Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
***
No such disappointment for Sheffield's very own ABC who tightly gripped the very pinnacle of the UK album chart, with The Lexicon of Love. In doing so, they saw off the challenge of Robert Plant's Pictures at Eleven which entered the chart at Number Two.
Over on the associated singles chart, it was all plain sailing for Captain Sensible, still at Number One with his catchy cover of Happy Talk.
Yes, it can.
And not only that but the whole world's gone mad and the British government holds Captain Britain and Saturnyne personally responsible.
Thus convinced, it activates the super-hero-smashing robot the world knows as The Fury.
However, it does look like the Man-Thing's found himself in the big city, which is hardly a natural environment for him to be in.
We also get Notes on Various People of the Hyborian Age as detailed by Robert E Howard.
And because even that's not enough for us, there's also an 18-page Bran Mak Morn epic Kings of the Night.
The magazine that's proud to boast of featuring Britain's best-loved sci-fi hero is back and unleashes a look at the legendary Cyberman story Earthshock which features one of the most celebrated endings in the history of the show.
At least, I know I was celebrating...
But, perhaps even more excitingly, we can win an Atari video game.
Not that I know which one.
At least, I think it is.
Anyway, what it really is is part two of the story that asks just what would have happened had Spider-Man's clone lived.
It would appear he would have fought the Kingpin.
The Inhumans also have an adventure in this issue. As far as I can make out, it's the tale of how Attilian found its way from the Andes, to the Himalayas. And it would seem the Eternals are involved...
There's also a poster featuring Captain Britain and Captain America hanging around the Statue of Liberty.
And there's even more because we're also given the chance to win a Kodak camera!
Then again, it's worse news for the Sandman, as I do believe this is the story in which the silicon sinner falls into a vat and gets turned into glass.
Iron Man, meanwhile, is in orbit, facing the menace of Sunturion and a satellite-mounted death-ray that can destroy whole cities.
Sadly, I can't say for sure what this issue features but, as last month's reprinted the tale in which the fabulous foursome battle the Maggia for control of the Baxter Building, I'll assume this one reprints the tale in which the Sub-Mariner and Magneto team-up to cause all kinds of trouble for mankind.
If that's the case, I suppose it's fitting that the book should terminate with the end of Jack Kirby's run on the strip.
And does so by offering us another dose of Howard the Duck.
This time, he gives us When the Sleeper Wakes which I'm going to assume isn't a story about yet another of the Red Skull's left-over World War 2 robots.
Apparently, this story introduces us to someone called Winky-Man. I'm assuming that's him on the cover. I'm also assuming he's based on Wee Willie Winky.
Admittedly, it's not that new. It is, after all, issue #159 of the publication that started life way back in 1978.
However, it does, at least, have a change of title, reverting to the one it used before that fancy Empire Strikes Back came out.
And it does so while giving us a free poster and the chance to win an Atari.
According to the cover, we can also win ten fan club memberships.
Thrilling stuff indeed.
There may also be a Tale of the Watcher but don't quote me on that.
The demise of the pocket books continues unabated, as Spider-Man's digest series also unleashes its final issue.
And yet another pocket book kicks the bucket.
Their name may be in big letters at the top of the cover but, below that, the X-Men have to make way for Iron Fist who stars in an escapade entitled The Dragon Dies at Dawn.
Monster Monthly hits its sensational fourth issue by taking a look at the Abominable Dr Phibes.
Britain's favourite scarecrow celebrates his tenth issue.
The UK's top sci-fi mag gives us an issue dedicated to Fantasy thanks to a look at The Cat People and Conan.
Once again, the contents of an issue of Scooby-Doo and his TV Friends must remain a mystery to us.
And how does he do it?
I'm going to guess he does it by reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #50 in which the webbed wonder decides to retire from super-heroing, until his encounter with a robbery makes him realise a man with his powers has no choice but to help those who can't help themselves.
Admittedly, I could be totally wrong about that but, given the contents of the previous issue, that would not seem to be an unreasonable guess.
I do believe the terrific teens must face the Changeling - and his boss the Mutant Master. The villains aiming to fill the void left by Magneto, by recruiting the services of Unus, the Blob and the Vanisher.
I do believe the mutants are battling the Hellfire Club and its plans to gain control of Jean Grey. But to do it, they need the help of the Dazzler.
Elsewhere, the Thing and Starhawk get mixed up in Counter-Earth shenanigans, as they go in search of the kidnapped Alicia Masters.
And we even get a poster of him!
Which is what you'd expect. After all, who wouldn't want a huge big photo of Dr Phibes on their wall?
Sadly, I can't say anything else about this issue's contents, as there seems to be no information available online and, in a feat of marketing genius, the cover text is all but unreadable.
And we get the chance to win a Worzel doll!
I think we'd all love to have that watching over us as we try to get to sleep at night.
But even that's not enough for Marvel UK, because the mag also gives us the chance to build and colour its Country Caravan.
I must say it's a bit of a shock to discover Marvel UK has a Country Caravan but it's nice to know Dez, Paul and the two Alans have somewhere to spend their summer holidays together.
But that doesn't mean there's not space for a look at The Thing and Swamp Thing.
There's also coverage of films called Heartbeeps and Parasite, neither of which I've ever encountered in my movie-watching activities.
But, wait a second. None of that matters. All that really matters is this issue features a retrospective dedicated to classic TV serial Timeslip!
Now we're talking!
And, this time, it's issue #20 that eludes all signs of detection.
Posts
52 comments:
Being a bit vague about '80s Dr Who I wasn't sure off hand how Earthshock ended Steve, but I assume if it was cause for celebration that must have been when Adric went to the great Tardis in the sky. How heartless of you.
Although fair enough - he was annoying.
Hey, you noted that Alan Moore wrote the UK originated story in Star Wars this time - well done. Although theres something very SteveDoesComics about finally getting one of those, but not mentioning that was his first full Captain Brexit episode in Marvel Super-Heroes #387 (;
In retrospect that CB two-parter was the prototype for Saga of the Swamp Thing #20 - tie up the previous writer's loose ends with a bang, kill off the main character, then take it from there - and similarly, while a big improvement, isn't quite as good as what he did with the series later in Daredevils.
Or up to what he was doing at the same time with Marvelman.
On the subject of Marvelman - which Alan Davis would soon be working on too (the following month actually, in Warrior #4) - its interesting to note that in Marvel Super-Heroes #387 its established that The Fury killed Miracleman...
-sean
"We also get 'Notes on Various People of the Hyborian Age' as detailed by Robert E Howard"
That sounds like a right barrel of laughs Steve.
-sean
Steve
I just had a look at this month's Marvel Superheroes online and 'Keep your powder dry' looks to be a text story fill in for Night Raven. Also, the Atari competition is actually a marketing scam, whereby everyone 'wins' a three quid money off voucher just for joining a retailer's sales list. Wow! What next? Free fruit?
Obviously the first All-Alan chapter of Captain Britain is great with the Fury instantly raising the super villain stakes (much as Johnny Bates does in this month's Warrior).
I remember the disappointment of England's eliminating draw with Spain, as the not-really-fit Brooking/Keegan-thing failed to strike. At least it didn't go to penalties...
So, what's the local take on the Boris fallout? Britain back in the EU within five years and adopting the Euro as a penance?
DW
The FF pocket book isn't the only one recycling its' cover - the cover of Savage Sword Of Conan had previously been used on SSoC #9 dated July 1978.
DW, the EU doesn't want us back, they are doing fine without us. The EU has been liberated from arrogant, exceptionalist Westminster politicians demanding opt-outs and rebates. And the next Tory leader will peddle the same old Brexit crap about "opportunities" and "great trade deals" while completely ignoring the reality of Brexit being a total car crash.
Ah, Boris, we hardly knew ye...
...or maybe we did. At least he pissed off the Russians. Ya gotta give him credit for that, I guess.
M.P.
I seem to remember Adric's death being responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs so I googled Adric and I was right. The "meteor theory" for the dinosaurs' extinction had only been proposed in 1980 so it turned up on Doctor Who pretty quickly!
Brexit is working out really well Colin - already theres a border in the Irish Sea, the north is economically re-aligning with the republic, and Ulster Unionism is on the way out.
At the rate its been going, I was hoping Boris Johnson could hang on in there a bit longer so we'd get a complete British withdrawal...
DW, you couldn't be arsed to read that 'Keep Your Powder Dry' story either, eh?
I started, with the idea of commenting on it here, but my eyes just kept glazing over the text (its not exactly a literary masterpiece).
It seemed to be about a werewolf hunter in Nevada, set in a town actually called Keep Your Powder Dry.
-sean
I think lycanthropy might actually be legal in Nevada.
A lotta stuff is.
M.P.
I’ve never seen that MSH cover before - it’s really good!
(In fact, despite being a Daredevils reader back in 1983 in never read these earlier stories until they were collected in the Marvel tpb about 20 years ago).
Colin
I don't think they want our cultural diversity but probably would like the revenue and to dilute the debt. Doing fine is relative. Much like Debt/GDP.
Sean, I couldn't even be arsed to read Alan Moore's Night Ravens text stories, let alone the others. In fact, the only Marvel text story I ever got through was Grant Morrison's Captain Granbretan. Although outside of comics I do quite enjoy joined up writing ;-)
DW
Just a few quick addresses to replies from the previous post:
Sean-
I viewed the comments about Trump "congratulating" Putin. Pretty much he said Putin was "smart". Watched all the commentaries by "journalists" from CNN, MSNBC, TODAY, Jimmy Kimmel, etc. All those folks have a major case of TDS.
Foes have often had a mutual sense of respect. Patton and Rommel for an example
Charlie-
Now if the Osmonds would perform a Black Sabbath or Sex Pistols medley, that would be REALLY something!
Now on to comments about today's post:
Steve-
Only time I ever read a Capt. Britain story was a Marvel Team-Up. Can't even remember it. He had the full face mask and his scepter back then.
Looks like CHILLER contained early Man-Thing stories. Love that stuff when he just shambles around and inadvertently wanders into experiences. Never cared when he was changed into "The Nexus Of Realities", or some such thing.
Worst thing ever was dragging out the Spidey-clone past the original Jackal storyline.
Was the Hulk story before or after Sandman gave Betty Ross a transfusion that turned HER into glass? I don't recall.
It'd be great to get an omnibus of the original X-Men. Swear I'm one of the few that liked them.
While I did purchase a few issues of STARBURST I'm not sure MONSTER MONTHY was available here in the states, as I never saw one. I was all about FAMOUS MONSTERS back-in--the-day.
I would've picked up both issues, though, as they featured many of my favorite films.
I have an unedited copy of SWAMP THING. I won't mention Adrian's ta-tas. Oops.
CAT PEOPLE starred Natasha Kinski & Malcolm McDowell. She was quite the tasty treat back then, and I will watch ANYTHING McDowell is in.
-Killdumpter
"I don't think they want our cultural diversity"...
What on earth does that mean, DW? Is the UK especially "culturally diverse"?
And sooner or later we will have to rejoin the Single Market at which point the UK will start paying into the EU budget but I seriously doubt the EU will let the UK return as a full member causing trouble and demanding special treatment all over again. The French would veto it for a start and they wouldn't be the only ones.
DW, Moore's Night Raven text stories are actually quite good. You know, for words without pictures.
Not that I'd suggest anyone go as far as making the effort to seek them out, but they are way better than the kind of space filler of the MSH ones, which I think were by Alan McKenzie (there could have been a Monty Python-type sketch about all the Alans at Marvel UK in the early 80s).
Did I detect a note of Euroscepticism there?
In Britain you don't really hear much criticism of the EU from anything other than a right-wing perspective these days...
-sean
Colin - it seems quite reasonable to claim the UK is more culturally diverse than the rest of Europe. If you spend any time in big European cities its very noticeable how much more white they are, especially the further east you get.
Thats just the legacy of British imperialism.
Even more shameful than the French!(;
-sean
As regards text stories, in this month's 'Chiller', there's a 2 part Man-Thing text story (albeit with pictures), entitled 'Several Meaningless Deaths' (Gerber, Broderick & Milgrom). The story's prefaced with an apology for not giving readers the advertised tale!
Dracula gets a 19 page story, entitled 'The Coming of Doctor Sun'. And no, Dr. Sun isn't that android in 'Nova', with the transparent skull.
The 3rd & final tale's a weird/eerie story called 'The Man With No Past'. Art by Joe Maneely (whoever he is!)
Brief comments on Rampage to follow (when I get round to it!)
Phillip
OK, Sean, I believe you but DW said the EU didn't WANT any cultural diversity! The German ambassador to the UK was recently interviewed on Radio 4 and he said that Germany accepts TEN TIMES the number of asylum seekers that the UK does.
And plenty in the UK don't want to be "culturally diverse" anyway, that's why they voted for Brexit. A lot of Brexit voters will have a fit if their next PM is an Iraqi-born Muslim called Nadhim Zahawi.
Rampage # 49
X-Men
Reprints X-Men # 131 - the story in which Emma Frost thinks she's really hard, using her psi powers to mind-wipe people - until Phoenix gives Emma a reality check, by unleashing her full power on the White Queen! Dark Phoenix tendencies are starting to emerge.
The Thing & Starhawk
The reader gets a 2 page text intro to Starhawk, as a character, before the story begins - a nice little touch.
Moondragon attacks Ben Grimm, with Kree martial arts, but only ends up hurting her hands & feet on his rocky hide. In return, Benjy takes Moondragon over his knee, and spanks her (no, this isn't a Fast Show sketch).
This story didn't appeal, when I read the second part, in MTIO - as it downgraded Starhawk's power. In the past, Starhawk was to the Guardians what the Silver Surfer was to the Defenders, or Thor was to the Avengers. Namely, a god - and their most powerful member. In Thor Annual # 6, Starhawk was duking it out with Thor, in one panel - and in the Avengers, Starhawk took on Korvac singlehandedly - albeit he was unsuccessful! Yet, later in this story (next issue?), Starhawk is easily beaten by Adam Warlock's female counterpart.
This didn't 'sit right' with me!
Iron Fist
The classic Claremont device of starting in the middle of some action, then using a flashback. A very groggy & below par Iron Fist's battling one of crimelord Chaka's goons. Iron Fist's getting beaten, but uses one of those fireman's lift throws (like Caine in 'The Soldier' & 'The Third Man') to defeat the knife-wielding goon.
Flashback to a board meeting of Rand Meechum, interrupted by Chaka, with threats & violence. Danny exits to change to Iron Fist - but is it necessary? Davos/Steel Serpent defends the board meeting - and he's very formidable! I think Mary Jo Duffy's later Chaka story was even better - when Danny had to pretend to be a clumsy, complete martial arts novice, then eventually blazes into action, moving almost faster than the eye can see, to defeat Chaka's goons/bullies.
Phillip
What is with that weird X-Men logo? It almost looks like they took Coco Channel’s logo and decide to pull it apart? Charlie
SEAN - I had to think for a minute whether Paris or London is more diverse. I am inclined to think that Paris has a stronger presence of persons from Asia given the Vietnam Laos Cambodia connection? That said it seems like London has a stronger presence from India and Pakistan? And, though England did have Egypt as a colony I tend to think there are many more Arabs in Paris and France given the Algeria morocco Tunisia connection? Now, how long would measure that in terms of diversity I have no idea.
At the end of the day, what Trump revealed and the Republicans have revealed in the United States is that the constitution is essentially meaningless if good men in the Congress do not work together for the betterment of the United States. There are simply not enough rules written for every possible scenario to prevent trump types from manipulation. I only bring this up because I was listening to talk sport the last few days and there has been this repeated cry that Great Britain needs a “constitution “like the United States. At the end of the day the United States survived January 6 in spite of, not because of, the constitution.
See what you've done DW, bringing up Europe?
Colin, the EU is less comfortable with diversity - ie immigration from outside Europe - than its rhetoric suggests, although obviously attitudes vary over two dozen member states.
But as you point out the same is true for the Brits, so I don't see that it was an issue with UK membership (DW was on stronger ground with the economics imo).
It is quite amusing though that just like the Ulster Unionists voted themselves into an Irish republic, the tory loons have actually massively boosted immigration from the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean, Africa etc.
Brexit really is the gift that keeps on giving (;
-sean
Charlie, not that its a competition, but bear in mind that London also has a lot of people with an Caribbean and African heritage.
Anyway, France is bit of a European outlier on that score too.
Phillip, Joe Maneely was the Atlas era artist who co-created the Black Knight. Had he not been hit by a train in 1958 Stan Lee reckoned he "would have been the next Jack Kirby".
-sean
SEAN! Next week I will be in Paris for several weeks. Given your massive knowledge of French comics, and my intention to go by some comic book stores with plenty of used material for sale, can you make any recommendations? Do you have any favorite stores? Do you have any favorite titles?
SEAN For sure i plan to hint down some Corto Maltese books (in the french). Any recommendations from this series? I have only a few so… CHarlie
UK gents - I’ve been reading some articles in the Atlantic magazine about the state of affairs in the UK this week… What exactly is “red wall “cities? Where does that term come from?
I thought I understood that “read “was referring to the wealthier elements in UK society. But then I was reading an article by one of your politicians who said he would never go far because he went to a “red brick school “which would on the surface indicate he did not come from money. CHarlie
Charlie - Just like in the US, "red" equates to left wing. "Red Wall" = former Labour Party strongholds, that - in the past - would rather die than vote Tory. Then the fools voted for that tosser Bojo. "Blue", in contrast, equals Tory (c.f. Blue Blood). The term "red brick" refers to the "newer" universities (many decades ago).
Phillip
A "red brick" university carried less status than Oxford & Cambridge, etc, for attaining high office - particularly amongst old school Tories - is what the politician was probably getting at.
Phillip
Sean - That's interesting. There's a number of comic artists who didn't live to a ripe old age - or so it seems.
Phillip
Phillip, thanks for yet another epic summary.
In fairness, when Adam Warlock was first created, he was massively powerful. So, it's probably not a negative reflection on Starhawk that he couldn't beat the female version of Adam.
KD, the Hulk story is indeed before Sandy gave the transfusion to Betty. This is the story that got him into the predicament that led to him needing the transfusion.
DW, thanks for the Marvel Super-Heroes info.
Sean, it was indeed the demise of Adric that I was referring to.
Thanks to everybody else for your comments, as well.
Colin
By cultural diversity I meant British culture rather than French, German, Dutch etc. I wasn't referring any diversity within Britain or anywhere else. I was actually agreeing with your point that we were a pain in the arse to the EU but they needed us economically.
Let's stick to the comics and nostalgia.
Sorry that was me.
DW
Charlie, not sure if the Corto Maltese collections in English - which collect a few of the originals each - exactly correspond with French editions, but fwiw the one I really like is 'Celtic Tales' (and not just because the stories are about the aftermath of the Easter Rising, and Stonehenge, honest ;).
'In Siberia' - set in the Russian civil war - is good too.
-sean
I dispute the idea that the EU needs us economically. That's just Brexit delusions. Even the BBC claimed that the EU was bluffing when they said they'd block UK financial services' access to the Single Market (so-called "passporting rights") but the EU wasn't bluffing and went ahead. We aren't as important as we think we are!
Charlie, in Britain the political colours are the reverse of America so blue is Conservative and red is Labour (the left-wing party). As Phillip said, the "Red Wall towns" means towns that always voted Labour but in the 2019 election they voted Conservative because Boris Johnson duped them into thinking that Brexit was a magic wand which would solve all their problems. It was our version of the Rust Belt states voting for Trump.
Sean- too funny! I have Corto in Siberia too!
One of my comic buying regrets is not picking up more of those Pocket Books they had some nice strips in them but by 1982 I wasn't buying many UK produced comics and only a few US indies.
Colin, regardless of your stance BREXIT was and will continue to be challenging for the UK and in particular the Island of Ireland, let's hope it doesn't reignit the "troubles" . The EU will go from strength to strength without us and I'm sure we will eventually sort the mess out as well, but things will never be the same again. I still find it a shock Wales voted for BREXIT I assumed the "Gaelic" nations of the UK (and London) would all vote to stay.
Brexit put a border in the Irish Sea, Paul - whats wrong with that?
And just think, the British could have had economic chaos with Jeremy Corbyn! You've got to laugh.
-sean
Paul, I've heard excuses that it was English voters living in Wales who were responsible for the narrow Brexit win in Wales but I live in a town that voted 58% for Brexit and it had nothing to do with English voters here. Too many of the Welsh were duped by Boris, that's all. But South Wales didn't follow the Red Wall seats in the North of England by voting Tory in 2019 (except Bridgend which had voted for Thatcher so they had form - and the Ford car plant in Bridgend has since closed so another Brexit benefit there). Over the years South Wales had received around £1 BILLION in EU regional development funding but obviously that's all finished now!
Charlie is chuckling. 50 years ago he was likely spending $2-$3 / month on comics. That is about $20 today - 5 books at $4 each vs 15 books at $.20 each.
On the subject of the comics (there's comics??) - I bought the very first issues of the FF, Spidey and Chiller pocket books in April 1980 so it's interesting to discover when exactly they ended (I'd stopped reading Marvel UK by this point). The first issues of FF, Spidey and Chiller Pocket Books all appealed to the readers for letters and supplied an address but no letters pages ever appeared!
Is this the end of the pocket books then?
A bit less for you to worry about at the start of the month Steve...
-sean
Would that economic chaos be significantly different/worse that what ‘s going on now, then Sean? How so?
Matthew, Sean was being sarcastic!
Going completely off-topic...but comics related.
Freeview channel 'That's TV' was showing Kenny Everett's Videotape, series 3, Ep 3, this morning. Inbetween a Hot Gossip routine, 4 of the dancers were reading Marvel & DC Comics - one of which was Marvel Superheroes Monthly # 355 ("Attacked by the Ant Man"). The featured singer, later in the show, was Cliff, singing "Carrie". Marvel Superheroes # 355 would have been in November 1979, whilst - according to the internet - "Carrie" was December 1980. So, the dates don't match. Maybe the dancers just got some old comics from the previous year! Still, Marvel Superheroes Monthly # 355 was a great choice! (As was "Carrie"!)
I'll get my coat...
Phillip
"Carrie doesn't live here any more..."
Possibly a bit premature, but still quite an appropriate choice for this week, don't you think Phillip?
Matthew, no worries. To be clear - and no offence intended - it really lowered my opinion of the people in this country that they actually had the option of a decent fella like Corbyn for a change, and chose a £@#& like Boris Johnson.
(Obviously I don't mean the more enlightened types like the ones that frequent this blog)
-sean
Sean - Yes, indeed! If Bojo & Carrie can be prised out by the autumn!
Phillip
Right - I found the clip online - it's at 2.18 !
https://www.facebook.com/BitsOfLegionnaireBusiness/videos/kenny-everett-video-show-hot-gossip-the-hardest-part/1837763402914768/
Phillip
Phillip, I was pretty sure that 'Carrie' was a hit in early 1980 so I checked on Wikipedia and the release date is given as December 1st 1979 which means Marvel Superheroes #355 was probably the latest issue when Hot Gossip were reading it!
Another appropriate song for BoJo's downfall is 'Tears Of A Clown' :D
Colin - Thanks - Yes, that makes more sense! Skimming through the video again, at 3:08, the dancers throw the comics on the floor - major disrespect to a Perez classic!
The other 3 comics look like Legion of Superheroes, Star Wars, & Micronauts (?) - That one's hard to see.
The Legion of Superheroes is # 259. According to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, its cover date is January 1980, but its sale date's October 25th, 1979 - so, it all knits together!
http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/comic.php?comicid=18412
Another Bojo song, describing himself, is the New Seekers, with "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" !
Phillip
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