Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Vikings. They weren't just savage brutes who trashed everywhere they encountered. They also discovered the planet Mars.
At least I assume they did, as, this week in 1975, NASA launched the Viking 1 planetary probe at that very world. A year and a half later, Mars would be part of the Danelaw and would never be the same again.
But, on TV, a whole other level of history was being made. That's because, on August 23rd, 1975, BBC Two showed a never-to-be-forgotten late-night double-bill of Barbarella and This Island Earth.
It was the first time I'd seen either film and, on first viewing, they both seemed like masterpieces.
Sadly, these days, only This Island Earth still appeals to me, as Barbarella now feels like a joke that only the director got.
This Island Earth, on the other hand, features a mutant with its brain on the outside of its head. And that's quality entertainment in anyone's book.
Can these two facts be related to each other?
And can our hero use one of them to put a stop to the other?
Despite what the cover claims, I do believe it's the Grey Gargoyle who's battling Iron Man, this week, and that Whiplash will have to wait at least another seven days before making his metal-shredding debut.
Meanwhile, Thor's still in the process of discovering the origin of Galactus.
Paty Cockrum. As far as I know, this makes it the only artwork by her that I've ever seen.
I do believe we kick off this issue with Conan still mixed up in the siege of Makkalet and on course to have an encounter with ace swordsman, assassin and wearer of cardboard wings, Mikhal Oglu. Otherwise known as The Vulture!
Following that, determined to make amends for unleashing an indestructible Ultron upon the world, the Vision confronts the fiend but, just as the Avengers had done before him, fails to bring a halt to his plans.
And Shang-Chi's involved in the adventure the world knows as Snow Buster, a story I recall the title of but whose plot is more than a little opaque within my mind.
Yet again, the Defenders prove triumphant, as they thwart Dormammu's dastardly plan to rule Vermont!
Meanwhile, wanted by the police, for the murder of the Jester's everyday alter-ego, Daredevil must take to the streets and hide in the form of Matt Murdock.
But is he about to have a fateful encounter on an underground railway?
And Reed Richards and a world-renowned scientist strive to find a cure for the Thing's condition.
But one of those two men is actually the Mad Thinker in disguise!
Needless to say, it all leads to the Thing - not for the first time in his career - becoming evil and turning against his teammates!
Marvel's adaptation of Beneath the Planet of the Apes is threatening to get explosive, what with the mutant humans deciding to prepare their doomsday bomb for use
But will even that be enough to prevent the apes from invading their city?
Elsewhere, Captain Marvel has plenty on his plate when the sinister Sentry decides to wake up and attack the military base at which Marv is now working.
And we close the issue with the Tony Isabella / George Pérez short tale War Toy which I remain convinced was at least a partial inspiration for the movie Short Circuit.
There's plenty at stake for Dracula who's been captured by Dr Sun, a communist blood-drinking brain-computer in a jar who, I think, wants to transfer Drac's mind into the body of Lucas Brand in an attempt to control the vampires of the world.
Or something.
Meanwhile, Jack Russell's having trouble with his homicidal cleaning woman who goes by the name of Ma Mayhem.
And he's having equal trouble with his next door neighbour who's turned out to also be a werewolf!
As for the Living Mummy, I do believe there's consternation in the museum because he's only gone and gone missing from it!
It does strike me, though, that isn't a, "living mummy," just a normal man wrapped in bandages?
Clearly, they should rename the strip The Normal Man Wrapped In Bandages. There is such a thing as The Trades Description Act, after all.
Readers of long-suffering and even longer-standing may be aware that, possibly, the first story I ever read which featured a Marvel character was the one in which the Silver Surfer must battle the Abomination, thanks to the activities of a bunch of witches.
And I read it in the summer of 1971, in the pages of TV21.
However, it's now 1975 and I have a chance to read it all over again!
However, it's now 1975 and I have a chance to read it all over again!
Not that I do so, because, if it's available in my local newsagents, I never see any sign of it.
Meanwhile, in his strip, Doc Savage is involved in what can only be titled Savage Fury!
And the X-Men are about to have their first ever run-in with the Sentinels when a man called Dr Trask unveils the ruthless robo-bigots, on live television!
Apparently, this cover is also the product of Paty Cockrum.
This means I've now seen two pieces of work by her.
15 comments:
Gorillas are vegetarians but that gorilla on the POTA cover has teeth like a shark!!
For me Barbarella is still very much a classic, my pretty pretty.
I had an Airfix model of the Mars Viking Lander.
Are those Sugar Kane nostrils on the Spidey cover or another artist?
CH
Charlie, it's Ron Wilson doing his best Gil Kane impersonation.
I love how wildly off-model Ron Wilson’s POTA apes always are. It’s like Marvel didn’t give him any reference photos to work from and told him, “Just wing it, kid.” Besides the crazy shark teeth that Colin mentioned above, his apes always wear skin-tight jerseys, trousers, boots and gloves that would be more appropriate on some generic Marvel villain’s generic henchmen. Mr. Sharkmouth over there also has some truly WICKED eyebrows. I assume that buff ape with the interesting head-gear who’s punching out Taylor (or maybe it’s Brent) is meant to be General Ursus? Hilarious!
Steve:
No mention of which tunes were burning up the UK charts 50 years ago? Without that as a lead-in, it would be totally rude of me to do my usual Hot 100 recap. Paty Cockrum doesn’t give me a lot to work with. Although I suppose we can discuss how to pronounce her first name — does it rhyme with “fatty” or “matey”?
b.t.
Bt, I can sensationally reveal that the Stylistics were at Number One on both the UK singles and album charts, as they had been the week before. The other big chart news was that Rod was at Number Two with Sailing, and threatening to take the top spot of them.
You’re the best, Steve.
On the Hot 100 fifty years ago this week, there was a new #1, “Fallin’ In Love” by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds. After eleven weeks on the chart, Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen” was at #9 and still climbing. Sadly, The Stylistics’ “Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)” tumbled to #71 after peaking at #51 the previous week.
b.t.
Correct, b.t., Steve is indeed the best.
Steve, I recall raving about Barbarella here in the comments a while back, and you tactfully suggested I should perhaps watch it again. Alas, you were right, and is actually a bit rubbish. As perhaps I should expected of a film from which Duran Duran got their name.
When the Viking probe finally landed, it inspired the Hawkwind classic 'Uncle Sam's On Mars'. Which someone has kindly posted on YouTube together with secret footage of the red planet taken during an earlier American mission, broadcast in late 70s British TV documentary Alternative 3 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNl1pvWWwoM
'Earth might be a desert soon/America has left the moon...'
Still relevant in the era of Elon Musk.
-sean
Last week on Radio 4 there was a comedy-drama about a tech billionaire who goes to Mars - where does Radio 4 get these wacky ideas from??
I must admit I haven't seen Barbarella for many years (the '90s?) but I remember it being quite enjoyable and yes, silly but it's supposed to be...
FUN FACT: Barbarella was based on a French comic-book.
ANOTHER FUN FACT: The scientist is called Durand Durand not Duran Duran.
Which would be more fun on a rainy day: Barbarella (Jane Fonds) or Barb Wire (Pamela Anderson)?
Funny how Barb Wire is set in one of the few free zones remaining in the USA after trump takes over.
CH
You folks aware of all the vitriol being heaped on Roy The Boy Thomas because he has been recognized as a co-creator of Wolverine? Wow.
CH
Charlie, the vitriol seems to be at least partly because of it happening after Len Wein's death? Plus, you can see why comic creators themselves would take a dim view of an editor being able to take part credit so long after the event.
But I guess that's corporate comics for you. Personally, I reckon you could make a good case that it was actually Chris Claremont and John Byrne who basically came up with the Wolverine character that would go on to be a big earner for Marvel.
As for Jane Fonda, no offence intended but it is a bit ridiculous that an American was chosen to play Barbarella.
Btw on the subject of old European comic strip films, Terrence Stamp - who played Willie Garvin in the Modesty Blaise flick (alongside the fab Monica Vitti) - passed away recently.
He was of course also General 'kneel before' Zod in Superman II.
-sean
Charlie - Of the Roy Thomas vitriol, I am unaware...
Sean - In the BBC News's Terence Stamp tributes 'Young Guns' (John Tunstall ) got no mention; nor did 'Wall Street' ( the corporate raider ). Small roles - admittedly - but dynamite performances, eclipsing by far, every other actor in those films! Did the Beeb's film critics sleep through the mid-80s?
Phillip
Sean - Intellectual property rights for creative works is the devil’s playground… just litigating patents was nuts much less copyrights.
Anyhow, Thomas saying to Romita (?) and Wein (?) i want a short male canadian hero named wolverine is a significant contribution.
And I hold to your view that it was once wolverine was in xmen that he became a phenom! In retrospect inhave to wonder what relevant contribution Wein made - just three issues in Hulk or…?
Charlie - Wasn't the first ever New X-Men Len Wein, too?
Phillip
PHILLIP - idk about Wein and Wolverine so much. I just have this general recollection of X-Men and both Wolverine becoming extremely popular for some reason. What that reason is, I don’t know, but I just don’t seem to think it was because of whatever len wein was doing.
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