Losing your mind to madness!

Week Ending 16th June 1973

Let's take a nostalgic look back at Marvel UK's comics that hit the newsagents shelves on the week ending 16th June 1973. The Hulk got a new artist, the FF faced the threat of an invading army of Atlanteans lead by the Sub-Mariner, Spider-man thinks he's losing his mind and Thor has to defeat the evil Mister Hyde while matters of the heart plague his mind. This way for 70's comic goodness. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #37

Rich Buckler draws this issues cover that features a John Buscema redesigned version of the Boomerang costume in full colour probably for the first time for British readers. This orange and yellow colour scheme wasn't the same as in the American comic. Boomerang sported red and white, which looked very weird to me when I read the American colour version recently. I can't say either one looks anything like a winner to me. Buckler's unusually fine line artwork is inked by Mike Esposito.

 The Incredible Hulk "Boomerang and the brute!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Gil Kane

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #88

Cover date February 1967

(Published in November 1966)

After a thoroughly enjoyable trio of stories illustrated by John Buscema the Hulk gets another legendary artist to "fill in". For the next four issues of Tales to Astonish Gil Kane made the Hulk strip his own. Much like John Buscema's Hulk, I never really thought that Kane's artwork suited the green brute. Gil Kane would later produce some exceptional artwork for Marvel with strong runs on Captain Marvel, Amazing Spider-man, Conan and Adam Warlock, all of which showcased his style perfectly. Gil Kane had already drawn for Marvel under the pseudonym of Scott Edward, as at the time he was working for DC and moonlighting for Marvel was frowned upon. His first Hulk work was to finish Jack Kirby's layouts in Tales to Astonish #76 under the Scott Edward name. That story featured in MWOM #29 but in the British version readers saw the name Gil Kane in the credits. Kane isn't his real name either, the artist who we all know and love was born in Latvia on the 6th April 1926 under the name Eli Katz. At a very young age his Jewish family immigrated to America in 1929, settling in Brooklyn. 

In the 1966 American version the President was Lyndon B Johnson, who  Rick Jones had revealed the Hulk's real identity as Banner to in Tales to Astonish #64, then reappeared in #68 where the President makes a reference to that specific secret. These stories made their British appearances in MWOM #17 and MWOM #21 were the President was shown as Richard Nixon, who at that time was the current President. In this story American and British versions the artists showed a great deal more of the President's features leaving the reader without any doubt who this character was, unlike in the earlier stories when he was only seen in shadow or from behind. The President offered the Hulk a full pardon due to his action in saving New York from the Orion Missile and the Hulk-Killer, as seen last week. That freedom didn't last long after Boomerang discreetly fired a disc at the Hulk causing him to rampage. Boomerang in his attempt to beat the Hulk with tranquilliser discs, but ultimately shows that he's no match for the green brute and so seemingly falls to his death as Bruce Banner, in a newly weaken state fails to find the strength to save him. To be Hulk-inued in the next paragraph.

 The Incredible Hulk "...Then there shall come a Stranger!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Gil Kane

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #89

Cover date March 1967

(Published in December 1966)

Much like John Buscema's Hulk run, Gil Kane's art on the  second story improves. Although the Hulk facial features does still look slightly oriental. His artwork for the previous story was not my cup of tea, in this story it definitely is more to my liking with a more Earl Grey look. Kane gets to draw the Stranger, a cosmic character that suits the artist very much. This would have been the Stranger's third appearance with his first and second being in the X-men #11 and briefly in #18. Stories that the British readership will see in the Marvel UK's comic the Super-heroes issues 15 to 16 and 31-32 in June and October 1975. I'll get to those tales in two years if you stick with the blog. 

 Those stories don't really apply to this tales with the Strangers character being more sinister than his X-men appearances. The only evidence that he is the same character even in the original American version was a text box at the botton of the second page stating that "*The Stranger..whose power is beyond mortal ken ..has previously appeared in the X-men issues 11 and 18...as if you didn't know. Straightforward Stan." So to Marvel UK readers this was is first appearance. The Stranger now believes that the Human civilisation must be obliterated so that the humans who do survive can build a better world under his command. 

 His method of obliterating humanity is to supercharge the Hulk and set him off in an incredible rampage of destruction with nothing but hatred in his heart and totally under the mind control of the Stranger. Which he does as this weeks story ends above a text box that read simply "Next: The other Hulk!" Now that's worth coming back for next week to see what that cryptic statement is about!

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Derek McKenzie from Edinburgh starts this weeks mailbag with a letter asking will there be more American editions coming to the UK as last month Derek enjoyed Warlock, Dracula, Hulk and Captain Marvel in full colour. P.S. He loved FOOM with Jim Starlin's free poster, and he's going to send off for the next three issues. Simon Coward from Reading believes that he knows exactly what the Thing's skin is made of. Simon thinks that Ben's rock hard outer shell is in fact solidified Cosmic energy. His reasoning is in issue 19 Ben was struck by lightning which reverted him to his human form. Simon suggests that the lightning  temporary changed his molecular energy pattern. I like the sound of this theory, Kirby draws really cool Cosmic energy which in some panels does look like fluid bubbles so it isn't a stretch to see them solidifying into a crazy paving pattern, even the high voltage molecular transformation explanation feels right too. Mark Livock (no that isn't a spelling mistake, at least not on my part,) who never gave an address, write to inform us that his friend Philip and himself have formed a Marvel office. It's basically the two of them in a mini fan club. Kevin Tobin from Cardiff has read in FOOM about a Marvel comic about Dracula and wonders will it be seen in the UK? The editor answers with a spine chilling clue, "In a mist wrapped castle on a lonely mountain-side we mount the mildewed stairs to a secret turret chamber. Midnight struck as we pushed open the creaking door, thrust our way through the clinging cobwebs and gazed into Stan Lee's crystal ball. And there was the truth we had come to seek. Those spine-tingling tales you ask about are to be found in the UK. Seek - and ye shall find." That's the long winded way of saying that US Dracula comic (Tomb of Dracula,) is available in shops now. Kevin will find out that in October 1974 Dracula will indeed LIVE (s) in his own Marvel UK comic.

Tony Smith from Dorset would love to see his two favourite characters, the Hulk and the Thing, fight side by side against the Impossible Man. He suggests having a TV series using all the great Marvel characters. The editor replies that they've already made Marvel films but they haven't been able to persuade any TV companies to show them. I think they mean the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes which was an American animated television series that starred Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and the Sub-Mariner in solo episodes. The animation is made up of photocopied images taken from the original comic book artwork by the likes of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditto and Don Heck, to be manipulated to minimise the need for animation production, they were then presented as a series of static comic-strip panel images. The only added animation involved the movement of lips when a character spoke or to make their eyes move, or the odd occasional arm or leg movements if needed. You can find these charmingly compelling cartoons on YouTube if you fancy a bit of 60's nostalgia. D. Wright from Tottenham wonders why if the Hulk can leap so high it looks like flying why can't the Thing? My answer is because he can't! Don Barclay from Bournemouth buys Marvel comics every week, which he loves copying the artwork from and has a bedroom full of it. So finally for this weeks Mighty Marvel mailbag Carlo Darwen writes to say how much he loves his FOOM kit and that he's really proud of his membership card.

The Fantastic Four "The origin of Atlantis!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in Fantastic Four Annual #1

Cover date July 1963

(Published in July 1963)

This opening page uses the cover of the Fantastic Four Annual #1 as the main panel and then two panels from last weeks adventure as a handy recap. After the Fantastic Four are returned to New York by a "transparent water rocket" to inform the United Nations of Namor's declaration that the seven seas and the skies above are his domain! 

At the UN the Russian representative bangs his shoe on the desk in protest against Namor's demands. Although this is a very stereotype representation I don't feel it was overly offensive, but in keeping with the Marvel UK policy of not showing any left leaning countries in a bad light the manic emissary now represented the Bodavian people. This scene was perhaps based on a famous shoe-banging incident that occurred on the 12th October 1960 at the United Nations General Assembly, when Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, pounded his shoe on his delegate-desk in protest at a speech by a Philippine delegate. Kirby's impression of the man does look similar to Khrushchev. Ironically Khrushchev was wearing glasses at the time of the incident, Kirby chose to not draw them, but the artist bodger for the UK version does add a pair and also fills the man's bald head with dark hair in a graffiti style.

Doctor M. L. Greim is allowed to give evidence to the history of Atlantis and what possible weaponry they might possess. In the original US version this character was named Dr. G. W. Falton. I can't see any reason for the change or what the significance of the original was, but as you might have already guessed from reading either 1963 or 1973 versions all isn't quite what it seems.  In a later panel which the bodger had missed, Reed Richards would call the under-sea expert by his original name Dr. Falton.

The Doctor explains to the UN Assembly the origin of the race Homo Mermanus which translates Man of the sea. Like other mammals that returned to the sea a branch of humans also returned to the watery depths and developed a whole new civilisation that became Atlantis. We also learn at some time in 1920 an ice breaker ship called the Oracle indirectly damaged some of the under-sea city in the kingdom of Atlantis. The King sent his daughter to the surface to investigate. Princess Fen discovered the captain of the Oracle was a human named Leonard McKenzie who she fell in love with and had a child who would grow up to become Namor the Sub-Mariner. 
 

Reed Richards interrupts the doctor to tell the UN assembly that Namor possesses a threat to mankind and must be opposed, to which Dr. Greim/Falton reveals himself to be the Sub-Mariner! I bet you all saw that coming! I find it strange and a little unnerving that Reed Richards is portrayed as a warmongering character and not the scientific principled liberal freethinker I've always imagined he should be. To smooth this character trait I put it down to his jealousy over Susan Storm's obvious feeling's towards the trunks wearing Prince of Atlantis. Sometimes Reed can be a dick! Namor declares war on the surface world, in as much as he invades New York! Can Mister Fantastic find a way to rebel the invaders from the sea? Find out next week.

Sue Storm's scrapbook, is a feature that appears for no reason with artwork by Jack Kirby taken from panels seen in previous Fantastic Four adventures. Sue's birthday cake comes from "A visit with the Fantastic Four!" seen in Fantastic Four #11 (MWOM #22). The Ant Man panel appears in "The return of Doctor Doom" from Fantastic Four #16 (MWOM #32) and the FantastiCar panel was seen in "The Fantastic Four meet the Hulk!" from Fantastic Four #12 (MWOM #24). I'm halff surprised that Sue doesn't have a picture of Namor the Sub-Mariner in her scrapbook.

The inside back page has an advert for another football competition that with feature in both the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly next week. It's billed as "a golden chance for you to take a free shot...and we mean free, at netting one of the great prizes that we're giving away!" The first football competition must have been a fantastic success and they thought let's do it again. The artwork for this advert is strange, it looks like a child drew Mister Fantastic. As for the origin of the Thing's football smashing pose, read on.

Marvel Collectors Special No.4 The Thing. We get old blue eyes himself without the previous pages football but definitely on a beach. I feel that this one should have been printed on the back page of Spider-man Comics Weekly issue 18, as under the text box at the bottom of the page we are told that "Marvel Collector Special No.3 is the incredible Hulk" and will feature in "the Mighty World of Marvel." However that Marvel Collectors Special appears on the back of this weeks SMCW#18. I honestly can't place the Thing artwork, believe me I've tried until my eyes ran with tears, so if you think you know where this artwork originally came from let me know through the usual channels. 

Not knowing who drew the original has driven me slightly insane, but not quite as mad as Spider-man feels

Spider-man Comics Weekly #18

Another cover by Rich Buckler and Mike Esposito that I like tons better than their MWOM cover seen this week. "Spidey goes mad!" and I'm crazy about the number of villains who are after our hero. One little picky thought though is doesn't Mister Hyde in the Thor panel look like Frankenstein's Monster? 

Spider-man "Spider-man goes mad!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in The Amazing Spider-man #24

Cover date May 1965

(Published in February 1965)

This story starts in a typical Lee/Ditko manner, with plenty on Peter Parker civilian life and Spider-man taking on everyday crooks. Then a mysterious Doctor Ludwig Rinehart arrives in the Daily Bugle offices with a theory that Spider-man lives in a world of fantasy in which he ultimately wants to become a Spider and it's only a small matter of time before his id and ego get so confused he will forget who he really is, resulting in a severe breakdown. This cod psychology should ring alarm bells but Jameson wants to believe it so he prints these way out theories in the Bugles latest edition. 

Very soon Spider-man starts to see visions of some of his deadliest enemies that makes him wonder if the quack doctor may be right. So he makes a house call to Doctor Rinehart's home to see if he can help him. His condition seems to get worse as he finds the Doctor in his office with everything upside down.

When Jameson finds out that all the Doctor had told him may not have been the truth, the angry publisher rushes in on Doctor Rinehart, who is trying to make Spider-man reveal his secret identity. Soon the villain is revealed to be Spider-man's old enemy Mysterio who used holograms and practical special effects to confuse the web-slinger and make him believe he really was losing his mind. It's a fun story, one in which the villain of the piece just wanted to defeat the hero by breaking down his sanity. 

The Web and the Hammer

Only three letters this week in the Web and the Hammer mailbag, but they're big ones. The first one is from Glasgow's Jim McPhail, who's not happy about cutting up the strips to remove coupons for free gifts or mini-posters. He states that the Mini-posters will have to remain in his copies as he's not prepared to ruin any of the stories. He wonders why can't ads be positioned on the reverse side of those pages. Steven Berridge from Dudley who thinks that Spider-man Comics Weekly is a better comic than the Mighty World of Marvel because it gives Spider-man more pages to run a complete adventure every issue. He wants to see both comics with a double page letter mailbag, which is ironic because Stan wrote in one of his previous columns that Marvel UK will start having two pages of letters every issue but the last couple of issues only had one page each. Finally we hear from Gary Element from Worcestershire who has spotted a mistake in Spider-man Comics Weekly #6, in which the Green Goblin was seen on a bat-shaped broomstick but inside he had a different flying broomstick. Jim Starlin drew the Green Goblin flying on a his traditional Goblin Glider rather than his first flying devise that featured in that story which looked like a flying broomstick. So the fault was with Starlin and the editor who didn't mention it to him. But to be fair I think the Goblin Glider looks so much better than the broomstick version. The editor makes light of it by saying "That's the trouble with Green Goblins you've got to watch them all the time," as they are always trying to pull some kind of "Goblin trick." 

    Also this week both in the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly the remaining 300 winners from the Football Competition, who each win a Lunar Module kit, are named. Was you one of the lucky ones? That the bottom of the page a reminder that next week there is another chance to win more prizes in the second Football Contest. As with the inside back page of this weeks MWOM the advert showing Mister Fantastic and the Thing playing football is reused to advertise the up coming contest, only this time in a red colour scheme.

This week Marvel UK offers "A genuine Spider-man medallion-coin" that you can either wear around your neck, fit into a coin holder or on your own key chain. I've seen this advert in American comic books. The medallions were made from solid bronze and given an individual number. They would cost you 94 pence each, the holder would cost you 63 pence, if you wanted to wear it around your neck the 12k gold chain would set you back a very cheap 49 pence and the key chain which was also made from  12k gold would cost you 49 pence too. It's not really my thing but some people collect coins and medallions. Were you a medallion man, did you have one?

This is what they looked like. You can find them for sale on eBay for quite a bit more than the 94 pence they were in 1973, mainly from US sellers.

 

The mighty Thor "The master plan of Mister Hyde!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #100

Cover date January 1964

(Published in November 1963)

This weeks Thor tales completes the Mister Hyde story that was started last week with Don Heck continuing his functional but sketchy artwork. The looks he gives to handsome Don Blake and the beautiful Jane Foster are very dreamy and come straight from a 60's romance comic style. Even Thors discussions with his Father Odin about allowing him to marry Jane seem to come out of a romantic tragedy that would be well at home in one of Atlas Comics (the forerunner of Marvel,) romance books, like All True Romances, in which Heck had worked on in 50's. To counter this Mister Hyde is drawn with incredibly ugly features leaving you in no doubt who is the villain. Heck only once drew Hyde looking forward while every other time his face would be seen in profile, as if to give you the impression that the character would't look you in the eye and couldn't be trusted. I sometimes feel that I under-appreciate Don Heck's style, with its clean sharp lines and focus to much on his scratchy approach. I can't help that, I know what I like and whose artwork I love. So Don's doesn't match up to theirs but that doesn't mean I can't see the value in it. 

The hero wins and Hyde makes a clumsy escape as he belly flops into the sea. But does the hero get the girl? Not in this bitter sweet tale. Odin had been watching the story unfold to see if Jane Foster was worthy of his son's love and grant his son's petition of making her immortal so that Thor may marry her. During her capture at the hands of Hyde, Odin had witnessed Jane covering up Thor's fallen hammer with a canvas sheet to stop the Thunder God from defeating the villain. In the young nurse's mind if anything were to happen to Hyde a time bomb the fiend had left next to the bound Doctor would explode killing Blake. Odin saw that decision as making her unworthy of immortality and denied Thor's request.  

    The final feature of note this week is a Marvel Collectors Special starring the Incredible Hulk, No.3 in the series. This image has been used a million times. As for who originally drew the image I don't know. I feel it could have been Jack Kirby or possibly Marie Severin be I can't be certain. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy the sunshine. Don't forget to use sun cream.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.