A royal rumble!

 Week Ending 7th September 1974

It was pointed out by Friend of the Beesting Rod Tough that the Spider-man part of the Spider-man Comics Weekly logo had changed to the version that had previously appeared on the Marvel Team-Up title logo first seen on issue 1, cover dated March 1972, published December 1971. This curved logo gave more space to whoever guest appeared with Spidey in MTU that month. The cover artists for the first issue were Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia, who may have been responsible for the logo's creation, but that seems unlikely. More likely is the letterer credited by Marvel.Fandom.com to that cover, Sam Rosen who together with letterer Artie Simek helped design logos for virtually all Marvel Comics in the 60's. I favour Sam as the logo's designer. The curved design fitted into the spot-lighted Spider-man cover seen last week giving yet another reason why the cover won my Cover of the Week award. This week see's a return to the level logo, but fear not next week it returns to the curved logo that will continue, with minor changes to the position of the word "Comics Weekly" and in issue 92 the "Spider-man text increases size, until issue 158 when the comic becomes Super Spider-man and the Super-heroes. Thanks again Rod for the spot, a Power of the Beesting No-Prize (PotBNoP,) is on its way. 

 

The Mighty World of Marvel #101

"A mile above the city a titans rages!" at least that's what it says, but this cover by Ron Wilson (pencils) and Mike Esposito (inks) doesn't raise my emotion levels. If fact it's quite bland. The "King Kong" theme may have some connection to the story inside, the Hulk at the top of the Empire State Building, but there wasn't a blonde Fay Wray in his grasp.

The Incredible Hulk “Klaatu! The Behemoth from beyond space!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #136

Cover date February 1971

(Published in November 1970)

This weeks Hulk adventure opens with Roy Thomas and Herb Trimpe channeling a cool, sophisticated late 60's/early 70's movie opening sequence, as a Boeing 707 jet streaks across the sky as Thomas neatly gives us the history of manned flight. "Klaatu! The behemoth from beyond space!" a bold and mysterious title that splits the sleek and perfectly drawn plane, Trimpe really does know his aircraft, to its equally well rendered interior, where General Ross voices his concerns to a tranquillised Bruce Banner, as Major Talbot watches on. Quite a jump from last week's time tripping adventure that saw the Hulk return to Europe not long after Kang had abducted him. The next page fills the reader in, a NATO truck found Banner and relays him back to the US, as well as Banner's own questions about the well being of Betty Ross and Jim Wilson. The General says that Jim has recovered from his injury and Betty from her breakdown, however that might not be the whole truth. Thomas is playing the long game with the plots, which is great to see. From taking over as writer on the Hulk stories he has improved them in leaps and bounds. 

From the bright lights of New York to the coldness of space we join a pair of Cosmonauts to witness a strange spacecraft that looks like an intergalactic sailing ship in an orbit above the Earth. And from it a smaller craft like a rowing boat slowly descending through the atmosphere like a shark. The Captain of that craft is known as Xeron, the Starslayer, who looks like a futuristic Captain Ahab that never entered the mind of Herman Melville. I raved last week about how brilliant Herb Trimpe was at drawing World War One scenes, he's also got a knack for way-out aliens and their technology. May be as much as Jack Kirby is known for. Moby Dick in space! Oh yeah I'll have a bit of that. I'll just leave my disbelieve at the door and go along for the fun ride. But where's the big white behemoth this alien Ahab is hunting is it a big green monster?

 

Banner was forced to change into his raging alter-ego by some strange force that seems to be emanating from the Empire State Building. Not only does it seem to draw the Hulk towards the legendary tourist attraction but it seems to be draining electrical power from the city. Whatever the strange phenomenon is it also has brought Xeron to Earth for his quarry that he's sought across the nebular wastes to find. The reader knows that because Thomas has deciphered his strange language so we can understand what's going on. The Hulk isn't as lucky. Different languages in sci-fi fiction can be a problem that most writers just ignore or think up some clever way round. Thomas uses it to enhance the story, next week he'll either forget about it or find some clever macguffins that makes it work. What has drawn both the Hulk and Xeron together is the incarnate power of a beast born in the furthest I had reaches of space and Herb Trimpe's mind. Klaatu, the behemoth from beyond space! In the black out the Star-slayer attacks, but whom? The monster or the city? Find out more next week. 

 

We'll leave this sea-faring inspired Hulk tale to find out the winners of the "A whale of a contest" but before we do how about some answers? The matching silhouettes to the sea craft seen in week ending 1st June 1974 were as follows, the ship which sank was the Titanic, silhouette "B". The Viking ship was "A". The second week answers are the Royal Yacht was "C", Nelson's ship was "B" and Captain Scott sailed to the Antarctic in ship "A". Darren Brown from London received an Intrepid boat, rod and reel as the lucky first prize winner. The second prize of an Intrepid Pier/Estuary Rod and reel went to James Mlinday  also from London. Third prize of an Intrepid Spin ledger rod and reel went to Neil Schofield from Manchester. The ten runners up prize winners who win an Intrepid Boy'o reel are listed but I won't bore you with their names, as well as the next twenty Sealy hook and line winners. If you were one of them zoom on to the page and relive the glory. Three winners of the worst jokes were Michael Southern from Camberley with the joke "Which fish have their eyes closest together? The answer is the smallest ones!" Simon Ball from London offered up "What do you get when you cross a fish and an elephant? Answer: Swimming trunks!" Lastly from Cornel Cowan who comes from Godmanchester "How do you weigh a whale? In a whale-weigh station!" Not sure what they won, can't imagine anything small enough. But for them seeing their name and jokes in print could well have been more than enough.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag 

Chris Bryan from Liverpool has been a follower of Marvel since the days of Fantastic, Pow and Smash and has noticed one criticism of the current mags, the grey shading! He hates seeing it plastered over the immaculate artwork. Chris wants the cover to be rotated each week with a different star lick they used to do on the Fantastic comic. Carlo Barnett from Southampton writes his first letter to Marvel and doesn't want to mess it up. He asks about who's the Silver Surfer and does Daredevil always live up to his name. D. Wilkinson from Hampshire wants to know why more monthly mags in colour can't be released? Well the answer as always is time and money.

The second page of the Mighty Marvel Mailbag has less than a handful of letters so let's rattle through them. Peter Rodger from Sheffield wonders why so many super-heroes have surnames and christian names that start with the same letter. It's a writer's trick called "alliteration". Neil Maher from South Wales asks why is the Torch throwing fire balls at Spider-man in SMCW #15 but in MWOM #90 the Trapster says the Torch is under oath never to burn anyone. Joe Sycamore from Portsmouth points out that page 18 and 19 in the Avengers weekly #24 were the wrong way round. Brian Goldough QNS from Scunthorpe asks the eternal question, "Who is the strongest between the Mighty Thor and the Incredible Hulk?" 
 

Bullpen Bulletins

"Sensational secrets an incredible inside information, guilelessly guaranteed to avail you naught!" The first Items paints a picture of just how big Marvel has become, Tony Cerniglia, the head of our mailing room, which I'm presuming they mean the US mailing room, recalls when they only received a few letters a day. Another Item shows the growing size of Marvel with the fact that Marvel mags in 1974 were actually reprinted in eight different languages throughout the globe? In a Special to the Mighty World of Marvel the writer of this Bullpen pages hits out at the handful of "anti-Trimpites" who demand that they get a new artist to draw ol' Greenskin. They note that the sales of the Incredible Hulk have been on the up since Happy Herb took over the artwork chores. I personally have a soft spot for Trimpe. The Bullpen Bio features another Marvel creative legend, the master of the ink pot Joe Sinnott. Joe did not always plan to be a comic book artist. He started working in a cement plant and limestone quarry, but after working three years he felt there must be something easier to do. So in the 50's Joe left and joined Marvel working on their early Western titles. Joe has some advice for amateur artists wishing to turn pro, "Get a sound, basic education, and try to get training by working in a studio with an established artist. I'd like to stress that cartooning is a demanding profession-it's no place for the lazy. The deadlines are often hectic, but one does get a great sense of satisfaction from a job well done." All that hard work payed off, Joe Sinnott is one of Marvel's unsung fathers. Stan's Soapbox is repeated in both SMCW and the Avengers weekly, so I'll leave his wise words till later.

Daredevil “The Gladiator and the gangsters!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #19

Cover date August 1966

(Published in June 1966)

Daredevil urgently swings across town, needing to have words with Foggy Nelson, but is distracted on route by saving a window washer from a fatal fall, but eventually he arrives at Foggy's window to show him the Daily Bugle cover story about the Gladiator revealing Daredevil's identity to be that of Foggy Nelson. His little lie told to boast his ego and the chances of gaining the attention of Karen Page have back-fired, catching the attention of Daredevil's enemies instead.

Meanwhile, the Gladiator's court case is interrupted as the criminal is broke free from the court room by a group of gangsters disguised as journalists, who employ smoke grenades and gas masks to aid their escape.  Their leader turns out to be the Masked Marauder who requires the Gladiator's aid in settling a score with Daredevil. Gladiator becomes angry when the Marauder assumes leadership as the two criminals come to blows, but the Marauder's "Opti-blast" puts the Gladiator in his place. With information given to him by Foggy Daredevil searches the Gladiator's costume shop for clues to his location but to no avail. The trail continues next week.

The Fantastic Four “Beware the Hidden Land!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #47

Cover date February 1966

(Published in November 1965)

In what's becoming a usual Fantastic Four plot device this story starts right in the middle of the action, continued from last week the Inhumans have escaped to the hidden Great Refuge, the mysterious Seeker has allowed the Dragon Man to smash his way to freedom, but more importantly than that the Inhuman Triton lies suffocating on the floor after the android beast had shattered his "fish tank" prison, spilling the life giving water on the ground. Alerted to Sue's concerns Reed formulates a plan to save him with the aid of Sue's invisible force field and a water hose, conveniently found on the Seekers ship. 

  One thing I dis-like in these early Fantastic Four strips is Reed sexist and misogynistic attitude towards Sue. It was more present in the very early stories but it has started to creep back. Telling her to hurry when saving Triton's life is fair enough but later Reed scorns her by telling her to "Stop sounding like a wife Sue! I still make the decisions for this team!" and later he tells her "Now be quiet, while I take a directional reading on their ship !" Which all seems wrong, after all they've only just got married! It seems to me to be a little out of character, even when I think about the time Reed and Sue split up in much later stories, when Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas where writing the strip, as seen in the Complete Fantastic Four comic, he never spoke to her like that. I imagine I'd never picked up on it, back in the 70's, but around twenty years ago it stood out like a sore thumb. It's got worse with age. I know Kirby would write suggestions for dialogue on the sides of the artwork, but Sue's or Reeds face never gave the impression that he intended that kind of conversation to be used. Stan was happily married to Joan Boocock from 1947 till she passed away in 2017, may be he was projecting a difficult time in his life on to Marvel's first couple. More probably he made a writing choice that didn't work and it quickly disappeared. We all have bad days.

I'll tell you who's having a good day when creating this strip, Jack Kirby is and so was I. One of Jack's trade mark effects was the appearance or disappearance of characters or objects through teleportation. Lockjaw transports the Inhumans through a dimension displacement drawn exquisitely by the King in this panel where the heroes fade into view demonstrated by Jack's use of sharp lines around a focus point. So simple yet so effective. 

This story also features the first appearance, Marvel chronologically speaking, of Maximus, Black Bolts evil brother. Although readers of older Mighty World of Marvel would have remembered his first British Marvel appearance in MWOM #58, were over the next three issues both Maximus the Mad and his evil Inhumans caused the Hulk a headache.

 His next appearance again in the Hulk strip seen in MWOM #73 in the story titled "At the mercy of..Maximus the Mad!" Here in this appearance he had yet to use the title Maximus the Mad, much preferring the more regal Maximus the Magnificent, far more fitting for the ruler of the Inhumans. We'd later learn that Maximus had usurped the throne from his brother Black Bolt in coup instigated by him driving the Royal Family to go in search of the amnesiac Medusa. Once the mad ruler had become  secure in his position, Maximus sent his servant, the Seeker, to locate the Royal Family and bring them back to Attilan. In this panel on the left it is suggested that Gorgon had been sent to recapture Medusa on Maximus' orders. I guess both Stan and Jack were literally making it up as they went along.

Lee and Kirby did lay some classic features of Inhuman backdrop, here the Inhuman working class makes their first appearance, the Alpha Primitives. I originally thought they had been created much later, by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema, for my memories of them in the Avengers story from Super Spider-man issue 255, cover dated 28th December 1977, was stronger in my mind. 

Described as a ferocious, senseless horde of rampaging Inhumans,  they form a slave army under Maximus' control. sent to fight the returning Royal Family. I really should have guessed that they were a part of Jack Kirby's creative mind. They take an important part of this week's action, making this Lee/Kirby strip an highlight of this week's mags. Marvel Action at its best.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #82

The old flat title logo returns for one issue. Yet another bland cover this week, a montage of the events from the Spider-man story from inside. The Grand Comics Database doesn't list who drew it, but it does say that Mike Esposito inked it. My guess would be a rushed Ron Wilson or even Esposito himself. Either way it's quite forgettable. 

Spider-man “Tablet, tablet, who's got the tablet?”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #70

Cover date March 1969

(Published in December 1968)

Spider-man finds out that the Kingpin has escaped from prison so taking the stone tablet and webbing it to his back the web-slinger tracks down the crime lord by attacking any criminals in the hope that the message gets back to their boss that Spider-man is looking for him with the tablet. The message works and a fake van heist lures Spider-man into a trap with the Kingpin waiting for him. 

A fight breaks out between the two but that is interrupted by the untimely intervention of Ned Leeds and Jonah Jameson in a Daily Bugle radio patrol car. Jameson orders Ned to radio the police so these no-chance of either of them escaping, but the Kingpin has his own methods of escape as another car pulls up driven by a mysterious driver, allowing the big man to make his escape. The identity of that driver remains a secret for now, but (spoilers,) it's someone important to the Kingpin. Spider-man is furious with Jameson, blaming him for allowing the Kingpin to escape, grabbing him by the collar he angrily confronts him. The publisher faints and Spidey leaves, worrying he may have suffered a heart attack. In losing his temper he might have proven Jameson right all along, that Spider-man is dangerous! Next week a most shocking, unexpected super-foe goes toe-to-toe with Spider-man.  

Bullpen Bulletins

It's a short but sweet Bullpen message in this week's SMCW. First up Stan's Soapbox, which also appeared in this week's MWOM and the Avengers weekly. Stan answers the question  he gets asked the most, "How do I break into the comic-book biz?" The easiest reply would be "Why would you want to?" but honestly why wouldn't you not want to. If I was good enough to be a writer or artist I would have been one, it's my dream job. Stan points out that it's one of the toughest fields to enter. Stating that there's a limit to the number of mags published and they've usually got more than enough artists to cover them. An example given even if Michelangelo himself was wanting to paint the Avengers instead of the Sistine Chapel, he'd probably have to wait months, even years before a strip becomes available. Stan does give some advice though, learn composition, anatomy, perspective, etc., until your work is of professional calibre. Then you'll need experience in the field of advertising or book illustration, etc. so that you develop a professional attitude towards work and deadlines. Once you've proven yourself as a professional, make up a couple of sample pages, drawn in pencil, using whichever characters you prefer, in an original situation. Don't copy someone else's drawings otherwise it would be meaningless. Stan also gives technical information on the type of paper you should use. Being an artist is tough, I've got admiration for those who succeed. In a Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly a brief history about the mythological Thor is given. The giants of myth according to legend, lived in Jotunheim, battled against the god Thor and were transformed into Trolls. At the twilight of the Gods, the Trolls, aided by a wolf and a serpent, will scale the rainbow bridge Bilfrost. Under their weight the Bilfrost will shatter, thereby destroying the world. The piece goes on to say that trolls of popular superstition are stupid evil elves who dwell in mountain crannies or ramshackle huts. A bit like some non-comic fans! Only joking!

Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Avengers weekly also have the winners and results of the Whale of a Contest much like the version that appeared in this weeks  Mighty World of Marvel, but their versions of that feature are laid out in a sightly different way as shown here.

Iron Man “The uncanny Unicorn!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #56

Cover date August 1964

(Published in May 1964)

One of the better Iron Man villains appear in this week's Iron Man strip. The Unicorn, another Don Heck designed villain who was an agent of the evil masters from behind the Iron Curtain. In the US version they would be Russian, but in the UK version they are from Bodavia. It's easy to fall into a trap of seeing him as another of those Communist villains who's opposed to Iron Man and Tony Starks capitalist ideologies. Which is probably because it is true, but I kind of like him and this story. Well it's not brain surgery, but it is a nice little strip, granted of its time, but still readable.

I was a little surprised to be reminded that the Crimson Dynamo was responsible for the creation of the Unicorns power beam and his costume which here can also produce an energy shield that can protect him from the explosive force of a thousand tons of TNT. I think later they ignore that power. He can also fly. Part of the sabotage the Unicorn has attempted is a time bomb hidden somewhere in Stark's factory. Iron Man must surrender to the Unicorn's Bodavian masters within 15 minutes or the factory goes up in flames. "The fateful choice" will be answered next week.   

The Web and the Hammer

Unsigned from Sussex has been reading SMCW since issue 2 and wants a special folder to hold them in. Shad' Mehmet from London wants to know why in SMCW #62 we were promised "Next week, the Name of the Dame is Medusa!" but it never appeared. The editor dodges the answer like a politician. That story would finally appear in Spider-man Comic #331 in the week ending 11th July 1979. John W. Houghton from Yorkshire asks are Kang and Rama Tut the same man and why does Spider-man only battle one person at a time? The editor answers that they are the same man, but Spider-man has been known to fight against over-whelming numbers of villains. Gary Appleby from Staffordshire boasts that he now has 408 Marvel mags. He shows off his extensive knowledge of Marvel US comics by asking for them to be sent over to the UK. Kevin Tressiter from Somerset asks Stan to own up, as how can, if he spends most of his time in New York, he can't therefore be in the London office of Marvel! Stan's reply is "if I remained permanently in New York half the aircraft companies operating trans-Atlantic jet flights would go out of business."  

The Mighty Thor “The Thunder God and the Troll!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #137

Cover date February 1967

(Published in December 1966)

Returning to the Mighty Thor adventures left off from SMCW #77 with the introduction of Thor's long lost love Sif, the God of Thunder spends time competing with her in a friendly game of spear target practice. Only to have their fun interrupted by an attack from an army of Rock Trolls, who seek to capture the two as they have trespassed on Rock Troll ground. Sif is a strong independent character, but here Stan and Jack use her as a plot device by having the Rock Trolls capture her. Thor manages to fight off the Rock Trolls, sending them fleeing. 

The Thunder God follows the escaping Trolls trail, hoping to save Sif from any danger. Entering the caverns which are home to the Trolls, he is confronted by the Troll's mightiest warrior of all, Ulik! One of Jack Kirby's greatest creations, a superb adversary to the Thunder God. We are in for a Jack Kirby treat as the two power-houses clash. Magnificent!

The in-house advert for the double dynamite weeklies on sale at the time. The Mighty World of Marvel issue 101 and the Avengers weekly issue 51. A fine pair of winners from mighty Marvel. 

Avengers Weekly #51

"What do sea monsters eat for dinner?" it asks on the banner at the top of this cover. "Fish and ships!" is the not so funny joke answer next to it. That's just one of the many fish jokes from the Fishing Contest winners. This week the covers have been a bit of a joke. None of them have been of brilliant quality. This one is the best of the bunch. Ron Wilson (pencils,) Mike Esposito or John Tartaglione (inks,), the Grand Comic Database isn't quite sure which inker finished it off. My Cover of the Week, because the other two are a bit poor really. 

Master of Kung Fu “The execution of Nayland Smith!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Paul Gulacy

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #20

Cover date September 1974

(Published in June 1974)

Two panels from last week's Master of Kung Fu strip's final page are edited together to make this opening splash page. The title does make the reveal on the next page redundant but never mind. Sir Denis Nayland Smith and his aide Black Jack Tarr arrive too late to warn Shang-Chi of the attempt on his life, made in last week's issue. But they inform him that Fu Manchu was responsible for ordering it, something that Shang-Chi had already guessed. The two English men are on their way to Fu Manchu's headquarters to put a stop to the evil fiends latest plan. Shang-Chi advises them not to go there, but they do anyway. 

Shang-Chi makes his own way there later to find that the two men have been captured and loaded on to a futuristic jet plane. The Chinaman sneaks aboard via the plane's landing gear as the two abductees watch. Fu Manchu and his men land, taking their hostages up a mountain and into a cavern filled with explosives. Shang-Chi silently follows and hears his father boast about what a symbolic victory the destruction of the two men will be. Shang-Chi enters, fighting his father's men. Fu Manchu escapes as his son defeats the assassins, smothering the lite fuse, saving both Smith and Tarr's lives and in the process the American landmark, Mount Rushmore. The bottom text line hints that Shang-Chi will make way for Iron Fist next week.   

Bullpen Bulletins

The smaller Avengers weekly Bullpen Bulletin features the Stan's Soapbox as seen in Spider-man Comics Weekly this week and also a Special to the Avengers, which gives more details about next week's Master of Kung Fu replacement, Iron Fist. It says that he'll be only a temporary replacement for Shang-Chi but if he becomes popular he could find his strip becoming more of a permanent feature. The teaser they finish with is they tell the readers that Iron Fist will be a hero with a difference. Just to reaffirm that fact they add "Boy is he ever!" More Kung Fu in the Avengers weekly! What will the die-hard Avengers fans think? Find out what I think in next week's blog.

Assemble!

Steven May from London praises the introduction of the Master of Kung Fu in the Avengers weekly, singling out Shang-Chi is the most contemporary of all of Marvel's characters, with the exception of Iron Fist. He points out that the Kung Fu craze is at its apex, so in his opinion it is logical to cash in on the wave by giving the public what it wants. He does also point out the problem of the UK weekly strip catching up with the monthly US version, answering it with the stories should be split over four weeks. I personally think that would kill the flow of the strip. He gets that Shang-Chi's inclusion has "up-staged" both the Avengers and Doctor Strange. He asks that Marvel don't "fumble the ball" with getting the balance right. There's loads more great points in Steven's letter, well worth a read. C.J. Arn-Riding from Yorkshire happily says they enjoy the Shang-Chi strip but they're not so happy with the "clod-heads" who think that Marvel mags are too violent! Dave Glover RFO, KOF from Hertfordshire writes in his third letter to Marvel about the mix up in pages in the Hulk strip from MWOM #75. Dave is definitely in the "Silver Surfer now" camp.

The Avengers “Hercules Enraged!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in The Avengers #41

Cover date July 1967

(Published in May 1967)

This week's second part of the Avengers issue 41 adventure starts with a splash page panel featuring Hercules menaced by the claw of the Dragon Man. I can't place its origin. Can any of you Friends of the Beesting help? The next page see the captured Black Widow interrogated by Colonel Ling after her experience in the Psychotron. She escapes briefly but is soon re-captured. The Avengers have their own problems, even when the Scarlet Witch convinces Goliath that the Wasp will be safe as Hercules is now attempting to rescue her. They can't get to Diablo who has rigged an explosive to destroy the Olympian and the Wasp, as he is protected behind a force field.

 

Luckily the arrival of Captain America from the other side of the barrier pulls the villains hand away from the lever. The star-spangled Avenger defeats the alchemist as Hercules beats the Dragon Man only to witness a fiery explosion consume the android. All the heroes are reunited and they return to the Avengers mansion to find a message that the Black Widow is being held prisoner behind the Bamboo Curtain! Her story will continue in next week's amazing Avengers strip. I can't wait for it.

Doctor Strange “Three faces of doom!”

Writer: Jim Lawrence

Artist: Dan Adkins

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Strange Tales #163

Cover date December 1967

(Published in August 1967)

With the arrival of the Living Tribunal, Strange tells him that the staff of Nebulos has absorbed all the excess evil mystical energy. Needing the staff for its own purposes Nebulos refuses to give it up. The two beings battle it out, but Doctor Strange must try and stop them from destroying each other, as he fears that Nebulos' destruction would lead to him never knowing where Nebulos sent Victoria Bentley. Strange is temporarily taken out of the battle by the white hot Talons of Cosmic Fire created by the Tribunal. Doctor Strange manages to fight off the pain before he can grab the staff from Nebulos.  The Tribunal buries Nebulos in falling rock from a shattered mountain. Strange hands over the staff to the Living Tribunal, who then gifts Strange by transporting him to the location of Victoria Bentley. Warning him of dangers more ghastly than a human mind dare conceive. Next week's exciting saga promises a "Nightmare" for Doctor Strange. If it's anything like this week's tale it will be magical.

But so ends another blog. Same time next week with more insight and nostalgic waffle?

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.