Once a Marvel fan..!

 Week Ending 2rd February 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #70

This week's Mighty World of Marvel cover uses the Herb Trimpe original cover from the Incredible Hulk #117. It's pretty much the same except that in the US version the Leader has an orange jumpsuit instead of the British blue version and the Super-Humanoid has a bright and varied colour scheme that may well be eye catching to kids but to me it looks a bit weird, like kinky red hot pants and vest on an inflatable doll. May be the original blue colour scheme was to dull and not kid friendly enough. Last week's Hulk title, "World's End?" was seen on the cover, in slightly bigger letters than the original US version, although it was the second-half of that story this week's story title is "Dooms-day!"

The Incredible Hulk "Dooms-day!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #117

Cover date July1969

(Published in April 1969)

For most second halves of a reprinted story in these British Marvel weeklies a version of the original US cover would be used to re-cap the previous week's action, later specially created re-cap splash pages would become very common and much later a specially created re-cap page consisting of new panels that would fill the reader in would be used. Here we see an early version of that idea were two panels from page nine of the original US comic are combined together, by either re-drawing, or partly re-drawing by an unknown artist, then the lower four panels on this page where lifted freely from page 10 of that comic, minus the original top two panels. Does that work for me? Well it does a little, you do have to accept that a serialised story has to have a jumping on point, by informing a casual reader of where the story is up to and then rushing straight into the action, but I also have a soft spot for opening splash pages. The way British Marvel editors with their creativity, get round that problem is another part of what makes these comics unique. With the US imports only randomly distributed, which caused a an expensive problem for many, these weeklies were a blessing.

The power of the Hulk quickly defeats the Super-Humanoid leading to the return of the emerald monster to the missile base, only too late to stop the Leader's plan of ending the world through nuclear war with a first strike. Betty as the only person free of the Leader's mind-control, calms down the green brute so that he'll transform back into Banner, allowing his scientific mind to find a solution to end the armageddon before it can start. It's a bit hippy-ish from Lee and Trimpe that an intelligent man of peace can stop the impending war, but Banner does program and release his own designed Hunter Missile that intercepts the Leader's earlier nuclear warhead.   

Taken aback by this set back the Leader launches another nuclear missile but without another Hunter missile to counter it the Hulk, who's form Banner had been forced to resume, leaps of after to take a bucking bronco ride on it, forcing its planned course to deviate. Seconds before it explodes the Hulk flings himself away. The Leader reasons that there is no more time to launch another as his mental control over the troops at the missile base is wearing off, he makes his escape in a aircraft only to be nearly missed by a falling object, who turns out to be the unconscious form of the Hulk. Surfacing from his watery landing the comatose body of Bruce Banner is no concern of the fleeing fiend, but for the readers a promise of "Next: Atlantis!" Teasing more adventures in seven days.

Daredevil "As it was in the beginning..."

Writer: Stan Lee and Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in Daredevil #53

Cover date June 1969

(Published in April 1969)

The opening splash page from Daredevil #53 is used for the second part of this Daredevil story with the dialogue in some word balloons changed to fit in with the period in which this tale is supposed to fall. The original story has been cut up with last week's DD story coming from the middle part of Daredevil #53, while the first and third parts make up this UK version. It's a reworking that really does work. The loss of some panels and the edited dialogue don't spoil the story, they are functional and it makes a fitting re-telling of Daredevil's origin for the newer readers who missed it's first outing just over a year ago. 

There's no shocks in this tale, as I said last we I adore the original telling of this story, but this version, being a fine effort, still doesn't hold the same place in my heart as the original version. One strange left over from the Thomas/Colan version in that the editor misses the Daredevil line "With Starr Saxon on the loose, menacing my duel identity!" in the top right panel of the last page of this story, but heavily editing the final fourth panel. Did young British readers spot that slip, who's this "Starr Saxon" he's talking about? Did that and this story spoil issue 172 when it gets released in just under two years time? I'm sure you dear readers and future reviewed letter pages will let me know. What I do know now is that it's great to have Daredevil back, maybe not so much for this story or the ones in the next couple of months worth of MWOM issues but after that things are starting to look really "Red-hot". 

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Or should that be "The Web and the Hammer"? Someone slipped up there with the letter page logo from Spider-man Comics Weekly appearing instead of the mighty Marvel Mailbag logo. The first letter is from Ian Tutton from Cheshire who might well have been writing to SMCW's letter page as he thinks SMCW is Marvellous, but also asks why the Human Torch always appears in Spidey's mag but none of the other FF members do? Nigel Hoskins from Devon wonders how in MWOM #45 Sue Storm made herself and her dress invisible but later in the same issue she turned invisible while her dress did not. Sue can turn other objects invisible while she is also invisible but for artistic licence or story plot this doesn't always happen. Terry Stothard from Herts writes in with a big spoiler, that the Green Goblin is.... Norman Osborn! after he has seen him revealed in the US Amazing Spider-man #119. Yeah a bit late there Terry, British readers found out in SMCW #33, 18 week's before his letter gets printed but as these letters only get to see print weeks later and the postal service can be slow I'll let him off. 

Edward Cooney from Lancashire asks is Doctor Doom really Kang? Well the editor reply they don't know because they haven't the courage to ask him. He also asks do other comics have to ask permission to use Marvel's super-heroes? The all out answer is yes they do have to ask first. I hope blogs are given a a free pass, otherwise the loop holes I'll have to jump through would be tiring. Marvel I love you since I was a wee baby, there are bigger fish to fry than little old me. Brian Dique from Cheshire wants to see Doctor Doom's real face from under his iron mask. Rather you than me. Brian wants to see a new comic called Sub-Mariner, with the Atlantean prince as the main star, as well as DD and the X-Men as back-up strips. Not sure of the title but a comic with X-Men and Sub-Mariner sounds like a Titan(s)-ic idea. Billy MacKay from Glasgow discovered that there was a hero called Goliath who had the same powers as Giant-man, could Marvel explain. Well they are one and the same as we'll find out if we keep reading these weeklies.

Way back in November last year Marvel and the Angling Times' famous Kingfisher Guild club ran a Marvel/angling competition. Now we get the answers and the names of the first, second and third place winners as well as the twenty runners-ups. You had to match the heads to the bodies of the fishes and heroes in a silhouette line-up. Fish head "A" belonged to body "2" and was a pike. I got that one right. Fish head "B" belonged to body "3" which was a cod, as the son of a fisherman I hold my head low in shame as I believed it was a perch and was number "2". Of course being a life long Marvelyte I got the next two completely right, "C" went with body "3" to make up the mighty Thor, while "D" belonged with body "2" to complete the high swinging Daredevil.   
Timothy Heaney from Ilford in Essex landed a Gladding Intrepid Rod and Supertwin reel as first prize winner, Andrew Brunt from Harborough in Leicestershire netted a 12 foot fishing rod as second place winner, while in third place came Martin Dowse from Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire hooked a Supertwin reel. Twenty runners up each scooped up a Gladding Boyo reel. No room to name them all so you'll have to zoom in on the page to find out who was the lucky twenty. There's a promise that next week the fifty lucky winners of a FOOM memberships and the fifty Kingfisher Guild club memberships winners will be revealed.

The Fantastic Four "Enter:the Invincible Man!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #32

Cover date November 1964

(Published in August 1964)

After last weeks mysterious stranger who visited the prison cell of Doctor Franklin Storm only to assume his identity and then reveal that he had fantastic powers even greater than the Fantastic Four, we open this week with an adapted cover from Fantastic Four #32 that comfortably links into the action of the FF being humbled by the self named Invincible Man. To those who worked out the clues from last week's opening half of this story the mysterious stranger turns out to be the Super Skrull who this week beats the FF at every turn. Lucky for them they are lead by Reed Richards who like many of you worked out that little mystery and hatched a plan to stop him.

Richards is a little sharp with his teammates. A habit that does annoy me somewhat, maybe it is a character flaw designed by Lee and Kirby to show how intellectually superior he is to everyone but at the expense of some of his compassion. His sharpness feels to me to be slightly misplaced, especially considering two of his teammates are directly related to the current enemy or if his theory is correct, current missing person. I think a touch more compassion should be shown. Reed uses an "Ultra-sonic radio transmitter" to tell the Skrulls that if they don't return Doctor Storm they will fight the Super Skrull to death. A gamble from Richards that seems to have worked as the Super Skrull is teleported away, with Reed telling Sue that the Skrulls have no further need of her father so they will return him. They do later return Doctor Storm but as clever as Richards is he never suspected that the returning prisoner wouldn't return without a parting gift from the Skrull Empire. Strapped to him was a bomb that would've killed the FF if not for Doctor Storm's bravery that lead him to sacrifice himself so that his children might live. For all the flaws in Lee and Kirby's writing I really do like the way they handle the death scene on the final page. It's very sensitive, but also does not pull its punches. Other comics would approach that subject, especially in a comic for children, in a very different way, but Marvel has always tactfully handled those moments.

   This week MWOM correctly presents this week's double dynamite of weeklies from "magnificent Marvel, which readers of last week's mag would have already seen. 

 

MWOM and SMCW both leave their back pages for a stunning Dinky Toy advert. "Only Dinky have the fire-power on land and sea!" that's what the headline says next to an impressive Leopard tank (Model 692) that really fires shells, with its elevating gun barrel, full traverse swinging turret, moving tank tracks and it's simulated gun firing noise. Under that, in the sea you have a Motor patrol boat (Model 675), which I owned when I was a young un. This water level model ran on concealed wheels and also fired over sized missiles from two forward facing guns. I spent ages looking for those missiles during my childhood after I fired them. Finally an Atlantean City bus (Model 291) that didn't come with any missiles or shells, which is probably the reason why I never owned it. 

 

  

Spider-man Comics Weekly #51

Ron Wilson created this specially drawn cover, with Mike Esposito applying the inks. It's very functional but fairly plain. But I do like the Spider-man image.

Spider-man "Showdown!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #56

Cover date January 1968

(Published in October 1967)

This opening splash page is nothing more but a enlarged panel from page eleven of last week's Spider-man strip, with a new title and text boxes added to re-cap where last week left off. Still suffering from amnesia, Spider-man has been tricked into stealing an isotope for Doctor Octopus that will fix the also stolen "Nullifier". Spidey still unsure of who he is and where his loyalties lie, fails to recover a map given to him by Doc Ock that will lead the US army back to the villains hideout. 

Colonel Jameson follows the trail right to the villains lair and with his troops and some handy smoke grenades subdue the Octopus's men and enter the building. In the chaos Jameson locates the "Nullifier" and uses it to deactivate the fiend's mechanical arms. Doc Ock orders Spider-man to stop Jameson but even in his amnesia state our hero refuses to. Fleeing later as Jameson asks him to come in for questioning. The Colonel allows Spider-man to escape, suspecting that the confused masked man is no threat. It's been a tidy and enjoyable five week story arc, but the fun doesn't stop as next issue Spider-man will still have his amnesia but we are treated to "The coming of Ka-Zar!"

The Web and the Hammer

With the correct letter page logo J. Willmott starts this weeks Web and the Hammer letter page by saying that SMCW is getting better all the time. He wonders why characters like Joe Robertson, Captain Stacy, the Kingpin and the Shocker haven't already appeared yet? But of course by the time his letter gets printed they have. Michael Rhodes RFO, KOF, from Birmingham being an ardent Spider-man fan greatly enjoys the Lee/Ditko classics but John Romita Sr's work on the strip is something else. Ade Dixon from London thinks FOOM is great, and also wants to know who is stronger between Thor and the Sub-Mariner and also between Captain America and Spider-man? On most occasions Thor would beat Subby, as for cap and Spidey the editor says Spidey by a small margin. Ian Dornville from Formby near Liverpool is a new SMCW reader but likes it very much.

S. McDougall from Glasgow writes as Spider-man tells the editor that if he doesn't get to join the Avengers he's quitting comics. Funny just like the editor replies isn't Peter Parker Spider-man, not S. McDougall from Glasgow? Still in Scotland Ian Walker from Edinburgh wishes that there was more of Spider-man getting into trouble with his identity. I think Spider-man has enough trouble without Ian wanting more. Andrew Norbury from Barnsley picks out mistakes ranging from web missing from under Spider-man's arms to Patch missing the fact that both Peter and Spider-man had their arm in a sling but didn't put the two together. He goes on to ask more questions that are too long to go into. Paul Kempson from Exeter once got the shock of his life when he thought that he had missed two weeks of SMCW because of miss reading the Thor story and much of the plot was repeated, or at least that's how I interpreted it.  
 

Iron Man "Iron Man versus Gargantus!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #40

Cover date April 1963

(Published in January 1963)

Iron Man versus Gargantus is a story type change from last week's adventure where Iron Man fought a modern politically opposed enemy in General Wong Chu with the miracles of science. In this week's adventure it looks like the Iron Man will face a monstrous opponent. But all that will have to be seen next week as apart from the opening splash page Gargantus doesn't make an appearance till then. Jack Kirby takes over Iron Man's second story as artist with Don Heck applying the inks. Gargantus does feel like a Kirby character.

What we do get in this week's half story is the three lives of Anthony Stark, the mechanical genius, the sophisticated millionaire playboy and the super-hero adventurer. Or at least what the minds of Stan Lee and guest script writer Robert Bernstein thought those aspects would act and look like. As an older and maybe more wiser, although some would say less wiser man, it did cross my mind wouldn't people consider the millionaire playboy Tony Stark to be a closet homosexual man, in the same vein as Rock Hudson, when he refused to get very intimate with women or even to go swimming with his current girlfriend Jeanne, as seen in this story. All because of his need to keep his Iron Man identity and his life saving iron chest plate secret. Did the women of that time in his life never try to hug him and feel his armour? In 2024 modern writers might incorporate that kind of "outing" by the press into a plot, but back in the 60's (70's) romance was nothing more than dancing and dinner dates and that's as risky as child friendly Marvel gets. Speaking of girlfriends, Marion (his second girlfriend this issue, which either means that the iron chest plate is cramping his style or the writers want to show Stark off as a playboy.) suggests that Iron Man's grey look is too terrifying and if he wore golden armour instead he would look like a knight in shining armour of old. Stark adds special gold paint to his suit to make him a true golden Avenger. When Marion doesn't return from a trip to Granville Stark investigates as Iron Man to find the town has been sealed behind a wall. Once Iron Man digs a tunnel under the wall he also finds the locals aren't that friendly neither. But who or what is Gargantus? Find out next week.

The amazing Spider-man pin-up page. Not sure of the artist or the pin-ups original published appearance. Let me know if you've got a clue.

The Mighty Thor "Asgard imperilled!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #123

Cover date December 1965

(Published in October 1965)

The opening splash page of this story uses a panel taken from page of last week's Thor tale with the Odin image from the second page of this week's Thor adventure added at the bottom. A new title, credits and re-cap have also been added. The story follows straight from were last week's ended with Thor arriving in Asgard with reporter Harris Hobbs, to find Asgard imperilled by the assault of the Absorbing Man, under the direction of Loki, who has absorbed the power of a cyclone created by Odin. 

Thor rushes to his father's aid, but the All Father bids his son to hold back and allow him to deal with the mortal. Loki enters telling the Absorbing Man to finish the deadly deed as Odin is not one to be trifled with. This open flaunt of treason reveals the God of Mischiefs part in the treacherous affair. Odin seeing no reason to see his kingdom destroyed gives the royal sceptre to his adopted son. Not wanting to be left out of the royal gifts Creel grapples with the sceptre. The two fiends stick to the ornamented staff as Odin declares that the power rests in himself and not the ceremonial sceptre, so sending them both into the freezing void of deep space. Thor finds Hobbs under wreckage from the battle with his camera broken and returns the mortal to Earth with his mind wiped with the Asgardian gift of forgetfulness that removes all memories save some vague dreams he might have while he sleeps. While in an Asian village the Norn Stone empowered which doctor who now names himself the Demon declares his desire to rule the world with his demoniacal powers. To which Thor will most probably face next week in another classic tale of Asgard's favourite son by the heavenly masters Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

  A special bonus page featuring Thor in action. Ten panel showing the mighty Thor at his fighting best from various stories. At least three of them come from the Thor tale seen in Journey into Mystery #109, cover dated October 1964, published August 1964, that was never reprinted in a Marvel UK comic, because of when it would have been due to be released Magneto had only just made his debut in MWOM #49 , while his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants would only make the first British Marvel appearance in April 1975 in the pages of the Super-heroes #7, they would all make significant appearances in JIM #109. It's a shame as that story would have been a great one to read. The large panel with multiple Thor images comes from SMCW #23.

Spider-man Comics Weekly's double dynamite in-house ad features this week's covers for both the Avengers and the Mighty World of Marvel. Seeing the Avengers cover with the headline of "Bonus:Dr. Strange--face to face with Baron Mordo!" and the lower text box that reads "Once an Avenger..!" with the giant image of Kang between the two makes me want to dig right into "Britain's Greatest" weekly mag. So let's do just that.

The Avengers #20

Very little has changed from this cover and it's original usage as the cover of the Avengers #23 (US version), apart from the slight colour changes to Hawkeye's costume, Kang's colour scheme and the upper background, which originally showed a star-scape. It doesn't need changing as Jack Kirby with John Romita Sr's inks nailed it completely. That's why it's my cover of the week. No disagreeing comments needed, it just is alright! It was so good that this artwork was used again as the cover of Marvel Triple Action #17 cover dated March 1974, published November 1973. That comic may well have landed on a newsagents shelf this side of the Atlantic at a similar time as this weekly sat near it. Did you ever see that happen? Which one would you pick up? The weekly mag of the full colour American reprint or the regular weekly? 

The Avengers "Once an Avenger..."

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: John Romita Sr

Originally published in The Avengers #23

Cover date December 1965

(Published in October1965)

Captain America has left the Avengers, leaving them at their lowest fighting prowess. Wanda blames Hawkeye's continuous mocking of Cap and his challenging for the leadership roll. The infighting between the three doesn't ease the loss of their leader. A perfect time for one of their greatest enemies to take advantage of. In another century Kang the Conqueror devises a plot to beat this squabbling threesome by landing his Time Machine craft, disguised as the upper floor of the Avengers mansion, on the very roof of that building. The trap is set and the Avengers charge straight into it, transporting them into the future.

In that future Kang and his army of nomadic warriors are holding siege to a future Earth kingdom whose ruler and his daughter Princess Ravonna both refuse to give in to the Conqueror. The three Avengers escape their glass prisons forcing Kang to express his power by recapturing them by himself.

Captain America discovers the Avengers are missing and using the lame but handy plot device of the Recreater, (or Time Reversal Ray,) created by Mister Hyde in SMCW #24 which some how came into the possession of the Avengers, to discover Kang's involvement in their kidnap. Princess Ravonna goats Kang into accepting Captain America's challenge to face him, which he does. Kang asks the Princess to accept his love, in exchange he'll stop his Hordes from invading the royal city. The Avengers unite to fight Kang but the deadline in almost up as the Conqueror's army ready themselves for the final assault. There it ends, but whatever you do, do not miss next week's issue of the Avengers, because it's going to be a sensational story. I really can't wait!

Avengers Assemble!

Nick Marshallsay from Worcester saw an image of Hawkeye in the letter page of the Avengers #5 and asks when will he appear? Well Nick he already has in the Avengers #13. Derek Allan KOF from Northumberland wants to slim down the number of strips in the three British Marvel weeklies to six with two in each mag. For my opinion three strips per mag is perfect. He believes that Marvel put boobs and mistakes in their mags just to get rid of No-prizes. He might have a point as I do the same as I've got a shed full of Power of the Beesting No-Prizes (PotBNoP's) that I need to get rid of so that I can store my lawnmower back in it. Derek also wants Marie Severin to draw the Hulk, and folders that are specially made to store his mags in. Derek also doesn't want to see any other format for British comics other than weeklies, that's no to monthlies, bi-monthlies or bi-weeklies. He would be fine with Summer, Christmas or Easter specials though. Neville Whitehouse from Birmingham has found religion after reading the Avengers issues 1, 2 and 3. That religion is called the Avengers weekly. 

Doctor Strange "Face-to-face at last with Baron Mordo!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #132

Cover date May 1965

(Published in February 1965)

    

This symbolic splash page by Steve Ditko is a cracker. Thus proving that Ditko is at his artistic height with these Doctor Strange stories. But not just Doctor Strange, he was producing some of his best Spider-man work at the same time. Luckily we've still got some magical weeks of them to come. Strange returns to New York, after escaping from Baron Mordo's dragnet of followers in Hong Kong, in the hope that he can find sanctuary in his Sanctum Sanctorum, but Mordo has stationed a mystic lackey inside the Doctor's home incase he does foolishly return. Elsewhere a feverish Ancient One calls out that "his loyal disciple cannot battle Mordo and his new ally alone, he needs help!" He ends his delirium by calling out the words "Eternity, Eternity!" over and over again.

Strange use's a disguise to gain entrance and a very un-magical right hook to render the guard unconscious. Strange seeks the Eye of Agamotto to locate the source of Baron Mordo's newly increased power. Mordo has thought about that and set an invisible spell on the Eye that will alert the evil sorcerer if it is being used. Mordo instantly arrives and battles the Doctor in mystical combat. Strange hears the voice of the Baron's master gloating his minion on and recognises that it belongs to the Dreaded Dormammu. But this discovery comes too late as the courageous man of magic blacks out under the Baron's magical assault, into the darkness, the thunderous silence of a swirling stygian void. Is this the end? Only for this week, there'll be more magical mystery next issue. Better bring your Amulet!

And that's it for this week apart from the back page of the Avengers weekly, which is the only mag for this week to still feature another chance to enter the Marvel Artist Competition. The other thing that I noticed about this was a price label on the back of my copy for 25 pence. Which lead me to remember the regular trips to Manchester, shopping at Paramount Books from around 1986 to 1989, where I would pick up stacks of weekly comics at bargain prices that filled out my British Marvel collection. Happy days.

The shop is still there and it's a treasure trove of books and comics. I went there the other day and bought some US comics. There are still some weeklies for sale but not at 1980's prices I'm afraid, well the comics were ten to fourteen years old at the time. Prices for those mags have gone up a lot, it's now thirty eight years on from those days 25 pence a comic days. It might be worth a look if you're missing the odd copy. They only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And only accept cash but if you do buy anything they might offer you some free fruit. Not only is it a great place for book/comic worms it's good for your health too.

Right I'm off to think about those happy days and plan for the next Power of the Beesting blog, while all the while remembering "Once a Marvel fan...always a Marvel fan!"

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.