Oh my Glob, not again!

 Week Ending 15th June 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #89

This Hulk cover looks like it was specially created for this issue of the Mighty World of Marvel as the original cover from the Incredible Hulk #129 would be used next week. Larry Lieber (pencils,) and Frank Giacoia (inked,) collaborated on the artwork. Lieber wouldn't be my first choice for a Hulk artist, but he would always make a reasonable effort to create artwork of an acceptable level. I do kind of like this piece, it's a nice mix of the Hulk, the Leader and an eerie looking Glob. It could well be my Cover of the Week, but it misses out to another. Read on to find out which.

The Incredible Hulk “Again, the Glob!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #129

Cover date July 1970

(Published in April 1970)

Last week's Hulk story ended with the not-so-jolly green giant walking through the subterranean tunnels after he destroyed Mogol, Tyrannus's kingdom and the Mole Man's armies. What should have followed was an adventure of the Hulk causing seismic tremors as he walks closer to the San Andreas Fault. Gamma Base alerts the Avengers who investigate. But British Marvel missed out the story from The Incredible Hulk #128 (US version,) mainly because the Avengers roster from that tale included the Black Panther, the Vision and a second Goliath who's real identity was Clint Barton, who at this period in UK continuity was still known as Hawkeye. Printing that story would have presented the opportunity for too many difficult questions from readers. It's a great story and a real shame that it was missed out. Marvel UK would later print these tales in the correct order, with that missing chapter seen in The Incredible Hulk #24, cover dated 8th September 1982 and later Panini would also do so again, but in full colour, in The Mighty World of Marvel volume 3 issue 17, cover dated 16th June 2004. 

This week's adventure starts with the Leader, in his "vacuum cleaner" looking aircraft, following a tired Bruce Banner, to find a way to destroy his nemesis. Later a truck driver, called Sam Sterns, picks up hitchhiker Banner and the odd couple discuss the Hulk's miss-adventures and Stern's lack of memory. During the conversation Banner recalls that a creature referred to as the Glob had a sort of kindred rconnection to his monstrous ego, but also came closest to defeating the Hulk as seen in MWOM #78. Stern abruptly leaves complaining of a headache. In an alleyway Stern transforms into the Leader. Although he first appeared hidden behind a protective hood in MWOM #15 the origin of the Leader was revealed in MWOM #16, however his human name was never  revealed, until this story I believe. Using facts gained from Banner's story, news reports and military documents, the Leader locates the resting place of the Glob, resurrecting the swamp monster with the aid of his technology, infusing in the mind of the monstrosity an image of the Hulk menacing the girl he had sacrificed his own life to save. You can probably guess what's going to happen next week, but come back to see how right you are.

Bullpen Bulletins

The Bullpen Bulletin page is again filled with items on the increase of US colour Marvel comics that have been imported to our shores. We get items on the X-Men and Iron Man US full colour comics. We are also teased that Rich Buckler not only draws the latest Thor tales in his own US comic, but also pencils the adventures of the Fantastic Four in their colour US mag. Another new US comic hitting the UK newsstands is called Amazing Adventures and stars Killraven in an updated version of the War of the Worlds. In an item about the current UK mags we're told that Stan Lee was so delighted with Bill Everett's Doctor Strange as seen in the Avengers weekly that he returned to reassume writing chores on that strip, as we'll see later on in this blog. As a Special to the Mighty World of Marvel there's a recap on what's going on in this issue that ends with a teaser that we shouldn't dare miss the Mighty World of Marvel issues 92 and 93 for the super-hero happening of the century. It'll be Fantastic! Stan uses his Soapbox column to demonstrate that nobody is all good or all bad, with even shoddy villains having some redeeming features as well as heroes who have their fair share of nutty hangups. He adds "if you're a far-out radical or Mr. establishment" you shouldn't get "bogged down by childish labels!" His point goes on to express it's fruitless to think in terms of them and us, of  black and white. There's never true understanding until we listen to the other guy. He ends with "Until we realise that we can never march across the Rainbow Bridge to true Nirvana, unless we do it side-by side!" You might never think of Stan being such a hippie, maybe he was selling what the readers wanted or maybe he truly believed in it, either way it's better to believe in those values and be a hippie than be a hypocrite, peace every time.  

Daredevil “The secret of Ka-Zar's origin!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and John Romita Sr

Inker: John Romita Sr

Originally published in Daredevil #13

Cover date February 1966

(Published in December 1966)

As the second part of this story begins we finally see the title from the original US story above a splash page that neatly uses the artwork from the cover of the US comic. It does't fit seamlessly into the continuity of the story but the Jack Kirby artwork looks great. I'm not saying that the Kirby layout with Romita Sr pencils and inks aren't but you can spot the difference.    

We finally find out more about the origin of Ka-Zar and the Plunderer, their father, an explorer and scientist whose discovery of the anti-metal that will one day be known as Vibranium. Lord Plunder  made a medallion from the anti-metal which he managed to split in two, giving his children half each. Once the two halves re-joined, they would become a key to a vault that contained the anti-metal. The Plunderer sends Daredevil down to get the other half of the medallion from Ka-Zar. The two fight, although DD eventually convinces Ka-Zar that they are friends. Ka-Zar busts out of the pit, but is attacked by Plunderer's butler Feepers who tries to get the medallion for himself. However, Ka-Zar and DD escape. Feepers who was secretly part of an international espionage network, who'd been working years to gain the secret of the anti-metal. On the run our two heroes cross the path of an espionage agent who fires a rifle grenade at them. Will they survive? Find out next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Just three letters in this week's mailbag, first up is Daniel Pirani from London thinks that issue 23 of the Avengers weekly was the best of the three mags he read that week. He does wonder how the Leader, after gaining his super powers, as seen in MWOM #16, acquires the millions of dollars that he would need to buy all his amazing machines and Humanoids? The editor answers that the super-intelligent Leader used his brainpower to make money from selling stocks and shares. Well that seems a simple enough answer to that question. Clive McGuire from Australia was disappointed to see MWOM reduced to 32 pages, but when compared to what they pay in Australia at 15 cent it's still good value. He refers to the period that these stories featured in MWOM, as Marvel's "depression" years, where readership dropped due to little plot, corny dialogue and oversized panels. That seems a heavy opinion which I personally disagree with, Marvel's middle 1960's was more likely a period of growth and development. Read his letter for more of his opinions and the editor's counter points. The third letter comes from Kevin Lonergan from London who is glad to see the return of Daredevil. He asks much like Thor's hammer and Cap's shield, does DD's billy club fly back to him once he throws it? I'm afraid not Kev.

Marvel Bulletin Board

This page is used as a way to answer those strange and interesting facts about questions of contests, mail orders, stories or just the comics themselves that haven't been answered in the letter pages. Isn't that what the Bullpen Bulletin page should be for? There's a lot of column inches given to previous mail orders for FOOM kits, Letter Packs, Spider-man Medallions, the Spider-man LP and Super-hero Patches. Whether you've missed out or if you'll have to be a little more patient, your stuff is on the way. If you haven't got it by 2024 I imagine you're not going to get it. On the question of super-hero costumes for young readers, there's no chance, you'll be better off making them yourself. On the question of back issues the answer is send 10p per issue, but weirdly they add there'll be no issues available before April the 27th. Not sure what they mean by that. Do they mean 27th of April 1974, in which case that's only a month and a halve's worth of back issues? In competition news, answer to the Boat Contest from Week Ending 30th March 1974 in the third question "Merlin" was printed instead of "Marlin." So to save the confusion that question will be dropped. Questions 1, 2, 4 and 5 will be judged as normal. To finish with they printed the address for World Distributors Manchester limited so that readers could order US mags directly from them. For UK comic fans there's a "reserve"note you can hand in to your newsagent to reserve a copy of "Marvel" every week. 

The Fantastic Four “Against all odds!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: vince Colletta 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #42

Cover date September 1965

(Published in June 1965)

Like the DD strip from this comic the second half of this Fantastic Four story uses the cover artwork from the US comic that this story was taken from as the opening splash page. It was an interesting cover but again like in the Daredevil splash page earlier, it didn't fit neatly into the continuity of the strip. In reply to last week's blog Ten-cent-media commented that "No inker did a better job inking The Thing than Vince Colletta." I appreciate and respect Ten-C's opinion, but I have to list Joe Sinnott as the best inker of Jack Kirby's version of the Thing as we'll see in five week's time. To be honest Sinnott is also the best inker on John Buscema, Ron Wilson, George Perez, Sal Buscema and Bill Sienkiewicz, versions of the Thing. Please feel free to disagree. Colletta is perfect inking Kirby's Thor. 

After the Frightful Four capture the Human Torch and place him under the influence of the Wizards ID Machine, Sue manages to escape with the steel container holding Reed Richards inside. After some effort Sue frees Reed. Then later they chance on a shed filled with equipment which they use to ambush the Frightful Four, tagging them with the Wizard's own anti-gravity discs coated with the Trapster's paste. While the Sandman, Medusa and the Trapster are busy floating away, Reed grabs the Thing and flees. The Wizard and the Human Torch pursue them. The Wizard becomes frustrated as the Torch constantly gets in his way. This week's instalment ends with Reed and Sue trapped behind a wall of flame. More action packed adventure next week.

This week's in-house advert for Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Avengers weekly uses two simple images. For SMCW you get a leaping or possibly swinging Spider-man. (This image was used in an in-house ad to advertise Spider-man Comics Weekly around April 1973. I might have already mentioned in another blog where the original artwork came from and who drew it, but I'm getting old and I've forgot the when, where and who. So if you know let me know for another PotBNoP) There's a mention of the mighty Thor in the text but none for Iron Man. The Avengers had has a headline of "Super-heroes and Martial Arts Action!" but many Avengers fans won't be please to see Shang-Chi hogging the page with the Master of Kung Fu sub-title and the Kung Fu master kicking the crap out of a sumo. 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #70

Ron Wilson is the artist for this hall of mirrors that feels like a homage to the mirror scene from "Enter the Dragon" with Bruce Lee. The story inside does feature a trap by Mysterio that encircles Spidey with mirrors, but his reflections don't leave the mirrors. It's quick an interesting idea from Wilson, it has been used afterwards, I'm thinking Arcade's mirror Captain Britain robots by Chris Claremont and John Byrne in Marvel Team-up #66, cover dated February 1978, published November 1977, (Super Spider-man and Captain Britain #251 and #252, week ending 30th November 1977 and 7th December 1977, for UK readers. Repeated again in Captain Britain Summer Special 1981.) or the Mirror Master in DC's Super Friends #23, cover dated August 1979. (DC, Super Friends? What are they? Not a clue.) Was this idea used before Wilson drew this cover, let me know if you think you know. Anyway for its originality (at the time,) I'm giving it my Cover of the Week award. Nick Caputo from the Grand Comics Database believes that Marie Severin may well have aided Ron with the artwork. Also Mike Esposito may well have inked the piece. 

Spider-man “To squash a spider!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #67

Cover date December 1968

(Published in September 1968)

I really love this mini run of Amazing Spider-man, with Jim Mooney inking John Romita Sr's artwork it's a classic. Spider-man finds himself to be six inch tall in a miniature fairground menaced by Mysterio and a whole host of deadly traps. It's web-slinging action all the way. There's a giant sized Mysterio fist that through the fog tries to squash our pint sized hero.

Then there's poison edged mirrors that close in on our hero followed by a half submerged house of horrors with a deadly sharp axe swinging pendulum that could spell the end for Spidey. It's action all the way, with a little bit of Peter's home and work life dripped into the mix. Aunt May wakes to a premonition of impending danger for her nephew that might be just coincidence or motherly love wrapped in ESP. While Jameson is furious that there is no news on Mysterio's challenge to Spider-man. I don't know about you but I'm not going to miss next week's conclusion.

Bullpen Bulletins

Spider-man Comics Weekly's version of the Bullpen Bulletins page is pretty much the same as the one featured in this week's Mighty World of Marvel, with only the Mighty Marvel Checklist adjusted accordingly and a Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly, in which more of the current Norman Osborn plot is teased without giving any fresh secrets away. What information they do give freely is that readers can look forward to some guess stars coming soon. Bluntly we're told that the Avengers and the Hulk will appear in a story we apparently demanded. 

Iron Man “Rebirth of evil!”

Writer: Stan Lee and Don Rico

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #52

Cover date April 1964

(Published in January 1964)

"Rebirth of evil" is the new title is created for this story as "The Crimson Dynamo strikes again!" title is saved fro next week's second half. The plot was written by Stan Lee and the credits list N. Korok as the writer of the story. N. Korok was the pen name of Don Rico, (birth name Donato Francisco Rico II,) who had written comics for Timely and Atlas comics but in the 60's had begun a career as a paperback novelist, when he did any of the few pieces for Marvel he would use the N. Korok name to keep his moonlighting secret from his publishers. Later he would go on to draw movie and television production illustrations, which also included two years at Hanna-Barbera Productions drawing storyboards for TV shows. 

Don Rico biggest claim to fame, at least to comic book fans, is the co-creation of the femme fatale the Black Widow. It was a group effort, Stan created the idea in his story plot, Don Heck drew her breath taking beauty and Don Rico embellished her personality. Some may argue who did what, but what we have here is a brilliant character with many fathers. Personally I wouldn't rule out the important parts Roy Thomas and John Romita Sr played in creating the perfect super-heroine. Thomas with the expanding of her character in the Avengers adventures, as you'll see more of in upcoming Avengers weekly issues and Romita who totally re-designed her costume into the iconic outfit comic readers and movie fans know and love. In this story she's a spy working for Russia to recover the traitor Professor Anton Vanko, known as the Crimson Dynamo because of his Iron Man like suit who defeated to the west in SMCW #63. The Widow distracts Tony Stark with her beauty while her partner Boris kidnaps Vanko. Boris dons the Crimson Dynamo armour for a face-to-face with Iron Man next week. 

Spider-man Comics Weekly gets a Marvel Bulletin Board just like the one featured in this week's the Mighty World of Marvel with only one alteration, instead of a "reserve coupon" for Marvel you have a "reserve coupon for the Avengers! Not Spider-man! Someone slipped up, or was it a sneaky way of getting more readers to place an order for the Avengers?

What is unique to this Spider-man mag is a panel in the advert page, of Johnny Storm on a "Fantasti-cycle" with two speech balloons that read "This machine's blown again! Wish someone would invent a new one." "Who's got some bright ideas?" Was this a subtle plan to advertise an upcoming competition? Maybe to draw a new wonder-machine. We'll have to wait and see. Keep reading.

 

The Mighty Thor “Behold...the Living Planet!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #133

Cover date October 1966

(Published in August 1966)

The mighty Thor and the Recorder journey into the darkest part of Jack Kirby's imagination, no, sorry that should have been journey into the Black Galaxy to find the Living Planet known as Ego. It's a feast of imagination that would make Willy Wonka gasp. Both travellers stand on a Bio-Verse that to many is incomprehensible but to Stan and Jack it's a wonderful play ground to set up interesting stories and incredible characters. 

 

Like a God in the very earth, rocks, streams and forests Ego becomes like the ancient Green Man of Celtic and Druid legend as he talks with the two interlopers and adapts their surroundings to best fit their familiar impressions of what a world should be.  

Meanwhile on Earth Jane Foster is introduce to two new characters that will play a big part in up-coming tales which will once again use Jack Kirby's fertile imagination as a backdrop. Kirby is at his all time prime in 1966, drawing the Mighty Thor and the Fantastic Four. We'll see Mr. Porgia and Mr. Tagar soon enough together with the mysterious High Evolutionary. Some readers may remember them from the Incredible Hulk story from MWOM #39 and #40. For those who didn't they're in for a nice surprise. 

Meanwhile on the living planet, Ego explains to Thor that he intends to beat him in combat, believing if he can defeat the Thunder God, nothing else will be powerful enough to stop him from taking over the universe. Ego transforms part of his surface to form antibodies that will battle Thor and the Recorder. Coerced with fighting these mindless drone anti-bodies as Ego constantly shifts his terrain and environment, the pair are forced to flee as the Living Planet creates a flood-tide with the only escape a small opening. The two plunge down it, but will they be safe? Find out next week. 

"Auntie Goose Rhymes Dept"

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Verpoorton

Inker: John Verpoorton

Originally published in Not Brand Ecch #11

Cover date December 1968

(Published in September 1968)

From the Marvel humour comic, Not Brand Ecch, Marvel answer to Mad Magazine before Crazy Magazine became a direct homage to it. In this short fun three pager Aunt May narrates Mother Goose-style rhymes starring Marvel characters. Daffy Duck, a mini Mickey Mouse and some nameless super-hero wears a Snoopy t-shirt appear, way before Howard the Duck would become a marvel character or Disney would buy out Marvel.

It's a play full fun piece with nothing of particular interest, except one panel that features a cartoon version of Jack Kirby at a drawing board. Behind him on a board is a note that reads "All is forgiven! Carmine." Carmine Infantino worked at Timely Comics under Joe Simon's watchful eye. Later he would join DC. Jack Kirby left Timely comics after a fall out with Martin Goodman over the negotiation of a new deal. When Goodman found out that Kirby was talking to DC about joining them, (Kirby believed that Stan Lee had informed Goodman about their meeting.) he gave Jack the sack. Their paths would cross many times, so may be this was an in-joke about that. John Verpoorton worked closely with Kirby and is well known for inking Kirby's work on the Eternals series. Or could it be about when Stan Lee learned Infantino was going to be tasked by Irwin Donenfeld to design the covers for the entire DC line in late 1966. Lee approached Infantino with an offer of $22,000 to move to Marvel. DC couldn't match it but he was offered a promotion to become art director at DC. Which he accepted after his initial reluctancy. Infantino would later join Marvel in the summer of 1977.

Avengers Weekly #39

Ron Wilson draws this Master of Kung Fu cover for this week's Avengers weekly, a good choice as he also draws this week's MOKF tale. Like in the strip Mike Esposito finishes the inks on the artwork. 

Master of Kung Fu “Reflections in a rippled pool”

Writer: Doug Moench 

Artist: Ron Wilson

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1

Cover date September 1974

(Published in June 1974)

Another strip taken from Giant-size Master of Kung Fu issue 1. Cartoonist Lew Stringer commented on last week's blog, via the post for it on the Facebook page The Mighty World of British Comics, wondering if it could have been possible that these short strips that where printed in GSMOKF #1 were produced for the UK weekly in mind. They do fit nicely, filling the gap between the American issues which caught up with the Avengers weekly. Certainly food for thought. It was Ron Wilson's fourth strip for Marvel, you can see it's an early effort but there's lots of smart choices made in the layout. Some cynical readers might credit Doug Moench for that, which may well be true. But there are techniques and images that Wilson would use again and again when he would later draw the Fantastic Four, Marvel Two-in-one and the Thing. Like a character moving towards the reader, with him getting closer with each panel, then passing them by only to see their back. Or the close up of a sniper, then a panel with crosshairs targeting the victim. These particularly remind me of scenes from Marvel Two-in-one.

This story starts off with Shang-Chi looking for lodging in Miami. Penniless the old saying of beggars can't be choosers becomes very appropriate, as the young man has to travel from the brighter richer side of Miami to the more down trodden bleak side. A journey that Shang-Chi views much like the philosophy of Yin and Yang. He knocks on one door he's confronted with bear face racism from the landlord. The subtlety of it hits me more now, than I remember it hitting me when I was younger. That kind of racism was rife in early 70's America for Black Americans and Chinese as it was for Black Caribbeans and Irish settlers in the UK. The moral tale that follows is quite a mature one for a kids comic. It was handled well by the creators, especially Ron Wilson a Black American New Yorker. I like to think that stories like this shaped my moral compass, making me better for it.   

From a rooftop a sniper takes a shot at Shang-Chi but hits a homeless man instead. Racing into the building and up the stairs he's pursued by two more hitmen. Instead of going directly to the roof, he climbs through a window, while the two assassins race to the roof. The three hitmen wonder how they lost him, with one asking "where's the chink kid?" a direct show of 70's racism. Shang-Chi attacks two knocking them out quickly, the third dives to the neighbouring roof skylight. Shang-Chi follows to find him with a hostage. The same landlord who turned Shang-Chi away moments ago. Gripping the rug under the killer's feet, Shang-Chi literally pulls it from under him. He expects no thanks, and he gets none. He only says, "My father ... does not wish me to settle into a lodging." as he walks away. 

Bullpen Bulletins

The Avengers weekly version of the Bullpen Bulletin page is very similar to the one featured in the Mighty World of Marvel but with a John Buscema drawn Captain America panel and a Mighty Marvel Checklist which previews this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly and Mighty World of Marvel. The preview of the Mighty World of Marvel must have been so good that it was repeated from the first column. I think I'm too late to ask for a No-Prize.

The Avengers “The Ultroids attack!”

Writer: Roy Thomas 

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in The Avengers #36

Cover date January 1967

(Published in November 1966)

The Don Heck cover from the Avengers #36 is used as the opening splash page to this second half of the Avengers story, with the original story title saved over from last week. The "Scarlet Witch" is revealed to be an android called Ultrana, created by Ixar, a warlord from a war-torn world, who has lured the Avengers into a trap in order to extract power from them to build more Ultroids. Ultrana and the Ultroids attack the Avengers, capturing them all save Captain America and the Black Widow. Next week sees the final clash.

Your Letter...

I really wish they would stick to one letter page title, this week it's "Your letters..." Graeme Hulme likes the changes he's seen in the weeklies. He has a brother who was eighteen in 1974, who would read SMCW as soon as he got it. William Fryer from Yorks and his friends think that the Master of Kung Fu is great and would like to see a full colour Marvel Masterwork poster of Shang-Chi. N. Moss from Stoke-on-Trent is also thrilled with the Master of Kung Fu strip. Joseph Bourke RFO, KOF, wants to congratulate Marvel on MOKF, adding that Steve Englehart script is one of the best and Jim Starlin's art is just right for it. Andy Pendle from Plymouth sees shades of David Carradine in MOKF, he goes on to say that introducing Shang-Chi was the best thing Marvel has done since publishing in the UK. David Schooling from Essex thinks the Avengers weekly #28 was fabulous in every sense of the word. with the Avengers and Doctor Strange being greater, with the addition of Shang-Chi who was in his words "fantastic" as he's "new and up-to-date" with each page drawn with skill only acquired by years of artistic practice." So Master of Kung Fu was quite well liked by many. Will there be a backlash with Chang-Chi's popularity? Time will tell.

The letter from Andrew Barron, from Surrey, must have got stuck in the post as he asks why doesn't the Avengers have three stories per issue like MWOM and SMCW. Well Andrew it does now. Terry Eaton from Eire wishes Marvel congratulations for the Avengers weekly being such a great comic. Susan Smith from London has a problem, she gets 30 pence pocket money a week with which she buys five comics, one for every day of the working week. Her mum insists she save 10 pence a week in her money box and recently 10 pence more to save up for her holiday spends. Which leaves her with just 10 pence to buy the Avengers and Shiver and Shake. What should she do about MWOM and SMCW? The editor suggest doing some extra odd-jobbing to earn a raise in pocket money. Final word goes to Stephen Tindall from Surrey who writes that Marvel is an action packed comic and he thinks that both SMCW and the Avengers are great too.  

Doctor Strange “Umar Strikes!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Bill Everett

Inker: Bill Everett 

Originally published in Strange Tales #151

Cover date December 1966

(Published in September 1966)

Stan Lee is back at his mystical type writer with this story with what seems to be mainly a long recap on what's gone on before and how Umar fits into the tale. Returned from her banishment by Dormammu, Umar has taken over the Dark Dimension. She uses a magic lamp to catch up on events by viewing the recent past she learns the fate of her brother at the hands of his mortal enemy Doctor Strange. 

She learns of Strange's origins, his many clashes with Baron Mordo and against her brother Dormammu. She also learns of her brother's demise at the hands of Eternity, as well as Doctor Strange's recent victory of Kaluu.

Meanwhile back in the Doctor's Sanctum Sanctorum Wong asks for some money, so that repairs to the building can be payed for. Strange uses a magic spell to repair the building and then conjure up wealth beyond measure to pay for the grocery bills that are in arrears. Why he didn't do that week's ago when Denis O'Neil was writing the scripts for Doctor Strange Stan only knows.   

Umar wishing to succeed where her brother failed, she hopes to trick Doctor Strange into engaging battling her, by banishing Clea into another realm. When Strange answers Clea shriek for help, he finds himself falling through a bizarre dimension completely out of control.

This week's tale is just trending water until next week's action can start, I hope.

We get a preview page showing us the threat that the Avengers will face against Ixar and his army of Ultroids. Plus more action from Shang-Chi as he's attacked by a wet-suit wearing opponent. 

 
 To finish off with this week one final look at the Double Dynamite in-house advert for this week's The Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly that appears on the inside back cover of the Avengers weekly. 

So with that it's time for a brew as I read some more magnificent mags before I even think about starting next week's blog. So as I say every week... 

See you in seven.

Make mine Marvel.