Category Archives: Superheroes

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at a short-lived VILLAIN series.

GIANT-SIZE SUPERVILLAIN TEAM-UP Vol 1 #1 (March 1975)

Title: Encounter at Land’s End

NOTE: Marvel’s Giant-Size comics in the 1970s were an experiment in quarterly publications which would offer a slightly lengthier new story with the rest of each issue filled up with reprinted stories from years or decades earlier. None of these “giant-sized” series even made it to their 9th issue.

Villains: Dr. Doom, Sub-Mariner and Diablo

Synopsis: Dr. Doom’s armored body lands in the Atlantic Ocean following his most recent clash with the Fantastic Four, which ended with him seemingly being killed. Instead, he survived but was knocked unconscious and fell back to the Earth below.

Sub-Mariner, aka Namor, the monarch of Atlantis, caught sight of the falling object while piloting his Atlantean submarine which can also serve as an aircraft. Sub-Mariner rescues Doom, whose armor protected him from re-entry, and the two contemplate an alliance even though their few previous attempts ended with the pair falling-out. Continue reading →

For this weekend’s escapist and lighthearted superhero post I will take a look at Marvel’s January issues from 1969. 

X-MEN Vol 1 #52 (January 1969)

Title: Twilight of the Mutants

X-Men Roster: Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Marvel Girl, Angel, Polaris

Villains: Magneto, Mesmero, and the Demi-Men

NOTE: This is the fourth and final part of the storyline which saw the X-Men get drawn back together after they disbanded following the first of Professor X’s many false “deaths.” Polaris (Lorna Dane) joins the team.

Synopsis: The recently arrived evil mutant called Erik the Red says he has come to Magneto’s subterranean lair out west to join his forces. Erik demonstrates his powers against the Demi-Men, Magneto’s latest team of mutants intent on conquering humanity.

Polaris, who has joined Magneto’s team under the impression that she is his daughter, learns the truth about his villainous intentions from conversations among Mesmero, Magneto and Erik the Red. While Mesmero plots against Erik, and Magneto assigns Polaris to keep an eye on both figures for him, Marvel Girl, Angel and the Beast slip back into Magneto’s headquarters. Continue reading →

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will take a look at the Marvel publications from January of 1974, excluding reprints.

THE AVENGERS Vol 1 #119 (January 1974) 

Title: Night of the Collector 

Avengers’ Roster: THOR (Donald Blake, MD), IRON MAN (Tony Stark), CAPTAIN AMERICA (Steve Rogers), THE SCARLET WITCH (Wanda), THE BLACK PANTHER (King T’Challa), THE VISION (Not applicable), THE SWORDSMAN (Jacques Duquesne) and MANTIS (Full name unknown at the time).

Villain: The Collector

Synopsis: The Avengers arrive back in New York after the previous issue’s final chapter of the Avengers-Defenders crossover story in which Dormammu and Loki teamed up to threaten the entire universe via the Evil Eye of Avalon. The eight Avengers – accompanied by Loki, who has been rendered helpless and insane from what happened in the Dark Dimension – return to Avengers Mansion. 

NOTE: I previously covered the entire multi-part Avengers vs the Defenders war instigated by Loki and Dormammu HERE and HERE if you’re curious about what happened to Loki.

The crazed, uncomprehending Loki is kept in custody at Avengers Mansion because this is set during a period when Odin had forbidden him to return to Asgard under any circumstances. Time passes, and at one point the Black Panther pursues with Mantis his wish to learn some of her other-worldly martial arts. T’Challa first got the idea when he saw how well Mantis fought Dr. Strange during the Avengers/ Defenders War.  Continue reading →