Sinister goings on!

 Week Ending 14th April 1973

We have some great stories this week, although not as great as they once were and some not-so-great stories, which aren't as bad as I remembered. You decide which is which. What we have got is some incredible nostalgic Marvel classics. So let's not hang about and get straight on with it.

The Might World of Marvel #28

This weeks MWOM cover is a bit bland! It's by Dick Ayers (pencils) and Mike Esposito (inks), but I don't feel that they should be held fully responsible for the insipid cover, that must be blamed on the choice of subject material featured in this issue. The Hulk deflecting missiles with his nipples doesn't fill me with desire to pick up this copy. A Matador antagonising Daredevil cover wouldn't thrill me much either. However Namor the Sub-Mariner, while under the influence of the Puppet Master, confronting the Fantastic Four would definitely be more box office.  

The Incredible Hulk "Not all my power can save me!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Mike Esposito 

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #75

Cover date January 1966

(Published in October 1965)

I really enjoyed last weeks conclusion to the Hulk/the Leader/Watcher tale. I was half expecting Stan Lee to just leave the Leader dead on the floor and start this weeks story with a completely different location and situation, but no we follow right from where we left last week with the Hulk pondering what to do. Dare he try the Ultimate Machine on, to absorb knowledge of the universe and risk death like the Leader. It's an it's an Avengers Endgame infinity gauntlet moment.

Of course he tries it on, instantly feeling excruciating pain he quickly changes his mind. But while he did wear the "goldfish bowl" device he heard a message from Rick Jones For help! It's implied that the Watcher aloud that call for help to come through all the other chatter so that may be he would abandon the devise or move onto the next bit of the story. He's not very big on his vow of none- interference that Watcher. Once the Hulk has leapt off to rescue Rick Jones the Watcher recovers the Ultimate Machine, so that plot thread is tied up neatly. 

The Watcher must have hinted at Rick Jones's location as the Hulk heads off to Washington DC only to be confronted by General Ross's troops, who have decided to use the latest Bruce Banner designed weapon the T-Ray, so as any obstinate military man would do he uses the new weapon on the Hulk even without having testing it or knowing what it does. A little clue to the weapons capability is the letter "T". Once the ray hits the green goliath, he was transported through time to the distant far future. But still a future where even the name of the Hulk was legend, to be hounded by a future army with incredible weapons from Jack Kirby's imagination. With Kirby back in full control of the artwork this week I'm more happy with the strip, especially with the Hulk's look. 

If you remember from last weeks blog for MWOM issue 25 the back page footer headline advertised a football competition. Well you would've had to wait another week for that, to be fair it did say "How to enter our free football tickets contest next week!" so I suppose by telling you what the prizes are and how you'll have to wait another week does slightly fulfil that line. But if they miss it out again I'll be more angrier than the Hulk taking a penalty kick at Wembley and having the ball end up in row Z! 

Daredevil "The Mysterious, Masked Matador!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wallace Wood

Inker: Wallace Wood 

Originally published in Daredevil #5

Cover date November 1964

(Published in September 1964)

A new artist for Daredevil this week, veteran artist Wallace Wood was given a seven issue run on the Daredevil series. Wallace, sometimes known as Wally Wood a name he claimed to dislike, made the first move in establishing the costume many will know and love by changing the "D" emblem on Daredevils chest to the double "D" emblem. I do like Wood's artwork on this run, it's very pleasing to the eye, simple in many ways but in others it's very detailed, very dynamic and very interesting at the same time. An ideal Marvel artist. 

I particularly like the way he draws the supporting characters, he lays down the look of Matt Murdock and Karen Page for years to come, although his Foggy Nelson does become a little bit too good looking for my taste, but that will change in time. in future issues we'll see some classic designs, but more on them in later blogs, this week's villain the Matador is beautifully crafted, the detail is incredible, its just a crying shame that the character is lame. But even knowing that I don't like this villain I still find this story a nice read in a 60's way. Karen Page's Liz Taylor/Cleopatra look is particularly "groovy"!

More Mini-poster madness from Marvel with this side plate sized Hulk and supporting cast Mini-Poster. I couldn't place who the artist is or where it's taken from? Any ideas? There's a Power of the Beesting No-Prize for the reader who can identify it. You don't have to claim the PotBeNoP if you feel that's a good reason to not try. This weeks advert for Spider-man Comics Weekly issue 9 offers you a chance to see not one, not two, not even three Spider-man villains but six! All that plus five guest stars! Oh and a night watch man too. The bargain of the year. For more on that keep reading. Hey there's a FOOM advert too, I'd never would have guessed!

The Fantastic Four "Sub-Mariner and the merciless Puppet Master"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #14

Cover date May 1963

(Published in February 1963)

Never mind the threat of the Sub-Mariner and the Puppet Master, I'll tell you what is a threat, the Human Torch that's who. The FF are returning to Earth after last weeks adventure on the Moon and Johnny Storm is sitting in the cockpit in full flame on mode! So many Health and Safety rules being broken there it boils my blood! Two weeks ago I wrote about the strangeness of the Fantastic Four landing on the Moon six years before Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the Luna surface and to British readers three and a half years after. Some smart editing choices work when Sue wonders if they'll receive an ovation on their return, Reed replies with the line "As the first Earthmen to return from a privately financed trip to the Moon, you can bet on it lady!" Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Elon Musk get back in your boxes Richards and Co got there first!

The fans are out to show their affection but once the FF escape from their over eager admirers the first thing Reed Richards does when he gets back to the Baxter Building is write a report For NASA about the new rocket fuel, then he wants Sue to type it up for him. He finds her using the "Roving Eye Viewer" to search the seas for the Sub-Mariner.  It's no wonder Sue is attracted to Namor when he treats her with respect and not as a cleaner come secretary. Well respect and a six pack that's on display all the time, them girls, what are they like! Meanwhile (great transition that!) a strange little man leaves a sanitarium plotting revenge on the Fantastic Four. He turns out to be Philip Masters, the Puppet Master! Who didn't die in MWOM#17 were he was last seen falling out of a window. The Puppet Master mentions using the Mole Man, Skulls or Doctor Doom as his choice of FF villain, but apart from Doom the others would have had a low profile to the general public. Maybe he had read the Fantasic Four comic/Mighty World of Marvel comic that had regularly chronicled the FF's adventures as seen in mischief makers.  His final choice of puppet to defeat the heroic foursome is Namor the Sub-mariner, who sets about abducting Sue Storm to his under-sea palace. 

This is a strange case of events were an antagonist under the mental control of another antagonist hypnotises a third character, with a fish! A handy that fish as it can also secrete an air bubble to carry a human down to the ocean depths. 

   

Of course step two of the Puppet Master's plan is to get the rest of the FF to come and rescue the Invisible Girl thus starting a fight between them and the Atlantean Prince. But before the Thing can leave he wants to say goodbye to his girlfriend Alicia Masters. She says she'll be lonely and doesn't want to be left alone so Ben brings her along for an ocean ride. Feels a little like a Stan Lee plot developing there if you ask me.

In-between all that is a Stan and Jack gag page as a parking attendant has a go at Ben for where he's parking the Fantasti-Car. Stan give Ben a classic line "Where've you been Mac? Don't you ever see a car with wings before?"It reminds me of the line from "The man with the Golden Gun", when Sheriff Pepper said "What's the matter boy, you never seen a flying car before?" Stan Lee got there first.

 

So off the FF pop, bet you don't see that line much, to Pier Four I presume, as it doesn't mention the name of the pier where the FF store their sub-marine, but they later used it as a temporary headquarters first seen in Fantastic Four Volume 3 issue 1 cover dated November 1997. Reed, Ben, Alicia and Johnny (someone needs to tell him to flame off! It's hot and cramped enough as it is in a sub-marine.) set course for Sub-Mariner's under-sea villa.

Soon they're under attack from a giant under-sea porcupine and later a giant scavenger clam all under the control of the Sub-Mariner. These giant sea creatures truly from the mind of Jack Kirby, are more than just giant sea creatures, the giant clam gives off chloroform that can penetrate the subs hull and knock out the four passengers! Fantastical stuff! 

 Namor reveals his prisoner, held captive in an air filled globule guarded by the seven seas largest octopus all in the Prince's trophy tank! So much for his love of Sue, that's no way to treat a lady.

That's where we'll leave them this week, to be continued.

The back page is used a fine colour Pin-up page featuring Daredevil in his newly designed costume, drawn by Wallace Wood from Daredevil #5. It is said that Jack Kirby possibly drew the background. Text boxes were added to the British version.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #9

This lovely cover of Spider-man fleeing from the Sinister Six was created by Dick Ayers and inked by Mike Esposito. It is so much better than this weeks MWOM cover created by the same artists. Possibly because the subject matter is more worthy. The Thor/Sandu inlay panel is a fresh insert created especially for the cover.

Spider-man "The Sinister Six!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in The Amazing Spider-man Annual  #1

Cover date October 1964

(Published in June 1964)

I don't have a Top Ten comics or Top Ten comic book stories, it's just impossible to winkle it down from the thousands of comics I've read or the tens of thousands of stories I've read.  If I did have a Top Ten stories this one would be in it. It's by far my favourite Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Spider-man story, I can't think of any other Lee/Ditko classics that is better and with that I'm including some great Dr. Strange stuff. It's got six villains, lots of Peter Parker back ground and loads of super guest star appearances. all mixed with breathtaking action, engaging dialogue, a very serviceable plot and spectacular artwork. The word "Classic" was invented for this story.

But I never encountered this comic in 1973, I was too young, which is probably a good thing, as the editing choices in SMCW#9 and #10 can spoil the story a little. No the first time I read this story was in 1980, in the pages of The Amazing Spider-man Summer Special 1980. A Marvel UK comic from the mind of ideas of Dez Skinn and his Marvel Revolution. Although the strip is in black and white, a media that does suit Steve Ditko's artwork, the panel and text are left pretty much as they were originally intended, apart from the links to British comics then in publication at the time highlighting comics in which a guest star appeared. My 10 (and a half) year old self loved this special. So when I later bought this issue of Spider-man Comics Weekly second-hand to complete my collection I was slightly disappointed with it. Although the greatness of Lee and Ditko's work does still shine through. If you have a copy of the 1980 Summer Special or even the original American version do yourself a favour and read it in full this weekend, as an Easter treat!

This story starts off with Doctor Octopus in prison after his capture as seen in SMCW#4. Specialists have managed to remove his mechanical arms. But no-one told them he has mental control over those mechanical limbs. So with their help the Doctor escapes prison.

Later on Spider-man reads about the escape while he's hanging from a sign lamp. Not the safest place to read a newspaper as the mighty Thor nearly knocks him flying. New York is definitely getting a busy place for super-heroes. And villains too, as Doc Ock starts to gather a band of Spider-man's greatest foes.

Peter Parker gets a tingle from his spider-sense when a mysterious stranger walks past him, he would investigate but Flash Thompson takes the opportunity to pick a fight with Peter. Unlucky enough for Flash, Peter ducks causing Flash to punch a passing Ben Grimm. Peter takes advantage of the chaos and changes into his costume to pursue the stranger, only he's too late as the stranger slips away down the sewers. Unknown to Spidey that stranger was the Sandman on his way to meet up with a group of villains.

 

In the original story it was Doctor Strange in his astral form who Flash hits out at. A text box is added to advertise the Master of the mystic arts own regular appearance in Strange Tales. You might wonder why Flash and his friends can see the Doctor in his astral form? This is explained in Untold Tales of Spider-Man: Strange Encounters #1 where an encounter with Dr. Strange allows them to temporarily see Strange's spirit form. Dr. Strange hadn't appeared in Marvel UK comics and would raise too many question for the British Bullpen.

In this tale Spider-man starts to temporary lose his powers, leaving him stuck on a flag pole, much to the amusement of a passing Thing and the Human Torch. This story originally printed in Spider-man's first annual would allow readers to see that all these super-heroes would live in the same universe and mostly in the same city. It was also a great way to advertise other comics like the Fantastic Four. Spider-man's fading powers would return as a plot line in future issues. 

 

Finally the sixth member of the Sinister Six, the Vulture, would arrive joining Electro, Mysterio, Doc Ock, the Sandman, and Kraven the hunter, allowing the self elected leader Doctor Octopus to formulate a plan to defeat their shared foe. This is the first time (printed time, not chronology,)
 a group of super villains assembled.

Doc Ock makes them draw cards at random to decide the order in which they'll fight Spider-man, with his thinking that they'll each weaken the web-slinger so eventually one of them will defeat him. He also tells them that "On each of your cards I have written a location. It is the place where you will battle our common enemy and each location is best suited for your particular talents!" How is that possible if they were drawn at random? Maybe they had a draw for the order of each battle and the Doctor gave them cards that told them the location of their battles. And possibly cards of where the next battle was. Unless every card had every location. and the location was random. Lets not think too hard on that point.

Peter Parker takes a walk deep in thought along the New York docks to think over his loss of powers where he totally misses Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Girl stop a gang of criminals, in the original story it was Giant-man and the Wasp who fought the criminals but as like Dr. Strange they hadn't yet been introduce to British readers in Marvel UK comics.

The Sinister Six's plan is set in motion as the Sandman and Electro kidnap both Betty Brant (as Doctor Octopus remembered how concerned Spider-man was for her the last time they fought.) and Aunt May, who just happened to be with Betty at the time. The Vulture takes a message to the Daily Bugle so that it would be printed in the paper giving instructions of how Spider-man can rescue them. Otto Octavius makes his first acquaintance with May Parker, a relationship that will continue in future stories.

Jameson contacts the FF in hope that they can find Spider-man but they haven't seen him since they passed him hanging from a flag pole. Reed Richards contacts Major Talbot asking if he has seen him as the Thing said to try the army as Spider-man may have joined them. A silly idea, in the original the Thing had said to try the Avengers for the same reason and Reed spoke to Captain America. Again neither Cap or his team had appeared in any tale printed in Marvel UK so far.

After Reed had talked to Captain America in the original comic, the Human Torch would write a message in the sky calling for Spider-man, This would be seen by the uncanny X-Men. A blatant advert for the X-Men's own comic, but this would also lead to a later encounter with "X-Men" in Spider-man's battle with Mysterio. More on that next week. This panel was removed and replaced with Peter Parker looking out of a window.

Spider-man's first battle is with Electro at one of  the cities power plants, luckily enough Spidey remembers the last time they fought and uses his scientific knowledge to defeat the high powered fiend and shorts out the villain. This is the first of six beautiful full page spreads that feature Spider-man in action against each of the Sinister Six. Each one would make a fantastic poster in themselves. 

Once Spider-man defeats Electro a night watchman asks what they're doing in the power plant. in the original it was Iron Man who asked what was going on. The power plant is supposed to be Stark Electric Plant #4, which may explain why Iron-man turns up. This watchman insert panel is drawn by an unknown artist.

Following the instructions left on the card recovered from Electro Spider-man's next encounter with a super villain was to be across from the World's Fair, which was located in 1964 at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York. His opponent is  Kraven the hunter and he brought along two friends in the shape of two leopards. Here's another action packed full page panel. It's just beautiful. 

Spider-man leaves a frustrated Kraven after he picks out the card with the next location from the hunter's belt and swings off to the next venue with urgency, which we'll have to find out where next time as this blockbuster story was split in two parts, the second to be completed next issue.

This weeks colour pages give's us another Stan Lee Sounds Off! the answer to who will feature in the free gift photo/poster, coupon number 7 featuring Loki, an advert for this weeks MWOM #28 and the usual FOOM advert. In case you hadn't already guessed the mystery Photo/poster was going to be Spider-man! No shock there. 

In his column Stan Lee answers a very serious question, about his pet hates. I'll not edit or paraphrase any of it, here's the important bit in full.

"Well I can't speak for all our zingy pen-and-pencil pushers but I can tell vou one of my own pet hates - and I've a hunch that most of the gang feels exactly the same way. So let's put it where it's at."

"From where I sit bigotry and racism are among the ugliest social ills plaguing us today. But unlike a team of costumed super-villains they can't be stopped with a simple punch in the snoot, or a zingy zap from a ray gun. 'The only way to destroy them is to expose them - to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater- one who hates viciously. blindly. If his hang-up is black men. he hates all black men. If a redhead once offended him. he hates all redheads. If some foreigner put him down. he has no use for any foreigners. He hates people he's never seen. never known, with equal intensity, equal venom."

"Now I'm not saying it's unreasonable for one human being to bug another. Anyone has the right to be turned off by someone else. But isn't it totally irrational. patently insane to condemn an entire race- to despise an entire nation - to vilify an entire religion? Sooner or later we must learn to judge each individual on his own merits. Sooner or later. if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny we must fill our hearts with tolerance. For then and only then 

can we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God- a God who calls us all his children."

"Well that's the was it looks to me. Excelsior!"

Now I'm not religious, but he makes a lot of good and valid points. Kind of ironic that this "Stan Lee Sounds off" should be discussed at Easter. I pretty certain that this "Sounds off" is an adapted version of  the legendary Stan Lee's Soapbox from December 1968.

The Web and the Hammer 

Mark Turner from Manchester believes Spider-man is a realistic and very human and that's why he is his favourite super-hero and he'll remain a loyal fan. Carol Lynn from Swansea writes that "Turning point" from Spider-man Comics Weekly #3 was the most moving story she has ever read as the characters come off as real people with real emotions. She goes on to say that the tragic death of Betty's brother and her unreasonable hatred of Spider-man were excellent touches. She calls it a classic masterwork. Mike Hudak from Dublin writes he has put SMCW on his reading list since he first read about it in MWOM. Spider-man is his favourite super-hero but he is totally enchanted by Thor and fascinated by his half brother Loki.

The Mighty Thor "Sandy, Master of the Supernatural!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Larry Lieber

Artist: Joe Sinnott

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #91

Cover date April 1963

(Published in February 1963)

For the second week running the Thor strip is drawn by another artist other than Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott well known for his fantastic inking shows off some pretty great pencil work as his first super-hero published pencil work for Marvel, but he had produced western, war, sci-fi and horror work for them. This week Thor crosses paths with Sandu, Master of the supernatural. While spotting a floating bank that later disappears Thor suspects his half brother Loki has escaped his confinement in Asgard and is back to his mischievous ways on Earth. 

This is only half correct, Odin confirms that Loki hasn't left Asgard, but unknown to the All Father Loki has gifted a Carnival mystic Sandu with limited extra-sensory powers by increasing them a thousand fold and it is he who is causing the bank to raise and disappear. Money being Sandu's incentive he does it again and again. Doctor Don Blake changes into Thor and confronts the villain.

Sandu uses his  super advanced ESP gifts to chain up Thor with enchanted bonds and drop a building on top of him. Thor uses the godlike powers to contact Odin for help in a similar way that Doctor Blake did in two issues ago in "The Thunder God and the Thug. Odin hears his pleas and commands the Valkyries to bring Thor's belt of strength. In Norse myth, Megingjord was the name of his enchanted Belt of Strength. This is the first appearance of the Valkyries, although never mentioned by name in this story their leader Valtraula is supposed to be one of the two seen here. 

The Valkyries do so appearing as ethereal like angels, fitting the belt of strength to the fallen gods waist, instantly gifting him the added strength needed to break his enchanted chains and tunnel his way out from under the fallen building with his hammer. During a hard fought battle Sandu tricks Thor into losing his hammer. When  the Mystic tries to pick up the hammer with all his ESP might the effort causes a "short circuit" of the powers gifted to him by Loki. Now Thor easily subdues the villain much to the disappointment of Loki.  All in all a good story, back on form after last weeks poor effort. There's lots to like and enjoy. A good slice of Norse legend that'll serve this character for years to come. 
  

A gallery of Spider-man's most famous foes featuring The Enforcers comes from the Amazing Spider-man Annual #1, the same annual as the Sinister Six story and thirteen other "famous foes" villains. Like those pages the artwork is by Steve Ditko and the text is by Stan Lee. 

The back page of this weeks SMCW is used as a colour Pin-Up page featuring Spider-man in an acrophobia inducing battle with the Vulture. This is adapted from the cover of Amazing Spider-man #2 cover dated May 1963 by Steve Ditko. A text box suggests that the readers wanted to see it again but it also uses it to plug the Spider-man LP record. In which one track features in a nightmare sequence on the album a battle between these two foes. The text finishes with the reminder "O' hopeful hero, is your LP contest entry in the mail?" 

Don't worry if it wasn't, it was fifty years ago, as David Guetta, Galantis, and Little Mix would  tell you "But I ain't got no time to dwell on it" You've got lots of comics to read. Bet you never would have guessed I could squeeze a Little Mix lyric in there did you? That's for my daughter. 

 Till next time, more comics and no Little Mix. Happy Easter!

See you in seven!

Make Mine Marvel!