Bring on the Back-Ups: Thanos : The Final Flower - art by Mike Zeck

This back-up tale was probably missed by many comic book fans at the time as it appeared in issue 6 of “Logans Run”. So it was a bit of a surprise to find a Thanos tale in a comic book featuring Marvels adaption of the 1976 MGM movie. The reason that a Marvel character featured in a back-up tale in a licensed comic was due to a tight deadline that was brought on by ongoing contractual negotiations with MGM that limited the main Logan’s Run story to a 12 page feature. As it turned out issue 7 was the last issue of the Marvels Logans Run comic. In the story itself Thanos seeks to destroy the will of a planet that opposes him by one of its most precious religious relic, a small flower. It was an interesting story by Scott Edelman that feature some of Mike Zeck's eariest Marvel artwork.

Above, the cover to Logans Run #6 (June 1977) by Paul Gulacy and John Costanza.

Favourite comics: Detective Comics #443 -Batman & Manhunter

Detective Comics in 1973/1974 was an excellent 100 page title featuring some wonderful new stories alongside many classics from the golden and silver ages by some of comics greatest artists and writers. However it was with issue 437 that (for myself at least) the comic went into another gear when it featured a brand new character called “Manhunter” written by Archie Goodwin with art by relative new comer (and future comic legend) Walter Simonson. The excitement of this storyline came to a climax with the above issue #443 (cover by Jim Aparo.)

The Manhunter character seemed to appear out of nowhere in issue 437 (cover by Jim Aparo) and it was an instant fan favourite. The strip itself appeared in 8 page segmentsand was always the last story in each issue until the final Manhunter tale when the character appeared on the cover with Batman as the main feature, it was fanboy heaven.

Manhunter told the tale of Paul Kirk a man raised from the dead by a secret organisation of super scientists called the “Council” intent on controlling mankind. The Council give Kirk healing abilities, martial arts training and a natty 1970’s glam rock style costume and sent him out as an operative for their cause. In order to test his loyalty to the Council Kirk is tasked with killing an Interpol agent, which he refused to do. As a result the Council clone him and send the clones to kill him. Realising that the Council are corrupt Kirk sets out to kill the clones and destroy the Council.

At the end of the story Paul Kirk, Manhunter destorys the Council but in doing so he sacrifices his own life. The Goodwin/Simonson Manhunter series has been collected several times and is worth picking up if you havent read this 1970's classic series.

Favourite Covers - Captain America - Steranko, Kirby, Romita, Buscema, Kane, Buckler

Of all the superheroes I think that most people would consider Captain America as the most patriotic. So, with the 4th of July celebrations about to commence for our friends on the other side of the Atlantic I thought I would take the opportunity to look out some of my favourite Captain America covers to celebrate American Independence Day. Cover above by Jim Steranko from Captain America issue 111 (Mar 1968) - cover taken from the collected editions.

Captain America issue 106 (Oct 1968) by Jack Kirby and Frank Giacoia - I first became aware of this comic when the cover was reprinted as a poster that was advertised in various Marvel comics at the time. Since then I have always wanted to track down a reading copy of this edition, which I did couple of years ago. It's an excellent comic and is my favourite Kirby/Lee Captain America.

Captain America issue 121 (Jan 1970) - Cover by Gene Colan and Joe Sinnott. This was the first US Captain America comic that I bought around October 1971. The next week I purchased issue 122 (below) from the same newsagents. Back in the day it wasn't unusual to pick up US comics many months, sometimes a few years after they were originally published.

Captain America issue 122 (Feb 1970) - Cover by Gene Colan and Joe Sinnott.

Captain America issue 114 (June 1969) - Cover by John Romita

Captain America issue 139 (July 1971) - Cover by John Romita

Captain America issue 142 (October 1971) - Cover by John Romita

Captain America issue 144 (December 1971) - Cover by John Romita - This issue was my first introduction to the work of the wonderful John Romita (earlier issues 114, 139 and 142 shown above, I purchased later).

Captain America issue 153 (Sept 1972) - Cover by Sal Buscema and John Verpoorten

Captain America issue 160 (April 1972) - Cover by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia

Captain America issue 165 (Sept 1973) - Cover by Sal Buscema

Captain America issue 166 (Sept 1973) - Cover by Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia

Captain America - Special Editions - issue 1 and 2 - covers by Jim Steranko