Brothers in arms!

Week Ending 12th July 1975

This week I was sad to learn about the passing of Jim Shooter, writer and editor in chief of Marvel comics. During the weeks before I had found myself reading some of his blog as part of my research for POTB, and found myself falling down the internet equivalent of a comic creators rabbit hole. He was certainly a divisive character, loved and loathed sometimes at the same time, but I can't help but feel that his time as editor in chief produced more good than bad. In 1978 he found himself taking over the role left by Archie Goodwin to become the ninth EIC, steering Marvel through hard times to steady the company. In his nine-years he oversaw Chris Claremont and John Byrne's the Uncanny X-Men, Byrne's work on Fantastic Four,  Frank Miller's series of Daredevil, Walt Simonson's Thor and Roger Stern's runs on both Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man. Shooter brought Marvel into the lucrative comic book specialty shop market with Dazzler #1, the first direct sales-only ongoing series from a major publisher, soon to be followed by Marvel Fanfare and Ka-Zar. He was responsible improving creator royalties, including starting the Epic imprint for creator-owned material in 1982. Comics came out on time and company-wide crossover events became the norm with Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions and Marvel Super Hero Secret Wars. Which I have mixed feelings about, I love them but the constant yearly crossovers tired my love of comics in the late 90's as reams of mags needed to be bought just to complete a story. Read about my love and hate of that in Saturation versus substance. He also launched New Universe in 1986 to commemorate Marvel's 25th anniversary. The concepts of new universes and events continue to this day in comics. He made enemies too, but here's not the place to discuss such things, if you what to know more, google them or click here for his wiki profile. For most part I enjoyed his writing and Marvel during his tender as EIC. RIP Jim Shooter 27/9/1951 to 30/6/2025.

As much as I'm a comics fan, I'm also a big Liverpool FC fan and I was saddened to hear about the tragic death of Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident with his brother André Silva on Thursday the 3rd of July. You may not know much of Jota if you're not a football fan, but the words "a nice bloke" was made for him. He was loved by everyone. When news of his death filtered through to me I received a phone call from my daughter to see if I was alright, because she had just heard the news too. It reminded me of many years ago when my father had passed away and I had to deliver that terrible news to her over the phone. It brings life into prospective, always cherish the things you love and never forget the ones you love too. So I'll like to dedicate, if I may, this week's blog to Diogo, André and Jim, for all the joy they have given me and others through football and comics. 

You'll Never Walk Alone.

The Mighty World of Marvel #145

This British Marvel commissioned cover was created by Ron Wilson with inks by Frank Giacoia. It's a smart fill-in till the American issue of the Incredible Hulk's cover will appear next week. 

The Incredible Hulk “Holocaust at the heart of the atom!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Trapani

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #157

Cover date October 1972

(Published in July 1972)

I mentioned in the Doctor Strange part of last week's blog that Archie Goodwin wasn't a name that would spring to mind when thinking about the greatest writers Marvel had during the 70's, so that subconscious bias might have shaped my opinion of the Hulk stories from that time. However Goodwin does deserve stronger praise because he can produce some wonderful plots and some strong writing on that strip. Another preconception about those stories comes from the adage that Herb Trimpe's pencil had become blunt and needed sharpening. His line work may have become wider, just take a look at his run on the Captain Britain strip, but could it have been the inker's fault? I always felt that John Severin and Sal Buscema "thinned" Trimpe's artwork to make it look better. In this week's Hulk strip Sal Trapani inked the pencils as he saw fit. I might have some preferences to inkers but I won't take anything away from this strips art, just take a long look at the opening page, the detail and imagination is stunning. All thanks to Messrs Goodwin, Trimpe and Trapani.

The Hulk shrinking journey through the Micro-verse ends with him  realising that he must have reached Jarella's home world, because his thoughts and speech have become Bruce Banner's while still in the Hulk's body, due to the spell that had been cast in MWOM #125 that allowed him to understand the native language. The Hulk is shocked to find Jarella's city has been destroyed. Soon he is attacked by minions of Lord Visis, riding flying creatures. They prove to be no match against the superior strength of the Hulk. Banner is then approached by warriors led by Torla, Jarella's head sorcerer who welcomes Bruce, but then relates grave news that Jarella is now prisoner of Visis. At Visis' strong hold, the evil Lord asks that Jarella take his hand in marriage. She refuses, telling him that she would rather die than to marry him. Visis has other ideas in mind and shows her his dungeon, full of her countrymen who he vows to torture relentlessly unless she agrees to marry him. Believing that she has no other choice, she submits.

 While on Earth, Betty Ross and Glenn Talbot, on holiday together, come to terms with their growing relationship. Betty tells Glenn that she has to put her past with Bruce behind her and sees a future, even if it means marriage, with Glenn together. Meanwhile back in the Micro-verse world of K'ai, the Hulk rallies up a stampede of Warthos and sends them rampaging towards Lord Visis' castle. Inside the fortress Visis, out of ear shot of his soon to be bride Jarella, orders the captain of his guard to dispatch patrols to recapture or slay all the prisoners released as part of his agreement with Jarella. With tears in her eyes she walks down the aisle, keeping her part of the bargain. Suddenly the hall trembles as though an earthquake strikes, interrupting the forced wedding as the Hulk, riding the lead Warthos, steering a stampeding herd through the castle walls. In one movement Banner, using the Hulk's strong frame, lifts up Jarella in a glorious rescue. Next week, "the Hulk, hero of the world. 

The Fantastic Four “When opens the cocoon!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #67

Cover date October 1967

(Published in July 1967)

Mister Fantastic begins working on replicating the device that allowed Alicia's abductor to pass through solid walls. A Courier arrives with components from Tony Stark that Reed requires to make copies of the "Space Warpers wrist band." Meanwhile, deep within Lock 41 of the Beehive, Alicia Masters and Hamilton continue down the tunnel to find the artificially created man known as Him. The scientists' creation fights back with blasts and beams of energy that keep Hamilton back, but Alicia presses along on her own despite his protests. When Hamilton tries to stop her, he's caught up in strange tendrils that come out of the walls. 

The rest of the Enclave monitor their progress, with fear that Him may be impossible from them to control. Shinski plans a final fail save, a device that will create an ultrasonic wave that will send Him into the deepest reaches of space where the artificial man will be no threat to them. At the Baxter Building while they wait for Reed to complete his task, Sue, Johnny, Ben and Crystal sit down for breakfast. The Thing is in no mood to eat until Sue offers him a giant-sized portion of wheat-cakes. Reed enters having completed a "Wrist band to nowhere", Ben is roaring to go but Johnny points out that Reed hasn't eaten of shut his eyes for over two day! If I have one problem with Lee/Kirby stories it's that sometime the timing of events can be ridiculous. I understand that it may have taken Reed two days from discovering Alicia's abduction to developing a way to find her, but her time with the Enclave doesn't match, with those events only possibly taking two to three hours. But my younger self wouldn't have picked up on that or let it get in the way of a great story, so I guess I can suspend my older disbelief. Back at Lock 41, Alicia finally makes it to Him where she learns that the artificial being has sealed himself in a cocoon. Ready to emerge from his chrysalis, Him admits that he is weak and frightened, but Alicia assures Him that she will remain there for the duration of his metamorphosis. At that very moment, Reed tells Sue and Crystal to remain behind, a bit sexist from my 2025 point of view, as the male members of the FF must set off to find Alicia and in next week's conclusion discover "the secret of the cocoon!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Richard Thomas from Cheshire is "Woweee"ing when his postman delivered a big package that contained the Origin of Marvel Comics, with 258 pages and nearly 90% in colour there's a lot to love. He can't wait for volume two. Christopher Gowans from Essex thinks the weeklies are great and suggests that the UK mags offer Marvel Value Stamps and could the six posters that featured Captain America, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man Spider-man and Thor be offered again. Stephen Davis from London reviewed the Fantastic Four special, describing it as "Out of this world". He mentions the article seen in the London Evening Standard last year about Marvel, where it name checks the comic shop called "Dark They Were and Golden-Eyed" in Berwick Street, near Piccadilly Circus. Well, he has been there and says they've got hundreds of American Marvels of every sort, as well as Giant-Size ones. It's heaven for a Marvelite. Ekan Enim Levram from Yorkshire is sick and tired of kids who go through the Marvel mags with a magnifying glass, to spot "itsy-bitsy mistakes," just to get a No-Prize. After fifth attempts at writing a letter E M Mayo from London has finally put pen to paper to say that Betty Ross is just his type. The editor's reply sounds like it was written for another letter, they address writer as Paul and talk about his desire for a No-Prize. 

Daredevil “Nobody laughs at the Jester!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Daredevil #43

Cover date July 1968

(Published in May 1968)

Even though there are many differences, there are lots of similarities with Marvel's Daredevil and DC's Batman, dark brooding heroes that defend similar urban areas, Gotham and Hell's Kitchen in New York, human heroes that use the horror of their names and costumes to frighten their opponents. A thrown billy club is similar to a thrown Batarang and they both swing on a cable. Their gallery of foes bear many similarities. The Owl and the Penguin, Mister Fear and the Scarecrow is another. Batman's relationship with Cat Woman is similar with what Daredevil had with the Black Widow. The list could go on but one blatant rip-off from the Batman books is the Jester, he's so much a swipe of the Joker that I'm not even laughing. That has always stuck in my mind that I can't fully enjoy any DD story with him in it. May be I should, because even saying all that this one is quite good. 

 

The new criminal in town, the Jester, has been robbing banks with his play-time themed gimmicks. Meanwhile, at the law office of Nelson and Murdock, Karen, Foggy and Debbie mourn the death of Mike Murdock, believing him dead after last week's adventure. They think Matt uncaring that his brother has passed away, but he feels no grief as Mike was Matt himself posing in a third identity and like me, for him it's more like relief rather than grief. Back at the Jester's lair, he boasts to himself about his criminal achievements, reflecting on his past as a failed actor, whose "big break" came as being the brunt of the jokes in a comedy routine. Taking on the Jester guise he begins a career in costumed crime is his way at getting revenge on those who laughed and mocked him. Meanwhile, crooked mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh, a character who will turn up in Spider-man's adventures soon, decides that he doesn't want a DA that he can't control, so he tricks the Jester into coming after him so that he can hire him to eliminate Foggy Nelson from running for the District Attorney position in the electoral race. 

Many Conan fans would have been buzzing with the news of the latest Marvel Treasury Edition features Conan stories. It would have soften the blow of the Cimmerian having to have his own comic merge with the Avengers weekly. Issue 4 of the Marvel Treasury Edition features the Conan stories "Rogues in the House", originally from Conan the Barbarian issue 11, cover dated  November 1971, published August 1971, "Red Nails", originally from Savage Tales issue 2, cover dated October 1973, published June 1973, "The Lurker from the Catacombs" and "He Comes from the Dark" both from Savage Tales issue 3, cover dated February 1974, published October 1973. British readers may have read the "Rogues in the House" strip in SSOC #11. The deluxe limited edition was on sale on the 4th February 1975 in America, but in the UK it went on general sale in the summer of 1975 for the reasonable price of 50 pence for one hundred pages of Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith goodness. In fact it's more than reasonable it's down right amazingly great value. This promotion is used on the back pages of every British Marvel mag this week, save for the Super-Heroes.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #126

The original American cover from the Amazing Spider-man issue 94 is used for this week's mag, but not without some cosmetic changes. Spider-man is repositioned slightly further away and slightly higher to the left. The blue text box seen on the lower right has been moved to the left and now covers Aunt May's knees. Could it be that the Beetle and Aunt May have actually been moved down slightly, together with the red text "On wings of death!" ? Maybe a bit of both. What do you think? Also the original lower panel teasing "Spidey's origin re-told." has been totally removed. 

Spider-man “On wings of death! Part two”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr.

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #94

Cover date March 1971

(Published in December 1970)

Last week's cover by Ron Wilson, with John Tartaglione's inks, is repurposed as the second part opening  title/credits/catch-up splash page with Peter's friends and family head shots removed. Peter calls on his Aunt May after last week's teenage depression over Gwen Stacy leaving for London. Aunt May has another visitor, Mrs Watson, who has been staying with her after the super-criminal, the Beetle, had been breaking into minor shops around the area. May thinks Peter looks tired and lets him sleep for a while. She nips out to get some milk, as you do.

Peter dreams while he sleeps, involving the Beetle, who turns Spider-man's webbing into chains from his wrists to hang our hero, as a giant-sized Beetle taunts him, his bullet-like helmet becomes clear revealing beneath it a worried Aunt May, who repeats the words, "the Beetle" over and over again. As Peter echos the same name he is awoken by Anna Watson, who tells him that Aunt May has been kidnapped by the Beetle while she was out at the groceries store. Peter slips away to change into Spider-man. The police have surrounded the store where the Beetle had taken Aunt May hostage, after finally discovering which of the store backed onto the neighbouring bank's vault. Spidey arrives, but with the police thinking that he may be in league with the insect themed villain, they begin to shoot at him. This causes a distraction that allows the Beetle to escape with his hostage. Quickly the web-slinger makes a crude web safety net across two buildings. Then he confronts the fiend who drops the old lady. Spidey swings in to catch her but the Beetle slices his web line with his metal wing. 

Both hero and Aunt land safely in the web net, although the old lady is horrified with Spider-man and the current chain of events, causing Spider-man to quickly leave before she panics  and gives herself a heart attack. The Beetle hasn't gone far so the two continue their fight. Spidey webs the villain's foot as the two fall crashing through a skylight into a public swimming pool. The Beetle pounds the wall behind Spidey before he manages of snag his opponent with his sucker claws. Using the villains strengths against him Spider-man grabs the villain's appendages and hurls him into the swimming pool. The weight of the Beetles costume causes him to sink to the bottom, giving Spider-man the opportunity to web him up for the authorities. Changing back into his civilian clothes, Peter checks on his Aunt May to make sure that she's okay and takes her home. Even though he has always felt guilty for his Uncle Ben's death, tonight he had in some small way re-paid some of that never ending debt. This week's strip was brilliant and I hope that next week's strip can be as good as we find "Spider-man at large in London!"

The Web and the Hammer

C Cedhadt from Surrey writes about the lengths she has to go as a female Marvelite, to get her Marvel fix. She either has to twist her little brother's arm for his copy or go herself to the stationers where she sees lots of girls coming out with girls comics, but gets very funny looks when she asks for a Marvel mag. But it's worth it. Don Scully from London was introduced to British Marvel only two years ago when he realised the quality of Marvel's publications. Regarding the two new weeklies he must confess to never fully appreciating the Silver Surfer, but now he's seen the light. I particularly enjoy the moral issues involved, the art is brilliant. He also adds that Conan is really something, which improves with every issue. Paul Murphy from Grangemouth writes a "gangster" letter regarding Thor being thrown into jail while having his hammer taken away from him in SMCW #101 yet he never changed back into Don Blake. Keith Bramhall from Middlesborough writes that Stan Lee's new book, Origins of Marvel, brightened his Easter. He also wants more giant-size comics from Marvel. The Web and the Hammer also heard from  Jeff Heyes from St. Helens, John Locke from Deeside, Scott Gittings from West Midlands, Jim Miller from Lanarkshire, Mark Davies from Rhondda, Sandon Treweek from Wimbledon Common, Alastair Davies from Glamorgan, John Moynihan from Durham, Kevin Tomkinson from Staffordshire, Alan Hatton from Cornwall, Andrew Rewy from Surrey, Malcom Burns from Aberdeen, Craig Seaton from Nottingham and Andrew Cooper from Ilford,

This pin-up of Spider-man vs Mysterio uses art by Steve Ditko originally from the Amazing Spider-man Annual issue 1, cover dated October 1964, published June 1964, that has been rotated 45 degrees and has the background removed and replaced with a Spiders web on a dark background. The background has been used in another pin-up that featured in SMCW, which used John Romita Sr. art, but I can't find that issue at hand. I'm pretty sure a Friend of the Beesting commented on where that web back ground first appeared, but for the life of me I can't remember which blog that was in. So if you're listening dear reader, refresh my memory. The Ditko artwork can also be found in SMCW #10.     

Iron Man “The uncanny challenge of the Crusher!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #91

Cover date July 1967

(Published in April 1967)

Tony Stark is testing out a Centrifuge Machine which would increase the gravity of whoever was rigged to the device, a little Marvel silly science thought up by Stan Lee. Meanwhile the Communist dictator, "El Presidenté" orders his best scientists to create a chemical that would turn whoever drinks it into an indestructible powerhouse. When the scientist presents the potion  to the dictator, he senses treachery and forces the scientist to drink it at gun point. 

The scientist transforms into a colossus who calls himself  the Crusher. El Presidenté is frightened when weapons won't stop this human titan, so persuades him into testing his strength against Iron Man. Arriving in the United States, the Crusher rampages his way to the Stark Industries factory. The factory shakes like there was an earthquake as the Crusher smashes his way into Tony Stark's lab, where he is confronted by Iron Man. The two fight, but Iron Man finds that the Crusher is impervious to whatever weapon he uses against him. With quick thinking Iron Man attaches the centrifuge device to the Crusher, causing his gravity to increase exponentially. The steel floor gives way and he plummets down even through the very earth itself. Later Tony Stark repairs the floor when Happy Hogan and Pepper Potts arrive with some good news, they have eloped and are now married, Tony congratulates them.

 

The Mighty Thor “The answer at last! Part two”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #159

Cover date December 1968

(Published in October 1968)

The Jack Kirby cover from the US edition of the Mighty Thor issue 159 is reused as this week's second part opening splash page. It's a fine piece of art and would have matched last week's first half but here it doesn't quite fit. A catch-up box, credit box and a "Part two" is added to the page and the story title. After Balder had pulled Thor from a fight with the Storm Giants and chastised him for being at fault for the conflict that could have shattered a treaty between Odin and the giants, they return to Asgard.

Thor goes to a local tavern with the Warriors Three, where he engages in an arm wrestling competition with one of the rowdy crowd. Volstagg's lumbering frame causes a disturbance that distracts Gondolffe, Thor's opponent. Thor is accused of signalling to Volstagg when he seemed beaten. This leads to a huge bar brawl between Thor, Hogan and Fandral against the rest of Gondolff's allies. Eventually the fight is broken up by Odin who summons Thor to his side. Odin berates his son, telling him that he lacks humility and is sorely needing a lesson on the subject. He turns Thor's attention to Earth, decreeing that he will send his son to live there in the frail form of a mortal, so that he might learn his lesson and someday regain his godly identity. Banishing Thor to Earth as Donald Blake, with no memory of his past as the Thunder God. With the story done, Odin explains that he had placed Thor's mystic hammer  in a cave so that he might find it after he had learned humility and that changing him into a man with a handicap and giving him a profession that made him heal the sick and frail was all part of this lesson. With the explanation done, Odin departs leaving Blake to realise that his romance with Jane Foster was doomed to failure as he never would renounce his godly heritage because he was indeed, truly Thor. In spirit he is Donald Blake, but in body and mind, Thor he has ever been, the God of Thunder, now and forever!

Avengers Weekly #95

You love some covers because they're a key issue, sometimes you love a cover because the artwork is exceptional, but when both line up you've just got to love them. The Avengers weekly issue 95 has it all.  It's the first issue of British Marvel's first merged title, with a new title name that might be a mouthful but it still sends shivers down your spine, THE AVENGERS and the SAVAGE SWORD of CONAN. It's powerful it's big and it says that this mag is packed full of the best in Marvel. There's a lot of text around the cover telling potential readers how big it all is. "Combining TWO of the most POPULAR comic series of ALL TIME into one GREAT title!" Yeah both titles have lost some back-up strips, but there's still loads of great stuff with the "Once again the cry goes out, Avengers Assemble!" Plus "the adventures of the greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of them all! Conan the Barbarian!" And the top head banner reads "Special Bonus: Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu!" If all that didn't get you salivating, seeing every Avenger up to that point assembled, drawn by the legend that is Barry Windsor-Smith will! It originally appeared on the front cover of the Avengers (US,) issue 100, cover dated June 1972, published March 1972, when Hawkeye had give up being Goliath and started to wear the purple short sleeved Carnival style outfit as shown on the bottom right. The image of Conan is by John Buscema and was taken from one of the strips from Marvel/Curtis Magazine issues of the Savage Sword of Conan. I have those stories in the UK monthly version of SSOC, but I couldn't narrow it down to which story it was from. If anyone knows let me know, there's a Power of the Beesting No-Prize in it for you. What's an interesting turn of events Barry and John have drawn both strips but at that time more people will place Barry with Conan and John with the Avengers. For the first time Conan appears in the corner box of a British Marvel weekly. Look there's a legion of heroes on this cover, on a pure white background, all of whom I absolutely love, drawn by artists I absolutely love too, so it has just got to be my Cover of the Week. 

This week's Avengers weekly opens with a Bullpen Special notice offering readers of both that weekly and the Savage Sword of Conan a reason why the two comics have merged. Their motivation for the union, if you believe the editorial, is that Marvelites have been writing in suggesting new line-ups for their Merry mags. So after analysing them, putting them through a computer and even reading them, with the "likes'", the "dis-likes" and the "we wants" all painstakingly sorted and counted they've now took the whole thing a stage further. Accepting orders direct from Marveldom assembled they've teamed "The Avengers" with "Conan the Barbarian" in one big mag! Did readers really want both mags merged? I don't recall any reader mentioning it in any letter pages. It's more than likely that the Avengers weekly sales might have dipped slightly, with MWOM and SMCW possibly maintaining reasonably strong numbers, both Dracula Lives and POTA probably not suited to merging with a super-hero comic. The Super-Heroes comic might have been a better fit, I could see the X-Men join with the Avengers, but maybe that comic had strong weekly figures. Maybe the numbers the editor had hoped for SSOC weren't as good as they got. The thing is Conan might not have a massive fanbase but they are loyal, a bit like kung fu fans. So mixing sword and sorcery, with kung fu and the still strongly favoured Avengers made sense. I must admit I loved both comics since they were hatched and I much preferred that they were merged rather than being dispatched. The new mag is stronger for having pages packed with the biggest and best from Marvel. I wouldn't have asked for it, I wouldn't even have considered it, but now that it's happened I have to say that I really, really love it. This Bullpen bulletin page also appears in the Planet of the Apes and the Super-Heroes. 

Conan the Barbarian “Hawks from the sea!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #19

Cover date October 1972

(Published in July 1972)

This week's story features some of Barry Windsor-Smith's best Conan art, every line and every shadow is perfectly placed. Our story starts after Conan and his friend Fafnir had been rescued from the sea as seen in SSOC #18, but it doesn't take long for Conan to rub the crew of Prince Yezdigerd's ship the wrong way, after watching them haul up an ancient wooden a effigy of a man and lash it to the main mast. One soldier, Balthaz explains that that it is the image of their living God, Tarim, who they are fighting a holy war for. 

Conan considers aloud that maybe he won't fight in their war after all, as why would he risk his life for a piece of painted wood? Hearing this the short-tempered Balthaz pokes Conan in the face with a spear, drawing blood. The two of them brawl, ending with Balthaz taking an early bath in the shark infested waters. Prince Yezdigerd orders archers to fire at the circling sharks while the wet soldier is pulled back on board. The Prince is impressed by Conan, tells the barbarian his plan to invade thy Hyrkanian city of Makkalet, who have abducted the "living good Tarim" from the temple of the Turanian capital Aghrapur. He relates the legend of Tarim from many long years ago when the ancient Sea Gods had destroyed the Islands of Lemuria. A leader rose up amid the cataclysm, a man called Tarim. He was a mystic that lead his people to the eastern shores of Hyrkanian, founding Aghprapur, the capital of a kingdom that came to be known as Turan.

 Century by century through his descendants his people payed homage to him. Until a few short weeks ago emissaries of the city state of Makkalet abducted the Living Tarim. King Yildiz ordered his son to lead an army to restore the Tarim to his rightful temple. Conan asks what's in it for Fafnir and himself. Yezdigerd points out that when Makkalet is taken there'll be looting and ladies and in the meanwhile they will be fed and armed. Conan and Fafnir leave satisfied, Balthaz questions why two heathen unbelievers should be enlisted on the Tarim's behalf? But the Prince sayes that the Gods favours those with the mightiest sword-arms and the strongest wills. The winds turns so Yezdigerd orders the sails to be lowered as night falls. Conan rests till morning to wake with the dawn as Yezdigerd's ship meets with the Turanian fleet. Ready to make an assault on the city, as we'll see in next week's mag.

Avengers Unite!

M Mellish from Tyne and Wear reviews the "Museum Madness!" from the Master of Kung Fu, he says that the art was at its usual high standard, but what really surprised him was the story. It was way above the usual Shang-Chi standard. Although those standards don't begin to compare with Iron Fist, who he would love if Iron Fist was made a permanent feature. The next letter is from a "A Loyal Fan" who writes that although Martin Power says that Doctor Strange is rubbish (Avengers weekly #84) he then requests The Defenders! But the Doc is the leader of The Defenders! Brian Lynch TTB, QNS, from Glasgow was agape with awe over Avengers weekly #85, as everything exuded perfection. The personification of perfect comic-book entertainment. It was good to look at, it was good to read. In short he just LOVED it! Patrick Stephens from County Donegal has found the meaning of the word Avengers. They are:- A - Amazing

V - Vigorous.

E - Energetic.

N - Natural.

G - Great.

E - Enterprising

R - Reliable

S - Strength.

The Avengers “Assault on a deadly star!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in The Avengers #64

Cover date May 1969

(Published in March 1969)

Last week's cover and the cover of the US Avengers mag issue 64 is used as a symbolic opening splash page for this second part, keeping the comic's title logo but adding a credit box, catch-up box and a new story title. The Avengers set off with Barney Barton in a modified rocket, as only Barton knew Eggheads space station coordinates and he had demanded to be taken there. After docking with the space station the Avengers are attacked by Egghead's androids.

While the Avengers battle the villain's android army the Egghead himself interferes in the battle by manipulating dolls of the Avengers commissioned for him by the Puppet Master. The five heroes are stopped in their tracks but Barney Barton is unaffected by Egghead's device. Barney sacrifices his life to destroy the machine that held the Avengers and so stops Egghead's plan, although the fiend manages to escape. Dying in Goliath's arms Barney calls out to him by his name, Clint. Yellowjacket asks why he called him Clint? Goliath answers that why wouldn't he know his real name after all he was his brother. 

The Hyborian Page

This week's Avengers weekly gets two letter pages, with the second page dedicated to the Savage Sword of Conan comic. The first Avengers "The Hyborian Page" starts with a letter from Bob Jarvis from Salford writes that the SSOC ranks above British Marvels other weeklies as the first issue knocked the breath out of him. He then adds Tom Steinke's comments about the US version of SSOC which he describes as "bleak, spare, taut;

the writing is tense and relentless" and  "the drawing is moody, sombre and dramatic." Nicholas Balchin from Cardiff wonders are the Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith Conan stories from the early American Conan the Barbarian comics some four years ago? As he's worried that when the British versions reach issue 73 or so, they will over take the American origins. Doctor Strange fans will be pleased to read in the lower left panel of this page that the Master of the Mystic Arts will return next week. 

Master of Kung Fu “Death of a spirit!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Ron Wilson, Ed Hannigan and Aubrey Bradford

Inker: Sal Trapani 

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #28

Cover date May 1975

(Published in February 1975)

The Master of Kung Fu cover from issue 28, by Gil Kane with inks by Frank Giacoia is used as this week's second part opening splash page, with new catch-up boxes, a credit box and a new story title added. Shang-Chi has meet up with his half sister Fah Lo Suee, at their father's China fortress, after she has kidnapped Sir Denis Nayland Smith. Now in the possession of the Ruby Eyes of Pharaoh Seth-Amon, obtained in Avengers weekly #91, Fah Lo Suee has fashioned them into earrings and is using them to hypnotise members of her father's Si-Fan to serve her instead of Fu Manchu.

She asks Shang-Chi to ally with her against Fu Manchu. But he cannot now choose between two forms of the same evil. Coldly she claps her hands and orders her Si-Fan to kill him. Shadow-Stalker, who Shang-Chi had found in Avengers weekly #89, leads the attackers, but to everyone's surprise, he turns and tells Shang-Chi they will fight back to back. I've always thought that Shadow-Stalker's choice of weapon, two spiked balls on chains attached to a wooden shaft fitted to his hair top knot, was lethal, not only to his enemies but himself. He would have to keep his neck straight and if he turned the wrong way he would hit himself in his ear or neck. crazy design! Fah Lo Suee watches the brief battle with dispassion, even when Shang-Chi moves past her at lightning speed she still watches emotionless. Soon the battle is over with Shadow-Stalker and Shang-Chi victorious. Fah Lo Suee has fled. Shadow-Stalker explains that together, he and Shang-Chi could beat anyone, they should take over the Si-Fan. Shang-Chi declines the offer and says that next time they meet he will greet him in the spirit in which he greets him. Shadow-Stalker leaves, telling him that Smith is in the dungeon. Shang-Chi breaks the door down to Smith's cell. Only then do Tarr and Reston arrive. Shang-Chi shows them the ruby eyes, which he took from his sister during the fight, and smashes them together. He thinks, "I have learned that this fortress is much like the arcade ... a place of games I do not understand."

Dracula Lives #38

This cover was originally from Tomb of Dracula issue 18, drawn by Gil Kane and inked by Tom Palmer. It's a nicely composed cover and having two horror stars on a cover is going win lots of readers over. "The team-up you demanded!" it says on the top headline. "The Prince of Darkness meets the Werewolf by Night!" You know there is hundreds of similar horror encounters in comic, movies and books, so perhaps we really do demand it. 

Dracula “Enter: Werewolf by night!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #18

Cover date March 1974

(Published in November 1974)

This story connects events from last week's Werewolf by Night with last week's Count Dracula seamlessly. Jack Russell and his lover Topaz are traveling by train to Transylvania in the hopes that there they can find a cure for Jack's curse. Dracula has just returned to his castle where he looks upon old paintings of himself and his long dead wife Maria. His mind reflects the events that first transformed him into a vampire. Meanwhile in catacombs beneath Paris, Quincy Harker comes across the body of Blade the vampire hunter. Assuming his ally had been kill by a vampire's bite Harker prepares to stake Blade through the heart.

Jack and Topaz arrive at the Olde Boot Inn to stay for the night. Topaz is approached by a drunk man named Scratcher, who makes a sloppy pass at the girl. Scratcher gets a punch in the mouth from Jack for his troubles, he vows to get revenge against Jack later. In their room, Jack warns Topaz to lock up tight because there will be a full moon and Jack will transform into the Werewolf. Topaz tries to reassure Jack that she can control him like she did last time. Scratcher decides to go up and stab Jack. Entering Topaz's room he is horrified to find a Werewolf. It attacks the intruder knocking him down into the bar below and onto the street outside. With Scratcher dead, Topaz arrives and convinces the Werewolf that they must leave before someone discovers them. Dracula witnessed the fight though and he attempts to feed on Topaz, but he finds that looking into her eyes causes him great pain. 

Suddenly the Werewolf attacks the lord of the Vampires, but he easily tosses the beast aside. Still he finds Topaz's gaze too strong and flees the scene to find a fresh victim elsewhere. In the light of the next day Jack and Topaz travel to Russoff manor in search of clues on how to cure Jack's curse. He reflects back on how his father was similarly cursed and killed by a mob firing silver bullets. They find a locked diary, when they move its page marker they set off a mechanism that opens a secret passage way behind a bookshelf. The passage way leads to a cavern that opens up in front of Castle Dracula. Noting a telescope, Jack realises that his father had an interest in the home of Dracula. That night Dracula rises, to finish his preparations to ship new coffins to new hideouts in London. 

Spotting Jack and Topaz heading toward the castle, Dracula sweeps down taking Topaz and flying her back to his castle, just as the full moon rises once more causing Jack to transform into the Werewolf. Inside the castle Dracula demands to know how Topaz's powers work, however she has no answers. Abruptly the enraged Werewolf bursts in, attacking Dracula. I love this double page scene, as seen above, it harks back to the classic Hollywood horror films where some of the violence is told through shadows projected behind the action. As the two battle Topaz attempts to stop the fight when Dracula gains the upper hand. Dracula swats the girl away and then prepares to feast upon the blood of a Werewolf.

Cryptic Correspondence

Bill Doyle from Ireland writes that in Dracula Lives #29 the Dracula story is good and the Brother Voodoo story is good. But the Werewolf story is the best. Glenn Tabbron from Somerset also likes Brother Voodoo, describing him as "fantastic!" He does have some weird suggestions for swapping different strips in different comics. Philip Russell KOF, RFO, QNS, TTB, PMM, describes Jericho Drum as one of the most unique super-heroes ever, as his powers are different and exciting. Overall Voodoo sets the series apart from anything that's ever been done before. On the writer Len Wein, he goes on to say that he obviously has done a lot of research on Voodoo. Either that or he's one of the world's best fake-out artists, because his script reeks of authenticity. His thoughts on Gene Colan are that he's a perfect choice to handle the artistic chores. After all he can blend the air of mystery and weirdness he lends to Dracula with the wild action and fast-paced thrills he put into Daredevil. How can you lose? 

Frankenstein’s Monster “The brute and the berserker”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Bob McLeod

Originally published in The Frankenstein Monster #16

Cover date May 1975

(Published in February 1974)

The cover from the US comic Frankenstein Monster issue 16, by John Romita Sr. is repurposed at this week's second part opening splash page with a credit box and re-cap box added. This week's story title is from the original cover, but has been enlarged to cover the bottom of the page. Veronica Frankenstein has agreed to operate on the Monster to repair his damaged voice box. However Eric Prawn, the private investigator hired by Veronica to find Frankenstein's Monster, alerts them to a flare that has signalled ICON's troops to attack.

It was Veronica's assistant Werner Schmidt who betrayed them to ICON. The first assault from the attacking troops is to blow up Prawn's hired plane, then they attack Veronica von Frankenstein's chalet. Prawn notices that the attackers are too big to be real, realising that they are a task-force made up from Marauders, ICON's synthetic-monster brigade. Prawn to fends off the next raid. Holding of the first force, due to their simple minded plan of attack. Throwing back a live grenade, Prawn wipes them out with ease. Cardinal soon sends in a colossal robot called Berserker to break through their defences. 

The Berserker isn't affected by gun fire from Prawn's automatic rifle, walking straight through it with ease. It walks through the wall of the chalet too as if it was cardboard, knocking Prawn and Ralph Caccone, the Monster's friend, aside. It then rounds on Veronica. The Monster recovers from his surgery just in time, knocking the Berserker to the floor, but the robot creature is just too powerful to be overcome so easily, returning to it's feet it attacks again. With intelligence that surpasses Frankenstein's creation it grabs some live wires shocking the machine. Afterwards, the Monster utters his first words since being frozen. He denies being a hero but asks who he is? Hovering a half mile away. in their helicopter Indigo and Cardinal realise that the Berserker has been defeated. Not knowing what to do they call Rainbow, ICON's leader, he orders them to have Werner Schmidt repair the android. Find out why happens in next week's "A Phoenix berserk!"

Planet of the Apes #38

Ron Wilson pencils this week's cover featuring a scene that's definitely from this week's the Planet of the Apes strip. It's a good effort, one of Wilson's better POTA covers. Mike Esposito applies the inks. 

Planet of the Apes “Escape to nowhere”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Alfredo Alcala

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Planet of the Apes #7

Cover date April 1975

(Published in February 1975)

Last week's cover by Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito, which only made slight sense of last week's POTA strip is used as this week's fourth part opening splash page, making even less sense. The usual credit and re-cap boxes are added with a new title. Zira and Cornelius help Brent and Nova escape on horseback, as they continue their search for Taylor. Zira warns Brent to not speak in front of any apes. The humans are discovered by a patrol of gorillas and returned to the ape city to be used as target practice.

Zira discovers that they been re-captured and tries to have them released into her custody for cranial research. General Ursus and Doctor Zaius call in to Zira's surgery to countermand her request. So the two humans are taken away once more. Cornelius warms Zira not to risk their lives for the humans, but she has a plan. She stops the gorilla who is driving the cage and tells him that the door isn't secure. She offer to double lock it for him, but instead unbolts it. The driver sets off at speed to the target area. Brent opens the cage door and climbs along the top of the carriage. When he reaches the front he strangles the driver. Stopping the carriage he and Nova take the two horses and set off toward the Forbidden Zone. Not without being spotted and followed by a patrol of gorillas. Losing them in the mountains Brent and Nova leave their horses and enter a cave, The cave opens up to a larger chamber that to Brent's horror reveals there once stood Queens Borough Plaza. Alfredo Alcala's artwork has been fantastic all the way through this run, I might have some small grumble over some of the ape faces but not many. But here with this closing scene he manages to capture, if not better the classic scene from the film in all its stark horror and glory. It's breath taking! Next week, "The nuclear messiah!"

Golden Voyage of Sinbad “Land of the lost”

Writer: Len Wein

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Vince Colletta 

Originally published in Worlds Unknown #8

Cover date August 1974

(Published in April 1974)

The cover by Gil Kane, Vince Colletta and John Romita Sr. from Worlds Unknown issue 8 is repurposed as this week's second part, keeping the top left text box as this week's story title, the bottom right text circle and box, with the film's credits and a passing hint at "Sword and Sorcery in the titanic tradition of Conan!" The title of the strip uses the same logo from the US comic. A new credit and re-cap boxes are added. Sinbad has been defeated by the savage natives as Prince Koura leaves. The savages are about to put Sinbad to dead until Margiana cries for them to stop, showing them the tattooed eye on her hand. 

Upon seeing the eye tattoo on Margiana's hand, the natives decide to sacrifice her to a one-eyed centaur, their God of the Single Eye and the Fountain's Guardian of Evil. Margiana is lowered into the well. Sinbad tells Vizier to remove his mask, revealing his hideous face that frightens the natives away. Sinbad and his men enter the well after Margiana. Prince Koura has already reached the Fountain of Destiny where he drops one piece of the amulet into the water, restoring his life force. Sinbad and his men appear but Koura summons the centaur to fight Sinbad. After Sinbad slays the centaur, Koura turns himself invisible and engages Sinbad in a sword fight. But when the evil sorcerer steps into the Fountain, he becomes visible in silhouette, enabling Sinbad to fatally stab him. Haroun witnesses a crown rising from the fountain of youth. Sinbad presents it to the Vizier, whose mask fades as he puts it on, revealing his restored face. When Margiana asks why Sinbad did not take the crown for himself, he replies that he values his freedom more. Although there are differences and short cuts from the original film there still has been lots to enjoy from this adaption.

Apes Forum

W J Tupper from Surrey writes that in 1974 Planet of the Apes mania was every where. Ape films were on in the cinema, there were ape masks, ape cards with sweets and ape books in the shops. When they watched TV there was the Planet of The Apes TV series and every Saturday there was the Planet of the Apes comic. Their bedroom had so much apes memorabilia in it they would call it their ape room. But with the turn of 1975 things have changed, they miss the ape films at the Cinema, they miss the ape books, ape cards, and the TV series. They're not sure turning the Planet of the Apes in to a science fiction is a good idea as the Planet of the Apes means everything to them. Jenny Bayliss from Surrey wants to point out that no error was made when Roddy McDowall was said to have only appeared in four Apes films and not in all five, as someone mentioned in the "Apes Forum" recently. Jenny confirms that in "Beneatt the Planet of The Apes"', David Watson took over Roddy's role as Cornelius, while McDowall directed a film called Tam-Lin. The list of credits at the end of the film shows no trace of Roddy's name.

The Power of Warlock “And now..Apollo!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in The Power of Warlock #3

Cover date December 1972

(Published in September 1972)

The cover from The Power of the Warlock issue 3, by Gil Kane is repurposed as this week's second part opening splash page, keeping the comic title logo, speech balloons and the story title. New re-cap and credit boxes are added. Adam Warlock survives the burning toxic oil slick released by Apollo's submarine and returns to the surface. Joining his friends on their boat they head towards land as quickly as the vessel can take them as Warlock senses danger that involves a rocket launch at a near by base.

 

At the US military base Adam and the children try to gain access to warn the authorities but they are stopped at the check point. Senator Nathan Carter and Colonel Barney Roberts arrive at the gate and recognise their children, David Carter, Ellie and Eddie Roberts, the Colonel orders the guard to let them through. The VIPs are meeting with presidential candidate Rex Carpenter who is visiting to view the launch of the special rocket. They all watch the launch of the rocket and witness Apollo's craft fly out of the sea and fire at it, destroying it in seconds. Warlock heads to the flying submarine to battle Apollo in person. The two titans clash in furious combat.

Warlocks intense pounding of his foe forces Apollo to reveal his true form, that of a New Man, across between a man and a Warthog. His hideous form the total conflicting with his previous god-like looks and name. His real name is revealed next issue. Apollo takes Eddie and Ellie Roberts hostage and offers them up to Warlock to trade himself for the twins. Next week Adam Warlock faces "the Choice!" The current run on Warlock seems to lack direction to its original concept, possibly due to the changes in writer. I can't say that I've ever been thrilled with a story written by Mike Friedrich, it's only Gil Kane's graphic art holds the strip together making it readable.

The Super-heroes #19

John Buscema drew this cover originally for the Silver Surfer issue 6. It's very nearly perfect, but when it comes to re-using it for the British weekly the covers were given a make-over, one that I think actually improves it. The Silver is as in slight shadows as the main light source is behind him. The guard looks darker for similar reasons and the Overlord's features are re-coloured. Does that make him look better or worse? I'm not sure, what do you think.

Silver Surfer “Worlds without end!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Sal Buscema

Originally published in Silver Surfer #6

Cover date June 1969

(Published in March 1969)

In the coldness of space just inside Galactus's barrier the Silver Surfer laments his plight, his banishment on Earth, and his separation from Shalla-Bal. Who at the same time is also lamenting the loss of Norrin Radd. The Surfer returns to Al Harper's lab to pay his last respects for his fallen friend. While looking through Harper's notes he discovers that the physicist was beginning to stumble upon the secrets of space and time. Suddenly he realises that if he exceeds the speed of light he could bridge the gap in time, hoping that maybe in the future the barrier would no longer exist. 

The Surfer speeds around the Earth faster than light and ends up in the distant future. Witnessing the globe from the heavens he is horrified to find the once green planet has been decimated, but the barrier around the Earth is now gone. Traveling to Zenn-La he learns that so too his home world has also been destroyed beyond recognition. Everywhere he travels the same, empty worlds devoid of life. Finally he reaches a world where primitive life remains, strange deformed humanoids, whose eyes blaze with fear and hatred. They are as shocked to see him as he is them. They instantly attack and capture him with intension of delivering him to their master the Overlord. The soldiers arrive, emissaries of the Overlord. They take the Surfer and in exchange deliver the gift of a quick death to the savages. The soldiers hand over the Surfer to their master, a giant humanoid, who wants to know what part of the universe the silver creature came from, he assumes that it is some part he has yet too conquered and destroyed. When the Surfer realises that the Overlord has created all the destruction that he has seen across the universe, he attacks in anger. Next week the final battle between the Silver Surfer and the Overlord, where only one can survive, find out who in, "Lest the Overlord triumph!"

Cosmic Communications

Rod Summers, RFO, KOF, QNS, TTB, PMM, FFF, from Bristol writes that all five magazines have improved, both story-wise and art-wise, especially with the Roy Thomas/John Buscema Avengers stories, definitely the best over the past 40 issues. On the two new mags the "Super-Heroes" is marvellous. Rod grieved the death of the US Silver Surfer comic, but here's a chance to read him again. In a recent article/interview Rod read in a Fanzine, Stan Lee said that the Silver Surfer mag was stopped because he didn't have the time to write it! The X-Men were partly responsible for Rob's indoctrination in to Marvel about 10 years ago. They recapture that 'thrill' of when he first read them. The magic is still there. Rod has only recently got the Conan phenomena, after missing the first 30 issues of "Conan the Barbarian". Conan has hit him like the time he first got hooked on Spider-man. It's brilliant, phenomenal, superb, genius so much so words fail him. Rob is currently devouring all the Robert E Howard, Lin Carter and L Sprague de Camp books. George Georgiou from London is pleased that at last there is a letter page in the Super-heroes. George thinks that the Silver Surfer is the best thing that ever happened to Marvel since Spider-man, he's hooked. As for the X-Men, he admits that they aren't as good as the Surfer, although they are getting better.

The X-Men “Where walks the Juggernaut!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and Werner Roth

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The X-Men #13

Cover date September 1965

(Published in July 1965)

The original credits on the US edition of the X-Men issue 13, listed Jay Gavin as the penciler on this story. Jay Gavin was the pseudonym of Werner Roth, which he used to conceal his Marvel work from his editors at DC. Jay and Gavin are the names of his two sons. In this strip he pencils over Jack Kirby's original layouts. Roth would go on to draw later X-Men tales by himself. I have to say that although his artwork is functional it does lack the dynamics other artists bring to super-hero strips. I don't think I'm alone in that thought, Roy Thomas commented in the August 1993 issue of Wizard that Roth was a poor fit for the X-Men, being more oriented towards character interactions and relationships than action. Kirby's layout might have saved this week's strip from being a wet lettuce. 

The mystically enhanced Juggernaut, confronts his step-brother Professor X, who attempts to use his mental powers to protect himself, but finds that Cain's helmet protects him from mental attacks. The X-Men join in the fight with Marvel Girl lifting up the Juggernaut with her telekinetic powers, (although in the strips she says "I'll try to teleport him"!!!) Cyclops blasts the floor beneath him causing him to crash into the ground below, Iceman fills it in with boulders of ice. The Professor builds a device that allows him to amplify his mental projections and sends out a thought wave into the city to seek allies in defeating the Juggernaut. The Juggernaut climbs out of the pit and is confronted by Cyclops and Angel. Neither are capable of stopping their enemy. The Professor manages to contact both Rick Jone's Teen Brigade and Matt Murdock, however, neither can come to the X-Men's aid. Iceman and Beast rejoin their teammates in slowing down the Juggernaut. Charles attempts to get the aid of the Fantastic Four's the Human Torch. Hearing the Professor's mental call for help, Johnny assumes that it might be from one of the Fantastic Four's many villains and dismisses it. The action continues next week.

The colour back page of the Super-Heroes doesn't feature the in-house advert for the Marvel Treasury Edition issue 4 Conan the Barbarian. Instead the Hulk proudly offers readers another chance to buy a "smasheroo" Mighty World of Marvel Cover patch. Right I'm off to read some more "smasheroo" comics before I have to start next week's blog. So until then....

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.