Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Do you know how to please me?
Too right you do.
Do you know how to squeeze me?
Not half.
Because you've heard Slade's track Skweeze Me Pleeze Me and you've heard it because it's Number One, right now, in this week in 1973, giving the Wolverhampton rockers their fifth UK Number One and cementing their position as the biggest band of the era.
But, of course, when it comes to albums, there's no band bigger than Various Artists and, right then, they were doing it again by hogging the top spot, with their LP That'll Be the Day.
First, the Hulk encounters what seems to be a flying saucer but it's actually the Silver Surfer - and the big green galloot decides to try to force the former herald to take him to another planet where he can escape the attention of the puny humans.
Then, the Hulk does indeed find himself in space, where he encounters the High Evolutionary's New New Men who're starting to go the way of his old New Men and are out to kill their creator. Can the Hulk stop them before it's too late?
But outer space also comes to us, as the Skrulls send their greatest-ever agent the Super-Skrull to battle the Fantastic Four. How can the FF ever hope to defeat a foe who has all their powers and more?
But that's not all. We also get a four-page Lee/Colan epic called The Last Rocket! in which the only two people left on Earth, after everyone else abandons it, are revealed to be called Adam and Eve.
I believe this is the one in which the Crime-Master's revealed to be a total non-entity we've never seen before, possibly leading to the myth that Steve Ditko left the strip because he wanted to reveal the Green Goblin to be an anonymous nobody we've never seen before.
Speaking of nobodies, Thor's still having trouble with Zarrko the Tomorrow Man.
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45 comments:
You're right about the Crime Master, Steve. It was Nick "Lucky" Lewis. Throughout this week's and next week's. Spider–Man story, though, we keep seeing that Fred Foswell has some kind of disguise and secret identity. Is he the Goblin? Is he the CrimeMaster? No. At the end of next week's story he's revealed to us (but not to Spider–Man) as being disguised as Patch the stoolie, infiltrating gangs and grassing them up to the rozzers. A big surprise to the readers, so really well plotted by Ditko.
Lewis is never seen again, although his son turns up as a new CrimeMaster in a MTU at some point, along with Janice Foswell as the new Big Man. Despite being in a relationship when not in costume they don't recognise each other when dressed up, and does one end up killing the other?
In MWOM, though, I must correct you. The original story had the Surfer in it but U.K. Marvel stripped out all Surfer references apart from one panel where the hulk is struck by the surfboard, with no explanation. The full story, Surfer and all is reprinted at a later date in MWOM after U.K. readers have been introduced to the Surfer in the FF strip.
I don't remember having that MWOM issue but I did remember the super skrull story when I saw it in a Marvel Masterwork in the late 80s. Maybe I saw it in my pre school days in the late 70s in POW or Fantastic or TV21 or whatever.
That'll be the Day is presumably the soundtrack from the 1973 David Essex movie.
I remember Super Skull from the 1960s Fantastic Four cartoon and therefore thought he was a more significant foe than he actually was. The Hulk Surfer story was included in the Hulk Treasury edition (#5).
DW
I just checked scans of this week's MWOM thinking it would reprint Tales to Astonish #93 'He who strikes the surfer' but its a different story and so ignore my Treasury edition comment.
DW
My info on the missing surfer came from this rival blog http://thepowerofthebeesting.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-missing-surfer.html it might get stuff out there a few days before Steve but SDC is where all the discussion takes place, so don't go replacing Steve with a new younger model.
DW, I've now tried Bundaberg's ginger beer and it's a lot nicer than their root beer!
DM
Ok, so this week's MWOM is actually reprinting Tales to Astonish #92 minus the final Silver Surfer reveal but they didn't reprint TtA #93 for another couple of years. That kind of makes sense.
Colin, I'm not a huge ginger beer man, but its well regarded locally.
DW
I think 'That'll Be The Day' is a comp of old pre-Beatle era hits rather than a soundtrack per se, but it is a tie-in to the David Essex film, so DW is basically correct.
Hardly surprising really, what with him being the most well known West Ham supporter. David Essex I mean, not DW. Although surely with Steve Does Comics' massive international reach DW must be in the running for second most well known by now.
-sean
Hello UK gents! Just watched a Father Brown which is set in 1953. Did you pronounce Ralph as Rafe (still?)
Charles.
Isn't David Cooke calling himself "David Essex" a bit like Randy Wolfe calling himself "Randy California"?
I mean, are you symbolizing an area?
It strikes me as a bit ostentatious, is all I'm saying.
It would be like me calling myself Matt Dakota.
...actually, that sounds kinda cool. I wanna be that now.
Matt Dakota, P.I.
There's a T.V. show there somewhere. I could solve neighborhood casino hold-ups.
M.P.
Charlie
Ralph and Rafe are different names.
Sean
Apparently Ronco part-funded the movie solely to release the collection. I (very vaguely) remember borrowing this from someone's parents and it had the David Essex/Ringo Starr cover, but could easily have imagined it.
After the Queen died all proper West Ham fans rose a place on the famous list. I reckon I'm currently around number 7, behind Ray Winstone, Russel Brand, The Dalai Lama, Danny Dier and Katy Perry. I'd put Essex around 10, just ahead of Liam Brady.
DW
dangermash - That's one heckofa website! I thought us at SDC were the only ones who do this kind of thing. That guy really deserves plaudits for the massive effort he's put into that blog. I'll read it more closely, later.
M.P. - In the USA, people also seem to get states as Christian names, as well as surnames, don't they (e.g. Indiana Jones, Dakota Fanning (?), Cleveland Brown, etc)?
On a personal note, according to my bro' (who's visiting) the local Newsagent where I bought my first ever Marvel comic (Spidey # 247) has just closed down! I suppose, in today's world, it's a miracle it lasted as long as it did.
Phillip
Sorry - Cleveland's obviously a city (in the state of Ohio), not a state!
Phillip
Phil, nobody should name their kid after a state! Or city.
Least of all, a crappy one.
When that place goes downhill, you're stuck with the name.
Dollars to donuts, there's girls named Florida who are in court right now trying to get that switched.
M.P.
I find it strange when artists you know under their stage name still use their original names. David Bowie never changed his name and was legally and known to his family and his friends a David Jones ( his 2 children are called Jones) Vic Reves, a UK comedian is known and now uses his real name Jim Moir. I wonder if Elton is known to his mates as Reg?
If I used my county (State) name it would be Paul South Lanarkshire or prior to that Paul Greater Glasgow, not that catchy.
I had forgotten all about the omission of the Surfer from that Hulk tale, I remember at the time thinking something wasn't right. Actually having never read the original comic I think this is the answer to a 50 year mystery..
M.P. - Yeah, definitely! Marcella Detroit (comprising 'Shakespeare's Sister', paired with a Bananarama girl) probably picked her monicker during Motor City's glory days, whereas now...
Phillip
Charlie, as DW said, Ralph and Rafe can be different names but Rafe is also a posh pronunciation of Ralph - or perhaps it was in 1953 but isn't any longer?
Phillip, I bought my first Marvel comic (Marvel UK's Planet Of The Apes No.5) from a kiosk in a bus station - the bus station (and the kiosk) were demolished in 2021.
Paul, I thought Bowie's son was called Zowie Bowie and he changed it to Duncan Jones as an adult.
RAFE? RALPH? -
Thanks for the feedback! I am opting for Colin's explanation. Reason being that the subtitles kept showing "ralph and sir ralph" when the characters said "rafe" and Sir Rafe". In fact no one ever said Ralph in the show, just Rafe! And the credits at the end said "Sir Ralph..."
In the USA, Ralph is/was a term to express vomiting. UK too?
Charlie has survived!!! Yes!!!
Not sure if you folks heard but Chicago had the worst air in the world from Sunday - Thursday due to the Canadian Wild Fires.
The words "apocalypse" and "existential threat" were used a lot, lol, in conversation.
But honestly, you could NOT go outside... the air was opaque and smelled like burning tires. Google it for fun...
To be sure, the Republicans refused to mask b/c unlike the rest of us b/c they were sure we were being groomed to be subservient to the Canucks!
MP - Did you get the smoke?
Red- I have to imagine it is floating down your way by now?
Phillip! Sorry to hear your news agency closed! I lost my first ones as well.
The Gary, Indiana grocery store called Weiss's had two spinners! That's were I first bought comics until the age of 11. I suspect it closed, then was burned, then caved in, and now it is condos. A 40 year journey that was.
Then the "News Agency" (literally) in Crown Point, Indiana closed to become a quiche restaurant IIRC. This building is like 100 years old. Used to love walking in and hearing the wooden floors creak. They had the comics way in the back, just off the aisle that had the "men's magazines". Then, the magazines like SSOC, The Spirit, Mad, etc. were on the shelf just below the men's magazines (just like in France). I am surprised someone didn't give them some stick about this.
Good lord! Charlie could be "Indiana Joe" if we use the name of the state I grew up in!
(This may come as a surprise but my real name is not Charlie Horse 47. It is just plain old Joe. Like - G.I. Joe. Like - Ole Black Joe. Like - Joe Joe the Dog Face Boy. Like - Hey Joe where you going with that gun in your hand. Like - Hey let's get a cup of Joe.)
Btw... I hear the new Indiana Jones movie #5 is actually quite good! I think me and the missus will have to go to a movie theatre! It's been like 5 years?
I think the last thing I saw in a theatre was the Star Wars (#7?) with Luke Skywalker coming back.
Any you guys been in a theatre since Covid?
Sean -
That soundtrack to That’ll Be The Day is part of the reason the film actually exists at all.
I just read a biography of David Putnam (short version - he was a dick), and a big chunk of funding came from the record label who wanted to cram in as many oldies as possible to have a tie-in soundtrack to clean up with. Ditto the not-as-good sequel Stardust (which we used to have the album of).
Charlie -
Been to the cinema tons since Covid. A couple of times a month. I used to nervously wear a mask in 2001 and early 2002 but that’s sort of tapered off and they don’t even ask you to any more.
On pronouncing Ralph as Rafe, Ralph Fiennes still does it. Although he doesn't seem to have been able to convince anyone else to call him that, at least not in public.
Paul, I don't understand what's strange about artists using their real names? I mean, surely the odd thing would have been if, say, Bowie had expected his friends - who'd known him since he was a kid - or his son have to have used his stage name?
Er.. not that it would have made much of a difference in practice when both names were David something. But still, it would be like if they'd called him Ziggy. Or Aladdin, or Thin.
Steve, have you ever considered renaming yourself after where you're from? Steve Peoples-Republic-of-South-Yorkshire has a certain stylish panache. Although possibly it might have too many hyphens for your taste?
-sean
Charlie - That newsagent closing's something I'll share the blame for, as I haven't used it in years!
In Dune (Frank Herbert), wasn't there a character named 'Duncan Idaho' ?
My last cinema visit was the second Heath Ledger Batman (I think), unless some of the early Marvel movies (I watched a few) superseded that. Toilet-wise, long movies necessitate leaving the movie theatre half-way through, in which case, the home-viewing experience is preferable. Besides, the cinema costs a small fortune, now!
Sean - Wasn't David Cameron's wife originally a 'Sheffield'?
Phillip
Charlie - According to the weather forecasters, the Canadian fire smoke's supposed to cause spectacular sunrises & sunsets, over the UK. So far, I've seen no evidence of this with sunsets (whilst sunrises are too early to catch, at this time of the year.)
Phillip
*second Nolan Batman*
Phillip
Well, I share my name X with part of the name of a large new town close to the village where I was brought up.
The first joke I ever came up with was on my fifth birthday. Walking through the village with my mum and going past a direction sign that said Xage 4 (as in that's the way to Xage and it's 4 miles away), I said maybe they need to change that to X age 5 now.
dangermash - you've given us easy clues!
Phillip
Someone give this Yank a clue as to what “x” stands for LOL!
CH
Steven!
Phillip
The liquor store where I bought most of my comics in my Early Fan Days still exists (and looks nearly the same after all these decades). I haven’t set foot inside it since probably ‘79 or so, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have a spinner rack with the latest issues of MARVEL TEAM UP and HERO FOR HIRE.
Another one of my Comics Destination Liquor Stores (which carried just a handful of full-color floppies but DID carry most of the Warren and Marvel black and white mags) was bulldozed just a few years ago, but I think that whole shopping center had been shut down years before that.
I’ve only been back to the theatre a few times since Covid — to see THE MENU and MEGAN. My daughter is itching to go see the new Spider-verse movie at the theatre, so we might do that this weekend.
b.t.
X is the unknown, Joe, a name that only my late mum and Phillip call me and the first two syllables of a town that was four miles from Weston in Hertfordshire where I was brought up.
At a previous employer, some guy working at the coffee bar was into his football and would always ask me "how's Stevenage doing?" After keeping hearing this, his boss Mo who knew I was Steve got it into my head that Steve was short for Stevenage and started calling me Stevenage.
What made it particularly weird was that Mo was from Morocco.
Colin, Bowies son's name was Duncan Hayward Zowie Jones but he was known in the press as Zowie Bowie but he actually liked to be called Joey???
Sean, I see your point but when you only know an artist by their stage name on tv, interviews etc etc then you hear they are called something else its kinda strange.
That's awful news about the air in Chicago I never saw that on the TV. Hope your all ok
It seems that X is also the extra chromosome that will shape the rest of this decade for the Brits, in the form of 'Stevenage woman'.
www.theguardian.com/2023/apr/01/stevenage-woman-vital-to-labour-success-at-next-election-analysts-say
Time to consider emigration maybe?
(Just kidding, dangermash)
-sean
I haven't been to the cinema since 1991 (to see Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves) because, like Phillip, I regard the whole experience as a needless hassle.
Paul, that's a genuine revelation about Zowie Bowie. I'd assumed he hated his daft name and changed it to ordinary Duncan Jones as soon as he was able to.
Charlie, I heard about the wildfires in Canada but not the effects on Chicago!
Well, the drug store (pharmacy, or for my UK pals chemist?) where I first bought comics as a kid 54 years ago still exists. Sadly they now sell only medical items; that fondly remembered spinner rack has been gone for decades. On the other hand, the comic shop I patronized during my heavy collecting years is still in business; in the great metropolitan center of Indianapolis.
Speaking of great metropolitan centers, here in Louisville we are also experiencing that smoky gift from Canada. I cross the Ohio river to work each day, and this week you couldn't see across the river for the haze. Probably not as thick as you've been getting, Charlie...
As for the cinema topic, my wife and I haven't been in the theater since the pandemic started. Attending now would be no problem; there simply hasn't been anything that roused me sufficiently to go...
-Charlie
The smoke was above us. But the sky did look weird...hazy.
You guys in Chicago got it much worse, I'd guess.
Jesus, is this gonna be the soup de jour going forward? I hope not.
But I think we are in the midst of an environmental catastrophe.
I've been trying to live long enough to see flying cars and realistic female robots, but I'm not so sure it's worth it anymore.
M.P.
Its looking like it might have been an idea to interact with actual women all along, M.P.
-sean
I've been known to do that on occasion, Sean.
According to my ex-wife, that was part of the problem.
M.P.
*2021 & early 2022
Matthew, it did seem remarkably prescient of you to start wearing a mask in 2001 ;)
MP, the future used to be exciting and optimistic with robots, spaceships and colonies on Mars but now the future means overpopulation, declining resources, disastrous climate change and predictions of A.I. overthrowing Mankind - where did it all go wrong?
MP - The smoke in Chi-town was horrendous. You tube "Canadian Fire Smoke Chicago 2023."
Spent last night with friends talking about the health issues. You did not want to be outside (unless you wanted to prove how tough you were and were refusing to be groomed by Canadians, natch!)
Somewhere between George Jetson and Mad Max, is the future.
Probably closer to Mad Max, I would guess.
M.P.
Charlie, you lot in the US obviously need to build a wall across the border... and make the Canadians pay for it!
-sean
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