Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
***
Steve Austin may have been worth six million dollars but, this week in 1981, Bryan Robson was worth one and a half million pounds.
Granted, that's less than six million dollars but it was still a British record fee for a footballer when it was paid by Manchester United to West Bromwich Albion for the 24-year-old.
For comparison, the current British transfer record is the £100 million Manchester City paid to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa, earlier this year.
Those are, clearly, some very valuable people but of, no doubt, equal value to their record companies are the music superstars of the world.
And leading that particular pack, that week, were the Police who smashed their way onto the UK album chart at Number One, thanks to their latest platter Ghost in the Machine.
Over on the singles chart, Adam & the Ants were still ruling the roost, with Prince Charming.
All while trying to reform a young offender.
Apparently, the Dazzler defeats the Enforcers, and Tony Stark's in England.
What he's doing there, I couldn't say.
That's because his alter-ego Martin Blank's working in television and has promised his bosses he can help them get footage of Spider-Man.
And that can only mean one thing.
A new clash between the two super-doers.
However, it's even worse than that because the Beetle's back!
And in his brand new costume!
As for the Hulk's strip, our emerald anti-hero's still under the mental control of the Corruptor and it seems nothing can stop him.
Or can it?
After all, he still has to contend with the awesome might of the new Teen Brigade and a quartet of Western-themed do-gooders, including Red Wolf.
And, from the looks of it, he's going to have to follow his father's footsteps by climbing into the boxing ring.
But, first, he'll need to deal with someone called Kragg.
Kragg would appear to be a mobster, with plenty of henchmen.
I can share no info about what the Black Panther's up to.
In the first, as the cover reveals, the Absorbing Man's back.
I'm assuming this is the one where he's trying to flee the country but the Avengers won't let him and he commits suicide by jumping in the sea and dissipating.
In our second, it's a blast from the past, as we receive a reprint of the 1960s Thomas and Buscema yarn in which Diablo uses Dragon Man to take Goliath and the Wasp captive.
But there's all-new fare from Captain Britain when he and Jackdaw find themselves pursued by police because superheroes have been outlawed. And, meanwhile, a nearby rubbish tip produces a monster made of rubbish.
As if that wasn't enough, we also get the two comic strips the world knows as Black Sun Rising and The Freefall Warriors.
Just to make us feel spoiled, there's also a four-part Night Raven yarn and an interview with artist David Lloyd.
It's yet more hero-based hilarity from the company that knows how to mock itself. This time, drawn from the pages of 1967's Not Brand Echh #5.
And it's going to introduce us to the full horror of the Hellhoop!
Somehow, I can't bring myself to view the word "Hellhoop" as being in any way, shape or form threatening.
Far more threatening is what's facing Mars' deadliest foe.
That's right. Killraven's still in his Herb Trimpe phase and is battling a bunch of tentacles - in the far-flung future of 2018!
Can it be? Has Electro finally encountered a foe he can defeat?
Elsewhere, Iron Fist would appear to be up against a bunch of talking plants, thanks to Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Meanwhile, Shatterstar's captured Marvel's 2nd-most silentest hero Black Bolt and has opted to leave him hanging over Attilan's main public square until he dies.
And it's dedicated to Blake's 7!
Marvel UK's already had great success with its book dedicated to the BBC's other great sci-fi franchise Doctor Who. So, how can it possibly fail with this one?
Quite easily, as it turns out. While Doctor Who Magazine may still be going strong in 2021, this title will only survive for 23 issues.
Still, I'm sure they're great issues.
In this one, we get 40 star-packed pages and a colour pin-up. Not to mention The Facts Behind the Smash Hit TV Series, a picture strip called Mission of Mercy, Vila's Gags, reviews of Outland and Condorman, a text story called Prisoners of Carpaxia, a text story called Credit Transfer and a four-page profile of Avon actor Paul Darrow.
We even have the chance to win Space Shuttle model kits!
Good God above, it has to be worth 45 pence of anyone's money.
ITV's smash Worzel Gummidge has one too!
Given the show's popularity - and that it stars former Doctor Who Jon Pertwee, how can this one fail?
With effortless aplomb.
It either lasts for just 12 issues or 15, depending on which source you look at.
Regardless, this edition gives us various things, including the chance to win a Worzel Gummidge T-shirt.
I think we'd all love to be seen around town, wearing that one.
It would appear we also get a free record, which seems a bit above the freebies which usually turn up in Marvel UK's comics, although I suspect it's going to be one of those flexi discs that don't even have a B-side.
The Micronauts find themselves in the sub-atomic world of Oceania.
The writers do know there's a real place called Oceania?
It's just dawned on me. Isn't that thing in the giant hand the weapon Scorpio used to use?
Captain Marvel and Star Trek are also in this issue.
It would seem Rick Jones and Marv are chilling on Titan when the perennial sidekick decides he's got to return to Earth to fulfill his duties as a singer.
I can hear the music lovers of Earth all celebrating that decision.
Elsewhere, the Enterprise crew find themselves assisted, in their latest mission, by a bunch of living garden gnomes.
Seriously.
I do know the X-Men and Thing have tales in this issue but can make no claims to know what those tales involve.
My razor-sharp senses tell me that new cast member is future Dempsey and Makepiece star Glynis Barber.
We also get a review of Escape From New York.
Plus, there's a look back at The Stepford Wives and a look forward to the BBC's Day of the Triffids, as well as news of the latest movie to star Starburst cover favourite Caroline Munro.
I suspect that movie may be The Last Horror Film but cannot officially confirm that.
I can confirm, though, that, despite its title, other horror films have since been made.
Thanks to Loki, the Hulk finds himself in Asgard and battling a whole host of Norse gods.
Sadly, none of them are Thor, as he's off somewhere else while all this is going on. So, Hulkie has to settle for fighting the Warriors Three, instead.
And that's not all we get because we also get the Hulk's epic battle with the Sub-Mariner in Miami, as arranged by the Puppet Master and Marie Severin.
We also get our first encounter with Khitai which I think is Robert E Howardese for, "China."
And not a Killraven in sight.
Again.
Happily, the Fantastic Four have turned up to help out.
And they'd better do it quick, as the inhumane Inhuman has taken Crystal captive!
Oh dear. Johnny'll have a meltdown.
Meanwhile, Betty tells Peter that Ned Leeds has asked her to marry him.
And even more meanwhile, the Master Planner's lurking in the background.
But who can he be?
Who?
Iceman has to fight Magneto?
On his own?
I don't fancy his chances.
Unless I misremember, Warlord Krang is, in some way to blame for the conflict between the two heroes and is, possibly, holding Dorma captive because that's the kind of thing he likes to do.
Frankly, I don't have a clue how this has all come about.
The good news is that, as far as I can make out, the next issue's the final one and nevermore will we encounter this problem.
Posts
66 comments:
Blockbuster # 5
Common themes? Being shackled (Iron Fist, Black Bolt, Omega); female guardian angels Miranda, Medusa?, Ruth, Amber, Dian); story titles involving burning.
'Iron Fist'
'Valley of the Damned!' - Claremont & Byrne
Colleen Wing's father's in hospital, with Iron Fist at his bedside. Lee Wing's catatonic, having been 'mindstormed' by Angar the Screamer. But - wait a minute - last month didn't Angar mindstorm lieutenant Scarfe? I forget. On top of this, last issue a mysterious Mr. Big abducted Colleen Wing (Angar has a long history of working for mysterious Mr.Bigs).
The Wing family's predicament gives Iron Fist a guilt trip - a poignant flashback to Danny's K'un Lun days results. It's all about Danny's K'un Lun friend (female, of course) whom Iron Fist also feels he failed - with tragic consequences. And you thought Marc Spector's closet had skeletons in it!
Danny's memory spools back to K'un Lun, the week before his final trial/test in order to become Iron Fist. At that time, Danny was confronted by Lord Merrin, a young K'un Lun noble, who resented an outlander (Danny) robbing him of the Iron Fist (like Steel Serpent/Davos?) Of course, Merrin - being a bully - has a big gang of martial artists, to help him.
Danny's doing well, but - massively outnumbered - he's eventually overwhelmed. Suddenly a mysterious martial artist, dressed like the Masked Marvel, appears - just in the nick of time, to pull Danny's fat out of the fire!
The fight's going well, but in the chaos, the mystery fighter's mask gets pulled off, and - shock, horror - it's a woman! Danny's shocked, as the unmasked lady's his good friend, Miranda! Momentarily - everyone's in shock - heroes & goons alike! How can this be? According to sexist K'un Lun's social codes, not only is teaching women martial arts illegal - it's the ultimate sin!
The moment of disbelief abruptly ends, as Conal - Miranda's boyfriend, and martial arts instructor - makes a dramatic entrance - and he, she and Danny swiftly dispatch the goons. The battle being over - seemingly - Danny challenges Miranda, for breaking K'un Lun's laws, by learning martial arts.
Older Miranda & Conal encourage young Danny to question the social norms he's internalized, and think for himself. Suddenly, Merrin throws a knife, whereupon Danny pushes Miranda aside, whilst simultaneously catching the knife and throwing it back. Moments later, a spotlight illuminates the three goodies, and a voice of authority announces Conal & Miranda's arrests!
Crosscut to Halwan, a fictitious middle-eastern country, where Colleen Wing's been spirited off to (to end a sentence with a double preposition - live on the wild side!) Major Hassan brings Colleen to Mr.Big - a mysterious Fu-Manchu lookalike, possibly with supernatural powers. After playing possum, Colleen - who's resisted her conditioning - tells Mr.Big to "Go to Hell!" He explains he's already been to Hell, got bored and returned to Earth.
For failing to brainwash Colleen properly, a screaming Major Hassan meets a terrible fate; but, he's one final role to play - as bait for Iron Fist!
-
Crosscut back to K'un Lun. Conal - outside K'un Lun's walls, in the snow - is being stalked, by an undetected (?) Danny - who uses his ninja stealth! If Conal & Miranda escape the city, into the valley outside, the "protectors" will hunt them down (a bit like the Sandmen, in 'Logan's Run' ?) So instead - Conal says - they are going "beyond the mists", as return means total "mindwipe".
How many 'mind things' is that? Angar's mindstorm left Lee Wing catatonic; Colleen's resisted Major Hassan's conditioning; and now, as a punishment, a "mindwipe". Could this be a Chris Claremont story?
Conal would agree to the "mindwipe", if Yu-Ti would preserve Conal & Miranda's love for each other. But Yu-Ti won't make that concession. To Conal, challenging the status quo means you must be slapped down hard, or else the whole house of cards collapses.
Danny tells Conal that he won't let him throw his life away, whereupon Miranda (who's crept up on Danny) knocks him down from behind (so much for Danny's ninja stealth!), whilst Conal kicks Danny in the face. For both, yeti boots are fashionable, for some reason.
Crosscut to the present day, at the hospital, where the doctor & Misty Knight recap Lee Wing's condition, for exposition's sake. Suddenly, lieutenant Scarfe charges down the hospital corridor - but Scarfe was "mindstormed" last issue, just like Lee Wing - how's he recovered? Well, I don't know....
Scarfe tells Misty the big news - Interpol's got a lead on Colleen! Apparently, the mysterious Mr.Big's name is "Masterlord". What's more, one of his men (Major Hassan, I presume) wants out - and is willing to blow Masterlord's organization wide open, in return for money & protection (just to make his snitching plausible).
The meet's in London. To lieutenant Scarfe, it's an obvious trap, and he tells Misty she'd be crazy to fall for it. For Misty, there's no alternative, Colleen being her partner. Scarfe tells Misty, they too were partners once. To Misty, it was long ago, when she was "a whole woman". Then Misty gets angry, using her bionic arm/hand to crush a brick ledge!
By now, Misty's surely anticipated future events. Sources who arrange a meet with Misty end up dead - or ostensibly dead. It happened with Ferraro, in 'Daughters of the Dragon' (Angie Freeman story), and Cauley (Stark's corrupt security guy), in 'Iron Fist'. Major Hassan's death isn't confirmed, but he was screaming, when last we heard him (off-panel!)
Crosscut to Iron Fist, outside K'un Lun's walls - 'Beyond the Pale', so to speak. Iron Fist's regaining consciousness. To the reader, it's because Conal kicked Danny in the head. But no - Danny's lost consciousness, having sniffed a strange flower. Didn't that happen in 'Star Trek', in that episode with Spock rabbiting on about clouds? But, I digress...
Iron Fist's the prisoner of plant people - the H'ylthri. Chris Claremont's aliens/demonic races have diacritic apostrophes (or whatever the correct term is) in their names, a lot of the time. The Shi'ar, the N'Garai (Kitty wrecks the Danger Room), the giant lizard race Ms.Marvel fought in the desert, etc. Well, the H'ylthri are another such race. Chris may have got it from Moorcock, who uses apostrophes in names a lot, too.
A brief flashback explains Iron Fist's recovery & wounded ego - the pride of K'un Lun beaten by Conal & Miranda. Nevertheless, Danny tracks his two friends, stumbling across a beautiful hidden land, before sniffing the fateful flower.
The H'ylthri hate K'un Lun, it's people having burned the forest. An eco-message story, decades ahead of its time? Maybe. But these giant plant men, with leafy walrus mustaches & beards, are also like Ents, from Tolkien. After all, Saruman torched the forest, too! Sheffield Council destroyed dozens of trees on Rustlings Road, and near Endcliffe Park - but, I digress...
The H'ylthri's leader's puzzled, as to why the forest spared Iron Fist, and his friends - who should be dead, by now. Next, he moves Iron Fist to the heart of the forest, with no escape possible, and no rescue!
Iron Fist sees liquid-filled plant pods, within which Conal & Miranda are imprisoned. A third pod awaits Danny! Enraged, Danny Iron Fists his way out of his unbreakable bonds. He attacks the plant men, challenging their concept of vengeance - whereupon they counter Danny's arguments, by raising his intentions towards Harold Meachum! Shocked by the H'ylthri's knowledge of this, Iron Fist falters - and a plant frond paralyzes him with its sting!
The poignant bit happens next. As Iron Fist passes out, Miranda's begging him for help, pleading with him, and calling him "brother!" For orphan Danny Rand, abandoning a surrogate sister-figure's a hard cross to bear. "To Those We Left Behind".
Returning to the present, back at Lee Wing's hosptial bed, Iron Fist tells Misty that Colleen's father's going to be okay. Transfusions of Iron Fist energy/Chi have healed him, it seems. Next, Misty tells Iron Fist London's their destination, hot on Colleen's trail. And, reminiscing about Miranda's death, Iron Fist resolves he'll never fail a friend again.
Next month's Iron Fist title's "The City's Not for Burning!" (c.f. Maggie). Is burning a theme? This issue, Omega's similar title's "Burn While You Learn!"
'The Inhumans'
'Voices From Galaxy's End' - Moench, Kane & Colletta
Unfortunately, the art dips this issue, with George Perez's departure - but let's plough on. Black Bolt's humiliated. He's been chained up, over Attilan's great square - for 9 days - without food, water or rest. Shackled like a common prisoner (not royalty)!
Maximus gloats, of course. Maximus tells Black Bolt and - more importantly - the reader, that Shatterstar's building a space ark, to transport half Attilan's population to the Kree homeworld, leaving the other half for Maximus to rule. Worse still, Shatterstar's ark's being built using Black Bolt's subjects for slave labour. Absolute rulers have a hard life, readers!
Next, Black Bolt flashes back, explaining these unfortunate events to the reader. Black Bolt & the Inhumans beat Shatterstar in New York - yes, I remember they fired his spaceship's own cannon at him. But Shatterstar's ship fell under his own control, once more, by the time they returned to Attilan.
The Inhumans arrived home to discover Maximus's conquest of the Great Refuge. This happens so often, the Inhumans should hardly be surprised - it's like Misty's sources winding up dead. Gorgon gets angry, and decides to clean house, whereupon Medusa stops him, pointing out that Crystal & Pietro are hostages.
Kree scientist Falzon pleads with Shatterstar (who's his son) to show mercy. In response, Shatterstar strikes his own father (he's already killed his mother), then shoots Falzon with his blaster, knocking him over the edge of the sky craft. using her hair, Medusa catches the old man, and vainly appeals for a physician.
Next, Black Bolt - to save Crystal & Pietro - presents his wrists, to be shackled. Whilst Leonus - and other morally dubious Inhumans (wrong 'uns) - are shackling Black Bolt, Lockjaw - in a bold move - teleports Triton & Karnak away.
Maximus starts ranting, and chains the other Inhumans (as well as Black Bolt) - because of "the capricious whim of an improbable canine." Of course Maximus, gloating at Black Bolt, expounds his motives for the reader's benefit, in a bit of clunky exposition. Maximus allowed Shatterstar to transport the inhumans with powers (for the War of the Three Galaxies), as it makes ruling Attilan easier for him, as the Inhumans with powers are gone.
Lockjaw sets Karnak & Triton down in the Himalayas, outside Attilan. If K'un Lun & Attilan are both in the Himalayas, maybe - every 10 years - a joint party would be in order!
Here, the trio are met by Iridia, the butterfly woman. She leads them to a cavern, where they rendezvous with the resistance. Is this a Blake's 7 story?
Iridia explains Maximus's escape. A sky-plummeting light struck Leonus (like with Blastaar) - sending him into a trance. Leonus then touched Stallior - who went into a trance, too - and then they both freed Maximus. Maximus then got the evil Inhumams to capture Crystal & Pietro, and threatened to kill the couple with a cannon (there's been a lot of cannons, recently), if Attilan's population didn't surrender.
This makes little sense - Pietro could grab Crystal & run. No one could catch him, least of Leonus & Stallior - the wrong 'uns! After witnessing it all, Iridia flew up, to warn the Inhumans - before they landed - but Maximus cannon-zapped her. As I said before, cannons have been too abundant, lately. Iridia landed in the snow, where the Resistance found her.
As word comes that the Ark's nearing completion, Triton devises a daring plan to defeat Shatterstar. It's about time Triton finally did something. Triton tells Karnak to free the Inhumans - then Crystal & Pietro - whilst he goes after Shatterstar.
Triton comandeers a skysled (do they store them, in Himalayan caves?), and flies towards the Ark, where he goads Shatterstar into chasing after him. Triton leads Shatterstar down the Royal Palace's Hall of Heroes, where the Kree warrior furiously blasts at him. Finally, Triton reaches his objective - the Corridor of Lost Memories!
Crosscut to Karnak, finding the cells' weakest point, and rescuing the Inhumans, who will - in turn - free Crystal & Pietro. The unconscious Falzon's left behind. Meanwhile, to the Inhumans boarding Shatterstar's ark, obeying orders will secure their beloved Black Bolt's release. A despairing Black Bolt - at the end of his rope - is just about to open his gob!
Back to Triton. Pursued by Shatterstar, down the Corridor of Lost Memories, at the last instant, Triton swerves his skysled away, and Shatterstar's energy blast strikes the Mirror of Eternity - and reflects back at him, defeating the evil kree warrior!
The victory's won - but Black Bolt's unaware of this. In despair, he opens his mouth - and roars in protest! Death & destruction must ensue! Next week: "King of Ruins!" If Black Bolt was a prince, like Namor or the Black Panther, that title would be "Prince of Ruins!" Then he'd be Elric (it being one of Elric's many nicknames!)
'Omega the Unknowm' - Gerber/Skrenes & Mooney
Blockbuster's cover depicts a baggy, Killraven boots wearing Omega, being threatened by Electro. To the reader, Omega's red & blue costume evokes a certain famous D.C. superhero. The colour cover needs to feature Omega, like this - as, in Marvel UK's black & white interior, this D.C. reference/allusion's completely lost on the reader.
School days are the best days of your life. Really? Not for James Michael Starling! He'd previously been home-schooled, but creepy Dr.Barrow's enrolled James at the local high school, despite Ruth's misgivings.
On James Michael's first day, the principal comments - between sniggers - that James is in for quite an experience!
What is James Michael's first lesson? That at high school, punishment's arbitrary. James introduces himself to Mr.Beal - his form teacher - and is immediately slapped across the face. Talking out of turn, perhaps? Admittedly, Mr.Beal's on a hair-trigger, having just dodged a board rubber, his riotous class has thrown at him.
Luckily, a baseball cap wearing girl, named Dian, takes James Michael under her wing. Along with Ruth and Amber, James has a lot of female guardian angels. At the school cafeteria, Dian introduces James to another studious boy, John Nedly, who aspires to be a writer.
James Michael's next acquaintance is Nick, the class bully. For bullies, picking on their victims is recreational. Asked why they do it, they reply: "For a bit of fun." Other class members don't defend the victim, not wishing to be the bully's next target, themselves. Luckily, for James Michael, Dian steps in, speaking up on his behalf.
Crosscut to Omega, Electro & the mysterious robot...Omega's told by Electro of his deal with the robot (clunky exposition for the reader's benefit). Electro will provide the robot with Omega - and all the electrical power it needs - in return for help, on a certain mission.
For the robot, killing Omega immediately, is all that counts. Electro, however, reminds it he's only provided enough power for the mission. If it wants to continue living, it needs a second, stronger charge - which will only happen after the mission is complete.
When Electro & the robot depart, Omega - becoming more & more angry - eventually breaks his electrical shackles. And he didn't need an Iron Fist to do it!
Crosscut back to high school...
At the end of the school day, James Michael & Dian are leaving school, where - at the school gates - Nick, the bully, & his pals are waiting - ready to beat up James Michael...
- continued next issue
Damn typos - "it's people" is possessive, so doesn't have an apostrophe - should be "its people"!
I was racing to finish before Blakes's 7, at 9pm - and finished with seconds to spare!
Phillip
Dave's Cover of the Week: Savage Action, although the Captain America one is nice too. The Marvel Super Adventure cover reminds me of one of those Silver Age DC covers where the cover was drawn first and the writer had to write a story to fit it.
The Spider-Man and Hulk Team-Up cover intrigues me though- is it a take-off of a Ditko cover with the Enforcers?
The "Black Sun Rising" comic strip in Dr Who #57 is the last story in Affable Al Moore's Time War trilogy Steve, drawn by David Lloyd.
You get to find out how the Time Lords, the Order of the Black Sun, the return of Wardog, the introduction of the rest of the Special Executive - well, Zeitgeist and Cobweb - and a dodgy Sontaran all fit into the start of the first time war, and Dr Who ties into the Marvel Universe. All in just 4 pages!
Actually, I suppose it didn't come across Who was in the Marvel Universe til the Special Executive turned up in Captain Brexit during the Moore/Davis Daredevils run. All the same, you just don't get that kind of compressed storytelling in comics anymore.
As it happens, the "Freefall Warriors" - Big Cat, Machine Head, Cool Breeze, and Bruce - from the main Dr Who strip by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons turned up later in the early issues of CB's Delano/Davis era comic, in their own back-up feature.
It was too short lived to make much of an impression.
That was also the case with Time Smasher in Rampage - with 4 or 5 pages an episode at monthly intervals it didn't last long and I couldn't tell you much about it now, except Mick Austin's artwork looked ok. I think it was supposed to tie into the Captain Brexit series in Marvel Superheroes somehow.
-sean
Dave, I shall go for Blockbuster as my cover of the week because I like its dynamism.
Phillip, thanks for another mammoth summary. Iron Fist's life is certainly complicated. Then again, so are the Inhumans'. You can't help feeling they should keep Maximus captive a long long way way from Attilan.
Sean, thanks for the Doctor Who info. But the first Time War? I think I'm starting to see where Russell T Davies was getting his ideas from.
I didn't know there was a Blake's 7 monthly but at this point the series had only a few weeks left until the last ever episode so it was an unfortunate time to launch a new Blake's 7 magazine! Lasting for 23 issues was pretty good but the mag might have done a lot better if it had started in 1978 instead :D
This week is Captain Britain's 45th anniversary - CB #1 was launched on October 6th 1976.
Steve, your massive posting has left Charlie with questions and questions and questions...
1) Who is, or what was the inspiration for, Irving Forbush Man? 50 + years a later I still don't get the word play?
2) How in the world is there a Conan cover without a groveling babe?
3) Explain again how Iron Man's armor has a missing hunk but his arm is undamaged, though he is clutching it?
4) What's y'alls thoughts about the Saudis paying 300 MM for Newcastle? Have any of you ever visited? Is it worth a visit? I only know the old joke, from Lucy, about "that's about as smart as taking coals to New Castle."
Please Help. Charlie wants to be in the light, not the darkness of Ignorance.
Now Charlie is going to turn on ESPN to see if his mighty nation of 330,000,000 can beat Jamaica in World Cup soccer. It is very questionable, for sure, after our loss to Trinidad (or was it Tobaggo?) a few years ago.
I was just about to mentioned the original Marvel Uk material published this month but Sean beat me to it. I'm guessing that Rampage cover is by Paul Neary as it doesn't look mush like Mick Austin. Everyone already knows this, however, Austin painted the best Warrior cover, being #7's Marvelman bursting out of the ocean. Continuing our what went wrong with the art when marvelman became Miracleman, why didn't Eclipse commission Austin to paint the covers?
Also, Phillip, that is one epic summary!
DW
Phil, Iron Fist and his history is a bridge too far for me, but I did enjoy your analysis of Omega, whom I've always had a soft spot for.
But who doesn't love an underdog?
I'm gonna hafta revisit that Electro issue. I'm thinkin' that sneaky Gerber mighta snuck in a subtext in there I didn't catch the first time. Lord knows, his work work on Man-Thing had me scratchin' my head more than once.
Oddly enough, Howard the Duck always seemed pretty straight-forward to me.
Charlie, my friend, I must caution you against getting emotionally invested in English football. History has shown us that that road often leads to madness. The U.K. would probably be a futuristic utopia if not for soccer. They probably would've been living in floating cities and would have colonized other solar systems by now, spreading peace and harmony amongst the stars.
Stick to American football like me. I don't get agitated watching it because I don't care about it anymore.
It now has a calming, numbing effect.
M.P.
...I have an odd habit of typing the same word twice without knowing it, for some reason, and I don't always catch it...
M.P.
DW, the Eclipse Miracleman covers went wrong by going for familiar names to draw in US readers - Howard Chaykin, Jim Starlin etc. You can see the commercial logic, but none of them did a good job imo. I seem to recall John Bolton did a cover painting for their collected book 2, and strangely even that looked iffy.
Mick Austin did some nice colour work on Dredd but I definitively bailed on the progs around that time - when the Morrison/Millar era started - so probably missed a lot of it.
On the Marvel UK new stuff, the Blake's 7 comic strips in the issues I saw looked pretty good, drawn by Ian Kennedy and - probably better known to most readers of this blog - the late, great Steve Dillon. Unfortunately they are Blake's 7 stories though.
I have no idea what went on in the pages of Worzel Gummidge, but I assume non of it was by Alan Moore, or tied in to Captain Brexit.
Probably it was aimed at younger readers?
And I expect you're right about that free record being a flexi-disc Steve. They were all the rage back then, in the era of Flexipop! magazine. Which wasn't exactly the NME, but to be fair they did put out the best Adam & the Ants record, "A.N.T.S", as a freebie -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3lfwmh1g94
Who needs a B-side with a record like that? Much better than "Prince Charming".
-sean
Charlie, personally I'm more bothered about the Brits selling the Saudis weapons than football teams. And running their secret war in Yemen.
Sorry to disillusion you M.P., but its not actually the footy - or, somewhat astonishingly, even the EU - thats holding back Boris Johnson's Space Force from establishing a galactic high wage British utopia for British people.
-sean
Sean
I believe Moore pitched a 10 part story for Worzel Gummidge in which Aunt Sally turned out to be a Soviet double agent sent to recover a rogue second world war Soviet super soldier. Said Super Soldier would have turned out to be Doctor Gordon from Black Beauty but Marvel couldn't secure the rights. Similarities with Grant Morrison's ill-fated Magic Roundabout/Noddy crossover were apparently coincindental but I suspect more than a hint of chinny reckon.
Charlie
Given Newcastle's precarious position in the relegation zone, as a Toon fan I'd be worried about the current players performing well enough between now and January to secure a Premier League place, knowing they'll then likely be dropped for the inevitable incoming 'super stars' no doubt on significantly increased wages. If they survive (which realistically they will) they'll challenge for the title within three years. This means eighth becomes the new seventh, for us fans of non 'big' clubs.
DW
Note: Aspects of this post are not true.
I knew I'd get a response from you, Sean!
I was laying it on pretty thick, there.
I guess we're both working class idealists. :)
M.P.
Charlie, I can provide no answers to your other questions but Newcastle is famous for its night-life and is generally viewed as the place to go in the north if you want a good time.
Charlie - As regards "Sending coals to Newcastle", coal was associated with Newcastle, right back to medieval times. So sending "coals to Newcastle" meant a pointless exercise.
Decades ago, many Geordies came to Yorkshire, to work in the mines. My late father's older sisters - all long gone - were all born in Geordieland, before moving to Yorkshire (not that they worked in the mines!)
For background on Newcastle's surrounding area - and the nearby coast, etc - try the original 'Get Carter' movie. Also a tv show entitled, "The Likely Lads". The place, however, has now been modernized, looking somewhat (very?) different.
Charlie - On an unrelated topic, in Sheffield's Endcliffe park, some American WW2 airmen, landing their stricken bomber, saved some UK children's lives. There's a memorial to them, set up by one of the former kids (now an elderly gentleman).
DW - As regards my mammoth summary, this is my penultimate Blockbuster. I've only one more left! Typing for 3 hours gives me a stiff neck, what with hunching over the computer. It's no wonder famous novelists did their best work when they were young. I don't know how their necks withstood it! Each month I'm surprised I've summoned the willpower to complete these summaries, but get annoyed about all the typos (in contrast with Steve's more polished pieces). At least if I have to get rid of the comics - eventually - there'll be some record of some of them - sort of. I've also got this month's Marvel Superheroes - just a one off - as I stopped getting it, after missing the Korvac Saga's end. But, it was close to the end of the road - as regards Marvel - for me.
Colin - Watching Blake's 7 as an adult, you notice stuff you didn't pick up on as a kid. Last night, Gan (Little John) got killed. You forget how the roster kept changing. Last night, Blake wanted to destroy 'Control' - the famous computer at the heart of the Federation. It turned out to be an empty room - all an elaborate trap, by Travis!
As regards the Blake's 7 mag coming too late, the same was probably true of Worzel Gummidge's mag. I associate Worzel Gummidge with early Sunday evenings, circa 1979 - along with 'Lifelines' & 'Credo' (some religious show, with memorable music). Do you remember 'Lifelines'? A graphologist, a palm reader, and an astrologer (?) - all analyzed the same celebrity? The 70s era loved that stuff!
Later (that year?) Worzel Gummidge was replaced by Dick Turpin. Robin - from 'Man About the House' - seemed a nutty choice for a highwayman, but what a great show. Only 25 mins long, too - so great for short attention spans!
M.P. - Glad you enjoyed it. It's strange I don't remember the Omega stories better - particularly as I was starting high school at roughly the same time. Furthermore, with some of the same issues! Like you, I'm itching to follow up next month's, to see what happens next.
On UK covers, Electro often made threats. Interestingly, Electro's American threats were sometimes changed/toned down(?), for UK kids - e.g:
https://www.comics.org/issue/361712/cover/4/
https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/8441/daredevil_1964_89
Although here - admittedly - maybe it's Killgrave's threat - not Electro's - that's toned down!
Phillip
Wow Steve- mammoth post indeed! There was a load of reading material that month...
The Police ' "Ghost in the Machine" was a small landmark for me. It was the first album I awaited pre-release, and snagged immediately the first day it was out. Great album, capped by the incredible "Spirits in the Material World ".
Love that " Madhouse" cover, from Not Brand Ecch 5. To address Charlie's question about Forbush Man- for some time Marvel had referenced the name of Irving Forbush as a source of humor and a target of blame for the occasional misstep. Apparently in 1967 Marvel decided to give him a visual presence in the form of "Forbush Man" ( although his actual face was never shown). Fun stuff...
Saudi Arabia is one of the most evil regimes in the world but I wouldn't expect a greedy football club or its' fans to have one iota of morality.
Phil, I remember Gan getting killed which was a pity because I liked him. I don't remember Lifelines but I do remember Credo and Dick Turpin starring Richard "Robin" O' Sullivan.
WOW! The comments are coming hot and heavy!
PHILLIP! Ultra top-shelf thanks buddy! You used the word "Geordies!!!"
How many times have I heard Talk Sport's H&J talk about "Jordys" but I could never figure it out!!! I'd google and google...
I actually assumed it was based on "Jordy" the ultra famous French singer. I'm sure SEAN will let us know where Jordy sits in the Pantheon of French and European greats; have to assume he won some kind of euro-thingy with that talent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkMm0Z0DMJA
DW -
I have to agree that it'd be a real hoot of the Geordies got relegated...
Ohhhh how the Saudis would probably feel a bit... what's the word... like they got suckered after spending $300,000,000 and ending up relegated to the Champions Division. Ouch.... couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of Sheiks.
Charlie is just sooooo over the moon knowing what a GEORDIE is now!!!
His Friday and weekend are going to be like Walking on the Moon! (Reggatta de Blanc! Psyche!)
In fact Charlie is so fired up he's got JORDY doing "Dur Dur Etre Baby" on auto repeat on Spotify!!!
My boss is not going to get his money's worth today. It's OK.
MP -
I ain't a huge US football dude. The whole racist, brain damage scenario disgusts me. (The NFL litigated that they owed less to black players than white, over potential brain damage and potential lost wages, because they are dumber.)
That said, you got to have a team for water-cooler malarky. Me brother and I have renounced the Chicago Bears and are cheering for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since he is likely moving there ASAP.
RED - Thanks for the IRVING FORBUSH. I have always been confused, mystified, stupified about this character of the Marvel Universe.
At one point I assumed he was the embodiment of all the souls of a galaxy and probably more powerful than the Overmind (Sum of all the Eternals) and the Stranger (sum of all the Gigantors) put together.
But he had that slouched posture and I started having my doubts and thought it was a poke at Stan the Man?
Due to Steve's harried schedule we didn't even get a chance to opine on THE FRENCH CONNECTION on Tuesday's blog!
OK Gents - Let's have it!
I can't decide if THE FRENCH CONNECTION or BULLIT is the G.O.A.T???
Help! They are both balls to the wall out of this world (An aviation term by the way! Charlie would never soil this venerable blog!)
BULLITT 1968 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJZ-BHBKyos
FRENCH CONNECTION 1971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mgIDVwdD-M
Charlie - You were spot on with 'Walking on the Moon' - Sting's a Geordie!
Mark Knopfler's a Geordie, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrwSDX95wCs
Phillip
Charlie thinks Steve McQueen is the perfect actor for chases of all sorts?
BULLITT
THE GREAT ESCAPE
THE HUNTER (honorable mention - driving off the corn cob skyscraper into the Chicago River is a spectacle to be seen.)
Charlie - To me, Hackman's movie with the coolest music was 'Night Moves'. French Connection, although a great movie, didn't have a ultra-cool soundtrack. Treat your ears!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X4buM7cNl8
Phillip
"an ultra-cool soundtrack" - damn typos!
Phil, a few years ago all the episodes of Blake's 7 were on YouTube and I watched the entire first series and numerous episodes from the next three series but all those episodes have now disappeared as things on YouTube have a habit of doing unfortunately!
Charlie, you think only American football is racist ?? In this country football (soccer) is racist, homophobic, tribalist, nationalistic, xenophobic, greedy and corrupt. Football is an utterly evil sport in my opinion and I would rejoice at its' destruction and I'd dance on its' grave.
Colin - It seemed, watching Blake's 7, that Servalan's a female Sheriff of Nottingham, whilst Travis - her right hand man - is Sir Guy of Gisburn/Gisbourne. Also, this week, series 2 started, with the original Travis being replaced by Charlie Slater, from 'Eastenders' (I don't watch that garbage now, but must confess I did watch it - occasionally - maybe 20-25 years ago.) How long before Blake & Jenna get killed, too - and Avon leads the team? Not long. And Avon's ruthlessness far exceeds Blake's.
Charlie - Bullitt vs Vanishing Point vs French Connection 2. I suppose new movies, like the Fast & Furious franchise (which I've never watched) have now done longer chases. The bar was there, so people will try to raise it.
Phillip
To be fair to Newcastle fans Colin, at least they're getting rid of Mike Ashley.
Some might consider the Saudis an improvement...
-sean
COLIN - I actually cannot think of a single aspect of life, outside my home personal life, which is not as you described soccer, unfortunately.
But I justify engaging in Soccer and all those other things b/c the lord said we must "walk among the earth." I can be that candle spreading light among the darkness.
PHILLIP - There is something about the "muscle cars" of the 60s and early 70s, and the sound of those engines, that gets Charlie's blood a pumping!
Also, no CGI!
Thus the chases seem fairly plausible assuming the drivers are maniacs, lol.
Charlie is not familiar with Vanishing Point...
SEAN - I dare say there that having a hobby (soccer, comics, whatever) and suffering under a crap owner, is painful.
As a practical matter we all understand the need to chase profits. But from a much-older fan boy's perspective I can't see where the owners of Marvel and DC have done right by us over the past decades.
Long gone is any sense of continuity which is a bit of a killer. Though I do visit my LCBS monthly it hurts to see 3 -4 unconnected Spidey, Batman, whatever titles running concurrently. I really don't understand how the younger fan boy feels connected to a character anymore.
I mean... Charlie's heart was pained when Marvel launched Marvel Team Up like 50 years ago, seeing it as profiteering and saw the summer annuals as a bit of fiction... I mean how could Spidey or the FF possibly have any more time for action than once a month which was the official continuity?
Charlie is still stunned that
Geordie .NE. Jordy
LOL!
Charlie - Vanishing Point = Petrocelli in a fast car
Phillip
Phil, I must challenge you about Blake and Jenna getting killed - Blake turned up in the final episode very much alive and I think Jenna just disappeared, fate unknown, at the end of series two. Apparently Gareth Thomas (Blake) left the show because his arty actor friends told him he should stop appearing in such rubbish (their opinion not mine!) and concentrate on theatre work instead.
I stopped watching EastEnders (and Corrie) about 25 years ago too. It was around the time of my 30th birthday and I decided that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life watching such tripe. At the same time I stopped listening to Radio 1 and started listening to Radio 4 which was a bit of a culture shock at first but I soon got used to it and nowadays I can't imagine life without dear old Radio 4 :D
Charlie:
I am Jeremiah Dixon
I am a Geordie Boy
A glass of wine with you, sir
And the ladies I'll enjoy
All Durham and Northumberland
Is measured up by my own hand
It was my fate from birth
To make my mark upon the earth
etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrLdKYRBOEE
Phillip
Phillip, I think Lifelines was only broadcast in Yorkshire. I remember it being presented by one of the Look North hosts. It wasn't Peter Levy, was it? The one who always had an air of Herr Flick of the Gestapo about him?
Red, I have a feeling we may have reached the peak period of Marvel UK's productivity. I have a feeling a fair number of their books will shortly be cancelled.
Colin - Point taken. My memory clearly isn't accurate!
Charlie:
Now you're a good surveyor, Dixon
But I swear you'll make me mad
The West will kill us both
You gullible Geordie lad
You talk of liberty
How can America be free
A Geordie and a baker's boy
In the forest of the Iroquois
etc
Phillip
Also - 'Lewis', 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' & 'Spender', starring Jimmy Nail.
Steve - I'm unsure; I was only 9 or 10 at the time. I seem to remember Peter Levy on local radio in the 80s. I don't remember him on tv, prior to that. Also, I thought Lifelines was on ITV, not BBC. However, as you were slightly older at the time, your recollections are more likely to be accurate. I'm glad you remember the show, anyway. At least it isn't a figment of my imagination!
Phillip
STEVE - are you saying that the UK had regional, or local, programming? I somehow had the notion that you chaps said that your geography was small enough so that all of you saw everything on the airwaves?
I never could understand that, since in Chicago we struggled mightily to see a key game from Milwaukee (baseball), Green Bay (football), or South Bend (Fighting Irish of Notre Dame) which were roughly 100 miles away. Still remember my old man on the roof moving the antennae around to try and pull a better signal.
FWIW - Chicago was a powerhouse of TV back in the 50s and 60s producing national icons like Bozo the Clown and Garfield Goose. Not everything was "hollywood."
PHILLIP -
Love me some STING. Cool to hear he is a Geordie! I recall a special on TV wherein he made a musical in the context of having grown up in a port city that constructed large ships like ocean liners and such?
You don't suppose STING played football like Marley did growing up in Jamaica? I am only thinking this after watching Jamaica play USA last night, which really looked like exhibition soccer.
As regards Geordie former footballers becoming pop singers, I don't know about Sting, but I'd never recommend "Fog on the Tyne", by Gazza!
Phillip
Phillip, I've found it. Lifelines was made by BBC North and presented by Look North host Khalid Aziz. The astrologer was Russell Grant. The palm reader was called Samantha. No one seems to know who the handwriting expert was.
http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Lifelines
Charlie, the two BBC stations were national but had local slots. For instance, the national news was on at 6 o'clock, then each region would get its local news between 6:30 and 7:00 before returning to national broadcasting. There was a similar situation later in the evening where each area would broadcast a half hour show of local origins.
ITV was made up of dozens of local stations that mostly broadcast the same shows as each other but had opt-out slots where each station could broadcast whatever it wanted.
Steve - Thanks for the link! It says late 70s - so my 1979 guess is in the ball park. I remember Khalid Aziz. After leaving Look North (?), he published a cookery book, which my mother bought!
Charlie - To add to Steve's comments, in the 1970s, ITV's regional stations each had a distinctive logo. These logos (I can't think of the correct word) are a major part of 1970s UK tv nostalgia.
Phillip
I think "idents" is the word you're looking for Phillip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMTnxlOc4IE
-sean
Thanks, Sean!
Phillip
Oh my!
The logo at 58 seconds in, which says Thames, is so well known at least to me because it was the header to "The World at War" which was watched like religion in our house!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMTnxlOc4IE
UK GENTS!
Help ole Charlie out with the word "Squib?" I've heard it used several times on Talk Sport lately and other UK things like articles on soccer.
I think there is even a korean Netflix series by that title but I don't know that Hawksbee and Joacobs would be in touch with something that current? I mean, they are still stuck on "whippets and flat caps" for their jokes.
Charlie, a squib is a small explosive charge. A damp squib is a small explosive charge that fails to explode.
Steve - any chance you can treat us to a banzai charge of Kane nose shots when you get to Spidey 103 in a couple months?
Steve, et al...
Talking about squibs, (that release fake blood in a small explosion so it looks like the impact of a bullet) remember that scene in the Godfather where Sonny Corleone gets blown away? He gets the hell shot outta him.
I read somewhere that they packed so many squibs in James Caan's clothing that he was scared that he might get killed or injured by them. I don't blame him for being nervous about it.
No director had an actor packed with that many explosive blood squibs before that.
Coppola was something of a mad genius, like Colonel Kurtz himself.
I'm guessing they used a lotta squibs in Scarface. but that was De Palma.
Probably done with computers these days.
M.P.
So, farewell then Rick Jones...
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/oct/09/fingerbobs-and-play-school-presenter-rick-jones-dies-aged-84
Looks like he successfully kept his time sharing bodies with a Kree space captain secret from the press.
-sean
I wouldn't want anybody to know about that either, if I was him.
Just like I don't want anybody to know I've been receiving mental commands by an alien living in the Crab Nebula who calls himself Ozmodion.
...I...I've said too much.
M.P.
Far from it M.P. - I for one am curious to hear more...
-sean
Could Angar be inspired by Primal Scream therapy - in the vaguest possible way?
Phillip
His name is a corruption of, "Anger." So, I'd think it's highly likely, Phillip.
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