He who holds the Cosmic Cube!

Week Ending 6th February 1976

Tales of weird dimensions, of demons from other worlds and deadly weapons that can alter reality. Seriously there's some cracking stories this week. Some of my highlights are Spider-man in “To stalk a Spider!” Doctor Strange in “A separate reality” Conan with “Stone terror!” Iron Fist in “Slaughter at Stark International!” the Man-Thing in “Enter the Lord of the Dark Domain!” the Black Panther with “The God killer” and Captain America “He who holds the Cosmic Cube!” To be honest loads of the other stories are belters too. Don't take my word for it, check out this week's selection of six super spectacles. There's lots of great stuff to enjoy.

The Mighty World of Marvel #179

This Dave Hunt cover feels a bit strange and bold, the Abomination and the Rhino attack Bruce Banner, but it was only the Abomination in the strip who confronted Banner. To me having both villains attack the Hulk makes more kids spend their pennies on this mag. Mike Esposito inked Dave's pencils.

This inside front cover page features two in-house adverts, the first being for the savage tales of adventure from the savage sword of Conan in the pages of the Avengers weekly, which has been seen many times before in many different British Marvel weeklies. But the second in-house advert is new. It tells readers to get next week's issue of "Super Spidey" for your free gift. What the gift is remains s secret for now. so I guess that if you didn't pick up that issue you'll have to read next week's Power of the Beesting blog to find out. Plug, plug! The cover of Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes shown is actually issue 159, from last week, but with a different top tag line, "Plus: A pull-out poster of Spider-man and Dr. Strange!" than the "Save 75p on Sea-Monkeys kit-page 17." which was actually used on that issue. 

The Incredible Hulk “The behemoth behind bars!”

Writer: Gerry Conway and Steve Englehart (plot)

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #171

Cover date January 1974

(Published in September 1973)

The artwork on this second part opening splash page is one of the worst I've seen for a while. The Abomination looks cartoonish, all mouth and flappy ears and the Rhino's face is terrible, not that I could do any better. The best part of it is the unnamed artist's rendition of the Hulk, which is as strong as any of Herb Trimpe's. But in saying that after reading this story again Trimpe's art isn't that good this week, some of his characters are "blocky." It could be Jack Abel's inks or just bad pencils. Many called for Trimpe to sharpen his pencil during this period and I can see why. But on with the story. It's two against the Hulk in a free for all. That is until the Abomination attempts to use one of the Hulkbuster's specially designed weapons against the green giant. For some unexplainable reason the gamma monster fires the laser gun at the floor between the Hulk's feet. May be he was trying to humiliate him. The Hulk doesn't like guns and smashes through a wall to escape.

The Abomination stops the Rhino from going after the Hulk, stating that the brute will likely come back and they'll be prepared to deal with him then. Elsewhere on the base, Jim and his girlfriend Talia have sneaked into the Gamma Base, much to Talia's displeasure, when the Hulk creeps up behind her. Thankfully he recognises Jim as a friend and manages to explain, in his own primitive way, what has happened. Jim comes up with a plan to rescue the captured base crew and with some coaxing he convinces Talia to act as a decoy to trick the Abomination and Rhino into coming out of the base. When they do, the Hulk pounces on them while Jim goes down below to free their captives. Jim is about to free the others when General Ross tells him that the Abomination set the base's self destruct gamma bomb to go off in three minutes in order to destroy the entire base with the Hulk. Ross guides Jim via the intercom, to the location of the bomb and how to disarm it with only seconds to spare. While outside, the Hulk eventually grows tired of the fight and literally walks away from it as the Rhino and Abomination charge at him, causing the two villains to violently smash into each other resulting in their mutual defeat. With the base back under military control, General Ross extends a hand of friendship to the Hulk, suddenly Armbruster drops a cage that releases sleeping gas on the Hulk. Ross is furious at Armbruster ruining possibly their only chance at making the brute their ally. Armbruster boasts that he has done his patriotic duty and captured the Hulk! But for how long? Find out next week when the Juggernaut makes an appearance. 

A Marvel Masterwork Pin-up of the Fantastic Four with undeniably the world's greatest arch-villain, Doctor Doom! Wyatt Wingfoot and the sensational Silver Surfer also appear. The artwork originally appeared on the cover of the Fantastic Four (US edition,) issue 57, cover dated December 1966, published September 1966, by Jack Kirby (pencils,) with Joe Sinnott (inks). 

Bullpen Bulletins

A Kaleidoscope of Kinetic Kibitzing and Kooky Kommentary Kenned to Kindle your Karma!

The first Item this week asks if any readers were judicious enough to catch Daredevil being recruited by the Black Panther to aid the Avengers in the latest Avengers epic by Roy Thomas with John Buscema and Tom Palmer handling the art chores. Incidentally the next Item deals with another guest star in the Avengers weekly as the Golden Avenger, Iron Man must face Iron Fist a showdown. brought to you byJohn Byrne's fantastic pencils and a stunning script by Chris Claremont. The next two Items will be reviewed in the Avengers weekly with Iron Man and the Silver Surfer with Galactus images replacing the Daredevil, the Thing images and the Avengers weekly #78 cover shown here. This version on the left also appears in this week's Planet of the Apes.

Daredevil “The man with fear!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syn Shores 

Originally published in Daredevil #55

Cover date August 1969

(Published in June 1969)

This second part opening splash page wasn't drawn by Gene Colan but an unnamed artist. It's not as good as Gene Colan's pages, but it does connect well with the following scene. Daredevil is lost in thought, having faked the death of Matt Murdock to concentrate on finding Starr Saxon who had discovered Matt Murdock and Daredevil are one and the same. Then his mind drifts to the confrontation with Mister Fear, where the hero was defeated after the man without fear fell to a bout of fear. 

Daredevil was so deep in thought he fails to sense Mister Fear watching from above on a rain drenched roof top. The villain plots that the episode in Central Park was just a brief interlude, a portentous prologue to a deadly ending. As the rain becomes a deluge, Daredevil's wandering leads him to visit the old office of Nelson and Murdock Attorneys at Law. Inside the office he discovers Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, who were looking through a list of pending cases. Daredevil asks Foggy Nelson for a favour, to use his contacts as the DA and phone the warden of the state prison to find out all he can about Zoltan Drago, alias Mister Fear. While Foggy waits for the report the criminal called Mister Fear is becoming a one man crime wave, making next week's conclusion more exciting as Daredevil and he are certain to "meet again!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

The first letter this week is from "The Marvel Fan Club" who are looking for writers, artists, inkers, letterers and reproducers, because they are going to start up their own regular comic. One day in 1973 Brian Nairn's (RFO, KOF from Fife,) brother came home from school and told his mum he was going to the newsagents to get a new comic. He missed issue one, but the next time he picked up issue 2. After 19 issues then came Spider-man Comics Weekly, he again missed issue 1 but got issue 2. David Whitehead from Yorks pens a very long letter detailing the history of comics from the Golden Days, from 1938 to 1945. The story of Marvel Comics started in the thirties. "Marvel Tales" was

published by Marty Goodman. Then, in 1939, "Marvel Comics", which became "Marvel Mystery Comics'. Two studio artists created masterpieces. Carl Burgo the creator of the Human Torch and Bill Everett the creator of the Sub-Mariner. Then later came Captain America, an idea from the minds of Joe Simons and Jack Kirby. David then goes on to follow those heroes until things changed in 1963 when Stan Lee put everything together and for the first time the magazines had Marvel logos on their covers. He also started publishing letters from readers in each of the comics, and also a checklist. This gave a rundown on all the other Marvel comics on sale that month.

Hal Cammack KOF, RFO, FOOMer from Liverpool thinks he's got the answer to the problem everyone's dreading, the inevitable "catch-up" between the British and American mags. His answer is to change the mags from weeklies to fortnightly. A Marvel Fanatic  from Glasgow wants to congratulate Marvel on the recognition in Britain as seen in an article that appeared in the Glasgow University Guardian on the 20th November 1975. He sent a copy of the article to Marvel but sadly they didn't print it. Did you ever read it? F Bannister from Wolverhampton nominates himself a RFO, because he buys all seven British Marvel mags and an average of eighteen American mags each month. And also a KOF, Because he's recruited an incredible six Marvelites. He's awarded both and a QNS for having a letter printed. The Hulk, who now must live in Chelsea, writes he would like to meet his fellow Defenders again, and asks for Tiger-Shark to be brought back. Daredevil is fantastic, and he would like to see Nick Fury swapping places with the Fantastic Four. If Fury is kept in Titans, he should have more pages at the expense of Captain Marvel. David Ellis from Birmingham thinks the Marvel Mailbag is great, mainly because of the different opinions and ideas.

The Fantastic Four “Wrath of Annihilus!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four Annual #6

Cover date November 1968

(Published in August 1968)

There was no need to have a fourth part opening splash page created, as this page was actually the 32rd page of the original annual by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott. Annihilus blasts the escaping heroes with his "negato gun" smashing the force shield projected by the stolen Cosmic Control Rod, leaving Reed, Johnny and Ben being flung through like powerless rag dolls. Quick thinking Mister Fantastic instructs the Thing and the Torch to grab his arm to keep them together as he uses the Control Rod to repel the next missile Annihilus fires at them, sending it towards the villain's own ship with explosive results.

Reed, Johnny and Ben are trapped on a floating rock drifting towards the barrier between positive and negative matter that would lead them to a very explosive death. With that area neutralising the energy from the Cosmic Control Rod they are resigned to their fate as even though they float above a world of negative particles, which with every possibility had life evolved on it just as it did on Earth and a civilisation may have formed with a culture and scientific know-how that could put mankind to shame, their is still no way they can save them, because if a being of negative particles meet one of positive particles the ensuing explosion would start a chain reaction of an unimaginable magnitude that would destroy an entire world. Just as Reed finishes his explanation Annihilus miraculously reappears having survived the earlier explosion and attacks the three lost men. On Earth Sue's doctor gives a press conference explaining how much danger Sue and her child are facing. In the Negative Zone Reed is forced to give up the Rod to Annihilus in exchange for the three repellor belts the villain had confiscated, but not without siphoning out some of the Element X needed to save Sue and the baby's life first. Next week the conclusion. 

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #160

This week's landscape cover of the web-slinger with his five co-stars is drawn by Ron Wilson with Mike Esposito inking his pencils. 

Spider-man “To stalk a Spider!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: John Romita Sr.

Inker: John Romita Sr.

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #111

Cover date August 1972

(Published in May 1972)

Last week a pair of devious eyes watched the Gibbon's confrontation with Spider-man and how, in a rush, the web-slinger had dismissed Martin Blank's request to become his costumed partner. Those eyes belonged to Kraven the Hunter, who is still recovering from injuries following his battle against Spider-Man and Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, as seen in SMCW #147. Seeing the Gibbon at his most rejected he recruits him in his scheme to battle Spider-man on his behalf. The appeal of Kraven's suggestion resonates with the rejections and ridicule the Gibbon has received and so he agrees to work with him.

Spidey arrives at Aunt May's, but he finds a note from her saying that she's gone away for a while. A neighbour calls the police and when they arrive Spidey leaves. Soon Spider-man is blamed for May Parker's disappearance, but he quickly quashes this accusation when he shows Joe Robertson the note he found. Robertson is convinced although Jameson's biased over Spider-man has to be challenged over his ethics as a news reporter. Eventually he agrees to print the truth. Meanwhile at Kraven's lair, the hunter gives the Gibbon a potion that brings out Martin's killer instinct. The potion also allows Kraven to form a telepathic bond with the Gibbon, a mind lock of sorts, like a cobra hypnotising its prey. He sends him out to kill Spider-man. Peter has returned home as the phone rings, it's Gwen. He explains that Aunt May has left, but tells her not to be hard on herself because her harsh words to Aunt May were long coming. Later he decides to search for his Aunt May again as Spider-man, as he does he crosses paths with the now savage Gibbon, who ferociously battles him. Spidey offers little resistance as he tries to reason with his attacker. Under Kraven's mind control he is ordered to finish him off but when pressed to make the killing blow, the Gibbon is unable to do so and fights off the effects of the potion. In that moment the Gibbon freezes, instantly Spider-man pushes him off sending him over the edge of a building. Quickly the web-slinger saves him from a nasty fall. Intuition or maybe his spider-sense Spidey feels that Martin wasn't responsible for his actions. Back at Kraven's lair the real culprit rages over the fact that Spider-man was once again able to survive. Next week "Spidey Cops out!"

A reminder from the editor about the Marvel MasterMind competition that was run in the weeklies late last year over two weeks, in the weeks ending 20th and 27th December 1975. Since then there has been an avalanched of entries that have buried even Spider-man. The Bullpenners are wading through them and they are quite stunned by the readers encyclopaedic knowledge of Marvel comics. So much so that there will probably be enough people with all-correct answers for the competition to go into extra time. The editor hopes to get the names of the finalists out sometime by the end of March.

 

Doctor Strange “A separate reality”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Frank Brunner

Inker: Dick Giordano

Originally published in Doctor Strange Vol 2 #2

Cover date August 1974

(Published in May 1974)

Within the Silver Dagger's lair, the fiend continues to cleanse Clea of her blind faith to Stephen Strange by using his blade to decapitate a mannequin of Doctor Strange. Cruelly he reminds her that the real Strange is just as dead. Clea is resilient in her faith and won't abandon her belief in the Sorcerer Supreme. The Silver Dagger redoubles his mission that he will make her abandon her blasphemous ways and cleanse her of her black faith. Taking a break from Clea's conversion, Silver Dagger uses the Eye of Agamotto to see what's been done with Strange's corpse but is instead shown that Doctor Strange is alive.

We find the lost Doctor flying through the realm of unreality within the Orb of Agamotto, unable to find the centre of the Orb or anything else. In an attempt to gain the knowledge he needs to save himself, Strange begins meditating to comprehend the weird cosmos. Soon he theorises that the Caterpillar he met last week seemed too much like "Alice in Wonderland" is an indication that his unconscious mind can affect what occurs within the Orb. Suddenly the sorcerer is attacked by a flying creature that sucks his astral body from his mortal frame. With a surge of resistance he calls upon the eldritch Gods to defy the maelstrom but despite an attempt by the appearance from the "Silver Surfer" to prevent the creature from swallowing Strange's soul, he is still sucked into the creature's gut. Within the creature he encounters the heads of multiple victims of the Soul-Eater. The gibbering bodiless heads tell the sorcerer that they are all doomed to provide eternal psychic energy for the creature, Strange's astral form instead chooses to disrupt the creature's brain, causing it to fly out of control and crash onto the ground. With the Soul-Eater now unconscious, all of the captive souls escape. The Doctor's soul meets the Silver Surfer who doesn't know him. The Sorcerer Supreme soon realises that this Surfer is a construct of the Orb, shaped by his own memories. 

The Doctor's mortal form has disappeared, the Surfer spied that it had trudged off in the direction of a castle. Strange and the Surfer follow its tracks to the castle of the White Queen, the Surfer's sovereign. Within the castle, the two find Strange's body sitting at a table where the Knights of the Rostrum celebrate some victory, in a weird version of a tea party. The Knights of Rostrum resemble Namor, the Hulk and Hawkeye of the Defenders, with Spider-man, the Black Panther, Nick Fury and what looks like Ant Man sitting against an upturned teapot. There is a "Pantywaist" under the table with only a ringed hand visible. I'm informed by the Marvel Wiki that it was meant to be someone called the Green Lantern, who ever that is. The guy who is passed out next to Spider-man, who is referred to as "the Captain" is Fawcett Comics' Captain Midnight which originally started as a radio show in the 1930-1940s. In 1977, Marvel published Ovaltine presents the Captain Midnight Action Book, written by Scott Edelman and illustrated by Don Perlin, it was a very different version of that hero.

This centre-spread of Adam Warlock has been drawn in the style of Jim Starlin, but I'm sure it isn't by Jim. 

The Thing and Captain America..together! "Doomsday 3014!"

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #4

Cover date July 1974

(Published in April 1974)

Finally the Thing does appear in the new Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes after all the in-house adverts telling readers as much. Two issues of Marvel Two-in-One have passed which would have been nice to have been printed before this as the appearance of Wundarr in the strip must have been a mystery to most British readers. To put Ben and the alien boys relationship in context Wundarr was left in the care of the Thing after an encounter with the Sub-Mariner and Namorita. Ben has to deal with Wundarr's infantile manner. As part of that Ben takes Wundarr for a day out at Central Park's zoo. 

Ben leaves Wundarr unattended for a minute as he goes to get the juvenile alien some candy. Seconds later Ben is flabbergasted to find that his ward has freed the animals from their cages, unaware of the danger they pose to the general public. The Thing wrestles with a lion, then a gorilla to return the creatures back to their cages. Not far away Steve Rogers is out with Sharon Carter, having a romantic walk. He changes into his Captain America costume to help, but instead he prevents some hoodlums from looting a deserted concession stand. Also at the park that day is Namor's cousin, Namorita, who finds the sad Wundarr. He recognises her and after talking to an angry Ben she agrees to let the juvenile alien stay with her to tutor him in the ways of the world. Captain America and Sharon Carter go back with the Thing to the Baxter Building, where the heroes relax with Mister Fantastic and Medusa, who at this point has replaced the Invisible Girl when she was separated from Reed. Reed had been working on Doctor Doom's Time Machine. Suddenly an alarm goes off when a female materialises on the time-platform. She asks why she has been brought there? You can find out why next week.

Iron Man “...There lives a green Goliath ”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #9

Cover date January 1969

(Published in October 1968)

It's night time as the sky is filled with a blanket of rain as a delivery van delivers a crate to an oriental woman. A hooded man scares the delivery men off. When they're gone he karate chops the crate to pieces to reveal a jade figure sitting motionless in the lotus position, wearing ancient armour. After the armour is removed the jade wearer is revealed to be the Hulk.

Meanwhile some of the rain sweeps over Tony Stark's factory where the inventor repairs the damage done by the Gladiator to his Iron Man armour, by resealing it with a fusion ray. When the repairs are made Stark puts the suit through a series of tests. Before he can finish all the tests he wanted to carry out the phone rings. It's a call from Vincent Sandhurst, the lawyer for Janice Cord. He asks is Stark still interested in buying out her father's company? Stark agrees to meeting Sandhurst and Miss Cord. Elsewhere the hooded stranger is testing out the strength of the Hulk through a number of tests, ending in the destruction of an Iron Man dummy. The hooded stranger has a mission for the jade brute. His female assistant, Mei-Ling, gives the Hulk a news clipping of Stark's potential buy out of Cord Industries. With that he is instructed to seek and destroy Stark. With his interactions delivered he leaves via the rain swept alleyway to carry out the task as only "the threat of...the Hulk!" can do in next week's issue.

The Web and the Hammer 

Russell Harris from Rugby writes that SMCW is one of his favourite weeklies. It has good art and stories, Spider-man’s stories and private life are so interesting. Russell lists some of the greatest stories over the last year including the Spider-man story "The Lady and The Prowler" by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., the Iron-Man story "The Monstrous Menace of The Mysterious Melter". And he particularly liked the mighty Thor tale "Where Dwell the Demons" story. A True Believer, RFO from Scotland thinks reading Marvel weeklies is a great way to release tension and forget everyday problems. they've been a reader for nearly two years and will continue even after school. After a long day it helps reduces stress. Seeing the problems of Marvel characters makes their worries seem less overwhelming. People with money, social, or job problems often turn to drinking, smoking, or drugs to relax. For them reading a Marvel magazine is the best way to release tension.  

Martin Spooner from Staffordshire gets Spider-man Comics Weekly every week and he thinks it is absolutely great. He also gets The Titans which is also a smash hit with the rest of his family. As a budding artist he asks one question, how do Marvel artists get the muscles to stand out? He knows where to put the small muscles on a body such as The Hulk's? He's fond of drawing Super-Heroes, but always seems to get the poses wrong. The editor tells Martin that knowing where to put them demands a knowledge of anatomy. If you're a regular reader of Marvel mags you may have noticed from replies to other readers that they don't recommend a formal art training to become comic-book artists. But a knowledge of anatomy is needed. If Martin or any other budding artist want to become a really competent artist they'll need to do a little studying of the skeletal frame of the human body. If you know where the bones are when drawing action, then the posture of the body looks right.

The Mighty Thor “Surtur, the demon god lives again!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #176

Cover date May 1970

(Published in March 1970)

I have no idea who drew this second part opening splash page, but it's based on two panel of the original artwork that follow it. It sees the Lady Sif duelling with a female Troll as the evil God of mischief watches on. Elsewhere Balder arrives in the royal palace dungeons to set Thor and the Warriors Three free. After he breaks them out of their cell Thor and Balder go to save Sif, while the Warriors Three are quested with keeping Odin safe as he sleeps the Odinsleep.

In the royal throne room Loki asks the Lady Sif to become his bride. A request which she declines. For her refusal, Loki forces her to do battle with a female troll. Elsewhere in the realm a mountain of flames irrupts as two Asgardian warriors witness in absolute horror Surtur emerging from his imprisonment by Odin. The fire demon has decided that he will destroy first Asgard, then the entire universe, marking his arrival by setting the very sky ablaze. Back at the palace, Sif battles the female troll until Thor puts a stop to the fight. Loki is once more challenged, until the God of Mischief shows them an image of Odin in a capsule in the Sea of Eternal Night. With no way for Odin to awake from his Odinsleep he will sleep for all eternity. Loki boasts that he will rule the kingdom forever. Suddenly Surtur announces his impending arrival and begins showering Asgard with flames. When Loki realises that Surtur's power endangers his rule, he flees like the coward he is, leaving Thor, Sif and Balder to rally the troops in battle against Surtur. The Thunder God sends Balder and Sif on a mission to find and wake Odin, while he will lead Asgard's defence into "the flames and the finish!" in next week's issue.

The second week of the Marvel Sea-Monkey offer. In which readers of Super-Spider-man with the Super-Heroes can buy their own Sea-Monkeys kit for half price. To do that they need six of the eight coupons available from the comic. The first was of Spider-man in last week's comic, this week it's the Hulk's face that features. After that there will be six more weeks of coupons and I imagine it'll be like the competition for a mystery gift from the early days of British Marvel comics, that started in the Mighty World of Marvel issue 1. As 1976 was an Olympic year British Marvel give all the Sea-Monkey owners a sporting chance to find the most talented Sea-Monkeys in the UK. Special prizes would be awarded to the "Monkeyphiles" (That sounds a little too weird!) who suggested the funniest and most original Olympic events for the Sea-Monkeys. Examples are given, "fastest time in the 120 metre hurdles" or "the first Sea-Monkey to ride a bike through a blazing hoop, while singing the hallelujah chorus!" 

The in-house advert for next week's Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes that appeared in MWOM only hinted at a free gift in next week's mag. The colour back page of this week's landscape SSMwtSH gives it all away with this portrait in-house advert for next week's comic. As another treat Marvel is offering readers of the mag a chance to grab their own free sticker of Super Spider-man as shown here at its actual size. I have to wonder why this gift wasn't offered two weeks ago when Spider-man's comic changed name and format with SSMwtSH #158? Maybe the editor thought that the changes where enough to push sales and a push was needed after the novelty wore off four week's later. What's strange is the cover used at the bottom of this page is actually SSMwtSH #158, only with a different top tag line. That version has been used in various in-house adverts over the last few weeks.

Avengers Weekly #129

This week Aries and his Zodiac army fighting against the Avengers appears on the cover as drawn by Michael Netzer with inks possibly applied by Dan Adkins.

The inside front page promotes the Marvel Sea-Monkey offer from the Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes which seems to be everywhere in every comic. To be honest I'm getting a little tired of it, I aways thought of them as a sad American gimmick. So I'll probably not shown them again, unless there's something new to say about it, like with this one. The cover used to tell readers where to find the full details is of Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes issue 162, from the week ending the 20th March 1976. Which would have been in two week's time. It shows a very dynamic cover of Doctor Octopus unmasking Spider-man over the streets of New York. Not only that, but it shows that the Doctor knows that Peter Parker is really Spider-man! That's a teaser and a half!

Conan the Barbarian “Stone terror!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Ernie Chan

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #36

Cover date March 1974

(Published in December 1973)

I'm not sure why the cover from Conan The barbarian issue 36 wasn't used this week, it would have featured the same scene as depicted here. The artist of this second part opening splash page is unnamed. In the capital city of Aghrapur Conan has become a member of King Yildiz personal guard. While the King's son Yezdigerd has ravaged the Hyrkanian cities east of the Vilayet sea, he has sent his father a tribute captured from his conquest, a huge headless stone statue. 

Over the many weeks Conan has been employed in the palace guard the Cimmerian has spent his time perfecting the warrior skills that were required of him. Once hating the long bow he grew to be its master. He became prolific in the use of the bolo, recently imported from the mysterious lands north of Knitai. As for the spear throwing he was taught that in his far-off homeland. He learned how better to fight from horseback and the hurling of battle axes. Days later a priest from the newly conquered Hyrkanian city of Dimmorz arrives carrying the missing head of the statue as tribute to his new master, much to King Yildiz's delight. That delight soon turns to horror when the head was placed on the statue's shoulders by the King, with help from his guards, as the statue sprang to life and begin to slaughter everyone within it's range. No steal from any sword could halt its rampage. Men were crushed like eggshells under its sweeping arms and trampled under its feet. Its target was the King. Conan's sword shattered with his mightiest blow. Conan takes a battle axe to it that only breaks against its stone hard hide. The statue picks up the barbarian, lifting him above his head to use him as a human weapon against the King. Front that height Conan notices that the priest seems to be in a trance, clutching an amulet in his hand, as if he was controlling the stone golem. Second before he is pounded onto the King the weeks practice pays off as Conan throws the battle axe towards the priest. The blow kills the priest just as the statue's head and Conan topple to the ground. Shaken King Yildiz wonders if the assassination attempt had been planned by his son? Amytis' reaction to Conans wounds had been observed by the jealous Nerim-Bey who requests that the King allow Conan to be conscripted to a mission in the north. Yildiz agrees to this request as with the attempt on his life the King vows to not stir forth from his palace. Next week "The curse of the Golden Skull!"

Bullpen Bulletins

The third Item brings news for Marvelites in London that Britain’s largest Comic Mart is held monthly. Over the next few months’ events will be at Lyndhurst Hall, Warden Road, Kentish Town, London. Around 70,000 comics, including all the latest Marvel titles will be on sale every month. The fourth Item in this weeks Bullpen Bulletin looks forward to the Ides of March, which are nearly upon us, which is a sneaky way of telling readers that whatever time of year it is, Marvel is constantly re-affirming their pledge to bring readers the best comics they possibly can. And to do that the Bullpen are working overtime to make certain you never regret it when you say Make Mine Marvel. This version of the Bullpen Bulletin page also appears in this week's Dracula Lives. There is a smaller version of the Bulletin with only the first three Items in The Titans with Titanic Transcripts as I'll show you later.

The Avengers “City of death!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in The Avengers #82

Cover date November 1970

(Published in September 1970)

The image of the captured Avengers is used as the image on the screen behind Aries and his men in this second part opening splash page. The story from last week's first part was that the Zodiac lead by Aries have taken Manhattan as hostage, with only Daredevil and the Black Panther free to stop their plan. The next day, the people of New York are herded in to Madison Square Gardens to witness the execution of the captured Avengers. 

In the vast amphitheatre of Madison Square Garden Aries demands that the watching crowd do not interfere in the remaining twenty hours or they would suffer the same fate as the Avengers who would be executed shortly. Watching from the crowd in his civilian guise of Matt Murdock, Daredevil incites a action by rallying the people against Aries and his men. The revolt is quickly halted as Murdock is dragged in front to be executed with the Avengers. Murdock uses this distraction to fire his billy club cable at the power source of the machine that holds the heroes. With the Avengers free the Zodiac militants are quickly dispatched as the Black Panther joins his fellow Avengers. Aries escapes in his aircraft and sets the force-field keeping New York hostage to close in itself, crushing everyone in the city. However Thor uses the power of lightning to destroy the craft and the machine. Presumably in the process Aries was killed. Aries' army is quickly rounded up by the Military who rush in now the forcefield is dropped. Later at the Avengers mansion the Goliath, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch discuss their adventure in Arizona, comparing notes with the Avengers caught up with the incident in New York. Van Lunt was financing the training of the Zodiac army at his ranch, but when that was stopped Aries moved the timetable of his operation in New York forward. Also at the same time Daredevil and Black Panther learned that the Thunderbolt gang was also wrapped up with the Zodiac. That story will be told in MWOM #214 from the week ending 3rd November 1976. The days events remind Daredevil of the old fable about Three blind men who are trying to describe an elephant. They didn't get anywhere till they compared notes. With that Daredevil leaves.

Avengers Mailbag

Mark Needham from Sussex recalls in issue 117 both Mark Day and Sam Porter denounce the addition of Conan to the Avengers weekly. Which he thinks is rubbish! As the Conan strip provides good contrast to the Avengers and Doctor Strange. Swords, sorcery and super-heroes are a mighty combination. Barbara Williams RFO, KOF from Liverpool buys at least four weekly comics, plus a lot of American mags. She even have them sent from Australia, where they're called "Newton" comics, but there's an absence of women super-heroes, she thinks there should be more female characters. She's worried that women in Marvel mags always play second fiddle. Chris Lane from Staffordshire writes that "The Sons of The Serpent" story was excellent. Roy Thomas really did a good job of depicting the Serpent Squad for what they are, men blinded by their hate based on the colour of a man's skin. Although this group of bigots doesn't exist in reality Chris hopes that people who read that story, take time to stop and think about bigotry.

M J McKenzie from Stockport has been around reading Marvel since 1965, not since August 1972. He thinks the stories and art reached a climax in 1968 and lasted till 1970, but since then has been on the decline. The stories have recently been suicide to read. All Marvel writers are hung on Sci-Fi trips and had out shoddy stories littered with "Big" words. The art is getting to be type-cast, Buscema is declining, Kirby has gone. He wants the stories to be reprinted properly without any changes to words and printing different artists' opening pages to stories stopped. Piers Gielgud RFO, KOF, FOOMer from London is happy with the new Titans comic as he has always been a Nick Fury fan. Piers' favourite hero is Conan. He's collected most of his comics and bought all of the Robert E Howard books. Gary Watton from West Midlands is concerned about the artwork on the Shang-Chi, he disagrees with Alan G Bowen of Glamorgan, whose letter from Avengers weekly #116 said that the Paul Gulacy/Dan Adkins artwork was "bad". Perhaps the adjective should have been 'different". Paul Gulacy's style is a copy of Jim Steranko's, as readers of Titans' will soon see when Steranko starts on Nick Fury. The very construction of many panels project the feeling and sentiments of Shang-Chi, in ways that no other art-styles could capture. He is sure other fans will agree that artists like Steranko and Gulacy are the most inventive and exciting in today's field, and are pulling other artists along, ensuring that tomorrow's comics will be even more entertaining than today's.

Iron Fist “Slaughter at Stark International!”

Writer: Chris Claremont 

Artist: John Byrne

Inker: Al McWilliams

Originally published in Iron Fist #1

Cover date November 1975

(Published in August 1975)

This opening second part splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist, it's actually quite good even when compared to the excellent John Byrne. Colleen was taken to the airport by her captors, but managed to briefly escape until she runs into a tall, dark-haired man. Struggling to escape she rips open his t-shirt. When her kidnappers return and demand he hand her over he doesn't stand in their way. Later the man makes a phone call, asking to speak to Ward Meachum. He tells him he knows what his brother did eleven years ago, but he doesn't want any money, he just wants Iron Fist. 

Meanwhile at Stark International Iron Man confronts Iron Fist after his alter-ego, Tony Stark awoke to an intruder alarm and then saw Iron Fist and Misty standing over the body of Stark's Head of Surcuity, Don Cauley. Iron Fist has also been lead to believe that Iron Man's boss was responsible for Colleen's kidnapping. The armoured Avenger clashes with Iron Fist. Meanwhile Misty is in Stark's Delphi System computer, using it to search for clues to her partner's kidnapping, when someone behind her reaches for a gun.  As Iron Man and Iron Fist continue their fight an explosion is heard. Iron Man realises that it came from the computer centre. Angered that he might have got Misty killed Iron Fist lets rip with a relentless attack on the golden Avenger. A building collapses on Iron Man but he flies free of the burning debris, he's had enough and is about to finish Iron Fist when a hand pulls his arm. It belongs to Misty, who has discovered that Don Cauley is alive. He had tried to shoot her in the back as she found out that he was working for some Mister Big in Halwan. They had kidnapped Colleen, Stark had nothing to do with it. They had hoped that the set-up would end up with the deaths of Misty, Iron Fist or Iron Man, or possibly all three. Iron Man wishes them the best of luck in finding their friend. More of the mystery will be unravelled in next week's "Valley of the Dammed!"

The back page of the Avengers weekly features this offer for two  Marvel Comic's colouring books. The mighty Marvel colour-up offer offers readers a chance to buy either Marvel Comic Album or the Marvel Colouring Book for thirty pence each. Or both books for the discount price of fifty pence. The cost of postage and packaging included. There is also a special offer of four of the books for eighty-five pence. The Marvel Comic Album features the Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man in three super stories suitable for colouring. While the Marvel Colouring Book showcases Marvel's greatest Super-Heroes, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Spider-man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk, in a big bunch of action-packed images. 

Dracula Lives #72

"Three macabre masterpieces for the price of one!" the top tag line reads plus one fine Pablo Marcos Dracula cover. 

Dracula “Night games!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #33

Cover date June 1975

(Published in March 1975)

This opening splash page for this week's second part is by an unnamed artist. It shows Dracula taunting Quincy Harker with the ashes of his daughter. In an interlude in India Taj Nital and his wife bury their son to rest. Taj decides to stay with his wife, hoping for a happier life. Back in England, Dracula returns to his mansion home, pondering on the confirmed news that his powers are fading. He realises that was why so many people could resist his will, such as the Russian vampire Gorna, detective Hannibal King and Lord Henry. You can click on their names to find those stories in Dracula Lives. His strength has also been fading since his encounter with Gorna, so the Lord of the Vampires vows to discover who's behind it

At the home of Quincy Harker, the old vampire hunter wonders if he's getting too old to continue his fight against Dracula. The next day Quincy visits his lawyer Mr. Prescott to put his will in order. 

Quincy tells his friend that he believes he will die soon. That night in a London pub, a man named Snitcher tells the bartender about a recent murder of a woman who was drained of all her blood. Thinking he's drunk he is promptly thrown out. A man listening with interest to Snitcher's story confronts the drunk in the street. When Snitcher turns to tell the man his suspicions about vampires running the government, he's horrified to find that the interested party is a vampire himself who quickly feeds upon him. Meanwhile Dracula has realised that the only person who could possibly be responsible for his waning powers must be Doctor Sun after his attempted to transfer Dracula's powers into the body of Lucas Brand. As seen in Dracula Lives #44. Dracula decides to seek out and destroy Doctor Sun once and for all. A police officer reports to Inspector Chelm after seeing a large bat near the Houses of Parliament. Dracula commands a parliamentarian named Bennington to steal a file on Dracula from Lord Singleton's office. Bennington rendezvous with the Vampire Lord, both of them unaware that Inspector Chelm is waiting for the right moment to shoot Dracula with special cross engraved silver bullets. "Bullet for a dead man!" in next week's comic.

This in-house advert shows Spider-man swinging into spring on the trail blazed by the Titans. Notice that this advert calls the mag Super Spider-man, I wonder if it was always intended to be the name of the comic as later the "with the Super-Heroes" would be dropped well before the next comic merged with the mag. Notice the list of back-up strips include Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Thor, plus the Human Torch and the Hulk together, yet even though the Thing two-in-one stories have only just started this week, even though they where slated to have started from the beginning of the new landscape format. The Torch and the Hulk's story took his place in the first two Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes issues. To rub even more errors into the editor's wound the Thing is featured on the cover that is shown in this advert.

Werewolf by Night “Lissa's terror!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Don Perlin

Originally published in Werewolf by Night #30

Cover date June 1975

(Published in March 1975)

This second part opening splash page uses the cover artwork from Werewolf by Night issue 30 by Gil Kane (pencils,) and Dan Adkins (inks). It's a really nice piece of art. The second night of the full moon rose and once again the escaped Doctor Glitternight has transformed Lissa into her demonic werewolf form by stealing her soul and fashioning it into a leash and collar, enslaving her to his will. Jack too also transformed under the gaze of the full moon into the Werewolf, with his primal instincts the beast had hunted his sister. With evil intent Glitternight forces the Lissa Weredemon to fight the Werewolf. 

Taboo realising the full extent of Glitternight's evil had stolen Lissa's self-will causing her to be mere hideous flesh without a soul and that he had become a soul without flesh, both neither complete, he decides it is best for all that he sacrifice his own soul to fill the gap in Lissa, curing her Lycanthropy. This action leaves Glitternight at the Werewolf's mercy. As the evil sorcerer attempts to fly away the Werewolf leaps onto the escaping villain. Hanging on to Glitternight's robes the two rise higher and higher. The wizard blasts the beast with his unimaginable might, the panic in the Werewolf runs in barbed pulses from his skull to his feet, still he clings on. Even managing to climb towards the cause of his pain, slashing at Glitternight's chest, with one blow shattering the circle-aperture, the source of his power that held his corrupt soul, causing the sorcerer to explode into nothingness and sending the Werewolf crashing into the sea below. As Topaz and Buck help Lissa to her feet, the Werewolf washes up on the shore, then he runs off into the night, silhouetted by the light of the full moon. Next week "Death in White!"

Cryptic Correspondence

Calum McLeod from Lanarkshire says the artwork in Dracula Lives is terrific, as are the covers. And the dialogue in the stories is excellent. Further-more, the Dracula Lives Special Edition was great. POTA isn't as good as Dracula Lives, but the artwork on the Apes is terrific. John Berard KOF from Henley-on-Thames is an avid horror fan so when he first saw Dracula Lives he almost pounced onto the counter. Later the mag's standard dropped a bit when Brother Voodoo appeared, even though some Marvelites like him. In issue 42 the Living Mummy roamed the pages of Dracula Lives, John thought he was going to be a winner, but, alas, the Mummy went down on his black list. Thankfully in issue 62 the Mummy left and one of the greatest creatures ever to grace the pages of any Marvel mag appeared, the Man-Thing. His adventures so far have been fantastic, so as long as you can keep up this standard it will go down in history as the greatest mag ever produced. He finishes by saying that the Dracula story could be more horrific, but the count's adventures are still well-worth reading.

Ian Smalls from Tyne-in-Wear say he enjoyed the first few episodes of the Living Mummy as it started as a worthwhile story. Dracula Lives featuring Legion of Monsters is two issues old at the time of writing his letter and so far there isn't much change, but with the finishing of the Living Mummy a new feature will have to replace it so he hopes it's something good. He managed to get the first issue of the American "Legion of Monsters" and boy it was good. In issue 47, Paulene-Lu-Loverley pointed out that Marvel's Count Dracula has pointed ears, whereas Christopher Lee in his portrayal has not. In the Bram Stoker novel he describes the Count. "His face was strong - very strong - aquiline, with a high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty, domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples. Mark Shaw RFO from Liverpool points out what other writers from last week's letter mailbags noticed. In Dracula Lives issue 61 Neil Fisher wrote a letter which looked familiar. While he was looking through his American mags he came across Tomb of Dracula #214. In the letters page the same letter as the one Neil Fisher wrote, minus a few quotes, to make it apply to the British comic. He thought about telling Marvel, but he didn't. Three weeks later, in Cryptic Correspondence of issue 64 another Neil Fisher letter appeared, again it looked familiar. He looked through his American issues, but he didn't see the letter. He showed his father who said it reminds him of something somewhere. He goes through the old papers and finds a "Daily Mirror" He looks through the pages and there is an article which begins: "Transylvania. It is after midnight..." I expect a letter from Neil Fisher in one of the mailbags to answer these allegations soon, or will it be answered by silence.

This Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up is an incredibly detailed piece of art featuring the Living Mummy. The Egyptian carvings behind him must have been painstakingly added by the artist, Mike Nasser. Later in life the American-Israeli artist would use the name Michael Netzer. Duffy Vohland inked this masterpiece. 

Man-Thing “Enter the Lord of the Dark Domain!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Frank McLaughin

Originally published in Adventure into Fear #15

Cover date August 1973

(Published in May 1973)

The mystic Joshua Kale narrates the tale of Zhered-Na, the prophet who was banished from old Atlantis for prophesying its destruction as it sank beneath the waves. In her exile she was washed ashore on the sands of Thurian and found shelter. Discovering a lost colony of Atlanteans she made her home and began to teach the word of her god, Valka, who was allegedly the son of Gaea and creator of mankind. This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Take a closer look at Zhered-Na's metal bikini top and bottoms. It looks like extra chainmail was added.

She soon amassed a following who she would tell of her prophecies. How at the opposite ends of infinity lie two spirit worlds, Therea, where dwell the Gods and Sominus, the dark domain of the demons. How one day long after the cataclysm wrecks Atlantis the demons will invade the Earth, but a saviour will come, who men will hate. That saviour would be the Man-Thing. As the cataclysm came the fearful survivors of Atlantis hunted Zhered-Na down, slaying her followers and murdering her. A handful of her disciples escaped with scrolls of her teachings, keeping them alive for 20,000 years, by turning them into the Tome of Zhered-Na.

As Joshua Kale finishes his tale a demon's hand reaches for him through the smoke and flames. Elsewhere in the Everglade swamp Jennifer Kale sobs over the apparent death of the Man-Thing. Another hand reaches for her, this one belonging to Dakimh. The enchanter is the last of Zhered-Na's disciples, made immortal by her hand. His previous encounter with her was merely necessary to test the Man-Thing's powers as seen in Dracula Lives #70. Dakimh clothes Jennifer in the garb of Zhered-Na, a steal codpiece and metal cone bra with a cape and metal tiara. She looks every bit the image of the priestess Zhered-Na. Through this week's episode the images of Zhered-Na and Jennifer in her priestess costume has had extra chainmail added to her bikini top and bottoms by a British art bodger, to protect the eyes of innocent young readers. It had been done in last week's first half, but it wasn't quite as obvious, I guess even more links in the chainmail was added on this week's pages. Only page twenty-nine, where Jennifer first dons the costume, remains unaltered. I guess this page slipped through Neil Tennent's censorship. To be fair it was on the 23rd February 1976, that the London Evening Standard ran an article criticising the violence in the IPC Action comic, which came very quickly as the comic had only just launched on the 14th February 1976. I guess the hysteria was in the air and British Marvel quickly reacted to it. It wasn't the first time British Marvel comics covered up the ladies as the Sirens in the Apeslayer story from Planet of the Apes issue 25 sported a similar cover-up.

The eons old wizard takes Jennifer and the restored Man-Thing to an extra-dimensional nexus to try and recover the Tome. The Tome's protector, an elf named Topp, transports the child and monster with the book to Sominus. There they battle various forces of demons and find the captured Zhered-Na cult members with Jennifer's brother Andy and her Grandfather tied to crosses in the Dark Domain. A molten rock demon, like a living inferno, rises from the ground and attacks Jennifer, calling out that Zhered-Na must die. Help comes in another monstrous form, the Man-Thing the living essence of an Earth swamp. The two duel but the fire and molten menace smothers the marsh body of the Man-Thing, taking the moisture from its body. Joshua Kale instructs his granddaughter to grab the Tomb of Zhered-Na, as she does they are all transported back to the Everglade swamp, including freeing the captured cultists and the demon that smothers the Man-Thing. But in the humid swamp air the Man-Thing thrives, with his strength renewed he delivers blow after blow battering the molten demon without mercy until it dies. With everything restored to normal and the demon plague invasion over the Tome vanishes. So too has Jennifer's link with the Man-Thing, who returns to the swamp. Softly she weeps for the bond they share is no more. Next week "the flaming arrow!"

Planet of the Apes #72

The second Ron Wilson cover this week and it's a typical generic Planet of the Apes cover. Not really special in any way. Mike Esposito was possibly the inker.  

Planet of the Apes “Night of Fire!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Alfredo Alcala

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #20

Cover date May 1976

(Published in March 1976)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an uncredited artist shows the captured chimpanzee Caesar after he has cracked to the electrocution torture and spoke. Governor Beck wanted to find out if he was capable of abstract reasoning and instructs Chief Inspector Kolp to continue with the interrogation. Beck's assistant, MacDonald had had enough of the cruelty and makes his excuse to leave. In reality he was looking for the interrogation room equipment power source, housed in another room. With all the information Beck required he orders the ape's termination. Kolp suggests that while he is already wired up to the machine it would be easy enough to electrocute him. As the power rises to a deadly level the power is cut. The operator says that the fatal voltage was held for ten seconds and it only takes three seconds to kill the victim.

Beck and Kolp leave satisfied, outside the room they meet MacDonald who asks is it over? Confirming it is, Beck tells him it is time they all got back to work. In the torture room the technician starts to release Caesar from his restraints. But the ape isn't dead and over-powers the human, placing the unconscious man on the table and electrocuting him in revenge. Caesar then sets off to free the captured apes that had been rounded up by Beck's Achilles List directive and held in the Ape Management Centre cells. The electrocuted technician's body was found by a doctor who had been called to certify Caesar's death. He raises the alarm but it's too late a good number of apes have been released, with some of them using flame throwers to kill the human guards. Caesar makes his way to an intercom and relays over the tannoyed that a fire has broken out and there are fifty thousand dollars worth of apes in jeopardy. He orders their evacuation immediately. Thinking it was a human supervisor giving out the orders the guards release the apes who quickly over-power their jailers. When news of the riot reaches the Governor he orders the extreme measure of shoot to kill. Next week's episode will be "..Hail Caesar! Hail the king!"

Black Panther “The God killer”

Writer: Don McGregor

Artist: Billy Graham

Inker: P Craig Russell

Originally published in Jungle Action Vol 2 #13

Cover date January 1975

(Published in October 1974)

Recovering from last week's mauling by wolves after being beaten by Killmonger, the Black Panther has rested the night in the snowcapped wasteland, using the pelt of a freshly slain wolf to keep warm. As the day broke he prowls with sleek panthers strides, like a black cat on the scent of a new prey, two of Killmonger's mercenaries Jakak and Wenzori. Quickly dispatching the two men the Panther finds the tracks in the snow and follows them in his hunt for Killmonger. 

As he does he fails to see the malevolently watchful gaze of Sombre, whose robes and mask protect him from the bitter cold. The menacing keeper of the Resurrection Altar carries the remains of Jakak and Wenzori to the legendary White Gorillas, where he will leave them as offerings to the mighty beasts. In the Valley of the Serpent Killmonger leads a party deep into the primeval interior which is covered by dense clouds. When Kazibe questions his master Killmonger over the destination he takes a studded strap and beats him with it. Tayete protests at the cruelty to his friend and he receives the same. With ebon cold eyes that light with ebon flame Killmonger orders them to pick each other up and show him their loyalty by following him to where "the white gorilla" lives. 

Many readers wanted to join a Planet of the Apes Fan Club and now they get a chance. Due to the tremendous demand Sally Skinner has launched the Official Planet of the Apes Fan Club. With membership at one pound, renewable yearly. For that members will receive a Fan Club "starter kit" and every two months a news letter. Also they will qualify for fantastic discounts on Planet of the Apes products such as photos, badges etc. The club will be able to provide fans with information about the stars of the films and television series and where in next the live apes show will appear. The application for the first year's membership has to be sent to Sally, the Fan Club secretary at 140 Piccadilly, London. I wonder how many sent away for it?  

Ka-Zar “Three against Ka-Zar!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Dan Adkins and Jim Starlin.

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Astonishing Tales #19

Cover date August 1973

(Published in May 1973)

This second part opening splash page by an uncredited artist looks very kinky, I'm surprised that Victorious' costume wasn't covered up more like Zhered-Na and Jennifer's was in the Man-Thing story seen earlier in Dracula Lives. It also spoils the story as this scene has yet to take place. Ka-Zar has been sent to AIM's secret headquarters, found by following a SHIELD tracker, to rescue kidnapped SHIELD agent Bobbi Morse. Nick Fury had given the savage lord Doctor Calvin's version of the Super-Soldier Serum in case he needs it to fight, Victorious, Gemini and his own brother the Plunderer. Choosing not to use it he discards it.

The AIM guards are alerted to Ka-Zar's arrival and report back to Victorious. But quickly they are knocked out by Ka-Zar. The Plunderer investigates but his brother over-powers him and after he persuades him to reveal where Bobbi Morse is being held he too is knocked out. For the final four pages of this strip Jim Starlin takes over the art chores from Dan Adkins for some unknown reason. Quickly dispatching Gemini Ka-Zar must face Victorius, who he manages to defeat despite the villain's enhanced strength and extensive martial arts training. Bobbi is freed as Ka-Zar tells her that there was no need of any artificial serum to defeat the villains. Realising that Fury had given him the serum she is concerned with finding the serum vial before it ends in the wrong hands. Ka-Zar believes there's no need to worry, but doesn't see the recovered Victorius lurking behind him. More action packed adventure next issue! 

After seeing the Application form for the new Planet of the Apes Fan Club, fans of the television series might decide to save money and just stick with British Marvel's Planet of the Apes weekly, with the random features and set photos like this one that appears on this week's colour back page of James Naughton as astronaut James Burke in the television series Planet of the Apes. This photo page was also used as a plug for the new cartoon adaptation of Planet of the Apes that was said to be showing in several regions. I can't say I've seen it myself, but what I do know is that it didn't use any of the actors used in the films or live-action television series as the voice actors. It was made by 20th Century Fox Television with DePatie–Freleng Enterprises animating the series. They were best known as the creators of the Pink Panther cartoon series. 

The Titans #20

None of the covers this week have been taken from the American comics, although this one is the closest. Drawn by Marie Severin and inked by Mike Esposito I do wonder if it was considers to be the cover of the X-Men issue 32 (US edition,) but the Wernor Roth (pencils,) and John Tartaglione (inks,) version was chosen. Both are very similar, the Juggernaut is holding the Beast aloft with Marvel Girl at his feet and Cyclops crawling towards the villain. But really it's more likely that Marie Severin was asked to re-draw it to fit The Titans' landscape format. It's not been a great week for covers but this one is the best by a good distance. It's a worthy Cover of the Week. I think this is possibly Marie Severin's only CotW winning cover.

The X-Men “Beware the Juggernaut, my son!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Werner Roth

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in The X-Men #32

Cover date May 1967

(Published in March 1967)

At the Coffee a Go-Go bar the X-Men are celebrating Bobby's 18th birthday.Bobby's date, Vera, asks him to dance, so Zelda drags Hank to the floor. As the couples begin to dance Scott and Jean join in. Jean wonders if Scott is dancing with her out of pity while Scott wonders if he should tell her he loves her? Just then Warren arrives with Candy Southern. Elsewhere the Professor opens a locked room in the basement of the mansion, to reveal the Juggernaut in a comatose state since his defeat months earlier. He recalls how his step-brother got his powers from the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Charles's intension is to restore Cain back to normal.

Meanwhile at the Coffee a Go-Go, Bobby's party is crashed when a biker gang called Satan's Saints comes bursting through the doors on their motorcycles to terrorise and rob all the patrons. The X-Men secretly use their powers to subdue the attackers without revealing they are mutants. At the mansion, the Professor straps himself and the Juggernaut into a device which he hopes with the combination of science and sorcery will send the Juggernauts energies back into the realm of Cyttorak. The experiment is interrupted when a third powerful mental force interferes causing the machine to explode, knocking the Professor unconscious and freeing the Juggernaut. Once more awake, the Juggernaut realises that he has somehow manages to absorb the Professor's mental powers. He sets off to prepare a reception for the X-Men when they return home. The young mutants finish their date night with Bobby kissing Zelda, Warren wonders if Candy is just a rebound from Jean. While Scott confides some of his feelings to Jean, the conversation confirms that they both have feelings for each other, but they just hold back from spilling their hearts to each other. 

Warren returns to the mansion first, he notices that the lights are all off. He searches around as the Angel in case it is another attack, unaware that the Juggernaut is silently watching. When the other X-Men arrive they follow suit, almost getting in to a fight with one another in the darkness. Suddenly Cerebro's alarm goes off, rushing in to the Professor's study they are surprised to find it listing themselves as the threat. A sudden giant tremor which causes the machine to topple, almost crushes them. Searching the lower basements they walk into the Juggernaut's trap. The Angel is knocked out as he rushes forward. The Juggernaut explains that he has come for revenge against the X-Men. While Marvel Girl is attempting to remove the fiend's helmet with her telekinetic powers, Iceman and Beast try a frontal attack, but they are easily knocked out. Cyclops tells Jean to take cover while he blasts the Juggernaut with his optic blasts. Striking the ground the Juggernaut causes a sonic wave that knocks Scott and Jean sprawling off their feet. The Juggernaut approaches Jean, only to stop as he is telepathically contacted by the masterminds of Factor Three who reveal their part in the Juggernauts revival. He is asked to join them in Europe. Believing Xavier dead and his students no longer of any interest to him, agrees to go. A broken water pipe revives the X-Men. Finding the Professor's unconscious body they place him in bed, before deciding that they have to stop the Juggernaut no matter the cost. The action continues "into the Crimson Cosmos of Cyttorak!"

The Sub-Mariner “To be beaten by Byrrah!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Bill Everett and Marie Severin 

Inker: Bill Everett and John Tartaglione

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #90

Cover date April 1967

(Published in January 1967)

Bill Everett seems to be gleefully returning to the character he created. However the second half of page 16 and both halves of page 17 have been drawn by other uncredited artists. Nick Caputo, from the Grand Comics Database, discovered that these pages art/corrections have been made by Marie Severin with inking likely to be by John Tartaglione. Namor, the Sub-Mariner's cousin, Prince Byrrah, returns to Atlantis in a bid for power. He addresses the citizens of Atlantis accusing Namor of being a warmonger who would rather wage endless conflict against the likes of Attuma or Warlord Krang, than forge an alliance with them. Currying favour amongst his fellow Atlanteans they demand a public vote.

Being fiercely loyal to the Prince, Lord Vashti swims to the Rock of Meditation to deliver the news to Namor, who refuses to believe that his people could ever rally behind a coward such as Byrrah. But he heads back to the council amphitheater at speed. Namor openly criticises Byrrah, which results in Byrrah demanding satisfaction by trial of combat. Vashti and Dorma warn Namor against fighting with Byrrah as his cousin is too treacherous to fight fairly and it is most likely a trap. Namor reminds them that he is a Prince of the blood and as such he cannot fail. The two enter the field of combat. Byrrah has prepared the area with concealed weaponry. As the two fight one another Byrrah manages to weaken Namor with a blade tipped with poison. The citizens viewing the spectacle, unaware of Byrrah's trickery, believe that Namor was defeated fairly. Afterward they hoist Byrrah upon their shoulders in devout adoration. Byrrah is confident that he will now win the vote for the throne of Atlantis. Namor worries that Byrrah will open the gates of Atlantis to Attune and Krang, dooming the kingdom. The treachery continues in "Death outside the gates!"

This Marvel Masterworks Centre-Spread was penciled by Jeff Aclin with inks by Mike Esposito. 

Titanic Transcripts

Graham Pool RFO, QNS from Birmingham loves the new shape of the Titans with its five stories, who cares about paying nine pence. He's written a poem about it. To save space in the blog you can read it in the letter page. Tim Rogerson from Oxon thinks the centre-spreads are a unique idea. He suggests that Doctor Doom replace Captain Marvel and replace Nick Fury with the Punisher solo strip from the American mag, Marvel Super Action. Philip Anderson KOF, RFO from Birmingham thinks that POTA and Dracula Lives are great. But Marvel has excelled themselves with The Titans. It's about time The Inhumans had their own strip. Captain America and the Sub-Mariner need to develop and grow as proper characters and not just supports to second-rate heroes. The second-half of the page features the first three Items from this week's Bullpen Bulletin, with no space left for any images.

Captain Marvel “The menace of the Nuclear Man!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Wayne Boring

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Captain Marvel #22

Cover date September 1972

(Published in June 1972)

There is no credits to the artists who created this second part splash page but the style looks very similar to a Sub-Mariner splash page that Steve Stiles drew for The Titans #30, so it could very well be him. 

Raymond Osworth had visited his brother-in-law, Jules Carter, to find him  angry with pain and physically changed. Jules attacks him but he manages to leave. A week or so later, Rick is trying to re-establish normality after separating from the Avengers, finding a normal life with a new apartment and making new friends, possibly even new loves. That evening as he spends time with Lou-Ann, he suddenly doubles up in pain. Marv-Vell reveals that their combined life force is killing Rick. Lou-Ann takes Rick to her uncle, Professor Benjamin Savannah, who doses Rick with positively charged photons. This causes Rick to change into Captain Marvel, who immediately flies away, much to the confusion of Lou-Ann and the Professor. Elsewhere at the apartment of Jules Carter, his neighbour knocks angrily on his door to complain about the noise. Carter answers wearing a bright costume, now calling himself Megaton: The Nuclear Man. With his body now transformed into a power house he descends into a fit of madness, causing the apartment building to collapse. As he lies unconscious in the rubble, he dreams about how he went on an expedition in the Arctic, where he and his crew were caught in an explosion. This explosion disfigured him and gave him his powers. Waking up Megaton storms off, only to run into Captain Marvel.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “The devil's egg!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Strange Tales #144

Cover date May 1966

(Published in February 1966)

Again another second part opening splash page drawn by an uncredited artist. The mysterious villain named Druid, who usies "mystic rites" to disguise modern technological wizardry to create a persona of powerful magic has sent one of his "Satan Eggs" to destroy Nick Fury.

The "Satan Egg" chases after Fury's Porsche 904, the egg fires a  flame-thrower at the car with Fury swerving across the road to dodge it. The agent of SHIELD strikes back with a "Borer Bomb," that is launched from the sports car's boot. Exploding on impact it cracks the egg's shell, revealing the machine's components. At his secret headquarters Druid operates the egg's "traction nodules," two rockets that are fired in front of the speeding car and explode dropping plastic balls all over the road that transform into impervious tank traps. Fury can't dodge those, the car hits them sending the car flying into the air. As it does airbags are released cushioning the driver and passenger from the shock. Who would have thought, Jack Kirby was the inventor the automobile Airbag! Well maybe not as Airbags were officially invented and patented in 1951–1953 by John Hetrick and Walter Linderer, although the concepts dates back to 1919. They weren't practical, but in 1967, a year after this story was originally printed Allen Breed developed the first ball-in-tube crash sensor, paving the way for modern, fast-acting, chemical-based airbags. May be Breed read the Nick Fury story in Strange Tales #144 and got the idea. Airbags only became commonplace in vehicles the 1980's and 90's. As Fury's car flips over, "Air Jets fans" activate allowing the car to fly and land safely. Nick and Dum Dum grab "Grenade Guns" from the boot, shooting at the damaged eggs they make an omelet out of it. Back at the SHIELD barber shop, a clean-cut new recruit requests to meet Colonel Fury. The recruit has a hard time convincing the barber he's really a SHIELD agent, until he uses an electrical device to give the barber a shock. Fury and Dugan arrive sporting bandages from the days action. The young lad explains he's their latest recruit, Jasper Sitwell. Fury isn't that impressed, allowing the kid to blather on Fury and Dugan enter the SHIELD headquarters using the barber's chairs that drop into the floor. More super-spy nonsense next week.

Captain America “He who holds the Cosmic Cube”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #80

Cover date August 1966

(Published in May 1966)

Its really nice to end on one of my favourite strips from this week's collection and its a classic that not only sees Captain America in personal combat against the Red Skull for the first time since the closing days of World War Two, but also we get to see the Cosmic Cube for the first time in action. Stan and Jack are really pulling out all the stops. Even Don Heck's inking looks pretty damn good over Kirby's pencils. Cap sees an airplane exploding over head, luckily for the pilot the craft's escape capsule is flung free, crashing into New York Harbour, Captain America springs to the rescue to discover that the pilot is a member of AIM. 

On the brink of death, the agent tells Captain America that the Advanced Idea Mechanics group had finally developed a weapon called the Cosmic Cube and it was his mission to stop the Keeper of the Cube, a rogue agent, from delivering the weapon to the Red Skull. The Skull had worked for AIM, but now he had betrayed them. The Red Skull had been remotely watching the Keeper's craft escape from the AIM pursuers. When one of his men takes joint praise for the missions success the Skull shakes his hand. Then he explains how he had planted a "Neuro Brain-tap" on the Keeper of the Cube's hand much like he just did to his subordinate. With the device he had mentally ordered the Keeper to bring him the Cosmic Cube. He then hands the underling a revolver and leaves the room, mentally ordering him to blow his own brains out. Using an "experimental manned missile" Cap tracks the Keeper's craft. In a daring mid-air jump Cap leaps onto the AIM craft. While fighting with the Keeper the plane begins to crash. Cap is temporarily blinded but still manages to hold onto the Keeper ejector seat and land on the Skull's island base. He briefly fights with the Red Skull, who uses his protective armour to withstand the blows of his nemesis. While they wrestle with each other the Skull unleashes gas from his shirt momentarily knocking him out. The Red Skull commands the Keeper to hand over the Cube. The Cosmic Cube is the only artefact in the world that can convert thought waves into material action, in other words the power to change reality. With his first command he wishes the Keeper of the Cube to begone into another dimension. Cap awakes to witness the Skull testing his new ultimate weapon. Can he survive the Skull's deadly imagination? Find out next week. 

With that I'm going to race a head with my own Cosmic Cube, the Power of Marvel comics, and find out what happens next. Come back next week to find out if I survive or if I'm transported to another dimension. But hopefully I'll still be here to...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.