But, like ghosts, several of our favourite Marvel titles disappeared in October 1971, only to reappear in November. No Thor, no Avengers, no Daredevil. I can only assume this had something to do with Marvel switching to a greater page-count for their titles, and some creators therefore not being able to meet the deadline.
Needless to say, such trials and tribulations for some of our heroes didn't put the rest of them off their fighting.
There're those who hate the six-armed Spider-Man storyline. There're those who love it.
Count me in the, "love it," camp. As far as I'm concerned, a man can never have too many arms - especially if he's coming up against the first-ever appearance of Morbius the living vampire.
Throw in an appearance from the loathsome Lizard and a great Gil Kane cover and what more could you demand of a comic?
Every time I do one of these monthly round-ups, the Grey Gargoyle seems to be on the cover of Captain America and the Falcon. How did they ever manage to get such a prolonged story-line out of such a workaday villain?
Barry Smith's Conan the Barbarian takes on a real-life Bull God.
Was this the story that ends with Conan's friend being hanged to death? If it was, you've got to hand it to Roy Thomas. That's potent stuff for a 1970s' comic book.
For all those fed up of the Thing turning against his team-mates, the Fantastic Four #115 sees Mr Fantastic turning against his team-mates.
Is next issue the one where the Invisible Girl turns against her team-mates?
Actually, I think it's the one where Dr Doom takes over leadership of the FF. That's the only part of the Over-Mind saga I've ever read.
Speaking of Doomsie, it's amazing he had time to take over leadership of anything, seeing as he already had his hands full trying to turn the Hulk into a living bomb.
I've no idea what happens in this one but it looks like another forgettable foe for our armoured Avenger.
The X-Men vs Dominus.
I assume he's called that because he likes to dominate people, not because he likes to play dominoes.
I really don't have a clue what happens in this one either. I've never even heard of Dominus. I take it they never invited him back?
Dominus was a world-conquering computer from Sirius and third-rate Lee-Kirby villain Lucifer answered to it. And yes, it did return in the Busiek/Perez Avengers run, in a double-size team-up with the Thunderbolts. (That run is in the cupboard in my Glasgow flat so can't check but I think the computer upgraded to "Dominex")
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dougie. I like to feel I learn something new every day. :)
ReplyDeleteI was obviously in a minority, but I loved the original X-Men. So much so, in fact, that I was glad when the founding team members were reunited for X-Factor.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Simon Cowell voted them off. (Little joke there.)
As we've discussed before, I'm obviously in the 'Love it' camp when it comes to the six-armed Spider-Man saga. Nos 100 through 102 comprise a whopper of a story arc, complete with Gil Kane images that will stick with one for a lifetime.
ReplyDeletewhy NOT a 6-arm Spider-Man?? it makes perfect sense for a human arachnid- ...Just ordered Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1 & 2 of X-Men, looking forward to that
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt everyone'll be excited to know I've now added a Six-armed Spider-Man poll for us all to vote in.
ReplyDeletePut me in the anti-camp on six arms. Reading them at the time, it struck me that Marvel was becoming too much like DC with covers and plotlines that seemed earth-shattering but were resolved with no long-lasting changes to the hero. Granted, they strung them out over a few issues so that it might seem for a month or two that this was going to be the new status quo.
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