Stories that will make even an android cry with joy!

 Week Ending 26th April 1975

Last week I asked if anyone knew were the second pin-up of Shang-Chi, as seen in the Avengers weekly, was originally from, I had suspected that it would have been from the Marvel/Curtis Magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, but as the dreaded deadline was looming I hadn't the time to find out which. I knew that Friends of the Beesting wouldn't let me down and sure enough Rod Tough came up with the goods. He pointed out that it had been issue 5 of the Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, cover dated October 1974, published September 1974. It was drawn by Rick Hoberg and featured as part of a subscription advert. Ironically enough it one of two issues I was missing from a complete DHoKU, however I had just received that issue in February and I can't believe that I didn't remember that page. One more to go before I get the full house. Anyway another PotB No-Prize goes to Rod with my thanks. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #134

I really like this Herb Trimpe (pencils,) with John Severin (inks,) cover, that was originally used on the front of the Incredible Hulk #151. The "B-movie" feel of it is great. They should have used "The Crawling Unknown!" as the title of this week's second half, it sounds like a horror film title. There is one point of error with this cover, the top headline banner reads "Inside: Daredevil defeated by Doc Doom!" That's not true as the ruler of Latveria doesn't appear in any story this week and certainly doesn't defeat Daredevil, at least not for three to four weeks or so. 

The Incredible Hulk “Hulk on the run!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Severin

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #151

Cover date May 1972

(Published in February 1972)

Page twelve from last week's MWOM is repeated with the first two panels removed so that a new title and credit box could be added. The Hulk is on a rampage in Washington DC as he searches for Doctor Henry Pym, the super-hero also known as Ant-Man, in the hope of finding a way into the Microscopic world where Jarella lives. Feeling energised after having Doctor Lathrop's untested cancer treatment derived from Bruce Banner's gamma irradiated blood, Senator Clegstead wants to milk the perfect PR opportunity and heads out to the scene of the Hulk's disturbance. Senator Dutton arrives to ask more questions about Project: Greenskin and why one of its top scientists is reporting to him? Dutton tries to stop the Senator but Clegstead pushes him to the floor and then enters the car with Doctor Lathrop. On the wet path Dutton notices in the light from the lightning that the Senator's hand is beginning to transform into a horrible putrid rash.

General Ross organises a military task-force to stop the Hulk when Senator Clegstead's car crashes through a blockage sending the General, the army and the police fleeing. From the wreckage the door falls open to reveal no driver or passengers on board only a spewing mass of ooze that was once the diseased Clegstead. Like a mutated cancerous tumour it crawls out onto the street where it begins consuming everything on the spot. The Hulk attacks the mass but finds that whatever he does only causes him pain as the mass attempts to consume him. In a panic that the Hulk has never known before the Hulk futilely rams a metal pole into it. With the weather raging lightning strikes the pole, incinerating the creature and allowing the Hulk to escape in the confusion. Later General Ross meets Senator Dutton, who explains that while looking into Senator Clegstead's misappropriation of government funds he found Doctor Lathrop's notes that indicated that in curing the Hulk he may have discovered great medical breakthroughs that could be beneficial to everyone and so agrees to continue funding Operation: Greenskin. I have to say that I really love this "B-movie" plot, it feels very plausible in the mad Marvel world where uncontrolled science could lead to all sorts of horrors.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Mike Agnew from Manchester is a keen collector of British and American comics as well as an Italian Marvel which features the Hulk v. the Mandarin, Spider-man v. the Lizard and Morbius the Living Vampire. Peter Judge PMM (yeah that's the future Marvel Mastermind winner Peter Judge,) from London agrees with Mick

McKenzie who wrote in Avengers weekly #68 that letters to US Marvels are generally well-structured and more mature than British letters. But Peter does think that British letters seem to be improving. He asks "Did the letters in early American Marvels improve similarly?" To find out he takes a look at some of the early Marvel US letter pages starting with the Fantastic Four #5 where all the letters seemed to ask silly questions. But by issue fifteen  the letters were becoming more interesting and well written. One letter was from future Marvel writer Roy Thomas. He concludes that as readers grow up a little and the comics become more popular the editor had a bigger choice to choose from. There's more to Peter's letter and the editor's reply, it's worth a full read. Colin Bowling from Kent has just started collecting Mighty World of Marvel and Planet of the Apes and thinks they are two of the best mags he's read. 

Daredevil “Trapped!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in Daredevil #35

Cover date December 1967

(Published in October 1967)

Last week's splash page from page twenty-four is reused with a fresh title, credit box and story re-cap as this week's second part opening page. The Trapster is hoping to make a name for himself by killing Daredevil while remaining free from the arm of the law, by having no dead body to convict him of murder.  The two battle high in the sky above Manhattan. Daredevil forces the Trapster's flying platform to crash on to the roof of a skyscraper but the villain wins the upper hand when he places a number of the Wizards anti-gravity discs on Daredevil's body with his paste to send him into the upper atmosphere to die.  

With one victory under his belt the Trapster's confidence leads him to instantly plan a new dastardly deed. Disguising himself as Daredevil, the Trapster manages to fool the Invisible Girl into allowing him into the Baxter Building. He subdues her before setting a hidden bomb, that is triggered when the body heat of more than one person is present inside the building to destroy the Fantastic Four when they return. Meanwhile Daredevil manages to remove the anti gravity discs one by one, allowing him to safely return to earth in a controlled decent. You have to suspend your disbelieve some what, if the Trapster's paste can hold someone for hours why can Daredevil remove the disc one by one? An explanation that he ripped his costume apart to remove the disc would solve that problem, either way Daredevil heads towards the Baxter Building to see if the Trapster made good om his threat to destroy the Fantastic Four. 

The Fantastic Four “Belted by Blastaar!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #63

Cover date June 1967

(Published in March 1967)

The splash page from page thirty-three of last week's MWOM is re-used with a new story title. The first two speech balloons are removed and the third balloon from the original page is repositioned lower on the page. The Sandman and his thought balloons are also removed. The Thing has arrived on the scene and begins battle with Blastaar. Meanwhile at the Baxter Building, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Girl help the injured Triton by placing him in a water tank to replenish his strength. Watching video of the battle below, Mister Fantastic then begins working on a device to stop Blastaar. 

As the battle rages on the Sandman envelops the Thing in his sandy form and rolls him towards the river. Blastaar takes Crystal as a hostage, but he's picked on the wrong Inhuman as she unleashes her elemental powers upon him. Furiously the Human Torch lets loose his full power on Blastaar too, But the Negative Zone alien is easily able to withstand the extreme heat. In the meantime the Sandman sends a dizzy Ben Grimm into the cold waters of the Hudson River, which revives the Thing. This allows him a chance to regain his strength enough to smash the dock from under the Sandman, sending him into the water. A haymaker from the Thing smashes the Sandman's body into a cloud of sand that dissipates into the water.The Thing returns to the site of the original battle to find Reed and Sue have entered the affray. While the rest of the Fantastic Four keep Blastaar occupied, Reed manages to clamp on his newly designed helmet that will cut off the pressure build up inside the Blastaar's body, stopping him from firing his deadly blasts. A good old fashioned punch finally incapacitates their foe, ending the battle. 

Get your own "smart" and "sofisticated"  Tizer T-shirt for only 80 pence. It's what every sophisticated scarecrow was wearing in 1975. Pretty sure I wasn't wearing one, my family mainly drunk lemonade, fizzy orange and the terribly tasting dandelion and burdock, what ever that was supposed to be, all made by Barrs, in big bottles and not cans.

Here's a reminder of what the in-house advert for Stan Lee's Origins of Marvel Comics looked like. It was also printed on the back of this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly and a blue version could be found on the back of the Super-heroes.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #115

Did the editor get their production plan mixed up? For the second week running they've seem to have a cover that is more relevant with the previous week's story. This especially created British Marvel cover was drawn by Sal Buscema (pencils,) and Frank Giacoia (inks,).

Spider-man “Doc Ock lives!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: John Romita Sr.

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #89

Cover date October 1970

(Published in July 1970)

This story marks Gil Kane taking over the pencilling chores from John Romita Sr. as he picks up the pen and ink nib and replaces Jim Mooney. Do I have a problem with that? Well not at first, the artwork doesn't look much different from Romita's, although there are some slight Kane trademark touches, most of it is in the style of JR. Plus Kane's style is pretty cool anyway so I won't complain about the change. Spider-man is certain that after last week's adventure he has seen the last of Doctor Octopus.

However after reading the reports that no signs of a body was found, Peter isn't so sure that Doc Ock died. Just then Randy Robertson stops Peter to see if he wants to come to a protest meeting about air pollution. Even back in 1970's the environment was an issue. Peter takes a rain check as he needs to look for Doc Ock. Randy isn't happy about Peter's lack of interest, saying that Gwen will be there. In fact Randy also mentions another person will be there too, but that dialogue is edited out in the UK version. The fifth panel of page five should have read "Look Parker, everyone's gonna be there! We're expecting Ralph Nader!" that was a name that would mean very little to most British readers, so it was understandable that the editors felt that reference best left out, but Nader as an American lawyer and political activist  involved in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. Randy angrily leaves Peter, but when Peter changes into the web-slinger he's certainly be dealing with very current environmental issues when he discovers Doctor Octopus well and truly alive and causing chaos as he's wrecking a power station smokestack that will send the city into darkness if he blows up the power station. Continued next week.

Iron Man “By force of arms!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #82

Cover date October 1966

(Published in July 1966)

 

While attempting to attend a Senate Committee on national security at Washington DC Iron Man is attacked by the newly revived Titanium Man. The two armour-clad titans clash, as the entire city of Washington looks on, including Senator Harrington Byrd who called the committee meeting, as well as Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan, who have just arrived in DC to support their boss, Tony Stark.

As the Battle rages on the golden Avenger attempts to take the battle with Titanium Man into a secluded area in the hope of preventing any innocent citizens from getting hurt. However a crowd soon appears to watch the fight, with Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan among their number. Titanium Man manages to catch Iron Man in his paralysis ray. As Iron Man tries to break free from it, Pepper cheers him on, offering to find Tony Stark to help him. The armoured Avenger manages to free his hand enough to pull a live wire from his hip pod that shorts out the paralysis ray allowing him to break free. In reality, the Titanium Man has transferred the ray onto Pepper instead, while demanding that Iron Man surrender or else he will electrocute the girl. Find out who's "Victory!" it is next week.

The Web and the Hammer

Andrew Key RFO, PMM from Bradford disagrees with a lot of people who say British Marvel should get rid of the tone in their comics, saying the comics would look very dull if the drawings were just plain black and white. He also gives a critique on SMCW, MWOM, the Avengers weekly, POTA and Dracula Lives. Fiona S Brooks from London thinks that somebody's artwork's slipping! Some observant reader had noticed that Spidey's 10-legged spider. Fiona also noticed that there has been a six legged spider in SMCW #75 and it appears more than once. It's first appearance was on page 5, panel 3 but in panel 2 it has all 8 legs. Panel 1, page 6, it still only has 6 legs, but in panel 2, all 8 again! Page 7 panel one, six legs, from 2 8! Page 8, panel 7, 6 legs! She could go on, but I'm glad she doesn't because that only for one issue! The next letter is unsigned from Middlesex enjoyed the Hulk story "Chariot of The Gods" from MWOM #118 to #119, but the Kangaroo's origin from SMCW #100 was very weak.

Peter Watkins RFO, KOF, QNS from London thought that the Spider-man vs the Chameleon story from SMCW #100 was "a doozy!" Stan's writing was great and John art was "Beeyootiful". Ross Thompson from Middlesex has had no success finding US or British Marvel mags in the Hayes area of Middlesex. The editor advises him to place a regular order with a newsagents. Neil Ashley from Lancashire writes that his old comic went out of print for some weeks, so in the meantime he placed an order for Spider-man Comics Weekly and Mighty World of Marvel. After a few weeks his old comic came back, but when he went back to it he found it had degenerated, so like the prodigal son, he returned to the Marvel fold. The Web and the Hammer also heard from M. Ginson from Staffordshire, Paul Walsh from Suffolk, S. Singh Bhatia from Birmingham, John Glover from Leeds, Vincent Lee from London, John Carter from London and Nickolas Enetts from Bedford.

The Mighty Thor “...To wake the Mangog!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #154

Cover date July 1968

(Published in May 1968)

As Odin has stayed Thor's hand in his battle against Loki, the Thunder God is made aware the upcoming threat to Asgard, but first he decides to first check up on Sif's treatment after receiving injuries during battle. At the hospital Thor is visited by Hela who has come to take Sif to Valhalla. Thor refuses to allow Hela to take his lover. Then Hela attempts to entice Thor into joining the warriors of the dead in Valhalla. Harokin, an old foe beckons him to join him in endless battle but Thor refuses, Hela departs leaving Thor to contemplate on the situation.

Deep below Asgard, Ulik travels through a mysterious glowing cavern when he comes across a giant door with a warning that reads "Let no living being disturb what lies within. By order imperial  Odin." Chancing that it may hold a powerful alley to aid the Rock Trolls in taking over all of Asgard, Ulik unthinkingly smashes the stone door open, freeing a demonic creature known only as Mangog! Whose race had attempted to invade Asgard, but Odin had decimated them, leaving its lone survivor, Mangog, sealed away. Ulik offers a union that under his leadership they could annihilate Asgard together. But Mangog then beats Ulik, his intended ultimate goal the destruction of Asgard and its ruler Odin. On Earth, Thor changes into Donald Blake to help treat Sif who is happy to see she has awakened from her coma and is doing well after her ordeal. Blake tells Sif to rest easy as he has unfinished business to attend to. Blake leaves as Thor to continue his search for Loki, unaware that the Trickster God is invisibly watching him. Next week "Loki strikes back!"

Avengers Weekly #84

Right I have a problem this week with picking which cover deserves to be my Cover of the Week, because there are two cracking John Buscema beauties. Here's the first and with my gut feeling the best. Originally from the front cover of the Avengers #58 this version has one difference from that rendering, the background apparition of the Vision is coloured blue, while the original was a ghostly white. For my eight pence worth I think the blue saves the image from fading too much into the background. For the sheer number of Avengers I'm going to give my CotW to this one. Ask me again and the other Buscema cover could easily be my answer.

Iron Fist “When a universe dies!”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Arvell Jones

Inker: Aubrey Bradford

Originally published in Marvel Premiere #22

Cover date June 1975

(Published in February 1975)

The enlarged sixth panel from last week's Avengers weekly page nine is used as the opening splash page to this week's second half. The Ninja reveals his origin as the most skilful Samurai in Japan, who would be expelled from the rank of Samurai. Later he would be tutored in the art of a ninja by Master Khan, whose training involved the acquirement of mystical powers. One day Khan presented him with "the Book of Many Things", which revealed the secrets of K'un-Lun. 

While attacking the city to learn its secrets the Ninja was defeated by Yu-Ti and Lei-Kung, who after their victory banished the invader into the pages of the book. Later the book was stolen from K'un-Lun, ending up in the hands of the Kult of Kara-Kai who would rename the book the Book of Kalai. The Ninja's power grew and he gained enough to unleash forces beyond his limited control causing Kara-Kai to crumble. The book was lost once again for a while until Professor Lee Wing rediscovered it. The Ninja now gained enough power to possess the Professor. The Ninja's time imprisoned within the book had lead him to relish the opportunity to talk. But in his speech of self-importance he had given Iron Fist the opportunity to recover after pretending to be defeated and the battle resumed again. Iron Fist quickly learns to adapt to the zero gravity, enough so to match and even better the Ninja.

The Ninja is defeated when Iron Fist strikes the Ninja with his Iron Fist, which sends the hero back to the Earth dimension where he is reunited with Lee and Colleen Wing. The police have rounding up the Cult members and after hearing the Ninja's confession they decide not to take in Iron Fist for the murder of Harold Meachum. After a decade of seeking vengeance and unable to return to K'un-Lun for another ten years Iron Fist is left to decide what to do with himself. Colleen and Lee offer him a place to stay, so that he can finally learn who Daniel Rand really is. That'll be the last Iron Fist for a short while, as we learned last week, Shang-Chi returns next week. 

The Avengers “Even an android can cry”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in The Avengers #58

Cover date November 1968

(Published in September 1968)

With the last two week's "Behold... The Vision!" story and this and next week's "Even an android can cry” you have two of the best ever Avengers stories. I have them in many different versions, the first one I read was the 1982 Marvel UK special "A Marvel Treasury the Avengers" in beautiful stunning colour, but every version I've collected since has been a real treat. So strap in as this one's a great one, straight from the beautiful opening splash page by John Buscema to the very last tear it's going to be great and may be it won't only be androids that can cry.

The opening page is spectacular, with the Panther scaling the building of Manhattan with his cat-like grace, above the story's title that has been set into the wall. Roy Thomas wrote in "Shed a tear!" as seen in the Marvel Masterworks the Avengers Volume 6, that for this story he had written a synopsis for that issue, a rarity for writers at that time which included the title "Even an android can cry", which he asked John to include the lettering into the wall. Thomas described the original page as "gorgeous" which it truly is. The Black Panther is summoned to the Avengers mansion by the Avengers to attend an important meeting of the assembled heroes. Another stunning page by Buscema. To be fair every page is stunning, some of the best Avengers artwork ever. His fellow Avengers stand waiting with returning members Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. The Vision by their side. The reason is because the android wishes to become an Avenger.

The older Avengers know nothing of the Vision and as Iron Man puts it "Becoming an Avengers is not a right...but a privilege!" Thor wishes to learn more about of the newcomers powers, something that Captain America arranges when he leaps forward to attack the Vision, although he passes harmlessly through him. Iron Man opens fire on the android with his repulser rays, but they too pass harmlessly through him again. Showing his strength the Vision lifts the armoured Avenger above his head with one arm, which awakens the wrath of the Thunder God who engages in hand combat with the android. Not quite enough to prove himself superior to the Asgardian Thor smashes the Vision backwards. The Goliath calms things down, pointing out that Captain America only intended to test the potential new member. Thor opens the official meeting with a vote on the admission of a new addition to their number.

With this symbolic splash page John Buscema draws all the Avengers who have ever been a member of their ranks. From original members Henry Pym as Giant Man on this picture, the Wasp, the Hulk, Iron man and Thor, who were joined by Captain America. Later Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch joined, followed by Hercules and the Black Panther. Notable mentions to the Black Widow and Spider-man, who were offered membership but didn't accept the offer. The only person missing is the Swordsman who tricked his way into becoming a member, way back in Avengers weekly #16 but John Buscema must have felt he didn't deserve a mention. Thor and Captain America want to know more about the Vision's past, but there seems to be a psychic barrier blocking his memories. With concentration he sees the loath-some face of the manic robot Ultron-5, who had called him into life and then showed him how to control his android body's mass, with the intension of destroying the Avengers. More of his past next week.

Avengers Unite!

Gillian Murton from London has been reading the Avengers weekly since issue 13, which he thinks was absolutely brilliant! He was introduced to it by accident but has become hooked ever since, especially since Marvel introduced Master of Kung Fu. Martin Power from London also thinks that the Avengers weekly is a brilliant comic with fantastic artwork and inking those stories are out of this world. However he thinks that Shang-Chi is good, but nobody could take on as many men as he does in one go. S Else from Birmingham complains about the quality of the artwork in the Avengers strip. Comparing the first 20 issues with the last few, he believes that the art has rapidly deteriorated. He writes that instead of using dots and squares to shade-in the drawings, they should use different shades of Indian ink, as in POTA #12, as this would improve the artwork greatly. Brett Graiger from Staffordshire believes that the British mags are getting better as the re-prints get more recent. The only one of Marvel's characters which is not up to the great standards expected of Marvel is Iron Man. He says that he will tolerate that strip as he knows they will get better later.

Doctor Strange “...To fight the Juggernaut!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange #182

Cover date September 1969

(Published in June 1969)

The wonderfully drawn cover from Doctor Strange issue 182 by Gene Colan is re-used a somewhat of a symbolic opening splash page for this week's second half. On Earth a postman rings Doctor Strange's door bell to hand over a telegram for Doctor Stephen Strange. He references Rosemary's Baby the1968 American psychological horror film written and directed by Roman Polanski, which starred Mia Farrow and was based on the 1967 novel by Ira Levin, would have been very fresh in the mind of Thomas.

Nightmare and Juggernaut engage in mystical combat with Nightmare using all his demonic powers and Cain Marko using a few tricks learned during his time in the Crimson Dimension. The battle swings one way than the other. until they noticed the freed sorcerer. With both wanting Doctor Strange for their own reasons. Nightmare because he wants to combine Earth's past and future, while the Juggernaut was to use the Doctor's body to return to Earth. The evil duo work together to subdue him once more, but  their mystic bolts strike an illusion, which pass through, freeing Eternity. The two villains continue their alliance, this time trying to overpower Eternity. The entity tells Nightmare that after he had battled Dormammu he had allowed the demon to hold him prisoner as he could have escaped at anytime. 

Effortlessly Eternity banishes both Nightmare and Juggernaut to another realm before restoring the natural order of things and sending Doctor Strange back to Earth. There, Wong hands him the telegram, which had been addressed to Stephen Strange prior to the fight in Nightmare's realm, but now reads Stephen Sanders. The Doctor surmises that Eternity has given him a new alias as he knew he needed a fresh one. Clea asks Strange what it all means, he replies that "for perhaps the only time in all the endless eons, the emotionless entity called Eternity cared."

5...4...3...2...1...Ignition! We have lift off! Eagle blasts into the future! The Avengers weekly's back page features a Dinky Toys advert that would have got me counting my pocket money in hope that I could afford this beauty. From the Gerry Anderson TV series, that would soon arrive on the nation's TV screens, Space:1999 comes Dinky Toys' latest wonder, an Eagle Transporter, Model No. 359. I had one when I was a kid, sadly not any more, It was 222mm long and packed with action features like a detachable habitat pod, whose door would open and cushioning landing feet. The artwork of this advert would set any child's imagination alight, with the destination of deep space adventure the hours of play would be endless. Oh such happy days! 

Dracula Lives #27

This Neal Adams cover originally from the Marvel/Curtis Magazine Dracula Lives #3 (that's the US edition if you haven't already guessed,) is a beautiful piece of art, any other week this one should be my Cover of the Week. It's a bit darker in the UK version, which in a crazy way doesn't completely work, especially when you consider it is for a horror comic and the scene is at night, it does seem to "dull" the final cover. May be if it was as light as the US version I might award it a CotW. The original pencil artwork by Adams was sold on the 11th May 2012, by Heritage Auctions for $1,673, which coverts to 1,264.60 pounds sterling and if I could throw that sort of money around I'd buy it and proudly hang it on my wall too.

Dracula “Shadow in the city of light!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Alfonso Front

Inker: Alfonso Front

Originally published in Dracula Lives (US) #3

Cover date October 1973

(Published in June 1973)

In a port on the River Seine a ship unloads its cargo. The arrival is anticipated by Helen DuBois who opens a most unusual cargo, the coffin of Count Dracula. She attempts to drive a stake through the vampire's heart before daylight falls, but the Lord of the undead awakens. He uses his hypnotic power to learn why the girl was attempting to destroy him. She tells him that she had heard rumours that he was traveling from New Orleans to Paris. She passes out before she can tell him more. Intrigued Dracula decides to spare her life so that he might learn why.

This story is the third to be taken from the Marvel/Curtis magazine original Dracula Lives magazine, that all follow on from one another. Alfonso Front does a wonderful job at depicting Notre Dame and the area around the Cathedral. At said Cathedral the nightwatchman finds an intruder under the flashlight is revealed to be an animated stone gargoyle. Helen tells Dracula that she had attempted to get revenge for her great-great grandfather, Jacques DuBois whom Dracula killed years ago. Which all connects to the Dracula story from Dracula Lives #25.

Dracula recalls the year 1789, when he was attacked by an animated stone gargoyle created by Jacques under Cagliostro's orders. Dracula would smash it, knowing that DuBois had sent it the vampire lord sort him out. They would fight, with Dracula pushing Jacques into the magical potion. What Dracula didn't know was the potion had turned DuBois into a stone gargoyle who was now seeking out Dracula. DuBois would tell Dracula that Cagliostro had told him the only way to free himself would be with Dracula's death. The vampire flies away in bat form. DuBois follows after but Dracula tricks him into flying into the Eiffel Tower sending DuBois' stone form falling to the ground and shattering him into pieces.

Letters to the House of Dracula

William Cass RFO, KOF from Gloucestershire thinks that after a shaky start Dracula has made his presence known, so has the Werewolf by Night. Frankenstein's Monster is an entirely different matter the story-line and art have always been great. Aston Kaye from Buckinghamshire wants Marvel to get rid of the corny phrases on the front of Dracula Lives, as they don't do justice to the great stories inside. Graham Bird from Berkshire calls Dracula Lives a typical Marvel example of good artwork, good scripting and good editing. Gary Parker from London is a Vampire mad fan and he would love to have Vampire Facts in comic form. M. Naim from London likes the idea of having three stories in one issue of Dracula Lives. I Berry from London thought Dracula Lives #10 and #11 were excellent but because Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes were getting all the attention he thought that the Avengers weekly was in decline, but issue 71 certainly proved him wrong, as well as the Black Panther entering the scene was great. N Hunter from Yorkshire  was conducting an interesting sociological survey and was offering a £5 prize to anyone who can answer the following question the best. "Why is a vampire evil?" I wonder if anyone won the fiver? Dracula lives has also received letters from Kevin Davies from Kent, Adam Sanderson from Aberdeen, R Shennan from Carlisle, Andrew Cornelius Taylor from the West Midlands, James Bullock from Manchester, Micheal Smyth from Scotland, Craig Jenkinson from Lincoln, Geoffrey Llewellyn from Glamorgan and D Checkley from  Cheshire.

Monsters of the Movies

No. 7 The Invisible Man

Writer: Denis Gillford

Denis Gilford continues his look at another classic horror character this time H G Wells iconic novel lead character Jack Griffin, more commonly known as the Invisible man, gets the once over. Claude Raine was almost an unknown actor back in 1933 when he was cast as the Invisible Man. His hypnotic voice and powerful personality made him the ideal choice to place a character that the viewer sees very little of. John P. Fulton was the British born special effects supervisor who was responsible for fantastic photographic tricks and special effects, which took six months to film. Later came Jon Hall and others who played the Invisible Man in various sequels, but nobody has at the time of this article had attempted to remake the original film itself. Perhaps they know when they were beaten.

Werewolf by Night “Terror beneath the Earth!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Tom Sutton

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #9

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

With no Frankenstein's Monster this week Dracula Lives readers are treated to a full length Werewolf by Night adventure. It starts with a rainy night through which the Werewolf runs dodging cars in a wonderfully drawn set piece choreographed by Tom Sutton, whose artwork really suits the lead character of this story and the mood of the tale. Following the Werewolf is a man whose route is more subterranean as he trails the beast under ground in the sewers.  

The man in rags leaps from the sewers while ranting about his master, the mysterious Sarnak. He attacks the supernatural beast, grabbing it around its throat with inhumane rage. This raggamuffin of a man wears a scarf across his face, with  dirty, shabby clothes and a large wide brimmed hat. We would have to wait a while to learn his true name, but for the sake of ease Gerry Conway would name him the Tatterdemalion, a name that would be used to describe a person in tattered clothing. The Werewolf fights back but the vagabond pulls his cape from his back and covers the beast. The Tatterdemalion says he hears his master, Sarnak, calling him and flees. The Werewolf is hit with a sharp, shrilling ultrasonic sound that causes him sudden excruciating pain in his head which makes him pass out. 

Jack comes to the next morning in jail, where Lieutenant Hackett is ready to question him about the recent incidents involving the Werewolf, a biker gang and the death of his family's chauffeur among other events that seem to centre around Jack Russell's regular disappearances. Jack refuses to give any answers and the Lieutenant is forced to releasing him when his step-father, Philip Russell and his sister Lissa arrive to collect him. Jack and Philip argue when they return home, so Jack storms off to his room. The next night,  Sarnak's bedraggled followers break in and attack Jack in his home, just before he transforms once again into the Werewolf as night falls. The noise alerts Philip Russell and his step daughter Lissa. Philip fires on the intruders with his gun, killing one of them. Just then the high-pitched call of Sarnak knocks the Werewolf out, allowing Sarnak's followers to carry his limp form back to their master. Sarnak uses a dog-whistle like "control flute" given to him by the Committee to generate his call which enslave the Werewolf. Sarnak sends his followers and the Werewolf to the surface to wreak havoc. But seeing Lissa endangered the Werewolf tries to resist its control but fails as he and Sarnak's followers kidnap Lissa. Next week we'll get to meet this mysterious Committee.

On the inside back page a in-house teaser shows the Lord of the vampires leaping to attack the unsuspecting readers with a message that reads "Behold... next week we have news to frighten you out of your life!" "See next week's issue! If you dare!" The cryptic comments will hopefully be answered next week. Either by design of by mistake this page also gets printed on the inside back page of this week's Planet of the Apes. 

The back colour page of both Dracula Lives and Planet of the Apes features the "Thor Special" advert for the third Marvel Treasury Edition, with the yellow background that had been seen regularly over the last couple of weeks.

Planet of the Apes #27

Greg Theakston originally painted this cover artwork for the Marvel/Curtis magazine Planet of the Apes #9 (US) cover dated June 1975, published on the 15th of April 1975. Just four days before this comic was released. It doesn't have any connection to the Planet of the Apes/Apeslayer story what-so-ever, but it's too good of a cover to let go to waste. The original background was yellow not orange. The "Museum of terror!" title was added for the UK version.  

Planet of the Apes “The museum of terror”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Amazing Adventures #20

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

This opening splash page has more than just the Apeslayer's outfit changed and an ape head added to a human traitor but also the original title "The Warlord strikes!"was replaced with "The museum of  terror!" to be more fitting with the changes required to turn this tale from a War of the Worlds sequel to become a Planet of the Apes fill-in. You might imagine that the original title would be re-used next week, but it doesn't even though the mysterious Ape-redrawn Warlord does appear. The date stated in the original top text box read "2018 AD", here it simply reads "The future."

Under attack, Apeslayer and Mala take refuge in a museum when their "energy guns" run out of charge. The apes follow them inside. Apeslayer topples a large Egyptian statue onto one group, while Mala uses a crossbow to drop a suspended cannon onto his foe . Apeslayer takes a sword from the museum. It's at this point that the Apeslayer also decides to wear a chainmail top. In the original War of the World version he changed out of his mankini top but still kept the stripper kinky boots. At least it did make it somewhat easier for the art-bodger to re-draw Killraven into Apeslayer. The two Freemen set off to find the location of the apes' store of weapons and supplies. They pull the skeleton remains of a soldier from an army supply truck, a reminder of the "Martian death-ray" from the original series. I like the future hero's inability to drive a modern vehicle shown in the classic joke where he backs it into a tree. Even though the story has changed from the War of the Worlds to this Planet of the Apes adaption, Marv Wolfman as the new writer does stamp his mark on this story with some smart dialogue and story ideas. I earlier  mentioned that the original title is discarded, but that's not completely true, it gets re-used on the foot of this week's final panel when it reads "Next: The Warlord Strikes!"

Apes Forum

Erika Morris from Wales doesn't usually read comics but having just read the Planet of the Apes he thinks it's really great. And he hopes that the Comic, TV series and films go on for ever. J Jameson RFO, KOF from South Shields thanks that POTA is the greatest comic mag of the century, second to none. Although he does criticise the way Alexander looks like in Terror on the Planet of the Apes, describing him as looking like a "mangy dog." One day Mark Nixon's Mum, from the Isle of Wight, bought him the Planet of The Apes mag. He thought it was great! He's been looking forward to every Saturday. Alistair Henderson RFO, KOF, QNS from London says that there is no comic better than Planet of The Apes. Chris Parker from Dorset has placed a regular order for both POTA and Dracula Lives. By the way, he has one of those comics with the speech bubble with no words, in issue 1 of the Planet of the Apes. Michael Nelson from London asks are they going to publish a Planet of the Apes book or a Dracula Lives book? The editor says they will be publishing a Dracula Lives book in the spring.

“The Invisible Man ”

Writer: Ron Gaulart

Artist: Dan Adkins (layouts) and Val Mayerik (pencils)

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Supernatural Thriller #2

Cover date February 1972

(Published in November 1973)

This tale was freely adapted from the 1897 novel The Invisible Man by English author H G Wells. It even says so at the top next to the title and in the credit box at the bottom. As a horror tales of sorts I have to wonder why it wasn't saved for the Dracula Lives comic, or why, as this week's mag featured an article on the Monsters of the Movies by Denis Gilford, detailing the Wells' character's celluloid appearance, that there wasn't a bit of cross-comic publicity. 

Through a stormy wet night a stranger seeks lodging at the Coach and Horses Inn, with gloved hands, a bandaged face and dark glasses to cover his eyes requires peace to carry on with his mysterious research. Keeping himself mostly to his room, the landlord, Mr Hall and his wife start to question is he a fit lodger after he owes them three weeks back rent. Then there's an explosion which sends George Hall running. Worried about the injuries the stranger may have received only to be told to get out as the stranger castigates him with a handless gesture. The next day the local vicar awakes to find a body-less bandit stealing cash from his drawer. A little later the Halls are accosted with a bottle of wine and a chair when they look through the stranger's journals, sending them running out of the guest room. Later that day the stranger pays Mrs Hall the rent, but she connects that the money he is paying with was the same stolen from the Vicar by impossible means. The stranger reveals to her that his body is invisible. Her scream alerts Mr Hall and a passing police constable.

 After a fight the stranger flees and meets up with a homeless man, called Thomas Marvel, who collects his scientific journals from the inn. Still stealing money to survive the Invisible Man is involved in a skirmish that leaves hime wounded. He visits Doctor Kemp to receive aid and a place to rest. During that time the Doctor calls the police. Just as the stranger awakes the Doctor stalls him by asking about his invisibility. The Invisible Man tells him how he was a scientist named Griffin, who taught at a second-rate London school when he needed money for his experiments as well as stealing it from his own father. He tested his new invisibility formula on himself and how he fled covering his tracks. He tells the Doctor that he plans to begin a reign of terror until he can control the whole of England, just then the police arrive. Again Griffin flees threatening to settle with Doctor Kemp later.  

The police track him with dogs, but they lose the trail. Griffin makes good his word and returns to kill Kemp, but the police are waiting. Glass is laid out to cut the naked and shoeless Griffin, thus giving the dogs a better trail to follow. Injured and weakened the police catch up to him, beating him to death. Sometime later at the newly renamed "The Invisible Man Inn" the new owner. one Thomas Marvel has made a fortune telling the newspapers, magazines and his customers about his time with the Invisible Man and his wonderful secrets. But when asked about Griffin's journals Marvel tells them that he must have hidden them. Later while opening his safe to reveal the missing journals, Marvel declares that he won't make the same mistakes as Griffin did, once he's figured out what they are, just you wait and see!

The Super-heroes #8

Now this one is really a strong contender for my Cover of the Week. I'm a sucker for any John Bucema cover. It's incredibly dynamic, the image of two of Marvel's mightiest heroes attacking each other in such fury is breath taking. I think that it's Thor's best appearance on a cover and the Surfer's too. To with this clash of titans that is radiating such cosmic energy I'm going to have this one as joint Cover of the Week with the Avengers weekly. Well rules are ment to be broken! John's younger brother Sal inked this cover. 

Silver Surfer “Battleground: Asgard”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in Silver Surfer #4

Cover date February 1969

(Published in November 1968)

The third panel on page twenty of last week's issue is slightly enlarged to make this second part opening splash page with a new title, re-cap text box and credits box added. Loki shows the Surfer that Thor is amassing an army, but not as the trickster god says to steal the throne of Asgard, but to defend it against Loki. Loki quickly disappears allowing the Surfer to enter the Golden Realm without giving away his intent. At the Golden Gates he meets  Heimdall who allows him to pass, since he poses no threat. He then enters Thor’s castle, interrupting the feast he challenges Thor. 

The Warriors Three challenge the Surfer, but Thor stops them and encourages everyone to eat first before any challenges begin. The Surfer agrees to Thor’s request and is fascinated how so many people seem to be loyal to someone that is supposed to be so evil. While they eat, entertainment is laid on as gladiators do battle. In his astral form Loki secretly watches. Loki forces a gladiator to hurl is sword at the Surfer. This causes the Silver Surfer to lash out in anger in an attack against the Asgardians. Thor joins the melee. Word is sent to Odin of the battle, but he is not worried since he can sense that both combatants are pure of heart and so no harm will come to them and decides to go to bed. 

The Thunder God and the Cosmic Wanderer trade blows, but the Silver Surfer is too much for Thor to handle. This is due to Loki adding his own powers to that of the Surfer. Balder and Sif rush to the Thunder God's aid to protect him from the Surfer's rage. Once again the Surfer is surprised by the loyalty that Thor commands. He starts to doubt Loki’s story and intentions. Before he can explain everything to Thor, Loki transports him back to Earth and back to his banishment so that there is no proof of Loki's involvement in the days events. Next week "the heir of Frankenstein!" 

The X-Men “War between the mutants!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The X-Men #4

Cover date March 1964

(Published in January 1964)

The original cover artwork for the X-Men issue 4 is re-used as the opening splash page for this seconds part story. Having traveled to Santo Marco Professor Xavier with his X-Men change into their costumes and attack the Brotherhood. Mastermind tries to scare the X-Men away by creating an illusion of a fire wall in the X-Men's path, however Professor X realises that the fire is nothing but an illusion, so he wheels his wheel chair through it to show his students that there is nothing to fear.

The attack continues as the Brotherhood fall back, seeing defeat they booby trap the door to the palace. Just before Beast sets off the trap  the Professor senses the danger and with incredible agility he hurls himself in front of the X-Man to protect him! The Brotherhood escape from the palace, but not before Quicksilver races back into the room to disarm a second bomb intended to destroy the entire nation along with the X-Men. Xavier regains consciousness only to learn that his telepathic powers were damaged by the explosion.

More "Winners from mighty Marvel!" in this in-house advert promoting three of British Marvel's weekly fair. The Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers weekly covers are from this week's issues. The slightly obscured Planet of the Apes cover uses next week's cover artwork. However the under the "Marvel Comics Group" corner box the issue number and date can clearly be seen as issue 27 April 26 1975. And the "Week Ending" is printed below the date and not above it as it normally would be seen. Was it British Marvel's intension that the Apeslayer cover would appear this week in stead of the "Museum of Terror" cover that was actually used? Possibly, who can say? This advert also appears in this week's Savage Sword of Conan.

Savage Sword of Conan #8

Look I love John Romita Sr's work, but not the alterations he made to Barry Windsor-Smith's artwork for this cover, which was originally from Conan the Barbarian #8. I can't give a reason why he made the alterations, whether it was the editor's request or the demand of the Comics Code Authority, but Romita redrew the woman in the original art. Her face just doesn't look right to me and for me that spoils the whole cover.  

Conan the Barbarian “The Keepers of the crypt”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Tom Sutton and Tom Palmer

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #8

Cover date August 1971

(Published in May 1971)

After last week's events Conan fled to Nemedias the neighbour of Corinthia, however his trail is tracked by Corinthian soldiers at the request of Nemedia. An avalanche kills all but one of the soldiers, but the remaining soldier, Captain Burgun, who had meet Conan as enemies in battle at Venarium. Conan quickly dispatches Burgun and heads deeper into Corinthia. 

Conan journeys on until he finds the abandoned city of Lanjau, guarded by a giant gila monster. Conan scrambles up a ruined building and pitches rocks down on the creature until he weakens it enough to leap down on the monster, delivering the fatal blow as his sword is plunged into its soft belly. Taking up his search for jewels to plunder he finds an unlocked temple door encrusted in gems and to his surprise the reappearance of Burgun. The two decide there is treasure enough in the city for two and as there is still the possibility of encountering another monster, it seems prudent to put aside any feud they might have.

So together they explore the city and find a vast treasure room stocked high with gold and jewels. While dividing up the horde, with Conan choosing a jade serpent ornament among his booty. Their theft does not go unnoticed as six mummified guardians awaken from their resting places, stepping forward they warn the trespassers that they are disturbing the sacred Serpent and their gods will not save them from the Keepers of the Treasure Crypt of Lanjau. With that warning they attack. With facing greater numbers the two men flee from the temple, into the midday sun, which destroys the undead guardians the moment they leave the room. Their demise starts an earthquake. The entire city crumbles around them. Conan makes it out, but Burgun seems to be trapped inside the city as it falls. 

Conan makes his way to a nearby village and finds the most distasteful and lawless tavern he can. Therein he encounters Jenna, who you might recall from SSOC #6, whom he is still mad at for stealing his gold in Shadizar. She no longer has the gold as she spent it buying the tavern they stand in. Conan is less angry with her than he normally would be, since he believes he has a whole bag of jewels to spend. Upon opening the bag he finds they have turned to dust. The other bag, which contained the jade serpent, jumps off the table, just as the Magistrate arrives to arrest Conan. Asking what is in the bag he picks it up and opens it. Revealing a living serpent that attacks him, killing him with its venom bite. Conan uses the chaos to his advantage, with the distracted Corinthian soldiers, Conan and Jenna flee the village on horseback. This week's tale, “The Keepers of the crypt” was based on a of 640 word "original synopsis" for a Conan adventure which Robert E Howard began in the 1930s, but it was not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. L Sprague de Camp wrote an entire story based on this untitled "original synopsis" by Howard, the unfinished fragment became "The Hall of the Dead"which was published in Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in February 1967 by publisher Mercury Press.

Marie Severin created this map which was first published in the Marvel comic Kull the Conqueror issue 2, cover dated September 1971, published May 1971, on the bottom of that comic's second letter page.

Kull the Destroyer “The Forbidden Swamp”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Severin

Inker: Marie Severin

Originally published in Monsters on the Prowl #16

Cover date April 1972

(Published in January 1972)

King Kull along with his friend Brule and a group of Red Slayers search for a hidden temple belonging to the Serpent-Men. Their journey takes them to a swamp. Along the way they are attacked numerous times by Serpent-Men, defeating them every step of the way, but not without cost as their number falls to five Red Slayers along with Brule and the King. Finally they spy the temple on the other side of a large river. As they fashion a raft out of logs to make their attempt to cross the river, they hear chanting from three Serpent-Men priests. 

Kull has no fear of the chanting, although as they cross they discover that it was intended to awaken a giant river dragon, which nearly kills the group of adventurers. Kull and Brule dive into the deadly waters to attack the beast. Kull stabs at its heart while Brule wedges his spear in the serpents mouth. Eventually they manage to get across the river. The Serpent priests kill more of the Red Slayers, but Kull proving immune to their weapons and slays them. Kull orders Brule to go back while he enters the temple alone. Inside he encounters Thulsa Doom, who claims that he had come to the temple to rescue his beloved, but was too late as her body lay stretched out across the alter. To prove that he isn't a Serpent-Man in disguise he recites the line "Ka Nama Kai La Jerama". Kull invites Thulsa back to his city despite the protestations of Brule and the others who have heard rumours of the lord's evil ways. Kull dismisses their warnings, however, he adds that he will be welcome until he does something to prove their distrust. Next week we'll see if there is "A viper in our midst."

That we will in next week's Power of the Beesting blog, more super adventure, more magical mayhem, more terrifying horror and more savage action than you can shake a spear at. All in just seven days. So till then...

 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.