Thursday 25 May 2023

May 26th, 1973 - Marvel UK, 50 years ago this week.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon
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A video I recently watched on YouTube argued that time isn't real and that past, present and future all exist simultaneously. In which case, let's look at what's happening, right now, in 1973.

The Mighty World of Marvel #34

In our first Hulk tale of this issue, Hulkie-Baby must do battle with the awesome might of the Boomerang - who's out to steal a thing called the Orion Missile, on behalf of the Secret Empire.

And, in the second Hulk tale of this issue, Hulkie-Baby must do battle with the awesome might of the Boomerang - who's out to steal a thing called the Orion Missile, on behalf of the Secret Empire.

Well, if an idea's good, use it twice. That's what I always say.

Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four are back home, after being rescued from a microscopic realm, by Ant-Man - only to discover Dr Doom's kidnapped Alicia!

The Grand Comics Database tells me that page 11 changes John F Kennedy to Richard Nixon, while page 12 removes all reference to the Iron Curtain and replaces Nikita Khrushchev with a generic dictator.

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #15

Spidey and the Human Torch have their habitual squabble before uniting to deal with the rubbery fingers of the Beetle. The villain, you see, is out for revenge, following a prior defeat at the hands of the flaming one.

Thor, meanwhile, is having problems with the lethal Lava Man, a foul fiend who's been released from the depths of the Earth, by the malevolent machinations of Loki. No sooner does the menace reach the surface than he claims ownership of the entire planet.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Beetle's an example of villain deflation. Here, Spidey & the Torch combined, are necessary to defeat the Beetle. Yet, in Daredevil Annual # 4 (1979 MWOM Annual), Daredevil, with no super strength, easily defeated the Beetle, and the Gladiator (previously, an Iron Man foe!)combined. Admittedly, this weasely trick's happened on many other occasions, too!

Phillip

dangermash aka The Artistic Actuary said...

I think this is when I started getting bought SMCW again. I'd been given issues 2 and 3 (ASM 10 and 11) and then nothing until this issue. I think I get another 6 –8 issues before they stop again (I remember the spider slayer in ASM 25 but not molten man man in ASM 28. After that another break before coming back long term, from ASM 38 or 39 up to the dawn of Dez.

The weird thing about this one is that after reading it and throwing it away, I pretty well forgot all about the beetle. I was left for years with memories of someone with weird gloves with long fingers and suckers on the ends but couldn't have told you whether he was in a comic or on the telly, let alone that he was in a Spider–Man story. When the beetle returned in whatever was the U.K. equivalent of ASM 94, I got that weird "it was all true and not a dream" feeling. Like when you first find HR Puff'n'Stuff on YouTube.

Anonymous said...

I would have thought He-Hulk v the Boomerang would be a fairly short fight, Steve. But then I guess I didn't consider it as an event in a four dimensional block universe.

-sean

Anonymous said...

Sheffield musicians Heaven 17, were something back in the new wave days!!! Instrumental in resurrecting Tina Turners career by producing and providing vocals to “ball of confusio” in 1982 and, Charlie’s personal favorite, “ let’s stay together” in 1983!

Then they turn around and produce Terence Trent Darby‘s first album, which was a mega hit!

Not to mention birthing Human League.

Heaven 17 is touring now doing ther “Luxury Gap” album from 1983. Take advantage! Lord knows they may never come back to the States after their first and only tour last year. Cant cost more than maybe $50?

Anonymous said...

Phillip - thanks for the reminder about Heaven 17 (BEF) - Turner connection from 82/83!

Now Charlie will go play with his Viewmaster of dinosaurs!

Anonymous said...

If Marvel UK replaced Khrushchev in MWOM with a generic dictator, shouldn't they have replaced Kennedy with a generic running dog lackey of imperialism?
Although I suppose with Nixon you could say they did. *ba-dum tsshhh*

-sean

Anonymous said...

Charlie - Martyn Ware & Glen Gregory were on Look North (local tv news) just half an hour ago, talking again, about meeting Tina Turner! Enjoy viewing those 'brainless brutes' with their 'murderous mouths'!

Phillip

Anonymous said...

IIRC, Heaven 17’s “we don’t need no fascist groove thing” was banned in the UK? That may be how Charlie first became aware of them via Rolling Stone magazine writing about it perhaps on context of the “second British invasion.”

Now Charlie is teolling the Net to find thst green CORGI car, with tires like a MATCHBOX , that was faster than any HOT WHEEL!

For some reason Corgi set up an office in Chicago maybe 20 years ago, perhaps due to the collectibles boom. I called on a lark to see if they were hiring lol. Nope - they were like a two person outfit.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! Mexico has nlown past Holland and exports teice as much beer as any other nation!!!

And Butt Wipe’s, I mean Bud Lite’s sales have fallen 30% in 6 weeks because they pissed off all those macho amercuns!!!

Anonymous said...

Phillip - did you ever hear the episode of John Shuttleworth’s Lounge Music that H17 guested on? It’s very good indeed. It’s on the BBC Sounds app here -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b084fs5y?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Matthew McKinnon said...

(Matthew McKinnon)

Anonymous said...

Dangermash - I know that dream becomes real feeling, albeit in a different context. My earliest memory is of my father taking my brother & myself (aged 4?)to a local event, where some Karate guys gave a board-breaking demonstration. That memory is so hazy, it's almost like a dream. Then, about 6 months ago, going through my father's old colour-slides, I found a photo of that very event! Probably a similar feeling to you seeing the Beetle!

Matthew - Hmm, interesting. Heaven 17 tell Shuttleworth they produced 'Let's Stay Together' for Tina Turner, and that it was the highest selling 12 inch ever, at that time. I've never listened to John Shuttleworth's Lounge Music before. Is it a male variation on the Mrs. Merton formula, I wonder? You could have mentioned to Colin about that comic faux-Ultravox Shuttleworth song, about nostalgia, Heaven 17 were invited to sing, entitled 'Dandelion & Burdock' !

Phillip

Anonymous said...

Presumably you've not seen 'Europigeon', Phillip, the documentary about John Shuttleworth's attempt to enter the Eurovision song contest.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSWt5h0cOmY

Sheffield - nul points

-sean

Anonymous said...

Sean - No I haven't. I'll save it for later, as a treat.

Phillip

Colin Jones said...

I'm not sure if I've heard the Heaven 17 episode of John Shuttleworth's Lounge Music but I've definitely heard other episodes featuring Claire Grogan, Mari Wilson and Chris Difford from Squeeze who sang 'Up The Junction' live on the show.

Colin Jones said...

ATTENTION UK READERS: There's a documentary on Radio 4 at 8pm tomorrow (May 27th) called 'Marvel vs DC: Contest Of The Champions' which is about the rivalry between Marvel and DC since the '60s. It should be interesting!

Anonymous said...

ATTENTION CHARLIE: Tonight at 9pm there's a BBC2 show about restoring Paul McCartney's childhood home:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001m889

Phillip

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tip Phillip! I just may…! USA has a 3 day weekend for Memorial Day. Officially starting summer here!

Anonymous said...

Have a good one, Charlie. Make the most of it, just in case the US defaults on its debts and the American economy collapses next week.

-sean

Anonymous said...

Charlie and Miss Charlie are stuck in traffic from hell trying to leave Chicago for Atlanta. Miss C, to calm me, has opened Amazon Prime Music and is playing New Wave. This far 7 songs now: 2 Depeche Mode, 2 New Order, 1 Howard Jones, 1 Soft Cell, and now… Pet Shop Boys! All that in 2 miles traveled! Thank god you brits know how to make music!

Colin Jones said...

Do all UK readers know the John Shuttleworth classic "I Can't Go Back To Savoury Now"?

Matthew McKinnon said...

Yes indeed. It’s a household favourite.

Colin Jones said...

Phillip, I've just been listening to John Shuttleworth's Lounge Music with Heaven 17 and the song 'Dandelion & Burdock' proves my point from an earlier comment that d&b is much less common nowadays - it has become the subject of nostalgia!

Anonymous said...

Yes, Colin - quite. Paying in "old money", too!

Phillip

McSCOTTY said...

Charloe, "(We don't need this) Fascist groove thang" was indeed banned by BBC due to a reference to President Reagan.

Was John Shuttleworth ( sorry I don't recall his real name) the same guy that was Jilted John ?

Colin Jones said...

Yes, Paul, that's him - and his real name is Graham Fellows.

Colin Jones said...

I've been watching the film THE MARTIAN, starring Matt Damon, on BBC iplayer. I own a hardback copy of the original novel by Andy Weir which I bought nearly 10 years ago but I've never seen the film version before so it was interesting to compare the film with the book. The film looks terrific with all the special effects and Martian landscapes etc but the plot is a rather simplified (streamlined?) adaptation of the novel with big chunks of the novel being dropped from the film completely and the ending has been changed a bit too but I'm glad I finally got to see this film and I'll give THE MARTIAN 4 stars out of 5.

Colin Jones said...

And the soundtrack includes songs such as Hot Stuff, Starman and Waterloo!

Colin Jones said...

I've only just heard that Rolf Harris and Ray Stevenson have died.