This Herb Trimpe (pencils,) and John Severin (inks,) cover was originally used as the cover of The Incredible Hulk #147 (US), which would be reprinted in the next two MWOMs. I'm not sure why they didn't use the artwork from The Incredible Hulk #146, which I have to say is a better cover than this one, plus this one gives the Leader's surprise appearance away too soon.
This opening page was page thirteen of the original US comic and is then followed by page eleven of that issue. It works really well, especially in story telling terms, in fact in many ways better than it did in the US version. The new title "Man-trap!" is the original page's sub-title with only the "Part Two" text removed. After last week's ending Jim Wilson returns to the base to tell General Ross that his escort was a robot.
In shock Jim runs straight into Major Talbot, who he believes he can trust. He shows him the two figures. Calmly Talbot reveals that the two gentlemen are android duplicates needed to complete a plan. Herb Trimpe uses his repeated panel technique to show Major Talbot transforming into the Leader with Jim looking at him as the shock grows. It's the simple things like the Major removing his hat as the Leader's head grows and Jim's shock, even though for three of those panels you only see the back of his head until he turns and runs. Trimpe is a better artist than I've given him credit for. Some modern artists could learn a lot from his work. The truth is revealed when Jim is placed in a cell with the General, Talbot and their men. The Leader's plan is faultless, He's going to replace the President and his men with Androids and no-one can stop him. Save possibly the "Hulk-inued" next week!
Stan Lee in London
"The Sam Goodwin of the Comic Book World" said the man from the BBC. "He's a lovely man. Yes a lovely man" said the lady with the green hair from the London Evening Standard. "The only human being I have ever asked for an autograph" said the man from the New Musical Express. "He is as intelligent as one of the chimps" said Doctor Zaius. Just a few mentions of The Man back in 1974 when Stan Lee was the talk of the town when "The Man" spent some time in London promoting the launch of British Marvel's new weeklies, Dracula Lives and the Planet of the Apes. Stan meets the press with Gwen Nuttall running a profile on Stan in the Sunday Times business section. Interviews by Charles Murray from the New Musical Express and Molly Parkin from the Evening Standard. The Sunday Mirror even made him pose while wearing a Frankenstein mask! He was even on the Radio, where he talked to Tony Palmer on LBC's Sounds New programme. He wasn't only doing the rounds in London, a trip to Birmingham meant an appearance on BBC's Pebble Mill TV programme. Bob Langley's interview was watched by many British Marvelites. Finally Stan met Alex Harvey of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Alex has been a Marvel fan since he was a kid. "Give My Regards to Sergeant Fury" was Alex's latest American single, It all comes back to Marvel in the end. This article appears in all five British Marvel weeklies.
Daredevil “The Boss!”
Writer: Stan LeeArtist: Gene Colan
Inker: John Tartaglione
Originally published in Daredevil #29
Cover date June 1967
(Published in April 1967)
I should really like these Daredevil tales, the artist is great and the potential is massive, but it's not turning me on, at the minute at least. I think in twelve stories time I might be raving about the Man Without Fear. Till then I'll make do with this dozen. Matt decides to ask Karen to marry him, but the only problem is does he ask her as Mike or Matt Murdock? While he considers that mental problem attention is turned to the remaining members of the Masked Marauder's gang, who after his demise
three weeks ago have received a letter from him hinting that there is a connection between Daredevil and the Nelson & Murdock law firm.
The criminal known simply as the Boss has plans for the Marauders gang, with an aggressive take over, the remaining members join his outfit, but continue with the Marauders intension. Daredevil is in a happy mood, even stopping briefly on the way to Matt's proposal to Karen he meets Stan Lee. This vain distraction means that Matt arrives at the offices of Nelson & Murdock too late to witness the Boss's gang kidnap Karen and beat up Foggy as part of their plan to draw out Daredevil. Stan is even using himself as a plot device, so that Daredevil didn't arrive too soon. A note is left, which is obviously a trap, but Daredevil is happy to trigger it to rescue Karen, even if he has to be "Unmasked" next week.
Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes get to share nearly a full page in-house advert. The Lord of the Undead gets the lion's share of it, with mentions of "A Monster stalks the night.." next to a picture of Frankenstein's Monster as the line is finished with "and the strange story of Werewolf." The choice of image and text is a little peculiar as wouldn't an image of the Werewolf by Night fitted better, but still the editor wants to push the horror mag, which is good. The small bottom left panel has a torch wielding gorilla teasing that you don't want to "Miss this week's sensational issue of..." Planet of the Apes.
The Fantastic Four “Enter...Dr. Doom!”
Writer: Stan LeeArtist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Originally published in The Fantastic Four #57
Cover date December 1966
(Published in September 1966)
This story promises everything, even though the title says "Enter Dr. Doom" the splash page features a menacing Sandman. You can expect loads of guest characters. Reed, Sue and Ben attend the parole office after taking a phone call, which was obviously a trap set up by the Sandman and the Wizard, who are using the distraction to make an escape. In the created chaos the Sandman escapes leaving his partner to be recaptured.
Meanwhile in Latveria, Doctor Doom invites the Silver Surfer to his castle to learn more about his powers and to show him his many technological inventions. The easily lead alien accepts the evil ruler's hospitality. In New York the Thing is searching for the Sandman while Reed and Sue return to the Baxter Building to find some way to track the villain. They need not have bothered as the fiend has come to them. They battle but the Sandman has reasons to be there. He breaks into the "advanced equipment storage unit" in search of something, possibly to the Wizards instructions. To find out what that is we'll have to read next week's comic.
This week's Marvel 1975 Calendar features May and June on the back pages of MWOM, the Avengers weekly and Dracula Lives. The first half is titled "May is a pair of brawling Barbarians" and as you can guess features a pair of Robert E. Howards finest heroes, Conan the barbarian and King Kull. Important birthdays this month are Marv Wolfman on the 13th, the inker John Veroorten on the 16th, the legendary Conan artist Barry Windsor Smith (at the time simply known as Barry Smith,) on the 25th and Hulk artist Herb Trimpe on the 26th. Birthdays in June are Len Wein on the 12th and writer Don McGregor on the 15th. Comic book anniversaries are for the birth of Franklin Richards on the 1st of June, although his first appearance was in the Fantastic Four Annual #6, cover dated November 1968, published August 1968. On the 10th of June Reed and Sue's wedding anniversary as seen in
MWOM #93 in the UK, the Fantastic Four Annual #3, cover dated October 1965, published July 1965. Another anniversary of sorts comes on the 16th of June which is the date given for the publication of Roy Thomas' first penned letter printed in the Fantastic Four letter page as seen in the Fantastic Four #5, cover dated July 1962, published April 1962.
Spider-man Comics Weekly #102
This cover artwork originally featured on the front of the Amazing Spider-man #82. Unusually it was pencilled by Marie Severin and inked by John Romita Sr. I think the reproduction here spoils it slightly, the background is darker and the colours are a little muddy in the UK version. I much prefer the American version.
Spider-man “Midnight madness!”
Writer: Stan LeeArtist: John Romita Sr.
Inker: Jim Mooney
Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #82
Cover date March 1969
(Published in December 1970)
I've no idea who created this fresh opening splash page, which is just a page filler until this second part can restart. Jameson is visited by Electro who offers to defeat Spider-Man for a thousand dollars on live TV. There's a wonderful moment later when Gwen catches up with Peter, to talk about his insecurities. She doesn't care about his money problems at all and the couple hold each other as they take in the view of Central Park. Even this grumpy old comic fan is warmed by this simple moment of love.
Another great scene that I'll love forever is when Peter realises his costume is still a mess, but he can't just walk into a laundrette as Peter Parker to wash his Spider-man costume, so Peter puts on a paper bag disguise and suffers the embarrassing humiliating experience of having to sit there in front of the general public while his costume is washed. And thus the legend of the Amazing Paper Bag-man was born.
It's the night of the Midnight Show, in the audience sits Jonah Jameson with his invited guests Joe Robertson and Captain Stacy. Jonah hasn't let on to them why he wants them there. Us readers know, he wants them present to see Spider-man demise. The chat show host, Marvin, starts the live TV interview when Spidey swings onto the stage. but no sooner does it start than Electro attacks. The audience flees, but Jonah stays on to watch the fight, admitting to Robertson and Stacy that he knew it was going to happen. Jonah is shocked when Stacy points out the danger to innocent people. The over-all fight is very brief as Spider-Man manages to defeat Electro by swinging his foe into some live wires causing a short circuit which knocks both of them out. Electro limps off before Spider-man regains consciousness. Just when things looked to be getting better the list of problems has grown as Peter adds a burnt costume, burnt hands and still no money from the nights show to the list. Feeling the defeat, he resigns himself to bed. I might sound a little masochistic enjoying this story filled with so much doom and gloom surrounding Peter's life, but all that makes the brighter bits seem even brighter. It's a brilliant story which I loved when I first read it in the
1974 Marvel Annual and I still do when I re-read this two part version.
The Web and the Hammer
Simon Bastian from Cornwall is interested in Paul Crow's letter about French magazine "Strange", as he bought a copy of it while on holiday in France. I have to be honest I did the same while on holiday, even though I couldn't understand the French language. Simon does though and has listed the French translation for character names like the X-Men are LES MUTANTS, Spider-Man is L'HOMME ARAIGNEE, Silver Surfer, LE SURFER, Fantastic Four, LES FANTASTIQUES. As for Super-Villains, The Green Goblin is LE BOUFFON VERT, Kingpin is LE CAID and Doctor Doom is DOCTEUR FATILIS. Rodney Henton from Kents loves Spider-man so much that he bought the Spider-man Annual 1975 and thought the Punisher and the Jackal were so good they should be put in SMCW or MWOM.
Iron Man “Fight on! For a world is watching!”
Writer: Stan LeeArtist: Don Heck
Inker: Mike Esposito
Originally published in Tales of Suspense #70
Cover date October 1965
(Published in July 1965)
This story starts with a splash page that could have been used as the cover of ToS #71 if it wasn't Captain America's turn, then a page that recaps events from last week's issue. Iron Man had accepted a challenge to meet the Titanium Man in combat to prove which nation's was superior. Titanium Man is not playing a fair game, having rigged the battle field with landmines. As Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts and the watching world gaze on, Countess Stephannie de la Spirosa searches for Tony Stark. She breaks into Stark's hotel room but only finds an experimental transistor, which she takes.
At the battle field, Iron Man fights off the Titanium Man's attacks, at the cost of slowly sustaining damage as he makes it to the end of the round. Using this brief intermission he returns to his hotel room to replace an old transistor with the new one. Finding it missing he comes across the Countesses' handkerchief. He asks Happy Hogan to find her and bring the device to him. He does so but in an attempt to bing it to Iron Man Happy gets injured by the Titanium Man's "Molecular scrambler ray". Happy calls Iron Man "Boss", letting him know that he guessed that Stark was the golden Avenger. Iron Man fits the transistor ready to face the Titanium Man again, this time filled with revenge. But "what price victory?" We'll find out next week.
The Mighty Thor “The power of--Loki!”
Writer: Stan LeeArtist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Vince Colletta
Originally published in The Mighty Thor #147
Cover date December 1967
(Published in October 1967)
This second part Thor tale uses a "Prologue" to start, with the title page seen four pages later using the original cover art by Jack Kirby. The new story title "The Power of --Loki!" (now that's a great title. Where have I heard that before?) is given as part two of "The wrath of Odin!". The delaying of this page works perfectly with the continuity of the story. It's a great piece of art, I'm so glad they found a good use for it.
The Prologue has started with Loki's arrival on Earth in search of Thor, who is imprisoned for his involvement with the Circus of Crime's attempt to steel the Golden Bull statue. He is released when someone posts bail. Thor has a feeling about his mysterious samaritan, but can't place why. Soon Loki reveals his true identity and his reason for freeing Thor. Knowing that Odin has removed his half-brother's powers, Loki sees a chance to destroy Thor once and for all. With only his strength Thor is little match for Loki's strength, magical power and his cunning. After pages and pages of beautiful Kirby battle artwork, with four or five powerful panels per page, Loki wears down his opponent. The fate of the universe seems to tremble in the balance as Loki raises Thor above his head to deliver the death blow, when Sif and Balder arrive to prevent it. In Asgard Odin is furious as the two gods have broken his order, their punishment will be swift and terrible, but we'll have to wait till next week to witness it in "Let there be chaos!"
Instead of this week's 1975 Marvel Calendar page on the back cover Spider-man Comics Weekly readers get something not quite as good but nearly. It teases "Waiting...watching...another great mighty Marvel earth shaker is approaching! What'll it be? Be here next week fans! Then and only then will you know!" The Fantastic Four look up to the right, maybe watching that is about to come. In the bottom text box we are told only that "Big things are coming from Marvel! Watch for 'em--next week!" If you can't wait till then I'll tell you about the art that might give you some clues into what the "Big thing" is, but beware Spoilers ahead. The artwork is by John Romita Sr. and was first used as the back cover of the Marvel Treasury Edition #2, cover dated December 1974, published September 1974. In the UK it hit the shelves towards the end of January 1975, which must have been more exciting than a page from the 1975 Marvel Calendar. Anyway you could have always got that on another weekly, like the Avengers for instance.
Avengers Weekly #71
It's been a tough choice this week to pick a standout Cover of the Week. They could have used the original US cover from The Avengers #52, they used that are later to open the Avengers strip, instead they use this Arvell Jones/Keith Pollard UK original artwork. It really sets the tone for the story, the Black Panther looks terrific! Would I be right in saying that the Panther image was drawn by Pollard? I've no evidence other than the Grand Comics Database list both Jones and Pollard as the pencillers with Frank Giacoia as the inker. My offer for Cover of the Week.
Iron Fist “Tomorrow you live, tonight I die!”
Writer: Doug MoenchArtist: Larry Hama
Inker: Dick Giordano
Originally published in Marvel Premiere #19
Cover date November 1974
(Published in August 1974)
This second part story opener uses the first page from Captain America #111, cover dated March 1969, published December 1968, brilliantly drawn by Jim Steranko. British Marvel fans will have to wait till Super Spider-man and the Titans #202, week ending 22rd December 1976 to see that Captain America story, or catch the Marvel Grandreams annual from 1982 or the Panini Mighty World of Marvel vol 3 #14 in March 2004. It's a great story. All that's changed for this opener is the Iron Fist's strip creators names replacing the original Captain America strip creator names.
The opening artwork matches the setting if not the Larry Hama artwork which follows. And what follows is good old fashioned kung fu fighting action strip as Iron Fist walks into a trap set up by Ward Meachum, the Uncle of Joy and the brother of the deceased Harold Meachum. Like so many super-hero strips the hero always knows it's going to be a trap, but they still walk into it anyway. Heavily out numbered Iron Fist is attacked from all sides by a number of thugs, with more waiting in the wings to take up the assault once one of their number falls out making a relentless battering for our kung fu hero. Two opponents lasso Iron Fist's arm, pulling him in opposite directions as two more press forward for the kill.
Luckily jumping to Iron Fist's aid is the return of the mysterious Ninja, who puts pay to a number of the thugs while Iron Fist deals with the rest. The hired assassins either flee, are knocked out or possibly killed by the Ninja who silently cleans his Samurai sword on a newspaper before offering it to Iron Fist to read. The front page headline that identifies that Iron Fist is wanted by the police for the murder of Harold Meachum. It ends on that quiet note with only the "Next Issue" line reading "Iron Fist and Spider-man--together!" Well that should be good.
The Avengers “The man who killed the Avengers”
Writer: Roy ThomasArtist: John Buscema
Inker: Vince Colletta
Originally published in The Avengers #52
Cover date May 1968
(Published in March 1968)
This opening second part splash page smoothly uses the artwork from the cover of the US version of the Avengers #52, which misses out the figure of the Black Panther to the right of the Grim Reaper as this part of the story deals with the Reaper retelling how he defeated the three Avengers, Goliath, Hawkeye and the Wasp.
The Grim Reaper had broken into the Avengers mansion seeking revenge on Goliath, who he accused of murder and those who protected him. Using the surprise attack he shocked the three Avengers with an electrical discharge from his scythe. Supposedly killing them instantly.
Like every mad psychopath super-villain the Reaper goes on retelling his reasoning for his actions. Which is a crazy thing to do when there's no-one there, but it does fill the readers in with his motivations, a clever plot device from Roy Thomas, why have a bland villain when you can have a villain who does most of the writers work for him? The Reaper wants revenge for his brother, Simon Williams, the very nearly Avenger known as Wonder-man last seen in
Avengers weekly #6. The Panther flees the police to investigate the Avengers deaths. Going back to the scene of the crime at the Avengers mansion he discovers the Grim Reaper waiting for more Avengers who he believed murdered his brother to return. He fights the madman, who plot fills the Panther in on why and how he planned to kill the Avengers, even telling the Panther that the Avengers are merely in a coma-like state, but they will die soon and only his scythe can save them.
The Panther seizes the scythe after apparently inflicting a mortal wound on the Reaper and rushes off to save the Avengers. Which he does in the nick of time. All four return to the mansion to find the Reaper gone. Without any pause the Panther is offered membership to the Avengers, increasing their number since Captain America left, Hercules returned to Olympus and Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch joined Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants. The original US "Next Issue" text at states that "Perhaps the most totally unexpected foes of all, the extraordinary X-Men!" that would have lead nicely into a rematch with Magneto, but British Marvel continuity being what it is that tale will have to wait. Instead the "unexpected foes of all" would be followed by "The Masters of Evil!"
I read with interest in my copy of The Avengers Omnibus Volume 2, Roy Thomas writes that John Buscema's version of the Black Panther in his finished pencils wore a full face mask like he had previously worn, suggesting that Vince Colletta had made the changes under Stan Lee's instructions as he never liked full face masks. Thomas suggested that he would have vetoed the change if he could. The Grim Reaper was Roy's idea with Buscema creating the costume and designed the hand worn scythe, but Thomas was responsible for moulding the Reaper's brother Simon Williams into the plot.
Avengers Unite!
Colin Campbell from Coatbridge says what more could he ask for, the Avengers is the best mag out because it's full of super-heroes and villains. Raymond Hardy Derby bought all five British weeklies at what hi calls "a fantastic price". He also purchased several 25 cents American mags. He gives a run down of the different US pricing. Neil Hotchkiss from Liverpool wants his friend, Neil Daly, to be awarded a No-Prize because he's a FOOMer who gets all five weeklies and he found a shop that sold the back issues he was missing. Neil doesn't win the No-Prize for that. An Anonymous letter writer pens a letter to complain about people who complain about Marvel mags. David Evans from Swansea writes that ever since his friend, Clive Pulling, introduced him to Marvel mags, he's been a merry Marvel Madman. The Avengers mailbag had also heard from Andrew Parker from County Tyrone, Michael Hulcombe from Nottinghamshire. Kevin Mallet from Essex. Pat Brosnan, Leslie Cowell from Manchester, Peter Hayes from London, Trevor Howard from Surrey and Julian Richmond from Norfolk. Do you recognise your name?
Doctor Strange “O grave where is thy victory?”
Writer: Roy ThomasArtist: Gene Colan
Inker: Tom Palmer
Originally published in Doctor Strange #176
Cover date January 1969
(Published in October 1968)
Doctor Strange searches for Clea, who has been tricked into going with Asmodeus, the leader of the Sons of Satannish. He discovers the taxi driver, who earlier had driven them to Clea's apartment, in a hypnotised state. All he could recall is three men who asked about a silver haired girl, one of whom was called Wong and that he heard them mention a group called the Sons of Satannish.
Doctor Strange traces the three men with the help of his amulet and the Eye of Agamotto. The three reveal their true intentions and attack the sorcerer. The Sons of Satannish use Wands gifted by Asmodeus to cast a spell that bombard the Doctor with Ribbons of Nihility, trapping him in a "Cube of Nothingness". The three Sons return to their lair leaving Strange trapped. Cast his own spell Strange frees himself, then rising in a "Psychic Shield" globe Strange searches for the Sons of Satannish using himself as bait. Covering the "Psychic Shield" with brick slabs the Sons of Satannish the globe falls. Will the Doctor survive? Find out next week with "more magical mayhem in the mighty Marvel manner!"
Dracula Lives #14
Right naming the artist who drew this cover is a minefield, this cover featured on the front of Tomb of Dracula #7 and originally Gene Colan was credited with it, however Nick Caputo, contributor to the Grand Comics Database, credits Larry Lieber as the artist on the 30th November 2003. But the Marvel.Fandom.com names John Buscema as the artist. What everyone agrees is Tom Palmer did ink the piece. I have to say I don't like it at all. I feel it looks more like a Larry Lieber piece to me.
Dracula “The death of innocence!”
Writer: Marv WolfmanArtist: Gene Colan
Inker: Tom Palmer
Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #7
Cover date March 1973
(Published in December 1973)
This week's second part opening splash page uses an enlarged fourth panel from page four of last week's issue. Having hypnotised a group of children in his thrall Dracula takes them back to his residence to use them later. Much later a drunk man stumbles home from a heavy drinking session and is greeted by an army of rats under Dracula's control, herding him to where the vampire lord can feed upon his hapless victim. His screams alert Quincy Harker and the others, who investigate. Quincy's dog Saint attacks Dracula first but soon the others arrive. Dracula escapes their attack by turning into mist, then leaves in bat form.
Leaving Edith behind to man the radio they all pile into Quincy's car to follow Dracula. At his hide out, the vampire hunters wait for dawn to break before they enter into Dracula's mansion. Finding his coffin they attempt to put a stake through Dracula's heart. However, it turns out to be a trick as like any monster cartoon they turn to find Dracula standing behind them laughing at the ease he fooled them with a dead body disguised as himself. Dracula then calls forth his army of hypnotised children to attack the vampire hunters. Before he escapes. Quincy manages to strike Dracula with a poisoned wooden dart. He taunts them saying he will live which is more than they can say as the children prepare to attack.
Cryptic Correspondance
S. Marsh from London thinks that Marvel made a mistake when they brought out Planet of The Apes, as something like the X-Men, with Conan and Captain America would have been better. On the other hand they think that Dracula Lives is fantastic. Mark Pole from Nottingham had to go on a tour of Nottingham to find a shop that sold Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes. Mark recalls that in
MWOM #104 Paul King asked for a comic featuring Dracula, Werewolf and Frankenstein, well he got his wish. John Knight from Sutton Coldfield describes Dracula Lives and Planet of The Apes as two of the greatest, finest, comics ever produced in Britain. "Unsigned" from London has managed to salvage every MWOM issue since #31 and now collects SMCW and Dracula Lives too. Weirdly buy two copes of Dracula Live so that they can swap one in a few months time for the "Spidey Holiday Special". Michael Robb RFO, KOF, from Essex thinks that Dracula Lives covers are the worst, but even so they are still very good. He adds the Werewolf by Night stories are the best in the comic, but supposes that a comic by that title wouldn't sell as much as a Dracula one would.
Werewolf by Night “The mystery of the Mad Monk!”
Writer:Gerry ConwayArtist: Mike Ploog
Inker: Frank Chiaramonte
Originally published in Werewolf by Night #3
Cover date January 1973
(Published in October 1972)
Jack Russell had left his father's book with Father Ramón Jóquez in the hope that he could discover what is so important about it. Jóquez has spent many hours perusing the mystic tome known as the Darkhold. Suddenly, a mist pours from the pages, infecting him. He telephones Jack Russell in a panic, but the mist consumes him. In blind panic Jack hops into his car and begins racing towards the rectory. It's about time Jack got himself a timetable for the faces of the moon because as you can imagine its full moon time, causing Jack to transforms into the Werewolf.
Elsewhere Jack sister overhears her step father being threatened by someone on the phone. A mystery for another time maybe. Instantly the Werewolf has arrived at the monastery to find Father Jóquez possessed by the spirit of Aelfric, the Mad Monk. Aelfric reveals that in 1149 he'd been burned for witchcraft , but his scrolls had survived the fire and through a number of owners had found their way into the hands of Baron Gregory Russoff, Jack's father who bound them into a book that came to be known as the Darkhold. In later Marvel tales we're told that these scrolls had been created by the evil Elder God known as Chthon and they would form the pages of the Darkhold. During the 6th century AD Morgan Le Fay bound the scrolls into book form for the first time as "The Darkhold", sometimes called "The Shiatra Book Of The Damned," or "The Book Of Sins." After numerous accounts, Saint Brendan scattered the pages of the Darkhold throughout Earth. Aelfric had re-collected the scroll the scroll pages by 1149. The tale of the Chthon scrolls and the Darkhold is complicated path with many varying accounts. Fully aware of the curse that has plagued the Russell family, Aelfric seeks to take control of the Werewolf to use as a weapon for his vengeance on humanity.
Frankenstein’s Monster “the fury of a fiend!”
Writer: Gary FriedrichArtist: John Buscema
Inker: John Verpoorten
Originally published in The Monster of Frankenstein #8
Cover date November 1973
(Published in August 1973)
John Buscema takes over from Mike Ploog, for the next four Frankenstein's Monster stories. I really love Buscema's art, especially in the Avengers and Conan tales, I should really love his version of Frankenstein's Monster too but weirdly I don't. I think it's because I was so into Mike Ploog's version. It's fine artwork really, I'm just an old comics fuddy-duddy who thinks that only certain artists should draw certain characters, just ignore me.
Frankenstein's Monster approaches a lake and spies a gypsy girl bathing in its waters. An angry hunchback named Drako attacks the gypsy girl, named Carmen, The Monster leaps to her rescue, wrestling with Drako and ultimately breaking his neck. In fear of the Monster Carmen run to her grandmother, Madame Marguerita, who invites the Monster to join the gypsy camp. He stays with them growing closer to Carmen and her Grandmother. During this time, he expresses his desire to find the last Frankenstein. Several weeks later the gypsy caravan arrives in Transylvania. Marguerita tells the Monster that she knows of the last Frankenstein's location. She reveals that Frankenstein is dead, but she will take him to his tomb. What's the old "gypsy's secret?" Find out next week.
Planet of the Apes #14
Well another generic Ron Wilson Planet of the Apes cover. To be fair it does match the Apes storyline but I can't say much more about it, other than Mike Esposito inked it.
Planet of the Apes “The Forbidden Zone of forgotten horrors”
Writer: Gerry Conway (Plot) and Doug MoenchArtist: Mike Ploog
Inker: Mike Ploog
Originally published in Planet of the Apes #2
Cover date October 1974
(Published in August 1974)
This story starts to fall into the trap that the film adaptation of the Planet of the Apes strip did after the first few chapters, the artwork loses some of its style and quality. This like that adaptation started really well with the artists giving it their all, but the amount of pages that needed to be drawn mounted up. Issue one of the Marvel/Curtis magazine was jam packed with pages that artists George Tuska and Mike Ploog needed to churn out. By the second issue, all be it two months later the schedule took its toll. Don't forget it wasn't just the America magazine that needed the strips on time, the British POTA weekly demanded pages at a fast rate too. Tuska's work came out the best, possibly due to a head start on the publication date. The in demand Ploog had a tougher task and it shows. Credit due though the artwork does improve when Ploog gets his second wind as later strips will show.
Alexander breaks out Jason from the Ape jail and the pair flee into the forest, escaping their gorilla pursuers. Jason is now wanted for the murder of Brutus' wife Zena, but the only way the two friends can think of to prove the humans innocence is to trick Xavier into discovering Brutus' encampment. They sneak back into the city and watch Zena's funeral, with Xavier and Brutus plus many other citizens present. But when Brutus uses the somber occasion to whip up hatred for humans Jason stands up and calls him a lier. Peace Officers fire arrows at the pair, causing them to flee in the direction of Brutus's rebel camp, followed by the Peace Officers. The plan seemed to be working until the pursuing Peace Officers were butchered by the Ape Insurrectionist movement. Brutus arrives declaring the events "unfortunate, but of course quite necessary" and that they will turn the incident to their benefit, claiming it was the fugitives who lead the gorillas to the slaughter.
This is a stock photo from the Planet of the Apes of the Lawgiver statue and Doctor Zaius. It's used to suggest that fans of the Planet of the Apes comics should reserve a copy the comic from your local newsagent. This photo was also used with a text intro for the first episode of Terror on the Planet of the Apes strip in the first of Marvel/Curtis magazine version of Planet of the Apes, cover dated August 1974, published June 1974.
Apes Forum
Stephen Lattimore from London gets all five weeklies and thinks they're all great especially the newest mags Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes, which are well worth eight pence each. Michael O'Doherty from Portsmouth has been waiting for quite a while from it and was expecting Werewolf by Night and Frankenstein's Monster to be back-up strips but he says it would have been nice to have the Zombie as a back-up strip too. Paul Cumming from London writes a little play about an Ape and a human discussing how good Marvel comics are. He goes on to point out that he expects lots of other Marvelites will write up saying they want X-Men and Silver Surfer. But he says it's too bad for them because this is the Marvel age of New Inventions. Stuart Shafran from Berks suggest that in the Avengers weekly Conan should replace Doctor Strange, Gullivar Jones should be cut from Planet of the Apes, Dracula Lives and MWOM should stay the same and as for SMCW Spider-man is quite good but Thor is a little far-fetched.
“Arena”
Writer: Gerry ConwayArtist: John Buscema
Inker: Dick Giordano
Originally published in Worlds Unknown #4
Cover date November 1973
(Published in July 1973)
This story was adapted from the Fredric Brown short story Arena, first published in the June 1944 issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine. It was also adapted for television as an episode of Star Trek first broadcast on the 19th of January 1967 under the same name, Arena, by legendary TV screen writer, Gene L. Coon. You might remember Captain Kirk is forced by powerful entities to battle the captain of a vessel from a reptilian species known as the Gorn after an apparently unprovoked attack on a Federation outpost. Here Gerry Conway does a pretty good adaption too.
Bob Carson finds himself on an unknown blue desert planet sometime in mankind's future. Humanity united to fight a race of aliens called the Outsiders. Carson had been part of an armada awaiting an attack by the Outsiders, before wakening on the unknown world. Carson hears a voice in his mind from an entity that describing itself as "Beyond time and Space". To lessen the bloodshed of both species the entity has brought one from each race to do battle to determine which race will survive. An invisible force-field prevents the two of them from attacking each other. Carson attempts to make peace with the Outsider who wants nothing of the kind. It lashes out a Carson but the force-field stops it. The Outsider begins to tear the legs of an alien lizard and throws it a Carson, making both of them realise that non-living matter can pass the force-field. The two fling rocks but outside of minor wounds neither dies.
Another lizard pleads with Carson to kill the one he thought was already dead. He puts the creature out of its misery. The human realises that being unconscious allowed for it to pass the force-field. With no better choice Carson leans on the barrier, then smacks himself on the head with a rock, temporary becoming unconscious he falls through the barrier. Awakening just in time to see the Outsider rushing towards him. Carson grabs a sliver of rock and the two fight.
Carson's frenzy beats the Outsider gaining victory the entity teleports him back to his ship as if nothing happened, like it was all a dream. Although feeling his leg he can feel the scar of a wound he received on this strange arena. The Earth-Armada Admiral tells Carson that all the Outsiders have been destroyed to his surprise. Their victory seemed to have been caused by a lucky strike of a single salvo had started a chain reaction in the metal the Outsiders used. Carson knowing he was responsible in saving the human race simply smiles and agrees with the Admiral. It's a great sci-fi tale, one that's suited to the pages of Planet of the Apes. More like this please.
Three of the weeklies featured the May/June months of the Marvel 1975 Calendar, with only SMCW sporting a teaser to be revealed next week. Planet of the Apes goes one step further with this full page colour advert for the second Marvel Treasury Edition featuring the fabulous Fantastic Four. One hundred pages for only fifty pence. Mighty Marvel action in a giant colour special that sees the greatest foursome tussle with the likes of Doctor Doom, the Sub Mariner and the Impossible Man, plus team-ups with guest stars like the Silver Surfer.
There was loads to read for a Marvel fan in 1975, with these five weeklies, hardback annuals and these Treasury Editions. I best stop reading those specials and start planning the next week's batch if Im going to get next week's blog out on time. Till then...
See you in seven.
Make Mine Marvel.
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