...And so it ends...Only joking!

 Week Ending 27th September 1975

This week's sub title needs a little explaining, when I decide to end the weekly "Week Ending..." blog I wanted to use this week's Fantastic Four story title "...And so it ends..." And I still might one day, but as it was used in MWOM and the Super-Heroes weekly this week featured the last solo Silver Surfer strip from his first series I thought "well that sounds good!" It's the last "City of Nomads" too, but let's not over do it. Another thing this week while reading this week's Prog (2450) (Great comic by the way.) I read this from Brass Sun, Pavane, by Ian Edginton with art by Ing Culbard, "Whether through nostalgia or the loneliness of immortality, when he found the world of men, he smiled upon them, for they reminded him of whence he came." It seemed to me at least to connect with how I look at these old comics from 50 years ago. Or maybe it doesn't. Anyway back to 1975 for your regular stuff and nonsense! 

The Mighty World of Marvel #156

There's been a chat in the Power of the Beesting blog comments of late about the seemingly large number of mistakes in the weeklies, is it the fault of the editor, the printers or both? Well we start off this week's blog with a a bit of a biggie on this week's Mighty World of Marvel cover. You might not see it straight away, so I'll give you a minute to take a closer look. The artwork with week is from Herb Trimpe and was originally from the Incredible Hulk issue 159. I think it looks incredible, I like how Trimpe drew the Abomination as bigger and bulkier than the Hulk. It's a great cover but my Cover of the Week choice is even better. Right have you had enough time to spot the mistake? Well the cover date on this issue is the 4th October 1975, which should be next week's cover date. MWOM #147 is also dated as the 4th. I guess that the editor who put the cover together is at fault with that one.  

The Incredible Hulk “You years before the Abomination!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Sal Trapani

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #159

Cover date January 1973

(Published in October 1972)

This week Steve Englehart takes over the writing chores on the Hulk strip and the first thing I notice is how much he wants to explain the science behind events to smooth out the plot that Herb Trimpe's artwork presented to the reader. Particularly in the first page has he lays out the details of Banner and the Rhino's return to Earth. Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, Archie Goodwin and Steve Gerber just ignored faults and let the story flow. I feel that this modus operandi may lessen over the coming stories, either because Trimpe tightens is artwork plots so it doesn't become necessary, but also Englehart might see that the over description slows down the story. Don't get me wrong I think that with Roy Thomas, Doug Moench and Steve Gerber, Englehart is one of the strongest writers from this period. And incredible on these Hulk strips.

Bruce Banner pilots the Leader's space shuttle on its return to Earth from Counter-Earth as seen last issue, with an unconscious Rhino aboard. General Ross orders it shot down as a UFO, even though he suspects that it could be Banner on board. Banner evades the three missiles, although as explained last week the printers mixed up the fifth page's artwork with last week's fifth page, so here it shows a surprise splash page cameo of the Hulk battling the Rhino with a handful of New-Men watching on. 

 

One of the missiles hits the ground, prizing out the dry desert earth, awakening a slumbering giant. The Abomination steps out of the rubble, where he had laid in a coma for two years. He references 1970 when he and the Hulk last fought as British readers would have seen in MWOM #104, when he had been a crew mate of Xeron the Starslayer, under the command of space captain Cybor. But that would have been a year ago for readers of MWOM, but to the readers of the original US comic it would have been just over two years. As a second barrage of missiles hit Banner's craft, he changes to the Hulk and survives the crash. Ross orders the army to capture the giant figure and bring to the HulkBuster Base, but they confuse the Abomination with the Hulk and locks him in up a super cell. Once they discover that they have imprisoned the wrong Gamma-spawned monster General Ross comes up with an idea that with the Abomination's help he can stop the Hulk and Banner from destroying his daughter's happiness. Find out how next week in "The Abomination attacks!"

Daredevil “Brother, take my hand..Part II”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: George Klein

Originally published in Daredevil #47

Cover date December 1968

(Published in October 1968)

Gene Colan's original cover from Daredevil (US edition,) #47 is used as this week's second part opening splash page with a quick catch-up box and credit box added. For the story title a simple "Part II" is added. Willie Lincoln has returned from the Viet-Nam war after blinded in an enemy attack, to try and clear his name after being framed for taking bribes while he had worked as a police man in New York. Lincoln had been a thorn in mob boss Biggie Benson's side. Benson had got Whitey Barton to claim he saw Lincoln taking a pay off. Matt Murdock agrees to help Willie clear his name.

Murdock calls Benson to testify against Lincoln and also the witness, Whitney Barton, who had seen his client accepting a bribe on the 6th of July. Barton had at the time been an employee of Benson's. Calling Barton to the stand Murdock asks him to go through the events that lead him to witness the bribe, which he does saying that he could see it clearly down the street. But when Murdock points out that the weather reports from that day had described it as the foggiest day of the year and he couldn't have seen him. This panics Barton who lets slip that Biggie Benson made him say it otherwise he'd have him killed. Willie is exonerated, while Benson is arrested but allowed out on bail. Later Benson's men go round to Willie's apartment to kill him. Murdock switches the lights off and fights them, pretending to be Willie so that they believe that the blind man is more than a match for them. Willie's guide dog attacks the intruders too, giving Murdock a chance to change into Daredevil and finish the thugs off. Daredevil explains to Willie that like him Murdock is also blind and that he too can find a way to make a successful life even with his disability. Next week "Farewell to Foggy!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

I don't want to turn this blog into "Marvel's mightiest cock-ups" but I feel duty bound to point out the slip-ups as well as the triumphs. The first letter is from...? Well I'm not sure as the writers name and address isn't given, although the editor reply names him Damian. As a Marvel fan from the days of Power Comics, Damian considers Marvel to be by far the best in entertainment, encouragement and thought-provoking reading material there is in comics. He praises them for doing unconventional things in the publishing field. such as a Spider-man story dealing with a taboo subject like drug-abuse. However in Britain the ugly head of censorship has arisen. The evidence he puts forward is the "Apeslayer fiasco" in which the female forms of the Martian-bred "sirens", originally scantily-clad in the "War of the Worlds" were re-drawn in ridiculous dresses and other obscure forms of clothing as seen in POTA #36. He offers other examples from Dracula Lives #30 and the story from issues 32 and 33, that deals with religion. David Barlow from Northants thinks that the Hulk stories are deteriorating week by week, because the Hulk used to fight "nice" horrible foes , but now his battles are with Thunderbolt Ross and his "stupid" military troops. Andrew White, PMM, from Liverpool is feeling a bit of deja vu.with the Avengers merging with Conan, just like the Power comics did back in the late 60's. I can't quite make out the name of the next writer, it could be Neil Christie from Aberdeen, who writes in to congratulate the Bullpen on the fantastic job they are doing on the Fantastic Four. 

Ray Matthews RFO, KOF, QNS, FOOMer from Birmingham asks five questions, 1) Who is Doc Savage? 2) Will there be new weeklies? 3) Why haven't the weeklies been blessed with Sterenko's superb art? 4) Will there be a repeat of Spidey's origin? And 5) Will there be a Marvel calendar for 1976? Answers 1) He's the Man of Bronze, see his adventure in the Super-Heroes, 2) Yep, in Autumn, 3) Sterenko's will come eventually, 4) Yes, when the right moment comes along. 5) An announcement in October is imminent. Neale Walford from Nottingham is ashamed to not have started collecting Marvel comics sooner. He thinks the biggest mistake British Marvel comics has made is POTA and Dracula Lives, as he feels that they aren't as popular as the other mags. He suggests that they are scrapped and replaced with comics featuring the Defenders, Ghost Rider, Captain America and a special Team-up spot. Nick Green from Norfolk asks Marvel not to listen to readers who knock Shang-Chi because he is based on the Sax Rohmer penned story of Fu Manchu, who has been around for ages.

Butlin's Super Jokers this week are Ayr holiday camp winner Charles Keenan, aged 7, from Glasgow. Barry holiday camp winner Mark Isherwood, aged 8 from Lancashire. Clacton holiday camp winner Tracy Leslie, aged 5, from Houghton Regis, Skegness holiday camp winner Paul Cockeroft, aged 8, from Essex. And from the Bognor holiday camp Paul Matthews, aged 7, from Wigan. Jokers of the week from Minehead holiday camp Geoffrey Burrows, aged 5 from Leicester, with the limerick "There was a young man called Thor, Who walked into a plate glass door. He said 'by heck', 'I've broken my neck', So he laid down and cried on the floor." The Pwllheli holiday camp winner is Glen Farrimond, aged 9, from Bolton with this joke "Question, What do you call a flying policeman? Answer, A hellycopper!" And from the Filey holiday camp, Anthony Craigie, aged 5,

from Cleveland, joked "What does a hedgehog have for his tea? Prickled onions!"

The Fantastic Four “...And so it ends...”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #70

Cover date January 1968

(Published in October 1967)

Sue Storm enters the Baxter Building's labs to find her Brother, Johnny and her husband, Reed unconscious on the floor next to the also motionless Thing, who's personality had been changed by the Mad Thinker. With the Invisible Girl the only member of the Fantastic Four left standing when the Thinker's android comes crashing through the wall. Sue concludes that Ben must have wounded her teammates and that the android, having just arrived had finished Ben off. 

In order to get away she turns invisible, but when the android turns its attention to her husband, she blasts it with Reed Richard's experimental electro-force beam. While it stuns her foe, it also works to revive Reed, Ben and Johnny, although not quickly enough to help Sue. She then has to dodge the robot's blows,  when it begins tracking her with its radar system. More recovered than Reed and Johnny the Thing gets up to help Sue, who quickly realises that he's back to normal again. He begins fighting the android. With Sue's help, Ben manages to knock the robot out of the building, however the force needed causes Sue to faint. Ben tries to revive her but the now awaken Mister Fantastic still thinks that the Thing's personality is as the Thinker had left it, presuming that he is attacking his wife Reed lashes out at his best friend. Hopefully all will be sorted next week.

The back page Dinky Toys advert on this week's MWOM falls under the title of "Seek and destroy!" It gives the impression that all these vehicles have been designed by Gerry Anderson. They certainly look like they could be from a Gerry Anderson TV series, like Thunderbirds, Space 1999 or UFO. The Armoured Command Car, Model No. 602 was 157 mm long and had a "power operated tracer projector and scanner with a detachable towing strap and towing hook. Although not directly a creation of Gerry Anderson, but it was one of several Dinky Toys made as part of a series that included models inspired by Gerry Anderson's television shows. The range featured military vehicles and boats, The OSA Missile Boat Model No. 672 was 205mm long, it could fire four missiles, would run on hidden wheels and had two swirling "pom-pom" guns. The die-cast model was designed to have a connection to the Anderson universe. However the Dinky Toy listing for Model 672 is for a Soviet Navy's Project 205 Moskit (Mosquito) class of missile boat, which 400 of them where built between built 1960-1973, was codenamed OSA by NATO, after the Russian word for "Wasp". The Eagle Transporter Model No.359 is most definitely a creation of Gerry Anderson, from the classic TV series Space 1999.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #137

The first of Keith Pollard's British Marvel commissioned covers this week. This piece is inked by Mike Esposito. There's a nice bit of hyperbole on the top tagline, "The mighty Thor in his greatest battle ever!" Well it is Marvel, so it's probably true until next week.

Spider-man “The spider the man?”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #100

Cover date September 1971

(Published in June 1971)

The top of this opening splash page states that this is Spidey's one hundredth anniversary issue, a left over from the comic it was originally printed. You would have thought that they would have removed or replaced that text box, but anyway this tale starts with Spider-man swinging over the streets of Manhattan looking for crime to fight. Just as he thinks it's a quiet night, he spots a bank robbery. Quickly stopping the crooks he leaves them for the police. Life being Spider-man isn't as thrilling as it once was, he envies people with a normal life. If only he could spend the rest of his life with Gwen Stacy. Without the constant danger of being Spider-man. 

Peter then gets to work to create a serum that will strip him of his spider powers. Once complete, Peter drinks the potion and instantly begins getting dizzy. With a head pounding, he goes to bed and try to sleep it off. Peter begins to dream, recalling his guilt over Uncle Ben's death that would leave his Aunt May a widow. How he found income by being a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle, to help support them. But the photos he sold to J Jonah Jameson were used to discredit and demonise Spider-man. The dream would recounts how his romance with Betty Brant, who eventually became engaged to Ned Leeds. How found new love with Gwen Stacy and how he nearly lost her when Gwen blamed Spider-man for her father's death. In his dream Peter, now standing as Spider-man calls out into the sky, asking why he has to constantly live a life of tragedy. He hears a familiar voice calling out for help. Suddenly he's attacked by the Vulture who swoops in from the skies. Spider-man is easily defeats his longtime enemy with a punch. As the Vulture falls Spidey snares him with a web line, but almost instantly a Lizard's tail strikes him across the face. The nightmare continues next week.

The Web and the Hammer

Sui Anwar from London describes Marvel comics as "heavenly and a joy for the eyes." He gives a strip by strip review on all six weeklies. Anthony Alsford from Essex won't fill his letter with mistakes he's spotted as he thinks it is wrong to find fault with comics, as the editors must do a lot of work in preparing them, they can't really be blamed for tiny little mistakes. M J Davis from Cheshire can't remember what life was like before he discovered Marvel comics. They're absolutely great and so he gives a review on five weeklies, with all of SMCW's stories being great, even giving praise to the Iron Man strip. MWOM had great strips too, because they make you really mad and emotional he writes. The Super-Heroes is a dream come true. SSOC would have been great if Conan and Kull were joined by Ka-Zar. The Avengers weekly is also great but he thinks that putting the Conan strip in the Avengers just doesn't mix. Peter Lennon from Birmingham has written in twenty-two times and has wondered if Marvel had been getting them. He has got a thousand American comics in his collection and is willing to sell them if anyone is interested. 

Geoff Prorins from Buckinghamshire has been enjoying the UK editions and possessing all of them to date. But he feels disturbed about the overall chronology, so he laid out a few tables to help Marvel's staff keep it intact. Too much to repeat here, but if you're interested take a peak at his letter. Neil Purcell from Yorkshire writes in for some facts about the Power Comics Fantastic, Terrific, Pow, Smash and Wham as he was lucky enough to pick up some issues at a second-hand bookstall. His first question is why did they "kick the bucket?" And why are their stories being repeated in the current mags. The editor ducks those questions by saying they already answered them some weeks ago. 

Iron Man “The torrent without..the tumult within!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner #1

Cover date April 1968

(Published in January 1968)

 

Iron Man has been captured by Maggia and is magnetically bound to a table in the lower decks of a Maggia gambling ship. Overhead a laser beam threatens to slice the golden Avenger in half. Luckily he manages to pull out a recharge cable from one of his side-pods, to short-circuit the electrical systems operating both the table and the laser. On the upper decks agents of AIM board the cruise ship and begin to raid the gambling den. Maggia's leader, Big M, orders Whiplash to deal with the rival villains. Avoiding enemy fire, Whiplash manages to keep the AIM agents at bay with his whip. 

More chaos erupts as the criminal factions fight it out with the gamblers running for cover.  Jasper Sitwell dives behind a poker table and tries to stay out of sight. Big M and Whiplash eventually retreat and seal themselves inside of a special chamber. On board the AIM submarine the commander of that group activates a weapon that rocks the cruise ship. In panic that the ship will sink Whiplash emerges from his vault only to stumble into Jasper Sitwell. Iron Man blasts upward through the deck just as Whiplash prepares to kill the SHIELD agent. A quick repulser blast lays him out saving Sitwell's life. Suddenly a vortex beam, from the AIM submersible pulls Iron Man out through the hull of the ship and into the water. "The cataclysmic conclusion" of this strip will be here next week, will you?

The Mighty Thor “Him!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #165

Cover date June 1969

(Published in April 1969)

I really like this simple but mesmerising opening splash page by Jack Kirby, as Thor, Sif and Balder bath in triumph with the ending of their battle with Pluto and a new chapter in an ending saga of strange wonder begins. Thor decides to investigate what Pluto had sought to claim from within the Atomic Research Centre. Meanwhile on distant Asgard, Karnilla has called upon Haag a sorceress to find a way to make Balder fall in love with her, a task that Haag gleefully takes.

Back on Earth the object of Karnilla's desire, Balder, with Thor and Lady Sif search the halls of the research centre when they are hit with a bombardment of energy, such as mankind has never known. Down the hall in a room where a sign reads "NO ADMITTANCE! UNKNOWN BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN!" a figure rises from a cocoon. The artificially created man named Him breaks free from his pupae. Confronting the three Asgardians, Him explains his origins and how he was created by the Enclave, as detailed in the Fantastic Four adventure as seen in MWOM #143 to #146. Sensing the evil of his creators he had sort to destroyed them but sick of the thought of what he would do he wanted no more contact with the human race and flew off into the stars. There in deep space he was drawn into a strange and deadly space trap as astroid struck astroid around him. To save his own life he entered another cocoon state once more. Unknown to Him at the time a silent space ship moved into view. Next week we'll see "Thor vs. Him!"

Avengers Weekly #106

Here's Keith Pollard's second British Marvel commissioned cover, this time inked by Duffy Vohland. Signed by both as seen to the right of the video monitor, although Vohland's signature is cut out in the final version of the mag. I like the concept of the Avengers watching Conan, but how would that really work? Maybe during a lull in their Kang/Grandmaster adventure they had a look at some of Kang's equipment.   

Conan the Barbarian “The mirror of Kharam Akkad”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Sal Buscema and John Severin

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #25

Cover date April 1973

(Published in January 1973)

This story marks the start of John Buscema as Conan's artist, one that stands the test of time, whether is on the colour US comic, Conan the Barbarian or the more adult version of the Cimmerian's tales in the black and white magazine Savage Sword of Conan. John's style feed off Jack Kirby's with powerful dynamic figures but unlike Kirby they had realistic human anatomy. His approach lead to him creating the Marvel house style for the next couple of decades. The only problem was, Buscema absolutely hated drawing superheroes. In a 1978 interview he said, “I hate it with a passion. I hated doing the Avengers, and I hate doing any superhero.” But what he did like was Conan. In the same 1978 interview he said, “Conan is my favourite character. In fact I recently asked Roy Thomas, or rather I told Marvel and Roy, I’d like to do Conan exclusively. It’s the only project in comics that I’ve ever done that I really enjoy.” Originally Roy Thomas wanted Buscema to draw Conan the Barbarian from the beginning, but Martin Goodman felt that John's page rate was too expensive to spend on a comic that might not sell. So Thomas asked Barry Windsor-Smith to do it. Barry's leaving was at the time quoted by Marvel as the artist's failure to meet the deadlines, Windsor-Smith has since stated he had quit the series a number of times as he was dissatisfied with the work and how the comics business worked. Whatever the reason Conan was left in very safe hands.

This Conan adventure was in part Inspired by the Kull story "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" written by Robert E Howard and originally published in the September 1929 issue of the Weird Tales magazine. It is one of only three Kull stories to be published in Howard's lifetime. Roy Thomas uses that story with a flashback sequence in this issue to tie it to Conan's time. The high priest Kharam-Akkad is upset because his magical mirror is causing him to be distracted from Conan's escapades. He summons Chumballa Bey, the captain of the guard who has a score to settle with the barbarian, to bring him the Cimmerian. Sitting nervously back in his chair figure approaches him. The Tarim Incarnate, the embodiment of the Hyrkanian diety. Akkad tells the Tarim about the Mirrors of Tuzun Thune. In ancient Valusia King Kull had encountered a wizard named Tuzun Thule whose mirrors predicted the future. Kull sat entranced by the visions enfolding in the mirrors until he was rescued by his friend Brule. The mirrors passed through the ages into Akkad's hands. When the priest looks into it he sees Conan standing over his dead body, which drives the priest mad. Hovering above that image there is a lion, eagle and serpent. He believes that the animals signify a statue in Makkalet of a winged serpent fighting a griffin. He returns Tarim to his room. Meanwhile following his adventure with Red Sonja, Conan is arrested by Chumballa Bey and his men, but the young barbarian fights and tries to escape through the palace gardens, where he runs into the queen. A blow to the skull by the hilt of a soldier's sword renders him unconscious. The king orders Conan imprisoned. Continued next week!

Avengers Assemble

Keith Ansell from Birmingham writes in defence of Doctor Strange calling him the most completely original creation, with the largest story-scope, that Marvel have ever produced. The good Master of the Mystic Arts has faced enemies, more powerful, on average. than any other Marvel hero, with both evil incarnations like Dormammu and Nightmare as well as neutral ones like Eternity and The Living Tribunal. Paul Humphreys RFO, KOF from Stoke-On-Trent was on holiday the other week and noticed a shop selling old Marvel comics for as little as 2½/p and 3p! Paul compares Mighty World of Marvel issue 24 and the latest issue 143. He goes into great detail, which is worth a quick read, but his conclusion is that Mighty World of Marvel is much better today than it was then, even though in those days they had some colour pages. and it was 40 pages long. Joy Jones from Berkshire writes that in Avengers weekly #94 three of the six letters published complain about Doctor Strange, but she leaps to the sorcerer's defence by saying that he's different from other Marvel characters, as he's a big change from the usual fist/sword fightin' guys. Also he gives scope for some really imaginative artwork. Joy rates him alongside Conan and the Silver Surfer. 

Rod MacKenzie RFO, KOF, from Aberdeen belatedly  congratulates Marvel on making it in Britain. There have been a few mistakes and many problems to overcome. but now he sees it as a pleasure by telling them that the British weeklies are almost of the same high standard usually only expected in American editions. Rod points out that the editors often make it difficult for themselves when replying to readers letters, when they should just be honest with the problems they have putting together a weekly. Drew Ramsey RFO, KOF, from Dundee writes a short letter commenting on bringing Conan to the Avengers. He thinks it's great and hopes that he'll last longer than Shang-Chi. Garry Houghton from Wigan has been following Conan throughout the many US magazines. David Hipkiss from London writes that putting Conan in The Avengers was a very good move, but Doctor Strange should be replaced by Iron Fist.

As part of this week's letter Avengers Assemble letter page one column is given over to a book review. The first ever book reviewed in this feature is "The Marvel Superhero Index" complied and published by Alan Austin at the cost of 30 pence, plus 5 pence postage. Austin was a Marvel Madman from the early days so he's the ideal writer to create this comprehensive detailed index of all that has been published under the Marvel (US) banner since 1961. There are two criticisms from the review though, there is no colour on the cover and the printing isn't lavish. But anyway the editor awards Alan a FFF award.

The Avengers “When Strikes the Squadron Sinister!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Sam Grainger

Originally published in The Avengers #70

Cover date November 1969

(Published in September 1969)

Although Big John Buscema may not have enjoyed drawing the Avengers as much as Conan, I aways did enjoy his work on the strip and I've always enjoyed his younger brother Sal's time on the Avengers, very nearly as much, even on some days more so. This week's story starts with Kang throwing a hissy fit at the banquet table like an oranged faced spoiled brat dictator. In the year 4000AD the Avengers and Kang await for the Grandmaster to start the tournament, but the alien being just stares out into space. When asked he says he was just creating. His far off home planet is a vast computer and he had been mentally sending it data to create his own chessmen for phase one of the game. Kang has taken this time to arrange for two assassins to shoot the Grandmaster. However he had already sensed them and caused their weapon to explode killing them. 

While in the present, Captain America, Goliath and Thor await for the fourth member of their team to join them, suddenly like a rocket from above Iron Man flies down to join them. Summoned to be the fourth member of their team, possibly by Kang as he had sent Tony Stark back to have treatment, he has also in future stories manipulated the time line of Tony Stark, although it does seem to be that the Grandmaster might have been responsible. The thing is Stark would have needed medical attention, but Marvel's timeline at that time would have placed Iron Man recovering from his illness and fighting Midas in Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #180, cover dated 29th September 1976, but as this is set in the present maybe it was a couple of days or weeks, later or earlier. Upon his arrival, the Avengers are told by the Grandmaster about each of the Squadron Sinister members' abilities, the super athletic Nighthawk, the super-strong Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum with his Power Prism and the super-swift Whizzer.  

Before transporting them to different parts of the world the Grandmaster explains that his minions are attempting to capture four national monuments, The Statue of Liberty, The Taj Mahal, Big Ben, and the Sphinx. Without wanting his teammates to ask him any awkward questions about his lack of appearance at Tony Starks bedside last week he chooses to fly to The Taj Mahal in India. Thor then uses his hammer to transport each Avenger to each of the other monuments. It's night time when Captain America arrives at the Statue of Liberty. It's his appreciation of Lady Liberty that distracts the Captain as he steps into a trap that the Nighthawk laid for him. He awakens in the villain's Hawk-plane that has lifted the statue into the sky. A fight starts between Nighthawk and the Avenger. To win that part of the contest Nighthawk needs only to destroy the monument, Cap stops him but leaves himself open to an explosive pellet. More explosive action next week.

This in-house advert promotes last week's Spider-man story when the Web-slinger appears on a TV talk show and next week's Planet of the Apes adaptation of the 1971 movie Escape from the Planet of the Apes. 

Doctor Strange “Dark Castle!”

Writer: Gardner F Fox

Artist: Craig Russell

Inker: Mike Esposito, Frank Giacoia and David Hunt 

Originally published in Marvel Premeire #7

Cover date March 1973

(Published in December 1972)

I have no idea who might have drawn this specially commissioned splash page for this second part opening. It looks quite cartoonish when compared to Craig Russell's artwork, but to be fair Dagoth looks very cartoonish anyway. Doctor Strange is attacked while rescuing Henry and Blondine, but he manages to bind Dagoth with the Seven Rings of Raggador. When the semi-conscious Blondine murmurs that she hears Shuma-Gorath's call, Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto to probe her mind and learns that she is the reincarnation of the high priestess of Dagoth who drowned in the cold water with the other human inhabitants of the city when it sank beneath the ocean.

That night, while Strange and Henry rest, an entranced Blondine takes the jewel, which she calls the Starstone. The light beaming down from Kulthas frees the shadow from within the Starstone and the darkness spreads, turning everyone into slaves of Dagoth, who has freed himself and now plans to sacrifice them all to Shuma-Gorath. Clea and Wong arrive by car as the people begin to march into the sea to sacrifice themselves, but Clea uses her mystic abilities to rouse Strange from his demon-induced stupor. Strange then uses the Vipers of Valtorr to gather in the evil shadow from the Starstone, freeing everyone else from its control. While Strange once again battles Dagoth, eventually banishing the creature to another dimension. Blondine explains that, when Strange had evoked her racial memories it had left her vulnerable to control by Dagoth. As they enter the Witch House Strange suddenly senses house is alive and has been turned into a gigantic trap that has already snapped shut! This tale gets more complicated next week in "The doom that bloomed on Kulthas!"

Not only content with sharing a half page teaser with Spider-man Comics Weekly, the inside back page features a full page declaring that the adaptation of Escape from the Planet of the Apes starts next week. The artwork by Rico Rival is seen in these four panels that have been taken from Planet of the Apes issue 51, the seventh panel from page 6, and the second, third and fourth panels from page 7. I'm not sure where the rocket flying past an exploding planet is from. As far as I can tell it wasn't from the comic adaptation. 

Dracula Lives #49

A nice Pablo Marcos cover, his signature can just be made out to the left of Dracula. 

Dracula “The Curse of Dracula!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Frank Chiarmonte

Originally published in Giant-Size Chillers #1

Cover date June 1974

(Published in March 1974)

This second part opening splash page uses the cover artwork from Giant-Size Chillers issue 1 by John Romita Sr. As long as you read it as an introduction and not part of the story it's fine, with Dracula telling the readers that he has returned to London to meet Lilith, the daughter of Dracula. Later that same night, Dracula arrives at Castle Dunwick. The house's owner Shiela Whittier awakes sensing a menacing presence. As she adjusts her nightgown you can see her back is covered in scars. Lighting a candle Shiela moves through the house, finding Dracula greeting her with a purposeful smile.

Shiela's scream isn't heard at the Red Bull Tavern in London, where Lilith picks up one patron and makes him her next victim. With information on reports of Dracula's return to London, Inspector Chelm pays a visit to the home of Quincy Harker. When the Vampire hunter doesn't answer he breaks down the door to find Quincy alive but unconscious, he has his men call for an ambulance. Back at the home of Shiela Whittier, Shiela completely submits to Dracula thinking that he is one of her former tormentors. Dracula assures her that he is not. In an unusual moment of tenderness Dracula comforts the woman. Later he inquires about the scars on her back that look like marks from a whip. Shiela tells him that the perpetrators came on her second night, yet she has never seen them. Even though the Lord of the vampires came for the house he makes an excuse to leave, but promises to return. Upon exiting the manor, Dracula spots another vampire bat who he recognises, flying in the sky.

Cryptic Correspondence

Raymond Kell from Durham has been a fan of Marvel for years but the one weekly comic that he really enjoyed is Dracula Lives. Stephen Gurrey RFO from London is another reader this week who has had fond memories of the Power comics "Fantastic", Terrific", "Pow", "Wham" and "Smash, but in saying that he describes a current comic, "Dracula Lives", as a truly magnificent mag. Patrick Stacey RFO, KOF, QNS from Dublin writes that the best three mags that British Marvel has brought out are the Avengers weekly, Dracula Lives and the Planet of the Apes and all three get better and better every week. Patrick points out that Gene Colan's artwork is getting better every week in the Dracula and Avengers mags too. Roy Leyland from London likes Marvel because most of the heroes have weaknesses and limited powers. He goes on to say that it's the touch of realism that seems to elude MArvel's competitors. Marvel's characters have realistic emotions and problems. The Frankenstein Monster is a prime example of that. 

The Living Mummy “The tomb of the Living Pharaoh”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Supernatural Thrillers #9

Cover date October 1974

(Published in July 1974)

The Gil Kane/Al Milgrom cover from Supernatural Thriller issue 9 is used as this week's Living Mummy second part opening splash page. The artists signatures appear in the bottom left hand corner. A credit strip, new story title and catch-up text box is added. The Living Mummy over powers the Living Pharaoh's guards with relative ease. 

So the Pharaoh's next action is to operate hidden traps, the first being a trap door that opens under the Mummy's feet, dropping him into a chamber that begins to fill with water. Sinking to the bottom N'Kantu finds a weak block that he prises away from its foundations and drains the torrents of water away. The Living Mummy breaks into the Pharaoh's control room but he is overcome by an ancient weapon, the Pharaoh's Eyes, that gives off hypnotic powers that burns into N'Kantu's very soul. The Pharaoh brags that his hypnotic gems once felled Cyclops himself. Which British readers will have to see in Marvel UK's Marvel Super-Heroes in 1979. Desperately the Mummy throws the Ruby Scarab at it, knocking it to the floor. A stranger's hand picks up the Scarab.  The Pharaoh tries to use his restored powers to destroy N'Kantu but finds that they are slowly fading. The Mummy decides that the Pharaoh is no longer a threat and goes after the man who stole the Ruby Scarab. As the Mummy staggers out of the tomb an airplane passes above him, onboard it Doctor Skarab, Janice and Ron plan their next step on finding N'Kantu.

Werewolf by Night “Lair of the Cat People!”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Giant-Size Creatures #1

Cover date July 1974

(Published in April 1974)

This specially commissioned second part splash page by an unnamed artist opens this week story with a new story title and credit box added. There's no need for a catch-up text box the dialogue from one of the Hydra agents tells the reader that with the "Tiger-woman" as their helpless captive, the rest of the world will also soon be. Hydra has taken over the lair of the Cat People in the hope that they can use some of their technology to enslave the world.

Tigra watches on from the tiniest cage as the Hydra goons ransack the place. They bring in the captive Doctor Tumolo, the scientist who was responsible for turning policewoman Greer Nelson into the costumed crime-fighter, the Cat. That story would be told in the pages of the Super-Heroes starting from issue 31, dated the week ending 4th October 1975, See next week's blog, but this week's story continues in flashback, telling the Cat's origin, after being injured by an attack by Hydra Doctor Tumolo takes the Greer to her Cat People, a race of humanoids magically evolved from cats during the Middle Ages, to perform a ritual that transformed Greer into a were-woman with tiger features and abilities. Hydra had followed them to the Cat People's lair and attacked them. Tumolo allowed Greer to escape which connected nicely with last week's events where she ran into Jack Russell on the Mexican beach. The "exciting conclusion" begins next week. 

“The Monster in the mist!”

Writer: Not named

Artist: Al Williamson 

Inker: Ralph Mayo

Originally published in Astonishing #60

Cover date April 1957

(Published in December 1956)

This story originally appeared in the Atlas comic anthology Astonishing issue 60, but it was also repeated in the Marvel/Curtis Magazine the seventh issue of Monsters Unleashed, cover dated August 1974, published June 1974. Professor Kerrin had chartered a ship in search of legends in the Philippine waters, but the ship briefly sails into a dense fog bank after the discovery of a message in a bottle written in Portuguese which gives the latitude and longitude of an island that the author's ship had run aground on, after being attacked by sea serpents. 

The Captain sets off to rescue those seamen. After exiting the fog bank they discover an island that they had visited six months earlier, but this time there is a wooden sailing ship named the "Vittora" marooned on its shore. Just then a sea serpent attacks the modern vessel. The Captain pilots his ship away at top speed, heading towards the fog bank again, just avoiding being sunk by a sea monster. Once out of the mist all returns to normal, even the island. Professor Kerrin recalls in the early 16th century a tale of Ferdinand Magellan who had sailed to the Philippines in an attempt to follow Columbus's route. One ship named the "Vittoria" was lost at sea, supposedly wrecked by a sea serpent. His only conclusion is that for a few moments time had turned backwards to 1519 and the witnessing of a monster proved the old legends true. Ferdinand Magellan was a real Portuguese explorer who discovered the Strait of Magellan, which would be later named after him, that allowing his fleet to pass from the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean

“Peter Snubb: Werewolf!”

Writer: Tony Isabella

Artist: Ron Wilson

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Monsters Unleashed #5

Cover date April 1974

(Published in February 1974)

This one page filler set in Germany sometime in the sixteenth century is about a man known as Peter Snubb who terrorised the countryside for twenty-five years by donning a magical belt, given to him by Satan. The wolf-skinned belt would transform him into a werewolf. After a reign of terror he was captured by a group of angry villagers. Finding him guilty of hideous crimes they mounted his head on a pole as a warning to other werewolves. However to this day Peter Snubb's magical belt has not been found! Both these two little terror tales are nicely paced and refreshing as full horror stories rather than Marvel's "horror in a super-hero world" fare. 

Planet of the Apes #49

I've seen the original black and white version of this cover on Comic art fans site, where the owner, Nigel Lancashire, writes in the description, "An example of how bad colouring and art direction can ruin an image when it's published!" I have to agree, I kind of like the original art that was penciled by Ron Wilson with inks by Mike Esposito. Sorry ape fans it's not quite good enough to win a Cover of the Week award, but keep the faith, there may be a CotW going to POTA soon!

Planet of the Apes “Cry Rebel!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Tom Sutton

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #12

Cover date September 1975

(Published in July 1975)

American cartoonist and writer Steve Stiles drew this opening splash page for the third part of the "City of Nomads" tale. A new title and numerous text boxes fill the readers in on what's happen over the last two weeks in a very neat and tidy way. Doug and Tom's credits are also listed. A mysteriously hooded Slinker has manipulated a bitter war between rebel gorillas and the more civilised orangutang/chimpanzee population of a giant floating city.

The next stage in his plan is to scupper the giant vessel by igniting the oil he had previously placed in the crows nest of the main mast of the ship called Hydromeda, with a flaming arrow from his cross bow. Then as the mast burns a well placed cannon ball fired at the base, sends the inferno crashing down splintering the apes dwelling in one almighty blow. Taking a planned root to the lower decks while the apes guards either join in the ape civil war or flee the devastation above, leaving the human slaves, that man the ship's oars unguarded. The Slunker reveals himself to be Alaric, to the now freed slaves, slashing their shackles with blow after blow from his well placed sword. With his friends Starkor and Reena, Alaric leads the humans to freedom, but they are opposed by Barbarus and his band of gorilla cutthroats. As blades clash Alaric hacks his way to the lifeboats followed by the freedom fighters.

Alaric faces Barbarus in mortal combat as each of their swords press closer to one another's death, until a well placed dagger from Alaric pierces Barbarus' heart. Humans and lifeboats plunge in to the sea as flame slashed lines are hasty cut asunder by sharp cutlasses. Not all survive the mad descent, but those who do man the oars and row amidst a thick hail of arrow shafts, to break through the tempest bridging hell and freedom. Behind them the city burns, then sighs and creaks before it groans and lists to port. Once their home, Hydromeda splits like a titanic felled beast as the sea devours the island-city forever more. 

I'm not sure where City of Nomads should fit into the Planet of the Apes mythology. Maybe just after the atomic war that devastated the world? Or in some alternate version of Planet of the Apes? The real point is it doesn't need to fit in with any form of canon, it follows the same principles as other ape stories, where society brings about it's own destruction, whether that be a human society or an ape society that still has all the evils of mankind. And this story does it in a very spectacular way. Moench and Sutton, bravo!

Apes Forum

The first letter is from "another very devoted follower of Galen" who's from Hertfordshire and considers themselves to be the second female reader to fall in love with Galen. She want to join an Apes fan club. Patricia Mitchell from Stoke-On-Trent doesn't particularly think that Marvel's mags are brilliant efforts, in spite of that he does like Apeslayer, the Mutant and Apes Forum. So he asks himself why he buys Planet of the Apes each week? Well it's for the fabulous posters of Roddy McDowall, as Galen or Cornelius. Jonna Blackburn from Halifax thinks that the POTA story, Kingdom on an Island of The Apes, had a terrific start and could be the best of Marvel's many stories. N French from Lincolnshire has compiled a scrap book of 58 pages about the Planet of the Apes. They used the features and posters from the weekly to fill the book. One other piece of information from N's letter is that there won't be anymore episodes of the Planet of the Apes TV series.

The Power of Warlock “The Brute!”

Writer: Ron Goulart, Mike Friedrich and Roy Thomas

Artist: Bob Brown

Inker: Tom Sutton and Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Power of Warlock #6

Cover date June 1973

(Published in March 1973)

This story was really a committee idea, Ron Goulart wrote the story plot taken from an idea thought up by Roy Thomas and delivered in script form by Mike Friedrich, then Bob Brown comes in as the new artist on the strip. Adam Warlock is being persecuted by the new president of the United States Rex Carpenter. The President's sudden dislike of Adam Warlock is much like a 70's version of Jimmy Kimmel. He massing a large force against the golden hero. The fifth page of the original US strip is missed out from the British reprint, omittinuing Von Doom's telephone conversation with Rex Carpenter, where Doom pleads with him that Warlock isn't a threat. The President tells him he has information that says otherwise.

The unnatural jumps created by that missing page makes it look strange why Doom should ring his colleague Reed Richards instead of calling the President to call off his troops. Reed tells Doom  that he has more pressing problems to deal with. The Counter-Earth counterparts of Doctor Doom and Mister Fantastic are polar opposites to the characters most readers will know.When the panel is pulled back it reveals a mutated Doctor Reed Richards with hideous oversized arms. In a flashback Reed and Victor are good friends at university, helping each other out with the thrust for knowledge.

When Doom's face is injured Reed helps him pull his life back together. When Reed, with his friends Sue, Ben and Johnny take their fateful journey into space and become affected by cosmic rays storm and they come crashing back to Earth, Sue falls into a coma. Feverishly Reed works to forget, but the accused rays affected his body and mind in the most sinister way. Changing him into the Brute. One night after the transformation a mysterious character enters his laboratory via a secret passageway, hypnotising the Brute to perform a sinister task. Forward some hours and miles Adam Warlock has eluded the army and is meet by Astrella, the sister of President Rex Carpenter. She says that she sides with Warlock and will help him meet with other likeminded allies, such as Colonel Roberts, (last seen in POTA #40,) who is planning a meeting in San Francisco. Really she is setting Warlock up to fall into a trap, that will be sprung next week.

Captain Marvel “From the ashes of defeat!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Captain Marvel #3

Cover date July 1968

(Published in April 1968)

Having defeated Captain Marvel the Super-Skrull takes the Kree warrior prisoner aboard his ship in order to probe his mind and learn why the Kree are so interested in the planet Earth. Using a "Pyscho-probe" so he learns about Mar-Vell's mission and his secret Earth identity of Walter Lawson, as well of the Kree Captain's recent battle against the Kree Sentry. 

Mar-Vell awakes and using his wrist lens of his Uni-Bands he manages to break free of his bonds. No Longer captive Mar-Vell battles the Skrull on board his ship , but knowing that the odds of defeating a being with the combine might of the Fantastic Four are incredibly against him he flees into outer space. Nearing the Earth's atmosphere Mar-Vell calls for help from the orbiting Kree ship Helion, that is hidden from detection by the "aura of negativism." But the Colonel Yon-Rogg refuses to any call for help, with his secret desire that the Super-Skrull kills Mar-Vell. Next week Captain Marvel will "Battle with the Super-Skrull" alone!

The Super-heroes #30

Right as you might have all ready guessed this Marie Severin cover originally from the Silver Surfer issue 15 is my Cover of the Week. With so many versions of the Human Torch versus the Silver Surfer, in comics and movies, it's nice to see the Torch getting one over the Surfer, it looks really dramatic. It also brings back memories of a Fantastic Four colouring book I had in the seventies, that had this artwork in it. I really did a magnificent job of colouring it in. I got the blue shine on the Surfer and his board of to a tee, even if I do say so myself! I started this week's cover reviews off by pointing out a mistake and it looks like I must point out another mistake on this cover. The top tagline reads "Also: Lucifer returns to plague the X-Men!" Well I'm afraid he doesn't this week. He actually returns in the Super-Heroes issue 35, cover dated the week ending the 1st November 1975.  

Silver Surfer “Battle supreme!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Silver Surfer #16

Cover date April 1970

(Published in March 1970)

The fifth panel from page eleven from last week's issue is blown up to make this second part opening splash page, with a new story title and credit box added. The Silver Surfer seeks help from the Fantastic Four as he's decided to try and make the best of his imprisonment on Earth. But at the Baxter Building he overhears the Fantastic Four agreeing to help the military deal with the supposed problem of the Silver Surfer. After Mister Fantastic notices the Surfer eavesdropping at the window a battle breaks out with the Torch pursuing him across New York.

The two battle across the city, eventually reaching the unlikely battleground for two flying furies in a New York subways station. Here in a fait or rage the Surfer overpowers the Torch, knocking him unconscious. Seeing Johnny fall on to the subway tracks shocks him out of his rage, rescuing him from an oncoming train by lifting it above the fallen hero. When the military arrives on the scene the Surfer hides. From his hiding place he overhears the Human Torch tell the military that they were trying to contact the Surfer to get him to help them with their space program, not to take him prisoner. Ashamed of his actions the Surfer departs. 

This is how the British series of the Silver Surfer ended, with a moral ending that does fill a bit of a whimper. The US series would have run on for three more issues and ended with the story that had already been printed in the Super-Heroes #16, which would have certainly been a more dramatic ending. I'll miss the Silver Surfer strip, its replacements won't be anywhere near as good.

Galactic Graffiti

Jane Winkett from the West Midlands thinks that the X-Men are magnificent and the Silver Surfer is very good. The reason that she doesn't rate the Surfer as much as the X-Men is because the Silvery one always seems to lose. The X-Men's battle with the Juggernaut was the best story yet. A J Foley from Surrey has been reading Marvel comics for about seven years and has a complete set of Fantastic and Terrific comics. So years later he gets three British weeklies now, the Super-Heroes, Savage Sword of Conan and Planet Of the Apes. Their favourite character is Sgt. Fury and wants Marvel to bring him and the Howling Commandos to the UK. Paul Hindle KOF, from Lancashire gets Spider-man Comics Weekly and Super-Heroes, there could be a title in there somewhere. To him the Super-Heroes is everything he wanted in a comic and he asks that a third strip shouldn't be added. Ephrem Nikitos from London gets all seven British weeklies.

The X-Men “...And none shall survive!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby and Werner Roth

Inker: Dick Ayers 

Originally published in The X-Men #17

Cover date February 1966

(Published in December 1965)

Following their battle against Master Mold and the Sentinels, the X-Men are given medical attention by the military. The Professor mentally cautions his students to protect their secret identities. The doctors are unsure how to treat Iceman's unconscious delirium, which prompts the Professor to worry about this potentially being his first failure. Under the pretext for being a casual friend instead of their leader, the Professor overhears a doctor commenting on the fact that they could learn so much more if they knew who the young Mutant's parents are. The Angel checks the mansion's answering service and informs the Professor that his parents will be visiting the school as they hadn't heard from him for a while. 

The Professor calls the Worthingtons to tell them he's on a "field trip" with his students. Although the Worthingtons are relieved, they insist on stopping by for a visit. With a sense of dread, the Professor sends Warren back to the mansion. Warren arrives at the mansion and upon walking inside he is almost smashed by an axe which suddenly levitates out of the hand of a decorative suit of armour and smashes into the wall. Flying through the mansion, the Angel accidentally knocks himself out. In the shadows his strange attacker watches. Back at the hospital, Charles loses mental contact with the Angel and decides that Beast and Marvel Girl should remain at the hospital to watch over Iceman, while he and Cyclops return to the Mansion. There with no sign of Warren, they are suddenly startled when Cerebro's alarm goes off. Investigating, they learn that there is a super-powerful evil mutant on the premises. Without warning the Professor is wrapped up in the coils of a mental-wave distorter and sealed behind a transparent shield. Cyclops attempts to blast through it with his optic blast, but finds it redirected against him.

The lights go out, in the darkness Cyclops is attacked and easily defeated by the unseen foe. Now fully recovered the Beast and Marvel Girl are concerned about the Professor, but the check on Bobby, who is still in a coma. The pair decide to venture to the mansion and investigate. Arriving at the mansion, they rush through the front door and are shocked to find that the entire inside hallway has been coated with a friction-less surface. Beast suddenly slides across the hall and into a specially prepared room. Jean manages to avoid the same fate by using her telekinetic powers. Their mystery foe, whom she recognises immediately, confronts her. Trying to keep him back with her telekinetic powers, she passes out after inhaling odourless sleeping gas. Meanwhile the doctor caring for Iceman becomes concerned at the weakening of his pulse. With no other choice, the doctor decides to try an experimental "sulfa" drug. Back at the mansion, the mysterious attacker seals the X-Men in an enclosure of a high altitude balloon and sets it loose hoping that at 100,000 feet into the air the X-Men will finally be destroyed. Shortly after, the Worthingtons arrive and  knock on the door which is answered by none other than Magneto!

You'll have to check out issue 31 to find out what happens next to the X-men, or check out next week's blog. A handy teaser in this week's issue tells you who to expect as replacements for the Silver Surfer. This teaser page by an unnamed artist looks quite good, but was Giant man and the Wasp or the Cat what readers really wanted as the Surfer's replacement? Probably not. Head back next week and find out what I thought about the two new strips, in a blog that will hopefully be out on Sunday the 28th of September. I say hopefully but if it's not, I can only blame myself for having too much fun at the Lakes International Comics Arts Festival at Bowness-On-Windermere over that weekend. If you're there too, say hello, I'll be the grey, slightly balding old man who has bought too many comics and books, who's being escorted around by my daughter, Megan and her boyfriend Luke, or as I call them my carers! I better crack on with the Week ending the 4th of October 1975 blog before it gets too late. So till then... 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.