Week Ending Dec. 9, 1972
Mighty World of Marvel #10
What does the tenth issue of MWOM have in store for us? Unusually, it's cover makes some effort to inform us of the contents, and immediately gets it wrong by promising us last week's encounter between the Hulk and Tyrannus.
Hulk's actual tale this week is the reprint of the second story from Incredible Hulk #5, which seems a retrograde step in comparison to last week's story in terms of art and characterisation. In fact, given some of the story elements like the use of General Ross' Iceberg Rocket that made its first appearance in Incredible Hulk #4, I would put good money on this story actually being created before the previous Tyrannus tale. I wonder if it is too late to claim my 'No Prize'?
The bulk of the story sees Hulk facing off against a thinly veiled Communist China, who are threatening an even more poorly disguised Tibet. The Hulk chooses to do this by taking a commercial flight and pretending to be the Abominable Snowman.
I mentioned this story was a backwards step, didn't I?
The Hulk might be experiencing negative character progression, but Spider-Man is going from strength to strength. He is still a teenage hero with problems, but at least he has dialed down the entitled whining, and manages to use his needlework skills to repair his outfit without a monologue about how girls don't like him. We get a nice bit of Peter Parker soap opera with some of his supporting cast before his second round with the Sandman. What a bout it is too, Ditko treats us to a full four pages of dynamic fisticuffs, which must have seemed quite indulgent for these early stories.
We also get to see what I'm pretty sure will be the first appearance of Chekhov's vacuum cleaner.
The Fantastic Four (technically three) continue their time travelling adventures, in a story that was probably rejected by Star Trek TOS on the grounds that it was "too bloody silly". Our threesome are back in the past and press-ganged by pirates, which might actually be handy in their search for Blackbeard's treasure. In a 'don't travel in time and get it on with your grandma' moment, the Thing ends up becoming the source of the legend of Blackbeard himself. Time travel eh?
Once in possession of Blackbeard's (Thing's?) treasure, Reed decides that the best way to thwart the plan of Dr Doom is with pedantic word play, "he only asked for the treasure 'chest' right?". Oh Reed, that's why you don't get invited to the good parties.
What does the tenth issue of MWOM have in store for us? Unusually, it's cover makes some effort to inform us of the contents, and immediately gets it wrong by promising us last week's encounter between the Hulk and Tyrannus.
Hulk's actual tale this week is the reprint of the second story from Incredible Hulk #5, which seems a retrograde step in comparison to last week's story in terms of art and characterisation. In fact, given some of the story elements like the use of General Ross' Iceberg Rocket that made its first appearance in Incredible Hulk #4, I would put good money on this story actually being created before the previous Tyrannus tale. I wonder if it is too late to claim my 'No Prize'?
The bulk of the story sees Hulk facing off against a thinly veiled Communist China, who are threatening an even more poorly disguised Tibet. The Hulk chooses to do this by taking a commercial flight and pretending to be the Abominable Snowman.
I mentioned this story was a backwards step, didn't I?
The Hulk might be experiencing negative character progression, but Spider-Man is going from strength to strength. He is still a teenage hero with problems, but at least he has dialed down the entitled whining, and manages to use his needlework skills to repair his outfit without a monologue about how girls don't like him. We get a nice bit of Peter Parker soap opera with some of his supporting cast before his second round with the Sandman. What a bout it is too, Ditko treats us to a full four pages of dynamic fisticuffs, which must have seemed quite indulgent for these early stories.
We also get to see what I'm pretty sure will be the first appearance of Chekhov's vacuum cleaner.
The Fantastic Four (technically three) continue their time travelling adventures, in a story that was probably rejected by Star Trek TOS on the grounds that it was "too bloody silly". Our threesome are back in the past and press-ganged by pirates, which might actually be handy in their search for Blackbeard's treasure. In a 'don't travel in time and get it on with your grandma' moment, the Thing ends up becoming the source of the legend of Blackbeard himself. Time travel eh?
Once in possession of Blackbeard's (Thing's?) treasure, Reed decides that the best way to thwart the plan of Dr Doom is with pedantic word play, "he only asked for the treasure 'chest' right?". Oh Reed, that's why you don't get invited to the good parties.
"Chekhov's vacuum cleaner" very witty! Keep up the good work (and the puns)!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I did pat myself on the back for that one.
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