The Beesting that shouted love at the heart of a mag!

 Week Ending 22rd February 1975

It's been a busy week at the Beehive, not only compiling the current week ending blog but also I celebrated Valentine's Day, (kind of, I went on Saturday night,) by going to the cinema to watch Captain America: Brave new world, with my daughter and her boyfriend. It's no Captain America: Winter Soldier, even though it plays many of the same riffs from that film, but still it was quite enjoyable. The other thing that I noticed while researching this blog is that the one time Captain America writer and one time editor of these very mags that make up subject of these blogs, Tony Isabella, came out as a trans woman on the 9th of February. Preferring the name Jenny Blake Isabella, which they say they've always liked the name Jenny, as for Blake that comes from Thor's alter-ego Doctor Don Blake. Once a Marvel maniac, always a Marvel maniac. Isabella doesn't consider “Tony Isabella” to be a dead name and plans to continue writing under that name as well as their preferred name. Isabella adds "I’m not going to get my panties in a bunch if you innocently misgender me or call me Tony," In the future if I make reference to "Tony Isabella" I mean no disrespect but for many reader its a name that they will instantly recognise. In the early days of these week ending blogs they were always helpful giving me insight into the workings of the early British weeklies through conversations via Twitter. More from the writer herself here. I wish Tony or should I say Jenny all the best. Now let's get on with this week's fistful of mags. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #125

It might seem to regular readers of this blog that Ron Wilson isn't one of my favourite cover artists, well that isn't always the case. He certainly has to work to a hard deadline when it comes to completing these British weekly covers, so I have to give him some slack. This week I think that he has produced two of this week's more interesting covers. I like the clearness of this Hulk cover. The logo colours also complement the cover smartly. Mike Esposito inks Ron's art for this smashing Hulk's "nightmare in the emerald atom!"

The Incredible Hulk “The brute that shouted love at the heart of the atom!”

Writer: Harlan Ellison (Plot) and Roy Thomas

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sam Grainger

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #140

Cover date June 1971

(Published in March 1971)

This story has one of the longest story titles around, it takes over three pages to fit it all in. It is one of the many references to the works of Harlan Ellison by Roy Thomas seen in this tale. The title itself is a play on the title of one of Ellison's most famous story collections, "The beast that shouted love at the heart of the world." Roy Thomas is having fun with this story, he name checks various Harlan Ellison's story titles in the dialogue in this week's first and next week's second parts, here are a few, "The Place With No Name", " Deeper Than The Darkness", "Are You Listening?", "Phoenix", "Paingod", "A Boy and His Dog", "The Waves in Rio" and "Bright Eyes", that's just in the first nine pages. Thomas is really a massive Ellison fan!

 

It starts recapping events in last week's Hulk (the Avengers,) story with Psyklop planning to reduce the green behemoth in size to that he might best study him and use his gamma spawned energy to unleash the Dark Gods. The Avengers interrupt that plan, but in doing so Psyklop leaves the molecular ray unattended causing the Hulk to shrink so small that he disappears through the very gaps between molecules, to another world at the heart of an atom.

The quasi-human Psyklop breaks free of the Avengers to reach his teleportation device, which he had used to ensnare the Hulk to send the Earth's mightiest heroes to a New York subway platform, stripped of any memories of the previous events. As the Hulk falls through the sub-molecular universe he see civilisations were giants live, strange new worlds were he is dwarfed by feather-topped trees until he comes to rest beside a marsh, edged with the most bizarre planet life he's ever seen that make him out to be no bigger than a small rat. The plant life isn't all that's weird, there are lizards but more problematically strange wild beasts that look like a cross between a giant dog and a giant pig, pretty much a super-giant sized warthog from your worst nightmare. The Hulk defeats one but after leaping away he discovers more of the pack attacking a city.

The Hulk attacks the pack, fighting off the terrible creatures. After their defeat the Hulk hears screams growing louder from the city. Thinking they wish him harm he readies himself for another attack, but it's not anger that greets him but universal joy from the city's inhabitants. Much to the Hulk's surprise, like him they are green in colour. The inhabitants lift him aloft, onto their stained shoulders and  welcome him as a hero. He is taken to their leader, Jarella, an Empress born of this Sub-Atomic sphere, who is most pleased with their emerald savour who has defeated the pack of Warthos, as she calls them. Lord Visis, Jarella's cousin, warns Jarella to beware that the Hulk is an animal, a man-monster. But the green queen senses under the gruff exterior there is a seething soul of a kind human. The green behemoth cannot decipher her words but a warm outstretched hand of friendship is universal. Jarella declares that it is forbidden for the Queen of the realm to marry anyone who has not proven themselves in battle against the dreaded Warthos. 

Deciding that the Hulk's appearance is an omen from the Jade Goddess, that she must wed the outsider so that he can become her husband and the sovereign of her tempest-tossed land. But language will be a problem, so she calls forward the Pantheon of Sorcerers. Under their Queen's command the three wizards, Torla, Holi and Moli perform a spell that will allow the Hulk to understand the strange language of this strange world. I mentioned at the start that Roy Thomas crowbarred a load of Harlan Ellison references into this tale, well he didn't stop there, when the three sorcerers cast their spell he also references Arthur C. Clarke with the line "Any smoothly functional technology will have the appearance of witchcraft." and Billy Batson (via his creator, Bill Parker,) with the single word "Shazam!" Anyway all will be "Hulk-inued" next week, That's what Marvel said!

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

John McCulloch from Glasgow offers his advise to letter writers, he says "whatever you feel at the time of writing, whether it is remorse or happiness, passes into the writing of the letter and is conveyed to the reader. Either the Bullpen or the buyers of Marvel." John thinks that it's not a waste of time writing in to Marvel even if your letter doesn't get printed. Stuart Clark from Humberside spotted a mistake in the Daredevil story from MWOM #109 it says, "Next. The Gloating of the Gladiator." But next week's title was "The Glory of the Gladiator." John Wallace from the Isle of Lewis wants Marvel to "pull their socks up," with the increasing price tag and the deteriorating quality. He's not happy with excuses like "the costs of materials have risen considerably". His suggestion to soften the blow would be to sacrifice a few pages for advertisements to help with the running costs. Jim McPhail RFO, QNS, KOF and FOOMer from Glasgow thinks the latest "Treasury Edition" is "really very good". Although the doubling the size of the original artwork can make it look messy. Jim is a 22 year old Marvelite who is the proud owner of over 2,000 American Marvel mags and all the British mags too. 

John Upton from Sussex opened his copy of MWOM #111 and found, instead of page three, another cover staring at him, he was delighted with this additional free bonus. Bernard Connors from Coventry looked at the artwork in the FF story from MWOM #113  where the Thing fought the Silver Surfer and called it brilliant, adding the Silver Surfer looks so life-like. Dale Hitch from Staffordshire has every British Weekly issue from number 1 and is selling than for the price of £2.00. He doesn't say if he means for the lot or £2.00 each. Micheal Coombes from Sussex  has an issue with the price increases. He accuses Marvel of making some "fancy profit." Then MWOM first came out it was only 5p. Then came SMCW also at 5p. Horror of horrors, they both went up to 7p each. He suggests that it's two comics for the price of three. Well not quite but I get what he means. 

Daredevil “None are so blind”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in Daredevil #31

Cover date August 1967

(Published in June 1967)

Mister Hyde had created a formula that was intended to make Daredevil blind, but as the man without fear was already sightless the formula effected his other super-senses, making him, like the plot of this story senseless. DD makes his way back to the offices of Murdock and Nelson where he changes into Mike Murdock and has to confess to Foggy that he's now blind. Wouldn't it have made more sense to become Matt Murdock who everyone knows is blind in the first place? Meanwhile Cobra and Mister Hyde are breaking into a warehouse. More "blind man's bluff" next week! 

The Fantastic Four “Doomsday”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #59

Cover date February 1967

(Published in November 1966)

Following their defeat at the hands of the cosmic powered Doctor Doom, Reed Richards provides information to the US Chief of Staff. Feeling dejected Reed is about to give up, but Ben purposely agitates him into having a fight. The ploy works sending Reed to work on a solution in his lab with fresh drive and determination. Meanwhile Russian military fighter jets attack Latveria but not before Doctor Doom can strike the jets with his fantastic new powers. Doom then visits the captive Silver Surfer to gloat over using the Surfer's powers as means to conquer the world.

Struggling to find a solution Reed is told by Sue and Ben that Wyatt is worried about Johnny. Reed contacts Wingfoot and learns that Johnny has been training with soldiers in order to prepare for another battle with Doctor Doom. Reed forbids the Torch from doing any more. Thankfully Wyatt convinces Johnny to follow orders. As they return to the Baxter Building, Wyatt is relieved to see Johnny focused on something other than the Inhumans and Crystal for once.

Speaking of the Inhumans the tale turns to the Great Refuge were Black Bolt has come to the only conclusion that in order to remove the Negative Barrier that imprisons his people from the outside world, he must use his deadly powerful vocal cords to shatter the barricade. He silently orders all his people to go to the shelters deep below the city. Maximus refuses to go with them and even though he is completely mad wishes to stand by his brother's side. Lee and Kirby are moving the chess pieces into place in this classic epic like no other comic creators could do, wether by design or creative fluke "Doomsday" became one of the greatest comic book stories of the 60's. We were lucky to see it in it's purest black and white form, even though it was split over two weeks this Fantastic Four finishes off this week's Mighty World of Marvel comic that is quickly hitting it's peak of quality. It might be Doomsday but it was happy days for British Marvel readers. "The decision!" is made next week!

Spider-man Comics Weekly #106

This John Romita Sr. cover was originally used on the Amazing Spider-man issue 84. The UK version was extended on the left and right edges to make it fit onto a British sized magazine format. I have to say I do prefer the more claustrophobic American version. 

Spider-man “After the Schemer!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr. and John Buscema

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #84

Cover date May 1970

(Published in February 1970)

The second part opening page uses the last two panels from page ten of last week's issue with the first panel from page eleven of the original US comic enlarged to fill the rest of the page. That original page comes next on page three of the SMCW comic and that missing first panel has been replaced by the sixth panel of page eight of the very same comic, only the Kingpin's second speech bubble from the enlarged panel has been cut and pasted in. It's a lot of work but it works well. Here's the pages and panels from both UK and US editions.

The Schemer uses his special car with its "ultrasonic circuit-breaker" to neutralise the Kingpin's mansion alarm system. He confronts the Kingpin directly but his intrusion hasn't gone completely unnoticed, the Kingpin's wife, Vanessa, tells her husband to stop as she has already lost her son, she doesn't want to see her husband transformed into a murderer. She implores the Schemer to run and get away while he still can, but something about the man's eyes makes her stop. The reason why it does she won't say. Just then Spider-man crashes in through the window. The Kingpin with all his range engages in fighting him, giving the Schemer time to leave, taking Vanessa away with him. Spidey manages to stop the Kingpin but once he's alerted to his crime rival's disappearance with his wife he escapes, with the abduction of his wife the most urgent matter on his mind. With no reward for the capture of the Schemer and only a few sore lumps from the Kingpin to show, Spider-man leaves pretty dejected.

The Web and the Hammer

Royon Duncan from London, or is it Rayon like the editor calls him in the reply? Either way he has been reading Marvel comics for over two years and even when words fail him he still describes the endings in the comics as "superbly constructed." He is trying to defend the comics to kids at his school, with lots of valid points he's made they have gradually started to accept. Stuart Pow from Kent is a proud collector of 542 Marvel mags and is a big fan of Thor and Luke Cage. Glenn Dakin from Hunts wants to see a Sci-Fi Fantasy hero who has powers similar to Shang-Chi, but with a few modern weapons. He describes the art in the Iron Man strip as "little scrappy." The next letter from "Friends" wants Marvel to asks Paul Crowe to send you plans of his web shooter. Julie Barrell from Essex wonders if she is the only girl who reads comics? All the girls in her school think she's mad to read MWOM, SMCW, the Avengers weekly and Dracula Lives. The editor replies that she isn't the only one, there are a good number of girl fans who love Marvel. David Downes from Warley also asks why doesn't Paul Crowe send his plan of his web-shooter? N. Drivers from Maidenhead like Royon/Rayon Duncan, doesn't have the words to describe how good the art is in Marvel comics, especially Johnny Romita's lifelike artistry. Philip Harrod from Middlesex with his friend Terry Jones is going to make a film about Marvel.

Micheal Corcoran KOF from Ireland says Tarzan is Lord of the Jungle not Ka-Zar, Marvel villains make themselves too invincible, he likes SMCW and MWOM, but would like Dr. Strange replaced by the Silver Surfer or the X-Men. Now that's an interestingly timed letter. Micheal would like to see colour pin-ups on the back pages, he doesn't want any shading in the black and white pin-ups though. Finally he adds the short stories at the back of SMCW are great but they could be replaced with the origins of the super-heroes. Ian Younger from Scarborough lets Spider-man know is favourite three heroes. Jaroslaw Martyszcuk from Derbyshire wanted a Dracula Lives annual to go with the three Marvel annuals to read on Christmas Day. A. Batterham from King's Lynn has no criticisms to make about Marvel comics, they are absolutely perfect, even if every letter writer complains about mistakes. Rob Tandy QNS, RFO from Bristol visited St. Ives in Cornwall and saw a shop called Silver Surf. Inside there is a huge picture of loving ol' Silver Surfer on the outside. K Yeddham from Kent writes in to say that no matter what he is told, the American mags just do not appear in his area. In the days of old, before British Marvel he used to get Sub-mariner, but supplies have stopped and, sad to say, in his own words, he "had to suffer the loss of your comics for 2-3 years."

Iron Man “If this guilt be mine..!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #74

Cover date  February 1966

(Published in November 1965)

Now I haven't been a big fan of mid 1960's Iron Man strips, but they've become so much more readable and compelling now that Gene Colan has taken over the artwork. In the original US comic the credits listed Adam Austin as the artist. This was because he was working for DC comics at the time. Colan worked for Timely Comics in 1946, two years later Timely released all but a skeleton crew, so Colan went to do freelance work for National Comics the predecessor to DC. When Colan started on Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner strips he used the pseudonym Adam Austin, as he was technically still working for DC Comics. Stan Lee persuaded him to come full-time with the lure of more money.

Iron Man had saved Happy Hogan, who had been quickly taken to the hospital, leaving Iron Man without enough power to move. A radio message from the Avenger, received by Pepper Potts, sends the girl rushing to his aid. Iron Man recharges and is told that the doctors who are treating Happy are going to use an experimental equipment on him called the "enervator", designed by Tony Stark. Iron man is worried that it hasn't been properly tested. The "enervator" instantly has a mutating effect on Happy altering his entire facial structure as well as increasing his physical strength while suppressing Happy Hogan's identity. The Freak, as he will become to be known as, rampages through the hospital, towards a power station. Iron Man vowing to stop his friend even though his power is running low. More next issue.

This one page pin-up is used to promote "coming attractions" in the Iron Man strip. However it features the Black Knight from last week's adventure. Maybe this pin-up should have been used a couple of week's ago. The artwork was from the cover of Tales of Suspense issue 73, cover dated January 1966, published October 1965, by Gene Colan (pencils,) and Jack Abel (inks,). The title of that story has been moved from the lower left-hand side to the right of Iron Man's name, where his co-star, Captain America's name would have appeared. I have to say that Gene Colan's artwork on the Iron Man strip and covers at the time are excellent. 

The Mighty Thor “The Wrecker goes wild!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #149

Cover date February 1968

(Published in November 1967)

The second part of this story opens with an enlarged third panel from last week's thirty-fifth page as the Wrecker goes wild! It loses some of the quality with the enlargement, especially when you compare it with the rest of the strip. Kirby and Colletta do give it the full on Asgardian/New York street brawler battling treatment that many readers have paid for.

It does lack the majesty of the Golden Realm but I think Jack Kirby just loves tearing down the slums of New York. Sif and Balder persist in convincing Odin that his son needs help even with only his mighty strength the mortal Wrecker is more than a match for the Thunder God. Odin's stance softens slightly, he does seek to see his first son punished, but never was his intent to see him slain. The three go to the Chamber of Visions but find the enchanted crystal gone. Without it there is no way to view Thor's battle on Earth. Judging that Loki is the culprit, Balder and Sif request that they may go to the Norn Forest in search of the evil one. It's quite a jump to presume that Loki has gone there. The Wrecker did tell Thor it was the Norn Queen who gifted him his powers after he had banished Sif and Balder back to Asgard, but hey, never let details spoil a good story. Odin grants their petition but will they succeed as the tide of battle is turning in favour of the Wrecker. Is all hope lost? Find out next week.

This inside back page features an in-house advert for Dracula Lives, telling readers "Don't dare miss this spine chiller." But the most interesting thing about this page is the form in the top right corner. Under the title of "Marvel Monthlies" it says that many readers have written in to tell them how pleased they are that they can now get a wide range of American Marvel titles. But there are still a few who cannot find the colour comics. So to help improve the distribution a handy coupon can be found at the bottom of this column that once filled in, can help the marketing men at Marvel pinpoint those distressed areas and allow them to improve the distribution. It seems simple just give the name of your local newsagents , you own name and address and the problem areas can be spotted. It probably worked too, more colour US mags did arrive but from what I remember they weren't regular, you could easily miss an issue. Also wasn't this counter productive, if people could afford and freely get those colour monthlies wouldn't that affect the weekly comics sales? Especially when the UK stories caught up with the American comics. May be, but I guess it was down to choice.

Avengers Weekly #75

Keith Pollard (pencils,) with Dan Adkins (inks,) created this Doctor Strange cover for this week's Avengers weekly. The headline reads "Don't miss the surprise guest-star in this issue!" and I think that said guest-star should have been used on this cover. The Gene Colan from Doctor Strange #178 wasn't as good as it could have been, but at least it featured the Black Knight with the good Doctor.

Iron Fist “The plan of Fu Manchu!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Frank McLaughlin

Inker: Crusty Bunkers

Originally published in The deadly hands of kung fu Special Album Edition #1

Cover date June 1974

(Published in June 1974)

Over the next few weeks a group of martial art heroes will share the opening kung fu spot in the Avengers weekly. They made up a story arc that was originally seen in the Curtis/Marvel magazine special The deadly hands of kung fu Special Album Edition #1. Three sets of writers and artists would each take a chapter in the epic, with Tony Isabella and John Buscema bookending the tale as editor/writer and artist respectively. Of course two of the kung fu super-stars would be known to regular Avengers readers, but the Sons of the Tiger would be new, so I'll talk more about them next week.

Chapter one starts with Iron Fist who is alerted to a cry for help. He finds a young man in an alley way, near deaths door, who informs Danny Rand that he was one of six newly arrived Chinese delegates who are due to attend the United Nations before they were attacked by a group of costumed assassins. The others have been kidnapped but before he can say more he dies. Iron Fist rises from the lifeless form as the silence is interrupted by the shadow of one of the assassins welding a giant hammer, calling himself Lightning Striker. Iron Fist destroys the sledgehammer sending the killer to flee, knocking over the begging cup from a blind man but also leading Iron Fist to the kidnappers.  
 

Lightning Striker is crushed by the assassin's leader, a sumo wrestler called Tsu-Gamo. Iron Fist fights the assassins and breaks into a room to find the Chinese delegates gone with only tied up dummies to be found and a fleeing helicopter. Iron Fist discovers a tin cup, much like the one the blind beggar used, with the simple two word message, "Thank You", written on a piece of paper was left inside of it. The author of the message had deemed the assassins expendable and thought nothing of sacrificing a dozen lives as a diversionary tactic while the kidnapped delegates were transported to another destination. Iron Fist sort answers but we'll have to wait a while longer to get them.

Avengers Readers Assemble

Howard T. M. Kenward RFO from Sussex wants to thank Marvel for the past eight years or so of entertainment! He has watched with great interest, the development of the American Marvel Comics, especially The Avengers and X-Men. Not really the place to comment on the American Marvels, but Howard wants to make a few comments on the British editions. He says the re-printed Avengers stories are good, but not quite true "vintage" Avengers yet (up to issue 58) but they have been a "Vision" of the future. Howard doesn't like Shang-Chi and Iron Fist he wants them both dropped. He consider that the editors have been swept up by the kung-fu craze. He does  congratulate Paul Gulacy on his stylish and beautiful art, and Doug Moench on the "plots/words". But adds that it's a pity two such talented gentlemen are "being wasted on a quick piece of cashing-in on Kung-Fu." Peter Clibbon from Oxford wants to buy a number of comics and is willing to pay five pence each for them. John Moran from Reading has 50 Marvel Comics but is curious about when the Hulk was an Avenger. Liam War from Tyne and Wear thinks that Shang-Chi is one of Marvel's best strips, he adds "the theme of fighting Fu Manchu is good, but perhaps we could have a bit of variety."

I. Povey from North Wales thinks that the mags are fantastic. He gets the Avengers, but when he can't get it he usually picks up MWOM or SMCW. Shang-Chi gets more exciting with every issue, but The Avengers without Captain America is not so good. P. D. Hunt from Northants is fed-up with all these people getting their titles so easily. He feels left out. He makes his pitch for earning a few of them. He has introduced a friend to the joy of Marvel and also has to travel as far away as Leicester just to get a missed issue. For that he earns a QNS for having his letter printed, a KOF for recruiting a friend and a RFO on the account of possessing all the issues of British Marvel. I have to take exception to that last one, he never said that he gets all three weeklies a week only that he has every issue of MWOM. Marvel Swap-Shop returns in the form of Marvel Comic Mart, in as much as readers can buy and sell comics. Different name same idea. 

The Avengers “This machine..This Monster!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in The Avengers #55

Cover date August 1968

(Published in June 1968)

The fifth and six panels Fromm last week's eleven page have been enlarged to form this week's opening page, re-capping that Jarvis wasn't the master-mind behind the defeat of the Avengers, but it was the robot, who will be later named Ultron, along. The mislead butler is beaten up by Ultron and taken outside to be disposed of by the Melter. 

The villain's curiosity about their robotic leader plays on his mind, and so gives Jarvis the opportunity to escape. Although the Melter gets off one shot that causes a wall to crash down on top of the butler. By strength of will Jarvis pulls himself up, weakly making his way towards the Avengers mansion to get help. Mere meters from the mansion the Black Knight meets him and after telling his tale of treachery, conscience and an H-bomb, the Knight sets off to mount a rescue. After tracking down the Master of Evil's futuristic airship the Black Knight uses his power lance to rip a hole in the aircraft's hull, allowing him to enter. While attacking the Masters of Evil he frees the Avengers to level up the numbers and increase their chances.

Together they defeat the Masters, only Ultron and Whirlwind escape, the rest are imprisoned. After the Black Knight tells his story and Jarvis admits that he only gave the Master the plans for the Avengers security system to earn money for his ill mother's expensive medical treatment and that he was sure that the Avengers would still beat them, the Avengers decide to give Jarvis a second chance. It does seem like they've gone easy on him, I'm not so sure I would have. However months later, Jarvis's full memory returns as he remembered that Ultron had hypnotised him into betraying the Avengers and he tells them so. So maybe everyone deserves having at least one second chance. The final panel of this strip shows Ultron talking like a mad robot, that although the Avengers have eluded him this time, next time they will all die by the hands of Ultron-5! The first time that name and number designation was used. We've not heard the last of it.

Doctor Strange “Behold the Black Knight!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange #178

Cover date March 1969

(Published in December 1968)

As I said earlier in this blog the cover of Doctor Strange issue 178 wasn't a brilliant piece of art, so I'm glad it wasn't used on the front of this British edition. It is used here as the opening page of this story's first part. Why wasn't the original opening first page used here instead? I hear you ask, well the answer can be found next week. This week we also get a new title "Behold the Black Knight!" which sees the good knight's return right away after a pretty cool cameo in the Avengers strip over the last four weeks. Where's the original title "...With one beside him!" you again ask? The answer also lies next week. 

This tale starts with Doctor Strange and the Ancient One pondering the events that have happened over the last four weeks, comic time, probably less than a day Marvel time. Having learned that Asmodeus, really Stephen's old medical colleague Charles Benton, had completed the spell of Fire and Ice, before he had suffered a lethal heart-attack. Their only hope to counter the spell lies with the remaining members of the Sons of Satannish, who Asmodeus banished to the realm of Tiboro. Strange had previously fought Tiboro way back in Avengers weekly #17. Doctor Strange travels to England to recruit aid from his friend Victoria Bentley. Victoria is hosting a fancy dress party at her home, "Bentley's Castle". Dane Whitman, who has only just returned from America, comes dressed in his Black Knight uniform. 

Strange casts a spell that vanishes the revellers so that he might talk freely with Victoria. However with this action the Knight thinking he is under attack defends himself. Strange uses a spell to stop him but sensing that the sword is magical  he decides that the Knight would be better suited for this mission and so recruits him to travel to Tiboro's realm. Strange informs Victoria that her guests will soon return. The Black Knight calls his winged stallion to him and the duo set of into the Sixth Dimension. This period of Doctor Strange is prime Roy Thomas and Gene Colan, with the third strip of four, in this week's batch of mags, Colan's artwork gets better and better. Much thanks to the inks of Tom Palmer. One of Marvel's best inkers. This week's instalment, like last week's ends with the promise of "...With one beside him!" I'll be beside them both next week for more magical action in the mighty Marvel manner.

Dracula Lives #18

This is one of those covers that people disagree on who drew it. The Grand Comics Database lists John Romita Sr. as the artist, however when you use GCD to look up Tomb of Dracula issue 9 it agrees with Marvel.Fandom.com who list the penciler as Gil Kane. I have to go with my gut feeling and say it's more likely a Gil Kane cover. One thing they all agree on is Tom Palmer inked this artwork. Whether its Romita or Kane, there's one thing for sure is it's a horribly good cover and that makes it my Cover of the Week.

Dracula “Death from the sea!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #9

Cover date June 1973

(Published in March 1973)

In a fog filled sea-side town a fisherman catches more than he bargained when his fishing line hooks an unconscious Dracula. The fisherman, Josh, alerts the locals who take the body to a near by church thinking that the stranger was dead. These events followed Dracula's main story from Dracula Lives #16, after his fight with Heinrich Mortte who had died thwarting the Lord of the Vampire's plans to rise an army of the undead. 

The locals, Josh, Dave, Andrea and Father William leave the presumed dead body in the church chamber room, while they alert the authorities. When Dracula awakes to find himself in a room with a crucifix on the wall he transforms into a bat to escape. But the doors are locked. The noise bring Father William to investigate with Dave and Andrea.

Dracula's condition is said to be caused by a weaken state due to Quincy Harker's poisoned dart, that required a full blood transfusion and I can only presume the battle with Mortte had taken more out of Dracula than he admitted. There may be another reason for Dracula's weakness that we'll only discover in later tales. Dracula recalls to himself that after his fight with Mortte he attempts to feast on a young couple, but was too weak to follow it through. After an encounter with a biker gang who had beaten him up, he had fallen from the pier, where Josh had discovered him, in a weaken state. When asked he names himself as Mister Drake. This little town is named Littlepool and I imagine it was intended to be somewhere not far from London. In reality that town doesn't exist, when I first read this story many years ago I assumed that Marv Wolfman had intended it to be Liverpool, even though that city is considerably far from London and it would make the distances in the plot seem ridiculous and the editors had to change it, but you know Americans they think that England is no bigger than New York State. But after some research I found the name to have been just made up. Dracula befriends Dave while his strength recovers. He discovers that the lad had quarrelled with his girlfriend, Andrea, after telling her he wished to leave the small town. The tale continues next week.

Monster of the Movies

No.2 The Frankenstein Monster

By Denis Gilford

"It's alive, it's alive!" This week the monster of the movies takes a look at the cinematic appearances of Frankenstein's Monster, starting with his classic appearance back in 1931, Gilford sets the scene by describing thus, "When the Monster came looming out of the shadows, his face and form exposed on the screen, the cold clay grey flesh, the thin cruel twist of the black line lips, the stitched and scarred brow, the hooded and dead eyes, the strange electrodes in the neck that stuck out like some awful bolt." He goes onto retell the inspiration for this movie classic "came from a teenage girl! She was Mary, the daughter of William Godwin, who had written many mysteries in his day. Mary married the poet. Percy Bysshe Shelley, and while they were spending a holiday in Switzerland in 1816 she tried her hand at writing a ghost story of her own. The result was published as Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. The first great science fiction novel." There were in 1910 Charles Ogle took the part of the Monster in a fifteen minute silent movie, in 1915 Percy Darrell Standing starred as the Monster in Life Without Soul, both films lost over time. It was Jack P. Pierce's iconic make-up that set Boris Karloff as the standard that Lon Chaney Jr, Glen Strange, even Christopher Lee would have to follow.

Werewolf by Night “Game of doom!”

Writer:Gerry Conway

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Frank Bolle

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #4

Cover date March 1973

(Published in December 1972)

The opening page of this story's second part uses the cover artwork from Werewolf by Night #4 by Mike Ploog. Joshua Kane continues his hunt for the Werewolf as told in flashback he had captured Jack Russell and released him in an old movie set backlot just before nightfall, knowing that he would transform into the Werewolf again with the rising of the full moon. I feel this story is just going through the motions without having to develop any interesting plots or ideas. But in a way it certainly has a readable quality. 

Kane still holds Jack's sister Lissa hostage to ensure that Jack cooperates. With the full moon the transformation occurs and the hunt begins. It must have gone on all night as the pair tussle and fight in different areas of the set. At some points Jack asserts some slim form of control over the Werewolf especially when it comes to remembering his sister. Kane follows the Werewolf into one building towards the end of the story, where the beast rounds on him in the darkness, no matter how many times he shoots it keeps coming forward. In fear Kane has a stroke and dies. The object of his fear was an old movie prop stuffed bear that a now human Jack had pushed towards him as the sun had risen some fifteen minutes earlier.

“I was locked in a...haunted house!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Joe Maneely

Inker: Joe Maneely

Originally published in Uncanny Tales #7

Cover date April 1953

(Published in January 1953)

This little horror tale came from a time when Marvel was known as Atlas Comics, even though it is set in the early 1950's it starts when a group of boys discussed their latest issues of the Mighty World of Marvel, Spidey and Dracula Lives. Lennie, the new kid in the group jokes that they read some weird stories. When he admits that he doesn't believe in the supernatural the gang dare him to spend a night in the local haunted house, Murdock Mansion, between the hours of midnight and one in the morning. There he meets Hank, the night watchman. After having a chat Lennie leaves. Later he meets the gang who were impressed he stayed, especially when they tell him the mansion was torn down in 1906 and it only appears between midnight and one AM. Hank Murdock had owned the mansion fifty years ago, two years before he died. 

Frankenstein’s Monster “The last Frankenstein!”

 

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Frank Giacoia and Mike Esposito 

Originally published in The Monster of Frankenstein #10

Cover date May 1973

(Published in February 1973)

Minutes before last week ending the Monster caresses Carmen's dead body, when suddenly, Vincent Frankenstein, the "last Frankenstein" enters the cave, surprising the Monster. His moment for revenge has arrived and he attacks. Vincent Frankenstein calls his servant, Ivan, to defend his master. A giant of a man he grabs the Monster in a brutal bear hug, driving the creature to the ground, subduing the Monster, 

Vincent Frankenstein examines his Uncle's creation, but the Monster was only playing possum and he grabs Frankenstein by the throat, Ivan attacks again, wrestling the creature out of the cave and towards the cliff edge. The Monster falls, but manages to grab hold of an outcrop of rock. Frankenstein orders Ivan to help him up as the Monster is no use to him dead. He plans to continue his great uncle's scientific experiments. Ivan obeys and pulls the Monster to safety. Frankenstein calms the Monster down by telling him that he may be able to transplant his brain into a normal human body. This sedates him, but before he will go with him they must bury Carmen's body. In a touching moment the Frankenstein's creation lays a flower on the grave as a gesture of love. His story continues next week.

Planet of the Apes #18

Ron Wilson's second British cover this week and another one that I have to give lots of credit for. The humans and apes are well drawn, the scene is dramatic and it's got a "Ron Wilson fourth wall look" by the ape in the bottom right corner. I really like that. The inks were by Frank Giacoia. I do have to wonder why they didn't just use the painted cover from the Curtis/Marvel Magazine Planet of the Apes #4, by Bob Larkin, that this Ron Wilson cover is roughly based on. Maybe they would have to pay Larkin extra for its use on the UK edition. 

This photo featured on the inside cover of this week's Planet of the Apes shows a gorilla on horseback. After a short Google search I've come to the conclusion that it is from the Planet of the Apes TV series and is Urko as played by Mark Lenard. It's possibly from the episode "The Cure", although I can't be 100% sure. 

Planet of the Apes “A riverboat named Simian”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Don Heck, Ed Hannigan, Frank Chiaramonte and Duffy Vohland

Originally published in Planet of the Apes #4

Cover date January 1975

(Published in November 1974)

Having escaped in an Inheritors sky craft Jason and Alexander are faced with a fresh problem, their fellow escapee Warko, the first lieutenant in Brutus' gorilla renegade terrorists group, has taken the Lawgiver as hostage and demands they fly the futuristic craft back to Brutus' encampment. A struggle in the cockpit causes the craft to crash.

All four survive, but the aggressive Warko remains unconscious. Jason threatens to kill him out of rage but the Lawgiver tells him to not let hatred blind him to mercy. He judges that Warko was wrong in threatening to kill him and Jason is equally wrong if he allows his emotions to do the same to the gorilla. The three leave Warko and set off back home, avoiding deadly beasts on the way. Meanwhile Brutus, with a small guard arrives at the cave of the Inheritors. It becomes obvious that the gorilla has been working with the strange mutants to gain control of the ape/human city. At this point in their plan Brutus requests that he is given some of the Inheritors "War Machines" and a group of Mutant Drones immediately so that he can quickly capture the escaped Lawgiver who could spoil all their carefully laid plans. Terror on the Planet of the Apes is an epic tale, that is by no means going to be over in a few weeks, but the final panel in this first half story hints that the long awaited conclusion to it will be next week. But I suggest that it's merely going to take a break while the US editions allow the story to get ahead. But what will the UK edition print instead? Well wait and see. 

Ape Forum

Shirley from Croydon buys four mags a week, recruited a new Marvelite and is hoping that this letter gets printed. Stephen Hynard from Essex went on holiday to Germany and found some German versions of Marvel mags. The titles were "Dic Fantastischen View", which starred The Fantastic Four and Daredevil: "Die Spinne" which starred Spider-man and the Sub-Mariner; and "Der Thor" which starred Thor and the Silver Surfer. All the mags were in colour, but the price was Dm. 40 each, which is roughly 30p. Regular letter writer Jim Ivers FFF from Dublin is greatly shocked after reading N. McIntyre's letter from Dracula Lives #11 in which he described Doug Moench's approach to writing the Planet of the Apes as "not his usual style as the characterisation was greatly diminished emphasis upon verbal articulation." Jim says "Rubbish." He adds "as a student of comic book writing, Doug does not possess a style of writing, but rather a scope of style. Doug can write stories with varied viewpoints and angles. Study his laboriously-detailed Schreck series, his intricate plotting in "I am Dead, Egypt, dead" to his technique in Planet of the Apes" He goes on to says of Moench "that he found he needed a fast moving story, clear-cut occurrences and a broad, level plane to fit into his script, perfectly-balanced, never under-played or over-played." Jim Ivers's letters are always good to read. Martin Forrest from the West Midlands found FOOM issue 7 to be a great read even though it was a month late, especially the interview with Jarvis. Jonathan Pyper from Hempstead says that Marvel has improved since they started up in Britain. He thinks that the Planet of the Apes story is fantastic, only rivalled by a certain web-slinger.

“Farewell to the Master!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Ross Andru

Inker: Wayne Howard

Originally published in Worlds Unknown #3

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

This story has been adapted from the 1940 Harry Bates' short story "Farewell to the Master!" which many will recognise as the story that inspired the 1951 science fiction movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" or the 2008 remake of the same name starring Keanu Reeves as Klaatu. This comic strip version is more firmly based on the original story version than either movies. Although the "Terror" strip is improving this adaptation is the best part of this week's comic.

From the viewpoint of Cliff Sutherland and Ann O'Hara, freelance reporters, we are told of a mysterious ship that suddenly lands in Washington, D.C. "Visitors from the Unknown" emerge: a "god-like" humanoid and an eight foot tall robot. The man speaks, "I am Klaatu and this is Gnut" before he is shot and killed by a lunatic. Klaatu is laid to rest in a glass coffin nearby. In the days that follow, Gnut remains motionless. Both it and the ship are examined and investigated by scientists. Sutherland and O'Hara discovers that the robot has move from its resting position. By hiding in the museum at night the pair discover that while no one is watching Gnut goes into the ship, only to emerge later to resume its position for the day. 

That night the reporters discover a gorilla escaping from the ship, it attacks them, but Gnut saves them. The robot has been creating forms of life like a mockingbird, the gorilla and a copy of the museums curator, Bill Stillwell. The journalist alert the authorities who encase Gnut in "glasstex". The next night Gnut melts its way out of its prison, unaffected by the army's attempts to stop it, it travels to the mausoleum that contains Klaatu's corpse. It opens the tomb and takes a recording of Klaatu's voice that was stored there. It then returns and goes inside the ship. 

The journalists follow it onboard the ship before the entrance closes. They learn that the robot is working on a way to create a copy of Klaatu from an audio recording of his greeting. However, the new Klaatu is flawed, because of imperfection in the recording and he dies. Sutherland then suggests retrieving the original recording that has no imperfections. Gnut speaks for the first time, commanding Sutherland to get it for him. He does, making the robot promise to tell Klaatu that his death was a terrible accident. Gunt replies "I have known it." the reporter presses him to tell his master, to which Gnut replies, "You misunderstand, I am the master." The ship glows then disappears. It's a cracking tale, not quite the film version that I adored as a child, when ever it was shown on one of those BBC2 sci-fi movie nights, but one that makes me appreciate the original short story more.

I've saved this short message from the editors of the British Marvel mags till last, even though it had appeared on page twenty-seven of Dracula Lives and twenty-eight of POTA as it makes a great ending point. For months and months before British Marvel launched their fourth and fifth titles readers demanded the Silver Surfer, the X-Men and Conan the barbarian in either the existing comics or new mags. When Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes hit the newsstands many readers were disappointed and pressed for these three strips. Well it looks like their letters weren't in vain as this panel can tell you, they're coming! More news on that next week, which will mean more work for me. So I better get cracking on with that blog. So till them...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.