Week Ending September 22, 1973

1973, UK newsagent shelves (at least the ones in reach of children) were dominated by comics about slightly dated, boisterous school children and war titles. However, this week, after almost one year of gaining a foothold, Marvel UK was staking its claim on some serious shelf space with its third title: The Avengers. DC Thompson and IPC may not have been quaking in their boots, but they were probably looking up from their ink stained drawing boards.

Mighty World of Marvel #51

This cover really threw me at first, not because of any strong feelings about the artwork or layout, but because the 'week ending' cover date is September 29. Leading to a panicked moment where I thought I may have to edit last week's post or rethink my post title system. To be fair, the UK cover dates are pretty confusing and I'm surprised this is the first slip-up we have had. The cover itself is by Ron Wilson (with help from Marie Severin according to the Grand Comics Database) and Frank Giacoia. I'm really happy to see the cover art starting to use almost the whole page now, a vast improvement on the boxed-in feel of some of the earlier issues.

The Incredible Hulk: And Now The Space Parasite. Reprinting The Incredible Hulk #103

After four or five weeks jumping around the US timeline, trying to bring the Avengers into the UK continuity, we are once again back on track with the Hulk. I'm not going to claim the process was seamless, but it probably fooled a lot of young British kids who didn't know any better. A few lines of text puts the Hulk back in New York city and we are off. This Gary Friedrich penned tale with Marie Severin and Frank Giacoia on art, is a weird throwback to 50s alien invader movies. The titular Space Parasite is a cut-price Galactus, going from planet to planet challenging the strongest champions and absorbing their power. Unfortunately, he makes the error of taking on the Hulk, this does not go well for him. It's a fun enough story that tries to aim for a little unearned depth at the end, as well as including a weird standoff that has the pathologically useless Rick Jones threatening to shoot Bruce Banner.

The Fantastic Four: The Master Plan of Doctor Doom. Reprinting The Fantastic Four #23

The continuity carnage of the last few weeks spills over into the pages of the FF, as we get a story that should have taken place before the events of the last few issues. It is too the credit of the early self-contained stories that once again the joins hardly show. This is a tale I was lucky to read in a Treasury Edition in the mid seventies, so as is usual in these cases, I can't help but view it through the rose tinted spectacles of nostalgia. Dr Doom is up to his usual over-complicated tricks, as the FF bicker among themselves over who should lead the team. Our armoured antagonist goes to the trouble of recruiting three minor league criminals and giving them superpowers to tackle the non-stretchy members of the Fantastic Four. It is a plan that works surprisingly well, and I'm sure the Latverian mastermind won't do anything to cock it up next week.

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #32

Here's an interesting cover, an almost straight reproduction of the US original, that itself was a lash-up of internal panels made necessary by the sudden departure of Steve Ditko from Marvel. Given Marvel UK's habit of replacing some classic covers, it is strange they stuck with this one.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Just A Guy Named Joe. Reprinting The Amazing Spider-Man #38

Here it is, the end of Ditko's groundbreaking run on Spider-Man. It has been an eye opening journey for me, I have gone from actively disliking his artwork to being blown away by his visual storytelling and unmatched character design. Bravo Mr Ditko, bravo. This final episode has the feeling of Stan trying to indulge Steve's need to create villains from an unknown everyman, in order to create a foil for Spider-Man. From the on-the-nose title to the protagonist who isn't really a bad guy, this swansong has all the marks of Ditko being allowed to do what he wants. If this was the case, sadly it was not enough to keep him at Marvel.

The Mighty Thor: The Stronger I Am, The Sooner I Die! Reprinting Journey Into Mystery #114

I might be in a minority, but the Absorbing Man is one of my all-time favourite bad guys, there is something really enjoyable about a completely unapologetic agent of chaos that I find irresistible. It is therefore a pleasure to get to read his origin story, even if it is the already well-worn device of Loki granting superpowers to a human in order to inconvenience his brother. Crusher Creel is presented in all his hideous glory by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone, and I get to learn that Creel's signature ball and chain is literally his prison ball and chain, not a wreaking ball as I had always assumed. Every day is a school day it would seem.

Tales of Asgard: The Storm Giants. Reprinting Journey Into Mystery #100

More mythical goodness from Lee and Kirby, as a teenage Thor and Loki (I assume this means they are about 800 years old) seek to gain glory in the eyes of Odin by retrieving magic apples stolen by Storm Giants. Due to the fact these stories have a fairy tale vibe to them it is impossible to judge them by normal standards, but I was still amused by the image of a juvenile Thor using a giant pepper shaker to attack the primitive Storm Giants, one can only assume that the giant gravy boat was out of reach.

The Avengers #1

This is special. Not just because because it is a new Marvel UK title, but because it sees the introduction of glorious coated paper stock covers. Sure, the level of gloss is not quite as great as it would be for later issues, but this must have really 'popped' on the shelves when sat next to the one-step-away-from-toilet-paper covers of  its British cousins. The cover art might be a collage from various sources with way too many captions, but you won't ever convince me that it is not a thing of staggering beauty.

The Avengers: Captain America Joins The Avengers. Reprinting The Avengers #4

After their short run in MWOM the Avengers are heading up their own weekly title. Despite Marvel UK trying to give the impression that this was "because we demanded it", I get the feeling the plan to give the team their own comic was fait accompli, handed down from the New York head office. A move I would be totally on board with, but will the British comic buying public agree? This first issue sees the introduction of Captain America to the team, not a bad jumping on point, but despite its classic status it is not a particularly strong story. The art lacks Kirby's usual verve and a convoluted plot about a marooned alien working for the Sub-Mariner is hardly the stuff of legend. It really doesn't help that the Avengers are sidelined for much of the story, leaving Captain America to brood over his new and unhealthy fixation with Rick Jones. There is an interesting lack of UK editing in this tale, with Cap making reference to being frozen for just twenty years, given the efforts made to shoehorn the Avengers into our continuity, this is a surprising oversight. 

Dr Strange: The Origin of Dr Strange. Reprinting Strange Tales #115

Have you missed Steve Ditko? Good news then, because he is back like he never left. I don't know if the timing of the introduction of Dr Strange's strip by Marvel UK was deliberate, but I'm glad they did it. Although this is not a reprint of the character's first appearance, the choice was wisely made to start with his origin story. Once again Ditko gets to impress with his ability to economically introduce characters without the story feeling rushed or compressed, with the transformation of Stephen Strange from arrogant git  to potential hero taking place over just a few pages without feeling unearned. Welcome back Mr Ditko.