Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
Let us see just what the mid-1980s has to offer us.
I'm struggling to recall much about this one but am aware that, now all the recent unpleasantness in Asgard is resolved, Thor assembles an army of his mates to invade Hel and liberate anyone being unjustly held there.
Also attempting an invasion are the Fantastic Four who've uninvitedly entered the realm of Psycho-Man...
...only to be captured and tormented!
As far as I can recall, Barry Smith and Chris Claremont bring us a tale in which, having earlier been shot in the head, Storm makes her recovery in an African village and, thanks to her interactions with the locals, learns valuable life lessons that I'm sure will stand her in good stead when she finally regains her powers and stops being useless to everybody.
I'm not saying Spider-Man's a jinx but yet another member of his social circle dies when Jean DeWolff is shot in her apartment.
Needless to say, the webby wonder sets out to apprehend her killer.
But he may have bigger problems on his plate because, thanks to his super-senses, Matt Murdock comes to realise Peter Parker is, in fact, Spider-Man!
Bruce Banner's hanging around a limbo-like crossroads while taking a look back at his life and unhappy childhood.
Needless to say, that includes a re-telling of the origin of the Hulk.
But all this introspection attracts the attention of the Beyonder.
And who can know what that might lead to?
It looks like pressing times ahead for Cap when Sidewinder creates a team of super-villains the world can only know as The Serpent Society.
But is the Constrictor as keen on the idea as the rest of the gang?
And is that going to cause him to betray them to the star-spangled Avenger?
Deep in the depths of deepest space, the Avengers quickly realise they must work with what's left of the Skrull Empire, in order to bring a halt to the piratical activities of Nebula and her shipmates.
Bruce Banner isn't the only one having a brush with the Beyonder, because Daredevil's also found him interfering in his life.
In this instance, the all-powerful alien says he'll restore Matt Murdock's eyesight if the lawyer agrees to represent him in court as he bids to legally gain ownership of Planet Earth.
Will our hero be tempted?
Or will his principles hold sway?
I do believe that, on his way to somewhere or other, Conan takes a boat trip on the river of death.
But, needless to say, even Death itself can't survive an encounter with Conan's broadsword.
All I recall of this one is that Firelord's angry about something and it's up to Spidey to try and stop his latest rampage. Which is going to take some doing, bearing in mind the fiery alien's power-set.
That bounder Obadiah Stane's abducted a whole bunch of Tony Stark's closest friends, in a bid to lure the former arms tycoon into a fight.
But is it really wise to arouse the wrath of the original Iron Man?
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24 comments:
Re: Cap # 310 - In terms of villains, the Constrictor's a favourite of mine (along with a couple of others.) Therefore, I hope he joins Cap, and betrays the Serpent Squad. That being said, as a kid I got Cap # 228 - a very disappointing Constrictor outing, by Roger McKenzie ( who also messed up a Captain Marvel fill-in, during my childhood, in Doug Moench's otherwise fantastic run) - the last panel of which saw Cap protecting the Constrictor from falling debris, during a building collapse. Yet, on Cap # 228(which I never obtained)'s cover, Constrictor's attacking Cap again ( the ingrate! ) But, covers not accurately reflecting their stories, the Constrictor's cup of gratitude may be overflowing. Who knows? At some future point, I think Constrictor became something resembling a hero - a good outcome for interesting villains.
Phillip
Charlie - ever trying to remain hip and relevant - actually, read Spider-Man number 269 a few weeks ago, shocked that he had it in his long boxes lol.
Regarding Steve’s remarks above about fire lords power, that is what struck Charlie about the issue: fire lord should’ve beat his spidey butt to a pulp in about one to two seconds but on and on and on the battle (?) goes.
Alas it may seem Firelord may need his stick like Namor needs water and Samson his hair?
Yea, it’s true that Charlie is listening to THE KINKS GREATEST HITS” in mono as he types. They really are a great band… forgot how good they sounded. The should have paid off the union and mob bosses in america and not gotten banned for 4 (?) years. I can easily envision them being the 2nd act to the Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones.
Oh - and to say Mike Zeck was prolific, for Cap covers ( I've been cover gallery trawling), is an understatement!
Phillip
Charlie - In beating opponents, Spidey has form for depriving them of their sticks. The web-slinger beat Captain Britain by taking his stick (star sceptre). Could the Mole Man or Kamo Tharnn be as negligent of their sticks? It's not beyond the realm of possibility! Admittedly, Firelord's far more powerful, though.
Phillip
Oh, three this month.
Thor - can’t remember it either but had it for sure. I picked up that X-Men because it looked pretty. And that DD, which was one of the worst in the run IIRC. Stupid story and ugly art.
I think I still have them all in the loft.
Sorry, this was me.
Did any UK readers fill in the BBC's online survey earlier this year? I've received an e-mail thanking me for my participation and giving me a summary of the results of the survey - apparently over 800,000 people took part!
Maybe the stick-stripping Spiderman should investigate the Scottish stone-skipping scandal?
Yes, I did - though the results / summary page seemed a little self-congratulatory.
Colin - I also got the BBC's reply. Like Matthew, I wasn't impressed. Every day, on BBC TV, we are told it's YOUR BBC. And, it is OUR BBC, because we pay the licence fee. Yet the categories against which the BBC is judged are chosen by itself. Hardly democratic. "No taxation without representation!" is my reply.
I gave them stick about their massive salaries - and stick about their excuse that "talent would go elsewhere" without those salaries, by pointing out that their regional news presenters are better, yet get paid a lot less. I also asked why isn't there a vote on the licence fee going down, or a vote on the BBC becoming subscription only? But I'm just shouting into the wind.
Charlie - Spidey would need "an old gold Chevy" ( a pertinent Kinks quote didn't spring to mind, but Crocodile Rock's only 3 years from yesterday's post! )
Phillip
Phillip, I consider the licence fee to be pretty good value and I'd prefer it to a subscription service. I was happy enough with the summary of the survey results but maybe I'm easily pleased!
Colin - Maybe I'm a little bit like Terry Collier, from the Likely Lads ( but less boisterous! )
Phillip
Prowler will say this about that, the 80s are missing so much little details. Prowler was in college and Prowler was still buying comics but not 100% sure where Prowler was buying them. Logic would say at 7-11s or as they're called here, "corner stores". Prowler was still firmly Marvel and of the titles not pictured here, Prowler was buying Alpha Flight, New Mutants, and Power Pack. Prowler had drifted away from Spider-Man and in hindsight, probably not a good move... looking back at what remains of Prowler's collection, October was the leanest month with 7 titles, whereas February had 21 titles...
Now push PUBLISH
Prowler, Charlie is confused. Are you in the UK or US now? It’s because of you blurb about 7-11 vs. corner store.
In Prowler's area of the US, there are very few 7-11s but there are several "corner stores". CircleK, Timewise, Stripes, etc, etc, etc, Prowler doesn't see comics there anymore.... (Prowler wipes tear...)
Now push PUBLISH
Shall we all refer to ourselves in the third-person now?
Charlie, Colin is wondering if you attended a No Kings demonstration and Colin is thinking you could have been the official Steve Does Comics representative at the demo.
Now push PUBLISH
Thor #360 is pretty good, Steve. After a strong start to his run Simonson was a bit all over the place during the Casket of Ancient Winter/Surter epic. But with the previous Lorelei/Loki/Enchantress story and this one he seemed to get his mojo back.
The other comic I remember here is - perhaps unsurprisingly - X-Men #198. Obviously it looks great, especially as unlike the first 'Lifedeath' in #186 Barry Windsor-Smith did his own inks this time out.
The story didn't work so well though, largely because the Kenyan setting was a bit too 'generic Africa' to be convincing.
In particular I found the basic idea that when a child was born in the village an old person had to die because the land wasn't capable of supporting more people a bit stupid. I mean, wouldn't it be more likely that someone of working age would move to the nearest city to look for work instead? Kenya was the kind of developing economy where people regularly do that sort of thing (actually, iirc the woman Storm met was on her way back to the village from Mombassa).
-sean
Colin - Ms Charlie went to a “No Faux King Way” rally along with a few thousand others!
Charlie cannot attend because of who he works for. Basically Charlie’s govt agency has put out a policy that if Charlie even so much as likes an anti-bonespur post he can be terminated. Sad times in usa. Very gestapo.
Push Publish!
No Kings gives me hope for humanity.
M.P.
Charlie, we'll count Mrs Charlie as the official SDC representative!
MS Charlie is dedicated to the cause Colin. Rain, cold, intimidation… she perseveres.
I mean, we live is a very nice neighborhood where folks put up huge signs like “GOD, GUNS, and TRUMP.”
Kudos to Ms. Charlie! To continue with Colin's third person, Redartz also attended a No Kings rally, along with about 1000 others in our town. It was quite good for the spirit. Hope Big Brother eases up on you Charlie!
Red - it’s like the 1950s with the 2nd captain america looking for domestic enemie.
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