Love letters re-read!

On Valentine's Day this year I wrote a love letter to one of my most favourite strips of 2023. "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" had appeared bi-monthly in the first five issues of Quantium, the literally quite brilliant new British comics anthology from Time Bomb Comics. In that blog I waxed lyrical, or some might say wittered on, about how good it was. Even suggesting that it could well be the greatest comic strip of the last two decades! And how if it was a single graphic novel where would it fit amongst my other collections. The uniqueness of character and story, together with the way it was beautifully crafted, I proposed that it could share pride of place on my bookshelves with classics like V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Conan, etc. Especially if extras were added to it. Well it happened, Quantum Prime Subscribers would receive an exclusive Quantum Prime title with each issue. "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" became the first such title. Let me tell you it's an excellent read packed with a behind the pages look at the story's construction, extra pages of art and an exquisite extra tale from Dave West and Marleen Starkfield Lowe. Which when read made me feel even sadder as this book was dedicated to the memory of Marleen, whose beautiful and welcoming artwork drew this reader into the arms and heart of the story. The whole book can leave you sad but also positive, there's always room for a laugh, there's always time for a hug from loved ones, there's always a life to live. 

I really must thank Dave West for this brilliant book, but it still leaves me with one little problem. Where does it fit into my comic book shelves?

Does it fit in with my classic Marvels?

No, it's not a conventional superhero title.

Can I squeeze it in with the old punks? 

No,  it's a more delicate tale than those big boys.

What about a place in with the new wave of talent? 

Well it could, but it feels a lot more British than those, even though most are written by Brits.

Does it deserve a place amongst the Classics? 

One day may be, but if truth be told it should have a place of its own.

A place where it can be picked up and read.

It's great to read comics, even better to read really good ones. Whether you subscribe to Time Bomb Comics, or pick them up from your local comic shop or comic convention, or even support your local newsagents, having really good stories makes it worthwhile. 

"Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" is a really worthwhile read. 

A nice day for a green wedding!

Week Ending 27th April 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #82

The original "Rhino says no!" cover from the Incredible Hulk #124, by Herb Trimpe is used here. With slight colour changes, mainly to the Rhino. Grey rhino hind and flesh coloured hands anyone? Also there's a lot more text on the UK version than the original US one. Us Brits do love cover text and the odd speech balloon too. "This was going to be your wedding day, greenskin--But the Rhino says No!"

The Incredible Hulk "Do you take this Hulk!"

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #124

Cover date February 1970

(Published in November 1969)

This opening splash page looks fantastic and fits seamlessly in with the continued story flow, which shouldn't be surprising as it was the third panel of page 12 from last week's issue. Although Herb Trimpe was the penciller or more possibly the layout artist, but the general look feels like Sal Buscema. I would normally say that Trimpe is the guy for 60's/70's Hulk but when I see both their works together, which to be fair Buscema's goes from 70's/80's, I much prefer Buscema's style. The other thing about this page, all be it a minor bug, is the title. Regular Power of the Beesting readers know I love a playful title, British Marvel came up with some crackers for the second part of these weekly strips, I like the wedding themed "Do you take this Hulk!", but shouldn't that be a question? Just me being sad then. 

Well as you can imagine the Leader and the Rhino are the wedding crashers who want to spoil Bruce and Betty's perfect day. The bride and groom look splendid until the Leader uses his version of the Gamma Ray Projector as the catalyst that brings about Banner's unwanted change into the savage Hulk. The brute has totally lost any lingering spark of Banner's intelligence. Excited by the appearance of the green goliath the Rhino leaps in to wrestle with his foe once again. The battle is fierce without an outright winner as the Rhino leaps in front of the Leader's Gamma Ray projector, taking a shot that was intended for the Hulk. The two fiends turn on each other. Ultimately the Leader flees as the Rhino grapples with his escape pod, only to be seen in the distance in an explosive ending. The Hulk walks away as Betty is comforted by Major Talbot as her unconscious father is lead away in an ambulance. For those romantics out there Bruce and Betty do eventually tied the knot in John Byrne's "Member of the wedding!" in The Incredible Hulk issue 319, cover dated May 1986, published February 1986. I enjoyed that Byrne story a lot, but I have to say I think I enjoyed this Thomas/Trimpe/Buscema story more.

Daredevil “The Ox is back in town!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Frank Giocoia

Originally published in Daredevil #15

Cover date April 1966

(Published in February 1966)

This splash page uses the artwork from the cover of Daredevil issue 15 by John Romita Sr with a nice use of a play on the Thin Lizzy song "The boys are back in town!" Daredevil is out searching for the escaped prisoner the Ox, who has had his mind swapped with the crazy criminal scientist Karl Stragg. By sheer coincidence Karen Page comes across the Karl Stragg controlled Ox whom she recognises, even though when she meet in him briefly in MWOM #31 he was disguised as a hospital porter with a surgery gown and mask. May be she read the newspapers or saw him on the TV news. 

I quite like John Romita Sr on Daredevil, it marks a period of improved stories, but I really can't figure out why having the Ox carry a spare pair of clothes on him incase he wants to dress up someone to look like himself, is a good idea. It carries no logic what so ever. When he dresses up the unconscious Daredevil in those clothes Karen Page has to reasonably ask "Why?" The dum police arrest DD because they believe he has been pretending to be the real Ox! It's the kind of plot that only Stan Lee could have thought up. May be Romita hadn't felt comfortable questioning it at an early period in his return to Marvel. When the Ox goes on another rampage the police realise the obvious mistake and release the man without fear to do what he's best at. It ends with the Karl Stragg/Ox falling to his death and the original Ox in the body of Stragg walking away free with a second chance at life. Next issue we're promised Spider-man, but will he appear in next week's Daredevil strip? Come back next week to find out.

Art Competition: The winners

This week we have the finalists for the design a Super-hero/villain competition that first appeared in all the weeklies from week ending 19 January 1974. Each of these nine winners from ages under eight to over sixteen received a transistor radio, the kind of device that you had to use to listen to the radio before we had apps on our phones, tablets or computers. So strap in if you want to know about these fantastic creations. In the "Under 8" age group is Imaginable Man imagined by Francis Morass from London. Whatever he thinks he becomes. In the "Age 8-9" group Neil Musto (age 8) from Essex has created a super-human called the Newspaper Man who is as thin as a newspaper and can fold himself up small, plus he knows lots of facts. Mud Man from the creative mind of David Szczerba (age 9)  from Yorkshire wins the "Age 9-10" group. He covers his victims in mud and can dissolve into walls. He probably makes a mess on carpets too. Stephen Muirprize (age 10) from Hull has not only created the Red King but also his army of Chess to win the "Age 10-11" group. The King can control his robot chess pieces and he also has a radar sense. Winner of the "Age 11-12" group is Alexander McGlashan, (age 11) they don't give where he's from. I wonder did they forget to mention it or did he not tell them? If he forgot to write it in the entry form how did he get his prize? Anyway he created Domino- the Demon Draughtsman! A great name there. Whatever he draws in thin-air becomes reality. Star Trooper is by J.R. Bourne from Monmouthshire. The "Age 12-13" winner's creation can teleport himself to anywhere in the galaxy. Andrew Updraft (age 13) from Cleethorpes wins the "Age 13-14" group with BLITZKRIEG the Beast-Man who can shape shift into any one of ten animals by pressing the corresponding letter on his belt.  My personal favourite comes from Bryan Evens (age 15) from Bristol who created the Trojan Discus to win the "Age 14-16" group. A really nice piece of artwork that with a little more polish Byran could find himself becoming a comic book artist. TD controls many different discuses by means of an unknown gadget in his brain. In the final "Age over 16" group Ian Emes creates the Twinkler, who has a suit made up of diamond fragments that enables him to dazzle his enemies and can also reflect illusions. These winners had been picked by the Evening Standard's Bristlow cartoonist Frank Dickens and a crack team of British Bullpen art and editorial staff. But the final winner of the Colour TV will be picked by Stan "the man" Lee himself from these nine winners. Colour versions of these winning entries will be show in this week's Avengers weekly as we'll see later and next week we'll take a closer look at the over-all winner in more detail. 

"Destroy that enemy outpost!" this one page comic strip looks and feels like an Action Man advertisement and would be more at home in a British war weekly, but in fact it's actually a recruitment advertisement for the Royal Marines, with a form you can fill in and send away for a free booklet to find out more about the exciting life you could lead as one of Britain's commandos. I imagine that the age profile of a typical British Marvel reader wouldn't fall into the recruitment age group. May be the Royal Naval careers service believed that older brothers might pick up their younger siblings comics for a bit off light reading and become inspired to embark on a career in the Royal Navy. Or was it an attempt to give future recruits the Navy bug at an early age? The free booklet sounds great did anyone remember getting one? Or even did it inspire you joining the armed forces? I love to know. I've no clue who drew the strip, would love to know that too. It could be Joe Colquhoun from Charlie's War fame, but I have absolutely no idea.     

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Len Collins from London collects both MWOM and SMCW each week and is one of the few who don't like Daredevil. He much prefers leaving him out so that the space could be given to the Fantastic Four. M.J. Filedhouse (age 10) from Yorkshire writes asking could their full address be published so that other like minded fans write to them as pen pals. They would like the potential pen pal to be from America. Not sure they going to get an American pen pal from a British comic. Rajesh Soni from London asks why can't we see Doctor Doom's face and what would happen if the Hulk's body became too radioactive? The editor says that the world isn't ready to see Doom's unmasked face and as for the Hulk's radioactive problem, no-one knows. Well that's a cop-out. 

Only half a page of letters this week, but we do get a lovely little advert for Airfix models "Heroes of World War II". It mentions that they're available from branches of Woolworths. Now that was a brilliant shop! I had many great days shopping in that store. You could also pick up a catalogue from there too. At the end of the advert it also mentions that the Airfix Magazine was available monthly for just 15 pence.

The Fantastic Four "The stars, my enemy!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #37

Cover date April 1965

(Published in January 1965)

This splash page uses the artwork from the cover of the Fantastic Four #36. It just about performs a function as a story recap but I've never liked it much as the cover of that issue either. The Fantastic Four had travelled to the Skrull Home-world to bring the murderer of Sue and Johnny's father, Franklin Storm, back to face justice. But when they arrived on the planet the atmosphere caused them to loose their super-powers which lead them to be captured. 

Warlord Morrat had hoped that the capture of the four humans would give him the political power to overthrow the Emperor. Reed tricks Morrat into thinking that the Power Amplifier that they used to power their ship was a deadly weapon and demonstrated it by firing at Ben, Sue and Johnny so that he might be saved. Morrat orders that the weapon be turned on Richards, only to find out that he had been tricked as the Power Amplifier restored the Fantastic Four's powers. The Emperor arrives with his daughter to declare Morrat a traitor, for keeping the capture of the Fantastic Four a secret. Morrat and his loyal troops open fire on the Emperor's party. Morrat is killed and in the crossfire Anelle, the Emperor's daughter is only just saved by a force field from the quick thinking Invisible Girl.  

The Emperor says that he is in their debt, Mister Fantastic asks for the Skrull who was responsible for Franklin Storm's death be released to them to face human justice. The Emperor quickly agrees, knowing that it was the treacherous Morrat who plotted the murder. A bitter sweet ending with no debt owned the FF are free to return to Earth, just in time for the wedding rehearsal to begin and a promise that the joyful day draws ever closer. 

The colour in-house adverts make a fitting return to the back page of the Mighty World of Marvel with both the Avengers weekly and Spider-man Comics Weekly sharing the page. The Avengers get to show-off their Master of Kung Fu front cover while Spider-man settles with a panel featuring the Vulture attacking our webbed hero. Where the panel originally came from I'm not sure. I looked up Black Drago's appearances in the Amazing Spider-man #48-49 but couldn't place it there. It looks like a task for the Friends of the Beesting to find.

 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #62

This cover's artwork may not be the best this week but I really do like it's pleasing look. The Vulture takes on Spider-man, Iron Man duels with the Crimson Dynamo and in the centre of all that we get a clash of gods with Hercules battling the mighty Thor. OK some of it is flawed, the Crimson Dynamo looks different to the Don Heck version featured in the Iron Man strip, the Vulture looks more than a little unhinged and Spidey looks like he's forgotten old Vulture as he hits out at the Crimson Dynamo as Iron Man looks more interested in the two fighting gods. But saying all that it is my favourite cover this week, so may be I'm a little unhinged but this Ron Wilson (pencils,) and Mike Esposito (inks,) artwork is my Cover of the Week. Somebody else must have really liked it too because the original artwork was bought from Heritage Auctions for $9,300 (That's an incredible £7,518.80 in today's money!) on the 7th June 2021. Notice how Ron Wilson drew it with Iron Man shooting his "Repulsor rays" at Thor, that's not on the final cover!

Spider-man "Where fly the winged furies!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #63

Cover date August 1968

(Published in May 1968)

Another great use of the cover from the original comic. Well if you're not going to use it as the front cover why not use it as an opening splash page and this imaginary scene work really well as Blackie Drago and Adrian Toomes catch up on the events that lead to the original's illness recovery and prison escape, while Toomes is pleased to hear all about Drago's defeat at the hands of Spider-man.

The original Vulture reveals that he didn't arrange the escape of his replacement as means to become partners, but so he could finally show the world that he is the original and the greatest Vulture by thoroughly and completely defeating the upstart so that he can regain his rightful place in the hierarchy of crime. The old bird hasn't lost any of his fighting prowess as he makes the first blow, quickly followed by a relentless attack, powered by his new improved suit and a desire for victory. 

The fight takes them to the sky across from the Daily Bugle offices, much to the delight of J Jonah Jameson who gets the newly arrived Peter Parker to take exclusive photos of the aerial dogfight. The newspaper men aren't the only interested onlookers, a young boy across from the Bugle watches the melee from his balcony. But as the balcony comes loose Peter makes a quick change into Spider-man to save the boy. As the original defeats the pretender the Vulture turns his attention towards the web-slinger who becomes "the Vulture's prey!" Find out more about this high flying action next week.  

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

The first item is a piece on Jack Kirby and John Romita Sr, saying that not only are they fine artists but also great story tellers. Give them the gem of an idea and they'll make up all the details as they go along with only Stan Lee to later fill in the dialogue. Now that's pretty much how the "Marvel Way" works. Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly relates to the differences between the Marvel Thor version and the classic mythological Thor version. The reason they say is that any story or legend varies just a bit depending on who's relating it. Stan Lee gets on his Soapbox to thank all the Marvel Fans for their support in making Marvel "top of the heap!" It must have been an uninspiring week that led to that soapbox. Next item looks at the editorial staff at Marvel, with at that time Roy Thomas was editor of the US colour comics and executive editor of all other publications, Sol Brodsky is the administrator, leaving Tony (the tiger) Isabella to handle the three UK weeklies as associate editor. Tony was also writing comics too at the time, not bad for a twenty-two year old. Back to Roy Thomas in the next item, Roy gave up a scholarship at George Washington University to work at Marvel. He could have become a diplomat if he continued. Diplomacy loss is comic readers gain. As with all Bullpen Bulletins there's a quick mighty Marvel checklist incase you haven't already got the other two mags.

The Web and the Hammer

Another short mail bag that's easier for me to analyse, starting with a letter from Robert Atkinson for Castleford, who asks how can Don Blake be Thor when he found Thor's hammer by accident? The editor says that Thor needed to come to Earth to keep world peace and when Blake accidentally discovered the hammer he became the chosen one. I personally believe the story line that Odin created Blake as a vessel for his son so that he could learn about humanity. Joseph Brancato from London says that since moving to Kilburn in London he has asked four newsagents if they stock the Avengers weekly, all four said they never heard of it! Every Saturday he has to ride all the way back to where he used to live to pick up a copy. Suzanne O'Keefe from Coventry fancies a bit of early "cos-play" with a request for Thor and Spider-man costumes. Alan M. LeFleur requests that Marvel print double page posters of the Hulk so he can stick them up on the wall like his sister does with her pop-star posters.

Iron Man "Duel of the armoured titans!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #46

Cover date October 1963

(Published in July 1963)

 

Yet another use of the original story's cover being used as an opening splash page, which this time fits in perfectly with the break in story. It wasn't the greatest cover, in fact I originally thought that this page had been made up from various panels until I checked the US comics listing. Earlier I mentioned that Ron Wilson's Crimson Dynamo looked nothing like Don Heck's version, well in truth it looks more like the Jack Kirby version that was seen on the US cover and this splash page. Dick Ayers inked this cover/page. The crimson Dynamo has been responsible for sabotaging Starks factories that supply vital military equipment. But Iron Man  tricks him into confessing his part in it all. Then the sneaky Stark fakes a message from the Dynamo's Communist leader in which he plans to "liquidate him on his return, something that he was possibly planning to do anyway as the Dynamo had become more popular than him. The Russian scientist believes it and accepts an offer to work for the West in one of Stark's research plants. This story is an improvement of previous stories but the morally grey ending feels a little wrong. 

"In Human Form!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #46

Cover date April 1962

(Published in January 1962)

In preparation for an alien invasion of Earth a shape-shifting spy is sent to discover what the planet's dominant species weakness is. When it lands, it observes that cows, birds and squirrels aren't dominant life-forms and heads to the city, where it assumes that humans are slaves of the four-legged creatures (dogs) who lead them about on tethers. Wheeled machines devour both species as they enter it, making them from the spies point of view superior to both. The alien spy finally detects a life-form that is strong, fast and free of all other species. They can walk, fly and are dominant everywhere. The alien changes into that life-form so that it can better blend in with them. The spy's master watches remotely from its own planet but is shocked when the screen goes blank, thinking that the earthlings are more powerful than they imagined. The invasion is quickly cancelled. All thanks to a human who swatted the disguised alien, because he thought it was a fly! I love these short tales, they're snappy and get to the punchline smartly. Lee and Ditko are masters of this style and inspired readers way back in the 60's as well as Future Shock/Time Twister writers in the future. 

The Mighty Thor "And who shall stand for Hercules"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #129

Cover date June 1966

(Published in April 1966)

 

Second part of the Thor tale that uses a new opening page made up of panels 2-5 from the eighth page of last week's strip, with the title and re-cap taking the place of the first panel, detailing Hercules predicament. Thor returns to Asgard where Balder informs him that Odin requests an audience with him, where he's told that the time of the "Day of the three worlds!" prophecy has arrived and it is his duty of the Thunder God to stake all on behalf of another! Thor travels to the legendary Land of Limbo and awaits his destiny.

Meanwhile on Olympus Hercules desperately searches for someone who will fight in his name. He asks Ares, God of War first but may be the two god brothers have butted heads too many times and Ares refuses. Hercules seeks aid from Hermes but the Messenger of the Gods speeds off before he can say no. I guess he has parcels to miss-deliver. It does kind of sum up Greek Gods. they're very much about self and show vain conceit to others, unlike Norse Gods who are about honour and sacrifice. Perfectly characterised in these Lee/Kirby classics with the characters of Hercules and Thor. 

Hercules has run out of time as the hordes of the Netherworld pull the Prince of Power towards the fate he signed away, declaring that the time of valour is past, the age of the warrior is dead and Hercules will perish with them. In Limbo that cry is heard by Thor who realises that he is fated to do battle on behalf of the son of Zeus. Pluto gloats that is has been Hercules that had proven his own undoing as in battle he has made only enemies, never friends. To which Thor arrives to say "Nay, none save a warrior born!" The God of Thunder dares to fight for Hercules, in next issue that is. Can't wait!

The back page features a colour in-house advert for the double dynamite of triumphs from this week's Marvel. Both covers from the Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers weekly are used, with the Hulk cover given a slight different colour scheme, most noticeably the Rhino is green rather than his grey self. While the transforming Hulk wears brown trousers. It's no wonder that the published version was used for the actual comic, what sort of groom has a brown suit for a wedding? Lucky escape for Betty Ross there. At least it wasn't a purple suit! Master of Kung Fu cover, sorry I mean the Avengers cover is exactly the same as the printed comic as we see right now.

Avengers Weekly #32

Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito create this martial arts meets Scooby Doo haunted house villain cover. I'm not a fan of it, it makes too much out of one short scene. Next week's Master of Kung Fu from the original comics looks far superior. I wonder why they didn't use an Avengers cover, although to be quite honest the original US cover isn't spectacular, so at least it was OK that British Marvel mags did get unique and original artwork now and then. 

Master of Kung Fu “Lair of the lost!”

Writer: Steve Englehart 

Artist: Jim Starlin

Inker: Al Milgrom

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #17

Cover date April 1974

(Published in January 1974)

The first three pages of this story actually begins with two stories one relating to Shang-Chi, on the left-hand panels, as he reasons that the mind being a pearl inside the oyster shell of the skull. Like the pearl, the mind occupies a small portion of the skull's volume, yet is the most precious portion, for this pearl of wisdom can understand the skull, the world , the universe and itself. Still no mind knows everything. I like Steve Englehart's writing, it can be really deeps sometimes, that's the hippy in my I suppose. The right-hand panels, tell the story of how Sir Denis and Black Jack Tarr plan to trap Shang-Chi.

The three men who attack Shang-Chi are named Steve, Al and Jim. with looks that are based on Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom. Very meta and a little bit of fun as Shang-Chi kicks their collective ass. Sir Denis's picture on the cover of a Daily Bugle is used as bait to lure Shang-Shi to Rye in New York State. Shang-Chi wants to apologise for killing Dr. Petrie, as seen in Avengers #28, so takes the bait and finds his way to Black Jack Tarr's "Murder Mansion"

After entering the "Murder Mansion" steel shutters close off the windows and doors, followed by a group of federal agents sent in to tackle the intruder with no success Shang-Chi easily over-powers them. Then a series of traps are set to kill the kung fu fighter, but Shang-Chi skilfully navigates his way past them all. Until he enters a room with multiple suits of armour that spring a deadly attack. This double page must have been printed on adjoining pages of the US issue but in the UK version they are shown on back to back pages, giving the impression of a knight attacking a leg on one page and two more grabbing Shang-Chi on the next. I've tried to match the two together as it should be seen but the print sizes aren't perfect, but oh well. Next week, if he escapes that death grip, Shang-Chi must battle Black Jack! "Osu!" 

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

The Avengers weekly version of this weeks Bullpen Bulletins is pretty much the same as the one from Spider-man Comics Weekly, apart from the Special item for the Avengers in which we are informed that Jim Starlin and Al Milgrom have known each other since they where teenagers in school. There's also an item from a letter by Bruce Long from Missouri in which he talks about the amount of Marvel merchandise produced and the pros and cons of concentrating on its production rather than concentrating on creating the best written and best drawn comics anywhere. The reply appreciates the concerns but vows to maintain high standards. Another item informs readers that Marvel adventures can now be found in Princeton University's Firestone Library, they even bear their own card catalogue number and the order "Not to be taken from this room." That's useful to know if you were a student of that University, for the rest of us not much so. The Checklist obviously has listings for this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Might World of Marvel mags. 

The Avengers “To smash a Serpent” 

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck and Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in The Avengers #33

Cover date October 1966

(Published in August 1966)

Don Heck is credited as the solo artist on this strip but the Marvel.Fandom.com site says that Jack Kirby made uncredited alterations to the artwork. What they were I can't see, may be it was Captain America and the Sons of the Serpent seen in the fourth panel of page 19. but I can't be sure. It is always a possibility as  Stan always wanted minor changes to the artwork just to flex his Art Director credit muscles. One thing that does strike me, it always seems to be Captain America who get captured lately. I suppose that does make a change from the female supporting character always being the damsel in distress, but come on. 

The Avengers have to hold back and be seen to give way to the Sons of the Serpent, much to the displeasure of Hawkeye, Bill Foster and the Chinese General Chen. Later Captain America seems to have been brainwashed by the Sons, turning him into a fascist and later Goliath and the Wasp agree to meet the Sons of the Serpent, while secretly Hawkeye attempts cap's rescue. The plot thickens next week.  

  

Avengers Readers Assemble

Sharon George from Cambridge asks what's wrong with all the boys writing letters criticising the mistakes and faults with Marvel comics. Robert Joubert RFO, gets all three mags without fail every week. He makes some suggestions, bring back the Sinister Six, get a toy firm to make some "Action Man" like figures in Spider-man and Captain America costumes and why not have a joke page for readers jokes. Well that's no laughing matter. 

Richard Moore from Cheshire goes into great detail of why "The coming of the Sword Man" from Avengers #16 was a success right from Don Heck opening splash page, where the Swords Man dives sword first into action and Cap's dramatic leap at the end. He does point out that Dick Ayers inking can sometimes seem scratchy, pages 7,11,17,19 and 24 are given as examples. He goes on to praise Ditto's artwork on the Doctor Strange strip. He's not a fan of Iron Man in SMCW and would rather see SHIELD or the Silver Surfer in that spot instead. Ian Merryweather from Solihull likes to copy the posters that are featured in the mags with a Gestertner machine and later he colours them. A Gestertner machine is a pretty large copying machine which spreads ink over a stencil. I can't imagine there were many households in the 70's who owned one. Micheal Melson RFO, from Wilshire picks out some points that the editor has made in the letter pages of the mags, the first one being that how can the editors not know where the stories are going, as the British Marvel strips are reprints of US stories from ten years ago. His second is that the UK editions will catch up with the US versions in about two and a half years. He also wants to see the Defenders and the Western style Ghost Rider stories. The editor answers all his points, claiming that they can't predict which strips will still be published in the UK in the future and they're aware that the catch-up will eventually come but they'll deal with it when it happens.

 

Doctor Strange “To catch a magician!”

Writer: Dennis O'Neil

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko and Mike Esposito

Originally published in Strange Tales #145

Cover date June 1966

(Published in March 1966)

This story jumps one issue of Doctor Strange from Strange Tale #144, why you ask, well I have no clue. Roy Thomas co-wrote that story with Steve Ditko so I would have liked to see it. It did appear in the Power Comic weekly, Terrific issue 32, cover dated 18th November 1967, so some UK readers may have seen it there. This was Dennis O'Neil's fourth Marvel comic that he wrote, the previous free being romance comics for the Marvel line. It's really quite good, although how much of that was due to Ditko's input? It does almost feel like a fill-in story in a way. Mr. Rasputin, a magician and the descendant of Grigori Rasputin appears on the criminal scene. Doctor Strange detects an evil menace, thinking Baron Mordo has somehow returned. Tracking down Mr. Rasputin, the two battle, however Strange is taken by surprise when Rasputin shoots the doctor with a gun. 

While having treatment in hospital, Doctor Strange sends out his astral form to stop Rasputin, unaware that the evil mystic has hired a gunman to kill Doctor Strange. The villain tries to banish Strange's astra form to another dimension, however using his mental control over the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto, Strange is able to knock his foe unconscious and bring him back to the hospital, arriving just in time to stop the gunman. Using the actual Eye of Agamotto, which seems to exist with both his physical and spirit form, hypnotises the fiends into confessing their crimes and erases Rasputin's mystic knowledge. For Dennis O'Neil's first super-hero story the future looks promising.  

As promised the Avengers back page is given over to the Art Competition winners in full colour. It's strange to see fan art in colour, most comics request that artwork is sent in with black ink on white paper, as that wasn't mentioned when the competition was first proposed everyone had a field day with the colours. Well it was a colour TV for the outright winner so I suppose it's fine. I still like the Trojan Discus the best. For those who can't quite recall who wins the colour TV the over-all winner will be revealed next week. Where l'll also give my opinion on that too. Till then... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.