Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Well, it's heady days indeed because I can start this post with a thrilling announcement.
And it's that, because I'm no longer covering the Marvel UK monthlies - what with them no longer existing - space has opened up on this site for a new feature.
But a new feature is what any old website would do. Here at the House of Steve, we like to do things differently.
And, so, in that slot, I shall be doing the random DC summaries I've previously been doing as part of this feature. This will help streamline site workflow, increasing reader permeability to actualise gains in efficiency and help fully multi-scale the bootstrapping of a whole new paradigm shift.
Or something.
That, of course, means this feature will not include them.
But it will, of course, continue to include all your favourite Marvel heroes.
And Iron Man.
At last, Conan takes on his deadliest foes yet.
Moths!
It may sound like just another day at the office for the dynamic duo, but it turns out to be a moment of great significance, as this is the tale in which we get to meet Amra himself!
It had to happen! It's the one in which Captain America and the Falcon find themselves in a deadly skateboard derby!
And I have a feeling that means it's the one in which our hero loses his shield and has a complete and total meltdown over it!
It has always struck me that it's not a very dignified response to something that happens to him almost every time he sets foot out of the house.
I can only assume all that skateboarding has, somehow, damaged his mind.
I think I might have had this one, as a youth.
Which would make you think I can remember something about it.
I think I might have had this one, as a youth.
Which would make you think I can remember something about it.
Sadly, I can't.
But the Grand Comics Database does tell me that Bullseye trounces Daredevil before the man without fear returns the favour.
Looking at that cover, I do wonder if the villain's devoted any thought at all as to what he's going to do when gravity kicks in and he has to start coming down after being fired from that cannon.
I assume this is the issue in which Power Man replaces bashless Benjy in the Fantastic Four?
However, I can share no thoughts upon the matter, as I don't think I've ever read any of the Power Man-related Fantastic Four stories.
At last, it's a comic whose contents I have proper familiarity with.
As far as I can recall, Hulkie and Man-Thingie tackle the Collector and, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the Captain Omen story, it has a not-altogether-happy ending for some of its participants.
I don't think I've ever read this one but, from that cover, it would seem Happy Hogan's no longer just the Freak.
I assume this is the issue in which Power Man replaces bashless Benjy in the Fantastic Four?
However, I can share no thoughts upon the matter, as I don't think I've ever read any of the Power Man-related Fantastic Four stories.
At last, it's a comic whose contents I have proper familiarity with.
As far as I can recall, Hulkie and Man-Thingie tackle the Collector and, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the Captain Omen story, it has a not-altogether-happy ending for some of its participants.
He's an exploding Freak!
In other news, I'd love to know what the promised dramatic new change is for Iron Man's armour.
It's not him getting rid of his nose-piece, is it?
Spidey does the Ellery Queen routine as he turns super-sleuth.
I remember watching the first episode of the 1970s Ellery Queen TV show and - when they stopped the show to challenge you to work out who the murderer was - I concluded that Ellery Queen was the murderer.
In my defence, I didn't realise it was a series and that, therefore, the protagonist wasn't likely to be the killer.
Unlike Murder She Wrote, where we all know Jessica Fletcher was always the murderer.
It's not him getting rid of his nose-piece, is it?
Spidey does the Ellery Queen routine as he turns super-sleuth.
I remember watching the first episode of the 1970s Ellery Queen TV show and - when they stopped the show to challenge you to work out who the murderer was - I concluded that Ellery Queen was the murderer.
In my defence, I didn't realise it was a series and that, therefore, the protagonist wasn't likely to be the killer.
Unlike Murder She Wrote, where we all know Jessica Fletcher was always the murderer.
Anyway, I'm proud to announce that, when it comes to this comic, I did successfully guess who the killer was.
I must confess that Firelord's high on my list of annoying Marvel characters. His head may be on fire but he's never seemed to be too hot between the ears.
I must confess that Firelord's high on my list of annoying Marvel characters. His head may be on fire but he's never seemed to be too hot between the ears.
As for the adventure contained within this masterpiece; beyond the stuff that's on the cover, I have no idea what happens in it.
Hooray! The Sentinels are back, in a tale that gave me much pleasure, as a youth, even if the X-Men probably didn't enjoy it as much as I did.
Hooray! The Sentinels are back, in a tale that gave me much pleasure, as a youth, even if the X-Men probably didn't enjoy it as much as I did.
Needless to say, the towering terminators are out to abduct various mutants, and our heroes have to stop them.
But, more importantly, is this the one that features cameo appearances by both Stan and Jack?
But, more importantly, is this the one that features cameo appearances by both Stan and Jack?
I do, of course, mean Lee and Kirby. Not Stan and Jack from On the Buses. I know Chris Claremont was born in England but I find it hard to believe even he'd throw in a tribute to those two.
The Assassin's still up to no good, even though I have no recollection, whatsoever, of the character.
The Assassin's still up to no good, even though I have no recollection, whatsoever, of the character.
Nor of whatever it is he or she's up to.
Was that the same episode of Ellery Queen that I saw? I only saw l one ever and concluded that Ellery was the murderer.
ReplyDeleteThe murder victim was someone working on an Ellery Queen comic and the victim's last act before dying was to grab a comic page with a panel of Ellery with a speech bubble saying "I am Ellery Queen" and to cross out the caption with a blue pencil. I thought he was telling us that Ellery was the murderer but he was actually telling us something else.
And in Iron Man he does indeed lose the nose. Apparently a necessary evil as part of a rebuilding that results in a thinner armour where the arms, legs and helmet are all within the torso so he can ditch the attache case and just press some buttons for everything to grow out if the armour torso and cover his head and limbs.
ReplyDeleteDangermash, my memories of the Ellery Queen episode I referenced are highly vague but I think he was at a party in a skyscraper when one of the guests was killed.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long shot. Only mentioned it because I enjoyed watching it but don't remember ever seeing it in TV listings again, so it might have been the only episode ever shown in the UK. But it seems there were other episodes shown. Maybe my parents wouldn't let me watch it.
DeleteI bought every one of these off the spinner rack 50 years ago. Sadly, I remember almost nothing about them ( and I’m too lazy to look them up at the GCD).
ReplyDeleteWait, I take that back — I do remember Cap freaking out about his shield, with all the intensity of Gene Wilder in THE PRODUCERS screaming about his blue blankie. I’m generally much more tolerant of Kirby’s quirky dialogue and characterization in his “Return To Marvel” period than most fans , but even I have to admit that bit was pretty dang odd.
The Belit issues aren’t high on my list of favorite CTB eras. I do remember Amra turning out to be a rather rapey redhead Tarzan clone with the hots for the Queen of the Black Coast.
I read somewhere that Rich Buckler was having his various assistants doing most of the pencils on FF around this time, but I could be wrong.
Joe Staton still inking Our Pal Sal on HULK? That AVENGERS is the second half of a Tony Isabella /Don Heck story originally slated for GIANT-SIZE AVENGERS #5, maybe?
I don’t recall Firelord’s rematch with Thor at all. I agree with Steve about his overall mediocrity. Even his costume is lame.
b.t.
Maybe Cap's stolen shield will turn up in the attic of a terraced house in Hastings, like Sir Paul's guitar!
ReplyDeletePhillip