How great is my Goblin!

 Week Ending 29th September 1973

The first of October was to mark Marvel UK's first full year publishing with issue 52 of the Mighty World of Marvel hitting the newsstand on the 22rd of September, Marvel UK had published a full years worth totalling eighty seven weekly comics from it's fine looking threesome of Mighty World of Marvel, Spider-man Comics Weekly and the latest smash the Avengers! British Marvel fans in 1972-73 had been introduced to the Hulk, Spider-man, Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, the Thing, the Sub-Mariner, DareDevil, Thor, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, the Wasp, Captain America, Professor X, Cyclops, the Angel, the Beast, Ice Man and Marvel Girl, as well as future Avenger Hercules. The list of villains was growing weekly with the likes of the Leader, the Mole Man, Doctor Doom, Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, Loki and far more that I don't have the space or time  to print or you the time to read out. This was a Marvellous time to be a comic fan. And the best thing is there's so much more to come. So let's read on!

The Mighty World of Marvel #52

This issue's cover is giving the fans just what they want, a charging Rhino smashing into combat with the Incredible Hulk! Drawn by the capable Ron Wilson and inked by reliable Mike Esposito. You really do want to pick it up and jump into the action. 

The Incredible Hulk "Ring around the Rhino!"

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Marie Severin

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #104

Cover date June 1968

(Published in March 1968)

This is the first of many encounters between the Hulk and the Rhino and it also marks his first ever appearance in Marvel UK, even though he had made is first ever US appearance in the Amazing Spider-man #41 cover dated October 1966 (published July 1966,) in a story titled "The Horns of the Rhino!" which would eventually see print in two weeks time in the pages of Spider-man Comics Weekly #35 week ending 13th October. 

After defeat by Spider-man the Rhino would have served time in prison, (It would have been eighteen months between that Spider-man adventure and the original Hulk story,) but as this tale was published before his debut in SMCW#35 this story was subtly edited so that it gave the impression the two Soviet spies Georgi and Igor give the Rhino his powers here, rather than in a previous encounter before he fought Spider-man, like removing the line about his original costume being damaged by the acid Spider-man had thrown at him. 

The Rhino's mission for the two spies is to be the capture of Bruce Banner from the US military and if he was to change into the incredible Hulk the Rhino had the strength to battle him. Georgi and Igor didn't feel that the Rhino was intelligent enough to fulfil his task so they planned to join in with the kidnap. The Rhino grabbed Betty Ross as a hostage together with the heavily sedated Banner but as they made their getaway in a helicopter the danger accelerated Banner's pulse, causing his transformation into the Hulk. How this is what every kid wants to see, a clash of heavy weights, another monster of the week smack-down and it doesn't fail to deliver on that. The Hulk ultimately wins out but it wouldn't be a Marvel tale if he wasn't cast in darker shadows as the green man-child monster believes that Betty now rescued by her father is in danger from the "hateful men", so he kidnaps her and leaves her father at "the mercy of the Hulk!" Find out how this will be resolved next week in "The coming of the Missing Link!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

First up is Jonathan Hennion from London, who wants to see the Fantastic Four given a bit more limelight as the jolly Green Giant is stealing some of theirs as he has two stories a week and then featured in their strip too. Marco Morales from Slough bought issue 7 of MWOM and believed it would be another dreary comic but after reading it he can see it's absolutely fantastic. Antony Hopkins, not the actor I think as this Antony comes from Wolverhampton, is completely fascinated by the origins and private lives of Marvel characters. He wants to see an article of the origin and past of Prince Namor. Brothers John and Stewart Conic from Birmingham are both Daredevil fans and ask that Daredevil is drawn more uniformly as with each new artist a little bit of his costume is changed. 

Raymond Zimmerman from Middlesex enjoys Marvel comics and goes on to say that anyone who sends letters in with details of the mistakes they found in those comics cannot call themselves a true Marvelite! Personally you can as long as it's with love. I call any Power of the Beesting reader who spots a mistake I made an "editor" as long as it's not meant in a nasty way. Boy do I need an editor at times! Anyway Raymond goes on to say that he copies the brilliant artwork of Steve Ditko, Johnny Storm should have a new costume and Reed should restore Dr. Doom's face so that he would then stop hounding the FF. Philip Shepherd from Kent points out that just because the Hulk has two stories it doesn't mean that he should get to star on the cover every week. Philip wants to see the return of DD and gives Gil Kane a "Z" minus for his artwork. That's a bit harsh, Kane isn't my favourite artist but I do like some of his stuff. Anne Breislin from Rotherham what's to know is the Thing made up of stone? The answer is no, his skin is made from an unknown substance, even Reed Richards is baffled by it. Brian Turpin from Yorkshire points out that the Thing does most of the fighting but Reed keeps trying to cure Ben, if his formula worked would't that be the end of the FF? That would be a dilemma but Reed just wants what's best for his friend.

  Speaking of Reed and Ben from the Fantastic Four here's a teaser for next weeks Mighty World of Marvel featuring the Fantastic Four verses "the Infant Terrible!" No spoilers but it will be a case of "surprise follows spectacular surprise in the marvellous Marvel manner!" this artwork is from the cover of the Fantastic Four #24, cover dated March 1964, published December 1963. Drawn by Jack Kirby with George Roussos added inks. 

The Fantastic Four "Trapped by Dr. Doom!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #23

Cover date February 1964

(Published in November 1963)

This weeks splash page is the cover of the Fantastic Four #23, by this issues artists. It even uses the "Another mighty milestone in the Marvel age of comics!" text box from that cover, adding text boxes to cover previous weeks details and creator credits. Harry Philips (from Doom's Terrible Trio,) manages to capture the Invisible Girl leaving Doom to entraps Mister Fantastic with the aid of a robot disguised as the Thing. After imprisoning the FF in a warehouse Doom pays of the Terrible Trio with five thousand dollars each inside boxes that in reality are dimensional transport machines that exile the greedy trio to another dimension until Doom has need of their services again. 

The FF escape their own personal bondage devises that neutralise their strengths by working together, Sue stops the electric current in the Things manacles, allowing him to break them. He then smashes Reed's glass coffin. Doom arrives, stopping the Thing with a giant hydraulic ram, but it doesn't stand up to Ben's strength. Sue frees herself, Doom doesn't know about Sue's force field powers. Reed takes on Doom but is frozen with the Doctor's refrigerating unit built into his glove. Ben easily breaks Johnny's asbestos coated bracelets allowing him to help Reed. The FF are up to full fighting strength but they're unaware that the Latverian ruler has planned an escape door, leaving the four heroes still trapped in the room that has been treated with a special ionic dust that when it comes into contact with a solar wave transports that matter to a region of outer space, slowly the room starts to phase. Sue "senses" the Doctor's presence on the other side of the wall and pins him to it with her invisible force field. Panicking Doom opens the trap door in an attempt to disconnect the wires that cause the ionic dust to settle in the room. Doom slips into deep space as the FF escape through the trap door to safely. It's a standard FF romp that's on the whole pretty cool. Next week "It came from outer space!"

A Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up featuring the Fantastic Four. This collage has bits taken from multiple artwork, the full image was used on the 1966 paperback book Fantastic Four Collector's Album. Sue and Reed are from the much earlier  cover of the Fantastic Four #29 cover dated August 1964, published May 1964 by Jack Kirby with Chis Stones' inks. The Human torch image was lifted from the cover of the Fantastic Four #4 cover dated May 1962, published February 1962. The Thing image had been used for a Marvel Collectors Special No.4 seen on the back page of MWOM #37 ,  I still haven't found out where that image was originally from. 

More Marvel Masterwork Pin-ups, this time featuring the Incredible Hulk. Not sure of it's origin, any ideas anyone?

This advert for the Avengers can also be seen in Spider-man Comics Weekly, with that very edition is advertised under the Avengers ad, revealing Peter Parker unmasked by the Green Goblin. Plus there's action with the immortal god of thunder the mighty Thor and also Tales of Asgard filled with glory and grandeur.

Both Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly this week feature on their back colour pages an advert for Anglo Bubbly and Anglo Snips gum, in the style of a British comic strip. It's certainly in a style I recognise but I can't place the artist. I'm not a big "Comic Cuts" reader but I would be interested to know if the artist was a popular artist from any of the "Comic Cuts" comics like the Beano, Dandy, Buster or Shiver and shake. 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #33

This weeks cover is a re-coloured version of the John Romita SR's cover from the Amazing Spider-man #39 cover dated August 1966, published May 1966. It's an absolute classic and definitely my cover of the week. Romita took over the Amazing Spider-man from Steve Ditko after Steve fell out with Stan Lee and Marvel. I love loads of Ditko's work, the Spider-man we all know and love wouldn't be anything like that without Ditko but I truly believe that Romita takes Spider-man to another level. 

Spider-man "How green was my Goblin!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita SR

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in The Amazing Spider-man #39

Cover date August 1966

(Published in May 1966)

This weeks Spider-man takes it's title from the 1939 Richard Llewellyn novel that was also a five times Oscar winning film released in 1941 by director John Ford about a Welsh family and the mining community in which they live during the Victorian era. What has that to do with this story you ask, well very little but apart from it was about families and relationships much like the new direction of Spider-man. You may argue that Spider-man stories have always dealt with Peter's home life, which is true but those family circles are growing. Peter, Aunt May, her friend Anne Watson and her niece Mary Jane is one, Norman and Harry Osborn is another, the Bugle family with Jameson, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds, Foswell will soon see John Jameson and in later issue be joined by Robbie Robertson. Empire state University family of Peter, Flash, Harry, Gwen and Professor Miles Warren all have important parts to play in future tales. Like I said before Steve Ditko laid the foundations, John Romits built the house.

John Romita had work for Timely Comics before he was drafted into the US army in 1951, were after he showed his portfolio to the army base director so after he had completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey he was tasked with drawing layouts for recruitment posters. After being promoted to corporal he was allowed to live off post so he rented an apartment on Brooklyn. During a lunch break in late 1951 he called into the newly named Atlas Comics to ask Stan Lee for some freelance work, turning up in his uniform Lee's secretary told him a GI had come to see him. He found work doing Horror, War and Romance stories as well as Captain America stories before public opposition to the Korean War decreased Caps popularity. During the mid 50's he started freelancing for DC comics on romance stories, by 1959 Atlas had to let him go so he went full time at DC. John returned to Marvel in 1965 inking a Jack Kirby cover and Don Heck interior art for Avengers #23. Lee heard that he was leaving DC so he offered him regular work. He took over Daredevil with #12 and with issue #16 and #17, which involved a team-up with Spider-man, John had auditioned for the job of Spider-man next artist. Romita had become well know for being a Romance artist but he could also handle the super-hero action side too. In early Ditko Peter Parker had his school problems but in part of that Peter could some times come across as a whining dick. Yes this had lessened over the last couple of stories, mainly due to Lee intention to make Peter more likeable. Romita made Peter more of a heartthrob and more popular with his classmates. He'd still have problems but he'd have more friends to help him deal with them. His new popularity would lift the popularity of the comic to a higher level. 

Not everything was rosy in the garden, some of it was green. The Goblin had hired some thugs host a robbery that would attract Spidey. During the fight those thugs covered him in a gas that dulled his Spider-sense on behalf of a watching Goblin who then followed Spidey, seeing him change into Peter. Foreshadowing what was to come Peter thinks back to the events in issue 31 recalling the events that lead to Professor Stromm's death. Following the young hero from the Daily Bugle to his home the Goblin confronts Peter. 

Shocked at the discovery of his duel identity and with his Spider-sense still gone, Peter fights on but ultimately he is captured and taken to the Goblin's hideout, where in the most unusual turn of events the villain reveals his true identity to Peter. If any reader hadn't already guessed, if they followed all the clues laid out by Stan and Steve Ditko over the many issues, Norman Osborn was the Green Goblin!

The secrets of Spider-man's mask and Spidey's costume, originally appeared in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #1 cover dated October 1964, published June 1964, as part of a longer feature called The secrets of Spider-man, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Steve Ditko. It would be used many times again in Spider-man comics, specials and UK annuals. I have to be honest, looking at this artwork I did think it could have been drawn by Romita but no Ditko didn't always draw a skinny Spidey.

The Web and the Hammer

Costos, yeah I don't know if that's a name or a place, in London wants to know what Spider-man costume is made of, he can see some of Spidey's costume secrets above. Tim from Kent mounts his mini posters on cardboard then attaches a match box on the rear so they stand up. Francis Burns from East Lothian wants to know who is Thor and who's his father? Well you have to read Thor's adventures to find out. Andreas Micheal from London wants to read more comics that feature heroes like Cap. America, Iron Man, Namor or the Silver Surfer. Mick Pickup from Blackburn who writes an entertaining letter that bemoans cutting the back pages of FOOM to save a poster but in doing so damages it for future use. Don't cut up comics kids, it's not worth it.

  

 Steven Berridge from Dudley replies to a letter published in SMCW #6 by Gary Reader who asked about the Ant Man, Steven gives a comprehensive run down on the miniature hero and other heroes who will join the Avengers. Alan Wickerden from Kent asks how many letters does Marvel receives a week from America, Britain and the rest of the world? The answer is in the millions, the editor goes on to debunk the accusation that Marvel makes up some of the letters that get printed. Dafydd Jones from Flintshire wants to see the Chameleon and the Lizard battle Spider-man after seeing them in the Marvel annual in a feature called "The amazing Spider-man's gallery of famous foes". Those villains have already had scuffles with Spidey but as Marvel will always say, "you can't keep a good villain down!"

The Mighty Thor. "Onslaught of the Absorbing Man!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #113

Cover date February 1965

(Published in December 1964)

Continuing from last weeks adventure the mighty Thor must take on the astonishing Absorbing Man. This half of that adventure uses the Kirby drawn cover from Journey into Mystery #113 as its opening splash page. The artwork is pretty on point with the classic Kirby battle scenes that every Thor fan loves seeing.

Reporter Harris Hobbs gets too close to the action as he tries to help defeat Creel with a pack of live dynamite sticks. Thor saves his life, an event that will have long reaching consequences for both of them. During the battle Thor is recalled to Asgard by Balder as Jane Foster has been captured by Loki, to which we'll find out more of next week.

Tales of Asgard "The invasion of Asgard!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Bell1

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #101

Cover date February 1964

(Published in December 1963)

In this weeks Tales of Asgard the young Thor is tricked into defending a breach in Asgards defences by Loki who made the hole and alerted the enemies of the Golden realm to its weaken state. Thor must take on the Wolf Gods Skoll and Hati, the Norn Hag riding Elfin the Dragon, the merciless Rime Giants, the last of the Ice Giants and Geirrodur the troll as he is all that stands in their way.

Thor battles valiantly but the odds are overwhelming. Luckily the clashing of swords in the heat of the battle alerted Odin and the armies of Asgard to the young godling's plight and together they defeated the horde of evil, gaining some more godly strength the young Thor can lift his Uru hammer a little higher.

The inside back page features an in-house advert for issue two of the Avengers and issue 52 of the Mighty World of Marvel. The Avengers boast a free Avengers wonder weapon as well as the adventures of Earths mightiest heroes and the Master of the mystic arts. MWOM features the Hulk pitted against the rampaging Rhino and the Fantastic Four battling against the "Master plan of Doctor Doom!"

 

The Avengers #2

This cover was the Avengers #5 US version cover dated May 1964, published March 1964 by Jack Kirby with inks by Dick Ayers.

The Avengers "The invasion of the Lava Men!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Rousso

Originally published in The Avengers #5

Cover date May 1964

(Published in March 1964)

The Lava Men make a return, from the Thor adventure seen in SMCW#15 although it was only one Lava Man seen in that adventure, this time there's a whole civilisation of them living underground with a King and a Witch Doctor as well as the returning Lava Man who fought Thor, named Molto for the first time. Molto is the voice of reason opposing the King and Witch Doctor's plan to push up gigantic amount of "living rock" to the surface where if detonated will release enough energy to destroy the surface world. Seismic eruptions have alerted the Avengers and also the Army lead by General Ross to the New Mexico desert where the "living rock" is breaking through the Earth's crust. 

Bruce Banner makes a return to the base but the UK editor has changed General Ross's words to give the impression that he knows Banner is the Hulk. In the original story Banner's connection to the Hulk was unknown to the world. It all makes uncomfortable reading if you have been a reader of the Hulk adventures in MWOM. But you can put up with it if you want to enjoy this story which is quite enjoyable. The Hulk, yet again battles the Avengers, as they must battle the Lava Men. In the end Giant Man and the Wasp find the spot that when once hit by an incredible force will make the "living rock" inert. The Wasp tricks the Hulk into hitting that spot. It's a quick and maybe a silly solution but it does carry some merit. 

Letters

No title for the letter page and in truth this mailbag is filled with correspondence from the other two comics, but it does feature a "From the Bullpen to you" column. With three comics the Bullpen has lots to talk about with issue 52 of MWOM and issue 33 of SMCW. There's space still to tease next issue of the Avengers with a quick look at the Master of Evil,  who are the Black Knight, the Radioactive Man, the Melter and their leader the master scientist Baron Zemo, as seen in flashback last issue causing the death of Bucky and sending Cap into cold storage. 

But on to the readers letters B. Stephens from South Shields writes an incredibly long letter on all things Marvel, including the lack of VAT on the Spider-man record, a review of MWOM or has he calls it "Hulk Comics Weekly" and SMCW, plus his idea of removing Thor from SMCW and replacing him with the Avengers. I bet he's happy with the new Avengers mag. He also laments on Marvel characters featured in TV21. Nicholas Mumby from Grimsby wants Marvel UK comics to be thicker and proposes a price increase to 10p to cover the costs so that the Avengers, the Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange could be added. 

Paul Criptow from Wolverhampton is quick on the ball as he's very glad that Marvel UK are bringing out the Avengers, I can only assume that he is referring to their inclusion in MWOM as the postal service was never that quick. Finally E. Capareo from Bedford writes that SMCW #23 was brilliant and can't wait to see more of Doctor Strange. Well if he read his letter in this first Avengers letter page he must be overjoyed at its printing and the very next story in this comic that features the Master of the Mystic Arts. As part of the letter page you get the instructions on how to fire your free Avengers Wonder Weapon. Pull back the elastic band, it's as simple as that. My copy hasn't got one but I'm too old to cry over it, well only a little. 

 This is what it must have looked like according to the wonderfully informative internet.

A bonus Avengers Pin-up page featuring the Living Legend of World War Two, Captain America and the invincible Iron Man. This was the cover of Marvel Double Feature issue one, cover dated December 1973, published September 1973. So it must have been hot off the artists board. Jack Kirby and John Romita SR handled the artwork with Dick Ayers and Romita inking it. Romita lifted the Captain America imagine from Tales of Suspense #59 cover dated November 1964, published August 1964.

Dr Strange "Master of Black Magic!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in Strange Tales #110

Cover date July 1963

(Published in April 1963)

This is the first Doctor Strange story ever made, The Doctor has a more oriental look but many of the characteristics of his adventures are in place. Wong makes an appearance but isn't named. Travelling on the Astral plane is shown as Strange entering an eerie trance that allows his metaphysical spirit to drift away to the remote Himalayas to confer with his mentor the Ancient One. 

 An unnamed man who is experiencing nightmares seeks help from the Doctor. Strange enters a trance so that he can enter the mans dreams where he encounter a being called Nightmare who has been haunting the man's dreams due to his own guilt of the crimes he committed in his line of business. Realising that Strange has found all this out the man awakes from his sleep and tries to kill Strange while he's still in the trance. The Doctor calls his mentor for help who uses the enchanted amulet he gave Strange to freeze motionless the would be killer allowing Strange to return to the mortal plane. It's a classic Ditko terror tale that he must have felt was worth continuing. It truly is magic!

It's Double Dynamite from Marvel, as Marvel UK uses a simple half page advert to show what's on offer this week. They could have used the half pages from MWOM and SMCW to showcase this weeks comics but instead they used this ad, giving the lower half over to a Matchbox advertisement. 

Being a new comic the Avengers probably needed financial help from advertisers to kickstart the comic, which is why the inside front page, the inside back page and back page all sport full colour adverts. Wells Ice cream promotes Count Dracula Deadly Secret ice cream lolly, with its black ice coating over it's vanilla ice cream centre with a blood red jelly heart. Vivo and Spar stores were promoting a Disney Time Movee Cavalcade, yep that's not a mistake it is two "e"s, with offers of a free Disney Wall Wobbler, a free "Movee-man" eyeshade, free badges and free 3D Disney postcards. While on the back page features the Adventures of the Cresta Bear who enjoys a cool Cresta smooth orange drink.

Well no-one sponsors me to do this blog, I do it for the love of cool comics. So with that I'm off to do those normal things in life, like eating, drinking, seeing family and friends and reading comics. All that and next weeks blog to prepare for, so with that...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.

And then there were three!

Week Ending 22rd September 1973

One week you're reading the adventures of the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Spider-man and Thor in the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly, then the next you were given the choice of another comic that sported a bright glossy cover and was packed with the world's greatest superheroes in the Avengers and the Master of black magic Doctor Strange! How fantastic was it to be a kid in the 70's. All you had to worry about was earning enough pocket money to afford the sixteen pence you needed to buy these triple triumphs. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #51

The first noticeable feature of this weeks MWOM is the heading above the title which reads "Britain's leading super-action comic!" Which was probably a straight forward attempt at letting the readers know that MWOM still is Marvel UK's flagship title now that it shares the same shelf on UK's newsstands with its glossy younger brother. Another point of notice with this issue is that the date is wrong, it is given as "Week Ending Sept 29 1973" where as it should have been Sept 22 1973. The smart eye-catching cover was drawn by Ron Wilson with a little help from Marie Severin and inks by Frank Giacoia. 

The Incredible Hulk "And now...the Space Parasite!"

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Marie Severin

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #103

Cover date May 1968

(Published in February 1968)

After four weeks of the Hulk appearing in the Avengers and the Fantastic Four stories he returns to his own regular series which story wise sees him returned to New York by the power and grace of Odin following his battle on Asgard as seen in MWOM #45. For Marvel UK readers a quick text box tells them that after last weeks battle with the Avengers and the Fantastic Four that ended with Rick Jones feeding the Hulk a "Gamma-ray treated capsule" which transformed the green giant into his human alter-ego who then stumbled off a jetty into the Hudson River. Only to have the effects wear off allowing old green skin to stagger right back to Times Square, as a way to square up this leap of continuity. It's a bit ham-fisted as later in the story a fear full Rick Jones threatens to shoot Bruce Banner with a gun referring back to MWOM #43 in which the Hulk tried to kill the teenager, although unknown to Rick the Hulk at that time was under the influence of the Puppet Master. This plot point makes no sense for UK readers who saw Jones last week trying to aid both man and monster.  

At first sight the Space Parasite seems nothing more than an intergalactic thug who came to Earth just looking for a fight with the toughest opponent. But his origin lays out a more sympathetic story. Randau, once the ruler of the planet Xeron until an alien invasion force attempted to overrun the peaceful world. Needing a volunteer to enter the Solar Chamber and absorb the power of the Xeron's third sun thus becoming a living weapon that would crush his enemies. Gary Friedrich crafts a morality tale showcasing that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The once peaceful king becomes a hate filled conqueror. After finding out the hard way that no-one is stronger than the Hulk the Space Parasite teleports to his space craft in orbit at the moment that the new ruler of Xeron activates the ship's auto destruct mechanism leaving the vanquished villain adrift in space, tired, alone and near death, contemplating the meaning of peace. One of my prejudices towards these Hulk stories is that every week they're just a stereotypical "monster battle of the week" plot devise with little plot or no soul. Credit has to go to Gary Friedrich and Marie Severin for making something more than that. It's a smashing tale.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

J.R Donnelly from Northumberland who love's the Fantastic Four wants to see the FF team-up with Thor to battle Dr. Doom and asks if the Miracle Man will return. I'm not a big Miracle Man fan myself but I do have a big soft spot for Alan Moore's character of the same name. Anthony Nicholls from Plymouth has only been a "Marveller" for a few weeks, but he thinks he's figured out what Hulk stands for, the emerald one's name came from the words Huge Ugly Likeable Kreature! Can you see what he did there?   Shane O'Hara from Wolverhampton has spotted a "boob" in issue 31 of MWOM when text had said that the FOOM coupon was on page 34 but instead that page featured a Hulk Pin-Up. Gerard Lawless from Kent writes that he got a shock when he read in MWOM #31 that the next issue would feature two stories of the Hulk and one for the FF. He asks have they lost their marbles removing DareDevil or are they planning a new mag with the man without fear? The editor answers that old DD is just resting.

D. Hornsby from Herts boasts that he has hundreds of Marvel comics and cries that it's a big pity that MWOM no longer has DareDevil in it as he is one of Marvel's best characters. Russel and Richard Ayers from Australia praise MWOM. The boys from down under ask if they can buy any MWOM back issues. Roy Kay from Birkenhead writes that Hulkmania is spreading across the land from Hulkesfield to Hulkey-on-Thames. Roy is loving the two Hulkepisodes a week. Enough Hulk already! Andrew Wright from Notts asks why does the Hulk talk in the third person? Well as the editor relies "Hulk, him none too bright. Him not speak good!."

This teaser hinting that coming soon in the pages of the Mighty World of Marvel, a rematch between the Thing and the incredible Hulk. But in truth a rematch between the two titans will probably only occur in issue 79 of MWOM on the 6th April 1974 in a Hulk story titled "The Hulk's last fight!" Is it forward planning or did they consider a Hulk/Thing tale to come sooner? The artwork hot from the artists is from Marvel Feature issue 11 cover dated September 1973, published June 1973 by Jim Starlin with inks added by John Romita SR. It's a cracking piece of artwork.

The Fantastic Four "The master plan of Doctor Doom!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #23

Cover date February 1964

(Published in November 1963)

For British readers this story follows right on from last week's FF/the Avengers/the Hulk adventure, however in American continuity that story saw print four issues earlier. I like the crazy starting point where a baby dinosaur is on a rampage in the Baxter Building after coming from the past via Doctor Doom's Time Machine platform, it allows the narrative to lead the reader to Latvian Monarch's latest plan. 

That plan involves trapping the FF with the aid of the Terrible Trio, three dodgy criminal types, Bull Brogan, Harry Philips and Yogi Dakor, to whom Doom enhances their natural abilities. They're kind of characters who you might find at home in Alan Moore/Kevin O'Neill's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Maybe Moore and O'Neill had some fondness for Kirby's creativeness. That's twice I've mentioned the hairy one, I must watch out for that. Stan and Jack play with the FF's argumentative banter giving the Terrible Trio the opportunity to defeat Johnny and Ben individually. How will Doom's men get on with Sue and Reed? Find out next week.

The inside back page features advertisements for the new Avengers comic and Spider-man Comics Weekly. The Avengers offers in the first issue a bonus free gift of Superhero Transfers and well as "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" and Dr. Strange, "Master of black magic!" If you look closely at the cover of the Avengers comic shown in this advert you can see the date was a week earlier than the date on the actual comic. Was the Avengers planned to be released in the week ending 15th September 1973 instead of the 22rd?

As the Avengers hog most of the page there's little room to inform the reader who Spider-man and Thor will be battling this week.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #32

This weeks cover is a version of Amazing Spider-man #38 by Steve Ditko with added amendments of a picture of this weeks off-beat villain added but his name is removed from the right hand side, possibly because it's quite bland, as we'll see later. The panels are taken from the artwork with the main image taken from page 16 of this comic, while the three images on the bottom are, from left to right, are page 8 panel 6, page 12 panel 4, and page 15 panel 1. The reason for this will become clear later.

Spider-man "Just a guy named Joe!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #38

Cover date July 1966

(Published in April 1966)

This story is the last Spider-man story Steve Ditko ever did. I'm not counting the back up story that featured Nighthawk from Marvel Team-Up #101 as Spider-man was only referred to as he had appeared with Nighthawk in the main story. Steve left Marvel  due to ongoing creative differences between himself and Stan Lee. That's why the original cover was made up of panels from the story. And that story is an absolute mess.

  There's no opening splash page for this story, was it abandoned when Ditko left? This week's villain is worse than third rate. Joe Smith is a dim-witted boxer, who can't win a fight or even get a break as an extra in a TV fantasy film. After an unplausible accident while filming gifts the lad superhuman strength and a short temper. Ditko must have been phoning in the plot and artwork for this one. It leaves Ditko's time on Spider-man with a bitter taste.

It's been rumoured that the grinning mannequin punched by Spider-Man at the end of this issue was intended by Ditko's to be the likeness of Stan Lee, not Ned Leeds, with Spidey punching it symbolising Steve Ditko's "farewell" to his partnership with Lee. I'm not sure how much of a likeness it is or even if it was re-drawn afterwards. I do love Stan Lee, Marvel wouldn't be the same without his drive, but the more I read about Lee's working relationship with Ditko and Kirby the more I side with the two artists. Mary Jane makes another appearance, again blocked out by some hanging vegetation. Did Ditko not want to gift another character that he was creating to the next artist? Preferring to keep her for himself?  Who knows? I sometimes wish I didn't know all about Marvel's founding father's fallout.

 A gallery of Spider-man's most famous foes! featuring Steve Ditko's creation  Doctor Octopus. First seen in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #1 cover dated October 1964, published June 1964.

The Web and the Hammer

Tony Hurley from Belfast writes that the artwork in Spider-man is fantastic but it's totally "Wow" in Thor. Jim Ivers from Dublin who will become quite a regular letter writer makes numerous points, the first being that his letter won't get printed, of course it does. He wants to see important letters print not childish ones. He'd like to see artists not restricted to the panel frames. He'd also like to see two pages of letters each week. Jim believes that the 1973 Marvel Annual  was a disappointment as it featured stories that had all ready seen print in MWOM apart from the Spider-man/Scorpion and Conan stories. He wants to see another weekly comic. He's thankful for FOOM and says that "Spidey-comic" is good but it needs a MWOM image? He thinks that John Buscema, Don Perlin, Jim Starlin and John Romita SR create the UK covers and would like to see more of Jim Starlin's work. Finally he wanted Marvel to print his full address so that other Marvel fans could write to him with their opinions. Did other Marvelites agree with him. I guess we'll find out soon. Philip Gore from Sussex picks up on some points from the 1973 annual about Spidey's webbing that don't make sense to him, but in truth they seem alright to me.

Lesley Denise Cook from Kent thinks that Spidey's a smasher, loving the sarcastic cracks he makes. J. Moreff from London has picked out some boobs from issue 18 in which Spider-man recovered his Spider-beam and the next issue he recovers it again, I think I covered that boob in elsewhere. J wants to see more American Marvel imports like Marvel Feature, Marvel Team-Up, Hero for Hire, Claws of the Cat, Triple Action and Jungle Action. Finally Michael Oloworaran from Leeds asks five questions, 1) Who's the greatest superhero?  2) What is the Marvel book people are on about? 3) When is the Spider-man LP coming out? 4) Is Spider-man stronger than DareDevil? And 5) will they  bring out back issues to buy. The answers are 1) it's up to others but the answer is Spider-man, 2) could it be the 1973 Marvel Annual? 3) it's on sale at the time of this issue, 4) yes he is and 5) maybe not in this decade but wait till the 80's and later still with the birth of eBay.

Another foe from Spider-man's most famous gallery, by Steve Ditko from the Amazing Spider-man Annual #2 cover dated October 1965 published June 1965.

The Mighty Thor "The stronger I am, the sooner I die!"

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #113

Cover date February 1965

(Published in December 1964)

It's a crazy Kirby opening splash page that features a villain trying in his souped up bucket racing car to escape Thor but failing. Jack is having a lot of fun with the Thor adventures lately, aided and abetted by Chic Stone who knows how to keep Jack's elaborate artwork in check. It's another tale where Loki is looking for a pawn to set against the Thunder God in the hope of destroying him. 

This week is the turn of convict Crusher Creel who Loki with a magical portion gifts the brute incredible strength through the uncanny power of absorbing the properties of anything he touches and thus the Absorbing Man is born with his prison ball and chain as a weapon against the mighty Thor hammer. Harris Hobbs a reporter who we'll see more of in the future, informs Don Blake that Creel is on the loose from prison and the Thunder God seeks out the fiend in the Black mountain swamp area. Does he defeat him? Find out next week.

Tales of Asgard "The Storm Giants!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #100

Cover date January 1964

(Published in November 1963)

 

  This weeks Tale of Asgard sees the young Thor and his half brother, Loki engage in a foolish but brave adventure as they make a bid to free Agnor, King of eagles from the grotesque Storm Giants. Thor's strength and valour combined with Loki's cunning succeed  in the liberating the giant bird and a sizeable amount of the Storm Giant's Golden Apples.

Odin is pleased with the brave deed accomplished by the young Asgardians, especially Thor, noting that after each noble deed the young god's power increases as he lifts the mighty hammer a little higher. Loki is less pleased, hoping that he would receive all the credit but Odin is too wise to be deceived. It's a lovely little tale, really quite charming.

Another in house advert featuring the new Avengers weekly like the one shown earlier but this time the lower part features the Might World of Marvel. 

 So let's get on to Mighty first issue.

The Avengers #1

And then there were three Marvel weeklies on the British newsstands. The Avengers weekly or the Avengers comic or simply the Avengers was a glossy Marvelite magnet compared to its older brothers. I'm going to court some controversy here, but I do prefer the glossy covers over the newsprint ones. They stood out over the usual British boys comics. Loads of you may disagree with that opinion, allowing nostalgia to fuel your love for the newsprint material, which is fair enough, but of course you'll be wrong. (Only joking, feel free to disagree with in the usual ways.) The glossy cover did mean a price increase, up to six pence but wants a pence between friends? This cover is a collage of images from the featured Avengers story with artwork by Jack Kirby with George Roussos. The Dr. Strange insert is by Dan Adkins I'm lead to believe as I see little reason to disagree with. The internet says that it's from Doctor Strange 169 but I couldn't spot it in that issue.  

I bought my copy of this landmark issue in 1986/1987 from one of my favourite comic shops, Odyssey Magazine and Poster Centre , 21 Hanging Ditch, Coin Exchange Building, Manchester, bagged of the price of one pound. Sadly it came without the free Superhero Transfers. I also got the Planet of the Apes issue 1 and Dracula Lives issue 1 for one pound each at the same time. It mainly sold US imports but it also had a large selection of older stuff too. It was a fantastic comic shop that is sadly no-longer there. I spent many happy Saturdays once every month or so, on trips to Manchester and shops like that in my teenage years.

The Avengers "Captain America joins the Avengers!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Rousso

Originally published in The Avengers #4

Cover date March 1964

(Published in January 1964)

Earth's mightiest heroes welcome the legendary Captain America into the ranks of the Avengers. The last time we saw the Avengers we saw that the star spangled legend was already with the team in MWOM#49 and #50 . This backward step filled us in with the details of how Cap was discovered floating in the North Sea after the Sub-Mariner in a fit of rage had thrown the ice block encasing the hero into the sea where it slowly melted after events seen in MWOM#48 . 

As much as I might have give the impression that I've fallen out of love with Stan Lee I do believe it was his creative force and vision that brought back Cap to the Marvel Universe. May be even crafting the idea that Cap was in suspended animation in a block of ice after events at the end of the World War Two. He knew what sold and what the kids wanted.

Those events entailed the Captain and his side kick Bucky Barnes racing after an explosive filled drone plane set off by the evil nazis scientist Baron Zemo. Cap slips off it into the icey waters as Bucky apparently dies as he deactivates the booby trapped drone.  

Cap takes a rest as the Avengers arrive back at New York to the awaiting press. One of those camera men is an Alien with a device that turns the Avengers to stone. After waking alone and taking a confusing journey through modern New York Cap meets Rick Jones who is looking for the Avengers. Together they piece together that the stone statues are the real Avengers and they hunt down the Alien, finding out that his likeness must have been behind the legend of the Medusa. The Sub-Mariner had blackmailed him into trapping the Avengers in exchange for freeing his ship that had been embedded in the ocean bed for centuries. 

The Avengers work to free his ship but are attacked by Namor and some of his  lost followers. The fight is brief, the alien escapes and Iron Man with the agreement of the other Avengers asks Cap to be their latest member. It's a cracking tale to start the first issue of the Avengers. I'm going to love this comic.

A welcome to young readers from Marvel UK's latest mag. Forged from the friendship through the pages of the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly, the Avengers came into being because of an avalanche of letters demanded it. The editor asks new friends of the assemblers to slap  down your six pence on the newsagents counter and ask for the next issue, as you're not just buying a comic, no it's more like paying your entrance fee to a new way of life! 

Also next week's free gift is an "Avengers Wonder Weapon!" what ever that is? 

Doctor Strange "The Origin of Dr. Strange!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in Strange Tales #115

Cover date December 1963

(Published in September 1963)

Even though this Doctor Strange story is titled the origin of Dr. Strange it was the fourth appearance of the master of the mystical arts in his continuity. Originally his appearance was more as an oriental look character, in this story Stephen Strange has more white American looks at one point Baron Mordo calls Strange a "Western Dog!" After a car accident that looses Doctor Stephen Strange's hand dexterity that is required to be a top surgeon he falls into depression and leads him on to a journey to the Himalayas in search of a cure from a mythic healer know as the Ancient One.

Once Strange meets the Ancient One he is less than pleased with the "old fraud's parlour tricks" and tries leaving but a heavy snow fall entraps  Stephen in the temple until it can thaw. During his stay Strange spies the Ancient One's apprentice Baron Mordo plotting with his real master Dormammu, against the Ancient One. Unable to inform on the Baron after the evil one casts a spell of silence, they only way to break the spell is to learn magic. Dr. Strange accepts the offer to become an apprentice to the Ancient One. Knowing Mordo's intensions all along the Ancient One releases the Doctor from the Baron's spell and sets about teaching him the art of magic. After this weeks final Ditko Spider-man story it's great to get another series plotted and drawn by him. Steve Ditko's mystic arts stories are as good as good as it gets. These Steve Ditko Doctor Strange beauties. It's going to be an amazing ride.

Next week promises us the mystic power of Nightmare! Dr. Strange's ever first story! Plus these's John Romita SR's first Spider-man story too, that changes Peter Parker's life forever. All that and so much more! It was a blast being a Marvel fan in the 70's! Can't wait to start reading next weeks comics again! So as they say...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.