Week Ending 18th August 1976
In the comments last week Paul Burns points out that Super Spider-Man and the Super-Heroes #183 was his very first British Marvel comic! What a great place to start! Also Paul South recognises the cover of the Fantastic Four #100, which The Titans #43 was based on, was also used on the Marvel Topps stickers index cards from 1975 as a picture puzzle on the back of the cards when put in order became that classic cover. It's great to hear from readers, whether in the comments on the blog or in the various FaceBook groups, Bluesky or that other one that used to be called Twitter when there where less nazis in the world. This week Captain America punches some nazis, which is always nice to see.
The Mighty World of Marvel #203
This cover is really very good, an excellent choice for my Cover of the Week. It's got a damsel in distress. There's also danger as the Hulk heroically stops her from falling even as he must be in extreme pain as he feels the shocking punch of Zzzax. There is one other cover this week that's a great call for CotW, but Jeff Aclin deserves the award this week for this great cover. Frank Giacoia inked Jeff's art.
The Incredible Hulk “Zzzax lives!”
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Inker: Herb Trimpe
Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #183
Cover date January 1975
(Published in October 1974)
This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Banner had found himself in Chicago, without any money he looked for a job where no questions would be asked. Bruce finds a janitor position at Soul-Star Research Ltd, His first day has him cleaning up a science lab run by Stan Landers, Mark Revel and Alexandra Knox. Both men love Knox. When research into absorption of electrical brainwaves released into the atmosphere, Banner offers his advice to solve a problem. They are surprised to find that the world famous Bruce Banner is working as a cleaner.
They invite Bruce to assist them, but the experiment goes wrong when it brings back deadly energy creature known as Zzzax. The resulting explosion from Zzzax's resurrection knocks Mark out. Stan rescues him but in the process is consumed by Zzzax, his dying thoughts are his love of Alexandra.The strain and tension takes its toll on Banner who suddenly transforms into the Hulk.
In 1976 America celebrated its two-hundredth year and Marvel not surprisingly made it a special reason to celebrate with this Marvel Treasury Edition sized Captain America's Bicentennial Battles. This treasury went on sale in late June in America, but in Britain I suppose it arrived a little bit later. Instead of repeats of classic Marvel stories this special was packed with brand new Captain America adventures written and pencilled by Jack Kirby, with a number of guest inkers. The stories are "Mister Buda" inked by Barry Windsor-Smith, "The Lost Super-Hero!" inked by Herb Trimpe, "My Fellow Americans!" again inked by Trimpe, "Stop Here for Glory!" inked by John Romita Sr. and the final strip, "The Face of the Future!" was inked by Herb Trimpe. At the end of the treasury five pages of pin-up showed various versions of Captain America, including a Colonial Captain America, a western Captain America, an astronaut Captain America, Steve Rogers the man behind the mask and finally on the back page Cap and Uncle Sam celebrate America's 200th Birthday.
The Avengers “More than Inhuman!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Neal Adams
Inker: Tom Palmer
Originally published in The Avengers #94
Cover date December 1971
(Published in September 1971)
The classic Kree/Skrull War continues with Roy Thomas crafting an epic that will have repercussions for years to come. Neal Adams detailed art looks stunning but I wonder was it his idea to have Captain America inject a prisoner of war with a sedative ray? All be it an alien shape-shifter prisoner of war, wouldn't this sit uncomfortably with the Captain's moral stance? It might just be me with adult eyes, a 70's reader might be OK with it, after all you can't trust those Skrulls. Having sedated the three captured Skrulls, the Avengers contact the Fantastic Four to report the incident to Mister Fantastic.
The Mighty Marvel Mailbag
J Simkin from West Midlands gives a history of British comics from the Penny Dreadfuls, like Chips and Comic Cuts, followed by the growth of newspaper strips on both sides of the Atlantic, with Ally Sloper to Andy Capp in this country, whilst in America Krazy Kat to the milder replacement of Charles Schultz and Peanuts. In 1937 the split occurred, America continued from pulp magazines to the present style of Marvel and DC. Whilst in Britain, DC Thompson of Dundee brought out the Beano and the Dandy. Both of these had a format of six or seven one-page funnies featuring a regular character and a couple of two or three-page serials. In Britain today (except Marvel) this as become the accepted commercial format. The newspapers are designed to suit the over-20's, while the comics were geared for the under-12's. This left a gap for the eight years of adolescence without any light reading material. J thinks that put the original Marvel format straight onto the stands would have been an exercise doomed to commercial failure. Sensibly a compromise of three stories per mag per week worked. Johnny Kurzman from Devon is glad to see that Marvel are firmly established in Britain, so much so he feels it's time Marvel produced a completely British mag. Johnny suggests that it would be easier to build a "British Marvel Universe" around tsuper-heroes, as opposed to Vampires or stories set hundreds of years in the future. Bonzo St. Field from Dorset suggests that even though the stories and artwork are very good it's beginning to become worn out as it's been selling for a long time. He suggests that the heroes should be toughen up, he suggests heroes like Deathlok, Warlock and stuff like that. Russ Smith RFO, from Cleveland pens a letter about various Robert E Howard books. Russ also wants Howard the Duck to have his own mag as he's the best character since Conan. Alan Ely from London wants to know if Marvel would publish material from the busted comic group rivals "Atlas"? The answer from the editor says no.
The Avengers “1976: A space odyssey”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Inker: Tom Palmer
Originally published in The Avengers #94
Cover date December 1971
(Published in September 1971)
Following the mailbag this Avengers story is "Part Two" of "More than Inhuman!" Here I've included it as another story but really it's just a continuation. What makes it worth having its own credits as s separate story is that John Buscema returns to drawing the Avengers strip after his brother Sal Buscema and Neal Adams had carries the strip. Having rested from the Avengers strip, which in America would have been for nine American monthly issues, his last appearance in the UK weekly was in Avengers weekly #135 on the week ending 17th April 1976. Let's be fair at the time he was regularly drawing the Fantastic Four and the Mighty Thor as well as Savage Tales issue 1, so he deserved a rest. In the original US Avengers comic this Part Two's sub title was "1971: A space odyssey" for the very obvious reason that the comic was printed in 1971.
I think both Sal and Neal's work on the Avengers is exceptional, But when John Buscema picks up the Avengers pencil you know you're in for an absolute treat with Marvel's best ever artist. I think both Sal and Neal's work on the Avengers is exceptional, But when John Buscema picks up the Avengers pencil you know you're in for an absolute treat with Marvel's best ever artist. Notice how he re-draws the way Pietro, Wanda and Mar-Vell are held captive, it's functional, simple and doesn't need over explaining. The Super-Skrull continues his journey towards the Skrull home world, were he, as every villain is meant to do, he explains the thoughts behind his convoluted plan. He had his three Skrull lackeys pose as the original Avengers in order to force the group to disband so that they could capture separately Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. He admits that the two mutants are no longer use to him anymore, so you have to wonder what was his reason for their capture in the first place? His reason for capturing Captain Marvel for the strategical information he knows. I guess the full machinations behind will be reveals as the story unfolds. Upon arriving Emperor’s palace he is greeted with hostility but tries fighting his way inside. The story continues next week.
An in-house advert for this week's Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes. In that issue Once again Spider-man faces the terror of the Tarantula and the power of the Punisher. Also Thor battles "to the end of Infinity!" You'll find all about those stories and more later in this blog.
Conan the Barbarian “Death-knell of Ravengard!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Inker: Dan Adkins
Originally published in Conan the Barbarian #48
Cover date March 1975
(Published in December 1974)
This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. For three days Conan and Stefanya have wondered the trail westwards to Phalkar with the corpse of Stefanya's master, the wizard Zoqquanor, dragged behind their horse. Then amidst a gorge the travellers are suddenly ambushed by the robber baron Torkal Moh of Ravengard and his men.
Torkal Moh demands tribute for the pair's passage through his lands. Quietly Conan orders Stefanya to dismount his horse as he plans to fight the jackals. Conan kills one of them but while he fights the rest Stefanya makes an attempt to flee. There number are larger than Conan had guessed as a horde of armed horse men chase down Stefanya. Soon she is captured and Conan knocked to the ground. Even his Cimmerian wolflike reflexes can't save him from a mass of bodies that press him down. Enough to hold down a raging tiger but not the slayer of Shok-koth, the slayer of Zemba the golden one, nor the slayer of Omm the Spider-god. However it takes a cowardly blow from behind to floor him and beat him into unconsciousness. He awakens to find himself flat on his back, with his hands tied to stakes, to find the leader of his captors, Torkal Moh holding Stefanya. The villain asks Conan if he has any last pleadings to make before they leave? Conan replies that he would spit in his eye first if only his throat wasn't as dry. With that Torkal Moh throws a cup of water into Conan's face before he leaves him as the rats of Ravengard emerge from their barrows for an easy feed. Conan's problems increase when he must face the Wolf-Woman in next week's mag if he ever gets out of this mess first!
Daredevil “The power of Brother Brimstone”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan
Inker: Syd Shores
Originally published in Daredevil #65
Cover date June 1970
(Published in April 1970)
This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Tension on the Strange Secrets soap opera series set is tense when Ross Archer, the actor who portrays Brother Brimstone, discovers that his roll is being written out. Later Vince Sterling, one of the actors on the series offers to take Karen page out for a drink. She declines, telling him that she has agreed to meet up with her flatmate Sally for dinner. Even though Vince was nice, Karen needed to forget the heartache she still felt over her break up with Matt Murdock.
Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes #184
This landscape adaption of the Amazing Spider-man issue 135 cover drawn by John Romita Sr. was re-created here by Larry Lieber. Larry does an excellent job, when I first saw it I thought that it was Romita's work just recut to fit on this format but Larry had to re-draw it all. He shows more of the Tarantula, Jameson and Robbie switch places, the Punisher pose is more flatter and both Spider-man and the Spider symbol is slightly different. It was very nearly my choice for the Cover of the Week award. Frank Giacoia inked this cover.
Spider-man “Shoot-out in Central Park!”
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Ross Andru
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #135
Cover date August 1974
(Published in May 1974)
With Spider-man fully briefed, the two go after the Tarantula. The Punisher has information on a safe house that the Tarantula and his men are using. Spider-man takes out the guard and soon he and the Punisher are in. The Punisher takes out the mercenaries but the Tarantula makes a break for it. Spidey gives chase and finally catches up with him. During the fight the web-slinger tells the Tarantula that he may think of himself as a hero with his own moral terms but he was a first class traitor to his friends who where trying to free their people from a dictatorship, he isn't fit to shine those hero's boots as he is little more than a sick little criminal who doesn't give a hang about the cause they're fighting for, only for himself. With that Spider-man knock the villain into the dock, then saves him with a web line.
In a short epilogue the shadowy figure of Harry Osborn heads to the warehouse where Spider-man had his final battle against the original Green Goblin. Harry walks over to a hidden doorway. Turning round with a menacing evil look in his eye he presses a button that causes the door to silently slide upwards. Without any hesitation, he steps inside. You'll have to wait till next week to find out what happens next. It's going to be a blockbuster of a story, which can only be titled, "The Green Goblin lives again!'
The Mighty Thor “There shall be an ending!”
Artist: John Buscema
Inker: Jim Mooney
Originally published in The Mighty Thor #188
Cover date May 1971
(Published in March 1971)
This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Last week Thor and his friends found out that the alter-ego of Odin, known as Infinity seeks to in habit the All-Father's physical being and woe betide us all if the mighty Thor, the son of Odin, cannot use his enchanted hammer to halt the merging. Loki and Karnilla channel their powers together to try and free Odin from Infinity's thrall however it is all for naught as Odin continues to be controlled by his evil doppelgänger.
The Web and the Hammer
This Marvel Masterwork Centre spread was drawn by an unnamed artist. Any thoughts on who drew it?
At Stark Industries a lithe form leaps from the shadows in the confusion of the explosion. Moving with athletic grace and supple strength the woman reaches her pre-scheduled rendezvous with the strange aircraft. We see her golden masked features. She is taken directly to a remote island in the Aegean Sea where she meets Morgan Stark, Tony's cousin who had been nervously giving away information about Tony Stark to a mysterious man named Midas and his accomplice the golden masked woman named Madame Masque. Meanwhile back at Stark International's Long Island plant workers clear the rubble left by the explosion the LMD Stark (last seen in SSMwtSH #169,) recently used to fool the Mandarin reactivates. At Cord Manufacturing, Alex Nevsky is working on a private project while listening to the news. He is interrupted by Janice Cord, to distract her from discovering what he is working on he starts to kiss her until the radio reports that "Tony Stark" has been found in the wreckage at Stark Industries. Elsewhere Morgan Stark also hears the news, knowing that Midas will punish him for the failure of his plan he tries to leave but Madame Masque stops him from leaving by showing him what is behind her metal mask. Morgan faints at the sight, only to wake up in the throne room of Midas, who plans to teach him a lesson in loyalty. This final page was extended by an art bodger to fit two thirds of the landscape page, so that a "He-Man" bodybuilding advert and a Spider-man comic reserve form could take up the remaining third. "The plan unfolds!" in next week's issue.
Unknown to Dracula, Strange had projected his astral form out of his body before Dracula fed upon it, however he finds he cannot return to his body. At risk of becoming a vampire in three days time, Doctor Strange begins to ponder a strategy to save himself. Meanwhile Dracula wanders around Boston discovering a desecrated church which feels as though it is calling out to him. He is interrupted by a homeless woman who he feeds upon, but as he does so the spirit form of Doctor Sun appears before him. Sun begins to mock him, telling him that he must pay for his past sins before the vision vanishes into thin air. Dracula returns to Doctor Sun's lair, but finds no machinery that could have caused the illusion. He then considers that the vision could possibly by of a mystical nature, so he checks on Doctor Strange's body but he is convinced that Strange is dead. Furious at not finding the source of the illusion Dracula curses it and angrily shouts a proclamation of eternal life. Two nights later, Dracula returns to the sight where he murdered Wong to see if the Sorcerer's manservant is his vampire slave. Dracula is infuriated that Wong's body is nowhere to be found. Then he is visited by a spirit of his wife Maria, who attacks him. Dracula lashes out, the spirit flies off, so Dracula turns into a bat to follow after it. There are many things in life that are weird, but next week we find out that "Death is not Strange!"
Deeper still inside the Psychedrome, where Alex and Jason have yet to penetrate, Lightsmith lies helplessly strapped to a table with electrodes piercing his brain. The monkey-demons attempt to coldly govern his fate. A voice rips into his mind commanding him with the message "It is good to be a good person. A good person always says yes. A good person never says no. A good person likes everything that happens." It was Lightsmith who wanted to find the Psychedrome as he believed it to be a sacred place of knowledge. He now finds out that he was terribly wrong! Outside in the carriage wrought by Brutus the mute gibbon Gilbert and the human girl Malagueña race for cover, desperately searching for the tunnel that their friends had taken, unknowing that if they find it they might wished they hadn't. In a fear filled battle inside the Psychedrome Jason eventually manages to free Alex from the winged ape-demons and scare them off. They enter a glassite tube in which they are sucked upwards to the very centre of this mad drone. In an inner chamber Lightsmith's screams have long since ceased, leaving only a soft ragged moan, a final sob before his glassy eyes fix into a vacuous stare. Lightsmith's eyes close and his body goes limp as a door opens revealing a tall mysterious figure dressed in a hooded robe enters telling his minions that the indoctrination is complete. Outside Brutus orders a final barrage of shots to be aimed at Malagueña and Gilbert. The smoke parts to reveal the two companions have fallen. The chaos and carnage continues next week.
Martin Forrest RFO, KOF, QNS from West Midlands praises Dracula Lives, which tops of his popularity list, due to the introduction of Man-Thing and Ghost-Rider, but also because of the excellent Dracula/Harker battle which was by far the best Dracula tale since issue one. Martin has set up his own awards with classes and categories. Class One is for the Golden Age (1940-60), Class Two is for the Marvel Age (1961-69) and Class Three is for The Marvel Age Phase Two (1970-) There is too many categories to go into, so you better check out his letter for the details. F Kalise from Stoke-on-Trent at the age of fourteen wants to know how to become a Marvel artist once he leaves school. The editor goes into the do's and don't, but the two most important basic requirements are the necessary talent and the obstinate, unshakeable determination to make it. The finer details can be found in the editors reply. Faith Smith from Essex points out that the original Bram Stoker, Dracula is still being published and readers might be interested in "The Dracula tapes" by Fred Saberhagen, which is Dracula's own version of his adventures in England.
Lisa Feyszenyi from Herts has only just discovered Planet of the Apes but she's hooked. She asks about back issues, because she's sad at the thought of having missed everything including any smashing pictures of ace-actor Roddy McDowall. She has seen him in many films and programmes including recently "Police Woman", "Ellery Queen "
With excitement they race around the range and discover an oasis filled with vegetation surrounding a cool pool of water. Dodge analyses the water to see if it's safe. As soon as he says it is they all strip off and dive into the welcoming water. Landon discovers a human sized foot print. They discover their uniforms are being stolen and chase the culprit to find savage humans dressed in animal skins. They try to get back their clothes but suddenly the humans are frightened. Out through the forest charges apes on horseback welding rifles. Humans and astronauts run but the apes are coordinated. Landon is run down and dodge is shot. Taylor is forced to run again with the mute humans until they are cornered in a ditch. He shouts at them in anger but a rifle round strikes his neck causing him to choke and silence his anger. A net is thrown over him and the surviving humans as the apes talk amongst themselves, saying that for a moment they almost thought they heard one of the humans speak. Another orders them to take the humans to the pens. Next week "the City of the Apes."
Johnny is handed a letter and is shocked to learn that the Maggia crime family have legally purchased the Baxter Building and ordered the Fantastic Four to move out immediately. Johnny and Ben lose their tempers just as Reed and Sue return home with Franklin. Reed tells them to calm down, telling them that their lawyers can handle matters in court. Meanwhile at a shady restaurant across town, the Maggia's leader, the so-called Top Man, has called a meeting of his highest ranking minions. The Top Man explains he intends to force the Fantastic Four out of their headquarters in order to get a hold of Reed Richard's top secret equipment. His men question the plan as they can't match the Fantastic Four's fighting prowess. The Top Man shows them protective clothing that renders the wearer impervious to harm. The following day the Fantastic Four are spending time in Central Park. The Thing feels depressed seeing Reed and Sue, as well as Johnny and Crystal, enjoying themselves. He decides to entertain some children by lifting a car. While he does he sees as a ship landing on top of the Baxter Building. Realising that the Maggia are making their move, Reed orders the Torch to go investigate. Johnny flies to the roof and battles it out with the Maggia goons. There outfits prove to be impervious to his flame. With a special rifle they tranquillise him and take him prisoner.
Meanwhile, Reed, Crystal and Ben arrive at the building. Reed orders the Maggia goons to get out of their headquarters, but they refuse, explaining that they hold the Torch as their hostage. Before the Fantastic Four can act, the Maggia thugs gasses them. The four heroes are loaded into crates and then dumped into a river in New Jersey. Crystal revives first and breaks free from her make-shift coffin with her elemental powers. Then she helps free the others. Having escaped their watery graves, they hitch a ride back to base. Back at the Baxter Building, the Invisible Girl sneaks through the Maggia thugs, but a Maggia device detects her presence. The Maggia's field commander, Gimlet forces Sue to stop, explaining that they found Franklin and will harm him if she doesn't surrender. Before he can make good his promise, the rest of the Fantastic Four return. While Gimlet is distracted by the Thing, Sue encases him in a force field, forcing him to stand down. They question Gimlet to the identity of the Top Man, when suddenly he is shot by the lobby attendant who explains that he heard the commotion and came to the team's rescue. Reed however sees through this ploy, unmasking the attendant he reveals him to be the Top Man. With the Top Man in custody, Sue wonders why their son has to grow up in a world of crime and violence. Reed tells her that they will do everything they can to make the world a safer place. This story feels a little light compared to other FF adventures, less cosmic more street. I wonder was this an issue between Lee and Kirby that opened old arguments that lead to Kirby parting with Marvel? Next week "the Sub-Mariner!" Speaking of the Prince of Atlantis, up next is...
Roger Eastwood from Surrey has noticed that over the last few months London has been battered and rocked by some of the most monumental monstrosities in existence. Most recently in Iron Fist the Post Office Tower was all but reduced to rubble and also in the Sub-Mariner story from The Titans #33, Tower Bridge and a large section of the
John Hubbard from the University of Warwick, Coventry, writes a massive letter starting with his thoughts on the Avengers story from Avengers weekly #135, he calls it an absolute gem! He adds that Conan and Spider-man are Marvel's creations to date with the Silver Surfer running a close behind. Conan represents the red-blooded fighting man who acts before he thinks. The preponderance of sorcerers, warlocks and wizards can be a little irritating, but the beautifully detailed cosmology of R E Howard and the robustness of the Thomas/Buscema scripts and artwork make him a real favourite. Generally John feels the Spider-man stories are very good, many prefer Romita's artwork, John likes Gil Kane's work, especially on the Antartica and Spider Slayer strips. What really interests John is the good use of social problem themes and Peter Parker's recurring personal problems which make a significant impact on the stories. He notes that very few people praise the Hulk lately, the stories have slacked a little recently, mainly because the parade of monsters and super-human foes he battles lacks variety, but he has tremendous potential, and with a little more care in the scripting he could regain his former power. Even though John doesn't rate Jack Kirby as highly as others readers do Thor is a very good character. The Ragnorak series was superb. The Shakespear-ian style of his speech s rivalled only by the Surfer's impersonation of Hamlet! John's only major grouses he has are that the X-Men strips are too long, patchily drawn and not terribly good. Perhaps it's because the large group scenes are not suited to the small panels of the Titans format. There's more detailed opinions about Marvel comics and more in his full letter. Graham Vine from Surrey thinks that The Titans is British Marvel's best publication yet but when the X-Men joined the line up it got 100% better. Finally this week P McTram from Hull has a tip for all Marvelites who dislike the landscape format. Buy a 'Full Page Enlarger' from the classified ads in the newspaper and place it over the page to be read it makes that page look twice as big!
“Trojak” departed to activate the Q-Ray, and attempted to tear the Helicarrier apart with it. Fury managed to free himself before the bomb could destroy him. Luckily the Colonel had his electronic absorber in his pocket that stopped the jolt of electricity from killing him. Knowing that the "Q-Ray" was nothing more than a Trojan Horse Fury head out to look for the Hydra infiltrator. Steranko is a fantastic story teller and a supreme artist, but you have to smile at the use of the fake Professor's name "Trojak" and the idea of a "Trojan House". Suddenly he's jumped on by three Hydra agents who take off their hoods to reveal that they are his friends Gabe Jones, DumDum Dugan and Jasper Sitwell who last week had been hypnotised by the Supreme Hydra while disguised as agent John Bronson. While Jones and Dugan hold Fury down Sitwell aims a gun at his superior's head. Fury breaks through Sitwell's hypnotic command by telling him to quit stalling and pull the trigger. Fury managed to free himself and attacks “Trojak”. In the struggle Nick sets the "Q-Ray" to overload as the machine explodes "Trojak" is caught in the blast killing him. They discover Laura Brown's injured body in a cupboard wearing a Hydra outfit. The President blames Fury for the security screw-up and orders him confined to quarters, while Agent Bronson escorts Brown to an unnamed location. Fury will find more problems when he becomes "Trapped on Hydra Island!" next week.
Meanwhile on a remote desert road Roxanne Simpson is being chased down by the hells-angel biker known as "Big Daddy" Dawson. When he captures her, he ties her up plans what to do next with her. Later in a run down shack on the outskirts of the city Dawson reads that Blaze has been hospitalised. Believes that he can ransom Roxanne, Dawson heads to the hospital. As it is nightfall Johnny has once more turned into Ghost Rider. With his demonic powers he is able to disarm Dawson of his gun. Dawson flees on his motorbike. So the Ghost Rider creates a bike from hellfire. The two then duel on motorcycles through the city streets. The fast and furious racing ends with Ghost Rider popping Dawson's back tire which causes Dawson's bike to collide into a fuel truck and is seemingly killed in the explosion. Hearing the police sirens the Ghost Rider rides off, to run to where he knows not. All I can tell you is next week "Death stalks the demolition derby!"
But on the way he is confronted by a gang of nazis working for the Skull. Cap manages to defeat them and tries to force one of them to tell him where the Red Skulls secret base is. Unknown to him another nazi has recovered enough to raise his gun and aim it towards Cap's back. Before he can pull the trigger a gun shot rings out as Agent 13 kills the sniper. Meanwhile the Sleeper robot, using its intangible powers is still destroying strategic US locations with its power blast from below the ground. Cap and Agent 13 must stop the Sleeper before they can face the Red Skull. Come back next week to read about "When the Sleeper fades!" Plus loads more stuff and nonsense in the Power of the Beesting blog.
Iron Man “The beginning of the end!”
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: George Tuska
Inker: Johnny Craig
Originally published in Iron Man #17
Cover date September 1969
(Published in June 1969)
Off the eastern sea-coast a striking figure streaks through the lashing rain after his encounter with the Red Ghost and the Unicorn in Africa. The weary Iron Man starts the last leg of a long journey home, only to be interrupted by a unnaturally powerful bolt of lightning that strikes the armoured Avenger, At approximately the same time on Long Island Stark International's main complex is rocked by an explosion that is centred on Tony Stark's private lab and vault. In the clouds above the lightning-lashed Avenger a strange craft hovers. Its orders are to test out the effects of its lightning simulator on Iron Man and then pick up a mysterious woman.
The Thing and Morbius..together! “The tragic triumph of the Living Eraser!”
Writer: Bill Mantlo
Artist: Arvell Jones
Inker: Dick Giordano
Originally published in Marvel Two-in-One #15
Cover date May 1976
(Published in February 1976)
This new landscape second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. This artwork shows Morbius attacking the Living Eraser with the Thing rushing in to rescue the dimensional hopping invader, little knowing the Eraser's true intensions in our world.
Ben had attacked Morbius when the living vampire had shown up at Alicia Masters apartment, Their battle is interrupted by the arrival of the Living Eraser who in hopes of winning over his people in Dimension Z by attacking Earth once again. As the two battle each other the Living Eraser "erases" them by transporting them to Dimension Z There they meet the real leader of Dimension Z, called the Supremacy, his daughter Roween and a minister called Petril who are been held prison by the Living Eraser. They learn of the Living Eraser had once again taken over Dimension Z. After working together to break out of the prison the Thing and Morbius are shown the dimension hopping "eraser bands" that the Living Eraser uses. So with them they transport themselves back to Earth to bring the Living Eraser to justice. Working together they manage to temporary "erase" one of the Eraser's arms and his "eraser band" and stop the villain. The Supremacy arrives with his loyal men and arrests the Living Eraser into his custody. Roween offers Morbius the chance to return with her to her dimension, but having to be forced to stop from feeding on the Living Eraser, the tormented Morbius is disgusted with himself and uses the Eraser's dimensional transportation device to "erase" himself to another unknown dimension. Next week the Thing meets up with Ka-Zar!
Horror...suspense and action is what you get in this week's Planet of the Apes! So this in-house advert for the weekly says. Note that the price on this cover's facsimile shows it at only 8 pence, when for a while the price had been 9 pence. I guess that these covers and the promotional adverts were made well in advance. Also in this version Herb Trimpe and Duffy Vohland's signatures can be seen next to the fallen ape's arm. I presume it was meant to be Alexander from the Planet of the Apes strip.
Doctor Strange “The Tomb of Dr. Strange!”
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Gene Colan
Inker: Tom Palmer
Originally published in Doctor Strange Vol 2 #14
Cover date May 1976
(Published in February 1976)
The last two week's Doctor Strange adventures had actually been taken from the Tomb of Dracula US comic and had been written by Marv Wolfman. This week the cross comic tale comes from the Doctor Strange comic with Steve Englehart on the writing duties. The art team of Gene Colan and Tom Palmer remained the same across both comics. Dracula feeds upon Doctor Strange, who has come looking for the vampire who had killed Wong. After feeding on the sorcerer the vampire tosses the mystic's body into the dungeon of Doctor Sun's base before leaving to feed once again. Dracula is amused that Strange will eventually rise as a vampire and become his slave.
Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives #96
This British commissioned cover was drawn by Herb Trimpe (pencils,) and Duffy Vohland (inks). I don't think that it was ever used in the American series so Herb Trimpe was quite a big name for an original British cover. The artist's signatures would have been on the bottom of the cover, as seen in the Super Spider-man with the Super-Heroes promotional advert, but the dimensions of the actual comic means that they were cut off.
Dracula may not be appearing in his own weekly as the apes seem to have pushed him out, but he does feature in this inside front page pin-up. Possibly featuring twice as the Lord of the Vampires looms over what looks to be an imposter. It could well be Louis Belski, the actor who impersonated Dracula and later became a vampire as seen in Dracula Lives #25. The artist is unnamed.
Planet of the Apes “Society of the Psychedrome”
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Tom Sutton
Inker: Tom Sutton
Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #20
Cover date May 1976
(Published in March 1976)
Lightsmith, Jason and Alex have gained access to a bizarre giant spherical construct, where inside they discover the perplexing inner world of the Psychedrome. Suddenly a winged ape-demon takes Lightsmith away and return to take the chimpanzee Alex. His human companion Jason desperately lets off a stream of bullets to scare the monkey-demons into dropping Alex. Outside the Psychedrome the gorilla Brutus bellows commands to his army of apes and mutant drones with their war-machine to destroy the peaceful cliff-dwellers and their mountain city, without even realising that the dwellings are a mere facade hiding the Psychedrome lodged deeper within the massive mountain.
Ka-Zar “Tordon-Na, the Golden City!”
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: John Buscema
Inker: Fred Kida
Originally published in Ka-Zar Vol 2 #10
Cover date August 1975
(Published in April 1975)
This second part opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist. Ka-Zar awakes after recovering from a battle with a giant gorilla to find himself cared for by a beautiful woman. Zabu follows carried on another elephant as part of a caravan that is heading towards Tordon-Na, the golden city. The woman called Illyana introduces Ka-Zar to Sandra, the high Priest of Tordon-Na and his son Durnon who welcome the strangers into the great temple.
The next few days both Ka-Zar and Zabu are cared for and rested, both refreshed if not fully mended after their battle with the rampaging gorilla from last week. Still the jungle lord grows restless and uncomfortable amidst the gaudy jumble of opulence and wealth. He never really understood the strange idea men have called civilisation with the crowded streets and buildings which block the horizon from sight, its filth and ceaseless babble of shouting voices. His only oasis of peace is found in the temple gardens. Durnon greets Ka-Zar and offers his a tour of the city starting with the Temple of Ilak-Aron. Zabu follows sheepishly behind them with his head held low. Ka-Zar asks who the spindly, weasel-faced man who watches their every move like a vulture is? Durnon tells him it is Sylitha a minor priest of Ilak-Aron, who has ambitions to usurp his father's position as the next High Priest. Dornon shows Ka-Zar the idol of Ilak-Aron himself. Later that night as Ka-Zar sleeps a group of masked men enter threatening to kill him as he sleeps. Next week Ka-Zar has "to face a God!" if he survives the assassins.
SFX on the Planet of the Apes Part two:Simian Illusions
This is part two of the SFX on the Planet of the Apes article, which this week is given the sub-title "Simian Illusions". Last week's part one written by James Glenn looked at how special effects developed over time to become part of many classic Hollywood movies and how they were employed in the first Planet of the Apes film. This week Thomas Sciacca looks at how certain special effects were achieved in the Planet of the Apes sequel films. This article was originally printed in the Marvel/Curtis Magazine issue 21, cover dated June 1976, published April 1976.
Pick a pair of winners from mighty Marvel with the Mighty World of Marvel and The Titans weeklies. There's nothing to see extra in this in-house advert, save for the incorrect price tag on the cover of the Mighty World of Marvel which clearly shows it as 8 pence, when the actual comic has the price of 9 pence.
Man-Thing “The old die young!”
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Mike Ploog
Inker: Mike Ploog
Originally published in Man-Thing #7
Cover date July 1974
(Published in April 1974)
It's eight AM and the dawn is beginning to break in the Florida swamp. However the men and machines are at work at the F A Schist construction camp. From a shadow shrouded spot some distance away the macabre Man-Thing watches at the flurry of activity as the sound of clanking and grinding of gears can be heard. Even through his hazy eyes the perception is that the construction camp is being razed to the ground. Schist orders his men to salvage what they can and leave the rest to rot.
They were to have drained that part of the Everglades and built an airport on the site, but the world had changed. An energy crisis had altered his investors plans and airlines had cut back on flights. Even though Schist had been paid for the work it was a waste of a year. He puts some of the blame on Professor Hargood Wickham, who he had hired to kill the Man-Thing to end the delays the monster had kept causing. When the de-construction had finished the crew packs up and heads out. Schist takes one last look back and sees the Man-Thing watching him. In anger he picks up a broken branch and hurls it at the swamp creature, cursing it for damaging his reputation and his dream of eternal youth. The branch sticks into the creature's back, but unfazed it lumbers away into the swamp. Wickham asks Schist what he meant by "Eternal youth." Schist tells him to never mind as they head out. Eternal youth is something that wouldn't concern the Man-Thing, youth, eternal or otherwise, not to a thing that has lost its very humanity. Suddenly from the treetops a silken mesh net descends, draping itself over the swamp dweller's oozy mass! Next week "The Capture!"
Apes Fang Mail
and "Batman", looking as dishy as ever. The best thing about Roddy , apart from his looks, is his voice and his lovely eyes. The ladies really love old Roddy. Darren Buckland from Wiltshire writes in with the second volume of The Children's' Britannica definition of what a Banshee means, it comes from an old Irish word meaning "Woman of the Fairies." In Ireland and other Celtic countries of Wales, the West Highlands of Scotland and Brittany, have a great many stories of fairies and strange supernatural beings that move about in the world and are sometimes seen or heard by human beings. One belief of this kind is certain old families have guardian spirits who watch over them, these spirits are the Banshees. When any person in those families is about to die, the Banshee is supposed to utter a mournful "keening' or screaming, in the night. The expression to howl like a Banshee' comes from this belief."
Planet of the Apes “...Prey of the Apes!”
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: George Tuska
Inker: Mike Esposito
Originally published in Planet of the Apes (US) #1
Cover date August 1974
(Published in June 1974)
This page of art was drawn by an unnamed artist as it continues with this fourth part of the reprinted original Planet of the Apes adaption. Having traversed for days the barren planet on which the astronauts had crash landed on, the three men find themselves out of water and near the point of giving up when suddenly for the first time their eyes lead them to hope when they find the first signs of life. A small green plant. In this new artwork two apes watch the Astronauts, which definitely doesn't happen in the original film nor the original comic adaption.
The Titans #44
This landscape cover was based on Jack Kirby's cover from Fantastic Four issue 101, but I actually think that The Titans cover by Larry Lieber is better. Larry managed to squeeze Reed Richards into a coffin on his version. It's been a strong week for British commissioned covers, this one is another great shout for a Cover of the Week too.
The Fantastic Four “Bedlam in the Baxter Building!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Originally published in The Fantastic Four #101
Cover date August 1970
(Published in May 1970)
This landscape opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist, but was heavily based on Jack Kirby's original splash page. Even the World's greatest team of superheroes have their own way of relaxing. Johnny, Crystal, Ben, and Alicia singing and dancing is suddenly interrupted by the lobby attendant of the Baxter Building.
The Sub-Mariner “When Titans clash!”
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema
Inker: Dan Adkins
Originally published in Sub-Mariner Vol 2 #8
Cover date December 1968
(Published in September 1968)
This landscape opening splash page was drawn by an unnamed artist which helps explain the importance of Paul Destine's Helmet of Power and how in the wrong hands it could be used as a deadly weapon.
Just before I go into the details of this story a couple of pages from this second part remind me of the many cold and wet dinner time spent in my school Library. They were used in an art book that featured pages from different comics through the ages, a small selection was taken up by Marvel comics and two pages, including the one to the left were printed in black and white, showing the brilliance of John Buscema's artwork and the skill of Roy Thomas's writing. I can't for the life of me remember what the book was called.
Anyway Ben Grimm agrees to help deliver Destiny's Helmet of Power for the US Government. As the Thing flies across the New York skyline the Sub-Mariner inadvertently crashes into him, sending the Helmet into the river below. The Sub-Mariner dives in to retrieve it only to have the Thing smash into him. This begins a game of cat and mouse over the powerful helmet.
The two super-beings clash with New York their battle ground. As the battle rages on Namor starts to dry out giving the Thing an advantage, until the Sub-Mariner is smashed into the pavement and recovers his waining strength thanks to a broken water pipe. Refreshed Namor starts to overpower the Thing, pulverising him into the ground. Lifting a generator above his head the Sub-Mariner prepares to deliver the killing blow, until a voice calls out and tells him to wait. Namor demands to know who would dare tempt the sea-born fates by commanding the Sub-Mariner to halt? A woman steps out of the shadows telling Namor that she dares, her name is Prentiss and she has come to ask him. to end this savage wanton destruction. He must recognise her, asking why she should leave and not stay to talk? As she returns to the shadows Ben Grimm recovers but still weak he cannot stop Namor from flying away with the Helmet of Power. Later a woman's hand enters the last page of her dairy. "Perhaps when she found me, Diane Arliss was correct. Perhaps no-one on the police force could have stopped their battle from laying waste to the city. No one but a widow named Mrs Prentiss, whom the eternally young Sub-Mariner once knew as...Betty Dean!"
This Marvel Masterwork centre-spread of the Sub-Mariner was drawn by David Wenzel and inked by Duffy Vohland.
Titanic Transcripts
embankment was annihilated. Kenny Mayes from Glasgow thinks that bringing out a comic such as The Titans and the merging of Spider-man Comic Weekly with the Super-Heroes, has really brought out a great variety of art, story and great reading. Aston Kaye from Buckinghamshire don't know whether other Marvelites would agree with him, but he generally finds the Dracula Lives mail-page makes far more interesting reading than The Titans letter page does. He's not saying that Dracula Lives is any better than The Titans but he must confess that the letters is generally a rundown on the mag, saying, for instance, 'Nick Fury: art good, story good' is becoming far too common, he can't see that any reader could find it interesting.
Another in-house advert for the Mighty World of Marvel. This is it! The shocking return of the Living Dynamo! Action all the way...Don't miss it! This advert like the "Pick a pair of winners" in-house advert in the Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives comics shows the Mighty World of Marvel cover with the incorrect price tag.
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD “...Invasion by Hydra!”
Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko
Inker: Jim Steranko
Originally published in Strange Tales #155
Cover date April 1967
(Published in January 1967)
This new page was drawn by an unnamed artist to link last week's strip with this week's second part. Nick Fury has fallen into a deadly trap planted on board the SHEILD Hellicarrier by an undercover agent of Hydra who was masquerading as Professor Anton Trojak, who was on board to demonstrate his "Q-Ray". “Trojak” wired up the supercomputer known as AUTOFAC so that when Fury stepped on the grid in front of the machine he was jolted with electricity. “Trojak” quickly set to work, installing his Aphonic Bomb to destroy AUTOFAC and with Fury tied to it he would share its fate.
Ghost Rider “Hell on the freeway!”
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Jim Mooney
Inker: John Tartaglione
Originally published in Ghost Rider #3
Cover date December 1973
(Published in September 1973)
Again this new page was drawn by an unnamed artist to link last week's strip with this week's second part. While racing into town, to get help for Linda Littletrees who is stuck in the Arizona desert, the Ghost Rider begins to change back into Johnny Blaze as dawn daylight begins to break, causing his hellfire motorcycle to disappear. Blaze ends up tumbling into traffic causing an accident.
Captain America “The Sleeper strikes!”
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Syd Shores
Originally published in Captain America #102
Cover date June 1968
(Published in February 1968)
Nick fury meets a battered and bruised Steve Rogers after the Coast Guard fish him out of the sea. Cap is saddened that they hadn't discovered the location of the Red Skulls hidden island. Rogers reports all he knows to Colonel Fury and shows him the crystal key that activated the fourth Sleeper. Meanwhile The Red Skull and his followers make their way in a submarine to another secret island in the Sargasso Sea, which is called the Isle of the Exiles. Captain America heads out a new device that Tony Stark has developed in the hopes that it will stop the Sleeper.
See you in seven.
Make Mine Marvel.
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