Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Guess how many of the following films I've ever seen.
That's right. I've not seen a single one of them. Although I have, at least, heard the Sad Cafe Song inspired by The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane.
Such filmic ignorance makes me wonder just what I was doing in May 1976, seeing as that was the month in which they were all released.
Such filmic ignorance makes me wonder just what I was doing in May 1976, seeing as that was the month in which they were all released.
And not just those.
For it was also a period that unleashed a film called Hawmps! upon us. All I know of it is it starred James Hampton, Christopher Connelly, Slim Pickens and Denver Pyle, and the internet informs me it's an American Western comedy inspired by the United States Camel Corps. I can, therefore, only view it as the American equivalent of Carry On Follow that Camel.
But wait a minute.
I do know what I was doing, that month.
I was reading Marvel comics!
Can human hearts withstand such a strain?
More to the point, can the mighty Thor withstand Mangog's knuckles?
We all love Gene Colan and Tom Palmer drawing Dracula.
Why not have them draw both in one comic?
That's exactly what we get when the lord of the undead comes up against the master of the mystic arts.
And, somehow, wins!
However, judging by that cover, it seems Carmilla Frost doesn't approve of his plan to kill all of its Martian babies.
The fight against bigotry continues, as the Panther decides to interrupt a Ku Klux Klan rally.
As for the insides, the flaming-follicled foiler of fiends, foes, folderols, flibbertigibbets and reckless prestidigitators enters a town that's being pestered by a Gorgon!
It's the team-up that had to happen!
Said no one ever.
However, it's happened, nonetheless, as everyone's favourite web-slinger finds himself in the future, only to discover it's been invaded by Martians and, now, he must join forces with the man we all know as Killraven.
Malcolm McNeill produces a memorable cover before we enter the mag and encounter Society of the Psychedrome and SFX on the Planet of the Apes.
Not to mention Army of Slaves! which only happens to be Part 5 of Marvel's adaptation of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes!
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21 comments:
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE (like DOC SAVAGE, HARD TIMES and CAR WASH) was one of those movies that seemed to get played A LOT in the early days of Pay TV movie channels like ON TV and SELECT TV, so I saw it a few times. Back then, I thought it was a low-key but effective little suspense film, with excellent performances by Jodie Foster and Martin Sheen.
There’s a chance I may also have seen EMBRYO once a few years later, as the second feature at a drive-in, but I wouldn’t swear to it. To this day, I’ve never seen GRIZZLY, but I do remember Neal Adams’ poster art, repurposed as the cover of the paperback novelization.
Comics-wise, I had all of these except the THOR TREASURY — which I probably WOULD have bought if I’d seen it on sale anywhere, but alas, it wasn’t to be. I bought MARVEL FEATURE / RED SONJA pretty regularly, even though I wasn’t sure I really liked Frank Thorne’s art all that much. Yet.
“Flame-haired foiler of fiends, foes, fetc.” Crom bless you, Steve!
b.t.
I watched 'Grizzly', aged 11, but can't remember anything much about it. I think I cut out newspaper tv pages of movies I watched (I hadn't watched many), and maybe stuck them in a scrap book. But my memory may be playing tricks.
Comics-wise, I've still got both that Killraven, and MTU Spidey & Killraven, somewhere.
Johnny Romita touching up Red Sonja's face, is slightly prescient, as at the end of the later Byrne MTU with Spidey & Red Sonja, Red's spirit reverted to MJ, or it had possessed MJ (or something.)
The first Thor Treasury had a healthy slice of Mangog, too - so I hope they weren't just recycling some of the same stuff, in this one. I'm sure that can't have been the case. Seriously.
Phillip
I refuse to say Carry On Follow That Camel - IT'S CALLED FOLLOW THAT CAMEL.
(There's no film called Carry On Don't Lose Your Head either).
What else is there to say about these comics…
John Romita’s dynamic, shocking cover for JUNGLE ACTION 21 just reminds me how disappointing and ultimately forgettable the “Panther Vs The Klan” storyline was. Especially coming after the pretentious, messy, wildly melodramatic and gloriously epic “Panther’s Rage”. McGregor didn’t seem to realize that pitting T’Challa against institutionalized racism in the Deep South was just too big of a “Real World” problem to fight effectively in a mainstream four-color comic book in 1976. Bob McLeod’s heavy-handed inks choking all the dynamism and spontaneity out of Billy Graham’s pencils didn’t help matters either. Even though I faithfully continued to buy every single issue, I remember not being disappointed when JUNGLE ACTION was cancelled.
b.t.
It seems I missed out on all those listed movies; perhaps my social life in the first half of 1976 was...unremarkable.
Of course part of that may have been a result of the substantial time I still spent reading comics, including several of today's featured books. That Dracula/Dr, Strange crossover was a highlight of the year; and all that Colan/Palmer artwor only made it better! The Dracula cover was mighty nice, too.
However, Marvel Feature's Red Sonja cover takes top honors in the cover gallery, imho. Great coloring, and Phillip-good call on Romita's influence. Like b.t., it took me awhile to warm to Thorne's artwork, and Romita's finesse on this cover really clicked.
Steve- the use of "flibbertigibbets: and " prestigitators" in one sentence surely qualifies you for a literary award of some sort.
Charlie says “Love my Good n Plenty!”
He also says he knows he read the Mangog saga in a $.25 ThirnKing Size Annual as well as a Thor treasury addition. To say it’s a classic is an understatement.
Also they never having seen any of the films, the “MISSOURI breaks “ was a big subject of casual conversation because it featured Brando and Nicholson.
I saw Grizzly when it was on UK TV in 1981. I can only remember one scene from it.
These are some good comics this month.
She-Devil with a Sword - but Red Sonja's armed with an axe!
Matthew - That date chimes with my memory - at least I'm not imagining it!
Phillip
I've just consulted my 1981 diary. 'Grizzly' was broadcast on Saturday, November 28th, 1981!
Phillip
I think that Red Sonja is my cover of the month, Phillip. Mainly because I like the inclusion of the geezer clinging to Sonja's leg. it would have been better if he was scantily clad, but still - well played, Frank Thorne.
Steve, nice to see you doing the Dauntless Don double with the latest Lucky Bag. Although I do think you missed a trick by not also selecting Luke Cage #31, and making it a triple.
Three comics written by Don McGregor in one month...What a time to have been alive!
Plus, there was also the second part of that Drac/Doc crossover in Dr Strange #14. Q: What's better than a comic featuring both Dracula and Dr Strange drawn by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer?
A: TWO comics featuring both Dracula and Dr Strange drawn by Gene Colan and Tom Palmer.
And - perhaps the most surprising omission for a blog that hails from the Peoples Republic of South Yorkshire - Defenders #35, with the first appearance of everyone's favourite costumed brain surgeon and dialectical materialist, the fabulous (second) Red Guardian. Up the workers!
-sean
Sean - Clearly a trailblazing feminist masterpiece!
Phillip
Are UK readers ready for tomorrow's elections? It won't be much fun listening to frog-face Farage crowing all day on Friday but such tribulations must be endured. I hope those red wall towns enjoy the austerity on steroids coming their way.
I concur that the Red Sonja cover is probably the best of this bunch — the striking color scheme just pushes it over the finish line — though honestly, it’s a really good set. There isn’t a bad one here.
And yessir, three McGregor comics in one month, how about that? For me, the Killraven series hit its creative zenith with #34’s stunning “A Death in the Family!” but the following issues were still enjoyable, right up to the end. And this month’s Luke Cage comic also featured the curious spectacle of Sal Buscema’s rather ‘Plain Jane’ pencils inked by Neal Adams and his trusty Crusty Bunkers.
b.t.
My postal vote expired, with my signature being required by the council to renew it. A paid envelope wasn't supplied, so I didn't see why I should pay for a stamp, just because some prat decided, on a whim, that extra identification is required, without public agreement. I don't know if a polling station vote is viable, as I don't have photo I.D. (the new requirement, also decided without public consent. ) As regards my council, the damage has already been done, now, no matter who gets in. ( Admittedly, it could even worse! )
Phillip
Colin, I have my polling card tightly gripped in my clenched fist, right now, ready to dish out some democracy tomorrow.
Phillip, at the last general election, none of the people in front of me turned up with photo ID. They were all given a number they could contact to get emergency ID from the council, I don't have a clue how that works.
Sean, Dauntless Don's stint on Luke Cage never grabbed me, due to its low verbosity when compared to his other strips.
Red and BT, thank you. :)
Matthew and Charlie, thanks for your comments too.
Other “May 1976” comics of interest:
I got all three of the Warren mags that month (four if we include FAMOUS MONSTERS, tho it didn’t contain any comics content). CREEPY 79 was the clear standout, with excellent work from Alex Toth, Jim Stenstrum and John Severin, Bruce Jones and Luis Bermejo, and Dave Sim and Russ Heath (yes, THAT Dave Sim).
MASTER OF KUNG FU 40 is very probably my favorite comic published that month, purely on the strength of Paul Gulacy’s pencils and inks. It’s flat-out GORGEOUS.
Both DOOMSDAY+1 #6 and SPACE:1999 # 4 featured appealing cover and interior art by young John Byrne.
Also, these DC books:
ADVENTURE 445 (Aquaman by Aparo)
BLACKHAWK 246
DETECTIVE 459 (Garcia-Lopez!)
FREEDOM FIGHTERS 2
KAMANDI 41 (first completely Kirby-less issue; it’s not good)
TARZAN FAMILY 63 (Carson of Venus by Kaluta)
…and these Marvel titles:
ASTONISHING 35 (Deathlok)
DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU 24
THE DEFENDERS 35
HOWARD THE DUCK 3
THE INVADERS 6
MARVEL SUPER HEROES 57
MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE 15
MARVEL’S GREATEST 63
STRANGE TALES 185
b.t.
Phillip and Steve, I live in South Wales so the elections here are for the 96-seat Senedd but no photo ID is required to vote. The Senedd is elected by a proportional method so thankfully Reform have zero chance of getting into power but they might squeak ahead of Plaid Cymru and become the largest party on about 30% of the vote. The formerly dominant Labour will come a distant third it seems.
Yes, that works with my recollections. I may not have watched it live but I remember my best friend had a VCR (I didn’t) and taped it so we watched it a couple of times that winter. Definitely winter memories.
Colin, I 'm really interested to see how the Welsh vote this year as you know in previous years it's been solid labour territory. If as expected Plaid win ( even if there is little hope of a majority) it will be a seismic shift in Welsh politics
Paul, I voted this morning and decided to vote Labour but I'm happy for Plaid Cymru to be the dominant party in a coalition with Labour as the junior partner and maybe the Greens too? As long as Reform are kept out of power I'm happy enough.
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