The Magnificent Seven!

 Week Ending 8th March 1975

1975 was a great time to be a Marvel fan. This week's title could only be "The Magnificent Seven!" As you can see with the promo picture this week there's a comic for everyone. If you like Marvel's biggest hitters there's the Mighty World of Marvel, if you like super-hero action you've got Spider-man Comics Weekly. For kung fu, magic and Earth's mightiest heroes you'll get a kick out of the Avengers weekly. If your thing is horror Dracula Lives is the one for you. A sci-fi fan? Pick up the Planet of the Apes. Cosmic adventure and mutant mayhem is what you get with the Super-Heroes and if you swing towards sword and sorcery then the Savage Sword of Conan is straight to the top of your must read list. You certainly needed to be clever with your pocket money as buying all seven weeklies would cost you fifty-six pence, as the Mighty World of Marvel, Spider-man Comics Weekly and Avengers weekly had a sneaky price increase from seven pence to eight pence with week ending 22rd February 1975. 

Now with two extra weeklies to review there's four extra strips to pick apart and seven covers to mull over which one will be my Cover of the Week, so with all that I'll have to spend more time on the blog, which as much as I would love that, I haven't got limitless time to do so, especially if I want to read great comics, watch cool movies and TV shows, support my footie team, eat food to survive, go to work (well I would give that up but someone's got to pay the bills,) and sleep too. So things might change slightly as I go. But there'll be the same interesting facts, the same balanced opinions, the same stuff and nonsense that comes from the Beesting hive and hopefully not too many mistakes. As ever I look forward to any comments and mistake spotting through the blog or on any of the multi-media platforms that I post this blog on. Anyway enough of all that stuff and nonsense I've got seven magnificent mags to read!

The Mighty World of Marvel #127

I like this dynamic Ron Wilson (pencils,) and Frank Giacoia (inks,) original UK cover. it's an effective design that matches up this week's Hulk story fairly well. But with seven covers this week I'm afraid its chances of winning my Cover of the Week award is going to be shot down.

The Incredible Hulk “But tomorrow..the sun shall die!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin and Chris Claremont (plot)

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #148

Cover date February 1972

(Published in November 1971)

This story actually comes after MWOM #122. and you can see why the past four issues jumped back in US continuity to bring the Hulk and the Avengers adventures where they fought Psyklop to British readers, who with this story would need the context of Jarella and her world. In the US Hulk comic Archie Goodwin replaced Gerry Conway, who had replaced Len Wien, who had in fact just replaced Roy Thomas as writer. For British readers it had seemed that Archie had replaced Roy. Another Marvel legendary writer also had a major hand in this story, the young Chris Claremont was credited for his assist in the plot. He would go on to offer an important part of the plot for the Avengers #102, cover dated August 1972, published May 1972. His first full writing credit came with Daredevil #102, cover dated August 1973, published May 1973. His career goes on to incredible levels from there. It just shows if you work hard and show keenness you get there in the end.

This story contains the first appearance of Doctor Peter Corbeau, the physicist, noble prize winner and creator of Starcore One. Although Goodwin and Trimpe were responsible for the characters' creation Claremont would make great use of him in later X-Men stories. Corbreau was an old colleague of Bruce Banner and had come up with a plan that by using his designed "Laser-Beam Transviewer" to direct the power of the sun to neutralise the gamma radiation in the Hulk's body. But first the US army has to capture the Hulk. To do this the "Hulkbuster" force fly two set of search and strike jet teams after him. The first set fly pass at sub sonic speeds that knock the emerald brute off his feet, while the second fire newly developed tranquilliser bombs at him. This page has a slight text edit to match up with British Marvel continuity from last week's issue. I just love how Herb Trimpe lays out this page with three wide panels that move closer to the action as you read along. Classic!

 The mission is successful and the experiment works, curing Banner once again, but like so many times before how long will that last? The other side of this story sees Jarella, the Hulk's and to a point Banner's true love. Since her husband to be, the Hulk, was kidnapped from her realm things have started to go worse. Her exiled  cousin, Visis, has mounted a rebellion against her, necessitating the need for her to become a warrior queen. Jarella seeks the aid of her chief sorcerer, Torla, to help her bring back her love. Torla gathers the Pantheon of Sorcerers who through mystic means sends Jarella to find the Hulk in our dimension. Visis, who himself has become quite a sorcerer witnesses those events and sends his deadly assassin, Fialan, to intercept her before she can locate the Hulk. Back on our world Peter Corbeau has detected strange reactions to the energy levels of the sun ever since they transferred some of its solar energy to cure the Hulk. Find out how this one ends next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Raymond Brooking KOF from Devon wants his letter printing because he wants to swap four issues of the old Power comic Fantastic. Edward Johnson from Middlesex has placed a regular order for the Mighty World of Marvel ever since he first read the first issue. Paul Saxton from Portsmouth writes all about Conan the Barbarian's creator Robert E Howard, who was born in Peaster, Texas, lived in the Crass Plains in the centre of Texas and through his short life he wrote many short stories, including fiction, sport, detective, western, historical. science fiction, ghost and fantasy stories. Sadly at the age of thirty he committed suicide in 1936. Paul also writes about Howard's greatest hero, Conan. Born on a Cimmerian battlefield, 12,000 years ago during the imaginary Hyborian age. As he grew older he resembled his father in physique, who was a massive blacksmith. Soon Conan took to the wild, roving life of a barbarian. With his skill with all weapons and his agile body he carved out a name for himself throughout the land. He became a living legend. He would fight man, beast or demon to gain a prize of a pretty wench or a fantastic treasure. Later we'll see the black maned barbarian in all his glory in the pages of The Savage Sword of Conan. Stephen McGonagle, QNS, RFO, KOF from Dunbartonshire thinks that the weeklies have boosted Marvel comics in Britain to thousands of fans. Dracula writes in saying that he his very pleased to here that the UK's Dracula Lives mags has joined the line of "American books" about him, like Dracula Lives, Tomb of Dracula and Vampire Tales. 

Steven Rudland from Newcastle noticed a letter in an American X-Men comic that asked for "more colour" in their comics! Steven writes "More colour!" I ask You! Just send him over to Britain and see if he changes his mind." Trevor Jones from Aberystwyth is fed up with reading letters from people who claim No-Prizes for spotting little mistakes. He writes that No-Prizes should only be given to people who do a real service to Marvel and really earn it. Gary Allen from Milford Haven can't find models of Superheroes. David Knight from Taunton offers his opinion on Marvel's kung fu heroes. Shang-Chi's stories are new, up-to-date and well-drawn but they are clogged up with legends. While Iron Fist is a completely new and original idea. Also the characters seem more real than in Shang-Chi. 

The second half of this letter page is given to advertise comic fanzines that offer the whys and wherefores of comic production, who produces what and where, and how successful they are at it too! Whether they contain listings for your favourite hulking heroes or myriads of magnificent monsters. The titles promoted were Starzine at 20p, Comic Media at 20p, Fantasy Domain at 8p and Fantasy Advertiser at 20p, that was edited by future Marvel UK editor Dez Skinn.

Daredevil “...To fight the impossible fight!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in Daredevil #32

Cover date September 1967

(Published in July 1967)

Daredevil, who has been literally blinded by Mister Hydes strange potion that stole the man without fear's super-senses is taken unaware by the Cobra and with crime partner Hyde is taken to a lighthouse where the duo plan to destroy Daredevil. Foggy Nelson alerts the police to the abduction but they find it hard to believe his story about a blind super-hero, much like I'm finding it hard to believe the credibility of this tale. Gene Colan's normally fabulous artwork doesn't help as its quality has dropped slightly. Possibly because of John Tartaglione's inks. I'm hoping this blip in this strip will pass. Believe it or not, I do have a soft spot for old DD.

The Fantastic Four “The peril and the power!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #60

Cover date March 1967

(Published in December 1966)

The Fantastic Four story was only created six months before the Daredevil strip but its sophistication and visualisation is years a head of it. Obviously Jack Kirby's creative presence was the main driving force behind that and Stan Lee would have his favourites strips that he cared for more than others. It's no surprise that he stayed writing the Fantastic Four and Spider-man the longest. Via their satellite TV the Fantastic Four witnesses Doctor Doom continuing to display his newly stolen cosmic power. The Thing becomes impatient with waiting for Reed's plan to come to fruition. He wants to leave to fight Doom alone but he's stopped by Mister Fantastic. 

Wyatt Wingfoot enters, warning them that Johnny has rushed off to fight Doom alone. The Torch catches up with Doctor Doom and attacks him with all his might. Doom is able to deflect Johnny's attacks with his cosmic power, blasting the youthful hero away in a whirlwind. Meanwhile in Latveria, the weakened Silver Surfer is found by one of Doctor Doom's guards as he struggles to break free from his cell. The guard starts beating the fallen alien for his own amusement.

The Fantastic Four fly off to their teammates aid in a new ship provided by the Black Panther. They soon locate the dictator with help from the Panther's "Opti-scope" but the cosmically charged villain animates a tree that crushes their ship. Reed, Sue and Ben escape in time, but Doom is coming to attack. He focuses on the Thing, to get revenge for crushing his hands during a previous encounter, as seen in MWOM #85. Ben is no match for the new cosmically powered Doctor Doom, but he still continues to fight. It's certainly "Clobberin' time" next week.

This is the first time readers of the Mighty World of Marvel get any kind of notification about British Marvel's two new great weeklies. Which is a surprise when you think that Fantastic Four fans would have been reading their adventures for some time and they were probably the ones who demanded the Silver Surfers own strip the loudest. The Surfer's current appearance would also match up with the release of him heading a new weekly. I wonder how many fan saw this page and rushed straight out to pick up a copy, if they hadn't already seen it on the newsstands. Getting subscriptions or comics delivered is fine but there's something wonderful about walking into a newsagent to discover what's new.   

Spider-man Comics Weekly #108

This is pretty much the same as the original John Romita Sr. cover from the Amazing Spider-man #85, but Vanessa Fisk is removed from the back ground to make space for the "Comics Weekly" part of the logo. Still an amazing design.

Spider-man “The secret of the Schemer!”

 

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Romita Sr. and John Buscema

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #85

Cover date June 1970

(Published in March 1970)

The fifth panel from page eleven of last week's issue is enlarged to make this week's second part opening splash page, with a new title, a instant recap text box and a list of credits added. Gwen and George Stacy return to Parker's apartment to find it empty. Was Peter kidnapped or did he go willingly with Spider-Man they wonder? Captain Stacy calls the local police station to see if anything can be done.

Spider-man captures the Schemer, turning him over to the address where the wanted poster said he could collect his reward. Spider-Man soon finds the "police" there aren't real, but henchmen of the Kingpin and the address is really a property owned by the Kingpin himself. The crime lord traps Spider-man in a steel net and he battles the Schemer. Easily overpowering the pretender to his throne, the Kingpin demands to know who he is. The Schemer reveals himself to be the Kingpin's own son.

While studying in Switzerland Richard Fisk discovered through a newspaper headline that his father was the Kingpin of crime and that the image of his father as a good upstanding citizen had all been lies. Despondent and full of shame Richard had faked his own death and started to plan a scheme to cripple his father's criminal empire. Confronted with his son's hatred of him and yet still unwilling to accept the fact that he's still alive, the Kingpin has a nervous breakdown that sends him into a catatonic state. Spider-Man breaks free of his net, seeing the Kingpin's family in turmoil he decides that there is nothing else for him to do and leaves. Briefly Richard Fisk would join Hydra, rising to the rank of Supreme Hydra at the Nevada faction in the hope of finding a cure his father. Later still Richard would return as the mysterious Rose to thwart his father again, which many British Marvelites may recall in different Marvel UK comics like Spider-man and Zoids, in 1986, the Complete Spider-man, from 1990-92 and the Exploits of Spider-man from 1992-95. There's far too many individual tales to list so I won't. It's really cool that a plot idea returned and continued for over thirty-five years, possibly longer.

The Web and the Hammer

Eamonn Kiernan RFO, KOF from Belfast thinks the Spidey and Avengers annuals were "fantastic". Graham Hill from Birmingham thinks that the weeklies are great and has come up with some marketing ideas. D Kelly RFO from Coventry wants to know how other people can be Spidey's number one fan if he already is? An unnamed writer is pretty angry with the lack of American comics around the Chatham area. Geoffrey Mason from Sheffield was pleased to see Stan Lee on Pebble Mill at One and he completely agrees with what he said. Derek L'amy from Birmingham is missing issue 42 of the Mighty World of Marvel. He congratulates Marvel on the super "Holiday Grab-bag edition." He liked the Human Torch and Spidey story the best and will be looking forward to more of them.

Rick Cattily from London offers his "Comic Report No.1" on SMCW #96. He seems to like "The Night of the Prowler" but he believes it looks like it was drawn in a hurry. As for "Abandoned on Earth" the art by Jolly Jack Kirby was fab and great, but the Errol Flynn type speech was a bit overdone. Jayson Lowery from Northumberland gives his views on the strips from all the weeklies by giving each story a percentage, with Spider-man getting a full 100%. Frankenstein's Monster is only given a poor 37%. 

Iron Man “Here lies hidden..the unspeakable Ultimo!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #76

Cover date April 1966

(Published in January 1966)

Last week's cliffhanger ends pretty quickly as the "Enervation Intensifier" works just in time to reverse the transformation of Happy Hogan into the Freak. Happy recovers to his normal physical state but with amnesia he faints, allowing Stark time to remove his energy heated armour. All that is left to deal with is  Senator Byrd. Stark and Byrd are escorted away in a police car  zapped by a pursuant energy burst that dematerialises the moving vehicle for an instant. 

The vehicle is returned, but Tony Stark is no longer inside it, as he has been transported through a time/space continuum to the lair of the Mandarin. The Mandarin himself seems a bit surprised as he was expecting to have kidnapped Iron Man not Tony Stark. The evil genius however contents himself that Iron Man's employer and the West's foremost arms inventor is there to see his latest plot to conquer the world by unleashing his latest creation, a creature he calls Ultimo upon the world. Suspicious of Stark's briefcase the Mandarin hurls it out of the castle's window into the murky depths of the moat below. Again Gene Colan's Artwork seems to have dipped in quality, but hopefully the better heights will return soon.  

This advert offers British Marvel readers the chance to buy nineteen American Marvel mags, which include "Conan",

"Where Monsters Dwell", "Fantastic Four", "X-Men" and Daredevil", for the price of £1.52 per month, that's 8p each. Also free with every order of January's mags is a special Comic Collectors magazine called "Zephyr", which is all about American Comics and features adverts from fellow collectors, and articles on 1950's mags. Zephyr Distribution was based in Wallasey in Merseyside.

Also on Merseyside news of the return of the Liverpool Mart, with two more planned. Zephyr Records would host that event on the 14th June at Bluecoat Chambers. Entry was free! 

The Mighty Thor “Even in death...”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #150

Cover date March 1968

(Published in January 1968)

The second part of this adventure uses the cover from the Mighty Thor issue 150 as the opening splash page. Hela wishes to claim Thor's soul, but the Thunder God's spirit in his astral form demands that he be allowed to fight on. Witnessing the Wrecker in a showdown with the police, Thor foolishly tries to stop the villain but his immaterial form is unable to even touch his foe.

While back in Asgard, Balder continues his quest, facing Karnilla's  barbarians who knock him out with sleeping herbs. Karnilla is cruelly forcing her prisoner, Sif watch Balder's defeat. The Norn Queen continues the cruel jest by showing her Thor's fate. Karnilla offers her "aid" by bringing forth the Destroyer armour and propositions her that if her  soul was to enter the device to give it life she could save her beloved. After doing so, Karnilla transports the Destroyer armour to Earth once more. This plays into both Karnilla and Loki's hands as they know that the Destroyer's predisposition to destroy any Gods would force Sif to attack her lover once the threat of the Wrecker had been dealt with. On Earth, Thor's spirit form join his mortal body to find that he has regained some of his strength, awakening just in time to witness the arrival of the Destroyer. The Destroyer easily destroys the Wrecker's crowbar and blasts the foe into unconsciousness before turning its attention towards Thor, who is unaware that Sif's soul is trapped in the armour, Thor rushes forwards knowing that the Destroyer will kill all before it, then Thor rushes on to his own death if need be. More of the magnificent Lee/Kirby classic next week.

Avengers Weekly #77

Arvell Jones drew this cover with the inks supplied by regular cover inkers Frank Giacoia and Mike Esposito. I can't say that I'm that excited about this one, I think the idea was a good one but the execution doesn't quite work. It does feel like it should have been the Avengers turn to star on the cover this week. Surely the cover that will feature on the front of Avengers weekly issue 79 would have been perfect for this issue. I'll discuss its merits in just two week's time.

Master of Kung Fu “Chapter three: The hands of Shang-Chi”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Mike Vosburg

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu Special Album Edition #1

Cover date June 1974

(Published in June 1974)

Chapter three of this kung fu epic sees Shang-Chi involvement. The master of kung fu has read of the kidnapped Chinese and American UN delegates and wonders is his father, the evil Fu Manchu, involved in it in anyway? Near Fu Manchu's New York headquarters Shang-Chi meet the blind beggar who has kept appearing over the last two weeks, he asks for a spare dime, the young China man apologises as he has no money. 

Suddenly two cars leave Fu Manchu's headquarters, Shang-Chi hitches a ride and discovers the kidnapped delegates. They are taken to a sub-marine that ferries them to a ship resting 5 miles off-shore. Shang-Chi who had stowed aways slips out of the sub's torpedo tube to the awaiting ship. There he takes on Fu Manchu's Si-Fan assassins.  

Denis Nayland Smith and Black Jack Tarr arrive in a small boat, which Fu Manchu orders destroyed, but Shang-Chi has already defused the sub's torpedos. Shang-Chi's father makes his escape in his helicopter. Smith and Tarr escort the delegates on to their boat just in time before Fu Manchu detonates a bomb, blowing up his own ship and any remaining Si-Fan warriors. At least the delegates are safe and Fu Manchu's plan to start a war between America and China was foiled. Once on shore Shang-Chi discovers the blind beggar's glasses and clothing left on the dock with a note in his beggar's cup that reads "I am sorry you have no money son, but I thank you anyway." Signed Fu Manchu. Shang-Chi is left angry that his father had demonstrated that even his son may be blind to his plans. 

 

In an epilogue written by Tony Isabella and drawn by John Buscema we get to see the reactions to the rescued UN delegates, first from Iron Fist and later from the Sons of the Tiger. Iron Fist is pleased that there is some justice in the world and puts his recent defeat behind him. While the Sons are left philosophising over the mystery men who came from left-field to save the delegates and how they blew their chance of stopping the kidnapping of the American delegates in the first place. Will we see more of the Son's? Possibly not, which is a shame, but we'll certainly be seeing more of Iron Fist and returning next week Shang-Chi too. 

Avengers Unite!

Steven Eddleston from Blackburn wants to know when the Swap Shop will be returning, could the Avengers weekly have some colour pages and better distribution for the America mags. Jayson Lowery ROF from Northumberland points out that "LAZER" is spelt wrong in Avengers weekly #34. Steven Hogan from Surrey thinks that he couldn't live without MWOM, SMCW and Avengers weekly. John Carnoll from Coventry wants to speed up the return of Shang-Chi as he believes that the Master of kung fu manuscripts were priceless. Craig McTaggart from Hertfordshire isn't that pleased with the Avengers weekly as he calls it trash. He describes Doctor Strange as boring, the Avengers are not too bad and as for Shang-Chi, he may be good at Kung-Fu but he could not overpower any other super-hero.

The Avengers “The yesterday doom!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in The Avengers #56

Cover date September 1968

(Published in July 1968)

This second part opens with a new page made up from the second panel from page thirty-three from last week's issue and panel four from page thirty-five from the same comic. The new UK title "The yesterday doom!" fits the plot perfectly. After traveling back in time to witness the final events before Captain America's World War Two partner, Bucky, dies. The phantom like Avengers watch helplessly as Baron Zemo with a Humanoid beat the two heroes and strapped to a drone bomb.

Meanwhile in the present the Wasp falls asleep, fatefully pushing one of the Time Platform buttons, causing the Avengers to materialise in the past in solid form. They battle Zemo and the Humanoids for a while. Future Captain America severs the bonds holding Bucky and his past self. The Wasp then awakes and the Avengers turn into spirit form again. The WWII Captain America and Bucky try and stop the V2 from launching, but just as Captain America remembers, he slips and Bucky dies while destroying it. They then return to the future. Morally it's sometimes better not to dwell on the past, but look to the future. Although saying that these classic Thomas/Buscema Avengers stories are always wonderful reads that I enjoy taking another look at.

Doctor Strange “Some say the World will end in fire... ...Some say in ice!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in The Avengers #61

Cover date February 1969

(Published in December 1968)

Right this Doctor Strange tale continues from last week's magical tale, but it is in fact taken from the Avengers own comic, some five months after this week's Avengers story. Meaning that five months, which is ten British weeklies worth of events have past by, leaving British Marvel editors with some problems. They could have put the Doctor Strange strip on hold for a while until those problems had been resolved, may be with the Avengers strip being printed at full length for a number of weeks, or just printed this strip without any heavy editing and take what ever stick they got. Instead they went for the heavy editing, which strangely enough does work quite well if you haven't seen the original US version.

It's another one of those long Roy Thomas titles that has to have two pages to fit it in. It comes from the poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost that discusses the end of the world, with the elements of fire and ice compared with the emotions of desire, and hate. It was first published in December 1920 in Harper's Magazine. Thomas must have been a fan of Frost's poem, Roy wrote in his "Rise to a Challenge" essay from The Avengers Omnibus Volume Three, that he didn't recall which came first the notion of Surtur and Ymir to to borrow the first line from Frost's poem. Either way he was pleased with John Buscema's title rendering over the double splash page. George R. R. Martin, the fantasy writer, must also have been a fan of the poem. He has previously said that the title of his series of books, "A Song of Ice and Fire" was partly inspired by the poem. Of course many will know that that series was later adapted into the Game of Thrones television series.  

For all you poetry lovers here Robert Frost's poem "Fire and Ice" in full.

 

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To know that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Notice the credits are moved from the top of the first page to the bottom in the UK version and also many eagle-eyed of you would have spotted the Vision on the second page. Now there lies the main continuity error with the UK version of this tale. It would be five weeks before the Vision made his first appearance in the British weeklies in issue 82 of the Avengers weekly. The Visions appearance in this and next week's Doctor Strange stories was quite smartly covered up by an unnamed art bodger. For most part the body shape and choice of capes for both heroes makes the task somewhat easier.

The third page of the original Avengers was left out so that the Vision's appearance wasn't seen. In the fourth panel from page twenty-eight of the weekly the android was simply removed from it. In the first and second panels of page thirty-three Thor was re-drawn over the Vision and in the fourth panel of that sae page the Vision was left out. On page thirty-four the Vision is cut from the first panel while on page thirty-five the art bodger draws Thor head over the Vision's in panel one. 

The story starts with the Panther detecting a strange presence in the room, they are greeted by the astral form of Doctor Strange, who informs them he requires their assistance. Hawkeye and the Panther follows Strange's astral form to a graveyard where his physical body is waiting. The Doctor leads them to the Black Knight's unconscious body. Strange explains that the Knight and he had just returned from the realm of Tiboro with the rescued Sons of Satannish when one of their number, named Marduk, attempted to blast Strange with the Crystal of Conquest. The Black Knight jumped in the way of the blast. Strange struck down Marduk, who he forces to tell him how the Crystal can prevent an impending cataclysm set in motion by the cults leader back in the Avengers weekly #74. 

The Knight is brought back to the Avengers mansion and with the aid of the "Rejuvenator" and some surgery carried out by Strange the Knight recovers. The fire demon Surfur has been unleashed in Antarctica while the Frost Giant Ymir attacks the Black Panther's home country, Wakanda. The Black Knight and Hawkeye set off for Antarctica while  Thor and the Black Panther deal with Ymir in Wakanda, leaving Doctor Strange to come up with a plan using the Crystal of Conquest to stop the spell of Fire and Ice. How they get on in the explosive conclusion will be revealed next week.   

Iron Man offers the British Marvel readers another chance to join Friends Of Ol' Marvel, as he pronounces that today is FOOM-day 1975. For 75 pence you get a specially designed colour poster, a gold finished membership card, a fistful of stickers, the latest FOOM magazine and it all comes in a special designed surprise envelope. This back page featured on the back covers of this week's Mighty World of Marvel, the Avengers weekly, Dracula Lives, Planet of the Apes, The Super-Heroes and the Savage Sword of Conan. The second issue of the Marvel Treasury Edition starring the Fantastic Four takes up the colour spot on the back of Spider-man Comics Weekly.   

Dracula Lives #20

Ron Wilson indicated he may have contributed to this cover, but it doesn't have the look of a typical Wilson Cover. The Grand Comics Database suggests that there are elements of Gene Colan in its style with possible other Dracula artists. I'm not completely sure about that either. They suggest that Dan Adkins inked it. It's a strange one maybe many other artists worked on its construction.

Dracula “His name is...Blade!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #10

Cover date July 1973

(Published in April 1973)

On the docks of London, a young couple is trying to abscond to America when they are attacked by a trio of vampires who refer to themselves as Dracula's Legion. They're attacked before they can feed on the couple by Blade, a vampire hunter armed with wooden knives. 

Blade easily over powers them, stabbing them in the heart with his knives. Quincy Harker and his daughter Edith arrive, scolding Blade for dispatching the vampires before they could led the vampire hunters directly to Dracula himself. Blade simply scoffs at Quincy and departs, telling the old vampire hunter that he will hunt by his own methods and kill Dracula on his own terms. This is Blade's first appearance looking like an extra from a blaxploitation films He's super-cool and deadly when it comes to vampire slaying. Many of the modern versions on Blade make him out to be an African American, although Marv Wolfman intended him to be British, born in Soho London, as seen in his 70's appearances. 

Elsewhere on a private cruise ship, the rich Gabriel Trulaine has a special surprise for his guests, Count Dracula. The Lord of the Undead presents himself as merely an ancestor of the Vlad the impaler, who suffers from a rare blood disease and requires blood transfusions. After charming his guests Dracula retires to his room with his servant, Clifton Graves. Dracula intends to exert his will over the wealthy and influential people aboard the ship to suit his own ends. The Vampire Lord feeds on a girl he had charmed earlier. Later Dracula takes control of the ship, hypnotising its captain and getting the passengers attention by giving the ship a quick jolt. A ship piloted by one man comes along side the cruise ship. Next week we meet that one man, find out who he is then.

Cryptic Correspondance

Margaret Robertson from London really likes the new Dracula Lives magazine, especially the Christopher Lee as Dracula pin-up. The editor's reply hits at the final touches to the Dracula Lives Special Edition, which will have 60 pages of Transylvanian Trauma, including the longest Dracula strip ever published! Ron Pile from Cornwall writes that at work his quality control inspector made annoying remarks about him reading "children's" comics" during his tea-break. After suggesting that he read it before making any comments on it. Half-an-hour later he returned, comic in hand, asking if he had the next issue! Ron gives very constructive criticism on Don Heck and Gil Kanes artwork throughout the different weeklies. Mike Melsorn from Wilts gives his constructive criticism about the letters that were printed in Cryptic Correspondence from Dracula Lives #10. 

This in-house advert proclaims that "because you demanded them" the Super-Heroes are here! The Silver Surfer and the X-Men are together in this great new mag! It also announces "another Marvel Masterpiece," the Savage Sword of Conan! The newest brainstorm from the House of Ideas! Packed with barbarian adventures filled with heroic thrills from Kull, King of Atlantis and of course Conan the Barbarian himself! Both will be reviewed very soon! This advert also appeared in this week's Planet of the Apes.

 

Frankenstein’s Monster “And in the end..!?”

 

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Bob Brown

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Monster of Frankenstein #11

Cover date July 1974

(Published April 1974)

Frankenstein's Monster lies strapped to a laboratory table by his creators great-grandnephew, who is preparing to operate on him. Vincent intends to transplant his servant, Ivan's brain into the body of the monster, so that the monster can be more easily controlled. Ivan asks what will become of the monster’s brain, but quickly deduces that Frankenstein intends on killing him. Ivan grabs Vincent by the throat in anger. As they crash to the floor there's a knock on the laboratory door. Betty, his maid, calls out to Vincent, tells him that his wife, Lenore, is very ill, and that she needs his help. Ivan releases Vincent so that he can see his wife. While Vincent is gone Ivan frees the Monster, who wakes angrily and attacks the hunch back. The two fight ferociously, but ending with Ivan holding a sword over the Monster's head, ready to drive down the killing blow. Will he deliver it ? Find out next week.

Monsters of the Movies

No.4 The Wolfman

Writer: Denis Gilford.

"Even a man who is pure in heart, And says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms. And the Autumn moon is bright." Those words came from the wizened old crone from the 1941 Universal film The Wolf Man, that starred Lon Chaney Junior, the son of the master make up man Lon Chaney, who was famous for playing the title roll in "The Phantom of the Opera". Junior had certainly inherited his father's skills as an actor. Making the roll of the Wolf Man his own. There had been six years before the film "Werewolf of London", but  Denis Gilford writes that somehow that whiskery killer had failed to capture the imagination that The Wolf Man did.

Werewolf by Night “Eclipse of terror!”

Writer: Len Wein

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Mike Ploog

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #5

Cover date May 1973

(Published in February 1973)

The second part of this story opens with the thirteenth page of the original story with the new title added at the top and credits at the bottom. Jack  has been sent on a mission to kill billionaire Judson Hemp at the request of Luther Kane, who is holding Jack's sister, Lissa. Luther claims he could cure Lissa's curse if Jack carries out the deadly deed for him as the Werewolf. Reluctantly Jack has agreed, but when the Werewolf reaches Hemp's mansion, he turns out to be a gentle-hearted, senile old man. The Werewolf doesn't want to kill and thankfully a well-timed lunar eclipse gives Jack a moment to come to his senses and escape Hemp's compound. Jack races back to Kane's estate to demand that he cure Lissa even though he never fulfilled his side of the bargain. Kane heavies start to beat up Jack just as the eclipse ends, causing him to transform once again back into the Werewolf, whose wrath is turned onto Lissa's captors.

Planet of the Apes #20

I like this medieval ape knights cover, it's a world where evolution has gone mad! The colours are great, especially the sun bleached sky. Certainly one of the better Planet of the Apes covers for quite a long time. Ron Wilson drew it while Jim Mooney or Frank Giacoia may have inked it.

An action sequence taken from the film version of the Planet of the Apes, showing astronaut Taylor making a desperate bid for freedom, features on the inside front page.

Planet of the Apes “Evolution's nightmare”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Ed Hannigan

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in Planet of the Apes #5

Cover date February 1975

(Published in December 1974)

This story sees two warring factions fight a bloody battle for supremacy. This mediaeval melee has a surprising twist, one side are a race of humans while the other side are a race of apes.

After the carnage precipitated by sword, axe and spear only two survive, one man and one ape. Their injuries and wounds left them in such away that surely they cannot go on. The human had lost the use of his legs, while the gorilla was unable to move either of his arms. Yet their rage filled hatred went on, until a stand off was reached where nether could win or even for that matter lose. A strange alliance was reached where each other's strengths balance the other's weaknesses. A temporary truce was called so that they could escape the Forbidden Zone and heal their wounds. Find out how well that goes next week. 
 

Ape Forum

Barry Lewis described the "Terror on the Planet of the Apes" story as the best story to appear in British mags since the Shang-Chi/Spider-man epic. Noel Blanden from Kent thinks that the Planet of the Apes mag got off to a great start but seemed to decline with the introduction of Ka-Zar and Gullivar Jones. He describes George Tuska's artwork from the apes saga as good as ever. When he picked up POTA #12 he saw Mike Ploog's attention to detail on the story's background, which many artists hardly bother with. The expressions of the apes' faces were simply fantastic. Mark White from Stoke-on-Trent says that  Marvel blew it! He points out "Didn't anyone ever tell you that there were five 'Apes' films and that in the second film 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes' the earth was completely destroyed? However, the story acts as though this never happened and you just leave Taylor and Nova out in the Forbidden Zone. I expected issue 12 to begin where issue 11 left off, but Marvel began a new story which doesn't follow the story of the films." Gary Longhurst from Essex writes in saying that he really enjoyed the "Planet of The Apes" and "Dracula Lives" mags.

For some reason Stan Lee's personal message from the Super-Heroes issue 1 gets printed in this issue of  Planet of the Apes. A printing error no-doubt. However later in this mag the personal message from Stan Lee that was used in the Savage Sword of Conan also appears. Maybe they were used to fill space in POTA as well as promote both new comics. You can find both pages later in this blog.

“Black destroyer!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Dan Adkins

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in Worlds Unknown #5

Cover date February 1974

(Published in October 1974)

This story was adapted  from the Canadian-born American science fiction writer A E van Vogt's short story "Black Destroyer", that with several other short stories to form the novel The Voyage of the Space Beagle, published July 1939. "Black Destroyer" was possibly the inspiration for the movie Alien. In fact the similarities between the two are so close that 20th Century Fox settled out-of-court with van Vogt for the sum of $50,000.

On a ruined planet an alien creature named Coeurl stalks a group of astronauts from Earth. At first it seems to be a docile beast, earning their trust and gaining passage on their ship. But once onboard and in flight it begins picking them off one-by-one until its intensions are discovered. Once discovered it incredibly manages to build a rocket to travel to its sun only to be deadlocked due to anti-acceleration and be corned back onto the astronauts' ship. Coeurl not wanting to taste the pain of atomic weapons chooses suicide over atomic death. It's certainly a strange sci-fi tale. I wasn't completely convinced that a black tiger like creature with to extra large tail-like appendages is allowed to come on board without any of the humans casting doubt and fear, or how it had the knowledge and intelligence to do what it did. But I suppose all those elements make this tale a gripping one.  

With the two new comics taking up a full page in-house advert in the Mighty World of Marvel, Dracula Live and this Planet of the Apes mags the editor don't let you forget these "three more triumphs from Marvel". 

If you wanted to and I can't think of any good reason why you would, but it takes all sorts, you could buy one of two Planet of the Apes themed belts that featured either Galen or Doctor Zaius on the belt buckle in this week's Planet of the Apes. As a special offer to Planet of the Apes readers each belt would only cost you £1.49 with twenty-six pence for postage and packaging per belt. 

The Super-heroes #1

The first issue's cover of the Super-Heroes is a cracker. They could have mixed it up a little with the X-Men also featuring it, but instead they went bold and stuck with this sensational Silver Surfer masterpiece by Jack Kirby (pencils,) and Joe Sinnott (inks,), originally from the Fantastic Four #72, cover dated March 1968, published December 1967. For the UK version the Watcher and the red star-scape was replaced by a fantastic cosmic panorama. It should be in a frame on a wall, I could look at it all day! It's got to be my Cover of the Week.

This is the age of the Super-Heroes

A personal message from Stan Lee! Something that Stan would regularly do to promote any new weekly comic. Or at least he would put his name to the message that could have been written by someone else. Stan says that because the readers demanded more and still more of Marvel style of stories with action and fantastic surprises there was only one thing they could do but present one of the greatest publications of all, The Super-heroes! Inside the covers of this great magazine the readers will find tales of staggering imagination. The time has come to meet the Silver Surfer, the sky-riding sentinel from beyond the stars, who possesses the power cosmic. As well as the greatest team of mysterious mutant-powered heroes on earth, the fearless fighting X-Men. The Super-Heroes was created just for the readers who really wanted both strips. 

Silver Surfer “Behold the Silver Surfer!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Silver Surfer #1

Cover date August 1968

(Published in May 1968)

The British readers demanded it and so they (eventually) got it, the cosmic adventures of the original "Marvel Messiah," the Silver Surfer. When I was preparing this part of this week's blog I took a quick flick through the Super-Heroes first issue and in truth I felt that this story had little to bang on about, with it being basically a retelling of the Surfer's early appearances, with a slight expansion of his background. However after properly re-reading this tale once again I was over joyed with the thrill I was given by two of the masters of Marvel magnificence. 

The original American Silver Surfer comic was massive at third-eight pages of story, nearly twice the length of an average comic. Meaning that a single Silver Surfer story would take two weeks to tell in this British weekly, even as it took up two thirds of this comic. It was an epic tale, told in grand proportions. What better artist to showcase it than John Buscema. Regular readers of this blog will no doubt have already been aware of my opinion on Buscema. I think his artwork is one of the greatest I've ever seen, possibly the greatest artist in the comic media! Even those who had other favourites would find it hard to disagree with me that he should have a place in the top five, and certainly in the top ten. My top five and ten change regularly, depending on my reading mood at the time, but I find it hard to push Buscema out of my top three, with him holding the top spot more often than not. 

His big bold artwork suits the Surfer brilliantly. Giving the cosmic hero the room he needs to really soar! He tends to use four big panels per page, with sometimes three, or even the odd spectacular full page splash, which this strip and its length allow him to do. Although Buscema's art looks great in colour, the British black and white magazine size format allows his work to breathe. There's no flash colour to hide behind. What you get is his beautiful artwork in all its original glory. 

Of course that artwork is enhanced by Marvel's greatest inker Joe Sinnott, who is always my number one all time inker. Don't think of suggesting anyone else, you'll just be wrong. And this story wouldn't be half as good if not for the imagination of the story tellers. In the past I've admitted that Stan Lee gets possibly more praise than he rightfully deserves, when his artists like Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, John Romita Sr. and possibly Gene Colan and even Don Heck don't get the credit for how much of the story and plot they actually created. I do firmly believe that Lee posed the original plot ideas and polish the scripts and dialogue of many of those classic tales. But I have to say here with this saga Stan Lee is writing his master piece. Stan picks up on the Surfers past appearances, instilling him with both a purity of spirit and a nobility of mind that is ever evident in the Surfers speech, making him unique and so more distinguishable than any other Marvel character. The suffering and loneliness of his exile is magnified by the heart felt dialogue as well as Buscema's tender imagery.

It's not all lamenting or "woe is me", Lee and Buscema showcase moments of action, like a scene were the Surfer encounters a pack of Yetis, that at first felt unnecessary, but even that gives some humanity to the cosmic hero. Unable to make friends with the savage beasts the Surfer remembers his encounter with the Hulk, that should have appeared in MWOM #39, but was left out as the Surfer hadn't yet appeared in the classic Fantastic Four tale from MWOM #103. Thankfully that tale does get told in the upcoming MWOM #140.

The Silver Surfer's encounter with Doctor Doom from MWOM #121, and its conclusion which still hadn't been reached when this comic was printed, was also shown. That might have spoiled how events played out but I can imagine that very few British Marvelites complained as they were getting just what they really wanted. I know I certainly wouldn't have moaned about it. Those flashbacks helped mark the Surfer's place in the Marvel world , but the background into his life before his encounter with Galactus is in many ways what makes Norrin Radd the most human, his life on Zenn-La, his wanderlust, his feeling of missing out on something and of course his love for  Shalla Bal. Her love he sacrificed for his world and those feeling of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Maybe the big take from all of this is be thankful for all you have and not all you haven't. What we have here is a brilliant story that's not quite finished, there's more next week. But if you only have time to read one story from this week's batch of weeklies, read this one. If I had to pick a Strip of the Week this one would be it.

This full page in-house advert only appears in the Super-Heroes, as all the other weeklies had joint promotional features for both new comics. If you had picked up the Super-Heroes from the newsagents and missed the Conan cover you would have missed a chance to read the other "newest brainstorm from the House of Ideas". The Savage Sword of Conan, packed with barbarian adventure. Notice that the comic cover is the only part of the ad that mentions the free, full colour Conan poster. It doesn't show what it looked like.

The X-Men “X-Men”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The X-Men #1

Cover date September 1963

(Published in July 1963)

Now after all that cosmic greatness any back-up would look insignificant, So in a way I feel sorry for this X-Men strip. What also doesn't help is that this Strip had already been printed in British Marvel comics not too long ago in MWOM #49, week ending 8th September 1973. Which might seem like two and a half years ago would have been a significant period, but it would have been fresh in the minds of many British Marvel fans. The story originally from July 1963 would also have felt dated when compared to many of the strips in the other weeklies like the Hulk, Spider-man, Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, Planet of the Apes, Dracula and lets not forget the X-Men's comic mate, the Silver Surfer. 

In saying all that there was a certain charm about these teenage mutants, all in all it was a nice read. If you want my more in-depth thoughts on it take a peek at MWOM #49 for more stuff and nonsense about the changes from the original US version and the British version. In a brief summary we meet the X-Men, Cyclops, Ice-man, the Angel and the Beast, with their leader Professor X, who after a training session introduces them to there latest member Jean Grey, code named Marvel Girl. Their aim is to find and help other mutants and protect mankind from any evil mutants who wish to destroy or conquer the world. One such evil mutant is Magneto who plans to start his world domination by taking over the US military base at Cape Citadel. More on that next week as "5 against Magneto!" is played out.

 This poster was given away free with the first collector's item issue. Apart from the top headline on the cover very little was said about it during the promotion of this comic. In fact it didn't to my knowledge appear in any of the in-house adverts in any of the other weeklies. My hard copy has lost the free poster, before I pick it up second-hand, I haven't seen one either in the flesh and there doesn't appear to be much about it or its image on the internet. It's a little strange that Thor, the Sub-Mariner, Daredevil and Iron Man appeared on it. Maybe they were intended to join the line up at a later date.

Savage Sword of Conan #1

What about this bulging battle washed cover? Britain's very own Barry Windsor-Smith created this cover for Conan the Barbarian issue 1, cover dated October 1970, published July 1970, with inks from John Verpoorten. It's jam packed with all the dramatic sword and sorcery action you could ever want, flying demons, a horde of savage warriors, a sword welding wild man and a fallen damsel. Nice touch by Windsor-Smith with his signature on the axe staff. It could easily be this week's Cover of the Week. If fact I can't choose between this one and the Super-Heroes cover. So as it a special week, where British Marvel had seven comics released, I'm going to have for one week only two Covers of the Week for the stunning work of Kirby and Windsor-Smith.  

Enter..The Hyborian Age

Stan's second personal message this week opens with The Man's introduction to Conan. A warrior who dwells in the days of the mysterious past that were filled with murder, menace and magic. Never before has there been a hero like Conan, who was created by Robert E Howard but now presented in illustrated form by mighty Marvel comics supreme talents Roy Thomas and Britain's own Barry Windsor-Smith, who back in the 70's was known simply as Barry Smith. Conan the Barbarian starring in his own British weekly comic. The wonderful world of legend will never be the same again. Stan signs off in his usual way...Excelsior!

Conan “The coming of Conan!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #1

Cover date October 1970

(Published in July 1970)

Roy Thomas had an affection for Robert E Howard's Hyborian hero that saw him adapting many of his adventures into comic strips. It was Thomas who pushed for Marvel to gain the licence to Conan tales from the estate of Howard. Thomas's first choice for artist couldn't have been more perfect than the British born Barry Windsor-Smith, who was known simply as Barry Smith at that time. 

Barry was born in Forest Gate in London on the 25th of May 1949 and had already contributed pin-ups of Marvel characters for the Odhams Power Comics line in 1968, seen in colour on the back pages of Fantastic and Terrific comics. In the summer of 1968 with fellow artist Steve Parkhouse he flew to New York for meetings at Marvel. Stan Lee liked his style, due to the similarity to Jack Kirby, and offered him work drawing the X-Men #53, Daredevil #50-52 and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #12, which his friend Steve Parkhouse wrote the script for. Roy Thomas assigned him issues 66 and 67 of the Avengers, but home called, or the lack of a work permit, and Barry returned to England. Still from a distance he continued to work for Marvel on a number of stories in the horror anthology titles Tower of Shadows and Chamber of Darkness. One of which was a sword and sorcery story, "Starr the Slayer" from Chamber of Darkness #4, cover dated April 1970, published January 1970. That was the spark that lit the flame as soon Thomas offered Windsor-Smith the regular job as penciller on Marvel's adaptation of Conan. In 1971, Windsor-Smith moved back to the States after being granted a work permit.

Barry Windsor-Smith's style suited Conan to the ground, although his early goes seemed overly basic that style developed very quickly over time. Later he would be replaced as artist by John Buscema. The way I look at it is Conan grows both physically and as a character from a very young man seen in Windsor-Smith's period, then into a man with Buscema, his look and the artwork's look also changed naturally.  

The story see a Cimmerian named Conan joins with an Aesir raiding party who invade Vanaheim. Conan befriends an Aesir named Olav after saving his life. On a high vantage point Volff the Wily, the Vanir leader watches the battle, realising that his men are doomed to failure, so he tells his men that he will leave to call upon the Gods for a favour. Instead he flees with his lieutenant Hothar. Finding shelter in a cave they discover a massive temple with an aged shaman named Sharkosh, and his young maiden Tara inside. Volff tells the shaman of the dark maned barbarian who had assisted the Aesir in their victory. Striking a deal with Sharkosh, the shaman uses the Star-Stone to see into the past and the future. Sharkosh requires the sacrifice of a powerful fighter. The Aesir and the Vanir clash in battle again as a trio of winged demon fighters appears and attacks both armies. One of them kills Olav then attacks Conan, carrying him high into the air to drop him to the ground, unconscious. 

Once awaked inside Sharkosh's cavern temple. He sees fantastic images projected by the Star-Stone, including a vision of himself as a king. Conan knows that the Star-Stone is responsible for spawning the winged monsters that killed Olav. Breaking free he picks up the stone and shatters it against a wall. An explosion of supernatural energy kills Sharkosh, Volff and Hothar, but Conan manages to grab Tara and dive for safety. Tara changes into a winged demon, explaining that actually she came from the same dimension as the winged monsters. In order for her to remain in this world, another must take her place in her own reality. Sharkosh intended Conan to take Tara's place. With the Star-Stone destroyed, Tara fades, returning to her own dimension. I love this tale as much as I do with this week's Silver Surfer strip.

British Marvel are letting the readers know that the creation of the new weekly comic, the Super-Heroes was put together because so many readers demanded that the X-Men and especially the Silver Surfer got their own British mag. Here like the in-house advert for the Savage Sword of Conan, as seen in the Super-Heroes comic earlier, there's no mention of a free colour poster was made, except for the top headline on the reproduction of the cover.

Kull “A king comes riding!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Ross Andru

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Kull the Conqueror #1

Cover date June 1971

(Published in March 1971)

King Kull is based on Robert E Howard's Kull of Valusia, making this comic a Robert E Howard fan-fest. Kull riding into the capital city of his kingdom, but not everyone are his biggest fans. Ridondo the lyre player isn't afraid to the praise of the kingdom's previous king. While Baron Kaanuub of royal blood and rightful heir to the throne of Valusia, plays his scheming much quieter. Kull has a visitor from Kurmonn, the largest of the Pictish Isles, called Brule the spear-slayer requests that Kull attend the Pit king's kingdom for a meeting, alone. Kull suspects a trap, but he accepts. Later Kull recalls the time before he was a king. The saga continues next week as we learn more about the boy who would become king. 

Here's the fabulous free colour poster given away with the Savage Sword of Conan issue one. This incredible painted artwork is by Neil Adams and was originally used as the front cover of the Marvel/Curtis Magazine the Savage Sword of Conan issue 2, cover dated October 1974, published August 1974. It was used to promote the Conan story "Black Colossus" which was adapted from the eponymous short story by Robert E Howard that originally featured in Weird Tales, cover dated June 1933. It does look great. 

How as you can imagine this week's blog has taken a while to complete, so I'm off for a rest before I start next week's. I hope you've enjoyed it and come back for more. In the mean time ... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.