Marvel Adventure Featuring Daredevil

It was a time of adventure, but not particularly new ones....

...back in the 1970s, Marvel was reprinting many of their main characters (usually in large anthologies like Marvel Tales and Marvel's Greatest Comics), but the page counts kept shrinking, so characters got spun off in their own series of reprints, such as Marvel Adventure (though for the first two issues, it was Marvel Adventures in the indicia) featuring Daredevil.

Picking up from where Marvel was reprinting Daredevil in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action #2, these issues feature two less pages of the story than the original, and covers that look like they were colored by a blind man (appropriate, considering Matt Murdock, the star of the series was blind).  Mostly, battles with the Gladiator, Leap-Frog, Stilt-Man and the Masked Marauder, as well as Ka-Zar, all for some New York City adventures, with original covers by Gene Colan!

Marvel Adventure #1 (December, 1975) and Daredevil #22 (November, 1966)

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Marvel Adventure #2 (February, 1976) and Daredevil #23 (December , 1966)

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Marvel Adventure #3 (April, 1976) and Daredevil #24 (January, 1967)

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Marvel Adventure #4 (June, 1976) and Daredevil #25 (February, 1967)

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Marvel Adventure #5 (August, 1976) and Daredevil #26 (March, 1967)

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Marvel Adventure #6 (October , 1976) and Daredevil #27 (April , 1967)

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Celebrating Artist Ron Wagner

Celebrating the birthday of artist Ron Wagner (January 17, 1961)...

...with his covers for Daredevil, the man without fear, as lawyer Matt Murdock struggles to find himself!

Daredevil #344 and #345 (September and October, 1995)

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Daredevil #346 and #347 (November and December, 1995)

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Daredevil #350 (March, 1996)

Marvel Legends 2016 Wave 2 3 and 3 Quarters

Coming at you soon, the latest in Marvel action figures, wave two of the new Marvel Legends 3 and 3/4th line!

True, we've seen Ant-Man before, but his movie was so successful, Vision also gets a figure update in a more recent look, Daredevil goes back to his original costume that only a blind man could love, Spider-Man comes out in an armored version of his costume pre-Iron Spider, and new figures for Rage (of the Avengers), Living Laser (of the Lethal Legion) and Gamora (of the Guardians of the Galaxy).

Not the greatest of released, but something to help you pass the time while pumping your fist in the air waiting for more releases!

Marvel Avengers Infinite Series 2015 Wave 2

More Marvel 3 and 3/4 goodness with the second wave of Marvel Infinite action figures (or wave 7 if you've been following since the beginning!).

Starting with a reissue of Miles Morales....the Ultimate Spider-Man; two members of the Sinister Six...Doctor Octopus and the Vulture; an armored up version of Daredevil; Thor-lite with a version of Eric Masterson as Thunderstrike and Ka-Zar's Savage Land wife...Shanna the She-Devil.

Hoping that means we'll see Ka-Zar and Zabu soon, and with the original Sinister Six finished (Electro was in the very start of Marvel's 3 and 3/4 figures, Kraven and Mysterio more recently, and Sandman in the last wave), maybe we can get more members of the Masters of Evil or Sinister Syndicate...

Happy Valentine's Day

Surprisingly, Marvel once celebrated Valentine's Day with its characters....back in April, 1997 with the Marvel Valentine Special!

Spidey & Mary Jane worked to help out a student in "My Fair Spidey" by Tom Peyer and Mark Buckingham.

Daredevil and Karen Page were working with a lady being abused by her boyfriend in "Love Hurts" by John Ostrander and Mary Mitchell.

Goddess Venus helped out a pair of aliens in "Atom-Age Amore" by Frank Strom and Dan DeCarlo.

Villain Absorbing Man got a Millie the Model doll for his girlfriend, Titania, in "The Greatest Gift!" by Tom DeFalco and Dan Lawlis.

Jean Grey reflects on her time with Cyclops away from the X-Men in "The Way!" by Tom DeFalco and Kyle Hotz.

Marvel Avengers Infinite Series 2015 Wave 1

Starting off 2015...more 3.75 goodness from Hasbro and Marvel!

Ready for order....a few Spider-Man villains like Black Cat and Sandman (with a "sandy" Sandman variant as well), a few X-Men (Bishop and the blue, furry Beast, with a grey variant), Big-Time Spider-Man (reflecting a recent storyline), and reissues of Avenger Hawkeye and soon to be on Netflix Daredevil!

Tons of action figure fun for all fans of Marvel Super-Heroes, and planned for the future..Hellcat, Northstar and more!

Marvel's Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bags

Back in the day, Marvel had over sized Treasury comics, having some new stories, but mostly reprints.

 

 

Marvel did three holiday themed collections, and here they are for your enjoyment!

Christmas 1974

The first of Marvel's three Christmas specials was the Marvel Treasury Special, Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag of 1974 and a cover by John Buscema and John Romita.

This collection contained Marvel Team-Up #1 (March, 1972) by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru, and had Spider-Man and the Human Torch facing the Sandman in "Have Yourself A Sandman Little Christmas!"; Daredevil gets a present of his new all-red suit and faces an angry Atlantean "In Mortal Combat With...The Sub-Mariner!" in a story by Stan Lee and Wally Wood from Daredevil #7 (April, 1965);

Black Widow faces off against the Astrologer in "...And To All A Good Night" by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan from Amazing Adventures #5 (March, 1971) and most of the Marvel Universe comes together for the Hulk to face the Thing (with the rest of the Avengers and Fantastic Four around), with Fantastic Four #25 and 26 from 1964 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, because nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a fist to the face (well, at least that's how it goes in the Mighty Marvel world!).

Christmas 1975

The second of Marvel's three Christmas specials was 1975's Marvel Treasury Edition #8 with a front cover by John Romita.

This collection contains the stories of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" from Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #10 (March, 1969) by Gary Friedrich and Frank Springer, with Nick Fury facing a grinch to his holiday fun in the form of the Hate-Monger; Spider-Man finds the holidays can make you crazy (though Mysterio might be helping) in "Spider-Man Goes Mad" from Amazing Spider-Man #24 (May, 1965) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; it's not a sweet Christmas for Luke Cage as he faces a mad bomber named Marley in "Jingle Bombs" from Hero For Hire #7 (March, 1973) by Steve Englehart and George Tuska;

the Hulk finds out that "Heaven Is A Very Small Place!" in a story by Roy Thomas and and Herb Trimpe from the Incredible Hulk #147 (January, 1972), and Dr. Strange faces Eternity on New Year's Eve in the Roy Thomas/Gene Colan story from Doctor Strange #180 (May, 1969).

Christmas 1976

The third of Marvel's three Christmas specials was 1976's Marvel Treasury Edition #13, with a front cover by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.

Collected here for your yuletide enjoyment...are the stories by Gerry Conway and Gil Kane from Marvel Team-Up #8 (January, 1973) with the Spider-Man and the Thing getting involved in a battle between the Mad Thinker and the Puppet Master (as well as some of the family problems between Ben's blind girl friend, Alicia, and her father, who happens to be the Puppet Master) in "As Those Who Will Not See!"; seeing that "Even An Android Can Cry" in a story by Roy Thomas and John Buscema from Avengers #58 (November, 1968) because the Vision joined the Avengers; the Hulk and the Silver Surfer have a battle like in-laws in "He Who Strikes the Silver Surfer" from Tales To Astonish #93 (July, 1967) by Stan Lee and Marie Severin; Daredevil fights with the second Ox of the Enforcers in "Once Upon A Time...The Ox!" from Daredevil #86 (April, 1972) by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan; and all these stories are sandwiched between a new Fantastic Four/Avengers story (with a few extra guests like the Champions, Daredevil and the Defenders) by Roger Stern and George Tuska!

Makes all this better than holiday leftovers!  May you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    

Batman’s Marvelous Team-Ups!

One of the questions I heard at the Avengers premiere was…”Where’s Batman?”.

Now, most comic fans know that Spider-Man lives in the Marvel Universe as published by Marvel Comics, and Batman in the DC Universe published by DC Comics.

Now, with this past week’s column, we showed the movie split as to why the Amazing Spider-Man wouldn’t be in Avengers’ movies, and yes, Batman won’t be in any of them, either.


Still, wouldn’t Batman teaming up with any of the modern Marvel movie stars be an incredible, amazing thing?

But, that doesn’t mean these two recent movie stars haven’t crossed paths….as evidenced by these comics!  Starting off with a couple of meetings with Spider-Man…

Swinging With Spidey

Spider-Man and Batman had their first meeting in Spider-Man and Batman #1, in September, 1995, by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Bagley.

In this issue, they faced off against two of their crazier foes with “Disordered Minds”, Carnage for Spider-Man, and Joker for the Batman.  A nice little team-up, but a little lacking in real substance, as Carnage was just a little too new of a character to match up well with the Joker (though they matched well by both being crazy!  In fact, it was attempting to cure the Joker and Carnage that got them to team-up.  I don’t think it is a spoiler to say it didn’t work out so well…).

Still, the next time the Dark Knight and Amazing Webslinger met up was in Batman & Spider-Man #1 (October 1997), it was with some older and weightier foes…specifically, the master of the League of Assassins, Ra’s Al Ghul, and king of crime, the Kingpin.

This story was also written by J.M. DeMatteis, with artist Graham Nolan.  Kingpin and Ra’s Al Ghul are the drivers of the plot here, both manipulating as only they can, and even involve the women in their life, Kingpin’s ever-ailing wife, Vanessa and Ra’s daughter and sometime co-conspirator (as well as romantic distraction for the Detective), Talia.

All of this led to a stronger team-up, and they end up as allies to save the world from one of Ra’s plans to end it all with a “New Age Dawning”!  All this, and a little more Batman/Spider-Man interaction as well.

But, the battle isn’t over for the the dark knight detective…no, he has more marvelous journeys to follow…

Meeting The Man Without Fear

After meeting with the wall-crawler the first time, Batman also met with another creature of the night…Daredevil, the Man Without Fear!


Batman met up with Spider-Man’s fellow New Yorker, Daredevil for a few team-ups as well.  First time around was in Daredevil and Batman #1 (January 1997) in a story by D. G. Chichester, and art by Scott McDaniel.

Batman chases his foe, Two-Face, and DD’s foe, Mr. Hyde, to New York…and of course, the two crimefighters face off as well.  Most annoying thing…is that Two-Face is upset to be in the first meeting of these two urban crimefighters, so upset, he wants “An Eye For An Eye”!  Seems more than Batman’s life hangs by the flip of a coin…

Still, the second time around was a little more involved (and familiar as well!).  In December, 2000′s Batman Daredevil: King of New York #1 (by Alan Grant and Eduardo Barreto), the two heroes face off against Batman foe, the Scarecrow and Daredevil’s foe, Kingpin (who seems to like working the DC side of the street, it appears!  Seems Mr. Fisk might prefer Gotham City to New York City…or, maybe not).

Kingpin seemed to learn a little about manipulation from Ra’s Al Ghul, as he also used the feline Catwoman to distract Batman.  And, how would the Man Without Fear fare against fear gas?  Hey, it means Daredevil will get a trip to Batman’s Batcave, at least!  And, the second team-up, Batman and Daredevil interact a little more on a personal level…


Not only did Batman meet Spider-Man and Daredevil, but he encountered a slightly more violent villain, the Punisher as well.

Killing Time

In Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1  (cover dated June 1994, by Denny O’Neil and Barry Kitson),  it’s Jean-Paul Valley, not Bruce Wayne, as the Batman (Jean-Paul was a substitute for Bruce, who had been injured by Bane…yes, the villain in the current Batman film), versus Batman foe, the Joker and Punisher’s main menace, the Jigsaw.

This was the first DC/Marvel team-up since they stopped after the Uncanny X-Men and New Teen Titans team-up of 1982 due to difficulties that had arisen between Marvel Comics and DC Comics while working on the original Justice League of America and Avengers first meeting (that only took place decades later…).  And, the title characters battled first, before working together against their common foes.

This worked so well that it had a follow up within the same year, with the Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1 (cover dated October 1994, with regular Detective Comics and Robin writer at the time of Chuck Dixon and the amazing John Romita Jr. was doing the art).


No new villains, as it was still a battle against the Joker and Jigsaw (why mess with a good team, right?  Still, new villains usually spice up the mix a little), but it was the more familiar Batman at this point, dealing with the ultra-violent, gun-toting Frank Castle as the Punisher.

And, the more by-the-book Batman had more trouble with the Punisher and his use of guns on criminals as well….


After all that grief, dealing with a hero who acts more like a villain, Batman got a break, working with the star-spangled Avenger, Captain America.

War With The Star-Spangled Avenger

With the release of Batman and Captain America #1 in December 1996 by John Byrne, this would be a more light-hearted team-up (and one that took more advantage of a possible shared DC and Marvel Universe, where familiar storyline would play out over generations, as this Batman & Robin met Captain America & Bucky and battled the Joker and Red Skull in World War II!  This was also considered an “Elseworlds” tale by DC Comics (where things happen that wouldn’t normally happen in a DC Comics, such as Batman being around during World War II, kind of like Marvel’s “What If?”, which is their version of odd stories playing out).

Things played out for Captain America at the end of the war as they have before…but, slightly differently! 

A sequel to this would have been very appreciated, but it was not to be.

Still, one of the best team-ups Batman had with a Marvel character, was his very first, and that happened when Bruce Wayne’s alter ego crossed paths with a certain gamma-irradiated scientist, the Hulk.

Don't Make Me Angry

In DC Special Series #27, (September 1981, by writer Len Wein who had worked on both Batman and the Hulk’s titles in the past) and incredible DC artist Jose Luis Garcia Lopez), Bruce Banner ends up looking for a cure for the Hulk at Waynetech, which insures a run in with Batman.  Of course, the Joker steps in to steal the device needed (as the Hulk’s foe, the Shaper of the Worlds needs it to survive, and Joker made a deal with the Shaper if the Joker could deliver the device, which the Joker did…and, in return, the Shaper grants the Joker the ability to reshape reality!  Would that that new reality had more team-ups with Batman and Marvel’s characters in it!).  The last of the oversized DC/Marvel team-ups, and certainly one of Batman’s best!

And, of course, Batman fought the whole Marvel Universe (which, as you can see also included the X-Men, as well as a few of Batman’s more regular Justice League and Titans friends) in DC Vs. Marvel #1-4, which led to a few more DC/Marvel all-inclusive team-ups as well with Access, the Marvel and DC character that would allow DC and Marvel characters to meet at any time as that was his power!  All these characters meeting…it’s like Mego time for Batman and Spider-Man!


But that’s a tale for another time!

Hail Hydra Comics

"Hail, HYDRA! Immortal HYDRA! We shall never be destroyed! Cut off a limb, and two more shall take its place! We serve none but the Master—as the world shall soon serve us! Hail HYDRA!" was the oath taken by Hydra agents in Strange Tales #135 (August, 1965) as the villainous organization was established as the foes of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which stood for the Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division, at least at the time) and it's new director, Col. Nick Fury, himself a decorated veteran of World War II where he served as Sgt. Nick Fury....in Sgt. Fury (then later Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos, which followed his WW II adventures....)  

S.H.I.E.L.D. also appeared first in this issue, which was written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby...but Hydra has a history both before that issue (in a stand alone tale in Atlas Comics' Menace #10 (March, 1954) where it was only a reference to an organization by a scientist in the tale "Half Man, Half...?" with art by Robert Q. Sale...but it was only a mention, and Stan and Jack created the green and yellow uniforms and the philosophy of the group...

...still, you can see the reach of Hydra extends even past its own beginnings!

Hydra vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hydra was the main foe of the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury for their entire run as half the feature of Strange Tales (from issue #135 to #168) as Nick and his team shared the book with the master of mystic arts, Doctor Strange.

The team then went to Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. for 18 issues from June, 1968 to March, 1971.

All these tales can be found in Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 has Strange Tales #135-153 (and Tales of Suspense #78 and Fantastic Four #21 which relate, and Tales of Suspense features stories on A.I.M. as well, which is a branch of Hydra at the time and Nick fighting them with Captain America, and the Fantastic Four story is a pre-S.H.I.E.L.D. appearance which brought Nick Fury from World War II to "modern times" and they faced the Hate-Monger).    

Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 has tales from Strange Tales #154-168 and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1-3 with story and art by Jim Steranko (and dialogue in early issues by Roy Thomas) and has battles against A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics); the Yellow Claw; as well as revealing the Supreme Hydra (who has ties to Nick's time in WW II as Sgt. Fury) and Nick's first fight with Scorpio!  
Marvel Masterworks:Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 has the stories from Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #4-15, Avengers #72 and Marvel Spotlight #31 (Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #16-18 were reprints of Hydra battles from Strange Tales) and finishes Nick's battle against Scorpio as well as another battle with the Hate-Monger.

Still, this didn't end the Marvel Universe's battles with the forces of Hydra, as their coda implied...they came back else where many times.  A few of their other more important appearances include...

Hydra vs. Captain America

Hydra faced Captain America in a famous storyline by Stan Lee and Jim Steranko in Captain America #110, 111, and 113 (February-May, 1969).  These stories also feature a battle between Captain America and the Hulk, Hulk's young helper, Rick Jones taking on the identity of Bucky for a time (something hinted at all the way back when Cap was found in Avengers #4), and the introduction of Madame Hydra (who later became the Viper and worked with the Silver Samurai) and established Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra as supporting characters for future Captain America stories (as Nick's own book was cancelled a little while after these stories came out...).

These stories can also be found in the Captain America Omnibus #1 and in Marvel Visionaries: Jim Steranko which also has some of the better Strange Tales issues....and you can get just the Jim Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. tales in S.H.I.E.L.D. By Steranko: The Complete Collection which has all Jim's work on S.H.I.E.L.D. from Strange Tales and the Nick Fury book...as well as some later work from other reprints!

Hydra vs. the Hulk

Hydra faced the Hulk in the Incredible Hulk #132 (October, 1970) in a story by Roy Thomas with art by Herb Trimpe and John Severin, wherein the evil organization convinced Hulk's helper, Jim Wilson, into trying to capture the Hulk.

It didn't work out so well for Hydra (and they tried to attack him again in Incredible Hulk #154, August, 1972 by Archie Goodwin and Herb Trimpe, with the help of Spider-Man foe, the Chameleon, shrinking the Hulk, who got some help himself from Hank Pym....the Ant-Man!).  Oddly, Hulk usually spent more time fighting the army (with General Thunderbolt Ross and Major Glenn Talbot) or S.H.I.E.L.D. itself than Hydra...

Hydra vs. Captain America II

Hydra faced Captain America, his new partner the Falcon (Sam Wilson, who changed from his orange and green costume to a red and white one in the first issue of this run), and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new Femme Force (a group of female agents including Agent 13/Sharon Carter and Nick Fury's lady love, the Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, who had first appeared back in Strange Tales) with a run in Captain America #144-148 (December, 1971 to April, 1972).

The stories by Gary Friedrich and art by John Romita, Gil Kane and Sal Buscema also reenforced the idea of Hydra as factions, with a few Spider-Man villains (they had ties to organized crime...) being revealed as agents of Hydra (and tying a major Captain America foe as Supreme Hydra as well....a scene one kept waiting for in the Captain America: Winter Soldier movie...).

Hydra vs. the monsters

Hydra faced off against the Cat (Greer Grant Nelson), and severely injured the young heroine...so much so that her mentor, Dr. Joanne Tumulo, revealed her own history as a member of the ancient race of cat people and changed Greer into the were-woman Tigra.

As Tigra, Greer helped defeat this group of Hydra with the help of the Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell in Giant-Size Creatures #1 (July, 1974, by Tony Isabella and Don Perlin).  Tigra had a brief solo feature in Marvel Chillers #3-7, and worked with Spider-Man, the Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four here and there, and eventually joined the Avengers (briefly on the east coast, and was a founder of the West Coast Avengers offshoot).

Hydra vs. Daredevil and Black Widow

From Daredevil #120-123 (April-July, 1975) by Tony Isabella and Bob Brown, Hydra worked on the west coast, facing off against Daredevil (who had stopped Hydra from crashing the wedding of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four Annual #3) and the Black Widow (as well as the Contessa Val, Nick Fury and Dum Dum Dugan of S.H.I.E.L.D....who were also going to recruit Daredevil's friend, Foggy Nelson as an agent!).

Another Supreme Hydra is revealed (...yet another Spider-Man crimelord, different from the previous one mentioned earlier), as well as a few other villains (Daredevil foes like  el Jaguar and Blackwing, and Spider-Man/Cat foe the Man-Killer from the Cat's last appearance in Marvel Team-Up #8 were revealed to be Hydra agents, connecting a few disconnected storylines....).

Hydra vs. the Thing and Shang-Chi

Hydra's hordes attacked martial artist (and son of Fu Manchu) Shang-Chi and the Thing in England in Marvel Two-In-One #29 (July, 1977 by Marv Wolfman and Ron Wilson) as the two attempted to rescue scientist Dr. Kort.  This was part of a larger story from Marvel-Two-In-One #26-34, which started with the Thing helping Nick Fury against super powered Hydra agents Mentallo and the Fixer (who premiered back in Strange Tales), led to them pulling cyborg Deathlok from the future (and the Hydra agents taking control of his mind to have him kill the President), a quick detour with the Sub-Mariner, the work with Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu, a meeting with Spider-Woman (who was recently rescued from Hydra by Nick Fury) and battles against a mystery menace and help from the rest of the Fantastic Four, mostly the Invisible Girl, and a past mystic named Modred...all to help free Deathlok.  Deathlok, traitorous agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., plots against the United States and Hydra...sound familiar?

Hydra vs. the Invaders

Hydra had a history that reached all the way back to World War II.

In a group led by Baron Strucker (a Nazi foe of Sgt. Fury's who first appeared in Sgt. Fury #5 in January, 1964) in Marvel Universe #1-3 (June-August 1998 by Roger Stern and Steve Epting), Hydra faced the World War II superheroes the Invaders (Captain America, the android Human Torch, Namor the Sub-Mariner and the Whizzer) as well as detailing a little of Hydra and the baron's past (like his battle with Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders in Captain Savage #2-4, March-July, 1968).

Hydra did indeed have a history stretching back to World War II!

Hydra vs Sub-Mariner

Why didn't the Sub-Mariner remember Hydra...well, he had lost his memory sometime in the 1950s, and had become a homeless man wandering New York, and before Johnny Storm (the Fantastic Four's Human Torch) found him, Namor encountered the hordes of Hydra and the Fixer (Paul Norbert Ebersol)..in Thunderbolts -1 (July, 1997) by Kurt Busiek and Steve Epting.  The Fixer joins Hydra at this time (before his first appearance back in Strange Tales #141), and a little of the history of Baron Zemo is detailed as well, and sets up all the villainy that Hydra and its agents start.  It IS all connected!  Hydra has appeared in many more places in the Marvel Universe, and one never knows when they will show up again!

Hope you enjoyed Hydra's greatest hits, and the how the heroes of the Marvel Universe hit them back!