Action and adventure, right on target!

 Week Ending 13th October 1973

Last weeks Power of the Beesting asked did anyone know where this image of the Sub-Mariner was from and if they could comfirm who the original artist was as I imagined, from style of artwork, it could have been drawn by Jack Kirby. Well Alan Russell commented, with incredible speed via the FaceBook group UK Marvel in the Seventies, that the image of Namor was taken from a piece of commissioned artwork by Jack Kirby, that was used together with an article on Marvel Comics in Esquire Magazine from the 60's. He even found pictures of the two pages from that magazine featuring the artwork. So a well deserved Power of the Beesting No-Prize for Alan, he must have a few now, once he gets one hundred he could exchange them for a Marvel No-Prize. (WARNING! PotBNoP have zero monetary value and cannot be exchanged for any comics!)

After doing a bit of digging myself I found out that the article and artwork was used in the September 1966 issue of Esquire. Jack Kirby had laid out the pencil work with Joe Sinnott, and Marie Severin assisting with the inks. Supposedly, Martin Goodman saw these pages and asked editor Stan Lee why Marie wasn’t drawing a comic strip, which led to her taking over the art chores on the Hulk. The original artwork was sold by Heritage Auctions HA.com on the 17 June 2021 for $168,000 which is approximately £139,120. If you want to see more of that article and artwork Tom Brevoort has more information and pages from that magazine here. Take a look but come right back for this weeks Power of the Beesting, Week Ending blog.

One more quickie from last week, Paul Lynch (again via UK Marvel in the Seventies,) pointed out that the Hulk image used in the "Double Dynamite" advert for that weeks MWOM was taken from Tales to Astonish #77, which was can be seen on the fifth panel of page nine in MWOM#30 . 

The Mighty World of Marvel #54

Right on to what Marvel UK had to offer from the second week of October 1973, I really like this cover by Ron Wilson with inks by Frank Giocoia. It says "I'm a Marvel cover" but screams "I'm a British boys comic" with the wonderful symbolic image of the Hulk and a small boy in target crosshair while the gun man takes aim. I think I'll name it this weeks Beesting Cover of the Week!

The Incredible Hulk "Above the Earth, a titan rages!"

Writer: Archie Goodwin, Roy Thomas

Artist: Marie Severin, Herb Trimpe

Inker: George Tuska

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #106

Cover date August 1968

(Published in May 1968)

Bit of a tag team creative team this week. Archie Goodwin writes the first ten pages then Roy Thomas completes the next ten, if you look carefully you can see the difference almost as the story moves from New York, then on to somewhere in the USSR. It's not only the writers who share out the chores in a tag teams style, the artists get in on the act with Marie Severin handling the pencil breakdown, then future Hulk artist mainstay Herb Trimpe filling out the artwork, while George Tuska finishes it off with his ink work. Severin, Trimpe and Tuska are all decent pencillers in their own right so I wonder was a deadline looming? Trimpe has in the past inked the Hulk and would of course take over as regular Hulk artist soon. We've seen some of his future work already in MWOM#42 as a teaser of what to expect.

Nick Fury makes his first Marvel UK appearance as the head of the newly formed secret agent organisation SHIELD, although British fans would have seen the eye-patch-less CIA agent in the Fantastic Four story "The Hate-monger!" from MWOM#45 and MWOM#46 , older fans might have seen his adventures in the Power Comic Pow, but as British Marvel doesn't exist before 1972 we don't talk about them. (Except when we do.) This cigar chewing, eye patch wearing agent, super-agent is just what fans want. There's even a SHIELD Helicarrier too, or is there?

Colonel Fury arrives a touch late to stop the battle between the Hulk and the Missing Link, as the twin titans are kidnapped by the "Vortex Beam" from a fake Helicarrier under the command of Fury's Russian counterpart Colonel Yuri Brevlov, who orders are to capture both monsters so that his superiors may create an army of such creatures. Even though "maximum density stun-mist" was used on the two brutes it was not enough to restrain the green savage, causing the main ship to crash. As his orders are to capture or obliterate the monsters, Colonel Brevlov must destroy the Hulk who lands near a small farm house somewhere in Russia. While saving a small child from the wrecked farm the Hulk becomes an easy target for the Colonel, but will he take the shot or face being branded as a traitor by his superiors? To be Hulkinued next week!

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag 

William Walker from Coatbridge has been reading Marvel Comics for three years, mainly US imports, but lately he has been enjoying Marvel UK's weeklies. He writes in hope that those British weeklies will one day soon feature the Avengers. Mike Mittelstadt from Bedford writes a long and well thought out letter demanding that other heroes are introduced into the Marvel UK universe, pointing out that the editors can't keep tampering with the stories without people like Mike eventually finding it unbearably irritating. Pointing towards some of the scratchy edited text when names are changed and panels or artwork is either removed or re-drawn.  He also makes great points about is there any need to do so and if like in the US Marvel is aimed at all age groups why don't they make adult size Hulk t-shirts. He does have a great opinion, these days merchandise comes in all sizes from child to adults. 

Henry T. from London brags that his letter might need to be printed over a few weeks, it doesn't as it's not quite as long as Mike's pen-full. In his own words he writes like "a chapter out of the bible and the rest are song lyrics by David Bowie." In truth his does re-write the Bowie classic life on Mars. Graham Parkinson from Sheffield cleverly suggests that with two weeklies selling in Britain another weekly should be published, called the Avengers. Funny how that worked out. G. Broadbelt from Teeside writes that even though bringing Marvel comics to Britain was the best thing since comics where invented. Still he writes that Marvel UK isn't up to the standards of their US cousins. Which could be levelled with the introduction of colour and bringing out even more comics. Ending this weeks Marvel Mailbag on a lighter note Chris Hawkes from London wants to know will the Mighty World of Marvel be having any seven foot monsters for sale, as he would like one for his bedroom. That would be cool but not sure what any lady-friends would think.
  

This Marvel Masterwork Pin-up features an image of the Thing taken from the second panel of page 6 from the Fantastic Four #48, cover dated March 1966, published December 1965, by Jack Kirby with inks by Joe Sinnott. Here's what the original panel looks like. 

The Fantastic Four "And a child shall slay them!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #24

Cover date March 1964

(Published in December 1963)

This weeks opening FF splash page is of course the cover of Fantastic Four issue 24 that had already been use in MWOM#52 as an advert for the next issue. The shenanigans from last week adventure continue as Ben, Johnny and Sue set out to find the adolescent alien, leaving Reed to work on an idea he has. Meanwhile Big Joe and his mob gang find out the hard way that controlling an adolescent is no easy task. 

On the first two panels of page 33 Jack Kirby uses a photo montage for possibly the first time. It's smaller in scale than later instances where full page images are used. The British black and white print washes out the image some what but Jack seems to have lifted an image of Martian space ships from the 1953 film adaptation of The War of the Worlds.  

Ultimately Reed signals the passing aliens who it would seem are looking for their wayward child as Reed theorised. The family are reunited, the FF are thanked and the aliens leave never to be seen for quite some time. The Infant Terrible did return in "Summons from the stars" as seen in the Fantastic Four Annual #19 cover dated 1985, published August 1985, which can also be seen in Marvel UK's Secret Wars II #55 cover dated 19the July 1986. Spoilers: that time it was a Skrull in disguise. Much later it would return in Power Pack #56 and other future issues.

This weeks inside back page boasts an advert for this weeks Avengers comic and Spider-man Comics Weekly, with a close up of the Avengers cover used for the first and a full cover used for the second. The Avengers face "Their darkest hour!" in which they must battle the mighty Thor. Plus a second great feature of Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts! In Spider-man comics weekly we have "The horns of the Rhino!" "The spirit of an Avenger!" and "Thor's mission to Mirmir!" in Spider-man, Thor and Tales of Asgard respectively. Or do we? Lets find out.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #35

It's a lovely cover this week from Marie Severin with Sal Buscema adding the inks. It originally was from the reprint title Marvel Tales volume 2 #30, cover dated April 1971. I think it looks smashing! If it wasn't for this weeks great MWOM cover I'd make it this weeks Beesting cover of the week. 

Spider-man "The horns of the Rhino!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita SR

Inker: Mike Esposito 

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #41

Cover date October 1966

(Published in July 1966)

This story marks the first appearance of the Rhino giving his creation to Lee and Romita SR, even though for Marvel UK readers the rampaging Rhino had appeared two weeks earlier in the Hulk tale from MWOM #52 . In this story he is strong but Spider-man out thinks him, using his strength against him. In the Hulk story his strength is increased to match the Hulk through a Gamma Ray process as seen in MWOM#52. 

In interviews John Romita SR would often say that in his early Spider-man stories he would try to copy the style of Steve Ditko so that it would't be as jarring to readers. I actually think that in his first two stories he was very much his own man, pencilling in his own style. But this issue does feel at times to be in a slight Ditko style.

It's worth noting that Bill Ward pencilled some pages in this story due to Romita becoming ill. In the UK edition they are pages 14,15, 18, 19 and 20. Romita did touch up Wards artwork a little when he recovered from the illness before the original US publication.

 John Jameson makes a return, retelling how Spider-man rescued him way back in MWOM#3 . We also learn that John was involved in an incident during a space mission where he became infected by some space spores which lay the foundations for this weeks tale as the Rhino wants to kidnap the astronaut to sell him to foreign powers to aid their space program The following two weeks stories will make great use of this plot line.  

 Story wise Peter is moving away from the Ditko era. He becomes more mature and less of an obnoxious teenager. His relationships with his classmates start to blossom. Flash and Harry become more friendly, Gwen Stacy starts to share more romantic interest in Peter to which Peter becomes more flirty in reply. Peter becomes more cooler, even getting a motor bike with believe it or not the reg number PP1! He's becoming less tied to Aunt May apron strings foreshowing that Peter could soon be moving out of the Parker family home.

 

The Web and the Hammer

Philip Learmont from Salford asks a frightening question, as Spider-man only faces foes with one super power how would he manage against foes with two, three or even six super powers? Keep reading Marvel and you may find out Philip. Simon West from Cheshire wants to see features like those printed about Spider-man but this time about his favourite character Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Alan Chambrook from Essex asks if only Thor can lift his hammer does that mean that the Thing and the Hulk aren't as strong as the Thunder God? Well Alan it's a bit like the legend of King Arthur and Excalibur, Thor is more worthy than the other two to be able to weld the hammer. Philip Bennett from Surrey asks did the radioactive spider bite also increase Peter's academic ability and IQ? I can see why he would think that, but in my opinion Peter was a very bright lad to begin with, are spider's know for being super intelligent? Probably not. The editor suggests that it did increase his senses but I can't see that directly connected to his IQ. His second question is what type of firing mechanism does Spidey's web shooters use? It's compressed air. Wembley from Middlesex (Is that a name of was there a mistake?) noticed that some times the "T" from Thor's belt is missing. Well that is a mistake! Andrew Martin from Dundee would like to see Ant-Man and the Wasp in SMCW, making it a bug themed comic.

Steven Young from Dorset asks will Spider-man and Thor ever fight against each other? They certainly will, keep reading Marvel. Mervyn Boyle, a F.F.F. (we'll get round to those initials
eventually,) from Northern Ireland what's to see Iron Man, Captain America and the Falcon in Marvel UK, suggesting that Iron Man replace Thor in SMCW so that the Thunder God can join Cap and the Falcon in a new comic. Stephen Chester from Staffs who says he is Spider-man's number one fan, but thinks Thor's stories are getting a little "shabby". He enjoys the Hulk and the Fantastic Four's adventures in MWOM but not as much as reading Spider-man.

The Mighty Thor "If this be my final battleground!"

 

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #115

Cover date April 1965

(Published in March 1965)

This splash page lists Chic Stone as the inker from this tale but that is a mistake, although he did ink Jack Kirby's artwork for the original Journey into Mystery cover which is used this issue as an opening splash page to smart effect. Although I wonder if the removal of Loki would have worked better, it's fine on the cover but looks a little strange on this splash page.

At the heart of this weeks tale in the battle between Thor and the Absorbing Man, which is truly magnificent with Creel taking on the form of iron, steel and rock. Ultimately the Absorbing Man is defeated when Thor, through the power of his enchanted hammer, transmutes the next element the villain absorbs into Helium leaving a gaseous form of Creel floating off into space. It's a master class in comic action from the pencil of Kirby. After Thor checks in on Jane Foster to make sure she is well all that remains is Thor's journey to the Rainbow Bridge to compete in the "Trail of the Gods!" More action next week.

Tales of Asgard "Heimdall Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #104

Cover date March 1964

(Published in May 1964)

 

This weeks Tales of Asgard adventure jumps an issue of Journey into  Mystery, missing "Thor's mission to Mirmir!" as advertised in this weeks MWOM. In stead we get the tale of how Heimdall was chosen as the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. He does so by contest in which the candidates, Agnar the fierce, Goton the agile and Heimdall the faithful, show why they should become the keeper of the bridge. 

Heimdall is awarded as the guardian due to his extraordinary sensory abilities that are demonstrated as he can hear the tiniest of saplings growing miles away in the heart of the barren hidden hills and then spies a savage army of Storm Giants many leagues away marching towards the Rainbow Bridge. So with senses as sharp as a hawk's eyesight and an antelope's hearing Heimdall is named as guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. Although I do have a soft spot for the much maligned Don Heck I do feel that his inking on this weeks Kirby artwork does drop the standard of the piece.

 The inside back page of SMCW has the same in house ad for the Avengers as this weeks MWOM did, but under that is an advert for the Mighty World of Marvel boasting 40 pages of dynamic Marvel super-action featuring the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four for only five pence.

Spider-man Comics Weekly's back page features a full colour advert for five fantastic free footballer badges if you collect and send off five wrappers from Cadbury's Fudge bars or five sensational pop-stars badges in exchange for five Super Mousse wrappers. The footie stars are Kevin Keegan, Rodney Marsh, Bobby Moore, Martin Chibers and Alan Clarke. For the pop-stars you get the Jackson Five, David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, the Sweet and Gary Glitter. Oh that's a little awkward, I bet not many, if any of you, have kept his badge.

The Avengers #4

This weeks Avengers cover is taken from the US version of the Avengers #7 with only the background colour changed from blue to white by Jack Kirby and this time with decent inks from Don Heck.

The Avengers "Their darkest hour!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in The Avengers #7

Cover date August 1964

(Published in June 1964)

The title is a bit over the top as the story starts with Iron Man facing a disciplinary session at the Avengers mansion for his missing a call to assemble six days ago. To which he is suspended from active Avengers duty for the period of a week. Not really a reason to call it "their darkest hour."

Meanwhile in Asgard the exquisite Enchantress and the evil Executioner are also facing a similar scene as Odin presides over a judgement on their past endeavours against the golden realm as seen in the Hulk tale from MWOM#45 and not issue 49 as shown in a text bar. Banished to Earth the two seek purpose in their banishment. What they do find is a newspaper with the headline that tells all that the leader of the Masters of Evil, Zemo has escaped the Avengers and fled the country. The Enchantress locates Zemo and asks to join together to take vengeance against the Avengers and in her secret hopes she can seduce the Thunder God. Their plan works at first as they divide the heroes by first tricking Captain America into going to the Central American jungle where Baron Zemo is waiting to trap him.

The Enchantress hypnotises the Asgardian Prince then applies him with a potion that weaves a spell were he has delusions that the Avengers are dangerous evil menaces. Thor attacks Giant Man and the Wasp, which in turn makes Iron Man break his suspension as he aids his fellow Avengers against their teammate. In the jungle an outfought Zemo flees in his jet with a secret hitchhiker on board. In some unbelievable fast flying the Baron gets from Central America to New York in minutes! Some may suggest that the Enchantress with the aid of a spell quickens this journey but I really don't see that myself. In the end Thor is released from the Enchantresses spell with the bright sun light flashing off Iron Man's armour turning the tide to our heroes advantage. As ever is the way the villains make an escape to fight for another day. This vintage 60's Avengers story is pretty cool, as with most Avengers classics I'm a big fan.

 

Letters the Avengers Mailbag is open.

Still no snappy title for the letter page, I'm hoping one will come soon as even the "From the Bullpen to you" goes on to say that after the magnificent MWOM and the sensational SMCW Marvel UK looks to have another hit on their hands, so I hope a better mailbag title to match the titles popularity comes soon too. Tim Webdale from Brighton after ten years on the British comic scene wishes to express his delight at the dawning of the Golden age of Marvel on Britain's long-gloomy horizon. Derek Mercer from Colchester wants to thank Marvel for the Avengers, in his words "the most successful team since the Beetles", I think that should have been "group" but who am I to pick out grammar errors. Richard Brady from Lancashire thinks the Avengers comic is the best, but he won't stop reading "Marvel or Spidey". R.S.I.P.S.H (Royal Society of the Infliction of Pain to Super Heroes.) from Tiptree near Maldon reckons that Marvel super-heroes are a load of weaklings! Asking to have the Hulk sent to them so that he can "kick his head in!" It's all sounds a bit violent! Peter Morley from Yorkshire who is disappointed that Daredevil has been dropped, but wants to see some of the early Avengers and X-Men adventures soon. Keep reading Peter and you will.

  Shaun Ashcroft from Rotherham has two problems with Marvel UK's latest weeklies, the first is the free gifts mark the mag and the second is the lack of colour. His solution is slap in some more advertisements that will fund the addition of colour, if necessary switch to bi-weekly or double the price! Does he want US style monthlies? Finally for this week John O'Brien from Liverpool is beginning to wonder what has been done to Daredevil, adding is he going to reappear in a new comic with the X-Men or the Sub-Mariner?

All the way from the pages of the Mighty World of Marvel, the Incredible Hulk! This Marvel Masterwork Pin-up is taken from Tales to Astonish #62 cover dated December 1964, Published September 1964, drawn by Jack Kirby.

Doctor Strange "The return of the omnipotent Baron Mordo!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in Strange Tales #114

Cover date November 1963

(Published in August 1963)

 Four issues in and this story announces the return of Baron Mordo even after having appeared twice in the first three Doctor Strange tales. Baron Mordo in a typical Ditko villain, there is no shades of grey just black and white, good and evil. Ditko was a supporter of Objectivism, a philosophy made popular by Ayn Rand who described it as "the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute". Ditko follow her ideas which had lead him incorporate Randian views into Spider-Man, you might recall him having Peter Parker become more aggressive, demand better pay for his Spider-Man photos, and show contempt for student protestors. Martin Goodman Marvel's publisher had become worried over Ditko's hard right-wing politics shown in those Spider-man stories that could distance some left-leaning, countercultural university students. Which was probably the reason for Ditko leaving Marvel. During his time on Doctor Strange Ditko's philosophy was able to comfortably sit with the totally good and ultimately evil world of Doctor Strange. Baron Mordo was the perfect opposite to Doctor Strange. I do prefer the latest direction for Spider-man but I do have fondness for Ditko's work so it's great to have these Doctor Strange stories to read. This story also marks the first appearance of Victoria Bentley who would later learn to harness her own magical powers in future Doctor Strange escapaides. 

  

 Meet the Avengers No.2 Iron Man. The main image by George Tuska with inks by Mike Esposito was taken from the cover of Iron Man #22 cover dated February 1970, published November 1969. This pin-up had the Crimson Dynamo and the Titanium Man removed creating an unusual image of old shell-head firing at nothing. 

On that note I end another week of marvellous Marvel weeklies that have been read, reviewed and filed away. So onto next weeks for more action, adventure and alternative points of view.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.