tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33355030084450567212024-03-13T15:06:19.347-07:00Mighty World of Bronze Age...Musings and more on Marvel's Bronze Age from 1972 to 1980.Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-6789911467964852782015-08-23T01:04:00.002-07:002015-08-23T02:02:48.907-07:00An Annual Post<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWnMzDhhIYI/VdmMHHVwOdI/AAAAAAAAByM/4rDttcSkyCA/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWnMzDhhIYI/VdmMHHVwOdI/AAAAAAAAByM/4rDttcSkyCA/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thumbing through a pile of back issues, I decided to give these three Fantastic Four Annuals a re-read for possibly the first time in 35+ years, and it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1dc640e6-59a5-1540-eee2-650aec68040f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First up, FF Annual #13, on sale in July 1978 (so spoilers for FF #200 that came out a month later in August 1978; yeah the Fantastic Four get back together as a team), written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Sal Buscema (inked by Joe Sinnott).</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mole Man is up to no good, stealing statues, and kidnapping all the ugly and blind folk from the streets of New York. So it’s a no-brainer that Alicia Masters is on his hit-list (being both a sculptress and blind - duh!), which means the newly reunited Fantastic Four get involved in his dastardly plot to give all those ugly and blind people a place to call home beneath the Earth’s surface. No matter that they’ll all be dimly lit; they’ll no longer be ostracised from an uncaring society and will have all these beautiful statues to look at. Can anyone else see (no pun intended) a problem with that?</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyway, the Fantastic Four bust up on the Mole Man and his Moloids until Alica breaks up the fighting by pointing out that the Mole Man’s intentions were good (though probably misguided), and that many of those he kidnapped are more than happy to shuffle around in the near dark, bumping into statues and being reminded of their lack of good looks. So as a parting gift she sculpts a statue of the Mole Man in all his glory, he’s happy, and the Fantastic Four depart - along with a few of the kidnapped citizens that required some medical attention from falling over all those stolen statues just lying around. I made that last part up.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite being dumb, this was an enjoyable read. I especially liked how Mantlo portrayed the Fantastic Four’s interactions with other New Yorker’s while wandering around the city, and Sal Buscema, as far as I’m concerned, was THE Marvel Bronze Age artist. Reading this issue was like sliding my feet into an old pair of slippers - so comfortable.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annual #14, on sale in October 1979, written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by George Perez (inked by Pablo Marcos) was a perfect example of why you should never judge a book by its’ cover. Behind a rather dull Franklin Richards cover was an unexpected delight; not so much a Fantastic Four story, but a spotlight issue for Agatha Harkness. Who totally kicks ass.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Fantastic Four (with Franklin) accompany Agatha on her yearly sojourn back to New Salem, so she can lead the New Salemnites (?) in their annual ritual to cleanse their magics. Obviously, Salem’s Seven and Nicholas Scratch get involved and it all goes to hell; but the Fantastic Four are almost incidental in their own book, as it is Agatha who takes the lead in sorting the whole mess out (with a little help from Franklin and his not so dormant cosmic powers).</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This issue was thoroughly entertaining, helped not-just-a-little by Perez’ dynamic pencils. Though I’ve never been a fan of Pablo Marcos’ inks, they were tolerable here. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well worth reading. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which is not something I can say for Annual #15, on sale in July 1980, written by Doug Moench and drawn by George Perez (inked by Chic Stone), which was was quite frankly a bit of a mess.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m not even sure I can summarise the plot for this one; it involves Reed inventing some kind of teleporting machine by accident, some invading Skulls, and Captain Mar-Vell. And some time travel hilarity. Or not.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never really enjoyed Moench’s time on Fantastic Four, and this issue pretty much cemented my feelings on that. However, there was a really nice back-up story (written by Moench and drawn by Tom Sutton) that shows Zorba failing to maintain his newly liberated Latveria, and the ultimate resurrection of Dr Doom. A lot of nice ideas here about newly democratised people not really feeling the love for their new status quo. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unemployment, higher taxes, and lots of picketing; yeah, that’ll get you down. What you really need is a megalomaniacal terrorist in charge. Sorted.</span></div>
</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-62710946424222370832014-08-16T07:02:00.001-07:002015-08-23T01:14:02.953-07:00From the Savage Land to an Alternative Earth: Steve Englehart’s Avengers from 1972 to 1976..#105<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The Scarlet Witch rarely got a chance to shine during the Silver Age, constantly overshadowed by her overbearing twin brother, Quicksilver. From the moment they joined The Avengers, they remained inseparable, so Roy Thomas writing Pietro out of the Avengers was both a relief, and an opportunity for Wanda to develope away from her brother’s overprotective custody.*</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-5cb5cb72-df0e-60c7-f824-34014a4091a5"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">So it was appropriate that Steve Englehart opened his first issue with a full page splash of Wanda in full tilt.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfzVcMSOuck/U-9gDr5qEnI/AAAAAAAABmY/KfXuRKAYgYg/s1600/wanda%2Bspash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WfzVcMSOuck/U-9gDr5qEnI/AAAAAAAABmY/KfXuRKAYgYg/s1600/wanda%2Bspash.jpg" height="640" width="588" /></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unknown to The Avengers, and his sister Wanda, Qucksilver had travelled to Australia to rescue her from the Sentinels, but had been severely wounded in battle. Just as he was losing consciousness, a monstrous form appeared and whisked him away. So it was little wonder that Wanda was in a particularly fretful mood, and ready to take her frustrations out on the seemingly unsympathetic Iron Man and Hawkeye.</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqH8GPK7r4o/U-9gdP0JuSI/AAAAAAAABmg/uY95m3YbzFU/s1600/iron%2Bman%2Band%2Bhawkeye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqH8GPK7r4o/U-9gdP0JuSI/AAAAAAAABmg/uY95m3YbzFU/s1600/iron%2Bman%2Band%2Bhawkeye.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">This was a plot that Roy Thomas was developing for another title, Fantastic Four, but Englehart turned it to his advantage, using the Avengers’ search for Quicksilver as an excuse to further examine the fraught relationship between the Scarlet Witch and The Vision,</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Wanda learns that some scientists have been kidnapped in Chile, and by some suspect reasoning, believes this may be linked to Pietro’s disappearance. So with little ado, The Avengers, with the newly returned Black Leopard, sorry, Panther, and house guest Sif, jet off to Tierra del Fuego.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The appearance of The Black Panther, Sif and assorted Asgardians, The Vision’s return from battling the Puppet Master in Marvel Team-Up #5, and passing mention that Captain America has left on a personal matter, is a perfect example of Englehart’s willingness to fully embrace continuity, reinforcing the concept of the Marvel Universe as a cohesive whole.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Blasting through a sealed up cave entrance, The Avengers soon find themselves in the Savage Land, home of Ka-Zar, and Magneto’s Mutates, the Beast-Brood.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cb5cb72-df11-f44f-fe41-85973ec61bbd"></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">After an initial skirmish with the Beast-Brood, the enlightened Hawkeye checks in with Wanda:</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bni9d0euhec/U-9g6W64BYI/AAAAAAAABmo/V1dW7QCWVzI/s1600/body%2Bstocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bni9d0euhec/U-9g6W64BYI/AAAAAAAABmo/V1dW7QCWVzI/s1600/body%2Bstocking.jpg" height="584" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Yeah, Clint’s still got some ways to go in relating to the opposite sex.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cb5cb72-df13-48ac-1b07-4fc8cdba5137"></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Coming across an abandoned, and destroyed, complex, The Avengers find an unfamiliar costume that they presume belonged to The Angel, and the remaining members of the Beast-Brood.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qt4dLcRlazU/U-9hS1H7H7I/AAAAAAAABmw/BFe4_iEpsdw/s1600/beast%2Bbrood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qt4dLcRlazU/U-9hS1H7H7I/AAAAAAAABmw/BFe4_iEpsdw/s1600/beast%2Bbrood.jpg" height="604" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cb5cb72-df14-b708-25f0-dc8243a5d5be"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Just as The Avengers defeat the Mutates, Lorelei appears and enchants the male members of The Avengers with her siren song. All, that is, except The Vision who summarily dismisses the threat. Unfortunately, the fact that he was unaffected by the siren song of Lorelei leaves The Vision decidedly downbeat.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8CQnZxWha0/U-9hnYSUe-I/AAAAAAAABm4/eONGspLr8as/s1600/blue%2Bfunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8CQnZxWha0/U-9hnYSUe-I/AAAAAAAABm4/eONGspLr8as/s1600/blue%2Bfunk.jpg" height="328" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Succinctly, Englehart used the wild goose chase in search of Quicksilver to introduce Lorelei, and her power over human men, to cast some doubt in the (computer) mind of The Vision as to whether he was truly able to love a human. And if not, what would he do to make it possible? </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">We’d soon find out, with the reappearance of The Grim Reaper in the next issue.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">As a first issue goes, not bad. It was a little rough around the edges in places, but Englehart’s enthusiasm, and obvious love for the material, overcomes any problems with the plotting. It is Englehart’s attention to characterisation - and detail - though, that really stands out, and will become a defining feature of Engelhart’s Avengers as he becomes progressively more comfortable with the team.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5cb5cb72-df16-5316-2631-f66d80a4f22b"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">*I always found the twins a tad suspect, yet never had a problem with Wanda falling in love with - and eventually marrying - the Vision. I suspect this had a lot to do with my nascent sexuality, and a need to identify with people and relationships that did not exactly fit the mold. That, or I was just weird.</span></span></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-69211645628093741152014-08-11T12:39:00.000-07:002014-08-11T21:37:39.041-07:00From the Savage Land to an Alternative Earth: Steve Englehart’s Avengers from 1972 to 1976.. <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Prologue.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After six years, it was time for Roy </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to move on. He handpicked his successor, Steve Englehart - a recent addition to the Marvel Bullpen - to continue chronicling the adventures of Marvel’s premiere team, and in doing so, kick started Marvel resolutely into what is now fondly referred to as the Bronze Age of comics (by fans of a certain age).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Englehart’s writing career at Marvel - leaving aside a few done-in-ones for the mystery and romance mags - began in earnest with The Beast feature in Amazing Adventures #12 (on sale date February 1972), before taking over as the regular writer on Captain America with #153 (on sale date June 1972). Just two months later he took on the writing duties of Earth’s Mightiest Team, with the Avengers #105 (on sale date August 1972).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It wasn’t a completely smooth transition though, as Roy Thomas left a number of dangling plot lines for Steve to pick up on, not least the developing romance between the Scarlet Witch and The Vision - brewing since just before the start of the Kree/Skrull War -, and The Grim Reaper’s macabre offer to The Vision in #102. Luckily for Thomas, Englehart was one of the new breed of creators, raised on Marvel’s continuity conscious comics of the ‘60s, and not afraid to play with the tapestry that Lee, Kirby, Ditko and many others wove during the preceding decade</span>.</span></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-7812836488768970682014-08-10T13:46:00.000-07:002014-08-11T13:08:13.497-07:00Because you demanded it! Or maybe you didn’t...<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After an unscheduled, and lengthy, absence from posting, I think I may finally have got my Bro</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nze Age mojo back.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last 17 months have been tumultuous; comparable to a low selling mid ‘70s Marvel comic, with no direction and a writer and/or artist change every other issue.Thank Galactus, I’m in a very different place now, both figuratively and physically - I am never moving again with </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> many boxes of comics! - and certainly more settled. So settled in fact, that I’ve pulled out my longbox of Bronze Age Avengers and started reading Steve Englehart’s massively influential four year run on that title, from #105 (on sale date August 1972) to #151 (on sale date June 1976).</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what better way to get back into the swing of things than to write up my thoughts as I go?</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming soon: Can an Android love a Mutant?</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlrfNW6-_e0/U-fZrcdQerI/AAAAAAAABmA/UHlUYrlTNSU/s1600/wanda+and+vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlrfNW6-_e0/U-fZrcdQerI/AAAAAAAABmA/UHlUYrlTNSU/s1600/wanda+and+vision.jpg" height="640" width="466" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">ps for those still wondering after all this time, The Cat won the Top Bronze Age Heroine poll.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did not see that one coming.</span></div>
</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-70110333859143323152013-01-01T11:51:00.001-08:002013-03-03T00:27:55.383-08:00Top Bronze Age Heroine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My favouite fanzine (though it was professionally published) in the 80s was Amazing Heroes; and my favourite articles were the ' Hero Histories'. Didn't matter who they were, or where they were from, they were always a source of interest.</div>
<br />
My recent <a href="http://mightyworldofbronzeagemarvel.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/a-girl-named-frankie-raye.html">Frankie Raye</a> post was very much influenced by those articles, and it's something I would like to do more of - the only problem is who to do?<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I've set up a little poll in the right-hand column. Vote for your top Bronze Age Heroine, and I'll write about her. I should say, I took a few liberties: The Cat and Tigra are essentially the same person, but very different heroines, and though Jean Grey was a heroine during the Silver Age, Phoenix was very much a Bronze Age creation,<br />
<br />
So vote!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGLc4pDqK58/UOMxWeXQrXI/AAAAAAAABYM/D_Qs3JR37Rs/s1600/01+the+cat+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lGLc4pDqK58/UOMxWeXQrXI/AAAAAAAABYM/D_Qs3JR37Rs/s400/01+the+cat+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's no rum in this punch! Nuff said!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1YRZ4Konw8/UOMyM3OwBZI/AAAAAAAABYU/N8VwpwebSws/s1600/02+mantis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1YRZ4Konw8/UOMyM3OwBZI/AAAAAAAABYU/N8VwpwebSws/s400/02+mantis.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one says vote for me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXg0Q323hsA/UOMzb03wj2I/AAAAAAAABZA/V0pBmFCtKLk/s1600/03+moondragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXg0Q323hsA/UOMzb03wj2I/AAAAAAAABZA/V0pBmFCtKLk/s400/03+moondragon.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was bald before it was beautiful, baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LzOBXigiDc/UOM0mBq3CkI/AAAAAAAABZc/ih_0hnQljhw/s1600/04+thundra.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LzOBXigiDc/UOM0mBq3CkI/AAAAAAAABZc/ih_0hnQljhw/s400/04+thundra.png" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, blue-eyed Ben Grimm is the one for me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29tUa-lsErU/UOM2FVb3B3I/AAAAAAAABao/d5NT_JpnjV0/s1600/05+ms+marvel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29tUa-lsErU/UOM2FVb3B3I/AAAAAAAABao/d5NT_JpnjV0/s400/05+ms+marvel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This female fights back! OK?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytyx9VsmSSc/UOM318AdFrI/AAAAAAAABbU/vIOX7g9gvWs/s1600/06+spider-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytyx9VsmSSc/UOM318AdFrI/AAAAAAAABbU/vIOX7g9gvWs/s400/06+spider-woman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider-Man? Spider-Man who?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jrNDRFvE3lA/UOM4b_7-01I/AAAAAAAABbc/ZOBdY66jmLY/s1600/07+tigra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jrNDRFvE3lA/UOM4b_7-01I/AAAAAAAABbc/ZOBdY66jmLY/s400/07+tigra.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crotch shots weren't in that Marvel Monster makeover contract!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOFq46GM6-o/UOM6Sjb7ZuI/AAAAAAAABcI/NeXvLGDIUIQ/s1600/08+phoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FOFq46GM6-o/UOM6Sjb7ZuI/AAAAAAAABcI/NeXvLGDIUIQ/s400/08+phoenix.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am fire! I am life incarnate! I am so dead!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBJWqXu7x0M/UOM7GltVAzI/AAAAAAAABcU/uXQUgZ0vZYw/s1600/storm+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBJWqXu7x0M/UOM7GltVAzI/AAAAAAAABcU/uXQUgZ0vZYw/s400/storm+09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's that you say? We're going down to the cellar?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mtb_zLQBbd4/UOM8Dc1OrjI/AAAAAAAABdA/QjetCpWj8AA/s1600/10+kitty+pryde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mtb_zLQBbd4/UOM8Dc1OrjI/AAAAAAAABdA/QjetCpWj8AA/s400/10+kitty+pryde.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was teenage jailbait, but I've got a dragon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-phevU85ctSk/UOM8vjo6zVI/AAAAAAAABdo/38ItDBxe07c/s1600/11+dazzler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-phevU85ctSk/UOM8vjo6zVI/AAAAAAAABdo/38ItDBxe07c/s400/11+dazzler.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I can chew gum and walk at the same time. So what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-13366897152218757692012-12-31T10:11:00.000-08:002013-01-01T00:34:40.910-08:00Let's party like it's 1979!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--odrMNva5NA/UOBDR9KtxMI/AAAAAAAABQI/Nig8Cu35A-c/s1600/NEW+YEAR+2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--odrMNva5NA/UOBDR9KtxMI/AAAAAAAABQI/Nig8Cu35A-c/s640/NEW+YEAR+2013.png" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Courtesy of <a href="http://www.hembeck.com/FredSez.htm">Fred Hembeck</a> and<a href="http://seanhowe.tumblr.com/post/32424572923/marvel-comics-book-release-party-in-new-york-city"> Sean Howe's tumblr</a><br />
<br />
Just be sure not to end up like this.....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzkc71P4yxU/UOA1Z-736CI/AAAAAAAABPc/Q5n9AwTKcFU/s1600/im128.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzkc71P4yxU/UOA1Z-736CI/AAAAAAAABPc/Q5n9AwTKcFU/s640/im128.gif" width="408" /></a><br />
<br />
Courtesy of<a href="http://kerrycallen.blogspot.co.uk/"> Kerry Callen</a></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-69208617794913734882012-12-29T05:45:00.000-08:002012-12-29T05:52:15.336-08:00A girl named Frankie Raye<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wR-GXCeSYk/UN7wj7k6ZeI/AAAAAAAABMU/TU8Q7m14Zro/s1600/Frankie+Raye+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wR-GXCeSYk/UN7wj7k6ZeI/AAAAAAAABMU/TU8Q7m14Zro/s400/Frankie+Raye+2.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Face it tiger...oops, wrong redhead.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
When John Byrne took the Fantastic Four <b>Back to the Basics</b> with <i>Fantastic
Four</i> Vol. 1 #232 (cover date July 1981) it was a rather apt title
considering his stance, in interviews at the time (if recall correctly), that
nothing that came after Jack Kirby left the <i>Fantastic
Four </i>with Vol. 1 #102 (cover date September 1970) ‘counted’, essentially
ignoring the previous decade; or, to put it another way, the entirety of what
we now fondly refer to as the Bronze Age of Marvel Comics. Byrne had sole responsibility
for shaping the future of the Fantastic Four as both artist and writer, so he
had to trust in his creative instincts; but it still seemed a tad disrespectful
of all the other creators that came before him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmDMYhseKFw/UN7vKeRbKmI/AAAAAAAABLo/RohjU3Yho74/s1600/Frankie+Raye+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XmDMYhseKFw/UN7vKeRbKmI/AAAAAAAABLo/RohjU3Yho74/s320/Frankie+Raye+3.jpg" width="320" /></a> It was a little odd,
then, that in his first issue he used a character created by Roy Thomas and
George Perez in <i>Fantastic Four</i> Vol. 1
#164 (cover date November 1975); Johnny Storm’s red-haired flame (pun intended),
Frankie Raye. Frankie was Johnny’s only Bronze Age romantic entanglement after
Crystal left the team (and later married Quicksilver), but only appeared a
handful of times (the last being Vol. 1 #204 March 1979 – more than two years
prior to the start of John Byrne’s run). Could it be that Byrne had been told
something about the creation of Frankie Raye - that she was originally intended
to be the daughter of Toro, the original Human Torch’s sidekick* - that he felt
he could repurpose her for something else he had planned?** Do all red-haired
girls have to ‘go bad’ in the end?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Johnny’s first date with Frankie (a’ lonely U.N. translator’
he met in a ‘ 2<sup>nd</sup> Avenue singles bar’) starts well as they wander
from Art Fairs to Rock-Joints in New York’s Greenwich Village, but all good
things must come to an end as The Crusader attacks. Johnny resists flaming-on -
not wanting to reveal who he is to Frankie - but his hand is eventually forced;
Frankie’s reaction shot by George Perez is a portent of what is to come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvVh6dXYnuI/UN7xJQkconI/AAAAAAAABMc/_IB6ziSjpsw/s1600/Frankie+raye+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvVh6dXYnuI/UN7xJQkconI/AAAAAAAABMc/_IB6ziSjpsw/s320/Frankie+raye+4.JPG" width="320" /></a>The next time Johnny and Frankie meet up is in <i>Fantastic Four</i> #171 (cover date June
1976) at Central Park Zoo. They discuss why Frankie ran off the last time, and
she explains that seeing Johnny become the Human Torch freaked her out.
Unfortunately, just as Johnny tries to convince her that he is considering
giving up the superhero life, and that she might just be the one, a spaceship
lands and out comes Gorr – a giant golden gorilla. Johnny immediately flames-on,
but then reconsiders and returns to Frankie, as the ‘police can handle that
overgrown ape, soon as they get some heavier guns.’ <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A short time later, at Frankie’s apartment, Johnny overhears
on the radio that his fellow teammates are helpless before Gorr, so with
Frankie’s protestations ringing in his ear he flames-on and leaves. Frankie ‘suddenly
knows the truth at last…that all this has happened to her…before!’<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wonder what that could <b><i>mean</i></b>?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is another ten issues, in <i>Fantastic Four</i> #181 (cover date April 1977), before Frankie makes
another appearance. Johnny is hanging around Greenwich Village in the hope of
seeing Frankie again, and when he does she’s with another man. Johnny and
Frankie argue, with Johnny making light of her fear of fire, so Frankie leaves.
Johnny flies off, promising to ‘find out why you’re so traumatised by fire…if
it takes forever!’<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Considering this was Roy Thomas’ last issue, Johnny might be
waiting some time.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Len Wein picks-up the Frankie and Johnny (non) relationship
another ten issues later, in <i>Fantastic
Four</i> #191 (cover date February 1978), when Johnny calls on Frankie - hoping
to rekindle their romance - but is called away by the Fantasti-Flare before she
can answer the door.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is <b><i>only</i> </b>another 13 issues until Frankie
makes her last appearance during the Bronze Age, under the pen of Marv Wolfman,
in <i>Fantastic Four</i> #204. Johnny bumps
into her while enrolling at Empire State University, and while they discuss why
they never quite got together in the past, Frankie gives her reasons as ‘never
liked dating a superhero…or got used to you standing me up…or rushing off
halfway through a date…or’ before being cut-off by an emergency call from Reed.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Presumably her next line was going to be ‘… or you turning
into a human matchstick, and I hate fire’ but I suspect that plot point was
being quietly buried.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STYFbaV3ovU/UN7xrquoVeI/AAAAAAAABMk/s1uYXlZUNxk/s1600/frankie+raye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STYFbaV3ovU/UN7xrquoVeI/AAAAAAAABMk/s1uYXlZUNxk/s320/frankie+raye.jpg" width="107" /></a>Anyone that has read John Byrne’s 5 year + run on <i>Fantastic Four </i>knows that he eventually
revealed Frankie to be the step-daughter of the original Human Torch’s creator,
Phineas Horton. At the age of 14, she’d been accidentally doused in chemicals
that gave her the power to burst into flame, but Horton hypnotised her into
forgetting these events, while giving her a costume that mysteriously only
appears when she is naked. Yeah, that never made complete sense to me, but it
did give Byrne the chance to show the slightly salacious scene of Johnny
gawping at a slowly disrobing Frankie.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Byrne teased his readers with the idea that Frankie might
join the Fantastic Four, but over a few adventures he had Frankie show a disturbing
propensity for violence and callousness, that ultimately culminated in her
accepting a new job as Galactus’ herald, receiving the power cosmic, and becoming
Nova. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While Frankie/Nova is apparently dead in current continuity,
Byrne did originally intend to have Nova become the next Galactus, after another
Big Bang at the culmination of his ‘ The Last Galactus Story’, the ending of
which remains unpublished today.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ask again, do all red-haired girls go bad eventually?
Frankie’s sad fate has an echo of that other red-haired girl gone bad, Jean Grey/Phoenix,
and I sort of wish that Roy Thomas had seen his plot for Frankie Raye through.
Who knows, she might even be in the X-Men now, as the mutant daughter of Toro.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*I have only seen this referenced once online, as told to
John Byrne by Len Wein, but can’t find anything else to corroborate it. It may
be false, but given Roy Thomas’ predilection for using Golden Age characters and
stitching them into then current continuity (see <a href="http://mightyworldofbronzeagemarvel.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/in-mid-70s-there-were-some-comics-i.html"><i>Giant-Size Avengers</i> #1</a>)…it has a ring of the truth to it.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
**At a later date, Byrne also made reference to Frankie
being Ann Raymond and Toro’s <i>step-daughter</i>
in Avengers West Coast #50, so while it probably negates Roy Thomas’ earlier
intent, it does at least acknowledge the connection.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=82151&pgi=151&AffID=594262P02">Buy comics featuring Frankie Raye at My Comic Shop</a></div>
<br />
<br />Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-475374119690097322012-10-14T08:15:00.001-07:002012-12-28T10:22:26.865-08:00FREE INSIDE CAPTAIN BRITAIN MASK!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B23edV-rVDw/UHrV29K0u8I/AAAAAAAAA3I/jg7cJaRpi44/s1600/361637-20687-127488-2-captain-britain_super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B23edV-rVDw/UHrV29K0u8I/AAAAAAAAA3I/jg7cJaRpi44/s1600/361637-20687-127488-2-captain-britain_super.jpg" /></a>If you’re a regular dweller within this particular dusty, dark, corner of
the comic blogosphere, you’ll no doubt have seen other celebratory posts this
weekend about Britain’s very own superhero. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Captain Britain </i>No.
1 was released the week ending October 13 1976. I was 11 years old, and the
power of TV advertising (plus the lure of a free Captain Britain mask) worked
its magic. I plunked down my 10p and prepared myself to be thrilled by the full
colour exploits of the hero we’d all been demanding (apparently). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, not quite. Despite a personal message from Stan Lee
informing us that nearly a full year was spent ‘creating the characters, developing
the themes, and producing the greatest possible stories and illustrations!’ it
wasn’t particularly evident within the seven slim pages written by Chris Claremont and drawn by
Herb Trimpe (inked by Fred Kida).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brian Braddock was a pipe smoking physicist working at the Darkmoor
Research Centre, a top secret nuclear complex, when it was attacked by Joshua
Stragg…THE REAVER! Fleeing the scene on a motor bike, Brian was startled by the
flashing lights of a passing hovercraft causing him to drive off a cliff. Still
somehow alive, but battered and broken, Brian is given an ultimatum by a couple
of floating heads. Choose either the sword or the amulet…life or death…and…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK! THOU SHALT NOT MISS IT!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, we already knew what he choose, because the comic
opened with two pages of Brian Braddock, as Captain Britain (wearing the
amulet), fighting THE REAVER (brandishing a sword). Obviously it was decided
that the Special Origin Issue! should open with some senses-shattering action,
but it killed the cliff-hanger ending dead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wasn’t very impressed, and the lie was put to the claim
that a year was spent producing the greatest possible stories and illustrations,
by the two superior reprints included in the issue. A John Buscema drawn Fantastic
Four, and a Jim Steranko Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Beat that Cap!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, I gave Captain Britain a chance and bought his comic
for a few more weeks, but I was never that interested. It took a few more
years, and the talents of Alan Moore and Alan Davis, to make me finally like
Britain’s own superhero – and for that alone it is worth wishing Captain
Britain a very happy 36<sup>th</sup> birthday!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=181741&AffID=594262P02" rel="nofollow">Buy Captain Britain No.1 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-59215134760240212772012-10-13T09:15:00.000-07:002012-12-28T10:18:14.526-08:00The…What?! With the announcement this weekend that the final roster
tally for the re-launched <i>The Avengers</i>
is expected to be 30 plus members, I’m reminded of a time during the Bronze Age
that The Avengers expanded to such an extent that it took a government employee
to knock some sense into them.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVdFgrqCtc8/UHmOkR3J-MI/AAAAAAAAA2o/b1T29pwQxS8/s1600/A181_TooManyAvengers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVdFgrqCtc8/UHmOkR3J-MI/AAAAAAAAA2o/b1T29pwQxS8/s640/A181_TooManyAvengers.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <i>The Avengers</i> #181
(cover date March 1979) The Avengers were up to 23 members and assorted guests,
prompting a revocation of their priority status and an intervention by Henry
Peter Gyrich. The result? A much diminished membership of 7, and one very
pissed off Hawkeye - rejected in favour of The Falcon and equal opportunities, a
federal government requirement for The Avengers priority status to be
reinstated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was an audacious twist on the <i>Old Order Changeth </i>theme, written by David Michelinie and superbly
drawn by John Byrne (inks by Gene Day), that gave us a series of classic reaction
shots, not least Hawkeye’s. Say it again Clint…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TENh_oxQBj0/UHmPBo9JGGI/AAAAAAAAA2w/iPPcDQw20co/s1600/avengers+181+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TENh_oxQBj0/UHmPBo9JGGI/AAAAAAAAA2w/iPPcDQw20co/s320/avengers+181+-+Copy.png" width="141" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=79131&pgi=151&AffID=594262P02">Buy Avengers #181 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
<br />Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-51431600714251112332012-10-06T02:08:00.001-07:002012-12-31T06:41:20.037-08:00Bronze Age Marvel Greats: Sal Buscema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKr3Ona3yuE/UG_yxEObHgI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yqaPT0vUR0Y/s1600/DEF34_Bozos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKr3Ona3yuE/UG_yxEObHgI/AAAAAAAAAxg/yqaPT0vUR0Y/s640/DEF34_Bozos.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Despite my love for Marvel’s Bronze Age, I would be the
first to admit that there are few extended runs during this period that really
hold up to repeated readings. Many are flawed by inconsistent art teams, THE
DREADED DEADLINE DOOM!, or sudden shifts in writers. One of my most revered
Bronze Age Marvel runs is Steve Gerber’s time on The Defenders, marred only by
his very sudden departure to be replaced by Gerry Conway.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In issue #41, in response to a letter, an unnamed Marvel employee
(but it is most likely Gerber himself) writes:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“In any event, we’re
not necessarily sorry you disagree with Steve Gerber’s plots or that they
disagree with you, because Gerber’s been relieved of his duties on the book. Next
issue, Gerry Conway takes over the scripting and he promises that THE DEFENDERS
will shortly resemble a super-hero book – and not the outtakes from “Mary Hartman,
Mary Hartman” – in plotting and dialogue once again.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ouch!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It struck me, though, after recently re-reading the run in
its entirety, that the unsung hero is Sal Buscema. Never a flashy artist, he is
an excellent storyteller and adds much needed consistency. His characters are
always on-model (a practise a few of the later, more stylised, Marvel artists ignored, to the
detriment of the Marvel Universe as a whole), and perfectly captures some of
the more outrageous aspects of Gerber’s scripts. Just take a look at that panel
above, with Val, Dr Strange and the Hulk wearing bozo masks, and marvel at the way
Sal highlights the absurdity of the situation with an apparently matter-of-fact
illustration. The tension between the absurd and the mundane is palpable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sal was inked by a variety of talented individuals (and
Vinnie Colletta), but though Klaus Janson was nice (if a little overpowering),
I am very partial to the inks of Mike Esposito. The most enduring image from Gerber’s
run, for me, has always been Valkyrie’s despatch of a rat menacing a child in
the slums, and Sal and Mike played the scene exceptionally. Enjoy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dagc3O0TLLQ/UG_z4pVunbI/AAAAAAAAAxo/hB8_6Uz-mt4/s1600/val+and+the+rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dagc3O0TLLQ/UG_z4pVunbI/AAAAAAAAAxo/hB8_6Uz-mt4/s640/val+and+the+rat.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-16429496218472838222012-09-29T08:40:00.001-07:002012-12-28T10:12:05.237-08:00“I must be dreamed before midnight…but where is my dreamer?”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ntsmg_ZKiLs/UGcShKIdheI/AAAAAAAAAwE/m7a8Pqsc3YQ/s1600/headmen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ntsmg_ZKiLs/UGcShKIdheI/AAAAAAAAAwE/m7a8Pqsc3YQ/s400/headmen1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In The Defenders #21 (cover date March 1975), Steve Gerber
introduced The Headmen, a villainous team of two mad-scientists and a mystic.
Curiously, as announced in that issue's letter column, all three characters had
appeared previously; but where?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niCfPkvVRnc/UGftex74Q9I/AAAAAAAAAws/luUYpwKlJeA/s1600/21286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niCfPkvVRnc/UGftex74Q9I/AAAAAAAAAws/luUYpwKlJeA/s400/21286.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SPECIAL BULLPEN NOTE:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Okay. So now you’ve
met the Headmen – Dr. Nagan, Jerry Morgan, and Chondu. But you probably didn’t
realise all three of these characters have appeared before! No, not in THE
DEFENDERS…not even together as a team…but recently, in a Marvel mag published
during 1974.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So guess what? It’s
contest time! We’ll award a special prize – and a no-prize as well! – to the
first reader who’s able to tell us where and when Nagan, Morgan, and Chondu
last appeared. (And when you figure it out…hoo boy, are you gonna be
surprised!).<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, for those of us who were no-prize challenged (and 49
Bronze Age Marvelites got it right!) the answer was Weird Wonder Tales #7
(cover date December 1974), which reprinted a number of science fiction/horror
tales from the 1950s.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KzVZhkw0Evo/UGcTOhDVIkI/AAAAAAAAAwM/rhwhB-7PNI8/s1600/weird+wonder+tales+%237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KzVZhkw0Evo/UGcTOhDVIkI/AAAAAAAAAwM/rhwhB-7PNI8/s400/weird+wonder+tales+%237.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Arthur Nagan, the Gorillia-Man, originally appeared in Mystery
Tales #21 (art by Bob Powell); Chondu the Yogi first appeared in Tales of
Suspense #9 (art by George Evans); and Dr. Jerry Morgan debuted in World of
Fantasy #11 (art by Angelo Torres). The art was superb on each of the strips,
but each had ‘shock’ endings a blind man could see coming. They must have
intrigued Steve Gerber, however, for him to pluck these three Atlas era bozos
from obscurity and cast them successfully in new Bronze Age Marvel roles. It
was certainly a Weird (Wonder Tales) thing to do, but not entirely without
precedent. Xemnu, the big white hairy fellah that menaced The Defenders early
on, had made a similar transition.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It struck me, though, that Gerber may have lifted something
else from that issue of Weird Wonder Tales. The Black Rain that emanates from Chondu’s
brain after it is injected with a serum is described thus:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“…A sinister dream that dissolves into black rain and seeps
into sleeping minds throughout the city.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the other reprints in that issue of Weird Wonder
Tales is <b>Nightmare at Midnight</b>, about
a dream, depicted as a black floating mass, looking for a dreamer. Could it be
that dream-without-a-dreamer that Chondu pulls from another dimension? I would
like to think so.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
This ‘prelude’ to The Defenders
#21 is an interesting curio that makes me wonder what Gerber may, or may not, have
been imbibing while reading Weird Wonder Tales #7 late one night in 1974. <o:p>
</o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hwgx1bUV1I/UGcVMOBusAI/AAAAAAAAAwU/ovhHGUtlt5s/s1600/nagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hwgx1bUV1I/UGcVMOBusAI/AAAAAAAAAwU/ovhHGUtlt5s/s400/nagan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There was also an interesting item hidden away in this
issue’s Stan Lee’s Soapbox. Stan mentions a Hitler documentary mag… say what?
Surely Marvel didn’t? I haven’t been able to find anything on the ol’ web about
it, so if anyone knows any information, please share. That just sounds so….ill
considered!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=178631&AffID=594262P02">Buy Weird Wonder Tales #7 at My Comic Shop</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-77314368192559943142012-08-03T14:03:00.000-07:002012-08-04T07:36:38.478-07:00Mirror mirror...who is the fairest heroine of them all?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
While The Winsome Wasp was Marvel’s go to heroine for
fashion and frivolity, during the Bronze Age even Marvel’s most liberated
ladies were never far from a full length mirror when trying on a stylish new outfit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Presented here for your delectation, three heroines making their stunning debut in a trio of daring costumes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Black Widow</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0-r2M1u-R4/UBw2UowzewI/AAAAAAAAAno/ng0iR2rBGkA/s1600/johnromitablackwidow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U0-r2M1u-R4/UBw2UowzewI/AAAAAAAAAno/ng0iR2rBGkA/s320/johnromitablackwidow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Designed by John Romita Sr for Natasha Romanoff; appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #86 July 1970</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Valkyrie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UY5-YnKezgg/UBw3xBPh-7I/AAAAAAAAAnw/OcnWRIvQ28Y/s1600/johnbyrnrvalkyrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UY5-YnKezgg/UBw3xBPh-7I/AAAAAAAAAnw/OcnWRIvQ28Y/s320/johnbyrnrvalkyrie.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Designed by John Byrne for Brunnhilde; appearing in The Defenders #40 October 1976</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ms Marvel</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weDfP1kGGQo/UBw6BWCMfyI/AAAAAAAAAn4/mXdWGpvVsAI/s1600/davecockrummsmarvel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-weDfP1kGGQo/UBw6BWCMfyI/AAAAAAAAAn4/mXdWGpvVsAI/s320/davecockrummsmarvel.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Designed by Dave Cockrum for Carol Danvers; appearing in Ms Marvel #20 October 1978</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-63458098554802948192012-07-29T02:07:00.000-07:002012-08-27T03:56:57.289-07:00The Summer of '76<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Summer of ’76 was notable for many things. The UK was
roasting in a heat-wave; ABBA was camping up the charts with <i>Dancing Queen </i>and Rod Stewart was
singing about <i>The Killing of Georgie.</i>
I was 11 years old; I’d moved up to big school, AND started my first job as a
Paperboy. Things were good; school holidays seemed endless and I had my own
money to spend on comics.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what was I spending that hard-earned (dragging the Sunday
papers around Highbury Hill at 7AM was hard labour!) cash on? What Bronze Age
Marvel comics caught my eye in July 1976?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Avengers #149</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYV0IsgoQmc/UBT6PqdjTkI/AAAAAAAAAgo/NRwdj-RCrwI/s1600/Avengers_Vol_1_149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYV0IsgoQmc/UBT6PqdjTkI/AAAAAAAAAgo/NRwdj-RCrwI/s320/Avengers_Vol_1_149.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steve Englehart was only two issues away from ending his
era-defining run on <i>The Avengers </i>(and
his time at Marvel during the Bronze Age) but before then he had to finish up a
memorable multipart storyline in which The Avengers came into conflict with The
Squadron Supreme, The Brand Corporation, Roxxon Oil, and The Serpent Crown. Oh,
and he introduced Patsy Walker as The Hellcat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Defenders #37</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilaJ1DBT76w/UBT6mvDQvII/AAAAAAAAAgw/vsvMmrCLYJw/s1600/300px-Defenders_Vol_1_37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilaJ1DBT76w/UBT6mvDQvII/AAAAAAAAAgw/vsvMmrCLYJw/s320/300px-Defenders_Vol_1_37.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steve Gerber was spinning a lot of plates during the final
stretch of his run on The Defenders. While Dr. Strange and Red Guardian were
fighting off Plantman’s giant dandelion puffs, Kyle (Nighthawk) Richmond was
still suffering an existential crisis from having his brain removed earlier,
and Valkyrie was incarcerated in a women’s prison. Meanwhile, Nebulon was
recruiting more costumed crazies to his Bozo cult…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Fantastic Four #172</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IyjW4zchHoY/UBT69Ziu1dI/AAAAAAAAAg4/oeV9S1YKPcM/s1600/300px-Fantastic_Four_Vol_1_172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IyjW4zchHoY/UBT69Ziu1dI/AAAAAAAAAg4/oeV9S1YKPcM/s320/300px-Fantastic_Four_Vol_1_172.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bill Mantlo had the Fantastic Four battling a giant golden
gorilla called Gorr, from Counter-Earth; a world created by the High
Evolutionary, which was now under threat from Galactus and his new Herald, the
Asgardian Destroyer armour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Howard the Duck #4</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EbPeovVOZns/UBT7PbqFEHI/AAAAAAAAAhA/G0laqpEmSvo/s1600/300px-Howard_the_Duck_Vol_1_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EbPeovVOZns/UBT7PbqFEHI/AAAAAAAAAhA/G0laqpEmSvo/s320/300px-Howard_the_Duck_Vol_1_4.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steve Gerber again, on his most personal series; the tale of
Paul (Winky Man) Same, a man with a sleeping disorder and the inability to
confront those who push him around.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Invaders #7</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-4VugIvNz4/UBT7jnSTsEI/AAAAAAAAAhI/JePkm1OZ3Tk/s1600/300px-Invaders_Vol_1_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t-4VugIvNz4/UBT7jnSTsEI/AAAAAAAAAhI/JePkm1OZ3Tk/s320/300px-Invaders_Vol_1_7.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roy Thomas introduces us to the Falsworth’s; an upper-class
family that includes World War I hero Union Jack, his daughter Jacqueline (who
would later become the plucky heroine Spitfire after a blood transfusion from
the android Human Torch) and nephew John, the Nazi vampire Baron Blood.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously team books were what caught my eye during that
blazing hot month; more heroes for my pennies, but also some exemplary comics.
Steve Englehart’s Avengers (drawn by George Perez) never failed to entertain,
and Steve Gerber’s comics left an indelible impact on my early teen self. I
personally consider Englehart and Gerber to be the two pillars of Marvel’s
Bronze Age, defining the era with their creativity and individual insight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Fantastic Four cover had floating heads which was always
a must buy, and how could I resist that funky looking vampire on the cover of
The Invaders? I don’t recall much of that period of the Fantastic Four - was
this when the evil Reed (Brute) Richards from Counter Earth trapped the good
one and replaced him on the team? - but I absolutely loved these early issues
of The Invaders with art by Frank Robbins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
July ’76 filled my
head with alternative Earths, Counter-Earths, giant golden gorillas and
dandelion puffs, Bozos and Nazi Vampires, and taught me to stand up for myself
for fear of running around at night wearing a night-shirt and cap! It was truly
a Bronze Age smorgasbord.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqtyeAt5RxA/UBUAVi17YSI/AAAAAAAAAhY/W9Bf9i9KQHo/s1600/0howard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqtyeAt5RxA/UBUAVi17YSI/AAAAAAAAAhY/W9Bf9i9KQHo/s1600/0howard.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-66105231612781022902012-07-18T11:53:00.002-07:002012-07-29T02:16:29.305-07:00A Tale of Two Marvels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6phbLnc5XSM/UAcDXndurQI/AAAAAAAAAgU/G_IdjdSDvW8/s1600/250px-Mwom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6phbLnc5XSM/UAcDXndurQI/AAAAAAAAAgU/G_IdjdSDvW8/s320/250px-Mwom1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mighty World of Marvel 1972</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OiablhWv7M/UAcDtDjZf3I/AAAAAAAAAgc/BYIvG5XfCjU/s1600/Captain-Marvel_1-200x303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6OiablhWv7M/UAcDtDjZf3I/AAAAAAAAAgc/BYIvG5XfCjU/s320/Captain-Marvel_1-200x303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Captain Marvel 2012</div>
<br />
I knew there was something familiar about that logo for the new Captain Marvel comic; were Marvel trying to fool me into buying a new comic from them? One featuring my favourite Bronze Age Marvel heroine? Nice try Marvel, but no sale.Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-2512307543902623052012-07-08T01:43:00.000-07:002012-12-29T01:09:35.421-08:00Giant-Size Avengers #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCWOj9P-UnM/T_lHhTfcc7I/AAAAAAAAAgI/Q8kI7InMtxE/s1600/Giant-Size%2BAvengers%2B%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HCWOj9P-UnM/T_lHhTfcc7I/AAAAAAAAAgI/Q8kI7InMtxE/s320/Giant-Size%2BAvengers%2B%25231.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
In the mid-70s there were some comics I wanted more than all others, and Marvel’s line of Giant-Size comics were undeniably the most coveted. They promised much, yet were denied me because of their non-distribution status in the UK. My hopes were raised by house-ads in the regular comics, and dashed by their lack of availability in the many newsagents I would frequent in my weekly search for new comics.<br />
<br />
One in particular fascinated me; the cover of Giant-Size Avengers #1 promised the ‘startling reappearance of the fabled All-Winners Squad’ - a team of Golden Age characters I’d discovered recently in a battered copy of Fantasy Masterpieces #10 - and furthermore, I’d been made aware (most likely by an Editor’s note in a later issue of The Avengers) that it was the comic where it was revealed that The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were the children of Bob (The Whizzer) Frank and Madeline (Miss America) Joyce. Being a fledgling continuity obsessive, and fan of stories that filled in the gaps of the rich tapestry the Marvel Universe once was, Giant-Size Avenges #1 made me think this one would live up to Stan Lee’s oft- repeated declaration that ‘This one has it all true-believer’.<br />
<br />
I never did get hold of a copy during those formative years, but on eBay all things are available (for a price), and so I now own a copy of this once highly sought after comic.<br />
<br />
Was it worth the 38 year wait? It certainly scratched a Bronze Age itch; the story of Nuklo - mutated by the terrible power that had just recently devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki; a child in possession of uncontrollable force and locked away for 25 years - was a sad acknowledgement of Man’s unknowing use of nuclear energy, written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Rich Buckler (inked by Dan Adkins). However, the reveal of the parentage of the mutant twins was slightly anti-climactic, almost tacked on in Thomas’ quest for a cohesive Marvel Universe. It was likely this lack of a solid underpinning that allowed for the later reveal that the twins were the children of Magneto.<br />
<br />
Still, it stands as an interesting artefact of Marvel's Bronze Age. And one can't condemn something for not entirely living up to childhood expectations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=175281&AffID=594262P02">Buy Giant-Size Avengers #1 at My Comic Shop</a>Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-44819454573936678862012-01-15T03:47:00.001-08:002012-12-30T01:10:47.412-08:00Sub-Mariner #48<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3H4mjrJGP0/TxK9AhhgFcI/AAAAAAAAAfA/QIc9D32HVSA/s1600/Sub-mariner%2B48.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697824295273633218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3H4mjrJGP0/TxK9AhhgFcI/AAAAAAAAAfA/QIc9D32HVSA/s320/Sub-mariner%2B48.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 215px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Writer: Gerry Conway</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Artist: Gene Colan</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Inker: Mike Esposito</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The quest for the Cosmic Cube has led Doctor Doom, Namor and Cindy Jones to the Mississippian Bayou, but Doom isn’t convinced that Cindy should accompany them any further. This does not sit well with Namor so he leaves, taking Cindy with him.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Landing in New Orleans, Cindy immediately recognises the dwelling where she once lived and hints at the unhappy reasons she left. We soon discover that this place is, in the words of her old roommate - hippy Johnny - a “happy little drug-pushing nest”, which seems a contradiction.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Johnny threatens Namor with a gun, which is never a good thing; in the confusion one of Doom’s henchmen appears and kidnaps Cindy, and as the police arrive so does Doom, to collect his ‘friend’ Namor. He makes it clear that Cindy is his hostage and will remain so until Namor has fulfilled his part of the bargain.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometime later, Doom’s jet is over the Gulf of Mexico and Namor is tasked with scouting out the underwater den of the criminal organisation A.I.M.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Doom believes M.O.D.O.K., A.I.M.’s erstwhile leader, to be dead - following the events of Captain America #133 - a mistake M.O.D.O.K. plans to use to his advantage with his Android Army.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s clear that Conway still doesn’t have a solid handle on the direction he wants to take this title, and the inclusion of Doctor Doom almost relegates Namor to a supporting role in his own comic. There are still some dodgy allusions to Doom’s nobility, especially in his prevention of the rape of Cindy by one of his henchmen, and the internal monologue he is given on page 10:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Doom…you are a fool. Once more your clever manipulations have alienated a man who might have been an ally…a man you might have called your friend! Namor hates you now… and though it pains you to admit it, Von Doom – he hates you with good reason.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t you just feel sorry for the ol’ terrorist?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The interlude in New Orleans also came across as padding, adding nothing to the plot, but highlighting Doom’ stupidity; if he hadn’t demanded that Cindy go no further with them, then he wouldn’t have had to organise Cindy’s subsequent kidnapping to ensure Namor’s co-operation.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The art was disappointing, Mike Esposito not being a particularly sympathetic inker for Gene Colan, but Colan’s storytelling is, as always, clear and distinctive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=178161&AffID=594262P02">Buy Sub-Mariner #48 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-75163721893311822832012-01-07T00:56:00.000-08:002012-12-30T00:41:38.622-08:00Captain America #148<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpUpvwp6kfA/TwgJDRe3LEI/AAAAAAAAAew/EtOxp-OxZIQ/s1600/Captain%2BAmerica%2B148.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694811680647097410" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpUpvwp6kfA/TwgJDRe3LEI/AAAAAAAAAew/EtOxp-OxZIQ/s320/Captain%2BAmerica%2B148.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 211px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writer: Gary Friedrich<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Artist: Sal Buscema<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inker: ?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Eat some dirt! It may be the last thing we ever taste!”<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So says Cap on the final page, and one can only wish... it’d be preferable to the bad taste left in my mouth by this stinker of a comic.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yep, it’s the Red Skull (again!) with his dreams of Nazism and the rise of the Fourth Reich. He even has another Sleeper (the fifth), because Cap only defeated the last four. Oh hum.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Cap is given an ultimatum; to surrender to the Sleeper (as tall as a skyscraper!) on the outskirts of Las Vegas, or the Red Skull will crush the free world with his unbeatable Sleeper. Leaving the Falcon to contact SHIELD and FEMME FORCE, and The Kingpin to rouse his men (organised crime in armoured vehicles), Cap sets of by jet-pack.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can guess the rest. SHIELD, FEMME FORCE and The Kingpin’s men attack the Sleeper to no avail, while Cap sneaks aboard. Battlin’ his way through the Red Skull’s hordes, he confronts ol’ Skully who pulls a gun on him. Luckily, Redwing (Falc’s trained Falcon) swoops in and saves the day, and Cap accidentally knocks the Red Skull to his death. Cap and the Falcon smash up the controls and the Sleeper explodes.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So much for the unstoppable Sleeper, and the rise of Nazism!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything about this comic stunk. The plot, the pacing and the dialogue (oh, the dialogue is the worst!). It’s only saving grace are some nice panels here and there by Sal Buscema, who I am going to hazard a guess was inked, or finished, by Romita. I wonder why no inker was given a credit? Too embarrassed, maybe?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=80191&AffID=594262P02">Buy Captain America #148 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-15388164347170528272012-01-04T03:53:00.000-08:002012-12-29T00:19:18.628-08:00Daredevil #86<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMdGKIqy9p8/TwBJo_VjB6I/AAAAAAAAAeY/orS8mwcC6aU/s1600/Daredevil%2B86.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692630897541711778" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMdGKIqy9p8/TwBJo_VjB6I/AAAAAAAAAeY/orS8mwcC6aU/s320/Daredevil%2B86.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 218px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<div>
<br />
Writer: Gerry Conway</div>
<div>
<br />
Artist: Gene Colan</div>
<div>
<br />
Inker: Tom Palmer</div>
<div>
<br />
Natasha (The Black Widow) loves Matt (Daredevil), but Matt thinks he still loves Karen (the movie star), who doesn’t love Phil (her agent) anymore; and isn’t sure about how she feels about Matt, either!</div>
<div>
<br />
Oh yeah, and The Ox too!</div>
<div>
<br />
If you’re wondering about The Ox - who died some months ago - it involves transplanted brains and radiation and doesn’t bear much thinking about. The meat here is the cast’s complicated love lives, which wouldn’t be out of place in an issue of <i>Our Love Story</i>.</div>
<div>
<br />
Thankfully, Gerry Conway wraps everything up in a final two page sequence that finally puts to rest the Matt Murdoch/Karen Page romance, and moves Matt onto a new relationship with Natasha with a symbolic passing of the baton between the two women. It’s beautifully illustrated by the art team supreme of Gene Colan and Tom Palmer.</div>
<div>
<br />
Karen: “It’s all right Natasha, you’d better go to him now. He <i>needs</i> you. There’s nothing more I can <i>give</i> him.”</div>
<div>
<br />
Exit Karen, and next issue: SAN FRANCISCO!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=81001&pgi=51&AffID=594262P02">Buy Daredevil #86 at My Comic shop</a></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-50487816819941588352011-12-31T10:45:00.000-08:002012-12-30T03:15:23.243-08:00A Happy Bronze Age New Year!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GhUIQgwY4qE/Tv9Y42rtpGI/AAAAAAAAAeM/Rt76hWLAmrw/s1600/Fantastic4newyear.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692366187794375778" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GhUIQgwY4qE/Tv9Y42rtpGI/AAAAAAAAAeM/Rt76hWLAmrw/s320/Fantastic4newyear.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 174px;" /></a>....if I ever finish 1972!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With credit to Colin Smith from <a href="http://toobusythinkingboutcomics.blogspot.com/">Too Busy Thinking About My Comics</a> for the scan from Fantastic Four #133.</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-62153677309917097482011-12-31T09:22:00.001-08:002012-12-30T00:46:06.891-08:00The Avengers #98<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ME2d7X4AmDE/Tv9FBNCdc9I/AAAAAAAAAdc/K9XBeU5fafw/s1600/The%2BAvengers%2B98.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692344341001761746" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ME2d7X4AmDE/Tv9FBNCdc9I/AAAAAAAAAdc/K9XBeU5fafw/s320/The%2BAvengers%2B98.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 217px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writer: Roy Thomas<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Artist: Barry Smith<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inker: Sal Buscema<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following the events of the Kree-Skull War, it’s time for the Avengers to take stock and ask some important questions... like, where is Clint (Goliath) Barton?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last seen upon an exploding space craft, the gathered heroes are uncertain whether their missing teammate survived; so Thor announces he will return to Asgard (to peer into some mystic mirrors looking for answers), Iron Man reckons Tony Stark (wink wink) has some other resources that’ll help in their search, and Captain America puts on the radio...to discover that a pro-war rally – led by a Mr. Tallon – is taking place in the city.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As acting Chairman, the Vision sends Cap, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (with Rick Jones tagging along) to investigate Mr. Tallon and his Warhawks, but all are soon swayed to the pro-war sentiment by the mysterious music played by Mr. Tallon’s two robed associates.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, Thor has returned to Avengers Mansion, unable to enter Asgard (this tale apparently takes place before, or perhaps after, the ‘legendary’ events of Thor #198). The Vision tries to contact Iron Man, but he too has fallen under the spell of Mr. Tallon; so it is left to the android and the god (both immune to the other-worldly music) to make things right.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Vision sends Thor to the rally, while he goes to confront Iron Man. After a titanic tussle, Iron Man is freed from the spell when another of the pan pipers is killed in the clash. The two then join Thor, who recognises Mr. Tallon as Ares, the Greek god of war.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Thor’s mighty hammer is caught in one of the Scarlet Witch’s hex spheres, an explosive arrow flies towards it, disabling the hex and allowing the hammer to return to Thor. The Vision makes quick work of the two remaining pipers, revealing them to be Satyrs, and the crowd (and the other Avengers) are returned to normal. The mysterious archer then makes himself known. It’s Clint Barton, in a hideous new outfit, and again calling himself Hawkeye. Putting off any questions to how he survived being stranded in space, Hawkeye announces he has a companion – an amnesiac Hercules!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgmtchKQDcI/Tv9Fl2IjVzI/AAAAAAAAAd0/lH3u5WGSp-k/s1600/hawkeye98.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692344970508457778" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgmtchKQDcI/Tv9Fl2IjVzI/AAAAAAAAAd0/lH3u5WGSp-k/s320/hawkeye98.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 177px;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a strong return to form for Roy Thomas after the mangled climax to the Kree-Skrull War, and he is ably abetted by an ever improving Barry Smith. Smith still has some problems with faces (the eyes are invariably too close together), but his storytelling is effective, clear, and dynamic.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shame about that new outfit for Hawkeye though; what an eyesore!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=79131&pgi=51&AffID=594262P02">Buy The Avengers #98 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-37095577667542297382011-12-28T11:31:00.000-08:002012-12-30T01:13:06.539-08:00The Mighty Thor #198<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9LN721Xsyk/TvtwMUhLIRI/AAAAAAAAAc4/Ie3mePXqZLU/s1600/Thor%2B198.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691265911081345298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9LN721Xsyk/TvtwMUhLIRI/AAAAAAAAAc4/Ie3mePXqZLU/s320/Thor%2B198.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 216px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Writer: Gerry Conway</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Artist: John Buscema</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Inker: Vince Colletta</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Returned to Asgard from his quest for The Well At World’s End, Thor must now do battle with the mighty Mangog. So there be plenty of pulse pounding action, ‘till the near- death Odin revives and puts an end to the Mangog before collapsing (again). This time, Odin be proper dead methinks... but hark? Thor doth realise that Hela hath yet to claim his soul; so he freezes time about Odin’s sacred form, denying Hela’s cold hand once they reach their own dimension.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, and more interestingly, Sif and Hildegard (accompanied by Silas Grant) are still on Blackworld – a strange planet that keeps shifting from one Earth era to another – where they run into the Rigelian Coloniser Tana Nile. Tana appears to be in a bit of a flap about “HIM”! Or as Hildegard puts it...<br />
<br />
“By the stars! It can’t be! It can’t BEEEEEEE!”<br />
<br />
This was a lot more fun than previous issues, now that Thor’s boring old quest is over; and Colletta’s inks are a lot more sympathetic to Buscema’s pencils than usual. I’d like to see Gerry Conway write more Earthbound adventures, though, as the contrast between gods and humans is always more interesting than adventures set in Asgard alone.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=95421&pgi=151&AffID=594262P02">Buy Thor #198 at My Comic Shop</a>Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-49517328634777026612011-11-20T04:09:00.000-08:002012-12-30T01:17:42.777-08:00The Amazing Spider-Man #107<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ottlBDklM5Q/Tsjuk2XTkcI/AAAAAAAAAco/Ux-q6nPvMLc/s1600/Spider-Man%2B107.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677049647136477634" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ottlBDklM5Q/Tsjuk2XTkcI/AAAAAAAAAco/Ux-q6nPvMLc/s320/Spider-Man%2B107.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 214px;" /></a>Cover date: April 1972<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writer: Stan Lee<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Artist: John Romita<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Inker: Frank Giacoia<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After capturing Spidey last ish, the diabolical (and I mean that!) Professor Smyth returns to his hide-out to put his insidious plan in motion. With Spidey out of action, and Smyth’s spy scanners positioned throughout the city, the local mobs can rob banks of millions, and be one step ahead of the cops. There is just one slight flaw in his genius plan; he keeps Spider-Man alive. Duh!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you can guess, Spidey escapes Smyth’s Spider Slayer and puts a stop to his shenanigans.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, Flash Thompson catches up with Gwen and reveals to her his dark secret. That will have to wait until next ish, however, as Flash is taken away by some men in uniform and the next issue blurb promises a startling Spidey special...<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quite frankly, that will be a relief after the last three boring issues of Spider-Man’s rematch with Professor Smyth and his Spider Slayer; Stan Lee appears to be just going through the motions where Spider-Man himself is concerned, only showing some interest when writing the occasional snippet of soap opera involving Spidey’s supporting cast.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it just a coincidence that the two titles Stan Lee is currently writing, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, are both in the doldrums? Could both comics use a fresher voice?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?tid=78991&pgi=101&AffID=594262P02">Buy The Amazing Spider-Man #107 at My Comic Shop</a></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-92126892415130782162011-10-31T11:57:00.000-07:002011-10-31T12:09:30.860-07:00Something to drive fear into the heart of Bronze Age Marvel fans everywhere.....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBVe9TK0es8/Tq7x_9Iof8I/AAAAAAAAAaA/tmPTHCZKA5Q/s1600/Mobius.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBVe9TK0es8/Tq7x_9Iof8I/AAAAAAAAAaA/tmPTHCZKA5Q/s400/Mobius.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669735061950857154" /></a><br /><br />Yes, it's the MARVEL VALUE STAMP! Brrrr....Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-23479782912438187562011-10-02T02:26:00.000-07:002012-12-30T00:38:03.979-08:00Thirty-nine years ago this weekend, a comic fan was born!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWmzA9B2DA0/Toguo3EfUqI/AAAAAAAAAYk/rngCIoF7z5M/s1600/mwom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658824211303453346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWmzA9B2DA0/Toguo3EfUqI/AAAAAAAAAYk/rngCIoF7z5M/s640/mwom1.jpg" style="height: 320px; margin-top: 0px; width: 231px;" width="462" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">On the 30</span><sup style="text-align: center;">th</sup><span style="text-align: center;"> September 1972, the last Saturday of the month, the first issue of The Mighty World of Marvel was released upon an unsuspecting public. It was a momentous occasion, birthing a generation of Marvel readers and making at least one comic fan for life.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
My original copy of this life-changing comic was lost many moons ago, but fortune smiled upon me when I won a reasonably priced copy on eBay earlier this month. I’d been tempted a number of times, but it was the realisation that the date of original publication meant that I would be able to perform some kind of voodoo magic by reading this particular comic exactly 39 years since I first held it my eager hands, and in my childhood home too, that I placed a decisive bid. Perhaps a rift in the space/time continuum would open up and transport me back to 1972 to meet my seven year old self. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yesterday, on the hottest day on record for October, I settled down with Mighty World of Marvel no. 1 and a Fab lolly.........<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ApNUHQU7xgg/TogvEs2pbnI/AAAAAAAAAYs/hNRxN-Yt_JQ/s1600/fab-lolly.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658824689597378162" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ApNUHQU7xgg/TogvEs2pbnI/AAAAAAAAAYs/hNRxN-Yt_JQ/s320/fab-lolly.gif" style="display: block; height: 270px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 150px;" width="177" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.........and though no rift in the space/time continuum opened up, it was a rewarding experience.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have likely read the three stories featuring The Hulk, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man many times since in other formats, but nothing compares to the experience of where and how I first encountered these iconic characters. On pulpy newsprint paper in black & white (and green!), at a larger size than the original printed pages, the crude - but exciting - storytelling of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko is completely enthralling. There is a primacy to these initial appearances - designed to capture the imagination of children - that reinforced why I still read comics despite the accumulation of years of cynical exploitation. Yes, the plot holes are apparent to my 46 year old self, but they would not have mattered to me at 7. That kid in 1972 just wanted more.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the princely sum of 5p, I got the first 10 pages of The Hulk #1, a Fantastic Four pin-up, the first 13 pages of Fantastic Four #1, a Special Message from Stan Lee and the chance to win a mystery free gift, and the whole of Spider-Man’s origin from Amazing Fantasy #15.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would also have got a free iron-on Hulk T-shirt transfer, but I sadly no longer recall what I did with that. I imagine it was dutifully ironed on and subsequently washed off by mum.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=182191&AffID=594262P02">Buy The Mighty World of Marvel #1 at My Comic Shop</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335503008445056721.post-30869717725247366432011-09-28T12:41:00.000-07:002012-12-30T01:22:43.120-08:00Pen Pal Swap Shop<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACYgabLSaVs/ToN4rG8utmI/AAAAAAAAAYM/FLklkNvmDKM/s1600/swap05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657498238902515298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACYgabLSaVs/ToN4rG8utmI/AAAAAAAAAYM/FLklkNvmDKM/s320/swap05.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 250px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 150px;" /></a>There can’t be many kids who grew up in the UK during the 70s who didn’t watch Multi-Coloured Swap Shop on a Saturday morning. Apart from the dubious charms of ‘cuddly’ Noel Edmonds, Maggie Philbin, and ‘wacky’ Keith ‘Cheggers’ Chegwin, kids could write or phone in to swap their unwanted Christmas presents for some other kid’s unwanted tat.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three years earlier though, in 1973, there was more swapping going on in the pages of Marvel’s UK publications. I was reminded of this just the other night while leafing through a copy of The Avengers No. 13 (cover date week </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ending December 15).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sns8jFCU0pU/ToN5id0pZzI/AAAAAAAAAYc/d_YvVpne4qc/s1600/avengers%2B13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657499189935433522" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sns8jFCU0pU/ToN5id0pZzI/AAAAAAAAAYc/d_YvVpne4qc/s320/avengers%2B13.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 237px;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the inside cover was Pen Pals Swap Shop No.7.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A typical swap:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I HAVE a Spiderman poster and 6 Mighty World of Marvel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I WANT TO SWAP for a Spiderman Suit”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have no idea if Haminder Jolly from Hounslow ever got his Spiderman suit (I sincerely hope he did!), but what a great idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have loads of unwanted comics I’d like to swap, so what would someone swap me for the first two years of Dazzler?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Terence Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07583845199367128599noreply@blogger.com3