Last month Marvel Spotlight began. This month it's followed by Marvel Feature. A few months from now there will be a comic called Marvel Premiere. There's more flexibility if a comic isn't tied to a single super-hero every month. It's a good format for try-outs. If a hero is popular, he can be given his own comic. If not, he can be replaced with someone else.
Marvel Feature #1 introduces a new group of super-heroes called the Defenders. It's Marvel's fourth group, and the first new group to be formed since September 1963. The Defenders are similar to the Avengers, in that several of their members have their own comic series. In future issues the Defenders will call themselves a non-group, emphasising that they don't have to join the others to fight, they can either turn up or not, depending on their mood and their other obligations. In practice there's no difference, because the same heroes are always present. On the contrary, the Defenders have less of a floating membership than the Avengers.
There will be problems syncing the Defenders stories to the solo comics of the Hulk and Sub-Mariner, but I'll deal with them when I get to them.
This issue belongs to the giant size comics that Marvel published all of last month. Instead of containing a 30 page story, it contains two stories: a 10 page Doctor Strange story and a 19 page Defenders story. From the next issue onwards (February 1972) it will have the standard Marvel format of approximately 20 pages per issue.
Marvel Feature #1
Title: The Return!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Don Heck
Villain: Baron Mordo
Regulars: Ancient One, Wong
Doctor Strange, now known as Doctor Sanders in his civilian identity, retired from sorcery in Incredible Hulk #126. He even moved away to live in a different part of New York City. Now he feels curious and walks back to his sanctum in Greenwich Village. He expects to find the house boarded up, but instead it's still open, and the door isn't even locked. He enters and finds his servant Wong with a man called Doctor Strange, who looks and talks like him. They treat him like an impostor.
After 18 months of not practising sorcery, Doctor Strange is too weak to defend himself in the fight. The man calling himself Doctor Strange defeats him easily. He spares his life, but Doctor Strange suspects that he just doesn't want to do anything evil in front of Wong's eyes.
While Doctor Strange is sleeping the Ancient One appears to him and restores his mystic powers.
The Ancient One says that Doctor Strange could normally only regain his powers by spending a lengthy time in meditation, fasting and prayer. I understand the meditation and fasting, but who does Doctor Strange pray to?
Doctor Strange awakes and quickly defeats the man in his sanctum. He unmasks him and sees that it's his arch enemy Baron Mordo.
Now Doctor Strange is back, and he's ready for his next adventure.
Title: The Day of the Defenders!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Ross Andru
Defenders: Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner, Hulk, Silver Surfer
Villain: Yandroth
Doctor Strange hears a voice calling to him. In his astral form he follows the voice to a hospital, where he finds a man dying in his bed. It's Yandroth, the mad scientist that Doctor Strange defeated in Strange Tales #168. Yandroth tells him that after his defeat he found himself cast into a highly advanced world where science and magic are united. He used the knowledge he found in this world to create a weapon called an Omegatron (TM). It will be triggered by his death. Five hours after he passes away, it will detonate every atomic weapon on Earth simultaneously.
Yandroth dies, and Doctor Strange fears that he can't face the threat by himself. He contacts the Sub-Mariner, who says he can spare some time in between searching for his father. He wants to enrol the Silver Surfer, but he's lying unconscious after yet another attempt to break through Galactus' barrier. He contacts the Hulk, who has the ability to see Doctor Strange's astral form. Doctor Strange has to trick the Hulk into helping; he pretends to run away, and the Hulk chases him.
Doctor Strange leads the Hulk and Sub-Mariner to smash the Omegatron, which has been hidden in a lighthouse. The Omegatron, which is able to speak, tells Doctor Strange that if the Hulk and Sub-Mariner hit it simultaneously, it will detonate the nuclear weapons immediately. Doctor Strange stops them just in time. He places the Omegatron in a time bubble, so that the five hours will never expire.
The three Defenders go their different ways, expecting to never meet again.
How does this story fit in with the solo comics of the heroes? It can take place before this month's Sub-Mariner comic, but it's more difficult to sync with the Hulk's comics. The most logical choice would have to take place before Incredible Hulk #143 (September 1971).
Amazing Spider-Man #103
Title(s): Walk the Savage Land!
Gog!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gil Kane
Villain: Kraven the Hunter, Gog
Regulars: Gwen Stacy, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson
Guests: Ka-Zar
This is a single story split into two parts that have been given individual titles.
Peter Parker makes up with Gwen Stacy, despite her suspicions about his frequent disappearances.
J. Jonah Jameson says that the Daily Bugle is facing bankruptcy. Sales are falling because of the advent of television. He wants to increase sales by publishing a feature about the Savage Land. JJJ travels himself, together with Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. Why Gwen Stacy? JJJ has an eye for talent. He wants the Savage Land feature to have glamour.
So what do you think? Photos like this will raise the circulation immediately!
JJJ and his expedition are attacked by a giant monster called Gog. The monster grabs Gwen Stacy and carries her away. At first glance it looks like the old beauty and the beast syndrome, but Gog is actually carrying her to his master, Kraven the Hunter, who we last saw in Astonishing Tales #2. Kraven wants Gwen to become his bride, and despite all his overbearing macho posturing I have to say I don't blame him.
Peter Parker changes into his Spider-Man costume to search for Gwen. Meanwhile, JJJ find Ka-Zar, who also offers to help.
This story is slightly out of sync with Ka-Zar's solo adventures. It takes place before Astonishing Tales #8.
Captain America and the Falcon #144
This comic is a curiosity. It's presented as a two-part story, and the numbering of the pages in the second part is continued from the first, but they are obviously two separate stories. The second part even has a different artist!
Title: Hydra over all!
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: John Romita
Regulars: Sharon Carter
Guests: Nick Fury
SHIELD is presenting its latest technology and fighting groups to President Nixon and his advisers. He wants funding for his Life Model Decoys (LMDs) and SHIELD's latest division, the Femme Force.
Right on, sisters! And it's being led by Sharon Carter.
How many of the people in this picture do you recognise? It's President Nixon in the middle, Vice President Spiro Agnew on the right, and the Secretary of Defence Melvin Laird on the left. I don't know if the other two men at the table are supposed to be anyone important.
Title: The Falcon fights alone!
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Gray Morrow
Villain: Red Skull
Regulars: Leila Taylor
The Falcon has a snazzy new costume. We actually had a preview of it on the cover of last month's Captain America and the Falcon #143, which must have confused readers when it wasn't used in the comic itself.
The Falcon wants to become independent of Captain America in order to gain respectability amongst the black people of Harlem, in particular his girlfriend Leila Taylor. Captain America doesn't think this is a good idea, but he respects the Falcon's choice.
The Falcon busts up a gang of white drug dealers, and the people declare him a hero.
Avengers #94
Title(s): More than Inhuman!
1971: A Space Odyssey
Behold the Mandroids!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Neal Adams, John Buscema
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision, Goliath, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch
Villain: Skrulls, Super-Skrull
Guests: Captain Marvel, Rick Jones, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Nick Fury, Triton
This is a single story split into three parts that have been given individual titles. Neal Adams drew the first and the third part; John Buscema drew the second part.
The Avengers contact the Fantastic Four to tell them about the Skrulls they've captured. Reed Richards isn't able to give any advice, at present.
The Super-Skrull attempts to destroy the Inhumans, but the Great Refuge's defences are too strong. He flies his space ship back to the Kree Galaxy with his three prisoners, Captain Marvel, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.
The Super-Skrull is attacked when he returns to his homeworld, because the Skrull emperor fears his power. Nevertheless, the emperor takes the three captives into his palace. He threatens the lives of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, so Captain Marvel agrees to build the Kree's greatest weapon, the Omni-Wave (TM) for the Skrulls.
Back on Earth, Nick Fury warns the Avengers to run, but they're too slow. Senator Craddock is attempting to capture the Avengers as traitors, using soldiers in high-tech suits designed by Tony Stark.
At the last moment, Triton arrives.
Sub-Mariner #44
Title: Namor Betrayed!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Marie Severin
Villain: Llyra, Tiger Shark
Regulars: Diane Arliss
Guests: Human Torch
Prince Namor is walking the streets of Boston, looking for his father. He's in disguise, but an eagle-eyed policeman recognises him and a fight breaks out. Johnny Storm is in Boston, taking time away from the Fantastic Four. He tries to help Namor, but Namor mistrusts him and aggressively thrusts him away.
Tiger Shark and Llyra want to capture Namor. They awaken the Krago from the ocean floor to lure him. The Human Torch assists Namor in fighting the Krago. Together they defeat the Krago, but the Human Torch is left unconscious on the docks. Diane Arliss finds him and tells him that Namor is innocent. The police arrest them both, but the Human Torch flies away carrying Diane to find out what she knows about him.
Meanwhile, we see that Namor's father, Leonard Mackenzie, is now 74 years old, and his memory is fading.
The next three issues of Sub-Mariner take place before this month's Fantastic Four #117.
Fantastic Four #117
Title: The Flame and the Quest
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: John Buscema
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm
Villain: Diablo
Regulars: Agatha Harkness, Franklin Richards, Crystal, Lockjaw, Alicia Masters
The Human Torch flies to the Great Refuge of the Inhumans to speak to Crystal. He finds out that she never arrived after teleporting with Lockjaw in Fantastic Four #105. Agatha Harkness searches for her in her crystal ball, and sees that she's still alive, but far, far away.
In actual fact, Lockjaw accidentally teleported Crystal into the distant future, when the Earth is in ruins. She meets Diablo, who was cast into the future by Doctor Doom in Marvel Super-Heroes #20. He hypnotises Crystal and Lockjaw to obey him. Together they travel back to the present day, to the Central American country of Terra Verde. Crystal impersonates the Mayan Goddess Ixchel, and Diablo calls upon the people to rebel against the military dictator, General Robles. The general calls on the air force to attack the rebels.
Here are a few thoughts about Franklin Richards' development. His mother says he's about to take his first step. It's about time! He was born in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (November 1968), so he's more than three years old. Aren't his parents worried?
On the other hand, he could already say "Mommy" in Fantastic Four #107 (February 1971).
But look! He could say "Flame On", almost, in Fantastic Four #97 (April 1970).
From what I've read, the average age for a child's first step is 12 months, and the average age when he can clearly say "Mommy" is 14 months. (I can verify that from my own children. Some were faster, some were slower, but the average is about right). Franklin is slightly slower than average for talking, but he's extremely slow for walking.
The Incredible Hulk #146
Title: And the measure of a man is death!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Leader
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross, Doctor Samson, Jim Wilson
This is a single story split into two parts that have been given individual titles.
This was the end of last month's issue. The death of Doctor Samson was announced. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but he only briefly appears this month, and he's in the best of health. There aren't even any threats to his life.
The Hulk runs away from Egypt and ends up facing the Israeli army. He hitches a ride by climbing on a civilian aircraft that will hopefully take him back to America. But this issue's important story is taking place in America, in New Mexico.
Jim Wilson is offered a lift to the nearest city. After a car crash he finds out that the soldier driving him was an android. He returns to the base to inform General Ross, but he's an android as well. Major Talbot is the Leader in disguise. We last saw the Leader in Incredible Hulk #139. Jim finds andoids of President Nixon and Spiro Agnew waiting to be activated.
Thor #194
Title: The Fatal Fury!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Karnilla, Loki
Regulars: Odin, Sif, Balder, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg
Thor turns back into Donald Blake after a minute without his hammer, allowing him to slip out of the Storm Giant's hand. He grabs his hammer and turns back into Thor. He battles his way through all of the palace guards while Loki is preparing to marry Sif.
The Warriors Three wake Odin and beg him to help Thor. This angers Odin, because none are allowed to wake him from the Odinsleep.
The Odinring causes Loki pain, and he has to throw it off. Odin picks it up and reveals that only he is capable of wearing the ring. He casts Loki out of Asgard, but in his haste he send Loki to a world where one of Asgard's greatest enemies is trapped.
Don't you feel sorry for Balder? He's helplessly in love with Karnilla the Norn Queen, even though she's an enemy of Asgard.
Daredevil #82
Title: Now send the Scorpion
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Scorpion, Mr.Kline
Regulars: Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, Black Widow, Ivan
The Scorpion, who we last saw in Captain America #122, is the latest in the list of villains who've been recruited by the mysterious Mr. Kline. The Scorpion attacks Ivan, using him as bait to lure the Black Widow. She underestimates the Scorpion and is immediately knocked out.
Someone dumps Ivan's body in Matt Murdock's home and leaves a note telling him to come and save the Black Widow's life. Whoever wrote the note knows that Matt Murdock is Daredevil. He goes to the specified place, the construction site of the World Trade Center, and battles the Scorpion. The Scorpion seems to be winning, but when he accidentally breaks the transmitter that he uses to communicate with Mr. Kline he becomes confused.
The Black Widow accidentally knocks the Scorpion off the building. A man working at the World Trade Center accuses her of murdering him.
Meanwhile, Foggy Nelson visits Mr. Kline's mansion, intending to shoot him, but he's overwhelmed and taken prisoner.
Astonishing Tales #9
Marvel has been overworking Gerry Conway over the last few months. He's finally snapped. After the cancellation of the Doctor Doom series he was scheduled to write a full sized Ka-Zar story for this issue, but the didn't have time. In future years this will be called Dreaded Deadline Doom (DDD). To save the issue, filler stories were needed. A Ka-Zar story written by Stan Lee for the unpublished Savage Tales #2 was hurriedly coloured for this issue, together with a Golden Age reprint story. I have mixed feelings. I'm happy that there's at least one Stan Lee story this month, but it's disappointing that the story is out of continuity. The Ka-Zar adventure from Astonishing Tales #8 will continue next issue, after a four month wait.
Title: The Legend of the Lizard Men!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Iranda, Lizard Men
Ka-Zar is hunting for Lizard Men who have attacked a village, according to the testimony of a blind man. He finds only a beautiful woman called Iranda. She tells him that the blind man must have been mistaken, because the Lizard Men are her peaceful servants.
At first Ka-Zar believes her, but when he sees a woman from the village serving as Iranda's slave he challenges her, and the Lizard Men attack him. He knocks Iranda's crown off her head. This causes her to turn into a Lizard Woman, and the Lizard Men turn into human form, the missing villagers.
Other comics published this month:
Conan the Barbarian #12 (Roy Thomas, Barry Smith)
Our Love Story #14 (Stan Lee, John Romita)
Rawhide Kid #94 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
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