Unchained Marvel!

 Week Ending 27th July 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #95

This very symbolic cover was drawn by Ron Wilson and inked by Mike Esposito. The tag lines aren't very attractive but what they lose in irresistible pulling power they make up for in functionality, the Fantastic Four do indeed fight the Dragon Man, Spider-man and Daredevil do appear in the same story together and the Hulk does shatter his chains. On the whole this cover isn't very inspiring.

The Incredible Hulk “This monster unchained!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #132

Cover date October 1970

(Published in July 1970)

This is a gripping opening splash page, the cleverness of it is it almost looks like there are two panels, the top sees Talbot, Ross and Betty discuss the Hulk, filling in the reader of where the story is at. The lower half sees a silent Hulk restrained in multiple chains. The contrast is intelligent, readers come here for brutal battles, what they get is teasing tension, you know those chains won't hold and when they shatter we'll be in for some smashing action. The title of this story should have been "In the Hands of HYDRA!" but replacing it with "This monster unchained!" teases the inevitable action and keeps the Hydra cliffhanger a secret till later. Although the font used for the UK title does look very cheap.

Of course the Hulk does break his bonds but a "Tranqui-Shell" puts him back to sleep. Jim Wilson takes his leave as he doesn't dig the army life. General Ross orders Major Talbot to tail the young lad incase he can be of use in the future, speculating that the Hulk trusts teenagers like Rick Jones and Jim. It's probably more likeThomas and Lee wanted a young person in the comic so young readers could relate to them. As a security officer Talbot makes a great clown. Let's tail someone while wearing a smart military uniform in the run down part of the city. Of course Jim spots him and loses him with the help of a strange aircraft, belonging to the villains of this story, Hydra! They obviously want Jim's help, but Jim right from the start has his suspicions. Greeting the lad while they're sporting their full Hydra outfits isn't the best way to win over someone's trust. May be Thomas wanted to show how narcissistic and neurotic they are, the outfits do accomplish that impression. Hydra wants to use Jim but in truth they're the type of people who are against Jim, he nails it in the line "Looks like a meetin' of the Klan the day after a sale on green sheets!" I can't wait to see the Hulk kick six shades of green out of them next week.

Bullpen Bulletins

"Sensational Secret and Incredible Inside Information, Guilelessly Guaranteed to Avail You Naught!" as it says at the top of the page. This is the first British Bullpen page to feature editorial credits. Stan Lee is titled as the Publisher, Roy Thomas as Editor-in-Chief and Tony Isabella is named as Associate Editor. As named in last week's Bulletins Roger Slifer, David Cohan and Ed Hannigan are named as staff, all US employees. No mention of Peter (Peta) L Skingley, the British editor who holds the UK side of Marvel together. She does still get her name in the copy-write text at the bottom of the front inside page. In a Special to the Mighty World of Marvel we get teased of the future of the Fantastic Four with what has been acclaimed by American readers as one of the best periods ever in the history of the FF. Names like the Inhumans, Galactus, the Silver Surfer and the Black Panther are mentioned to grab the readers attention. Plus a hint at changes to the personal life of Johnny Storm. Like I said last week things at British Marvel are going to hot up. A nice and cheerful little item at the bottom of the Bullpen page is about Dick Ayers, the legendary penciller and inker has been teaching students at the world famous Guggenheim Museum in New York in the art of comic book artistry. The course is aimed for the benefit of underprivileged kids in the area. To be taught by the master of his brush would have been amazing. Stan's Soapbox and the other items will be discussed later in this blog, so keep reading.    

Daredevil “The menace of the Masked Marauder!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #16

Cover date May 1966

(Published in March 1966)

The second part of this tale starts with Spider-man "THWOK-ing" it to Daredevil. I almost thought that I started reading Spidey's own strip until I recognised Romita's early Spider-man webbing on his costume, some of that confusion may come from the blown up panel used to open this story, originally the third panel on page 21 of last week's MWOM. This page is just there to keep the fans happy, the story starts with the Masked Marauder and his gang executing a plan to steal the most powerful auto engine ever devised, the XB-390. 

The complicated but well executed plan works a dream as the Marauder makes of with the engine. I've always wondered why villains like the Masked Marauder need to steal equipment when they already own incredible technology that could already be more advanced then what they librate, like a van with a hydraulic hoist/air column lift, a "Shock-shatter ray",  a"Visi-blast" mask and a sports car from out of a van. I suppose thieves are like comic collectors, you're always wanting more. As great as the heist was to read, most readers came to see Daredevil battle Spider-man, the distraction, part of the Masked Marauder's plan. They wouldn't be disappointed as the action between the two is breathtaking. Although the ending of the primary fight leaves DD tying up Spider-man to a roof top ventilation pipe. Surely Spidey's Spider-Sense would have warned him and his spider-strength could have broken him out of it sooner. 

Part of the briefing that we discussed last week was that Stan Lee was using this story as a try-out for John Romita to possibly take over from Steve Ditko on the Amazing Spider-man. Stan wrote, or requested in the early plot meeting, a small handful of panels showing Peter Parker in part of his civilian life, as a way to gauge how fit Romita would be for the roll. I have to say that may be he hadn't quite aced the webbing on Spidey's costume but he nailed the looks of Peter Parker, his Aunt May and Jonah Jameson. Of course that could be cause I'm so used to seeing his version of them.

Jameson thinks that Spider-man is working for the Marauder and pitted a fight with Daredevil to distract the Police away from the theft of the  XB-390. Of course Peter knows that Spider-man isn't in league with the Masked Marauder, but could Daredevil be? Using his Spider-Sense in a way he's never used before he senses that Daredevil is near to a building he's coincidentally swung past. Inside are three people, a woman (Karen Page,) a blind man (Matt Murdock,) and another man who could only be the one able to be Daredevil (Foggy Nelson, surely not!). Spidey smashes through the window and challenges the Foggy, who he believes to be Daredevil, to reveal the truth about his connection with the Masked Marauder.  Wow what a cliffhanger! Back for more next week? Oh yeah, I am!

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Andy Herring shares a flat with some female biology student friends of his, who when they first saw issue 22 of MWOM described it as "childish rubbish". So he bought no more till MWOM #26 when he started again. All pretences were dropped by the girls after a couple of weeks of occasionally flicking through the "silly comics". Now the girl's favourites Thor, with D.D. bringing up a close second. From one letter about Marvel attracting the attention of girls in a positive way, the next from Ricky Lee. takes a different view. After reading Linda Topping's  letter from MWOM #46 (although in that mailbag her name is spelt Jopling, her brother Christopher Jopling and her own name is mentioned in the letter so I think it's safe to say it's Jopling with a J.) in which she rubbishes Marvel's writers and their stories. Ricky writes that " It just goes to show what girls are like. They don't appreciate a good comic," A little bit sexist there Ricky. Richard R. Thomas from Cheshire wrote that he thinks the Spider-man coin is fantastic and would recommend it to all FOOMers. More on that sort of thing very soon. P.A. Stevenson from Somerset only has got six Marvel comics and feels a bit left out when other people have tonnes of them. Well you know what to do P.A. keep buying them. They add that Marvel comics are a vast improvement on the last comic he bought which was called "Victor." 

In the Mighty Marvel Mailbag Richard mentions a Spider-man coin, which must have been similar to the Marvel medallion coins on offer on the very next page. You had a choice of three designs in two metals, one solid bronze and the other silver, I imagine they are silver plated and not solid silver. The Bronze medallions are £1.25 each. while the silver costs £10 each. Each is one-of-a-kind due to the fact they have their own mint serial number printed on them. The important part to Marvel fans is the three designs, the Incredible Hulk, the invincible (yeah that's weird, what's wrong with the amazing?) Spider-man and Conan the Barbarian. You can also order a keychain (62p), a neck chain (62p), a money clip (62p), a bolo western tie (£1), a small belt buckle (£1.75), a large belt buckle (£2.25), or a lucite holder (£1) to show off your Marvel medallion. I've never seen what they looked like in the metal, but here's some images that an internet search has revealed about their appearance.

   

The Fantastic Four “Riot on the roof of the city!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #44

Cover date November 1965

(Published in August 1965)

A blown up panel from last week's Fantastic Four ending greets the MWOM readers in much the same way as the Thing greets the Dragon Man, with a new title "Riot on the roof of the city" together with two catch-up text boxes tell the readers all they need to know. But for those who don't Medusa is trying to escape from a gentleman named Gorgon, she's escapes in Johnny Storms sports car with Johnny, to a remote spot where they accidentally awake a sleeping Dragon man. Gorgon arrives but Medusa escapes once again in Johnny's sports car but is soon lifted up into the sky by the Dragon Man and carried towards the city.

I said it last week and I'll say it again, Joe Sinnott is the bee's knees when it comes to inking. He lifts Kirby's artwork to the next level. I think I can go as far as to say that I think I love Sinnott's inks more than I love Jack Kirby's pencils. The two together is unbeatable. Imagine you've got a rock man knocking out a giant dragon to save his rubbery friend, while a woman with animated hair and another with perfect hair that never moves watch on. Then you get Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott to draw it and you've got heaven for seven pence an issue. Life is good when you've got these two and a pile of imagination.   

Gorgon catches up with Medusa with only the Invisible Girl's invisible force field protecting them both. The Thing charges towards the menacing looking Gorgon but the Dragon Man misunderstands his intensions so with his sledge hammer like tail he strikes Ben. The hoof footed Inhuman shatters the floor beneath the Dragon Man sending him plummeting down through the deserted building. Gorgon claims that both he and Medusa are of the same race, who are forbidden to mingle with others. The Torch arrives to join in with the skirmish. After a brief fight Mister Fantastic halts the conflict to ask Gorgon what he wants with Medusa and where does he come from. Gorgon demonstrates his power sending a shock wave that travels down the building, striking the pavement and crushing a building a block away.     

Medusa believing that the Fantastic Four will surrender her to Gorgon entangles the FF with her living hair, threatening to throw them towards Gorgon. But before she can the Dragon Man returns, angry as hell. The beast is confused and snatches at Medusa and Sue. Choosing the Invisible Girl he carries her up into the sky. In all the bedlam Gorgon stomps his foot causing the entire building to collapse into a mass of falling rubble under the FF's feet. Next week "to tame the Dragon!" if we dare.

The inside back page boasts an advert for the Matchbox Aircraft kit for a Harrier Jump Jet. This finely detailed 1-72 scale replica model PK-16 of the Harrier comes with a choice of two squadron markings and its own free adjustable stand to display the detailed aircraft. No need to paint it the construction comes in two colours and all parts are already numbered to make building it easy. There's also choices of three other aircraft, the Grumman Hellcat (PK-18), a MIG 21 (PK-19) and the Mirage 111C (PK-20), all for the magical price of twenty-six pence each! Kids in the 70's really had it good (or cheap) nowadays kids can fly their own missions on video games for about £50 to £80, where's the imagination and craft in that? says this old man. You could write off for an eight page full colour catalogue about the Matchbox kits aircraft and tank range too. All you needed was a three and a half pence stamp for postage. 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #76

Another week, yet another Avengers guest starring cover and yet another Cover of the Week award that goes to Spider-man Comics Weekly. I have to say that strangely I think last week's cover by Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito was better than this John Romita Sr cover, originally used on the front of the Amazing Spider-man Annual issue 3, also inked by Esposito. Romita has his strengths but drawing the Hulk isn't one of them. While Rom Wilson may not be as good as Romita he does catch good likenesses of many Marvel characters, making him ideal for comic strips like Marvel Two-in-one. This action and hero packed cover is still far better than Wilson's two other covers this week. I love a multi-hero cover so dam right this is my CotW. 

Spider-man “Test of strength!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #3

Cover date November 1966

(Published in August 1966)

The second part of this Spider-man story starts with a new splash page made up of the fourth panel of thirteenth page from last week's issue reformatted to show just the Spider-Man and Avengers characters with the background removed. A new title is added to the top with two recap text boxes and a credits box added at the bottom. The Avengers have set Spider-man up with a test to see if he can capture the Hulk to prove his worthiness to become an Avenger. The Hulk has been reported some where in the city, but where?

So Spidey heads off to the Daily Bugle to see if the green goliath has been seen anywhere. A reporter rushes in to report that the Hulk has been spotted near the down-town Gamma Ray Research Centre. This story was published originally in late 1966, while the current run of Spider-man strips in SMCW was originally from two years later, so there are some continuity problems that need sorting. Much like the explanation for Peter's motor bike appearing in last week's first half, even though he had to sell it to pay for Aunt May's Doctor's bills many issues ago, in this week's second part Frederick Foswell need to be edited out, because he had died saving Jameson's life in SMCW #46, to do this all the editor needed to do was let an art bodger give Foswell a shave and remove his moustache.

Spidey races to the Gamma Ray Research Centre and is greeted by an angry Hulk. The pair had meet before way, way back in SMCW #6, although the Hulk doesn't remember. During the fight the Hulk smashes into some equipment breaking through the protective gamma radiation shielding, causing the gamma rays to temporary revert the monster back into Bruce Banner. Not something that should happen but let's not let that spoil the plot. 

I absolutely adore John Romita Sr's artwork, well may be not as much with Don Heck pencilling over Romita's layouts, but like I said about Romita's early Spider-man costume in this and last week's Daredevil he hadn't quite perfected certain characters. His Hulk and Bruce Banner in this week's adventure isn't great, not a patch on Herb Trimpe's version. If anything Romita's Hulk looks more like Ditko's. May be he was using the Ditko Amazing Spider-man issue 14 as reference as he would probably have read that issue when he was given a stack of Amazing Spider-man issues by Stan to brush up on Spider-man while he was drawing Daredevil, as detailed in last week's blog.

Spider-man doesn't have the heart to take the captured Hulk to the Avengers, not that he could anyway as the brute busts out of his webbing. The web-slinger returns to the Avengers Mansion to give the Avengers the news that he couldn't find the Hulk anyway, throwing away a chance to be part of the world's greatest fighting team. Not suspecting that the Avengers only wanted him to bring the Hulk to them so that they could help the poor brute. 

Bullpen Bulletins

In a Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly we learn that last week's and this week's two part Spider-man story "To become  an Avenger!" and "A test of strength!" marked the first time that John Romita Sr had ever tried his hand at drawing a group of super-powered characters, it almost drove John crazy. In another item news of tireless Paul Reinman had painted a mural on the Marvel offices cafeteria wall featuring the Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-man, Thor and the Sub-Mariner among others. In yet another item the editor wrote that they may have the distinction of being the number one comic book company in the world but sometimes their over-worked fingers let slip through a few boo-boos and bonehead mistakes than they care to admit. But they are still filled with boundless enthusiasm and a wee bit of pride when they get their very own stack of the current crop of Marvel mags every month! Stan's Soapbox recalls that it's been about twelve years since the Marvel Age of Comics first exploded on the literary scene. Now they're faced with the task of proving that Marvel's past success wasn't merely a flash-in-the-pan. Hoping that the next dozen can once again rekindle the excitement, the wonder, and the dazzling dynamism that have made Marvel a household word wherever magazines are read. He says he's proud of the past, but the best is just ahead! Excelsior! The final item and a Special to the Avengers weekly will be discussed in the Avengers Bullpen feature. So keep reading, you've got this far. 

Iron Man “The hands of the Mandarin!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #50

Cover date February 1964

(Published in November 1963)

The early Iron Man tales aren't my favourites, it's a mix of Don Heck's very scrappy early artwork and the cheesy cliche, stereotypical and slightly racist depiction of the villains as stupid and untrustworthy red Russians or evil yellow perils from behind the bamboo curtain ready to destroy the western world. Yes some characters did survive from that period and in someways flourish but only because not all characters from Russia and China were later shown in a stereotypical light. I'm OK with some of the sixties early stuff, brushing it off as "of it's time" but still.

This story features the Mandarin's first appearance in Marvel US continuity, although he would first appear for British Marvel readers way back in MWOM #55 battling the Hulk. I'm more at ease with that version than the one featured in this. In this one he his more a "yellow peril" caricature and the Chinese are seen as bumbling fools. In the Hulk story he's more like a powerful and clever super-villain no different than the Leader or Doctor Doom. Here the CIA wants Iron Man to investigate the warlord named the Mandarin, which he does. In truth Iron Man barely escapes. It's difficult to find anything great about this story, it starts and then it finishes. Iron Man does really defeat the villain, he just kind of leaves. The last couple of panels sees Tony Stark pondering when and where the Oriental menace will strike next. Not great.  

The Web and the Hammer

James Clarke from London wants to see more of Peter Parker's school life, I'm guessing he relates to it. He also would like to see Daredevil replace Thor in Spider-man Comics Weekly as Thor is regularly seen in the Avengers Weekly and Daredevil is "out of work at the minute". Not any more James, DD is in "employment in the pages of the Mighty World of Marvel and Thor hasn't been seen in the Avengers for some time. R. Bamford  from Huddersfield thinks the glossy covers on the latest Marvel weeklies are great. He asks when are Marvel cartoons coming to British TV? Who are the Inhumans? And are the X-Men ordinary humans? Well in 1974 the world and the UK lived in hope for Marvel cartoons. The Inhumans, or at least Black Bolt, Gorgon, Maximus the Mad had appeared in the Hulk strip from MWOM #58, while Medusa had appeared in the Fantastic Four strip starting in MWOM #77, but their proper introduction will be in next week's MWOM so keep reading. As for the X-Men they're mutants as every reader of this blog will probably know. Ray Sarsfield from Ireland has a theory on how Thor flies with his hammer. He suggests because of the strange properties of the metal Uri of which Mjolnir is made, an incredibly strong gravitational field is created only around Thor allowing him to defy gravity. He adds recent theories state that a strong gravitational field, such as a "Black hole" can cause a distortion of the space-time continuum, this explains Thor's ability to transport himself through space, time and other dimensions. 

Like this week's MWOM comic, SMCW also featured the Matchbox Aircraft Kits Harrier Jump Jet advert, but and other advert graced the pages of this weekly. Trebor sweets used a comics strip to advertise their Blobs sweets. Patch and his Monster friends would regularly appear on the back colour page of many UK Marvel mags. in this strip titled "Patch and the monsters." Patch shares his Trebor Blobs with three monsters, who would much prefer gravel, tyre inner tubes and engine oil than fizzy cola, Strawberry and cream, fizzy cider and apple or pear and banana flavour sweets. A tube of Trebor blobs will set your pocket money back just two pence. Now that's a bargain.

The Mighty Thor “To become an immortal!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #136

Cover date January 1967

(Published in November 1966)

Following last week's encounter with the High Evolutionary, Thor explains to Jane Foster that Odin has consented to their marriage and considers it's time to take Jane Foster to the home of the Gods, one of those "meet the parents" moments. With the power of his enchanted mallet he transporting them both to Asgard, materialising on the Rainbow Bridge just as a warrior party is returning home with a Troll as their prisoner. 

As much as I rave about Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott's artwork on the Fantastic Four being the best version of Kirby art, Jack Kirby with Vince Colletta do make the most magical and cosmic artwork that's absolutely perfect for the mighty Thor comic strip. Being second best can still be majestic. Jane is overwhelmed by meeting gods like Heimdall and Odin but she draws confidence and serenity when the All-Father greets her with kindness, bestowing on her a garb fit for a goddess.

Kirby can really design godly costumes, as we've seen on Thor, the Eternals and his DC New Gods, although I can't say they always look like Norse-like in the viking sense, but these are Marvel comics so lets have a little bit of fun.  Odin does more than give her a new set of threads, he gifts her immortality. Another one of his gifts is the ability to fly. At first she's like a child with a new toy, experiencing the wonder of flight but the awareness of her surrounding becomes to much for her and Thor must save her when she starts to fall. Odin plans to test just how fit she is to receive the gifts of immortality. Odin summons something or someone known as the Unknown to assess her, but what dreaded tests she'll face will have to wait till next week. 

Avengers Weekly #45

The second Ron Wilson pencilled cover this week and Mike Esposito's third inked cover. It might look action packed, but isn't it about time the Avengers got some cover time, especially in their own mag? This and last week's Spider-man Comics Weekly cover just shows how stunning they can be. 

Master of Kung Fu “Season of vengeance...”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Ron Wilson

Inker: Al Milgrom

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #21

Cover date October 1974

(Published in July 1974)

After three weeks of Shang-Chi fighting his father's Council of 7 assassins in New York, the young Kung Fu master jumps back to an adventure in Miami minutes after he had witness the death of Demmy Marston's girlfriend at the hand of an Samurai called Korain. Marston had hired Korain to kill Shang-Chi in the hope that his death would curry favour with Fu Manchu. This kind of continuity jump leaves a bitter taste, but no doubt this conclusion to that adventure wasn't ready for the Avengers Weekly as it would only get released on the 16th of July 1974, this weekly would hit the UK newsagents shelves on the 20th of July. That's a tight deadline. May be they should have held "Weapons of the soul" the Master of Kung Fu tale that appeared in Avengers weekly #40 off until the 13th of July 1974 by running the Council of 7 story first. Maybe that one wasn't ready to go as after all Giant Size Master of Kung Fu #1 was released on the 25th June 1974 in a week after Avengers weekly #40 was published. You can see the problem with British comics catching up to their American counterparts, especially if they were recent strips. 

Demmy Marston blames Shang-Chi for his girlfriend's death and puts out a general hit order. Shang-Chi, having swum ashore and discovers a theme park called Marineland. His curiosity takes him inside, as he climbs the gate. Inside he encounters a leaping, cheerful-looking dolphin, only to have the tender peaceful moment disturbed when a gunman fires a shot at him, he ducks, just as the dolphin leaps into the path of the bullet. Shang-Chi takes down the gunman, just as five more assassins appear. He quickly beats them too, only to have more gunmen arrive. With too many to fight he dives into another tank. Ron Wilson's artwork for this strip looks like it was rushed, possibly because it was. Wilson can produce some great art but at this point he was just finding his feet. His best work would have been when Joe Sinnott had inked it. After weeks of Jim Starlin and Paul Gulucy's breathtaking Master of Kung Fu strips Ron Wilson's work doesn't compare. Next week Shang-Chi must face underwater a "moment of death!" 

The Avengers “The Triumvirate of terror!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Avengers #39

Cover date April 1966

(Published inFebruary 1966)

Goliath and the Wasp attempt to rescue Hawkeye but encounter another strangely dressed villain called Pile-driver, who had set a steam-shovel on the pair. The Mad Thinker had equipped Pile-Driver with a costume that gives him protection from the Wasp's sting and special gloves that increased the power of his punches, unleashing shock waves with every blow. This lame looking villain  surprisingly defeats Goliath and the Wasp with the aid of the perfect planning devised by the intelligence of the Mad Thinker.

The third member of the Triumvirate arrives at the Avengers Mansion with the Mad Thinker to face Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Another flimsy thought out character called Thunder-Boot. It wasn't one of Roy Thomas and Don Heck's most creative days when they conceived this tale. The one plot high point, which is coming soon, had to be padded out with the Triumvirate, who's only positive point is that they are so pathetic that the Thinker would abandon human henchmen in later schemes and rely on androids in his plans. Thunder-Boot is the worst name ever given to a villain, his powers are, as you no doubt guessed are  shock waves delivered from his special boots every time he kicks. Amazingly Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are defeated.

The Thinker orders the Triumvirate of Terror to place the Avengers on Tony Starks designed "Electro-rod" so that they can be executed at a set time. I'm hoping that Stark's "Electro-rod" was designed to hold people captive and not as a method of execution otherwise the Avengers should question Tony Starks morality. Before the Thinker can carry out the theft of Stark's inventions housed in the Mansion, Hercules returns from his night out. Now there's the plot idea that saves this story and the Avengers. The Olympian God defeats the Triumvirate of Terror, as the Thinker hadn't calculated that he was house guest. It's a lame story but never fear dear reader, Thomas's plots get better and Heck gets replaced with Buscema soon. Stay with it.

Bullpen Bulletins

In a Special to the Avengers weekly we find out the reason behind the Master of Kung Fu continuity mix up. When Paul Gulacy got tied up with work stateside, Ron Wilson pitched in to fill the gap.

The deadline was so close that he really knocked himself out and delivered the entire pencilled job in only 10 days! To be honest it does look like it was a rushed job. The final Item in this week's Bullpen pages deals with the many readers who feel they are seen as too old to be appreciating Marvel comics. There are correspondents written on behalf of a young reader, who feel that they maybe a little too young to be described as a Marvelite. Have no fear, Marvel caters for every age group. They cater for a special intellectual level no matter what their age (or their sex, or any other classification anyone might care to dream up) who have proven to be bright, imaginative, informal and sophisticated. So if anyone ever takes a dig at you for being able to appreciate what Marvel is about then console yourself with this thought. Everyone knows there's less of OUR type of people than the other kind!

Be charitable —just think of them as late-maturers!

Avengers Readers Assemble

Micheal Melsom RFO, KOF, from Wiltshire thinks that Jim Starlin's work on Master of Kung Fu is superb and really enjoys it, but questions why the Avengers aren't the stars of their own comic anymore. He wants to keep MOKF but give the Avengers top billing. He also fancies a monthly mag that might feature the Man-Thing or a strip like Amazing Tales that run stories for a few months then change to another, for the price of eight or ten pence for 25 pages. Sounds like the Savage Tales magazine from Curtis/Marvel. lan Vicary RFO, KOF isn't a fan of MOKF, he doesn't enjoy the shortening of the Avengers story. He points out that Shang-Chi is only up to issue 17 or 18 of his own American  mag right now so it seems pointless to Alan that MOKF gets printed in the Avengers weekly. The editor asks what are they supposed to do? Take out MOKF and soil it for the kung fu fans? Well that's what they'll have to do soon. Unsigned from Calmore, Totton in Hampshire thinks that the Avengers are out of this world. They wonder after reading the last pages of the Marvel Annual 1974 in which it says that only the Hulk, the Thing and Thor are stronger than Spider-man, but shouldn't the Sub-Mariner be in that list too? Another unsigned letter this time from Portobello, Willenhall in Staffordshire thinks that the British Marvel mags are fantastic, but they want to subscribe to the American Amazing Spider-man in the US mags they say "Foreign 4 dollars 50". They don't want their collection spoiled. I think that would be for a yearly subscription but the editor says there is no way you can send off to the states for the US editions. Keep hunting in the British shops. 

Mark Pennington from Surrey has spotted a twice printed swap offer in the Pen Pals/Swap Shop from Stephen Pankhurst in one mag and is wondering what RFO, TTB, QNS and PMM stand for. He doesn't find out but he's told to keep an eye out for their meaning in future letter pages. Danny Monihan from London spotted the same Stephen Pankhurst twin entry naming the issues it appeared in as Avengers weekly #24 and SMCW #55. I rarely read the Swap Shop pages to be honest. Micheal Ryan from Coventry gets bugged when someone writes in with some good questions and the editor can't be bothered to give them an answer. He also thinks that Master of Kung Fu is a really great story with superb artwork, keep it up. Finally for this week Rod Summmers RFO, KOF from Bristol spotted the page mix up in Avengers weekly #24 and he wants a gold plated No-Prize for it. He doesn't get a gold plated one instead he's offered a chrome plated version.  

There's only one Double Dynamite in-house advert in this week's threesome of mags, it comes in the Avengers weekly and it features the covers of this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Might World of Marvel comics. The "In this issue:" text on the right of the SMCW is enlarged and repeated on the left of the cover obscuring Goliath. I feel that part of the artwork didn't come through when they photocopied it. It looks like an art bodger had to go over the characters outlines again in thicker lines, especially around Captain America, take a closer look at his mask. The text panel move could have been used to save time redrawing Goliath.  

Doctor Strange “The end of the Ancient One!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Marie Severin

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in Strange Tales #157

Cover date June 1966

(Published in March 1966)

To defeat Umar, Doctor Strange needed to free Zom last issue, but the consequences have allowed the possibly more evil being loose on the Earth. The newly liberated Zom has trapped the Ancient One and Doctor Strange in the Seven Bands of Cyttorak. To give his disciple an advantage the Ancient One sacrifices himself, in so doing he transfers his powers to Strange while merging with a stone pillar in the Stonehenge circle. His final words are a warning about "await the coming of..." something and hints about "the forelock!"

Zom casts a spatial distortion spell, which Strange escapes with his new strength while searching in his mind for answers to the cryptic message from his late master. Realising that Zom sported a forelock of hair on his head Strange grasps Zom's topknot and pulls it loose, costing part of his cloak in the effort. Zom seems afraid, perhaps he senses a gathering aura of evil like Strange does. Recalling his master's final words "await the coming..." Doctor Strange uses the all-Seeing Eye of Agamottoto to reveal a kaleidoscope of practitioners of the mystic arts who too feel the growing aura of evil. 

Slightly recovered from the strange sensation Zom restarts his attack trapping Strange in another spell but it is dissolved by the coming of... the Living Tribunal. Zom makes one final attempt to destroy Doctor Strange but the evil monster bursts into flames as a voice booms out that Zom had served his purpose and now he must vanish, while he was imprisoned in the timeless Amphora the world was safe, but setting him free and severing his enchanted forelock has wakened the sense of evil which slumbered in the bosom of mankind's mystics. The Doctor's fateful act has released a new danger that now threatens the world beyond worlds. Meaning that the Living Tribunal must pass judgement and the sentence is that the entire planet Earth must be destroyed! These are massive cosmic moments in the pages of a Marvel comic, meaning that this Doctor Strange strip is the best and most interesting strip to feature in this mag and possibly in any of UK Marvel three mags this week. 

"More than meets the eye!" is a two page cutaway presenting the secrets of the Avengers Mansion, originally published in the pages of the Avengers Annual #1 (US) cover dated September 1967, published July 1967. It was drawn by Don Heck with the text written by Roy Thomas. The UK presentation of this feature mixes the two pages up. So the personal living quarters should be at the front and middle of the Mansion, while the aircraft hangers, labs and garage are at the rear.

As a summer treat here's the original colour version of the Mansion from the Avengers Annual #1 in the correct order for you Avengers fans to enjoy. Right I'm off to figure out how I can build a meeting room, computer centre and a power plant under my house and still have room for a gym and a library, filled with comics, graphic novels and books naturally. Till next week then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.