Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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This week in 1972 was massive if you were a woman who wanted to play football.
That's because it was the week in which the England women's national football team played its first official game. It was against Scotland, in Scotland, and came almost exactly 100 years after the first playing of the equivalent men's match.
Meanwhile, several thousand miles away, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 1,000 for the first time. I don't have a clue what that means but I'll assume it was good news for all who do know what that means.
I do believe this reprints the tale in which, thanks to the scientific assistance of Rick Jones, the Hulk now retains Bruce Banner's intellect, in yet another attempt by Stan and Jack to find a formula that works.
No such problems for Peter Parker. His adventures have worked right from Day One but, in this issue, he finds his hands full when he must survive his first encounter with Dr Octopus.
Meanwhile, in another part of town, the Human Torch rage-quits the Fantastic Four, moves into a hostel and accidentally unleashes the Sub-Mariner upon humanity!
Whisper it quietly but I think this issue may also contain an advert for this year's Fleetway Marvel annual which will go on to become a legend among UK Marvel fans.
And because we all like to be kept in the loop, we're also blessed with a one-page pin-up of Peter Parker's classmates.
But that's not all. After all, this comic includes yet another clue to my free poster! They really are determined to drag this thing out, aren't they?
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26 comments:
I've just discovered that the World Cup final is on Sunday December 18th not Sunday December 25th as I'd feared. I'd thought they might drag out the whole wretched event until Christmas Day for maximum effect.
They always drag Christmas out Colin.
Another MWOM, another terrible early Jim Starlin cover. Even if he was under the impression the Hulk was a hunchback, you'd think some editor would have got him to fix it.
Still, fair play to Judo Jim for putting in the work and becoming Marvel's most bankable creative within ten years, being the main guy on their first 'Graphic Novels' and Epic Illustrated. Apparently they even gave him a free ticket to the cinema to see Endgame, as thanks for creating Thanos and making them billions of dollars.
-sean
I'm guessing Christmas isn't that big a deal in Qatar.
I'm a little let down by this issue (actually, technically, last issue) because I was expecting the 3 page origin recap originally included within Hulk #3. Marvel Uk must have decided to save those pages because they skipped them. I first read them in the Hulk Treasury Edition, which was the first time I learned how Bruce Banner came to Hulk out. I'd been looking forward to re-reading them, which is all getting a little meta...
Yes, that it a pretty ropey Hulk on the cover. It's like they (Steranko-tastically) re-drew the head only for the past up to move when the cover was shot. They're not exactly using the, then contemporary, character's appearances either.
If we take today's Dow Jones and inflate the cover price accordingly, this issue will cost just over 2 quid. Is that realistic? I'm guessing British comics cost more (but likely have better paper).
DW
I just googled Panini and the latest UK incarnation of Spiderman (#19) is £2.99, for 48 pages (looks to be two reprinted issues). Without knowing paper and colour choices, I guess that's roughly comparable to 6p in 1972.
No idea what this proves, however ;-)
DW
DW, According to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, 5 pence in 1972 equates to 50 pence in October 2022. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator
Colin, I was looking forward to watching the World Cup on Christmas Day. It seems a shame it won't be on.
Sean, I do feel Jim's covers are getting better with each issue. He's not too far off his final style with this one.
I agree Steve - Judo Jim's cover is an improvement. Which is a fairly low bar to clear course, but as the Chinese say 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'.
-sean
*a fairly low bar to clear of course
Duh.
I agree with Steve — Judo Jim’s MWOM covers are getting better and better. And Sean, I don’t think this one is ‘terrible’ — but yeah, Jim definitely forgot to give Hulk a neck. And the feet are pretty weird.
But he’s getting really close to the fully-formed iconic, super-dynamic ‘Steroidanko’ style that knocked everyone’s socks off way back when. Over at Mike’s Amazing World, i see he also did covers for ASTONISHING TALES 16 and JUNGLE ACTION 3 that same month, both of which are pretty dang nice. Looks like his first CAPTAIN MARVEL followed a month later.
b.t.
I've started watching Christmas videos on YouTube including Slade obviously...
Are you hanging up your stocking on your wall
Are you hoping that the snow will start to fall...
Fat chance of that with climate change!
Will The K***s release Rishi Sunak Is A F*****g C**t? Would it be racist if they did?
Hey, I agreed with Steve too b.t.!
'Terrible' is subjective I guess, and maybe a bit harsh... but its a fair enough term to use for work that really isn't up to a professional standard (if that cover had been for a US Marvel comic it would have been rejected, or at least have one of those John Romita corrected heads, like Captain Marvel #29).
But I'm not knocking Judo Jim. Its impressive that he went from work like that to doing some of the best Marvels of the 70s. Being able to develop as a writer and artist while working in an unforgiving form like newstand-era comics - and bringing something fresh to them - was no mean feat.
Its also to Marvel's credit that someone - Roy Thomas I believe - saw something in his stuff worth following up on in '72. I doubt he'd have got through the door at DC back then.
-sean
Why can't a guy from a south Asian background be a ******* **** Colin?
I find the discussion around Rishi Sunak a bit bizarre really. Especially the more self-congratulatory aspect - when he became prime minister people who should know better were calling it Britain's 'Obama moment'.
Which is obviously ridiculous, as a whole country voted for Obama - he wasn't just installed as president in some back-room deal.
Its like the political establishment has suddenly got a 'get out of jail free' card on being racists, only a few years after they were caught deporting actual British citizens to the Caribbean and Africa.
-sean
I agree it's OK to call Sunak a f*****g c**t but you daren't call him a coconut (I made a comment on The Guardian website that said sticking a few coconuts in the cabinet doesn't make the Tories diverse - and my comment got removed by the moderator).
Did Starlin draw that story where the Inhumans launch Hulk into space and Warlock rescues him?
A Warlock Omnibus is being released in a few months. Anyone think it might have Investment potential? The Omnibuses seem to skyrocket in value.
I've just bought a new digital radio for my kitchen. Until recently my local Tesco had a good selection of radios but now the "selection" has been reduced to just one, a brand called Juice which I'd never heard of. Anyway I bought the radio and the digital (DAB) signal works fine but the radio is also supposed to be able to switch between DAB and FM however when I searched for FM stations I just got static (the Sony digital radio in my bedroom switches between DAB and FM with no problems). Also the cable on my new radio is rather short which is OK for my kitchen but not for my bedroom so if I need to replace my bedside radio I'll have to make a special trip to Curry's, up a massive steep hill to the local retail park.
While I was buying my new radio in Tesco they played Blondie's 'The Tide Is High' which is one of my all-time favourite songs so I was definitely bopping along to Debbie Harry and by coincidence it was exactly 42 years since that song was at No.1 in November 1980.
Anon, I think that was Herb Trimpe. That was in the Incredible Hulk comic, and Warlock was still on his Counter-Earth Superstar trip.
I agree that Starlin was a good cover artist. He drew a mean-lookin' Hulk.
Sort of like a green Thanos, but harrier.
I just caught that Captain Marvel movie on cable. It wasn't that bad, but their treatment of the original Mar-Vell was rather bizarre, I thought. Annette Benning?!
I would've preferred to see a version of him more in line with the comics, but I am an old fart, what do I know.
M.P.
MP - I saw it too, and thought it was entertaining enough. I can’t remember though if Rick Jones was in it?
Charlie king of the Bolshies in Chicago.
Not that I remember, Charles. But Mar-Vell was one of the great heroes of 70's Marvel Comics.
It's shabby treatment, I tell ya!
I dread to find out what the MCU is gonna do with Warlock.
Is it cold in Chicago, the city with broad shoulders? It's already unseasonably cold in South Dakota, but I'm getting used to it. I think.
What the heck else am I gonna do?
M.P.
Whats wrong with Annette Bening M.P.? I'd rather watch her than some wrinkly old ex-action hero playing Mar-Vell.
Anon (Charlie?), thanks for the heads up on the Warlock Omnibus.
After a strong opening the Gil/Roy era Warlock gets a bit boring, but Judo Jim Starlin's original run is one of the best Marvel comics of the 70s and it would appear the Omnibus also includes Kirby's original 'Him' stories, so its certainly sounds worth getting.
I don't think anyone would have missed those tedious Two-in-One 'Her' issues if they'd left them out though...
On 'investment potential', my view is that its best just to buy stuff that you like - if its any good it'll probably be in demand once its out of print; and if it isn't... well at least you enjoyed it, so you haven't lost out.
Still, heres a tip anyway: go for the Starlin variant cover. Seems to be the same price on pre-order.
-sean
There was a documentary on Radio 4 tonight about Jimi Hendrix who would have been 80 on November 27th. He was born exactly one week after President Joe Biden who will be 80 tomorrow, November 20th.
The Warlock Gallery Edition is still available affordably. I tend to find omnibuses are often stuffed with mediocre material because they try to be complete. The Inhumans one recently had all the Kirby stuff I wanted to read, but then even more dross by others.
Sorry - Eternals, not Inhumans.
Doh.
Hey Matthew, if you're into the Eternals have you read the Gaiman version? And if so, is it any good?
-sean
Colin, I bet Hendrix could have been a pretty good president, but I doubt very much Biden would be able to play anything like as well as him or make an album as good as Electric Ladyland. Its an unfair world isn't it?
-sean
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