Hanging on a crane line!

Week Ending 20th April 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #81

There's three cracking good covers this week, but I'm not going to cheat and pick two, like last week, or even all three. No I'm going to choose this Mighty World of Marvel cover as my Cover of the Week, even though the artwork isn't the greatest rendition of the Hulk, or Daredevil, or the Fantastic Four. What I like about it is the overall design. I'm a sucker for the dramatic way the six great super-stars rip through the cover. It's not only the artists, Ron Wilson (pencils,) and Pablo Marcos (inks,) who give it all with spectacular visuals, the letterer/editor/art-bodger lays it on thick with the histrionic text that surrounds our heroes. "The Best buy in comics!" "Action! Adventure! Excitement!" Even hints at two bonuses play with newspaper style hyperbole. Although I'm not sure what "Bonus #2 Spider-man's swap shop" means. There's nothing related to Spider-man inside the comic.

The Incredible Hulk "The Rhino says no!"

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #124

Cover date February 1970

(Published in November 1969)

The opening splash page features the headline "Bruce Banner to marry" across the front page of the Daily Bugle, that if you look closely is dated November 30 1969, making it topical for US readers who bought the original version, but not for UK readers. This isn't the only text that could have been changed in this story or even the other strips in this comic. Later a reference to when the Hulk last battled the Rhino is said to have been in Hulk #103, which is correct for US readers but for UK readers it would have been MWOM #52. I guess the art-bodger was on holiday or the editor never spotted it.

 

Sal Buscema helps Herb Trimpe with the art for this story. I'm not sure how much of the layouts Trimpe gave to Buscema to ink, but these pages look completely like Buscema's work more than Trimpe's. The style reminds me of when Buscema drew the Avengers regularly in 1969, 1970 and 1971, as seen in The Avengers (US) issues 68 to 72 and again in issues 86 to 92. Classics, can't wait for the Avengers weekly to catch up to those stories. Sal Buscema is great at drawing really perfect versions of characters that other people are more well known for, like the super-villains on these two pages. Of course Sal would also become well known for drawing the Hulk regularly in the second half of the 70's and right into the middle off the 80's.   

News about Bruce and Betty's impending marriage  reaches the Leader who vows to destroy his foe once and for all. Tracking them down to a lake where the newly engaged couple are enjoying a romantic boat ride, the Leader contemplates destroying Banner with a missile but then decides that he will not kill him in such a crude way. After contemplating the most fitting method the Leader proposes that if a raging Hulk where to kill Banner's bride on their wedding day and then the green brute was later destroyed his insidious desire would be fulfilled. but how would he enrage the Hulk enough to cause such actions? The Leader recalls a number of old Hulk foes who might be powerful enough to battle the Hulk to a standstill. Eventually the Rhino crosses his mind. The perfect partner to compliment the leaders intelligence matched ideally with the rhinos strength and high stupidity. I've got a feeling it won't be an happy occasion for the bride and groom.

Daredevil "And men shall call him...Ox!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Frank Giocoia

Originally published in Daredevil #15

Cover date April 1966

(Published in February 1966)

When last week's Daredevil story ended Matt Murdock had told Karen Page and Foggy Nelson that he would be leaving the law firm  to travel for a while. I instantly thought the next story would be the Plunderer/Ka-Zar storyline that ran from Daredevil #12 to #14. Which is what it should have been but for some unexplainable reason British Marvel jumped and used the story from Daredevil issue 15 instead. 

What was promised last issue and did occur this issue was the introduction of a new artist to the strip. John Romita Sr first regular strip on his return to Marvel was Daredevil, which some believed was used a a try-out for Spider-man. That wasn't quite the full truth but I'll cover that in later blogs. Romita started is run on DD with that Plunderer/Ka-Zar storyline from Daredevil #12 I mentioned earlier. But that wasn't the first time he'd worked with Stan Lee, he'd work with him on the pre-Marvel, Timely Comics, then later Atlas Comics drawing horror, war, romance and even Captain America strips until he left in 1958 to join DC to mainly work on Romance comics. These Daredevil stories show pure Romita Art, something that he held back for a while when he first took over Spider-man from Steve Ditko. This strip artwork is brilliant, just take a look at the opening splash page or the Ox smashing through a wall. It's classic Romita. If you're interested in this weeks plot it quickly goes like this, the Ox, lead by his cell-mate Doctor Karl Stragg, escape from prison and later Stragg performs a mind swap with the strong but incredibly dim Ox, giving Stragg the powerful body he always wanted. The Ox/Stragg goes on a rampage, Daredevil is out to stop him. To find how far DD gets with that will have to wait till next week.

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

The entire Bullpen page is taken up with a teaser for the Design a super-hero/villain competition, with news on who is judging the entries. The three photos shown start with Stan Lee in front of a wall full of readers efforts. It looks like it has been "photo shopped" so I think he might have had little to do with the opening stages of judging. I imagine that Stan will get a say in the finalists, much like Simon Cowell would only judge X-Factor/Britains Got Talent contestants only after the mediocre entries had been weeded out. The second picture shows Frank Dickens and two UK editors looking through the entries, the person on the right of this picture could well be Petra Skingley, the real name of British Marvel editor Peter L. Skingley. I could well be totally incorrect with that statement but the dark haired person does look like a woman. The close-up in the third photo is Frank Dickens, a guest judge mostly known for being the writer and creator of "Bristow" a cartoon that was syndicated between 1962 and 2001 in the London Evening Standard newspaper. 

The Fantastic Four "Behold! A distant star!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #36

Cover date April 1965

(Published in January 1965)

The Fantastic Four return to their own strip this week after a two week break with what looks like from the opening splash page a jokey story. Ben and Johnny are trying on their wedding outfits for Reed and Sue's up-coming big day, when Mister Fantastic walks in with the biggest gun-like device he can carry. It accidentally fires, hitting Johnny with its special ray, causing the Torch to temporary loose control of his flame powers, destroying his suit in the process. Reed describes the "Power Ray" weapon as a "Power Amplifier" that draws energy from an unknown source somewhere beyond the confines of the solar system and converts it into raw usable power. I guess that's a "Chekhov's revolver" scene as Reed's device will play a bigger part of the plot in the second half of this adventure.

Sue is troubled by memories of her late father, Franklin Storm, who was assassinated by the Skrulls, as seen in MWOM #70. She can't rest until his murderers are brought to justice. In a distant galaxy Warlord Morrat, the Skrull responsible for the sending of Doctor Franklin Storm back to Earth as a suicide bomber, discusses  his own plans to gain more power by marrying Emperor Dorrek's daughter, Princess Anelle. Kirby does drop a massive mistake in this story, there is no conceivable reason why he draws all the Skrulls without their characteristic chin ridges. It's the Klingon head bumps controversy all over again. Morrat cares very little for his would be bride, he's cruel and power-mad.

The Fantastic Four set off on the impossible journey to the Skrull homeworld with the aid of a new thrust-drive mechanism fitted to a NASA Saturn rocket that is powered with energy from Reed's "Power Ray"device to travel the vast distances that Reed has charted through Sub-space. Once arriving on the Skrull home-world the strange atmosphere affects the foursomes powers weakening them and so making them easy targets for Morrat's troops to capture. A Flash Gordon style cliff hanger that will have to be solved next week.

The back page of this weeks MWOM is used as n advert for Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Avengers weekly, with the covers of those two great comics shown under the "Marvel's Greatest Comics" logo. Both are brighter than the actual comic covers with bluer skies in both of the artwork than the used versions. The colour scheme for both title logos are different too and the artwork for the battle between Spider-man and the Vulture is cut slightly as the actual version of that cover used for the UK comic has a roof and wall added to an existing chimney. For more on that carry on reading.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #62

This cover uses the artwork from Marvel Tales volume 2 issue 47, cover dated November 1973, published August 1973, which is a slightly re-angled version of the cover from the Amazing Spider-man #64, cover dated September 1968, published June 1968 by John Romita Sr. The story from issue 64 of Spider-man only sees print in two weeks time in Spider-man Comics Weekly #64, so I imagine that the original cover for this issue was used so as to not give away the fact that there are two Vultures. 

You can see the lower roof and wall added to the British version and a straightening of the whole image for the Marvel Tales and Spider-man Comics Weekly versions. They're great covers which ever one you prefer and the British version should be a strong contender for the Cover of the Week most weeks, but I'm going to stick with my gut feeling and stick with the Mighty World of Marvel #81.

Spider-man "Wings in the night!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #62

Cover date August 1968

(Published in May 1968)

If I did a "Page of the Week" this would be it! A brooding Vulture cloaked in shadows, he perches high up on a building's ledge in the heavy rain. It looks brilliant, I would have it up on my wall if I could afford it. The original page of art was sold for $4,600 by Heritage Auctions on the 13th August 2003, which works out to be £3,694.40 with today's exchange rate. 

I should note before I get too deep into this week's adventure that original Marvel continuity wise this story should have been "The name of the dame is...Medusa!" as seen in the last panel of last week's Spider-man strip. It probably wasn't printed because Medusa has only just been seen in the FF story from MWOM #78 as a member of the Frightful Four and hadn't been properly introduced as an Inhuman. British readers would have to wait till Spider-man Comic #331, 11th July 1979, to read that missing story. The story that should follow that would have been from the Amazing Spider-man Annual #5, cover dated November 1968, published August 1968, titled "The parents of Peter Parker!" UK readers would have to wait till the 2rd June 1993 to read it in The Exploits of Spider-man #9. 

Getting back to the Vulture we find out that Adrian Toomes, last seen in SMCW #42, didn't die in prison hospital but somehow escaped and either found a spare costume or built a new Vulture suit and is seeking revenge on Spider-Man.

Life isn't looking any better for Peter, after hurting his arm while falling onto a ledge when his webbing wouldn't stick in the rain, he's still getting the cold shoulder from Gwen over him selling a photo of her father to the Daily Bugle and the little "push and shove" moment the brainwashed Captain had with the teenager hadn't helped. I feel for Peter, he's not really done anything wrong and the loss of Gwen Stacy is very hard to take. It's those beautiful sad eyes drawn by Romita that does it to you.

We haven't got time to get wrapped up in the troubles of teenage love, the original Vulture sets into action his plan of destroying Spider-man by freeing Blackie Drago from prison with recovered Vulture suit he wore went he was defeated by Spider-man in SMCW #43. One Vulture is bad, two is deadly. But before Spider-man has to take on those two fiends, Peter is asked to have a talk by Captain Stacy. Has he remembered something about Peter that would have been better forgotten? And to make matters worse, Norman Osborn visits Harry at his and Peter's apartment, but seeing Peter in half shadows brings back dim memories that rock his emotional state. Harry takes him home to recover, ending this week's strip with a promise that  next issue will have more problems for Peter and Spider-man.

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

Stan's Soapbox promises more US editions will be coming to the UK, An item on the foreign naming of the Thing, Daredevil and Doctor Strange, which reveals that in Spanish they are know as El Coloso, El Dynamo and Doctor Centalla which means Doctor Spark! An item that is specially for Spider-man Comics Weekly readers reveals that Don Heck, the current Iron-man and the Avengers artist is working on a newspaper strip in the US called The Phantom. The strip was originally created by Lee Falks in February 1936, but in 1974 Don Heck was drawing it with Sy Berry, who at one time was the regular artist on the strip, is now finishing Heck's pencil work. In another item we're told that Roy Thomas at one time studied hieroglyphics! There's another item on production administrator Sol Brodsky who was also the inker on some early Fantastic Four thrillers. The Bullpen page has all those titbits as well as a UK checklist. What more could you ask for?

Iron Man "Iron Man Faces the Crimson Dynamo!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #46

Cover date October 1963

(Published in July 1963)

  

Iron Man faces a threat from behind the Iron Curtain with the Russian's very own version of an "Iron Man", named the Crimson Dynamo. This super-powered suit of armour had been created by Professor Anton Vanko, Russia's greatest inventor and expert in electricity. Vanko's armour is bigger and bulkier than Iron Man's but it does possess the ability to manipulate other forms of electrical devices and can short circuit them. These early Iron Man stories can be a little lame, but this one is showing improvement with a villain more fitting to pit against the armoured Avenger.

The Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev had last appeared at a United Nations meeting in the Fantastic Four adventure as seen in MWOM #37, in which his look, for UK readers, had changed with hair and a pair of glasses drawn over the original art. In this story again Khrushchev isn't named, he was only referred to a Comrade Leader and his hair becomes a much thicker darker mop, he's grown a moustache and he's wearing sunglasses. In that FF appearance no mention of Russia was made, instead the country of Bodavia was used. Here we are told that Professor Vanko's lab is just outside of Moscow. So I guess that British Marvel editor's were OK with mentioning Communist states now, but maybe still a little sheepish when it came to their leaders. Vanko is very powerful in Russia, he's not afraid to show he's might against the Russian leader, at one point he pin's Khrushchev against a wall with a tank. That may well be a mistake on Vanko's part as the leader is already plotting his downfall. As we've already seen in the opening splash page, the Crimson Dynamo uses his electrical controlling armour to cause a Stark built test rocket to fly off course. Can Iron Man save it? Find out next week. 

The Web and the Hammer

Benny Arron from South Wales has spotted that the front cover of MWOM #67 said "Final victory of Dr. Doom!" but inside it showed "The menace of the Mole Man!" Andrew Todd answers Jim Ivers questions printed in the Mighty Marvel Mailbag as seen in MWOM #66, about the number of pages and price readers wouldn't mind paying for, how many letter pages per weekly would they like and do they want Daredevil to return? Andrew's answers are 40 pages per weekly for 6 to 7 pence, two letter pages and yes he would be glad seeing DD return. Tim M. Newton from Poulton-Le-Fylde in Lancashire, note the correct spelling not how it is spelt in the letter page, gives a full review on all three weeklies, he's not happy with Don Heck's Avengers artwork, much preferring Kirby's version. Personally I think Heck's Avengers are getting better, at the minute I quite like them. Mark Francis from Choppington is puzzled by the term "No-Prize". For those who still don't know, its a verbal order of merit awarded to any true believer who deserves one for spotting a mistake or point out something that other people haven't noticed. It doesn't exist, it's a virtual prize.

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

This Bullpen Bulletin page is very similar to the one featured in this week's MWOM, with the wording of the text the same but slightly moved around because of the repositioning of the photos. It's worth taking a closer look at all the photos again as all three are taken from slightly different angles than those shown in MWOM. The two on the right, of this page show the judges in different poses to those in MWOM. The top right is a wider shot of the Frank Dickens which used again as the Frank's close-up seen in MWOM's third photo. In SMCW's bottom right photos Frank is having a good laugh at someone's design. In Stan's photo "The Man's" pose is exactly the same as the one from MWOM although slightly tipped to the left, but the competition entries on the wall are further along, in what looks like a photo-shopped image. If I'm being cynical, I would say that Stan Lee didn't come to the UK to judge these competition entries at all. 

The Mighty Thor "The verdict of Zeus!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #129

Cover date June 1966

(Published in April 1966)

Thor returns to New York City where a crowd of inquisitive people ask about his feud with Hercules. But the noble Thunder God refuses to answer any questions about the troubled Olympian God. Luckily a New York taxi driver offers to give him an easy escape. The cab driver waxes philosophical with him in a scene that I can imagine came from Jack Kirby himself, almost like he makes his own cameo as the cab driver.

Hercules' problems are growing, not only has he signed a contract that makes him the ruler of the hellish Netherworld by the cunning, trickery of Pluto, but his father Zeus has deemed the contract valid, a matter of principle and honour that his son must fulfil the agreement. His only way that the contract be terminated is if another would fight on his behalf. Well we can all guess who that might be, but that part of this tale will have to wait till next week as the God of Thunder makes a visit to his mortal girlfriend Jane Foster. Who has taken in an enigmatic house mate.

Regular The Power of Beesting readers may recall that I jumped ahead of this Thor/Hercules/Pluto saga by re-reading the Marvel Treasury Edition #3 over the Easter break, it was great but I was worried that I would spoil my re-reading of these weeklies, I shouldn't fear as these weekly mags still give me the odd surprise now and again. I had forgotten that the mysterious Tana Nile made her first appearance in this story as that sub-plot was edited out of the treasury and it had been a while since I originally read this issue. I still have enjoyment when it comes to finding new bits about it to love.  

Witch hunt

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in Amazing Adult Fantasy #7

Cover date December 1961

(Published in August 1961)

This story shows that great things come in small packages as this tale is completely charming. Two centuries ago in the town of Salem a woman is hunted down for being a witch. Her lover pleads her case in a trial and she is found not guilty. They set off to find a minister to wed them, but their horse is startled and she is injured when she falls from the carriage. She isn't seriously hurt but must be treated urgently as her condition could get worse. The doctor is an hour away, but her lover says it would be quicker for someone who can ride a tree branch or broomstick to get there sooner. "You still don't believe I'm not a witch, despite what you said in the courtroom!" she cries. To which he replies "Nonsense! I know YOU'RE not the witch." and off he flies. 

Avengers Weekly #31

This is a great cover by Jim Starlin with his artwork taken from the cover of Marvel Special Edition #16. I imagine that Avengers fans are still fuming at the lack of Avengers featured covers since the Master of Kung Fu started in the mag, but at least they have returned to the corner box, which I have to admit is little consolation. Still it is a great piece of art.

Master of Kung Fu "Death by Midnight!"

Writer: Steve Englehart 

Artist: Jim Starlin

Inker: Al Milgrom

Originally published in Special Marvel Edition #16

Cover date February 1974

(Published in November 1973)

This isn't a great opening page, it looks cheap with cut and paste panels used to re-cap last week's story. I would have preferred a piece of original artwork showing Shang-Chi facing off against Midnight, instead of commissioning a new cover for last week's issue. Then the Avengers would have gotten a shot at the cover. Let's forget about all that because after the opening page Jim Starlin's artwork is breathtaking as the two masters of the martial arts pit their skills against each other.

Their fight takes them through scenes that could well come from a martial arts movie story board. With Jim Starlin drawing that story board that movie would have a very good chance of becoming a sure fire hit. There's high wire fight scenes, sword fight scenes with Midnight welding a Bo and Shang-Chi picking up a construction pipe from a building site. Then later Shang-Chi unwilling to take the killer blow as Midnight holds no memory of friendship in his heart, he's willing to follow Fu Manchu's deadly orders to their end the young hero flees taking a high risk exit, onto a high crane. Bringing the fight to a conclusion in a scene that is the real killer scene.

The fatal ending see Shang-Chi tired and weak from Midnights endless attacks. Steve Englehart writes a scene that lets Starlin handle the heavy work with his artwork in four panels that needs no word balloons and very little text boxes. Midnight kicks out at a beaten Shang-Chi who hangs on for grim life, only to slip with only one hand preventing his fall to doom. The crescendo of blind rage from Midnight is present in his final kick that misses the Shang-Chi as he swings away, that fatal kick encounters nothing but air causing the assassin to become off-balance. With nothing to break his fall save the loose cable and hook of the crane, which snags his cape in a moment that is played out off panel, snapping his neck as his hat floats down would to the ground. Leaving Shang-Chi to climb down past his one-time friend as hangs by his cape. Even though the deadly moment isn't seen the images are very graphic. Quite a scene for a kids comic. This is one of the reason's why I've always seen the Avengers weekly as a more mature mag than its fellow weeklies. The other thing that I've always said is never, never wear a cape. It'll be the death of you. When I saw that scene in Disney/Pixar The Incredibles were Stratogale dies when her cape gets sucked into a jet engine and even though Edna "E" Mode, the fashion designer for the Supers, had warned her with, "never capes", I thought of this comic. 

Marvel Bullpen Bulletins

The Bullpen Bulletin is pretty much the same as the one seen in Spider-man Comics Weekly but with only a few changes. A picture of Hawkeye replaces Spider-man, the Marvel Checklist features mini reviews of this week's MWOM and SMCW mags. But as a special to the Avengers there is an item about Steve Englehart. He has moved from the East coast to the West coast to take up residence in San Francisco, California. Apparently Jim Starlin drove Steve's motor bike all the way west to meet him. That's an "Easy-rider" road trip for friends.   

The Avengers "We stand against the Serpents!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Avengers #32

Cover date September 1966

(Published in July 1966)

After the attack of a number of ethnic minorities, including Henry Pym's lab assistant Bill Foster, by the hate group known as the Sons of the Serpent the Avengers discuss how they must take more action in the matter. But it isn't till a close attack on the Chinese delegate to the United Nations, General Chen, that the Avengers do take steps by calling an extraordinary press conference asking for the public to remain calm and that the Sons of the Serpent will be punished under the name of the law. 

General Chen accuses the protesters at the UN building of being members of the Sons of the Serpent, delaying his entrance into the building, so that the attack on his convoy could take place.  Captain America is kidnapped by the Sons of the Serpent and held hostage so that the Avengers are warned to not oppose them. They have no option but to refuse to fight against the Sons of the Serpent when the Attorney General requests their aid to stop the bigoted group. This news is broadcast to the nation making everyone believe that the Avengers have joined in the Serpents cause. It goes that those who stay silent give fuel to those who set alight the bonfires of hate. More from this great story next week.

Avengers Readers Assemble

"Unsigned" from Middlesex wants to see the return of the old members to the Avengers. Neil McNaught from Coventry also wants to see Thor, Giant Man and Iron Man return. Tony Montgomery wouldn't want to be Iron Man because of his heart trouble, nor Captain America because of the loss of Bucky, or Thor nether because he might turn into the lame Doctor Blake, but he wouldn't mind being Doctor Strange. Ian Keetley from Derby asks why the Hulk isn't given another chance in the Avengers and why was he kicked out in the first place? Brian Purshouse from Rotherham likes the new Avengers, thinking they are OK but they aren't strong enough and they could really do with the Hulk's strength.   

Duncan Clark stores his comics in large brown envelopes to protect them from getting ripped. He's going to need a lot more envelopes as his collection builds. He asks eight questions, 1) Who is Goliath? Will he be an Avenger? 2) Make Thor use is strength more than his hammer, (not a question, more like a request.) 3) Why doesn't the magnets in Captain America's glove stop his shield from leaving his grip when he throws it? 4) Can Quicksilver vibrate through solid objects? 5) Bring back Thor, Iron Man, Giant Man and the wasp, (again that's a request not a question.) 6) Can there be a Marvel TV series? 7) Is Thor stronger than the Hulk? 8) Will Rick Jones be an Avenger? The answers are 1) He was Ant-Man/Giant Man and now he's a full-time Avenger. 2) Not a question, 3) Isn't it an electro-magnet that can be switched on and off. 4) No. 5) Again that's a request. 6) Ask your TV company. 7) The editor says the Hulk is stronger. 8) No Rick is just a good friend of the Avengers. John Rose from London is possibly the only Marvelyte who dislikes Daredevil and he doesn't want to see his return. P. Boudly from Scunthorpe is a regular reader of the Avengers weekly but has been thinking of cancelling his order but has since changed his mind after reading the Swordsman story in the weekly. Stephen Pugh ROF, FFFFF (a Frankly Frantic Fabulous Fantastic Four Fan,) from Hants wants to see the X-Men with Conan in a new mag, Daredevil to rejoin the MWOM line-up, with Ant-Man and the Wasp joining SMCW. 

A third page of readers letters! This is a little bit too much. Philip Hodgson from Lancashire wants more posters in the Avengers Weekly. Steven Davies from South Wales used to get MWOM but stopped getting it when Daredevil left and the colour pages ended. He thinks that bringing back colour to the weeklies would make them more livelier. Chris Cotton from London gets up really early on Saturday mornings so that he doesn't miss getting his copy of the Avengers weekly. Chris wonders what special training is required to become an Avengers artist? The answer is lots of practice. Finally for this week Robert Lawes from Newport wanted to join FOOM and has been saving money while in hospital but he can't find an entry form. Well sadly Robert you and myself missed out on FOOM membership as it has been "fully-subscribed" and we're 50 years too late.

Doctor Strange "With none beside me!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #143

Cover date April 1966

(Published in January 1966)

With his cloak and amulet taken from him by Mordo's disciples who have also covered his hands and face by mystical restraints the Doctor formulates a plan that starts with him stowing his physical body in a water tower, while his spirit form looks for his possessions and the way to defeat Mordo's minions. He locates his cloak of levitation and uses it to over power one of his opponents. But when he returns to the water tower to reclaim his physical body he finds it has gone.

He tricks his opponent into leading him to the female sorceress who also has the Eye of Agamotto. Using it to his advantage he battles with her, making her defeats her own henchmen in the process. With the added powers of his cloak and amulet Strange uses them to force his will against the sorceress, commanding her to free his physical body from its mystical bonds. 

With his spirit form returned to his physical body and freed from the magical spells that held him in bondage Strange casts a spell of forgetfulness over Mordo's three disciples. With no more powers linking Mordo to Earth the Doctor can now turn his undivided attention towards the Dread Dormammu and the fate of the young girl who had aided Strange.  

It's been a pretty enjoyable saga and this epilogue two parter has also been a nice little wrap up, but it will be great next week to read a Doctor Strange tale that has no connection to Baron Mordo in it. I'm hoping for something more mystically refreshing to tickle my nostalgic bones with. But that's a week away, so till then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.