Building the pathway to the future!

Week Ending 15th September 1973

Last weeks blog brought up three pin-up puzzlers that I was unable to place exactly the artists or where they were originally from. Facebook friends and blog commenters have all joined in to shed some light on the subjects.

First up Thor! Rod Tough feels that the Thor Pin-up was by John Romita SR, Gary Bell also thinks it was by Romita SR. Paul Lynch has found it as part of the Topps Marvel stickers series. John South has seen it used in a "Marvel Stand Up set" and also in a Marvel Treasury Edition. Well I did some digging myself and found a version of it in my copy of Marvel Treasury Edition issue 8, titled Giant Superhero Team-Up. However that was cover dated September 1976 some three years later than Marvel UK's version. Steve Mills is unsure who the artist is but does think that Chic Stone did do the inking on it.

Rod Tough things that the Spidey Pin-up is also by Romita SR, Steve Mills and I both agree. Steve also believes that the Enforcers Flashback page was an unused cover for the Amazing Spider-man #10. Rod agrees with Steve after seeing it in a Marvel Masterworks/Epic collection/Omnibus. I tracked it down to Mighty Marvel Masterworks: the Amazing Spider-man volume 1 and here it is drawn by Steve Ditko. That page also shows Ditko's original Amazing Fantasy #15 cover, which was never used, the classic Jack Kirby/Steve Ditko was preferred by Stan.

One final correction to last weeks blog, I mentioned that the Looter changed his name to the Meteor Man in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man #41, well Paul Lynch pointed out that he was renamed by Gerry Conway in Marvel Team-Up #33 cover dated May 1975 (published  February 1975,US) which I should have known because I read that story in Marvel UK's version of Marvel Team-Up, issue 7 that was published on the 29th of October 1980. Thanks to all those Friends of the Beesting (FOTB) you can all have a Power of the Beesting No-Prize (PotBNoP) each. 

The Mighty World of Marvel #50

The text box reads "A Marvel Masterwork!" but is it? I can't make my mind up on that, one minute I love its bright energy, the next I find it a mess. I really have mixed feeling about Ron Wilson's artwork, but on the whole he does deliver both great story telling and eye-catching cover artwork, like this, which tells the story of what to expect inside the covers. There's a good amount of text on the cover too, to which I find liberating and limiting with equal measure. British comics would tend to use text to inform buyer of it's wares, but in doing so you cut down on showing more of the art. Frank Giacoia inks the piece that marks Captain America's first appearance on a Marvel UK cover. 

The Fantastic Four "The Avengers take over!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #26

Cover date May 1964

(Published in February 1964)

Cross overs and team-ups are big pleasers that satisfies comics fans of any generation. This one didn't just have one guest star or pulled together a group of individuals to form a super group. No this one made history as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby pulled out all the stops to get ten super heroes together and fight. I know that some will say that last week's story featured the Hulk and the Avengers, but the mighty assemblers only appeared in two panels so I can't say that was anything more than a teaser. This week saw all ten duking it out. Does the historical occasion live up to the expected hype and readers delight?

In truth no! At least not when viewed by this aging comic fan, may be yes to the young readers in the 70's. I may be too critical, each character gets their own time to shine in the spot light, even the Wasp manages to hold the Hulk's rampage awhile by becoming an annoyance in the Hulk's ear. Some of Jack Kirby's artwork show great skill in telling the story while at the same time highlights his creative flair for dynamic panels. It's a shame that George Roussos's inking seems to cheapen the final effect. Stan Lee give the readers what they wanted but apart from a lasting bond between the two groups and the world building in a setting to which all the heroes and villains could interact, as they inhabited the same world, gifting readers with stories with endless possibilities, the outcome fizzles out.  

I am being too hard on this story, after re-reading it I'll admit it is what it is. A cool knock around that showed the way the Marvel universe could work. The millions of stories that I've read from Marvel Comics with the interactive characters have had their origins with this and many more stories by the fathers of Marvel. Thank you Stan and Jack you've made billions of other readers and myself happy for decades. Next week the Hulk returns to his own title's continuity as he confronts the Space-parasite while the Fantastic Four jump back a couple of American issues in their continuity to once again face Doctor Doom! 

A Marvel Masterwork Pin-up featuring the Incredible Hulk by the classic Hulk artist Herb Trimpe with inks handled by John Romita SR. Not sure where this was first published, when I do an image search with google there's lots of hits that say it was from a poster in 1978 but as this comic was published in 1973 I guess it's origin lays elsewhere. 

  

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Jean Hartill from Dudley wants to congratulate the team at Marvel for their colourful action packed covers, but inside she would rather see DareDevil than the double helping of the Hulk. Adrian Casey from Fulham has created a comprehensive list of the objects that the Hulk has crushed, crash through, lifted or thrown during issue 1 to 37. I'll not repeat them, they are there if you zoom in. Alan Miles from Fife like Jean Hartill wants to see the return of DareDevil. Igor Repo from London is very keen on the Hulk and the Fantastic Four saying that their stories are truly incredible and fantastic. His only question is who's the strongest out of the FF. Come on Igor, it's the Thing hands down. Ian O'Hara from County Derry points out that in the Fanatsic Four story seen in MWOM #26 the Mad Ghost's Super-Ape Gorilla was said to have lifted a 5 tons generator, but as they where in space at that time wouldn't that have been weightless? I'm pretty sure I pointed that out in my blog about that FF story, I'll have to look back at it myself to find if I did.

Paul Manning from North Harrow wonders if Marvel UK can grow like Marvel America did from humble beginnings to it's huge 1973 output of thirty odd monthly and bi-monthlies. I could never imagine that Marvel UK could get to those heights, but in saying that Marvels UK's output under Paul Neary in the early 80's (if you count the number of comics in a month at 29 at one point, weeklies, monthlies, pocket books and specials) and countless comics from Paul's second stint at editor in chief of Marvel UK in the 90's (too many for me to count with the British newsstand monthlies, American MarvelUK imprint and limited series. I wonder what was the highest number of Marvel UK comics in any month? A Power of the Beesting No-Prize (PotBNoP) and a mention if anyone knows. Libby Rissveglia from London comments that most letters in the Marvel Mailbag come from boys. But Libby (17) and her three sisters (Franca 15, Anna 13, Lilly 11.) all read MWOM as well as their younger brother Tony aged 10. They all also would like to see DareDevil's return. And finally with this weeks "Bring back DD" message Nicholas Gray from Bradford-on-Avon wants the Hulk replaced with the Adventures of Ant-Man and DareDevil.

The X-Men "Five against Magneto!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The X-Men #1

Cover date September 1963

(Published in July 1963)

The opening splash page of this weeks story comes from the cover of the X-Men issue 1 by Jack Kirby with inks by Sol Brodsky, a fine use of a great cover. The story quickly starts with Bobby, Hank and Warren perving on a freshly dress Marvel Girl in her new X-Men uniform. Professor X grabs their attention alerting them to their first mission. Quickly suited and in Ice-Man's case booted, they fly off in the Professor's private jet to confront Magneto at Cape Citadel.

At the military base the General in charge gives the order to cease fire on Magneto's magnetic force field. Cyclops introduces himself by saying that the only way to stop the evil mutant is to hold off firing to allow the X-Men a chance at defeating him. He gives them fifteen minutes but also asks "Who or what are the X-Men?" His troops are quickly presented to the X-Men in each of their individual styles. Cyclops breaks down the magnetic force field with his optic beam. Magneto retaliates by launching hunter missiles that the Angel must dodge. Ice-Man hits three with ice grenades while the Beast and Marvel Girl dispose of the last one. Angel is the first to confront Magneto but is trapped in a scrap metal cage. Cyclops blasts it apart just as Magneto sends a blazing fuel tanker towards the young heroes. The X-men escape through teamwork and attempt another attack on the master of magnetism who flees knowing that the odds are against him.    

The General called the display of fighting prowess "Uncanny" as the fifteen minutes weren't yet up. This fastpaced story and artwork is both fun to read and looks great too, even with (not one of my favourites inkers) Paul Reinman's inks. This story really works and in many ways it's better than the first Avengers story that saw print at the same time. The final text box asks the reader if they like what they see do they want to see more of the X-Men? My answer would be yes but it does take a year and seven months before we see them again! Which is a shame but maybe there wasn't a massive mailbag requesting their return or maybe the editor didn't feel that the young mutants warranted their own comic as the Avengers stories that would be coming were of better quality. I do think British mentality of cheering for the underdog would get readers behind this group of outcasts. I guess the American editor had always favoured the Avengers over the X-Men.

  

"It's a clobbering' time!" as the Thing graces a Mighty Marvel Pin-up page. Aunt Petunia's blue eyed boy shows what he'll do to enemy's of the Fantastic Four by smashing a Yancy Street lamp, drawn by Jack Kirby with inks by Joe Sinnott. originally a pin-up page from Marvel's Greatest Comics issue 24 from December 1969, which was a reprint bi-monthly from Marvel US that featured the Fantastic Four reprints as well as other Marvel heroes.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #31

A really early Spider-man Comics Weekly cover that is actually a re-coloured version of the Amazing Spider-man #37 by Steve Ditko. I'm kind of puzzled why more weren't used as it would've saved the trouble and effort needed by commissioning a new cover. 

Spider-man "Once upon a time, there was a robot...!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko    

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #37

Cover date June 1966

(Published in March 1966)

Steve Ditko offers up as plotter and artist a story that looks to be at first viewing a "mad scientist leaves prison to take revenge on" insert name here, plot line. But its so much more than that. Professor Stromm is a robot expert and mechanical genius who wants revenge on the man who cheated him out of his invention. The name of that cad will have to remain secret for a while as we first take a look at Peter Parkers private life. 

As Peter grows up he becomes more confident, may be its because of his time being the web-slinger or dealing with a relationship as he did with Betty Brant but he starts to engage more with the fairer sex. This flirtation with the beautiful blonde Gwen Stacy may well seem like a boy at junior school pulling the pony tails of the prettiest girl in class as the only way to get their attention, as they reach their teens that interaction matures into longing looks behind long fringes in sexually charged tension. This is those early days for Peter and Gwen but you can see the awkwardness play out on the pathway built by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko that will lead to one of the most important and far reaching relationships in comics. 

Back to Professor Stromm and his act of revenge, he sends out his first robot, a blob tentacled machine that is very much the vision of what Ditko sees a robot, to an electronics firm to smash and destroy the livelihood of the man who cheated and framed the Professor. Spider-man tangles with the octopus-like automation, escaping barely after the factory goes up in flames. Ditko later draws a more traditional sci-fi looking robot, but both are controlled by a Ditko designed Virtual Reality headset by the Professor. 

We find out that the factory belongs to the father of Peter's nasty classmate Harry Osborn. Steve definitely wanted Harry to appear as a spoilt rich kid, his look and Stan Lee's dialogue say as much, but later on Lee and John Romita SR would portray Harry as a good friend to Peter and explore his characters "parent pressure" that leads to mental health issues. It's really good to see characters grow and develop in this way. That's part of what makes Marvel unique and so readable unlike other poorer Deficient Comics. It comes to our attention that Mister Osborn isn't a nice man, he's offhand with his son (although at this point I can't say I blame him,) he also did indeed cheat Professor Stromm out of his inventions, then railroaded him into a one-way trip to prison after the Professor began to threaten him.

After defeating Professor Stromm's last robot Spider-man corners the future "Robot-Master" (stories for another time,) who still wanting revenge on his nemesis is about to tell all, just as a gun shot from a high window silences the Professor, not by fatal wound as Spider-man pushes him to safety but by heart attack. The gun man fled before Spider-man got up to the high window which outside was a number of stories up with no sight or sound of a rope, ladder or helicopter. A mystery remained how did the gunman get up there?

OK there's no need for a SPOILERS warning, I imagine that any Spider-man fan of any age knows Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin. Steve Ditko laid the clues out for readers in plain sight. He even had Norman holding what looks like a rifle barrel in one panel. One rumour that Stan Lee used to peddle was Ditko left Marvel due to the fact he didn't want Norman Osborn to be the Goblin. Ditko admitted in an interview to "The Ever Unwilling, Robin Snyder's the Comics" in March 2009 that it wasn't the case, as he had planted both Norman Osborn in Jameson's gentleman's club and his son in Peter's college class on purpose. Giving them both the same distinctive hairstyle as seen in SMCW #20 and SMCW #26 as he had intended Osborn to be the Goblin all along. John Romita SR confirmed this story in an interview with the Grand Comicbook Database contributor Nick Caputo in his own Marvel Mysteries and Comics Minutiae blog. It's well worth a read for the full story.

The Web and the Hammer

Two more pages of letters this week so let's swing through them. Kevin Pratt from Northallerton who is dying to see Doctor Doom without his mask that he's come up with an idea for a competition in which readers could draw what he looks like without it. Chris O'Saughnessy from Leicester wonderers why can the webbing that holds up Peter camera stay there when it dissolves after a few minutes. Chris it's more than a few minutes, more like an hour. Anne-Marie Lacey from Edinburgh wants to see the return of the Stone Men from Saturn and Electro. She also writes that lots of girls like her read comics but not enough have the nerve to write in. Also from Scotland but this time Inverness Stephen Devlin loves both MWOM and SMCW, asks three questions, the first is when will Kraven return, the second is will there be more weeklies coming out soon and the third will they bring out any holiday specials? The answers from the editor is Kraven's next return is unknown. Overwhelming demand for another mag means at least one more comic will be produced. That was a perfect opportunity to tease the new Avengers weekly, but it wasn't mentioned at all in the mailbag! As for holiday specials the regular weekly pressure means they haven't time for any specials. Just wait for Dez Skinn to get his hands on the Marvel UK hot seat and then you'll see lots of summer and winter treats. 

  David Evans from Wigan gives a long review of Marvel UK's twin weekly output. He like many readers of MWOM want to see the return of DareDevil, as you can see in this weeks Mighty Marvel Mailbag. He theorises that the powers that be at Marvel UK are planning another comic that may feature old DD. If they are he would love to see the Avengers and Captain America in it. Still no teasers from the editor apart from they are getting excited about the "new one", still not named in the letter page. David finishes his letter by adding "don't forget DareDevil, bring him back soon and furthermore, keep up the good work." Jonathan Buddy from Herts wants to know where do all the heroes and villains get their powers from? That is a big question, keep reading and you'll gradually find out. Finally this week Martin Deakin from Notts thinks SMCW is great but wants to ask two questions. What is Thor's surname? and how are Doctor Octopus's arms fastened to him? The editor says that Thor doesn't have a surname but you can call him "Goldilocks". Shouldn't his surname be Odinson? As for Doc Ock's arms they are bonded to him by the accident seen in MWOM#7. 

Tales of Asgard "Surtur the fire demon!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #99

Cover date December 1963

(Published in October 1963)

This weeks Tales of Asgard looks back at a legendary epic of old with a tale of when Surtur the fire demon joined forces with the trolls to rebel against Odin. The All-father single handedly takes on a army of deadly trolls in a forbidden land, overpowered by their onslaught he plunges his sword into the ground to draw the limitless power of the gods sending the trolls back to their caves in fear. Odin ventures forward over a sea of flames to engage Surtur in a battle that will plunge the fire demon to the very core of the Earth, sending a chunk of the planet up into the heavens, forming our very Moon. Odin draws the electromagnetic particles from the cosmos with his sword creating the centrifugal force that spins the planet and keeps the fire demon a prisoner, giving heat and energy to the world he hoped to destroy. Surtur sends the victorious God a gift of a winged horse to appease Odin's wrath, but he'll have to wait an eternity for that to fade. Even though it isn't scientifically correct it's a bloody good tale. Stan and Jack have fun with this one.

This is a really cool Marvel Masterwork Pin-up of Spider-man. It looks like a John Romita SR piece to me, it's got his clear lines. I'mm surprised that it isn't used more as a poster. It's beautiful! 

I can't find out where it was originally published as I'm running out of time this week so I'll leave it up to you, the Friends Of The Beesting (FOTB) to answer that one if you can. There's a Power of the Beesting No-Prize (PotBNoP) in it for you and a mention if you can.

The Mighty Thor "The clutches of the Grey Gargoyle!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #113

Cover date February 1965

(Published in December 1964)

After last weeks instalment were Odin removes Thor's godly powers from Don Blake as he declares is love for Nurse Jane Foster by telling her he is Thor, son of Odin, God of thunder, only to be attacked by the Grey Gargoyle. Blake and Jane escape from the stone menace with the aid of a mysterious benefactor. Who at the most desperate of moments returns Thor's powers to the fallen mortal. Thor defeats the vile villain and we find out that the mysterious stranger was Honir the Hunter, sent by Odin to aid his son. Seems that Odin's wrath isn't as eternal when directed at his son. Don Blake brushes off "outing" himself as a touch of madness brought on by too much hard work. 

Another feature pin-up page from "A gallery of Spider-man's most famous foes!" originally seen print in the Amazing Spider-man Annual #1 cover dated October 1964 (published June 1964, US.) by Steve Ditko. It's much the same as the original except for the removal of the "First appearance..." text. It's a nice pin-up but has little connection to this weeks stories. In fact I imagine that the page could have been used for other things....

....Like a teaser for next weeks latest weekly from Marvel UK! But they didn't which was a pity because it would have given loyal readers a chance to work on their parents to pry an extra six pence needed to buy the new Avengers comic! 

It's a real shame that, so I made my own advert, because next week the Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly are joined on the nations newsstands by the Avengers! 

So you've heard this before, "Marvel UK merry mass of marvellous magazines marches on! Three comics a week, more research to carry out, more interesting facts to find, more images to crop, more grammar to correct, more zany titles to make up, more puns to shoehorn in, more opinions to tell,  more mistakes to make, more nostalgia to remember and love. But most of all more comics to read!" Click in next week to find out if I can do this blog with three comics a week and keep my sanity. I better get started.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.

The meteoric rise of the X-Men!

Week Ending 8th September 1973

The Mighty World of Marvel #49

A really cracking cover from the pencil of John Buscema and the ink brush of Frank Giacoia originally seen as the cover of the Fantastic Four #112 from July 1971 with an all black background. The top headlines reads "Extra bonus for you! The astonishing X-Men!" Their inclusion was kept quite low-key with only the odd mention in the Bullpen column on the letter pages, almost as an after thought. Will the monster smack down story live up to the glorious cover? Let's have a look inside and see. 

Fantastic Four "The Hulk Vs. the Thing"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #25

Cover date April 1964

(Published in January 1964)

"Whose story is this?" is a question that anyone filling out their comic collection spreadsheet might ask. As the lead strip in MWOM and a title declaring "The Hulk Vs. the Thing" you might imagine that it's a Hulk strip but actually it's a Fantastic Four strip, but it doesn't follow on from last weeks FF adventure. In fact it jumps two stories- "The master plan of Doctor Doom!" and "The infant terrible!" Both tales will see print later in issues 51-54 of MWOM so you don't have to wait too long to see them. 

The jump does feel a little strange, the story from the Avengers issue 4 could have been used instead if they wanted to continue printing Avengers adventures before they launched the new Avengers weekly comic. While the Fantastic Four could have remained a MWOM back up strip. But I imagine they wanted the Hulk to lead MWOM's lineup. Avengers #4 would see print as the opening adventure in their new comic in just two weeks time. All that does lead to a slightly crazy Marvel UK continuity error as Captain America is seen taking part in this story before he is rescued from a frozen sleep inside a block of ice, his cold storage prison since the final days of World War Two as seen in "Captain America joins the Avengers!" 

This is the story where Banner refers to himself as "Bob Banner" twice! Luckily Marvel UK readers never spotted this as the name Bob is edited out for the more common Bruce. Right from the start Banner's first name was Bruce, when this error was originally spotted in the letter page of the Fantastic Four #28 Stan cover up this slip by saying that the Doctor's full name is Robert Bruce Banner which stuck. Some friends of mine still call the Hulk's alter-ego David Banner after the 70's TV version but let's not go there today. The bulk of this story is the Hulk looking for the Avengers to vent his anger at Captain America replacing him in their line up, so he heads to New York, missing the Earth's mightiest as they look for him in the New Mexico desert. The only group left in New York capable of stopping the Hulk's rampage are the FF. With Reed contracting a virus, Sue nursing him and the Torch quickly defeated by the Hulk strength it's left up to the Thing to stop the green berserker. It should be every Marvelites' dream fight and to be fair it does land some of the right punches. If only someone other than George Roussos had embellished the King's pencil work. Can the Thing keep the Hulk at bay till the Avengers arrive? Find out next issue.

  We don't get to see much of the Avengers in this story, but as a bonus we do get a full page pin-up of the God of Thunder! I can't place the artist or the original usage of the image. It could be Jack Kirby or John Buscema or even John's brother Sal but in truth I'm guessing. If you know and can prove where it was originally used let me know. A "Power of the Beesting No-Prize"(PotBNop) and a well deserved mention could be yours.

In both MWOM and SMCW this week an advert for Britain's largest comic fan gathering, a Comic Mart at Lyndhurst Hall, Kentish Town, London on Saturday the 8th September. Free entry, which you wouldn't get in today's comic conventions. But to be fair in those days Comic Marts were just full of comics and fans, not American stars and Funko Pop heads toys. These events were nearly non-existent in the north. Did any southern PotB readers go to this one? 

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

N. Barber from Oxford wants to see the return of DareDevil as he thinks that the Hulk is an over-rated pea-brained nit and doesn't deserve two stories a week. The editor does hint that old DD may return someday soon. Andrew McKinney from Belfast used to read some of the imported US Marvel comics and has seen DD in a red costume in them and on at the FOOM poster. We'll get to see DD's return early next year in his red costume. Billy Muirhead from Newark brings the readers of the mailbag an interesting fact related to issue 27 of MWOM in which the Hulk is said to be able to hold his breath for hours, but the longest that anyone held their breath for was Robert Foster from California who in 1959 held their breath for 13 minutes and 42.5 seconds. The 32 year old had to hyperventilate his lungs with oxygen before hand. D. R. Holes from Hull wonders why stories in Marvel comics portray all extra-terrestrial characters as being belligerent, with the exception of the Watcher, while according to many UFO experts if those beings were hostile they would have destroyed the Earth centuries ago! Alien invaders do make for great stories though and Marvel comics are full of great stories.

Colin Wagstaff from Milton Keynes thinks that the Fantastic Four Flare gun gives the FF's foes an unfair advantage as it not only alerts the four heroes but can alert the villains as well. Stephen Battle (great name that, sounds like an action-heroes name!) from Yorks didn't like MWOM at first but it soon left him dazed with the incredible action from within. Richard John from Essex has made up his own super-being called the "Everything!" The Everything has the same powers of every super-hero or super-villain! Which does make him extremely powerful. Something like the Beyonder may be? My childhood creation was a lot more grounded, the Beesting could take a beating but still get up and over come the odds to win the day, bit like Spider-man. George Barber from Sunderland made a great observation when reading the Fantastic Four in MWOM #9 where Johnny was reading an issue of the Mighty World of Marvel, wouldn't the teenage hero discover that Bruce Banner is the Hulk and Peter Parker is Spider-man? May be Johnny isn't one of those people who believe everything they read. 

The X-Men "X-Men"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist; Jack Kirby

Inker: Paul Reinman

Originally published in The X-Men #1

Cover date September 1963

(Published in July 1963)

The X-Men quietly come to Marvel UK after so many readers have mentioned them as possible candidates for a new weekly. It feels like a strip that would do really well in the UK. This quirky group of misfits seem to be the outsiders that would appeal to that British underdog mentality. In the US they struggled to win fans over but eventually became one of Marvel's leading comic books. The first story, simply entitled "X-Men" is after Spider-man's origin the most repeated story in Marvel UK. It will next be reprinted in the Super-heroes #1 on the 8th March 1975, then in Star-heroes pocket book #10 (January 1980) and later in the Original X-Men #1 (27th April 1983). The artwork, even with Paul Reinman adding the inks suits the style of these outcast heroes. I've been critical over the last two or three weeks of Reinman's inking but I'll give credit where credit is due this is some of his best work.

 The group of young mutants are going through their training routine when a beautiful red haired girl arrives at the school for gifted youngsters. Professor X ends their lessons for the days and after they change into their civilian clothes we are introduced to Hank McCoy-the Beast, Bobby Drake-Iceman, Warren Worthington the III-Angel, Slim Summers -Cyclops  and finally Jean Grey- Marvel Girl. In the first story Scott Summers was originally named Slim, which is a really weak name that was quickly dropped. In the Marvel UK version Slim was was edited out so as to not confuse readers however one did slip through. Later Marvel UK prints used the original versions. Notice in the panel above, the original owner of my copy has corrected this mistake.

  That wasn't the only mistake that the original owner of this issue corrected. In the original version Stan Lee scripted that Jean Grey demonstrates her powers and says the line "I must admit it's a pleasure to be able to practice teleportation openly, without fear of being discovered!" The junior editor corrects that too with the word crossed out and an arrow down to "TELEKINESIS"! In later American reprints of that story "TELEKINESIS" is added. I wonder did my copies amateur editor grow up to be an editor or possibly a school teacher?  What I really do love about Stan writing on these early X-Men is a sense that these "youngsters" are outcasts who feel and act differently to everyone else. It's a perfect example that certainly must have connected with young readers.

One thing that was levelled at the early X-Men tales is that they were too "white American", something that Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum changed in Giant Sized X-Men #1 in April 1975 (cover dated May 1975) with the introduction of the all new, all different X-Men. Stan wasn't behind the times, in fact some of his writing promoted equality and diversity, but at a slower pace than todays activists would like. Jean Greys reaction to Hank McCoys kiss is very "MeToo". A certain Spanish footballer and World Cup winner could have done with a little bit of Marvel Girl's powers. At the time of writing this story Stan was writing the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, Marvel Girl needed to be something other than a copy of the Invisible Girl or the Wasp. I feel looking back Marvel Girl got the best characterisation for a female lead, if not the best name. But Claremont would change that too when she was renamed the Phoenix!

Every great team needs a great nemesis and the X-Men have Magneto! He's one of Stan and Jack's greatest creations. Unbelievably powerful but weakened by his drive to be superior to everyone else. As his back story gets filled in the layers to his motivation grows. His a more realistic villain than Doctor Doom, the Green Goblin or Loki in my opinion. I certainly can't wait to read next weeks issue to find out how the young X-Men cope with the Master of Magnetism. 

A Mighty Marvel Pin-up page featuring the Incredible Hulk versus Hercules the God of Strength! This is the cover of Tales to Astonish #79 cover dated May 1966 (released February 1966) by Jack Kirby with as 'am lead to believed Bill Everett's inks. That story was printed in MWOM #32 . 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #30

This weeks cover was originally drawn by Steve Ditko for the cover for the Amazing Spider-man #36, although the UK version has the two characters flipped and the Looter has his costume re-coloured. I guess they must have thought that purple and white wouldn't look right to a British audience, but that's a shame as I really like the original colouring.

Spider-man "When falls the Meteor!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #36

Cover date May 1966

(Published in February 1966)

 I have to admit that this weeks story feels like a filler which is fine, I'm OK with that. Steve Ditko is on cruise control as he offers a typical Ditko plot and artwork. The Looter is a stereotypical Ditko villain. Norton G Fester discovers a fallen Meteorite and wants to make big money on his discovery but no-one is interested, so he takes a hammer and chisel to it to find something that he can sell. There's a simple rule that everybody should follow, it goes something like this, "never poke a creature with a stick, never hit a meteorite with a chisel". In hitting the meteor gas is released that grants him increased strength. So what does any crazed nutter do when gaining meteor gifted strange powers? They start a career as a super-villain. 

Roy Thomas recalled that Carl Hubbell at the request of Stan Lee, redrew the Looter figure in panel five of the thirteenth page, changing him to Spider-Man for the readers point of view. Whether that story is true I don't know, the alleged change does work well but I imagine it might have angered Ditko having his artwork changed at Lee's wishes.

Why call himself the Looter? Well that's anyone's guess. That name would later be changed to the even more lame Meteor Man by Tom DeFalco in Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-man #41 from January 1980 (cover dated April 1980) which Marvel UK readers got to see in Spider-man and Hulk Weekly #386 from 31st July 1980. Goodness Marvel UK was running stories really close to their American cousins in the 80's. Why does the Looter create a "Dazzle Gun" and a "Helium balloon backpack"? That's plainly from the mind of Steve Ditko. I'm not knocking this story, it's quaint and in some ways a classic of its time but nothing more.

(Paul Lynch pointed out that the Looter was renamed Meteor Man by Gerry Conway in Marvel Team-Up #33 cover dated May 1975 (published  February 1975,US) which I should have known because I read that story in Marvel UK's version of Marvel Team-up, issue 7 that was published on the 29th of October 1980.)

The Web and the Hammer

  Douglas Wright from Tottenham just writes in to say MWOM and SMCW are great and issue 9 of SMCW was terrific. William Watson from London wants to see Spider-man and Thor fight each other. Cliston (or should that be Clinton?) Taylor from Manchester gets the two weeklies every week and his family reads them both after him. When he wanted to buy FOOM #1 they all chipped in with twelve and a half pence each so he could send off for it. Peter Crawford from Sussex thinks that issue 15 of SMCW and the issues that contained the Sinister Six two parter are the best ever published by Marvel UK. Nigel Edwards from Stoke-on-Trent thinks that Spider-man is his favourite super-hero because of the amazing artwork. His one complaint is the lack of colour in British comics. He must be an American Marvel fan as he mentions (Irving) Forbush and ends his letter with "Till the Hulk wins 'Miss World', Make Mine Marvel!" which I think is the first time a jokey  make mine Marvel end-line has been used in a Marvel UK comic.

 David Robertson from Coventry asks why is it always the Human Torch who is used as a guess-star in Spider-man, why doesn't Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl or the Thing appear? Lee Banham from Suffolk really likes both MWOM and SMCW but the one hero he would love to see is Doctor Strange. If he takes a look to the right of his letter he'll see an advert for the upcoming new Avengers Weekly that happens to feature as the regular back-up strip. No date given yet but British Marvelites won't have to wait long. The advert does boast what looks like the published cover. Like Lee I'm pretty buzzing about the prospect of the Avengers and Doctor Strange in a weekly.

Tales of Asgard "Odin battles Ymir, King of the Ice Giants!"

3

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #98

Cover date November 1963

(Published in September 1963)

Another beautifully drawn Tales of Asgard by Jack Kirby with inks by Don Heck, that follow up to "Home of the mighty Norse Gods!" from SMCW #25. This time focusing more on Ymir the Frost Giant's legend. I've written a lot about Jack Kirby's inkers lately, how some artists don't fulfil the potential of the King's pencil work. Don Heck fulfils every pencil stroke with his own brush or nib stroke. Some people don't like Heck's artwork but you'll be a fool not to admit after seeing this tale that Heck is a master of his craft. These Tales of Asgard are putting Thor's tales to shame. If you've only got a couple of minutes to read a strip from this week's comics read this one. It's only five pages but they're beautiful.

The Mighty Thor "A world gone mad!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #113

Cover date February 1965

(Published in December 1964)

This weeks Thor tale does start off with what looks like an opening page from Tales of Asgard. I think it benefits for it, gaining some flavour to what does turn out to be a villain of the week story. This weeks villain sees the return of the Grey Gargoyle who has been recovered by a museum team thinking they've found an ancient artifact from the depths of the sea where he fell in SMCW #26. Looking for revenge on the Thunder God the Gargoyle breaks into Don Blakes office knowing that there is some connection between the Doctor and Thor. Blake delays the Gargoyle so that Nurse Jane Foster can make an escape. Come back next week for the conclusion of "A world gone mad!" 

 

Nice pin-up of Spider-man by who I think may well be John Romita SR judging by the style of artwork. If you know where it was originally from and who did it let me know. A Power of the Beesting No-Prize could be yours.

The final image of this weeks blog is a feature page Spider-man Flashback! This page didn't appear in my digital copy of Spider-man Comics Weekly #30 so I had to take this picture late in the day from my paper copy when I realised it was missing. Not sure were this artwork came from either but it does look like its in Steve Ditko's style.

I think that covers everything this week apart from the unknown artists for three pin-ups but I'm sure PotB readers will fill me in with those details. so till then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.