Showdown at sea!

 Week Ending 2rd March 1974

A quick bit of tiding up from last week before I go on to make more holes in looking at this week's mags. Last week's Spider-man Comics Weekly featured a pin-up of Spider-man villain the Rhino by John Romita Sr, it was a piece of artwork I recognised but could't quite place it. Facebook group UK Marvel in the Seventies top contributor Alan Russell was the first to spot that the Rhino image was taken from the cover of the Amazing Spider-man #43 cover dated December 1966, published September 1966, with Spider-man and the background crowd removed. POTB regular commenter Rod Tough also made the same observation, while adding that Jameson's face on the Spider Slayer seen on the cover of SMCW #54 is a paste-up of the one by John Romita from the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #58. I zoomed in on both covers and I have to say I think Rod is right, it is a paste up. Great spotting from you both. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #74

This week's cover for MWOM uses the original US cover from the Incredible Hulk #119 by Herb Trimpe, with help from John Romita Sr. and Marie Severin. Slight colour alterations have been made, such as the Hulk's trousers are more pinky/purple than the blue/purple colour seen in the US version. But the biggest alteration is Maximus is "shocking" the Hulk with lightning bolts from his hands, a power that as far as I know he doesn't possess. 

The Incredible Hulk "The rage of battle!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #119

Cover date September 1969

(Published in June 1969)

 

The opening page uses a blown up of the second pages third panel with the dialogue cut and pasted from both second and third panels, with a large blown up Hulk head placed there for no reason. This is a fine reuse of panels to start the second half of the strip, but it does feel jarring when you read the same dialogue twice. 
At this point we get reintroduced to the League of Evil Inhumans, although they are never called that in this comic at all, whom we last meet in MWOM #60 , they haven't lost any of their evil ways.

Maximus orders Falcona to execute the informer who Bruce Banner talked to last week with her falcons which does look very convincing. Alfred Hitchcock would be impressed, Herb Trimpe is on top form, nailing the fight scenes. The only thing that starts to get very repetitive is the number of panels where the Hulk is seen leaping. But that is what the Hulk does so I shouldn't be surprised.  

The Hulk takes on each Evil Inhuman one at a time, pulling Stallior off his feet with his ball and chain, then chomping through the chains iron links with his jaws. He out wrestles Leonus by breaking his grip and hurling him against a wall. Timberius with his power over vegetation binds the Hulk with vines so that Aireo can lift him aloft to be dropped from a great height into an area of bottomless sands.

 Before he can the savage Hulk shatters the bonds only to fall into Falcona's flock of falcons that peck and claw at him, however the jade giant disperses these with a powerful "thunderclap" from the most powerful hands on earth. Just then Maximus spies an armed task force arriving by planes as troopers and tanks are parachuted in. Maximus offers the confused Hulk a chance to join him and his evil Inhumans against the newly arrived force or face both Inhuman and US army against unbelievable odds. Next week "The dread decision!"

 

Daredevil "Killer's castle!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wally Wood and Bob Powell

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Daredevil #9

Cover date July 1965

(Published in May 1965)

The opening splash page uses the original cover of Daredevil #9 by Wally Wood (without the Bob Powell finishing pencil work,) but with added text boxes that get the reader up to date with how Matt Murdock arrived in the country of Lichtenbad as the guest of Duke Klaus Kruger, who like every "good" evil villain should is telling Daredevil how he plans to gather the greatest minds in the world through trickery and deceit, and use them to build and army of robots to conquer the world. 

Daredevil escapes from Kruger's dungeons and frees the other prisoners of conscience in a minor rebellion. Resuming his Matt Murdock identity the blind lawyer arrives at the surgery of Doctor Van Eyck for the results of his eye test. Van Eyck tries to warn Murdock of the danger he is in, even if the operation was a success the Duke wouldn't allow him to leave. Hidden microphones pick up the treasonous remarks and robot guards enter to take Van Eyck away to the "Killer's castle." Daredevil follows and fights the evil Duke, managing to beat every weapon Kruger can throw his way. DD hears explosions that signal the people destroying the robot army as in the duel between DD and the Duke, the man without fear had smashed Kruger's robot army control panel. The tyrant's last trump card was a cobalt bomb hidden in the castle. Doctor Van Eyck now freed overhears the Duke boasting and manages to find the bomb control, risking his life he disconnects the cobalt rods, stopping the explosion but ending his own life with the deadly radiation. On the high castle walls Kruger makes a final attempt to defeat DD, but our hero ducks under the Duke's lunge sending the madman falling to his death. Matt has to return to the US without recovering his eyesight. This story is fine but doesn't move the lead characters story on much at all.   

A page of poster offer teasers, adverts and pocket money competition results. "Guess what?" Next week there'll be details on an offer for posters featuring the Hulk, Spidey and the Silver Surfer. I'll let you into a secret, next week there won't. 

In fact readers will have to wait weeks before this teaser comes true. Under the Charles Atlas and Stamp Quiz advert we do find out who the winner of the third Pocket Money competition from the Marvel mags published week ending the 15th December was. David Norman from Surrey, who gets one pound a week, very week for a year starting from the first of March. The answers to the five questions are 1) Loch Ness is thought to be the home of a Scottish sea-monster, 2) Lions can be found in Longleat, 3) Ireland is sometimes called "the Emerald Isle", 4) Rick Jones is the Hulk's best friend and finally 5) the largest Avenger is sometimes know as Ant Man. 

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Uran Goyal from London asks why Daredevil was removed (obviously this letter was written before his return,) and thinks that Daredevil should star in his own comic together with the X-Men and the Defenders. Mark Tizard from Southampton writes also asking why Daredevil was removed and the Hulk was given two stories. Mark things that the Fantastic Four should have been removed and the Sub-Mariner should have been their replacement in a line up of the Hulk, Daredevil and the Sub-Mariner. Other questions from Mark are "why miss out the Silver Surfer story from the Hulk?" "Where are the X-Men?" "Why are there so many adverts in Marvel Comics?" and why in the American comics Medusa stars with the Human Torch, the Thing and Wyatt Wingfoot in the Fantastic Four, instead of Reed Richards and Sue Storm?" The editor dodges the superhero questions, I guess British readers will have to be more patient to find out those answers. As for the advert question, it keeps the cover cost down. James Slaney from Brighton who wants to know "How old is the Hulk?" "Who's the strongest the Hulk or the Thing?" "Why does the Thing fight the Human Torch?" and "When is Spider-man's birthday?" The editor answers that the Hulk, like Bruce Banner is in his mid-twenties, the Hulk is stronger than the Thing, who doesn't as much fight with the Torch but become irritated by him. As for Spidey's birthday, who knows.

"From the Bullpen to you" column gives the names of the Marvelytes who solved the FOOM Code from the pre Christmas week mags. the ten smart winners are Wirgial Edwards from London, A.J. Pether from Middlesex, John Hutchinson from Selby, Tim Rose from London, Ian Peach from New Addington, Martin Lennon from Edinburgh, R. Slack from Leeds, Andrew Milojevic from Lancashire, Ross Stephens from York and finally Nicholas Anderson from Kempston, who received a mystery prize.  

On to the letter writers, Philip Whelans RFO, KOF, from Kent explains what the initials RFO, TTB, QNS, KOF, PMM and FFF mean. Ruth Katkus from Berkshire who thinks she is Marvel's "best fan" ask six questions. 1) When will Namor battle the FF again? 2) Where has Daredevil gone too? 3) Why not bring all the heroes and villains together for a massive fight 4)Why doesn't the Thing get hurt when hit by bullets? 5) Why not have posters with adverts on the back so that they don't spoil the story? 6) Have some more T-shirt offers? The last three are more like requests than questions.

The Fantastic Four "The invasion of Atlantis!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #33

Cover date December 1964

(Published in September 1964)

 

This opening splash page is actually the enlarged fifth panel of the 11th page of issue 33 of the Fantastic Four, with text boxes added to fill-in readers of last week's events. The other four panels from that page have been removed. They were basically Mister Fantastic assuming the shape of a giant stingray to sneak the team above a patrol so that the Thing can leap down on to an enemy  sub-marine, with the results seen in the enlarged panel. Does this jar with last week's ending? Well it does a little but many readers may not have noticed the difference. 

Namor and Attuma battle for the right to become ruler of Atlantis as the Fantastic Four secretly keep Attuma's deceitful and despicable minions from interrupting the contest in a number of ways. Sue forms an invisible shield around a "subsonic sound wave projector" causing it to implode. The Thing smashes a "Ionic Ray cannon", Reed deflects a "titanium wire shell" back at Attuma's troops, while the Torch stops the undersea hordes from destroying all of Atlantis with a "Nutro-nuclear dissolve-bomb" as the Oxy-Spray begins to wear off. Namor has the advantage over Attuma as he destroys the Warlord's sword. As a last resort Attuma removes his head appendages to reveal hidden disintegrator rays. Sue secretly turns the King of Atlantis invisible giving him the upper-hand, allowing him to subdues Attuma just as the Oxy-Spray fully wears off, forcing the Fantastic Four to flee to the surface leaving Namor none the wiser to the part they played in today's events. At the end of the story Sue calls Reed "darling" even after her encounter with Namor, could this moment be when she realises that Reed is the one she truly loves?

Action in the mighty Marvel tradition as two more Marvel masterpieces are also on sale this week. The Avengers weekly #24 gets a full cover shot while Spider-man Comics Weekly #55 uses some colour panels from the Spider-man strip to grab the casual readers eye with the delights from that issue. Speaking of that issue....

 Spider-man Comics Weekly #55

Penciler Ron Wilson and inker Mike Esposito craft this week's cover, showing a Spencer Smythe operated Spider-Slayer crush a telephone box just as the web-slinger leaps safely out. Superduper-man never has that kind of problem when he uses a phone-booth to do a quick change. As I type that last sentence out I realise that someone somewhere has probably seen that happen to Superduperman but as I don't like that red undies wearing weirdo I'm not that bothered if there are any.

Spider-man "Attack of the Spider-Slayer!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #58

Cover date March 1968

(Published in December 1967)

 

The first thing to notice about this opening splash page is that Don Heck is credited as inker, last week's credits listed him as "Fabulous finalising: dashing Donny Heck" and under that "Exotic embellishment: mighty Mickey Demeo". I took embellishment to mean inker as Mike Esposito (Demeo was a pseudonym of his,) is a well know inker and there is no colour in the UK version. Marvel Fandom.com lists Heck as the inker and Esposito as the colourist. Romita in last week's credits is "brilliant breakdown" and not "perfect penciler" so I took it to mean he laid out the roughs for Heck to finish off the pencils. I'm open to correct guesses of who did what from anyone. The final panel of last week's strip has been enlarged for this splash page with an added text box for a quick re-cap.

The Spider-Slayer with Jameson at the controls chases Spidey around town until Smythe takes over its operation, activating the robots "destructo-beam". The crazy scientist bent on having his personal revenge has the Slayer follow Spider-man back to Smythe's lab, where the stored spiders confuse the Slayers tracking circuits, forcing Smythe to increase the power to "absolute maximum" causing it to over-load. Later Peter changes to his civilian clothes to visit his aunt, on the way he crosses paths with Ka-Zar who says "not to be alarmed" as he thought "he sensed a familiar figure" but he was mistaken which is "strange for the aura of Spider-man is not easily forgot!" Was that Ka-Zar's way of saying hello and goodbye friend?

Iron Man "Showdown in a strange land!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #42

Cover date June 1963

(Published in March 1963)

  

The opening splash page makes good use the Jack Kirby penciled cover from Tales of Suspense issue 42. Continued from last week the Mad Barbarian (not Red Barbarian as that might offend left leaning readers,) as ordered the Actor to impersonate Tony Stark to gain access and steal all his weapon secrets. And it works too if not for the returning Stark who is saved from the spy's accomplices gunfire by his iron chest plate. Suited up Iron Man stops the Actor before he can divulge Iron Man's identity to the Barbarian. Iron Man takes his place pretending to be the Actor in his latest disguise. Keeping the stolen plans with the outrageous scenario that Stark's case can only be opened after another 4 hours or a small miniature Atomic bomb in the lock will go off. Iron Man releases the Actor who tells the Barbarian that he no longer has the plans as Iron Man has them, but he does know the golden Avengers true identity. Thinking this is all a trick to keep the plans for himself the Barbarian has the Actor shot! This story stretches credibility somewhat but on the whole it passes time with a charming early 60's Cold War theme. 

The Web and the Hammer

David Burford from Leicestershire has read in books that Thor has a long beard and had died, well there's the stuff of myth and  legends, then there's Marvel legends. Mark Danneau from Corydon has never seen the Silver Surfer in any American mags he's read, but he has heard about him and wants to see the character in SMCW. Shaun Flynn from Teeside says that the Beast Fromm the X-Men should have been added to the number of Marvel Heroes who are stronger than Spider-man, as shown in the pin-up of Spider-man holding a disc with those heroes on it, that was actually seen in SMCW #36 , not issue 39 as Shaun thought. Boy that disc would be really heavy! 

Christopher Hammond writes that SMCW is fascinating and what's to congratulate Stan on comic. Neil Robinson from Darbyshire says that MWOM and SMCW has re-awoken his interest in British comics as previously he was getting bored with comics that were full of stupid cartoons. Robert Murphy from Glasgow has been a fan of Spider-man for three years but doesn't know what happens to Spidey's webbing after he uses it? It just fades away Robert. Manuel Gonzalez from London would rather have colour inside the mags, the return of Daredevil and Spider-man un-masking himself in front of Flash Thompson.

The Mighty Thor "Hercules walks among us!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #125

Cover date February 1966

(Published in December 1965)

This opening splash page is a slightly blown up panel from last week's final page, that page only had two panels, so it was quite large anyway. A fresh text box re-caps how far the story has gone. Very quickly the strip jumps from Thor's predicament to Hercules enjoying himself in a New York restaurant until the place is robbed. 

The gun men have picked the wrong place to hold up as the Greek Demi-god makes short work of them and in doing attracts the attention of Jane Foster. 

Thor flees Asgard by the Rainbow Bridge but is confronted by Heimdall, who Thor slips past with the force of a sonic boom created by striking his enchanted mallet. 

Returning to Earth Thor spies a milling crowd across the street from the hospital where Jane Foster had rested. They are interested in a couple inside a soda parlour who are sharing a drink. It's Jane and Hercules. Jane thought Thor loved her, but he had left without any explanation. Thor tries to explain but Hercules interrupts by offering his greetings adding that he knew one day they would meet again! Jealous seeing Jane with the Greek god, Thor insults him which leads to the Prince of Power striking the Thunder God. Hammers at the ready next week promises a "battle of titans!" No what's going to be great.

Tales of Asgard "The Jaws of the dragon!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vincent Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #123

Cover date December 1965

(Published in October 1965)

 The last Tales of Asgard "Heimdall guardian of the mystic Rainbow Bridge!" was printed in SMCW #35, originally from Journey into Mystery #104, this tale comes 21 issues later, undoing so misses out some cool and important instalments, including the five earlier chapters that start this, what has been called "Odin Sword Quest." In this tale Odin observes the signs of the coming of Ragarok as Thor and his Asgardian allies sail into dangerous waters in an adventure very similar to the classic tales of Jason and the Argonauts. In fact the end text box says that next week "a new race will be meet by the Argonauts." Stan and Jack just love the classics. I really like these short tales, they fill gaps and are pretty cool too.

Carrying on with the new style of in-house adverts for the weeklies the Mighty World of Marvel gets the lions' share of the page with a re-coloured version of the cover, which I think I might slightly prefer to the actual cover colour scheme. Above that is the cover for this week's Avengers mag, again with slight colour variations. Most noticeable difference is the colour of Quicksilvers costume which is blue in this ad but green on the actual cover. Hawkeye's costume is mainly purple here, unlike the purple and blue version seen on the comic, Attuma's hordes outfits change colour slightly and the churning sea is frothy white in the comic but here it's mostly blue. So let's take a look at that weekly in closer detail.  

  The Avengers #24

This is a cracking cover that tells a story and gives you strong emotions of jeopardy as the sea rushes in with Quicksilver and Hawkeye out of control in an undersea craft, Cap (sort of,) rescuing the Scarlet Witch while Attuma's men sneak up on the two Avengers. Plus there's a giant octopus also attacking Attuma's men. Jack Kirby uses every inch of the page. While I mentioned colours before, this version is better than the original US version, in that the Scarlet Witch wore a purple and pink costume, which I always thought clashed with Hawkeyes, the giant octopus was orange, I like my giant sea-monsters to be green, the undersea craft was a dull blue instead of the bright orange one and also the crashing water was just blue. Like I said before the UK version's foamy white torrent adds massively to the drama. This is the best version of the artwork and is my Cover of the Week! Frank Giacoia applies the inks to Kirby's artwork.

The Avengers "Four against the floodtide!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Avengers #27

Cover date April 1966

(Published in February 1966)

This adventure starts off with Hawkeye trying to remember a four digit code to gain access to the Avengers new "visi-projector". It turns out the code is 1313! How easy is that to remember! I sometimes think Hawkeye is as dumb as he looks, but later he remembers the coordinates to find the other Avengers location. If truth be told Hawkeye is possibly my favourite Avenger, well next to the Vision. I guess I relate to Hawkeye's human failings more. The figure from the shadows, seen last issue, is revealed as the Beetle. 

The Spider-man villain last seen in the pages of SMCW #15, for UK readers anyway. Hawkeye traps the fiend, more on the reason for his appearance next week, before setting off to help his teammates with the aid of an "Aero-sub" from the Fantastic Four. I remember the Avengers did have their own sub-marine that they used when they fought Sub-Mariner and rescue Captain America from the icey waters, as seen in the Avengers #1, but I guess the FF's "Aero-sub"is quicker.

Cap, Wanda and Pietro fight against Attuma and the overwhelming odds as the sea waters crash into Attuma's damaged undersea craft. Quicksilver thinks he's found a safe tunnel, but it turns out to be an ejector tube that sends him to the surface. Luckily the unconscious mutant is rescued by Hawkeye and they both set off to help their teammates. Attuma's craft is gone but he left a number of patrol craft that chase the "Aero-sub" right into the clutches of a giant octopus, with only the quick reflexes of Quicksilver at the controls to pilot them safely past the sea-monster.   

Quicksilver spots Attuma's giant craft and rams the hull with the "Aero-sub" causing Attuma to postpone the execution of Captain America and the Scarlet Witch, preferring to execute four prisoners instead of two. While escorted to the crafts dungeon Wanda creates a diversion that allows cap to overcome their guards. 

The odds look poor for Quicksilver and Hawkeye as the archer is down to his last arrow and the speedster takes a second to catch his breath while they are surrounded by Attuma's barbarian hordes, until the arrival of the freed leader of the Avengers and his female companion. The united Avengers turn the tide against Attuma and his army with the use of Attuma's own "Y-ray" tank. 

   

 

The Avengers make their escape nicely and tie up some plot lines in the process such as destroying Attuma's "Flood-tide machine" and explaining why the Wasp wasn't seen in this issue with a line that Quicksilver had searched for her at top speed, leaving an opening for next week's adventure. When they return to the Avengers mansion they find the Beetle gone and another message is left which concerns the Wasp! Next ish, more on the Wasp and the Beetle. The introduction of the Collector and the return of Giant Man! 'Nuff said!

Avengers Unite!

Martin Yule from Sunderland thinks that Thor should ride a winged horse and Cap should ride a motor bike. The editor makes light of those crazy ideas but Valkyrie will ride a winged horse and in the future Cap does ride many motor bikes so they're not far fetched. He also asks who is stronger the Thing or Kraven the Hunter? Which group is more powerful the FF, the Avengers or the X-Men? And will Captain America make Rick Jones his partner? The editor won't get into the argument of "who's the strongest", but the Thing is easily stronger than Kraven, as for the teams its anyone's guess. Rick Jones as Cap's partner, well eventually. Another Martin, this time Martin Skye's from Oxfordshire thinks that the Doctor Strange stories from the Avengers #14 and #15 was the best he's ever read. Yeah the Dormammu story was great but the latest Doctor Strange epic is getting better and better. David H. Baber from Lancashire thinks that the UK mags are the biggest con going, with the American mags being the real thing. He asks why they have stopped their good distribution. He says he cannot see Stan Lee's plan, what happens when the UK versions catch up to their American counterparts? He does praise the British comics for one thing and that is the letter pages. 

 Patrick Hennessy from Surrey thinks the Avengers are fab. Tere Bowes from Bradford has spotted a mistake in Avengers #7 in which on page 16 it says Thor is fighting Atlas but on the next page it says he's fighting Hercules. Yeah in the US edition it was a version of Hercules but the British editors didn't want UK readers to get confused when the real Hercules turns up in the coming weeks so they renamed him Atlas, but they missed the second name check. Paul Ferrely from Eire wants to see more pages given to Doctor Strange, but he's a little confused when he is titled the "Master of Black Magic!" as since Paul was a kid Black Magic was evil. Personally I alway thought of Black Magic as being not very good chocolates, that's one for the British readers. Modest Alan Oliver RFO, KOF and FOOMer spotted on the cover of Avengers #9 Cap with white ears, while in his experience Cap never had white ears, so he wants a No-Prize for it. Not a good enough reason modest Alan, my ears in the early 70's were always white as my Mum used to clean them with her finger and a handkerchief. Finally this week Derek Wigley from Hampshire made some targets to fire his Spider Tracer Plane and Avengers Wonder Weapon at. Other things he mentions is he wants Models of Marvel heroes and the return of Daredevil.

Doctor Strange "What lurks beneath the mask?"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #136

Cover date September 1965

(Published in June 1965)

Dormammu traps the woman who has been helping Strange by distracting the dark lord. Still she isn't named yet but you all know her as Clea. Meanwhile Doctor Strange continues his search for the secret of Eternity by asking any practitioner on the Mystic Arts if they can help solve the puzzle, encountering a female mystic who we've never seen before but she remembers the Doctor as he has saved her life before. Stan and Steve writes in a text box "Remind us to tell you about it some time", but they  never do, which is a shame as I would've love to have found out more. 

A senile old mystic gives Strange an old faded scroll that mentions eternity, which leads him to a weird dimension Strange filled with lifeless masks and a being bound to a plaque. Unmasking the being who turns out to be a demon that tricks others into gazing into his eyes so he can steal their bodies and imprison their spirits. Trapped on the Plague with his hands bounded and his face and mouth covered tightly Strange is unable to cast any spells.  

Strange still has mental control over his cloak of levitation which renders the Demon helpless. The Demon removes the Doctor's mask hoping to over power him once again but this time Strange is prepared for him. Once freed Doctor Strange uses the Eye of Agomotto to easily overpower him and  set all his victims free before returning to his own dimension. With another failed attempt to discover the secret of Eternity Strange must wrest the secret from the comatose mind of the Ancient One, next week in the Avengers. I can't wait.

The final in-house advert for this week shows yet another re-coloured version of the Mighty World of Marvel #74 cover. This one looks like the Hulk is fighting Maximus in a desert and not the lush Costa Salvador. The Spider-man Comics Weekly advert is pretty much the same as the one seen on the back of the MWOM but with a blue background and slight changes here and there to the backgrounds of each panels. Some apprentice colourist must have had a field day trying different colour schemes out. 

And so ends another week of British Marvels from fifty years ago. More of the same next week? Yeah why not.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.

To kill a Beesting.

Week Ending 23rd February 1974

 The Mighty World of Marvel #73

This cover is possibly one of Ed Hannigan's first pieces of artwork for Marvel. The artist and writer most well know as penciller on the Defenders and later Peter Parker, the spectacular Spider-man, where he co-created Cloak and Dagger, as well as writing the Defenders for others to draw. DC fans may recall his Bat-man covers, circa 1983-85. His first Marvel US cover was for the X-Men #89 cover dated August 1974, published May 1974, which at the time reprinted old X-Men Stories. His first story artwork for Marvel was a story that appeared in Planet of the Apes #5 (Curtis Magazines) cover dated February 1975, published December 1974, called "Evolution's Nightmare". That story will appear in the UK version of Planet of the Apes issue 20 in just over a year's time on the 8th March 1975. May be this cover was a try out. Mike Esposito inked the artwork for this cover. Why wasn't the original Hulk artwork used? Well it's gets used next week, which is more fitting to the second half of the story. It also doesn't give away the cliffhanger ending of this week's Hulk strip.  

The inside cover features a host of adverts, the first being a Matchbox Surtees Formula 1 club. After winning the Formula 2 championship in 1972 (it was with the Surtees Ford Cosworth team,) and being the runners up in 1973, Matchbox are entering the Formula 1 championship in 1974 with Matchbox Surtees. As a promotion Matchbox are offering membership to this fan club for just 25 pence, which gets you a regular newspaper, a free poster, a free sticker, a free badge and your chance to enter super competitions as well as information on all the latest Matchbox models and kits! There is also an advert from a stamp collectors starting kit, a Charles Atlas kit that you get a body building book that starts a 7 day "trial offer". And finally a newsagent "reserve" coupon for "Marvel" not "the Mighty World of Marvel", I presume the newsagent would realise what it was meant for.

The incredible Hulk "At the mercy of..Maximus the Mad!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #119

Cover date September 1969

(Published in June 1969)

Although the cover keeps the identity of the Hulk sparring partners secret, the opening splash page doesn't. Black Bolt's brother gets mentioned in the title headline and a text sphere lets the reader know this story will feature the "Incomparably Evil Inhumans!" even though we'll have to wait till next week to feast our eyes on them. What the cover and opening page do show us is Maximus's statue, called "the Stone Man" on the cover, but thankfully nowhere else. The Inhumans, or at least some of them, appeared in MWOM #58 #59 and #60, their original US first appearance has yet to see print in British Marvel, more on that this July.

Bruce Banner finds himself in the made up by Stan Lee country of Costa Salvador, not to be confused with the real country of El Salvador, after recovering from the Hulk's battle with the Sub-Mariner. Finding the locals to be under a trance caused by strange rays emitted by a weird gigantic statue. A local peasant who's seems to have been spared from the effects of the ray informs Banner that the "Great One" holds power over Costa Salvador as he created the great statue. As the statue's influence starts to effect Banner, changing him into the Hulk. The green giant tries to smash the statue, but to no avail, changing tack he leaps off towards the "Great One's" castle to take his anger out on him. In the heart of the Oval Office of the White House orders are sent out as the situation in Costa Salvador comes under the mutual defence pack. General Ross following those orders immobilises a task force to that South American country. The final page has the Inhuman Maxmius declare that the time is near for him to turn the statues ray on all of mankind as he was born to rule the world. Next week, "Enter the green behemoth" to stop those plans.

Daredevil "That he may see!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wally Wood and Bob Powell

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Daredevil #9

Cover date July 1965

(Published in May 1965)

  

I was certainly one of the fans that wanted to see Daredevil return to MWOM, for two reasons. The first was to slow down the Hulk's strip usage that was racing ahead of all the other strips at an average rate of four UK stories a month to one US story. An extra strip in the weekly mag slows it down to two UK stories a month to one US. The second reason is there are some great Daredevil stories coming, just not straight away, we would have to put up with some weaker adventures before we get to the good stuff. This week's story is one of those weak one's. Possibly the weakest. Matt Murdock meets an old college class mate called Klaus Kruger who just so happens to be a dictator of a small European country and uses the title of the Duke. A bit of a BTEC Doctor Doom. Murdock goes to his country as a guest but soon gets involved in a rebellion. There's a sub-plot too that he hold captive an eye surgeon called Doctor Van Eyck, who could cure Murdocks blindness as hinted at last issue. There's little more to say apart from it being nothing more than a page filler that was fine for the era it was created in.    

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Carol Newton from Cheshire points out that she isn't a fan of the Hulk who's seems to be taking over the mag as his name on the cover is bigger than the comics title and both the FF and Daredevil don't get a look in on the cover. Gwynfryn Davies from Glamorgan as also noticed that the Hulk hogs the covers, offering a solution that they should rotate between the Hulk and the FF. Gerald White who has a lot of honours after his name- RFO, KOF, TTB, FFF, QNS, PMM, asks if Rama-Tut and Kang are one and the same person? The editor says "the resemblance between Rama-Tut and Kang is purely co-incidental. Adding they don't even know each other and probably wouldn't like each other if they did." Was this meant to be a joke? Or did the editor not read the Avengers #5? John Millard and Simon Upton from New Zealand ask who would win a fight between the Marvel Super-heroes and DC super-heroes? The editor won't answer that question,  but I'll give it a go. On average for sheer physical strength DC characters win out, but lets face it that would be boring, DC heroes are mainly represent godlike beings, who try to become men, while Marvel are ordinary people with extraordinary godlike powers. Marvel are a lot more interesting, so for the sake of an interesting fight Marvel would win out by sheer grit and determination. If it was a cinematic fight it would be Marvel again as Marvel's characters are more relatable, just look at the Box office returns, although I wouldn't count Sony's efforts in that group. 

Paul Moorhead RFO, asks if Reed Richards and Sue Storm married and had children, would their children inherit their super-powers? Almost certainly they would. Will the next Fantastic Four film with Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby be any good? I ask. Almost certainly it will, I love Pascal in everything he's done, although I wanted John Krasinski to play Mr. Fantastic again. Vanessa is both beautiful and talented, with a surname like Kirby she's a sure fire hit for a Jack Kirby character. Ross Sampson RFO, KOF, FFF, thinks that the three Marvel weeklies are the best in Britain. Ross collects US Marvel mags too, with Conan and the Ghost Rider among his favourites. Alistair Sloan from Renfrewshire doesn't want Marvel to put up the prices of the weeklies as he gets all three. Ian Buckley from Fulham has been reading Marvel comics since the Avengers advert came on television and he wants desperately to join FOOM. Don't we all, but I'm afraid it's too late as the membership is full. Garry Brown from Nomifieth wants to see Conan in a mag as he's one of his favourite heroes.

The Fantastic Four "Side-by-side with Sub-Mariner!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #33

Cover date December 1964

(Published in September 1964)

 

This story should have been printed two weeks ago, but the adventure featuring Gideon was published instead, so that the appearance of the Sub-Mariner wouldn't clash with his appearance in the Hulk adventure printed in MWOM #71. The ironic thing about all that is Attuma is the antagonist in this story but he is also the antagonist in the Avengers strip from their own mag this week. I guess that appearing in two separate comics in the same week is alright. 

Attuma first appearance was in this very story in the US comic so it's true to say that this is his first UK Marvel appearance, even though he also turns up in the Avengers strip this week. I've always had soft spot for the fishy villain, ever since he threatened Giant Man and the Wasp in the Marvel Annual 1974, which would have been seen by most well before this comic was printed, making that his first UK appearance. Fight among yourself as you work that one out. Lady Dorma seeks the help of the Fantastic Four as Attuma and his undersea army fight for the crown of Atlantis, feeling scorned by Namor as he attended to the invasion of his kingdom, Lady Dorma may have betrayed Atlantis to Attuma by releasing the guards from a vital outpost. There seems to be a theme with Namor and Dorma in which they seem to betray the trust of one another, it does get worse in future stories. It's like the 60's (70's) version of Ross and Rachel from Friends.

The FF agree to help Sub-mariner and set off in their "Bathysphere" but no before Richards bathes them all in his latest invention that will allow them to breathe underwater, an "Oxo-spray" that supplies a layer of self-perpetuating oxygen! Marvel science is amazing, Lee and Kirby science is fantastical! How that works or how it conforms to any scientific law or principle is anyone's guess. Jack uses a Kirby classic technique to realise the FF's journey to Namor's kingdom, a photo background is used with the FF's sub and strange fish drawn then pasted on to it. I guess it may well have look good in the American colour version, but the British version seems very dark, almost as if whoever added the tones to this strip went a bit heavy with it. Take my word for it, it does on the printed page, the lifted image I cut and pasted seems to have lightened up somewhat. The FF are attacked by one of Attuma's vigilant patrols, how they get on after that will have to wait till next week.

The back page hosts the usual in-house advert for MWOM's brother mags. Attuma graces the cover of the Avengers and Jameson driven Spider-Slayer crashes through a brick wall to advertise the latest issue of Spider-man Comics Weekly. Take note that this version of the Spider-Slayer is lifted  directly from the cover of the Amazing Spider-man #58, cover dated March 1968, published December 1987, by John Romita Sr. and not the version used on the cover of this week's issue. More on that next...

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #54

This cover shows J Jonah Jameson unleashing the terrible onslaught of the Spider-Slayer against Spider-man. Technically, it's the Spider-Slayer Mark 2. The original version of this cover from the Amazing Spider-man #58 by John Romita Sr. hasn't been used, possibly because that version only showed the Spider-Slayer smashing through a dark wall and not toward it's intended victim Spider-man. This chubby version by artist Ron Wilson wraps its tentacles around a defeated Spider-man. The Thing is this Mark 2 Slayer doesn't have tentacles at all in this story or even next week's second part. Mike Esposito inks the cover. 

Spider-man "To kill a Spider-man!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #58

Cover date March 1968

(Published in December 1967)

   

This weeks adventure kicks off where last weeks finished with Ka-Zar rescuing Spider-man from a watery grave. Don Heck is still finishing John Romita's breakdowns and Mike Esposito inking the lot, I have to say either this combo of artists are growing on me somewhat, or Romita is finishing more of his own artwork than Don Heck is, or maybe Heck is just adapting to Romita's style more. Either way I like it a lot more. That deep swim in the lake has done Spider-man the world of good as it cures him from his amnesia. Ka-Zar senses that Spider-man is telling the truth and is a noble man so he discontinues their fight.

Elsewhere Jameson receives a call from inventor and engineer Spencer Smythe who wishes that the publisher visit him so that he can reveal his latest invention, the Spider-Slayer Mark 2. I can see a lot of Don Heck design in the new Spider-Slayer, in fact Smythe looks more like a character drawn by Heck than the Steve Ditko version that first appeared in SMCW #19, for UK readers, Amazing Spider-man #25 for US readers. Strangely enough all the others characters from Peter civilian life look true to their Romita original design. Jameson is impressed with the new version and takes it for a spin to capture Spider-man who returns home before he checks in on Aunt May who he is still unaware is ill in hospital. But before he can visit her his Spider-sense warns him of danger. What danger? Find out next week where someone is "Out for the kill!"

The Web and the Hammer

Vincent Savin from Bristol who has spent ages listening to the Amazing Spider-man LP, at least four times in one day. Vincent also asks for a No-Prize to earn a TTB award. The editor says no to that as a no-prize has to be really earned. Alan Harwell from Surrey thinks he should have a TTB because he's spotted that in SMCW #39 Mrs Connors wants to protect her son Billy from the truth that his father is the Lizard, but earlier in MWOM #13 Billy says "Don't hurt him Spider-man. He's still my father!" The editor tries to get out of awarding the No-Prize by suggesting that the the story featured in MWOM may have happened after the one in SMCW. Which is totally wrong! Who ever has been answering the letters in the current run of letter pages has been getting Marvel continuity completely wrong a large number of times. Was it the office intern let loose on them? Lorraine Walker from Sheffield wants Thor removed from SMCW, she adds why can't girls have a comic of their own? She thinks that some DC stories are better than Marvel's because they have some good girl stories in them. She suggests that Shanna the She Devil and the Cat could be printed. Now I have no problem with female lead characters, the two mentioned have some great stories, but "DC having better stories than Marvel" I'm not having that. There's no competition. John Batting from Worthing read a book on Mythology in which Thor needs to wear "iron gloves" to use his hammer efficiently. Well that's legend, this is Marvel.

Michael Maceariello from London has every edition of MWOM, SMCW and the Avengers so far. Like many young fans he wants Marvel Super-heroes action figures, Marvel TV series and Marvel super-hero costume, well sort of, not so much a costume but a life-size Thor hammer. There are hundreds of these letters printed back in the 70's, do you think that Marvel action-figures, Marvel TV series and cosplay will catch on? A. Russell from Sheffield reminisces about the classic Wham, Pow, Smash, Terrific and Fantastic comics from the late 60's, which all seemed to be slowly combined then cancelled. They wonder was the reason they ended was it because they ran out of material when they caught up to the American issues or did they have a limited copyright? A. buys the US editions too but they're get harder to find. They want to see more adventures from a number of heroes as their stories get better as the sagas go on, adding that the early adventures of Spider-man, Thor and Daredevil have better artwork and plots as they mature. They mention that some Avengers later plots are a work of brilliance. I agree the best is yet to come. As for comics merging and canceling, that's just the way of life for a comic reader. Enjoy the good stuff while it's there. 

  A Marvel Masterwork pin-up of the Spider-man villain the Rhino. I'm sure I should know where this pin-up was originally from but I can't quite place it. Can anyone help? I think the artist is John Romita Sr.

Iron Man "Trapped by the Mad Barbarian!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #42

Cover date June 1963

(Published in March 1963)

  

If you thought that this week's Daredevil story was not good, a piece of work that's better left in the 60's you haven't seen "Trapped by the Mad Barbarian!" The Mad Barbarian, or Red Barbarian if you read the original American version, is a general in some unnamed Communist country, who runs a spy ring that is set up to steal secrets from Stark's weapon factories with the aid of a spy know as the Actor, who's greatest skill is mimicry and disguise. Do they succeed? Find out next week, if you're still interested. It's not quite that bland, I class it as with a certain 60's charm. But that is all. 

The Mighty Thor "When meet the immortals!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #125

Cover date February 1966

(Published in December 1965)

Lee and Kirby run a very tight comic strip with plot over lapping plot. One story doesn't start then finish with their Thor tales, no much like their later Fantastic Four adventures a plot from the last issue of Thor's strip ends at the open of the comic book, then the plot for next week's opens, while a third plot takes the next natural steps. Here we have Thor confronting the Demon in battle for three pages, then Hercules getting a lift by helping free a stuck train for two pages. then it's back to Thor who very quickly defeats the Demon, scaring off his followers and returns the Norn Stone to Asgard.

He's greeted not as the returning hero, no  but as the naughty son of a very angry God who's not pleased with his heir going against his wishes and informing the mortal Jane Foster of his love and true identity. Odin decrease that Thor must endure the "Ritual of Steel!" as he orders Balder and host of Asgardian warriors to "smite him!" Plot, action, plot, action, plot, action, all that in the space of nine pages. Some of those pages have as little as two or three giant Kirby panels per page. Reading this tale does make me want to dig out a Marvel Treasury Edition featuring the Mighty Thor to get the most of Jack's super charged art. I might just do that later.

To allow the Thor tale to end on a cliff hanger the final two pages of this comic are given to a special "Thor Bonus Feature" Like a google street view of Asgard. Drawn by Kirby with inks by Colletta and added dialogue by Lee this tour of the Golden city takes us on a site seeing walk past the Temple of Titans, Yggasdral the tree of life monument, the Warlock's Haven, a giant Bust of Odin, the Dome of Combat, the Monument to the Unknown Warrior, the Hall of Heroes and finally to a Museum of Weaponry. This feature originally appeared in the first and only Journey into Mystery Annual cover dated October 1965, published June 1965. 

Two more triumphs from Marvel are featured in the back page in-house advert. No "Double Dynamite" or "Marvel's Greatest Comics" tag lines are used for this week's Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers mags, instead you simply get a "On sale now!" headline. Notice now the colours of Attuma and the Wasp in the Avengers cover change from this advert to the finish mag. Attuma and his armour have been "blued" out and the glass container holding the Wasp is more translucent than the cover version.  So let's take a look at this week's final mag right now.

The Avengers #23

This is a cover of two halves, the first partially positioning the Avengers around the outer box area from the cover of The Avengers #26 by artist Don Heck and inker Frank Giacoia, to frame the second inner panel of Attuma and the imprisoned Wasp. Although in a similar pose to the original the Attuma and Wasp figures were redrawn by Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito as penciler and inker. It's worth noting that the Marvel Fandom page for the Avengers #26 (US version,) states that Jack Kirby and Don Heck drew the cover, but the Grand Comics Database state that Heck and Giacoia drew it. Personally I see a lot of Heck in it and not any Jack Kirby so I'm going to go with the GCD listings. The Heck version of Attuma isn't great so I'm glad that Wilson and Esposito got to re-draw him. I really like the effort that had to be taken to get to the UK version and it does look great, so I'm making it my Cover of the Week.

Spread throughout all three weeklies was this teaser from Ben Grimm telling us that it was "gonna be money-making time for one lucky guy next week!" So we'll find out the answers to the third pocket money competition questions and the name of the Marvelyte who pockets one pound a week for a whole year. As well as a Stamp Quiz, (Really it's just an advert for any budding philatelist to join the Stamp Club based in Goole, Yorkshire. I wonder is it still going?)  there's an advert for Spider-man weekly and not Spider-man Comics Weekly. This kind of quick advert pops up now and again with the Mighty World of Marvel ad simply titled Marvel in a kind of Short hand. See earlier in this blog for an example.

The Avengers "The voice of the Wasp!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Avengers #26

Cover date March 1966

(Published in January 1966)

The credit box lists the name of the inker as Frank Ray, that was in fact a pseudonym of Frank Giacoia that he would use from time to time until it was revealed in the Bullpen Bulletin feature seen in the Fantastic Four #53, cover dated August 1966. The story starts of with the usual in-fighting squabbles set of by an introduction to a new messaging device, then quickly turns to the Atlantic Ocean as Namor, the Sub-Mariner swimming toward the Eastern seaboard of America on an unknown mission, a story that we'll see much later in The Titans #9 printed on the 20th December 1975 or Tales to Astonish #78 cover dated April 1966 for any of POTB's American readers. 

Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne, who are aboard a ship that the Sub-Mariner has just left, discuss how they can alert the mainland about Namor's coming, with the radio destroyed Janet changes into the Wasp to fly to shore to raise the alarm. Resting for a while in the sea the Wasp is captured by Attuma and his forces.

Janet recognises Attuma, but he fails to recognise her as she wears only a swim suit and not her Wasp costume. That places this adventure after the Giant-man and the Wasp story printed in last Christmas's Marvel Annual dated 1974, which would have come after this week's Fantastic Four adventure as seen in MWOM. Attuma plans to raise the tidal waters of the world to flood the surface, so that any surviving humans can become his slaves and serve him in his war against the Sub-Mariner. The Wasp escapes and finds a radio devise that she uses to summon the Avengers. Cap, Wanda and Pietro answer the call to action, only Hawkeye misses it due to a damaged "signal ring". The Avengers are captured by Atuma's ship but still put up a fight until the bulkhead of the undersea craft is damaged by a Hex bolt from the Scarlet Witch, causing it to leak. Meanwhile Hawkeye returns to find the Avengers gone but forgets the code needed to operate the message devise to find out where they've gone to. While using a "Subliminal recall-inducer" a shadowy figure enters the scene. 

A special page asks the question "will Hawkeye be able to help his fellow Avengers?" Well come back next week to find out how this pretty cool story continues in "Four against the flood tide!" It'll bring you hidden danger under the sea and peril on the surface! Will the Avengers survive? This one page promo for next week is almost like the ending of those classic black and white Flash Gordon TV series that they used to show on Saturday morning for kids to watch. I like it and if my memory serves me well next week's story will be a cracker. I can't wait.

 
 
 
     

Avengers Unite!

Mark A. Freeth from Birmingham is head over heels with the Doctor Strange story "Possessed!" seen in the Avengers #7, yeah I liked that Stan Lee/Steve Ditko classic too. Paul R. Kelly from London thinks the Avengers are brilliant and he also wants to see the Ghost Rider in a weekly at some point. Mark Varley from Nottinghamshire is slightly confused with the change of costumes and membership of the Avengers from their time in the Mighty World of Marvel and when they appeared in their own weekly. Stephen Thatcher RFO from Portsmouth thinks the Avengers mag is great especially the Doctor Strange stories. He has spotted one boob, in the Avengers #10 Baron Mordo called Doctor Strange Doctor Doom instead. Well these things happen.

Gregory Wild from Northern Ireland is "wild" about the large number of reprinted stories published in the three weeklies as he has already read them when he bought Fantastic and Terrific before they were sadly cancelled in the late 60's. The Spider-man stories had also appeared in Creepy Worlds, Sinister Tales, and Suspense Stories. Stick with Marvel Greg, eventually the brilliant newer stuff will see print. Gary Whitehead on the other hand is very pleased with the Avengers comic, he joined FOOM and thinks that club is great too. Steve Jackson from Huddersfield think of all the weeklies the Avengers is the best. Steve thinks a new mag with Captain Marvel, the Inhumans and may be Ghost Rider in it would be cool. Sounds like a "Titan(s)"ic idea Steve. Christopher Moss from Orpington believes that the current line-up of Avengers is better than the old one, but he's glad Captain America stayed on as team leader. Stuart Foster what's to congratulate Marvel on their latest success with the new Avengers mag. Finally John Swales writes about all three Marvel weeklies, giving the highs and lows of each. Leaving the Marvel editor with the problem of which letter page in which mag to print it in.

Doctor Strange "Eternity beckons!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #135

Cover date August 1965

(Published in May 1965)

 

Travelling to England seeking information about the mysterious  Eternity, Doctor Strange pays a visit to an eerie castle and its owner Sir Baskerville, who was once a disciple of Baron Mordo. Baskerville tells Strange that he has knowledge of Eternity in some scrolls. Meanwhile in the Dark Dimension Dormammu learns of who had released the Mindless Ones during his previous attack on Doctor Strange, it was the (still unnamed but we all know her as Clea,) girl who had helped the sorcerer when he last fought Dormammu in the Avengers #15. Baskerville alerts his master, Mordo who sends out one of his minions to do his bidding, channeling his mystical powers through him. Through smart trickery Strange easily knocks out Mordo's minion and places Baskerville in a trance to find out that the old man knows nothing of "Eternity". Strange sends Mordo's newly arrived astral minions on a wild goose chase into the Netherworld in search of him before departing the castle. Mordo arrives shortly after to find that his opponent has escaped. As much as these stories are the handy work of Steve Ditko, and they are brilliant because of that, the final text box must surely have been written by Stan Lee and it too is fantastic. What a brilliant way to end a Doctor Strange tale, "And so , the mists close over the fog-shrouded seacoast and the words of the evil one are lost in the murmuring of the midnight breeze..." The End. Brilliant!

The Mighty World of Marvel takes the place of the Avengers weekly in this in-house advert for "Marvel's Greatest Comics!" in a smart use of the image from that cover next to the comic's title logo. The other difference between this advert and the one featured on the back of the Mighty World of Marvel is the Week Ending date is shown, informing the readers they have until the 23rd of February to pick up these treats. 

Well I better crack on and start reading next week's weeklies and planning for that blog. So until then... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.