Sunday 7 May 2017

Fifty years ago this month - May 1967.

Welcome to my Sunday. I can proudly boast that I've not been wasting it. As well as accidentally breaking my freezer door, I've just been watching Return of the Swamp Thing on the Horror Channel. It's the first time I've seen it in about thirty years. To be honest, it wasn't as good as I remembered and was an awful lot jokier but it was fun nonetheless and the monsters in it looked suitably monstrous.

But that's enough talk of thirty years ago. What of fifty years ago, and a bunch of characters who wouldn't be seen dead living in a swamp?

Avengers #40, Sub-Mariner

Is this the one where the Sub-Mariner has the Cosmic Cube and is too dim to make use of it?

Or am I thinking of another story?

Or does that story not exist and I've basically just imagined it?

Daredevil #28

Hooray! It's that one where Matt Murdock goes off to give a lecture on the legal repercussions of what would happen if aliens landed - and aliens promptly land!

And not only that but they're aliens with a plan to send everyone on the planet blind. Truly the power of coincidence is mighty in this tale.

I do have to say though that if your invasion can be thwarted by Daredevil showing up, then it probably isn't much of an invasion plan.

Fantastic Four #62, Blastaar

Hooray! Blastaar's still causing trouble!

While I'm a huge admirer of Blastaar and his works, I must admit I don't have a clue who the mystery figure on the left is. I know the Sandman's in this story but that certainly doesn't look like the Sandman to me.

I do like the way Reed Richards could never enter the Negative Zone without almost colliding with a planet. It's strange how Annihilus, Rick Jones and Captain Marvel never seemed to have that problem.
Amazing Spider-Man #48, the Vulture

Unless I'm mistaken, the Vulture might be back but it's not the Vulture we all know and love. It's Blackie Drago who's taken his place and demonstrates that it's remarkably easy to become a super-villain in Marvelworld.

Strange Tales #156, Dr Strange

I don't have a clue who Zom is.

I'm sure though that Doctor Strange will soon dispense with him.

Tales of Suspense #89, Iron Man vs the Melter

I've said it before but, bearing in mind that the Melter's beam couldn't hurt human flesh, I don't see why Tony Stark didn't just order all his security guards to descend on him, en masse and beat him up, rather than turning up on his own, dressed as Iron Man.

Tales to Astonish #91, Hulk vs Abomination

It's great news for all fans of talking reptilians, as the Abomination makes his senses-shattering debut.

When I was eight, "Abomination," was the fanciest word in my vocabulary, thanks to me having read his guest appearance in the Silver Surfer's mag. Because of this, the character will always have a special place in my heart.

Thor #140, the Growing Man

It's a Kangtastic tale for Thor, as the Growing Man shows up.

I can't remember what his plan was. I have a feeling he didn't have one and was just rampaging around for no good reason.

X-Men #32, the Juggernaut

Speaking of rampaging around, the Juggernaut's back and I don't have a clue what his plan is either. I suspect it's mostly to keep his hat on, as that'd be my main plan if I were him.

12 comments:

Charlie Horse 47 said...

I never walked around uttering "Abomination" but did yell "Hulk Smash!" many a time!

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Still not sure if "Hulk smash puny human!" was ever said....

dangermash aka The Artistic Actuary said...

You're correct about the Vulture Steve. Pretty sure you're also right about Submariner. And doesn't the Mole Man also find the cube and not to know what to do with it?

I think the mystery guy in the FF cover is Triton, sent out into the negative zone to rescue Mr Floppy.

And those covers for TTA and The Avengers have to be two of the worst ever.

Finally, people talk about how X-Men went through an awful period after the first 20 issues before being effectively cancelled and how Daredevil was awful for years until Frank Miller came in as artist. But how long is it since we had a decent Avengers issue? Bring on the Vision, the Black Panther and Clint as Goliath. The quality will go through the roof when that happens.

Steve W. said...

Dangermash, I think you're right about it being Triton on the cover. I'd forgotten about him rescuing Reed from the clutches of gravity.

John Pitt said...

This was a good month for me half a Century ago! - I had the FF, ST, TOS, TTA AND The X-Men!
And yet it only seems like about 49 years ago to me!
( Oops! It WAS!! )

TC said...

IIRC, yes, the Avengers fought the Sub-Mariner, and the Cosmic Cube got dropped down a crevice. The Mole Man's goons found it and gave it to him, and he disgustedly tossed it away, grumbling something like, "Bah! I need weapons, not trinkets!"

And I had that Thor issue, with the first (AFAIR) appearance of the Growing Man. I think Kang planned to build an army of them. I don't remember if they explained why he left the prototype lying around in New York in 1967.

Anonymous said...

The Growing Man was indeed Kang's doomsday weapon, and he felt the need to keep it hid and safe until it was time to activate it to crush his enemies.
Having time travel capability, he naturally picked NYC in '67, because it was the safest place in this time period.
He got this impression from watching reruns of "That Girl" with Marlo Thomas, which will be popular again in the apocalyptic 30th century.

M.P.

Steve W. said...

John, I didn't have any of the issues from this month. I don't think I've ever even read the Dr Strange and X-Men tales as reprints.

TC and MP, thanks for the Growing Man info.

Charlie, I'm sure the Hulk must have said that at some point. I know I have.

As for the Cosmic Cube, was there ever a story that explained why no one who has it ever seems to be able to use it in the slightest bit intelligently? Even Thanos used it like a total blockhead when he had it.

ColinBray said...

As Lord Acton nearly said, power corrupts and absolute power makes writers panic and think of cheap ways out.

Exhibit A: The Molecule Man

Exhibit B: The Cosmic Cube/blockhead connection

Anonymous said...

Well, it's been established that the Cube is actually some kind of living entity. Maybe it resists the wielder if he gets outta hand. Maybe it affects the brain.
You might wish for an apple pie, say, and the Cube would say, "No problem, here's your pie." But if you try to conquer the universe with it, it might say, "Whoa, slow down there, cosmic boy."

M.P.

Dean Robert Willetts said...

What things of beauty those comics are! The Thor and FF covers are out of this world...

Steve W. said...

I think I'd go for the Dr Strange cover as my favourite. I don't have a clue what's going on on it but it's very striking.