Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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The UK singles chart was also witnessing triumph, as Adam and the Ants' Stand and Deliver retained the Number One spot by holding off the challenge from You Drive Me Crazy by the near-omnipotent Shakin' Stevens.
However, over on the album chart, even Adam had to make way for the arrival of the biggest threat to western civilisation since Genghis Khan first climbed on a horse, as the nightmarish Stars on 45 by Starsound hit the top spot. Who wouldn't want to sit through forty minutes of your favourite songs being hacked to pieces, their corpses laid, end to end, over a disco beat so dead that even Victor Frankenstein couldn't revive it?
Fortunately, Daredevil's on hand to put a stop to such shenanigans but even that heroism doesn't prevent Foggy from falling out with Matt Murdock.
This story, of course, had already appeared in the pages of Mighty World of Marvel in the mid-1970s.
Elsewhere, I would assume the Black Panther's still mixed up in the horror of King Solomon's Frog.
Speaking of things that have already appeared in the pages of a mid-1970s Marvel UK book, we get the origin of The Cat which featured in The Super-Heroes, way back in the days when the Bay City Rollers ruled the pop charts.
I do note the cover claims that The Cat goes on to become Hellcat which is, of course, wrong. She goes on to become Tigra who just happens to be in this week's Team-Up tale when Kraven sets her on Spider-Man.
In Spider-Man's solo strip, it would appear we get the first appearance of forgettable Sandman knock-off Hydro-Man.
And the Hulk's probably still battling Glenn Talbot's flying tank thingy on top of a Japanese volcano while an old film director blathers on endlessly about tradition and a robot dragon goes on the rampage.
Meanwhile, I do believe Captain America's still in the process of saving New York from Mr Hyde's exploding oil tanker.
The Watcher seems to still be demanding to know what would have happened if Dr Strange had become Dormammu's disciple instead of becoming the Ancient One's.
And the actions of the Fantastic Four are a total mystery to me.
The crew of the Enterprise is up to something. ROM is up to something. The Micronauts are up to something. Conan's up to something.
If only I knew what any of those things are.
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44 comments:
I haven't got 'Captain America Weekly', this week. I've only got 'Spiderman & Hulk Weekly'. Nevertheless, I consulted the original US Cap vs Mr.Hyde & Batroc edition, to check if my last week's comment about Marvel UK leaving a scene on the cutting room floor is true (when an unconscious Cap fell into the sea, but no scene showed his return on board the supertanker!) The upshot is, I must apologize to Marvel UK, as the original US comic omitted this scene, too. Maybe I should wear sack cloth & ashes!
As regards 'Captain America Weekly', although I haven't got it, I'm still able to reveal (spoil?) the conclusion for you. Mr.Hyde defeats himself by ripping out a pipe, on board the supertanker, and covering himself with liquid natural gas. This turns Hyde into a sub-zero snowman, whereupon he falls off the edge of the supertanker. Whilst Cap dives in to save Hyde, Batroc makes good his escape, with the beautiful Monique. Unfortunately, Cap returns in a mini-sub, along with the coastguard, in time to block Batroc's escape. The Frenchman is philosophical, accepting it all as the spoils of war - with a stereotypical Gallic shrug.
'Spider-man & Hulk Weekly' # 429
Steve's made my points already - and done it more concisely, to boot! What else is there to say? Well, the cover. Marvel UK's infatuation with yellow has been satisfied, in choosing the Cat/not Hell-cat, on the cover. Also, she's a red-head, which ticked a lot of Marvel's boxes, at that time.
The points Steve made also relate to chronology. Dangermash's list of interdiction did feature 'lack of chronology' - it came under the 'catch all' heading of 'Dez', along with several other things. The point is, lack of chronology doesn't seem a problem, most of the time, but then something like this happens.
Imagine a young reader, seeing Patsy Walker in the Defenders, every week. Then this story appears in 'Showcase', with a character who looks like Patsy Walker, but is named Greer Nelson. Then you've got Tigra, also in this comic, who's also named Greer, but doesn't have red hair, and looks completely different. This results from messing with chronology.
Common themes? 1.) Ship falls 2.) Unlikely volcanic events 3.) Eardrum attacks 4.) gassed out
1.) Ship falls
In Captain America, Mr.Hyde falls off the Supertanker, with Cap diving in after him. Likewise, in Spidey, soon-to-be Hydro-man falls off Deb Whitman's uncle's ship, into the sea, with Spidey diving in to save him.
2.) Unlikely volcanic events
In Spidey, Deb Whitman's uncle's ship, off the coast of New York, is lowering a submersible to investigate volcanic gases. Really? Is there a volcano, or any tectonic plates off the coast of New York? I'm slightly sceptical. I'm also sceptical as regards the Hulk story, when Glenn Talbot sets off the Mt.Kuroishi volcano (if it even exists), by firing the War Wagon's flame thrower at the Hulk, and hitting the side of the volcano, instead.
3.) Eardrum attacks
In Spidey's team up with Tigra, Kraven uses an ultra sonic blaster, to attack Tigra's eardrums. Likewise, in the Hulk story, Glenn Talbot's War Wagon uses a 'sonic assault' of 'senses shattering sound waves' on the Hulk's eardrums. Seeing as the Hulk once damaged Hyperion's eardrums, by clapping his hands, his own ear drums should be pretty tough. What about Daredevil? Villains were always attacking his eardrums - and Hawkeye had special screech arrows - but, I digress.
4.) Gassed out.
On this comics's last page, just above the Conan ad, Greer Nelson gets gassed, by the mysterious Mr.Big, beloved of unimaginative writers, who like to procrastinate for as long as they can. Likewise, Kraven twice gases Tigra, in the Spidey team up, with a bespoke gas, tailored specifically for her! When Spidey got caught with the same trick twice, gassed by Belladonna, he 'hung a light/lamp? on this', for the reader. Greer Nelson shouldn't fall for the same trick twice, let alone three times! Carelessness?
I've got to be honest - Spidey & Hulk Weekly isn't terrific this week. Steve said exactly what I thought. There's absolutely no point in reinventing the Sandman, but made out of water. Why not just be honest, and call him 'The Waterman' ? He's worse than Water Wizard. A loose electrical cable is whip-cracking away, on Deb Whitman's uncle's ship, and Spidey, rushing to secure it, pushes some crates, knocking soon-to-be Hydro-man into the sea, where he gains his powers from volcanic gases, just off the coast of New York. Then the guy wants revenge on Spidey, for giving him his powers. This isn't Denny Miller's finest hour.
The Hulk
Hulk leaps at the War Wagon, but bounces off its electrified force field - or something. Next Glenn Talbot fires the War Wagon's flame thrower - or something - at the Hulk, setting off the supposed Mt. Kuroishi volcano. Finally, Talbot attacks the Hulk's eardrums with a sonic weapon. Oh, to make things even worse, at the page count's end, Rick Jones calls the Teen Brigade's international chapter - sheesh!
Spidey & Tigra
Kraven attaches a mnemonic scrambler collar around Tigra's neck. Does this mean she'll now know mnemonics, like (R)ichard (O)f (Y)ork (G)ave (B)attle (I)n (V)ain, for the colours of the rainbow? Seriously, didn't Magneto do this to the X-Men, in the story with that robot, named Nanny? (I mean the collars, not teach them mnemonics!)
Then again, Kraven sounds more like Mastermind, with Jean Grey, telling Greer: "Your lord and master, Tigra. You were mine, body and soul s moment ago--you will be so again." 'Body and soul' is a Claremontism.
There's also a stampede of animals, which Tigra & Spidey must run over the top of. My memory's hazy, but didn't DD & the Widow's battle against Kraven have a stampede in it, too? I forget.
In the end, Spidey punches Kraven out, but almost breaks his hand on Kraven's belt.
Showcase: the Cat
It's Greer Nelson's origin story. She's out for revenge, pursuing some mysterious 'Mr.Big'. I know this is supposed to create suspense, but it doesn't. Compare it with Iron Fist's origin. Would it have made Iron Fist's quest for revenge against Harold Meachum more interesting, if you didn't know who Meachum was - or that he'd killed Iron Fist's father? No - the story just wouldn't have grabbed your interest. Just as this story doesn't grab anyone's interest, either. Readers get sick of mysterious Mr.Bigs - the Torpedo had them all the time, and look how that ended up!
Phillip
comic's not comics's - damn typos!
Thanks for another epic summation, Phillip.
For me, the main disappointment of that Hulk story is the Hulk never gets to fight the giant robot dragon.
I quite liked Stars On 45 Vol.2 (the ABBA one).
Phil, how long does it take you to type out your reviews?
There was a "Beatle one", I think, that was on the car radio constantly over here. It was during one of our infamous family vacations when I was a kid and nerves were already on edge.
That track didn't help.
M.P.
MP, the Beatles one was the first Stars On 45 single and it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US but only #2 in the UK. The follow-up Stars On 45 Vol.2 (the ABBA one) also made #2 in the UK singles chart.
Steve, that "robot dragon" was a movie prop! Let's be serious here!
The Hulk, big in Japan. Now if Gojira had shown up, that mighta been a fight.
That Thor cover up there brings back some memories.
The Mighty Thor #261 over here. 1977.
I had this (still do) and I woulda been, what, maybe nine years old.
I was floored. It was like one of the first Thor comics I had. A young Walt Simonson on pencils, Ernie Chan on inks. Thor fights his way through the decaying defenses of a dying alien civilization on a search for the missing Odin. In one dramatic scene, he subdues a cosmic storm in space. "Hear me, thou howling celestial winds! Heed the voice of thy given lord and master!" Yep.
I didn't know back then that Odin had a habit of periodically going missing or getting kidnapped, always coming back somewhat the worse for wear, like an uncle on a bender.
So it seemed pretty serious at the time.
It was a cool comic! Although now, that Norse longship they sailed through space on looks like something Terry Gilliam mighta came up with.
M.P.
Colin, the only thing I can say in favour of Stars on 45 records is that they were better than Jive Bunny.
MP, I'm sure they could have found a way to make the robot dragon formidable. They could have had Glenn's flamethrower attack release an ancient spirit from the volcano. The spirit could then have possessed the robot, imbuing it with super-powers and making it, "Unstoppable."
Okay, Steve, I guess that would work.
I've seen crazier things than that in the pages of the Hulk.
Including a talking raccoon from space.
Who am I to judge?
...I don't think any of us suspected ANYTHING was gonna come outta that.
M.P.
Colin - It depends on how many comics I'm summarizing/reviewing. Also, whether I've made a lot of notes, earlier, or am just writing ad-lib.
Last night, I started at 5.40pm, and finished just after 7.10pm ( But, then again, I was only doing one comic.) Next, I send it in 3 or 4 chunks. I'm getting faster, as it used to take me just under 3 hours - but then I was doing more comics.
If each of us submitted one review per week/month (?) on a specialized subject, it would take some of the weight off Steve's shoulders - e.g. Sean - 2000AD, M.P. - Thor, Charlie - synth pop and/or scouse music, etc.
Phillip
Stars on 45 sounds like a similar idea to those early to mid 80s(?) 'Classic Rock' albums, which had classical music, set to a jaunty pop beat, to make them 'down with the kids'.
Phillip
I think the guy behind Stars on 45 was in the band Golden Earring (Radar Love), he should be ashamed of himself lol. I remember my brother getting the first Classic Rock LP , the TV advert if I recall correctly was impressive .
Ah, Phil, you make notes - of course. I did wonder if you looked through the comics and remembered everything or whether you were flicking through the comics as you were typing the review.
Steve, believe it or not I thought about asking you if you preferred Stars On 45 or Jive Bunny :D
Colin - It's a bit of both (notes & flicking through!)
Paul - 'Sky' was also into popularizing classical music, wasn't it? Herbie Flowers, Tristan Fry, etc?
Phillip
Gents - Charlie fondly remembers the Beatles version of Stars on 45. After moving back to the USA in 1989, the health club my wife and I went to, a few hours daily, had only one soundtrack. Yep... all day, every day, for months on end.
But this Stars on 45 was a real mash up... I recall Archie's Tunes and Beatles tunes as being part of it. Must have been the "mother" of all the Stars on 45, lol.
Phillip - the problem with contributing an actual blog to SDC is that, in Charlie's case, Charlie is a distant second to Steve's writing skills.
Steve is an author by trade whereas by comparison Charlie is just someone who sits in the balcony throwing popcorn?
What could be fun here, though Redartz does it at Back in the Bronze Age occasionally, is that SDC have a day where the first person on board serves up a "random thought" and everyone else opine. Colin Jones is expert at this approach as we have seen at BitBA coming up with some really fun questions.
Presumably if that happened here us USA guys might be in for a real treat since the questions could take a UK focus!!!
E.g., "Do you remember eating your first pie? Tell us about it!" Or, "If you were from York and inclined towards dog thieving, what breed would you steal and why?" Or, "Tell us about your secret tips for winning at Conkers!"
I choose how to win at conkers lol. Our "cheat" was to soak them in vinegar overnight.
Philip: I had forgotten all about Sky well remembered - yes they released a few Rock, jazz classical based albums with the great John Williams on classical guitar
Multilingual, helicopter-piloting Charlie is too modest! Airedale terriers have a truly formidable reputation.
Phillip
I've just been listening to the two 'Stars On 45' songs on YouTube and, as Charlie mentioned, the Beatles one actually begins with the Archies' Sugar, Sugar.
I also listened to Stand & Deliver by Adam & The Ants...
Stand and deliver
Your money or your life
Diddly, kwa, kwa...
Colin - I've just played 'Stars on 45' Beatles but lost patience, as no Beatles happened. Anyway, I tried ABBA, instead. Their imitation of Frida is passable, but Agnetha isn't even close. Agnetha's supposed voice in 'Money, Money, Money' is way off - and the high notes on other songs are even harder than that!
Phillip
Charlie, I'm perfectly open to have a BITBA style random reader's topic post each week but I'll need Redartz's permission first, as I wouldn't want to be stealing his site's USP.
Colin and Phillip, there was an official Beatles medley single, using real Beatles recordings but all trace of it has been deleted from the Internet, by the rights holders.
McScotty, that was our conkers cheat, as well.
Charlie - I've been looking at next month's 'Savage Action' (1981). Its 'Inside Comics' feature compares US & UK art. There's something relating to your state:
"In the entire USA there is only one printing plant available for comic books - World Colour Press, Inc. in Sparta Illinois. This gargantuan print complex produces every single four colour comic in America from all the companies (excluding Charlton) on old letter press machines using plastic plates.
In the United Kingdom we have many smaller print complexes along with tighter quality controls which means that colour is relatively more expensive to produce in the UK than in the USA. This restricts us to the traditional UK comic style of colour covers, with black and white inside pages. I think most people would agree that artwork which has been coloured tends to work better than that which hasn't - depending on the colour job - even so, Al Williamson went on record recently (see next month's inside comics) as saying that of all the presentations of his 'Empire Strikes Back' work, he preferred the black and white version by British Marvel..." etc.
Phillip
The Yorkshire variant!
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/triple-mutant-yorkshire-variant-coronavirus-150440221.html
Phillip
Oh man, Stars on 45. I despised that 'back in the day'; partly for homogenizing a bunch of my favorite tunes and partly because it was played EVERYWHERE. Now, Adam and the Ants were another matter. I'd listen to them any day.
Steve- feel free to draft the help of SDC assembled! As a fellow blogger, I can tell you it's a big help on weeks when time and ideas run short. I'm with Charlie, it would be fun to see what if any difference would arise from a UK batch of contributors...
Red - Phillip noted that there is that one massive printing plant in Sparta IL for all the comics. Is that the place where they have the huge Superman statue in front?
Gents - it's possible that "Red the Hoosier" lives closer to Sparta Illinois than "Charlie the Former Hoosier who is now an Illini," lol!
Indiana was so named b/c of all the Indians living there.
Illinois was so named b/c that was the name of a tribe here. I know nothing about them other than some / many were starved to death by Ottawa and Pontiac Indians at Starved Rock about an hour south of me, about 250 years ago.
You know... I've noticed humans just seem to have trouble getting along sometimes.
Thanks, Red. :)
Euro gents!
The un-Charlie is very jealous that you will get to watch Eurovision tomorrow night, after last year was cancelled.
Steve - might you provide us commentary, such as you do for the Conkers, Pie Eating, Darts, Snookers, and Bob swimming competition?
I too am a fan of Adam Ant and Adam AND THE Ants.
Witty lyrics, drumming that to me, anyway, sounds almost like some jungle tribe, and, of course, the horns. Who doesn't dig a good horn section?
Whether it's Stevie Wonder or Chumbawamba it's all good.
Hey, that kinda rhymes!
Phil, or anybody who wants to do a little research or just read from a very wide array of comics on line for free, because their massive collection is in their mom's basement in Iowa (ahem) check out https://viewcomics.me.
Everything from Action Comics to Mickey Rat.
Beats reading the news, I tell ya.
M.P.
Charlie, why the hell are the Archies on that Beatles Stars on 45?! What kinda diabolical %#@$er came up with that?
Charlie, I'm sure Eurovision will be streamed live online, probably on YouTube. As for me doing a commentary, I'm not sure my brain could survive that experience.
Steve, I think you underestimated Steve. Your Snookers review was par excellence!
First it was the world beating Kent variant Phillip, now theres the Yorkshire triple mutation.
So much for the Project Fear gloomsters who said Brexit would restrict British exports!
-sean
Steve - Seriously, could you remove my last two comments. I've just realized it's in very bad taste.
Phillip
Phillip, your wish is my command.
Charlie, for me, this year's Eurovision died when Hydra got knocked out in the semi-finals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btA_Tyiyfhc
I didn't watch Eurovision on TV or listen on Radio 2 for the first time since about 1977 but I just googled the result and Italy won with the UK coming last and receiving "nil pwang" from both the national juries and the popular vote. No doubt Radio 2's Ken Bruce was baffled by the UK's dismal result like he is every year - look, Ken, we come last because they hate our guts in Europe now, understand??
Colin - I am surprised that the Brexit UK is allowed to compete in Eurovision? Or should I not be?
MP - I have a bunch of Treasure Chest comics from the late 50s - early 70s. Probably around 20. Interested? (I don't think any were drawn by the famous Reed Crandall or other famous artists who worked for them.)
I can't believe you UK guys soaked your nuts over night in vinegar to cheat at Conkers, lol. Is there no honor left... anywhere... on this planet?
Charlie, I am again touched by your generosity. You sent me some '90's D.C. stuff and a few issues of Alter Ego. I dunno if I thanked you properly for that, but I sure did enjoy them.
I dunno what "Treasure Chest' comics are, Charlie, but if they are good comics from your private stash, why not keep 'em?
For sentimental value, if nothing else. Also, if World War III or the Zombie Apocalypse breaks out yer gonna need reading material, and possibly toilet paper, while you're hunkered down in the bunker of your choice.
I'm gonna hunker down in my ma's basement. My comics are there and also my dad's guns.
On another note, Achtung, meine Herren! M.O.D.O.K. (mental organism designed only for killing) has his own t.v. show now. Maybe "t.v. show" isn't the right term. Apparently, it's "streaming" on "Hulu" or somesuch. I have no idea what that means.
it's my understanding Modok is voiced by Patton Oswalt, so, caveat emptor.
Also, they're remaking Highlander. Why.
I guess Angus McCloud is being played by Henry Cavill, who has zero charisma.
Yeah, he looks like a cartoon pilot, but has no style. And who could replace Clancy Brown as the Kurgan?
Nope.
M.P.
The British grumbling about political voting in Eurovision and being hated is mistaken imo Colin.
The Brits do poorly in the contest because they think its dumb and uncool, so don't want to be seen trying to win. Which is fair enough, as it is dumb and uncool.
But then they get pissed off when they don't win!
I suppose there are some similarities to the EU, in that the British - well, the English - kept complaining about Europe for years, so they Brexited (eventually!)... and now complain about it even more!
-sean
PS All the same, it is pretty funny the UK got nul points.
Nice Gene Colan Stiltman on that Marvel Super Adventure cover, but you'd think by 1981 someone would have covered over the "asspain" message.
-sean
I watched Eurovision for the first time in around 35 years last night - I still don't get the attraction of it, it's awful (maybe that's the attraction lol). Did anyone see the Greek entry someone online said she looked like she was wearing a 1970s Dave Cockrum inspired Legion of Superheros costume? I think they were right!
LOL! Maybe the voters should be careful. After all, "cut off one limb and two more shall take its place"!
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