The Rage and the Fury!

 Week Ending 8th May 1976

Spider-man's saga nears a life-changing period, the Man-Thing arrives at a cross roads of dimensions , the Black Panther's rage reaches a conclusion and a cosmic adventure starts to blossom. All that and more stuff and nonsense in these super six mags. What a time to be a Marvel fan. Read on and find out more. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #188

After showing the X-Men in their new costumes on the cover last week the top banner leads with "See: The X-Men in their brand new costumes!" The Hulk returns to the front cover slot with this Herb Trimpe artwork originally from the Incredible Hulk #176. The speech balloon's do give away this week's cliffhanger plot though. 

The Incredible Hulk “Crisis on Counter-Earth!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #176

Cover date June 1974

(Published in March 1974)

Following directly on from last week's ending, an angry Hulk has been launched into space on board a space ark rocket-ship by the Inhumans following the monster's rampage through their home. Confused and furious at his captivity, yet unaware of his predicament the Hulk tries to smash his way free. Causing a fire to rage through the delicate on-board flight computer, activating a micro-second burst from the Ark's course correction rockets, changings the direction of the ship towards the sun.

On Earth, Betty has dinner with her father where she opens up to him about her feelings over the deaths of her husband Glenn and her first love Bruce Banner. However both men aren't dead, Glenn Talbot had been captured by the Russian military when he had helped rescue General Ross, as seen in MWOM #169. Exactly at that time he managed to execute a prison break from the Siberian prison where he has been captive for many months. Unknown to Talbot the prison's Russian commanders seem to be more than happy with the Major's escape. Meanwhile, back in space, the Ark's guidance computer must have made some repairs and some more corrections to steer itself back onto its originally intended destination: Counter-Earth. Like a scene from the 1971 film Escape from the Planet of the Apes it crashes into the ocean and is recovered by a US military team who open it up to discover Bruce Banner unconscious inside. When Banner comes around in a military hospital, he is accused of being a spy. As Counter-Earth's version of Banner was on a "special mission" with General Ross at the time. The officer demands to know if he has any ties to Adam Warlock. More on Warlock's coming and going in next week's mag. Suddenly Banner realises where he is, recalling that he had been to Counter Earth once before, as seen in MWOM #154 to #155. As panic sets in Bruce begins to transform into the Hulk once again and smash out of his hospital room. Banner's interrogator reports to General Caraway what has happened, who passes it up the chain of command to the President as he sits in the White House in Washington DC, where outside protesters demand that the government free Adam Warlock from captivity. The story of this twisted world continues next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Mark Buzza KOF pens a letter that goes straight for the jugular, his opening statement is "I hate to criticise, but Don Heck cannot draw." He's taking aim at the Giant Man strip which he says is a great story but Heck lets it down. On to MWOM he's more positive, calling the Hulk good, Daredevil stupendous and the Fantastic Four are absolutely excellent. Christopher Chase RFO, FOOMer from Leeds gives a late review for last winters annuals and compares them with the year before selection. His likes and dislikes ebbs and flows. Christopher suggests that next year Marvel could release an annual for each of the British mags, with the price at £1.20 for 128 full colour pages. For example if it was for the Marvel annual it could have two Hulk stories, two Fantastic Four, one Daredevil and one Defenders story. Dave Thorpe from Lancaster writes the next letter that has to fit across two letter pages. Before I get into his letter lets talk about Dave, his name might ring a bell to some readers, especially if you read Captain Britain in Marvel UK's Marvel Superheroes monthly, before Alan Moore took over the writing chores from Dave Thorpe. But here Dave was a slightly angry, comics fan. 

Dave was angry when he read Tom Timlin's letter in Avengers weekly #122, because he can't stand cliques! Dave writes "who cares about Mike Mittelstadt and Ivor Davies and all these other intellectual snobs who think they're the cream of Marveldom, the most scintillating letter-writers whom everyone can't wait to hear from. Every Marvel reader is entitled to express their own opinions. In Dave's point of view Marvel comics means of bringing a higher standard artwork, story concepts and entertainment to a wider public, giving them stimulating enjoyment. Any attempt to channel the appreciation of the medium into a narrow realm to pontificate on the "proper" response to the mags and to form a clique to do this is a step in the wrong direction. They intellectualised jazz and rock and killed the basic instinct in them. There's more to his letter so if you want to read one letter this week read this one. One more thing from Dave's letter he was a creative writer even at an early age and published a 30 odd page A4 size magazine called "Lemming" every four months for 22 pence. On with the other letters, Stephen Hall from Essex has noticed that in Britain there have been changes to the art and dialogue in the Conan stories, such as where Red Sonja takes off her chain mail top as seen in Avengers weekly #103 and another in Avengers weekly #121 where a gown was drawn on a girl sitting on the side of a pool. Why? He is sure that American fans weren't offended, so why should British fans be? Ian Simkin RFO, KOF writes in about the American mags that he's managed to pick up. He focuses on three great masterpieces, Conan, Black Panther and Killraven. He expresses a tremendous amount of pleasure from reading them. The Black Panther is the ultimate strip, because the story-lines, the scripts and the art are fantastic. "Thorns in the flesh, Thorns in the Mind" was perhaps the best Panther story during "Panther's Rage" he writes.

Daredevil “...Terror came riding”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Daredevil #58

Cover date November 1969

(Published in September 1969)

This splash page was created especially for this week second part opening page by an unnamed artist. Daredevil had finally revealed his secret identity to Karen Page and had proposed to her. She had said yes as long as he gave up the reckless life of an adventurer. Matt promises to do so after making a final appearance at the United Fund Parade. Suddenly the parade is interrupted when Daredevil is attacked by the Stunt-Master, a washed up stunt motorcyclist who is hired by Crime Wave to take out Daredevil.

As the Stunt-Master races to the parade podium he flicks on his bike jets to lift his motorcycle into the air making a near impossible jump onto the stage, that only the combination of Daredevil's super-senses and athletics skills can save himself and Karen from being crushed. Karen whispers to Daredevil that the police can handle the crazy biker, but Daredevil disagrees knowing only he has the best chance and so promises her that this will be his last fight. The Stunt-Master spins his bike round like a crazy matador who charges towards a bull, but this time Daredevil jumps onto the biker's ride and refuses to let go. The Stunt-Master takes him on a furious joy ride that soon ends when DD pulls the biker's scarf over his helmet, covering his eyes and causing him to crash. Now defeated the Stunt-Master admits that Crime-wave had offer him a grand for the hit on Daredevil. Foggy asks what was Daredevil's special announcement, but he says nothing, as the upset Karen walks away. Later Murdock win the case against one of the Crime-Wave's men. Although it's a victory for Matt, Karen is still mad at him for not retiring his super-hero identity as he promised.

The X-Men “And so it ends!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in The X-Men #39

Cover date December 1967

(Published in October 1967)

This splash page was created especially for this week second part opening page by an unnamed artist. The X-Men and the evil mutants converge on Factor Three's headquarters to confront that group's leader, the Mutant Master. Even as the macabre figure shouts his innocence in double crossing his mutant allies the Mutant Master orders his androids to attack everyone, including his fellow Factor Three conspirators.

Elsewhere the Banshee revives finding himself freed by an unknown Samaritan. Quickly he joins the battle, using his sonic scream against the Mutant Master whose body begins to quiver and shake violently until his helmet and outfit rips apart to reveal that it was all a disguise to hide an inhuman form. The Mutant Master was really an alien from the planet Sirius. As it is battered by both Banshee and Unus, the creature explains it was attempting to exploit mutants in a bid to take over the Earth for its masters. Unwilling to accept defeat, the alien instead chooses death. During the course of the final battle, another Charles Xavier appears. The "Charles" who warned Factor Three and the X-Men about Mutant Master's hidden motives was the Changeling, who happened to be a mutant shape shifter. With the Mutant Master threat over the remaining members of Factor Three and the X-Men agree to part for a temporary truce and depart in the remaining saucer crafts. The Professor tells Cyclops this cooperation between mutants against a common foe gives him hope for the future. Once the X-Men return to the X-Mansion, Jean is excited to hand out new costumes that she had designed. Xavier gives his blessing, as the X-Men are scarcely children anymore so they must look like individuals. In truth they all look a little bland save for Marvel Girl's. Angel's is the worst, Iceman's look is very basic, Cyclops sits him to be very plains for the Beast's costume, Angel's quip about how they could have made him a costume more fitting to his name, complete with fur and tail, does feel ironic with my future knowledge that one day Hank McCoy won't be able to take off his furry blue suit. But that version in my mind, is always his best look. Next week "The mutants and the monster!"

Bullpen Bulletin

Irrelevant Items of Lasting Inconsequence

The first of this week's Items tells readers about the "Battle of the Century!" which is actually a special because the Incredible Hulk is facing off against your friendly neighbourhood Spider-man in Canada published in the Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes mag. The art is by Gil Kane and the story is by Gerry Conway! The next Item bids farewell to British Marvel editor, John David Warner and associate editor, Duffy Vohland. John is joining the American black and white mags as editor while Duffy is going to devote more time to pursue his career as an inker. But who's taking over you ask. Well in the next Items news of their replacement is made. He's well-known to Marveldom assembled as a writer and an artist Larry Lieber who takes over both jobs. The final Item has news that in MWOM not only does the Hulk and Daredevil appear but also the X-Men with their new costumes. This full Bullpen page also appears in Dracula Lives and a version of it in the Avengers Mailbag in this week's Avengers weekly.

Origin of the Uncanny X-Men “Lovely are the Hunted!”

Writer: Roy Thomas 

Artist: Werner Roth

Inker: John Verpoorten

Originally published in The X-Men #39

Cover date December 1967

(Published in October 1967)

These short Origins of the Uncanny X-Men tales are great little pieces. This one opens with a fearful Scott Summers fleeing from an angry mob after his uncontrollable optic blast accidentally damaged a crane, as seen in The Titans #27. Young Scott decides to leave town by hitching a ride on a freight train. Meanwhile in Washington DC, the FBI and their mutant expert Professor Xavier learn of the incident and are interested in recruiting Scott into Xavier's school for mutants. 

Soon they learn that Scott had disappeared from the orphanage where he'd been treated by an optometrist who first suspected him of being a mutant. Professor Xavier visits the optician who came up with the idea of using ruby quartz lens to control Scott's headaches. Meanwhile the young mutant, now hungry had follows the scent of cooking food which lead him to a group of hobos that are preparing a food on a campfire. They invited him to join them, but when Scott tells them that he's been hitching a ride on the rails, the homeless men think he's playing a college initiation prank on them and must have money. They attack him but the police hear the commotion and chase the hobos away and help Scott to his feet. Realising he fits the description of the missing boy one of the officers attempts to take Scott's glasses off, which unleashes Scott's optic blasts, sending them running for cover. Scott recovers his glasses and flees into the woods. Suddenly he finds himself drawn to a near by cabin by an eerie voice. After entering the cabin he is welcome by a man who claims that Scott has nothing to fear, as like him he is a mutant, who he says is born to rule over humanity as "the first evil mutant!"

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #169

This British landscape cover was created from scratch by Dave Hunt (pencils,) and Frank Giacoia (inks,). Apart from Spidey versus the Hulk it really hasn't got any similarities in design to John Romita Sr.'s cover from Amazing Spider-man issue 120.  

Spider-man “The fight and the fury!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: John Romita Sr. and Tony Mortellaro

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #120

Cover date May 1973

(Published in February 1973)

This opening landscape splash page was completely redrawn using Gil Kane's original splash page as a design but moving the reader's point of view. Does it work? Only slightly, it's a good effort but fails when compared to the original, which was magnificent. 

Gil Kane's art, as shown on the second page, takes the action in a better direction, upwards and outwards. I love John Romita Sr.'s artwork from last week, but you've got to say Kane's second part is incredible. Spider-man has gone toe to toe with the Hulk after visiting Canada to meet with Jean-Pierre Rimbaud, a lawyer in Montreal, who had sent Aunt May a telegram requesting to meet with her urgently. Using reports of the Hulk in Canada Peter had taken an assignment from the Daily Bugle to get to Quebec. As coincidence would have it the Hulk endangers the area when he accidentally compromises the integrity of a dam, causing it to break washing Spidey and the Hulk into the deep waters. With the interruption of the military, lead by General Ross the Hulk escapes. Spider-man hitches a ride back to Montreal, where he changes back into Peter Parker. When he calls to check in on Gwen, she tells Peter to come back to the States as quickly as Harry has had a relapse from his previous drug overdose. Peter tells her that he has to finish business in Canada but he will be back as soon as he can.

Peter discovers that he's being trailed by someone, so he changes into Spider-man and confronts them. The man explains that he was hired by Doctor Octopus to seek out Mr. Rimbaud. Before he can get any more information out of Doc Ock's man General Ross arrive wanting information on the Hulk, believing that Spider-man's appearance in Canada at the same time as the Hulk can't be a coincidence. Peter goes with Frances Delon, Rimbaud's secretary, to see her boss as quickly as possible. On the way Peter and Frances are attacked by the Hulk. Changing into Spider-man once more he battles the Hulk until the military scares the green goliath off again. Peter finally meets up with Rimbaud who has important information to tell him when he's suddenly shot by a mysterious shooter and dies. With no leads to follow, Peter has to return home with the mystery unsolved for now. This week's and last week's adventure gets a well deserved British reprinting in the Marvel UK Spider-man Comic #316 and #317 from the week ending the 28th March 1979 and 4th April 1979.

The Web and the Hammer

John Buxton from Northampton reviews the strips from SMCW #152 to #154. On the Spider-Slayer saga it really pleased him but the story from SMCW #153, "Vengeance from Vietnam", really put him on the edge of his seat. The Iron Man story "The Fists of The Crusher' was an intricately-organised story with the thrills an' spills just where he wants them. As for Thor he liked "Mindswitch."as it showed him on the verge of utter defeat, but in true traditional Norse style, he came out tops. Ian Waterson suggests that Marvel make figures like the X-Men, Hulk, Captain Marvel and so on, based on Palitoy's Action Man. In the case of the Angel, it would be good if his wings could move. Paul Glass from Surrey thinks that there is one thing that spoils the letter pages at the moment is people writing in and asking what are the ranks of Marveldom. Paul suggests that a space is reserved on the letter page each week where the ranks can be printed. 

The Mighty Thor “One God must fall!”

 Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Neal Adams

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #181

Cover date October 1970

(Published in August 1970)

Sif and the Warriors Three have journeyed to Hades to rescue Thor, who, trapped in Loki's body has been banished to Hades and made prisoner of Mephisto. As they attempt to save their friend they have to face Mephisto and legions of demonic creatures. While the Warriors Three take on the Lord of the Underworld Sif tries to break Thor free from the ice tomb he had been imprisoned in, but her sword is ineffective against it. Using Loki's magic Thor sends the blade flying into a giant demon who charges towards Thor's ice prison, melting it with his demonic flame. 

Now free from the block of ice Thor then challenges Mephisto, who boasts that Loki is on Earth ruining his good name. I love the way that Neal Adams draws the transition from Hell to Earth matching the evil Mephisto's body shape with that of the evil Loki masquerading as Thor in much the same pose. Clever and classy. Mephisto didn't make an idle boast about Loki, as the God of Mischief, in Thor's body, holds the entire United Nations building hostage, demanding that the world leaders turn the entire Earth over to him. The UN leaders refuse to surrender their world over to the Thunder God as not even he can impose his will upon all the Earth's sovereign nations. Before Loki can react in retribution, Balder appears to battle Loki once more. Balder goads Loki into use his magical powers, and realises that he lost his magical prowess when he switched bodies with Thor. Undaunted, Loki then attempts to harness the full power of Thor's hammer to use against Balder. While in Hades, Thor uses his half-brother's powers to free his friends from Mephisto as the battle continues next week "When demons duel!"

An unnamed artist drew this Fantastic Four centre-spread. I'm surprised that it wasn't printed in The Titans as it would have matched well with the current Fantastic Four adventure pitting them against Doctor Doom in Latvia.

Iron Man “The strange death of Tony Stark!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #12

Cover date April 1969

(Published in January 1969)

 

During last week's Iron Man adventure Tony Stark had use a Life Model Decoy android to pose as himself while as Iron Man he fought with the Mandarin, thus maintaining his duel identity and hoping that the oriental villain would crack and spill that he had framed Stark as a traitor, in ear shot of the near by press. Miraculously that plan worked but with a side effect of having the world believe that Stark had died at the hands of the Mandarin, when in fact the Stark LMD had just shut down.

Iron Man comforts Janice Cord who had watch the paramedics carry "Tony Stark" into an ambulance and rush him off to a nearby hospital. Recalling that the LMD had done what it was programmed to do and shut down Iron Man races after the ambulance, whose crew think Stark is dead because they couldn't find a heartbeat. So before the ambulance can reach the hospital, Iron Man heads to Stark's Long Island plant. There, using the lab's Electro-impulse transmitter he beams instructions to the LMD's programme bank.When the paramedics open the doors of the ambulance the Stark LMD is awake and well. Soon before anyone can discover its android nature Iron Man welcomes it back to Stark Industries where it is placed in storage. Meanwhile, in Florida, Jasper Sitwell and other SHIELD agents recover Whitney Frost's escape vehicle, but to a sorrow-stricken Jasper's regret there is no trace of Whitney herself. Soon Janice gets news of Stark's "full recovery", she's over the moon but her mind is plagued by the sale of her father's business to Stark. Tony is concerned about the way her lawyer Vincent Sandhurst is handling it. Meanwhile Sandhurst is in need of money, but for what we might find out when he pays a visit to his brother Basil, who lives in a rather gloomy, gothic house in New England. Next week all is revealed in "the Controller cometh!"

Doctor Strange “The devil's sister!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: John Romita Sr.

Originally published in Doctor Strange #7

Cover date April 1975

(Published in January 1975)

This splash page was created especially for this week second part opening page by an unnamed artist. Events have lead Doctor Strange to travel to the Dark Dimension where he must face the Dread Dormammu's sister, Umar and her horde of demons.

The odds are against Strange as he battles Umar, with every attack he can must against her he is matched by some "anti-psychic" taxing his strength. He soon realises that it is Umar's own general's doing, the mysterious General Orini. Once Strange is defeated, Umar orders that he be placed beneath the G'Uranthic Guardian so that his mystical power can be drained by the Guardian, who will steal his knowledge and his will. Umar goes to free her brother. While back on Earth, Clea seeks the aid of other mystics to help stop Dormammu, such as Rama Kaliphand and the Aged Genghis. Two characters who many readers might find difficult to remember as they last appeared in the Doctor Strange tale from the Avengers weekly #24, but both cannot offer her aid. Outside the Sanctum Sanctorum a group of Dormammu worshipers amass, lead by the junkie that Clea and Doctor Strange meet in Central Park in Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #166, Clea quickly dispatches them and immediately travels to the Dark Dimension. Where Doctor Strange revives thanks to the Eye of Agamotto, cancelling the G'Uranthic Guardian's will sapping ray. Strange is confronted by General Orini. Just then Clea arrives and is shocked when Orini reveals that he is her father. In seven days "the Eternal Eruption!"

The Thing and “Pawns of the Puppet Master!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #9

Cover date May 1975

(Published in February 1975)

This landscape splash page was created especially for this week second part opening page by an unnamed artist. Thor, under the Puppet Master's control, has attacked Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl and the Human Torch.

Seeing them beaten into unconsciousness Thor momentarily regains control of his senses and changes into Don Blake so that he can administer medical aid. That transformation severs the link to the Puppet Master. When the Thing arrives home he finds Don Blake helping the others, the Thing is suspicious that the Puppet Master was behind the attack. He is validated when Blake tells him that Thor was responsible for the assault. After finishing treating the Fantastic Four members, Blake leaves and decides to investigate the Puppet Master as Thor. However once again the Thunder God falls under the Puppet Master's thralls boasted by Radion's radiative bombardment of the Thor puppet. Puppet Master turns Thor against the Thing, both he and Radion wish to watch the battle in person. But they're not the only ones as Nita, Annie and Wundarr arrive and with the young boy's arrival his unique powers begin to absorb Radion's energy. 

The Radioative Man flees and without Radion's power to sustain the Puppet Master's hold over Thor, the Thunder God regains his self control. Realising that both Thor and the Thing have stopped fighting the Puppet Master runs, straight into Wundarr, who knocks him unconscious. Thor apologises for his actions while under the Puppet Master's control and departs. Next week another two-in-one with the Thing, as he with the Black Widow are swept up in a vicious maelstrom of terror as they ask the question, "Is this the day the world ends?" Before we leave this story notice how the panels of this last page have been "stretched" to cover three-quarters of the landscape page by having various areas added. because they only had small adverts to fill the page. It looks bad, they could have stretched the adverts or added more in-house adverts. 

Avengers Weekly #138

This cover, originally from The Avengers (US Edition) issue 87, was drawn by John Buscema (pencils,) with John Verpoorten (inks). Whenever I look at it I always think it was drawn by John's younger brother Sal, especially as Sal had pencilled that issue's strip. But no it is definitely the work of John Buscema. Perfect for this story and a perfect choice for my Cover of the Week.

Conan the Barbarian “The garden of death and life!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Ernie Chan

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #41

Cover date August 1974

(Published in May 1974)

Even though the last two week's saw the brilliant Rich Buckler artwork on this strip, which was as strong as any artist to have drawn Conan, John Buscema's return just feels more comfortable, like the handle of a well worn broadsword or a old pair of slippers. The moon hangs full above a nameless desert village still a week's ride from the Zamora fabled "city of thieves". It's late but there should be a place to sleep for this weary traveler.

Conan comes across a group of villagers determined to kill a beautiful girl named Zhadorr, who seems to have bewitched one of their number. At first the girl asks a half-drunken merchant for help. Here Roy Thomas offers a rare line that is very blatant for a Marvel comic of that era, but feels very modern today although some might say it's still not very PC. Thomas describes the merchant who "staggers out of a darkened doorway, on his way home to beat his wife..." The merchant wants nothing to do with the girl, violently kicking her to the floor and preparing to stone her. Conan may be a barbarian but he's no woman beater so he beats the girl's attacker. The rest of the villagers so Conan has to fight them off and flee from the village with the girl, who tells him of the nearby oasis Shar-Al-Tjinn, just two days ride. On their travels she only ever drinks water infant of Conan and when he offers her food she eventually eats but not in front of him. During his time among civilised men Conan has learned that there are many religions that each have their own odd ways, her habit may well be one such practice. On the second day they are discovered by a group of bandits, who chase them to the oasis. There, seeing a refreshing pool Conan dives into the welcoming waters, only to discover the pool's floor is littered with bones. Suddenly Conan realises that Shar-Al-Tjinn, the name of the oasis is Zamorian for "bones of fools!"

Avengers Mailbag

Nick Brown from Somerset writes that Doctor Strange is Marvel's beat running character. He has progressed from the blank, two-dimensional character of his own old discontinued American mag, to metamorphise into the new philosophical character who brought about such stories as "And Finally Shuma-Gorath" and the Doctor Strange meets god triology. As for the Savage Sword of Conan's merger with The Avengers was an unexpected and unexplained surprise. Barry Smith's art is perfect, although Nick feels that the stories adapted from the original tales by Robert E Howard are too alike, so he wants some newer ones. Andrew Pennock RFO, KOF, QNS from Tottenham has discovered that Wakanda is a few miles north of Bradford, because people in Yorkshire pronounce their "the" as "t". Such as T'oven as in the oven. T'Challa's real name is "The Challa', but as his father came from Yorkshire he called him T'Challa. Howard Karp from Middlesex gives his review of FOOM issues 9, 10 and 11. Issue 9, the Cosmic Issue, was exceptionally good, although the Roger Stern article was a bit complicated. On Issue 10, it featured a X-Men article which Howard found to be a poor standard. As for Issue 11 the balance between articles and advertising had found a perfect balance. The final column in this week's letter features the four Items from this week's Bullpen Page as seen earlier.

The Avengers “Look homeward Avenger!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in The Avengers #87

Cover date April 1971

(Published in February 1971)

One quiet evening at Avengers Mansion, the team spends some reflective time together. Iron Man notices that fellow Avenger, Black Panther, seems to have a troubled mind, with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch's encouragement he tells them his origin. T'Challa is the son of the Wakandan chief T'Chaka, who raised him to be a brave and just warrior. One explorer named Klaw came to their land seeking to exploit the large amounts of Vibranium in the region. T'Chaka is killed when Klaw's men gun him down.

T'Challa vowed to one day to have vengeance on the man who killed his father. Taken in by N'Baza, T'Chaka's trusted council and father of T'Challa's childhood friend B'Tumba. With N'Baza as regent T'Challa is sent to the finest Universities in Europe and America together with B'Tumba as his companion. The two were always in competition with one another, T'Challa always overshadowing the efforts of B'Tumba. When their schooling was over, B'Tumba went his own way while T'Challa returned to his homeland where N'Baza put him through the tests to test if he was worthy of becoming the Black Panther. The first test was to fight a dozen of Wakanda's finest warriors, the next is to spend the night in the temple of the panther god. After being awarded the costume of the Black Panther. The third test was to collect a rare heart-shaped herb that grows in the wilds that would grant T'Challa great powers. Searching for the herb, T'Challa stumbles upon a group of Advanced Idea Mechanics agents who are planning to steal Vibranium for their own twisted purposes. T'Challa has become suspicious of N'Baza being a traitor just as he is spotted and easily captured by AIM. 

Master of Kung Fu “Wicked messenger of madness”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Paul Gulacy

Inker: Dan Adkins

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #33

Cover date October 1975

(Published in July 1975)

This period in the Avengers weekly offered up strips and stories with writers and artists in their prime. With Roy Thomas and John Buscema on Conan, Thomas and John or Sal Buscema on the Avengers and Doug Moench with Paul Gulacy on Master of Kung Fu it was a mag mature kids would love. Even the strips that had been printed earlier where nothing to be sniffed at with Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner on Doctor Strange and Chris Claremont with John Byrne on Iron Fist surely it must have flown off the shelves. Time and the blog will tell if it did. But this week's issue was a sensational read, with Moench and Gulacy creating a stylish kung fu espionage thriller. A comic strip that with the style of an epic kung-fu/spy-fi movie.

Shang-Chi, Denis Nayland Smith, and Black Tarr finally reach London's Victoria Station after their sea voyage. Clive Reston arrives to pick them up, in a cool 70's sports car, which let's be honest probably won't carry them all, but still it looks amazing. The London setting looks like it came from the British Avengers TV series with empty cobbled streets, all that's missing is Steed and Mrs Peel, but what does appear is a "cybernaut"-like robot who walks toward Reston saying, "Mis-ter-Res-ton-I-pre-sume," then fires bullets from gun barrels set in its eye sockets. Shang-Chi kicks it and Smith shoots at it, both without effect. Shang-Chi, guessing that its armor is not proof against its own bullets, twists its head over so that it shoots itself. I'm not knocking all those tropes, I'm loving every panel. Tarr comments that it looks like a Mordillo creation, except that Mordillo is dead. He goes on to tell Shang-Chi that Mordillo was a world-class assassin and a world-class loon who preferred to use offbeat machines in his assassinations. Reston takes Shang-Chi to his lodging while in London, a plush stylish apartment on King's Row, it's a little too overboard and luxurious for Shang-Chi who would prefer spartan and simplistic accommodation. Shang-Chi hears noise from the bathroom, where in they find Leiko Wu, one of Nayland Smith's agents using his bathtub. Reston strongly hints that he and Leiko were lovers; she hints just as strongly that the relationship is over. The phone rings, it's Smith who asks them to come to Scotland Yard immediately.

Phantom Eagle “...The fight if the Phantom Eagle!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in Marvel Superheroes #16

Cover date September 1968

(Published in June 1968)

This fourth part opening splash page was used last week as a promotion piece for this week's conclusion, the artist is unknown. Above America a World War One dogfight that place after a German airship had invaded American airspace on a covert mission. The air ace pilot the Phantom Eagle leads an American squadron to head of the German's plot by landing on the flighting fortress to plant a bomb destroying the enemy dirigible in seconds.

With the day won the Germans retreat like wounded dogs, but the American side has their own share of casualties. The Phantom Eagle's childhood friend, Rex Griffin's plane has taken enemy fire and is spilling wildly out of control. In a daring manoeuvre the Eagle pilots his plane parallel with the crashing plane, then throwing his friend a rope he gives Rex a second chance. Within second Rex is free as his burning plane plunges to the ground. But the wound that lead to orders that grounded the pilot returned in force as pain stabbed through his arm, his hands cramped up, his grip fails and nothing or no-one can save him from falling. The next day Captain Rex Griffin is buried with his tearful widow and a few fellow pilots around his graveside. Watch from a distance is the Phantom Eagle who makes a promise that even though his parents still live in Germany the threat of the Kaiser, the German army and the insane inner drive to kill mankind has to be ended the Phantom Eagle will take to the skies with vengeance.

To be honest it was quite a nice story even from Gary Friedrich, possibly because of Herb Trimpe's artwork, but I'm glad it's over and these pages can be given to the other strips.

Dracula Lives #81

This week's Dracula Lives uses the cover from Tomb of Dracula issue 38 by Gene Colan with inks from Tom Palmer.

Dracula “Blood-rush!”

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #38

Cover date November 1975

(Published in August 1975)

Harold H Harold, a freelance writer of true vampire stories has hit a severe bout of writers block and had bluffed his way out of a tricky situation by promising his editor an interview with a vampire. As luck would have it on his way home he discovered a weaken Dracula, who unconscious he carried home, where now he waits for his friend Aurora to show up and marvel at his discovery. Harold gets a shock when Dracula gets up only to faint once more. Aurora finally arrives and helps Harold return the vampire lord back into bed.

The slow-witted Aurora doesn't believe that Harold has a real vampire at first until Dracula begins muttering about his need to consume blood. Wondering where they could find blood, Aurora suggests that Harvard University stores a supply of blood for medical reasons. Meanwhile, at the hide out of Doctor Sun, Juno spies on Quincy Harker, Frank Drake and Rachel van Helsing via closed circuit TV as they discuss their plans to track down and destroy the weakened Dracula. Frank interrupts them, thinking he saw Dracula in the window, however when they run outside he's nowhere to be seen. Spotting a bat in the sky, the vampire hunters follow it. Believing that he couldn't have gone far in his weakened state they search for him. Meanwhile at the Harvard University Harold and Aurora enter the medical wing, while Aurora distracts an intern, Harold goes into the lab and steals as many vials of blood as he can carry. Quickly returning back to his apartment, the young couple begin feeding Dracula the blood. As Aurora feeds him, Harold gets a tape recorder ready in the hopes of getting an interview with Dracula when he awakens. Quincy Harker and the hunters track the bat to Dr. Sun's lair, only to discover that they were tricked into following an illusion when they are confronted by "the death-dealing Juno!" Find out what happens in next week's blog.

Man-Thing “Battle for the Palace of the Gods!”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Val Mayerik

Inker: Sal Trapani 

Originally published in Man-Thing #1

Cover date January 1974

(Published in October 1973)

British readers wouldn't know it but the Man-Thing was given his own ongoing American comic in which this story appeared. At the F A Schist Construction Camp, Man-Thing, Korrek and (Howard) the Duck are confronted by the demons followers of the "Overmaster" who seeks to take over all of existence. Korrek slices on demon to pieces, but the body parts are reanimated and attack the warrior. Howard, now named in the text, picks up a fallen gun from one of the construction workers and shoots at a demon, but it has no effect on the creature. The Man-Thing bends the demons into all sorts of shapes, but still they fight on. Losing battle against the near indestructible demons, the trio are saved by a last minute intervention by Dakimh the Enchanter, who conjures up a maelstrom that pulls the demons into a vortex that explodes. He asks the three would-be warriors to join him in his quest to stop the Overmaster.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Kale, a prisoner of the Congress of Realities, waits to be presented to the Overmaster, who has yet to arrive to oversee her execution. When he does arrive he orders a firing squad to execute her, however they fail, when a dimensional rift causes Daredevil and Black Widow to briefly appear in the room and disarm her executioners. Their guest appearance coincides with a Daredevil story also written by Steve Gerber that will appear in MWOM #313 from the week ending 27th September 1978. Suddenly Jennifer turns to water and leaks between the floor boards, re-materialising in between realms where Dakimh and the others are waiting for her. Explaining that they need to realign the Nexus of All Realities, the foursome begin to hop across the dimensional path, however Howard trips and falls into the dimensional void. And we'll never see him again or will we? In order not to lose any more of his companions, Dakimh creates a helmet of protection for Korrek. Eventually the trio arrive at the inter-dimensional trauma that is causing all the problems, lead by a giant arrow that point the direction they need to go. The craziness continues next week. 

Mighty Marvel on the move...as the Angel and Iron Man present six great mags on sale every week. The issues shown here are Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers weekly unused banner head lines, Planet of the Apes #78, Dracula Lives #77, The Titans #24 and Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #164.

Cryptic Correspondence

Jonathan Pyper RFO, QNS from Hempstead takes a closer look at the Werewolf by Night story running through Dracula Lives #73 and #74. He found the Werewolf's attack on Buck Conhen superbly done, with Buck saving Buttons only to fall prey to the Werewolf. The sheer tragedy of the Werewolf nearly killing its best friend is brought out in this story very clearly. John Beardmore from Burton-on-Trent looks at Planet of the Apes, Dracula Lives and The Titans in his letter. On the six stories printed in Dracula Lives, Dracula is Fang-tastic, Werewolf by Night is great, Frankenstein too sorrowful, The Mummy was good at the beginning but now it is boring, Brother Voodoo terrific as for Man-Thing he's not sure about it yet. Paul Grant QNS, KOF from Buckingham writes that the stories in Dracula Lives are great, although Mike Ploog should return as artist to Werewolf by Night. As for the Man-Thing Paul says he's unbelievable and should be kept going. P Cousins from Northampton thinks that the Dracula stories are well written and in his opinion it gets better every week. Werewolf by Night is his favourite strip and also gets' better weekly. M Simpson QNS from London also thinks that Dracula Lives is "getting better every week", especially now that Man-Thing has been introduced, the mag sales should rocket.

For one week only the Double Dynamite in-house advert feature is used to promote two more triumphs from Marvel. The Planet of the Apes issue 85 from the week ending the 5th June 1976 and the Mighty World of Marvel issue 191 from the 29th May 1976. These two issue were well ahead of the date of this weekly, so I'm guessing that those covers where chosen because they were already made proofs. 

 

Ghost Rider “A woman possessed!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Tom Sutton

Inker: Sad Shores 

Originally published in Ghost Rider Vol 2 #1

Cover date September 1973

(Published in June 1973)

After last week's Ghost Rider strip, from Marvel Spotlight issue 5, cover dated August 1972, published May 1972,  you would imagine that the story from issue 6 would follow. It didn't and neither did issues 6 to 11. Instead British Marvel jumped on to the Ghost Rider tale from his new comic book issue 1. Which was strange as this week's particular story starts halfway through the plot that had started in Marvel Spotlight issue 11. I think they rushed forward to this story so they could include the Son of Satan story in Dracula Lives, that connected with this tale. Don't worry about missing those early adventures, British Marvel would print the Ghost Rider stories starting with the story from Marvel Spotlight issue 6, in The Titans issue 31, in just two weeks time.

A man visits the grave of Victoria Hellstrom and lays a gold cross upon it. The text tells us that this man is her son. Elsewhere Johnny Blaze races across the Arizona desert to check on Roxanne in the hospital, recalling events that have happened over the last few days. The readers will eventually, find out more about them in The Titans. While lost in his thoughts Johnny is suddenly heading towards a police roadblock. Smashing through it the police open fire winging the motorcyclist in the shoulder, causing him to crash. Meanwhile, Sam Silvercloud and Snake Dance recover the near comatose Witch Woman to find her still possessed by Satan. They make a call to Daimon Hellstorm to help in performing an exorcism. Meanwhile in hospital Roxanne Simpson is given news that Johnny Blaze has been involved in an accident and is being treated in the emergency ward. At the same time in Copperhead Canyon, Sam Silvercloud ties Linda Littletrees to her bed to make sure nothing happens before Hellstrom arrives. Her father Snake Dance believes there is no helping her and he can only keep vigil over her dying body. Once Sam leaves her father fails to notice a sudden glimmer in her eyes. Her father drifts to sleep not witnessing the image of Satan rising above her body to possess her once again. The horror continues next week.

 

An in-house advert for the Avengers weekly that lifts the figure of Black Panther from this week's cover to promote T'Challa's origin revealed at last. The dynamic mag showcases four great features, Shang-Chi, the Phantom Eagle, the Avengers and Conan. 

Planet of the Apes #81

Now this was a British commissioned cover especially for this weekly to mark the start of a new Planet of the Apes series, Future History Chronicles II. The artists, Jeff Aclin (pencils,) and Duffy Vohland (inks,) do quite a good job matching the action and the fantasy. I think the only thing spoiling it is there's too much writing covering the art, may be one of the text boxes could have been removed.

This photo, from the Planet of the Apes TV series episode "The Cure", is of General Urko, the shows main antagonist as portrayed by actor Mark Lenard, who is also well-known for his roles of Spock's father, Sarek in Star Trek.

Planet of the Apes “Dreamer in emerald silence”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Tom Sutton

Inker: Tom Sutton

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #15

Cover date December 1975

(Published in October 1975)

This Planet of the Apes series, which was titled the Future History Chronicles II follows on from the City of Nomads which started in POTA #47 and ran to POTA #49. Its two years since the City of Nomads, named the Hydromeda, sank in bright flames, scuttled by the Slinker, later revealed as the human called Alaric, who freed the human slaves from the ship's bowels, held there by the repressive ape masters. Here again Doug Moench and Tom Sutton create a beautiful masterpiece. 

Alaric's people, banded together with a group of apes to forge an alliance built on mutual need. With the apes help they would build a new sailing ship, the "Freedom Reaver." Smaller than "Hydromeda'" but designed with a massive battering ram at its fore. The Chief Architect Graymalkyn, a gorilla who possessed the knowledge to build giant city ships formed an uneasy alliance with the humans. In exchange for his help the humans would give him and his ape brothers passage home before the band of humans would voyage onwards attacking other city-ships. Construction lasted two years under the guidance of Graymalkyn, who put aside his hatred of humans for the sake of the project. Starkor, a human elder distrusted apes, as did most humans in the crew, but Alaric knew their future depended on the their cooperation. On their first voyage they cross a city-ship, bigger than the Hydromeda. Starker chooses to ram it, but Graymalkyn tells him that there could be two hundred thousand apes on it with five thousand human slaves. Starker cares not as the two fight they fall into the ocean, Alaric dives in to rescue them. Suddenly a giant leviathan from the sea rises to capture them. The creature, "Dwelleron", is ruled by Ambrosia, a benevolent orangutang. Ambrosia built Dwelleron a biomechanically-bred mutation that organically sustains itself and its occupants for the intention of destroy all the city-ships. He is waiting to unleash his destructive might when four of the city-ships merge together.

Ka-Zar “Into the shadows of chaos!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Mike Royer

Originally published in Ka-Zar Vol 2 #4

Cover date July 1974

(Published in April 1974)

Another poorly constructed Ka-Zar tale by Mike Friedrich and Don Heck starts with Ka-Zar and Zabu watching the evolved Man-Ape who was once know a Man-Gor, but in his current form prefers the name Man-God, with El Tigre are standing over the unconscious Bobbi Morse, who had been sent to the Savage Land to investigate El Tigre's movements. Ka-Zar and Zabu attack the villains, but soon, yet again the fiends defeat them and take them hostage. Now with Bobbi Morse, Ka-Zar and Zabu captive they take over the village of the Fall people. Find out what happens next week if you really want to.

Apes Forum

Tim Stranger from Norwich is glad to see the superb Panther's Rage in Planet of The Apes. Don McGregor's masterpiece must surely rate as one of Marvel's greatest epics. Credit must also be given to Rick Buckler and Billy Graham, who complement Don's writing style admirably. Each character is so well-developed that we soon know each of them and the emotions that propel them. Carol from Middlesbrough would like to start a Planet of the Apes appreciation club in her area and thinks the best way to meet those interested in joining would be to meet at the Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday, the 14th February at 2.30. Sandie Stronach from Glasgow replies to S Winetrobe's letter printed in POTA #68, telling them that she wrote to STV to inquire if the TV show is going to be repeated. They replied "We have just recently purchased the rights for the series and screening should be sometime later in the year." Margaret Lyle from Stoke-on-Trent enjoys reading Planet of the Apes especially the film adaptations. She also really likes reading the Apes Forum which often receives letters of complaint about the weekly's covers. Margaret is afraid she has to agree with them most of the time, but the cover of POTA #65 was fantastic.

Andrew White from Liverpool believes that over the last year there has been a slight but noticeable decline at Marvel as they were beginning to sacrifice quality for quantity. Thankfully the mags are starting to pick themselves up. Now they're back on top form. On the subject of British Marvels catching up with the American ones. It has been hinted at printing home-produced stories. This is bound to create problems, because nothing major could happen, such as a main character dying, unless it happens in the States too. Andrews solution would be when you major strips like the Hulk or Spider-man catch up, make the mags monthly. John Gay from East Lothian has noticed that there is a series called "Return to the Planet of the Apes". on Border TV. The editor tells John that it's a cartoon series based on Planet of the Apes. Gary Bell QNS, RFO, KOF from Belfast feels that the adaptation of "Conquest" by Doug Moench and Rico Rival was masterful. The emotions shown by Caesar and Armando were beautifully done. C Rock from Middlesborough asks why in the comic strip and the movie versions cats and dogs all died in a plague, but in the TV series a chimpanzee boy is teasing an old man with a dog. The editor replies that Armado might have been over-stating the facts. Also on this letter page is a secret message from General Urko for all members of the Planet of the Apes fan club. Use code "C" to decode the message and the first correct answers win a Planet of the Apes record, the next three will win a POTA badge.

Black Panther “Dark nightmares foul battles!”

Writer: Don McGregor

Artist: Billy Graham

Inker: Billy Graham

Originally published in Jungle Action Vol 2 #18

Cover date September 1975

(Published in June 1975)

This splash page was created especially for this week second part opening page by an unnamed artist. Taku clutches his head in sheer agony under the psychic onslaught from King Cadaver, Venomm once an ally defends the only person he's ever really called a friend by striking Cadaver with his bull whip. Cadaver always gave Venomm the creeps, he was never quite sure when he was going to try worming his way into his mind. The whip wraps around Cadaver's neck, as his eyes pulse with fearsome intent to aim his powers towards Venomm, the snake charmer throws the whip's handle under a brachiosaur crushing Cadaver under its feet. Taku and Horatio Walters embrace in an unmentioned friendship. 

Elsewhere Killmonger's other Lieutenants fall, one by one. Malice is knocked out by Monica Lynne. The Black Panther races towards Warrior Falls to confront Eric Killmonger. In his first year when he underwent the sacred Panther rituals, T'Challa pushed himself as far as he would dare, he didn't always succeed, but it he never gave in. That Panther of old was as sure and confident as now, focused and ready to launch himself into a blood battle. Two foes, one sleek and pantherish, the other superbly arrogant. The two exchange blows from the Panther's claws and Killmonger's studded belt on the edge of the cliff. The final battle between the Black Panther and Killmonger is watched by Kantu, the small boy who T'Challa had saved from a charging black rhinoceros, as seen in POTA #64. Later when Killmonger's forces had invaded Wakanda the boys father, M'Jumbak had been killed by Baron Macabre. 

The boy had remembered Monica Lynne moving into his homestead to help him and his mother Karota tend to their farm, later  T'Challa, Monica, Taku had comforted him further when his mother fell ill with malnutrition. Now the boy sees Killmonger lift the defeated king of Wakanda above his head to fling his enemy off the falls. Kantu can take no more, he charges towards the fray, screaming with rage, a tiny voice lost in vast events. The Panther and Killmonger's eyes lock for the last time exchanging looks that say "What the hell is happening?" In a second it is over in a silent descent Killmonger hits the crashing white rapids below, disappearing under the surface. As the Panther climbs back up, helped by Kantu, the pair say nothing, their destiny entwined inexplicably. They walk into the familiar sun that feels warm for the first time in ages. The war has ended. Only the survivors are victims themselves.  

The Titans #29

No one knows who drew this landscape cover, who ever did it copied Jack Kirby's cover from the Fantastic Four issue 86 with the positioning and the look of the characters. Even the gestures and facial looks are the same, but you can tell it isn't Kirby. What's also different to the American version, that you can see on the left, is the speech balloons. Typical for a British cover, it feels more like a splash page.   

The Fantastic Four “Victims!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #86

Cover date April 1969

(Published in January 1969)

This landscape opening splash page has been re-shaped from Jack Kirby's original splash page, with the characters moved apart to better fit the space. Unable to leave Latveria, the Fantastic Four find themselves unwilling guests of Doctor Doom's hospitality. 

Doom is preparing to test his army of Invincible Robots by having them destroy an entire Latverian village and the Fanatsic Four. To stop the foursome from saving the village, Doctor Doom has brainwashed them into thinking they no longer have their powers. They have to use their wits alone to marshal the villagers and battle the army of Invincible Robots. During the battle, Reed realises that Johnny and Crystal's powers are returning, with the villagers lives in danger they overcome the brainwashing, which must have been an advanced form of hypnosis to make them feel powerless. Reed used parts from the fallen robots to make a device that controls an hidden giant turbulence pressure engine that flings the Invincible Robots up into the air then sends them crashing downwards into a lake in which they sink. Then massing a small army of rebels the Fantastic Four plan to storm Doom's castle with Reed leading the charge, little knowing that Doctor Doom intends to detonate explosives under the entire village. Doom presses the button and the village is consumed by a giant explosion. As the smoke clears to show one small section of the village standing untouched, protected from destruction by an invisible force field. To everyone's surprise, Sue appears. Having been sent by Nick Fury to rejoin the team. Her baby had been left with Alicia. Next week the Fantastic Four storm Doom's castle in "The wrap-up!"

Captain America “Back from the dead!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Gil Kane

Inker: Gil Kane

Originally published in Tales to Astonish #89

Cover date May 1967

(Published in February 1967)

Captain America answered a distress call from someone who looked like his old partner Bucky Barnes, but when he arrived on Sea Gull Isle he was attacked by the Swordsman and Power Man. After defeating those two fiends a figure from his past was revealed to have returned back from the dead, but it's not Bucky, instead it is the Red Skull.

The Skull's apparent resurrection after events seen in The Titans #21, where the nazi had fought Captain America with the power of the Cosmic Cube. During that encounter the Shull had fallen into the ocean as he reach for the Cube that had been knocked from his grip. His golden suit of armour had pulled him to the ocean floor. The far reaching power of the Cosmic Cube enabled the Skull to survive without oxygen on the ocean floor, the current pulls the Cube away from him, but it's impulses bolstered his strength enough to enable him to make his way to the surface. By luck his short swim leads him to Sea Gull Isle, one of the many secret Nazi installations built by Hitler during the war. Wanting to savour Cap's destruction, he releases the hero in an arena where he is forced to fight robots and face various other traps. One of which was Bucky Barnes himself, who attacks Cap physically as well as mentally as the boy tells him that he abandoned him because he was jealous of the boy. When the fight reaches a conclusion when Cap defeats "Bucky" who turns out to be another robot created by the Red Skull. With the shock reveal, the Red Skull initiates walls that close in, threatening to crush Captain America. How he survives will be revealed next issue as well as "Captain America, traitor!"

Titanic Transcripts

The Tiger from Cleveland writes to praise British Marvel's newest achievements, The Titans. Five strips in one mag was a great idea, all of them good except the Inhumans. When Marvel added the X-Men it became a masterpiece. The team-up of Superman and Spider-man was a great breakthrough in comics. The Tiger hopes it happens again with Captain America and Batman or the two Captain Marvels. G Harris QNS, RFO from Mansfield comments that the X-Men are excellent, the Sub-Mariner is good but often the art is poor, Captain Marvel is fair, but doesn't live up to the glory that's given to it. Nick Fury is excellent too. As for Captain America strip, it's amazing with incredible scripts and art. Louis Berg from Portsmouth is pleased at the steady flow of US mags that are arriving into Portsmouth and Bognor. Mags like Guardians of the Galaxy, The Champions and Inhumans are great, The Defenders is great, the art is fab. Captain America and Falcon are not bad, but Captain Marvel is out of this world. Ian Postlethwaite from Lancashire Also agrees with the many letter writers who say The Titans are a marvellous masterpieces of art and literature. The artwork is good, especially Gil Kane on Captain Marvel. But he didn't like Jack Kirby's art on the Sub-Mariner, he thought that Gene Colan's art on that strip was much better. The only story Ian didn't like was SHIELD. 

The Sub-Mariner “Years of glory..Day of doom!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Sub-Mariner Vol 2 #1

Cover date May 1968

(Published in February 1968)

In America the Sub-Mariner finally got a comic book of his own that he didn't have to share with another strip, like the Hulk in Tales to Astonish. To give the new comic a decent launch the Sub-Mariner's origin was retold by the stellar creative team of Roy Thomas and John Buscema. Thomas is the master of connecting stories together into a concise narrative. Destiny has trapped Namor under tons of frozen ice, mocking him further by revealing the many lost memories that Namor has yet to recover after his years with amnesia. Using his destiny helmet, Destiny links their minds and reveals all.

Taken back to the days when his father, Leonard McKenzie, was part of an Antarctic exploration expedition. Blasting ice flow to free the ship sends shockwaves to the city of Atlantis below. Lord Thakorr would send his daughter, Princess Fen up to explore on the surface, with the aid of a potion to allow her to breathe on land. Fen boarded McKenzie's ship she would eventually fall in love and married the captain. Unaware of this, Thakorr sent warriors to recover his daughter, who clashed with the crew and seemingly slaying them. Fen returned to her kingdom before she learned the truth. Fen would gave birth to a child, a human/Atlantean hybrid. Reaching adulthood, Namor would first be a menace to the surface people before joining the allies in fighting the Nazis during World War II. When the war ended Namor would become a crime fighter on the surface world, while also battling threats at home such as his evil cousin Byrrah. Soon Destiny would strike at Atlantis, and lure the Sub-Mariner into a trap where he would use his powers to strike the prince of Atlantis with amnesia. In a final blow, he would cause an explosion that would seemingly kill Princess Fen and Lord Thakorr. Destiny would go into suspended animation to clash with his foe in five years time.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “Death before dishonour!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby (layouts) and Don Heck

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Strange Tales #148

Cover date September 1966

(Published in June 1966)

Nick Fury is caught in a fire-bombing attack by AIM. Dum Dum Dugan desperately rushes his friend over to a cell repairing chamber. Just when he thinks that Fury has died the Colonel appears telling him to pull himself together. The "Fury" who died was only a Life Model Decoy. The AIM prisoners that the LMD Fury had been interrogating had died in the fire-bomb explosion, much to Fury's frustration as it would have given him important evidence to back up Fury's claim that AIM was a hostile force. 

Fury realises that AIM blew up the prisoners by remote at the time he was starting the interrogation, they must have been monitoring his movements under some form of video-surveillance! Meanwhile in the laboratories of Advanced Idea Mechanics Count Royale and his AIM cohorts survey Nick Fury as they calculate their next move. One scientist is amazed at how advanced and convincing SHIELD's Life Model Decoys are. It was impossible to tell the difference between the replica and the real Nick Fury. SHIELD's formula for creating artificial men is superior than their own chemical androids. Royale says that they won't improve their standing with "Them" unless they close the technological gap between the two. He plans to steal an LMD while provoking a situation in the Council of Free Nations to bring Fury before a board of inquiry. Meanwhile Fury visits SHIELD's own labs and observes the testing of a new X-ray gun called a "Tri-di-roentgen Hand-gun". Later Sitwell breaks into Fury's room using a thermal torch to reveal a flaw in security that AIM might exploit. More spy-fi nonsense next week.

Captain Marvel “Trapped on titan!”

Writer: Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin (plot)

Artist: Jim Starlin

Inker: Pablo Marcos

Originally published in Captain Marvel #27

Cover date July 1973

(Published in April 1973)

Rick Jones has been captured by the Mad Titan Thanos and taken to the largest moon of Satan. Thanos plans to use the Mind-Cyclone on the teenager to reveal the location of the Cosmic Cube. Thanos's alien soldiers attach a helmet to Rick's head and the giant computer known as ISAAC, Integral Synaptic Anti Anionic Computer, trawls through Rick subconscious mind, until it has found the information Thanos required. Information that even Rick Jones never knew he possessed. Together along with a shrouded figure, Thanos departs to the Isle Dernieres on Earth, leaving the Super-Skrull in charge. Before leaving, Thanos gifts the Super-Skrull the "Unisphere" to assist him if he would run into any serious trouble.

Some time later, Rick Jones finds himself locked in a strange cell, with his hands cuffed behind his back with no way of swapping places with Captain Marvel. Reviewing how his girlfriend is also stuck on Earth under some form of mind control. A voice from the shadows startles him, he has been listening to his woes from the darkness. Another tells him to remain still as a strong pair of hands break the bonds that hold his hands. Stepping into the light are his liberators Mentor and Eros. Who explain that they are the last of the resistance against Thanos, the Free Fighting True Army of Titan. Mentor introduces himself as the creator of Titan and also Thanos's father. The younger man tells Rick he is known as Eros, a man of love and of adventure, who is famous in earthly legends and also Thanos's brother. Mentor and Eros free Rick and show him how a civil war has ravished their world. Seeing the destruction caused by Thanos Rick exchanges places with Mar-Vell and the former Kree soldier vows to fight for Titan.

Meanwhile invisible to the human eye, two comets blaze their way to Earth. Their objective is the Isles of Dernieres, Thanos and his hooded companion in tow silently land near a cavern. Drawn to the location of the Cosmic Cube like moths to a flame, or a human to their death. Thanos feels the cosmic light from the Cube and can nearly reach it when a strange being steps forward to bar his way. The Destroyer! The scene then shifts to Avengers Mansion where the group of Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Black Panther are alerted by a visitor. She draws an identity card and shows it to the camera, Rick Jones' Avengers ID. Cap leads the Avengers to greet the girl. She falls into his arms saying that she has tried to break free from control and there was a trap set for Rick. She tells them her name is Lou-Ann and she must warm them about Thanos! In the past I've not hidden my dislike of Mike Friedrich's writing, (see the current Ka-Zar storyline,) But here you can tell that Jim Starlin has heavily developed the story plot so much that the Captain Marvel strip is finally reaching it's potential, with Friedrich polishing the script where needed. Starlin even gets a credit to say as much. Come back in a week's time to Marvel at this cosmic adventure, you know it makes sense. So I hope I'll...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.