Fists of fury, fists of iron!

 Week Ending 14th September 1974

After last week's blog Friend of the Beesting Rod Tough pointed out that the character of Klaatu, the behemoth from beyond space has the same name as Micheal Rennie's character from the classic movie "The day the Earth stood still!" and he wondered if Roy Thomas was playing tribute to that fact? The 1951 version of the film was directed by Robert Wise and was based on the short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates published in the Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine in 1940. Roy would have been well aware of the film and the story as he, together with Ross Andru adapted it for Marvel comics into a strip that was featured in Worlds Unknown issue 3, cover dated September 1973, published June 1973. Granted that would have been just under two and a half years before he wrote the Hulk story, but Thomas chose to use the original story title not the film version. Just for British Marvel fans, (Spoilers!) that Thomas/Andru strip will appear in the Planet of the Apes #18 week ending 22rd February 1975. Another FotB, Mark Lotinga picked up on the appearance Klaatu, comparing it to the "Monster from the ID" that appeared in the classic 1956 film "The Forbidden Planet" but with the head of an "ugly fish!" Trimpe had previously referenced the War of the Worlds 1953 movie version of a Martian craft, when he drew the Leaders ship in MWOM #89 as discussed in the PotB "We shall fight them on beaches." blog. I guess Roy and Herb where big fans of those classic movies, just like I was when they world be repeated on BBC2 Sci-Fi seasons in the 70's and 80's. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #102

The Mighty World of Marvel cover makes use of the original from the Incredible Hulk #136 by Herb Trimpe. It's a fine, memorable piece of art, but in truth I find some of the splash pages from this story to be more attractive than this cover. I think its because of the configuration of the piece doesn't quite work for me. We only see Xeron from behind, hiding any of his interesting features. The Hulk looks pitiful, as does the blast from Xeron's "Laser Harpoon". What I will give credit for with this cover is the size and colour of the title logo. I like the word "Hulk" being green, with the new larger "brick wall" font. Granted that new font first appeared last week, as did the Hulk image in the corner box, which I also prefer.  

 

The Incredible Hulk “Attack of the Star-Slayer!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #136

Cover date February 1971

(Published in December 1970)

The opening splash page reuses the epic appearance of the Klaatu from last week's story with a fresh title and a round panel featuring ol' greenskin, just so you know who's the "monster" star of this strip. Xeron the Star-Slayer attempts to harpoon the behemoth with a bolt of energy but misses as the Hulk hurls himself onto Klaatu's back causing the giant energy being to duck as the laser line goes awry over it's target.

Pages four and five of this strip are frustratedly swapped around, gremlins at the printers. After a brief fight Klaatu flicks annoying hulk from its back like a fly, then fades away never to be seen again, well at least till The Incredible Hulk #306. With the loss of his original pray Xeron turns his attention towards the Hulk, who he has plans for. Hooking the rampaging Hulk with a harpoon energy line makes little difference as Xeron and his "rowing boat" craft is pulled along. Eventually a second harpoon wears out the Hulk's strength.

Xeron takes the unconscious brute to his space ship, chaining him up with the other weird alien slaves. When he does regain consciousness the Hulk is greeted by a familiar voice, as the readers are pleasantly surprised in this cliffhanger with the return of the Abomination! Roy Thomas always weaves a clever plot, as at no point in this story would I have imagined the gamma-spawned monster's return. But it all makes sense as we'll see next week. "Hulkinued!" in deed!

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Martin Heigh from Maidstone in Kent praises Stan Lee with a plethora of applause but really all he wants to say is he can't stand Daredevil and Shang-Chi and that these collections of stories aren't comics but should be referred to as magazines. N. Brittan from Preston asks "Why" are Marvel mags sometimes late arriving? Marvel's editor answers that they have had a "little communication difficulty" with the Spanish printers, which has caused a delay. David Fenton from London writes addressing his letter to Steve Ditko, who he says in his opinion, produces the most perfect artwork. David Whitehead from Yorkshire thinks that Stan Lee doesn't read all the letters readers send in, pointing at the fact that in 1967-1968 letters were addressed to "Alf and Bart". The editor points out that those letters appeared in comics that even though they featured Marvel stories, weren't actually produced by Marvel comics. The editor doesn't go on to say it but they were Power Comics, produced by Odhams Press, like Fantastic, Terrific and POW. Alf Wallace and  Bob Bartholomew were the editors at the time, hence "Alf and Bart". The editor of MWOM points out that the current weeklies are the "genuine article!"

Les Spink from Yorkshire wants some advice in creating super-hero comics as he's a budding artist. To which the editor offers this, "Most comic artists use good old Indian ink for drawing their outlines and also for filling in the heavy blacks (shadows and so on). Much of the shading you see in the British Marvel Mags is laid-on mechanical tint." as well as "When it comes to colouring, we'd suggest that you use coloured inks put on with a brush. And as for the type of paper nearly all artist's use artist's card or board." Graham Cooper RFO, QNS, want's to know if offers in American mags apply to readers in the UK? Sadly the answer is no. Joseph Lunn also from Yorkshire complains about the price of the weeklies going up with the new gloss covers. Laurence Cane-Honeysett from London thinks that "Dazzling" Don Heck is Marvel's worst artist, who doesn't compare to Kirby, Trimpe or Starlin. David Heaton RFO, KOF from Middlesex thinks that all three weeklies are great with the best parts being Shang-Chi and Spider-man, but he spotted a massive mistake with the orange Hulk seen on the cover of MWOM #68.

Daredevil “Alone..against the underworld!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #19

Cover date August 1966

(Published in  1966)

The original cover from the US issue of Daredevil number 19 is used as the opening splash page of this second half story, with new title, "catch-up"text boxes and credits added. It does seem to jar a little as Daredevil has yet to be accosted by the Masked Marauder's men, but as a British Marvel reader you get used to that sort of thing happening.

 

The Marauder orders his men to visit the apartment of Foggy Nelson, who he believes is Daredevil, and kidnap him. Once they leave, the Gladiator, now recovered from the Marauder's "Opti-blast" dons his helmet and continues his fight with the crime boss. At Foggy's apartment the lawyer foolishly opens his door to the gang of thugs who are posing as journalists again. But the timely arrival of the real Daredevil breaks out in a scrap that is easily won by the man without fear, with some small help from Foggy who knocks out one thug. News gets back to the two fighting super-criminals that Foggy Nelson isn't Daredevil so the pair agree to cease fighting and team up to defeat the real Daredevil. This story marks the final time that John Romita Sr draws the DD strip, the crisp and tidy action this week has been a pleasant read. Next week Gene Colan takes up the DD pencil on what will be an incredible run. I'll miss Romita but Colan will be great.

The Fantastic Four “The mad shall inherit the Earth!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #47

Cover date February 1966

(Published in  1965)

The opening splash page is taken from the opening splash page from the story "The Origin of... the Incomparable Inhumans!" which appeared in the Mighty Thor issue 146, cover dated November 1967, published August 1967, as a back-up strip. The Inhuman Royal family only appear on the first page of that strip as it is a tale of the origin of the race called the Inhumans in which Randac geneticist and King of the Inhuman enters the Terrogen Mists. Marvel UK fans will read that tale in Super Spider-man and the Super-heroes #187 week ending 8th September 1976 and also in Spider-man Comic #330 week ending 4th July 1979. This image seems lopsided, looking like someone has been cut off from it next to Gorgon, but actually Triton has been removed from the right side of the image so that it would fit more into the story as he was still captured by the Seeker.

Some of the plot seems very loose, Maximus suggests that he had to take the crown from Black Bolt since he could no-longer hope to wear it after the "accident" had left him speechless. Almost making it seem that those events had happened recently, which they didn't. Maximus also says that Gorgon had been charged with bring Medusa back so that she could become Maximus's Queen, to which Gorgon deny's all knowledge of that purpose behind the reason. But surely Gorgon was together with the other Royal members looking for Medusa. Black Bolt takes the crown from Maximus's head and places it upon his own, in so doing claiming himself to be the true king. The Fantastic Four arrive to some shock to the Royal family of Inhumans, as it is forbidden for any outsider to enter the Great Refuge. Maximus steals away during the encounter to implement his plan to destroy all humans, by firing the "Atmo-gun" which will set up vibrations in the Earth's atmosphere that are so delicate that only humans will be effected. Even his servant the Seeker asks him to consider the mad consequences but Maximus gloats that with one strike he will doom mankind and rule the Inhumans. 

An important announcement from mighty Marvel is featured on the back page. After months of Shang-Chi appearing in the pages of the Avengers weekly a new kung fu super-star will take his place as they unleash Iron Fist the living weapon! 

I'm pretty certain that the image of Shang-Chi is drawn by Paul Gulacy, but I can't place where it's from. The image of Iron Fist is by Gil Kane and was used as the corner box image from Marvel Premiere #15, although for this announcement his left arm is lowered so that it fits on the page. More on Marvel's latest super-star soon!

Spider-man Comics Weekly #83

This week's Spider-man Comics Weekly cover, like MWOM, uses the original cover from the original US comic, John Romita Sr this time producing the goods. Like the Trimpe cover on MWOM the covers have been slightly changed for the UK versions, which I do prefer, the white background lifts the artwork, matching Quicksilver's hair and white lightning design on his costume. It's nice to see the green costumed speedster as with the UK's black and white interiors we never saw it much. That period featured very little on the covers of the Avengers weekly due to a certain kung fu master. This composition of characters and action works beautifully, making it a deserving winner of my Cover of the Week award. 

 

Before I go on to review this issue of Spider-man Comics Weekly it's worth noting two things in the "Copyright" text. The first is SMCW has a new UK editor. Matt Softley has taken over from Peter L. Skingley (real name Peta Skingley, as "women shouldn't edit boy's comics"!!!). Matt Softley was in fact also a woman, in reality Maureen Softley. Maureen borrowed her son's name Matt. I find it strange that a successful "Girls" comic in the 70's, Misty, was edited by a man, Malcolm Shaw and written by men, such like Pat Mills to name just one. Oh the sexist 70's! Maureen became the third woman to edit British Marvel weeklies, with Pippa Melling and Peter Skingley holding the post before. All three doing an excellent job in the post, not because they were women, but because they were dam good editors! Also the second fact is that this mag was printed in Dublin in Ireland. This week's MWOM's "Copyright" still showed Peter L. Skingley as editor and Finland as the country of printing. I do know that early British Marvel mags had problems with delivery of issues from Spain and Finland printers. 

Spider-man “The speedster and the spider!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr and Jim Mooney

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #71

Cover date April 1969

(Published in January 1969)

This week the story from Amazing Spider-man #71 isn't split into two halves as a good part of it detailing Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch's involvement with Magneto, the Toad, the X-Men and the Avengers has been removed as that adventure has yet to happen. But readers of Avengers won't have to wait too long for it. Those loss of pages and panels doesn't take anything away from this splendid tale. It starts off with Peter looking at his current life as one big disaster. But soon after developing photographs of Spider-man's battle with the Kingpin he sells them to Robbie Robertson, whose in charge of the Daily Bugle while Jameson's in hospital, for a good deal of money. they also prove that Spider-man is innocent. Then as Spider-man he returns the stolen tablet to Captain Stacy. 

Things are looking great for a while, except that the Avenger Quicksilver has read the morning newspaper headlines that still say that the web slinger is wanted as a criminal. The hot headed speedster is quick to assume the worse and sets off to stop Spider-man. A fast and furious fight breaks out when the silver haired mutant catches up with our hero, but eventually Spidey wins, with the help of his Spider-sense that allows him to knock the wind out of Pietro's sails. Soon after all is explained Spider-man goes on his way a free man. 

Bullpen Bulletins

Welcome to the wonderful world of Marvel madness as this week the Bullpen page opens with a Special to Spider-man Comics Weekly in which your "suspension of disbelief" is never tested too strongly, even though we all know that gods don't fly through the air pulled by magic hammers and huge green hulking creatures don't roam through the streets in real life, but Marvel like's you to sympathise with their characters, as well as allowing you to stretch your believe in somewhere, somehow, they possibly could exist. Case in point in this week's Spider-man tale the mutant Quicksilver appears, Stan's theory is that there are mutations all around us. Each of us is a slight mutant, the odds being genetically against us as to any large change. Quicksilver and other mutants represent a great leap forward on the genetic scale, rather than the tiny steps made unknowingly by each of us in our own way. Who's to say this isn't the Age of Marvel scientific accuracy. The next Item gives reassurance that Marvel US mags are reaching the British shores. But it also asks do readers quite fancy a "Post-you-a-mag" service? Stan's Soapbox deals with the intention of writing a piece for his Soapbox column without thrusting his belief of what is "right" or "wrong" on the reader. Stan asks has too much injustice been caused in the name of "right" in the pursuit of combating "wrong"? Marvel doesn't attempt to impose its will upon those who hold different convictions. Stan goes deeper into what may be right today and wrong tomorrow and how relating to other people is always worth a try. As always it's worth reading the whole Soapbox because as ever Stan makes a lot of good sense. The Bullpen Bio item also appears in the Avengers weekly Bullpen Bulletin so I'll leave that till later.

 

The Web and the Hammer

Jeremy Guy from Nottingham writes regarding the "new" Marvel US monthlies that have stopped coming across to Britain and why Marvel Westerns, like Two-Gun Kid, Kid Colt Outlaw,  haven't been sent over. Kevin Pickawance  from Lancashire, asks about an American comic magazine checklist for British collectors. He also noticed that the Iron Man story from SMCW #53 had also appeared in the 1968 Fantastic Annual in which Doctor Weird was called Doctor Strange. Micheal White from Harlesden is someone in a minority who wants Daredevil to change back to his old costume. He asks three "who is the strongest" questions,  between Thor and Doctor Strange (???), Odin and Zeus and Hercules and the Hulk. The last two pairing are fine questions but Thor and Doctor Strange, well that is a very strange one. Speaking of Zeus, he writes from the Hall of Immortals in Olympus, to complain about the absence of his son, Hercules, in the weeklies, but is pleased to finally see him in the pages of the Thor strip. I'm not sure that he is the real Greek Deity.

P.J. Wilkinson from Middlesex wrote to World Distributors about the new colour mags, in reply they sent him a list of the August and September issues, but nowhere on it were the Hulk, Spiderman or the Avengers. Could this be a plot to maintain the weeklies sales? he also criticised Shang-Chi with what he calls a "good idea is let down by bad and repetitive plotting." P.J. also goes deep into the science behind teleportation and also the credibility with dinosaurs and sabre-toothed tigers still alive in Ka-Zar's hidden jungle. Danny Oldacre from Blackpool noticed in the Avengers weekly #7 the first panel of  page seventeen, in which Thor is fighting Atlas, but at the top of the page it says "But jabbing and striking. the Mighty Thunder-God keeps HERCULES off-balance. unable to exert maximum pressure..." but the Thunder God was battling Atlas. Paul Yosypiw RFO, KPF from Oldham in Lancashire, (now in Greater Manchester.) asks for a No-Prize for spotting a Hulk magazine in a boy's bedroom on the TV show "And Mother makes five". For that he gets a FFF!!!

Iron Man “The fateful choice!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #56

Cover date August 1964

(Published in May 1964)

A new splash page was created by an unknown artist to open the second part of this Iron Man story, it doesn't quite fit into continuity from last week's part one. Iron Man tries to find the time bomb planted by the Unicorn in Stark's factory, but as time runs out he has to surrender so that the Unicorn can defuse it. A couple of times in this strip the Unicorn refers to the factory being Iron Man's. Is this a mistake or was it intended to have the Unicorn know Stark's true identity. Iron Man swears to allow himself to be the Unicorn's prisoner and take a plane with him bound for behind the Iron Curtain. But once in the air Iron Man smashes through the plane's fuselage causing it to crash. The Unicorn escapes as secretly his uniform has jet boots. The villain will cause trouble for Iron Man in another tale. As for this one, it was alright but nowhere as great as the next one. 

The Mighty Thor “The Troll of terror!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #137

Cover date February 1967

(Published in  1966)

A splash page of Ulik from last week is reused with fresh dialogue, a new title and creators credit added. For fans of colossal clashes this one is for you. Kirby gives his best battle art with a pretty evenly matched Thunder God and giant troll, but it almost looks like Thor is losing when King Geirrodur teleports the mightiest of trolls to away.

Thor is shocked a the timely intervention but is them horrified when he learns the King's intention was to distract Thor as he has also teleported Sif to the Earth where the giant troll will hold the goddess hostage. Thor has a choice, stop the trolls army invasion of Asgard or rescue the Lady Sif. Of course Asgard has legions of warriors to protect the golden realm so the noble god journeys to Earth to champion the fair lady. But has he made the correct decision? Well we'll find out in next week's "The flames of battle!"

The Double Dynamite in-house advert picks a pair of winners with the covers of this week's the Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers weekly, which is mentioned on the very next page.

No colour back page for this announcement, unlike the one featured on the back of the Mighty World of Marvel. But still the message is the same, Marvel's latest super-star is now in the pages of the Avengers. So lets take a look at him.

Avengers Weekly #52

Finally the Master of Kung Fu is taken off the cover of the Avengers weekly, well nearly, instead a new kung fu star gets given the prestige of the cover. This starts the run of cover star rotations. I don't see why Shang-Chi should high kick himself onto the cover, other than they might have wanted some continuity with the way the cover looked and how fans had got used to seeing the Avengers weekly. Arvell Jones created this cover, possibly with inks by Mike Esposito. Jones was a penciller who worked on many strips from Iron Man to Iron Fist in Marvel Premiere as well as the occasional Power Man, Avengers or fill in strip. In truth this cover wasn't anything special. 

This important announcement which has already appeared in MWOM and SMCW this week gets positioned on the inside front page of the Avengers weekly. It might have made more sense to have it on the back cover of last week's issue but its position before the start of the new kung ku themed strip does make a little sense too. Especially when you read the lower text box that says "In the meantime, don't worry about Shang-Chi. Once we have completed the epic eight-part origin of Iron Fist, the son of Fu Manchu will be back! And if Iron Fist proves popular as we think , you can look forward to seeing him in action again in this or one of our other weekly comics magazines. So face front, kung fu enthusiast, here comes wonderment beyond belief!" Between the lines and behind the panels Shang-Chi's British strip had caught up with its American strip, so the Master of Kung Fu had to take a rest for a while. Iron Fist had relatively speaking only just debut in February 1974, in Marvel Premiere #15. As that comic was bi-monthly only four issues had been published in America, meaning that the four weeklies a month, would use up two America comics every month and so they too would catch up with their original US strip. But that's a problem to be solved in later weeklies. We've got eight great instalments to enjoy. 

The "Copyright" text for the Avengers weekly listed a third editor for Marvel's third mag this week, Peter Allen. However "Peter Allan" was another pen name used by regular British Marvel editor Peta Skingley. Why she decided to use this pen name is anyone guess. This issue like this week's SMCW is also printed in Dublin.

Iron Fist “The fury of Iron Fist!”

Writer: Roy Thomas 

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Dick Giordano

Originally published in Marvel Premiere #15

Cover date May 1974

(Published in February 1974)

Many readers of the Avengers weekly won't be happy to see Shang-Chi replaced with yet another kung fu hero and give him pride of place on the front cover, as well as the first strip in the mag. I have to be honest that does seem strange but I do have a massive soft spot for Iron Fist. I think he's a great blend of kung fu and super-hero action. I'm really looking forward to the next two months worth of furious kung fu fighting by two of my favourite Marvel creators. Roy Thomas is one of my all time favourite writers, certainly my favourite late 60's to early 70's writer. As for Gil Kane he's a master of graphic art, well suited to kung fu action, with his mastery of flowing body movements and impact blows. 

This origin story starts with an already costumed Iron Fist facing a trial of combat against the "Challenge of the many" under the watching eyes of Yu-Ti, the Hooded One and his four Dragon Kings. Iron Fist easily defeats the kung fu warriors and is asked to stand and think before he meets the "Challenge of the One!" So Danny Rand casts his mind back to the fateful day when his father took his mother, his business partner Harold Meachum and his young son Danny on a quest across the wild snow-capped Asian wastes of the Himalayas in search of the mystical K'un-Lun. An accident occurs while crossing a precarious bridge causing Danny and his mother to fall onto a ledge below and his father to hang dangerously by their mountaineering rope, with only Meachum stopping hum from falling to his death. Ruthlessly Meachum stamps on Wendell Rand's hand with his ice crampon boot. Gil Kane holds nothing back with the image of Wendell Rand falling head first onto the jagged outcrop of rock with blood and brains hinted at with the shades of black ink in the artwork. Kane is pulling no punches with his pencil.

Meachum wants full ownership of Meachum and Rand and the love of Rand's wife too. Meachum has a funny way of showing his love for Heather, by murdering her husband right in front of her and her son. Heather shows her feelings instantly by throwing what ever rocks she can pick up, towards Harold Meachum. She is prepared to face the cold dangers of a Himalayan mountain than agree to a life with Meachum. Harold leaves them both to their fate as Danny Rand's mind returns to his current objective. If he wants to eat from the Tree of Immortality to gain eternal life he must next face the "Challenge of the One". A silent giant, whose name Shu-Hu means the lightning and whose fists are like twin thunderbolts. Danny Rand must face "the final test" in the next issue! 

Bullpen Bulletins

The Avengers Bullpen Bulletin starts with a Special to the Avengers in which the background to Iron Fist's creation is looked at. The idea of a character like IRON FIST came about as a tribute to the late, great, Bill Everett. In the Golden Age of Comics Bill created a hero called Amazing Man. IRON FIST is based on that idea first introduced many years ago. The next Item answers the many requests for pin-up pages, puzzle pages and contest pages, the editors say they'll do what they can to make sure that they'll deliver them.  Artist and legendary cover artist for hundreds of British Marvel covers, Ron Wilson, is under the spot light in this week's Bullpen Bio. Life long comic fan Ron started his formal training as a artist at New York's famous High School of Art and Design, staying there for three years, followed by two years at New York Community College in advertising. then unable to find anywhere in New York that did a course on cartooning Ron came to Marvel at the suggestion of a friend. Art director John Romita Sr offered Ron the chance to draw covers for the British weeklies and the rest is history. He's now working on the Luke Cage Powerman comic that's written by associate editor Tony Isabella. Ron's advice to aspiring artists is "Keep practicing!" 

Your letters

Rod Summers RFO from Bristol is a sixteen year old who has been reading Marvel comics for eight years and has amassed 694 comics, which he thinks he deserves an No-Prize. The Editor awards him a FFF!!! I've been a Marvel fan for decades with thousands and thousands of Marvel mags, what should I be awarded?  He asks "What's this Shang-Chi thing? People have been demanding the X-Men or the Silver Surfer and you give us this second-rate character." His solution is "Get rid of him!" Nigel Skinner from Notts found out about the Avengers weekly when a paper boy delivered someone else's copy SMCW to his house by mistake, while reading it he came across an advert for the new Avengers mag, straight away he ordered it and became hooked. Kev Johnson from Merseyside wonders what the letters after everyone's names are for. The editor offers him a QNS (Quite 'Nuff sayer,) for having a letter published. He's also told what the other ranks mean. I've gone through that before so if you want to know what they represent check out the letter page on the left. The main gist of his letter is a mistake he spotted in Avengers weekly #32 where it said "Next month: Domanmu V. Eternity" at the end of the Doctor Strange strip instead of "Next week".

David Bowman from London can only name two people who have never heard of Marvel's marvellous mags, so he's doing his best to spread the word to those sorry souls by setting up a society  group called the S.H.A.M.S -Super Hero and Monster Society. The group makes their own comics strips. Tommy McDermid from Greenock in Scotland wants to see new mags for Captain America, the X-Men and Captain Marvel. Tommy thinks Jim Ivers deserves a FFF award for his great letters he regularly gets printed. Peter Adair from Belfast takes a close look at Captain America, when he said "In quiet moments each of the others has another human being to whom he can reach out. Only I have no-one, no life except behind the mask of the red, white and blue Avenger." Peter added his opinion that he has "obtained his name because of his undoubted courage and loyalty to his country and therefore, if he had another "responsibility" would he not tend to slacken off a bit?" Finally this week's last letter comes from Simon Flory from Lancashire who asks three question. 1) What does SMCW and MWOM mean? 2) Who are the X-Men? and 3) When are you going to put out a new comic? Well if you're reading this blog and don't know what SMCW and MWOM mean all I can say is "Welcome to a blog about the greatest comics produced this side of the Atlantic with the best comic strips from the United States from 50 years ago. The contents of those comics might change over the years and at times sometimes the title names too, but the first British Marvel mag was called the Mighty World of Marvel (MWOM), which starred the Hulk while months later Spider-man got his own title originally called Spider-man Comics Weekly (SMCW)." The X-Men are Mutants and will eventually become marvel's flagship for super-hero teams. The third question is best answered with "very soon!"

The Avengers “Colour him...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)

I remember first reading this Avengers tale in the pages of Marvel Super-Heroes #380, the final version of the Mighty World of Marvel, as a monthly from Marvel UK, in December 1981. I have fond memories of that period, the best old and new Avengers strips as well as Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis working their magic on the newest version of Captain Britain. It was a great magazine and so is this weekly. The opening scene of a joyful Quicksilver grabbing Cap's shield and Hawkeye's bow from the two heroes, as he's discovered a new way to use his speed powers, is as joyful today as it was in 1981 or went I later picked up issue 52 of the Avengers to complete my 70's British Marvel mags collection.

Hercules is skeptical about Captain America's abilities to lead the Avengers, so Cap challenges Hercules to prove himself. The Greek Demi-God can't lay a hand on the Avenger but in doing so Cap wins his admiration. Later Hawkeye in civilian clothes visits a bar to find any information on the whereabouts of the Black Widow. 

In that bar, shown on the second panel of the fifth page of this strip, a poster for a fight between Slammer Sauron and Freddy Frodo can be seen. A possible reference for the Lord of the Rings, a sign that either Roy Thomas was a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, or more likely as he would have drawn the Easter Egg, John Buscema himself.  Hawkeye lets slip his identity so he has to don the purple mask and engage in a bar-room fist fight. After throwing some of the thugs through a window he himself gets rudely evicted. Luckily he had left his trusty bow and quiver just outside. He jumps back in, beating the thugs and gets the information he needs.  

Anxious to help rescue the Widow, Hawkeye cannot wait for his team mates to return, so he sets off with Hercules immediately. Meanwhile, the Black Widow's captor, Colonel Ling, shows the visiting Russian General Yuri Brushov, who has come to witness the Colonel's invention the Psychotron, his newest asset, the Red Guardian.

Demonstrating his fighting skill the Red Guardian hurls his magnetically-controlled belt-emblem disc, knocking the General from his chair. Then he faces a group of armed soldiers in hand combat, easily defeating them. The General considers a plan that by using some bait, Captain America can be lead into a trap where the Red Guardian can prove his might against his counter part. This great story continues next week were we'll learn more secrets about the Red Guardian.

Doctor Strange “Nightmare!”

Writer: Jim Lawrence

Artist: Dan Adkins

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Strange Tales #164

Cover date January 1968

(Published in October 1967)

Doctor Strange finds himself transported by the Living Tribunal to a strange world  in his quest to find Victoria Bentley. During his journey a vision of his female companion showed machinery behind her, yet this strange landscape shows no sign of any machinery or Victoria. Just a panorama of alien vegetation.

A sudden noise alerts the Doctor to danger! Turning round he faces a ghastly gigantic slug with antennas that omit ultrasonic sound to stun its victim. Taking to the air on his magic cloak of levitation the sorcerer stuns the monstrous creature with a bolt of mystical energy. Next a weird bat-like creature swoops down on Strange. With no advantage in the air the Doctor flees inside a cave, where he is greeted by a huge machine. The gigantic lens realises a ray of pure energy casting an image of its master, Yandroth, Scientist Supreme.  

Yandroth informs him that he intends to use his scientific genius to conquer the universe with Victoria Bentley as his queen at his side. He warns Strange to turn back or suffer the consequences. In spite of Yandroth's warning Doctor Strange undaunted descends deeper into the cave. This is the first appearance of Yanroth, I'll confess that until I read this mag in the 80's I always through his first appearance was in the Defenders story "Day of the Defenders", that I first read in the Marvel UK winter special "Marvel Super Adventure" from winter 1980. When I did eventually read this mag as a second-hand buy it was a treat to get the whole picture. The artwork is stunning, Dan Adkins is so underrated, the detail is fantastic. Can't wait to read on next week...but until then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.