Face to face with titans!

 Week Ending 9th February 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #71

Herb Trimpe created this clash of the titans cover for the US Incredible Hulk issue 118. Its reproduction for the British weekly is pretty much unchanged apart from the sea background blues have been lightened, the Hulk's pants are more of a pinky purple colour and the "Guest-starring:The Sub-Mariner!" text box has been moved up slightly. It's still a belting cover. I've always liked seeing the Hulk and Namor together. Always reminds me of their Defenders days, which would be over a year into the future as that group would first feature in a British weekly in the Mighty World of Marvel #147 week ending 26th July 1975. Or in the past if you picked up an American comic called Marvel Feature #1 from July 1971 with a cover date of December 1971. While I mentioning American issues, I noted after reading some comments left where this blog has been posted, I got the impression that some people think I believe these stories were first printed in the UK. A slightly strange idea considering that I always list the original published US issues in the credit section of every story. Yeah I like to pretend that Marvel comics only first appeared on the 7th October 1972 in the Might World of Marvel #1, but that's a joke. British fan's may have gotten the US imports from the 60's or the UK Power Comic from the late 60's, but these "Week Ending..." blogs are generally about British Marvel comics from the 70's. (Other posts about my geeky interests like Doctor Who, British and American Comics or movies also appear, some of those are quite good too. Have a read if you like.)  I love the US editions as much as the British ones, but I have more nostalgic feeling from my childhood for these weeklies as that's where my love of Marvel started from. Speaking of things I love,  I love this cover, so it's my Cover of the Week.

The Incredible Hulk "A clash of titans!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #118

Cover date August 1969

(Published in May 1969)

The title promises "A clash of titans" and this story certainly delivers just that, but the all important set up has to come first, so with that we get a intriguing opening splash page that sees a strange amphibian cruiser surface near an unconscious Bruce Banner who as the Hulk had just stopped the Leader's plan for world destruction. This story would follow a different route with just two angry super-beings fighting over a ludicrously improbable line of events that sets them off at loggerheads. I say "ludicrously improbable" but Stan Lee manages to make logic of every situation in such a way that any seven year old or fifty seven year old would accept without any question. That's good writing, a skill that Lee has in abundance and one that I never give him enough credit for. There's a reason why many call him "The Man"! 

My reason for mentioning all the improbable events starts with Namor's sweetie, Lady Dorma taking an Atlantean craft out for a spin by herself, when in all of the ocean she surfaces near Banner and just so happens that she has the necessary miracle tablet that allows a human to breathe underwater for 24 hours, enabling Dorma to give the immediate medical attention to Banner in Atlantis! Well if it works for Hans Christian Andersen it can work for Lee's version of "The little mermaid"! 

I've mentioned in the past, well at least once that Herb Trimpe doesn't do female characters well. I have to take that back as Lady Dorma and Mistress Fara are drawn well and both are given nice characters thanks to Lee's writing and Trimpe's handling of the plot. Fara spies Lady Dorma "sneaking" Banner into the palace so that he can receive medical attention, telling Prince Namor that Dorma has through "secrecy and stealth" has " brought a surface man to her abode", planting the seed of an affair, at least in my 54 year old mind, or of treachery to the throne, as my seven year old self might have believed. Namor, suspicious of Mistress Fara's real intentions behind her tale, probably is also angered by the possibility that both scenarios could be true and so with rage filled haste sets off to confront the Lady Dorma. 

The Palace court politics pale into its intended plot device as we head towards what the majority of Hulk readers want and that's a really big fight. Banner awakens in impossible surroundings to hear a woman and man arguing over deceit of the heart and the soul or a man's life. Banner's pulse speeds faster, his heads spins as his scientific mind can not compute how or why he's breathing under water, thus causing the change that was inevitable. Namor asks why can a human who is supposed to be ill start raging like a human dynamo inside the Lady's bedroom? The answer comes like a crashing storm through it in the colour and size of the Hulk. Namor thinks that the Hulk had been holding Lady Dorma hostage and sets off a proper clash of the titans, just as readers of all ages punch the air in excitement. More next week, Imperius Rex!

Daredevil "The Stilt-man  cometh!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wally Wood

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Daredevil #8

Cover date June 1965

(Published in April 1969)

 

 The return to Daredevil's original continuity is heralded by a scene that Stan Lee would later use in a Fantastic Four story titled "Bedlam at the Baxter Building!" British readers will see that tale in MWOM #92 this summer, (that story originally appeared in the third Fantastic Four annual, for any American Friends of the Beesting, we'll talk more about it in July.) an out of control car threatens a damsel so DD has to swing into action. 

I say it was a Stan Lee plot line with the car, but this story is nicely handled by artist Wally Wood, who does bring his special artistic brilliance to Stan's story outline. Wood runs with it making a dam good read, much to my surprise as only last week I wrote that the better Daredevil stories were some way off for MWOM readers, this charming little tale kind of snuck up on me. The runaway car was much more than the reader first imagined, as hidden inside the vehicle lay a deadly time bomb. Someone had set it off as a decoy to send the long arm of the law and any super-hero vigilantes off in the wrong direction allowing them to carry out a payroll heist elsewhere. That someone turns out to be the latest super-villain on the block and the mind of Wally Wood, the Stilt-man. A super-villain who uses an incredible  suit of armour that featured hydraulic stilt legs and other gadgets. 

Wood really uses the page well as after a close up reveal of the villain that doesn't give away his unique powers, the next page starts with a full length panel so that the reader isn't left in any doubt on the size of the fiend. Many would see the Stilt-man as a lame villain, myself included as I would list him as third rate antagonist in all of his appearances, Wood does get something out of him that makes this story readable and in many ways quite quaint. As this tale was of its time I can overlook some of its down-comings. 

The car bomb decoy only partly works as Daredevil's hyper senses allows the man without fear to judge how to steer the car towards the river and when to leap from it before the bomb goes off. Stan stretch's the plausibility that DD can tell the device will go off soon as the ticking gets louder. Do bomb makers use devices that do that or is it just a tension building plot device used in TV and movies?

Daredevil works out that the bomb car was a decoy to direct people away from the main crime scene, to which many writers would add a scene where Daredevil would listen out for clues to where, when and how. Instead Wally Wood takes it on himself to introduce the inner workings of DD's own Billy Club in much the same way he introduce the Stilt-man, with the aid of a page length panel cross section revealing all. It's this and Daredevil's costume that has cemented the hero into Marvel legacy. I'll accept that the cane splits in two, the handle folds flat and super strong cable can be released and returned enabling DD to swing from building to building. The thing that I always had trouble with is the concealed miniature tape recorder, retractable microphone with all the necessary transistors, batteries and hidden switches in the throwing and clubbing half of the cane. I aways recalled thinking that they would become dislodged during a fight. They never did but to my engineering mind that was always a strong possibility. DD uses his "snooperscope" to locate the heist but arrives too late as the villain just disappears. 

Later at the offices of Murdock and Nelson an inventor Wilbur Day asks the lawyer for help as his boss stolen his pet project inventions from him. Murdock takes on the case. That night the Stilt-man makes another daring heist that Daredevil can't stop. Again at the offices of Murdock and Nelson, Day makes more accusations toward his old boss Mr Klaxton, who has arrived to confront the libellous accusations saying that Wilbur Day did not invent the hydraulic devices he himself did! Which leads the reader and Matt Murdock into believing that one of them is really the Stilt-man. Daredevil follows Karl Klaxon but after he gives DD the slip with an electrified car body the Stilt-man makes an appearance sending an over confident Daredevil falling from a great height to his death, we'll see the conclusion next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Christopher Penfold from Hertfordshire gets all three weeklies but wonders why the Avengers is 6 pence while MWOM and SMCW are only 5 pence? He also thinks that the Marvel Annual from 1973 was a little drab. Well with new glossy covers and more pages all three are now 6 Pence each. I do prefer the 1974 annual to the previous one but I wouldn't call the 1973 annual drab, anything but that. They are both cracking good reads! S. Griffen from Peterborough thinks that the X-Men are soppy! And his glad that the Fantastic Four are coming back. Again I would never use the word soppy to describe the X-Men but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Steven Blackburn from County Durham gives the counter point to S. by saying that MWOM #50 was extra special because of the inclusion of the X-Men and Magneto, as well as the Hulk and the Avengers. John Mitchell from Glasgow who has just moved from America to Scotland hopes that British Marvel keeps the X-Men as he has read many American editions of their adventures and that they would make a great addition to the weeklies. Michael Davis from Staffordshire saw a FOOM application form in a US Marvel mag but wants to know how in Britain he can join. Sadly membership of FOOM was announced way back in February 1973, wow can that have been over a year ago that I was reviewing it in the British weeklies? Michael like many of us have missed our chance. Michael Potts from Newcastle Upon Tyne has a problem, he loves all three weeklies but can only afford the price of two. Each comic has its merits that make the problem an impossible decision. Michael if you read this let me know which ones you choose to keep. 

Dave Bolstridge from Birmingham wants Marvel to explain all about the other heroes and villains that don't get to star in the British weeklies but do appearing the colour US comics. Well there's two things, some of those stories will appear in future British Marvel mags so we don't want spoilers and the second is there's not enough space in the letter pages to explain them all. As Marvel gets bigger, it gets better, it gets harder to follow everything. Gary Williams from Kent mother thinks that Marvel is too violent and aggressive and is filled with "bad literature"! He thinks they're "good entrainment and good fun." So after argument that lasted 24 hours she's going to allow him to continue reading them. The editor is more concerned at being labelled as "bad literature" than the violence and aggression. Personally I can't see them as overfly violent and compared to 2024 there's very little aggression in them. As for the "bad literature" dig, yeah they're no "War and Peace" but they are certainly more fun. K. MacCormack from Surrey wants to see Marvel heroes on TV. Wait till the 2020's they're everywhere on TV and in the movies.

The Fantastic Four "A house divided!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #34

Cover date January 1965

(Published in October 1964)

The eagle eyed of you may have already noticed that this story doesn't follow directly from last week's adventure, but jumps on to the US Fantastic Four issue 34, missing out issue 33 whose story "Side by side with the Sub-Mariner!" obviously features Namor the Sub-Mariner, whose current appearance in this weeks Hulk strip might have lead to the switch in FF stories, as British Marvel editors may have considered two Namor guest starred stories too much under-sea fun for us Brits causing a "thrill-overload". (No wait a minute that's from the wrong comic company.) Never fear FF/Sub-Mariner fans FF #33's tale will see print in the pages of MWOM in just two weeks time.

This week's FF tale starts off with the usual Lee/Kirby high jinks with a mysterious package from the Yancy Street Gang to Ben Grimm. Inside it is not a bomb or a dead mouse, (a bit dark from me that last one,) but a Beetles wig. Are they just poking fun at big Ben's lack of hair or was it an early move to show all bald men aren't evil, unlike this week's antagonist. The Marvel's own version of Lex Luther multi-billionaire Gregory Hungerford Gideon. The Trump, Musk, Bezos of the 60's/70's although we might find out next week Gideon has a little more substance than those three. As part of a business deal he agrees to destroy the Fantastic Four by paying millions to have experts formulate a plan to do just that. The essence of the plan is to have the FF fight amongst themselves by planting clues that each member isn't who they seem. Will it succeed? Find out next week.

 As promised last week by British Marvel the names of the 50 winners who bag a FOOM membership prize and the 50 winners who land a Angling Times Kingfisher Guild membership in the Fishing competition that was ran in the November issues of the Mighty World of Marvel, Spider-man Comics Weekly and Avengers weeklies. This page was also printed in this week's SMCW and Avengers mags. There's way too many names to mention but if you're interested just zoom in and see if you can spot yourself or any friends. 

This week's in-house advert uses the logo from the US comic Marvel's Greatest Comics which ran bi-monthly from October 1969 (with issue 23 as it continued the numbering from Marvel Collectors' Item Classics, that had started in October 1965.) then right up to issue 96 with a cover date of January 1981. Marvel's Greatest Comics if you are interested featured reprints of the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America and Doctor Strange. Later issues just slimmed down to showcase old FF stories. Speaking of logo's it's nice to see the logo's for the Avengers, Dr. Strange, the Amazing Spider-man, the Mighty Thor and Iron Man used. The use of colour in this ad certainly let the Mighty World of Marvel readers know what the covers of its brother mags would look like and what was inside the them.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #52

As much as I love John Romita Sr's work I don't have any affection for this cover. It originally appeared as the cover for the Amazing Spider-man #57, there have been some minor adjustments, most noticeably the moving of Spider-man's position, that makes him closer to Zabu and further away from Ka-Zar. The roof that Ka-Zar leaps from has also been changed. A speech balloon has been added to Ka-Zar, a very British trait. Also text boxes informing us that in this issue "the fury of Iron Man!" and that this sabre-toothed tiger is called Zabu! One thing common in both US and UK versions is the text box informing us that this comic is "featuring: The Power of Ka-Zar!" now that I do like!

Spider-man "The coming of Ka-Zar!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #57

Cover date February 1968

(Published in November 1967)

 Spider-man still suffering from amnesia caused by Doctor Octopus's use of the "Nullifier" several issues ago is puzzled by his own secret identity. That's not the only thing puzzling with this strip, I couldn't figure out why this week's artwork wasn't up to the excellent art of John Romits Sr. But if you closely read the credit box, something I'm guilty of not always doing, often just reading the big headline writer and artist names, in this case "Stan Lee and John Romita put this thriller together," then comes the disappointing next line, "But dashin' Don Heck finished the pencilling." There must have been an impending deadline and Romita drew only the basic of layouts. Either way the artwork is nothing like John's or Don's best. 

But all that said about the artwork, the story should be a right cracker. Even with my disappointment with the art the story does indeed make up for all its down falls.  Lord Kevin Plunder, known to many as Ka-Zar, together with his companion sabre-toothed tiger Zabu, arrives at JFK airport to the waiting press, eager to find out what the Lord of the Jungle is doing in New York. Briefly the English lord informs them that he has come seeking legal advice from his lawyer. Those matters and the identity of his lawyer will come to light very shortly in three short months as all is revealed in the Mighty World of Marvel #86, can you guess which story?   

With all of Peter Parkers friends worried about his disappearance we see Harry Osborn who after finding a Spider-tracer in Peter's room, comes to the conclusion that Spider-man has abducted Peter. Then later Gwen confronts Spider-man about Peter's whereabouts, but before all that more disturbingly Aunt May collapsing while fretting over her missing nephew. To make Peter and Spider-man's problems even worse Jonah Jameson has convinced Ka-Zar that Spider-man is a public menace and sets the savage lord on his trail. What comes next week is described as "Trial by combat!" 

A bonus pin-up of Thor in hammer swinging action. The piece of artwork is taken from the cover of The Mighty Thor #193 US edition, cover dated November 1971, created by John Buscema with Marie Severin. It looks fantastic, I always love Buscema's work.

The Web and the Hammer

John Hampshire from Kent bought two DC comics at his local newsagents but after reading them he was totally disappointed with them, describing them as complete rubbish when compared to what Marvel produces. Mark Peters from Surrey point out that Thor's hammer is called "Mjollnir" and should when he throws it it should always return to him, making some nonsense of what happened in SMCW #24 where Cobra and Mister Hyde used a machine to swallow the weapon. The name of Thor's hammer hasn't been mentioned yet in the strip, I expect it will very soon. Patrick Kelly from Cornwall doesn't like the pictures that appear in the letter pages as they might give future stories away. I personally like them, they liven up a page. Micheal Dineen from Cork whole family just loves Marvel. Steven Ohm from Sunderland is convinced that the 70's is the Age of Marvel as while picking up his comics he saw six people wearing Hulk T-shirts, eight carrying Marvel and Spider-man comics and even one person with the Hulk on their T-shirt, trousers and cap. Was he at a comic Convention? the next letter has no name or address but they finish of their letter with "So until Iron Man goes rusty..Make Mine Marvel."

Peter Beckerley from Cardiff wonders why no-one has noticed that Peter has got more muscular and don't become suspicious that he's Spider-man. May be Mary Jane and Gwen just think he's hot! Peter Milbourn from Cumberland wants the whole world to find out Spider-man's identity so that he can find out what Flash and Aunt May would say. David Nutty from Manchester and his many friends who read Marvel comics would ask Stan Lee to bring out a Spider-man outfit to buy. Stuart Knapper from Coventry wonders why J Jonah Jameson doesn't realise that Peter is Spider-man after hearing them both a lot. Well I could say the mask muffles his voice or I could say that it's just a comic and don't take it too seriously. J. Feeney from Glasgow thinks SMCW is fabulous and has only missed it twice, both times he was on holiday. I've had that problem, second-hand comic shops and eBay sorted me out but in 1974 that is some way off. Peter Williams from Suffolk thinks that Marvel made a boob that in Pen Pal Swap Shop they didn't print an address to write to. "Boobs, what boobs?" came the reply as the editor points out that they got both his letter and Swap Shop coupon so there's nothing wrong with the address he used.

Another special Spidey Pin-up featuring the work of John Romita Sr taken from the classic cover that graced the Amazing Spider-man #50, cover dated July 1967, published April 1967. It also appeared in the UK on the cover of SMCW #44 back in December 1973. 

Iron Man "At last! Face to face with...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)

Well we finally get to see Gargantus in the flesh so to speak but he really doesn't impress. In fact the whole story feels a little like a page filler. Iron Man quickly gets to the bottom of Gargantus's power over the town of Granville, working out that the brute is no neanderthal super-being but a robot controlled by unnamed aliens, who I like to call the Mono-brow aliens, angry Mancunians who either want to conquer the world or win the battle of the Brit Pop wars. The only thing that this story makes me do is wonder why the aliens choose a lame town to invade with their lame robot? It's all instantly forgettable. But at least it gave us the golden armour rather than the old grey one.

 The Mighty Thor "The grandeur and the glory!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #124

Cover date January 1966

(Published in November 1965)

This first half of the Thor story feels very pedestrian as the plot is built up before all the action. It does end this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly with a another tale that is building up to the action, a bookend to Spider-man's strip earlier in this mag with little action in both, either side of an action filled but very dull Iron Man strip. That's just the way comics are some weeks. 

Coincidently this week, I came across on Twitter, a post by @JackKirbyMuseum showing the original artwork for this panel (seen on the right,)  that makes a fine example of Kirby's use of lines and perspective to show power and movement. British Marvel fans regularly praise the fact that these comics allow the artwork to shine in its most perfect form without need of colour to hide flaws. I did think was this a print of the original work that Kirby later signed? I sometimes wonder are the shading tones used in British Marvel weeklies necessary? When used well it can improve the art giving a reality feel to the art, when used heavily it can spoil the art. In the current Thor strip it does work well.

Thor has read in the paper about the Demon in Viet Nam terrorising villages and intends to investigate the stories but first he calls to see Jane Foster who is recovering in hospital. Overhearing that her condition seems to be getting worse he changes into Doctor Don Blake to find out more. She is suffering from depression, possibly caused by the uncertainty caused by Blake telling her he loves her but later disappearing for days or weeks on end. Blake decides to tell her the truth and reveals to her that he has a duel identity. She says in her heart she somehow suspected the truth and asks him to promise to never leave her again. That is going to cause so many problems in the future, not least Odin's reaction when he finds out. The Demon will have to wait as next week Thor must face his "Father's wrath!"

There seems to be a lot of spare pages this issue with two pin-ups already and then the final inside pages are given to a Marvel Letter pack advertisement and another pin-up. "Spidey hangs loose!" is the title, I have no idea who drew it or where it was originally from. Could it have been an enlarged panel from one of Spidey's stories? May be by Steve Ditko? I've no clue, let me know if you do.

The colour pack page like the one in this week's MWOM features another in-house advert from Marvel's other weeklies. It uses the "Marvel's Greatest Comics!" logo again as well as the classic Fantastic Four, Daredevil the man without fear and Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts logos too. Time to look at the last weekly on offer this week.

 

   

The Avengers #21

This week's final cover features the original cover from the Avengers (US) issue 24. Drawn by Jack Kirby with inks by Dick Ayers. It's pretty much the same as the American version apart from the entire back ground is white except for the yellow spotlight on the four surrounded Avengers. I do like the added red back ground on the British version as it brightens the cover up and in doing so gives the impression that the Avengers are on a target, heightening the danger and tension. Take a look at the original and you'll see what I mean. Which one do you prefer? 

The weekly in-house advert in the week's Avengers is placed on the inside cover to allow a paying Dinky Toys advert the prestige of the colour back page. It's the one with the Leopard Tank, Motor Patrol Boat and Atlantean City Double decker bus from last week. Well it does subsidise the comic somewhat. This advert goes back to the old tried and tested "Double Dynamite" logo. I've no favourite between that one and the "Marvel Greatest Comics" headline, it's nice to mix it up a little. 

The Avengers "From the Ashes of defeat..!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The Avengers #24

Cover date January 1966

(Published in November1965)

The Avengers have been pulled to the 40th Century by Kang whose armed forces are surrounding the Kingdom of King Carelius. Kang will relent if the King's daughter, Princess Ravonna agrees to his offer of love. She refuses and Kang flees to lead his army into conquest. The Avengers agree to help the King and Princess repel Kang's forces with the Kings troops but they are heavily out numbered and eventually fall after a well fought battle. Quicksilver is missing and injured while the other three Avengers are captured.  

With victory Baltag, Kang's second in command, demands the conquered monarchs be executed to prevent any future rebellion, as is their way. Kang recoils that he is supreme and the rules are his to break as he see fit. This leads to a coup in Kang's hordes, lead by Baltag, starting with an assassination attempt on the love torn Kang. The conquer turns liberator as he frees the Avengers in exchange for their help to save the life of Princess Ravonna he will return the assemblers to their own time. The combined might of Kang and the Avengers, plus the returning Quicksilver defeats the infighting hordes of Baltag. Kang keeps his word and returns the Avengers but just has he does so Baltag seizes a weapon from a careless guard and shoots at the betrayer Kang, in that split second Princess Ravonna hurls her body in front of the laser beam, declaring her love for Kang, saving him from death. It's a historic moment in the history of the Avengers that future stories will feed off for decades to come. I like it, yes it's off its time, but still it's a nice read.

Assemble

E. Lectro ROF from Manchester, (can you see what he did with his name?) asks why in the Fantastic Annual from 1968 Doctor Strange doesn't use mystic arts but instead he uses sciences. I was curious so I entered the BeeHive and dusted off my old copy of that annual and rediscovered an old Iron Man story entitled "Iron Man vs Doctor Strange", it features a villain called Carlo Strange who also goes by the name of Doctor Strange, no relation to the Stephen Strange we all know. It was originally published in Tales of Suspense #41, cover dated May 1963, published February 1963, under the title "The stronghold of Doctor Strange!" The Master of Mystic Arts would make his first appearance two months later. William Lanigan from Glasgow has spotted a mistake that in Avengers #8 a full grown Wasp still had her wings. Wayne Blachmer from Reading wants to see the Avengers join the X-Men to fight some super-size super-group of villains. Antonio from Scunthorpe wants to know how Iron Man can move so freely in his armour, it's by advance science and Marvel magic Antonio. I. Elkington RFO from Northampton who says eight weeks ago he bought his first Avengers and he hasn't look back since.

Gary Mander RFO, KOF, PMM from Hemel Hempstead has enjoyed the artwork in issues three to seven of the Avengers, adding the covers for 3,5,6 and 7 have had him mistaking them for the American editions. Frank Ditton from Somerset doesn't like seeing the Avengers arguing too much. I'm afraid that characters in early Marvel stories tended to fall out a lot, much like real life, they would more or less make up eventually. It's kind of what makes them different from their DC counterparts. Vincent begs that the Avengers should get a break from constantly fight villains. But Vincent you'll get very bored of the Assemblers just sitting round drinking cups of tea. Paul Crisp from Cleveleys first started reading the Avengers, but while he was in South Africa his brother saw an Avengers comic with the Panther and the Green Arrow on the cover! He asks why aren't they in the UK version. I ask "Who's the Green Arrow?" Only joking he's a third rate Hawkeye from the Distinguished Competition I think. Not sure what stories where in the South African edition to have them both on a cover. Andrew Showler from Northants writes his second letter to the Avengers in hope that it would get printed as he was suffering with a dose of Chicken Pox. The best way a child can get better when ill is by reading some Marvel mags, it's just what the Doctor (Strange) ordered. Finally for this weeks letters, Jim Rutherford from Matlock is interested that Captain America had been frozen in ice and then later thawed out some twenty years later, it reminds him of an article he read in a newspaper in which rich people where paying to have their bodies frozen after their deaths. Did the Marvel story inspire that idea?  

Doctor Strange "A nameless land, a nameless time!"  

 

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #133

Cover date June 1965

(Published in March 1965)

 

Doctor Strange has been defeated by Baron Mordo who gloats that the Ancient one will be next to die at his hands. The Dreaded Dormammu tells him not to be so overconfident as Strange still lives as he had summoned all his available strength to send his body to an other dimension. Mordo says he must follow him but Dormammu states that the dimensions of infinity are endless. But sooner or later the sorcerer will return. The shapeless form of Doctor Strange crashes through a maze of endless dimensions until his ethereal form resumes human form in a strange dimension, where he is discovered by the sister of Shazana. a sorceress who rules this mysterious realm. 

Both are captured by an agent of the evil ruler and taken to Shazana. Strange tries to fight Shazana but is easily defeated. Later Strange learns the source of the evil ruler's power comes from a powerful orb. Attacking Shazana once more, Doctor Strange blocks the orb from providing her with power by jumping onto it, smashing it into pieces that releases a mystical backlash sending Doctor Strange through the myriad dimensions to more adventures next week.

That little brief interlude in Doctor Strange's battle against Baron Mordo and Dormammu ends this nostalgic look at British Marvel weeklies for this week. Although many stories are from the early 60's period of Marvel that do have a certain charm there's lots to enjoy and loads more to enjoy next week. So I better start preparing next week's blog. Till then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.