Comics From My Youth: Marvel Super-Heroes #76, 1978

A recent run through the dollar bins unearthed this well-worn issue of Marvel Super-Heroes, featuring the Incredible Hulk, that I instantly recognized from my youth! This title contained mostly reprints of issues featuring popular characters from '69 to '82- in this case Hulk #124 (1970). I would have been six years old, and Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno were co-starring on the popular TV show, then in it's 2nd season on CBS, proudly advertised on the cover. This issue probably cemented my love for artist Herb Trimpe, whom I got a lot of exposure to as a Bronze-Age baby, and was as formative of my early love for comics as the Spectacular Spider-Man #22 issue I wrote about back in 2013. Historically speaking, Editor Jim Shooter had started to turn things around in this era, by growing the direct market. producing some classic stories, and getting books out on time. This was a relatively good time for comics, and the Hulk, along with Spider-Man, were really popular.

This was undoubtedly my first exposure to General Thunderbolt Ross, who comes to terms with his disapproval with Banner to make his daughter happy, and marry her off to him in her childhood home. It's as surely the first time I saw the Marvel villains Rhino and the Leader, the latter whom reads about the pending nuptials, and hatches a plan to undo a helpless Banner during the affair!

The Leader dispatches Super-Humanoid to retrieve Rhino, unconscious in a hospital from his recent defeat by the Hulk, and revive him using his advanced technology. Additionally, the Leader recreated the Rhino's suit, now amplifying his strength far beyond it's previous levels.

Rhino is hot to exact revenge on the Hulk, but the Leader has his own design- a shot of gamma to the unsuspecting Banner to awaken the Hulk, endangering everyone and everything in his path. Poor Betty's special day comes apart before her very eyes, the Hulk's wrath unleashed, her father injured in the melee and her childhood home destroyed in short order...

The brouhhaha escalates further when Rhino attacks, but the Leader fires 

on his impatient accomplice while trying to get another shot at the Hulk. ..

Angry, Rhino charges on the Leader, who attempts to leave in his escape module. It's jets are damaged by Rhino's attack, seemingly destroying them both in the resulting explosion ...!

We are promised a tangle with the Absorbing Man in the next issue, which I never read, but may now have to hunt down! This is probably one of the first comics I read, and all the action and emotions left a deep imprint on me, instantly recalled upon finding this treasure. Marvel must have printed a ton of these to capitalize on the TV show- did you have this issue? Below, a couple ads for toys/memorabilia within the pages, another thing I love about old comics!

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Hasbro 9in. Punisher (Spider-Man Origins 2006)

On the heels of my last post, I wanted to finally open this Hasbro 9" Punisher I've had in my collection for 9 years. I started this blog just prior to finding it on eBay, the focus of my new hobby on action figures that resembled my childhood Mego dolls, Mattel's DC Retro-Action Series and ToyBiz's Famous Covers Series being two examples. Later, Figures Toy Co. would relaunch the craze for Mego-styled figures, in their own design reimagining, and using Mego molds outright. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Marty Abrams relaunched Mego through an exclusive distribution deal with Target in 2018! While I've so far resisted buying any of the new 8" figures, I've purchased a few of the fantastic 14" line, of which I plan to buy more. Be sure to visit the online Mego Museum! I only had a handful of these 9" Hasbro figures from the mid-2000s, which were unique in design, and different than the earlier ToyBiz Marvel Famous Covers figures. Check out the video:

Like many of the early Marvel Legends action figures, these 9" Hasbro figures included a comic, this one a reprint of Amazing Spider-Man #129 from 1974, introducing Marvel's infamous antihero, The Punisher. In the middle of this comic is an advertisement for these "Signature Series" Spider-Man Orgins figures, featuring Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and two versions of Spider-Man. Hasbro would also release an Iron Spider, Daredevil and Captain America in this format. I've had the Spider-Man and Wolverine from this series for years, two favorite toys in my collection, and had a black suit Spider-Man at one time, as well as a Cyclops. If Hasbro were making theses today, after the Spider-Verse craze, we would have undoubtedly seen Spider-Gwen, Miles Morales, Prowler, and Spider-Man Noir among many others.

As a teenager at the end of the '80s, I got my hands on a copy of The Punisher, a graphic novel compiling the 1986 five issue run "Circle of Blood". Revered as the character's foray into success in a solo title and definitive Punisher story, this book blew my young mind and made me a fan. It was gritty, violent, and perhaps a little more than adult in nature than intended for kids. Written by author Steven Grant and illustrated by Mike Zeck. It is sometimes, and fairly, accused of being dated, but that's part of the fun for me now. More recently, I enjoyed Punisher in the 2012 Marvel NOW! relaunch of Thunderbolts, alongside Red Hulk, Agent Venom, Elektra, and Deadpool, but "Circle of Blood" will always be the impression branded on my imagination.

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Captain Marvel Pinup, 1978

As I just posted about the new Marvel Legends Captain Marvel, and we are nearing the release of the new Captain Marvel film, I thought I'd share this great Captain Marvel pinup I found on eBay recently. Featuring Captain Marvel #29 cover art by Jim Starlin (1973), the image measures 9.5 x 14". According to L.Lee Hymn of Tellshiar.Com, this pinup came from The Mighty World of Marvel Pin-up Book, published by Fireside in 1978 for $5.95 retail. On the verso of the poster is a description of Marvel team The Defenders, who would have been featured on the next page. Art by other Bronze-Age greats like John Romita, Herb Trimpe, Dave Cockrum, John Buscema, Gil Kane, Gene Colan, Jack Kirby and others were also featured. Hymn went on to tell me the book can sell for $150.-$300, individual plates going for $25.-$75. His website is a treasure trove of Marvel ephemera that is a must see! This image of Captain Marvel is an early if somewhat hazy memory from my first experiences with comic books, and a joy to frame for display in my home.

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Uncanny X-Men #172

In continuation of my post on Vol.1 of Wolverine and how it influenced the recent motion picture starring Hugh Jackman, I present another comic from my youth, Uncanny X-Men #172 . Published several months after Wolverine, Logan goes on to propose nuptials to Lady Mariko after defeating her father, who forbade their being together and tried to kill the X-Man. His old teammates accept the couple's wedding invitation, including Rogue, whom Logan gives the cold shoulder upon their arrival to Japan, distrusting of the former villain, now a probationary member of the X-Men. Mariko welcomes Rogue, correcting her gruff groom's manners...

Refreshment and relaxation is soon abandoned when Wolverine's keen senses detect the sounds of battle on the next rooftop, and fellow X-Man Nightcrawler teleports Logan to the scene. In fierce battle with the Silver Samurai, Logan's would-be-lover, Yukio, detected the spying assassin while stalking her former flame. The illegitimate son of Shingen, whom Wolverine defeated, Harada was dissatisfied with Lady Mariko's inheritance and sought to remove her from the equation. Storm saves her from a spill while leaping to her escape, but her brush with death is casually dismissed as Yukio cartwheels out of sight, perplexing the wind-rider. 

Relaxing at the Yashida residence later, The X-Men are left with Mariko's lady-in-waiting, who is ambushed by Viper upon her mistress' departure for "business meeting". The Hungarian mercenary poisons the X-Men's tea, leaving them to die while she attends the business of Mariko's meeting with half-brother, Harada, who's dissatisfied with the Lady's inheritance as head of the Yashida Clan.

Unbeknownst to Viper and the Silver Samurai ,Yukio had picked Mariko up and disguised herself as the Lady of the clan- exposed by Nabatone, the Yazuka intermediary. But the reckless Yukio strikes the surprised Samurai, in spite of her outmatched odds, Storm giving the assist in taking out Viper. Storm is forced to use her power over lightning to bring Harada down and again save Yukio. But when Yukio ends up pulling Ororo from the fire, the X-Man begins to warm to her new friend's thrill seeking ways!

Meanwhile, the X-Men are pulling through their ordeal with the poisoned tea that Viper served in intensive care- thanks to Logan's rich fiancee, the team has an entire ward to themselves. Wolverine's healing factor kept him on his feet, as did Rogue's partially alien physiology, having absorbed Carol Danver's psyche awhile back. (Interestingly, this story of Carol and Rogue was written for the cancelled Ms. Marvel title back in '79. but did not see publication until the fall of '92 in Marvel Super-Heroes Vol.2 #11.) Despite Mariko's pleas, Wolverine reluctantly takes Rogue as back-up to find Silver Samurai, "But you follow my lead, Youngster, my orders-- ev'ry flamin' step of the way!" Yes Sir! The X-Men became hugely popular in the 80's, and this issue has a lot going on, crossing Logan and Mariko's romance over into another title while continuing with several small character & plot developments occurring then. Read a trivia-packed post on this issue at Gentlemen of Leisure!

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A few words on Wolverine Vol. 1 and the recent movie...

One of my earlier experiences with both graphic novels and Wolverine was this '87 TPB of Wolverine Vol. 1, the four-book series written by Chris Claremont and penciled by Frank Miller in 1982. This book is the story that the recent summer blockbuster, The Wolverine, was inspired by. I enjoyed the motion picture reinterpretation, which made me nostalgic for the thrill of comics I felt reading that book as a kid, and reading through it again I remembered how great  it really was.

Rooftop clash between the fearless Wolverine and The Hand-  a theme also presented in the recent movie.

(Wolverine Vol.1)

There were of course many differences, as is often the case when adapting a book into a movie, but the film  referenced Claremont and Miller's classic tale of Marvel's most popular X-Man, both narratively. and visually. Claremont was at a high point in his career with the X-Men, scripting classic tales such as "Days of Future Past" and "The Dark Phoenix Saga", and the young Miller, fresh off a critically acclaimed run on Daredevil, would go on to write & illustrate Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) Sin City (1991), and 300 (1998). The future looked bright and many good times were yet to come.

Horrified, Mariko witnesses the deadly power of her former fiancee, just as Yukio conspired to win the Wolverine's love.
(Wolverine Vol.1)

Contrary to the movie plot, Logan's love interest, Mariko, is an ex-fiancee of his, already married to Noburo, and his spousal abuse is referenced in the movie through Shingen's face slap to his daughter, sole heir to her grandfather Yashida's fortune. Wolverine had saved young Yashida's life in WWII in the recent motion picture, and instead of Harada becoming the Silver Samurai, who wasn't in the first volume of Wolverine, Yashida did, who tried to take his savior's power of mortality by force at the movies climax. 

Without a word, artist Frank Miller brings the final duel between Shingen & Wolverine to life with notable fluidity.

(Wolverine Vol.1)

There were many character and plot rearrangements throughout the movie, but as I said, it took a great deal from Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's seminal work. Wolverine's attack on the hunter responsible for the crazed and wounded bear was in the movie, and while Yukio was not a love interest/enemy in the movie as in this 1982 volume, there was a certain allusion to her fascination with the ronin, also echoing his mentorship of fellow X-Man, Kitty Pryde. Logan's alcohol abuse is referenced in the movie, as in the book- a symptom of the anti-hero's dark, desperate nature. Of particular interest, Wolverine is taken down by the ninja-assassin clan The Hand with cabled arrows when trying to reach Mariko in the movie, a scene paying homage to the character's nightmare sequence in the book. I was happy to spot a number of other shots throughout the film seemed inspired by artist Frank Miller's silhouette, noir style, as well as nods story elements from the original story and character traits. And in spite of his matinee good looks, actor Hugh Jackman looked appropriately rough throughout most of the film, which I appreciated.

The dream sequence in Wolverine Vol.1 is echoed in the recent movie when our hero is taken down by the ninja-assassin clan The Hand with cabled arrows.

While the film entertained me, I was mildly disappointed with Logan not speaking a word of Japanese- no, he hadn't the previous relationship with Mariko as in the book, but he had been a special agent/Weapon X in WWII. I enjoyed the dichotomy of  Logan's cosmopolitan relations versus his animal nature as Wolverine in the book, something I missed in the movie's characterization. And the mechanical bear Wolverine euthanized looked fake- why, with all the modern marvels of CGI, could that not have looked better? Still, director James Mangold gave us a better movie than we got with the previous X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Two great drawings by artist Frank Miller- Josef Rubinstein was credited as finisher, and Glynis Oliver and Lynn Varley as the colorists of Wolverine Vol.1...

Ultimately, the recent film was exciting and commercially successful, but as they say, if you haven't read the book, you should. Read about Wolverine, Vol.1 at Marvel.Wikia.Com!

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Amazing & Spectacular: More Spider-Man of the '70s

After rediscovering one of my childhood comics in the used bins at Slackers, this Marvel enthusiast finally gathered the motivation to  seek out the conclusion to Spectacular Spider-Man #22, here thirty-five years later. In my defense, I hardly had the financial upright mobility, nor the attention span to do so back in 1978- some things never change  :D   I finally get to see Spidey and Moon Knight clash with the Cyclone, barely escaping their tornadic tormentor to head for Moon Knight's war room and regroup. Meanwhile, Holly Gillis and Hector Ayayla (the White Tiger) pine for one another alone, Mary Jane gets no answer at Peter Parker's place and hits the disco with Marty, and Betty Brant cries on the bed for Ned after failing to set off sparks with Parker! The drama is palpable! Our heroes track Cyclone down at Grant's Tomb, hoping to nab the elusive crime boss Maggia, but only grab the Cyclone and a roomful of goons. Was he the dark figure  peering from it's lid of the General's sarcophagus as the melee raged?? I missed Mike Zeck's pencils, but Jim Mooney keeps the transition smooth here, satisfying to finally read so many years later!

Perhaps as profound as finding Spectacular Spider-Man issues 22 and 23 here in my adulthood was finding issue Amazing Spider-Man 192- yet another comic I instantly recognized released only a year later in May of 1979. Every panel in the comic was familiar, journaling Spider-Man and Daily Bugle Editor Jonah Jameson's struggle, locked together with a bomb by mad scientist Spencer Smythe, now terminal with illness from the plutonium used to power his mechanical Spider-Slayers. Riveting! The unlikely partners run into the fearsome Fly in their race against the clock, knocking Spidey unconscious and indefensible against Jameson's prying eyes... did he look under the mask?? Spider-Man's heroic rescue was smart and selfless, the ungrateful Jameson's stinging criticism replaced with the tears of realization that his webbed nemesis saved his life, and that he was a fool. I remember the blustery, bigoted editor's crying face in this confessional last page. Emotional!

Onto a trail of childhood comic book memories, my luck continued when scoring the following issue #193 of Amazing Spider-Man, another that I undoubtedly owned, the panels so familiar to my eyes. Unbelievable! And the cover is as worth the price of admission at it is today- about two bucks on Amazon. A small price to uncover latent memories of my initial experiences with comics. Wonderful!

Fired by Jameson and fearful of the possibility that his alter-ego was discovered by the furious editor, Parker pursues the fearsome Fly to finish what he couldn't while handcuffed to his ex-boss. After losing the Fly's trail and being dumped on the phone by Mary Jane, our hero seeks solace in his old flame Betty Brant, who discovers Peter's open door while passing by. Late to receive his diploma, the worried girl stopped by to check on the tardy student's whereabouts, shortly thereafter found in a compromising situation when her jealous beau Ned Leeds catches up and knocks Pete on his duff! Oh the tangled web Parker has spun! The angry youth takes to the skyscrapers as Spider-Man, after the Fly with a vengeance uncharacteristic of our hard luck hero, only to be disappointed by the discovery of the villains capture by New York's finest! Is there no satisfaction due our constantly confounded wall crawler?? Hopefully not, as that is why we identify so easily with this legendary character- the weight of his awesome responsibility as Spider-Man and his struggle to do what's right while holding his young life together as Peter Parker. Oh the humanity!

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Comics From My Youth: Spectacular Spider-Man #22

I found a copy of what may very well be the first, if not certainly one of the earliest comics in my life, Spectacular Spider-Man #22, published in September of 1978. I recognized it instantly looking through the used bins this past weekend, and while I'd long forgotten it, I remembered every panel here nearly 35 years later. "Marvel's TV Sensation!" is stamped directly below the title, referring to the CBS show starring Nicholas Hammond as the popular hero- a show I lived for at the end of the 70's.

Some time ago, I struggled to rouse the memory of this issue in an attempt to pinpoint my first experience with Moon Knight, guest star of this issue, having recently picked up a Moon Knight special edition issue from 1983. Moon Knight had been a character of fringe interest when getting back into comics again back in 2010 having experienced him at such a young age, but I was unable to identify the issue. Needless to say, this is a discovery of great importance and joy to me. Moon Knight's informant is gunned down early in the issue, but while my young mind read compassion in the hero cradling the wounded man, I now realize it was just another causality in Moon Knight's one man war on crime, his description of the incident as "spilt milk"...!

Researching the long-lost issue, I learned that Peter had not only been recently been dumped by Mary Jane Watson, but worse his marriage proposal turned down! In attempt to move on, Peter was going through the motions with Betty Brant, supporting character all the way back to the 1963 issue #4 of Amazing Spider-Man and later professed first love of Parker- that's right, not Gwen Stacy. This issue showcases Parker's ongoing struggle to balance his duties as New York's webslinger with normal life really well- the core essence of the young hero and what made him so interesting. We also get a peek into Flash Thompson's relationship with postwar Vietnamese squeeze Sha Shan, the high school bully that ironically harrassed Parker while admiring  Spider-Man. Flash later befriended Parker before joining the Secret Avengers more recently as Agent Venom. This is an all-around interesting slice of Spider-Man history, also mentioning White Tiger who'd appeared in the title's earlier issues, and has been more recently revamped as Ava Ayayla, the fifth White Tiger and sister to the first, Hector Ayayla. Ava costars in the current Ultimate Spider-Man animated TV show.

 Moon Knight's informant Lindy, killed in the beginning of the issue, warned the vigilante that mysterious crime syndicate, the Maggia, knew his true identity. In attempt to find the heart of the organization, the vigilante shows up at his favorite diner in hopes of a run-in with their thugs. Also in pursuit of the Maggia, Spider-Man happens upon the diner scuffle, the two heroes following one of their assailants making a run after their failed hit on Moon Knight. But when Spider-Man pounces on Moon Knight for playing too rough, a fight breaks out that I liked as much today as I did in '78. But the wind picks up as our two heroes lock horns, a colorful antagonist ends the fight and this issue in a whirlwind arrival... the Cyclone!

As a kid, this story arc was left unresolved for me, never knowing just what happened with the Cyclone, without the financial wherewithal or attention span at the age of six to investigate the matter further. I'm proud to say however that I hunted down issue #23 on Amazon and ordered it on the spot, and will soon put this decades-long mystery to an end... ! 

A  friend asked if I enjoyed this issue as much as an adult, and I'm proud to say that I did. It had all the stuff we love about Peter Parker- his struggle with love, long-running domestic issues, and a tussle with an overzealous anti-hero in attempt to do what's right. It had a lot going on, to the credit of writer Bill Mantlo & legendary artist Mike Zeck, whose classic, comic-book style I absolutely love!

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10" Marvel Universe Capt. Marvel by ToyBiz

I know what you're thinking: "Was it even worth $4.99?" Not really, but luckily it was 30% off that, bringing this 10" Captain Marvel down to $3.63 after tax. I've been buying these big dumb ToyBiz figures from the 90's since I started this blog two years ago, and that's definitely the least I've paid for one. You can usually find them south of ten bucks- I can't promise they're a worthy investment. But In spite of their dodgy quality, and somewhat unspectacular construction, I'm amused and fascinated by these. They're like a really well done bootleg   :D

Mar-Vell is definitely one of the more slapped together looking of these: while the deco is tidy enough, the suit design clearly ignores the sculpted detail on the buck, most noticeably at the waist and boot tops. With no accessories (though it says on the box one is included), the Kree warrior is somewhat of a plain-Jane, even among other figures from this line, but I love the character and uniform. At that price I couldn't say no!

Like the rest of these 10" deluxe lines from ToyBiz, Marvel Universe, X-Men, or Spider-Man, Cap has very limited articulation and posing options. There's no lateral movement in any of the limbs, so any stability in poses other than standing upright is compromised. Still, I did get him to bust a move here... one move   :D

I'm pretty sure this is the same head sculpt as the ToyBiz Archangel I have from the X-Men line, which works fine for Captain Marvel. Like most action figure lines, these 10" deluxe reused parts for different characters throughout the line. As I said, the deco is pretty clean, with Mar-Vell's star chest insignia neatly stamped on his chest. The Nega-bands lack any sculptural detail, but are neatly painted in a metallic bronze around the wrists.

These are big, dumb toys that took easily manageable production efforts to produce cheaply, then sold at a price point low enough to lure you in with a big brightly colored box. They're junk. But that's kind of interesting to me- the artifacts of our pop culture, the tons of plastic stuff we produce, buy and sell. I wasn't paying attention to action figures much in the 90's, but would bet they sold a lot of these in spite of their purported clogging of the clearance aisle after it was over.

Time for BIG TOY/little toy: 10" ToyBiz Capt. Marvel with 7" Marvel Select Capt. Marvel and Harbro 3 3/4" Marvel Universe Capt. Marvel...

10" Capt. Marvel with fellow ToyBiz Marvel Universe action figures Spider-Man 2099 and Dr. Doom... 

And finally, from my childhood copy of the Marvel Universe Handbook of the Dead & Inactive (1984), Captain Marvel's lengthy posthumous profile. While knowledge of the character in my youth was limited, I always thought he looked cool, so catching up with him in my adulthood is entertaining.

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