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There are times in this life when no introduction is necessary.
Which is a good thing because I don't have one.
I seem to recall this being the one in which the Avengers keep leaping into exploding floating balls, for no good reason at all. Until the Beast rescues them by coming up with the radical plan of not leaping into exploding floating balls.
No wonder he was seen as the intellectual of the X-Men.
And, speaking of intellectuals, doesn't it turn out the villain of the piece - the Stranger - is nothing of the sort and is really the Toad disguised as the ever-antagonising antagonist?
It's the first colour Conan comic I ever owned, bought at an indoor market in Blackpool. That market was on Lytham Road. Maybe, from now on, I ought to declare on which street I bought every single comic I've ever owned
As for the story inside, I recollect it features the usual attempt to rob a tomb or somesuch.
It's the first colour Conan comic I ever owned, bought at an indoor market in Blackpool. That market was on Lytham Road. Maybe, from now on, I ought to declare on which street I bought every single comic I've ever owned
As for the story inside, I recollect it features the usual attempt to rob a tomb or somesuch.
And that prompts a giant golden scorpion to come to life!
And that means Conan must kill it!
As if that's not excitement enough for us, I do believe this thriller sees the return of Murillo and the debut of Tara of Hanumar.
I don't have a clue if this Demon-Druid's related to the Demon Druid who once fought Thor. Nor why he's wearing an outfit that doesn't in any way, shape or form suggest the word, "Druid," to me.
I don't have a clue if this Demon-Druid's related to the Demon Druid who once fought Thor. Nor why he's wearing an outfit that doesn't in any way, shape or form suggest the word, "Druid," to me.
Either way, it all looks like trouble for Cap.
It looks like the Black Widow and Man Without Fear have loads of trouble on their plates, as they try to rescue Foggy Nelson from the clutches of Hydra!
I've never read this tale but am familiar with Arkon and have long been of the opinion that he needs a good slap.
I do believe it's the first-ever Hulk story to be narrated in the first-person, by the Hulk. Which, as the Hulk normally tends to refer to himself in the third-person, is a strange concept indeed.
It looks like the Black Widow and Man Without Fear have loads of trouble on their plates, as they try to rescue Foggy Nelson from the clutches of Hydra!
I've never read this tale but am familiar with Arkon and have long been of the opinion that he needs a good slap.
I do believe it's the first-ever Hulk story to be narrated in the first-person, by the Hulk. Which, as the Hulk normally tends to refer to himself in the third-person, is a strange concept indeed.
More importantly, the brute must face the forces of the Mole Man, as he tries to find a cure for a young girl's blindness.
I'm not sure I've ever read this one.
I'm not sure I've ever read this one.
Unless it turns out the "Hulk" is actually a robot built by the Mandarin, and bursts out of a crate.
In which case, I have read it.
It does raise the question of just how many robot Hulks there are. There was one in Fantastic Four #100. Dr Doom once built one as decoy. One even turned up in The Eternals. By Gadfrey, you could put together a veritable army of Marvel's robot Hulks!
It's not just Conan who's having trouble with scorpions this month. So is Spider-Man.
It's not just Conan who's having trouble with scorpions this month. So is Spider-Man.
But his real problem is trying to discover just how Gwen Stacy's managed to be suddenly alive again.
Another story I'm not sure I'm familiar with and whose contents I can shed little light upon - other than to say it clearly features Ulik. Plus, its Marvel Value Stamp features Volstagg.
Regardless, I like to think Ulik wins this time. For some reason, I'm always disappointed when he loses.
Another story I'm not sure I'm familiar with and whose contents I can shed little light upon - other than to say it clearly features Ulik. Plus, its Marvel Value Stamp features Volstagg.
Regardless, I like to think Ulik wins this time. For some reason, I'm always disappointed when he loses.
That's Marvel's big-hitters accounted for.
But what of another big hitter?
A company that's an ever-present rival to Marvel?
That company is, of course, DC.
Therefore, let us see what a random selection of its publications which bear the same cover date are looking like.
As is instantly apparent from that cover, we're being granted access to a reprint of an early issue of All-Star Comics.
But not just any issue.
Indeed, it's none other than issue #3, from 1940. The one that featured the first meeting of the Justice Society of America.
I've not read this issue but it seems that, in a bid to become a great warrior, our hero sells his soul to someone called Dgrth, not realising it'll be taken from him while he's still alive!
Sometimes I think it's like you can't trust people who show up, trying to buy souls.
But will she ever find the man in boots who killed her friends in the incident which prompted her to become a police officer in the first place?
King Kong has a comic of his own?
No. He doesn't.
Instead, we're treated to some sort of Ka-Zar type strip that I assume to be set in the dim and distant past.
In this pterodactyl-pounding publication, someone called Attu and her new-born son Kong are banished from their tribe, by someone called Trog.
Attu's then rudely murdered by a bunch of beast-men, and Kong swears to avenge her death.
However, no sabre-toothed tigers seem to be involved in that revenge bid.
Sadly, this book will last for just five issues before becoming extinct.
Why?
Because DC brings us the greatest super-hero of them all!
God!
Yes, it's true. Sheldon Mayer, Nestor Redondo and Joe Kubert treat us to their adaptation of all your favourite tales from The Bible; including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and his Flood, and the Tower of Babel, amongst many others, all crammed into just 68 pages.
It's the one we've all been praying for, as the Shadow gets to battle and then team up with The Avenger.
But who's the true villain of the piece?
That's Shiwan Khan, a man who reckons he knows all the Shadow's tricks.
But, as the man of mystery demonstrates, there are some tricks he didn't learn in Tibet...
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15 comments:
Sorry to disrupt regular broadcasting, but Jim Shooter's passing, is so seismic, for Marvel comics, it cannot go unacknowledged.
A TRIBUTE TO JIM SHOOTER:
THE AVENGERS' GREATEST ENDING
Avengers # 177
Many stories' endings are weak. The 1970s is littered with countless examples. Avengers # 177 is a notable exception (another is Adam Warlock's 'Magus Saga' ! ) To say the finale of Avengers # 177 delivers, is an understatement! Even without context, this ending's fantastic. But, read in isolation - Avengers # 177 's true significance won't hit you. Even purchasing 'The Korvac Saga' graphic novel, this story's full impact isn't achieved.
Really, an 18 month spool back is necessary, for true, maximum effect! After all, Avengers # 177's a masterpiece of character-driven storytelling for one specific reason. Namely, its ending pulls together all the characterization themes Jim Shooter started exploring, right from his run's commencement ! So, to get the full impact, read the Avengers from when Jim Shooter took the helm. And – ideally - ration yourself to one comic per month. That way, you'll develop a relationship with the characters, and the suspense works as originally intended, too! What's more, black and white printing flatters rich-toned inkers, like Pablo Marcos, much more than colour – so Marvel Essentials (or second hand British Marvels) are your best bet! What were those 'characterization themes' Avengers # 177 addresses? Well... Lack of self-belief's a powerful theme in Jim Shooter's Avengers, explored through Wonderman. Even a more powerful opponent, if their self-belief wavers, can lose to a less powerful one. Wonder-man “froze up” against weaker foes than himself, during the Nefaria storyline.
Captain America, unlike Wonderman, represents the human potential, in its ultimate form, in terms of courage, determination and fighting skill.
The Korvac Saga's finale illustrates Cap at his best. The "big hitters" - Thor, Hercules, Starhawk, Wonderman, Iron Man, etc - have all died fighting Korvac (as far as the reader knows, up to that point), leaving Captain America standing alone, against a god. At this climactic moment, Korvac is told by Captain America that he isn't facing a god, or a superman - just an ordinary man - but nevertheless Cap assures Korvac he will lose! When Korvac tells Captain America that he can't possibly win, Cap replies that he'll find a way! This isn't bravado, but absolute resolve. Of course, Cap doesn't succeed, but Korvac respects him, far more than any other Avenger. Other villains too, grant Captain America far more respect than his powers alone justify - it's everything else he brings to the fight that makes the difference. ( Of course, this idea of Cap representing the human potential isn't unique to the Korvac Saga – the motif 's used when Cap and Spidey battled the Scorpion, too, I seem to recall! )
The Korvac Saga's ending left the young reader questioning, "Was Korvac right to make a perfect universe, on his own terms, or not?" - inviting them, alongside Moon Dragon (who explains Korvac's intentions were genuinely good ) and Thor, to examine the story, and consider that issue, whilst viewing the terrible aftermath. Is sacrificing freedom for a ruler's well-intentioned promise of happiness ever acceptable? The evidence is almost equal on both sides. Because of this, readers must weigh up the consequences, and make their own decisions.
Many writers ( notably Shakespeare) use this technique – so Jim Shooter's not the first. But, nevertheless, it's very well done. Even as a little kid, I 'got' Shooter's point – although, according to mistaken commentators, his ending means, “Trust power”, claiming Korvac represents Jim Shooter himself – sheesh! Some pundits draw conveniently “clever” sounding links, whether they are true or not! Spotting writers in their characters is a bit silly - but were I to pinpoint Jim Shooter, in one Korvac Saga character, it wouldn't be Korvac, but Iron Man! And - speaking of Iron Man...! Another big “plus” for Jim Shooter's Avengers, is Iron Man was “at his best”, when battling opponents, not “under par”. What does this mean? Well, prior to Jim Shooter, Iron Man's armour would always be failing, or undercharged, were shell-head battling the Submariner, for example. Young readers felt cheated by such stories. “Were Iron Man's armour fully charged, not failing, would the battle's outcome have differed?”, young Marvelites wondered. In Jim Shooter's Avengers, in contrast, Iron Man's armour was fully charged, or even overloaded, for extra power! On top of serious themes, the Korvac Saga was seriously 'cosmic', too! In the 1970s/early 80s, 'Space Opera' - and 'cosmic' themes - were massive. After the Apollo/Moon Landing boom, Infant schools had children's books, with donut-shaped space stations, and kids wanted to be astronauts – like Steve Austin - when they grew up! Avengers # 177 has a healthy dose of 'cosmic', too!
Furthermore, 'cosmic' characters – like Captain Marvel and Starhawk – with whom readers had relationships, from those characters' own comics – or 'Star Wars Weekly' - joined the Avengers, enhancing the Korvac Saga's 'Space Opera' mood.
The mind plays tricks, but, as a little kid, I remember Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' (which was on tv at the time), captivating me - and going out, gazing at the night sky's stars, imagining being Starhawk, up in the heavens (sorry - flights of fancy!) But Jim Shooter's storyline with Starhawk, Korvac, etc all blended with Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos', and the mood of the time(zeitgeist).
Overall, Avengers # 177 is a masterpiece!
Jim Shooter's work as a writer will be fondly remembered - he was a part of my childhood, including birthdays & holidays. Here's raising a glass to Jim!
Phillip
Steve - I've got the spacing wrong, at the top. Do you know how to move the title section into the middle (even though it's already sent to the page), so it looks right?
Phillip
Steve, you crack me up :D
IRON MAN 76 was a reprint of IM 9 from 1969. Normally I disliked getting an unexpected reprint issue but I was so bored with the turgid and underwhelming “War of the Super-villains” storyline (and the Not Ready For Prime Time artwork of Arvell Jones) that the crisp storytelling of Goodwin/Tuska/Craig was like a breath of fresh air. But — is it me, or are the proportions of the two guys kinda “off” on that cover? Does Hulk look a bit diminutive? Like Robert Blake lifting Clint Eastwood over his head?
b.t.
Hi, Phillip, sadly, once comments have been posted, they can't be edited but I wouldn't worry about it. It looks fine as it is. Thanks for that tribute to Jim Shooter and that particular issue. You've clearly put a lot of thought and time into it.
Thanks, Steve. There's some interesting choices, comics-wise, in your picks tonight. I've got some thoughts about some of those, too. I appreciate you letting me get my feelings down, on SDC.
Phillip
Phillip, when I first heard the news about Jim Shooter yesterday, you were literally one of the first people I thought of. I know his run on The Avengers meant a lot to you.
b.t.
b.t. Yes - it's a shock. Jim was blogging, some years ago, and myself - and others - got to talk ( or write! ) to him, first hand. Jim spent considerable time and effort, replying to our queries - one time, even on a Sunday morning! Unstintingly generous with his time - to echo Redartz's earlier tribute. Reading Jim's Avengers, aged 10, in UK Marvel Superheroes Monthly, was my absolute high-point, for superhero stories. One more of the "greats" gone.
Phillip
I bought the first two issues of KONG THE UNTAMED for the gorgeous Wrightson covers. I think I read them back in the day but other than vague memories of some nice Alcala interior art, I don’t remember much about them. It was kinda like “Teenage Tor”, I think? Or maybe “Kammandi And Ka-Zar Had A Baby”.
I’ve owned a copy of that Treasury-sized THE BIBLE comic for decades and only recently noticed that Moses looks like he’s wearing a tight-fitting blue T-shirt under his robes, thanks to the colorist not paying the strictest attention.
Ah, Lady Cop. What can we say about the magnificent Lady Cop? If there was any justice in this world, she would have gotten her own monthly comic and would still be pounding a beat to this very day, searching for The Man In Boots.
b.t.
Yeah, I agree b.t., Lady Cop should have got her own title. As for giving her a beat, if DC were dubious about likely sales of series spun out of 1st Issue Special, they could have combined concepts to maximise the potential, and put #4 together with, say, #6 for... Lady Cop of Danger Street!
-sean
And if her sales had ever begun to slip in the 80s, I’m sure Frank Miller could have given her a grim and gritty makeover, easy-peasy. Or maybe Alan Moore would have her wake up one morning and realize everything she thought she knew about herself was wrong — “Oh my god…I AM the Man In Boots!”
b.t.
Better yet, b.t. - 'Dingbats: Year One'.
-sean
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