Sunday, 3 August 2025

Fifty years ago today - August 1975.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon
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Here we are, once more looking at what Marvel Comics could throw at us, as a fabled decade passed its halfway point.

And, Reader, I can announce that one of this month's issues would prove to be a momentous moment in the history of the company. An event that would affect the future of Marvel and its universe for decades to come.

But can you guess which one it is before I get to it?

Avengers #138, the Stranger

It's certainly not this issue.

Not unless the revelation of the Stranger's supremely disappointing secret - and how it links him to the Toad - is still haunting you after all these years.

Conan the Barbarian #53

But, hold on! What's this? There's no cowering blonde on the cover of a Conan comic!

How will my sanity survive such egregious omission?

More to the point, how will Conan survive an attack by the Brothers of the Blade?

In other news, Tara kills someone called Clawfoot!

Captain America and the Falcon #188

I'm totally unfamiliar with the Alchemoid. All I do know is that, on that cover, he looks suspiciously like Marvel's version of Quasimodo.

However, the Grand Comics Database informs me the main villain of the piece is the Druid and that the Falcon wakes from a coma I didn't know he was in.

Daredevil #124

Unlike the Alchemoid, I am familiar with Copperhead but am struggling to remember too much about the actual story.

I do know, though, that this is the issue in which the Black Widow breaks up with our hero!

Fantastic Four #161

Bah! I like to think the Thing could easily flatten a mere tyrannosaurus, even with one hand tied behind his back.

In fact, I know he can. I remember that time when he decked just such a creature, with just one punch
.

Sadly, this is another story I have scant knowledge of.

I do know, though, that it seems to involve an alternate dimension version of our favourite team.

Incredible Hulk #190, Glorian and the Toad Men

After more than a decade, the Toad Men make their long-awaited return!

Admittedly, I was probably the only one long-awaiting it but I was always a great admirer of their work and still am.

It's also, as far as I can make out, the first appearance of Glorian and the overdue return of the Shaper of Worlds!

Iron Man #77

This one promises us The War of the Super-Villains
which sounds exciting, as I was previously unaware of any such conflict.

It would seem this issue features the Mad Thinker, the Black Lama, the Yellow Claw and Firebrand. Therefore, I shall assume those are the villains who are involved in it.

And, from the cover, I shall assume the Mad Thinker is the ultimate victor.

Amazing Spider-Man #147, the Tarantula

The Tarantula's back and, if memory serves me correctly, working for the Jackal for reasons I struggle to recall.

Thor #238, Ulik

Nope. No idea at all as to what happens in this one, other than to garner, from the cover, that Ulik and a big sea serpent are involved.

X-Men #94, Count Nefaria

But, at last, we've reached it, the comic that signals a brave new direction for our favourite book about mutants - and one that will  see it go on to become Marvel's best-seller before reshaping the whole future destiny and direction of the company.

A new team of X-Men have arrived and, good God above, I even know what happens in it, as Count Nefaria takes over NORAD, giving him control of America's nukes!

Now, the randomly assembled group must tackle his gang of Ani-Men, in order to put a stop to his mad plans!

Adventure Comics #44,. the Spectre
So much for what Marvel's up to.

But what of its main rival?

And I don't mean Atlas/Seaboard.

Just what was a random serving of DC comics that bore the same cover date up to?

It's up to this. The Fleisher/Aparo Spectre hits the end of its road!

And shall it do so in style?

I can't say, as I've not read this issue. But I do know that Jim Corrigan - having been restored to life, last issue - is gunned down by gangster Ducky McLaren. An act that turns our hero into the Spectre again.

And that means him wreaking his ghastly revenge upon the entire McLaren gang!

Elsewhere, the Seven Soldiers of Victory continue their quest for whatever it is they're on a quest to find. This time, the Crimson Avenger is in action, thanks to the words of Joe Samachson, and pencils of Mike Grell.

Justice, Inc. #2, the Sky Walker

The Avenger is up against the Sky Walker.

And I don't mean Luke.

My memories of this one are a little vague, but I feel like there's a man with an invisible plane who's shaking skyscrapers to pieces, with his big gun.

Why he's doing this, I have no idea. I suppose that, even in the 1930s, a man has to have a hobby.

There's also a one-page Allan Asherman article that looks into the practicalities of making a Justice Inc movie.

1st Issue Special #5, Manhunter

DC have clearly decided readers can't possibly be content with having just one version of the Manhunter in this era. And, so, we get the return of the original when Jack Kirby revives him for the pages of 1st Issue Special.

Having said that, I'm only assuming he's the original Manhunter. For all I know, he might be a brand new one who just happens to look like the old one.


Korak, Son of Tarzan #58

My knowledge of Korak being rudimentary, I have little knowledge of the contents of this one, but I do know the jungle-japing juvenile finds himself confronting the Gods of Destiny!

Following that, he finds himself caught up in The Deadly Motion Picture!

Superboy #210, Soljer's Private War

At last, a comic I actually know something about!

While practising zapping things, Lightning Lad accidentally reanimates a long-fallen soldier who can materialise any kind of weapon he needs. Now, the Legion must convince him his war is over, so he can properly, and finally, pass away as nature intended.

And, following that, we get the origin of Karate Kid when the crime fighter learns who killed his father.

I do believe our protagonist has a dramatic makeover in this one, as Mike Grell draws him looking exactly like Bruce Lee.

Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth #32

The Apocalyptic adolescent gets a giant-sized issue of his own, and does it by meeting gorilla commandos and a thing from outer space!

As the keen-eyed will have also spotted, we then encounter a look at the life of Jack Kirby, written by Steve Sherman.

And there's a reprint of Kamandi issue #1, for the benefit of those who missed that epic the first time round.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

As always, fandom appreciates your posts Steve!!!

1) Didnt MANHUNTERhave 2 costumes during the golden age, or is Charlie thinking The SANDMAN?”

2) As mentioned a few weeks ago Justice Inc 1 and the Shadow comics being released the past several months are illogical or disjointed. The common denominator is Denny O’Neil.

Anonymous said...

I need to comment separately ion ADVENTURE 440. It truly is a senses-shattering issue. What deserved to be at least 3 issues and could have been easly stretched to half a dozen is compressed into like 20 pages.

Jim Corrigan is gunned down, dies, meets god, is returned to earth, and tells his fiance (who is marrying him the next day) that he is the Spectre and the wedding is off.


I can only figure after recently reading this, the recent issues of the Shadow, and Justice Inc. #1, that DC had a policy of one- issue storylines.

What a bunch of dopes. Really.

Anonymous said...

Charlie(?):
The Spectre story in ADVENTURE 40 is only 12 pages long, and honestly, i think it’s kinda perfect — not an ounce of fat on that thing. Also, how awesome is that cover?

Steve:
Been awhile since I’ve read that issue of CTB but something tells me Clawfoot is the guy attempting to Rosa Klebb our hero with that steak knife popping out of his stumpy boot.

Re: IRON MAN 77 — they should have called it “THE WAR OF THE D-LIST VILLAINS”.

There’s some nice Colan/Janson art on that issue of DD.

b.t.

Colin Jones said...

So what was The Stranger's disappointing secret?

Steve W. said...

Thanks, Charlie.

Colin, it turns out he's not the Stranger. He's the Toad disguised as the Stranger.

Colin Jones said...

Thanks, Steve!

Anonymous said...

BT - The SPECTRE story is indeed four-color perfection, definitely deserving the all-time alliteration of “senses shattering!”

Definitely on par with Action #1s or Detective 27’s origin stories… not a speck of fat on dem bones!

Charlie was just reflecting, given it was 1975 and 35 after those golden age greats, and we had just lived through multi-issue story lines like the JLA-JSA 7 Soldiers of Victory arc and the Kree-Skrull war that DC could have given us a solid 3 issues of perfection.

But as I type I now think super heroes meeting god should be reduced to 1-2 panels and our imagination fill in the rest.

So Charlie retracts all he has previously written about expanding the already-perfect Adventure 440 beyond 12 pages!

CH

Anonymous said...

My only 'Korak, son of Tarzan' was published by Goldkey, if memory serves. The cover was about saving the 'peaceful village of Binga' !

b.t. - Janson worked well with Colan in Dr.Strange # 6, too. Marvel should have paired them more often. Almost as good as Palmer, for Colan.

Charlie - Yesterday, on 'Man About the House' ( c.f. USA's 'Three's Company'), Robin was wearing a Purdue University sweatshirt!

Go to 14.45 onwards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFG37ANIP-I

Phillip

Anonymous said...

PURDUE??? Yowzaa!!! Thanks Philip!!!

The Prowler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.