Through a comic darkly!

 Week Ending 7th December 1974

I can't call myself "THE" expert when it comes to the history of British Marvel comics, I gather my information for all over as well as from my experience reading them when I was a child and my love for them. But there are others who know a great deal more than me. One person who I would call "THE" expert is Rod Kirby, a writer and blogger whose future book, "From Cents to Pence!" will look behind the scenes of British Marvel comics in the 70's, in greater detail than I could ever imagine. In the process of researching it he has interviewed many people from behind those scenes. One of those people was Ray Wergan, who worked hard for the London Bullpen Office right from the very beginning. Sadly Ray passed away on the 31st of October and Rod broke the sad news on his "A distant beacon" blog . Rod also wrote about Ray on John Freeman's British comic related website Down the tubes. I highly recommend you read both pieces.

The Mighty World of Marvel #114

Although Herb Trimpe may have been on holiday when Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers and John Severin created the Hulk story that featured in this and last week's MWOM, but he does create the cover artwork for the Incredible Hulk #143, which is used for this week's Mighty World of Marvel cover. Nice cover but slightly too much green for me, so I can't award it my Cover of the Week.

 

The Incredible Hulk “The Hulk is dead!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Dick Ayers

Inker: John Severin

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #143

Cover date September 1971

(Published in June 1971)

"The Hulk is dead!" Or is he? Well the opening splash page shows us otherwise, it's actually the nineteenth page of the original US version moved to create an eye-catching opening page. Everyone from Major Talbot, General Ross, Betty Ross and Doc Samson dwell on their memories of Bruce Banner and his rampaging alter-ego the Hulk. By the fifth page of this weekly the dastardly Doctor Doom reveals to us that the Hulk who was destroyed in the missile barrage was a robot decoy, as his plan unfolds that both Banner and the Hulk will make an excellent tool in his plan for global domination.

I might have lamented the absence of Herb Trimpe from this story last week, but the artwork is still as creative as it was when he in charge of the layouts. Take this page for instance. Four vertical panels of close-ups of Banner's face, his trembling heavy eye in most cases as the drug induced scientist fights unconsciousness. Followed by three horizontal panels that track Doom's jet as it approach his landing in Latveria. Was this how Roy Thomas wrote the page plot? Or was Dick Ayers smart enough to copy Trimpe's "Hulk" style? Did the editor, Stan Lee, demand that Ayers mimic Trimpe's work? Or was it a combination of all three, with John Severin's inks reassuring readers that all was normal. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest, but sometimes the comfort of what you know and expect warms the heart. Even without Trimpe this tale warms my heart. Will Doom's "Subliminal Inducer" work on the frail frame of Bruce Banner, to give the evil despot access to his genius mind? Or will it bend Banner's man-monster alter-ego to become a weapon of mass destruction, aimed by the master of Latveria? Find out next week when "all Hulk breaks loose!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Christine Martin from Chelmsford wants to know what to do about her Mum who said that she had to get rid of a run of MWOM comics from issue 20 upwards. I say hide them from her! P.F. Grimes RFO, from the Isle of White is a Hulk-Hater! That's not very nice P.F. Andrew Greenfield from Essex has collected 271 mags in just over a year of which 85 are US editions. Robert Hartshorn from Romford really like the X-Men and Daredevil, he wonders are Angel's wings part of his body or part of his costume? He doesn't get an answer as the editor calls him "Steve" and talks about the Hulk? I guess the wrong reply was printed. TA. Osborne from Hertfordshire points out that even though Marvel is sending twenty-eight American mags over each month, they aren't the best Marvel mags, as Spider-man, Hulk, The Human Torch, Marvel Two-in-One, Master of Kung-Fu, Doctor Strange, the Avengers and Marvel Premier aren't being sent over. The editor says that all the titles listed, apart from Marvel Premier, Marvel Two-in-One and Master of Kung-Fu, are being sent over. Kieron Corliss from Merseyside has seen lots of the American mags where he lives. Micheal Mahoney from Merthyr Tydfil wants a No-Prize for spotting Gorgon twice, before his "first appearance" in the Fantastic Four story, "This Gentleman's name is Gordon!" "The computer says "No!" Peter Watkins from London isn't happy with Peter Hinton's criticism of the Hulk and the Fantastic Four!

Daredevil “The fall of the Leap-Frog!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #25

Cover date February 1967

(Published in December 1966)

The twelfth page of the original US version makes an excellent opening splash page for this story's second half. As much as I berated the Leap-Frog as a villain, I've got to hand it to Gene Colan, he makes the best of the lame character and turns out some stunning and action packed pages. If I'm honest I wouldn't expect anything less from him. My biggest problem is with the biggest plot-hole digger that's coming up next, Mike Murdock!

Right, the "Marvel Way" is that the writer would offer a brief out-line of the story, the artist would go away and fresh out the tale, (basically Lee would write or discuss how they wanted the story to go,) as they drew it. Stan would then add dialogue as he saw fit. Many comic historians point out that the artists, like Kirby, Ditko and possibly others actually wrote their own stories and Lee just added the dialogue in an "editor-way". The introduction of Mike Murdock was the lamest way of covering up that they didn't know who the letter was from when Karen read it two issues ago. Or did Lee think "I know I'll pretend its from Spider-man," making it him who let's slip that he knows Matt Murdock is really Daredevil. Would Spidey ever write a letter to another hero? No probably not. Does he have the time to write letters when his personal life is so hectic? No! There are points when both heroes meet that this is never mentioned. It's a mess. Why would a well educated lawyer like Foggy Nelson and Karen Page fall for this cheap soap-opera baloney? Did Gene Colan go with the Mike Murdock persona just because Stan thought it was a good idea? Who knows? We'll see if I warm to the plot in the coming weeks.

Bullpen Bulletins

A half page Bullpen Bulletins with the first Item dealing with the lengths Marvel went to create content for the Planet of the Apes. Chris Claremont was flown out to Hollywood to watch the filming of the Planet of the Apes TV series as research for future articles. The next Item is a strange one, possibly because it was printed a little too early as it asks if readers are wondering why Len Wein's name appears as writer on the Hulk. But that will come in four week's time. But the reason why Len took over from Roy Thomas was because Roy had taken a well deserved holiday. These Items and two more will also feature in Spider-man Comics Weekly and Avengers weekly, so I'll deal with those two later. One thing that is different in MWOM's Bullpen Bulletin page is that it lists Scott Edelman as the weekly's Associate Editor, while the other version's don't.  

The Fantastic Four “The rage of battle!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #55

Cover date October 1966

(Published in July 1966)

The cover from the Fantastic Four issue 55 is used as the opening splash page for this second part, with a new title "The rage of battle!" The battle wasn't the only thing raging, as the original owner of my second-hand copy of this comic decided that it would be a good idea to cut out the image of the Silver Surfer from this page, possibly for their own scrap book. They also cut out the Surfer from the second panel of page twenty-seven. Little vandal! I noticed that no other character was cut out, a little vandal with good taste maybe. 

This story is just one of those pointless battles between two heroes that isn't necessary, it doesn't drive on future plots and apart from Ben Grimm's petty jealousy has no reason to see print. But saying all that it's bloody brilliant! I love every panel, every silly idea that Kirby can throw at it, smashing the Thing through a wall and leaving his jet cycle in pieces. The Thing grabbing the Surfer's board because he busted the jet cycle and the dialogue which tells us he's going to "plaster ya all over the landscape," then he's "gonna do the same thing to this overgrown ironin' board of yours!" I must say if I've given the wrong impression that Stan Lee took all the credit and it was the artists who did all the heavy lifting, Jack may have given some pointers to the dialogue in his art layouts, but Stan really polished it. The style of writing from all of the comics from that period was definitely in Stan Lee's handwriting, even if, in this case certainly, Ben's voice came from his New York born creative partner, Jack. Like every story there has to be an ending and so with the timely intervention of Reed and Sue, Ben learns the error of his ways and everyone parts happily. As do I, a Lee/Kirby classic Fantastic Four tale warms the heart of this Marvel reader. Next week we return to the Black Panther story-line we left two weeks ago.

Now on sale, four triumphs from Marvel. This week's Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Avengers weekly are allowed to show their current covers off. While Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives only get to reveal their title logos. Maybe the finished covers were still in production when this in-house advert was put together.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #95

This John Romita Sr. cover is very eye-catching, as it was when it first appeared on the front of the Amazing Spider-man #77. It's quite a coincidence that the regular artists from the Hulk and Spider-man have drawn the cover for their respective mags, but aren't the artists in their star's strips.  

Spider-man “Death in a watery grave!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #77

Cover date October 1969

(Published in July 1969)

The third panel from this week's fifth page gets blown up and recycled as the splash page for this second part opener. Which does lead the reader to feel a bit of déjà vu, although the brilliant John Bucema artwork more than makes up for that feeling. As a child, a teenager, an adult or as an aging old man, I could read these stories again and again and not feel any déjà vu. It's Spider-man at his best. 

The Torch is chasing the Lizard towards the waterfront in the hope he can stop the carnage the reptilian monster has dished out. Spider-man wants the Torch to butt out and leave the Lizard to him, as he wants to save his friend, the Lizards alter-ego, Doctor Curt Connors. The Lizard escapes into the one element that is dangerous to the Torch, the river. So its up to Spidey to continue the fight. This page shows just how good Spider-man is at being a super-hero and how great John Buscema is at drawing him. Spider-man wrestles him in the murky waters, weakening him enough to render him unconscious. Once Spidey resurfaces with him, he gets rid of the Torch by telling him that his "Spider-sonic hearing" had picked up a distress call from the Fantastic Four. The clever lie works, giving Spidey time to figure out away of curing Connors.

Spider-man leaves the Lizard webbed up while he looks for the chemicals he requires to change the reptilian villain back into his friend. Billy Connors arrives looking for his father, just as the Lizard regains consciousness. The Lizard attacks him. Spider-man hears Billy's cries for help and rushes to save him, carrying a drum of CaCl2, that's salt to you and me. It was being stored at the docks in large amounts. Salt is used for many things, food production just one of them as well as removing moisture from the roads to stop ice forming. Here Spider-man, using Peter Parker's scientific knowledge, uses it to dehydrated the Lizard, weakening him and causing the chemical reaction that causes the transformation back into Doctor Connors. It might have been science or even the sight of his son in danger that caused some part of Connor's mind to start the change, but either way it's a happy ending. One last thing, three times Billy is called Bobby, once by Spider-man and twice by his father! It's the Bruce/Bob Banner all over again. I wonder does Stan correct his mistake by calling him William Robert Connor? More Spider-man fun next week.

The Web and the Hammer

Steven May from London thinks it's a crafty move to alternate Shang-Chi with Iron Fist. He congratulates Marvel on having two Kung-Fu stars totally different but he prefers Iron Fist to Shang-Chi. Spidey fan Stefan Lacny from Oxford thinks that Gwen Stacy is ten times better than Betty Brant. Sheila Fairborn from Putney started to appreciate Marvel's American editions in 1970 and she was delighted MWOM, SMCW and the Avengers weekly filled in some of the gaps in her collection, despite her desperate searches in second-hand bookshops, she had missed so many of the earlier stories. The re-prints are particularly enjoyable now, as the artwork and characterisation of the Super-heroes are improving. She adds as a working girl of 23, surrounded by the horrors of the

World, it's comforting to find an enjoyable escape into a dimension that seems to have more meaning for her. And finishes her letter with "Love to you all from a long-winded, but life-long friend."

Laurence Toft QNS from Reading offers his award list of the year with Stan Lee as best writer, best artist is John Romita Sr. Best letterer is Sam Rosen. Spider-man wins best superhero and the Vulture is the best super-villain. Aston Kaye RFO, KOF from Buckinghamshire enjoyed the American Marvel editions of Spider-man, the Fantastic Four and Thor, but he's found it more difficulty in getting them, so he's turned to the British mags. He points out that there are three mistakes with the cover of SMCW #63. They are that Iron Man is wearing his new armour on the cover, but in the mag he's still in his old suit. Thor's hammer is missing its strap and so is Spidey's webbing under his arms. Tony McCory QNS, from Northern Ireland asks "What happened to SMCW #74? It was not available in any local shops. The editor says it was, which must be true because I own copy. 

Iron Man “When titans clash!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #65

Cover date May 1965

(Published in February 1965)

 

"When titans clash!" is a fair enough title but maybe "Clash of iron" would make more sense. Small time thief, Weasel Wills, breaks into Tony Starks office and discovers a briefcase with the initials AS on it. Stark hadn't set the protective explosive alarm on it, which saves a massive plot-hole and a hole where Wills would have been, as the thief opens the case to find Iron Man's suit of armour. I have always been under the impression that at this period of time Stark had to always wear the chest plate so that it would keep his heart beating, but Wills finds the full suit. After a bit of practice Wills masters the armour and sets off on a crime spree as Iron Man. Stark dons the Mark One armour and battles him to regain his reputation and stop the fiend. I've been a bit negative about these early Iron Man stories, but you know I kind of like this one. It's well paced so it doesn't drag. It's what a fan-boy wants to see Iron Man against Iron Man. Nice.

Bullpen Bulletins

The third Item in the Bullpen Bulletins page tells readers that John Buscema has been pestering his editors that he wants to ink his own artwork. This week you can see how he got on with inking his own work in the pages of the Avengers weekly. The fourth Item introduces Jim Salicrup who is the production editor for the covers of the weeklies. Jim has been working for Marvel since he was only fifteen and now he's only seventeen In a few years Marvel will be running a nursery. Pete Lro is still listed as the Associate Editor for Spider-man Comics Weekly, just as he is in the Avengers weekly. More on that version of the Bullpen Bulletins page later.   

The Mighty Thor “This battleground Earth!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #144

Cover date September 1967

(Published in June 1967)

Like in the Daredevil strip seen earlier in this blog the timing of a splash page is perfect as the opening page of the second half of the story. In this case it's page ten of the original strip, with only the Enchanter known as Brona, blotted out by the new title. Thor valiantly continues his battle on top of a shard of concrete that has been propelled into the Earth's outer atmosphere. Meanwhile, in Asgard, Odin and Forsung face off against each other, both grabbing hold of the Sceptre of Power. In a cosmic tug-of-war they shoot off into the sky, causing a massive destruction wave in their wake. Forsung required as much power as possible to battle Odin, which in the process weakens both Magnir and Brona. The drain of power sends the floating piece of pavement they have been battling on to return to Earth. Reunited with their comrade, Balder and Sif aid Thor in quickly defeating the two Enchanters. Their enemies defeated, they realise that should Odin lose his battle against Forsung Asgard will also fall.

Avengers Weekly #64

Al Milgrom pencils and inks this cover that originally featured on the front of Giant-size Master of Kung Fu #2, who's main story had been serialised over the last four weeks in the Avengers weekly, but this week's mag features a Shang-Chi story from Master of Kung Fu #23, drawn by Al Milgrom. I have to wonder why this cover wasn't used last week for the final chapter of "The Devil Doctor's Triumph" instead of the Doctor Strange cover. It's too good of a cover to let go to waste. For me it's this week's best cover and so it's my Cover of the Week.

The Avengers “Mine is the power!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: John Buscema

Originally published in The Avengers #49

Cover date February 1968

(Published in December 1967)

There have been some great inkers who have inked John Buscema's artwork, Joe Sinnott and Tom Palmer to name just two, but when John inks his own art it begs the question, why doesn't he always ink his own stuff. Well time and deadlines might be an answer, but you can't fault his own embellishment of his own art, it's utterly beautiful. Hercules returns to Olympus to find it deserted, save for the evil Titan, Typhon, who brags that he is the reason why the Gods have deserted their home.

Zeus had exiled the gargantuan Titan eons ago, when he opposed the Father of the Gods eternal rule. Typhon had vowed to one day return to wreak his revenge. Millennia later he stole stealthily into Olympus to stand before the Temple of the Promethean Flame and laid waste to its the sacred temple with his mighty battle axe. His action caused the immortals of Olympus to fade from sight. 

The Earth bound Avengers are pondering a mystery disappearance of their own. Magneto and the Toad have captured Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, in the hopes that they can turn them from the path of the heroic Avengers and restart the Brotherhood of Mutants. Magneto takes them to a mysterious island deep within the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, to a secret base that he had created before his exile at the hands of the Stranger. The master of magnetism gains the two mutants Avengers trust by saying that he only wishes to create a refuge for mutants, where they can live peacefully. To this end they travel to the United Nations to demand that the mutants of the world be given a nation of their own. The concept of a nation for mutants is a recurring idea used in future X-Men tales. But let me say here that it was Roy Thomas's original idea that came before those versions. Before the United Nations Security Council Magneto demands a separate nation for mutants as the only way that there maybe peace between humans and mutants. Next week:"War!" 

Master of Kung Fu “River of death!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Al Milgrom

Inker: Klaus Janson

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #23

Cover date December 1974

(Published in September 1974)

Al Milgrom is an excellent inker, but I wouldn't instantly think of his pencil work to be the best amongst his peers. With this Master of Kung Fu story he's given a chance to prove me wrong in that assumption. The artwork in this week's adventure is wonderfully rendered, partly because of Klaus Janson's inks, but I must confess Milgrom has done an excellent job with the story's design and layouts too. This week's story starts with Black Jack Tarr meeting with Shang-Chi on a New York jetty over looking the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River, with news from Sir Denis Nayland Smith of a new mission. 

Intel has reached Smith that Fu Manchu is en route to South America to form an alliance with a former Gestapo agent named Wilhelm Bucher, but as Fu Manchu has a well-deserved reputation of being a monomaniacal loner his real reason must be that he intends to acquire the plans for a secret Nazi weapon that Bucher currently holds. The trio jet off to the Amazon, where they meet Smith's contact and guide, Raymond Strawn. Strawn is bitter, belligerent and a racist, who refuses to have any dealings with a man of oriental descent, much less the son of Fu Manchu. While Smith and Tarr try to persuade him to change his mind. As the argument rages on Shang-Chi fades into the jungle, solving the issue for them. The two British agents and Strawn travel down the river, with their guide filling them and the readers in on Wilhelm Bucher. He was one of the most loyal officers of the Third Reich, a fanatical adherent to the Führer's Master Race whose hatred of "inferior" races may well have exceeded Hitler's own. Germany's alliance with Japan caused him extreme distain, with only Hitler's personal orders forcing Bucher to accept a mission of transporting secret documents to Japan. 

Trapped and injured by an Allied salvo a Japanese officer fled as a second barrage of mortar struck. Bucher should have died but instead he survived requesting himself somehow to the rainforests of the Amazon. As Strawn finishes his tale the river boat is attacked by a group of Si-fan assassins. Smith is knocked into the alligator filled waters. Tarr busily fights off the attackers and orders Strawn to save Smith, but the guide says he'll help him by "killing as many of these yellow devils" as he can, while taking shots at the Si-fan assassins. Shang-Chi, from the shore dives into the water to save Smith as an alligator gets closer. The brutal use of racist language wouldn't pass editorial blue pens these days. But in the 70's it would have been accepted as it did portray the character as they were intended, a bigot and racist, creating a real world, that hopefully opened young minds to what's right and wrong. Next week more martial arts in "Hating heart!"

Bullpen Newspage

The Avengers weekly Bullpen page is slightly different to the ones in the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly. Firstly it goes under the title of "Bullpen Newspage",  secondly there is a mini in-house advert for this week's MWOM and SMCW mags and thirdly there is an extra Item in the Bulletins. That Item notes the versatility of Vince Colletta who has gone into the restaurant business by opening the Chicken Picnic on Lexington Avenue and 59th in mid-Manhattan. As you can guess it specialises in fried chicken.

"Who says a carnival has to be good??"

Writer: Arnold Drake and Roy Thomas

Artist: Marie Severin

Inker: Marie Severin

Originally published in Not Brand Echh #13

Cover date May 1969

(Published in February 1969)

In a typical Not Brand Echh style we get a two-page spread showing what a Marble (the comedy version of Marvel,) carnival would look like. There's Scaredevil, the incredible Sulk, Suduper-man, the Sunk-Mariner, Giant-Sam/Ant-Sam, Silver Burper, who is shown giving kids a ride on his surfboard and many more crazy variations. I first read this two-page spread in the British 1977 Spider-man Annual in full colour, and I loved every joke in it.

Avengers Readers Assemble

Timothy Bedford RFO, from Middlesex has every single copy of (I presume British Marvel,)  magazines and when he flits through the earlier issues and compares the differences in style, but he feels that Marvel is now better than ever. His opinion on the Hulk from MWOM #42 is not the mindless marauder as seen in most issues but a lonely hermit trying to find a civilisation which would accept him. It showed how deeply The Hulk needed a friend and picks a crippled girl-sensing that she, too, is an outcast of society. But Hulk loses the thing he has always wanted, his dream is destroyed, his hopes shattered. John Lamero from Birkenhead has calculated that Daredevil will catch up with the American version at MWOM #125. Spiderman will do the same to his #200 and the Avengers will join them at #150. So at the present rate most of the stories in the UK mags will catch up to the American mags by sometime in 1976. He asks will this end the production of the British versions? Bill Dixon from London praises British Marvel mags and wants three more. N. McIntyre from Chester writes that the reason why he prefers Marvel mags to any other type is that they are so much more realistic. Compare Spiderman to Superman for instance. Spidey lives in New York, a real city. whereas Superman lives in "Metropolis" and so on. 

Mike Thompson from Lancashire is a collector since Ant Man's first appearance in Tales to Astonish and he wants to say thanks for many hours of enjoyment that Marvel comics have given him, never has he seen a Marvel that wasn't a masterpiece. John McColl Fife is another writer who wants to compliment Marvel on the excellence of the three British weeklies. Pete Adair from Belfast thinks that Shang-Chi is one of the greatest characters ever to come from Marveldom. With Iron Fist temporary replacing, he thinks that they could keep Iron Fist in Avengers and let Shang-Chi feature with Spidey in SMCW. Martin Forrest from the West Midlands says that MWOM, the forerunner is the best! Unlike SMCW in which Iron-Man lets the comic down. He suggests that they should skip the early Iron Man stories, as they're out of date with the Avengers, Thor, etc and go straight on starting from about Tales of Suspense issue 70, as this is where Iron Man came into his own. 

This in-house advert for Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes shares the page with a payed for advert for Airfix models. Its worth noting that the cover artwork from this week's Dracula Lives cover is used, with the focus being on an attacking Count Dracula who is held back with a "crucifix" ultraviolet torch shining on his chest. Under that is what seems to be the full cover of a Planet of the Apes comic. If you zoom into the issue number and date you'll see that it should have been issue three from the week ending the 9th November, but the artwork on this cover isn't from the published comic. On closer inspection it looks like the background is POTA #3, you can just about see Taylor's hand reaching out of the cage and plumes of smoke to the left and right, with fresh artwork of apes whipping humans layered in front.

Doctor Strange “The doorway of dimensions!”

Writer:Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange #172

Cover date September 1968

(Published in June 1968)

Again it's another perfectly timed splash page that makes an ideal second half opening splash page. The new title "The doorway of dimensions!" reminds me of a furniture shop near where I live called Doorway to Value, but if I had a furniture shop that sold furnishings from other worlds I'd call it "Doorway of Dimensions". But enough of this waffle, on with this story. Doctor Strange frees himself from his mystical confinement and battles the guardian. Realising that Dormammu had taken Strange's powers and used them as a source of energy for the demon. By using the Eye of Agamotto he manages to drain it back out of the demon, killing it in the process.  

Freeing Clea and Victoria, who is heartbroken by Stephen's affection toward Clea, admitting to herself her own love for him, the Doctor sends both women back to Earth while he goes to deal with Dormammu. Summoning Umar to show her that he still lives and is still a force to be reckoned with, He sends three rebellious demons to unending oblivion. Then he leads an army of Dykkors to the Doorway of the Dimensions to invade Earth. However, before they can start the invasion they find their path barred by Doctor Strange.

Dracula Lives #7

Made especially for this week's Dracula Lives mag, Pablo Marcos' artwork is nice but I have to point out the girl's hands. Her left hand that's holding the "cross" torch is twisted into a very uncomfortable position and her right hand's little finger is also twisted into a bizarre direction. 

Dracula “Through a mirror darkly!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #4

Cover date September 1972

(Published in June 1972)

The title "Through a mirror darkly!" is a reference to a Biblical phrase from Corinthians 13:12, which in the 1560 Geneva Bible translation it reads as "For now we see through a glass darkly". The translation of "glass", could possibly refer to a mirror or a lens. Dracula arrived at the home of Ilsa Strangeway who had purchased Castle Dracula in the hopes that she can find a way to restoring her youth. Dracula intension is to regain his property by force if necessary. Ilsa holds him back with a crucifix as she offers him a deal. She asks for confirmation that the words in Bram Stoker's Dracula were true, that being turned into a vampire would make her immortal and forever young. Dracula confirms this and Ilsa asks in exchange for transforming her into one of the undead she will give him a dark mirror, the only occult artefact she had purchased that turned out to not be a fraud. Dracula bites her and she finds out that her dreams of regaining her youth are shattered when immortality doesn't mean eternal youth.

The usual in-house advert for the three super-hero weeklies, offering you a triple triumph of action.

Werewolf by Night “Persuasion!”

Writer:Gerry Conway

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Mike Ploog

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #23

Cover date May 1972

(Published in December 1971)

The fifth panel from page twenty-three of last week's comic is blown up and presented as the opening splash page for this second half conclusion. Andrea Timly with her husband, Nathan the psychologist to Jack's stepfather, have kidnapped Jack, as they believe he knows the location of the Darkhold. Jack's transformation and Nathan's discipline keeps Kraig from murdering him. But one of Kraig's outbursts ends up killing Nathan. In the distraction Jack escapes. Upon his return home Jack searches for the mysterious book without success until the next night's moon makes him transform again. 

Andrea senses it and sends Kraig after the Werewolf. They fight amid a thunderstorm, but when Kraig raises his metal hand for the killing blow, lightning strikes it, killing him. Later, Andrea attempts to cast the spells she wanted to without the Darkhold, but the spell backfires, killing her. My one point with this story and if I'm truthful in other stories is that there is a full moon for three nights in a row, with very short days between the nights. Technically a full moon only lasts for one night, when the moon is fully illuminated. However, the period of time when the moon appears nearly full, often referred to as the "full moon phase," typically last two or three nights, so I guess I can let it slide.

Frankenstein’s Monster “Death of the Monster!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: John Verpoorten 

Originally published in The Monster of Frankenstein #4

Cover date July 1973

(Published in April 1973)

Continued from last issue Frankenstein's Monster awakes within the wreckage of Robert Walton's ship, stranded on an ice flow. He rescues the cabin boy Sean and the Captain who are seriously injured. Walton asks the monster to look for Canute, their Eskimo guide, but the Monster refuses, as he is his enemy. After a while some spark of humanity softens the Monster's heart and he leaves to fine Canute, only to return later with his dead body. The Monster prepares a grave for Canute.

The Monster recalls what happens over one hundred years ago discovering that his creator, Victor Frankenstein had perished on Walton's Great Grandfather's ship, the Monster decides that he no longer wishes to live. He vows to destroy himself, he leaves the ship, swimming through the icy waters to the shore, then walking across the frozen plains in search of a suitable place to build himself a funeral pyre. After several days the lust for food drives all thoughts of suicide out of his mind as he journeys to warmer climates and the discovery of a small tribal camp. A sizzling portion of meat is too much to resist and the Monster eats it ravenously. But he had not assumed that the owners of that meal would return. As he eats he is attacked  by a brutish band of Neanderthal men. Feast your eyes on more monster action next week. 

Also next week in Dracula Lives a new Werewolf story... "Island of the damned!" Plus more horror action from Count Dracula and of course Frankenstein's Monster makes it a horrifically good mag.

Support your Marvel heroes by going badge mad with Marvel. On the back page of Dracula Lives this advert features an offer for up to fourteen badges. Each one features a super-hero, many drawn by the characters most well known artists. I'm sure you can name them all, but I'll offer the few I've spotted, Conan looks to be drawn by John Buscema and is Doctor Strange by Gene Colan? Let me know what you think. The fourteen heroes are the Hulk, Daredevil, Conan, the Human Torch, Spider-man, the Silver Surfer, the Black Widow, Captain America, the Sub-Mariner, the Beast, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Thor and the Thing. You can pick any combination you like, with prices from two badges for 45p, four badges for 70p, six for 95p, eight for £1.20, ten for £1.45 or all fourteen badges for the great value of £1.95! There's also a special offer pack of Spidey, Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Captain America, and the Silver Surfer for the bargain price of 85p.    

Planet of the Apes #7

Planet of the Apes covers haven't been great over the last month, but they are slowly getting better. Last week was an improvement on the week before, this one is better than that, but there's a bit to go. Ron Wilson applies the pencils and Mike Esposito finishes it off with his reliable inks.

Planet of the Apes “The defence”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Planet of the Apes #4

Cover date January 1975

(Published in November 1974)

This splash page looks to have been a newly drawn piece of art that was based on the sixth panel from page nine of last week's issue. The dimensions aren't quite the same and Taylor is certainly more hairy. As Taylor isn't recognised as an intelligent being his voice isn't heard by the tribunal, so the astronaut writes down his evidence on a note and Doctor Zira reads it out to the court. His description that he came from another solar system and on his planet man evolved into a thinking being, while apes remained as animals, created much anger in the court.

Doctor Zaius asks Taylor to provide evidence of his companions he travelled with as there is no proof that his space ship survived as it sank in the lake inside the Forbidden Zone. Taylor angrily says one of them has his head mounted in their museum. They all go outside so that they can see the other captured humans who were with Taylor. He points out John Landon in the crowd, but the astronaut stares back blankly. Landon has a scar across his forehead, around the frontal lobes. Taylor goes wild when he learns that during the hunt Landon had suffered a skull fracture and needed to be operated on, causing his colleague's current state. 

They return to the court room to deliberate on Taylor's evidence. but it becomes obvious that the tribunal will not see, hear or speak any blasphemous evidence. Taylor is forced to wear a gag while the President delivers his conclusions. He charges Zira and Cornelius with contempt of the tribunal, malicious mischief and scientific heresy. The evidence will be examined and a verdict rendered at a later date. The hearing is adjourned. Later Taylor is brought to Doctor Zaius's office. Zaius offers Taylor a chance to confess the truth, asking where his tribe comes from? He doesn't believe that Taylor came from space, as he speaks the same language as the apes or that he is a monster created by Doctor Zira, but it is more likely he is a mutant who has come from the Forbidden Zone. He gives him six hours to confess or he'll employ surgery on him to gain a confession. Angrily he calls the guards, telling them to beat him within an inch of his life, but not an inch further until he's there to witness it. Taylor asks him what he fears. Alone Zaius confesses it's the fear of man. Next week "Into the Forbidden Zone!"

Another of the regular photo pin-ups from the Planet of the Apes TV series. This time its the turn of astronaut Alan Virdon, as played by actor Ron Harper, who is a fugitive on the planet ruled by apes. 

The same in-house advert as seen in Dracula Lives again showcasing the three super-hero weeklies, offering you the same triple triumph of action.

Gullivar Jones “Two worlds to win!”

Writer: George Alec Effinger

Artist: Gray Morrow

Inker: Gray Morrow

Originally published in Creatures on the Loose #21

Cover date January 1973

(Published in October 1972)

This is the final part of the Gullivar Jones, Warrior of Mars series to be printed in the Planet of the Apes weekly. Jones is discovered next to the sleeping Ar-Hap by his guards. A fight breaks out and Jones escapes by knocking down the tent on his opponents. He manages to rescue his ally Chak from his bird-cage cell and Heru from her prison guards. 

Ar-Hap calls his army and the Winged-men  to track and attack the party of three. The Wingfolk rebel against his rule and a battle breaks out. Ar-Hap is defeated, for now and the three friends reunite at the story's end, offering a chance for the adventures of Gullivar Jones to return at a later date. It doesn't in the Planet of the Apes comic, but he does in Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back weekly #124, cover dated 9th of July 1980 till issue 134, cover dated 18th September 1980 and also in Marvel Super-heroes #385 cover dated May 1982. Again this week Princess Heru has been covered up by some art bodger on the orders of the editor, which makes little sense as the next story, Ka-Zar, also sees Tania, a female member of the Fall Tribe, wearing very little. I've started to kind of like this strip, especially Gray Morrow's artwork. It's a pity it had to end.
 

Ka-Zar “Ware the winds of death!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Bill Everett

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #6

Cover date June 1971

(Published in March 1971)

The artwork in the Ka-Zar strip is excellent, but of course it would be when it's drawn by the great British artist Barry Windsor-Smith. Ka-Zar and Zabu accompany Tongah to his village, when they encounter a strange light coming out of a storm filled sky. As it grows closer they witness a man riding on a horse in the heart of a storm, an angry god. Meanwhile in England, a mysterious girl arrives at the Plunder Estate looking for Lord Kevin.

Tongah relates the legend of Damon and Lelania, who came to the Savage Land, 5000 years ago, only to have Lelania apparently killed, and Damon driven mad. Damon rampaged and brought savage storms to the land. The God like being must have slept since then, but not anymore, he is rampaging again.

Back in England the mysterious girl tells Lord Plunders' servants that although she has never meet Lord Kevin in her mind she knows that unless she speaks to him he will die! 

Back in the Savage Land, Ka-Zar and Tongah  valiantly try to fight the Wind God, but the struggle seems useless. Tongah's people take shelter in a nearby cave from the raging storm. Tongah's siblings, Emuel and Tatia, get drawn deep into the cave by a strange light. The savagery of the land had drove Damon mad and the insane God cries out that "Enough! The hour has arrived! For you..for your race..there is death! DEAAAATH!" The stage is set, the players are in positions, next week "The final hour!" 

Savage action as I like it. More of the same next week? Oh yeah....

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.