Film Fan

Saturday, 11 May 2019

Terrorsaurs Week: Day 5

This week I'm posting a few photos of Birmingham's best rock group, the Terrorsaurs. They play a lot of gigs in Birmingham when they're not touring, so if you live in Birmingham you have no excuse for not seeing them live.

Click here to visit their website.

Shirts are modelled by Miss Khandie Khisses.

Friday, 10 May 2019

Christine (4 Stars)

This was a gap in my film education. Today is the first time I've seen "Christine". I've wanted to watch it for years, but somehow I kept putting it off. How could I possibly have delayed watching one of John Carpenter's early films? It's based on a Stephen King novel, so it has to be good!

In 1957 a red Plymouth car was built by Chrysler in Detroit. Yes, many cars were made, but this one was different. It had a mind of its own. It slammed its hood shut on the hand of a worker inspecting the motor, and then it trapped another worker who sat inside it.

Fast forward 21 years to 1978. Arnie Cunningham is an awkward teenager who suffers from having strict parents. He sees a car for sale in an overgrown garden. It's the red Plymouth again, but it's battered and in a bad state. Against the advice of his best friend Dennis he pays $250 for the car. It belonged to a man who recently died, and his brother tells him the car's name is Christine. Supposedly the owner was obsessed with the car and loved it more than anything else, even more than his wife and daughter, both of whom died in the car.

Arnie seems to be caught up in the same obsession. He neglects Dennis and his other friends for weeks while he repairs the car. Finally it looks as good as new, but it's not just the car that's changed. Arnie no longer wears spectacles, and he's brimming with self confidence. He's dating Leigh, the most beautiful girl in school. He tries to make out with her in the car, but she's afraid of it. She senses that something is wrong.

Soon we see that Christine can drive by herself. She hunts down the boys who bully Arnie and kills them. She can also repair herself. She can slam into other cars, then look perfect again within minutes. Arnie loves Christine, but Christine also loves Arnie.

The plot sounds ridiculous on paper, but it's a mark of a good director that while the film is running I never questioned it. I was even cheering for Christine when she was killing the bad boys. They got what they deserved.

The film doesn't explain how Christine came to be a sentient being. It just happens. I wonder if Stephen King's novel is more explicit on the subject. It's happened in other cases that his exposition is omitted from a film to improve the pacing. I've only read about half a dozen of Stephen King's books. Maybe I should read more.

Success Rate: + 0.1

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Klaus Schulze: Trancefer (1981)

Klaus Schulze - Trancefer

KS Canon 14

Track Listing:

1.	A Few Minutes After Trancefer	18:23
2.	Silent Running	18:58

Bonus Tracks:

3.	A Few Minutes After Trancefer (Version 33 Halfspeed)	18:17
4.	Silent Running (Version 45)	19:07

Notes:
(1) Wolfgang Tiepold plays cello.
(2) Michael Shrieve plays drums.

Rating: 5 Stars
Bonus Tracks: 5 Stars

This is the 14th solo album recorded by Klaus Schulze. It's his second album recorded with the GDS (General Development System). Fortunately Klaus is concentrating on making good music this time, not just the type of gimmicks he used on "Dig It".

This was Klaus Schulze's first solo album to be released on the IC (Innovative Communication) label. As I mentioned in my review of "Tonwelle", it was usual for the LPs on this label to be recorded to be played at 45 rpm, not the industry standard of 33 rpm. The reason was supposedly that the basses sounded better. Klaus and his publisher KDM decided to test whether this was really the case. They pressed alternative versions of the LPs to be played at different speeds for comparison. This was a good idea, but, for some reason that both Klaus and KDM have forgotten, different mixes of the tracks were used, making a direct comparison impossible. The alternative mixes have been added as bonus tracks on the CD.

It's difficult for me to say which versions are better. The alternative mix of "A Few Minutes After Trancefer" is less minimalist, and Wolfgang Tiepold's cello is more prominent. At the beginning of the alternate mix of "Silent Running" there are crackling sounds that sound like scratches on an LP, which is impossible on a digital recording. I prefer the original versions, because they're the versions I listened to over and over again when I first bought the LP.

Terrorsaurs Week: Day 4

Shirts and horns are modelled by Miss Khandie Khisses.

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Telstar (3½ Stars)

After a brief conversation with a friend I decided to watch "Telstar" again today. It's appropriate that I should watch it the day after "At Eternity's Gate", two films in a row about mad geniuses. Maybe madness is essential to be a genius. Or is it the other way round? If you're a genius, the pressure of being surrounded by lesser people drives you mad.

As a young, independent record producer, Joe Meek didn't want to conform. He didn't want to work for anyone else. He didn't want to be told what to do. He had his own ideas about how to make records. Everyone else had to do what he wanted, and if they questioned his judgement he yelled at them.

Joe didn't have a professional recording studio. He had an apartment with small rooms spread over three floors at 304 Holloway Road, London. The musicians for any one recording were scattered around the apartment, with microphones in each room. The musicians who passed through his apartment are a Who's Who of 20th Century pop stars, many of them not yet famous.

Joe's downfall was his obsession with the German singer Heinz Burt, whose stage name was merely Heinz. Joe was in love with him and did whatever he could to promote him, even though it was obvious to everyone around him that Heinz had no talent. At first Heinz was aware of his own shortcomings, but after having a hit single, "Just Like Eddie", he became arrogant towards the other musicians who worked with Joe. Heinz lived with Joe for a while, but it's questionable whether he was really a homosexual. His family strongly denies it. He was a young man desperate to make it in the music business, and when his boss made sexual advances it was difficult to turn him down. Joe showered Heinz with gifts, like a car and a boat, to show him his love. At the same time he was behind with royalty payments for the other artists. Joe told Heinz to date girls "for the sake of your image", but he was heartbroken when Heinz fell in love with a girl and married her.

Joe's biggest hit was "Telstar", performed by the Tornadoes. It sold over five million copies, but he never received a penny for it, because a French composer accused him of stealing the song. The court case was decided in Joe's favour three weeks after his death.

On 3rd February 1967, the anniversary of Buddy Holly's death, Joe Meek committed suicide. He was bankrupt at the time, but that wasn't the main reason. He was suffering from paranoia. He was certain that other record companies were bugging his apartment. He fired his musicians one by one because he thought they were acting against him. He was a tragic figure.

The film is far from perfect in portraying Joe Meek's life, as I pointed out in my last review, but it still offers a fascinating insight into the music industry of the 1960's. How could someone who was so brilliant die so young? Just like Vincent Van Gogh.

Terrorsaurs Week: Day 3

Shirts are modelled by Miss Khandie Khisses.

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

At Eternity's Gate (4 Stars)

There seems to be a Vincent Van Gogh craze at the moment. "Loving Vincent" was made in 2017, one of the most beautiful films ever made, as far as the visuals are concerned. Then there was the play "The Life of Vincent Van Gogh" two years ago. There was another play about him in Stuttgart last year that I didn't go to see. Now there's "At Eternity's Gate", a film about the last two years of his life.

Maybe the current excitement has been caused by the recent discovery of 65 new sketches by Van Gogh in 2015. They're also shown in the film.

The film concentrates on Van Gogh's mania, which kept him isolated from everyone around him. He painted because it was the only thing he could do. God had given him this gift, but it was also a curse, because he was unable to earn any money from his painting. He lived on the generosity of his younger brother Theo, who regularly sent him money. Theo was an art dealer, but he was unable to sell his brother's paintings. They were too revolutionary. Did Theo appreciate his brother's paintings? Somehow I doubt it. For him, the value of an artist was measured by the price paid for his paintings. It wasn't until after his death that his brilliance was noticed by others.

Vincent Van Gogh's only friend was the artist Paul Gaugin. I knew about their friendship before I watched the film, but I didn't realise that it was so one-sided. Gaugin kept telling Van Gogh how to paint, slower and with more planning. Theo bribed Gaugin to be with Vincent. He paid him 250 Francs a month on condition that he would live in Arles, the small town where Vincent lived. He moved away when his paintings started to sell for higher prices. Gaugin was one of the painters who was lucky enough to be appreciated in his own lifetime.

The director tries to show us the world through Van Gogh's eyes. While I appreciate this, it's an impossible task. The only way we can know what Van Gogh saw is by looking at his paintings, so "Loving Vincent" is more successful in this respect. I could accept the scenes with over-exposed sunlight, but I was irritated when the picture was distorted or blurred. This made me want to rub my eyes.

If I'm allowed a little spoiler, I was surprised to see that in the film Van Gogh's death wasn't by suicide. The film shows him being shot accidentally by a teenage boy, after which he claimed it was a suicide attempt to protect him. That's an unusual theory.

The owner of a cafe in Arles gave Van Gogh an empty ledger to use for sketches. He mailed the ledger back to her shortly before his death. Supposedly she put it with the other ledgers without opening it. The collection of ledgers was passed from hand to hand, unopened, for 126 years, until the sketches were finally discovered in 2015.

After watching the film this evening I sat sadly in the train on the way home. I feel that I have the mania of an artist, but none of the talent of an artist. The only thing of any artistic value that I have ever created were the poems that I wrote from the age of 16 to 21. That was my creative phase. I remember that every day I looked around for something to write about, and when I saw something I rushed home. I don't know why I stopped writing. I woke up one day and the inspiration was gone. I kept all my poems in a box in the cellar and didn't open it until 20 years later. That was deliberate. I wanted to wait long enough to forget them, then read them again and see what sort of effect they had on me. After that I wanted to wait another 20 years, but the box was accidentally thrown away when the cellar was being cleaned. That's tragic. I still remember a few of my shorter poems, but my longer poems are all lost forever.

Wahnfried: Tonwelle (1981)

Richard Wahnfried - Tonwelle

Wahnfried 2

Klaus Schulze (synthesizers)
Michael Garvens (vocals)
Manuel Göttsching (guitar)
Karl Wahnfried (guitar)
Michael Shrieve (drums)

Track Listing:

1.	Schwung	17:05
2.	Druck	18:20

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the second album that Klaus Schulze made using the pseudonym Richard Wahnfried. It reunites him with his old friend Manuel Göttsching, the guitarist in Ash Ra Tempel, which had now shortened its name to Ashra. (Some people say that Ashra was a new band, not a continuation of Ash Ra Tempel. That's something to argue about over a beer).

One mystery guest on the album is the second guitarist, Karl Wahnfried. That's obviously a pseudonym for someone well known. It's now 38 years since the album was released, and it's still a closely guarded secret. Apart from the musicians involved nobody knows. It's possible that a contract was signed that the person's identity should be kept secret because he was under an exclusive contract to another record company. There are several theories, but the most common opinion, based on the sound, is that the guitarist is Carlos Santana. I don't know his music well enough to comment on this.

I own the 1990 CD release which includes tracks taken from the third Wahnfried album, "Megatone". In 2012 an official CD re-release was made on which the music has been corrupted. I can easily explain what happened, but it's incomprehensible how the record label could have acted so stupidly.

When "Tonwelle" was released in 1981 the LP was labelled to be played at 45 rpm, not the usual 33 rpm. This was a gimmick used by several LPs on the IC (Innovative Communication) label. A myth was propagated that the 45 rpm speed was incorrect, and the album should be played at 33 rpm. This led the record label MiG (Made in Germany) to release a CD with the tracks slowed down. A bonus CD was added with the two tracks at the faster speed, but it looks like they made a mistake in the conversion, presumably by speeding up the slow tracks in a second step rather than using the original tracks. These are the thoughts of KDM in his broken English:

In 2012, the German label "Made in Germany" released a double CD with two versions each of both Tonwelle tracks. They seem to believe that the original release with 45 RPM was wrong (!). At least their first promotion stated impressively and for some weeks: "on the original cover was wrongly given to play it in 45 RPM" & "the first editions on CD were in this 45 version, different as what the artist wanted" & "for the first time ever are now both versions available, the correct one and the involuntary wrong one" = ALL WRONG. Although I told them that the reason for their strange doing and the release itself is completely wrong, it doesn't hinder them to release this nonsense double CD anyway: one MiG version is circa 26% slower and the other version is circa 26% lower in pitch. The original version is not included (!) Besides, they sell this product now under "Klaus Schulze".

To sum it up: don't buy it. The CD is a mess. It's now out of print, but don't waste your money on a second hand CD on Ebay. Wait for a future re-release.

Terrorsaurs Week: Day 2

Shirts are modelled by Miss Khandie Khisses.

Tuesday, 7 May 2019

Marvel Years 08.05 - May 1968

Iron Man #1

Two new comics last month, another three this month! This is truly the Golden Age of Marvel, whatever other people decide to call it.

Title: Alone against AIM!

Writer: Archie Goodwin
Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Big M (Whitney Frost), Whiplash, Mordius, AIM

Guests: Jasper Sitwell, Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones

The AIM submarine carries Iron Man to land, to a castle used by the AIM leader Mordius. He analyses Iron Man's suit and creates three copies for AIM members. Safety measures installed by Tony Stark make the copies defective. Iron Man escapes after destroying the castle.

Meanwhile, Jasper Sitwell rescues the mystery woman that we've seen in the last few issues (Tales Of Suspense #98 and #99) from the sinking casino ship. Her name is Whitney Frost, but she's also Big M, the leader of Maggia.

There's a three page backup story retelling of Iron Man's origin from Tales Of Suspense #39.

Sub-Mariner #1

Title: Years of Glory, Day of Doom!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema

Villain: Destiny, Byrrah (flashback)

Guests: Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm) (flashback)

Like all the other new comics, Sub-Mariner #1 retells the origin of the lead character. Prince Namor is lying below the ice, fearing he might die. He remembers the tale of how his mother, Princess Fen of Atlantis, met Captain Leonard McKenzie. His ship accidentally caused damage to the city of Atlantis beneath the surface. Princess Fen swam to the surface, fell in love with him and married him. The Atlanteans came to rescue Fen and unknowingly killed her husband. Namor was born a few months later.

As a young man he attacked New York in the 1940's. Then he allied himself with America to fight against Germany and Japan. This was the end of his so-called Golden Age adventures. Next we see an attack on Atlantis some years later. Namor investigates, and he finds that the explosions were caused by Destiny testing his new powers. Destiny made Namor lose his memory and sent him to New York. There he lived as a homeless man until the events of Fantastic Four #4 took place.

After remembering these things Namor breaks out of the ice and sets off to pursue Destiny.

After praising the other creators the Crazy Credits merely state that Sam Rosen's lettering is legible. I would call it magnificent.

Captain Marvel #1

Title: Out of the Holocaust, a Hero!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Sentry 459

Regulars: Yon-Rogg, Una, Carol Danvers, Ronan the Accuser

Captain Marvel battles the Sentry because he thinks that its random rampage would endanger his mission to learn about the human race.

Captain Marvel has to protect Carol Danvers from the Sentry. That must confuse people who only know the films.

After a long battle Captain Marvel defeats the Sentry. Yon-Rogg sees this and reports to the Kree Empire that Mar-Vell is a traitor. Ronan answers, saying he's observed the battle and knows it was initiated by Yon-Rogg. He considers Mar-Vell to be insignificant, but he warns Yon-Rogg against doing anything else which is harmful to the mission on Earth.

The Crazy Credits say that the fire extinguishers were supplied by Honest Irving Forbush. It's just as well they weren't needed. I'm worried that he might have been cutting costs.

The Incredible Hulk #103

Title: And now the Space Parasite!

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: Marie Severin

Villain: Space Parasite (Randau)

Regulars: General Ross, Major Talbot, Rick Jones, Betty Ross

Yet again, this comic features outstanding artwork by Marie Severin. She's got into her stride now.

In the last issue Odin sent the Hulk back to Earth. Of all places, he's sent to the middle of Times Square. I suppose that's the centre of the Earth, as far as New Yorkers and Asgardian Gods are concerned.

In an orbiting spaceship a one-eyed being who calls himself the Space Parasite is watching. He was formerly Randau, the king of a far distant peaceful planet. In order to save his planet from attack he bathed in solar rays to make himself stronger. This also made him addicted to fighting. He absorbs the strength of everyone he defeats. He sees the Hulk as his ideal victim. They battle in the city centre, ending up in Yankee Stadium. The Hulk wins the battle, so the Space Parasite teleports back to his ship. At this moment the people of his planet make his ship explode to stop him becoming any more powerful.

Police surround the Hulk. Before he can escape he turns back into Bruce Banner.

Captain America #101

Title: When wakes the Sleeper!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Red Skull

Regulars: Agent 13

Guests: Nick Fury

Captain America recognises Werner Von Krimm, a Nazi war criminal, in New York and attempts to take him captive. Nick Fury interrupts and says that he's an innocent citizen and should be released. Captain America complains, but Nick Fury tells him that he's placed a tracking device on him, so that he can be followed to a more important criminal.

Werner Von Krimm takes a plane to a small island in the Atlantic Ocean. Captain America pursues him, in constant radio contact with Nick Fury. He meets the Red Skull, who seemingly died in Tales Of Suspense #91. Werner Von Krimm has a key that the Red Skull needs to activate the fourth Sleeper. There were three Sleepers in Tales Of Suspense #72 to #74.

The Sleeper awakes, but the Red Skull can't control him. Its mission is to destroy the Earth.

After fighting one another Captain America is left swimming in the sea. He has the control key, but he doesn't know what to do with it.

Fantastic Four #74

Title: When calls Galactus

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Galactus, Punisher

Regulars: Alicia Masters, Crystal

Guests: Silver Surfer

The Thing visits his girlfriend Alicia and finds her talking to the Silver Surfer. He's seeking advice, because Galactus wants him to become his herald again. This can only mean that Galactus is desperately hungry.

Galactus was last seen briefly in Thor #134, but his last full appearance was in Fantastic Four #50.

Galactus sends the Punisher to Earth. Reed, Ben and Johnny face him while Crystal looks after Sue. The Punisher seems to be winning the battle when Galactus calls him back. He's now close enough to the Earth to search for the Silver Surfer.

The Thing yells his battle cry: It's clobbering time!

Amazing Spider-Man #60

Title: O Bitter Victory!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita

Villain: Kingpin

Regulars: Aunt May, Anna Watson, Mary Jane Watson, Captain Stacy, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant

Spider-Man is unable to defeat the Kingpin, so he flees. Captain Stacy has been completely hypnotised by the Kingpin. In the Gloom Room-A-Go-Go Mary Jane Watson tells Harry and Gwen that she saw men fighting Spider-man, but Captain Stacy tells her it was nothing serious.

Spider-Man is suffering after the fight and has double vision, so he needs to take a few hours rest. Late in the evening he visits Gwen as Peter Parker to talk to her father about the Kingpin. Captain Stacy denies any criminal activity took place and attacks Peter. Gwen walks in to see Peter knocking her father on the floor. She says she never wants to see Peter again.

Captain Stacy phones the Kingpin and tells him about the conversation with Peter. The Kingpin sends men to kill him, but they can't find him.

The next day Spider-Man follows Captain Stacy and sees him stealing police files. Peter Parker delivers photos to the Daily Bugle for an exclusive report. When Gwen sees the special newspaper edition she hates Peter even more.

Strange Tales #168

This is the last issue of Strange Tales for now. It will be briefly revived in 1973. Next month Nick Fury and Doctor Strange will have their own comics.

Title: Today Earth died!

Writer: Jim Steranko
Artist: Jim Steranko

Villain: Vaengr

Regulars: Dum Dum Dugan, Countess Valentina, Jimmy Woo

For months I've been praising Jim Steranko's artwork. Here's more proof that he was Marvel's best artist in 1968:

Was that enough for you? If not, look at this page:

Nick Fury invites Jimmy Woo to join SHIELD. It's not sure he will accept, because he blames Nick for Suwan's death in Strange Tales #166.

There's a report of a visitor from another planet called Vaengr. Nick Fury goes to greet him, but it's a trap. Dum Dum Dugan and Countess Valentina are both reduced to dust. Then Nick wakes up. It was just a dream. Or was it?

Title: Exile!

Writer: Dennis O'Neil
Artist: Dan Adkins

Villain: Yandroth

Regulars: Victoria Bentley, Ancient One

Doctor Strange finally defeats Yandroth. The Ancient One transports him and Victoria Bentley back to Earth.

Thor #152

Title: The Dilemma of Dr. Blake!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: Loki, Norn Queen, Destroyer, Ulik

Regulars: Odin, Sif, Balder

This story's title is nonsensical. Doctor Blake does not appear. In fact, we haven't seen Doctor Blake since way back in Thor #143.

Thor continues to battle the Destroyer, unable to win even now his full Asgardian powers have returned. He doesn't realise that if he defeats the Destroyer Sif will die, because her life force is powering it. The battle ends abruptly when Karnilla the Norn Queen removes Sif's life force and the Destroyer collapses. She has done this in return for Balder protecting her against Ulik the Troll.

Balder is no match for Ulik, so the Norn Queen transports Thor into her realm to continue the fight. Thor barely wins, but when he wants to celebrate he realises that Loki has stolen his hammer.

Title: While the City Shrieks!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Inhumans: Triton, Black Bolt

Triton runs around New York, confused by the city. Everyone runs from him in fear. When he stands in the road cars drive at him, making him think he's being attacked. He returns to Attilan and reports to Black Bolt that the surface world is a world of madness, and the Inhumans should make sure they're never discovered.

The Avengers #52

Title: Death calls for the Arch-Heroes!

Writer: Roy Thomas
Artist: John Buscema

Avengers: Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Black Panther, Thor (cameo), Iron Man (cameo), Captain America (cameo), Hercules (mentioned), Quicksilver (mentioned), Scarlet Witch (mentioned)

Villain: Grim Reaper, Wonder Man (flashback)

Regulars: Black Widow

Guests: Jasper Sitwell

This is another comic this month in which the title doesn't make sense. What's an "arch-hero"? The word doesn't exist. An arch-villain is the supreme villain or most powerful villain. An arch-angel, usually spelt without a hyphen, is the supreme angel. (Only one angel, Michael, is called an archangel in the Bible). An arch-hero, if the word existed, would presumably be the greatest hero, so why is the word used in the plural? As I said, the title doesn't make sense.

That's enough nit-picking for today. Let me move on and write about this excellent story.

The Black Panther arrives at Avengers Mansion to take up his new position as an Avenger. Nobody answers the front door, so he enters by stealth. He has to overcome the electronic devices defending the building. When he enters he finds the other three active Avengers, Hawkeye, Goliath and the Wasp, lying dead. At this moment Jasper Sitwell enters and accuses him of murder.

I wonder where Jarvis was when all of this happened. He must have been enjoying a well deserved night off.

The Black Panther lets himself be arrested, even though he could easily escape. He doesn't even claim diplomatic immunity. He goes along with the system, hoping to find out what's happened.

In a flashback we see that a villain called the Grim Reaper defeated the Avengers. He's the brother of Simon Williams aka Wonder Man. He (wrongly) blames the Avengers for his brother's death in Avengers #9.

The Black Panther surmises that the Avengers' real killer must still be in Avengers Mansion, so he breaks out of the police station and returns to the scene of the crime. The Grim Reaper tells him that the Avengers aren't dead. His scythe has put them into a state of near-death, and they will die after three hours. Who can understand the logic of super-villains? Why didn't he kill them straight away? And why did he tell the Black Panther about the delayed death? The Black Panther defeats him and takes the scythe with him to the hospital morgue. One tap makes them fully conscious again.

After officially accepting the Black Panther as an Avenger, they say that they want to find Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

This story is slightly out of sync with the current Captain America adventures. In a cameo appearance Captain America says he has just defeated the Sleeper, so the Avengers story must take place after next month's Captain America #102.

X-Men #44

For a few issues the cover of the X-Men will announce that one or more of the X-Men are featured inside. This is in addition to the monthly origin story. At this time the X-Men comics were struggling with poor sales figures. These changes were presumably intended to give the comics a boost. I don't understand why this comic was less popular than the others, but maybe I'm biased. I think all the current Marvel super-hero stories being written are brilliant, with the possible exception of Doctor Strange.

Title: Red Raven, Red Raven!

Writer: Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich
Artist: Werner Roth

X-Men: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl

Villain: Magneto, Toad, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Red Raven

The X-Men have been defeated by Magneto. They're left alive in the hope that they'll join Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Some hope. The Angel escapes and attempts to fly to New York to enlist the help of the Avengers.

Stan Lee has forgotten when Quicksilver learnt how to fly. He should have asked me. It was Avengers #43. Does that earn me another No-Prize?

The Angel rests on a small island, presumably in the north Atlantic Ocean. He's attacked by a man with artificial wings who calls himself Red Raven. There used to be a race of birdmen who lived on a island floating in the clouds above the Atlantic. 40 years ago a plane crashed on the island, and the only survival was a small baby. He was adopted by the birdmen. He wasn't told where he had come from until he was an adult. He found out that the birdmen intended to conquer the surface world, so he activated a defence procedure which put all of the island's inhabitants apart from himself into a deep sleep for 20 years. He also dropped the island into the sea, just below the surface, to keep it hidden.

Red Raven has no ill intentions. He just wants to protect his people while avoiding a pointless war. He knocks out Angel, but saves his life by putting him out to sea on a raft. When he wakes up he continues his flight towards the Avengers.

There seems to be some chaos in the production of this issue. Roy Thomas left the comic after writing the plot. Don Heck has supplied the layouts for Werner Roth's artwork. In later years Roy Thomas claimed that Werner Roth was an unsuitable artist for the X-Men. I know I'm not an expert, but I disagree.

Title: The Iceman Cometh!

Writer: Gary Friedrich
Artist: George Tuska

X-Men: Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman

This story reveals how Iceman's powers first became public. His powers were already known to his parents, but they insisted that he keep them secret. Bobby Drake was out on a date with his girlfriend Judy. He was threatened by local bullies. To protect Judy he froze one of the bullies, scaring the others away.

The police came to arrest him. Professor X read about the incident in a newspaper and told Cyclops to go and free him.

Daredevil #40

Title: The Fallen Hero!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Exterminator, Ape-Man, Bird-Man, Cat-Man

Regulars: Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Debbie Harris

In this issue Ape-Man, Bird-Man and Cat-Man are no longer referred to as the Unholy Three. That's just as well. I hated that name.

Daredevil finds the ABC Gang – don't you think that's a much better name? – robbing a bank. He does well against them until one of them hits him with a Time Displacement Ray (TM). He finds himself in a parallel universe with Debbie Harris and the ray's other victims. One by one they fade away and return to the real world, leaving Daredevil alone. He fears that he's received a stronger blast and won't ever return.

Marvel Super-Heroes #14

Captain Marvel was the lead story in the last two issues of Marvel Super-Heroes. Now that he's been given his own comic a different character will be featured every month. How do I know? It's because Stan Lee said so. Nuff said!

This issue features Spider-Man. According to the notes on the splash page:

"When John Romita sprained his wrist our old pal Ross Andru came to the rescue with this replacement Spidey yarn. But then Johnny made his deadline after all. Since we can't bear to leave this mixed-up little masterpiece slumbering on the shelf, here it is, pilgrim. A once-in-a-lifetime treat for you".

That's a neat little story, but I don't believe it for a moment. Stan Lee can't fool me so easily. Everyone knows that Stan is the writer, so if John Romita really were indisposed the replacement artist would draw Stan's regular story, not a completely new story. Stan's just testing his readers to see if they're paying attention. I've just bagged myself yet another No-Prize!

Title: The Reprehensible Riddle of the Sorcerer!

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Ross Andru

Villain: Sorcerer, Synthetic Man / Hollow Man

Regulars: Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn

A sorcerer who calls himself the Sorcerer wants to defeat Spider-Man anonymously. With his ESP powers he influences Spider-Man to take a plane trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. He guides him to a warehouse where a stretchy, bendy monster is in a box. The Sorcerer refers to it both as the Synthetic Man and the Hollow Man. Did the Sorcerer make it himself? No idea! The Sorcerer controls it by using an electronic Psycho Intensifier (TM) to strengthen his natural ESP powers.

Spider-Man is unable to defeat the monster, but when the Sorcerer's doorbell rings there's a feedback and the Psycho Intensifier kills him. Without mental control the monster wanders into the sea.

Other comics published this month:

Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #54 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)
Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders #3 (Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers)