are no ski resorts directly in Westwood, Los Angeles, but the closest options are Mountain High, which is 1.5 hours drive away, or Mount Baldy Resort which would be approximately 1.5-2 hours away and Snow Valley which would take approximately 2 hours to get to. Other popular, slightly further options include Big Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. The five friends reach the snowy resort and soon start to have fun. Jack and Topez hit the slopes, both admitting that they have never skied before, so instead have a romantic moment, which is quickly interrupted when Button starts up a snowball fight. In an interlude Lieutenant Northrup prepares for a werewolf by loading his gun with silver bullets and Raymond Cocker meets Jeesala of the thousand years looking for a way to break the "curse of the beast-man." Later that evening Buck takes Jack into the wilderness so that he can spend the night isolated as the full moon is due. When Buck returns he find a distraught Elaine, who is worried sick because Button has ventured out in the night as a blizzard is forecast to be approaching. Buck rushes off to search knowing that soon jack will become the Werewolf as the first night approaches.

Cryptic Correspondence

Graham Tarver from Warwickshire thinks that the Planet of The Apes stories are great and follow the films well. However, The Black Panther and Ka-Zar are disappointing. Dracula’s best addition is Man-Thing. The stories and artwork are great, especially issue 63. Jim Ivers from Dublin responses to Aston Kaye’s letter in issue 65 about the controversy over the Dracula writers and the character of the vampire. Jim disagrees with Aston and Marvel's assessment of Dracula’s character. Dracula is not a completely predictable character. He has shown mercy, lust, pride, and arrogance. But he also has a middle ground for his emotions. If he were just a vampire who cared only about people for food, why didn’t he react to Sheila Whittier the way he did? Why did he need to admit to himself that he was still capable of human emotion? Marv says that there is mourning in the heart of this man who some say has no heart. Human behaviour is unpredictable. Who can say which of us would be a likely murderer, a self-centred braggart, a thinking individual, or a shameless Yes-man? Dracula is capable of love, just as the murderer is, and he is also capable of murder, just as the thinking individual is. It should never be considered when thinking about people, fictional or not.

Man-Thing “Cry of the native!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Sal Trapani

Originally published in Adventure into Fear #16

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

It's night time in the swamp, the moon light reflects off the still stagnant water, soothing sounds of crickets and frogs carry on the soft wind and there is a quiet tension in the air that draws the macabre Man-Thing to a village built on stilts. A young Indian tells his father that they have no choice as the excavation begins in the morning. They have fail to stop the planned demolition of the homeland and the building of a new airport. Another young Indian sneaks out into the night and rendezvous with like minded friend. Dressed in traditional tribal costume Black Eagle with his group plan to put a violent stop to the airport construction.

Meanwhile at the construction site the workers discuss the possible obstruction to their building. The site leader, Jake Simpson isn't worried about interference from any group of Indians, or any ecology nuts or even the local monster known as the Man-Thing as he saw it die, as detailed in Dracula Lives #71. The young rebellious Indians set fire to one of the bulldozers. The construction workers chase them off with Jake shooting one of them. Black Eagle is only wounded so Jake is determined to finish him off, but the appearance of the Man-Thing stops him. Shooting at the swamp monster has no effect so quickly Simpson flees. The Man-Thing gently picks up the boy and carries him to the home of Doctor Warren B Thompson, dimly recalling that he could help like he did do in Dracula Lives #62. The next day the project owner, industrialist F A Schist inspects the damage with the police. Worried that the injured Indian might become a martyr he orders Simpson to get a replacement bulldozer while he heads to town to see a judge. In town Jennifer, Andy and their grandfather Joshua Kale watch as citizens rally protesting about Schist's planned airport. Violence breaks out between the construction workers and the protesters. F A Schist turns up with a court order banning any further demonstrations and empowering him to evict the Indians from the swamp. Later Schist and the police take a hovercraft into the swamp to evict the Indians. The son of the tribe's chieftain has banded the tribe together in reaction to the wounding of Black Eagle, they plan to protect their land anyway possible. The confrontation continues next week.

Planet of the Apes #73

This Ron Wilson cover features on the penultimate chapter of the Conquest of the Planet of the Apes adaption and I do feel for once it matches with the intention of the story. There's no information on who might have inked it. I like the intensity of the face-to-face and so I'm going to make this cover my Cover of the Week.

Planet of the Apes “Hail Caesar! Hail the king!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Alfredo Alcala

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #21

Cover date June 1976

(Published in April 1976)

In the confusion of this night a swarm of chaos is stirred up with the shrill of alarms and the sweeping probing of searchlights, causing an eruption of emotions ranging from panic and fear to exuberance and wrath. The disorganised riot comes in a form of pandemonium akin to that aspired by a raging fire in a menagerie or zoo. But it could be something more, an uprising, an angry revolt or a fully coordinated and ruthlessly organised prison break. In this case it has been engineered by the intelligent ape called Caesar, who has broken the shackles of oppression and enraged his fellow apes into a full open and bloody rebellion.

Doug Moench and Alfredo Alcala play out in the pages of this strip the battle for freedom with bloody and cold violence as apes destroy what mankind has build, like cornered animals the humans retaliate with extreme violence. But the reaction of both sides is the worst that any society has seen. These two pages seen above show the ape's warrant destruction on something they don't understand. As an unruly mob gathers pace the flames of the human civic centre spread to other buildings, everywhere the once servants and maids come forth from the shadows fanning the flames as the tide of inexorable rage, destroying all before them that represents mankind, including a bookshop. Moench stops any text and allows Alcala to relate what happens with a graphic display. The shop is smashed and set a light, books are burnt with titles like "An American tragedy"; "Paradise liar"; "Revelation"; "Decline of the West"; "The theory of evolution"; "Gone with the Wind" and "All's well that ends well" ironically added to the pyre. The humans are later more organised as riot police attempt to quash the revolt. The "battle" and conquest continues next week.

Black Panther “Death in a snowswept graveyard!”

Writer: Don McGregor

Artist: Billy Graham

Inker: Graig Russell

Originally published in Jungle Action Vol 2 #13

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1974)

This second part opening splash page by an unnamed artist does make a good impression of Billy Graham's art style, if admittedly a little too light as the shading needed to be a little darker. The new catch-up text boxes could also have match the rest of the strip. The new story title does keep up with the darkness though. The Black Panther is on the hunt for Killmonger and his men, by following tracks in the deep mountain snow. T'Challa wonders if his foe has exposed more of his men to the mutating ray of the Resurrection Alter.

But the Wakandan King should be more worried about the mountain range's legendary inhabitants. The White Apes, gorillas that have been mutated like the other flora and fauna in mountains of northern Wakanda by the Great Vibranium Mound. To make matters worse the Keeper of the Resurrection Alter, Sombre, has whipped up the savage apes into a frenzy and set them on the Black Panther with their blood lust. The Panther has to fight for his life against the White Ape's leader. With a violent and graphic ending desperately the Panther kicks the White Ape off an ice cliff edge, sending him falling to be impaled on the bones of some long dead giant creature. As the sun rises over the edge of the world T'Challa is thankful that he has killed a myth and he himself had not meet his maker. The Panther's Rage continues next week.

Ka-Zar “The final battle!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Marie Severin and Werner Roth

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #20

Cover date October 1973

(Published in July 1973)

Ka-Zar had thought his battle with Victorius was over, Bobbi Morse had run off to find the Super-Soldier Serum that her rescuer had discarded earlier in the grounds of the AIM castle base. But his foe's demise was short lived as the revived Victorius engages Ka-Zar once again in a desperate struggle. As the two grapple the villain is unmasked, revealing his advanced age and the reason for his drive to reclaim his physical superiority. Victorius hurls an axe at his opponent which misses, but inadvertently dislodges a decorative shield from a wall, hitting Ka-Zar and painfully knocking him out.

Gleefully Victorius celebrates, proclaiming that the Super-Soldier reigns supreme! But it wasn't always that way. Professor Conrad had been a meagre scientist who believed that his research could rediscover the Super-Soldier formula that had created Captain America. The government officials declared that the project had begun and ended with Steve Rogers and no more work on it would be done. Even though the US government wasn't interested, AIM was and for decades Professor Conrad continued his research. When a SHIELD agent had firebombed the AIM base where Conrad's lab was housed he had no choice but to take the experimental formula. With luck it worked turning the old professor into a perfect human specimen. At that time Modok's apparent death left a power vacuum in the AIM leadership. Even though Modok had survived Victorius saw an opportunity to stage a leadership coup. The mad professor decides it's time to execute Ka-Zar and remove him as a thorn in his side. Meanwhile outside the fortress Bobbi Morse takes out the AIM guards to reclaim the vial of Super-Soldier Serum. Next week we'll see what happens when "Bobbi enters the battle!"

The Titans #21

Now this cover brings back memories of my childhood, not because I picked up this weekly at the time of publication, but I'm pretty sure the artwork appeared in black and white in a Marvel Colouring Book from the late 70's that I owned and would enjoy colouring. The art was drawn by Dave Hunt and inked by Mike Esposito. 

The X-Men “Into the crimson cosmos!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Werner Roth

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in The X-Men #33

Cover date June 1967

(Published in April 1967)

The Juggernaut has just defeated the X-Men and now he searches for an aircraft that will fly him to the mysterious Factor Three. In his way stand a military force, but they fail to stop him. Back at the Mansion, the X-Men try to help the Professor, who has been in a coma since the Juggernaut's attack. Jean uses the Professor's Mental-Wave Amplifier in the hopes of reviving the Professor or finding a way of defeating the Juggernaut. Through the Professor's memories, Jean learns of the secrets of the Crimson gem of Cyttorak. Centuries ago, the Ancient One came across the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, but was attacked by its protector, Xorak the outcast. After a brief mystical duel, the Ancient One cast a spell trapping Xorak in the gem. 

Their chance of defeating the Juggernaut lies within the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. And so to find it they must seek out the Ancient One. Making repairs to Cerebro the young mutants try to locate the Ancient One. However, instead of finding the Ancient One, they are visited by the spectral form of his successor, Doctor Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts. He tells them that his ethereal form has come from Stonehenge and cannot help them directly as he is on an important mission. From those clues we must same that this story takes place at the same time as Doctor Strange's adventure as seen in the Avengers weekly #46. However he aids the X-Men with a means to enter the gem, cautioning them that only two of their members can venture within, and that they must return within an hour, otherwise they will be trapped in the Crimson Cosmos forever. Cyclops and Marvel Girl volunteer for the mission, so Cyclops orders the rest of the X-Men to keep the Juggernaut busy until they return. Doctor Strange imparts the incantation into Cyclops and Jean's mind, then teleports them to the ruins of Cyttorak's temple in North Korea.

The two mutants materialise in front of a Communist patrol. Quickly they scare them off with their mutant powers before finding the buried entrance to the Cyttorak's temple. Speaking the incantation, Cyclops and Marvel Girl are pulled into the gem and find themselves in the strange Crimson Cosmos, where they are greeted by Xorak. The demon tells them that in this realm he is known as the Outcast. Back on Earth, the other X-Men fly to the nearby airport in their "X-Copter" where the Juggernaut is trying to steal an airplane to rendezvous with the masterminds behind Factor Three. Iceman, Angel and Beast attempt to keep the Juggernaut at bay with the powerful wind generated by the "X-Copter's" rotor blades. Which only proves a minor inconvenience as he smashes the vehicle. Meanwhile in the Crimson Cosmos, the Outcast entraps Scott and Jean in the Scarlet Circles of Doom, only to have Marvel Girl free themselves with her telekinetic powers and redirecting them towards their attacker. Seemingly the Outcast is destroyed upon impact with the Scarlet Circles of Doom. 

Scott and Jean travel deeper into the Cosmos when they are caught up in mystical coils and pulled toward a gigantic facial image of the Outcast. Cyclops shatters the image with his optic blasts. Time is running out with Outcast standing between them and the gem, Jean checks her watch, the ticking of it has an unnerving effect on the Outcast. Quickly Marvel Girl telekinetically places the watch on the demon and suddenly the creature crumbles into dust. Hand in hand Cyclops grabs the gem, instantly both he and Jean are transported by the Professor's bedside. The pair race to join their teammates in the "X-Plane", unaware that two intruders are lurking in the shadows. At the airport the others have lured the Juggernaut into a wind tunnel, but this too only slows him down a little. The X-Men are forced to attack again with little effect. Scott and Jean arrive with the gem and present it to the Juggernaut. Thinking that this new gem will increase his powers he grabs it, but instead of granting him increased powers he is transported away to the Crimson Cosmos. Which connects with his story in the Hulk strip in this week's MWOM. The X-Men return to the mansion to find that the Professor has gone and their battle with the Juggernaut nothing more than a ruse to kidnap Xavier.

Captain America “the Red Skull supreme!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #81

Cover date September 1966

(Published in June 1966)

In his hand the Red Skull holds the Cosmic Cube, the ultimate weapon created by AIM that allows its user to shape reality at will. Mankind's only hope is Captain America. Now forgotten by his nemesis as he thrills at the power he processes, the living legend races to the Red Skull in the hope that he can take him by surprise. 

Cap grabs at the nazi's closed hand with a following kick to his back in an attempt to wrestle the Cube from him. Fruitlessly this first attack fails and the Red Skull tells Cap that after he destroys his old foe he will use the Cube to make the entire human race his willing slaves. Then root out the weak in the population in order to create an army of the master race to launch war against the rest of the universe.

The Skull uses the Cube to create an artificial being out of the island's very soil. Setting it to attack Captain America until he grows bored and dispatches the creature into limbo. He is about to send Captain America there too but for Cap to trick the Skull into sparing him so that he could become his helpless underling. Thus convincing him that his greatest victory would be to humble his greatest foe, rendering him subservient to the Skull. Finding this idea appealing, the Skull accepts and then creates himself a suit of knightly armour to match his perceived destiny to be king of the world, with a group of underlings as his knights he would become master of the world. Captain America kneels before him as fitting for his first knight. The Skull lowers a sword to "knight" him but Cap uses this opportunity to catch the Skull off guard, knocking the Cube out of his grasp. As the pair grapple the Skull tries to use the Cube, but his actions only start to tear the island apart. In the scuffle the Cube is knocked from the Skull's grasp, falling into the sea. The Skull leaps after it, but the weight of his armour drags him to the ocean floor leaving Cap to presume that the Skull had died and the Cosmic Cube lost at the bottom of the sea.

Titanic Transcripts

Ian Clark RFO, KOF, QNS, TTB, PMM, FFF from London praises the line-up on the new Titans comic. On the Inhumans strip, it's ironic that Jack's first attempt at writing should be his last work at Marvel for five years. The Sub-Mariner knocks him out. The Nick Fury strip heralded John Severin's return to the Bullpen, introduced John Buscema to Marvel readers and started Jim Steranko on the road to stardom. Lee and Kirby's Captain America is hard-hitting action in the classic Marvel manner. Ian wasn't too keen on the Captain Marvel strip though. Chris Bryan from Liverpool thinks it was an innovative way in which the pages have been scaled-down to thereby printing twice the normal amount of story on one page, was sheer genius. Patrick Harty RFO, KOF from Middlesex noticed that in The Titans #1, on page 30 it showed the cover of the Avengers weekly #109, but with a different cover than the one that he bought. Patrick wins a No-Prize for spotting it.

It's quite a bizarre choice of hero and villains in this week's Marvel Masterwork Centre-Spread. I racked my brain but can think of a time when Daredevil fought the Sandman and the Wizard? The artist for this piece is unnamed. Any clue to the artist or what inspired this scene?

Captain Marvel “Death at the end of the world!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Wayne Boring

Inker: Frank McLaughlin

Originally published in Captain Marvel #24

Cover date November 1972

(Published in August 1972)

As Megaton's radioactivity levels steadily rise Captain Marvel battles the radioactive foe. What seems to be incredibly stupid Captain Marvel drops Megaton on to a power station, which then explodes, weakening the pair. The power station crew spray Megaton in "Liqi-latex" to smother his radioactive glow causing him to black out. Mar-Vell's photon levels fall, which cause him to swap places with Rick Jones. 

Wearily Rick makes it to the club where Lou-Ann Savannah is performing, just passing out as he enters the room. Lou-Ann calls a taxi and takes Rick back to her uncle, the scientist Benjamin Savannah for another dose of photon treatment. Before we can discover how that goes the scene switches to the police station where Megaton has been taken after his arrest and thrown in jail. There he attacks his cellmate, but the iron bars of his cell still hold him. His mind wonders back to the time when he got his powers. As Jules Carter he had lead a four-man nuclear research team exploring the icy wastes of the artic. Something had been drawing power from their reactor and tracing the radiation they were lead to an abandoned Kree outpost. A machine subjected him to his worst fears. The other expedition members had saved him but then the base blew up, everyone was kill save for Jules Carter. Back in the present his cellmate recovers and Megaton marches towards him, surrounded by a menacing glow. Next week "To battle Megaton!"

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “Lo! The eggs shall hatch!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Strange Tales #145

Cover date June 1966

(Published in March 1966)

You know I have a soft spot for these old Nick Fury classics, but seeing the start of this one I can't wait for Jim Steranko's run to start. I can accept Life Model Decoys, it's a fantasy spy thriller, but having the top of their heads open like that? Well this story has started to loose my interest. Anyway SHIELD has sent out a squad of 12 Fury LMDs in hope they can be used to track down who is trying to kill Fury. Dugan cannot understand how Sitwell became an agent, Fury compares  them both to Laurel and Hardy. The Druid's eggs have been destroying LMDs, but he plans to draw Fury into the open. Nick questions the Fixer using a "truth-gas cage." The Fixer tells him that that people who gave him is orders were only known as "THEM" who kept their identities secret, but they have limitless wealth and power. He knows nothing about the miniature brain that was found on him, only that he was told to steal it. As for the killer Eggs he doesn't believe they are connected to THEM. Suddenly Nick hears an explosion. Rushing to the scene he discovers a crater cause by an Egg. Seconds later a hand appears from out of nowhere challenging Fury to a fight. Continued next week.

The Sub-Mariner “Outside the gates waits..Death!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Bill Everett

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #91

Cover date May 1967

(Published in February 1967)

Still fuming at his defeat at the hands of Byrrah, Namor is surprised when palace guards arrive and inform him he is under arrest. When he resists an ionic force field stops him in his tracks. In a shatterproof capsule he is brought before Byrrah, who now claims that he is Prince of Atlantis. Sitting either side are his partners, Krang and Attuma. Namor is sentenced to Inferno Isle, with little chance of survival.

The capsule that the Sub-Mariner is captive in is loaded into a cannon and fired up through the sea and into the air, sending Namor crashing onto the Inferno Isle. With little time to regain his senses he is attacked by a fire creature. Back at Atlantis, Lady Dorma discovers Byrrah’s hypno-beam and reverses its effects. Krang and Attuma mock Byrrah for losing public support and leave. The Sub-Mariner tricks the creature into following him into the sea, where it is cooled, turning into lava. He returns to Atlantis to find Attuma and Krang preparing to attack Atlantis with a giant war machine. With all his might he levels the invaders forces destroying their machines and sends Krang and Attuma packing. Namor learns from Vashti and Dorma how Byrrah bent the people of Atlantis to his will with a "Hypno-Ray". Namor regains the throne and the love of his people, while Byrrah is sent into exile.

And with that its a perfect time to take a break till next week, till then... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.