"Five golden weeklies!"

 Week Ending 28th December 1974

Christmas is always a special time, back in 1974 Marvel readers had five weeklies to pour through while they waited for the big fat man in red. British Marvel made these issues a little bit special and very memorable to the excited kids. If you stumbled upon this blog as a fix of childhood nostalgia you might be wondering what the Power of the Beesting is all about. Well it's my way of cataloguing the Marvel Universe as a child of the seventies from Britain would have seen it. With all the continuity mistakes and corrections made to fix the disjointed set of stories as tales from one character got printed before other earlier stories from another character as the British weekly schedule outstripped material from Marvel's American parent company monthly catalog. If you want to start at the beginning check out the Mighty World of Marvel first issue way back in 1972. The Week Ending posts come every week but the blog has other posts about comics, TV and films. There may be mistakes of my own, I won't feel put off if I get corrected, good points and opinions are welcome, I'm the first to dish out PotBNoP's to anyone who makes a well put observation. (That's Power of the Beesting No-Prize if you didn't know.) The facts are how they are found, the opinions are mine as I see them and the stuff and nonsense is not to be taken too seriously. So enjoy this festive edition with a glass of wine and a mince pie. Merry Christmas each and every one of you.    

The Mighty World of Marvel #117

I kind of like this cover, as two Egyptian warriors in chariots mow down the Hulk as they try to kidnap a young girl. It's very eye catching and colourful in the right way, but why would the Hulk have is back to them and still pick up the pair of horses like he does, wouldn't he have been facing them when they attack? But then you would only see Hulk's back which wouldn't make a "selling cover" even though it would have been more accurate. Artwork by Ron Wilson (pencils) and Mike Esposito (inks) especially for this British edition.

The Incredible Hulk “Godspawn”

Writer: Roy Thomas and Len Wein

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #145

Cover date November 1971

(Published in August 1971)

Herb Trimpe is back! You can tell with his signature opening page format, starting with five panels, this time an approaching space craft, the story title followed by a larger panel giving more detail on the sleek vessel. What ever the story or setting you seen this layout before, its a great way to pull the readers in, while not giving to much away. The writing does feel very much a Roy Thomas story even though Len Wein is now the Hulk's writer for this story, but the basic plot line does come from the creative mind of Thomas. 

I love the dialogue in this opening as the craft fires retro-rockets as it descends towards the third planet revolving around a star-sun that will one day be called Sol. A planet where the simple two-legged creatures will one day name it Earth, setting the tone that events played out here are very much in our distant past. After the craft makes an effortless landing four humanoids, who our primitive minds may call Gods, levitate to the ground. They're wearing Egyptian garb, one with the head of a jackal, another with the head of a cow. In their hands a gem that can only be described as a "seed of the future", which they sow in the desert soil before turning to leave almost uncaringly to their ship that returns to the vast coldness of space. It's got shades of Greek Prometheus myth, the Parable of the Growing Seed from the Bible, Mark 4:26-29 and "Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past" a book written in 1968 by Swiss author Erich von Däniken, that in itself influenced many works of literature, film, and comic books stories like in Star Trek (although the TV episodes that addressed the question came before von Däniken's book was published), Stargate, The Thing, The X-Files, the Alien franchise notably, Prometheus, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Eternals. As well as numerous documentaries. 

But what of our green-skinned hero? After last week's adventure the Hulk had rampaged through Europe and across the Mediterranean Sea towards North Africa, into Egypt and across the Sahara Desert where he stumbles across a distraught woman, wearing Egyptian clothing, is being chased after by warriors riding chariots. Thinking the woman was in danger he attacks, smashing the chariots. It turns out to be a movie set. The director is furious that his shot is ruined, however the lead actress manages to calm the Hulk down which gives the director an idea of casting the Hulk into the movie in the hopes of making his film a huge hit. The director's name is given as Riley, but wouldn't it have been great if he had been called Ridley? Next week will we see the Hulk as the next Hollywood star? Find out in seven.

Bullpen Bulletins

"A batty barrage of bombastic banter and barefaced, babble!" The first Item drops a tantalising bit of information about Tom Palmer,  who started in the comic business as an assistant to Mike Esposito. Tom is certainly learned from the best to become an inker who can bring life, depth and dimensions to any pencillers' artwork. The next Item reminds us that the current Master of Kung Fu artist, Al Milgrom, is also a very accomplished inker. I'll look at the third, fourth and fifth Items in Spider-man Comics Weekly and the Avengers weekly bullpen pages. The lower half of this Bullpen Bulletins page is used for an in-house advert for the current Spider-man Comics Weekly, featuring the cover and a adapted panel of Spider-man punching a bad-guy, which is taken from the first panel from page sixteen from this week's MWOM Daredevil strip, up next. The tag line proclaims that "The Prowler strikes at midnight!" 

Daredevil “Kidnapped!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Daredevil #27

Cover date April 1967

(Published in February 1967)

Spider-man guest stars in this week's adventure, although I'm not really taken by Gene Colan's version of the web-slinger. It's not his fault, Jack Kirby and Don Heck can't draw Spidey for peanuts, only Ditko, John Romita Sr and John Buscema, at this period in Marvel history have managed drawing him well. Colan always nails Daredevil, Doctor Strange and Count Dracula. Spider-man's early appearance sets up is more critical involvement in next week's second half.

After the Masked Marauder in is civilian identity of  Frank Farnum, had rescued the Stilt-Man, the pair agree to team-up against Daredevil. The Marauder believes there's some connection between Daredevil and the staff of the Nelson and Murdock Law firm. So after sunset on the shadowy side of their office block of Nelson and Murdock the Stilt-Man rises to the window drops one of the Marauder's sleeping gas pellets inside,  incapacitating Matt, Foggy and Karen. The Masked Marauder picks his partner and their hostages up. When they awake the Marauder demands they reveal Daredevil's real identity, which Matt does, much to Karen's disapproval. The Marauder sends the Stilt-Man to find Mike Murdock while he holds the three civilians hostage. Next week "Mike Murdock must die!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Gary Harrison from Hull nominates himself for a RFO, KOF and a FFF for walking three miles across muddy fields at 6.30 in the morning to pick up his three weeklies. The editor passes on the FFF request, but he does get a RFO, KOF and a QNS. Paul James from Gateshead with his brother has 150 Marvel mags but their mother nags that they take up too much space. Paul wants Marvel to make a new mag for her as it may open her eyes to the Mighty World of Marvel. Colin Willis from Australia enjoys reading the opinions from other Marvelites. Ross Cowin Stafford has been getting MWOM from issue 62 as his brother told him all about Marvel and read the 1973 Marvel annual. Clive Evans from the West Midlands has been a keen Marvelite for over six years and has bought all of the British Marvel mags as well as four hundred American Marvel comics.

F. Negus KOF RFO from Liverpool congratulates MWOM on passing its one hundredth issue. He describes the Current Fantastic Four adventures as "Not up to Shakespeare, but the comic book equivalent of the master." Matthew Pegg from Stafford suggests that stories from Tomb of Dracula, Dracula Lives, Werewolf by Night and Monster of Frankenstein would be a big hit in a new UK mag. Well he's right there. Kevin Allcoat from Leicester asks why does everyone end their letter with a corny gag like "Until Doc Strange takes up Cooking, Make Mine Marvel"? Tradition maybe? P. Crossley from Leeds offers himself up to answer any questions, whether technical or not, that the editors can't answer, as he is knowledgeable in all forms of comics and science fiction facts. The lower half of this second letter page is used as an in-house advert for Dracula Lives.

The Fantastic Four “Maximus the mad!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #54

Cover date September 1966

(Published in June 1966)

This story starts in a typical Stan Lee and Jack Kirby way with the Fantastic Four and their new friends Wyatt Wingfoot and the Black Panther enjoying a playful game of baseball in a jungle clearing with the required numbers made up from the tribesmen of Wakanda. But Johnny Storm's mind is elsewhere thinking of the Inhuman girl, Crystal. In the Hidden Land, Black Bolt searches for a weak spot in the barrier that holds the enter city captive. Other members of the Royal Family try to convince Maximus to explain a way in which they can break down the Negative Barrier. 

Back in Wakanda, the Black Panther bestows gifts on his guests. The Torch is grateful for his "Sonic fishing pole," but is still heartsick over Crystal. While the team make plans to return to New York Johnny plans to travel to the Himalayan Great Refuge and look for a way to breakthrough the barrier to see Crystal again. With a few weeks before college term starts Wyatt asks if he may journey with Johnny, which he happily accepts. The Black Panther has one more gift to give, the "Gyro-Cruiser," that runs on magnetic-tension elements, energised by friction. The Torch and Wyatt Wingfoot are soon travelling across the open deserts towards the Himalayas in the strange ball-like vehicle. A sand storm blows up but they are safe inside the craft, until a crevice opens up in the sand and they plummet into an underground cavern with a giant carving of a monster that guards an ominous doorway. Next week the mystery deepens and we find out what happens to "whosoever finds the evil eye!"

The heroes from the Mighty World of Marvel, well three quarters of the Fantastic Four and the Hulk anyway, wish their readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #98

Another fill in cover by Ron Wilson creating an action packed look for Spider-man's British mag. It's a strong contender for the Cover of the Week. As much as I like it one other pips it to this week's award as you'll see later. Frank Giacoia inks Ron's artwork.

Spider-man “Vindication!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema and Jim Mooney

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #79

Cover date December 1969

(Published in September 1969)

The second panel from last week's page thirteen is enlarged for this second half story conclusion with fresh dialogue, a re-cap text box, a new story title and credit box finishing off the opening splash page. Hobie Brown comes to the conclusion that the only way to solve his problems is to beat Spider-man and make a positive name for the Prowler. Peter Parker has problems too. But they can only be solved if he picks up his bruised ego off the floor and allows Gwen to explain why she was with Flash Thompson last week. I love Spider-man and Peter Parker, but some times I really want to jump into the comic strip and shout at the lad for his own good.   

Peter can't rest or study with his personal problems going around his head. So what does a super-powered teenager do? He changes into a costumed crime-fighter, wears a miniaturised gas filter under his mask and search for the Prowler and maybe make a little money on the side taking photos of the Prowler for the Daily Bugle. After picking up some film for his camera he soon picks up the Prowler's trail. 
 

Spidey sets up his camera and leaps into action, easily defeating the inexperienced Prowler. Unmasking him he realises that he's a young man, no older than him. Hobie tells him about his troubles and how events got the better of him. With no heart to turn the disenfranchised Hobie over to the authorities Spidey decides that as Hobie never hurt anyone or stole anything he would let him go as long as he goes back to sorts things out with his girlfriend Mindy and sticks to the straight and narrow he'll give him a second chance. Adding that they're both on similar paths, "riding a rocket to nowhere." This story marks the last American issue of the Amazing Spider-man with a cover date in the sixties. Seventies Spider-man here we come!

Bullpen Bulletins

More Items from this week's Bullpen Bulletin pages, but I have to say some of these Items seem to have been repeated from older Bullpen Bulletins, like the editor's decision to stop the Mighty Marvel Checklist as well as another plug for Stan Lee's The origins of Marvel Comics bestseller. I'll look at the final Item in the Avengers weekly Bullpen Bulletins page later in this blog. 

The lower half of this Bullpen Bulletins page reciprocates the page from the Mighty World of Marvel and features an in-house advert for British Marvel's flagship comic. The current cover is featured with the same Gene Colan panel from the MWOM Bullpen page, seen earlier, showing Spider-man punching a thug. In this advert the tag line reads "In this issue Daredevil and a guest appearance of Spider-man.

The Web and the Hammer

A.J. Birchall RFO, KOF from Oxford describes the first Marvel Treasury Edition, the Spectacular Spider-man as SPECTACULAR! From the Daily Bugle feature to some of the best Spider-man stories from the past. Daron Woodward from Northants starts his mammoth letter off with a history lesson on comics from their creation in the 40's where they evaluated from Pulp Fiction stories to the decline of "long underwear"characters in the 50's. In his words the 60's saw the beginning of the second Golden Age of Comics when a magazine called the Fantastic Four hit the stands and the comic industry began to struggle cautiously to its feet. This new wave of comics with characters who acted in a realistic manner caught the interest of a young reading public. The FF were followed by Spider-man, the Avengers and other super-heroes and these new stories were packed with moralising drama, expanded upon by Stan Lee and later Roy Thomas. The Avengers and Captain America concerned themselves with the colour problem; the great Silver Surfer considered the justification (or otherwise) of war and responsibility for ecology. The FF continued to consider relationships between people. Daron asks "Why moralise?" and in a long answer to his own question he points out that Any media which can communicate ideas has a duty to accept the responsibility of educating its readers as well as informing them of new ideas to consider. The comics, in this case, sow the seed for thought. Daron's letter certainly does just that. Stephen Bristol from Lincolnshire thinks that when it comes to the weeklies being in colour would mean an increase in price and anyway it's the artwork that's important not whether its in colour.

Iron Man “When walks the villains!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #67

Cover date July 1965

(Published in April 1965)

 

This story marks the second appearance of Count Nefaria, who was last seen giving the Avengers a headache way back in Avengers weekly #10, although you wouldn't know it was the same character as straight from the opening splash page he goes by a different name, Dream-Maker, plus he's had a beard trim, his temples dyed, his ears pierced and an entire new wardrobe of clothes. May be the defeat by the Avengers caused him to have a mid-life crisis. Only the third panel of page fifteen makes reference to him being Count Nefaria. My way of looking at this is Don Heck created a new villain for this strip. He created and drew both strips so if it was the same man why wouldn't he draw them the same? Could Stan Lee, after Heck had finished drawing the pages, thought that the return of Nefaria would be a good idea and added the connection to the text. That's the "Marvel Way" showing itself up when it doesn't work.

Count Nefaria, or just the Dream-Master if you like, has invented a machine that can affect people's dreams by giving them realistic fatal nightmares. He uses it to get revenge on Iron Man by trapping him in a nightmare world where he is attacked by the Unicorn and the Crimson Dynamo. Quickly defeating those two, Iron Man wakes up to find that he had dozed off. Iron Man flies to Ireland to persuade Happy Hogan to return to his old job because Pepper Potts misses him. Happy is staying at his grandfather's farm in Ireland. But Iron Man's persuasion falls on deaf ears. Later alone in the cabin Iron Man falls into another dream state, to face the Crimson Dynamo once again together with Jack Frost, Gargantus, the Melter and the Black Knight. Overpowering all these foes causes a feed back that over loads the Dream Masters machine, that awakens the golden Avenger from his snooze, defeating the Dream-Master without knowing it. Iron Man tries once again to convince Happy to return but Pepper has already talked him into coming home. It's a charming but silly little tale, but if you take one thing from it it's that the relationship between Pepper and Happy is brewing nicely.

Everyone's talking about Marvel!

As the Mighty World of Marvel reached its 100th issue this summer and Spider-man Comics Weekly touches that milestone in a few weeks the UK press has been waxing lyrical about the recognition Marvel UK has seen. So this week SMCW looks at how the British media in the 70's looked at it, starting with a Stan Lee interview from Punch magazine. Marvel sells upwards of 60 million magazines every year, but has success gone to Stan's head? This is what "the Man" has to say, "My wife, Joan, and I would go to a party and people would stop by and say. Hi, what do you do for a living? And I'd have to say, well, I'm a writer. Hoping they'd leave it at that. Then somebody always has to come up with 'What are you writing right now, Stan?' and it would have to come out. I write comics. Oh." With over thirty-three years in the business how does he keep doing it? "We had, we still have, basically the same ideas as everybody else in comics. Intergalactic monsters, bent on world destruction. What we did, wasn't so terribly clever" he goes on to say" -we started to have heroes who maybe argued with each other once in a while, we had Spider Man snick his costume on a job and get tensed up about not looking smart, we had him evicted from his apartment, given a cheque for a reward he couldn't cash because he didn't have an account in the name of Spider-man. It was different." The article sums up Marvel with, "six-year-olds loved it. The sixteen-year-olds loved it. It was just realistic, if you can call it that. And that made it more fun." Stan tours colleges lecturing students, his subject: "Comic Books and The World About Us, With Strong Emphasis on New and Unique Philosophical Concepts." When people ask him for his opinions on Vietnam, or drugs, or anything else that is hopelessly outside his brief, he tell's them he just writes comics-period.

The Mighty Thor “..If the thunder be gone!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #146

Cover date November 1967

(Published in August 1967)

Thor has taken up a job as a strongman after Odin has stripped him of his godly powers save for his strength. He practices with the Ringmaster's Circus of Crime, unaware that their leader intends to hypnotise the Thunder God into helping them steal a priceless gold statue of a bull. Princess Python takes a liking toward Thor. The Ringmaster tells her to concentrate as the golden Bull is worth twenty million dollars. He we see a little 60's sexism as the Human Cannonball compares females and snakes adding that he doesn't trust any of them. The Ringmaster gives Thor a mock up costume to wear for the performance as he is unaware that he's the genuine article.

During the performance the crowds over enthusiastic response baffle Thor somewhat as he's unaware that the Ringmaster is using his "hypno-disc" to make everyone in the audience "see" Thor pulling off incredible feats that he can no longer accomplish after being stripped of power by Odin. The appearance of Jane Foster in the audience with a new man-friend also shocks Thor. After the show, the Ringmaster uses his hypnotic powers to put Thor into a trance and the Circus of Crime attacks the museum where the golden bull is being displayed. The Clown and the Great Gambonos keep the guards on the ground level occupied while Prince Python and the Human Cannonball smash into the upper level. See next week for what's Thor's part in this crime.

The Christmas fun back page from Spider-man Comics Weekly sees the Web-slinger becoming the amazing skiing Spider-man, to wish all Spider-man Comics Weekly fans a Merry Christmas!  

Avengers Weekly #67

It's Shang-Chi's turn to be the cover star this week in the Avengers weekly, with Al Milgrom's original cover from Master of Kung Fu #23 is used as this week's cover, even though the story that featured in that US edition had been printed in Avengers weekly #64 and #65.  Well the danger and jeopardy look's great, it was such a good cover, why let it go to waste. For me it's my Cover of the Week. You can argue with me if you disagree, but it is Christmas so be nice. 

The Avengers “When clash the Gods!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: John Buscema

Originally published in The Avengers #51

Cover date March 1968

(Published in January 1968)

The original cover from the Avengers #51, US edition by John Buscema is used as the opening splash page for this story's second half, with Hawkeye, the Wasp and the Goliath removed. It's a cracking piece of art that should have been used as the cover, if not for the rotation of cover stars this weekly has been going through. Hercules combats Typhon in some breath taking panels from John Buscema. 

Ultimately Hercules defeats the evil Titan with a victory that enables the Olympians to return from their exile. Typhon is dispatched to the Pits of Hades by Zeus, escorted there by the court bailiffs,  Kratos and Bia. Kratos is the Olympian god of force while Bia wields a mace forged by Cyclopes, both will reappear in the Titans weekly issue 55, cover dated 3rd November 1976, to cause problems for Hercules. Olympus welcomes back the once banished Hercules, therefore the Prince of  Power resigns from the Avengers with pride and respect for his fellow Avengers. Returning to New York, the three remaining Avengers realise that there are menaces to confront and they must remain active, even if their number remains only three.

Bullpen Bulletins

The final Item from this week's Bullpen Bulletins page has probably been mentioned before, either in one of the letter pages of a Bullpen page, its the official ranks of Marveldom. Your any readers who missed them last time here they are:-

RFO Real Frantic One, a buyer of at least three Marvel mags a month.

ONS Quite 'Nuff Sayer, a fortunate frantic one who's had a letter printed.

TTB Titanic True Believer, a divinely inspired "no-prize" winner.

KOF Keeper Of The Flame, one who recruits a newcomer to Marvel's rollicking ranks.

PMM Permanent Marvelite Maximus, anyone possessing all four of the other titles.

FFF Fearless Front Facer, an honorary title, bestowed for dedication to Marvel above and beyond the call of duty. 

The in-house advert features both covers from this week's  MWOM and SMCW.

Master of Kung Fu “Death Nath no mercy!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Al Milgrom, Jim Starlin, Alan Weiss and Walt Simonson

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #24

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1974)

The opening splash page for this second part Master of Kung Fu uses an enlarged second panel from the thirty-fourth page of last week's issue, I have to admit that the enlargement doesn't fully pay-off. Shang-Chi drops his cover and fights one of his father's Si-Fan assassins before another group of Nazis opens fire catching the Si-Fan assassins in another crossfire. Shang-Chi ducks behind a hut for cover and sees something inside that shocks him. Bucher will not allow "inferior" races to best him so using a machine gun he mows down Si-Fan and Nazi alike. 

His men capture Fu Manchu, bringing him forward to their leader, who has him tied to a tree and aims a rocket launcher at him. Shang-Chi hesitates for a moment, wondering does his father deserves to die? Definitely not at the hands of a bigot. At the last second he kicks the rocket launcher from Wilhelm Bucher's hands. The rocket hits the wall of a hut, revealing a missile with a swastika on it. Bucher orders Shang-Chi's death. Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr arrive just in time to fire a volley of shots taking care of the Nazis. Bucher throws a knife at Shang-Chi, hitting his shoulder. Angry at being defeated by "inferior scum," Bucher tries to detonate it. Shang-Chi tells him that he had time to deactivated it. Appalled by the fact that a Chinaman not only survived a serious knife wound but also out foxed him, he backs away and falls down the missile shaft to his death. In the meantime Fu Manchu escaped but at least they stopped a nuclear weapon from falling into the hands of Fu Manchu or the Nazis.

Avengers Readers Assemble

Colin French from Middlesex agrees with what Quentin Bradford said in Avengers weekly #40 over his opinion of Shang-Chi, adding that he only fights his dad for a personal grudge. He calls the Kung Fu fighter a "know-it-all-hypocrite." Clive LeCocq from Jersey angrily asks "What do you think you're doing?!!" He's mad as seemingly the American editions of the Hulk, Spider-man and the Avengers have disappeared from the UK newsstands now that there are three British versions of them. Hugo Martin from London asks one simple question, "Why is it that your American mags are smaller than your British mags?" The simple answer is "They're printed on different types of Printing Machines." But let's be honest both countries have historically had different types of format. George Chan from Stoke-on-Trent wonders why in drawings from Avengers #2, #3 and #4 show Dr. Strange with spots on his arms?  The editor admits they don't really know why. Ian Hamilton RFO,KOF, QNS from Glasgow had been reading Marvel comics for ages in Canada, when he came to the UK he had to make do with what he could find. Then the British Marvels came out and he started collecting them straight away.

 

Jerry Brown from Liverpool claims that he introduced his friend, John Higgins, whose letter was printed in Avengers weekly #54, to Marvel. John could well be the same John Higgins who worked on many Marvel UK posters as well as many other strips like Judge Dredd, Watchmen and John Constantine:Hellblazer. If he is we should thank Jerry for showing John how good Marvel comics are. Byran Foster from Surrey has started a fan club for Hulk, Spider-man and the Avengers. You can join and if you send a stamped addressed envelope he would send you one or two club mags a month. Dave Hawley from London writes to Matt Softley because no-one else ever seems to acknowledge that the editor exists. Were as Dave reads the small print at the bottom of the first page. Andrew Williams RFO, KOF from Bristol demands a No-Prize for "Behalf" being spelt with a "H" at the begining instead of a "B" in the letter page of Avengers weekly #54. Marc Baines from Harrogate thinks that Jim Starlin is one of Marvel's finest artists. In answer to someone who mentioned that Marc Bolan referred to the Silver Surfer on "Teenage Dream". He also mentioned Doctor Strange on the track "Mambo Sun", on the "Electric Warrior Album" and on his latest LP "Creamed Cage". Brian Lumley from Nottinghamshire is offering to sell some of his old mags.

Doctor Strange “Trapped within these walls!”

Writer:Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange #175

Cover date November 1968

(Published in August 1968)

The opening page as been slightly adapted from the original as the title "The Power and the Pendulum!" which would make less sense with this first half, has been replaced with "Trapped within these walls!" which to be honest has little to do with it either. In mental communication with the Ancient One Doctor Strange decides that while living on Earth Clea needs a place of her own. The Doctor takes her outside to show her the world. Walking around in their magicians garb brings them unwanted attention from two pedestrians, then from a van driver who shouts "Hey there..gorrrjussss!!!" Clea is offended by his attitude, He replies "Not you sister...I mean Prince Charming." making what may have been an homophobic slur towards the Doctor's outlandish outfit. Clea uses her powers to banish the driver's truck. Strange quickly ushers them to safety from a mob, while erasing their memories with his mystical powers. 

Back at his Sanctum, Strange finds a telegram asking to travel to visit a Lord Nekron in England. Victoria Bentley, still in New York agrees to travel along with Stephen to Britain. Strange along with Victoria meets with Nekron who offers them both dinner. However, during dinner Victoria's drink is drugged and it's revealed that Nekkron is a follower of Satannish who one year ago that very night grants Lord Nekron an increase in occult power, so on and so forth, each day and everyday for a whole year, where he would find an equally adept mystic to become Satannish's slave or put his soul in forfeit. Having chosen Doctor Strange as Satannish's slave. Gene Colan's artwork on Doctor Strange is always magnificent but in this story it's even more so. A proper Christmas present you'll never forget, it's beautiful. Can't wait for the second half coming up in next week issue with "The Power and the Pendulum!"

This in-house advert for British Marvel's newest mags uses the current covers for both Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes but with the characters positions moved in both to fit better on the allotted half pages.

Stan Lee gives the Avengers a hand decorating the Christmas tree in this season treat for all Avengers weekly readers. Goliath hangs the Christmas star on the top of the tree, the Wasp wraps red ribbon around the branches. Readers also get a preview of the soon to be next Avenger as the Black Panther joins in the seasonal tidings. 

Dracula Lives #10

This week's cover is taken from Tomb of Dracula #23 by Gil Kane and Tom Palmer which feels a little strange that they used this cover and not a new one created for this issue..

 

Dracula “Madness out of time!”

Writer: Gardner Fox

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #5

Cover date November 1972

(Published in August 1972)

The first panel of page eight from last week's Dracula Lives comic gets the enlargement treatment, stepping backwards through the story to re-cap why Dracula has returned to 19th century Transylvania to gain revenge on Abraham Van Helsing. Frank Drake and Rachel Van Helsing follow through the Dark Mirror using the correct chanting. They rescue Taj and arrive at the Van Helsing manor in time to save Rachel's grandfather.

Dracula has used his time to resurrect Lenore, whose ashes were stored in a glass jar, to aid him. Dracula sends Lenore to head off the three vampire slayers in a graveyard. She knocks Tai and Drake down and rounds on Rachel, which gives the men time to break loose a gravestone cross which they use to reflect a crucifix shadow from the full moon on to the vampiress who flees. The vampire slayers rush to Van Helping's manor in time to stop Count Dracula from killing Rachel's grandfather. Both Dracula and Lenore escape through the Black Mirror back to the present day.

Cryptic Correspondance

Ian McCulloch RFO, KOF from Derby is pleased with the new Planet of the Apes mag, but less so for Dracula Lives as he was hoping for a new mystery-titled mag, starring the Silver Surfer, Conan and the X-Men. N. Chibnall RFO, QNS from Hertfordshire is very pleased with both new mags and all their stories. Although he wonders why they pick those strips and not normal characters? C.J. Jameson from Tyne and Wear was "excited and disgusted" with the two new mags. He predicts that Planet of the Apes will be a fantastic success, however doesn't think Dracula Lives will work without "blood and colour." Fergus Purdie Scone from Perthshire suggests that Dracula Lives should have a few pages of articles about Christopher Lee as Dracula, or even Lon Chaney as Wolf-Man. J Parker from Chester heaps praise, praise and more praise on Dracula Lives, as the three star strips are his favourite supernatural horror stars. He also praises Gerry Conway on his writing and can't wait for when Marv Wolfman taking over Count Dracula.

Werewolf by Night “Eye of the beholder!”

Writer:Gerry Conway

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #1

Cover date September 1972

(Published in June 1972)

There's some stunning artwork from Mike Ploog this week, especially with this opening splash page showing the Werewolf has been turned into solid stone by the gaze of the mutant gorgon named Marlene. As the sun rises, he transforms back into flesh and blood and back into Jack Russell. Buck Cowan discovers Jack on the beach. The pair sneak into Miles Blackguard's castle to recover the Darkhold which Jack discovered last week. They escape in a boat plane that Buck has waiting. 

Jack is concerned that his sister Lissa will be worried sick with his disappearance so he uses Huck's phone to contact Lissa. She sounds distracted but Jack arranges to meet up with her at Buck's place. Little does Jack realise that his step-father is coercing his sister into helping Marlene to set Jack up for a trap. The mutant gorgon wants to regain the Darkhold for herself. Strug breaks into Buck's home knocking him unconscious. Jack tries to fight back but Marlene holds his sister at gun point. Strug renders Jack also unconscious. Later Jack awakes to find his sister and Buck tied up. Jack succeeds in escaping just as the full moon begins to rise. He races away before his supernatural transformation starts, leaving Buck and Lissa confused and still captive.

Frankenstein’s Monster “The monster walks among us!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: John Verpoorten

Originally published in The Monster of Frankenstein #5

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

"Don't come around tonight or it's bound to take your life; there's a bad moon on the rise!" by J.C. Fogerty. Those Creedence Clearwater Revival lyrics by singer and guitarist John Fogerty might fit better in the opening of a Werewolf by Night strip, but it does lend itself to this opening page foreshadowing this story.  Again Mike Ploog produces some gorgeous artwork in Frankenstein's Monster with this opening page showing the Monster sailing a small wooden craft through a fjord in Scandinavia is a beautiful start.

As he nears a hamlet, he finds a woman tied to a burning raft, left to die. The Monster rescues the woman and brings her to shore. He cautiously makes his way along a narrow path toward the small fishing village at the start of the fjord. He over hears the villagers in the harbour cheering when the boat sinks into the water. Hiding her away from the villagers, he asks her how she came to be tied to a burning boat. The woman, Lenore, tells him that the people of the village are possessed by a black demon and only she is immune to the demon's powers. The Monster brings Lenore to her father's cottage. The aging warrior attacks him declaring that his daughter is dead and that the demon who possessed her should also die. The Monster lashes out and grapples with the old man, ultimately killing him. The Monster searches for medicine and returns to find an intruder who also proclaims that the girl is dangerous.

Four more triumphs from Marvel in this in-house advert features four of this week's comics, with only Dracula Lives missing from the line up, because obviously if you originally saw this advert you would have bought that mag already and be holding it in your hands. 

As a Christmas present from Dracula Lives, readers have a wonderful Marvel Pin-up of the iconic Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, beautifully painted by Bob Larkin. Now that's a Christmas Cracker.  

Planet of the Apes #10

This is one of the better Planet of the Apes covers that was made especially for the British version. It's by George Pérez and it's possibly his second he created for Marvel, after his cover for Creatures on the Loose #34, which featured the Man-Wolf, cover dated March 1975, released on the 17th December 1974, four days before this issue was released.

 

Planet of the Apes “Chapter 10: The secret”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the US in Planet of the Apes #6

Cover date March 1975

(Published in January 1975)

This week's strip comes to UK readers a whole month before the Marvel/Curtis Magazines version was released to American readers on the 21st January 1975. The British editions are racing ahead of their parent company, who try to keep up with material. This will be a problem in future issues.  

After last week's discovery of evidence of an advanced human society in Cornelius' archaeological digs, Doctor Zaius belittles the chimpanzee's conclusions, suggesting that ape children, like his granddaughter, could have played with human dolls and evidence of humans could have come from them living with apes as pets. Taylor digs around, unearthing objects found near the doll that showed whoever owned them was in bad shape. They had defective eye sight because they needed glasses, rotten teeth as they used dentures, the creature had an hernia and there was little rings of stainless steel which enclosed a prefabricated valve in his heart.

Taylor hypothesise that who ever lived there may not have been a man but possibly a close relative as he was plagued with most of man's ills, adding as fragile as he was, he came before apes civilisation and was superior to them. Doctor Zaius starts to rave that all the evidence is lunacy, that could be explained with alternative descriptions, equally as inventive, that would also be conjecture not proof, but his argument is interrupted by a noise from the doll that Nova has picked up. It simply says "Mama! Mama!" Taylor asks Doctor Zaius "Would an ape have a human doll that talks?" Gunfire breaks his chance to reply. The gorillas have tried a sneak attack but Lucius had fired a warning shot. Taylor holds Doctor Zeus as hostage, demanding a horse and supplies for himself and Nova. Taylor argues that Zaius isn't the "Defender of the faith," but the "guardian of the terrible secret," that man preceded ape as was responsible for ape science, as well as their language and their knowledge. That a plague or natural catastrophe like a meteor storm must have wiped out that civilisation. 

Zara asks Doctor Zaius if Taylor's theory is true, to which he tells Cornelius to take a note book from his pocket and read the ninth verse from the twenty-third scroll. "Beware the beast man, for he is the devil's pawn. Alone among god's primates, he kills for sport, or lust, or greed. Yes, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair for he is the harbinger of death!" Strong words from the movie and comic adaption that even at this Christmas time ring with some hard, painful truths. The gorillas arrive with a horse and supplies as per Taylor's demands. He rides off with Nova and his freedom into next week's "Mystery of the Planet of the Apes.

The Apes on TV

The latest Apes on TV takes a look at James Naughton, who plays Pete Burke, the third member of the fugitive trio who with Roddy McDowall and Ron Harper star in the Planet of the Apes TV series. This was James' first TV series, he rose to fame acting on the stage in New York. 

If fact his first professional appearance was in an off-Broadway Promenade Theatre in the classic Eugene O'Niel play "A long day's journey into night." Which earned him no less than three of New York's highest awards. 

After graduating from college in his home town West Hertford in Connecticut, James went to Medical College to become a surgeon, but there he found time as a semi professional baseball player. James decided against a medical career and switched to acting and landed a place at Yale Drama school.

From Yale James found success in "A long day's journey into night." Other appearances in the classical theatre followed. Another proud highlight in James Naughton's career was his appearance at the Edinburgh Festival two years ago when the company with whom he was playing was brought over to present two plays in the Festival. Recently James has co-starred in the film "The Paper Chase." Acting runs in his family as James' brother, David also happens to be an aspiring actor, who in 1974 is studying in London at the Academy of Music and Drama. Away from the set of Planet of the Apes. James is a keen tennis player, but also enjoys riding his motor-cycle in the hills and canyons of Southern California. 

This double page feature also shares the lower quarter with an in-house advert for this week's MWOM, SMCW, Dracula Lives and the Avengers weekly.

Ka-Zar “To end in flame!”

Writer: Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway

Artist: Barry Windsor Smith

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #10

Cover date February 1972

(Published in November 1971)

This week sees Gerry Conway join Roy Thomas on the writing credits. The positioning of Thomas's name first hints that he was possibly responsible for plotting this week's story. Barry Windsor Smith makes a welcome return, although there was nothing wrong with Herb Trimpe's artwork and design last week, but Windsor Smith is an astonishing artist. Ka-Zar and his companion Paul are travelling to an island to rescue Paul's friend Barbara. A plesiosaur attacks their raft causing the two men and Zabu to become separated, but all three make it to the shore. Ka-Zar is discovered by Germans who still believe they are at war with the Allies from World War Two.

Paul is washed up with Zabu who are both found by the British who like the Germans still believe the war is not over. Paul is taken to see Barbara. The German's consider that Ka-Zar by his demeanour is an Englishman come to spy on them but after a fight their leader Heinrich Draco changes his mind and allows Ka-Zar is freedom. He tells the noble savage that they have survive from thirty years ago when their U-boat was hit while sinking an English destroyer. A handful of men escaped to the Savage Land, mated with the local women and have set up a colony. They are at war with the English who have also survived on the island in the lake called New Britannia. Later Ka-Zar follows Draco and a small party of men, who meet with Captain Christopher, the leader of New Britannia. It seems that the pair have been perpetuating the myth that the war has continued so that they can maintain their hold on power. The pair are plotting something to keep their status quo, but before Ka-Zar can find out what he is discovered. The answer will have to wait till next week's "To die in fire!"  

Doctor Doom “Unto you is born...the Doomsman!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Wally Wood

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #1

Cover date August 1970

(Published in May 1970)

Doctor Doom watches as a United States Moon landing discovers a strange sphere on the Moon's surface. The astronauts return the sphere back to Earth and it is presented to the President of the United States. It plays a recorded message from Doom mocking the State's pathetic rocket technology over his teleportation abilities that had place the sphere on the luna surface. Doom examines his latest project, a perfect living weapon that he dubs the Doomsman. 

Meanwhile deposed former leader of Latveria, Prince Rudolfo is organising an army to oust Doom as leader of the country. His plan is to distract Doom with a woman named Ramona who has a striking resemblance to Doom's childhood love, Valeria. By faking a car accident Romona is found by a Doombot, who brings her to Castle Doom. Doctor Doom uses his hypno-probe on Romona and learns the truth, but continues playing along with part of Rudolfo's plan so that he may trap the rebels. Doom becomes smitten by Romona, taking her as a consort due to her resemblance to Valeria. Using an illusion to hide his scars he reveals his face to her,  making her fall for him. However, he refuses to live a lie and goes back to finish his work on Doomsman. While transferring a copy of his mind to Doomsman he has to remove his mask. Ramona walks in seeing his scarred face and his latest creation. Horrified she starts trashing his equipment while Rudolfo and his men attack the castle. In the confusion the Doomsman activates and shambles along like a modern day Frankenstein's monster. Doom's robot duplicates fight Rudolfo and his resistance army. Thinking he is victorious Rudolfo is shocked to find out that he had not destroyed the real Doctor Doom, but a robot duplicate. Doom captures the rebels with his "Hypno-probe." The artwork in this strip looks great with a 50's "Flash Gordon" feel to it that was the style of Wally Wood, however there is strong speculation that Larry Hama may have worked on it, as at this time, Wally Wood was reported to have used other artists to assist him with his work. Brian Cronin asks Larry about that speculation in 2020, to which he quickly dismissed it, as he was still in the military when that strip came out and had not started working as an assistant to Wood. So that settles that.

The final seasonal treat comes with another photo promo from the Planet of the Apes TV series, featuring Ron Harper and James Naughton as fugitive astronauts Virdon and Burke. Not a very festive way to end this Christmas edition of the Power of the Beesting but I imagine fans of all the weeklies enjoyed the way each comic ended, whether it was the merry men from Marvel, Spidey skiing, the Avengers dressing the tree, the horrortastic Dracula or stars from the Planet of the Apes. How ever you like to celebrate this festive time, have a MARVELous one and I'll hopefully see you in seven, or even sooner maybe if a special seasonal treat from the Power of the Beesting if both you and I are on the good list. Either way I hope to... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.