Murder on the high street!

 

It's Late Summer Bank Holiday and it feels like summer is over, where are those school holiday summer breaks? They always signalled British beach holidays with a Summer Special comic treat bought from the local newsagent or seaside shop. Do today's generation have the same thrill as the 70's and 80's kids did? Let's find out. I'll not look at those junior toys that come with a comic, you can get them at any supermarket, they're well catered for. 

Back in the day you had Menzies and WH Smiths newsagent chains as well as independent shops. But the landscape on today's high street is so different these day's with internet shopping, online content, multi-media platforms and a million other distractions that keep the average youngster occupied. For those who still want to fill their imaginations with the inside of a comic or mag WH Smiths is heaven. But is there something not quite right in heaven? The problem is no two Smiths are the same. Take a look at the top picture, it's the comic/mag section at Smiths Chester. I love shopping in Chester, it's a beautiful city and Smiths is one of my favourite shops to pop in. They have a really good selection of mags, my only problem is that they are on the very top shelf behind the motoring mags! OK some mags might have fairly adult content like the Judge Dread Megazine and Shaft Presents, but the Panini range don't. The picture under it is from Preston's Deepdale Smiths, where a similar range of comics can be found but this time at floor level. Worth noting that this store doesn't have any 2000AD, the Megazine or Shaft Presents at all! I also went to Southport and the Trafford Centre Smiths this summer, with Southport probably the best for range and accessibility, I forgot to take a picture but I can tell you it had a large amount of Marvel comics, Bookzines and Doctor Who related magazines (Panini), 2000AD, Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion) and independents (Shift Presents and Time Bombs Quantum). 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to call out those shops. They're all doing a fantastic job with limited shelf space in a very packed magazine market. We need to support them or like so many shops on the high street they'll be gone in a flash! By "support" and "we" I mean the retailers who by making space for the terrific mags we want to buy, also taking risks on what will sell, the publishers, by making great looking comics that fans want to read and taking risks on what will sell and you dear reader, call in and use those shops, take the risk on something you think you might like. You never know you might just love it.

Marvel UK (Panini)

Marvel comics range is served by the Amazing Spider-man, Miles Morales:Spider-man and the Deadpool and Wolverine comic. All three are 48 pages for £2.99 which is good value when compared to their American counterparts. Panini's range has shrunk a little from the glory days of their Marvel Collector Editions that at one time had printed editions for Spider-man, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, the X-Men, Wolverine, Marvel Legends and the Mighty World of Marvel. Personally I'm not as interested in Marvel US's latest output, that comes from being an old head Marvel fan but I have started buying Panini's The Amazing Spider-man just as a monthly cheap thrill.

Panini has a growing range of Marvel square bound "Bookzines" and graphic novels available on the high street that plunder Marvel's back catalogue with specials that link to what ever Disney release at the cinema or on Disney+. Not cheap buys but if you are interested there's something for you. This Star Wars Mandalorian graphic novel caught my eye at the Deepdale Smiths  in Preston so I splashes the cash. I'm a fan of the Disney+ series so I'm glad I did.

Panini produce the Doctor Who Magazine which is alway available in you local Smiths. I used to pick it up monthly normally at Morrisons or Tescos, but as you can see I have the subscription copies. I used to buy it every four weeks so it made more sense to have it delivered to my door, as it worked out cheaper. I get the latest news right on the day or sometimes the day before. If not for that I would still nip to the shops and pick it up. These subscription covers look great without the high street version's text, but sometimes I miss that text because it instantly told me all about the mags contents. I guess I want both worlds. 

The range of DWM Special editions is vast, they're great but can be expensive so I tend to pick up the ones that I find worth it. This volume two of the Daleks the ultimate comic strip collection is the last one I bought. It's a weird example of my thought processes. I have all the original stories from DWM any way and at £19.99 it's not cheap, then again it is 172 pages and has a commentary section about the creation of the strips so as I'm a fan or sucker as some might say I couldn't resist. With this year being the sixtieth anniversary I expect Panini will be tempting me with more treats.

2000AD/Judge Dredd Megazine (Rebellion)

I used to get 2000AD and Judge Dredd the Megazine regularly in the 80's and 90's but I went through a period when commitments meant that I had to slow down or stop buying comics. I think it's called adulthood. With 2000AD you used to get three or four great strips and one or two OK ones. Towards the end of my Prog days I was only buying it for Dredd. The Megazine also seemed to drop into a juvenile bitchfest. So I stopped. Of late the Prog has been tempting me but I'd much rather collect the older edition to fill out my collection. 

Seeing Judge Dredd Megazine (now missing the "the",) on the shelves this summer's too much for my will power to resist. Boy am I glad my will power is weak. It's £6.99 and worth every penny. The strips are amazing, adult like but without any unnecessary juvenile sex, nudity and swearing. OK they're maybe a little sex, nudity and swearing but it's only in keeping with the stories. It's also got some great interviews and articles with and about comic creators and their work, who may or may not work for Rebellion. The Megazine has really grown up and I think I might stick with it for a while.

I heard Garth Ennis talking about Battle Action on the MegaCity Book Club podcast a while ago, his passion for the project peaked my interest. War comics have never been my thing but I picked up issue three of Battle Action to see what all the fuss is about. I now wish I'd picked up issues one and two from the newsagents when they came out. It's the new old fashioned style of comics, that I think I quite like the look of. Might splash the cash for issue four. 

Quantum (Time Bomb Comics)

If you've read my review on Quantum #1 you'll already know that I absolutely love Quantum. The first issue was Fantastic, the second was Sensational and let me tell you the third issue was absolutely Thrilling! It's like a grown up version of 2000AD by comic fans for comic fans. The editor Steve Tanner together with Dave West and David Morris have taken a risk that fans will love it, a risk that fans will buy it and that the retailers will stock it. Having it mainly available for purchase in WH Smiths shows that they want the high street to be that great place where you can pick up that thrilling treat. It's only bi-monthly at the minute but if they can keep up with deadlines and quality I can see them following up with their hope that it could go monthly. I think it will. I think the shops will stock it, I'm damn sure I'll be picking it up for the foreseeable future because I have totally fallen in love with it.

Time Bomb Comics also have a range of comics and graphic novels that they started by Kickstarter and convention interest. One of their range is called Brawler, an anthology comic in the style of Dez Skinn's Warrior. Warrior is one of my all time favourite comics and I would love to see this 2023 homage on the high street. So come on Mr's Tanner, West and Morris have a think about it. Quantum and Brawler side by side with 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, living the dream.

Shift Presents...   The 77

Now here's a great idea produce a magazine that features some of the greatest independent comics from the UK and use it as a launch pad for interested readers to latch on to right here on the high street. Here it is Shift Presents. A magazine that reissues some of the greatest current indie comics. You can buy back issues from Get my comics or The Shift Store if you wanted. This year's issue, I say year I'm not sure how often it is published, its cover date says December 2022 but it's still on sale in late summer 2023, presents The 77. The 77 is an independent comic company responsible for The 77, Blazer, Pandora and This Comic is Haunted, who's thought process is "A brand new, retro anthology – A love letter to the comics that made us. With new talent and creators from your childhood." Those comics all started on Kickstarter and I love that you can buy this version on the high street. I'd like to see more independent comics on the high street but I understand that the cost of doing that would be high and it's quite a risk in these financial hard times. I know the internet is the cheapest way to advertise and sell but I'm surprised that some comic shop chains don't stock more independent comics. They can be just stacked to the rafters with American imports and Manga. Please make room for the British independents. Yeah I'm talking to you Forbidden Planet and Forbidden Planet International. 

I'll get round to specialist comic shops in a future blog, but Forbidden Planet and Forbidden Planet International I love you all so don't bar me. They too need comic buyers support in these hard times. But not every town and city has one so if you fancy some good old fashioned comic strip fun, action and adventure support your local WH Smiths or newsagent. 

And keep reading comics it keeps you young.

A tale of three inkers!

 Week Ending 1st September 1973

Before I dive head long into this weeks magnificent Marvel mags i'd like to mention a bit of trivia brought to my attention by Chris Tolworthy via the wonderful Facebook group, the Mighty World of British Comics. The image of Sue Storm posing in Reed's "Nuclear Measuring Device" headgear drawn by Jack Kirby on the opening splash page of the FF story was inspired by a painting drawn by the artist Vargas.

 The original artwork was published in Playboy Magazine in 1963, while Kirby's version was published late 1963. You can see more on it in the Warlocks home brew blogspot for more details. Chris writes in his comment for those who didn't see the original Facebook post, "If you want to get VERY nerdy, note how Kirby improves on the original. I don't mean by adding clothes, I mean pay careful attention to the feet: the original would fall over forwards. This might be what inspired Kirby to add the heavy headgear. With the added weight, and slight extention of the left foot, Kirby's version is balanced." I've personally had a soft spot for Sue Storm and I've always thought that this image was very glamorous and now I know why. Even the greatest stole ideas from time to time. Like they always say if you're going to steal, steal from the best. Thanks Chris, nice bit of trivia spotting.

The Mighty World of Marvel #48

This weeks cover for MWOM is a cut and paste up job by three pencilers and three inkers taken from three US comics, so hold on tight as I list the who and where from, there may be questions later. The Hulk and Thor are taken from a splash page in The Defenders #10 cover dated November 1973 (published August 1973, US,) by Sal Buscema with inks by Frank Bolle. The Sub-Mariner figure is taken from the cover of Marvel Feature #1cover dated December 1971 (published July 1971, US,) drawn and inked by Neal Adams. The final two characters on this cover, the Wasp and Iron Man are taken from the cover of Captain America #100 cover dated April 1968 (published January 1968, US,) by Jack Kirby with inks by Sid Shores. Don't believe me? Well here's the proof.

Yeah it's a mash up but I really do like this weeks MWOM cover, there's some of my favourite artists on one cover, it shouldn't work but it does. As ever I couldn't do this blog without the incredible reference websites that are a god send for information and are fantastic for saving me time. Thanks to Grand Comic Database, marvel.fandom.com and Specsavers (for the glasses which save my eyesight after the amount of time I spend browsing pages after pages of internet and comics.) 

The Avengers "The Avengers meet...the Sub-Mariner!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The Avengers #3

Cover date January 1964

(Published in November 1963)

There are three stories in this weeks duo of Marvel UK comics that are drawn by Jack Kirby and each one has a different inker embellishing the King's artwork. They're a good example of how a the inker can enhance the artwork or cheapen it. Kirby's artwork can split opinions, some call it too simplistic, too unrealistic, too complicated, too pedestrian, which all seems to be contradictory to me. Yes his early Marvel work was plain, that was the style required to tell those stories. Later his stories grew more complicated as the readership grew more sophisticated in their reading. Kirby's best years were from September 1965 to 1970, which happened to be when he was inked by Joe Sinnott. In the early 70's newer artists became the trend with the likes of John Buscema, Neal Adams, Jim Starlin, Paul Gulcuy, and later 70's artists like John Byrne and George Perez. Many of those followed his style and added to it. What ever you think of Jack there can be no doubt that he was an unbelievable creator, whose ideas and concepts shaped the Marvel Universe for decades to come.

I honestly believe that most people's problems with Kirby's are lies with the inker who had to cover the pencil lines with ink. Walt Simonson once said about Kirby's artwork, "it's really hard to ink it and really retain the full flavour of the pencils. I think a lot of really good inkers have not been able to do that." Paul Reinman might be a good inker but I don't think he gets the best out of Kirby's work.

A quick note or two on this story, Iron Man is seen in his MK III suit for the first time in Marvel UK. Its kind of strange that the Wasp even at full height still has wings, they could be just for show as soon they were forgotten about. Roger Stern and John Bucsema brought them back in Avengers in 1985.
 

It was Don Heck who created the original look of Iron Man but in Tales of Suspense #48 (covered dated December 1963, published September 1963, US) Steve Ditko drew the new red and gold version as seen in this story. Another creation of Ditko's made a guest appearance in this story but I have to say that Kirby has never really drawn Spider-man well in any comic. This one is a particularly provision poor version, that criticism may well be levelled at Paul Reinman's inks as his ink work is very poor on this story but Kirby has to take some of the blame.

Spider-man and the Fantastic Four weren't the only heroes that Iron Man called on to find the Hulk's location, in the original US edition after Spidey he visited the home of the X-Men. The young mutants would soon make their debut in MWOM but even though their appearance would make an interesting teaser I understand why they were edited out. Here's where I contradict my opinions, I may not like their work on this Avengers story but Kirby with Paul Reinman's inks really work well with the X-Men as you can see from this page the X-Men look great, as an art team they would work on X-Men #1 to #5 and I'll rave about those stories very soon. As you can see in the colour version I'm not sure Kirby liked Spider-man. 

Let's not level all the criticism at Kirby, Stan Lee reused the same characters to death in these early strips. It seemed like Loki, Hulk, Doctor Doom and the Sub-Mariner would appear everywhere. Maybe he knew what the kids wanted and he give it to them. The freshly quitted Hulk became the plot driver and Namor the antagonist. OK I'll admit it, I did really want to see the big men duke it out with one another. 

The modest plot centred on the Avengers looking for the Hulk, the Sub-Mariner teaming up with the Hulk, after having a small fight, then Namor calling the Avengers over to Gibraltar to have a bigger fight in which nobody wins and no-one loses. Why Gibraltar? It's an island surrounded by sea that give's Namor an advantage. It's no Ben-Hur but like I said before I kind of like seeing these titans clash. It is what it is, but it isn't the best version it could be. We'll look at that version later.

It's Wordophobia results time

No letter pages in either MWOM or SMCW this week but we do get a double page feature on the winners of the Wordophobia competition from Week ending 7th July 1973 comics. You had to make as many words from the phrase "Children's film foundation." I'll not list all the winners, there's far too many but the 1st prize winners did incredibly well, for the boys Andrew Chisholm from Carlisle (over 5500 words), G J Verdon from London (over 5000 words) and Michael Cavanagh from Beckenham (over 4500 words). The ladies 1st prize winners are A Verdon from London (with over 5000 words), Maureen Hall from London (over 3000 words) and Amanda Nieves from Thorpe Bay (over 2500 words). Was G J Verdon and A Verdon related? Both had over 5000 words, did they copy? Who can tell? As part of the competition the entrants were asked to send in Green Shield Stamps for ABC Cinemas scheme to provide a Chairmobile (by that I think they mean a wheelchair,) for a disabled person, which is quite a worthy cause. The slightly creepy named Uncle Reg (Reg Halley, manager of minor promotions for ABC Cinemas,) wrote a letter thanking Marvel UK readers for their generosity in collecting an impressive 185,409 Green Shield Stamps. A total of 219,680 stamps was required for the chair, so close but not quite enough, hope they found other ways to raise the rest. 

Also this week we get the answers to the first pocket money competition from MWOM #43 and SMCW #24, who's winner was Adam Bowes of London who won £1 each week for a whole year. He answered correctly that Washington DC is the capital of the USA, the Pacific is the world's largest ocean, the River Seven is the UK's longest river, heat changed the Thing back into Ben Grimm and also that Jane Foster is Doctor Blake's nurse. 

If you thought that they were easy try out the third and final pocket money contest questions for another chance to win the impressive sum of £52 pocket money, impressive for a 1970's child's point of view. The first all correct entry opened on the 14th September bagged the weekly prize. You also had to collect a second coupon from next week's issue and answer a survey question- "My favourite Avengers character is...?" 

1) Which of these cities is known as the "Granite City"?

a) Bath

b) Aberdeen

c) Exeter

2) The Menai strait is off the coast of?

a) Wales

b) Scotland

c) Ireland

3) The capital city of Northern Ireland is? 

a) Londonderry

b) Belfast

c) Dublin

4) The youngest member of the Fantastic Four is? 

a) Ben Grimm

b) Sue Storm

c) Johnny Storm

5) Spider-man is an expert? 

a) Artist

b) Photographer

c) Musician

The Fantastic Four "Encounter under the Earth!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #22

Cover date January 1964

(Published in October 1963)

The cover of the Fantastic Four #22 by Jack Kirby and George Roussos is recycled to form this weeks opening splash page with a new title. This is Kirby's second strip this week and his second inker. Out of the three inkers I think George Roussos is the second best of the three, but mainly because of last weeks first part of this story. It was close but I think the Invisible Girl pose swung it for me (see the start of this blog). There's detail in his inks but lots of his characters are "blocky", is he taking short cuts over Kirby's pencils?

There's lots of invisible force field action this week and we get to see, or not see, how it would look like. A style that would last for decades. The Invisible Girl now has a power that lifts her up to be an important asset to the group. She stops the Mole Man from pressing a switch that will lower whole cities that he hopes will set the surface world off against each other. The FF do out wit the Mole Man, destroying his lift technology and escape his underground kingdom. But I can't help but question are the targeted cities still held up by his hydraulic platforms? If so I hope that the hydraulic fluid doesn't leak other wise we might get a sinking feeling.

This story's importance in comic book history is not only Susan Storm discovering her new invisible force field and invisibility of objects and other people powers. But also this story is the first one to feature the Thing uttering the immortal words...

"It's Clobberin' Time!"

 
 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #29

I really liked both this weeks covers, they're bright and colourful. MWOM #48 had some great artists working on it and this weeks SMCW also has artwork from some of Marveldoms  greatest cover artists. The clear, smart lines come from Rich Buckler with inks by Frank Giacoia. The Grand Comic Database also says that John Romita SR may have added or altered some of the artwork. I can't disagree with that, but I can say I love it!

Spider-man "The Molten Man regrets...!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #35

Cover date April 1966

(Published in January 1966)

As is becoming the norm Stan Lee is credited for script and editing and Steve Ditko is credited for plot and artwork. Art Simek is also credited for lettering and loitering. Mark Raxton is released from prison after a judge passes a verdict of a suspended sentence for the charges he received in SMCW #22 due to him being a first time offender as well as him being the victim of the unfortunate accident that gifted him his steel like skin. That's just the way the Marvel universe justice system works. Raxton lay low for a while but soon he's plotting a jewellery heist that brings him to the attention of Spider-man. 

Raxton uses a disguise but after some cold punches to the kisser Spidey comes to the conclusion that the only one to pack an iron like punch was the Molton Man. He places a Spider-tracer on Raxton and follows him to the same jewellery store and forces him to shred his disguise, the Molten Man escapes but Spidey beats him back to his apartment to await the villains return. Spidey uses the same trick from last time they fought, hog tying the fiend. The police arrive so Spider-man goes off to recover his camera with picture proof that Raxton had broken the law and this time would serve a longer sentence in prison.

A page to fill so way not fill it with another villain focus from the Gallery of Spider-man's Most Famous Foes! This time it's the Crime-Master drawn by Steve Ditko, originally published in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #2 cover dated October 1965, published June 1965. 

 

 

 

The Mighty Thor "The mighty Thor battles the Incredible Hulk!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #112

Cover date January 1965

(Published in November 1964)

 I'm currently reading an essay by comics legend Alan Moore (Alan Moore's Writing for comics, published by Avatar Press.) were he discusses a good starting point for writing a comic is the "idea", basically what the story is essentially about. While the plot is what the writer forms to get to the idea. The idea for this Thor strip is the age old question "who's stronger the Hulk or Thor?" It's quite a basic idea that to be fair gets used regularly with other characters. I'm not sure what Moore would think of it but Lee and Kirby get good mileage out of the concept. The plot revolves around an old battle between the Norse God and the green monster as seen in Avengers #3, the lead story from this weeks MWOM. This Thor story was published a year after the Avengers story, giving Stan and Jack a second go at it. I think this version of that idea is explored with greater creativity with this plot. I have to be honest I originally saw this story in Spider-man and Hulk Weekly #415 and #416 from 18th to 25th February 1981 as a Hulk story. I hadn't seen the Avengers story that this tale looks back in any form at that point, which gave me an unrealistic view of the Avengers story that didn't live up to the hype.

The plot is initialised by a group of children arguing between each other who would win in a fight between the mighty Thor or the incredible Hulk. Much like fans of football teams argue which player is best, or film fans discuss who the best action hero is. Thor lands to settle the disagreement in the fairest way he can by retelling an encounter with the Hulk.

This new version strips back all the unrealistic, illogical, far-fetched plot from the original tale of the Sub-Mariner teaming up with the Hulk to fight with the Avengers and concentrates on the idea of the battle itself. 

 

Thor believing that of all who walk the Earth only the strength of the Hulk seems to match his own, but to prove which of them is truly the strongest in a fair fight the Thunder God requests that Odin grant him five minutes during which he may retain all his power with out his hammer's magical energy as a test of his strength against his foe. Agreeing to the petition for five minutes Thor's hammer loses all its magical force. During the battle the Hulk stops the full force of Thor's mighty mallet, even holding it in his hand, something no mortal has done and he himself couldn't do if the hammer had retained its magical enchantment.

What follows is an evenly matched clash of titans, the kind of battle that kids of a certain age love to read. As a middle aged kid myself I got a big kick from reading this story. Kirby is given a second chance to do this story idea justice, helped in a massive way by the skilled use of inks from the brush and pen of Chic Stone. Who wins this weeks "who's the best Kirby inker" competition. Paul Reinman and George Roussos may be get the job done on time but they just don't cut it for me.   

Just take a look at this panel that is similar to one used in the Avengers strip seen earlier in this blog. Chic Stone enhances Kirby's original pencil lines in a way that Paul Reinman doesn't. 

Unlike the question "Who is the strongest?" that is asked in this tale, to which no conclusive proof can be found, the question of who inks Jack Kirby's artwork the best might be answered with the name Chic Stone. But like many questions there's always a better answer and mine to that is Joe Sinnott. Just wait till he starts inking the Fantastic Four! He makes Stan and Jack's legendary run on those characters iconic. They couldn't have reached those heights without Jolly Joe Sinnott.

But that's a tale for another time.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.

The (Space) Phantom menace.

Week Ending 25th August 1973

I was a little late last week with The Power of the Beesting's Week Ending review. Never fear normal service has resumed. Nothing to worry about, I took sometime off to spend with the family and expected that I would have plenty of time to catch up with my usual blog routine and in doing so I was a day late. I don't have set hours to compile this nostalgia waffle about my love for Marvel UK, but here's what I try to stick to. On Monday after work I try to read at least half of MWOM, then at night I create the weeks title image (as seen above) and may be crop images of the weeks publication for use in the blog. Tuesday again after work I finish the second half of MWOM. Then at night I finish off cropping pages and images. Wednesday I read Spider-man and if I have time I start writing an early version of the blog. Thursday is Thor's night and more blog writing with a little research into ideas that I've had. Saturday sees more writing,  research and fact checking, leaving Sunday to finish off the blog, some proof-reading and checking that the overall look is working on the preview. Then hopefully around four or five o'clock the blog goes live. I publicise its release on Twitter and number of Facebook groups, starting with UK Marvel in the Seventies at around teatime, the Mighty World of British Comics sometime Sunday evening, Make Mine Marvel UK Monday evening and then Marvel UK Comics Tuesday evening. The timings are chosen so that Facebook users don't get bombarded with the same post all at once if they are members of multiple groups. As for the order there's no reason in general other than that I imagine that a 70's comic would be more on topic for the first two and the second two feature general interest in Marvel UK from the 70's, 80's and the 90's. I have no favourites they're all great and I get positive feed back from them all. If any one chooses to share it or recommend anywhere else to post I would be very happy to see others with interests in it getting the opportunity to "feel the power of the Beesting!"  Speaking of sharing I'll like to thank Steve W. from Steve does comics who over the last two weeks has added the PotB to his Blogs of Interest column. Steve looks at comics from the US and UK in his blog in a humorous pop culture style, that regularly includes look backs at Marvel UK comics. It's a fun read. I won't lie, reading some of his stuff helped sparked my interest in turning the blog into more of a regular weekly review. So if you think this is bad you can partly blame him. If you think it's good or even just OK read on.

The Mighty World of Marvel #47

"Have the Avengers turned evil?" a strange question to lead this weeks cover. I think Marvel UK have always wanted to push the Hulk forward as the hero and not the misunderstood monster he is. Not the greatest artwork on this cover but together with the headline it must have tempted young readers to buying it. Dick Ayers pencilled it with Mike Esposito inking it, Jack Kirby and George Roussos drew and inked the side panel, which was taken from this weeks FF story.

The Avengers "The Space Phantom"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The Avengers #2

Cover date October 1963

(Published in July 1963)

The strip title says the Avengers and the incredible Hulk but that's just Marvel UK's way of letting the reader know that this is at least half a Hulk story. To me it'll aways be an Avengers story. Whereas with the first story my memory of which was rose filtered but slightly underwhelmed when read in the light of 2023. With this story I came with low expectations but when I read it this time I felt a warmth for it. The Wasp's overbearing flirting was toned down to a comfortable level. This may have been subconsciously because Hank Pym in becoming Giant Man has given her a suitable target for her affections, or maybe Stan decided to turn it down a little. The dynamic between the heroes feels more realistic now they've gotten over the initial reason for being together. They simply are the Avengers.

Since last issue Ant-Man and the Wasp have encountered the  Porcupine and the Living Eraser in Tales to Astonish #48 and #49, in which Ant-Man takes on his guise as Giant-Man. Thor had fought Lava Man and the Cobra in SMCW #15 and SMCW #16, Iron Man had battled the Crimson Dynamo and the Melter in Tales of Suspense #46 and #47 (future stories that will appear in SMCW #62-65 20th April to 11th May 1974). The Hulk still without a comic of his own hadn't appeared in another since last weeks Avengers story. 

The antagonist for this weeks tale is the Space Phantom. Not someone who I'll wax lyrical about but after re-reading this tales for the blog I found I had grown a soft spot for him. Some of that might have come from his inclusion in the Avengers Forever a 12 issue mini series released in October 1998 cover dated December 1998. Another great Avengers series beautifully crafted by Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern (writers) and Carlos Pacheco (artist). Some of the things he knows in this story make more sense when you read that series, like his knowledge about Tony Stark being Iron Man, even the existence of the Avengers and their new headquarters at Starks New York mansion. His intension right from the start is to break up the Avengers by creating mistrust within their ranks by impersonating each of them. 

The Space Phantom uses his power to take on the shape of another person, who would then be sent to a dimension called Limbo while the Space Phantom used their guise. The person who was sent to Limbo would have little or no recollection of their time there depending what was needed to serve the plot. Iron-Man, the Hulk and Giant Man would  actually meet future versions of  The Wasp, Hercules, and the Black Knight when they are transported to Limbo in this story as seen in Avengers #267 cover dated May 1986 (US, published February 1986 by Roger Stern and John Buscema). But on their return they have no recollection of those encounters. When the Phantom tries to replace Thor but in doing so he sends himself to Limbo as his power has no effect on a God.

News comes in of "a magnificent effort", "almost unbelievable" and "beyond all expectations" as the response to Marvel UK's Wordophobia competition was so great and the overwhelming number of readers who sent in Green Shield Stamps in, extra prizes will be awarded. Come back next week and I'll print all the details. 

Under that notification Marvel UK printed another chance to send in your offers and wants for the up coming Pen Pals and Swap Shop page. 
  
 

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

From the Bullpen to you column writes about readers dream team-ups, one of them being the Hulk and Namor, the Sub-Mariner, which ties nicely with next weeks Avengers story as the green goliath does indeed join forces with the Atlantean prince against the mighty Avengers. Also hid within the text two little gems can be found, the first the Avengers are to be given their own comic! While the second an appearance of the uncanny X-Men is also coming soon. I can't wait for both.

On to readers letters, Stephen Kennedy from London wants to compliment Marvel UK on their high standards. David Witherow from County Tyrone wants to know the best way to become an artist. The editor gives some great tips but as ever the most important one is practise, practise, practise! Colin Putney from Hampstead gives his ideas how to show off the Mini Posters that were given away in MWOM which include mounting them onto a ceiling hung mobile. Kevin Tier from Carlisle wonders why in MWOM#34 the discs that Doctor Doom attached to the Human Torch's wrists didn't melt when he flamed on? Like the editor replied I imagine that Doom would have triple-tested it for being flame proof. 

 Katherine Donnaghie from Ross-shire Scotland doesn't like Marvel comics!!! Saying they're "corny" and "really sickening" but she does read the letter pages as she finds them funny, adding that she doesn't know why anyone would write in and asks do they make them up? Is Katherine trying to be ironic? The fact that she bothers to buy them, read them and then write into the comic she hates the most is plain weird. John Dignan from Putney wants to see the Silver Surfer added to the Marvel UK line up, possibly in the pages of SMCW. Mark S. from Surrey reads both of the weeklies but wants to know how certain villains and DareDevil gained their powers. Like in that letters page I've got no room to explain. B. Bukunola as a member of the Anti-Hulk Cub wants to see the return of DareDevil to the pages of MWOM. Finally Peter Smith  from Swansea asks will there be other comics added to the MWOM and SMCW line up? The editor says that nothing is certain but their wish is to do so. Strange they don't instantly say the answer is yes, as they mentioned in the Bullpen column. 

A teaser for next week, the Avengers battle... the Sub-Mariner! Reserve your copy now!

The Fantastic Four "The return of the Mole Man!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantasia Four #22

Cover date January 1964

(Published in October 1963)

This story is a land mark issue, not because of the return of the Mole Man, that isn't very interesting to me, it's the early horse play between the FF members as Reed tests Sues powers, which leads to her develop a greater control of the energy that enables the ability to turn herself invisible. Adding new wonderful powers. It's a game changer that allows Sue to shine giving her power levels that rival her teammates. 

 Due to the release of radiation from Reed's nuclear measuring devise Sue's power is increased. Bit of a mad scientist moment from Reed, that's supposed to been his girlfriend he's using as a guinea-pig! But it works as now she becomes more than just an Invisible-Girl. She can now create invisible force fields and also turn other objects other than herself invisible. 

It lifts Sue up from being a bit part player and a side piece to a valued member. Again a bit of it I find strange is that Reed is OK letting the Thing smash into Sue's untested force-field to find its power level. Could have been messy if it wasn't as strong as he had imagined.

After all the hijinks Lee and Kirby offer to showcase Sue's new powers a precession of characters who make complaints about the Fantastic Four causing public nuisance issues that lead the FF into looking for a new headquarters to store their Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile. With luck would have it a pamphlet arrives that offers a sale of a small deserted island off the coast of New Jersey. The team travel to it to find its strange geography hides dangers including the Mole Man and his army of Moloids, seen here, Marvel US continuity wise, for the first time. Although they had appeared in Marvel UK continuity in the Hulk story from MWOM #33. More next week.

 

 The inside back page features an advert for this weeks Spider-man Comics Weekly, declaring that Kraven the hunter is back! And Thor battles Mister Hyde and the Cobra for the life of his beloved Jane Foster. 

There's also a teaser that next week the winner of the first of three One Pound a Week Pocket money competitions will be announced. 

As a way to "Fill that empty space" this weeks back page of both the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly this week boasts an offer for three iron on t-shirt transfers that feature Spider-man, the Hulk and the mighty Thor, at a price of 45 pence each including postage and packaging. Pay all three for the discounted total of £1.30. There's a special discount rate of 40 pence each for FOOM members. I think someone got their adding up wrong because if you wanted all three of the transfers and was a FOOM member the ad shows it costing you just £1 for all three, which is a discount bargain if you're in to all that. I thought it was very trustworthy of Marvel to accept at face value that the person who fills the FOOM members only offer form is really a FOOM member. Did they check if they were? 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #28

Steve Ditko is the artist for the main panel of this cover, which is taken directly from the cover of the Amazing Spider-man #34. The lower panel featureing Thor battling against the Cobra and Mister Hyde is by Jack Kirby from the cover of Journey into Mystery #111 with alterations to fit the space. Chic Stone inked the original cover.

Spider-man "The thrill of the hunt!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #34

Cover date March 1966

(Published in December 1965)

I've a really big soft spot for this story, Steve Ditko is on top form this week, it's worth noting that he gets his now standard plotting credit and Stan Lee dialogue comes across as smooth. But the real reason why I love this tale is I own a copy of the original US comic. The story of how I came to own it bears telling. In my pre-teenager days my family and I would quite regularly go on holiday to Cornwall and spend the summer on the beaches of Harlyn bay near Padstow. One year, possibly 1981 or 1982 the weather was colder than usual, too cold to swim in the sea we hide behind wind breakers hoping for the wind to drop and the sun to come out. What is there for a kid to do to keep himself occupied but read, alas with nothing to read I remembered a small stall in the beach carpark that sold old books and I was sure that I had spotted a tatty comic with the Spider-man logo sticking up from behind some paperbacks the last time we had driven by.

I asked for some spending money so I could buy it, thinking it might worth a bit due to its age I took a much loose change as I could get. Taking the long walk across the beach and up to the hill side car park crossing the wind swept Cornish coast line. When I got to the stall my heart leaped as I noticed it was issue 34 and even in its tatty condition it was a classic. I asked the old man who ran the stall how much for it and he replied in a Cornish accent that it was for sale at "tuppence". I didn't understand what "tuppence" meant, thinking it was Cornish slang or did he mean an amount in old money? He told me again and again, then the penny dropped. He meant two pence! What a bargain! I quickly frond two pence in my mums purse, paying the man and quickly hurried back to my family to tell all about the treasure I had discovered. I read that comic under a giant beach towel from cover to cover and I didn't care about its dogeared pages. You can see to the right I've still got it. I'm told in near mint condition it's worth £1472. It's definitely not in near mint condition but for my two pence worth it's absolutely priceless.

This story deals a lot with Peter Parkers cast of extras, with even Betty Brant having a dream about Peter revealing to her that he's Spider-man, which will add more to the break up of their relationship. Now that Aunt May has recovered Peter becomes more relaxed and tries to make friendships with his new collage classmates with unsuccessful results.

With Gwen Stacy snubbing him and Harry Osborn filling in for Flash Thompson as the class bully. Gwen does shows signs of interest in the young Peter, wondering why he's the only boy who hasn't shown any attention to her. There's defiantly signs of future relationships that I can't wait to see develop.

After being exiled from America for his crimes Kraven the hunter returns to New York to take his revenge on Spider-man the greatest prize denied from his trophy room. Using the Chameleon's old hideout, last seen in SMCW #7 as a base to plot. He comes up with an idea that masquerading as Spider-man will bring out the teenager hero.

 

Kraven uses the publicity from his tormenting J. Jonah Jameson while dressed as the Web-slinger to force Spider-man into action. After pages of classic Ditko fighting scenes Spidey defeats Kraven, who his honour bound to confess that he had harassed Jameson while impersonating Spider-man.

As per the standard ending we are left with a brooding teenager and a promise of another returning villain next week to give Spider-man a run for his money.

  

 I love this Spidey's flashback battle page that sees Spider-man take on the Sinister Six. It's taken from the Amazing Spider-man Annual #6 cover by John Romita SR from November 1969. 

The Web and the Hammer

The Bullpen column like the one in this weeks MWOM leads with news that the Avengers will be getting their own comic and the uncanny X-Men will also appear soon in one of Marvel UK mags. I think this might have lead to some fans presuming that the mutant teenagers would appear in the new Avengers comic. That wasn't to be. Teased about next weeks SMCW we're told that mighty Thor will have to face the Incredible Hulk and the Molten Man battles Spider-man. 

Andrew Oyster from Yorkshire want's Jonah Jameson to shut up and stop printing lies. J.A. Logan from Forest Hall does like Spider-man but he's completely fascinated by Thor. Stephen Masztalir from Bradford is puzzled that Thor is the strongest Norse god but he believes that shouldn't the strongest god be the Norse god of War? Raymond Faulkner from Smethwick wonders why don't all of Spider-man's villains take him on together rather than one at a time like the Sinister Six did. 

Steven Bernard from Dudley questions the answers to the question of "who is Spidey's worst enemy" as seen in the Spider-man LP competition , with the possible answers being Flash Thompson, the Tinkerer or Doctor Doom. His answer is Doctor Doom but adds that Doom isn't really a Spider-man villain but a Fantastic Four foe. Savinder Singh Arora asks why the Spider-man's tracer plane is never mentioned and why Spider-man doesn't reveal his identity? It's because it was a free gift only and for the second half of the question why give his enemies an advantage. Peter Dibella from Surrey wonders how Spider-man breathes through his mask? Peter it's made from a light weight material that he can breathe through. Paul Thompson from Blackburn wants there to be an action figure like Action man but with interchangeable outfits that are based on Marvel characters. He wants to call the figure Marvel-man! Now that's a name! Finally Ian Davies from Welshpool has just finished reading SMCW #14    and wants to know when the Scorpion will be returning. Here is the story of that missing Scorpion tale.
  

The mighty Thor "The power of the Thunder God!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #111

Cover date December 1964

(Published in October 1964)

"The Power of the Thunder God!" now that's what I call a title! Although the main action of this stories plot doesn't completely connect with Thor, it doesn't matter it's still a cracking title. The Thunder God must battle with Mister Hyde and the Cobra as the life of Jane Foster hangs in the balance. It's another action packed tales as our Asgardian hero must fight overwhelming odds to save the day as another God enters a quest to find a cure for the nurse.

 Kirby pencils out some fantastic action and battle scenes in his usual style. I kind of feel sorry for the villains as they get quite a hammering.

In Asgard Odin gives Loki a note for the Hardol the Healer to make a portion that will save Jane Fosters life. Balder the brave takes the note from the God of Evil, knowing that Loki intends to not hand it on, and makes a quest to reach the healer.

 Thor defeats the fiends but just as Jane Fosters life ebbs away. Suddenly Balder's sword falls to Earth with a vial and a note attached that reads "The medicine is hers! Odin has ordained that the female shall live! -Balder." Thor rushes to his beloved's side and gives her the medicine saving her life just in time. Balder's sword rises upwards to heaven's rainbow bridge and into the brave Balder's outstretched hand. And so end his mission, the girl lives. Next week more mighty Thor action as the God of Thunder must take on the Incredible Hulk in the mighty Marvel manner.

 

The final inside page offers a look at this weeks Mighty World of Marvel in which the Hulk and the Avengers take on the Space Phantom and the promise of more action from the ever fabulous Fantastic Four! Much like we've read about earlier in this blog. 

So I'll leave you digesting all that as I take a breathe and start planning next weeks blog and the blogs ahead as another comic will soo appear over the horizon. Till then...

See you in seven. 

Make Mine Marvel.