Week Ending February 9, 1974

Some weeks when I dig out the issues for this blog, I just look at the covers and get that same thrill I would have got when they turned up in my local newsagent. This week's offerings are a great example of that, even though this is one year before I would start regularly picking up the Marvel weeklies, these covers transport me back to a time that technically didn't exist, a Mandela effect of nostalgia if you will. 

Mighty World of Marvel #71

Now here is a cover. Herb Trimpe delivers an absolute belter, he really had a knack for art that was both old fashioned and yet somehow timeless. I am even willing to forgive him giving Hulk two right feet. 

The Incredible Hulk: A Clash of Titans Reprinting The Incredible Hulk #118

Trimpe's dad-bod Hulk takes on his Johnny Weissmuller Namor in undersea battle. Aided by the very Stan Lee conceit of an Atlantean pill that allows the unconscious Bruce Banner to breath underwater for 24 hours. Herb provides some beautifully detailed panels that reinforce my opinion that he was what Kirby would have been with a more naturalistic style. 

Daredevil: The Stiltman Cometh! Reprinting Daredevil #8

I must confess to a misunderstanding regarding last week's issue. When Daredevil returned to MWOM, I wrongly assumed that we were going to skip some of the earlier stories because of the use of a later retelling of DD's origin. It seems that the use of Daredevil #53 in previous issues was merely a tool to bring newer readers up to speed with the character, and this week we continue with where we left our hero in MWOM #30. Well, almost, an issue is skipped but I suspect that was just to avoid having too much Sub-Mariner in this week's Mighty World of Marvel. Instead Daredevil returns to take on the Earth-shattering threat of the Stiltman, a villain that not even the great Wally Wood can make intimidating. 

The Fantastic Four: A House Divided! Reprinting Fantastic Four #34

Here is a story with not one, but two historic first appearances. Firstly we have the Thing's Beatle wig (a gift from the Yancy Street Gang) and secondly the almost Randian captain of industry Gregory Gideon. Now others may have already made this observation, though a cursory search of Google offers me nothing, but was Gregory Gideon a first draft of Funky Flashman? A bald, mustachioed, cigar smoking businessman seeking world domination feels like Kirby ribbing Stan, but I could be wrong. 

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #52

SMCW gets to its 52nd issue, which by my rudimentary calculation makes it one year old. Though like their US cousins, I'm pretty sure Marvel UK adopted the strange tradition of only calling issue numbers in multiples of 100 'anniversary' editions. Something that used to confuse and irritate younger me in equal measure. John Romita's original cover gets a gentle reworking to change the spacing between characters, which actually looks better to my eye. 

The Amazing Spider-Man: The Coming of Ka-Zar! Reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #57

Do you like Spider-Man with amnesia? Got a thing for own-brand Tarzan rip-offs? Think Sabre-Tooth Tigers are underrepresented in print media? Well this might just be the comic for you. Spidey is still blithering around unaware of who he is and J. Jonah Jameson has employed jungle aristocrat Lord Greystoke, sorry Plunder, to hunt down the web-head. The art on this story, while still Romita-ish, has had considerable input from Don Heck and Mike Esposito. While it is perfectly serviceable, it lacks the usual polish of Romita's solo work. 

Iron Man: Face to Face With Gargantus! Reprinting Tales of Suspense #40

This story is pulpier than the Del Monte orange juice factory. It always amazes me that Stan could come up with these fantastic characters but then struggle to create good stories for them. Then again, just producing this blog taxes my creativity so what do I know. Anyway: robot caveman, transistor powered magnets, alien invaders flee in terror. 

The Mighty Thor: The Grandeur and The Glory! Reprinting Journey into Mystery #124

The first four pages of this story are taken up with some uncomfortable pro-war in Vietnam propaganda and the health and safety concerns of Thor swinging his hammer on a busy New York Street. We then see that the Norn Stone powered 'Demon' is wreaking havoc in Asia as Dr Donald Blake stops mincing around and reveals his godly alter-ego to the pathologically faint Jane Foster.

The Avengers #21

I can only assume that this cover depicts the Avengers unannounced arrival on the set of Jack Kirby: The Musical.

The Avengers: From The Ashes of Defeat! Reprinting Avengers #24

After last week's convoluted set up the Avengers find themselves in a full scale war with Kang's army. Though they soon have an unexpected ally when Kang gets on the wrong side of an argument with his middle management team, leading to Kang fighting alongside them. Back when this story was first published I can imagine a lot of readers finding it implausible, now it looks like the plot of the next billion dollar MCU movie.

Dr. Strange: A Nameless Land, A Timeless Time! Reprinting Strange Tales #133

The multi-issue showdown between Dr Strange and Baron Mordo continues, except that it doesn't really. After flinging himself into another dimension to avoid Mordo's attack, Dr Strange embarks on a little side quest that wouldn't look out of place as a standalone story in any of his early tales. This one treds the well worn path of the Sorcerer Supreme taking on the magical despot of an alien land, usual shtick, usual results. Ditko lays on his ever improving trippy visuals and bizarrely positioned fingers in every panel.