Myths and mechanical men!

 Week Ending 21st September 1974

Before I get to this week's nostalgic goodness, many Avengers weekly fans thought they had seen the last of Shang-Chi for a while but he appeared on the Iron Fist announcement promo. I answered last week where the image of Shang-Chi featured first appeared? Well Friend of the Beesting, Rod Tough answered in his rapid way that it was first used on the "next issue" promo in the back of the Curtis Magazine "The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu" #2, cover dated June 1974, published April 1974. So I dug out my own copy of that wonderful mag, (Still in pristine condition!) and lo and behold there it was with Paul Galucy's signature under the art. I agree with Rod, Gulacy does do beautiful art for the Master of Kung Fu strip or even for advertising!

The Mighty World of Marvel #103

A pretty tame cover by Ron Wilson (pencils,) and Mike Esposito (inks,) that places the Hulk front and centre, surrounded by a collection of weird alien creatures and Xeron, the Star-Slayer, the only recognisable character. I wonder why the Abomination wasn't included, was Wilson lead to believe that the gamma spawned fiend hadn't yet been revealed in the UK edition, or did he plainly forgot about him? What does entice any passing fan to buy this comic would be the top banner with the promise that finally the Silver Surfer appears inside this mag.

Last week Peter L. Skingley (Peta Skingley) edited MWOM, but in the Avengers weekly Skingley used her pen name Peter Allen in the copyright text. This week's MWOM copyright text she uses that name, matching this week's Avengers weekly. This week's MWOM is said to be printed in Finland, whereas both SMCW and the Avengers weekly listed Dublin Ireland as the city that they were printed in. 

The Incredible Hulk “The stars, mine enemy!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #137

Cover date March 1971

(Published in December 1970)

Among the weird alien faces that greeted the Hulk when he regains consciousness on board his abductors space ship called the Andromeda, was the recognisable features of the Abomination who enrage the irate brute into attacking his old foe. A fight erupts but is violently ended by Xeron's power harpoon. We quickly learn that the Abomination was rescued by Xeron from a nameless asteroid, where he was battling an armoured creature far larger than himself. For British Marvel readers the Abomination was last seen in MWOM #38 when the Stranger took him to the stars. Where the fiend was between then and this adventure will be explored in a Thor tale told in Super Spider-man with the Superheroes #163 week ending 27th March 1976. During his time the Abomination bullied and beat his way to becoming the first mate on the Andromeda.

Two week's ago I mentioned how Roy Thomas dealt with the Hulk's and readers understanding of alien languages. He allowed the reader to understand them but the Hulk was left in limbo. Here the story would grind to a halt without ol' greenskin's ability to communicate with the other aliens. Thomas uses a plot device that'll make Douglas Adams jealous, his "Babel fish" comes in the form of Cerexo an alien whose power is to gift understanding of languages to others. 

The Hulk works as a galley slave onboard the Andromeda under the watchful eye of the Abomination, whose jealousy grows until an opportunity to smash his rival overboard. A lookout in the crows nest spots the crewman adrift, calling all hand on deck to quickly launch a lifeboat to rescue untethered green goliath.  

The Abomination claims that he heard the lookout's shout, but Xeron is no fool and calls out that lie, deciding that the matter is for the mysterious Captain Cybor to debate. The Captain had never appeared topside with only his personal attendant Ztlol allowed to see him or Xeron's one time meeting with his commander, which he says was enough for him. The Abomination, the Hulk and Xeron are ordered to report to the captain's quarters immediately. We'll have to learn more of the mysterious captain's desire for vengeance next week.

Bullpen Bulletins

Once again British Marvel Bullpen bids you Welcome to the wonderful world of Marvel madness, with the first Item about the gift Ms. Paty Greer (known for her pencil work on "The Claws and the Cat!") made for writer and editor Roy Thomas as a thank you for all the enjoyment he'd give her when she read the Avengers. The gift was a giant chess set, with all the pieces hand-crafted and hand-painted Marvel hero and villain figures. The next Item welcomes Scott Edelman to Marvel as a new member of the editorial staff. The next Item gives a slight insight into how the Bullpen session works with the feeling that nothing will come out of them, then suddenly inspiration strikes with a pageful of scribbles that becomes a batch of ideas. Special to the Mighty World of Marvel, marks out the latest character from Marvel, the Silver Surfer. Who they feel will soar the hearts of Marvelytes, describing him as a character like no other. I'll get to him very soon. As for Stan's Soapbox and the Bullpen Bio, I'll feature them in SMCW and the Avengers weekly's Bullpen Bulletin pages. 

Daredevil “The verdict: Death!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #20

Cover date September 1966

(Published in June 1966)

This is Gene Colan's first work on Daredevil after taking over from the very successful John Romita Sr. His style worked really well, at first sight you could be forgiven for thinking that Colan was copying Romita's style,  but even in this first tale you can spot Colan's traits. The Marvel Method of creating comics was well in use, Lee would phone up Colan, describing to him for a few minutes the story's beginning, middle and end, with little else. Then Colan would have to make a 20-page story out of it. Colan told Daniel Best Adelaide Comics and Books in 2003 when asked about Stan Lee that "Whatever book he thought was selling, he would have the rest of the staff try to copy the same style of work, but I wouldn't do it. I'd tell him if you want Stevie Ditko then you'll have to get Stevie Ditko. I can't do it."  

What he would certainly use was three or four panels per page, as well as regularly placed splash pages, with smaller panels inserted, featuring a close up. Shadows work well and the villains thugs always had blackened eyes hinting that they were up to no good. That kind of technique worked really well on Daredevil, it would also work well on the Tomb of Dracula strip, which British readers will soon enjoy in the pages of Dracula Lives. In the early 80's Colan would leave Marvel and work on Batman for DC, taking his style that was perfectly suited to the Dark Knight. Daredevil's acrobatics were more defined in a strong, out-stretched way, making more sense with a hero whose crusade for justice becomes more of a unique selling point. 

Colan would draw all but three issues of Daredevil from #20-100 (Sept. 1966 - June 1973), as well as the Daredevil Annual in 1967. Next to Frank Miller Colan is the definitive Daredevil artist. We're in for a treat seeing his crisp artwork in the black and white pages of this mag. Trimpe, Colan and Kirby, that's how the Mighty World of Marvel should be. Even though this strip may not be to everyone's taste, we are entering the brightest period of this comic's run. 

Those mean looking thugs that DD has to fight in the early part of this strip, have been sent by the Owl to abduct the blind Matt Murdock to be the lawyer in a mad fictitious trial as the bird brained villain plans to gain his revenge over the judge who sentenced him to jail after events in MWOM #25. That trial starts next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Justin Ward from Lincoln with evidence from two of his US Marvel mags, Incredible Hulk #127 and 129, shows that in MWOM #89 the Hulk should have fought the Avengers, as in the opening page  of Incredible Hulk #129 text revealed "But you remember, if you read the Hulk's epic battle with the Mighty Avengers, last ish!" but that removed from the UK edition. Stephen Walker from London makes a comic faux pas by asking a "who's the strongest" question. S. Chana from London saw in the Bullpen Bulletin column of MWOM #70 that you could buy old issues from ten pence a copy, but not before 27th of April, but which year? The editor meant 1974 meaning they can't help with any issues earlier than MWOM #82, SMCW #63 and Avengers #32. John O'Brien from Liverpool thinks that No-Prizes shouldn't be given to people who find mistakes in the mags. John is a regular correspondent as the editor points out and they also agree with him that No-Prizes aren't for recognition of "boob-spotting." R. Bosdet from Surrey has been collecting MWOM from issue 1, but was unable to obtain MWOM issues 81 and 82 also SMCW #63. He was told by the newsagent he couldn't received those issues. The editor offers that the printing problems should be history. 

Mark Emmett RFO, KOF, FFF from Essex is sick of people writing in requesting colour in comics and films about Marvel super-heroes. He's sure that that if they don't keep nagging they'll get it all in good time. He's awarded himself the FFF because he gets up at seven o'clock every Friday to pick up his mags. Awarding yourself your own Marvel accolades should be strictly out of line. But conveniently he's forgiven by the editor because of his praise for Marvel mags they decide to allow him to keep the FFF, but only by a small margin. Neil O'Connor from Hertfordshire places the Hulk second to Captain America in his favourites, but he went off him slightly after he destroyed the innocent Mogol. Paul Nutton from Halifax has over four hundred Marvel mags and over one hundred British mags, for that he's awarded a FFF!!! How easy was it in 1974 to win a FFF!  

Marvel-Meccano Bonanza! Ben Grimm hints that there's a whole heap of inventions and gadgets entries that need judging in the Meccano contest. More news will be announced next week. Which all seems to be dragging it out a little but what this page does show is a mountain of ideas from the readers. This page also features in this week's SMCW and Avengers weekly.

 

The Fantastic Four “A kingdom apart!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #48

Cover date March 1966

(Published in December 1965)

The opening splash page originally had the title of "The coming of Galactus!" but that title was removed to maintain the surprise of the cosmic beings appearance in the second part of this story which will appear next week. Maximus fires his Atmo-Gun that produces the vibrations that at first seem to affect humans by negating gravity. The ground of the Great Refuge trembles from the vibration caused by the weapon, causing the roof of the building to shatter. Black Bolt flies to investigate, the Seeker pleads his innocence but Maximus calls him a base coward, stating that the Inhumans were born to rule. 

Black Bolt slaps his brother, but Maximus still claims that humans are weak and Inhumans should be their rulers. Medusa points out images on a screen that humans survived his devices vibration rays. Angered Maximus reverses the charge of his Atmo-Gun creating a Negative field around the Great Refuge. In the comics it's called a Negative Zone, which could be confused with the weird dimension discovered by Reed Richards in future stories. The FF escape much to the Torch's displeasure, just as the barrier closes. The FF return to New York as there's nothing else they can do.

Life goes on in the universe, in the vastness of deep space an incredible figure sores through the cosmos on what looks like a surf board. Zooming amongst the stars like a living comet with wild abandonment the Silver Surfer makes his debut.

This panel shows the imagination of Jack Kirby, a man navigating the vastness of space on nothing but a surf board, surviving the cold, airless void as he weaves around astroids on a journey from one planet to another at speeds unimaginable by scientists or even the fertile minds of a child. Kirby by passes all that, he just draws the impossible and makes it wonderfully real. 

As much as Stan Lee is the writer, Jack Kirby would have created the story from a loose plot offered up by Lee. It was probably Jack who decided that the Skrulls would witness the Surfers coming. In doing so he links all parts of the Marvel cosmos together enriching the story. Lee would have added the line where a Skrull orders the "black out" of the entire Skrull solar system so that the Surfer wouldn't discover them. A concept from World War Two used during the blitz. It's a silly idea, now knowing the extent of the Surfers powers, but it helps to explain why he moves onto Earth's solar system. Also the foreshadowing of Galactus being not far behind tingles this old fan's geek hairs on the back of my neck.

On their return to New York the FF witness two suns in the sky, presumably one of them being the Silver Surfer. Then the sky is filled with flames, that cause panic in the streets. Stan and Jack throw everything at the page. It's relentless for our adventurers. You started reading this strip expecting a confrontation between the FF and the Inhumans, but before you could get your head around that strange isolated race you're taken across the cosmos and back to discover another threat that could spell the end of the world. This comic is purring along like a finely tuned engine. Strap yourself in, it's going to be one hell of a ride.  
   

The Mighty World of Marvel isn't the only weekly that's delivering the goods as this in-house ad shows. Spider-man Comics Weekly with Iron Man, Thor and of course Spider-man and the Avengers weekly with Iron Fist, Doctor Strange and the Earth's mightiest heroes show they are two more triumphs in the mighty Marvel tradition from Marvel too.  

Spider-man Comics Weekly #84

Again another reasonable effort from Ron Wilson (pencils,) and Mike Esposito (inks,) showing a savage  attack by the Shocker. They could have used the US cover from the Amazing Spider-man #72 by John Romita Sr, with the Shocker blasting away at a Spider-Signal that's shone onto a wall, but this cover although not as well drawn, does look more dramatic. Fans of the Avengers will be please to read that both Iron Man and Hawkeye appear inside this comic too. 

Matt (Maureen) Softley continues editing Spider-man Comics Weekly this week, while Peter (Peta Skingley) Allen edits the Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers weekly.

Spider-man “Rocked by the Shocker!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr and John Buscema

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #72

Cover date May 1969

(Published in February 1969)

This Spidey tale starts with the action as the Shocker, last seen in SMCW #40, makes his return smashing his way in to the home of Captain Stacy, to steal the ancient tablet that Spider-man recovered from the Kingpin's failed heist. John Buscema has joined John Romita Sr on the artwork layouts. You can see his influence in some panels. I'll let you decide which look more Buscema than Romita Sr. 

Gwen is drawn with hot pants and fishnets which do make me wonder why Peter swings around in his red and blue webbed long johns. I'd know where I'd rather be. The Shocker makes off with the tablet making the news with his failed attempt to pawn it. Peter finds out and is soon on his case battling the villain before luck gives the shocking charlatan an exit to skedaddle away. Peter makes time to see Aunt May off on a trip to Florida with Anna Watson and later contemplate a previous adventure with Doctor Connors and his evil alter-ego the Lizard as seen in SMCW #39, foreshadowing future events, that will have to be played out next week.

Bullpen Bulletins

The first three items are the same as the one that appeared in MWOM and the Avengers weekly Bullpen Bulletin pages, which allows me to discuss Stan' Soapbox column. Stan talks about the totally immodest expressions Marvel bombarded the readers with like "The Marvel Age of Comics", "Make Mine Marvel" and "Marvel's On the Move Again!" Stan suspects that some readers may have thought he was putting you on. But he says Marvel has been rounding up some of the best new artists and writers around to make good on those boasts. Stan suggests that the wondrous world of fantasy won't ever be the same! In a Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly some readers may wonder what is Hawkeye doing battling Iron Man in this week's mag. Well the answer is simple, this week's Iron Man adventure takes place well before Hawkeye joint the Avengers, It is in fact the origin of the archer. It just goes to show just how far behind the metallic hero's tales are. The Bullpen Bio feels more fitting to be featured in the Avengers weekly Bullpen Bulletin page, so you'll have to wait for it coming later on in this blog.

Iron Man “Hawkeye, the marksman!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #57

Cover date September 1964

(Published in June 1964)

Stan Lee or possibly Don Heck roll out another contrived plot again this week, with Tony Stark taking some female support character out on a "date", in this case its his secretary Pepper Potts to a circus, where he has to change into Iron Man to stop a criminal and in the process gives someone the inspiration to become a hero/villain. Anyone remember the Iron Man adventure that featured the Scarecrow in SMCW #68? Well this time it's the turn of the yet unnamed Clint Barton to become the jealous Hawkeye, the world's greatest marksman.

Even with all that plot recycling I have to give Don a "Heck" of a lot of credit for designing a new character who will, more or less last the decades with very little changes to his costume. OK the MCU version binned the "H" mask from the get-go, but you can recognise the feel of his costume. For me Hawkeye is one of the Avengers I put in my team, I've always loved the originality of the character, a normal human who's trained themselves to have extraordinary skills. What's that I hear? A million Green Arrow fans screaming? OK fair point the Green Arrow was created in 1941, twenty-three years before Hawkeye, anyway Robin Hood beats them both. I only really took notice of the Green Arrow when Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams rejigged the character with the Green Lantern. Hawkeye is the top shot for me.

 Clint creates his trick arrows and costume to do good and make a name for himself. Of course he wouldn't be a Marvel character if not for a heavy dose of bad luck to come the archers way. (He hasn't got a millionaires money to fall back on.) With his first crime stop, a bundled jewellery shop heist, Hawkeye scares off the thieves only to have the Police see him picking up the stolen gems and jump to the wrong conclusion. He's attempt to escape the situation leads him into the path of the dazzling and dangerous Black Widow who was last seen nine issues ago in SMCW #75. Her charm, beautiful looks and a heap of Hawkeye bad luck leads him on a path on the wrong side of the law. Got to admit I'd break the law for Miss Romanova. I know I've said that this plot isn't original but I have to admit I kind of like this story. 

The Web and the Hammer

Dean Morris RFO, QNS, KOF, FFF, writes in to point out he spotted that "The name of the dame is Medusa" didn't appear in SMCW #62 as it said it would in SMCW #61. Lance Allison from Kent thinks that Marvel messed up by having Iron Man join the line-up of Spider-man Comics Weekly, adding that he's "as daft as a duck on a Sunday night." Howard would not approve. Steve May from Neasden wants someone to put his mind at rest and tell him if he's right about the robots in the Spider-man strip from  SMCW #10 were in fact, the X-Men robots of the X-Men, carefully redrawn and disguised so as not to confuse newcomers to Marvel? Well of course they were. Gary Lamb RFO, KOF, from Nottingham writes on the off chance that he might be awarded a QNS with his letter asking will the Sinister Six and Sand Man return and also are there any copies of the Spider-man LP or back issue of SMCW between #10 and #40 left? Well those back issues have long gone and the LP has sold out, but he does get an QNS award.

The Mighty Thor “The flames of battle!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #138

Cover date March 1967

(Published in January 1967)

Thor has returned to Earth on a mission to rescue Sif who is currently held hostage by Ulik, on the orders of Geirrodur, the troll king, so that the distraction of the Thunder God will remove him from the Rock Trolls planned invasion of the golden city of Asgard. Playing right into Geirrodur's plot Thor changes into his Donald Blake alter-ego so that he might blend in and so aid his search for the Lady Sif. His transformation is picked up by a device used by one of the Rock Trolls who informs Ulik. The grotesque troll has been hiding out in New York's subway system with the unconscious Sif and an army of Rock Trolls.

Using a "Molecular Disperser" to make the street under Donald Blake intangible the trolls grab the Doctor, pulling him below. The trolls know of Thor's human identity and demand to know how the cane becomes Thor's hammer. Blake tells them to strike the cane on the ground, as a troll does so Blake grasps it the second it strikes the ground, instantly transforming him back into the Thunder God once more. Thor renews his battle against Ulik. In Asgard the trolls invasion goes well but Geirrodur needs information about his main force who are traveling to the heart of Asgard via a secret tunnel. He calls upon Orikal, an immensely powerful being from another universe, who has been enslaved by the trolls. He looks like a humanoid Dalek in many ways. Kirby could have seen Terry Nations evil army of aliens but I feel that Jack had little time for television, let alone classic cult British sci-fi programs that wouldn't yet have been broadcast in the US. The story continues next week.  

Avengers Weekly #53

Finally the Avengers get a cover of their own weekly again, without any kung fu masters or iron fisted fighters. Joking aside I have to admit I quite like this cover by Arvell Jones (pencils,) and Frank Giacoia (inks,), it's not the most impressive piece of art but I have to say that it's got all the elements that would a young super-hero fan, three cool heroes and one menacing monster. That's why it's my Cover of the Week. A bold move using fresh art when they could have used the original cover from the Avengers #43 (US). 

Iron Fist “Fist of the Lightning-Lord”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Dick Giordano

Originally published in Marvel Premiere #15

Cover date May 1974

(Published in February 1974)

The seven panel from page sixteen of Marvel Premiere #15 was blown up slightly with the fourth and fifth panels from that page added to make a nice continuity lead recap from last week. That sixtieth page was the final page of last week's half of this adventure with the sixth panel discarded and the seventh used here. That missing panel that shows the Rei (the bow, called the Wai in Thailand, also know as the martial salute in many Chinese martial arts, in Korean Tae Kwon-do the bow is called Kyong Ye.) Here both Iron Fist and Shu-Hu bow towards each other with open hand palms face their opponent. does take away a little of the ceremony used before the fight started.

What follows is some great martial arts fight scenes beautifully drawn by Gil Kane, but Shu-Hu's giant frame does give Iron Fist quite a battering under the watchful eyes of Yu-Ti and the other Dragon Kings. Danny Rand's consciousness slips away slightly to the memory of the day when his father was murdered in front of his mother and his own eyes by Harold Meachum and how his mother protected the young lad from a pack of wild wolfs. Spying a rope bridge to safety his mother had made him run across while she turned and ran towards the pack in the hope that she could slow them down and give Danny a chance of survival. The wild beasts ripped into her as the young boy saw a second parent die in one day. 

Moments too late, arrows from cross bow killed the beasts, fired by men from K'un-lun, his father's mysterious destination. A dagger fired from Shu-Hu palm strikes Iron Fist in the chest, shocking the lad back to the present. The memory of his mother's death and the dagger's pain send Iron Fist into a berserker's rage. He strikes again and again, to the head to the neck to the chest, relentless blows that do little other than momentarily slow down the giant. 

Shu-Hu's movements become ponderous and sluggish, almost mechanical as it slowly reels under the onslaught. A calmness settles over Iron Fist. Reserves of concentration and resolve flow around his body, from his brain, his shoulder, his legs, from every part of him, honed for ten long years. Energies meld and merge into one place, into his hand until it starts to solder and glow, becoming a thing of iron. Iron Fist lashes out with the pain of ten years, shaped into a weapon moulded in the lessons of those years. The incredible blow smashes the head clean off Shu-Hu's robotic body. The third challenge remains the choice between immortality, eternal life and death. Iron Fist's uncanny origin continues next week. This story was dedicated to the memory of Bill Everett. The line "A most Amazing Man!" hints at Bill's creation Amazing Man, the inspiration for Iron Fist. John Aman was a comic book superhero who Everett created in the 1930's, whose adventures were published by Centaur Publications during the 1930's to 1940's. He was raised for the first 25 years of his life in Tibet, by benevolent monks, known as the Council of Seven. Each training him, mentally and physically to a superhuman degree of ability.

Avengers Readers Assemble

David Malin RFO, KOF, FOOMer was hoping that the kung ku craze would be just a passing fancy, but it turns out to be here for the long run. David was interested in the occult but Doctor Strange doesn't quite grab him, so his solution would be move the Doctor Strange and Master of Kung Fu strips to another mag and replace them with the Silver Surfer. John Bullock from Newport in South Wales believes that having twelve weeks of covers with "The Avengers starring Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu"is just not on. He wants to see the Avengers on the covers and Shang-Chi's involvement dropping to a "co-starring" credit. He does admit that the MOKF stories have been good. R.S. Bastian TTB from Cornwall believes that Shang-Chi is an American-based Super-Idol for the British that the Americans to his knowledge do not know about. I presume that he's been lead to that conclusion because of the tight deadline between the UK and US publications and the delay in the US mags coming to these green shores. R.S. finds that Paul Gulacy has managed to really capture the depth and impact of the Kung Fu genre. 

Paul Johnson from Hertfordshire congratulates Marvel on the MOKF story in Avengers weekly #40 and #41,  Weapon of the Soul/ Poison of the Soul. The return of Paul Gulacy and Al Migrom with their extremely good art have heralded a new chapter in the life of our gallant martial artist. Among the other points in his letter he admits that the shading can be used to the advantage of the strip, but sometimes it is overdone a bit. He also points out mistakes and continuity errors, the biggest being the lack of Captain Mar-Vell in MWOM #44 even though it was mentioned in MWOM #91. Keith Graham from Stanmore wonders why readers have wrote in requesting strips, yet even though readers are told they are the real editors of these mags, still they get Shang-Chi instead of the X-Men, Captain America or the Silver Surfer? Philip Mattis from Hertfordshire wants to settle an argument with his friend Danny Holmes who says that Marvel started before the Second World War but Philip thinks it didn't. Well they're both right, the company brand "Marvel Comics" came in the 60's but the parent company started before the war and many of the characters were created during it. Rohan McWilliam RFO from London offers up some facts about a Captain America film serial from 1944, There wasn't no shield or Bucky and instead of being called Steve Rogers he was a lawyer named Grant Gardener.  

The Avengers “I am the Red Guardian!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Avengers #43

Cover date August 1967

(Published in June 1967)

The cover for The Avengers #43 (US edition,) could have been used as the cover for this week's mag, but instead it gets reused, in an edited form for the opening splash page for this second half instalment. I'm happy to see this used its a great piece of "super-hero" art by John Buscema, even though Hercules and Hawkeye had been removed in this presentation.

I have to admit, like many of these early 70's British Marvel mags I was too young to see or read them when they first were released, other than stealing a quick peak at my older brother's collection I had to make do with second-hand copies in the early 80's or Marvel UK reprints that I regularly bought in the 80's. In the case of the "Colour him... the Red Guardian!" story-line I read it first in Marvel Super-heroes #380 from December 1981. It had a glorious cover and fantastic contents featuring Captain Britain, new Avengers and this classic Avengers strip was magnificent. I can say that when I collected all the British Marvel back issues, including Avengers weekly #53 I wasn't disappointed with it, even in the "split-over-two-weeks" format. 

 Hawkeye and Hercules track down where Black Widow is being held. The duo rush in to rescue her, making mincemeat out of the armed troops holding her. Only when the Red Guardian turns up, knocking Hawkeye unconscious and tricking Hercules into entering the Psychotron that things start to turn bad for our heroic duo. Which is bad for them but great for lovers of John Buscema's action artwork. A full page splash of the fearsome many-headed Hydra facing off against the Prince of Power. It's worth more than the price of the comic alone. In fact it's priceless! I'd love that on a wall in Beesting Manor. 

While Hercules is battling either his own madness or a creature spawned by mankind's evil use of science, Hawkeye sets up a second round with the Guardian, with the result ending exactly like the first, a knockout by the corner in Red. Hawkeye awakes to find himself trapped inside a glass prison with the damsel he came to rescue, trapped in one next to him. The Red Guardian sits on all things, a small wooden stool to gloat. All that technology and the only seating available to the devious communist fiends is a stool! I guess they blowed all the budget on the Psychotron. At this point the plot really does thicken as it's revealed that the Widow knows the Red Guardian as she was once married to him!

In the US the Avengers return from whatever they were up to, to find Hawkeye had left a message on their Visi-projector telling them that Hercules and he had flown the coop, on a mission to rescue his love, the Black Widow from behind the Bamboo Curtain. If the Avengers were to show up behind the Curtain it might spark up an international incident. So what do they do? They fire up a Quinjet (in this case an "Aero-Car",) for an immediate rescue mission, with a cry of Avengers Assemble! Back for more next week? You bet yeah!  

Bullpen Bulletins

In a Special to the Avengers weekly early notice is given that a new Avenger will join the hallowed ranks of Earth Greatest Super-heroes. They don't say who, but fans from this period will probably already have guessed. Up next is the Bullpen Bio and this week see's the spotlight fall on Master of Kung Fu inker and Doctor Strange artist Dan Adkins. At the early age of thirteen Dan developed Rheumatic Fever which forced him to spend a year in bed, paralysed from the waist down. I guess this time push forward his artistic skills. His earliest work can be seen in many science fiction magazines. Dan loathes the thought of another inker touching his pencils, but strangely he enjoys inking other artists pencils work. Well that kind of wraps up the Bulletins for this week, except for the usual Mighty Marvel Checklist featured in all the Bullpen Pages across the weeklies. Just leaving us enough time to take a look at this week's final strip, drawn and inked by Dan Adkins himself. 

Doctor Strange “The mystic and the machine!”

Writer: Jim Lawrence

Artist: Dan Adkins

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Strange Tales #165

Cover date February 1968

(Published in November 1967)

Dan Adkins name isn't a giant in the passage of comic artist history, not like Kirby, Steranko or Byrne, but he always gave the most detailed artwork. As an inker he must have know what worked and what didn't work on other peoples art. Here inking his own work he could take short cuts on his pencils with the knowledge that he could add those details in later. So what you get is incredible detail, from the grain on the giant doors to the shine and gloss of metal machine parts. It's a feast for the eyes.

It's kind of strange that Adkins should have spent so much of his pencilling career of the magic/fantasy comic Doctor Strange, when his earliest work, like it mentioned in the Bullpen Bio, he drew loads for Sci-Fi magazines. This story matches his strengths, possibly because he lead the direction of the strip with Jim Lawrence only polishing the dialogue. Yanroth the Scientist Supreme of his world comes across as a villain from a 40's/50's Sci-Fi TV serial, much like Flash Gordon's Ming the Merciless. Not that there's a problem with that. It's actually a relief to have Doctor Strange pitted against someone other than a sorcerer. Although some readers might be disappointed with the results, sometimes a change is as good as a rest. The RKO pictures "rescue the damsel from the evil genius" plot for this Doctor Strange tale can seen a little twee, there's enough magic and action in this strip to please this reader, at least for a while.

 The ending splash page, showing Yanroth's greatest creation Voltorg is pure Sci-Fi, drawn from the imagination of a six year old child's mind. Probably one of the concepts the young Dan created while he recovered from Rheumatic Fever. The simplicity of its design creates a quite sinister threat for Doctor Strange to oppose. No simple magic trick will get Strange out of trouble. But what really grabs the most attentive reader about this page is the final text box, which reads "Next gripping ish: 'The Ancient one lives!'" More mystery to keep you hooked if the giant robot didn't.

With that cliffhanger I'll leave you for now but come back next week for more Marvel magic.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.