The claws of the Beesting!

 Week Ending 7th July 1976

A couple of comments that you might find interesting from last week's blog, first up is a couple of bloopers spotted in the strips by Dangermash. He says the Vision's chess board in the opening splash page of the Avengers was oriented sideways. The bottom right square should be white but it was black. He thinks it was deliberately repeated in one of the films in a scene that was a homage to that panel. And secondly in the Spider-man strip, there was talk about Vulture being still in jail when in his last appearance (ASM #63 or 64?) he escaped at the end of the fight with a damaged power-pack. Something must have happened behind the scenes leading to his capture. Well I did wonder about the Vulture's status but as for the chess board I would never of spotted that one. Paul B mentions that the Daredevil pin-up appeared in FOOM #13 page 30 as part of an article on British Marvel comics.

Marshall Rogers was credited as the artist while the caption stated it originally appeared in Mighty World of Marvel, not the Avengers weekly. So that virtually confirms that I could be right about the pin-ups being mixed up. Thanks to Dangermash and Paul B, PotBNoP's heading to you both, comments are always welcome.

The Mighty World of Marvel #197

This comic is a much sort out issue due to the first UK appearance of a certain character who will go on to be one of Marvel's most adored mutants. I'll save that reveal for later. It kept the reveal secret preferring to showcase old greenskin's battle with the Wendigo instead, its "monster meet monster in the wrath of Wendigo!" which would have been a better story title than the actual one used. David Wenzel pencilled it and John Tartaglione inked it. 

The Incredible Hulk “At the mercy of Wendigo!”

Writer: Len Wein

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Jack Abel

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #180

Cover date October 1974

(Published in July 1974)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. The Hulk seeking a respite from the relentless hostility of the human race he had wondered aimlessly through the forests of Canada only to be lured by a mysterious feminine voice into a cave, were in a beautiful girl in animal skins charms him to rest and eat at peace with her. She is Marie Cartier, whose brother,  Paul Cartier, had been lost and trapped with his friends Georges Baptiste and Henri Cluzot in a cave by wolves. Cluzot died from his wounds, as the survivors starved Paul on the verge of insanity, resorted to eating the dead man's flesh and so fell victim to the curse of the Wendigo. As told in MWOM #160 and #161. Georges Baptiste had agreed to help Marie find a cure for his friend. 

Marie, had acquired knowledge of the dark arts, planed to free her brother having another take his place. Her plan is to use an occult ritual to pull the essence of the Wendigo out of Paul's body and transplant it into a surrogate host. Her perfect choice would be the Hulk, who she believed the world would not miss. Georges thinks that Marie’s plan is reprehensible, but she is more than willing to curse another, so long as it saves her brother. Marie offers the Hulk a broth that is laced with a sleeping drug. As she prepares the ritual, the Wendigo enters the cave. The sleeping drug only has a small effect on the Hulk’s body chemistry as he awakens. The two monsters engage in an epic struggle that nearly tears the entire forest down. The two monsters exchange earth shattering blows, the Hulk hurls boulders at the creature, who in turn smashes a tree trunk overtop the Hulk's head. The noise of the battle alerts a metal clawed adventurer and secret asset code-named the Weapon X, soon to be more widely known as the Wolverine! Making his first UK appearance has strangely made this British worth more than its actual value. Wolverine actually only appears in the final panel yet I've seen prices as much as £49 to £85 online for this mag and at times even higher. You get more wild mutant action next week as "the Wolverine strikes but once!" But once is more than enough.

Bullpen Bulletin

Wild, winsome and one flew over the Bullpen!

Good news for Howard the Duck fans, the first Item tells British readers that the web-footed, cigar-chompin' fast-talkin' fowl from another space-time continuum is the latest sensation that has swept America and particularly the US presidential primaries, will soon be appearing in is own strip in one of these wondrous weeklies. Which one they can't say, or more likely they haven't decided yet. The Next Item brings news for readers of Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. Alternating in six month stretches with sorcerous Doctor Strange will be a series of stories featuring the hero-for-hire, Luke Cage aka Power Man. The truth is Doctor Strange has very nearly caught up with the American series, so he does need a rest, but will Power Man appear in SSMwtSH, you'll have to wait and see. This week's Bullpen Bulletin on appears here and in The Titans, so I'll review the next Items in The Titans part of this blog.

Daredevil “The girl..or the Gladiator?”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Syd Shores

Originally published in Daredevil #63

Cover date April 1970

(Published in February 1970)

A police boat slices through the water carrying Matt Murdock and DA Foggy Nelson to a meeting on Ryker's Island in the East River. Murdock's mind winds back to events earlier when he and Karen Page had an argument over Matt continuing his super-hero life-style as Daredevil, which ended with Karen quitting her job and leaving town for good. Foggy tried to take Matt's mind of things by focusing on business with a certain prisoner at Ryker's Island. Matt  and Foggy's interview is with the prisoner Melvin Potter, known in the criminal world as the Gladiator. 

The Gladiator was last seen in British Marvel mags and Marvel universe continuity in Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #159, where in the Iron Man strip he was captured by Agent Sitwell and SHIELD after battling the armoured Avenger. After spending time in prison Potter is claiming insanity to try to get out of his prison sentence and Nelson and Murdock have come to try to determine if Potter is lying or not. While the two lawyers prepare their interview Karen prepares to leave New York City with confusion in her heart. Knowing that Matt wants to share his life and marry her, yet is Matt Murdock only an illusion as he's also Daredevil, the man without fear, who doesn't need anyone or anything except his ever-present billy club. Her taxi arrives and she leaves with a tear on her cheek. Meanwhile at the prison Melvin Potter is questioned by a psychiatrist to find out if his insanity is a charade or not. Now it's Foggy and Matt's turn to question Potter. Potter has been allowed to wear his Gladiator costume in a foolish attempt to have him admit the truth. Foggy tries to make him remember the time he nearly killed him, as seen in MWOM #99, but he is adamant that he is only a costume shop owner. Getting nowhere Foggy takes a completely foolish gamble and allows Potter to hold his old weapons. As he does so he then reveals that he was faking the whole episode and attempts to break out of the prison in next week's episode "The duel of the Gladiator!"

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Marvel always says that the fans are the real editors, so Clinton Bludden QNS and his friends have offered some suggestions, the first being multiple heads in the top-left-hand corner box, for example for MWOM it would be the Hulk, Daredevil and the X-Men. His second suggestion is to change the hero on the cover each week. Thirdly he wants a column on the right showing the character. He wants more single pin-ups in The Titans and pin-ups on the back pages. Clinton suggests that the title of The Avengers be changed to The Avengers, starring (whoever features on the cover) not "The Avengers and Savage Sword of Conan." And finally have one of the centre-spreads to feature all of the Avengers that there has been so far standing in a line. Derek Lord from Norfolk has been looking back at some of his old Marvels and he's realised just hove much they have improved. Now he realises how childish, in comparison with recent Marvels, some of them were. You must have been scraping the barrel a bit to think of villains who are called "Scarecrow", "Smasher", "Jack-Frost" or "The Melter". 

Malcom Paknadel RFO, KOF from Essex thinks that Neil Fisher should be "hung, drawn, quartered, boiled alive in oil, guillotined, decapitated, incarcerated for life, fed on bread and water for a week, given a thorough spanking and sent home without any pocket money" for his letter in MWOM #184. Malcom would have almost accepted his letter but for his claim that he had answered the questions, even though the answers came from MWOM #6. M Shipley from Newcastle wants to known if there are offers for "Origins of Marvel Comics" and the Marvel, Spider-man and Avengers annuals from 1975 and 1976? Sadly they were all sold out. Mick McNamee KOF, ROF from County Derry is interested in becoming a comic-book writer and inquires if he sent in some of his ideas would the Marvel editors have time to consider them? The editor replies to Mick with some very strong advice, including that you not only need writing talent, you need an imagination that's sufficiently fertile to be able to produce and keep on producing story-lines. Steve Milner from Herts wants to know what the letters after certain writers names mean. For those who don't know here they are again, RFO-Real Frantic One, A buyer of at least three Marvel mags a week. KOF-Keeper Of the Flame, One who has introduces a newcomer to Marvel's ranks. TTB-Titanic True Believer, an inspired No-Prize winner. QNS-Quite Nuff Sayer, A fortunate frantic one who's has a letter printed. PMM-Permanent Marvelite Maximus, One who has all the other four titles. FFF-Fearless Front Facer, An honorary title, awarded for devotion to Marvel above and beyond the call of duty. John Buxton from Northampton defends the Scarecrow after Phillip Greenaway in MWOM #186, requested that he should not be brought back because of there being "Not much chance of character-development". John argues that the character is more mature than other Marvel characters. Being written by Scott Edelman, whose talent would interest the older-type readers.

An unnamed artist drew the Hulk battling against the Leader with the unconscious Rhino at his feet for this Mighty World of Marvel Pin-up page! It's funny but there's no mention of the Leader in the pin-up's title.

The X-Men “Red Raven, Red Raven...!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Don Heck (layouts) and Werner Roth

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in The X-Men #44

Cover date May 1968

(Published in March 1968)

The X-Men lay defeated at the feet of Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The Toad suggests to his master that they should kill them while they have got their chance. Quicksilver stops Magneto by suggesting that surely the master of all mutants wouldn't snoop so low as to become a cold blooded murder. Taken back by an underling questioning him, but also sensing that Pietro makes a great deal of sense, Magneto considers that he would prefer to savour the sweet nectar of victory and keep the young mutants captive in various restraints that utilise each mutants specific abilities.

When the X-Men regain consciousness, they question why Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch decided to rejoin Magneto's Brotherhood. Angrily Pietro explains to them how humanity seeks to destroy mutants as brought to a realisation in the Avengers weekly #65, by Magneto. Eavesdropping on the argument the Toad reports to Magneto, who decides that perhaps he should destroy the X-Men after all. Left alone, the Angel manages to free himself thanks to a handy placed laser torch to cut through the bars of his cage. While attempting to free the others Cyclops fears that the restraints maybe booby-trapped, he orders the Angel to flee and get the Avengers help. Angel flies past Magneto and Quicksilver and out over the open sea. Later the weather turns for the worst and the young mutant is caught in a storm. He decides to stop and rest on a rock outcrop poking out of the water. To his surprise the outcrop suddenly rises, revealing it was part of a submerged island that has been hiding beneath the ocean. Finding a metal door the X-Man enters to explore. Suddenly he is attacked by the old World War II hero, the Red Raven. This mystery takes flight next issue!

Starting in two week's time, the Mighty World of Marvel gets new action and new excitement when the Avengers and the savage sword of Conan merge into the pages of The Mighty World of Marvel. More action and adventure that you can shake your pocket money at. The images in the promotional are the Vision by John Buscema from the cover of the Avengers (US) #57, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver by Dave Cockrum came from #6 of FOOM. The Thor image looks like John Buscema but I can't recall where it originally came from. Goliath, Captain America and Iron man by Sal Buscema originally appeared on the last page of the Avengers #71. The lower Conan image with Conan in the background was by pencilled by Mike Nasser and possibly inked by Dick Giordano. This full page promotion also appears on the inside back page of the Avengers weekly.

Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #178

This classic cover features the second of this week's British Marvel comics debuts with the Punisher taking aim at Spider-man. It's a very close copy of the cover from the Amazing Spider-man #129 that had been created Gil Kane (pencils,) and John Romita Sr. The Grand Comics Database lists Frank Giacoia as the inker. The target image of Spider-man looks exactly like the original so I imagine this was either cut and pasted or copied directly. The image of the Punisher looks very similar to the original but there are more white "teeth" on the anti-hero's belt, they even go all the way round. It's iconic, creative and stunning, never to be forgotten, it's my Cover of the Week, without any need for questions. This comic is another is another that dealers ask ridiculous prices for. Two dealers in the Untied States have it on offer for £194 and £243 on eBay, just because it features the Punisher's first UK appearance. 

Spider-man “The Punisher strikes twice!”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: Ross Andru

Inker: Jim Mooney

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #129

Cover date February 1974

(Published in October 1973)

This landscape opening splash page was based on Ross Andru's opening splash page of the Amazing Spider-man issue 129, but drawn for the British edition by an unnamed artist. This story had already debuted in the Spider-man Annual 1975 which appeared on the pre-Christmas shelves of 1974.

A new costumed criminal known as the Jackal has convinced the vigilante known as the Punisher that he would be doing the world a great service by killing Spider-man who he says was responsible for the murder of Norman Osborn. The Jackal believes that The Punisher enjoys killing, but he has his own reasons why he carries out his one man mission and will only kill those who deserve it. Not happy with the firing mechanism of his concussion rifle the Punisher leaves to have the Mechanic look at it. Meanwhile the wall-crawler is web-slinging through the city when he stops to bust up a robbery and make some money on the side by taking some photos for the Daily Bugle. Later J Jonah Jameson is uninterested with the pictures and really wanted Parker to get photos of the Punisher, and that all the competition is snapping up photos of him in action. Peter leaves and later as Spider-man he's soon attacked by the Punisher, who thinks Spider-man is a common killer. The vigilante doesn't have much of an upper hand against Spider-man's super-strength as the web-slinger beats him until the Jackal, hiding inside a chimney strikes out, raking his claws across the back of Spidey's head. Spidey becomes dizzy and falls from the building's ledge. The Punisher calls the Jackal's method "unjust". The wall-crawler manages to regain control, and swing away. When Spidey returns to the roof top the Jackal and Punisher have gone, although the Punisher's "wire-gun" has been left behind. With the manufacture's name, Reiss Armorers, left on the gun's butt.  

Spider-man returns to his apartment to mend his mask, unaware that Harry Osborn is listening and suspects that Peter may know that he's decided to become the Green Goblin. While at ESU, Miles Warren seeks out Mary Jane Watson to pass on an apology to Peter Parker over their brief run-in while he was trying to get help to save her from the Vulture, as seen in SSMwtSH #176. Meanwhile at the Jackal's secret hideout, the Punisher lashes out at his odd partner,  over their methods. The Punisher leaves to go the Mechanic, to get a replacement for his "wire-gun". Spider-man arrives at Reiss Armorers, mere seconds before the Punisher. Inside the shop Spider-man finds a dead body. Sometime after this story was published Archie Goodwin and Tony DeZuniga write a prequel of sorts titled "Accounts Settled... Accounts Due!" which appeared in Marvel Super Action #1, cover dated  January 1976, published November 1975, in which the Mechanic appeared. There he was a wheel chair bound bilateral amputee with a hook for a hand. Presumably sustained due the Viet Nam war. Here the body has legs and shoes. I guess that error would be Archie and Tony's fault. That story can also be found in the Marvel UK magazine Savage Action #6 cover dated April 1981. Back in this tale The Punisher attacks Spider-man thinking that the wall-crawler had killed his friend. During their fight, Spider-man once again manages to get the upper hand and webs the Punisher up. He points out the Jackal's trademark claw marks that caused the Mechanic's death. Realising that the Jackal had been manipulating him to do his dirty work and then intended to frame him for murder, the Punisher vows to get revenge against the Jackal. Spider-Man leaves just as the police arrive, unknown to him that the Jackal has been watching. This was a cracking Spider-man tale, a classic in every sense. During this period Gerry Conway was writing some brilliant stories. But sometimes his plots don't always hold up. If the Jackal was framing Spider-man or the Punisher for the Mechanic's death wouldn't the police and forensics specialist question the claw marks. Never mind it's still a classic.

Moon Knight “The crushing conquer-lord!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Don Perlin

Inker: Don Perlin

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #28

Cover date June 1976

(Published in March 1976)

This opening page has been needlessly extended to fit the three quarters of a landscape page that was left after a Charles Atlas and Stamp quiz advert that took up the first quarter column. It really wasn't a good idea. The Moon Knight strip joined Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes making the mag have six strips per week. May be they should have paused one of the other strip and used it then, but no British Marvel went more is merrier and who am I to complain? I really like the character and the strip. Moon Knight last appeared, continuity wise at least in the Werewolf by Night story from Dracula Lives #78.

Over Manhattan, the caped vigilante known as Moon Knight spies a gang of masked men attempting a robbery. Using his cape he glides down from the rooftops to quickly over power them. His work finished, he returns to his helicopter, piloted by his trusted ally, Frenchie. While all of that was going on, at the mansion of Mr Grant, Merkins, Grant's valet, wonders what is keeping his client. The butler, Samuel tells him it is of no concern to him. Miss Fontaine would also like to know where Mr Grant is. Meanwhile above Manhattan Frenchie informs Moon Knight that the building the masked men were attempting to break into was the campaign headquarters for a mayoral prospect named Charles Thurston. At a secret location a weedy man named the Weasel informs the mysterious Mister Quinn that the burglary should be going to plan and the blame will be pointed towards the current Major. When reports of its failure reach Mr. Quinn, he wants to know more about this mysterious Moon Knight. Weasel presents him with a comprehensive dossier, lifted from the Committee, containing reports of Moon Knight's encounter with a Werewolf, his true identity an ex-mercenary called Marc Spectre, the multimillionaire Steven Grant and a cab driver identity as well as other possible aliases.Weasel tells Quinn that they even have an inside man on the payroll at Grant's mansion. Satisfied that Weasel has told him everything he needs to know about Moon Knight, Mister Quinn, now preferring to be called the Conquer-Lord promptly kills him so that he can't share that knowledge with anyone. Meanwhile the Moon Knight glides down to the streets, but also into danger as the police have their sights on him. 

Iron Man “Said the Unicorn to the Ghost...!”

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Artist: George Tuska

Inker: Johnny Craig

Originally published in Iron Man #15

Cover date July 1969

(Published in April 1969)

 

The Unicorn remembers his last fight with Iron Man in a lurid dream. He recalled how he through the armoured Avenger off a cliff on a snow capped mountain. But that isn't how things ended, in SMCW #147, Iron Man had ripped off the Unicorn's power reserve belt and flung it off the side of a cliff, into a river. In the present a stranger in the mist gets the Unicorn to recall the events properly. The Unicorn had managed to activate one emergency booster rockets build into his boots. Shrouded from Iron Man's view, by the valley mist, the villain caught the power reserve belt and flew away until his booster rocket was exhausted, before collapsing to the ground not far from the laboratory of Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost and the stranger in the mist. 

Remember the Red Ghost when he first thought the Fantastic Four? British Marvel renamed him the Mad Ghost, so not as to offend British readers with Communist stereotypes when he first appeared in MWOM #26. The former communist scientist had lured the Unicorn to his lab with the promise to fix his equipment and to make improvements to his powers. The Red Ghost claims that the Unicorn needs injections that when taken regularly will counter-act the hyper-activator's life shortening effect. Improvements to the Unicorn's power reserve belt's alloy molecular structure also means that no-one can crush it or rip it off like Iron Man did. The Unicorn tries out his new powers to devastating effect. He then threatens the Red Ghost that no-one can now control him, but the Ghost tells him he still needs regular injections otherwise the hyper-activator's effects will kill him! Find out what diabolical scheme the Red Ghost has planned next week.

The Mighty Thor “...Then who shall save the universe?!”

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: San Grainger

Originally published in The Mighty Thor #185

Cover date February 1971

(Published in December 1970)

This landscape second part opening splash page was pencilled by Jeff Aclin with inks applied by Duffy Vohland. Trapped in the mysterious World Beyond Thor is lost in a deadly and futile search for his Father Odin. All hope appears to have faded until suddenly the Silent One appears. With a single sweep of his hand he reveals the terrifying truth of the all powerful monstrosity known as Infinity!

Thor watches helplessly as worlds are consumed by Infinity and brought into the World Beyond. Those world's citizens are placed under Infinity's thrall. With an outstretched finger the Silent One points Thor towards the dense mist where out steps the Warriors Three, who have also been placed under Infinity's spell. With no word of friendship the warriors drew their weapons and attack the Thunder God, who lifts his own weapon, the mighty Mjolnir to the skies and brings down a torrential downpour of rain and an all-mighty hurricane  to overpowers them and then transports them safely back to Asgard. There in the Golden Realm Sif and the Grand Vizier watch over the Odinsword, which continues its slow progression out of its scabbard, a signal that means the end of the universe. While back in the World Beyond, Odin continues his battle against Infinity, while the Silent One watches on. Their battle cause causing unstable weather conditions on the Earth and across the universe. So much so that the upheaval knocks Thor unconscious. When he revives he discovers that his hammer must have left his grip for more than 60 seconds as he had reverted into the form of Donald Blake. If matters couldn't be any worse, the Guardian is suddenly resurrected by Infinity to destroy another victim. As he pulls himself to his feet he spots Blake. Next week Thor must face "Worlds at war!"

The Thing and the Son of Satan..together “Ghost town!”

Writer: Bill Mantlo

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: John Tartaglione

Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #14

Cover date March 1976

(Published in December 1975)

The Thing finds himself in a ghost town somewhere in Arizona, after being sent there by the Fantasic Four's leader, Reed Richards, who had been experimenting with a "psych-detector." Ben and Alicia had entered the lab on what turns out to be New Year's Eve to get Reed to come to the party. But the machine had detected a disturbance in the deserted mining town of Lawless. Alicia had felt the feed back, but not directly from the machine, but from the town itself. The Thing volunteers to investigate. 

With no idea of how to locate the trouble Ben heads towards the town's dilapidated bar named the "One Star Saloon". In the bar he finds a painting of a mean looking cowboy on a black steed. Ben jokes its no wonder the town is deserted, if he had to look at that picture everyday he too would have headed out off town. Suddenly a voice calls out saying that is precisely what happened. Be turns round to see Daimon Hellstrom, known to the demonic world as the Son of Satan. Hellstrom has also been drawn to this location by a strange evil force. Daimon retells the story of the man in the painting, Jedadiah Ravenstorm, who was part Cherokee Indian, part white man, with a soul as dark as night. Over a century ago he cut a bloody swath through the east, but left before it got too hot for him and headed out west. According to history Ravenstorm crossed the Colorado desert and built himself a town he named Lawless. Some say it was built on the blood of the men he killed. The law-abiding citizens rebelled and on the 31st December 1875 Ravenstorm was hung by the good people of Lawless, yet within a year the town was deserted. Before Ben has time to question the truth behind it a tornado springs up. The two are confronted by what appears to be the undead spirit of Jedadiah Ravenstorm, As they battle the spirit of Ravenstorm possesses Ben Grimm!

Doctor Strange “Final curtain!”

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Gene Colan

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Doctor Strange Vol 2 #12

Cover date February 1976

(Published in November 1975)

As the world trembles on the brink of self destruction Doctor Strange has sworn to turn it from its fate. It began with the words of Eternity who proclaimed that man might call it the twilight of the Gods, Ragnarok or Judgement Day, but man has always known in their soul that it would come. Doctor Strange had heard the words but chose to defy them. So in response Eternity place the Sorcerer Supreme in some nebulous Nether-world where he faced versions of himself. In the real world the astra form of Baron Mordo faced the aged Genghis, while in another plane Strange meets up with his deceased master, the Ancient One. 

The Ancient One tells Doctor Strange to follow him, curious he does, across a tightrope over a bottomless pit. Half way across the Ancient One sits and invites his disciple to join him. The old master tells Strange that he cannot beat Eternity, his game is but the game of life. Life has rules of which one of them is change. Life cannot remain static. The present must become the past to make way for the future. Life is a circle it waxes and wanes, all systems of wisdom knows of that. The Ancient one draws tarot cards and tells Strange that death is known to all around the world. Just then Clea tries to contact Stephen mentally, but needing his thoughts clear he blocks her from his mind. To the Ancient One it has come apparent that his disciple will not listen, at which point the Doctor tries to take control of the game, but the Ancient One thinks not and conjures up a demon to fight Strange. He defeats it, but his master tells him now is the time to leave. As he does Doctor Strange must then face the blue masked version of himself who knows his own doubts and fears. The battle of the psyche continues next week.

Avengers Weekly #147

This is a great cover, originally from Conan the barbarian issue 45. Created by two of Marvel's best cover artists Gil Kane (pencils,) and Neal Adams (inks). Even though the monster might look comical to a point and the beautiful girl was never attacked in the actual story it's still very memorable. You just got to have Conan rescue a damsel from a monster a Conan cover! It's an unwritten rule!

Conan the Barbarian “...In the Dark waits...death!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema

Inker: Crusty Bunkers

Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #45

Cover date December 1974

(Published in September 1974)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an Unnamed artist. After a meeting with the Minstrel, Laza-Lanti, Conan had gotten into a bar fight that ended with the pair spending time behind bars if not for the lads cunning. Conan agrees to travel with the lad who has decided to return home to the Dark Valley after the many years away. As a child he had fled the valley where a monster which was stalking him. The pair make their way to the Dark Valley, which lies just south of Shadizar just on the other side of the frontier to Koth. Arriving at the valley, they find in the twilight a gathering of a few men who leave behind cattle as a sacrifice to their gods. 

Laza-Lanti recognises one farmer who is preparing the new moon sacrifice. Laza-Lanti and Conan are going to end the need for it. The farmer and his friends aren't happy to see Laza-Lanti, telling him that he'll only stir up the Demon Lord who has left them alone for years. Conan stops the farmer from tanning Laza-Lanti's backside. As the farmers leave a beautiful woman arrives and takes the cattle for the sacrifice and leads them into the cave beneath some cliffside ruins. Conan and Laza-Lanti follow the woman and discover that she is offering the cattle to a slimy, tentacled monster. Impulsively the boy attacks the creature, believing that she will be next. Conan assists, and between them they manage to kill the monster. Expecting gratitude from the woman the minstrel is surprised when the woman, named Timara, explains that two decades ago she was a dancing girl in Shadier the Wicked. She had danced among the grimy, smoke filled dens of thieves quarter. She remembered how face and figure had declined over the years and how the wanderlust grew and she joined a travelling carnival troupe. One night she was exhausted and fell asleep amid the crumbling columns only to awake in the grip of a darksome demon. It is hinted off page (or possibly the page was removed by the editors as British censorship,) that the monster copulated with the woman. Later she served the demon willingly in exchange it had kept her young. Over the years she had bore it twin sons. One son was given to druids to raise, the other with a streak of dark hair would one day return to her. With the demon dead, the spell was broken and Timera aged quickly before her son's eyes. Unable to live without the demon who she insanely loved Timara took a dagger and plunged it into her own heart. With no words to say Conan leaves Laza-Lanti, recalling the lyrics "I go no more to Dark Valley, which is the gates of hell." Hearing the cries of anguish as the minstrel takes his own life, the Cimmerian wonders can the portal also be a suicide's heaven as well and what happened to the other son?

The Avengers “Trail of terror”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: Sal Buscema

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Avengers #92

Cover date September 1971

(Published in July 1971)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by an Unnamed artist. H Warren Craddock, head of the government's new Alien Activities Committee has determined that all aliens in the country's midst must be severely felt with after hearing a report of the recent Avengers/Kree skirmish in Alaska. Rumours that the Avengers themselves have been hiding an alien have meant that SHIELD has blockaded The Avengers mansion. The Avengers and Rick convince Captain Mar-Vell to go into hiding with Carol until things are straightened out. The pair try to slip through a battalion of SHIELD jets in an Avengers Quinjet, whose greater speed out runs them.

Craddock calls Nick Fury vis video to voice his displeasure, claiming that Fury deliberately allowed the Avengers Qunjet escape. Fury tells him to prove it and cut the transmission. Fury's copilot, DumDum Dugan asks him why he did order such a loose formation. He replies that during the war he got a look at some of the Japanese-American reclamation centres and saw what they did to men on both sides of the barbed wire. He did what he did not for Marvel, but for America. Inside the mansion Rick Jones recalled how life was simpler in the old days, remembering the old 1940's and 50's comic-books he read in his childhood when he lived in an orphanage. Where the heroes fought for the truth, justice and law and order. That's when he dreamt of becoming a super-hero. They fought in a world where everything was black and white, not murky grey. Outside the mansion two men fight over different opinions about the Avengers stand on hiding an alien. Goliath over hears them and goes outside to break them up, only to be handed a subpoena from the men to answer a committee of government officials in Washington about their recent involvement with the Kree race. 

During the inquiry the Avengers hear testimony from the three scientists who had been devolved into cavemen about their experiences, including that the Avengers knew that Captain Marvel was a Kree alien and that they made them swear to remain silent to prevent public panic, but they thought it could also be because they didn't want their friend Captain Marvel put into confinement. Reed Richard and Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four also give evidence about the Kree. Reed admits that the Kree are from a far-off scientifically advanced galaxy. Ben gives a more aggressive testimony, saying that he doesn't know these Avengers, not like Cap, Thor and Iron Man. They should make Captain Marvel show up. The Vision takes the stand to give his version of events. But Craddock doesn't want to hear from a "robot" who just parrots what the others tell it to say. The Vision calmly tells them his voice is always even and unemotional, but if he could he would beg in the most beseeching tones to call off this witch-hunt and trial-by-accusation before it does irreparable harm! Just then Rick receives a mental image that Mar-Vell is in trouble and bursts out of the room. Craddock wants Jones found and orders the meeting adjourned for the afternoon. The Avengers return to the mansion through protesters to find that some of the more violent ones had broken in and trashed their headquarters. While helping Jarvis straighten up, they are visited by Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. As founding members they declare that because of the irresponsible manner in which they acted in shielding Captain Marvel from investigation they decree that the Avengers are to disband, With that Thor raises his hammer and the three Avengers disappear in a blinding flash. The four Avengers turn and leave Jarvis to tidy up and lock up after them. Next week "shock follows shock!"

Avengers Mailbag

M Bowen RFO, KOF, FOOMer from Dalgety Bay wrote before about the Marvel Scene is Scotland, well now chewing gum packets has arrived north of the border that feature Marvel characters stickers. You can get Spidey, Hulk, Namor, Valkyre, Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, Captain Marvel, Captain America and many, many more. They come with witty remarks like "Madness mades me see red" with Daredevil, and "Crime drives me up the wall", with Spidey. Frank Butchard RFO, QNS, TTB from Milton Keynes comments on the Avengers weekly #136 and #137. the Conan story "The Fiend From the Forgotten City" is the best Conan story he has ever come across. The art was even better than usual, and that's going some. Ernie Chan is the only inker for Conan, and he makes Rich Buckler beautiful. As for Master of Kung Fu, it's great to see Shang-Chi back. The story was good, as usual, but even though Sal Buscema is good Paul Galacy is the true artist for MOKF. The highlight of the comic is the Avengers, "Brain-child to the Dark Tower Came ..!" was perfect all round, and even half as good it would be better than the last miserable six weeks of Avengers. Shrimp Keeler from Sussex gives his reviews of MWOM, SSMwtSH, The Titans and the Avengers weekly. He's not a fan of Conan, although he thinks that Master of Kung Fu is brilliant, so much better than Iron Fist. The Avengers are good and as for the Phantom Eagle Shrimp can only say "WOW!"

Master of Kung Fu “...Death duel with Darkstrider!”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Keith Pollard

Inker: Sal Trapani

Originally published in Master of Kung Fu #37

Cover date February 1976

(Published in November 1975)

This second part opening splash page was drawn by Gary Brodsky. Shang-Chi has agreed to protect Moon Sun's Circus of creatures of myth from the malevolent and deadly Warlords of the Web. Once the troupe have travelled to a strangely remote site Shang-Chi helps them erect the big top tent. The China man wonders was the remote location chosen to lure Darkstride and the Warlords of the Web to finish the fight off once and for all. With the work all done Rynor asks Tiko if she’d like to go for a ride. But the young girl angrily rebuffs the offer. 

Shang-Chi sees that vanity and conceit are the most profane of all human sins as Tiko as acted as if her beauty were an accomplishment to be admired and approached by a chosen few, he is simply repulsed by her actions. He goes to confront her but in doing so he discovers that the opposite is true. Tiko’s beautiful appearance is a rubber mask and wig meant to hide her disfigured face. Shang-Chi enters the big top, where only one spectator sits in the grandstand. Cinnabar asks Shang-Chi to locate Moon Sun. He leaves the tent momentarily, realising there’s nowhere Sun could have gone. When he re-enters to find everyone missing including the single spectator. Looking up, he finds the members of the circus ensnared in Darkstrider’s web, with the six-armed ninja master waiting at the web's centre. He fights the ninja, who insists that the members of the circus are desperate for the peace and he will kill them and Shang-Chi for their own benefit. The two duel withe the Darkstrider being more than a match for the young China man. Shang-Chi will not give up, he tells his opponent that event though he had beaten him he has endured, but even though his strength fails and pain fills his every move he remains determined to serve as the circus's protector. With renewed effort Shang-Chi bests Darkstrider. Suddenly the members of the circus become the Warlords of the Web. They talk to Shang-Chi with the voices of the circus troupe telling him he has failed them yet also won. They draw their swords as if to attack but instead they fling them into the air, slashing the roof of the tent, then they leap through the slash. The Darkstrider leaps to the ground and out of the tent with only a tatter of Moon Sun's robe remaining. Shang-Chi wonders if the Darkstrider was also Moon Sun. As he wanders into the desert, he reflects are we all freaks under other eyes and our life is our cage. The watching world is beautiful. The watching world is blind. The nature of mystery and perception means many things. Later in Smith's townhouse library Shang-Chi discovers that in the language of its origin the word "carnival" means "Farewell to the flesh!"

The colour back pages of the Avengers weekly and also the Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives features this advert for Marvel's Classic comics. Two more Classic literary tales to collect, each with 52 pages in full colour, without any advertisements. At twenty pence each, British readers could marvel at these literary Classics, Mark Twain's classic novel Tom Sawyer and Moby Dick, adapted from the classic novel by Herman Melville, making issues 7 and 8 of the Marvel Classic Comics range. 

Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives #90

Jeff Aclin pencilled this cover with Duffy Vohland adding the inks. A very functional cover, nothing more, nothing less.

Jeff Aclin also pencilled this inside front page pin-up of gorilla's celebrating some form of victory in the ape city. Again Duffy Vohland also added the ink to the piece. I wonder was it intended as a page filler or was it going to be a cover? 

 

Planet of the Apes “Up the nose-tube to Monkey-trash”

Writer: Doug Moench

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Mike Ploog

Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #14

Cover date November 1975

(Published in September 1975)

Jason has befriended an eccentric human called Lightsmith, who with his help had rescued Jason's old friends Alex and Malagueña from a tribe of wild gorillas. Through past circumstances Jason and Alex have cast an uneasy alliance. Now as their guide Lightsmith has become the advocate of knowledge and progress throughout the known world and with Gilbert, Lightsmith's mute but faithful gibbon companion and guardian/caretaker/engineer of the steam-belching Wonder wagon they arrived at Lightsmith's home, in the head of Abraham Lincoln at Mount Rushmore.

The travellers have to make their way up the side of the mountain, along a series of rope ladders. But the trickiest of all is the final ladder that leads them right up Lincoln's nose. Alex goes first but the dust tickles his own nose causing him to let out a sneeze that echoes out of Lincoln's own. Once they're all inside Lightsmith switches on a lamp that lights up the surroundings. The room is filled with furnishings and books that we would think off as modern, but to everyone else they would have been objects from the past. Lightsmith tells them that it was amazing what the ancients could do with progress. He figures that it was the last refuge of knowledge and progress, the secret retreat of the progress-leader himself. He points to the seal of the President of the United States and tells them after death came down from the skies and destroyed his real house the President relocated in the secret bunker beneath Mount Rushmore. He's got his skeleton to prove it. Jason tells them all that after resting at morning he will continue to search for Brutus to wage his revenge. Meanwhile at the caverns of the Inheritors two drones stand guard. That is until they are both shot by cross bow arrows. Fired under the orders of Brutus who plans to raid the mutant's base. 

Dracula “Tomb of Dracula”

Artist: Gene Colan

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Inker: Tom Palmer

Originally published in Tomb of Dracula #42

Cover date March 1976

(Published in December 1975)

This second part opening splash page was pencilled by Jeff Aclin, He posted a picture of it on his Facebook page back in 3rd August 2017 , but he isn't aware of which artist inked it. Quncy Harker and his band of vampire hunters have taken the extreme plan of resurrecting Dracula, Lord of the Vampires, so that he can fight a much greater evil, the "brain in a box" Doctor Sun. Dracula agree to help as it was Sun's man, Juno who had murdered Dracula. Dracula has made his way into Doctor Sun's inner sanctum only to face a barrage of attacks including beams of ultraviolet light in the shape of crosses. 

Dracula calls for aid from the Dark Gods and whether they answer his calls or his own determination he manages to fight off Doctor Sun's attack and advance towards his foe. Threatening to destroyed him once and for all Dracula re-absorbs the power that Sun had stolen from him. As he does so Blade revives in time to see the soldiers slowly become free of Sun's control. Still dazed Blade searches for the vampire he saw earlier, but unfortunately he is gone. Meanwhile below in Doctor Sun's lab Frank Drake and the others arrive to witness Sun's machines explode. Once the smoke clears all that is left is Doctor Sun's brain on the ground, blown clear from its protective casing. As the smoke solidifies into Dracula he reveals that his full strength and powers have returned. Blade enters but Frank points out that Sun needs to be finished off. Harold approaches Sun's brain, wondering how much threat can a brain be? Dracula pulls him away just in time as Sun unleashes a deadly mind bolt. The bolt strikes Sun's machines, causing another explosion. The flames from that explosion consume Sun's brain, seemingly killing him. With their foe seemingly killed, Rachel van Helsing wonders if Sun has indeed been destroyed for good and who exactly he was and what were his motives. Blade interrupts by telling everyone that he had seen the white haired vampire who killed his mother during the battle. He demands that Dracula help him find the vampire or die by his hands. Don't fail to read next week's "A New Year's nightmare lives!!"

Man-Thing “Night of the laughing dead”

Writer: Steve Gerber

Artist: Mike Ploog

Inker: Frank Chiaramonte

Originally published in Man-Thing #5

Cover date May 1974

(Published in February 1974)

The swamp is more than a swamp. It was the churning, seething, bubbling bed of life where the scientist Ted Sallis fled into with the super soldier serum. With his life threatened Sallis injected the serum into his body, combined with the strange forces in the swamp he rose from the waters into a mindless shambling mockery of a man who became known as the macabre Man-Thing. He is not the only forlorn creature in the swamp that day, a former clown called Darrel, filled with depression and suicidal thoughts has arrived at the swamp. 

Armed with a gun the clown raises it to his temple as a tear rolls down his grease-painted cheek. A single shot rings out across the marshland. Hearing the noise, the Man-Thing finds the body of Darrel face down in the swamp water. Clutched in his hand a suicide note. The words have no meaning to the swamp creature, but what does is the need for a funeral. Gently the monster picks up the clown to carry it away.

Ka-Zar “Down into...the volcano”

Writer: Gerry Conway

Artist: John Buscema (layouts) and Alfredo Alcala

Inker: Alfredo Alcala

Originally published in Ka-Zar Vol 2 #8

Cover date March 1975

(Published in December 1974)

A priest of a strange tribe commands his men to transport the chained sabre-toothed tiger, Zabu, westwards through the Savage Land. Their journey is watched by Ka-Zar from a distance, who is keen to free his tiger-brother, but as he as never seen the people of that tribe before and as Zabu is in no immediate danger he decided to follow. Following them further they lead him to the legendary city of Gondora. Its name is spoken in whispers by men who have gone raving mad. A place of seething evil and loathsome decay. 

Ka-Zar reaches a point in the path that is guarded by hooded men. Taking them by surprise the Savage Lord takes them out and continues down into the city, wearing the hood taken from one of them. The People rejoice to see Sandratha the high priest return with a sacrifice for the feast of Ghor-na-klan. When presented before the masked Leader and Head Priest of Gondora, Zabu breaks free from his bonds. The temple guards surround him with weapons poised to kill. Ka-Zar rushes towards the heavily outnumbered soldiers, but an old man called Tul pulls him back, knowing that risking his own life would be irresponsible and his death would not save his animal friend. Zabu is recaptured and taken away. Tul leads Ka-Zar to a tavern and introduces him to his wife Kaml and is daughters Yiri and Ro. He tells Ka-Zar how the people lived beneath the volcano named Gondor and how twenty years ago the Head Priest arrived. With a mystic wand he had forced the people to their knees, instructing them to build a city on top of a pool of the volcano's bubbling lava. As they had no time to tend the fields or hunt for food he instructed them to steal from others. On the full moon of every month the Head Priest demanded the sacrifice of an animal. With each new sin the people become weaker, sinking deeper into depravity until the people of Gondora started to thrive on death and lust. Just then a violent bang on the door rings out. Find out who is angrily calling next week.

The Titans #38

This is another Jeff Aclin cover, which he based on Jack Kirby's cover from the Fantastic Four issue 95, which was inked by Joe Sinnott. The Grand Comics Database suggests that Bruce Patterson might have inked Jeff's version.

The Fantastic Four “Tomorrow..World War Three!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #95

Cover date February 1970

(Published in November 1969)

This landscape opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist who heavily traced Jack Kirby's original page. The camera is a near perfect copy. I'll be honest they could have adapted the original page just as easily.

A spy named the Monocle has been hired by unnamed forces to start World War III. He plots an assassination at the UN Summit in New York. His first targets are the summit's defenders: The Fantastic Four. His first move is to distract Sue and Reed by shooting the Fantasticar with his Neutrak Ray blaster. Later he destroys a  building to distract the Thing. Meanwhile, Medusa has asked Crystal to return to the Hidden Land. When Johnny tries to prevent Crystal from leaving, Medusa forcibly kidnaps her sister. Reed has to convince Johnny that helping protecting the delegation should be their priority. Targeted by the Monocle, the Torch has to prevent a water tower from falling on the people below. When a billboard begins to fall Johnny realises that these attacks are designed to distract him from the summit. As the summit is opened the world's press gather the Monocle is one of them with is Neutrak gun, cleverly disguised as a camera. Suddenly it explodes! Reed tells him that he realised a Neutrak rays was used in the attacks and so built a Neutrak feedback device. Fleeing with his air-jet rods, the Monocle is captured when the Human Torch melts the devices. As he falls the Thing catches him. Next week the Fantastic Four must face "the Mad Thinker and his Androids of death!"

Titanic Transcripts

Martin Shipp RFO, FF, KOF from Tottenham writes to mention another area of the UK were American comics have been flowing into the country in great numbers, because Tottenham and Wood Green have been getting bags of twenty-five to thirty mags per shop per month. Martin knows this because he works in a shop and he gets first pickings. His boss reserves the issues he wants and he picks up any other issues he fancies during the month! On the British mags Martin thinks that the Titans/Super-Spidey format is un-beatable. He cannot read any of the other mags these days without wanting the "squeeze" to be put on their pages. William Thurston from Middlesex thanks Marvel's great brainwave, "The Titans". The five features are the greatest ever incorporated in one comic. The 'Inhumans' was good, but got a bit boring towards the end. However the arrival of the X-Men has improved the comic. With issue 27 the fabulous Fantastic Four swapped with the mutants and the comic came to be the best on the market, closely followed by MWOM.

Kenneth Rigby from Cheshire writes that The Titans mag is fantastic and as the 1976 Annuals were out of this world Kenneth suggests that there could be a Titans Annual this year. David Phillipe from Cumbria gets loads of American months and all of the British weeklies but that leads to two problems. the first being the cost. However David got a holiday job that paid for them and he also stopped buying sweets. The second problem is keeping them in order and together, instead not all over his house. To solve this he puts them in cereal boxes. David has a small bedroom. But to overcome this he has decided to get rid of his British weeklies up to the present date. Russell Woolgar RFO from Nottinghamshire considers that The Titans is a great idea with the condensed number of strips that give more variety with the Fantastic Four, the Sub-Mariner, Captain America, Nick Fury and Captain Marvel all in one mag.

The Sub-Mariner “...Day of the Tiger Shark!”

Writer: Roy Thomas

Artist: John Buscema 

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Originally published in Sub-Mariner Vol 2 #5

Cover date September 1968

(Published in June 1968)

This second  part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. The Sub-Mariner has become an unwitting prisoner of Doctor Dorcas, with no chance of escape as the Doctor activates the near-fatal electric shock vest every time he rebels. 

Doctor Dorcas orders Todd Arliss to place Namor into a Morphotron Chamber. Arliss was an Olympic swimmer until he damaged his spinal cord as he rescued a drowning man. Desperate to regain his swimming ability, Arliss willingly participated in Dorcas experiment in which he will blend Arliss' DNA with that of Namor the Sub-Mariner and a tiger shark in a separate tank. The process is successful and changes Arliss into an amphibian mighty than the Sub-Mariner. After the painful process Arliss features have changed, his teeth have grown razor-sharp and gills form on his face. His personalty changes becoming more savage and predatory. Feeling powerful and calling himself Tiger Shark he rebels against Doctor Dorcas and starts smashing up the lab. Namor has recovered from the process and battles Tiger Shark who knocks the Atlantean down. Suddenly Tiger shark can't breathe. Needing water he smashes his way out of Dorcas' base and heads out to sea where he crashes into Lady Dorma's submarine. Sub-mariner races after him, starting the battles again. Once again Namor is defeated and the Tiger Shark kidnaps Lady Dorma. Next week more problems for Namor as "Re-enter Destiny!"

Captain America “The claws of the Panther!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Joe Sinnott

Originally published in Tales to Suspense #98

Cover date February 1967

(Published in November 1967)

Captain America answers a distress call from the Black Panther, as Wakanda is menaced by an unknown villain from the Captain's past. The Wakandian ship that Captain America is travelling is almost shot out of the sky by a ray blast from space. Captain America just manages to land as out of the shadows the Black Panther and his followers rush towards him. Suspecting that he may have walked into a trap Cap attacks the Black Panther and the two fight it out until they can be certain that the other isn't an imposter.

Meanwhile in a hidden heavily fortified jungle base the mysterious leader of the Wakandan invaders is infuriated with his scientists who have failed to kill Captain America with their solar ray. He offers them one more chance to redeem themselves or face death. They initiate Plan Red to destroy Captain America and the Black Panther. The Black Panther shows Cap the solar ray weapon that is orbiting in space. Cap asks why T'Challa hasn't alerted SHIELD to the weapon, but the Panther tells him it would be pointless as the space weapon is protected by a protective force field. The only way to stop it by a direct attack on the invaders the control centre is hidden somewhere in Wakanda. As they move through the jungle they are attacked by a group of soldiers who knock both of them out with their stun rays. Elsewhere, Agent-13, disguised as female spy Irma Kruhl, arrives in Wakanda to infiltrate the invaders group. Quickly convinced she joins their ranks with the intention of bringing them down from the inside. Captain America and Black Panther come too and find themselves alone. They charge further into the jungle but fall down a lion trap pit. The leader of the invaders finally appears, its Baron Zemo.

Bullpen Bulletin

Only a single Howard the Duck graces The Titans' version of this week's Bullpen Bulletin, I guess there wasn't as much room. The third Item asks readers do they remember David Wenzel whose pulsatin' pencil work has decorated recent issues of virtually all the UK weeklies. Well not only is he hard at work on more masterworks for the British mags, but he's also received his first assignment for the American colour mags doing the cover for issue 18 of Ka-Zar. In this final Item the British Bullpen wants to hold an unofficial poll to find out which format readers prefer. Is it the vertical format weeklies with three continued features in every issue or the latest four strips in the vertical format mags, or do you like the five strip landscape format weeklies?  

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “...Hell hath no Fury!”

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby (layouts) and Jim Steranko 

Inker: Jim Steranko

Originally published in Strange Tales #152

Cover date January 1967

(Published in October 1966)

This second  part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Having narrowly escaped Hydra's deadly traps Nick Fury had re-directs the Hydra jet with the Overkilll Horn back towards the Hydra base. There the Hydra ground forces and the SHIELD "Stato-mine" zero in on the weapon and destroy it.

 

Fury is recovered from the sea by a SHIELD submarine and leads a crack team of SHIELD soldiers in a raid on the Hydra base near the Suez Canal. Fighting their way through the hordes of Hydra to rescue the capture daughter of the previous Supreme Hydra, Laura Brown. After they find Laura the enemy flee. Later on board the SHIELD Helicarrier is rewarded for his decision making during a time of crisis. Next week there will be no "Hiding Place!" for enemies of SHIELD.   

Ghost Rider “...The serpent of Satan!”

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Tom Sutton

Inker: Chick Stone

Originally published in Marvel Spotlight #9

Cover date April 1973

(Published in January 1973)

This second  part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Having narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Apache medicine man called Snake Dance, Johnny Blaze has returned to the rodeo ground where he is set to perform his daredevil cycle show just as night falls and he transforms into the Ghost Rider.

Bart is about to take Johnny's place in the performance even with his injured leg until the Ghost Rider stops Bart taking his place as it would have been suicide for him. Johnny as the Ghost Rider performs all the stunts with his last one being jumping over half a dozen or so bulls. As he's about to land he spots Sam Silvercloud and lands badly crashes into a wall. Firefighters hose him down only to realise he doesn't need any help. Sam flees but the Ghost Rider confronts him and after questioning about Roxanne Silvercloud informs him that she has been taken to the Indian Reservation.The Ghost Rider rides off to save her. When he arrives Snake Dance's ritual has already started. The witch doctor's snakes had already bitten Roxanne, injecting her with their venom. If she were to survive she would become the Serpent God's bride. As the Ghost Rider smashes up the ritual, Snake Dance informs him that he could help Roxanne but Johnny ignores him by telling him that if the girl dies he will return  with vengeance. Find out the stunning secret of Snake Dance next week in "This land is Ours!"

The colour back page of The Titans features another Frosties advert. This time Frosties present your roaring reporter Tony in "Haunted Castle!" Tony the Tiger nears a haunted castle where he plans to stay the night to prove that there's nothing to worry about. But first he has a bowl of Frosties for energy and courage. suddenly the cereal box starts move about the room. Hours later a headless ghost enters his room. The next morning Tony wakes up to find the butler serving up Kelloggs Frosties for breakfast, much to Tony's relieve he must have been dreaming. 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.