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.