This month Marvel begins two new series. The first is a comic that's been planned for months. It was first mentioned in the bullpen bulletin pages as an upcoming mature comic, in the same style as Savage Tales. After the failure of Savage Tales the plans changed, and it was to be a comic with a Comics Code Authority stamp. Then it was stated that it would be a double size monthly comic. This was also changed after Marvel abandoned its attempts to write double sized comics in November 1971. It's possible that Morbius in Amazing Spider-Man #101 was intended as a trial to gauge the readers' interest in vampires.
Roy Thomas wrote the plot for the first issue, and then the series was given to Gerry Conway. That was a good choice, in my opinion, because horror stories were Gerry Conway's strength. However, he quit the series after the second issue, and the series didn't find a constant writer until Marv Wolfman took over in issue #7.
Bill Everett was originally intended to be the artist, but Gene Colan was set on drawing Dracula. He drew a picture of Dracula and laid it on Stan Lee's desk, and he got the job. He drew all 70 issues in the series. Gene Colan based Dracula's appearance on the actor Jack Palance, because he thought he would look good as Dracula. Ironically (or prophetically?) Jack Palance was picked to play Dracula a year later.
Tomb of Dracula #1
Title: Dracula
Writer: Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Regulars: John Drake, Jean, Clifton
Kills: One woman
Embraces: One woman
The story takes place in the present day. John Drake inherited a million dollars, but he spent it all within three years, and now he's broke. All he has left of his inheritance is a castle in Transylvania, Castle Dracula. John Drake's original family name was Dracula. Now he's travelling to Transylvania to see the castle and decide what to do with it. He's accompanied by his girlfriend Jean and his best friend Clifton.
Clifton finds a coffin in the cellar. There's a skeleton with a stake driven through it. So what does he do? It's logical, isn't it? He pulls the stake out.
And a few minutes later the skeleton comes back to life.
Dracula goes into the village to feed on a peasant woman; his first kill after being resurrected. Then he returns to the castle and bites Jean, turning her into a vampire.
The villagers come and burn down the castle.
As you all know, vampires are different in every film or story about them, so let's lay out the rules for Marvel's Dracula:
Dracula is scared of crucifixes and mirrors. Silver can hurt, but not kill him. He can be killed by a wooden stake through the heart, but it's more like suspended animation than death. When the stake is removed, he comes back to life.
Dracula feeds on blood. If he bites but doesn't kill someone, that person becomes a vampire immediately.
That's all I can say after reading this issue. There's no mention of the effects of sunlight or decapitation so far.
This is the second new series to appear this month, Marvel Premiere. Like Marvel Feature and Marvel Spotlight, it's intended as a comic with different heroes, to see whether the readers want a character to appear regularly. It was originally intended that the three comics should each be published quarter-yearly, alternating with one another. For some reason Marvel Premiere was delayed by three months, disrupting the cycle. After a few months of irregular release dates they'll settle into a bi-monthly rhythm.
Marvel Premiere #1
Title: And men shall call him Warlock!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gil Kane
Villain: Man-Beast
Regulars: High Evolutionary
The first issue of Marvel Premiere features Him, who has been floating through space in his cocoon since Thor #166. The High Evolutionary, who we last saw in Tales To Astonish #96, takes the cocoon on board his spaceship. Him doesn't want to leave his cocoon, so Him talks to the High Evolutionary psychically.
The High Evolutionary wants to create a copy of Earth, but without the flaws of man's evil nature. He creates a planet on the opposite side of the Sun, which he calls Counter-Earth. Over a period of 140 hours, only slightly slower than the Biblical tale of Genesis, he develops life from the amoeba to mankind. Then he falls asleep.
The Man-Beast, who we last saw in Thor #135, sneaks into the ship while the High Evolutionary is asleep. He speeds up evolution without removing man's flaws, so Counter-Earth repeats all the mistakes of the original Earth.
Christ is even crucified again on Counter-Earth, which the Man-Beast calls the ultimate transgression. It's stretching credibility to believe that a second Earth can follow the exact course of history, but let's suspend disbelief.
The High Evolutionary wakes up, and there's a brief battle with the Man-Beast, who then flees to the surface of Counter-Earth. Him emerges from his cocoon. The High Evolutionary says he wants to destroy Counter-Earth and start again, but Him says he'll go to Counter-Earth and defeat the Man-Beast. The High Evolutionary weeps, saying that he considers Him to be like a son.
He gives Him a green gem to wear on his forehead and sends Him to Counter-Earth. Does the High Evolutionary, or even Roy Thomas, suspect what the gem is? As we'll see in years to come, it's the Soul Gem, one of the six Infinity Stones.
The High Evolutionary gives Him the name Warlock. Thank you, High Evolutionary. It badly injures my sense of aesthetics having to call Him Him all the time.
Fantastic Four #121
Title: The mysterious mind-blowing secret of Gabriel!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm
Villain: Air-Walker (Gabriel), Galactus
Guests: Silver Surfer
The Fantastic Four fight in vain against the Air-Walker.
Not even the Thing's battle cry can help: It's clobbering time!
The general public say they want to obey Gabriel in order to save themselves. They turn against the Fantastic Four.
The Silver Surfer has been watching Gabriel. He destroys Gabriel, who was only a robot. Then Galactus appears, threatening to destroy the Earth. The last time Galactus came to Earth was in Fantastic Four #77, but we've seen him more recently in Thor #169.
Amazing Spider-Man #107
Title: Spidey Smashes Thru!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Villain: Professor Smythe
Regulars: J. Jonah Jameson, Randy Robertson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson
Spider-Man has been trapped by Professor Smythe's Spider-Slayer. The criminal gangs of New York embark on large robberies.
Spider-Man escapes and first defeats the gangsters, then the Spider-Slayer.
Flash Thompson is taken away by the military police.
Avengers #98
Title: Let slip the Dogs of War!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Barry Smith
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Hercules
Villain: Ares
Guests: Rick Jones
The Avengers are back on Earth after the Kree-Skrull war, and Goliath is still missing. He could be anywhere in the universe. That's one small needle in a big, big haystack.
There are news reports about demonstrations by a group called the War-Hawks. They are calling for a nuclear strike against China. Captain America, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch go to investigate, but they come to the conclusion that the group is correct; it's their duty to support a war.
Thor and Vision suspect some sort of hypnosis. The pipe music being played at the demonstrations incites the listeners to war. The leader of the demonstrations is Ares, the Greek God of War.
How does this story sync with Thor's current adventures? Not even Stan Lee knows. All he can say is that this story happens either before or after this month's Thor #198. Thanks for nothing, Stan. Is that all you can tell us as editor?
Let me try to help. In the current Thor comics the Rainbow Bridge, Bifrost, has been destroyed, and Asgard has been moved to another location. It's more sensible to sync this story with something that has happened, rather than something that hasn't happened yet, i.e. something that Marvel's writers haven't even decided upon at this point. For that reason Avengers #98 has to take place before the destruction of Bifrost. The problem is that Thor is in the middle of an enormous multi-part story arc at present. The only logical place this comic, and all of the Kree-Skrull war, could have taken place is before Thor #182, way back in November 1970. That's the only way to preserve Marvel's continuity.
In the middle of the fight against Ares, Goliath returns, except he isn't Goliath any more. Clint Barton became Goliath in Avengers #63, but now he's returned to his former identity as Hawkeye. He doesn't explain how he returned to Earth or where he found that crazy costume. It must get cold in the winter, and I severely hope he's wearing underwear.
Hawkeye is accompanied by Hercules, who's wearing even less clothes. He can get away with it, because he's a God. Or a half-God, at least. I have to apologise to my readers. I'm old-fashioned. I'm set in my ways. I don't like looking at men in mini-skirts.
Hercules has lost his memory, but the prophecy he recites suggests that it has something to do with Ares.
This is the first issue of the Avengers drawn by Barry Smith. When I was reading Marvel's comics 50 years ago I didn't really appreciate him. I was a fan of Steve Ditko, Jim Steranko, Gene Colan, and a few more who won't begin working for Marvel until later in the 1970's. However, the more I see of Barry Smith's art now, the more I like him.
Captain America and the Falcon #148
Title: The Big Sleep!
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Sal Buscema
Villain: Red Skull, Kingpin, Supreme Hydra (Richard Fisk)
Regulars: Sharon Carter, Countess Valentina, Nick Fury
The man behind Hydra is the Red Skull. He claims that Hydra was always a distraction while the Fourth Reich is the real enemy. The Kingpin may be a crook, but he's no Nazi, so he joins Captain America and the Falcon to fight the Red Skull.
The Red Skull announces that the fifth Sleeper will awake. We saw the first Sleeper in Tales Of Suspense #72, the second Sleeper in Tales Of Suspense #73, the third Sleeper in Tales Of Suspense #74 and the fourth Sleeper in Captain America #101. How many more Sleepers are there? It's getting tiresome.
Ah ha! It's the final Sleeper! Thank goodness for that!
This is the largest Sleeper, as big as a skyscraper. It has an inexhaustible supply of deadly nerve gas. The Red Skull threatens to kill the whole population of Las Vegas.
Captain America enters the Sleeper and fights his way upwards to the control room, where he finds the Red Skull. The Falcon breaks his way in. Together they defeat the Red Skull, who falls to his death. Seemingly. Now the Falcon wants to renew his partnership with Captain America.
The Incredible Hulk #150
Title: The Inheritor!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross
Guests: Iceman (flashback), Havok, Lorna Dane
The Hulk is hiding in the wreckage of the Project Greenskin holding tank after defeating the Inheritor last issue. The soldiers find him, but they can't stop him escaping.
General Ross sends planes after the Hulk, but he receives an order to suspend operations pending a congressional hearing. Project Greenskin has cost a lot of money, and its results don't justify the expenses.
The Hulk sees a woman with green hair driving a car. He thinks it's Jarella, but it's actually Lorna Dane, who we haven't seen since the final X-Men issue. She's gone into the desert to find Alex Summers aka Havok. Professor X wants him to join the X-Men.
When the Hulk gets close enough to see that it isn't Jarella, he thinks it was a trick to catch him.
I'm always amused when characters in Marvel comics make references to the DC heroes. DC is fictional, Marvel is real.
Lorna Dane hardly uses her powers in the story. Havok defeats the Hulk and flees.
Sub-Mariner #48
Title: Twilight of the Hunted!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Doctor Doom, Modok
Regulars: Cindy Jones
Doctor Doom and the amnesiac Sub-Mariner arrive in New Orleans, continuing their search for AIM's most powerful weapon, the Cosmic Cube. Cindy Jones used to live in New Orleans, so Namor takes her back to her old apartment. One of Doctor Doom's men captures Cindy to be held as a hostage to guarantee Namor's help.
Namor goes on ahead, and Modok takes him prisoner.
This comic contains strange character traits for Doctor Doom. He thinks of Prince Namor as a possible friend. That's the first time I've ever heard him consider friendship.
Thor #198
Title: And Odin Dies!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Mangog
Regulars: Odin, Sif, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Hildegarde
Guests: Tana Nile
Thor battles Mangog to free his father. Volstagg takes the water from the Twilight Well to the Grand Vizier. He mixes it with the water of the Cosmic Well.
Odin recovers and joins Thor in the fight. The mixed waters of the two wells cover him, and he gains greater power. He blasts Mangog, then collapses dead. Mangog shrinks until he disappears.
Meanwhile, Sif and Hildegarde meet Tana Nile, the Coloniser from Rigel-3. We last saw her briefly in Thor #162. They run through a bizarre city where everyone is fleeing from an unseen threat.
All Asgard gathers for Odin's funeral, but Thor refuses to accept his death. He freezes time around Odin to prevent Hela from coming to claim him.
Daredevil #86
Title: Once upon a time, the Ox!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Ox
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Black Widow, Ivan
This comic begins with Matt Murdock and Karen page announcing their engagement. It ends with them splitting up. The story is stunning. I've criticised Gerry Conway in the past for not being able to realistically write about romances and heartbreaks, but he's maturing as a writer. This is a good story.
What happens in between those two bookends? The scientist Karl Stragg is released from prison, except it isn't really Karl Stragg. It's Raymond Bloch aka the Ox, after the two men exchanged bodies in Daredevil #15. The real Karl Stragg died in Raymond's body. Now Karl Stragg's body is morphing into the Ox again. He wants revenge on Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock for putting him in prison. After a hard fight Stragg/Bloch dies.
Astonishing Tales #11
Title: A Day of Tigers!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gil Kane
Villain: Maa-Gor
Ka-Zar guides Paul and Barbara through the jungle. I have no idea where they're heading. While they're asleep Ka-Zar thinks about his past. His father brought him into the jungle as a child to hide from people who wanted to steal the secret of the Anti-Metal hidden in the jungle. His father was killed by a man-ape called Maa-Gor. Ka-Zar grew to adulthood alone.
Non-Canon comics published this month:
Our Love Story #17 (Stan Lee, John Buscema)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #97 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Rawhide Kid #98 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Monsters on the Prowl #16 (Roy Thomas, Marie Severin)
In September 1971 there was a riot in Attica Prison in September 1971, which is still considered the most violent prison riot ever. The prisoners rebelled to protest against poor conditions. This resulted in the deaths of 33 prisoners and 10 prison guards. Naturally, the American public was divided in their judgement of who was right and who was wrong. Here are Stan Lee's thoughts.
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