Speak Your Brain! Part 103.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

Image by Tumisu
from Pixabay

Can it be true?

Can the year really be nearing its halfway point, so soon after it started?

Why, yes, it can.

But we may, at least, take solace in the fact that, while time trundles relentlessly onward, some things never change.

And one of those is that the second half of a month brings the return of a feature possessed of an immutability that could defy the gods themselves.

It is, of course, the one in which the first person to comment below gets to decide just what the day's topic for debate shall be.

Such a thing is never predictable and, therefore, I can only sit with bated breath and wait to discover just what that topic shall be.

Atlas/Seaboard June 1975.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

The Greek Titan Atlas was, famously, strong enough to hold up the sky but can Atlas the comic company even succeed in preventing the roof from falling in on it?

Given the short-lived nature of Atlas's books, it's a bit of a shock but Vicki's managed to achieve a third issue.

And it's not even the final one!

Inside, we encounter such classic material as Company Loves Misery, Lamping Along Together, Let's Get in Shape for Summer!, Weanie Meanie and The Vicki Fun Page! Mostly reprinted from the 1960s pages of Tippy Teen and Teen-In.

Once more does Tiger-Man leap into the fray!

And he does so in a tale which features the Blue Leopard who, in the absence of any other information, I shall assume to be the villain of the piece.

The final issue of Police Action smashes us in the face with Sam Lomax in ...One Hot Dog With Murder, Please! and Luke Malone in something called ...Rock and Robbery.

But Sam and Luke; will we ever see their like again?

Police Action may have died but nothing can kill Phoenix. Not even the Devil, Yetis or the Loch Ness Monster, all of whom turn up in this unlikely tale set in the Himalayas.

But our hero doesn't get this issue all to himself.

Instead, he has to share it with a backup strip starring brand-new crime-fighter the Dark Avenger who must thwart the plans of the Rat Pack!

Atlas finally gets a martial arts hero of its own. Albeit one who looks like he was designed by Frank Robbins.

I can shed no light upon the contents of this one, not even whether it's any good or not but I can reveal it's brought to us by the talents of Ed Fedory and Jim Craig and that, despite appearances, Fearless Frank seems to have had no involvement in this mag.

Tragically, this seems to be the only issue of the book that will ever appear.

I can share little insight into the contents of this one either, but it stars a character called Adam Lucard and is the handiwork of Gary Friedrich and Frank Thorne.

This comic too will only last for one issue before being terminally staked through its heart.

But back to hardier fare, as the Destructor hits his third issue, and a confrontation with the Huntress who's been hired by the mob, to bump him off.

And it looks like she might just do it!

Ironjaw already has his own book but it seems that's not enough to contain awesomeness on his scale. And so he finds himself being granted a second vehicle for his talents.

The first tale of the issue, which stars the man himself, is called The Mountain of Mutants and, to the shock of no one, contain mutants.

That's followed by a yarn in which a 1970s decathlete is catapulted into a barbaric age, 2,000 years in the future.

Sensationally, this is another book which will survive for just one issue before folding.

June 14th, 1975 - 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. 

***

These days, we're so used to proceedings in the UK Parliament being televised, it's easy to forget there was a time when we didn't know what such things looked or even sounded like.

But that changed, this week in 1975, when the nation reeled with shock as the House of Commons was broadcast on radio for the first time ever and we got to hear the full panoply of our elected representatives' magnificent array of farmyard impressions.

Elsewhere, after a referendum, and seven years of military rule, modern-day Greece was created via the establishment of The Hellenic Republic.

When it came to music, the UK charts were still being dominated by the sound of Whispering Grass, thanks to sitcom stars Windsor Davies and Don Estelle.

While, on the associated album listings, the pinnacle was, yet again being held by The Best of the Stylistics.

I, of course, revere Whispering Grass; mostly because I remember hearing it on the radio while reading that Barry Smith drawn Dr Strange story based on The Shadow Over Innsmouth. A concurrence which lent the line, "Why tell them all the Old Things? They're buried under the snow," a strangely Lovecraftian tone I shall never forget.

But there were other tracks I approved of on that Hit Parade and amongst them were:

I'm Not in Love - 10 CC

Listen to What the Man Said - Wings

Disco Queen - Hot Chocolate

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

Israelites - Desmond Dekker

Imagine Me, Imagine You - Fox

Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton

Stand by Me - John Lennon

Hurt So Good - Susan Cadogan

and

Honey - Bobby Goldsboro.

Should you wish to investigate the matter further, that week's UK singles chart can be found here.

Whilst the parallel album chart resides within.

Can it be?

The Hulk? Up against his deadliest opponent yet?

The Chameleon?

Yes, it can!

Granted, his peril's somewhat embiggened by the fact that our battling brute has been emsmallened by Hank Pym's shrinking serum, thanks to his attempt to return to Jarella's world.

And that can only mean a confrontation with the giant rats of Hydra!

Daredevil, meanwhile, is still fighting the Ani-Men who, thanks to the Exterminator's T-Ray, have sent Foggy's girlfriend Debbie Harris out of temporal sync with the rest of us!

And the Fantastic Four discover there's a price to pay for wrecking a Kree Sentry.

And that's getting a visit from Ronan the Accuser!

From the looks of it, Spider-Man and Iceman are taking a break from hitting each other, for long enough to put a halt to the malignly manipulative machinations of Sam Bullit.

Which is just as well, as the putrid politician is about to rub out poor old Joe Robertson!

Elsewhere, Iron Man and Pepper Potts are in the process of trying to escape from the Mole Man's underground world.

And I do suspect that Thor's one-sided struggle with Mangog finally comes to a halt, as Odin wakes up and easily magics the monster out of existence.

Dr Strange may make the cover but the issue kicks off with Shang-Chi who's fighting a bunch of Si-Fan assassins in an Egyptian pyramid, in an attempt to get his hands on some magic rubies before his own sister and Fu Manchu can get them.

Next, the Black Panther manages to survive the challenge of the Man-Ape when the villain contrives to get himself crushed beneath a stone idol.

And I do suspect that, no sooner has he returned home from his last adventure, than Dr Strange finds himself having to battle - himself!

I am somewhat curious as to why that man on the cover goes out at night shooting bats. Is bat-hunting a popular pastime?

When it comes to what occurs within the book, my knowledge of the Dracula tale is fuzzy but I think he may be having flashbacks to his earlier years as a vampire.

The Werewolf by Night, meanwhile, is about to encounter the maddening menace of Taboo and his lovely daughter Topaz.

And there's a shock in store for us all because Brother Voodoo's demonstrated his awesome magical powers by vanishing before our eyes and being replaced by the return of the strip that belongs to Frankenstein's Monster who finds himself up against a pig-headed fiend!

From that cover, I do believe we've reached the pulse-pounding conclusion of Kingdom on an Island of the Apes in which General Gorodon discovers King Arthur's island and leads a small army against it.

However, Derek quickly defeats Gorodon and then marries Lady Andrea.

I'm hoping Lady Andrea isn't an ape.

Not that I have anything against apes. I'm just not sure it's a healthy sign if you want to marry one.

After that, we get Al Satian and Heather Johnson recounting their experiences on location during filming of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.

But hold on.

Al Satian?

Is that really his/her name?

And Adam Warlock finds himself caught up in The Day of the Prophet!

History is made, as two of Fantasy's greatest heroes bump into each other when Conan must confront Elric!

From what I can recall, Zukala is also, somehow, present and in need of assistance in his conflict with evil sorcerer Kulan Gath.

Elsewhere, Thongor is up to something but I don't know just what.

For reasons that are completely beyond me, Mephisto's demanded the Silver Surfer attack SHIELD's HQ!

But what our hero doesn't know is that within that building is Shalla-Bal - and his attack on that complex could lead to her death!

Elsewhere, in a shock to absolutely no one, the X-Men find themselves up against the power of Magneto!

But what is new is that a stranger's arrived in town.

And that stranger is called The Stranger.

The Marvel Lucky Bag - June 1985.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

A wise man once said, "Hooray for Hollywood!"

But was that location giving us much to cheer about as 1985 hit its summer months?

It would be impertinent of me to pass judgement but I do know June saw the unleashing of such memorable fare as The Goonies, Prizzi's Honor, D.A.R.Y.L., Cocoon, Return to Oz, Pale Rider and St Elmo's Fire.

I will, of course, do my customary job of rushing to the defence of Return to Oz and nominate that as my Film of the Month. I am aware that others may have other ideas.

I assumed the Vulture was dead but it seems he's still alive and out to wreak vengeance upon the criminal gang known as the Vulturions, for stealing his costume design.

Has it really taken this long for the Thing to come up against the Rhino?

If it has, I'm sure our rocky hero will make short work of the thick-skinned thug.

Especially as that thick-skinned thug is being mind-controlled by the Miracle Man.

It's a comic whose title I keep misreading as The Secateurs but I am equally clueless when it comes to the contents of this, its first issue, other than knowing the story within is titled Upheaval! and brought to us by Bill Mantlo and Mark Texeira.

And it's another book whose contents I know nothing of. Is that the Scorpion on the cover? If so, he seems to have been raiding the steroid cupboard.

Apparently, Rick Jones is also in this issue.

It's a sensational first issue for the man who's had a few of those in his time.

From what I can make out, Marc Spector's out to end his career as Moon Knight but is forced, by Egyptian priests, to abandon his plan and de-abandon the role.

And, while they're at it, they give him some magic weapons and a new costume.

And another nocturnally-active thwarter of evil gets his own book when the Gargoyle gargoyles his way into our hearts.

I could thrill you with news of what he gets up to, this issue but I don't know what he gets up to.

I do know, though, that we're treated to his origin. Not that I know what his origin is.

The fourth issue of the comic which shares a title with everyone's favourite Disney movie arrives to deliver an adventure in which a plot is hatched to overthrow someone who claims to be Dr Doom, and seize control of Latveria.

 As far as I can make out, nothing comes of that and it all ends with the Dazzler and the Beast breaking off their relationship.

Chris Claremont and John Bolton bring us a tale of which I know nothing.

I am quite struck by Bolton's cover for it, though.

And it's another one about whose contents I remain profoundly ignorant.

I can, however, reveal the story within is called Hostages and is the handiwork of Alan Zelenetz and Chris Warner.

Forty years ago today - June 1985.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

Once more shall I shall gaze into the waters of my magic pool and see just what activities are occurring in the place that mortals know as The Past.

Remember that really old Thor story in which he tells a group of boys about a recent fight he's had with the Hulk, in order to answer their question as to which of them's the stronger?

Now we get a re-run. Except, this time, it's Hercules who's telling a group of youths about his epic fights with Thor, in order to answer their queries as to who's the stronger.

Needless to say, the crown prince of braggadocio opts to tell them he's easily defeated Thor every single time they've ever met.

Until Jarvis the butler points out to him that the nature of his young audience means there may be good cause for him to take a metaphorical dive...

Not for the first time, that clanking clod Doom has launched the Baxter Building - and its occupants - into space.

But - as Reed Richards starts to suspect - is it really Doom who's done it?

Or is there an impostor at large?

And might that impostor need rescuing even more than they do?

It seems that only a full-on attack on Doom's castle might yield answers.

It's bad news for the X-Men - and the Juggernaut - when Nimrod shows up, from what I assume to be the future, looking to bump off mutants wherever he finds them.

Fortunately, Rogue's on hand to batter him with every single power she can absorb from every available X-Man.

Storm, conversely, is still devoid of her powers.

And that leads her back to her former haunts in Africa...

But it looks like trouble with a very small T, for our hero, when a group of precocious college kids decide to fabricate the existence of a super-villain, in order to vex and bewilder the web-slinger.

Fortunately, he's far too smart to fall victim to that kind of japery.

The Hulk's mag pulls a stunt I shall never recover from, as it reveals the lovable Puffball Collective, that's befriended the brute for all these months, is actually evil and out to lead him to his doom on a world that's been decimated by the N'Garai.

And the Collective wants to unleash them on the whole universe!

Modred is back and out to trash London - unless Marvel's greatest captains of the British and American varieties can stop him.

It's tense times for the Avengers.

And for Ka-Zar.

That's because Terminus - who I think was the giant alien who showed up in The Fantastic Four, a fair bit back - has arrived in the Savage Land and is out to lay waste to the entire area.

Meanwhile, as far as I can remember, Captain Marvel's still trapped on a spaceship in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of unprincipled space-pirates.

It's a very odd tale, as Frank Miller returns to the strip and creates an adventure in which a mysterious man in dark glasses arrives in a small New Jersey town and sets about bringing to justice the murderers who control it.

I don't think I've ever read this, but the Grand Comics Database informs me a girl with a magic jewel foretells Conan's impending entombment in a Nemedian sarcophagus.

Exactly what he does about it, I have no idea.

He probably sets about stabbing someone or something. That usually works for him.

It seems like every time we see him, the Fox is planning one last job before retiring.

And he's doing it again.

But this time, Silver Sable and her men are out to bring him to justice, and Spidey must decide just whose side he's on.

Rhodey needs to find out just why he keeps having devastating headaches.

And we all know there's only one way to do that.

And that's to visit a shaman and do spiritual quest-type stuff on an astral plane.

June 7th, 1975 - 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. 

***

This week in 1975 was a great one for people who wanted to go on a narrowboating holiday in Egypt, because it was the week in which the Suez Canal reopened, following its closure for the Six-Day War.

But it wasn't such good news for people who like summer to be summer.

It was, after all, the week in which snow showers struck across the UK. And they struck to such an extent that even London experienced the phenomenon. The first time that had happened in June since the long-gone days of 1761.

But there was great news for lovers of European integrations, as the week saw 67% of British voters choose to remain in the EEC, thanks to a referendum that would put the matter to bed forever.

And what of the charts?

The nation gained a brand new Number One when Windsor Davies and Don Estelle's evergreen cover of Whispering Grass hit the top of the UK Hit Parade.

While, on the accompanying LP listings, The Best of the Stylistics maintained the dominance it had first achieved several weeks earlier.

"Thor vs Mangog!" boasts the cover! "Iron Man battles Moleman!"

I think I know which of those two contests is more likely to get my pulse racing.

But the main attraction is, as we can see, a clash between Iceman and Spider-Man when the world's greatest boyfriend decides it'll be a great idea to terrorise Gwen Stacy, so she'll never suspect he's really Peter Parker.

Fortunately, the Popsicle powerhouse is on hand to put a stop to that sort of thing.

His life of danger takes Shang-Chi and friends to Egypt where Fu Manchu's daughter is out to get her hands on a golden beetle whose power she could potentially use against her father.

Needless to say, daddy dearest isn't going to take that sort of thing  lying down.

The Avengers, meanwhile, find themselves in Wakanda and captives of the Man-Ape who wants to take over the kingdom.

And he doesn't care who he has to squish to do it.

And Dr Strange is taking a noticeable backseat, as a combination of the Hulk's obduracy and Barbara Norris's self-sacrifice sees the master of the mystic arts liberated from the clutches of the Undying Ones, meaning he can return to Earth and resume his life as a normal, everyday citizen.

The FF vs the Sentry? The Hulk vs the Silver Surfer? How could anyone not want to read this comic?

The Surfer is, of course, trying to knock some sense into the Hulk's thick head and convince him he can't transport him to another planet where men will leave him alone.

The Sentry is, on the other hand, trying to rid his island of the Fantastic Four, on behalf of an alien race called the Kree.

And I do believe Daredevil's still struggling with the Ani-Men who've been recruited by the Exterminator to do whatever it is he's recruited them to do.

Mostly, robbing people at parties, I think.

Mark Twain's still ruling the roost, as, upon landing on an island, Derek is confronted by an ape in shining armour.

It's Sir Gawain, who then takes him to a medieval castle inhabited by apes and talking humans where Derek must kill a dragon!

I'm still not totally sure this is an improvement on Apeslayer.

After that, we're treated to a 10-page article populated with facts about Pierre Boulle, his ideas and consequences.

Following that, Adam Warlock's up against it, as we have to question whether even his power can prevail against the might of Pih-Junn.

Who, I think, turns out to be a pigeon.

Things are looking up for the newly-deceased Dracula because a preacher's out to impress his followers by reviving him, in order to prove that God can resurrect the dead.

I can't help feeling he might have chosen a better subject for the demonstration.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell's furry alter-ego, finishes off his scrap with the Hangman.

And Brother Voodoo has plenty on his plate when he's kidnapped by AIM. It turns out the renegade gang of boffins are creating an army of mind-controlled zombies and can't wait to inflict the same treatment on him!

From the looks of it, Conan's going to be having spider trouble!

But, first, he has to put up with being delirious in a desert.

Elsewhere, Thongor's imprisoned by the Demon of Zangabal.

This, somehow, leads to him breaking a mirror and freeing someone who's lumbered with the name Aqquoonkagua.

As is instantly apparent, it's yet more Mephisto mayhem for Norrin Radd.

And it's an odd tale that sees the dread lord of all sinners free our hero from the limitations of Galactus' space barrier - only to kidnap Shalla-Bal in order to blackmail him into attacking SHIELD.

Quite what Mephisto has against SHIELD, I have no idea.

As for the X-Men, they're fighting the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in an abandoned industrial building and it all leads to the Blob getting fed up of both teams - again - and - again - returning to his preferred career as a carnival entertainer.

The Marvel Lucky Bag - June 1975.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

There's nothing as moving as a movie. So, what cinematic treasures were waiting to enchant, delight and thrill us, as we entered a picture house in June 1975?

These cinematic treasures were awaiting us: Nashville, Night Moves, Jaws, Rollerball and Race With the Devil.

Classic films all. But, of course, all of them paled into significance besides one blockbuster movie that was awaiting us.

And that was Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.

How we thrilled as Ron Ely and his friends foiled an evil villain with a beard and reformed him with the aid of well-judged brain surgery.

And how we looked forward to the sequel we were promised by the film's closing credits.

It looks like curtains for the Defenders, with all of them but the Hulk captured by the Sons of the Serpent!

Fortunately, help is at hand, thanks to the Son of Satan, Daredevil, Yellowjacket, Clea and Luke Cage!

It's another masterpiece, made memorable by such gems as The Sleeper Beneath the Sands, a look at The Gods of the Hyborian Age, an article called Can Any Good Thing Come Out of Cimmeria? and, as the cover makes clear, an Alex Niño drawn adaptation of Robert E Howard's People of the Dark.

I'm struggling to recall just what happens in this one but I think it might involve our hero being subjected to hallucinations by the lackeys of the Magus.

And I suspect this issue sees the introduction of no lesser talent than Gamora!

It's taken a surprisingly long time but Thor finally catches up with many other Marvel heroes by landing his own Giant-Size book.

In this mighty tome, the mighty god's in mighty reprint action when Loki revives the Destroyer, in a bid to wreck the Asgardian Olympics while Odin has one of his epic power naps.

Following that, we're treated to a reprint of Thor's first encounter with Hercules, within the very boundaries of Olympus itself.

And then Lee and Kirby remind us of that time When Heimdall Failed!

Thor may have landed himself a Giant-Size comic but Spider-Man's only gone and nabbed himself a Special Edition.

What the difference is between a Treasury Edition and a Special Edition, I have no idea but, from that cover, I think we can guess our hero's having his first-ever tussle with the Sinister Six.

Come to think of it, has he ever had a second tussle with them? I'm struggling to think of one.

Following that, he has his first-ever tussle with the Lizard.

And then he has what I think is his second tussle with the Molten Man who's been newly released from jail and, like anyone who's been through the Marvel Comics prison rehabilitation process, is determined to go straight...

...back to his life of crime.

Brace yourself because the Invaders are here to liberate your heart and gain your everlasting admiration, thanks to the efforts of Rascally Roy Thomas and Fabulous Frank Robbins.

I'm seriously struggling to recall just what happens in this one but I'm sure it's bad news for Nazis and lovers of anatomically correct pencilling everywhere!

There's no shortage of Giant-Size action, this month. And so it is that we see the Scarlet Witch marry the Vision while Mantis weds the Swordsman's corpse in order to finally, I think, bring the Celestial Madonna saga to a halt.

And that's followed by Betrayed by the Ants!! a Lee/Kirby tale in which a scientist is hired by crooks to defeat Ant-Man. I think that scientist might be Egghead but don't quote me on that.

But forget all that stuff. This is the one we all came here for, when not only does the world's greatest barbarian get his own Treasury Edition, he does so in style by encountering those Rogues in the House before having a run-in with a bunch of Red Nails. All delivered, of course, by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith.

And I think we even get a map thrown in for good measure!

Monsters Unleashed may have met its demise and is, thus, very much Monsters Disunleashed but that's not preventing it from having an annual!

Sadly, apart from the not-great cover, it consists entirely of reprints from that defunct publication.