There aren't many bands would write a song about their lighting rig but, then, there aren't many bands like ABBA.
Thus it is that, forty years ago this week, Super Trouper, the album named after ABBA's spotlight, smashed straight in at Number One on the UK album chart, scattering all before it like chaff.
Over on the singles chart, though, the Swedish superstars had to settle for second place, as Blondie's The Tide is High kept the title track of their album away from the top spot.
At least, for now...
Conan battles to gain control of what I think might be the Zamboula tribe.
Needless to say, he has to fight someone for the honour.
Needless to say, he triumphs because he's Conan and he always triumphs.
Elsewhere, Moon-Boy reminisces about how he once brought his new friend Devil Dinosaur back to meet his tribe and, upon being greeted with nothing but fear and hostility, decided to vacate his tribe, forthwith, and make a new life for himself with his T-Rex.
The Cobra's about to break out of jail - and only Spider-Man can stop him!
Let's be honest, that's not really true. I suspect even Ant-Man could stop him. Once more, must I recall my old adage that any super-villain who can be defeated by being locked in a cupboard isn't a great super-villain.
Elsewhere, Jessica Drew turns up in a town called Jude, seeking to thwart a network that's smuggling wanted criminals out of the country.But, when she gets there, she quickly discovers the Hulk's also in town - and he's in no mood for subtlety.
Just who that strangle-happy eagle man is, on the front cover, I cannot say.
The Micronauts find themselves in a hen house. It's the sort of excitement you experience when you're based on a line of toys.
In other news, it's the Chinese New Year but Paladin's in no mood to celebrate. He's too busy looking to avenge the death of a female friend who's just been murdered, right in front of him.
Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary's succeeded in creating Counter-Earth but, unknown to him, a certain lupine lawbreaker's watching, with plans of his own...
Other than the fact Spider-Man's still teaming-up with the Valkyrie, in order to tackle Meteor Man, I have little knowledge of what happens in this one.
I do, however, have good reason to believe this issue features a What If? tale that explores what would happen if the world knew Daredevil was blind.
Presumably, the Masked Marauder would have shot him in the head, with a bullet, rather than zapping him with his optic blasts, and Daredevil's career would have been fairly short.
And we finish with one whose contents really are an enigma to me.
However, it looks like things have all gone badly south for ROM.
And that means there's no one around to save his friends from the attack of the Thornoids!
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"Free Gift Inside - Build your own spaceship!"
Hey Phillip, seeing as you'll no doubt be here shortly, and you got the early issues of Future Tense, I have to ask... did you build your own spaceship?
And do you still have it in the garage?
That could put you on the fast track to become part of Boris Johnson's new Space Command!
Steve, pretty sure that Paladin story - originally in Marvel Premiere - is by Don McGregor and Tom Sutton. So you'd expect it to be at least worth reading, but its surprisingly terrible.
-sean
'Spider-man & Hulk Weekly' # 402
& 'Team-up' # 10
This week, these two comics have similarities. For a start, both feature 'What If?' stories. 'Spider-man & Hulk Weekly' has 'What if Jarella had not died?', whilst 'Team-up' features 'What if the world knew Daredevil was blind?'
Another similarity is both comics feature 'team-ups.' 'Spider-man & Hulk' teams up Hulk & Spider-woman, Whilst 'Team-up' has Spider-man & Valkyrie.
But that's where the similarities end! In 'Spider-man & Hulk', the She-Hulk comes storming back, with that classic story in which Richard Rory wins squillions of bucks at the casino, endearing himself to a gold-digging showgirl!
In Spidey, the Cobra breaks out of Riker's, with the big fight about to happen at the end of the page count. Oh, and Spidey's got two girls to consider - Debra Whitman & Marcia Kane. There's reference to an encounter with Mysterio - which hasn't happened - so Marvel UK must be jumping between U.S. Spidey titles.
In Spider-woman & Hulk, Jessica Drew's bounty hunting, tracking someone called Johnny Yen. Meanwhile, in the Mid-est, the Hulk's captured by an evil doctor who makes (gamma related) monsters. When Jessica meets the sheriff, he tells her Johnny Yen went to said doctor's clinic (but the sheriff is in cahoots with the evil doctor, and tells him she's coming.) Is it me, or does it all sound like that Englehart & Roger Marshall Batman monsters clinic? Anyway, we don't see Steve's yellow eagle-monster this week - but I'm sure it's coming. Steven Grant's the writer, so it might be quite good! Incidentally, Peter Gillis (another 'new' writer) wrote 'What if?'
In 'Team-up' the Meteor Man story isn't as good as I remembered. Val beats MM, just by throwing her sword at his balloon!
In Ms. Marvel, Modok beats Carol, using mind-control? Well, I never!
In 'What if', Daredevil is zapped by Electro when DD interrupts his raid on the empty Baxter Building. The Watcher shows us an alternate version, in which Spidey helps Daredevil. Spidey & DD team up a lot in 'What If?', don't they? Last time, Daredevil was helping Spidey (until Spidey rescued DD from his greatest foes), now Spidey is returning the favour! Steve - what's the difference between the Masked Marauder & the Cowled Commander? Don't answer that!
In FF, Sue is cheating Franklin at hide & seek, by using her invisibility. Then Franklin blunders into the negative zone portal room (doesn't Reed ever lock the door?), where Agatha Harkness's evil son, Nicholas Scratch, can get him!
In Torpedo, Brock Jones stops the nuclear pile going critical, by using himself, & his costume, to complete a circuit, bringing the safety system back on-line. Turns out the Torpedo costume's nuclear powered - but he must now disperse all the energy!
Most of Morbius's measly page-count is taken up with a double-page splash of the home world of Balthazar, the cat-demon - not much else happens, really!
Phillip
'Forces in Combat' # 28
In ROM, whilst Steve Jackson's repairing ROM, Brandy Clarke accuses Steve of jealousy, over her feelings for ROM (that's gratitude for you!) Then the plant monsters attack, & ROM starts freezing them to death, with help from Steve, using a C02 canister!
The comic's new story, 'Weirdworld', has Tyndall the Elf sent as a champion, by dwarves who hate him, to destroy the 'heart of evil.' Tyndall enters a whale skeleton, only to find a strange egg, with an elf girl inside (she has amnesia, just like Kull's mystery girl) - the two team up. By the end of the page count, the elf-girl is grabbed by a swamp serpent, and Tyndall must rescue her!
In Machine Man, despite Sasquatch being almost as strong as the Hulk, Machine Man easily beats him in two seconds flat. Soon afterwards, Madam Menace paralyses Machine Man with a sonic disrupter, only for Alpha Flight to arrive, just in the nick of time.
In Kull, we learn Ridondo the minstrel has a nickname - "the mad minstrel" - and he partook in the overthrow of Kull's throne, writing treasonous songs! And you thought Ridondo was just an ordinary side-kick, didn't you? Kull's unsuccessful moment with the mystery girl is interrupted by a hunchback.
In 'Second Chance', Frank Charlesworth prevents the Italian secret policeman shooting their gallant Italian captain, but takes the bullet himself - so his soul/spirit can occupy another body, etc.
In Fury, at the Teheran conference, the German assassin kills himself, rather than the allied leaders. In return Hitler takes his son, and condemns his wife to death!
Phillip
In Valour #3's Conan tale, it isn't the Zamboula, but the Bamula - but the name's so similar, what difference does it make?
Valour has 'only' 5 stories - so they get a few more pages! A common theme is leadership contests. Conan challenges Yorubo, to become war chief of the Bamulas. Likewise, in Devil Dinosaur, Seven Scars & Stonehand fight it out, to be chief of the Killer Folk. The winner tries to ambush Devil Dinosaur with a punji sticks trap! Devil Dinosaur was Marvel's most 'over the top' title, with Moonboy frequently referring to himself & Devil in the third person - nobody but Kirby could have pulled this off!
In Conan, Conan & Yorubo fight with staffs/spears, over a giant spider in a pit. Conan doesn't seem as good with a spear as a sword. Finally, Yorubo falls in the pit, & his faithful wife jumps in, to save him! Martine wouldn't do that for Morbius!
'The Brave & the Bold' is ostensibly a Beowulf story - but it's a generic warrior tale. There's lots of anachronisms, with Beowulf leading the Vandals - is this the downfall of Rome? Plus, a castle like Neuschwanstein appears. Not even the right century!
In Tales of Asgard, Odin fights Surtur, the fire demon!
In Doctor Strange, Strange & Clea battle a demon that exploits fear.
Future Tense # 3 - The art & story have improved greatly, since issue # 1. In # 1, Sean highlighted Tom Sutton, and, in fact, he drew almost every story! The comic could have been called 'Sutton Tense' ! Was Tom Sutton the go-to guy for sci-fi?
Anything else notable - well, Star-Lord says he's bound by a vow never to take a life. How many other Claremont characters have said this? Storm, in the Black Panther team up? Also, Brian Braddock said it, too!
Interesting China town was a backdrop in Paladin - similar to the pre-Vulture Spidey story. Anyway, a picture paints a thousand words. Some kind soul's put Future Tense # 3 online:
http://comiconlinefree.net/future-tense/issue-3
Phillip
Sean - hee, hee! I've only a few Future Tenses, as (I think) my brother and I swapped/sold a lot of them, with a guy on a Leeds Market stall, in exchange for Rampage Monthlies, more than 40 years ago. I think we got the better side of the deal!
I have, however, found a few fragments of Valour's Devil Dinosaur jigsaw, if that impresses you!
Phillip
Well, a Devil Dinosaur jigsaw certainly isn't something to look down on Phillip, but its not a spaceship either.
Modok, Ms Marvel and mind control... OMG - that must be the weird kinky one, where he has Carol lick his feet.
What was Chris Claremont thinking? (Not that a bit of s&m subtext was that unusual in his stories)
-sean
Thanks, Phillip. That's another magnificent contribution. I do love the symbolism of Valkyrie bursting Meteor Man's balloon. And thanks for that link. It's the first time I've ever seen the inside of an issue of Future Tense.
Sean, I must confess that the moment I read that Modok used mind control to defeat Ms Marvel, the words, "Chris," and, "Claremont," popped into my head.
Thoroughly enjoyed that ABBA album. Actually, I enjoyed all of them. Of course they didn't experience the chart success in the States as they did essentially everywhere else. But we U.S.Abba fans tried to carry the load. Now when is that new music coming...
When I was a kid, one of my buddies had that comic where Conan and that tribal chief fight on that log above that spider-pit. I think I picked up a used copy of my own at a comic store somewhere years later, for sentimentality's sake.
I remember that giant spider had the face of a muppet. I dunno if John Buscema didn't know what a spider's head looked like, or was in a hurry and didn't care, but it looked like Fozzy the Bear with eight legs. It was basically a Jim Henson spider.
Phil, as far as goofy villains go, the Meteor Man is a gift that just keeps on giving, isn't he?
You'll never get me up in a balloon. M.P. is a cat who does not dig heights.
Or spiders, muppet-like or otherwise.
M.P.
M.P. - I also suffer from vertigo, but spiders aren't an issue. Maybe the funny-faced Conan spider is inspired by Tolkien's Shelob? Neither, however, do great comedy schtick like Fozzy!
Phillip
This is nothing to do with today's topic but I've been watching clips of the new Spitting Image on YouTube. I must say it looks pretty good and they've even managed to include a cameo for Steve Nallon as Thatcher (Boris holds a seance on Halloween and tries to contact Churchill but the spirit of Maggie turns up instead).
Colin - I saw that on TV, by accident, a few weeks ago. Strangely - or not - Maggie opposed Brexit, as championed by Boris. Also notable, was the Home Secretary's Dracula cape! In the old days, you always knew when 'Spitting Image' was on - now, unfortunately, I have no idea! Colin, you could have related it to today's comics, via the possession of Franklin Richards ;)
Phillip
Phillip, did Maggie oppose Brexit? I seem to recall that she and Tony Benn joined forces to call for a referendum on leaving the EU about 15 years ago. And yes, Priti Vacant Patel is portrayed as a vampire complete with cape and fangs in the new Spitting Image so they were spot on there :D
Colin - Maggie's spirit, possessing Boris (Franklin Richards), opposed Brexit (I seem to remember...but could be wrong!) In real life, Maggie claimed to be pro-European, but spoke about Europe's leaders with withering contempt!
Phillip
Unaccustomed as I am to going off-topic in these here threads, I would point out that not only did Thatcher campaign to be in Europe, the UK joined under the Tories and it was Labour that offered the first referendum... and in the '83 election promised to take the UK out anyway.
Even in 2016, the Tory party had a pro-remain leader, and Labour a Eurosceptic.
The Brits and Europe, eh? What a mad country (;
-sean
As long as we are musing about various things...
I heard on your UK Talk Sport radio this morning that Black Friday starts in the UK tomorrow? Is the UK BF anchored to anything like ours originally was anchored to the Friday after Thanksgiving?
Also, I am concerned that brexiting is going to impact SDC since he obviously reaches beyond UK borders. Is there a chance us USA guys will be cut off from all this mirth and merriness and musings?
Lastly, are you guys familiar with this series on Apple TV which just started in October which seemingly is quite popular (I don't know... I already have like 5 different "TV" subscriptions and ain't about to add another.) It's called Ted Lasso, about an american who only has coached USA football at the university level and is hired to coach a UK Premier league soccer team?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRqypM7jb5Y
https://youtu.be/WgsMRO-cHGI
In further off-topic developments that maybe of interest to some in the SteveDoesComics massive (you know who you are), I have obtained a copy of the recent 4xcd compilation (with book) Dreams To Fill The Vacuum: The Sound Of Sheffield 1978-88.
Out of the 100 tracks by assorted electronic synth wonks and post-punk noiseniks from the jewel of the north, I am particularly taken with Don't Try To Cure Yourself by They Must Be Russians. So, for your entertainment -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz3zY2oiB0A
They don't make 'em like that any more.
-sean
Charlie, we still don't know whats happening with Brexit, as believe it or not theres a delay in negotiations with the EU.
A Brexit delay! Who ever expected that?
Hard to believe anyone will be cut off from the UK though, as Boris Johnson is spending loads of money on his new Space Command.
-sean
Charlie is not one to wander off topic, but he'll make an exception here! Charlie heard all bout BJ wanting to spend trillions more on defence yesterday on Skynews. The program went on and on about the number of frigates in the UK navy.
Is there a back story to why the splurge? Those nasty French aren't acting up again are they? (We always knew they'd use the Chunnel to invade, didn't we???)
Charlie - Bojo's defence proposal (which will never happen) is political misdirection. When Bojo made this announcement, he hoped the press would run with it, and be distracted from all his other screw ups.
Phillip
Oh, I don't know Phillip - warships equipped with these new inexhaustible lasers will be quite useful in this scallop war brewing with the French.
Although having said that Charlie, we are talking about the British government so I expect if they're worked up about anyone it'll be the Irish.
Since the Brexit referendum the Brits have been surprised to discover that the border is a problem. You'd think being signatories to an international agreement bringing a lengthy armed conflict and military occupation that cost them billions to an end would have made them well aware of this, but no - apparently the border they imposed on the Irish for years is now just a cunning plot of ours to keep them in the EU.
-sean
Thatcher was pro-European as long as the EEC remained a trading bloc but when Jacques Delors started talking about pesky things like workers rights Maggie wasn't such a fan anymore.
The new Spitting Image has only been on air a few weeks and they're already having to melt down the Trump puppet (or whatever they do with redundant rubber puppets). Unless Trump stages a coup and declares himself President For Life of course.
Charlie, our Black Friday has only existed for about five years and it's a blatant copy of the US Black Friday (but without any connection to Thanksgiving because we don't do Thanksgiving here).
I know something about the Tories, fellas, but whatever their myriad faults they are head and shoulders above the pack of cannibalistic humanoids that currently comprise our conservative party.
As Robert E. Howard might have written, "They descended into savagery" or "sank back into apedom."
M.P.
Especially in South Dakota by the sound of it M.P.
I was reading about your neck of the woods in the paper yesterday. Apparently you're in a bit of a pandemic hot zone just now? And the governor seems to be a crazy person...
Hope you're keeping alright.
-sean
MP -
My 75-year-old neighbor keeps going back and forth to Pierre, SD where he still has a house. He keeps telling me some story how your female governor moved the annual pheasant-killing party away from the traditional city /county b/c they did not vote for her? So she moved it to some place that did vote for her but doesn't have pheasants?
Can you verify this most odd story?
Colin - Thanks for the Black Friday back story. Glad to see our finest traditions getting exported? W.t.h...
Thank you, gentlemen.
M.P. is a cautious cat and he's keeping his head on a swivel.
Avoiding people, infectious or otherwise, is not difficult for me. It's standard practice.
Charlie, I haven't heard that about the annual pheasant-hunting ritual, but I don't doubt it.
I'm reminded of Oscar Wilde's quote about fox hunters: "The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable."
All that fuss to shoot a dumb-ass ditch-bird.
Sean, our governor isn't smart enough to be crazy. Craziness implies creativity.
That bitch doesn't have an original thought in her pretty head.
God help us all.
M.P.
When Blondie came out with with The Tide Is High, they finished me off as a fan. Back then I needed rocking. It was too pop-mellow & reggae which I never cared for. I always wondered why so many classic British punk bands drifted into reggae-esque pop, the Clash, etc. Guess that was the UK thing, with the birth of ska also.
Thankfully Siouxsie & the Banshees was able to blend worldbeat subtly into their sound. Then again, I'm biased towards Siouxsie.
I picked up Paladin's first solo adventure in Marvel Premiere. Wasn't much impressed, even less so when he guest-starred in other titles. He had a bad costume also, in my opinion.
Who's book was the American title that the Hulk/Spider Woman storyline was published in? I had a good run of Jessica, and got tired of "Our Pal Sal". Never read it.
Sean, Philip, Colin... I dare say, having just watched the original Star Trek episode for Yeoman heats up James T Kirk's coffee with her phaser makes me think your new laser frigates could perform similar actions?
I'm sure something needs to be heated up on your side of the planet?
And now that I think about it, I muse about the origins of the Army expression "performing a Yeomnan's service." We used to write that on all the awards we'd give out to our troops. Not sure why (until now?) but it sounded really profound.
MP - did you ever get an award in the Army in Germany for performing a yeoman's service?
MP - you know it's funny but my neighbor from Pierre also said your / his governor isn't too bright. But. is she at least seemingly attractive? At least those folks up in Alaska could ponder Palin like I used to ponder Barbie Benton in my youth? I mean, good looks can make up for a litany of sins?
Oh dear Charlie. I'll admit I tend to find crazy an appealing quality in a woman, but even I'd draw the line at Sarah Palin.
Kd, with British punk bands it was because most big cities had - and still have - large communities with a Caribbean heritage Kd, and the late 70s/early 80s were peak years for reggae. Although the way, say, the Clash or (especially) the original Public Image absorbed reggae was quite different to the poppier approach imo.
I've never quite understood why ska - which was really the music of an earlier generation of Jamaicans - became such a big thing in the West Midlands though.
-sean
Charlie, I've never heard of a "yoeman's award." I don't know what that is. The officer in you is finally coming out, isn't it? Ah-ha! Once a bastard always a bastard!
On a different note, every guy our age pondered Barbie Benton. I don't remember pondering Sarah Palin. Except perhaps as an example of white trash gaining political power that they are incapable of wielding.
M.P.
...sorry, Charlie, don't take that last remark personally.
I didn't like officers very much back then.
M.P.
KD, I don't have a clue which book that Spider-Woman/Hulk tale was reprinted from. It doesn't seem to have been from either her book or his.
KD & Steve - it's Marvel team-up # 97!
Phillip
MP- We'll have to agree to agree that Barbie Benton was agreeable in the 60s.
(No offence taken being an officer. In general we got paid a lot more and did a lot less physical work. But that's why we got those degrees... to scam the system, lol.)
On the Army awards we officers would write platitudes like 'Private Palin performed a yeoman's service buffing helmets 48 hours straight so the troops would look good for the parade." This was for things like the Meritorious Service Medal.
I always assume a yeoman, since it rhymed with row-man was a reference to slaves who rowed unceasingly on Roman galleys 2000 years ago.
Id feel proud in CHarlie's head that row-man was a synonym with Roman cause I figured I'd probably invented the word row-man. If Shakespeare could add 5,000 french words to the english language why couldn't Charlie add one?
Tell you what Charlie, you write a great play for the ages with the word "row-man" in it, and I'll start using it regularly to help spread it around.
-sean
Thanks, Phillip. :)
I was just joking around, Charlie.
That's the problem with posting statements on the internet. People can't see you grinning or hear the inflection in your voice that would otherwise indicate that you're speaking in jest.
Of course, humor just by itself can bring trouble! In the army I got my ass in a sling more than once for "speaking in jest" to my superiors.
Apparently I was not funny.
M.P.
Thanks for the Team-Up info, Phillip!
Sean, I truly appreciate the your analysis of the emergence of reggae/ska influences in British punk/pop. That explains the Police. Lol.
Charlie, I think I actually have the First appearance of Barbi Benton in Playboy in storage. Back in the late 70's we had the cover of her first album chopped-up and featured like posters at our workstations in my old music warehouse. We never put the record on our turntable, though.
As far as the Sarah Palin topic, I truly recommend the Sci-Fi/comedy IRON SKY. Nazis living on the moon ready to conquer the earth. Funny as hell, and Sarah Palin is POTUS! Think it's free on the internet now. Udo Kier is in it, one of my favs.
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