Marvel is continuing its expansion, encouraged by its monetary success in the 1960's. New writers and pencillers are being hired on a regular basis. Stan Lee's writing has (unfortunately) been reduced to a minimum, but there are still two very prolific writers at the company: Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway. Does that mean that there is more more quantity and less quality? I have mixed feelings. It's true, there were more poor quality comics written in the 1970's than in the 1960's, but there were still some very good comics in the mid to late 1970's. I've considered adding a rating to each comic, using my usual 1 to 5 scale. It's probably too late to go back and add the ratings to my old reviews. I don't know.
This month's new comic is Red Wolf, a western comic continuing from Marvel Spotlight #1. Evidently the fan response was enough to justify the launching of a solo comic. The writer is Mike Friedrich, a 22-year-old writer who has only written western stories until now. He'll go on to write mainstream Marvel comics in years to come. The artist is Syd Shores, who was one of the most prolific artists for Marvel's predecessors, Timely and Atlas, from 1941 to 1958. He returned to Marvel in 1968, working primarily as an inker, but he drew many western stories and horror anthology stories up until his death in 1973.
Tomb of Dracula #2
Title: The Fear Within!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Regulars: John Drake, Jean, Clifton
Kills: Two women (total 3), one man
Embraces: None
John Drake returns to London with Clifton. Dracula visits one of his old servants to get new clothes. Now he looks like a fine gentleman. He kills the servant, then follows the others to London.
Jean, now a vampire, has also somehow followed them to London. John stakes her, but it seems that it's the sunlight rather than the stake which destroys her.
Let's continue with the rules for Marvel's Dracula:
Vampires cast no reflection in a mirror.
Vampires have to sleep in the daylight, because the Sun makes their bodies turn to dust. (It's not yet clear if this applies to Dracula himself),
Dracula has to sleep on the earth of his homeland.
Marvel Premiere #2
Title: The Hounds of Helios!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gil Kane
Villain: Man-Beast
Regulars: High Evolutionary
Warlock, as the High Evolutionary called Him last issue, has fallen to Earth, or rather to Counter-Earth. The shock has made him lose his memory. Four runaway teenagers find him and carry him to a deserted barn to recover.
The only thing Warlock can remember is his name. The teenage girl Ellie says that one name isn't enough, so she calls him Adam. From now on Adam Warlock will be Him's official name.
The High Evolutionary didn't create Counter-Earth completely identical to Earth after all. On Counter-Earth there are no super-heroes or super-villains.
The Man-Beast sends some of his servants to capture Warlock. When he fights with them he remembers who he is.
The children's parents arrive and want to ask them why they've run away. Using the power of the emerald gem on his forehead, Warlock makes them see their own faults.
Fantastic Four #122
Title: Galactus Unleashed!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Buscema
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm
Villain: Galactus
Guests: Silver Surfer
Galactus has returned to Earth. He's an enemy the Fantastic Four can't fight.
How could Stan Lee have forgotten something like this? Everyone knows it was Fantastic Four #50. But wait! The No-Prize is offered to anyone who can name the issue, and there's no time limit. I've just won my very first No-Prize. That's incredible! Now I just have to figure out a place to put it. I'm so proud.
Galactus says he's leave again if the Silver Surfer agrees to serve him. Didn't he make a similar request in Fantastic Four #74? That time the Silver Surfer agreed to serve Galactus, after initial hesitation. This time he refuses.
The Thing really thinks he can defeat Galactus by yelling his battle cry? It's clobbering time!
Reed Richards has an idea. He flies to Galactus' hovering spaceship. He threatens to destroy it if Galactus doesn't leave. Will Galactus agree? You have to wait until next month to find out.
Amazing Spider-Man #108
Title: Vengeance from Vietnam!
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita
Regulars: Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson
This is yet another mini-masterpiece from Stan Lee. At the end of last issue Flash Thompson was driven away by military police. Spider-Man follows the car, and he sees it stopped by Vietnamese thugs who take Flash prisoner. Spider-Man grabs Flash, carries him to a rooftop and demands an explanation.
While Flash was in Vietnam he was separated from his platoon, and he took refuge in a Buddhist temple. After he returned to his platoon there was an American air strike which destroyed the temple. The believers think that Flash was responsible, so now they're seeking revenge. The military police were trying to protect him.
Spider-Man returns Flash to the military police, but the Vietnamese capture him again. Peter Parker wants to change into Spider-Man again to rescue him, but Gwen Stacy stops him. She says he always runs off whenever there's danger, so she thinks he's a coward.
Avengers #99
Title: Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad!
Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Barry Smith
Avengers: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Vision, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Hercules, Black Panther (cameo), Ant-Man (cameo)
Villain: Skrulls (flashback), Krotos, Bia
Regulars: Jarvis
Guests: Rick Jones, Kevin O'Brian
The Avengers try in vain to restore Hercules' memory.
Hawkeye tells how he returned to Earth. He boarded a Skrull spaceship. After fighting with the Skrulls he was knocked back to Earth, probably by the power of the Supreme Intelligence. He fell in Yugoslavia and joined a circus troupe, performing stunts as an archer. In Belgrade he met another circus performer called Hercules. Hawkeye recognised him as the real Hercules, but he'd already lost his memory. Kevin O'Brian arranged for transport for Hawkeye and Hercules back to New York.
Hawkeye was given his kinky new costume by the circus people. Maybe they like men to wear mini-skirts in Yugoslavia.
Krotos and Bia, two servants of Ares, arrive to capture Hercules. The other Avengers fight with them, but Hercules himself doesn't resist.
After Hercules is taken away, the Avengers prepare to invade Olympus.
Iron Man #46
Title: Menace at large!
Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: George Tuska
Villain: Guardsman
Regulars: Marianne Rodgers
J. Jonah Jameson's editorial says that four students were wounded by the Guardsman. Weren't they killed?
In the flashback Stan Lee and Gary Friedrich apologise for not making it clear in the last issue that the four students were merely wounded. Let's take another look.
This is the Guardsman's attack in Iron Man #45.
And this is his reaction. It certainly seems like they were dead. Thanks for the apology, Stan and Gary.
The next day anti-war demonstrations start outside the Stark Industries factory again. The Guardsman arrives to stop the students. Iron Man defends them from him. The Guardsman dies in the fight. Seemingly? I think this is a real death.
The Incredible Hulk #151
Title: When Monsters Meet!
Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Morton Clegstead
Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty Ross
Between the end of the last issue and the beginning of this issue Bruce Banner has explained to Betty Ross who Jarella is. I'm surprised at that, because I thought he would hardly have remembered anything, since he spent most of his time in Jarella's world as the Hulk.
General Ross is successful at the congressional hearing and is allowed to continue with Project Greenskin. Senator Morton Clegstead has a vested interest in the project. He thinks that the Hulk's blood can cure his cancer. He injects himself with a blood sample taken from the Hulk, but it turns him into a slime creature.
The Hulk fights with the slime creature, but he can't defeat it because it oozes everywhere, and it burns the Hulk's skin. A lightning bolt strikes it, and it's destroyed.
Captain America and the Falcon #149
Title: All the Colours of Evil!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Sal Buscema
Villain: Batroc, Stranger
Regulars: Sharon Carter, Countess Valentina, Nick Fury, Sgt. Muldoon, Leila Taylor
This month Gerry Conway takes over as the regular writer. Why do I get a sinking feeling in my stomach?
The Falcon is investigating children being kidnapped in Harlem.
Nick Fury asks Captain America to join SHIELD full time. When he refuses, Nick throws him out and says that nobody at SHIELD is allowed to talk to him. This even includes his girlfriend, Sharon Carter.
Doesn't Nick Fury know that Captain America has other responsibilities? He's an Avenger. He's the Falcon's partner. He has a civilian identity as a rookie cop.
While driving round the town as a policeman, Captain America recognises Batroc the Leaper, who we last saw in Captain America #130. He waits until after work to investigate. He asks the Falcon to accompany him, but the Falcon says that looking for missing children is more important. I agree, but Captain America doesn't. The two partners go different ways.
Here are some French lessons from Stan Lee. Batroc the Leaper's name in French is Batroc ze Leapair. Now you see how educational Marvel comics can be.
Batroc and his group of fighters, called Batroc's Legion, are too much for Captain America to handle. Batroc says he's a mercenary, but he doesn't know who's hired him. He reveals that he's been kidnapping children for an anonymous buyer. At that moment the Falcon arrives, because they've been unknowingly working on the same case.
Suddenly the anonymous client appears. It's the Stranger.
That's certainly a shock, but this is a messy story.
Sub-Mariner #49
Title: The Dream Stone!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Doctor Doom, Modok
Regulars: Cindy Jones
Sub-Mariner, still suffering from amnesia, is defeated by Modok. Doctor Doom seems strangely emotional and goes to rescue him. While Doctor Doom is fighting with Modok's androids, Sub-Mariner releases the Cosmic Cube. No, I don't know what that's supposed to mean either.
Doctor Doom's servant Kenner turns against him and knocks him unconscious in sight of the Cosmic Cube. We find out that he really serves another master who wants Sub-Mariner dead. Cindy Jones gets free by flirting with a guard. Clever girl. She finds Doctor Doom lying in front of the Cosmic Cube and pulls him away.
The Cosmic Cube is building up to critical mass – I still don't understand that – so Sub-Mariner, Doctor Doom and Cindy Jones leave the AIM compound just before it explodes. The Cosmic Cube is destroyed and Modok is dead. Seemingly. Seemingly.
Doctor Doom and Sub-Mariner part as friends. I still think that's out of character.
Thor #199
Title: If this be death!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: John Buscema
Villain: Hela, Pluto, Karnilla, Ego Prime
Regulars: Odin, Sif, Fandral, Hogun, Volstagg, Hildegarde
Guests: Tana Nile
Asgard is taken back to its rightful place and the rainbow bridge is repaired, as a result of a final spell cast by Odin before his death.
Hela arrives to claim Odin. Thor stands in her way, but she tells him that if she doesn't take him, Pluto will. This is a far worse fate, so when Pluto arrives Hela and Thor team up to battle Pluto. Thor fights against Pluto's followers, while Hela fights against Pluto himself.
Sif, Hildegarde and Tana Nile face a creature called Ego Prime, a mobile piece broken off from Ego, the living planet. Ego Prime is accelerating evolution in the bizarre world where they are stranded. To me it looks like more than evolution is being altered. I don't think that Gerry Conway thought things through.
Pluto defeats Hela, so she flees. Thor stands against Pluto, but he's no match for him. Thor is knocked unconscious, and Pluto prepares to slay him.
Daredevil #87
Title: From stage left, enter Electro!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Electro
Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Black Widow, Ivan, Ironguts O'Hara, Paul Carson
The story starts off with a big surprise. Daredevil moves to San Francisco! Being cynical, maybe this is a ploy by Gerry Conway to take Daredevil out of the normal Marvel continuity.
Natasha has bought a beautiful house and invited Matt to live with her. They're just friends, she says, but it's obvious they're a lot more.
Electro, who last appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #82, has also relocated to San Francisco. He doesn't let the opportunity pass to take revenge on Daredevil for his previous defeats.
It seems that Daredevil and Black Widow are unknown in San Francisco. Doesn't anyone read the newspapers? The police commissioner, Ironguts O'Hara, has never heard of either of them, but one of the men on his force, Paul Carson, vouches for them.
They defeat Electro, and he has to flee after a short fight.
A man called Danny French is looking for Natasha Romanoff.
Amazing Adventures #12
Title: Iron Man: D.O.A.
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Tom Sutton
Villain: Blob, Unus, Mastermind
Guests: Professor X, Marvel Girl, Iron Man, Marianne Rodgers
This is a landmark issue. It's the first mainstream Marvel comic written by Steve Englehart. I consider him to be one of Marvel's top three writers, alongside Stan Lee and Roy Thomas.
Hank McCoy is unable to change back to his human form. He forms a rubber mask for himself to disguise himself as the real McCoy. (I couldn't resist slipping that joke in). He wants to have a relationship with his colleague Linda Donaldson, but he can't kiss her, because she would notice that his face is made of rubber.
Tony Stark visits Brand Corporation, including Hank McCoy's lab. He's accompanied by Marianne Rodgers, whose psychic powers warn her that Linda is evil. Tony Stark returns later as Iron Man. Hank McCoy, in his full Beast appearance, challenges him as a trespasser. After a hard fight, the Beast thinks he's killed Iron Man and flees. Blob, Unus and Mastermind are standing outside the factory. We last saw them briefly in X-Men #60.
Iron Man didn't die, it was one of Mastermind's illusions. They want to persuade him to join their new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Marvel Spotlight #3
Title: Werewolf by Night!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Michael Ploog
Regulars: Lissa Russell
This story takes place a few months after the previous issue.
Jack Russell is captured by a man who used to be his step-father's psychologist. They want a book that belonged to Jack's father, because it contains instructions on how they can cure their son Kraig's misshapen form. Jack says he knows nothing about any book, but they don't believe him.
Kraig kills his father in a rage. Then Kraig is killed when lightning strikes him. The Werewolf sees Kraig's mother die in a dream.
This is a strange story. I can't say whether I like it or not. It slowly builds up a powerful intensity, and then it all fizzles out in the last two pages.
Non-canon comics published this month:
Marvel Team-Up #2 (Gerry Conway, Ross Andru)
Conan the Barbarian #15 (Roy Thomas, Barry Smith)
My Love #17 (Atan Lee, George Tuska)
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #98 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Red Wolf #1 (Mike Friedrich, Syd Shores)
Rawhide Kid #99 (Larry Lieber, Larry Lieber)
Creatures on the Loose #16 (Roy Thomas, Gil Kane)
Where Monsters Dwell #15 (Mimi Gold, Rich Buckler)
Note: The first 14 issues of Where Monsters Dwell were reprint comics. Where Monsters Dwell #15 contains a new horror story written by Mimi Gold. From next issue onwards it will go back to being a reprint comic.
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