Judgment Day for the Beesting!

 Week Ending 5th June 1976

Over the last two week's I've asked about the Dracula artwork used to promote Dracula Lives, Paul B gives me the answer I was looking for. It originally appeared in the Marvel/Curtis Magazine Dracula Lives issue 5, cover dated March 1974, published December 1973. It featured on the story "Demons in Darkness" a text story written by Gerry Conway. The Artwork featured on pages 38 to 39 and was signed by Pablo Marcos. Paul B gets a PotBNoP, Power of the Beesting No-Prize. 

Another PotBNoP has to go to regular Power of the Beesting reader Colin Jones who points out a massive continuity error in the Fantastic Four story that features in The Titans issue 32. At the end of the previous issue Reed, Sue, Johnny and Crystal are blinded by the Mole Man but the Thing was not present because he's still in New York at the Baxter Building. However when this issue begins the Thing has magically appeared in the house alongside the rest of the Fantastic Four! I never noticed that one, Great spotting Colin, your PotBNoP is on its way by messenger bees.

Anyway on with this week's blog which might give readers a chance to spot a mistake or two, as I had to complete it around my trip to Forbidden Planet in Liverpool this Saturday. Where I went to meet Garth Ennis and Kieth Burns to have them sign my copies of Johnny Red The Hurricane and A couple of heroes. They were friendly and very patient. The queue went right down Bold Street and I think they must have stayed to sign and chat with everyone beyond the listed time. If you don't believe me you might see me in the queue, but don't blink or you'll miss it.

The Mighty World of Marvel #192

This Herb Trimpe cover was originally from the Incredible Hulk issue 178. It leans heavily on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Bible. I'm surprised that it wasn't more controversial in America or in the UK. I guess adults didn't take "super-hero" comics too seriously. John Romita Sr. make some alterations to Herb's work. The "Spin into Summer with a Spider-man web spinner" headline banner is going to appear a lot this week, this font version also appears on the top banner of Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. 

The Incredible Hulk “Triumph on Terra-Two!”

Writer: Roy Thomas, Tony Isabella and Gerry Conway (plot)

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #178

Cover date August 1974

(Published in April 1974)

Turning back events to the moments before last week's ending, as Bruce Banner watches in horror as Counter-Earth's US President Rex Carpenter, possessed by spirit of the Man-Beast, executes Adam Warlock live on television. With his dying breath he calls out to ask the High Evolutionary why he abandoned him?  With the agony, pain and finally death he metamorphosis into his cocoon form. Banner's emotions hit their peak, setting off his transformation into the Hulk. Smashes his way through the soldiers and disguised New Men, he escapes with Warlock's cocoon. 

Leaping off into the wilderness with the cocoon, the Hulk doesn't know about his friend. He wishes that the "magician" was there as he would know what to do. That magician of course would have been his fellow Defender, Doctor Strange. Before dawn Adam Warlock's followers find him and lead Hulk to the New Men's underground cavern. There, Jason Grey, Ellie Roberts, Dave Carter and the Recorder joins the New Men to mourn Warlock's passing. While back in Washington, the Man-Beast returns to his own form, returning Rex Carpenter's body to his prison cell with his sister. The Man-Beast with his generals, humans and New Men, start to increase their plans to begin a war across Counter-Earth. The guardians of democracy prepare to defend their country, their courage, skills and sincerity does not alter the fact that they are nuclear pawns in the Man-Beast's private conquest game. He watches the preparations with hatred burning in his eyes. Hatred for this Counter-Earth, hatred for the Earth that birthed him, hatred for the High Evolutionary and perhaps hatred for himself.  

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Garry Selemba from Luton has been a long term Marvelite collecting the British weeklies since they first came out and the US Marvel mags for ten years, amassing a total of 2300 comics. He urges all the Marvelites who are frantically looking for back issues of both British and American Marvel comics to look for comic conventions. He has attended all the London comic conventions for the past two years, in that time he's purchased a number of comics, totalling about £100. Nikola Bozickovic from London answers the question put forward in the article "Marvel over Europe" from MWOM #181, about the meaning of the title of the Yugoslav comic called "Maskirani Osvernik". It translates to "Masked Revenges". Nikola is close enough to get a No-Prize as it actually means "Masked Avenger". Andrew Wilkinson from Essex has only started getting Marvel mags since he picked up a US Daredevil mag in September 1975. Later he went straight down to the shops to get The Titans when he saw it advertised.

Daredevil “The deadly gamble!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Daredevil #60

Cover date January 1970

(Published in November 1969)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Out at sea beyond the twelve mile limit Daredevil has discovered a gambling ship, run by the sinister villain called Crime-Wave. To infiltrate it Matt Murdock disguised himself as one of the crime-lord's hoods, Shades McGraw, who looks conveniently similar to Murdock especially as McGraw wears dark glasses even at night! One of Crime-Wave's men asks "Shades" to take over one of the roulette tables as the regular guy was taken ill. Luckily he had never meet "Shades McGraw" before but knew of his reputation and his need to wear sun glasses. 

The ship, named with irony the SS Lady Luck is approached by a sleek launch, where in below decks the man named Crime-Wave watches monitors that show the many tables in his floating Casino. The house percentage is up thanks to the rigged tables, but his concern that night isn't on the profit his gambling operation is racking in, but his intension to use it as bait to reel in a certain fish, Deborah Harris, the ex-fiancée of District Attorney Foggy Nelson. After her break up with Foggy, Deborah leans heavily into her vice of gambling addiction. Luck seemed to be with Deborah at the start of the night, but her fortune has changed and she starts to lose a fortune thanks to Crime-Wave's over ride of the roulette wheel. Soon Deborah is then escorted away to meet Crime-Wave. The criminal offers her a way to repay her debts by framing Foggy Nelson, something she refuses to do. She grabs the Crime-Wave's mask and discovers that his identity is someone she knows.  Meanwhile Daredevil makes his way below decks, arriving in time to stop Crime-Wave's chance of eliminating Deborah. Easily the masked hero defeats the criminal mastermind and his goons, just as Foggy and the authorities arrive. Crime-Wave is unmasked and revealed to be Foggy's own assistant Hollis. Foggy and Deborah are happily reunited as Daredevil wonders about his chance to rekindle his own relationship with Karen Page.

The X-Men “The wrath of the Grotesk!”

Writer: Roy Thomas 

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: George Tuska

Originally published in The X-Men #41

Cover date February 1968

(Published in December 1967)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist, whose artwork is good, but they do seem to make the supposedly grotesque villain called Grotesk, look like a handsome Thor look-a-like. We discover that Grotesk is the sole survivor of an underground civilisation who had died thanks to humanities atomic tests which caused volcanic eruptions underground that wiped them out and mutated Grotesk himself. Even now the Manhattan scientist Doctor Hunt tests out his nuclear Ossillotron machine that causes earth tremors around Grotesk's home.

At that selfsame instant in Westchester County Professor X reads Hank and Bobby's thoughts and learns about Grotesk, he tells his students to return to the spot where they first encountered the strange sub-human being as he poses a new threat to the Earth. In no time the four male X-Men arrive at the subway tunnel where they discover a section that leads to a concealed underground labyrinth. Beneath that they discover the crumbling ruins of a hidden civilisation, Cyclops and the Beast explore more while the Angel and Iceman are ordered to report back to the Professor as they are unable to mentally contact him. Grotesk has ventured to the surface to find the source of the earth quakes, where he finds a lab assistant cleaning Doctor Hunt's machine. Thinking him to be responsible Grotesk kidnaps the man who faints. Angel and Iceman arrive back at the mansion and demand to talk to the Professor, but Marvel Girl makes some excuse for him. She won't level with them or return with them and rendezvous with Scott and Hank either. Grotesk has taken the lab assistant down to his lair, to demand that the human show him where the surface dwellers "weapons" are. His interrogation is interrupted by the arrival of Cyclops and the Beast. Find out what happens next in this mind-staggering story that was never expected to see print as it promises "the Death of Professor X!"

The X-Men “The Living Diamond!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Werner Roth

Inker: John Verpoorten

Originally published in The X-Men #41

Cover date  February 1968

(Published in December 1967)

In the days before the formation of the X-Men, Professor X has followed up leads to find a young mutant named Scott Summers causing him to square off against Jack O'Diamonds as the young Scott watches on. When the Professor's mental powers prove to be superior to that of Jack's, the criminal breaks the stalemate by using his diamond hands to smash a steel girder, sending it flying toward Xavier, who ducks out of its path as the roof collapses, separating them. As the dust settles Jack O'Diamonds tells Scott that he needs his help to break into the Cyclotron centre to bathe himself with more atomic radiation.

The two mutants arrive at the Cyclotron building, where they are confronted by a security guard who draws his gun on them. Jack orders Scott to disarm with his optic blast, while he rushes in to the Cyclotron lab to use its devices on his own. Inside, he finds a device that bombards him with radiation. Meanwhile the Professor after freeing himself from fallen debris arrives outside the building to witness Scott using his optic blasts to destroy a jeep full of security guards who have been alerted to the break-in. To prevent the guards from firing at Scott, the Professor knocks them out with his mental powers. Scott realises that the Professor having survived the building collapse earlier, just wants to talk to him. Inside however, Jack O'Diamonds has bathed his entire body in iridescent shimmering energy, turning his skin into living diamond. Breaking through the walls to get outside, Jack Winters, who had christened himself Jack O'Diamonds now rechristens himself once again under the more fitting name the Living Diamond. Find out next week if this is "the end...or the beginning?" of Scott Summers' journey as an X-Man?

Spin along-a-Spidey

If the summer of 1976 was half as hot as this years is expected to be I can easily see that Marvelites will be going to the beach in between sun-bathing and eating ice cream your friendly neighbourhood Spider-man fans will be having fun with his friendly neighbourhood Spider-man Web-Spinner!

Doc Ock'll probably be throwing eight of the blamed things around-the show-off! And for Aunt Petunia's favourite nephew, blue-eyed Benjy Grimm, otherwise known as the ever - lovin' Thing, it won't be clobberin' time-it'll be web-spinnin' time!

Marvelites in 1976 could get hold of one by just sending a cheque or postal order for 50p for this offer. The retail price was 55p! The offer closed in five week's time on the 5th July, You wouldn't want to be the only would-be web-spinner on the beach without one, wouldja?

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #173

This landscape cover uses John Romita Sr.'s cover from the Amazing Spider-man issue 124 as the template for this cover's inspiration. The penciller was Steve Stiles, while Duffy Vohland inked it. It's a beautifully balanced cover, what kid wouldn't want to buy a comic with Spider-man fighting a werewolf? It's my Cover of the Week.

Spider-man “The Mark of the Man-Wolf”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: John Romita Sr. and Tony Mortellaro

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #124

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

The unnamed artist who drew this landscape format opening splash page copied most of Gil Kane's original pencil artwork detail but repositioned it to fit the page better.

The Web-slinger swings through a rain drenched city, only stopping to take a look at the local paper, which he doesn't pay for, not a good example to young readers, I've seen him drop a few cents to pay in the past, but I guess his mind is still all over the place after the death of  Gwen Stacy. The Herald is more balanced with its coverage of Gwen and Norman Osborn's deaths, they admit that there is no conclusive evidence that Spider-man is responsible for the death of Osborn and even hints that the Green Goblin might have something to do with it. But when he reads the Daily Bugle he becomes mad that it is the only newspaper that's calling him a murderer in connection with the death of Osborn. At the Bugle, Joe Robertson questions Jameson about his editorials, believing that Spider-man should be allowed due process before being demonised by public opinion. Their heated debate is interrupted by the arrival of Jonah's son John who has recently returned from a NASA mission to the moon. The decorated astronaut has come to visit his father with his fiancé Kristine Saunders. Jonah is pleased that his son is looking to settle down, but notices when John begins to act a little strange. John passes it off as the strain from his job. Jonah jokes that once they married Kristine needs to take care of him more. A necklace John is wearing starts to glow slightly. 

Meanwhile, Peter Parker attends class for the first time since Gwen's death, but the sorrowful looks from his classmates towards him don't help his concentration, the moments grow and become more tense until it becomes to much and he storms out of the class. Mary Jane and Flash try to talk sense into him, even though their intensions are meant well Peter still snaps at them both before rushing away. Elsewhere in the city, John Jameson suddenly feels convulsions in his chest, he says it's happening again, but his special outfit was supposed to prevent it. His muscles bulge, his shoulders writhe with the agony of an inner reshaping and his features transform into a werewolf beast. The creature stalks its way following an inner need to the Daily Bugle where it attacks J. Jonah Jameson. Minutes before the Man-Wolf's attack Peter sees yet another front-page editorial in the most recent edition of the Bugle, demonising Spider-man for his involvement in the death of Norman Osborn. Fed up and reaching a point his anger cannot be contained Spidey decides enough is enough and he goes to put Jameson right once and for all. Swinging over to the Bugle he arrives at the precise moment that the Man-Wolf broke into Jameson's office. Instead of taking out his anger his arch-nemesis, he finds himself coming to his rescue. However, during the fight, Spider-man is slashed by the Man-Wolf and briefly passes out. Jameson calls the police, but as the Man-Wolf stops him Jameson notices the creature is wearing a necklace just like his son wore earlier and realises their connection. The Man-Wolf suddenly bolts away as Spider-man  comes to. Spider-man tells Jameson that he's going after the monster, but the publisher warns him if he goes after the Man-Wolf, he will report that it was Spider-man who attacked him that night. The Web-slinger understands and leaves. Hours pass as the Man-Wolf hunts through the night, although he knows not who his prey is to be, until he crosses Spider-man's scent and the web-slinger dwells on the nights events that went from anguish to anger that he hoped he'd get out of his system, when he's suddenly attacked by the Man-Wolf who pounces at him from behind. The chill-packed conclusion comes next week with "Wolfpack"!

The Mighty Thor “Trapped in Doomsland”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #183

Cover date December 1970

(Published in October 1970)

In Latveria a missile targets Thor, who has gone to Doctor Doom's country to rescue Professor Pierre LaFarge who had been imprisoned by the dictator to design him a new missile silos. If the Thunder God dodges the missile a village full of innocent people would die. Thor's solution is to use his hammer to create a vortex then throw his hammer upwards into the sky, causing it to suck the missile out of harms way. However, without his hammer, Thor slams into the ground as the missile explodes harmlessly. The hammer doesn't return so when the 60 second limit elapses he changes back into Donald Blake. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom has tracked the hammer's location, but finds he is unable to lift it. Frustrated Doom encases it in a force field. 

Doom turning his attentions on the missing Donald Blake unleashes a silent stalker robot to hunt him down. In far off Asgard, Odin, Sif and Balder watch Thor's progress. The All-Father is confident that his son will be able to overcome this challenge and find a way to defeat Doctor Doom, however Sif cannot help but fear for the worst. Back in Latveria, Donald Blake has found the lab of Professor LaFarge, however when he offers to free him he finds the Professor too paranoid to allow him as he believes that Blake is an agent of Doom sent to test his loyalty. With the situation hopeless, Blake leaves to go looking for his hammer. Blake finds it beneath the force field. Finding some tools he begins digging a hole, but abandons it and hides when he hears foot steps. Doom's soldiers find Blake's jacket in the hole they assume that he is inside it digging his way to the hammer. They fire their ray blasters into the hole only to depart when they are satisfied that Blake is dead. Blake comes out of his hiding spot to find that the soldiers have made the hole bigger, saving lots of man hours. With the final selection left to dig Blake breaks through and retrieves  his hammer, transforming back into the Thunder God. From Asgard Odin praises his son for proving himself worthy. Ready to right the wrongs and avenge the evil done Thor smashes his way into Doom's castle.

The Web and the Hammer

Steve Wills from Herts has been reading Marvel mags in their various forms for about 13 years. He's often asked himself the question "why is Marvel so much better than your rivals?" The answer is not in the artwork or the writing, but in the basic attitude at Marvel, the important ingredient being "reality". Obviously, Marvel stories in no way mirror the real world, but they set out to entertain, but they also have the deeper aim of illustrating the human condition, their situations may not be "real", but their characters, their reaction to the circumstances are. There are loads of examples of how and why in Steve's letter. Richard Field from London has started collecting SMCW and wonders if there are any readers who have any doubles that they don't want. Neil Fisher from St. Helens pens a letter praising the new look Super Spider-man, pointing out that full-length Spider-man stories are the best thing they've done. And also he finds Thor, Iron Man, Thing and Dr. Strange extremely enjoyable to read. Neil's letter goes into a lot of constructively-critical detail and the editor points out that Neil regularly sends letters in, but readers of this blog and the letter page in Dracula Lives #71 might remember that Neil had been accused of copying his letters from other sources. He has been asked by the editor to reply to that allegation. Either he chose not to or that letter got mislaid. I notice that, like all this week's letter writers, his full address was given. I wonder did he get any mail from other readers who brought up that issue? Peter Farman from Maidenhead bought the Superman/Spiderman Team-up. He thought Ross Andru's art was brilliant. One thing, though he wonders though, why was Ross chosen to draw the mag and not someone who works for both companies, like Jack Kirby? A strange choice from Peter as he says he detest Kirby's work. Personally I don't think Kirby is good at drawing Spider-man. Ross Andru does nail it.

It's werewolf week in Super Spider-man, with Man-Wolf fighting the Web-slinger in his strips while Werewolf by Night faces off against the amazing Spider-man in this week's centre-spread. Mike Nasser (also known as Michael Netzer,) drew this pin-up centre-spread. The original artwork can be viewed on Comic Art Fans website.

Doctor Strange “Beware Umar!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Doctor Strange Vol 2 #9

Cover date August 1975

(Published in May 1975)

This landscape second part splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Doctor Strange and Clea must face the hell-spawned sorceress called Umar. Part of the Doctor's gamble is to face Umar while Clea swiftly slips away unseen to the Heart of the Earth.

Clea frees the Spirit of the Earth then returns to aid her lover in facing Umar by joining Strange in a

"mind-link." Together with practiced ease she returns his strength, yet keeps it too. The lesser mind of the junkie, Dormammu's disciple who Umar injected with a fatal dose of heroin. Before his life passed away he calls out to his mother. The Earth Spirit answers telling him that she cannot as she is "shepherdess", not "saviour." But she can guide him to find peace. Meanwhile Strange and Clea's "mind-link" holds as Umar tells them that it will fail. Suddenly the evil sorceress wrenches in pain and begins to shrivel. Dormammu's strength returns with his stature. Suddenly the Earth Spirit joins with Strange and Clea to banish Dormammu who had brutally violated her. The bond with all of mother nature across the Earth strengthens their resolve as abruptly across the Arizona desert thunderclouds break as lightning spears the Dread one again and again. Soon the world knows peace. Mother Nature tells Stephen and Clea, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Twas ever thus." All of her children were gallant today, every one." Where the junkie fell a flower grows. Orini appears and is allowed to take Umar back to the Dark Dimension, bidding his daughter Clea goodbye. As Strange and Clea disappear the desert sun shines brightly and all is calm once more, except for a fitful feeling in many minds that something special happened today. The final three panels focus on a comic that features this story's events in a meta way. In the original US comic it was obviously Doctor Strange issue 9. 

The nine panels have been "stretched" to cover two-thirds of the landscape page. The final third features this week's MWOM cover in an in-house advert. The only difference is that the top banner line reads "Inside: More on the origin of Cyclops!" with no mention of the Spider-man Web Spinner as the printed version did.

Iron Man “Brain wave panic!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #13

Cover date May 1969

(Published in February 1969)

This landscape second part splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. The Controller has just defeated Iron Man and dumped him in the river, soon enough he will have unlimited mental resources to draw from his limitless slaves as he plans to harvest more brain-slaves from the population of New York.

Basil Sandhurst grew up as an ill child, than as an adult become a scientist who worked for Drexel Cord until an accident at Cord's factory paralysed him. With the help of his brother, Vincent, they worked on a suit of armour that harnessed the power of the mind from unwilling victims to enabled him to move once again. Iron Man survived his battle and the fall after it to stop the fiends insane plan of halting a train to enslave the crew and passengers. SHIELD had been alerted to the heist by its ESP Unit. Nick Fury had sent Jasper Sitwell to investigate, but was he too late as the Controller has his mindless slave load his absorbatron on to the train for New York City, Iron Man locates Sitwell and informs Nick Fury that an ESP Unit's mental attack is the only way to defeat the Controller and save New York with the minimal of new victims. As the train isn't in ESP range yet, so Iron Man blasts a mountainside causing a landslide that blocks it. The Controller has no option but to clears the track by hand, To be continued next week.

The Thing and the Golem..together! “End of a legend!”

Writer: Bill Mantlo

Artist: Bob Brown

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #11

Cover date September 1975

(Published in June 1975)

An unnamed artist created this landscape splash page for this week's second part opening featuring two rock legends the Jewish myth of the Golem and the Fantastic Four superstar Ben Grimm, known as the Thing.

Previously at the San Pedro University, in St. Petersburg Florida, brother and sister Jason and Rebecca Adamson discusses with Professor Yeates how they had witness the Golem statue, that was discovered by their uncle, archeologist Abraham Adamson, had come to life to save them. While deep in conversation they are spied upon by the Golem's long time enemy Kaballa, who sees an opportunity to take control of the clay statue and sends it on a rampage through St. Petersberg, where it grabbed the attention of the Thing who cut short his holiday in Disneyland with Alicia Masters to see if he could stop its rampage. The Thing's intervention brings the arrival of Kaballa's demons who attack Ben. During the battle Jason, Rebecca, and Wayne also arrive on the scene to help and suddenly the Golem stops dead in his tracks, this causes Kaballa to appear in person. When the sorcerer attacks Rebecca and the Thing the Golem moves to stop Kaballa, forcing him to flee. With the threat over, the Golem returns to its inert state, leaving all present to ponder over the days events. Next week another team-up, but the end box seems to not know who it'll be with. Find out in seven days who it is. 

The inside back page features this Batman Corgi toy advert. In the past I found the Corgi adverts to be a little bland when compared to the Dinky Toys adverts, But this one is dynamic as Batman tells his crime fighting partner "Holy Batmobiles Robin, you can't get closer than a Corgi!" May be the copywriter didn't realise that it tends to be Robin in the TV series who says "Holy........Batman!" but the toy do look realistic at least in this comic strip style promotion. The Batmobile features a working rocket launcher and retractable chain slasher, the Batcopter has bat blades and a working rescue winch, while the Batboat comes with it own trailer that hooks on to the Batmobile. I had this set as a kid, even though I wasn't a DC fan I did watch the regular repeats of the Batman TV series and loved playing for hours with this set. I wish I still had it these days.

Avengers Weekly #142

David Wenzel pencilled this cover that was especially commissioned for this British weekly. Al Milgrom applied the inks. Instead of a top banner telling readers that there are details for a Spider-man web-spinner, the web-slinger himself appears here in person in a box telling them. The original artwork was sold on Heritage Auctions on the 2rd April 2023 for $4,080, which is about £3,039. One weird point is the test on the left that reads "And now: the Star Sentry!" I could be wrong but I don't recall the Sentry ever being called "the Star Sentry".  

Conan the Barbarian “Tower of Blood”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Ernie Chan

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #43

Cover date October 1974

(Published in July 1974)

This week's Conan adventure has been freely adapted from the short story "Tower of Blood" originally by David A English. The sword-and-sorcery novelette was originally published in the volume one issue five of the Witchcraft & Sorcery magazine, dated January-February 1971, published by the Fantasy Publishing Company Incorporated. There's quite a jump in continuity as this story marks the return of Red Sonja, who hadn't been seen since Avengers weekly #105, here she is wearing her standard chainmail bra and knickers combo that she is better known for.

Conan and Red Sonja are being chased by bounty hunters after leaving the city of Arenjun with a suspicion of murder hanging over their heads. Their chasers are lead by Mamnon who orders his archer, Laxil to bring down Sonja's steed, with great skill and a single arrow he topples Sonja's mount. Barely stopping Conan scoops her up, much to her displeasure. As they make their way into a rocky, mountainous pass Conan relates that back in Hyrkania Sonja was marked to become the King's Concubine, explaining her scantly clad outfit. But her dislike at the thought of becoming the King's mistress had forced her to jab him with  knife, which lead her to have a price on her head. Once the steep climb gives way to loose shingle they are forced to abandon their horse and head for a cavern in the cliffs. Conan takes advantage of their position by toppling a boulder onto the pursuing bounty hunters, killing them all save their leader, Mamnon, who turns and flees. The two wander continue into the gigantic, red-misted cavern, once inside they are attacked by a humanoid bat creature. Spying a tower at the centre of the fog they head to its safety but are mystically attacked and rendered unconscious by a thickening fog. Conan awakes first, to face a sleek tall woman who calls herself Uathacht. She cares not that Sonja is still unconscious as she tells Conan that his female companion will remain a feast for the Afterlings. Uathacht has no time to say more as her brother Morophla arrives. The mystery deepens, but next week we might find out more about "the Afterlings!"

This Marvel Masterwork Pin-up features the artwork of John Buscema that was inked by Ernie Chan and what a splendid piece of art it is! It originally appeared as the opening splash page from Conan story "The Blood of Bel-Hissar!" that first appeared in Conan the Barbarian issue 27, cover dated June 1973, published March 1973. British readers may well remember it from the Avengers weekly #110. Here the story title, text and credits have been removed. The addition of Conan's name at the bottem seems like an afterthought. The original artwork was last sold by Heritage Auctions on the 10th July 2020 for an incredible $31,200, which when rounded up is an impressive £23,193. Legend has it, that page was the first Conan page John Buscema ever drew! But it wasn't the first to see print, as two stories he would draw later were put out first in Conan the Barbarian issues 25 and 26. Roy Thomas wrote in 2004 that the stories were printed in that order "for reasons long forgotten" but he noted, "I do recall being bowled over by that gorgeous splash, with Conan's rearing horse." Which I think we can all agree with.

The Avengers “Judgment Day”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in The Avengers #90

Cover date July 1971

(Published in May 1971)

This week's tale holds the fate of two worlds as Ronan the Accuser has dispatched the Kree Intergalactic Sentry number 459, that had been abandoned on Earth and was last seen in POTA #46, to kill the weakened Captain Marvel. using its Kree developed senses it had tracked Mar-Vell to Cape Kennedy hospital, where he had been receiving medical attention after Negative Zone radiation had to be drained from him. The Avengers, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Vision battle the Sentry, who despite their fighting prowess the Sentry easily resists the three Avengers’ best efforts to fend it off.

During the battle, the Sentry's orders have been countermanded. He is instead ordered to capture Mar-Vell and initiate plan Atavus. The alien android teleports away with the barely conscious Mar-Vell is prisoner, who pleads that the plan Atavus not be set into motion. The Avengers recover and are about to leave to search for Mar-Vell but are stopped by Carol Danvers, the Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Centre head of security, who demands that the Avengers make a report on events. After the debrief the assemblers head off to return to their mansion to plan how to find Mar-Vell. Along the way, Rick Jones explains the history of the Kree Sentry, with information gained with his connection with the Kree Captain. The Sentry was brought to Earth by early Kree explorers where it remained inert until it was accidentally awakened by the Fantastic Four, as seen in MWOM #139. Of late the Kree's interest in Earth has grown. Rick also explains the story of Mar-Vell's arrival on Earth and his subsequent bonding with the hero. As seen in POTA #42 and The Titans #13. When the three Avengers and Rick return to the Avengers Mansion, they find a message from Goliath, who had answered a distress call from the Wasp and had set off to help her, he requests that they join him as soon as they can. The scene shifts to Alaska, where Goliath arrives to find a distressed Wasp. She explains that she and her husband, Hank Pym, were exploring the Arctic Circle as part of a government mission to study the effect oil drilling might have on Alaska's wildlife when their ship lost contact with an outpost. Hank and Jan changed into their super-hero outfits and investigated, a few miles north they discovered... Find out what in next week's "The impossible!"

Avengers Mailbag

Mario Iciek QNS from Stoke-on-Trent writes that Marvel mags have progressed from being commercially well-produced but falling short on depth and meaning, to the present-day mags which have a message and a meaning to portray. But as in all forms of entertainment, such as music and art, once people have to think about it they immediately reject it. Mario completely supports Marvel's present position of forsaking commercialism for quality. Ian Richardson RFO, KOF from Sunderland complains that a lot of letter writers disagree with Conan appearing in the mag and should be dropped. Those writers should realise that Conan is a produce of its time when Robert E Howard created heroes larger than life like Conan, Kull, El Borak, Brule the Spear Slayer, Sailor Steve Costigan, Bran Mak Morn, Turlogh Dubh, Breckenridge Elkins and Solomon Kane. All these heroes are large men. Even his two girl heroes, Belit and Red Sonja, are big and beautiful. His solution would be put Conan back in his own magazine. Jeremy Peter from London has been an ardent sorcery fan for years and when Marvel brought out Doctor Strange he was amazed at how good some of the stories were. He has come to the conclusion that Marvel must have some sort of occult adviser.

Craig McAughtrie from Glasgow has been reading Marvel for five years and is the owner of the entire British range since the very beginning in October 72. He sees it as the saviour for the British comic scene. A haven of fantasy, a sanctuary from the nightmare of the outside and from threatening society. Ian Horsley from Leeds comments on MJ McKenzie's letter from Avengers weekly #129 which was a pretty good letter apart from the bit about deteriorating art. Ian agreed in some cases with MJ  like teaming-up artists or having one artist draw a hero which another artist draws. So he asks for one artist to stick to one hero and keep it that way. Ian wants to thank Dave Whitehead for his great info-packed letter in MWOM #179, which put my mind at rest about quite a few subjects. Edward Tenniswood from Northampton writes to enquire about the Tops Chewing Gum "Comic Book Heroes" which you stated in Avengers weekly #124, would be coming into the UK if a success in Scotland. If not, would it be possible to buy them from you or the company. Sadly they wouldn't be available in England.

Master of Kung Fu “Death-hand and the sun of Mordillo”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Paul Gulacy

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #35

Cover date December 1975

(Published in September 1975)

In a theatre of death on an East China island we find the mad man called Mordillo threatening Shang-Chi and Clive Reston, who are trapped in their seats when they came to the island to rescue Leiko, another British agent, who at this time has also been trapped by Mordillo in a giant hourglass. She will suffocate unless she reveals the final secret of the Solar Chute. Mordillo is furious that Shang-Chi had cost him a million as he was hired to assassinate Carlton Velcro, but before he could do so, Velcro apparently died in a conflict against the china-man and several agents of MI-6. 

Mordillo toys with his captures hoping they will crack. Reston tells him he has been a fool, the information about Project: Ultra-violet have been locked in Leiko's mind and only Norris Putan knew how to unlock her memory and Mordillo himself had killed him, as told in Avengers weekly #138. Suddenly one of Mordillo's robots appears and fires at his master. Mordillo panics and flees in terror as his creation goes berserk. Shang-Chi frees himself while Mordillo returns realising that he can’t leave until Leiko reveals the secret, he fires and destroys the robot, before fleeing from the now free Shang-Chi. Shang-Chi turns his attention towards freeing Leiko, with an iron bar he smashes the hourglass. The robot that attacked Mordillo turns out to be Black Jack Tar. Leiko explains that even though her mind holds the hidden key to operate the Solar-chute correctly, the device is still a deadly weapon in the wrong hands. She suggests that the Solar-Chute is destroyed to stop Maordillo from using it. Mordillo instructs Brynocki to prepare the tube-express for immediate transport to the Doom Dome while he in the meantime visits the "fair lady of the tower." The "fair lady" turns out to be Pavane  Carlton Velcro's bodyguard, last seen in Avengers weekly #102. Mordillo asks her to kill Leiko, which she quickly agrees to do so possibly because of jealousy as Leiko had been Mordillo's lover when he masqueraded as the MI-6 agent Bretnor. Mordillo heads to the Solar-chute while he orders his men to assist Pavane. The adventure concludes next week.

Dracula Lives #85

Dan Adkins pencilled and inked this Dracula with the Son of Satan cover. 

Dracula “Nightmares of a living deadman”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #40

Cover date January 1976

(Published in October 1975)

His bones are too tired too wracked to rise against Juno's attack as the giant's silver stake pierces the Lord of the undead's heart. Blackness floods across his brow and black blood oozes paste-like from the open rip in his chest. Dracula's flesh decays, turning to ash leaving his scream dry on the air. Juno finishes the destruction of the Prince of darkness by incinerating his unholy remains. It ends with cold blackness and Aurora Rabinowitz scream. The young girl awakes from the nightmare, her cry brings Harold H Harold, Frank Drake and Rachel van Helsing running to her bedside. 

The vampire hunters quickly establish that Aurora was only having a nightmare about Dracula. Rachel sends the men away as she has a talk with the girl about Dracula's influence over women. Rachel recalls how on her 16th birthday Dracula attempted to seduce her, but she was narrowly saved by Quincy Harker. However, after explaining that her willingness to give into Dracula back then was due to his hypnotic power. Aurora argues that Dracula never hypnotised her and that her feelings are genuine. With the coming of the morning, Harker and his vampire hunters are called to the military base where General Coder tells them that despite his reservations about engaging in military action in Boston, he has been ordered to deploy troops to stop Doctor Sun. Unknown to all,  Sun has used his own influences within the military to push this action through in a plot to use his newly acquired hypnotic powers. When they approach Sun's hideout, Doctor Sun unleashes an audio signal that places all the soldiers under his control, yet Quincy, Frank, Rachel, Harold and Aurora are unaffected. The danger continues next week.

Bullpen Bulletin

Batty Bulletins to bewilder, bewitch and bedazzle you!

This week's Bullpen Bulletin only appears in this week's Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes, with the Avengers gazing at the Items on offer in this version. First Item warns you that the Skrulls have landed on Earth, but not to conquer, they come to enslave the ever-lovin', blue-eyed Thing! Find out more in this week's The Titans. Speaking of The Titans the next Item hints at news about both The Titans and Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes, they can't say any more as they're working on the details. The third Item tells readers about the nifty Spider-man web-spinners. They have been trying them out in the Bullpen office all week. I'll review the final three Items in the Planet of the Apes Bullpen Bulletin page.

Son of Satan “The Son of Satan!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #12

Cover date October 1973

(Published in July 1973)

This story follows on from last week's Ghost Rider adventure, but a new art team takes over the art chores. Its a massive move from Tom Sutton and Sid Shores, you won't thinks that Herb Trimpe would be suited to a horror comic, but strangely enough I think it does work in a different way as he works harder on the characters tortured looks. 

Daimon Hellstrom has pleaded that he be released from Linda Littletrees room in a tiny shack on an Indian reservation in Copperhead Canyon, Arizona, even though he had told Linda's father and fiancé to not free him from his self imposed imprisonment till morning. Sam Silvercloud and Snake Dance give in to his cries and are surprised to find Daimon in different clothes, that of his Son of Satan identity. He tells them that during the daylight hours he is the religious weakling Daimon Hellstrom, sworn enemy of his father, while by night he takes up his true heritage and becomes his father's son. At first Silvercloud and Snake Dance do not give up the information on Linda's whereabouts, but soon they give in. The Son of Satan summoning his chariot drawn by two demonic steeds and leaves to seek out Witch Woman and Ghost Rider. He track down the Witch Woman and the Ghost Rider's last known appearance in a remote area of the Arizona desert where he fins Roxanne Simpson, who is being menaced by Big Daddy Dawson and the Ruthless Riders. The bikers attack the Son of Satan but he dispatches them with ease until Dawson pulls a gun on him. The terror continues next week. 

A Marvel Masterwork Pin-up featuring Dracula Prince of darkness and the vampire slayer called Blade. I've no idea who the artist is who drew this pin-up. If anyone has an idea let me know.

Cryptic Correspondence

Peter Vickers from Kent thinks that Dracula Lives is by far the best of the magnificent marvellous mags. The Dracula stories are great and Gene Colan's art is fantastic. Werewolf is very good and as for the latest strip, the Man-Thing, made a great start and he hopes it stays that way. Gary Bell QNS, KOF, RFO from Belfast believes that Dracula loved Sheila Whittier, but it was a romance hard to spot. Gary feels it was one of the most advanced romances of Marvel history. This overcame Dracula's evil side. He intended to kill, but when he faced her he could not. Sheila Whittier took a lot from everyone, but in the end it was her decision that counted. The feeling between Sheila and Dracula was doomed from the start. Woman who loves Dracula, an unsound formula. JM from Gloucestershire wants to congratulate Doug Moench, Don Perlin and Howie Perlin, Ray Holloway, Mark Esposito and Len Wein, for their work Werewolf By Night. Igor the Suggestive suggests that the worst thing about being a British Marvelite is that there's no way for us to advise Marvel on the various strips. People like Roy Thomas, Tony Isabella and all were keen Marvelites, who in sixties, wrote letter after letter, advising Stan what to do. However the strips have already been created so any suggestion would be too late. 

K T Hopgood from Leighton Buzzard, who is "The" Kevin Hopgood who became a top artist for Marvel and 2000AD, wrote in 1976 to add his views to those of Paul Etchell and Rod Campbell, concerning the nature of the Mighty Marvel universe. The way Kevin interprets it, they are both muddled. For the record Kevin see that by far the most onmiscient are the entities know as Genesis, Eternity and Satanish. They are above mere ideals of good and evil. and thus they are supreme. If these three ceased to exist, the entire Multiverse would disappear. Below these are the gods, the forces of Order and Chaos, balanced against each other to ensure the stability of Infinity. On the one side are the gods of Olympus and Asgard. These are necessary as a type of cosmic policemen. to keep check of menaces who would aspire to god-hood,such as Galactus and Man-Gog. At the other end of the scale one has the evil gods, such as Shumma-Gorrath, Dormmamu, Mephisto and Nightmare. Loki and Pluto cannot really be counted as evil gods, they are merely renegade gods of Order. The Watcher and Galactus, although comparable, cannot be regarded as gods, Paul Mousley from Derby gives reviews of Dracula Lives, the Avengers weekly, Planet of the Apes, The Titans and Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. He doesn't critique the Mighty World of Marvel, for some reason. But he does mention that the Spider-man cartoon series has just come to ITV. He thinks it is the best thing to hit telly since Planet of the Apes.

Man-Thing “Day of the killer, night of the fool!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Jack Abel 

Originally published in Man-Thing #3

Cover date March 1974

(Published in December 1973)

After last week's disastrous attempt to destroy the Man_Thing a wrecking crew starts to dismantle the shack that was designed by Professor Hargood Wickham, also known as Professor Slaughter. From the coolness of the swamp Man-Thing watches on with memories somewhere in the depths of his mind of how the Slaughter Room device cause him so much pain. The creature moves closer to the shack, attracting the attention of the Construction workers. Thinking that he means them harm they attack him with sledgehammers and axes. Their tools swipe through the monster's slime body, but the creature ignores them and lees towards Wickham and Schist.

The Man-Thing pushes them to one side and shows the wrecking crew how to bring the shack down, by ripping the building asunder. Metal buckles under his fists, sheet by sheet, shard by shard the once lethal structure is flung into the water as the men flee. Meanwhile Ruth Hart and Richard Rory say their goodbyes to the Skull Crusher bike gang whose ex-leader, Snake, had accused Ruth of stealing their money. The truth came out that it was Snake in fact who had stolen it. The Skull-Crushers thanked Richard and Ruth for their help before leaving the newly formed couple. On the road, the biker gang comes across the Foolkiller, a strangely costumed dandy, who offers the gang a chance for salvation with a burst of purification from his gun. Powered in his insane mind by the energy of the just and the righteous. He determines that the entire gang are fools and kills them all with his laser pistol. Morton Small, known as "French" survives long enough for the Foolkilller to ask where is the fool called Richard Rory? As he doesn't answer he kills him. He then asks the other rider, Ernest Logan, known as Darby the same question. When he fails to answer he too is shot. It pleases the Foolkiller that two more "fools" have gone from the face of the Earth. The lunatic's mission continues next week.

Frosties presents your roaring reporter Tony in "The Great Milk Race!" Breakfast before the start of the race, with 130 miles to go and the racers need their energy levels boosted, so they enjoy their Frosties. The group sets off and Tony is at the back with his Frosties. Ten miles later he's telling everyone that it's all that crunchy corn and toasted sugar coating that  makes Frosties so....GR-EAAT!! Not looking where he's going he takes a short cut through a farmer's field where an angry bull head butts Tony's bike out of the field and into the lead, crossing the finishing line as the winner. 'Cos they make a real Tiger-rr of you, they're GR-EAAT! These advertisements are so of their time but I kind of love them as much as I love Kellogg's Frosties, they really are GR-EAAT! And if Kelloggs want to sponsor the Power of the Beesting blog they can, just send me a crate full of Frosties.

Planet of the Apes #85

Ron Wilson pencilled this cover, Oh look a gorilla looking back at the reader, who would have thought. Duffy Vohland applies the inks this cover.

Planet of the Apes “Beast on the Planet of the Apes!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Dan Adkins

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

Cover date June 1976

(Published in April 1976)

This story continues from the "Kingdom on an Island of the Apes" that ended in the Planet of the Apes #34. This strip had only just seen print in the Marvel/Curtis Magazine Planet of the Apes on the 5th April 1976, so no doubt readers in the UK would have read it in the British Marvel weekly before the American version went for sale in Britain. Eccentric young scientist Derek Zane had built a Time Machine that had transported him into the future. A future where Apes could speak and in some areas of the world rule. Derek had travelled to an island and meet humans and apes who would be right at home in Arthurian legends. 

It was the autumn when Derek had left Camelot, he recalls his meeting Sir Gawain and the court of King Arthur. A medieval court where humans and apes lived in peace. The beautiful princess named Lady Andréa who later admitted to him that the whole medieval act was mere affectation on their parts. Long ago, she said, her people left behind the hate-filled society of the mainland to build a civilisation of honour and peace based on ancient writings. Newly-knighted 'Sir Derek' became a part of Avalon's culture and fell in love with Andréa. After he defeated his enemies the happy with Andréa in Camelot, failed to fulfil Derek heart. He couldn't shake his guilt over abandoning his search for Taylor, the astronaut he had originally piloted his Time Machine to find. He bid farewell to the woman he loved and set off to continue his quest, returning to the raft that had carried him to the island. There he met a chimp named Robin Hood, who challenged him for ownership of the raft. Derek told him he had built it but the chimpanzee challenged him to combat using staffs. During the fight both man and ape ended up falling into the sea, laughing at each other they soon became friends. Robin agreed to help him, when they got to the main land they stole a horse and Derek agreed to become Robin's slave to blend in with the ape lead culture. The knight to slave story mimicked his journey in the past. The saga continues next week.

Apes Forum

Rajko Smiljanic RFO, KOF, FOOMer from Birmingham writes that the POTA film adaptations are excellent and that there should be more pages given to the strip. Paul Donnachie QNS from Ross-shire questions what happens when you take one of Marvel's best writers, team him with the most brilliant artist of all, feature the result in a great mag, and what have you got? The answer is "City of Nomads", which he considers to be Marvel's greatest story. Philip Bryce from West Yorkshire letter also appeared in full in last week's Apes Forum. But in case you missed it he thinks that the Savage Tales Ka-Zar stories should be printed and the Black Panther stories are terrible. Philip sees the Panther is a bit too philosophical in his opinion. Mike Griggs PMM, FFF from Canterbury points out that the long-awaited continuation of "Terror On The Planet of The Apes" is warmly welcomed. The first part appeared just over a year ago, but Mike was not very impressed by the previous epics, which, tho drawn by Mike Ploog, parried a variety of delineators-which wasn't helped any by some of the most dreadful reproduction ever. Which put POTA at the bottom of his favourite comics list. However, Ploog's seductive style and charcoaled embellishment of "Malaguena Beyond a Zone Forbidden" rates, in his view, as some of the most beautiful art ever to grace the pages of a British or American comic. The lack of colour, both here and on the original, enhances so much as to prove beyond doubt that black and white is beautiful.

Ka-Zar “Waters of darkness, river of doom!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Ka-Zar Vol 2 #6

Cover date November 1974

(Published in August 1974)

A superior creative team starts this week. The detail on the art is a job to read. It's twilight in the Savage Land, framed against the purple sky of the evening Ka-Zar, Lord of the hidden jungle dives off an outcrop of rocks, into the cool waters of a pool. Catching fish with wild abandonment, much to the annoyance of the water-hating sabre-toothed tiger, Zabu. The wild cat hears cries of terror in the jungle and goes to investigate. In a nearby clearing he stops to see a young man being attacked by a hungry pair of pterodactyls.

The sabre-toothed tiger instincts cut in and he helps the boy. Zabu growls alerts Ka-Zar who helps with the rescue. After Za-Zar and Zabu kill the dinosaurs they find out the boys name is Kem Horkus. He was part of a hunting party led by his brother, Bar Horkus, who had has spent the last 20 years of his life pursuing a Tylosaurus they call "The Behemoth" that took his eye and arm in their first encounter. Bar's mad obsession has been gradually wearing on his men. Ka-Zar agrees to help his quest for Kem's sake. Bar Horkus's men had become suspicious of outsiders and Ka-Zar's arrival at the camp was greeted with violence, though the Lord of the Hidden Jungle wasn't going to let anyone stand in his way. "The hunt and the horror!" continues next week.

Bullpen Bulletin

There's no images on this version of the Bullpen Bulletin, apart from the Spider-man web-spinner. The fourth Item warns readers not to miss this week's Avengers weekly and the Avengers. This issue's got it all! The star-spawned Kree's Sentry Sinister, plus the long-awaited return of Yellow Jacket and the winsome Wasp, all of which leads to  Judgement Day! The fifth Item looks at the the Avenger, the God of Thunder Thor himself, who is locked in battle against the powers of Doctor Doom in this week's Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes issue 173. Stan Lee and John Buscema craft this terrific tale that's topped off by an unexpected ending. The final Item drops a quick note that they are working overtime in the next few weeks to be sure that this will be the swingin'-est Summer you ever spent. They've got more tricks and surprises up their sleeves than a magician's convention, so stay with Marvel this Summer as they won't let the readers down! One last thing about, here's the Pablo Marcos artwork that promotes Dracula Lives weekly that I mentioned in this week's opening piece.

Captain Marvel “A clash of titans!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin (plot)

Artist: Jim Starlin

Inker: Dan Green

Originally published in Captain Marvel #28

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

This second part opening splash was drawn by Jeff Aclin and inked by Bob Layton. It was sold by Heritage Auctions on the 24th February 2017 for $1,015.75, which is about £755. All text on the original artwork was paste-up ready for printing. On the reverse side of the art board there is a cute inked drawing of a duck, that seems to be inker Bob Layton's way of saying "Hi" to Marie Severin. Jeff Aclin signed his name in the top margin outside of the printed image. Thanos duels with Drax the Destroyer through his "Time-Mind Sync Warp".

Jim Starlin is a fantastic artist, take a look at the details on this page. There are thirty-five panels on this page that tells a story with just four words of text. It's symbolic and psychedelic, a page that Salvador Dalí would be pleased to have drawn. Drax eventually frees himself, but the effort renders him unconscious, leaving Thanos to take his prize: The Cosmic Cube!

At the Avengers Mansion, Captain Marvel is attacked by the Controller, who tries to attach a mind control device on the back off his neck. The device doesn't work as it was not designed to control two minds, Mar-Vell and Rick Jones. The Controller has had his powers greatly enhanced by Thanos and defeats Mar-Vell by pulling down a wall of equipment down on the Captain. The Controller takes Lou Ann away as under the rubble Rick Jones is pinned down. He wonders what had happened, why had Captain Marvel transformed back into him and why did the Nega-Bands no longer work to summon his alter-ego. He does not understand where Captain Marvel has gone. 

In a prologue that starts like an episode of classic Star Trek the text reads,"Space: Final frontier to some, well-trod desolation to others... Space: that which the mind perceives as in-between...But what does one name a state of no "here"...no "there"...much less an "in-between"? A cosmic entity has summoned Captain Mar-Vell in full awareness of the threat of Thanos! In fact that is the reason for his removal from the battle. To combat a universal poison, a universal antidote is required. Captain Mar-Vell is the antidote, but in order to ready the antidote, Mar-Vell the soldier must die! Find out what he means in next week's "Chaos!"

“Which wish, dish...?”

Writer: 

Artist: Joy Scott Pike

Inker: Joy Scott Pike

Originally published in Mystic #36

Cover date March 1955

(Published in November 1954)

This story originally appeared in the horror styled comic from Atlas Comic called Mystic, but was later reprinted in Journey into Mystery volume 2 issue 15, cover dated February 1975, published November 1974. Mary is jealous of her friend Helen, who seems to have everything, the good looks, the expensive jewellery, the fancy clothes. Mary follows Helen and finds out that she helped save a blind man life who bestowed her with her greatest wish. Mary arranges that a taxi driver swerves towards the blind man so that she could save him. It works he offers Mary greatest wish, to be a beautiful, wealthy queen. However, she finds herself transported to the past, where she found herself in Queen's clothing, the most gorgeous palace in history. How ever she gets a shock when she discovers that she has become the French Queen, Marie Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI from 10 May 1774 until the abolition of the French monarchy in 1792 during the French Revolution, when she was executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793.

The Titans #33

This is a new cover based on Jack Kirby's cover from the Fantastic Four issue 90, but designed for a landscape format. It was drawn by Ron Wilson and inked by Frank Giacoia. On the back of the original artwork the initials RW and FG appear in "payment" box with the dates when the pencilling was completed, 8th March and completion of the inking 11th March 1976. The original artwork can be found here.

The Fantastic Four “The Skrull takes a slave!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #90

Cover date September 1969

(Published in June 1969)

This starting landscape splash page bears many similarities with Jack Kirby's original splash page. Some of the artwork could have been traced or cut and pasted as the line work looks the same. The Fantastic Four have been busy disarming all the traps left by the Mole Man they can find in their house. 

They then check in on the Mole Man who they have kept tied up while they have been making their final checks. The villain tries to wind up the Thing, but Reed tells him that they don't borrow the savage methods of those they battle. Sue thinks that he is being hurt by his ropes and asks Ben to untie him. Without his glasses that shade the harsh light he is effectively blinded, but with the knowledge of his house manages to break free and make an escape. The Thing soon leaves to go meet up with Alicia. Elsewhere in a forest near the outskirts of New York a strange space craft land and out steps a Skrull who disposes of a plastic mould that resembled Reed Richards' head. After hiding his craft he sets out and finds an old man who he impersonates to make his way to New York. Meanwhile at the Fantastic Four's new house Reed show Johnny, Crystal and Sue his new device that contacts Alicia who has been looking after Franklin. Their lovely "FaceTime" is interrupted when the house starts to shake. As the FF clear the building it is destroyed by the Mole Man. Meanwhile in New York City the Skull disguises himself as various people until he finds Ben, then he changes into Reed Richards. The Skrull tricks Ben into following him into the woods to stop an "alien invasion." The real Reed gets a call from Alicia who is worried, that Ben is late for their date. Deep in the woods, the Skrull reveals his ruse and fires a nerve gun at Ben, incapacitating him. The Skrull then loads Ben on the ship and leaves the Earth, headed for the Great Games. Next week's tale finds "Ben Grimm, slave!"

Titanic Transcripts

Stuart Cooper RFO, KOF from Kent writes that the Marvel/DC Superman-Spider-man was Faaaaar out! Although he had to wait three weeks for it, it was worth waiting for. He was surprised to read about the collaboration between Stan Lee and Carmine Infantino on early strips that an article in the book revealed. Colin Willey from Exeter thinks The Titans is the best comic British Marvel has out there and he's so glad that the Inhumans were swapped for the X-Men. He feels it was a necessary change as The Inhumans became very boring after a while. The artwork wasn't up to standard, either. Leonard Archer from Weybridge  has been reading Marvel's fab comics for years and has noted that there have been quite a few letters that have been written by people who are over 20 years of age, so there must be something about Marvel comics that mature readers like. 

Captain America “Into the jaws of...A.I.M.!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #93

Cover date September 1967

(Published in June 1967)

This is a fantastic opening splash page, it's Kirby at his best, imaginative and dramatic, as Captain America starts his next mission into danger in style. Cap has interfered in a covert SHIELD operation when he attempted to rescue Colonel Nick Fury. That had compromised the cover of the mysterious female agent who the living legend has grown feelings for. Now Agent-13's life was in peril as she had been working under cover, posing as a double agent when she infiltrated AIM to earn their trust. Captain America must now travel to a secret AIM submarine in the ocean in order to save Agent-13. 

Cap is quickly detected and captured when the AIM agents fire a cylinder at him that penetrates his waterproof diving suit, filling it with knock out gas. When he is revived he is held captive by a forcefield. AIM's leader the unseen master called MODOK orders his execution. Agent-13 manages to trick the AIM soldiers in to let her give him one last kiss before they executing him. She uses a device built into her overalls that reverses the magnetic filed that holds him, within seconds he's free. Fighting off the AIM soldiers, the two recover Captain America's shield, from one of AIM's lab where a group of AIM scientists are studying its composition. A.I.M.'s mysterious leader, MODOK, orders the two champions to be killed. During the fight, Captain America is struck from behind with a "paralyser ray". Agent-13 cannot allow leave Cap behind so she herself is captured. She tells them that SHIELD already knows about MODOK. The supreme leader demands that Agent-13 be brought to him immediately, while they prepare Captain America's immobilised body for execution! Who is their leader? Find out next week in "If this be MODOK!" 

Spidey is his name! Danger, his game! The Lizard attacks Spider-man in David Hunt's centre-spread pin-up. 

The Sub-Mariner “On a clear day you can see...the Leviathan!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema 

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Sub-Mariner Vol 2 #3

Cover date July 1968

(Published in April 1968)

It's some truly great artwork from John Buscema in this week's Sub-Mariner adventure that sees the Plant Man unleash his monster Leviathan, an animated coral reef, brought to life by Plant Man's Vega-Ray, on the shores of England. Triton and Namor have to work together as they are bound together by a band of sentient energy. But they manage to escape the villains sub-marine only to face the Leviathan as it rampages toward London . Can they destroy it and foil the Plant Man's scheme? Find out next week if they can in "To save the Queen!" 

Ghost Rider “Die, die, my daughter!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Frank Monte

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #7

Cover date December 1972

(Published in September 1972)

A shadow of a man raising a knife falls against a poster for Johnny Blaze, Daredevil cycle show. It's Curly Samuels who prepares to sacrifice the unconscious Roxanne to his master Satan! The demon stops him before he does, citing that in order to be reincarnated Curly will have to sacrifice Roxanne at a black mass performed in a  Satanic church. Curly obeys his command and leaves Madison Square Gardens with Roxanne in his arms, then hides her in an empty drum to pass the guard.

Meanwhile, the Ghost Rider lost in thought ponders how his life has changed for the craziness, is spotted by a police patrol and chased. He manages to escape them without any incident, and decides to lay low in a graveyard. Meanwhile Curley has arrived at a Satanic church, he turns Roxanne over to Satan's followers in preparation of the sacrifice to their master that must be made when the clock strikes midnight. The next morning Johnny wakes up and returns to Madison Square Gardens, where his manager, Bart Slade, tells him that Roxanne is missing. Slade promises Johnny that the police are doing everything possible to find her and he must continue with the show. After the performance Johnny learns that there is still no sign of Roxanne. Slade mentions that one of the guards saw a curly-haired man leaving the locker room late last night. Johnny realises it must have been Curly who took her. Johnny waits until night so that the Ghost Rider can seek out "they who serve Satan!"

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “Hydra lives!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and John Buscema

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Strange Tales #150

Cover date November 1966

(Published in August 1966)

Nick Fury tests out an experimental "Anti-Shock Seat" for SHIELD, amazingly it works, later he and DumDum test out new SHIELD armour. The pair take a few injuries in the process. Meanwhile a General is concerned that the ultimate weapon, the "Overkill Horn" may fall into the wrong hands. Senator Dudley calls a meeting with Colonel Fury to discuss the Overkill Horn. Find out what it is next week "when sounds the Overkill Horn!"

There blows the final whistle for this week, find out the answers to some of your questions about next week's comics in a week's time. So till then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.