This month there are two new comics. The first is Spidey Super Stories. It was a joint production with The Electric Company, a company that made children's television programs. The story behind it is that a cartoon series of Spider-Man adventures for young children was being shown on television. It was decided to make a comic based on the TV series. That's a very roundabout way of doing things: a comic based on a television series based on a comic.
Before today I'd never read this series, so I checked out the first five issues. Each issue contains three short stories. They take place in Peter Parker's early years, when he was still at school. Most of the stories feature well known villains from Spider-Man's early comics, but there are also original super-villains. For instance, the Spoiler is a masked menace who spoils people's fun by popping children's balloons or stealing people's ice cream. What's entirely missing from the stories is any emotional drama. For instance, Spider-Man's origin is told without mentioning Uncle Ben.
According to the Bullpen Bulletin Page, the comic is aimed at children from 6 to 10. Twice on the cover the comics are described as "easy to read" twice on the cover. Marvel must think children are stupid. When I was 6 to 10 years old I was reading the regular Spider-Man comics. This series is so bad that it's embarrassing. It has the same characters that we know from the regular Spider-Man comics, but everything that makes Spider-Man special has been removed. Marvel should be ashamed for letting itself be associated with rubbish like this.
The second new comic this month is Giant-Size Werewolf. Its first issue is numbered #2, because it's a continuation of Giant-Size Creatures, of which only one issue was published. It's in sync with the regular series as well as the adventures of the Frankenstein Monster, who's been in the 20th Century since last issue.
Giant-Size Werewolf #2
Title(s): Prisoners of Flesh!
To host the Beast
The Flesh of Satan's Hate!
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Don Perlin
Villain: Danton Vayla
Regulars: Lissa Russell, Buck Cowan
This is a single 30-page story divided into three chapters with different titles.
The Frankenstein Monster is in New York, after waking up in the 20th Century in last month's Frankenstein Monster #12. He overhears two drunks talking about a man in Los Angeles called Danton Vayla who claims to be able to transfer a man's consciousness into a new body. The Monster hides in a freight train to travel to the west coast.
Lissa Russell has joined a cult called the Brotherhood of Baal. She realises they're a bunch of mad fanatics, as she should have known from the start, and walks out. They kidnap her later that night. The cult's leader is Danton Vayla.
Jack Russell wants to track down the cult to rescue his sister, but shortly before reaching their mansion he turns into the Werewolf.
The Monster arrives in the mansion and asks for a new body. Danton Vayla agrees. A human sacrifice is needed, and Lissa is selected.
The Werewolf breaks in and fights with the Monster, who knocks him out. Danton picks him as a better sacrifice. In the following chants it becomes apparent that Satan will occupy the Monster's body, so he rescues the Werewolf and kills Danton. The Monster and the Werewolf escape.
Danton Vayla is obviously based on the controversial Los Angeles Satanist, Anton LaVey.
The first eight issues or War Is Hell contained reprints of stories from Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos. I didn't mention the series, because I ignore reprint comics. Starting this month, War Is Hell contains new stories which are so good that I can strongly recommend them to anyone. They're a unique cross between war stories and supernatural horror stories. Unfortunately, the series only ran for seven issues, but I don't think anything like it has been written before or after them. Yesterday I read all seven issues in a row, and I was sad when I got to the end.
The series was conceived by Tony Isabella, but Chris Claremont wrote the stories. They're about a Polish American called John Kowalski. He's in Poland in September 1939, and he's killed in a German air raid. The personification of Death tells him that he's cursed to die a thousand times. Every day John Kowalski's spirit enters the body of someone who has just died, reanimating the person, and every day he's killed again. Every day is spent in the midst of World War Two, not necessarily in Poland, but always in the middle of heavy fighting. Every day John Kowalski tries to do some good before he's killed again. He can't save himself, but he can help others.
In the recent Captain Marvel stories Death was portrayed as a woman. In this series Death is a man, or at least it seems to be a man. Skeletons in robes are difficult to tell apart.
Man-Thing #10
Title: Nobody dies forever
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Mike Ploog
Last issue it seemed like Ezekiel Tork had been killed by the skeletons in the swamp, but he's still barely alive. When he recovers he heads to civilisation to call a doctor for his wife. He arrives at a petrol station and has to beg for money for the phone. He hasn't had any money for the 20 years that he's lived in the swamp. The unfriendly locals won't give him money, so Man-Thing has to persuade them.
Gunk Fu? Evidently they don't read Marvel comics.
The identity of the demon attacking Ezekiel is revealed. When his wife Maybelle was on the point of death, her hatred for Ezekiel's dog (called Dawg) was unleashed and empowered a demon. The dog is the object of the demon's wrath, not Ezekiel himself.
Back at the swamp house, the demon kills Dawg, while he's protecting Ezekiel and Maybelle. The demon returns to Hell. Maybelle finally accepts the dog's love.
Daredevil #114
Title: A Quiet Night in the Swamp!
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Bob Brown
Villain: Gladiator, Death-Stalker
Regulars: Black Widow, Ivan, Foggy Nelson, Candace Nelson
Guests: Man-Thing, Richard Rory
This is the second Man-Thing story this month. Thank you, Steve Gerber.
Man-Thing grabs the Gladiator, and his touch burns him. Death-Stalker gives Man-Thing the touch of death, but Man-Thing isn't truly alive, so he's only knocked unconscious. Daredevil is also knocked unconscious in battle.
Death-Stalker and the Gladiator carry Daredevil and Richard Rory back to a shack on the edge of the swamp to interrogate them about Ted Sallis. Candace Nelson is already in the shack, helplessly tied up. When he realises that neither Daredevil nor Richard know anything about Ted Sallis, Death-Stalker leaves with Candace and tells Gladiator to kill them. They're rescued by Man-Thing.
Back in New York, Death-Stalker has now captured Foggy Nelson.
Master Of Kung Fu #21
Title(s): Season of Vengeance
Moment of Death!
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Ron Wilson
Villain: Fu Manchu, Demmy Marston
This is a single story divided into two parts with different titles.
In the last issue Demmy Marston wanted to kill Shang Chi to gain Fu Manchu's favour. After the death of his fiancee Diana, which he wrongly blames on Shang Chi, he wants to kill him to get revenge. He takes Shang Chi to an island to torture him before killing him. Fu Manchu saves him. He says that only he can decide the time of his son's death.
Avengers #128
Title: Bewiched, bothered and dead!
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Sal Buscema
Avengers: Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Swordsman
Villain: Necrodamus, Kang
Regulars: Mantis, Agatha Harkness
Guests: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Medusa, Susan Richards, Franklin Richards
When the Avengers and the Fantastic Four return from the wedding of Quicksilver and Crystal (Fantastic Four #150) there's a lightning storm. Thor can't stop it. Agatha Harkness calms the storm, because it has a mystical origin. She says that it was intended to harm her.
Agatha says that she's no longer needed to take care of Franklin Richards, because his powers have now disappeared. She says that her new mission is to teach the Scarlet Witch witchcraft.
Agatha Harkness is given a guest room in Avengers Mansion. It must be enormous! So many rooms for everyone who drops in to pay a visit! Shortly before midnight, Agatha is attacked by Necrodamus, who we last saw in Defenders #1. He wants to capture Agatha's soul so that he can be reborn. She's knocked unconscious, so the Scarlet Witch continues the fight. She defeats Necrodamus by destroying the box in which he harvests souls.
The Scarlet Witch accuses Agatha Harkness of arranging the attack as a test. Agatha gives an evasive answer.
A bright star appears over Avengers Mansion. Kang the Conqueror, last seen in Incredible Hulk #135, arrives and tells the Avengers it's a signal that the Earth is ready to be conquered.
I've always been unhappy with the concept of Kang the Conqueror. It was one of Stan Lee's weaker ideas. Why should a man who rules the Earth in the 40th Century want to return to conquer the 20th Century? Why should a man whose lover is killed not just go back a week and hide her out of harm's way? Steve Englehart wants to revive the character and fix some of the logical inconsistencies.
Captain America and the Falcon #178
Title: If the Falcon should fall!
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Sal Buscema
Villain: Lucifer(s), Morgan
Regulars: Sharon Carter, Peggy Carter. Gabe Jones, Leila Taylor
The Falcon is attacked by the two Lucifers. He fights them off, and they retreat. They return to their lair in the desert, where they've stored three Ultra-Robots (TM).
They return and attack with the robots. The Falcon is no match for them. Steve Rogers is walking by in his civilian identity and sees the fight. He puts on a ski mask to disguise himself and defeats them. Lucifer returns to limbo. The Falcon tells Steve that he doesn't want any more help.
The Incredible Hulk #180
Title: And the wind howls Wendigo!
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Herb Trimpe
Villain: Wendigo, Wolverine
Regulars: General Ross, Betty Ross, Major Talbot
Once more, the Hulk hops into Canada. International borders mean nothing to him. A voice in his head is calling him. It's Marie Cartier, the sister of Paul Cartier, who became the monster Wendigo in Incredible Hulk #162. Since we last saw her, she's learnt mystic spells to transfer the Wendigo curse to someone else. She's picked the Hulk, because she thinks that becoming the Wendigo isn't any worse than the way he is already.
The Hulk wakes up before the ritual can be performed. He fights with Wendigo, but they're too evenly matched for anyone to be the victor. Then they're challenged by the Canadian government's Weapon X, aka Wolverine.
Frame this picture. Hang it on your wall. This is the first appearance of Wolverine, destined to become one of Marvel's most popular characters. I'd go as far as to say that he's the most popular character not invented by Stan Lee. The creation of Wolverine and the new X-Men (who also included Wolverine) are the lasting legacy of Len Wein.
Amazing Spider-Man #137
Title: The Green Goblin strikes!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Ross Andru
Villain: Green Goblin (Harry Osborn)
Regulars: Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, Liz Allan
This is an excellent story. Gerry Conway should have dropped his other chores and just written giant-size Spider-Man comics every month.
The new Green Goblin kidnaps Aunt May, Mary Jane Watson and Flash Thompson and hides them in different parts of the city. They each have bombs attached to their heads, plus spider tracers so that Spider-Man can find them. (I assume Harry Osborn found the spider tracers in Peter Parker's room). Two of the bombs are fake, one is genuine. Spider-Man only has time to rescue one of them, but if he makes the wrong choice someone will die. He guesses correctly that the real bomb is attached to Aunt May, because she means the most to him.
After saving Aunt May's life, he returns to the Green Goblin and defeats him easily, because he still doesn't have much fighting skill. Harry tells the police that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, but nobody believes him.
Peter Parker doesn't have anywhere to live after his apartment was blown up last issue.
Fantastic Four #151
Title: Thundra and Lightning!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Rich Buckler
Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Medusa
Villain: Mahkizmo
Regulars: Thundra
After the story starts slowly, the Thing and the Human Torch are attacked by someone called Mahkizmo, who's looking for Thundra.
At the same time, Thundra is talking to Medusa. She tells Medusa that she comes from the future, but there are infinite possible futures that exist side by side.
This concept of parallel universes will be further expounded upon in future stories, in particular stories that will be written by Steve Englehart and Mark Griuenwald. This explanation by Thundra doesn't necessarily agree with future explanations, but it's excusable, because we can accept that it's only her opinion and she doesn't know everything. The official explanation for the existence of parallel universes in later comics is that they branch off as the result of changes created by time travel; i.e. every time someone goes back in time and changes something, a new universe is created.
Thundra comes from a universe called Femizonia where women rule the Earth. Mahkizmo comes from a universe called Machus where men rule the Earth. These two universes know about one another, and they're vicious enemies.
They are now somehow drawing together, leading to the men in the universe of the Femizons rebelling. How are they being drawn together? Maybe it's a result of the very fact that they know about one another. The Queen of Femizonia has sent Thundra back in time to defeat the world's strongest man in order to stop Machus existing. This is a mistake made by either Gerry Conway or the Queen. I'll be kind and say it was the Queen. By sending Thundra into the past she'll create a new parallel universe. It's possible that she'll even be the one responsible for creating Machus.
Mahkizmo defeats the Thing and the Human Torch. Reed Richards arrives and is also defeated.
Thor #228
Title: Ego: Beginning and End!
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Rich Buckler
Villain: Galactus, Firelord, Ego, Destroyer
Regulars: Odin, Sif
Guests: Hercules
Thor damages Ego's brain. This leads to him communing with the dying brain. He sees that Ego used to be a scientist called Egros on a planet facing a super-nova. His plan to save the planet failed, but as a result he swallowed all the life energy of his planet's inhabitants and became a planet. He's now gone mad.
Thor isn't able to completely destroy the brain or the planet itself. Galactus attaches a rocket to Ego and sends it into exile far, far away.
Firelord says he wants his freedom, and Galactus agrees, as long as a suitable replacement as herald can be found. Thor suggests the Detroyer, who we recently saw in Thor #225.
Here are a couple of obvious Gerry Conway errors. I like to call them Conwayisms.
First, why didn't Galactus simply eat Ego? It's something he previously attempted, and now Ego is too weak to fight back.
Second, why does Galactus need a "suitable" replacement as herald? To take an example, Norrin Radd had no powers at all, but Galactus gave him powers and made him suitable.
Tomb of Dracula #25
Title: Night of the Blood Stalker
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Gene Colan
Regulars: Hannibal King, Lilith (flashback)
Kills: One man (total 32)
Embraces: None (total 9)
A woman visits the private investigator Hannibal King. She tells him that she got married that morning, but a few hours later her husband was killed by a vampire. Hannibal recognises the vampire as Dracula. He pursues Dracula and kills several of his minions, but Dracula himself escapes.
At the end of the issue it's revealed that Hannibal himself is a vampire.
Werewolf by Night #22
Title: Face of the Fiend!
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Don Perlin
Villain: Atlas (Steve Rand)
Regulars: Lissa Russell, Buck Cowan
Someone has been killing film producers in Hollywood. On the first night of the full moon, the Werewolf enters the grounds of a Hollywood mansion, thinking it's a forest. It belongs to the producer Simon Kolb. A former actor called Steve Rand breaks in. His face was badly deformed while making a movie, and he's looking for revenge. He now calls himself Atlas. He kills Simon Kolb, after which the Werewolf attacks him. Atlas knocks the Werewolf unconscious and leaves.
The next day Jack Russell is found lying in the grounds and is charged with murder.
I apologise for the poor quality of the cover that I've reproduced above. This series isn't yet available in Marvel Unlimited, so I had to use a poor quality scan that I found online.
Supernatural Thrillers #9
Title: Pyramid of Peril!
Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Val Mayerik
Villain: Elementals (Hellfire, Hydron, Magnum, Zephyr), Living Pharaoh
Regulars: Dr. Skarab
The Mummy goes to Egypt against his will to retrieve the Red Scarab for the four Elementals. It's in the possession of the mutant Professor Abdol, who calls himself the Living Pharaoh. Do you remember him from X-Men #54 to X-Men #58? He lost his powers, but they've returned since then, though they're not as strong as they used to be.
The Mummy battles the Living Pharaoh, but while they're fighting someone else takes the Red Scarab. Without the Scarab the Living Pharaoh is completely powerless. The Mummy leaves him and walks into the desert.
Doctor Strange #4
Title: Where boundaries decay
Writer: Steve Englehart
Artist: Frank Brunner
Villain: Silver Dagger, Death
Guests: Clea, Wong, Ancient One
Just when you think Steve Englehart can't get any better, he writes a comic like this. The incredible art by Frank Brunner shouldn't be overlooked.
I'll only describe this comic with a few words, even though I'm afraid that I shan't give an impression of its brilliance. It's impossible to praise this comic enough.
Doctor Strange battles Death, but he doesn't have the slightest hope of winning. Death is absolute, a cosmic reality. The only thing not governed by Death is Eternity, the cosmic entity that we've seen in several old comics, most recently in Doctor Strange #182. Doctor Strange embraces his inability to persevere against Death and allows himself to die. In doing this he becomes one with Eternity.
The Ancient One appears to Doctor Strange and tells him that this was his first test as the Sorcerer Supreme, overcoming the fear of death (or Death). He's now dead, but he's permitted to return to the land of the living. He's become immortal, although he can theoretically die in battle. He's given an Ankh, the symbol of eternal life, on his forehead to symbolise this.
This is the comic of the month. Nothing else comes close!
Ghost Rider #8
Title: Satan Himself!
Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Jim Mooney
Villain: Satan, Slifer / Inferno
Regulars: Roxanne Simpson
Guests: Daimon Hellstrom (vision)
Satan gives Slifer additional power to fight Ghost Rider, after he failed using Roulette and Aquarius. He takes on the form of Inferno. He makes people fear Ghost Rider and attack him.
Ghost Rider can resist Satan's power because he's protected by the purity of Roxanne Simpson. Satan thinks he can defeat him by tempting Roxanne to sin or by persuading Roxanne to renounce Johnny Blaze.
Power Man #21
Title: The killer with my name!
Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Ron Wilson
Villain: Power Man
Regulars: Noah Burstein
Len Wein picked the name Power Man for Luke Cage in Power Man #17. Maybe he forgot that there was already a villain with that name. Tony Isabella pounces on this as the opportunity for a story. The original Power Man attacks Luke Cage because he doesn't like someone stealing his name. We last saw the original Power Man in Avengers #79 as a member of the Lethal Legion.
Power Man 1 breaks into the cinema beneath Power Man 2's office and smashes it up to gain his attention. The battle see-saws back and forth, until Power Man 1 threatens a small girl. This makes Power Man 2 furious, and he beats up Power Man 1. Until now he didn't care about the double names, but now he tells Power man 1 never to call himself Power Man again.
Well said, Luke. The name's yours, you've earned it.
Marvel Spotlight #18
Title: Madhouse!
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Gene Colan
Villain: Allatou
Regulars: Katherine Reynolds
Daimon Hellstrom is invited to a party to meet the university colleagues of Doctor Katherine Reynolds. They're overly obsessive and crowd round him with questions, so he has to go outside for some fresh air. He feels like he's being put on show. The only one who treats him with respect is Doctor Wilfred Noble, the head of the Psychology department.
While the party is still running, Daimon finds Wilfred's dog dead. After they go home, the house burns to the ground, and Wilfred barely escapes. The next day, Daimon investigates. The house was burnt down by a young woman, Melissa Manners. She's been possessed by a demon called Allatou. After a hard fight, Daimon begins the exorcism, but Allatou leaves her body voluntarily. As he's about to leave he finds that Allatou has possessed Melissa's father.
In last month's Thor #227 there was a letter from a reader confused by Marvel's different versions of Hell and their respective rulers, Satan, Mephisto and Pluto. The reply, presumably written by Roy Thomas, begins by saying that Pluto's Hell, the Underworld, is a place with a limited size. Then he says that Satan and Mephisto are one and the same, even though they're drawn differently and act differently.
The explanation of Pluto and the Underworld isn't very satisfying, but I accept that Satan and Mephisto are the same, even if later writers suggest otherwise. To be honest, it doesn't make sense that two different Lords of Hell are both active collecting souls.
Marvel Premiere #18
Title: Lair of Shattered Vengeance!
Writer: Doug Moench
Artist: Larry Hama
Villain: Triple-Iron, Harold Meachum
Iron Fist has progressed through the series of traps in Harold Meachum's building. Now he stands before a giant fighter charged with electricity.
Every blow from the giant, who calls himself Triple-Iron, shoots electricity through Iron Fist's body, badly weakening him. The ninja that we saw last issue points Iron Fist to a hidden door. It contains the machinery that powers Triple-Iron. Iron Fist rips cables from the wall and electrocutes him.
Iron Fist enters Harold Meachum's office and finds him as an old man in a wheelchair without legs. He recounts that he lost his legs in the snow after killing Daniel Rand's parents. He was invited to visit K'Un-Lun before returning home to America, where he saw Daniel being trained. He knew that Daniel would return after 10 years, so he spent his whole life obsessed with preparing for his arrival.
Iron Fist pities the crippled old man and walks away. Harold Meachum attempts to shoot him in the back, but the ninja returns and kills him. Harold's daughter Joy Meachum finds Iron Fist standing over her father's dead body and swears revenge.
This is another mediocre story. Let's hope Doug Moench pulls himself together next month. He can do better than this.
Adventure Into Fear #24
Title: Project: Alone against Arcturus!
Writer: Steve Gerber
Artist: Craig Russell
Villain: Caretakers
Guests: Blade
The alien called I leads Morbius to an ancient rocket, which is the only hope of escaping Arcturus and returning to Earth. Morbius has to fight his way through a horde of barbarians who worship the rocket as a God.
The rocket takes Morbius and I to Chicago. Unfortunately Morbius gets hungry on the journey and drinks I's blood. Blade is in Chicago hunting vampires and witnesses the rocket crash in the middle of the city. He hunts Morbius, who thinks Blade is a madman, because vampires don't exist, apart from himself. After winning the fight, Morbius flees, because he has no wish to harm a madman.
The Caretakers witness the return of Morbius to Earth and say they still want him to be the leader of the Children of the Comet.
Non-Canon comics published this month:
Savage Sword of Conan #2 (Roy Thomas, John Buscema)
Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu #5 (Doug Moench, Keith Pollard)
Vampire Tales #7 (Don McGregor, Tom Sutton)
Monsters Unleashed #8 (Tony Isabella, Ernie Chan)
Planet of the Apes #2 (Gerry Conway, Mike Ploog)
Giant-Size Defenders #2 (Len Wein, Gil Kane)
Giant-Size Spider-Man #2 (Len Wein, Ross Andru)
Defenders #16 (Len Wein, Sal Buscema)
Marvel Team-Up #26 (Len Wein, Jim Mooney)
Astonishing Tales #26 (Doug Moench, Rich Buckler)
Strange Tales #176 (Mike Friedrich, Tony DeZumiga)
Conan the Barbarian #43 (Roy Thomas, John Buscema)
War is Hell #9 (Chris Claremont, Dick Ayers)
Spidey Super-Stories #1 (Jean Thomas, Winslow Mortimer)
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