A love letter to the world's fastest man!

The day after Valentine's day marks the release date for Quantum issue six, some ten months since I first reviewed the release of the Fantastic 1st issue of the new British anthology comic, in that blog I suggested that the "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" could well be my favourite. After five issues I can safely say it is! I'll go as far as saying that I think it could well be the greatest comic strip of the last two decades! That sounds like a massive statement I know but bear with me, let me tell you why.

I'm sometimes, well really quite often, late to the game when it comes to finding gems that have become yesterday's news. This story was originally printed in Accent UK's Blessed & Cursed series and actually won an Eagle Award for the Best Black and White Comic Book in 2009. I never knew that until only very recently. I first read the strip in the pages of Quantum #1 in April last year and I only heard about that after listening to a comic podcast by Mega City Book Club about its launch. The new comic would contain five stories of which three were brand new, while the other two would be repeats, one of which would be recoloured the other would remain black and white. That one would be "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" I'm so glad they didn't colour it. I read the first three strips in that comic, which are all extremely good, but then got to "Whatever happened to the world's fastest man?" strip. Wow, it was on another level.

 I don't want to give any spoilers away, I want you to read the story clean, but here's the basic plot as spoiler free as I can. The hero of the piece is a normal man in his twenties called Bobby Doyle, who just so happens to possess the power to freeze time. The villain of the piece is a bland almost insignificant nobody who wants to become infamous by killing millions with a bomb planted in the heart of London. But its not the kind of strip you'll find elsewhere, American publishers wouldn't print it, there's no flash costumes, no hard hitting action fight scenes, no sexy girlfriends for our Bobby, no big guns and no extreme violence. British comics probably wouldn't print it either because there's no weird monsters, zombies, or aliens, no future cops or steampunk settings. To be fair it might have seen print in the old 1990's Crisis magazine from Fleetway or maybe some classy European comics.

 Bobby is a hero like no other, He doesn't defuse the bomb because he doesn't know how, he doesn't run away and save himself, even though he could, no Bobby is a noble soul. But he's still just a normal bloke who tries to save the lives of millions of normal everyday people in the minutes or years before a massive bomb goes off, by slowing time down so that he can remove everybody away from the blast zone. Even though the task seems endless, Bobby doesn't give up. It's great to read a story that you don't have to have to read hundreds of other comics by other creators whose work you don't enjoy just to complete a saga.

It's slow but beautifully paced, with the most cartoon like yet detailed artwork to grace a graphic novel. If it was a hardback graphic novel it would sit proudly on my shelves next to the Watchmen, V for Vendetta or my John Buscema drawn Savage Sword of Conan Omnibus for the way the pages are laid out representing the flow of time. The artist Marleen Starksfield Lowe doesn't fill the page with flash frivolous images, instead every time frozen face is full of life as they live within the seconds before the impending doom. Dave West doesn't waste time either with unnecessary dialogue when it isn't needed, allowing the beautiful artwork and the reader to fill in the gaps, forging the most original plot I've read in years, making it an absolute pleasure to read.

No comic strip is ever going to push out a tear from my eyes, but the final episode's ending comes very, very close. 

Is it worth reading? Yes it is! Is it worth them creating a follow on story? No, it's perfect, nothing more needs adding. Is it worth having it collected in a hardback graphic novel? Well I would definitely read it again (if it does I would like extras like behind the creative process, otherwise I would just read the Quantum comics again and again.) and if it appeared on the shelves of Waterstones Bookshops I would make sure people see it by giving it pride of place, just before the security guards kick me out for rearranging the displays. Is it worth Dave West and Marleen Starksfield Lowe producing something similar to it? Oh yes please! Is it the best graphic story of the last ten or twenty years? For the levels of emotion and beauty that fill every page, for the showing the best of humanity when faced with the worst, for the most sad yet fitting ending, I think it is! 

Quantum magazine, Time Bomb Comics, Dave and Marleen thank you all for giving this story a second chance, for showing me that heroes don't need silly costumes or silly names, and for making comics that can be really, really great without the need for frivolous baggage. Just great comics.

"The kind of hero I want to be when I grow older would be like Bobby!"   

The three Doctors, Weird, Strange and Doom!

Week Ending 16th February 1974

Just a quickie from last week, I asked where the "Spidey hangs loose!" pin-up was from, ever reliable Rod Tough points out it was by Steve Ditko and was blown up from panel 1 of page 4 from "The Molten Man Regrets" story first seen in Amazing Spider-Man #35 April 1966. Rod had also answered where the Amazing Spider-man pin-up page image as seen in SMCW #51 had originally come from, it had been the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #48, May 1967 by John Romita Sr. Rod adds "It's been reversed by the unknown copier, who omitted the "web pits" and added webbing from the hand." Brilliant spotting from Rod.

   

The Mighty World of Marvel #72

Specially created artwork have always featured on the covers of British weeklies, but now the Hulk, as the lead story of MWOM, had been split in half the original cover could only be used for one of those weeks so another special piece had to be commissioned at least every other week. Now I know that you and many other British Marvelites are thinking that an original cover for Daredevil or the Fantastic Four could have been used instead, but remember British Marvel had always promoted the Hulk as the star in MWOM and with only a few occasions that would remain. Any way those DD and FF original covers were frequently used as the splash pages for the second halves of the relative comic strip. New covers meant we got some cracking covers by some great artists. Although Ron Wilson is a good artist and in some cases very good, this cover wasn't one of his greatest. It's eye catching but also a little misleading as the event shown doesn't exactly occur as it is pictured. I don't want to slag it off, but compared to last week's cover this one isn't great. Can anyone defend these Defenders? Mike Esposito is the inker.

The Incredible Hulk "Disaster in the depths!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #118

Cover date August 1969

(Published in May 1969)

Last week's story builds up nicely to a promised "clash of titans", hard hitting action with just a splash of improbable science that might keep young minds thinking. Like how on earth do the Sub-Mariner and the Hulk talk to each other as they fight under the sea? And as Namor creates a whirl-pool by swimming around and round at super-high speed he says that "with each passing second, the very air is drawn from your lungs, until at last you breathe no longer!" How does he breathe anyway? Alright Lady Dorma gave him a special tablet but does it convert the water in his lungs to air or does the tablet create oxygen that is held in his lungs by some kind of Atlantean science? Or does it not matter as long as we get a massive battle with these heavyweights? 

It's not all action between Subby and old green skins, there battle leads to disaster for Mistress Fara, who was at one point about to increase the chances of Namor and herself becoming a item, by wiping out her competition in the Atlantean love department, until the Hulk smashes Namor into a wall that collapses onto her, crushing her to death. Namor I revealed that Fara's body took the deadly impact and protected Lady Dorma. I guess that makes it obvious which Atlantean lady the Prince liked the most. 
  

Namor then realises that the battle has caused destruction in his kingdom and seeks an end to the conflict by making his peace with the green skinned giant. But seeing the Hulk leaping towards him for another attack Namor sees it's too late to speak of peace and swims at speed to hit him head on before more damage can be levelled on the under-sea city. Is this the point where we find out just who is the strongest between the two? The force sends Namor deep into countless fathoms of the sea and the Hulk upwards out of the ocean and into the sky. The aftershock causes the foundations of Atlantis to rock, while the impact sends shockwaves creating a giant tidal wave that threatens the coastline of an entire continent.   

We end with a dose of déjà vu as Namor discovers the body of a man not a monster on the beach where the green giant fell. Six and a half months ago pretty much the same scene played out in MWOM #43, I'm surprised that he doesn't recognise Banner from last time. Did Stan forget he wrote the same ending or did he hope the readers would forget? Either way we still don't get the definitive answer to the question "who is stronger the Hulk or the Sub-Mariner?" Or do we get the answer to a slightly different worded question, that in water Namor is king!" "Imperius Rex!"

Daredevil "Fight for life!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wally Wood

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Daredevil #8

Cover date June 1965

(Published in April 1965)

 

The cover of Daredevil #8 is used as the opening splash page, fitting in perfectly with last week's cliff hanger. Only a fictitious newspaper with the headline "Daredevil Vs Stilt-man" was removed from Wally Wood's original artwork. The added text box states plainly that Carl Kaxton is Stilt-man just to make sure that British readers don't see the plot twist coming. As you can imagine DD doesn't fall to his death, after some athletic twists and turns he grabs the Stilt-man's leg, only to have that pulled up away from him, giving him an early bath in the Hudson River.

Matt Murdock later finds Wilbur Day asleep at his office, another red herring, the pair set off to visit the home of Karl Kaxton. Where they find a pair of hydraulic legs out side his house and an angry Kaxton with a loaded gun. Day over powers Kaxton and then turns on the blind Murdock believing he can't see his attack. Murdock senses the blow coming and rolls with it, faking unconsciousness to give him time to change into Daredevil. Day, who makes no time in showing his true identity, only saw that one coming by a country mile, is really after a Kaxton invented "molecular condenser gun", a weapon he believes will make him invincible. Daredevil crashing in but Day escapes and frantically fits on his hydraulically powered trousers to help speed his escape. DD hops onto a train that runs conveniently near the long striated Stilt-man, hooking the "molecular condenser gun" from his hands with the billy club cable Daredevil accidentally fires the ray at the Stilt-man causing the tall villain to shrink until he disappears from sight. The final panels are a little weird, possibly used just to fill the page with some sort of ending. Karen Page tell's Matt that a Doctor called Van Eyck (is that a play on Van Eye Sick?) could restore his sight but Matt refuses as it might be risky, while secretly believing that it might also remove his other super-senses in the process. I can't imagine why it would, Karen calls him a coward, which is a bit harsh.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag 

Jonathan Dathen from Bucks wants the X-Men in their own comic with the Silver Surfer as back up, all the mags to have glossy covers and full colour and the Hulk to be removed from MWOM to be replaced by Daredevil. Well Jonathan does get his wishes but not all. Jimmy Myint from London writes to explain how much of a British Marvel fan he is, but goes on to ask for two American issues of Captain America and poster of of Spider-man, Iron Man or the Fantastic Four. A little bit cheeky that, but if you don't ask you won't get and he doesn't get any of them. Donald Robson from Stoke on Trent who wants to complain about people writing nasty things about the Hulk. Gordon Thomson from Glasgow asks why can't the X-Men have a weekly mag like the Avengers? 

Stephen Lisle from Portland who regularly gets MWOM and SMCW, has nothing but praise for all the stories, although he is a little bored with Loki in the Thor tales. Micheal Steele from Chester who wants to see some classic pre-Marvel stories from 1935 onwards. Paul Piacentini from Glasgow who has some issues with the way Alicia Masters manages to model a clay statue of the Thing but later Ben Grimm worries if she ever got her sight back she might not love him. That has always been an issue for me, why can't Ben get it through his thick skull that she loves him for who he is not what he looks like. Andrew Ruston from Dudley would give the Hulk his own mag with the X-Men as back-up and have the Silver Surfer replace him in MWOM. An unsigned letter writer thinks that the Hulk is a "pea-brained, knuckle-headed, long-nosed, big-mouthed, green finger-nailed nut who goes beating-up people and bashing down buildings". The writer is tough enough to offer the Hulk out to "kick his head in" and sends his address, 33 Orchardville, but doesn't say which town or city. Maybe he isn't such a big man and that's why he keeps his name anonymous. Jarold Harris from Bristol went on holiday and found a FF cartoon and two records about Spidey and the Thing, he asks  are they American or British? The editor does't give a definitive answer. I do remember the Spider-man record but not the Thing one. As for the cartoon, that must have been made in America. 

The Fantastic Four "The final victory of Gideon!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #34

Cover date January 1965

(Published in October 1964)

The Jack Kirby cover from the Fantastic Four #34 makes a functional appearance as the opening splash page, that starts off the finishing second half of a bland story. Gideon a multi-millionaire who's plan to set FF members against each other looks to be successful until the seeds of failure are sown when his son Thomas over hears him set the final part of it into operation, in which a "Time displacer", modelled after Doctor Doom's Time platform, will be used to finish the FF off. Tommy leaves to warn his heroes. 

Apparently Gideon own's the Baxter Building now and has his men set up the "time displacer" inside the building as the fighting heroes return. Tommy rushes in trying to warn them, stumbling into the trap set for the FF. The Thing crashes through a wall to aid the lad but they're both sent into the past. Reed sets to work on the machine in an attempt to recover the pair. Gideon offers Richard any amount of money to get his son back, which of course Reed would try anyway without the offer. After Thomas and Ben return Gideon relinquishes his fortune, giving it all to charity so he can devote all his time to his family. So I guess the moral of this story is you don't need money, all you need is love (and comics)!

A mighty Marvel Masterwork pin-up of the incredible Hulk, reprinting the wonderful cover from Incredible Hulk #105 by Marie Severin and Frank Giacola, cover dated July 1968, published April 1968. It's a classic that make's a wonderful poster and has appeared on the chests of many a Marvel fan's T-shirt. 

 The back page features the Marvel's Greatest comics! tag line to promote this week's mags, with nice reproductions of this week's Avengers and Spider-man Comic Weekly covers, although both have added "blue" skies that don't appear in the weekly version. Speaking of which let's have a closer look at that cover.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #53

I really like this original cover by Ron Wilson with Al Milgrom adding the inks. Wilson is an under rated artist, but I imagine he's very quick which makes him ideal for producing a weekly cover. There's a lot to like about it, Ka-Zar looks great, better than his previous cover appearances on weekly mag, those being to MWOM #61 and last week's SMCW. It's not easy to draw a sabre-toothed tiger but Wilson nails it. The whole composition is very good, in some ways it's better than the Romita/Heck combo that appears inside. It's a really good cover so it gets my vote for Cover of the Week.

Spider-man "Trial by combat!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #57

Cover date February 1968

(Published in November 1967)

The opening splash page uses a blown up of the fourth panel of last week's page 12. It's not good, I would have preferred something else was used but as the cover from the Amazing Spider-man #57 but as that was used for the cover of last week's mag it's of little surprise it wasn't reused, I wouldn't mind if it did. Ka-Zar after leaving Jameson's office he searches the city for Spider-man who has made his way to the publisher's office by another route. Jameson nearly gets Spidey, who's still suffering amnesia, to remove his mask.

He was about to reveal all just as Ka-Zar crashes in stopping that reveal but starting a massive brawl that crosses Manhattan and leads to Central Park, where the web-slinger starts to get the upper hand in the conflict by finishing Ka-Zar with an upper cutting left fist. Zabu leaps in to rescue his master, knocking Spidey unconscious into a lake. When he doesn't surface Ka-Zar dives in, probing the depths for signs of the web-head until with his lungs near breaking point he see the fallen hero. Be here next week to find out what happens next.

Iron Man "The Stronghold of Doctor Wierd!"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #41

Cover date May 1963

(Published in February 1963)

Now before anyone jumps on the comment sections of any of the social media channels where this blog is published, to ask for a Power of the Beesting No-Prize (PotBNoP), I haven't spelt the name "Doctor Wierd", it has been hard as my auto correct keeps changing it to "Weird", which is exactly as I read it. More on that later. Regular PotB blog readers may remember from last week's Avengers Assemble letter page E. Lectro from Manchester wrote in saying that in the Fantastic Annual from 1968 Doctor Strange appeared but he didn't use magic, he used science. I pointed out that the Doctor Strange from that tale was the evil super genus Carlo Strange. Coincidentally that tale is what we find here printed in this issue. 

The Fantastic Annual 1968, published by Oldhams as a seasonal stocking filler based on the Power Comic weekly called Fantastic, it featured Marvel stories about Thor, the X-Men, Iron Man and even two sci-fi tales from Journey into Mystery #92 called "The man who hated Monstro!" by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Paul Reinman and "I used to be..human!" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as some British created strips "The Temple of Zentaca" and "Colossus!" plus two text stories "The Fugitives" and "The Invaders". The annual's editor chose to change the title to "Iron Man Vs Doctor Strange!" while the original US title had been "The stronghold of Doctor Strange!" As I said last week this version of Doctor (Carlo) Strange appeared two months before the Master of the Mystic Arts levitated onto the scene. British Marvel must have thought it was a bad idea to have two characters with the same name, so they had to change Carlo's surname. So rather than Doctor "Strange" they got their thesaurus out and "Strange" became "Weird", or Doctor Wierd as it appears, was that a genuine spelling mistake or was it done on purpose? Who knows? I might spell it wrong/or right from now on, so just ignore my mistake if you can. 

Doctor Wierd is incarcerated in prison where he plots his escape by creating a device that can  hypnotise Iron Man into freeing him. Later Iron Man has no idea what he has done. Dr. Wierd arrives on a private island to be greeted by a group of men he describes as the "most cunning scientists and power mad military men on earth!" who look very similar to the group known as "The Exiles" who were allies of the Red Skull and fought against Captain America, or will do in for British readers in the Titans #46, on 1st September 1976. (originally from Captain America #103 for any American Friends of the Beesting.) Iron Man attacks the stronghold and with help from Dr. Wierd's daughter, Carla, defeats the mad scientist. The story is wholesome if not a little weird. 

The Web and the Hammer

Mark Peatfield from Surrey is a massive collector who stores his collection in little cardboard boxes but he points out that in America they manage to produce over fifteen Marvel mags a month, all with glossy covers and full colour interiors, yet in Britain they can only do three a week. In disagreement with another letter writer who dislikes any romance in Marvel's stories Mark points out that it does show that Marvel characters do live in a normal world. Frank Lythgoe from Wigan at last gets his letter printed as he has been writing in for ages. Wayne from Welwyn Garden City wonders how Spider-man breathes through his mask and how can the Thing hear without any ears. I'll let you answer those questions together with my own- "my dog has no nose, how does it smell?" Andrew H. RFO, TTB, says where he lives they get a few American mags, but he would like more, sadly he doesn't say where he lives. Saaid Abmad is unlike Mark Peatfield from earlier in this letter page, doesn't like any romance in Marvel at all. 

Terry Brodie from London wants to see more of Doctor Doom and he doesn't want as many posters in his mags, as a collector he wouldn't cut them out simply because they would ruin the mags. Nigel Vangrove KOF, wonders what FFF, TTB and QNS stand for? Well its Fearless Front Facer, Titanic True Believer and Quite 'Nuff Sayer. He didn't ask what they actually  mean so he doesn't get a full answer. Derek Harkness from Cooktown wants to see a Spider-man TV program. Malcolm Howitt from Aberdeen asks what religion is Thor? I thought it was obvious Thor doesn't have a religion, he is a religion. Steve Swipe RFO, KOF from London point out a grammar and spelling mistakes in Spider-man Comics Weekly #37.  

The mighty Thor "When titans meet!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #124

Cover date January 1966

(Published in November 1965)

This opening splash page is made up from images lifted from page 27 from last week's issue and page 35 of this week's comic. It does feel cheap and rushed although I do like the Thor image. Odin isn't happy about his son revealing his true identity to Nurse Jane Foster last week, wondering why the very heavens don't quiver and shake in celestial indignation! He promises that there shall be a reckoning. Even though he has promised to never again leave Jane Foster's side it isn't long before Thor feels duty bound to confront the evil of the Demon. I guess Gods don't have to keep their word.

 In other realms, other gods turn their attention to Earth and the mortals who live there. From his throne atop of the mystical Mount Olympus Zeus, the Greek God calls his son to undertake a special mission.

We aren't informed what that mission is but we do meet Hercules, the strongest of all his sons. This story should be the first time in modern Marvel comics we meet the Prince of Power. Although technically his first appearance was in the pre-Marvel Timely comic Venus #5 cover dated June 1949, published March 1949. In British Marvel continuity (or dis-continuity as I might say, he does appear in the Hulk story as seen in MWOM #32. Finally Thor does reach the Asia stronghold that is just holding out against the attack of the Demon who Thor recognises is powered by an Asgardian Norn Stone. This story and last week's have been slowly building up to next week's issue which promises to be an action-packed cracker with "the coming of Hercules!"

This weeks The Mighty World of Marvel and the Avengers covers take pride of place on the back cover of this week's SMCW in another "Marvel's Greatest Comics!" in-house ad. I particularly like the lighter colours in the MWOM cover, much better than the actual version, although the sea's blue does get too washed out, it would be perfect it has retained some of it's "blueness". As for the Avengers cover reproduction I do prefer the colours on the actual comic. Now's good time to look at that issue...

The Avengers #22

See it's better on the actual comic, although I must say that the original version of it from the Avengers US edition #25 does have a bluer sky. Which ever version you prefer doesn't matter as they were created by Jack Kirby with Dick Ayers adding the inks and do make a fine piece of shop window art to entice readers into buying the comic. It's a pity that the interior Avengers artwork doesn't match it, but more on that soon.

The Avengers "Enter...Dr. Doom!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The Avengers #25

Cover date February 1966

(Published in December1965)

I'll get straight to the point I don't think that Don Heck can draw Doctor Doom well. It's not totally his fault, may be Dick Ayers should take some of the blame, although possibly not as he does a good job of Doom when Kirby pencils him. Doctor Doom is a ridiculous character to draw, he looks kind of stupid with his square eyes, pointy triangle nose and open dum mouth. Heck handles the Avengers well as you might expect, he gives character to all the Latverian civilians, but Doom looks just like a cartoon villain. Some might say that's what he is. If I think about that for too long I would probably agree with them.

The story isn't helped by a really poor story line. Doom wants to defeat the Avengers to show off his power in an attempt to fill the hearts of the Fantastic Four with fear. The armoured madman sends Pietro and Wanda an anonymous letter with news of a relative who may have news of their parents. All four Avengers travel to Latveria and are quickly arrested as "in all the excitement" they forgot that Doctor Doom was the ruler of that pocket kingdom. That's really lazy writing by Lee, he must have phoned it in. Anyway the Avengers escape but only so far as Doom seals off the country with an "atomic attack proof" dome trapping them again. There's a minor sub-plot about a little girl who needs to leave the country to get an operation, but that is forgotten about when the Avengers finally unlock the dome and escape the country. 

Assemble

John Etherington from Plymouth really likes the Avengers mag but notes that he prefers the old style Iron Man outfit than the version he wears in the Avengers. H.S.W. had a dream three months before they wrote this letter that he went to the newsagents to buy some US mags, among them was a British mag called the Avengers. They forgot all about the dream until they saw it in real life. Jonathan Suriak from Derby and his friend Philip Wilkinson wondered if Marvel had any intention of making medallions of the Avengers? Medallions are a 70's thing and only cool in that decade. David Lindop from Staffordshire simply writes one line that is "Why don't you print some of the old stories of Captain America and Bucky?"  Stephen Robinson from Manchester loves the Avengers, adding that he likes Captain America and Iron Man loads but Thor should be the leader. He reads the other two weeklies but thinks another mag with the X-Men and Daredevil in it would be a great idea. 

Patrick Ryan from Southampton mentions a letter from E. Capaveo printed in Avengers #2 who said that Doctor Strange shouldn't be wearing clothes in his spirit form, but the editor got out of that sticky point with their reply, however Patrick challenges the editor to get out of this point that in the Doctor  Strange story "The Possessed!" seen in the Avengers #7 the "possessors" wore no clothes in their spirit forms! The editor replies that they didn't get it wrong as when the "Possessors" left the possessed villagers they didn't take the villagers clothes with them. As I see it, in spirit form was how they previously imagined their true form to be. Or put it another way, It's only a comic strip that is drawn so that we can understand what the story is intended to mean. Tommy Getgood from Ayr wants to know will FOOM be in the shops and will the Silver Surfer and Conan be appearing in any British mags anytime soon? Sadly no more FOOM, as for the Surfer and Conan they say if another mag is launched they give a thought to including them. It's easy for me to say as I type in 2024 but those classic characters are coming but you'll have to wait till March next year. Harry Wheaton from Scunthorpe believes that what makes Marvel comics special is that other comics feature super-heroes with super-powers but Marvel super-heroes also seem to behave like real people and if you follow Marvel mags you quickly begin to feel you actually know the people who write and draw the magazines. Brian Scholes from London buys all three weeklies but is particularly keen on Doctor Strange as he is fascinated by magic and mystery. He even goes as far asking how to develop genuine mystic powers. The editor's reply makes a fantastic, philosophical read on the development of mystical powers, too much to go into here but it's worth a quick read if you have time. The Avengers letter pages always seemed to be a little more mature than other letter pages, although not in every case. Micheal Thelma from Preston who's an Iron Man fan but thinks the pointed helmet has ruined his look. Finally for this week David Morbin QNS who asks when Doctor Strange leaves his physical body does it just sit there looking looney and dumb? "Looney and dumb" is a bit harsh, it just remains motionless. 

Doctor Strange "Earth be my battleground"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #134

Cover date July 1965

(Published in April 1965)

 

Doctor Strange returns to Earth and checks in on the unconscious Ancient One, his servant informs him that apart from some periods of incoherent mutterings in which he mumbles the word "Eternity' his status hasn't changed. Strange goes to the Ancient One's deserted retreat to look for clue to the meaning of "Eternity" but his presence alerts Baron Mordo. The Baron chases the Doctor but Dormammu has to attend to other matters so Mordo must deal with Strange by himself. In the Dark Dimension the unnamed (Clea,) girl has distracted Dormammu by releasing the Mindless Ones again. Doctor Strange loses Mordo by pretending to fly directly into the Sun, which he can't do but Mordo doesn't know that. Returning to Earth Strange must continue his search for the mysterious secret behind the name "Eternity" in next week's issue. These strips can be infuriatingly slow at getting to this saga's conclusion, but in saying that they are a magical ride to be enjoyed.

An inside back page pin-up of the shield swinging living legend that is Captain America, by the late, great John Romita Sr.   

The Avengers in-house advert reverts to the "Double Dynamite" headline to focus on the other two magnificent mags from British Marvel also on sale. The Mighty World of Marvel cover colours are truer to the actual comic unlike the image used in the SMCW in-house ad. It really doesn't matter which version I like because all these adverts would've sent me mad wanting whatever issues I didn't already own. That's great marketing, the only thing that stops them from being a success was the poor distribution and the lack of pocket money funds to buy them all. I sit in the Beehive surrounded by piles of these vintage mags and I have a warm childhood feeling inside. Happy days! 

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.  

Face to face with titans!

 Week Ending 9th February 1974

The Mighty World of Marvel #71

Herb Trimpe created this clash of the titans cover for the US Incredible Hulk issue 118. Its reproduction for the British weekly is pretty much unchanged apart from the sea background blues have been lightened, the Hulk's pants are more of a pinky purple colour and the "Guest-starring:The Sub-Mariner!" text box has been moved up slightly. It's still a belting cover. I've always liked seeing the Hulk and Namor together. Always reminds me of their Defenders days, which would be over a year into the future as that group would first feature in a British weekly in the Mighty World of Marvel #147 week ending 26th July 1975. Or in the past if you picked up an American comic called Marvel Feature #1 from July 1971 with a cover date of December 1971. While I mentioning American issues, I noted after reading some comments left where this blog has been posted, I got the impression that some people think I believe these stories were first printed in the UK. A slightly strange idea considering that I always list the original published US issues in the credit section of every story. Yeah I like to pretend that Marvel comics only first appeared on the 7th October 1972 in the Might World of Marvel #1, but that's a joke. British fan's may have gotten the US imports from the 60's or the UK Power Comic from the late 60's, but these "Week Ending..." blogs are generally about British Marvel comics from the 70's. (Other posts about my geeky interests like Doctor Who, British and American Comics or movies also appear, some of those are quite good too. Have a read if you like.)  I love the US editions as much as the British ones, but I have more nostalgic feeling from my childhood for these weeklies as that's where my love of Marvel started from. Speaking of things I love,  I love this cover, so it's my Cover of the Week.

The Incredible Hulk "A clash of titans!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Herb Trimpe

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Originally published in The Incredible Hulk #118

Cover date August 1969

(Published in May 1969)

The title promises "A clash of titans" and this story certainly delivers just that, but the all important set up has to come first, so with that we get a intriguing opening splash page that sees a strange amphibian cruiser surface near an unconscious Bruce Banner who as the Hulk had just stopped the Leader's plan for world destruction. This story would follow a different route with just two angry super-beings fighting over a ludicrously improbable line of events that sets them off at loggerheads. I say "ludicrously improbable" but Stan Lee manages to make logic of every situation in such a way that any seven year old or fifty seven year old would accept without any question. That's good writing, a skill that Lee has in abundance and one that I never give him enough credit for. There's a reason why many call him "The Man"! 

My reason for mentioning all the improbable events starts with Namor's sweetie, Lady Dorma taking an Atlantean craft out for a spin by herself, when in all of the ocean she surfaces near Banner and just so happens that she has the necessary miracle tablet that allows a human to breathe underwater for 24 hours, enabling Dorma to give the immediate medical attention to Banner in Atlantis! Well if it works for Hans Christian Andersen it can work for Lee's version of "The little mermaid"! 

I've mentioned in the past, well at least once that Herb Trimpe doesn't do female characters well. I have to take that back as Lady Dorma and Mistress Fara are drawn well and both are given nice characters thanks to Lee's writing and Trimpe's handling of the plot. Fara spies Lady Dorma "sneaking" Banner into the palace so that he can receive medical attention, telling Prince Namor that Dorma has through "secrecy and stealth" has " brought a surface man to her abode", planting the seed of an affair, at least in my 54 year old mind, or of treachery to the throne, as my seven year old self might have believed. Namor, suspicious of Mistress Fara's real intentions behind her tale, probably is also angered by the possibility that both scenarios could be true and so with rage filled haste sets off to confront the Lady Dorma. 

The Palace court politics pale into its intended plot device as we head towards what the majority of Hulk readers want and that's a really big fight. Banner awakens in impossible surroundings to hear a woman and man arguing over deceit of the heart and the soul or a man's life. Banner's pulse speeds faster, his heads spins as his scientific mind can not compute how or why he's breathing under water, thus causing the change that was inevitable. Namor asks why can a human who is supposed to be ill start raging like a human dynamo inside the Lady's bedroom? The answer comes like a crashing storm through it in the colour and size of the Hulk. Namor thinks that the Hulk had been holding Lady Dorma hostage and sets off a proper clash of the titans, just as readers of all ages punch the air in excitement. More next week, Imperius Rex!

Daredevil "The Stilt-man  cometh!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Wally Wood

Inker: Wally Wood

Originally published in Daredevil #8

Cover date June 1965

(Published in April 1969)

 

 The return to Daredevil's original continuity is heralded by a scene that Stan Lee would later use in a Fantastic Four story titled "Bedlam at the Baxter Building!" British readers will see that tale in MWOM #92 this summer, (that story originally appeared in the third Fantastic Four annual, for any American Friends of the Beesting, we'll talk more about it in July.) an out of control car threatens a damsel so DD has to swing into action. 

I say it was a Stan Lee plot line with the car, but this story is nicely handled by artist Wally Wood, who does bring his special artistic brilliance to Stan's story outline. Wood runs with it making a dam good read, much to my surprise as only last week I wrote that the better Daredevil stories were some way off for MWOM readers, this charming little tale kind of snuck up on me. The runaway car was much more than the reader first imagined, as hidden inside the vehicle lay a deadly time bomb. Someone had set it off as a decoy to send the long arm of the law and any super-hero vigilantes off in the wrong direction allowing them to carry out a payroll heist elsewhere. That someone turns out to be the latest super-villain on the block and the mind of Wally Wood, the Stilt-man. A super-villain who uses an incredible  suit of armour that featured hydraulic stilt legs and other gadgets. 

Wood really uses the page well as after a close up reveal of the villain that doesn't give away his unique powers, the next page starts with a full length panel so that the reader isn't left in any doubt on the size of the fiend. Many would see the Stilt-man as a lame villain, myself included as I would list him as third rate antagonist in all of his appearances, Wood does get something out of him that makes this story readable and in many ways quite quaint. As this tale was of its time I can overlook some of its down-comings. 

The car bomb decoy only partly works as Daredevil's hyper senses allows the man without fear to judge how to steer the car towards the river and when to leap from it before the bomb goes off. Stan stretch's the plausibility that DD can tell the device will go off soon as the ticking gets louder. Do bomb makers use devices that do that or is it just a tension building plot device used in TV and movies?

Daredevil works out that the bomb car was a decoy to direct people away from the main crime scene, to which many writers would add a scene where Daredevil would listen out for clues to where, when and how. Instead Wally Wood takes it on himself to introduce the inner workings of DD's own Billy Club in much the same way he introduce the Stilt-man, with the aid of a page length panel cross section revealing all. It's this and Daredevil's costume that has cemented the hero into Marvel legacy. I'll accept that the cane splits in two, the handle folds flat and super strong cable can be released and returned enabling DD to swing from building to building. The thing that I always had trouble with is the concealed miniature tape recorder, retractable microphone with all the necessary transistors, batteries and hidden switches in the throwing and clubbing half of the cane. I aways recalled thinking that they would become dislodged during a fight. They never did but to my engineering mind that was always a strong possibility. DD uses his "snooperscope" to locate the heist but arrives too late as the villain just disappears. 

Later at the offices of Murdock and Nelson an inventor Wilbur Day asks the lawyer for help as his boss stolen his pet project inventions from him. Murdock takes on the case. That night the Stilt-man makes another daring heist that Daredevil can't stop. Again at the offices of Murdock and Nelson, Day makes more accusations toward his old boss Mr Klaxton, who has arrived to confront the libellous accusations saying that Wilbur Day did not invent the hydraulic devices he himself did! Which leads the reader and Matt Murdock into believing that one of them is really the Stilt-man. Daredevil follows Karl Klaxon but after he gives DD the slip with an electrified car body the Stilt-man makes an appearance sending an over confident Daredevil falling from a great height to his death, we'll see the conclusion next week.

The Mighty Marvel Mailbag

Christopher Penfold from Hertfordshire gets all three weeklies but wonders why the Avengers is 6 pence while MWOM and SMCW are only 5 pence? He also thinks that the Marvel Annual from 1973 was a little drab. Well with new glossy covers and more pages all three are now 6 Pence each. I do prefer the 1974 annual to the previous one but I wouldn't call the 1973 annual drab, anything but that. They are both cracking good reads! S. Griffen from Peterborough thinks that the X-Men are soppy! And his glad that the Fantastic Four are coming back. Again I would never use the word soppy to describe the X-Men but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Steven Blackburn from County Durham gives the counter point to S. by saying that MWOM #50 was extra special because of the inclusion of the X-Men and Magneto, as well as the Hulk and the Avengers. John Mitchell from Glasgow who has just moved from America to Scotland hopes that British Marvel keeps the X-Men as he has read many American editions of their adventures and that they would make a great addition to the weeklies. Michael Davis from Staffordshire saw a FOOM application form in a US Marvel mag but wants to know how in Britain he can join. Sadly membership of FOOM was announced way back in February 1973, wow can that have been over a year ago that I was reviewing it in the British weeklies? Michael like many of us have missed our chance. Michael Potts from Newcastle Upon Tyne has a problem, he loves all three weeklies but can only afford the price of two. Each comic has its merits that make the problem an impossible decision. Michael if you read this let me know which ones you choose to keep. 

Dave Bolstridge from Birmingham wants Marvel to explain all about the other heroes and villains that don't get to star in the British weeklies but do appearing the colour US comics. Well there's two things, some of those stories will appear in future British Marvel mags so we don't want spoilers and the second is there's not enough space in the letter pages to explain them all. As Marvel gets bigger, it gets better, it gets harder to follow everything. Gary Williams from Kent mother thinks that Marvel is too violent and aggressive and is filled with "bad literature"! He thinks they're "good entrainment and good fun." So after argument that lasted 24 hours she's going to allow him to continue reading them. The editor is more concerned at being labelled as "bad literature" than the violence and aggression. Personally I can't see them as overfly violent and compared to 2024 there's very little aggression in them. As for the "bad literature" dig, yeah they're no "War and Peace" but they are certainly more fun. K. MacCormack from Surrey wants to see Marvel heroes on TV. Wait till the 2020's they're everywhere on TV and in the movies.

The Fantastic Four "A house divided!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Chic Stone 

Originally published in The Fantastic Four #34

Cover date January 1965

(Published in October 1964)

The eagle eyed of you may have already noticed that this story doesn't follow directly from last week's adventure, but jumps on to the US Fantastic Four issue 34, missing out issue 33 whose story "Side by side with the Sub-Mariner!" obviously features Namor the Sub-Mariner, whose current appearance in this weeks Hulk strip might have lead to the switch in FF stories, as British Marvel editors may have considered two Namor guest starred stories too much under-sea fun for us Brits causing a "thrill-overload". (No wait a minute that's from the wrong comic company.) Never fear FF/Sub-Mariner fans FF #33's tale will see print in the pages of MWOM in just two weeks time.

This week's FF tale starts off with the usual Lee/Kirby high jinks with a mysterious package from the Yancy Street Gang to Ben Grimm. Inside it is not a bomb or a dead mouse, (a bit dark from me that last one,) but a Beetles wig. Are they just poking fun at big Ben's lack of hair or was it an early move to show all bald men aren't evil, unlike this week's antagonist. The Marvel's own version of Lex Luther multi-billionaire Gregory Hungerford Gideon. The Trump, Musk, Bezos of the 60's/70's although we might find out next week Gideon has a little more substance than those three. As part of a business deal he agrees to destroy the Fantastic Four by paying millions to have experts formulate a plan to do just that. The essence of the plan is to have the FF fight amongst themselves by planting clues that each member isn't who they seem. Will it succeed? Find out next week.

 As promised last week by British Marvel the names of the 50 winners who bag a FOOM membership prize and the 50 winners who land a Angling Times Kingfisher Guild membership in the Fishing competition that was ran in the November issues of the Mighty World of Marvel, Spider-man Comics Weekly and Avengers weeklies. This page was also printed in this week's SMCW and Avengers mags. There's way too many names to mention but if you're interested just zoom in and see if you can spot yourself or any friends. 

This week's in-house advert uses the logo from the US comic Marvel's Greatest Comics which ran bi-monthly from October 1969 (with issue 23 as it continued the numbering from Marvel Collectors' Item Classics, that had started in October 1965.) then right up to issue 96 with a cover date of January 1981. Marvel's Greatest Comics if you are interested featured reprints of the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America and Doctor Strange. Later issues just slimmed down to showcase old FF stories. Speaking of logo's it's nice to see the logo's for the Avengers, Dr. Strange, the Amazing Spider-man, the Mighty Thor and Iron Man used. The use of colour in this ad certainly let the Mighty World of Marvel readers know what the covers of its brother mags would look like and what was inside the them.

Spider-man Comics Weekly #52

As much as I love John Romita Sr's work I don't have any affection for this cover. It originally appeared as the cover for the Amazing Spider-man #57, there have been some minor adjustments, most noticeably the moving of Spider-man's position, that makes him closer to Zabu and further away from Ka-Zar. The roof that Ka-Zar leaps from has also been changed. A speech balloon has been added to Ka-Zar, a very British trait. Also text boxes informing us that in this issue "the fury of Iron Man!" and that this sabre-toothed tiger is called Zabu! One thing common in both US and UK versions is the text box informing us that this comic is "featuring: The Power of Ka-Zar!" now that I do like!

Spider-man "The coming of Ka-Zar!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: John Romita Sr and Don Heck

Inker: Mike Esposito

Originally published in the Amazing Spider-man #57

Cover date February 1968

(Published in November 1967)

 Spider-man still suffering from amnesia caused by Doctor Octopus's use of the "Nullifier" several issues ago is puzzled by his own secret identity. That's not the only thing puzzling with this strip, I couldn't figure out why this week's artwork wasn't up to the excellent art of John Romits Sr. But if you closely read the credit box, something I'm guilty of not always doing, often just reading the big headline writer and artist names, in this case "Stan Lee and John Romita put this thriller together," then comes the disappointing next line, "But dashin' Don Heck finished the pencilling." There must have been an impending deadline and Romita drew only the basic of layouts. Either way the artwork is nothing like John's or Don's best. 

But all that said about the artwork, the story should be a right cracker. Even with my disappointment with the art the story does indeed make up for all its down falls.  Lord Kevin Plunder, known to many as Ka-Zar, together with his companion sabre-toothed tiger Zabu, arrives at JFK airport to the waiting press, eager to find out what the Lord of the Jungle is doing in New York. Briefly the English lord informs them that he has come seeking legal advice from his lawyer. Those matters and the identity of his lawyer will come to light very shortly in three short months as all is revealed in the Mighty World of Marvel #86, can you guess which story?   

With all of Peter Parkers friends worried about his disappearance we see Harry Osborn who after finding a Spider-tracer in Peter's room, comes to the conclusion that Spider-man has abducted Peter. Then later Gwen confronts Spider-man about Peter's whereabouts, but before all that more disturbingly Aunt May collapsing while fretting over her missing nephew. To make Peter and Spider-man's problems even worse Jonah Jameson has convinced Ka-Zar that Spider-man is a public menace and sets the savage lord on his trail. What comes next week is described as "Trial by combat!" 

A bonus pin-up of Thor in hammer swinging action. The piece of artwork is taken from the cover of The Mighty Thor #193 US edition, cover dated November 1971, created by John Buscema with Marie Severin. It looks fantastic, I always love Buscema's work.

The Web and the Hammer

John Hampshire from Kent bought two DC comics at his local newsagents but after reading them he was totally disappointed with them, describing them as complete rubbish when compared to what Marvel produces. Mark Peters from Surrey point out that Thor's hammer is called "Mjollnir" and should when he throws it it should always return to him, making some nonsense of what happened in SMCW #24 where Cobra and Mister Hyde used a machine to swallow the weapon. The name of Thor's hammer hasn't been mentioned yet in the strip, I expect it will very soon. Patrick Kelly from Cornwall doesn't like the pictures that appear in the letter pages as they might give future stories away. I personally like them, they liven up a page. Micheal Dineen from Cork whole family just loves Marvel. Steven Ohm from Sunderland is convinced that the 70's is the Age of Marvel as while picking up his comics he saw six people wearing Hulk T-shirts, eight carrying Marvel and Spider-man comics and even one person with the Hulk on their T-shirt, trousers and cap. Was he at a comic Convention? the next letter has no name or address but they finish of their letter with "So until Iron Man goes rusty..Make Mine Marvel."

Peter Beckerley from Cardiff wonders why no-one has noticed that Peter has got more muscular and don't become suspicious that he's Spider-man. May be Mary Jane and Gwen just think he's hot! Peter Milbourn from Cumberland wants the whole world to find out Spider-man's identity so that he can find out what Flash and Aunt May would say. David Nutty from Manchester and his many friends who read Marvel comics would ask Stan Lee to bring out a Spider-man outfit to buy. Stuart Knapper from Coventry wonders why J Jonah Jameson doesn't realise that Peter is Spider-man after hearing them both a lot. Well I could say the mask muffles his voice or I could say that it's just a comic and don't take it too seriously. J. Feeney from Glasgow thinks SMCW is fabulous and has only missed it twice, both times he was on holiday. I've had that problem, second-hand comic shops and eBay sorted me out but in 1974 that is some way off. Peter Williams from Suffolk thinks that Marvel made a boob that in Pen Pal Swap Shop they didn't print an address to write to. "Boobs, what boobs?" came the reply as the editor points out that they got both his letter and Swap Shop coupon so there's nothing wrong with the address he used.

Another special Spidey Pin-up featuring the work of John Romita Sr taken from the classic cover that graced the Amazing Spider-man #50, cover dated July 1967, published April 1967. It also appeared in the UK on the cover of SMCW #44 back in December 1973. 

Iron Man "At last! Face to face with...Gargantus"

Writer: Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Don Heck

Originally published in Tales of Suspense #40

Cover date April 1963

(Published in January 1963)

Well we finally get to see Gargantus in the flesh so to speak but he really doesn't impress. In fact the whole story feels a little like a page filler. Iron Man quickly gets to the bottom of Gargantus's power over the town of Granville, working out that the brute is no neanderthal super-being but a robot controlled by unnamed aliens, who I like to call the Mono-brow aliens, angry Mancunians who either want to conquer the world or win the battle of the Brit Pop wars. The only thing that this story makes me do is wonder why the aliens choose a lame town to invade with their lame robot? It's all instantly forgettable. But at least it gave us the golden armour rather than the old grey one.

 The Mighty Thor "The grandeur and the glory!"

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Jack Kirby

Inker: Vince Colletta

Originally published in Journey into Mystery #124

Cover date January 1966

(Published in November 1965)

This first half of the Thor story feels very pedestrian as the plot is built up before all the action. It does end this week's Spider-man Comics Weekly with a another tale that is building up to the action, a bookend to Spider-man's strip earlier in this mag with little action in both, either side of an action filled but very dull Iron Man strip. That's just the way comics are some weeks. 

Coincidently this week, I came across on Twitter, a post by @JackKirbyMuseum showing the original artwork for this panel (seen on the right,)  that makes a fine example of Kirby's use of lines and perspective to show power and movement. British Marvel fans regularly praise the fact that these comics allow the artwork to shine in its most perfect form without need of colour to hide flaws. I did think was this a print of the original work that Kirby later signed? I sometimes wonder are the shading tones used in British Marvel weeklies necessary? When used well it can improve the art giving a reality feel to the art, when used heavily it can spoil the art. In the current Thor strip it does work well.

Thor has read in the paper about the Demon in Viet Nam terrorising villages and intends to investigate the stories but first he calls to see Jane Foster who is recovering in hospital. Overhearing that her condition seems to be getting worse he changes into Doctor Don Blake to find out more. She is suffering from depression, possibly caused by the uncertainty caused by Blake telling her he loves her but later disappearing for days or weeks on end. Blake decides to tell her the truth and reveals to her that he has a duel identity. She says in her heart she somehow suspected the truth and asks him to promise to never leave her again. That is going to cause so many problems in the future, not least Odin's reaction when he finds out. The Demon will have to wait as next week Thor must face his "Father's wrath!"

There seems to be a lot of spare pages this issue with two pin-ups already and then the final inside pages are given to a Marvel Letter pack advertisement and another pin-up. "Spidey hangs loose!" is the title, I have no idea who drew it or where it was originally from. Could it have been an enlarged panel from one of Spidey's stories? May be by Steve Ditko? I've no clue, let me know if you do.

The colour pack page like the one in this week's MWOM features another in-house advert from Marvel's other weeklies. It uses the "Marvel's Greatest Comics!" logo again as well as the classic Fantastic Four, Daredevil the man without fear and Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts logos too. Time to look at the last weekly on offer this week.

 

   

The Avengers #21

This week's final cover features the original cover from the Avengers (US) issue 24. Drawn by Jack Kirby with inks by Dick Ayers. It's pretty much the same as the American version apart from the entire back ground is white except for the yellow spotlight on the four surrounded Avengers. I do like the added red back ground on the British version as it brightens the cover up and in doing so gives the impression that the Avengers are on a target, heightening the danger and tension. Take a look at the original and you'll see what I mean. Which one do you prefer? 

The weekly in-house advert in the week's Avengers is placed on the inside cover to allow a paying Dinky Toys advert the prestige of the colour back page. It's the one with the Leopard Tank, Motor Patrol Boat and Atlantean City Double decker bus from last week. Well it does subsidise the comic somewhat. This advert goes back to the old tried and tested "Double Dynamite" logo. I've no favourite between that one and the "Marvel Greatest Comics" headline, it's nice to mix it up a little. 

The Avengers "From the Ashes of defeat..!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Artist: Don Heck

Inker: Dick Ayers

Originally published in The Avengers #24

Cover date January 1966

(Published in November1965)

The Avengers have been pulled to the 40th Century by Kang whose armed forces are surrounding the Kingdom of King Carelius. Kang will relent if the King's daughter, Princess Ravonna agrees to his offer of love. She refuses and Kang flees to lead his army into conquest. The Avengers agree to help the King and Princess repel Kang's forces with the Kings troops but they are heavily out numbered and eventually fall after a well fought battle. Quicksilver is missing and injured while the other three Avengers are captured.  

With victory Baltag, Kang's second in command, demands the conquered monarchs be executed to prevent any future rebellion, as is their way. Kang recoils that he is supreme and the rules are his to break as he see fit. This leads to a coup in Kang's hordes, lead by Baltag, starting with an assassination attempt on the love torn Kang. The conquer turns liberator as he frees the Avengers in exchange for their help to save the life of Princess Ravonna he will return the assemblers to their own time. The combined might of Kang and the Avengers, plus the returning Quicksilver defeats the infighting hordes of Baltag. Kang keeps his word and returns the Avengers but just has he does so Baltag seizes a weapon from a careless guard and shoots at the betrayer Kang, in that split second Princess Ravonna hurls her body in front of the laser beam, declaring her love for Kang, saving him from death. It's a historic moment in the history of the Avengers that future stories will feed off for decades to come. I like it, yes it's off its time, but still it's a nice read.

Assemble

E. Lectro ROF from Manchester, (can you see what he did with his name?) asks why in the Fantastic Annual from 1968 Doctor Strange doesn't use mystic arts but instead he uses sciences. I was curious so I entered the BeeHive and dusted off my old copy of that annual and rediscovered an old Iron Man story entitled "Iron Man vs Doctor Strange", it features a villain called Carlo Strange who also goes by the name of Doctor Strange, no relation to the Stephen Strange we all know. It was originally published in Tales of Suspense #41, cover dated May 1963, published February 1963, under the title "The stronghold of Doctor Strange!" The Master of Mystic Arts would make his first appearance two months later. William Lanigan from Glasgow has spotted a mistake that in Avengers #8 a full grown Wasp still had her wings. Wayne Blachmer from Reading wants to see the Avengers join the X-Men to fight some super-size super-group of villains. Antonio from Scunthorpe wants to know how Iron Man can move so freely in his armour, it's by advance science and Marvel magic Antonio. I. Elkington RFO from Northampton who says eight weeks ago he bought his first Avengers and he hasn't look back since.

Gary Mander RFO, KOF, PMM from Hemel Hempstead has enjoyed the artwork in issues three to seven of the Avengers, adding the covers for 3,5,6 and 7 have had him mistaking them for the American editions. Frank Ditton from Somerset doesn't like seeing the Avengers arguing too much. I'm afraid that characters in early Marvel stories tended to fall out a lot, much like real life, they would more or less make up eventually. It's kind of what makes them different from their DC counterparts. Vincent begs that the Avengers should get a break from constantly fight villains. But Vincent you'll get very bored of the Assemblers just sitting round drinking cups of tea. Paul Crisp from Cleveleys first started reading the Avengers, but while he was in South Africa his brother saw an Avengers comic with the Panther and the Green Arrow on the cover! He asks why aren't they in the UK version. I ask "Who's the Green Arrow?" Only joking he's a third rate Hawkeye from the Distinguished Competition I think. Not sure what stories where in the South African edition to have them both on a cover. Andrew Showler from Northants writes his second letter to the Avengers in hope that it would get printed as he was suffering with a dose of Chicken Pox. The best way a child can get better when ill is by reading some Marvel mags, it's just what the Doctor (Strange) ordered. Finally for this weeks letters, Jim Rutherford from Matlock is interested that Captain America had been frozen in ice and then later thawed out some twenty years later, it reminds him of an article he read in a newspaper in which rich people where paying to have their bodies frozen after their deaths. Did the Marvel story inspire that idea?  

Doctor Strange "A nameless land, a nameless time!"  

 

Writer: Stan Lee 

Artist: Steve Ditko

Inker: Steve Ditko 

Originally published in Strange Tales #133

Cover date June 1965

(Published in March 1965)

 

Doctor Strange has been defeated by Baron Mordo who gloats that the Ancient one will be next to die at his hands. The Dreaded Dormammu tells him not to be so overconfident as Strange still lives as he had summoned all his available strength to send his body to an other dimension. Mordo says he must follow him but Dormammu states that the dimensions of infinity are endless. But sooner or later the sorcerer will return. The shapeless form of Doctor Strange crashes through a maze of endless dimensions until his ethereal form resumes human form in a strange dimension, where he is discovered by the sister of Shazana. a sorceress who rules this mysterious realm. 

Both are captured by an agent of the evil ruler and taken to Shazana. Strange tries to fight Shazana but is easily defeated. Later Strange learns the source of the evil ruler's power comes from a powerful orb. Attacking Shazana once more, Doctor Strange blocks the orb from providing her with power by jumping onto it, smashing it into pieces that releases a mystical backlash sending Doctor Strange through the myriad dimensions to more adventures next week.

That little brief interlude in Doctor Strange's battle against Baron Mordo and Dormammu ends this nostalgic look at British Marvel weeklies for this week. Although many stories are from the early 60's period of Marvel that do have a certain charm there's lots to enjoy and loads more to enjoy next week. So I better start preparing next week's blog. Till then...

See you in seven.

Make Mine Marvel.