Hercules Prince of Power, Volume 2, #1

(MARVEL)
March 1984



Good Guy: Hercules
Bad Guys: Skrulls

Cameos: Recorder, Ares, Pluto, Venus, Zeus

Overview

“My Love is… Green?”

Writer/Artist: Bob Layton

The year is 2385 and Hercules is in a peacekeeping force to squelch a military uprising on the mining colony of Lerarak-27. Hercules single handedly, and unarmed, subdues the rebels who are under the command of a Skrull shape-shifter.

In the battle Commander Amayd Malin, a close friend of Hercules’s, dies. Herc calls 41 years that they have known each other a “short” time.

The Recorder and Hercules travel to the Orion Galaxy and meet Officer Tyne Pryntess at the Deniciere Spaceport. She is an empathy who is sensitive to emotions and surprises Herc with her ability to calm his stallions.

Meanwhile on Mount Olympus, Ares ‘the God of War’ grows contemptuous of his fellow Olympians claiming they are old women and that Zeus did Hercules a favor by banishing him from Olympus. Zeus destroys Ares with but a thought.

Hercules has become infatuated with a woman he has met in the lobby of the Hotel Nebulon. He chases after her but she disappears. Officer Pryntess who was growing fond of Hercules is not amused by his sudden infatuation.

The woman is in a fashion show and Herc jumps the stage and admits his undying love for her. Recorder interrupts and says that she is a Skrull. The Skrull admits to the crowd that he has defected from the Skrull planet and has saught refuge as “Sasha” the fashion model. The money was good.

The Skrull, Recorder and Hercules run from the hostile crowd and meet Officer Pryntess who is with Hercules horses. He gives her a farewell kiss and we finish our story back at the chambers of Zeus where he is meeting with Pluto. He says the Gods of Olympus must die!

Rating: 7/10

A slow start but picked up when we went to Mount Olympus and Ares got turned to dust. Looking forward to the next installment.

Favorite Panel:

The Defenders #33

(MARVEL)
March 1975



Good Guys: The Defenders (Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Hulk, Dr Strange)
Bad Guys: The Headmen (Dr Jerry Morgan, Dr Arthur Nagan, Chondu the Mystic, Ruby Thursday)

Cameos: Jack Norris, Nebulon

Overview

“Webbed hands, Warm heart!”

Story: Steve Gerber
Layouts: Sal Buscema
Finished Art: Jim Mooney


Nighthawk has been captured by the Headmen. Chondu the Mystics brain has been put in Nighthawk’s body. Dr Strange discovers this and switches Jack Norris’s soul into Nighthawk’s body and Chondu’s into a fawn that the Hulk had been protecting.

Meanwhile red alien fish type creatures are abducting humans and animals alike, including the young fawn who Chondu’s spirit inhabits.

Thinking that Nighthawk is still Chondu the Headmen render Dr Strange, Hulk and Valkyrie unconscious. They wake up and a battle ensues and Jack Norris, in Nighthawk’s body, grabs Nighthawks brain which is in a bowl of solution. Believing it to be Chondu, Dr Nagan does not give chase.

Nighthawk, and brain, is captured by the alien fishmen and is confronted by their leader Nebulon “ the Celestial Man”. Our story ends.

Rating: 7/10

A good slightly humorous read ... what with all the brain and soul swapping going on!!

Favorite Panel:

Peter Parker: Spider-Man #1

(MARVEL)
Jan 1999



Good Guys: Spider-Man
Bad Guys: The Ranger

Cameos: Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, J Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Betty Brant, Jill Stacy, Senator Ward, Ben Parker

Overview

Story 1:

“Power Without Responsibility!”

Story & Art: Howard Mackie / John Romita Jr / Scott Hanna

Peter Parker is taking pics of a new Spider-Man in action against some men in iron suits who attempt to free a criminal known as The Ranger. They succeed.

Peter and Jill go to the airport to pick up MJ who is coming home from a fashion shoot. Senator Ward also arrives and The Ranger confronts him. The Ranger himself is then confronted by the new Spider-Man.

The Ranger subdues Spider-Man and the secret service agents protecting Senator Ward. The on-looking Peter Parker, battling his own inner demons, weighs up whether or not he should become involved.

He gets involved just as The Ranger is about to strike Senator Ward. This gives Spider-Man the chance to subdue The Ranger.

Story 2:

“Memories”

Story & Art: Howard Mackie / Andy Smith / Brad Vancata

Quaint little story reinforcing the strong bond that Peter shared with his Uncle Ben.

Rating: 5/10

I am not a big fan of JRJR’s artwork .. he gets the job done but it’s just not my taste.

Favorite Panel:

Marvel Team Up #45

(MARVEL)
May 1976



Good Guys: Spider-Man / Killraven
Bad Guys: Martians and Skar

Cameos: Green Goblin, Mary Jane Watson, Volcana Ash, M’Shulla Scott, Carmilla Frost, Old Skull, Mint Julep


Overview

“Future-Shock!”

Writer: Bill Mantlo
Artists: Sal Buscema & Mike Eposito

Spidey is riding a time platform and it sends him into the future, 2019 to be precise, where he meets Killraven. They defeat a few tripod ships and Killraven tells Spidey that in 2001 there was an invasion of earth by the martians.

They are then sprayed with a hallucinogen by martian drones and confront their worst fears. In the process they beat up on a few martian drones.

Spidey hops on the time platform.

Rating: 4/10

Not without interest but time travel and Spidey don’t mix.

Favorite Panel:

Best part of this issue was this great double splash page.

The Defenders #52

(MARVEL)
October 1977



Good Guys: The Defenders ( Valkyrie, Hellcat, Hulk, Nighthawk )
Bad Guy: The Presence (although not directly)

Cameos: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Edwin Jarvis, Sub Mariner (Prince Namor), Red Guardian

Overview

“Defender of the Realm!”

Writer: David Kraft
Artists: Keith Giffen & Chic Stone

We open with the Sub-Mariner marching through the streets of Park Avenue dressed in his full Royal Garb… funny to say the least.

The Hulk jumps down from a building thinking to aid his friend the ‘fishman’. Namor brushes him aside and Hulk hits him back. A fight rages.

There is a brief interlude in Russia where we learn the Presence has been undertaking underground nuclear tests. The Red Guardian is persuaded to join a cult led by Sergei ‘the Presence’ in a plot to detonate a nuclear blast in Europe.

Radioactive leakage from these tests have contaminated the sea bed.

This is why Namor has come to the surface to get aid from the Fantastic Four. He instead enlists the help of the Defenders, after Nighthawk and Hellcat step in and see to it that Namor and the Hulk make up.

Rating: 7/10

Simple… but I enjoyed it.

Favorite Panel: