The holocaust and the heroes!

 Week Ending 30th August 1975

Just a quickie before I look at this week's super six. Colin Jones pointed out that I made a mistake in last week's blog about the dating of Rampage weekly issue 1. He was absolutely correct, and I quickly corrected it. A Power of the Beesting No-Prize goes to Colin. Mistakes happen and I'm always grateful when any readers spot something that I've missed or got wrong. Please keep any comments coming in the comments section of the blog or in any of the media posts about the blog in Facebook groups, Twitter or Bluesky, I do read them all, even if I struggle to find the time to reply. If it wasn't for the feed back I might on some of the harder days give up. Thanks to Colin and all the other Friends of the Beesting you've got me to do another week of stuff and nonsense, starting with...

The Mighty World of Marvel #152

Although this is a British commissioned cover, that was drawn by Dave Hunt (pencils,) with inks from Frank Giacoia, it also featured in the Marvel Treasury Edition issue 20, published January 1979, as a special added attraction in the Hulk pin-up gallery.  

The Incredible Hulk “Name my vengeance: Rhino!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Trapani

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #157

Cover date November 1972

(Published in August 1972)

After the last five issues of MWOM that featured Defenders stories under the Hulk's strip title the Hulk returns in his own solo strip following events that ended with the conclusion of the "Holocaust at the Heart of the Atom!" storyline from MWOM #146, where ol' greenskins returned to Earth from the Microverse, with only the barest of memories of his reunion with Jarella. It does seem way too easy for the reader to have forgotten the Hulk's sense of loss if not for the handy recap. If only he could have read it to understand why he is so sad. His return doesn't go unnoticed, an automated space station begins initiating a plan of attack.

Meanwhile, at Project Greenskin, watching his daughter's wedding rehearsal to Glenn Talbot, General Ross hopes that Glenn has better luck with Betty than Bruce Banner did. Also watching is Jim Wilson who feels like a traitor to Bruce by participating in Betty and Glenn's wedding. So he decides to leave, hitching a ride with the next craft out of the base to New Jersey. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the  Rhino's comatose body suddenly comes to life, smashing his way out of the mental hospital he has been left in since the last time the Hulk defeated him in MWOM #82, on Bruce and Betty's failed wedding day. In a "zombie-fied" state the Rhino is drawn to a ship that carries him to the space station, named Omnivac and controlled by the physically paralysed Leader, following events that also happened in MWOM #82. Hoping to get revenge against the Hulk, the Leader uses his mind to take full control of the Rhino's body. Fitting him out with a new Rhino suit, in readiness to destroy the Hulk. Speaking of the Hulk, he's let his grief give into anger as he rampages through the New Jersey countryside. Hitching his way to Corona Queens, Jim Wilson's lift hits a traffic jam, find out what the hold up is next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Graeme Murray from Dundee wants to swap a lot of comics that are too big for the "Swap Shop" so he's asked for interested reader to write to him. His letter doesn't mention what type of comics he's offering or what he's interested in. Stephen Hall from Derbyshire points some discrepancies in the Daredevil story from MWOM #137. His main point is with Daredevil swapping bodies with Doctor Doom, Daredevil's mind would see with Doctor Doom's eyes and fight with his strength and that Dr Doom's mind would be blind and he would lose his own strength. Adrian Webb RFO, KOF from Coventry pleads with British Marvel to not bring out either Captain America or Defenders in any of the weekly comics, his reason is that the Yanks would stop sending over their editions of Captain America and The Defenders and this would leave gaps in his collections that he might never be able to patch up. Kevin Gallagher from County Donegal writes after reading Nicholas Wragg's letter in MWOM #133 were he complains about Daredevil and says "Don't give me any nonsense about being able to sense colour" Kevin's letter goes into great detail about how we can sense colour.

The Fantastic Four “By Ben betrayed!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #68

Cover date November 1967

(Published in August 1967)

A mysterious villain has disguised himself as Doctor Jose Santini, one of the world's foremost chemists, who Reed Richards had asked to help him find a cure for Ben Grimm's monstrous appearance. However the fake doctor has adjusted the treatment in such away that the Thing's physical appearance didn't change but his mental personality does, turning him against his teammates. With evil intensions he goes on a rampage through New York City with his comrades trailing behind him trying their best to stop him.

The urgency of the situation means that the Fantastic Four have to leave the bogus Doctor Santini behind in the Baxter Building. With full access to Reed's laboratory and his equipment to rifle through the villain drops his disguise to reveal that he is really the Mad Thinker. The Thinker boasts that once the Fantastic Four have been defeated, he will no longer be known as the Mad Thinker, but instead will be recognised as the All-Powerful Thinker. But readers and the Fantastic Four will have to worry about that next week, in a strip that might see "the end of the Thing!"

It's clean-up time

You might think that recycling and green-energy was a thing of the new millennium, but the forward thinkers from Marvel considered it relevant enough to be part of a new competition to win one of four bikes among a number of other prizes. Well you can't get a mode of transport that isn't as green as a bicycle. The pitch starts with "Empty beer cans in the ditches, Non-returnable glass bottles no-one wants, burned -out space rockets drifting round in space at thousands of miles per hour." Which reminds me, back in the 70's as a kid I used to look for empty Barr one litre bottles in the countryside to collect the return money for. Which I think was 5 pence, or was it more? Let me know if you can remember. The other thing about this is how mature is the concept behind this competition. Marvel is great at getting its young audience to think beyond super-hero hijinks. The pitch goes on with "Millions of pounds worth of old metal, glass and plastic littering up the world. Wouldn't it be great if we could find some way of cleaning it all up and even better, putting it to some use." 

The competition is for readers to create the most imaginative way in which a Marvel character could use their powers to clean up the universe and then turn the rubbish into something useful. Examples of which are Quicksilver creating a vacuum vortex by running in circles to vacuum up the smog-laden air. Or Electro could set up a huge magnetic field right in the middle of the Sahara desert to attract discarded beer and pop cans that litter the world. Where they'll be re-cycled into a huge solar-energy plant which will help to irrigate the desert. Readers had to collect two week's worth of coupons as well as create a superb idea. The best original ideas in not more than 100 words, could win one of two Raleigh Choppers or one of two Raleigh Commando bikes. There will also be ten mystery second prizes and 90 special Marvel souvenir consolation prizes. The closing date for this competition is the 18th August 1975. 

Daredevil “Jest in the nick of time”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Daredevil #45

Cover date October 1968

(Published in August 1968)

This week's second part Daredevil adventure uses a specially commissioned page with a symbolic image of the Jester towering over Daredevil while Matt Murdock in a stolen coat makes his way through the New York subway. I'm not sure who the artist was, although some graffiti on a bin reads "Paty" which could be the signature of American artist Paty Cockrum, who drew the covers for last week's Avengers weekly and the Super-Heroes. In saying that there's "Michele" graffitied on the subway train as well as "Howard loves Joni" so who really knows if my guess is right?

As the dragnet closes in on Daredevil he takes the subway to safety. Coincidentally on the same train is the Jester in his civilian guise. He spots Daredevil's boots under his long overcoat, the fiend calls out for the commuters to grab him, however Daredevil manages to escape from the train before the mob can catch him. Daredevil travels to Liberty Island hoping to lay low for a while, but he's followed there by the Jester who attacks him once more. The battle moves onto the Statue of Liberty where a police helicopter arrives to observe the commotion. As they do one of the police officers falls from the copter. Instinctively Daredevil saves his life. But the officer injects him with a sedative. Daredevil is taken into custody and transferred to a prison infirmary to recover. While still unconscious a curious prisoner begins to take off Daredevil's mask. What will be revealed will be revealed in next week's story, the "Retribution!"

Spider-man Comics Weekly #133

Here's another Dave Hunt cover, this time inked by Mike Esposito. The text box says "cover to cover action!" which is true, but the headline is "4 Raleigh bikes to be won see inside!" No other cover from this week's mags mentions the competition, did Spider-man Comics Weekly need the extra readers incentive, or did they forget to use the headline on the other comics? Which is probably more likely. Dave Hunt's original artwork was sold on the 23rd February 2019 by Heritage Auctions for $3,600, which would be around £2,668.

Spider-man “The Goblin's last gasp!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #98

Cover date July 1971

(Published in April 1971)

Peter Parker is just about to call the Doctor for his flatmate Harry who has overdosed on pills, when Harry's father Norman Osborn arrives in his twisted psycho alter-ego of the Green Goblin with little to no recollection that he is the father of Harry. His only drive is that Peter Parker is Spider-man, his mortal enemy. The Goblin comes crashing through the apartment window in readiness to attack Peter.  The villain sees the state his son is in, the trembling grotesque Goblin can't face the situation, his twisted, tortured psyche is racked by the anguish of a half buried memory of his son and flees. Peter calls for an ambulance and Harry is quickly taken to the hospital.

In England, Gwen Stacy begins to realise that leaving Peter was a big mistake and decides to patch things up with Peter when she returns to New York. Back in the States, Peter finishes his classes with thoughts about getting Mary Jane to visit Harry in Hospital to make up with him and hopefully cheer him up. But before he can start that plan he is confronted by Harry's dealer who asks Peter if he knows where Harry is, as he's got some more gear for him. Peter calls him a creep when he realises that it was him who sold Harry the pills that he took. The dealer calls his thug bodyguards to beat Peter, however Peter manages to easily defeat them with the help of his spider-strength. Beating the dealer into submission, Peter warns him that if he catches the man dealing drugs again, the next beating will make this one seem worse by comparison. Seeing Peter beating up those thugs while not wearing his Spider-man costume does seem extremely violent in a Marvel super-hero strip. I guess his anger fuels that. I have to be honest it's all the better for it, lifting a kids comic to a strip that feeds the minds of young and old alike. At the Bugle news of Harry Osborn's drug overdose has reached Jonah's desk. Robbie thinks that Jonah wants him to pull the story as Harry's father is one of the Bugle's biggest advertisers, but Jameson only wants to know what angle he intends to use when he runs the story. Joe tells him that he's going to explain that drugs aren't just a ghetto problem, but everyone's problem. It's been a great first half, that has dealt beautifully with the human side of illegal drugs, a mature and sensible take on it. But what the readers who originally picked up this comic wanted, was for Spider-man action. They'll get it and more next week as Peter changes into Spider-man to track down the dangerous and unstable Green Goblin in seven days.

The Web and the Hammer

Stephen Redman from North Humberside considers that the introduction of the glossy cover with MWOM #67, brought the best ever cover in his opinion save for the cover of MWOM #129, which is still in his view is the best-ever cover. His opinions about the other comics covers are that the Avengers mag has had a string of outstanding covers recently. Planet of The Apes and Dracula Lives have never had one bad cover between them. Super-Heroes has had some excellent covers in its short life. SMCW and MWOM have had poorer covers than the other two mags for a long time. Matthew Gibson RFO, KOF, QNS from London wants to congratulate Stan Lee and Jack Kirby on a truly amazing Thor story in SMCW #121. Patrick Harry from London wonders what title does he qualify for as he has every issue of SMCW, Avengers weekly, Super-Heroes and SSOC. The editor lists what the Marvel Rankings stand for and from that I suggest Patrick earns a RFO and QNS. Brendan Tierney's RFO, KOF, letter is a "Puzzle Poem." See if you can work it out. My first is in Subby and also in Sea. My second in Thor, but not in the Hulk. My third is in Conan, but never in Kull. My fourth is in Thing, but not in the Blob. My fifth is in Silver, but not in Surfer. My sixth is in Tale, but never in Saga. My last is in Spidey, but not in Mangog. I'll give you the answer later.

Ian Gorton from Manchester writes in after reading Pete Redfern's letter from SMCW #110, where he says that in his opinion Thor is the most powerful regular hero, followed by Hercules, then Hulk. Ian disagrees and thinks the order should be 1) Hulk; 2) Thor; 3) Hercules. His letter gives his reason for his order. Derek Mellor from Anfield Liverpool gives his opinion on each of the weeklies. He thinks that the Avengers is the best weekly of them all with Doctor Strange and Shang-Chi both having great artwork, but the Avengers is the best of all three. The Super-Heroes should have Captain America in it to push it to a higher grading. Derek thinks that the latest Hulk stories in MWOM have been terrible. Daredevil and the Fantastic Four have been keeping the comic going. Dracula Lives has been getting better and better. POTA is excellent when it started but has been drifting from its original concept. As for SMCW Derek doesn't like Spider-man much but Thor and Iron Man has been more sensational lately. The Web and the Hammer also heard from Angus Burnett from Hebden Bridge, Martyn Delbeke from Surrey, Brian Carr from Great Sutton. Gorg Mooney, RFO, KOF, from Neweastle-upon-Tyne, Brian Lynch, ONS, TTB, from Glasgow, Andrew McDonald from London, Stephen Jones, RFO, KOF, QNS, from Glamorgan, Adam Towner from Essex, Graham Lucas from Liverpool, Robert Halliday from Scotland, Martyn Delbeke from Surrey, John Sidol from London, Adrian Marsden from Leicester, David Steele from Stoke-on-Trent, Kevin McMahon from Edinburgh and Michael Daniel from Hull.

Finally the answer to Brendan Tierney's "Puzzle Poem" is Stan Lee!

These in-house adverts for the Mighty World of Marvel and Dracula Lives share a page with each other. The top tag line next to the Mighty World of Marvel, reads "The latest dynamic issue. Don't miss it!" However you might have already missed it as it features last week's Defenders cover! The Dracula Lives advert is a generic advert with the comic's logo under the line "Mystery, Horror, Suspense. It's out now!" However as well as featuring art showing Count Dracula, it also uses an image of the Frankenstein's Monster next to text that reads "Featuring Frankenstein's Monster" Yet it would have been some five week's ago that the Frankenstein's Monster strip had made it's last appearance! 

Iron Man “The coming of...Whiplash!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #96

Cover date December 1967

(Published in August 1967)

This week's Iron Man strip opens with a splash page declaring the coming of Whiplash, the Gene Colan artwork was originally from the cover of Tales of Suspense issue 97, which makes its appearance at the start of this tale a little premature as Iron Man should be still fighting the Grey Gargoyle. Using the force of his repulser rays Iron Man brings the building down around himself, the grey Gargoyle and sadly Agent Sitwell. Cleverly Jaspers realised what would happen and dived towards the Gargoyle so that his touch would transform him into stone to save himself from the collapse. Outside, Iron Man attempts one last time to stop the Gargoyle from unleashing the power of the cobalt device, but Iron Man uses his chest transmitter on a certain frequency to short circuit the cobalt weapon. The feedback causes the Gargoyle to be restored to his human form and he is easily arrested. However the stunt also causes strain on Iron Man's heart and he passes out. The returned to normal Jasper decides that he must save Iron Man's life by removing his helmet.

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #97

Cover date January 1968

(Published in October 1967)

SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell attempts to remove Iron Man's mask with a miniature explosive device, designed by Tony Stark himself. Sounds like a stupid idea to me, but when this proves to be incapable of removing the helmet, Sitwell leaves the scene to find Tony Stark to aid in saving Iron Man's life, little knowing that Stark is really Iron Man. Meanwhile not far away from the Long Island Factory a luxurious cruise ship is anchored just over the international waters border, aboard it we discover an illegal casino, where Tony Stark's cousin, Morgan Stark. We last saw Morgan in SMCW #99 where he had been working for Count Nefaria to make his cousin look insane and ruin his reputation. After facing Nefaria in Europe he has returned to the US but also gotten himself deep in debt to the ships operators Maggia. He is brought to their newly appointed leader, the Big M. Next week could see "Whiplash victorious?"

The Mighty Thor “Where dwell the demons!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #163

Cover date April 1969

(Published in February 1969)

Thor has arrived on Earth in search of Sif, who has undertaken a mission on the planet. Sensing danger, Thor's attention is brought to a group of soldiers telling the people to clear the streets of New York. Investigating further he finds that an area has been cordoned off by the US army when a strange energy barrier appeared over the city's Atomic Research Center. Believing that Sif may be inside the forcefield, Thor attempts to pierce the barrier with the power of Mjolnir. 

Elsewhere in Asgard, Odin continues to learn more about the origins of Galactus. He seeks out the Keeper of Antiquities to bring him the Book of the Ages for him to read. Unfortunately for Odin, the book imparts no further information about Galactus than what Odin has already learned. Leaving empty handed, Odin hopes to learn the secret of the Incuba-Sphere that birthed Galactus, for the sake of Asgard. Back on Earth, Thor continues to attempt to pierce the barrier, but to the shock of everyone present, he is pulled through by some strange horrific creatures before the soldiers can do anything to stop them. Thor stunned to find that he has been attacked by creatures calling themselves Mutates. Although these creatures have advanced weapons, they prove to be no match for Thor's superior strength, and the Thunder God fights them off with ease, telling the Mutates that if battle be the cry then Thor shall not be wanting as he seeks the return of the noble goddess Sif and if they don't bring her forth they will face the wrath of Thor! Find out what happens next week. 

Avengers Weekly #102

This split image cover was drawn by Bob Budiansky with Frank Giacoia inks. I like the symmetry of the villains creating death across the ages, whether it be a manic robot in the present or a powerful warrior from the Hyborian Age, there will always be heroes to oppose them. The headline says "three big features for the price of one" which for this mag is so true. What's also true for me is that this cover is the best this week and so this is my Cover of the Week.

Conan the Barbarian “Sword in the night!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Barry Windsor-Smith

Inker: Sal Buscema, Dan Adkins and Chic Stone

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #23

Cover date February 1973

(Published in November 1972)

This second part opening splash page has been credited as artwork drawn by Carl Potts. Potts is probably more widely known as a writer and later editor, then editor-in-chief at Marvel comics but he had been a member of Neal Adams' commercial art company and a member of the Crusty Bunkers collective of comic book inkers clustered around Neal Adams' and Dick Giordano's New York City-based art and design agency Continuity Studios from 1972 to 1977. Potts joined Marvel at some time officially in 1975, so this could have been one of his early Marvel works. 

Under the orders of Mikhal Oglu, known as the Vulture, the Turanian forces pursuing Conan on horse back. Herding him back to Makkalet and the walled city of Pah-Dishah. Seeking a safe heaven Conan's horse collapses with exhaustion so the Cimmerian must make the final metres on foot as the Turanian army dogs his heals. The gates of the city open and the warriors of Pah-Dishah spew forth to fight Yezigerd's riders, led by the warrior woman Red Sonja. Conan snatches a sword to join in the frenzy, not wanting anyone to fight his battles for him, least of all a red-haired she-devil, more beautiful than the flames of hell. He goes to thank Sonja but she cuts is thanks down by pointing out that she is a soldier in the service of King Ghannif and she did what she was paid well to do, that is keeping the Turanian forces from the city. 

That night outside the walls of Pah-Dishah, Mikhal Oglu orders his best archer to fire an arrow with a message over to a certain part of the city into the waiting hands of a spy. Elsewhere Conan fails to get any closer to Sonja and takes a walk, passing the royal palace where he meets and ignores Melissandra, who is in his eyes the traitorous Queen. Suddenly an attack is mounted on the southwest wall of the city, but this is a distraction that allows Naram-Pyr a member of the Kings guard and his son, Rhupen, to strike down Conan. The traitors tie him up and take him to an abandoned watch tower outside the east of the city. Rhupen fires a message to the thickets to signal that they have captured Conan. All looks lost until Red Sonja arrives after following them. Conan is freed and the pair sets a trap for the Vulture, knowing he is on his way. The following day Rhupen arrives at Prince Yezdigerd's camp, with a package for the prince. Horrified at the contents of the chest Yezdigerd strangles a cry and with unsteady feet leaves. The oft-quoted words of Mikhal Oglu concerning a certain black-maned barbarian come back to haunt him, "If I bring you not his head..I give him leave to send you mine!"

It was a fantastic first appearance of Red Sonja and an absolutely terrific tale by Thomas and Windsor-Smith. Even those readers of the Avengers weekly who where angered when the Savage Sword of Conan joined the mag must have enjoyed this strip! 

The Avengers “And we battle for the Earth!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Sam Grainger

Originally published in The Avengers #68

Cover date September 1969

(Published in July 1969)

You know I absolutely adore John Buscema's Avengers, but I was OK with first Gene Colan followed by Barry Windsor-Smith taking over the strip. Now John's little brother Sal takes his turn to take over the art chores on Earth's mightiest heroes and I have to say I'm equally as delighted with his version of the Avengers as I was with his brother's. Sometime Sal is over looked as great artist, but here he segues beautifully between Barry Windsor-Smith's Jack Kirby inspired artwork and his brother's Avengers work, yet at the same time he makes a style that is Marvel and his own. You can simply describe it as Marvellous!

Ultron is about to trigger a device that would atomize New York City, but at the crucial moment when the robot throws the switch, nothing happens. The Avengers smash into the mad androids strong-hold. After a short battle Ultron makes his escape. The Vision arrives informing the Avengers that he destroyed the devices mechanism to prevent Ultron from detonating his nuclear device. The Avengers learn of Vision's manipulation at the hands of Ultron. A mind probe is used on the Vision to try and find any knowledge he might possess regarding any weaknesses to Ultron's new Adamantium body. They learn that the only way to defeat the mad android is to use a molecular re-arranger device on his indestructible body. Yellowjacket formulates a plan, first he contacts Doctor MacLain at SHIELD headquarters to get the device and then he contacts the Black Panther, who is in Wakanda helping to repel invaders,  to request a chunk of Vibranium. Meanwhile, Ultron plots to kidnap Doctor MacLain in order to force him to build an army of robots to help in his conquest of Earth. The Avengers arrive at the United Nations to watch Doctor MacLain give a lecture on the threat to the human race that a creature spawned by its own rampant technology can manifest. Suddenly the ground beneath the building begins to shake violently as the newly modified body of Ultron-6 attacks MacLain. Come back next week to find out if it ends with "Ultron triumphant!"

Master of Kung Fu “Snowbuster Part two”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Paul Gulacy

Inker: Dan Adkin 

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #31

Cover date August 1975

(Published in May 1975)

Gil Kane's and Dan Adkins cover artwork from Master of Kung Fu issue 31 is used as this week's second part opening splash page, with "Part two" added to the story title and a catch-up box, plus credit box added to the page. Shang-Chi has just knocked out the female assassin Pavane after he return to free the Razor-Fist from a possible death, however the blade wearing assassin had already freed himself and enters the room from behind Shang. At the same time Velcro and some guards enter through another door and orders the guards to shoot the China man. Shang-Chi dodges the rapid fire, but Razor-Fist does not. Suddenly the futuristic tank shatters through a wall, giving Velcro a chance to escape.

Out to sea, Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Doctor Petrie still wait for word from their agents, when the remote-control launch full of explosives, Smith had ordered arrives. Shang-Chi carries the unconscious Pavane out of the fortress, dodging a flamethrower to get back into the tank. Tarr drives it off the jetty and into the sea, where the three agents swim out to the seaplane. Velcro runs through the fortress, determined to not let his nuclear arsenal be destroyed. On the seaplane, Smith admits that he suspected Velcro had nuclear weapons. Shang-Chi gets into the launch, steering it towards Velcro's fortress. It flips off the beach and into the fortress, landing in an almighty explosion. A helicopter pulls Shang-Chi out of the sea, as he recalls a drug clinic in New York, where the faces of those whose life where made to be a living torment because of the heroin that was supplied by Carlton Velcro and his kind. He also remembers the pictures of a city in Japan and the cloud of nuclear devastation that rose above it and the thought of the flesh of those who might have been seared under similar clouds if Velcro had used his weapons of mass destruction. Next week promises another Master of Kung Ku adventure with "Island in an angry sea", (SPOILERs) however it will be the Master of the mystic arts who returns in a story titled, "The shambles from the sea!"

Dracula Lives #45

"Fear is the Legion of monsters" and Pablo is this week's artist on this issue's cover as you can plainly see as he's signed his name, Pablo Marcos, just to the left of Lucas Brand. Pablo inked his own artwork.

Dracula “...Of minds, men and vampires!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #21

Cover date June 1974

(Published in March 1974)

This week's second part opens with a splash page that uses the cover artwork from last week's Dracula Lives and the Tomb of Dracula issue 21 by John Romita Sr. With the majority of Dracula's memories transferred over to Brand, the vampire breaks free early to destroy Dracula. In the progress Dracula is freed and the two fight, with Brand having the upper hand due to Dracula's weakened state. However the vampire lord has had centuries of experience using his vampire powers, phasing into fog he turns to feed upon one of Doctor Sun's scientists, regaining some strength to continues his fight with Brand.

Realising that Lucas Brand was a poor choice and will not win the fight Doctor Sun frees Frank and Rachel and gives them their weapons so that they can join in the fight. As the battle between Dracula and Lucas continues, Brand pushes Dracula into some equipment causing an explosion which starts a massive fire. When Rachel and Frank attempt to kill both vampires, Brand grabs their weapons and destroys them. Brand then turns on Doctor Sun and attempts to kill him but the Doctor suspected that Brand's newly acquired knowledge would make him rebellious and turn on his master so he was ready to defend himself with a mental blast. As the fire rages on, Doctor Sun teleports away while, leaving Frank and Rachel to escape in their helicopter, believing that Dracula has been caught in the explosion. However Dracula has made his own escape by changing into bat form and flying away seconds before the mountain explodes. Next week readers are offered to take a look "behind the iron curtain!"

Cryptic Correspondence

Christopher Williams from Bristol buys Dracula Lives, Planet of the Apes, the Super-Heroes and the Savage Sword of Conan every week and wonders what he's entitled to award himself? The answer is a RFO for buying over three mags a week and a QNS for getting his letter printed. Lawrence Mead RFO, KOF, QNS from Essex read "The night of the Blood Stalker!" in the  Dracula Lives special edition and spotted eleven clues that give away Hannibal King was a vampire, here he lists them. His letter could have unfortunately spoiled the surprise for Dracula Lives readers, because that tale has yet to be printed in the weekly, hopefully readers may have forgotten Lawrence's letter when the story does get printed in Dracula Lives issue 55 and 56 from the week ending 8th November 1975. Peter Millington-Wallace from Cornwall writes that Marvel won't run out of the old classic horror/mystery tales so they should increase the old classicLee/Ditko output and even give them a mag of their own.

Werewolf by Night “Death of a werewolf!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Mike Royer

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #18

Cover date June 1974

(Published in March 1974)

Ron Wilson, Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia created this opening splash page that was originally used as the cover of Werewolf by Night issue 18. Only a new story title, credit box and the frightened girl's speech bubble was added. Jack Russell in his werewolf form fights Raymond Coker in his own werewolf form.  The fight takes the two werewolfs  into the woods for the rest of the night. Ma Mayhem notices Lissa among the terrified onlookers. She seizes the moment and uses a sleeping potion to kidnap her. Jack returns to his apartment the next morning to find a ransom note from the Committee.

The Living Mummy “A Mummy stalks New York!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Val Mayerik

Originally published in Supernatural Thrillers #7

Cover date June 1973

(Published in March 1973)

Not sure who drew this second part opening splash page but weirdly I really like it. It doesn't need a catch-up text box, there's enough in this Mummy's face to make you want to turn the page and find out what's happening for yourself. The Mummy wanders through the streets of New York, briefly resting in Central Park. That rest is short lived when he hears a group of young thugs hassling a woman. N'Kantu approaches them, but the thugs, as well as the woman, flee in terror. The Mummy has no idea why they are so scared of him.

The muggers run into a police officer and explain what they had just seen. Although the officer are skeptical at first they realise that the youths saw something that frightened them so the report is radioed in. To the policeman's surprise the story is collaborated with the story of the Mummy's escape from the museum so the officer investigate. Several squad cars converge on the scene and open fire on the Mummy. Several bullets ricochet of the Mummy's tough hide  and strike a vehicle nearby, causing it to explode. In the midst of the chaos of the explosion, N'Kantu takes the opportunity to escape down a back alley, the police follow but they are shocked that there are no doors or windows in the alley way yet he has disappeared.  

The Monster Maker

This article originally appeared in  the Marvel/Curtis Magazine "Monsters Unleashed!" issue 4, cover dated February 1974, published November 1973 and was written by editor/writer Tony Isabella. The piece, fully titled "The Monster Maker: A Review of Ray Harryhausen's Film Fantasy Scrapbook" deals with the master model maker Harryhausen's impressive film career, with credits including such all-time cinema greats as "Mighty Joe Young", "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", "Twenty Million Miles to Earth", and that incredible Arabian Nights fantasy, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad". Isabella freely takes most of this article references from the then newly published book "Film Fantasy Scrapbook", that collected almost thirty years of his cinematic experience. The article, much like I imagine the book to be, is a must read for students of stop-motion animation techniques, or any serious fan of Harryhausen's work.

Planet of the Apes #45

This is a hit and miss cover with more misses than hits. There's too many elements from last week's Planet of the Apes that have been thrown in to one cover and the result is a mess. OK the human mutant head is purely symbolic, but Brent and Taylor weren't free to witness the falling Lawgiver statue illusion. Alan Kupperberg drew this cover with Frank Giacoia adding the inks. 

Planet of the Apes “The hell of holocaust”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Alfredo Alcala

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #11

Cover date August 1975

(Published in June 1975)

An awesome ape army marches relentlessly towards the radiation-misted Forbidden Zone. Doctor Zaius discovers a shaft that leads down to the Mutant's hidden city. Although their progress is watched by the Mutants council who are making readiness for the invasion, by targeting the Ape city with the Alpha/Omega warhead. 

The apes make their way through the underground labyrinth with fearful apprehension. Meanwhile still confined in a prison cell deep within the subterranean complex are astronauts Brent and Taylor with their primitive human companion, Nova, hear footsteps getting closer. Curiously one of the gorilla insurgence blindly fires his rifle through the prison door opening. The humans stay quiet, standing out of view and gun sight. the gorilla's partner asks hasn't he wasted enough ammunition? But he still wants to make sure there isn't any more danger by tossing a grenade through the opening. The explosion misses the humans but as it hits the rear wall it does blow a hole clean through it allowing the humans their freedom. Both Taylor and Brent decide to find and disarm the doomsday weapon and stop it from destroying all life on Earth. But on their way they cross paths with some fleeing gorillas who shoot at Taylor, but miss and hit Nova. She dies in his arms, in his grief he wants to let them all die. The hell and the holocaust continues next week. 

Captain Marvel “Out of the Holocaust..a Hero!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Paul Reiman

Originally published in Captain Marvel #1

Cover date May 1968

(Published in February 1968)

Yon-Rogg has activated the once inert Kree Sentry and sent it rampaging across the Cape Kennedy Space Center, to cause enough damage to bring Captain Mar-Vell into the fray when it  jeopardises his mission to learn all he can about the human race. Even though the android recognises the Captain to be a man of the Kree it has been programmed to for destruction and anyone who oppose it will be annihilated.

As Mar-Vell makes an heroic effort to save lives and protects the base from warrant destruction the army troop miss-hear his name, believing it to be "Captain Marvel". The name sticks. Meanwhile above Earth, aboard the Kree ship, the restrained Kree medic, Una tries to free herself, but fails so instead she settles for listening to the reports given by a repair robot, known as a Mend-Mek, which is linked to the battle computers. You have to wonder why she doesn't seek its aid to remove her bonds but let's face it this strip is pretty basic and a little unimaginative. Una asks the Mend-Mek droid about the fate of Captain Mar-Vell, its cold response is that Mar-Vell is battling the Inter-galactic Sentry #459 on the Third Planet of the Star-system Sol. Colonel Yon-Rogg must have remembered that there was a Mend-Mek droid in Una's cabin and sets up an ionic interference to block any transmission of data. So Una wouldn't know that Mar-Vell was about to be crushed by the Sentry if not for the courageous troops who rush in to help the hero. Find out their and the Captain's fate next week.

A photo taken from the Planet of the Apes TV series featuring the orangutang Galen, as played by Roddy McDowall with fugitive astronaut Alan Virdon as played by Ron Harper, appears between the two back-up strips as an added feature. 

 

“Light of other days”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #1

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1975)

This short  self-contained strip was adapted from the short story "Light of Other Days" by the Belfast born science fiction author Bob Shaw. This story introduces the concept of slow glass, through which the past can be seen. The story was originally sold to editor John W. Campbell, who published it in the August 1966 edition of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, an American science fiction magazine. The story's unnamed narrator and his pregnant wife Selina, take a short holiday break to soothe their troubled relationship but only end up making things worse. They travel to a remote area, to find a place that sells panes of slow glass.

Slow glass are panes of glass that light takes a long time to pass through, even years, so that a pane shows a scene from the past. People buy slow glass that has been placed in picturesque scenery, much like an expensive postcard. The narrator hopes that an extravagant gift might save his relationship with his wife. They arrive at a small cottage that sales panes of slow glass with views of a loch, where they meet Mr Hagan. Inside the cottage they see a young woman with a small boy in her arms looking out at the scene. The narrator, sensing that Mrs Hagan is not aware of them. still decides to buy the pane. While Hagan is fetching the glass it begins to rain so the couple run to the shelter of the cottage. They open the door and find the interior is disordered and squalid. Hagan is living alone. The family scene of wife and child was of years ago, seen through slow glass. Slow glass works both ways. Selina wants to leave and the couple go saying they can't afford it any more. Hagan sorrowfully calls after them saying it wasn't his fault, his wife and son were killed in a road accident six years previously. 

The page that follows the story's ending is an epilogue that seems completely unrelated to the story apart from the inclusion of slow glass. Another couple enter an antique shop and are hustled by the owner, Mr Tyme, to buy a valuable piece of slow glass. The couple leave in a rush when they discover that the images were of them when they entered the shop but are moving. Mr Tyme notes that they all want to know about slow glass but never make a purchase. This page was a left-over from Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #1. Tony Isabella used these characters to frame the Sci-fi tales in that issue with them appearing before the first strip, (The day of the Triffids,) with a short prelude strip, then appeared in the middle with an interlude that lead into “Light of other days” strip, then ended with this epilogue. It looks weird in this POTA comic, however it makes more sense in the original Marvel/Curtis magazine.

Apes Forum

Anna Brook from Surrey is very excited that the Planet of the Apes TV series is getting another run out in the summer. Anna is thinking of joining James Naughton and Ron Harper's fan clubs and thinks it's a pity that Roddy McDowall hasn't got a his own fan club. Ah but at the time he did. L H Frost from Essex writes in to tell Ape fans that all five Planet of the Apes films are available on 8mm movie films reels that last around 15 minutes as an expertly edited version of the each movie. Ray Pinder from Hertfordshire thinks that the first issue was magnificent, but the second issue was a bit of a let down for Ray, but on the whole all was well in with the world until issue eleven when Ka-Zar made his final appearance, in order for more space to be devoted to behind-the-scene articles and photos of the apes movies and television show. Ray thinks this action was a mistake. The second mistake was the discontinuation of a continuing back-up story, that culmination with issue 18, when Planet of The Apes took up nine pages and a one-off science fiction story took up twenty! Paul Donnachie from Scotland must have been quite happy with the POTA story from issue eleven, as he hopes that the mag will continue with the same quality.

The Super-heroes #26

Keith Pollard drew this dynamic split cover featuring the Silver Surfer and Doc Samson with his friends. All that plus "the x-citing X-Men!" Not a bad line-up, like the bottom text box says "More for your money from Mighty Marvel!"

Silver Surfer “Attack of the Abomination”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Silver Surfer #12

Cover date January 1970

(Published in October 1969)

The John Buscema (pencils,) and Dan Adkins (inks,) cover from the Silver Surfer issue 12 is used as this week's second part opening splash page, giving it the unusual accident of having to story titles. "Attack of the Abomination" and the story's original title that was printed on the cover, "Gather, ye witches!" After discovering the fallen Surfer a witches coven had planned to show the world their might by summoning a demon to destroy the alien. However the coven makes the Abomination appear instead, who doesn't listen to their commands. He throws the Warlock Prime against the other witches and sets off to take over the planet.

Waking up from his potion induced slumber, the Surfer does not hesitate to heal the injured Warlock Prime. The Warlock Prime warns the Surfer that if he does not stop the rampaging Abomination the gamma spawned monster will bring the entire planet to its knees. But the Surfer now weakened from exerting so much of his power to save a life, wants no part in the human's madness, saying that perhaps it will teach man humility! He flies away, but the agonising weakness of guilt causes him to change course when he sees the nearby city in flames. The Surfer attacks the Abomination, hoping to stop him from creating anymore destruction. The Abomination easily repels the weakened Surfer, but he eventually perseveres, using his power cosmic to lull the beast to sleep and wins out. He returns the Abomination to the coven and demands that they send him back from whence he came. Which they must do as the Abomination should, continuity wise, turn up on the Stranger's world in the Thor adventure "Death Is A Stranger", which British readers will see in Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #163, dated the week ending 27th March 1976.

Cosmic Communications

Gareth Bowen from South Wales wishes to remark upon the selfishness of fans toward the younger Marvel fans who have been described as "immature". This suggestion could develop a feeling of inferiority among the pre-teenagers, when all they want to do is to let Marvel know their direction of thought towards Marvel. He would rather read two pages of letters from different age-groups than two pages from the same age group, because a cross-section of letters always produces different and usually fresh letters and ideas. Stephen Poppin RFO, QNS, FOOMer from Huntingdon wonders why the old "Power Comics" die out? He gives a pretty good account of the Power Comics at the time before they disappeared. Stephen hopes to hear more people's opinions on these bygone days of Marvel history. The editor's reply gives more details of the history of "Power Comics". Kenneth Blundell from Southport thinks that having a Marvelites art club feature on the back page of one comics so that the different stages of drawing a hero can be shown every week. The original Boris has just been notified by World Distributors that a new comic-title list due for October/November has been released. He also says that American back issues can be sourced from J Campbell from 30 Baker Street, London.

Doc Savage “The coming of the Silver Ziggurat”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: John Buscema 

Inker: Tony Dezuniga 

Originally published in Doc Savage Vol 2 #1

Cover date August 1975

(Published in June 1975)

This week's instalment of Doc Savage opens with a symbolic splash page drawn by Aubrey Bradford. Last issue Savage and his crew tried in vain to stop Silver Ziggurat from blasting New York skyscrapers and killing untold numbers of people. Doc and his gang are following the deadly zeppelin thanks to a tracking device that Savage attached to its side.  

The zeppelin turns to attack the Doc's own airship but thanks to some forward planning the Doc and his team enter their submarine, "the Helldiver" and fall just as the lightning bolt hits, making it look like the ship is destroyed. At the last minute a parachute slows its descent. Onboard the airship Johnny is left to point the craft in such a way as to look that it has been split from the undercarriage. Doc and his crew follow the Zeppelin to its base on a Pacific island, where the Silver Ziggurat and his army are holding Angelica Tremaine hostage. Savage and his men make their way to the shore using diving gear, where they discover a wild tiger that glows with blue incandescence and also a group of Ziggurant's men.

A fight starts between the two groups with Ziggurant's men using their lightning guns and the Doc's crew deflecting the bolts with insulated shields. Soon it turns into a fist fight that gives John Buscema an excuse to draw some great scenes, including this great splash page. However he does slip up in drawing Doc Savage and his five friends fighting mad for the kidnapping of Angel Tremaine, her brother and Tommy Bolt. There should only be the Doc and four of his friends, Monk, Renny, Ham and Long Tom. Johnny should still be piloting the airship, yet he's seen fighting with the gang to the left of Monk. Oh well even the best make mistakes. The good guys beat the bad and sneak through a barbed wired fence and discover the blue tiger attacking a grotesque man-beast creature. Renny shoots at the tiger hitting the target but the beast doesn't stop. Doc Savage surges towards the big cat to take it on with his bear hands. Find out how he gets on with it, or maybe not, in next week's exciting conclusion!

The X-Men “The Sentinels spell...death!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and Werner Roth

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The X-Men #14

Cover date November 1965

(Published in September 1965)

Jack Kirby's cover from the X-Men (US edition,) issue 14 is used as this weeks second part opening splash page, with the usual new story title, credit box and catch-up text box added. Wally Wood inked this artwork for Kirby.  The Sentinels decide to take the unconscious Doctor Trask to their "place of creation" leaving the Sentinel 3-R to guard the humans. Iceman and Beast arrive and battle the Sentinel. They manage to knock the robot off its feet but then Iceman is hit by a ray blast. Cyclops joins the fight but before he can deal with it, the Sentinel suddenly deactivates on its own and falls over.

The other Sentinels come into contact with the Angel. Some of them attack him with their energy blasts but he is able to evade their attack but the effort sends him crashing on top of a speeding train. Coincidentally, Jean Grey happens to be on that very train and helps the Angel. They join the others just as the Professor is able to mentally probe the mind of the Sentinel who mumbled the word "Master Mold" before deactivating. He learns that the Sentinels have a secret base and leads the X-Men to it to rescue Trask. Meanwhile at the Sentinels base, Trask demands to know why his inventions have betrayed him. They explain to him that in order to protect humanity from mutants, they must first conquer the human race. They are alerted of the X-Men's approach, who have driven there in the Professor's Rolls Royce, to what seems like an empty meadow. Suddenly the ground rises up revealing a high tech base that fires laser beams at them, catching the X-Men by surprise.

The back covers of this week's MWOM and SMCW featured a colour advert for the latest Marvel Treasury Edition, issue 6, starring Doctor Strange, as you will have seen in last week's blog. The Avengers weekly, Dracula Lives, Planet of the Apes and the Super-Heroes this week all sported this "Apes Extravaganza" advert for full colour photographs of the simian and human stars of the Planet of the Apes TV series, Virdon and Burke, Galen, Doctor Zaius or General Urko. as played by Ron Harper, James Naughton,  Roddy McDowall, Booth Colman and Mark Lenard respectively, all for 90 pence. Or if you desired you could order a giant poster of Urko on one side and information and pictures about the series, including a profile of Roddy McDowall on the other for 40 pence. If you fancied both you could have them for the bargain price of £1.15. All postage, packaging and VAT included. A must for all ape fans. 

Right as we reach the last Bank Holiday of the summer, it's time for me to stop monkeying around and enjoy the good weather while I can. So until next week...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.