Assembling the Avengers

 Week Ending 18th August 1973

It's took 45 weeks and 71 weekly comics to get to this point, the introduction of the Avengers. Boy it does feel like a long time coming, especially when the Hulk stories have been racing along leaving the FF, Spider-man, Thor and DareDevil behind. Was it worth the wait? Let's find out.

The Mighty World of Marvel #46

It's a bright colourful cover from Dick Ayers with inks by Mike Esposito but I kind of feel it should have had a more special feel to it. Maybe a Starlin cover or the original Avengers issue one cover by Jack Kirby and it should have taken up the full page. But I guess this does work on a UK newsagents shelf. The lower panels come from this weeks Fantastic Four strip by Jack Kirby with added inks by George Rossos. 

The Incredible Hulk. "The coming of the Avengers!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The Avengers #1

Cover date September 1963

(Published in June 1963)

It feels very strange that it says "The Incredible Hulk" above the story title and not "The Mighty Avengers". Especially as the previous Hulk stories were originally written four and a half years after this one. This version of the Hulk feels more at home in the Mighty World of Marvel from way back in December 1972. Also with Loki as the antagonist, feels like it could have been a Thor tale with multiple guest stars. Hand on heart I absolutely love the Avengers, from many different eras. Roy Thomas's long run being my favourite. But after re-reading this classic again I feel let down in places, yes it has classic moments but I'm going to have to wear my rose tinted glasses for this one.

Marvel publisher Martin Goodman heard about the success of DC’s Justice League of America comic in around 1961 so he instructed Stan Lee to come up with a super-hero team comic that could rival it, but as Marvel at the time didn't have a collection of heroes to unite to become a super-group Stan together with Jack Kirby created the Fantastic Four. Two years later after the success of Spider-man and the Fantastic Four the opportunity arose to publish another two comic books. The X-men followed in some ways the template of the FF, while DareDevil followed Spider-man's popularity. Bill Everett was scheduled to pencil the book but due to ill health its release was delayed.  DD would make his debut later but in the mean time an opportunity presented itself to Marvel.

Marvel now had a cast of heroes to mould into a group title along the lines of DC's Justice League of America. Stan and Jack took nearly all of Marvel's super-heroes available, with the exception of Spider-man and Doctor Strange, who were co-created and drawn by Steve Ditko, which may have been part of the reason why they weren't used. Was Ditko holding them back for his own plots, or was it because a teenage hero and an otherworldly sorcerer didn't fit in with the group. Thor, Iron Man, Ant-man and the Wasp assembled for the first time to aid a framed Hulk at the request of Rick Jones and his Teen Brigade.

This story starts virtually as a Thor tale as Loki wanting revenge seeks a pawn to use against his half brother. With an illusion Loki tricks the Hulk into damaging a rail track to lure Thor into combating the monster after Loki diverts the radio message that was meant for the Fantastic Four to Don Blake, but the distress call is also heard by Iron Man, Ant-man and the Wasp. Let's talk about the elephant in the room, this story is over four and a half years older than last weeks Hulk tale and it does show. The Hulk from this team has come from a state of comic book limbo after his own comic was cancelled with issue 6. If you've read The incredible Hulk Vs the Metal Master story from MWOM #6 you'll appreciate the level of the Hulk's intelligence and personality. 

The other thing with this story that grates with me is the way the Wasp is written. Compared to other female characters at that time Janet Van Dyne comes over as an irritating flirt, where as Sue Storm as a mother figure and Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) as the older sister to the rest of the X-Men. To be fair to Stan I think he may have wanted to make the Wasp' character stand out a bit more, especially as she was surrounded by four macho type male co-stars, her dizzy flirt personality from her time in Tales to Astonish is defiantly less grating. 

After reading The Avengers War Across Time by veteran DC writer and editor Paul Levitz and legendary British artist Alan Davis, I found the Wasp to be more likeable. Granted this version of the Avengers comes from a period when the group has settled more comfortably with each other as Captain America is now a member. Levitz writes her in a similar but more sympathetic way. The Lee/Kirby run does improve so I can take its faults at face value. I can over look minor amounts of cheese like the Hulk hiding in the circus as a robot clown and Janet Van Dyne's short comings. I highly recommend the Avengers War Across Time series by Levitz/Davis though, it's a brilliant read that fits well into Marvel continuity without feeling forced. Alan Davis inks his own artwork giving it a slight 60's feel. It's a fantastic read. 

Back to the origin story, Thor suspects that the God of Mischief is up to his old tricks, so he goes of to Asgard to confront him leaving Iron Man, Ant-man and the Wasp to tackle the Hulk. Sure enough this leads to some crazy-ass Kirby fight scenes both on Earth and Asgard, including the final confrontation between the assembled heroes and Loki, as he makes himself radioactive to fend off the heroes, only for Ant-man to command an army of ants to release a hidden trapdoor that sends the trickster down a chute into a lead lined tank! As you do! 

Before they part Ant-man and the Wasp suggest that they combine forces when the need arises to form an unbeatable team. Iron man and Thor quickly agree, even the Hulk can see sense in the proposal, adding that he's sick of being hunted and hounded and that he'd rather be with them, than against them. The only thing is left is to find a name for themselves. The Wasp comes up with the now immortal name...the Avengers. And there you have it, the heroes are victorious and would go on to become one of Marvel's most important groups, leading to countless comics and an incredibly successful movie franchise.

Right after the story ends we are left in no doubt that the Mighty Avengers are a thing with a feature page telling the reader that "the Incredible Hulk joins with Four super-stars to form comics' newest super-group supreme...the Mighty Avengers!" may be this should have been in front of the Avengers story as it doesn't read like a promo for next weeks issue.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

The mailbag opens with the Bullpen column suggest that teaming up the Hulk with four other super-stars is the greatest happenings in comic history. Even though I see its faults I have to agree with them. While they're on a wave of great ideas they tease that another group of heroes will be making their debut very soon as the world's strangest teen-agers ever, the X-Men will appear in the pages of MWOM in three weeks time. 

On with the readers letters, N. Binet from Jersey, wants to see Marvel UK expand from just two weekly comics. David Bradford, all the way from Perth Australia writes that he has been collecting American Marvel comics for two years but has started collecting Marvel UK comics, because he's finding them more interesting with the three different stories every issue. I find it interesting that Marvel UK comics are shipped to Australia. Paul Bolton from Morecambe wonders why in one Fantastic Four comic he bought, Sue Storm can activate a force field but in current weeklies she can't? Stick with Marvel UK Paul and you'll find out that she can and does.

  Peter Williams from Suffolk is disappointed that Marvel UK has ran out of back issues for SMCW #1 and #2 as well as some issues of MWOM. You've got to get them while you can Peter. He must love the Fantastic Four so much he had a dream about them! Christopher Jopling from Retford thinks that Marvel comics are great, but his sister Linda, who had taken the time to write in on his behalf, thinks they're "RUBBISH"! Harsh words from Linda, but I'm willing to bet that she grows to love them. Finally Stephen Hill from Yorks writes saying that MWOM is great especially with two Hulk stories every week but he asks why take out DareDevil? Couldn't they publish another comic. with DD in it? The mail bag ends with a "newsflash" that "Uncle Reg" was overwhelmed by the response to the "Wordophobia" competition but the winners will be announced soon, more news next week.

The Fantastic Four "The Hate-Monger demands- death!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #21

Cover date December 1963

(Published in September 1963)

The opening splash page for the second part of the Hate-Monger story uses the cover of the Fantastic Four issue 21 with added text to fill in readers on last weeks action. On the whole I'm not a fan of George Roussos' inks, they don't capture the detail of Kirby's artwork like other inkers do. He seems to make the artwork look basic but for all I know Kirby might not have pulled out all the stops on this story. Mister Fantastic fights terrorists in the jungles of San Gusto with a variety of weird techniques that come from the mind of Kirby until he's captured by the Hate-Monger and his men. 

Nick Fury arrives in full Howling Commando style to rescue the FF's leader, forcing the Hate-Monger to give Richard the antidote for the Hate ray. Like all villains the Hate-Monger escapes behind a bullet-proof glass wall. Reed pockets some more antidote pills which he gives to his teammates when he fights the rage induced friends, first Johnny, them Ben and finally Sue. The cured foursome rush to aid Nick Fury in his assault on the power plant that supplies the the H-rays. As the Hate-Monger is about to fire his personal hate-ray gun on the Human Torch an Invisible Girl grabs the evil fend from around the neck, causing his aim to be ruined. Fate or karma, two of his men to be caught in the ray's path, causing their subconscious hatred for their leader to manifest itself in a hail of bullets.

The twist in the tale comes as Reed unmasks the demagogue, revealing that he was Adolf Hitler all along. The Nazi undertones were plain to see from the very beginning. Hitler would still be universally recognised as a figure of evil, even in the early 70's. In the story it is suggested that the Hate-Monger may well have been one of the Feuhrer's many body doubles. Later on it was revealed that this version was a clone of Hitler made especially by the Nazi master geneticist scientist named Arnim Zola, in which the mind of Hitler was transferred into at the moment of death. I love this FF story it reminds me of the 1978 classic film "The Boys from Brazil", which was taken from the 1976 novel of the same name by Ira Levin. Maybe Levin got his idea after reading the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby story.

 

A teaser for next weeks Mighty World of Marvel, more Avengers action as the "new" Giant-man joins to take on the mysterious Space Phantom.

The inside back page features an in-house advert for this weeks Spider-man Comics Weekly issue 27, as Spider-man trapped in a flooded underwater fortress must face "The Final Chapter!" And Thor must face Loki, Mister Hyde and Cobra in "Every hand against him!" They're still pushing those FOOM memberships too. I guess there must have been loads left. Wish I had one.

The second money coupon with a reminder of the questions for Marvel's second pocket money competition as seen on both Mighty World of Marvel and Spider-man Comics Weekly's back pages.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #27

Rather than crop the original Steve Ditko version of the cover from Amazing Spider-man #33 Marvel UK elected to use the panel from the Marie Severin cover of Marvel Tales Volume 2 issue 26, cover dated May 1970. It's a little bit of a shame as Ditko's original cover is a beauty.  The lower Thor panel is taken from the Thunder God's own tale that is featured inside the comic, by Jack Kirby with Chic Stone handling the inks.

Spider-man "The final chapter!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #32

Cover date January 1966

(Published in October 1965)

Now here's a master class in creating gripping drama in the comic media through repetition and building tension. The first thing Steve Ditko does is with four even panels let the reader know what's at stake, with the first panel showing Aunt May ill in hospital, the second Doctor Kurt Connors working on the serum that will cure May's radiation poisoning. The third shows the Master Planner's (Doctor Octopus) henchmen waiting outside a steel door for the winner of the battle between Spidey and Doc Ock, the fourth panel, a leaking hidden under-water fortress. The in the fifth, larger panel a trapped Spider-man with a container holding the precious serum.

Six panels make up the second page, starting with two evenly sized top panels showing Spider-man straining against the heavy machinery that is pinning him down. 

The next two slightly larger panels show our trapped hero from both his right and left sides as he strains with effort as water runs over his head like falling tears.

The panels five and six show him exert extreme unbearable force to move the unmovable weight. His arms shake, his vision spins as his muscles ache with the effort required. 

In the third page the first panel shows cracks in the ceiling growing wider, the second Spider-man knows he must not give up, he can't close his eyes, he has to keep a clear head. In the third panel he cries that he'll do it for Aunt May, he won't fail.

In the forth larger panel he strains again moving the machinery with all his might, his vision going black, his head aching but still he tries.

With his limbs suffering, unendurable pain and the torment of the ordeal he pushes through it all to overcome the incredible agony to triumph. He frees himself with herculean strength as seen in this beautiful single panel page. 

You can see with each page the number of panels decreases but they grow larger in size focusing in on the tension. Building drama until the climatic conclusion, only to start again as Spider-man must face more challenges. 

It's an incredible piece of comic book story telling, showing why Steve Ditko was one of the best. Marvel UK's black and white panels with its grey tones add to the tension and make it a gripping read. I love these comics but there is one thing that I really can't forgive about Marvel UK. One choice they made that is unforgivable. They removed the original page two to save space in the comic. Later we'll see a Thor feature page I could have done without. The original page with Spider-man doubting his ability and recalling his failure that indirectly caused his Uncle Ben's death. This page uses six evenly sized panels and one larger panel in which Spider-man draws the conclusion that he mustn't give up, no matter what the odds. He can't fail for a second time. If you read this blog alongside those Marvel UK weeklies that's great but if you can do yourself a favour and dig out the original version. You'll see what an amazing comic creator Ditko was.

Recovering the container that holds the ISO-36 serum Spider-man makes his way through the labyrinth of water flooded tunnels in search of an exit to the surface. With increasing water pressure leaks become torrents of water until the onrushing deluge fills the fortress, immersing our hero in the relentless hammering of tonnes of water, until week and tired he holds on to the flask of precious serum. Just as he reaches the surface, Doc Ock' men equipped with scuba driving masks and air tanks pull him back into the water. He over comes them only to find more henchmen waiting for him on the surface, a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Extremely weak and tired Spider-man doesn't give up, even against the overwhelming numbers his need to save the one person he loves more than anyone drives him on to eventually stand exhausted amongst a pile of unconscious henchman. 

He takes the serum to Doctor Connors, secretly testing it on his own radioactive blood. It works so he rushes it off to Aunt May's hospital where she's give the life saving serum. While waiting for her recovery he goes back to take pictures of the captured Master Planner's gang by the police to sell to the Daily Bugle, making enough money to pay for Aunt May's hospital bills. Seeing Peter all black and blue from the bruising he received when fighting Doc Ock and his men, Betty Brant freaks out when Peter says it can get tough getting news pictures for the Bugle. That was the straw that broke the camels back, ending their relationship once and for all. Seeing his Aunt well but tired the happy but exhausted Peter walks off into the night and so ends another classic Spider-man tale. Truly amazing!

Here's the Mighty Thor Memory Page feature I mentioned before. Recalling two of Thors adventures. The first fighting against his own double as seen in SMCW #13 and the second when he was pitted against Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man and his 20th Century Super-robot in SMCW #20. Both from not long ago and as old as I am, I don't need reminding about them. Like I mentioned earlier I  would've much preferred seeing page 2 of the Amazing Spider-man #33 story in this issue. But I'm 50 years too late to complain about it now.

 

The Web and the Hammer

News from the Bullpen teasing the Avengers and the X-men together soon in the pages of the Mighty World of Marvel. As well as next week the return of Kraven the hunter in Spider-man.

Ronen Gaha from Nelson has calculated that in the near future another Marvel UK comic will be published to please the growing number of people who like him would like to see the Avengers, Captain America, the X-Men, Doctor Strange, Adam Warlock, the Silver Surfer, the Black Widow and the Inhumans, to name loads. He adds more introductions to more characters means less need to edit out characters from the stories like in the Sinister Six story from SMCW #9 and #10. Micheal Porter from Sussex likes Spider-man outfit and wants the blue-prints for his web-shooters. George Yong from Essex is in love with Jane Foster who he thinks is pretty and dainty. His auntie also has a crush on DareDevil. 

Grahame Broadbelt from Teeside collects the UK editions along side the American ones. He wants the UK comics to be in colour like their American counterparts and for Marvel UK to bring out mags featuring new heroes. Lee Chambers from Staffs has received his FOOM fan club package and asks why on the free poster that featured a host of super-heroes he couldn't see Sue Storm? Isn't the answer obvious, she was invisible?! Michael Crawshaw from Bradford who hasn't missed an issue of MWOM and SMCW and would like to see advertisements that offer a real life Spider-man costume. Adrian John from Stockport congratulates Marvel UK on Spider-man Comics Weekly issues 13 and 14 as they were sensational. He recommends them to all his friends. The final word goes to Bruce McVicar from Wales, he noticed that in the Thor stories Odin has two eyes, yet in legend Odin was supposed to have given one of eyes to Mimir the frost giant who guards the well of wisdom at the foot of the ash-tree Yggdrasil! The editor says that that tale has yet to happen. Bit of a cop out that one.

The Mighty Thor "Every hand against him!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #110

Cover date November 1964

(Published in September 1964)

Power of the Beesting readers who take great notice in the details given in these blogs might have spotted that this issues Thor tale comes from Journey into Mystery #110, jumping ahead two issues from last weeks adventure. Marvel UK opted to not print Thor adventures from issues 108 and 109 of Journey into Mystery, because those issues featured characters that hadn't been seen in Marvel UK yet. A slightly weak reason but let's look at why.

Journey into Mystery #108 featured a story called "At the Mercy of Loki, Prince of evil!" The guest star for that tale was Doctor Strange, who had already appeared in Spider-man in SMCW #23 but had yet made his own appearance in the UK in his own strip. The Avengers also appeared but with a line up that included Giant-man instead of Ant-man, who would appear in next weeks MWOM. In issue 109 of Journey into Mystery Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants appeared. Magneto would soon make his UK debut in just three weeks in MWOM, his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants would appear years later in the Superheroes #7 on the 19th April 1975, but the editor must have believed that it was easier to miss these stories out rather than explain all the continuity problems. 

In this weeks story Loki is up to no good pays for Mister Hyde and the Cobra's bail from prison in exchange for their services in kidnapping Jane Foster. He increases their powers so that they might defeat Thor. Holding the nurse hostage they demand that Thor lets them go for the time being. As Loki has planned Odin is angry in witnessing Thor letting the evil-doers escaping and he calls his first son to Asgard to answer for his actions. After some pointless fights between the Thunder God and Heimdall and later other Asgardians, Thor pleads his case with Odin and returns to Earth to fight Mister Hyde and the Cobra.

After a battle Thor defeats the two fiends but at a cost. Jane Foster is wounded and to save her life Thor uses the power of his hammer to cause the fabric of time to stand still. Prolonging her life so that the fleeting seconds that made her weaker could not pass. It's a fairly good Thor tale this week, Stan's writing is good and Jack's artwork is up to his action packed high standard but the "holding time back" plot devise, like that seem to be just like a "get out of jail card", I'm not a big fan of those. Will she survive? Find out next week. 

As with both Marvel UK weeklies at this period of publishing the inside page advertises their siblings comic and this week is no exception as it advertises this weeks edition of the Mighty World of Marvel. We get to see the wonderful classic US logos for the Avengers, the mighty Thor, the incredible Hulk, the invincible Iron Man, Ant-man and the Wasp. And see the cover for MWOM #46 in black and white that shows up the vanishing Loki better than the colour version. 

It's been a busy week with lots to read about, lots to write about and lots of work, with very little time to do it all in.  Will next week be any different? Probably not, more of the same then. Can't wait!

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel. 

The anger, the rage and the cold stone!

 Week Ending 11th August 1973

Before I start this weeks rampage through Asgard, or the darker side of hate, or the desperation felt to help a loved one, or even the stone cold battle, all coming soon. Regular Power of the Beesting blog reader Alan Russell last week pointed out that the cover of MWOM #44 bears some similarities to the cover of Marvel Team-up #27.

As Alan says in his comment on the Facebook "UK Marvel in the Seventies" group where my post for that blog appears, "it's not quite the same, but very similar" to that cover also by Jim Starlin." That issue of was published in August 1974 with the cover dated November 1974. The slight changes in position of the Hulk's arms and his head are noticeable as well as Rick Jones and the disguised Chameleon standing positions, but the look does feel very close. I wonder did Starlin have an earlier version of the MWOM cover lying around and decided to reuse it for the US comic? We don't know, but it was a great spot by Alan. I think comic readers sometimes have an almost photographic memory ability to recall artwork and artist style. Not a super-power that would help you defeat a villain but still it's pretty cool. If anyone spots anything of note related to any of these blogs let me know either in the blog comments or Facebook/Twitter posts. I love reading those, even if I don't always get time to reply.

   

The Might World of Marvel #45

This weeks cover uses the Tales to Astonish #101 cover which saw Marie Severin (pencils) and Frank Giacoia (inks) rendering the Hulk figure, while the Asgardian army was drawn by Jack Kirby (pencils) and Sid Shores (inks) on the left hand panel. That ToA story had featured in last weeks issue. On the right a panel  an assortment of images that had appeared in this weeks Fantastic Four story, by Jack Kirby and George Roussos. I particularly like the Hulk's half, I think that would have been brilliant if it had been used for the whole cover. 

The Incredible Hulk "--this world not his own!"

Writer: Gary Friedrich

Artist: Marie Severin

Inker: George Tuska

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #102

Cover date April 1968

(Published in January 1968)

A new writer and a new inker turn up in this story. Gary Friedrich had previously written Ghost Rider, (the deceased cowboy version,) Kid Colt, Two Gun Kid, Millie the model, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos and some comedy stories for Not Brand Echh! So the Hulk was technically his first Marvel super-hero strip and featured in the newly named The Incredible Hulk comic book taking over the numbering of Tales to Astonish with 102. I do like Gary Friedrich's writing, although he's not one that I would rave about. The same can be said about George Tuska, his artwork is likeable and functional, but this weeks inks would only be temporary. 

This weeks story carries on from last week with Bruce Banner falling down a bottomless chasm only to be rescued by the Enchantress and her partner in crime the Executioner, who are planning an invasion of Asgard with the aid of an army of Trolls. Meanwhile the Warriors Three wonder about the fate of the strange green monster and why he came to be in Asgard so they continue on their quest to find answers from Oldar the Oracle.   

When they encounter the withered old seeker, who by magic changes into a beautiful story teller, whose  astonishing tale of a man who became a monster is told to the trio of Asgardians. The British version leaves out the Hulk's battle with Asgards' own mighty Thunder God and his fracas with the Silver Surfer, replacing the first with a panel of the Thing and the Hulk from the cover of the Fantastic Four #112, while the Sub-Mariner, drawn under the smashing fist of the Hulk, so as to tie in to Marvel UK's continuity better. Marie Severin's artwork this issue is wonderful, capturing the Hulk's origin and the sword and sorcery style of Asgard perfectly. We in the UK don't get to see the colouring mistake that our American cousins did, as the origin of the Hulk was shown with a green, not a grey Hulk. But that wasn't the only mistake that angered those readers, the Executioner mentions his previous encounter with the Hulk, as seen in MWOM #30 but that supposed encounter took place in an alternative future, thus the Executioner from this time should not have known about that. I'm placing the blame for that one with Gary Friedrich, who may have not completely read all those back issues thoroughly. A minor mistake but it did bug me.

Ultimately the invasion of Asgard is prevented as the Hulk joins the Asgardian warriors in overcoming the Trolls and their treacherous leaders. The story ends with the Warriors Three pleading mercy with Odin for the Hulk. Who in his wisdom sends the green mortal back to whence he came. Which all in all will lead nicely into next week's story by connecting the dots and tying the knots.

Have I mentioned "The coming of the Avengers!" ?

The second half of Marvel UK's second Football competition winners lists. Each of these entrants wins a model space craft kit. Not very "footbally" I know but these are the runners up, last week saw the top prize winners listed and they won a camera, or a football or a football game. 

Speaking of competitions...

...the Thing wants to know "Do you Sincerely want to be rich?" Answer five questions correctly and collect two money coupons, one from this week and one from next, and you could be entered into a draw on the 21st August 1973 for you to win one pound pocket money every week for a whole year. A bit late if you're reading this in 2023 but it's all good clean fun. I often wondered did the winner receive a one pound note (yeah in 1973 we had paper notes!) posted to them every week? Or did they receive a one-off cheque for 52 pounds? In 2023 you only see giant-sized cheques for lottery winners or when people raise money for charity. In 1973 cheques were used everyday. How times have changed. The Composite Price Index inflation calculator shows that £52 in 1973 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £804.61 today. £52 is nothing to sniff at, but imagine how many comics you could buy with £804, just a pity that the price of comics has gone up too, no more five pence comics. In the entry form they wanted to know what was your favourite Marvel story? That's more difficult to answer than these competition questions. Here they are. 

1) Penguins are only found in...

a) The Southern Hemisphere of the world.

b) Northern Hemisphere.

c) Both Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

 2) Which snake has the most poisonous bite?

a) A python.

b) An anaconda.

c) An adder.

3) The largest county in England is?

a) Wiltshire.

b) Yorkshire.

c) Cumberland.

4) The Thing from the Fantastic Four was originally...

a) Dr. Bruce Banner.

b) Matt Murdock.

c) Ben Grimm.

5) Spider-man earns money for Peter Parker by...

a) Taking photographs.

b) Performing stunts.

c) Collecting rewards.

I'll print the answers when Marvel UK does in an upcoming blog. No cheating, no googling, you had to pay attention in school and read comics in 1973 to get those right.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag.

It's changed from "A message from the Bullpen" to simply "From the Bullpen to you" this week. No reason it just has. This weeks message is "Next week, we introduce--at long last the newest team of super-stars to explode onto the pages of Marveldom Assembled...the mighty Avengers!" One great story, five super-heroes and one evil super-villain- Loki!

Now three messages from the real editors, so Stan Lee says. Peter Soroczan from London, who has only been reading the Mighty World of Marvel for a short time and says he wants Marvel to open a fan club. Peter must have been reading for a very, very short time if he hasn't heard of FOOM! John Hudson from Surrey, has recently just had an appendix operation in hospital. His aunt brought him some magazines to read. One of them was MWOM #18, now he's hooked. So many people have fallen in love with Marvel when they were given a comic when they were ill, it's the best medication. Finally Norman Boyd from Cambs wants to thank Marvel for the FOOMTASTIC membership kit, he's sent in another 50 pence so he can get the next three issues. He's spotted that in the US the Fantastic Four villain is called the RED Ghost while in the UK he's called the MAD Ghost and wonders is it a mistake? You can see an explanation for this in the Power of the Beesting blog entitled "Blue Moon" but the editor replies that it was an editorial decision by Stan Lee with out giving the reasons why. 

The Fantastic Four "The Hate-Monger!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: George Roussos

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #21

Cover date December 1963

(Published in September 1963)

This story in many ways is ahead of its time. The concept of an individual who drives people's distrust, fear and ignorance of others into hate, to gain a platform of power is as relevant today. Sadly that concept has been with us since humans formed civilisations, maybe even before. Stan and Jack are really great at creating Marvel villains from those kind of rabble-rouser, enticing fear and bigotry against visible minorities. Both were enlisted during the Second World War with Kirby seeing active duty in Europe after the D-Day landings, Jack's parents were Austrian-Jewish immigrants and Stan's parents were Romanian-born Jewish immigrants, both creators knew what that kind of hate mongering could lead to. From all that fear and dread comes the Hate-Monger. Jack's costume design comes from a cross between the Ku Klux Klan uniform with its pointed hood and an European Middle Ages executioner, concealing the identity of the wearer, who we'll talk about more next week. 

Jack Kirby left no doubt in what he was intending to make the story about with the Hate-Mongers men in their Third Reich inspired uniforms and their flaming torches. After news headlines about the Hate-Monger with his rallies that preach class hatred, race hatred and religious hatred around the world causing riots in major cities, the Fantastic Four go for some fresh air and encounter one such rally. Witnessing the angry mob turning ugly and violent towards a group of immigrant minorities, the Fantastic Four step in to break it up. The Hate-Monger pulls out a strange gun that fires a "H Ray" on the FF, causing them to vent any hostility and raw hatred that may have played dormant behind good-natured bickering and banter towards each other. 

After fighting among themselves the four heroes go their separate ways. Reed returns to the Baxter Building and is greeted by an old World War Two friend Nick Fury. Now a Colonel with the CIA Fury asks Richards to help him with an uprising in the Republic of San Gusto that may cause America and the World trouble. Richards jets off to San Gusto in the Pogo Plane alone. Suspecting that Reeds aggression and bitterness towards his team-mates may have come from the Hate-Monger, Fury waits for the other three members to turn up. He then manipulates them into going to San Gusto after Reed. Next week a revolution in San Gusto and how do you fight hate?

The inside back page advert for Spider-man Comics Weekly #26, with Spider-man a "Man on a rampage!" and Thor, God of Thunder pitched against the Grey Gargoyle. Rush down to your newsagents for a copy today. But in 2023 you're more likely to find one in an old box of comics. Or keep reading and we'll come to it next.

 

Spider-man Comics Weekly #26

The large panel of this weeks cover uses the cover of Amazing Spider-man issue 32 drawn by Steve Ditko above the four smaller panels taken from this weeks Thor tale with artwork by Jack Kirby with inks supplied by Chic Stone. It's not the greatest cover but it drives the point home that Spider-man is a "Man on a rampage!"

Spider-man "Man on a rampage!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #32

Cover date January 1966

(Published in October 1965)

Another week in which Steve Ditko gets a plotting credit. This is the second episode in that I'm calling the Master Planner trilogy, no-one else is calling it that but just stick with me. The first episode may have felt a little cool and unimportant, but this week things are starting to heat up and get interesting. By the second page we learn that Doctor Octopus is the Master Planner! I feel that Stan and Steve could have teased this a bit longer but what do I know when it comes to creating great comics? Steve Ditko knows it all believe me. 

In saying that Ditko seems to be doing a bit of method drawing, a bit like method acting Ditko might have been angry when he drew these panels, mainly because many of the characters look angry. I had to check if someone else had inked this story because it looked different, but no, it was still Steve inking his own work. Doctor Octopus looks pretty angry or glum at least.

Peter has some good reasons to be angry, as he's going through a process of splitting up with Betty Brant as Ned Leeds has asked Betty to marry him, which plays on Peter feeling he can't connect with Betty as his Spider-man ego drives a wedge between them. Then there's Aunt May's illness that we find out was possibly due to radiation poisoning from the blood transfusion that had been given to her from Peter, as seen way back in SMCW #2, leaving him feeling that he is responsible for creating so many problems.

After a brief bout of anger and remorse Peter, as Spider-man seeks help from Kurt Connors, the sometime arch-foe the Lizard, in finding a curse for Aunt May's blood condition. Working together they manufacture a serum, but a final ingredient, ISO-36, is missing. Doctor Connors had ordered a shipment of this serum from the West Coast but it had been intercepted by the Master Planner's men. Spider-man goes on a rampage through New Yorks underworld to fined any information on the whereabouts of the Master Planner and ISO-36. Steve Ditko is really giving some of his best artwork for this story, leaving you in no doubt about the urgency of Spider-man's mission. I particularly like the lab scenes between Spidey and Doctor Connors, It's sometimes easy to forget that Peter Parker is a bit of a science genius in his own right. Ditko's artwork makes Spidey and the Doctor  working in a science lab look like two wizards mixing potions with dramatic effect.

Spider-man does track down the Master Planner gang and through them he finds the underwater base where the ISO-36 serum was taken. Doctor Octopus uses the serum as bait to lure Spider-Man into a trap. The trap is sprung leading a to a gripping fight sequence between the two and then onto disaster as their fighting causes damage to the structure of the undersea base, leaving a classic cliffhanger of a trapped hero, the serum just out of reach as water starts to drip on to it and Aunt May running out of time. This story may have at first not seem important or interesting but over the last two weeks it's been building. Next week we'll see an absolute masterclass in comic strip story telling as Ditko and Lee show the world how action comics should be made. And why Ditko's art is probably the most perfect example of greatness in communicating a story through pictures. I can't wait.

Spare page alert! A gallery of Spider-man's most famous foes! starring the Beetle, originally from the Amazing Spider-man Annual #2, cover dated October 1965, (published June 1965,) and drawn by Steve Ditko. It might have been good to print the Doc Ock page instead but as that had already been printed this one was as good a page filler as any. 
 

The Web and the Hammer

The Web and the Hammer starts of with the Bullpen telling the reader that Spider-man Comics Weekly is jam packed but that's nothing compared to next weeks issue with Spider-man desperately battling to save Aunt May's life and Thor facing the triple threat of Loki, Mister Hyde and the Cobra. But Thor fans won't only have that story to enjoy, because in next weeks Mighty World of Marvel there will be the first dynamic appearance of the Thunder God together with the Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, assembled as the Avengers!

Now letters from mere mortals, Rob Spooner from Southend wonders if the guys at Marvel really hate Spidey as he gets into worse trouble every week. He also wants to see another mag featuring the X-Men, the Avengers and Iron Man, he might just get his wish there. Plus he wants to see more of DareDevil and less of the Hulk. In time he'll get that too. Gary Armitage from Bolton says that in issue 12 the Spider-man strip was a refreshing change of pace, showing less pages taken up with fighting, that don't allow much plot, but allowing more time for character development. Gary also spotted that in issue 10 Mysterio's robots did look like the X-men, as discussed when I reviewed that issue. Tony Morgan from Sussex writes saying that he had gone to get the Mighty World of Marvel from his newsagents and picked up Spider-man to his delight. He doesn't say if he bought it instead of or as well as. 

Nicholas Gold thinks that Spider-man Comics Weekly is the greatest and wants to see more of the Sandman and the Scorpion. Andrew Thorn from London read SMCW #14 and thought WOW after seeing Spider-man battling the Scorpion, adding that Steve Ditko's art is great as usual. "Eagle eyed" John Rattue from Wiltshire has spotted two mistakes in Marvel UK comics, the first was an extra "m" in "Keep 'em comming fellas!" and the other was that Flash Thompson called Liz Allen's Dad Mr Brant. If John wants to spot mistakes he can look no further than this very blog. Usually it has more than its fair share of blunders, howlers, gaffs and plain inaccuracies. We're all only human.

 
 

The mighty Thor memory page! No it isn't a quiz page but a sneaky way of advertising next weeks Thor adventure where the God of Thunder battles Mister Hyde and the Cobra again by looking at panels from their previous encounters. A text box suggests that Mister Hyde had fought with Thor three times before, I'm not convinced that's accurate. Mister Hyde's first encounter with Thor did last over two issue and so did the time he teamed up with the Cobra and faced the Thunder God. Maybe they mean the combined encounters when the two villains had fought Thor which does make three occasions. If that's what they mean I'll hold my hand up and give back my No-Prize. 

The Mighty Thor "The grandeur, the glory, the Gargoyle!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #107

Cover date August 1964

(Published in June 1964)

This weeks opening splash page comes from the cover of Journey into Mystery #107, a handy use of readily available artwork that matches the story style, although it does jar slightly when on the next page we find the Grey Gargoyle climbing a building to gain access to Doctor Blakes office. Doctor Blake is looking into the strange cases of petrified human statues when the Gargoyle enters through a window. Confronting Blake the Grey Gargoyle demonstrates how he turns people and objects to stone with the touch of his flesh through holes in the palms of his gloves. I guess that his costume must be made of some unique material that resists he's granite touch. Or is it just "Marvel artistic licence"? Or can you buy unstable molecules fabric from the shops in the New York of the Marvel Universe? Reed Richard must be raking it in with copyright fees.

Don Blake makes good his escape to change into the Thunder God, he's quite good at that for a lame doctor, comes with practice. What follows is a Kirby masterclass of high energy action that suddenly ends with Thor wrestling his hammer from the Grey Gargoyle giving the villain the chance to transform the God of Thunder into an unflattering statue. School boy error, I'll let him off with that, it is his first encounter but the heroes do tend to fall for the same trap in the first or second acts of Grey Gargoyle tales. I said unflattering statue and by that I mean off-balance which to Thor turns out to be a good thing as the petrified God falls, banging his hammer on the ground in the process, setting off the transformation into the mortal Doctor. 

Blake then comes up with an idea that he'll trick the the Gargoyle in to chasing him, or rather a holographic image of Thor projected from a motorbike mounted projector designed by Tony Stark. Don Blake even comments that "Thanks to Stark's genius" he can "control the actions of the projected image, making it move like a living being!" adding "Lucky for us that Stark is a friend of Iron Man!" In a text box the Marvel UK editors writes "Who is Iron Man? You'll learn the amazing answer next week in the Mighty World of Marvel #46" A handy plug there. The Gargoyle realises that he's being tricked and turns his attention to Blake, chasing him off a pier.

Thus ending for now the menace of the Grey Gargoyle as he sinks into the murky grey waters of the Hudson River, carried down by his stone body to a watery grave. It's a bit of a grim ending, but you know Marvel, no-one dies forever. A nice classic by Stan and Jack. Jack's artwork is particularly on point. 

The Thor strip does end with a teaser text box for next weeks adventure of the Thunder God, as well as a nod to Thor's appearance in the Mighty World of Marvel #46 also next week. Which leads me nicely on to the inside back page advert for this weeks Mighty World of Marvel #45 with ancient Norse Gods galore as the Hulk treads "Where walks the Immortals!" and the Fantastic Four face in battle the bigoted Hate-monger. 

There was a lot to love in this week in 1973 from Marvel UK. But next week is going to be even better, with the introduction of the Avengers, the most shocking reveal of the century in the Fantastic Four, an absolute masterclass from Steve Ditko in comic artistry and Thor facing a super-villain team-up like no other. That's not hype, don't believe me? Come back here next week and I'll go through the nostalgia with you just to prove that in the UK the seventies was the Age of Marvels.

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.