Time Warp : Part I - The Classic Marvel Calendars

Perhaps a more appropriate title for this series might be "Days of Future Past", but (since this is neither an X-Men nor Moody Blues fan-site,) we'll stay true to the essence of the subject...

TIME. And Time again.
It's passage, and our going back to revisit those glory years of Marvel Madness.

This is to be the first entry in a series (of three) posts about the old MARVEL CALENDARS!
(As promised a few weeks back - HERE)



Our first segment (Part I) deals with what I term the "CLASSIC" calendar series; those old 1970's - 1980's era calendars with the spiral bound pages. Those were true Marvel collectibles, as they were produced in-house. They featured amazing amounts of reference information and clips of artwork from old comics as well as all-new art and cool tidbits, such as issue particulars, creator birthdays and photographs of the many Marvel personnel; everyone from Stan Lee, the writers & artists to the production staff, receptionist and guys in the mail room.

It was that "open door" feeling that gave early Marvel fans the sense that they belonged to something special.

So, don't forget to click on the various images for larger versions!

Unfortunately, we can't show EVERY month of every year.
(That might be possible in the future, and would be one calendar year per post, which, when taking ALL of the calendars that I have in my collection, would last... nearly 20 posts. If this is well received and readers want to see it, that might be a possibility in time.)

The focus for these trips through time is to look at the various entries for Doctor Strange, Man-Thing and a select few other characters. To take a look at the artwork for those entries and reminisce of days and years gone by.

Now, let's not delay... we must go back... back... back.... in time...
To do this, we must learn the art of Time Travel...

This lesson in time travel courtesy of Doctor Strange and Clea.
Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 17 by Steve Englehart (writer) & Gene Colan (art).

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We MADE it! We're back in 01975! I remember 1975... and this is it.
And here we have the cover of the FIRST Marvel Calendar!

art by John Romita Sr.
Thor, Dracula, Hulk, Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, Thing, Conan and Spider-Man

The interior "contents page" which gave a brief overview of the year at a glance, and showcased what month would feature what character(s).

---

February is Doctor Strange and the Defenders

Doc was drawn by Frank Brunner.
(with the Defenders Namor, Hulk, Nighthawk and Valkyrie vignettes either as cut&pasted art - mostly By Romita Sr. or traced by Brunner into place.)

And the calendar page for February as well.
Check out the daily goodies.

---

Here's a single day panel from March 22nd that has always resonated with me and stuck in my mind all these years. As an "Aries People", I always have to watch out for my need to be "First in all things" lest it send me down the road of Dr. Doom-like megalomania.
Right Vic?

---

As a "6-Dimensions" devotee, I thought that I should probably include art that featured such characters that would fit that bill (except for solo pages of the Hulk, Namor and/or Silver Surfer. There's just not enough web-space for all of those).
Here is the page for April, which featured the Scarlet Witch (and the Avengers).

Art by John Buscema, John Romita Sr & Sal Buscema.
Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Vision and Scarlet Witch

---

October featured MAN-THING and other Marvel Monsters;
Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and Werewolf by Night.

art by Mike Ploog!

---

The back cover with the big hitters of the year including Strange.

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Next stop is a time-jump to... The Bicentennial Calendar of 01976!
All of the monthly artwork were keeping a theme of early American History or patriotism.

Iconic image by John Romita Sr.
Spider-Man, Hulk & Captain America on the fife & drums
---

September featured an assembly of assorted characters; many of them were ultimately Defenders.

Art by Sal Buscema
Daredevil, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Daimon Hellstrom; Son of Satan,
Luke Cage; Power-Man, Ghost Rider and Shang-Chi; Master of Kung Fu.

---

October featured a new twist on the tale of "Ichabod Crane and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow",
featuring Dracula, Man-Thing and Werewolf by Night.

art by Frank Brunner

---

December featured General Washington crossing the Delaware...
with Scarlet Witch and the Avengers!

art by Jim Mooney
Thor, Iron Man, Vision, George Washington, Captain America, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye.


---

Back cover which features both Doctor Strange and Man-Thing
(amongst many, many others)

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01977 presented the Marvel Comics Memory Album.

Dr. Strange is VERY happy to be promoted to the FRONT COVER - with Howard the Duck!

art by John Romita Sr.
Dr. Strange, Conan, Thing, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America and Howard.


The theme to this year's calendar was a "Memory Album" and as such, would feature scenes from comic issues.

Introduction and contents pages.

---

July showcased Dr. Strange's first encounter with Nightmare, from Strange Tales # 110.

art by Gene Colan
who seemed to have forgotten that Strange had the big blue/purple cloak back then.

---

October featured Dracula vs the "Nightstalkers"; Blade, Frank Drake & the Van Helsing's.

art by Gene Colan

The calendar-month featured "Marvel-ous Monsters" like Man-Thing.

---

December featured the Defenders vs Yandroth's Omegatron from Marvel Feature # 1.

art by Sal Buscema

---

Back Cover art of Front Cover art.

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By 01978, Marvel stopped trying to have "themes" and just dedicated the years to solo characters.
First up... SPIDER-MAN!
(natch'!)

classic Romita Sr. pose.

---

We're just jumping straight to December where Spidey's many team-up friends are featured, including;
Doctor Strange, Man-Thing, Howard the Duck and many "6-Dimensions" characters.

art by John Byrne

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01979 featured the HULK as the solo star.

art by Romita Sr.

---

December featured the Doctor Strange and the Dynamic Defenders!art by Ed Hannigan and Klaus Janson
Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, Nighthawk, Hellcat, Dr. Strange, Hulk, Red Guardian, Howard the Duck and Valkyrie

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**************************

01980 was dedicated to
"The Occult World of DOCTOR STRANGE"

Front cover - Dave Cockrum (pencils) Tom Palmer (inks)

We'll be saving the 01980 Doctor Strange calendar for PART III of this series.
Be sure to come back when we will present EVERY single page from that calendar.

**************************
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ALSO... as a bonus... THIS 1980 calendar was the same day pagination as the past year of 2008, and as such, I used it as my calendar for that year.
2009 is the same day pagination as 1981, so the next calendar is also a stand-in for this new year's as well!

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01981 was the 20th Anniversary of Marvel Comics
(starting from the publication of Fantastic Four # 1)
and as such, the theme and/or singular hero focus was abandoned in lieu of a smorgasbord of as many heroes as they could. Some would get solo months, and others would be in group shots.

cover art by John Byrne
Captain America, Human Torch, Black Panther, Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic, Cyclops, Thing, Iron-Man, Spider-Man, Silver Surfer, Power Man, Hulk, Daredevil, Doctor Strange and Thor

---

Introduction page.
Click to read.

---

October, as usual, was all about Man-Thing and the Monsters!

artwork by as many artists as there are monsters in this collage of creepy critters.
the collage was assembled by Paty (Cockrum)

---

December was a showcase of everybody else who had not been showcased in the other months.

art by Rudy Nebres
Dr. Strange, Iron Fist, Punisher, Moon Knight, Shanna, She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, Luke Cage, Nighthawk, Tigra, Black Goliath, Nick Fury, Namor, Valkyrie, Ka-Zar, Spider-Woman, Hellcat, Howard the Duck, Machine-Man, Ant-Man and Marvel Boy.

---

The end of the year wrap up with Aunt May presenting the Birthday cake.

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The 01981 calendar, sadly, was the last in this series.
It might not be readily evident in the photographs, but the overall quality of the 01981 calendar was sub-par as compared to the others.
The paper was thin, where the previous calendars were printed on sturdy stock.
The spiral center was flimsy and easily warped, where the earlier years had a strong center coil.

After this, the license for Marvel calendars was left in limbo, as I had not seen any further calendars for several years, and then, as we shall see in Part II of this series, they were manufactured by other publishers and printed in a variety of styles and sizes.

Check back again "in the future" for Part II of "Time Warp" - The Modern Marvel Calendars.

A Little Christmas miracle!

So there I am, last night, reading a bunch of comics that have come out over the past week or so and it's almost a "Little Christmas" miracle!

So many Doctor Strange, Man-Thing and "6-Dimensions" character appearances that I just couldn't believe my eyes!

I've already written about ONE such bit of goodness;
MARVELS : Eye of the Camera # 2 in the double-post from two days ago (HERE and HERE).

I'm not done filing stuff and scanning as of yet, so this will be a post that will be constantly updated over the course of the day (or two)...

But, that's all part of the "little Christmas" aspect.
It's like opening up a gift, enjoying and appreciating it for a little while before moving on to the next.
(for those of us who give our Christmas gifts on January 6th * )

So, let's get to our "presents" now:

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We'll start off with MARVEL ZOMBIES-3 # 4 (of 4) by Fred Van Lente (writer) and Kev Walker (art).

Once again, we get "Zombie Dr. Strange"... doing the drooling, muttering thing, and performing the only two spells that he has left in his rotted and damaged brain:

• Conjure Dimensional Portal

• Manna from Heaven (which is useless to the Zombies, since all they eat is flesh)
  

Remember, click images to make more Miraculous-Sized!

So sad. But so funny.

Reminds me of my early days playing D&D (which sadly I didn't play more than a few times, since my friends didn't embrace the game and there was no one else with which to do so), and the neophyte mystics only had one or two spells that they could use.

But to ME, the BIG news that comes from this book is THIS:

MAN-THING
&
The RETURN of the MIDNIGHT SONS!

I won't mince words here; I'd MUCH rather see a return of the Midnight Sons (WITH Strange as a part of the "team") than see a DEFENDERS reunion (WITH Strange as a part of the "team").
Y'know... if it were an "either/or" option.

To ME, a mystical, occult, horror-type of setting is best for Strange than any type of Super-team.
EVEN if that team is the Defenders.
(let the hate-comments start ... NOW)

While THIS upcoming Marvel Zombies-4 mini-series aspect of the MIDNIGHT SONS isn't really the actual "Midnight Sons" (Son of Satan and Werewolf by Night were never "officially" a part of that assemblage, and Steel Wind - the female member shown - at least I'm 99% sure that's who that is - was a Ghost Rider villainess. At least Morbius WAS an actual member, and Man-Thing was "unofficially" since he was showcased in the Midnight Sons Unlimited series, way back when), it's STILL a welcome bit of news.

**UPDATE EDIT**
It turns out, the new solicitation text for the next mini (seen HERE) states that the female is indeed supposed to be Jennifer Kale, even though she's not wearing either the costume she started this mini-series with, nor her original, but a new ensemble that bears more in common to Steel Wind's look than her own.
**END UPDATE EDIT**

However, I'm nitpicking.
I'm pleased as (holiday) punch at this!
Even if it IS just a mini-series.

Truthfully, I expected more of a showing from Man-Thing during THIS mini-series, since he was (sorta) shown in the first issue, in an almost "behind-the-scenes" manner.
A glimpse of his arm here, a shadowy look at him walking away there... but then... nada. Until now. Odd, since the series took place in his stomping grounds; The NEXUS of All Realities, one would expect for him to be shown doing exactly what it is that he was "created" to do; Protect the Nexus from invaders or those who would tamper with it.

Maybe I missed a cameo. I'll have to re-read the issues again, keeping my eyes peeled for him.

Nope. I just re-read them all. Just the first issue tease and the last issue last page.
:-(

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Next up is:

- Marvel Adventures; Fantastic Four # 43 - with Baron Mordo & Moondragon making their "Adventures' style" debut.

This was a silent story, which, as an artist, I always love. If the artwork can tell the complete tale with no words, then the artist (in this case, David Hahn) has successfully brought forth the "vision" of the writer (Paul Tobin).

Tobin crafts an interesting tale here, introducing some very unique touches and creative displays of magic in use.

One nice bit is this sequence; where mystic hand-servants are sent forth to retrieve the signatures (and essences) of the Fantastic Four, who have checked into Agatha Harkness' "Suite Salem" bed and breakfast (hey... it's the "adventures" Universe. It's more friendly then the "616" M.U.).

Who knew the Thing had such nice penmanship?

The hands had been conjured by Baron Mordo, who in this incarnation is a little bit more of a Diablo stand-in than anything resembling his previous published history.

Names have power. And Mordo has the knowledge to use them.

Imbuing clay statues with the magically enchanted essence of their namesakes, Mordo brings these 'golems' to life and pits them against their counterparts.
Why? Well... that's never even alluded to. It's just that he's a bad guy and bad guys usually attack the good guys of the comic. It's a law or something.

Diablo used this trick against the 'real' F.F. waaaay back in issue #232 in 01981.
Obviously, Mordo's not a comic reader or he'd know that it doesn't turn out too well.

Writer Paul Tobin is appreciated by this blogger for his fresh uses for magic and it's practitioners.
I've already raved (mostly) about his treatment of Doctor Strange in Marvel Adventures Super Heroes # 5. In fact, I gave that issue my "Best of the Year" award for Doc appearances. (HERE)

He works some nice magic in this issue, even allowing his voice to be "silenced" by the elegance of the artwork. Many writers these days are all about hearing themselves "speak", that this was a refreshing change.

Sadly, like the aforementioned Dr. Strange appearance, there are some misses here;
Mordo is misused. A villainous sorcerer of no slight ability, Mordo should ALWAYS be a threat. I understand that this "Adventures-style" story is more kid-friendly (but not kid-centric), and as someone who started reading comics AS a kid, I appreciate that.
However, there are many characters who could have fit the bill for this tale; Diablo, for starters. This elemental-type attack was very much in his wheelhouse, except for a few touches of "regular" magic, such as the signatures, and a few mystic hoojams seen before the battle.

Agatha Harkness is unfortunately underused as well. She's the proprietor of a Bed and Breakfast and is only shown in 2 panels; smiling and giving muffins to the newly registered guests.
No backlit, ominous witchlike going's on, sadly.
I've always had some serious love for her creepy witch-governess shtick.
If she makes future appearances in this title, and they build even a little of that into her character - then I'm on board.

Lastly, another fave of mine; Moondragon is a whole new different entity in this.
Here, she's a "fortune teller" of sorts, running a "magic hall of mirrors" in a carnival.

It's ok Johnny. She brought a smile to MY face as well.
Because SHE was smiling throughout her appearances.
That was nice to see.

Firstly, Moondragon's abilities aren't mystic in nature, so this new angle makes no sense.
I can live with her being a coy, almost playful woman here. There's only so much of the usual obnoxious, overbearing rendition - that she had for many decades - that anyone can take.

Still, she's more Zatanna (DC's main mystic maiden) than Moondragon.
It might have been a better choice to have used Arcanna (from the Squadron Supreme) or even the Scarlet Witch for this role.
Especially as the "fairgrounds" aspect of the "magic mirror" show lends itself nicely to either of those characters.

Still, at the end of the issue. It made me smile. As I mentioned in the above pic-tagline, it was nice to see Moondragon as a smiling, playful woman. Obviously still strong, and not a plaything, but open and appealing. She also gets the last laugh as well.

This was still a nice story, with clean and clear artwork and it was a refreshing change of pace from all the gloom and doom being published lately.

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Another stocking stuffer is:

- What if? Secret Wars by Karl Bollers (writer) Jorge Molina (artist) - presents a very good, yet ultimately disappointing Dr. Strange appearance.


I liked this issue. Quite a bit. Dr. Doom is portrayed exceptionally well.
Dr. Strange however is given some respect (in words) but ultimately dissed (in deeds) in the end.

Truthfully, Neilalien has already spelled out my exact feelings on this issue, and much more succinctly than I could. His mini-review HERE.

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I open the next goodie to find:

- Avengers / Invaders # 7 with another good Dr. Strange appearance. This time with old foe; D'Spayre!

In a scene reminiscent of Ghostbusters II, the New Avengers follow a river of dark slime through the sewers to find:

Doc senses the psycho-reactive "Mood slime".

D'Spayre is using the Cosmic Cube to feed off of the ill will and sorrow of the nation. The by-product is spewing out into psycho-sensitive slime that he now uses to envelop and restrain the heroes. D'Spayre then uses the opportunity to plumb the depths of his prisoner's... despair.

D'Spayre posits a reason for Clea's departure.

One by one, D'Spayre uses the flaws of these heroes against them. Feeding off of their guilt.
(Well... except for Wolverine. I mean... c'mon. Not gonna get blood from a stone, am I right?)
The only thing is, I don't get a sense of any real anguish from the captured heroes in this scene.
The art is too basic and although we can see that they are held fast and struggling, I just don't buy that they are being tormented (except for Toro, who had learned of his eventual fate last issue and spent his entire appearance here with the same "Oh shit... I'ma gonna die!" expression).

Not much else happens to this team, as the rest of the book is devoted to the "Mighty" Avengers and their battle against the renegade "S.H.I.E.L.D" L.M.D's and a surprise mystery villain.

This series has been building the mysteries slowly and progressing steadily with the story.

Writer Jim Krueger is someone whose past works I have liked and I was more than willing to give my $2.99 a month to see what he would do with these characters.

Alex Ross co-plots, and since I know that he's got a jones for the WWII era heroes, and a healthy respect for the modern ones, no one would really be treated poorly.

The weak link here (to me) is artist Steve Sadowski (joined by Patrick Berkenkotter).
The art for this issue is a step up from previous ones. It has a basic feel, rough at times, but it's clean and clearly tells the story. Is it at the level of what this project "should" have? Well... that's not for me to say. A big project like this probably should have had a higher caliber artist. Still, the art services the story, with some scenes working better than others.

For we Dr. Strange fans, his appearances in early issues was lacking, but now it seems to be that he's stepping into the heart of the action.

Hey! As a bonus, Spider-Man mentions that he's fought against D'Spayre before alongside MAN-THING. Just as Strange also reveals his past dealings with this demon, and his forebear; The Dweller in Darkness. A nice touch of continuity.

I'm looking forward to next issue.

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Another welcome gift was:

Dead of Night : Werewolf By Night # 1 (of 4)
I almost passed on this mini-series as the cover by Patrick Zercher turned me off.
A worse-looking rendition of the Werewolf's face I couldn't imagine.
Want to see it for yourself? Check it out HERE at Marvel's website. Yikes!

However, this is totally a case of "Don't judge a book by it's cover" (or a gift by the wrapping).
Interior artwork by Mico Suayan is very dynamic and bold.
The coloring, at first look seems a bit overdone and garish, however for a tale about Werewolves it might perhaps be appropriate, as the brightness of the colors made it seem as though my own senses were heightened. That, mixed with the art that seemed to be nearly always aimed at the reader like an attacking wild animal gave a good feeling of urgency and impending doom.
Writer Duane Swierczynski crafts a gripping story of a night in the life of lycanthrope; Jack Russell, and his attempt to stifle the raging beast within him for the first night of the full moon. A story that places the reader in the head of this beast and we know that for the entirety of the issue... we can't get out.

I'm looking forward to being in this horror's head for the rest of the series.

An exciting mystery is in the works. A game of cat and mouse... or wolf and wolf.

***WARNING***
As a MAX title, it's probably not for the kids. Lots of blood and gore.
Dr. Frederic Wertham would have wet his bed after reading this.

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I save for last a big lumpy package that smells like compost and has leaves and thorns sticking out of it at impossible angles... opening it I find:

- Spider-Man : Fear Itself (oneshot) - guest starring MAN-THING!

It...it's beautiful! Exactly what I wanted!
Cover art by Mico Suayan and Frank D'Armata.

There's a nice "shmaltzy" story crafted here by Stuart Moore, filled with soft-hazy flashback memories of a young Peter Parker, the sage advice of Aunt May and a carry-over to this modern adventure of Spider-Man.

The interior artwork by Joe Suitor is of mixed quality. While his coloring and backgrounds are beautifully done, his human figures and faces seem awkward and gaunt... and yet his Man-Thing is stellar.

He presents a new interpretation, that seems to take a page from the more recent looks that have been given to Manny. Such looks as seen in the "straight-to-DVD" Man-Thing film, it's prequel mini-series and the Marvel Legends action figure. All of those incarnations have large chunks of tree trunk bark jutting out from his back. Suitor follows suit with that representation.

What Moore and Suitor add that is new, is a layer of brambles that is used as an offensive weapon... and a means of infecting Spider-Man's bloodstream via the thorns.

Before I get too deep into the breakdown, I just want to share the one joke in the issue:

I laughed. No. Really.

It's like the kind of joke an 8 year old will hit you with.

Actually, it's not really the only joke in the issue, but it's one of the few, and the best.

This really isn't a jokey, big-time, fun-house Spider-Man romp, so the yuks are kept to a bare minimum. This is more of a thoughtful, low-key tale on the nature of fear.

And yet... it isn't.

It wants to be. It tried to walk that line, but truthfully, the story is more about a writer stringing together a few thin ideas and one cool metaphor (of a plant reaching for the light) and stitching them together in a web that won't hold the weight of the first fly that gets stuck in it.

The big deal here is Spider-Man walking a brief tightrope in his head (and with his DNA) between being a Man, an Animal or a ... plant... and what that means to him.

Of course, there are quite a few serious flaws with the way Spider-Man solves his dilemma and the ending, while plucking on some heartstrings, is "wrong" as well.
I wish I could go into those errors here, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who will be reading.

Sorry. But I can't even use a font color to hide the text (for a roll-over reveal) due to the particular shade of grey in my background.

Suffice to say, remember Aunt May's advice.
That's a good clue.

I'm more than willing to go into it in the comments section, if anyone wished to hazard a guess.

However, the story began with a false premise, or at least an unexplained one, (Why would Man-Thing be on a rampage, destroying the houses of poor people in the swamp? The answer put forth is... erroneous.,) and had a muddy through-line (so... was Man-Thing REALLY following Peter in New York, or was that all in his head? The writer seems to think it was BOTH, since in one scene the girl that Peter's with when he chases Man-Thing gives no sign that she sees the walking salad that is supposedly mere feet away from them) so from that point on I was just trying to stay in the story.

The last thing that hurt was the lettering by Jared K. Fletcher, which looked amateurish, and like the work of the other two creator's involved here... uneven.

I was able to read PAST the flaws however, to see the truer, purer vision of the creative team, and finally enjoy the tale for what it was (supposed to be). Don't think for a minute that I didn't get a little sad and choked up at the end. No matter if I thought it was a bit "off".

While I am being overly critical of the final product, I must commend the team for even putting forth their vision and producing a work that features Marvel's macabre muck-monster... the Man-Thing.

Thanks to the creative team, Tom Brevoort & Joe Quesada for this. It was the thought that counted.

I might be critical of the work, but I am thankful for the gift.

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* ("The Epiphany" - when the 3 "wise men" brought forth their gifts to the infant Christ-child. No I'm not Greek Orthodox or anything. My family has had that custom for many years. Maybe something small on Christmas Eve, one big gift on Christmas Day - and the rest on "Little Christmas".)

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand exclamations of delight!

How can something so minor make me so happy?

In reply to my LAST post (about the subtle nature of Doctor Strange's involvement in this "MARVELS : Eye of the Camera" series) my friend Howard Hallis emailed me and mentioned the pic of Doc at the END of the issue (issue # 2).

I had totally forgotten that I had seen that, because I was so damned pleased about the RABBIT thing, that I neglected to mention it in yesterday's post.

Good thing too, because when I went to get the pic just now I took another look at that panel and also saw...

MAN-THING!
DOCTOR STRANGE & MAN-THING are both hidden away in this title.

click pic to zoom in.

Man-Thing is seen at the very top center of the page (behind the Daredevil & Iron Man pics).
Dr. Strange is seen to the far right of the page, in a pic obviously taken after he made the "House of Shadows" disappear (from Strange Tales v1 # 120 - and mentioned in this blog in this old post HERE).

Kurt Busiek & Jay Anacleto are making me a happy fanboy thus far.
I don't need to have Doc (or Manny) front and center all the time.

Would I LIKE to see Strange in a more meaty role in this book?
Well... SURE.
But, sometimes a good, well-placed and purposefully hidden cameo is more than enough.

Also, there's something to be said for the child-like joy of finding hidden treasures like this. Almost like Christmas. Or finding an Easter Egg (a mossy, muck-encrusted mockery of an egg, that will burn you... but that's neither here nor there).

I'd love to have some more "urban legend", "boogie-men" type of appearances for these two characters.
Sure beats "deus ex machina" and "plot device" any day.

Thanks again Kurt & Jay (and Howard)!

Silly Rabbit...

You ever have one of those times when you think of something... something so completely random and incongruous, something that would seem improbable that anyone else has given much thought towards... and then find that it is addressed and brought to your attention soon thereafter?

Sure. We all do.
However, the difference between those "normal" instances and something like this is that the object of contemplation was a minor, throw-away scene in a comic book published nearly 35 years ago.

Back in November 02008, when I was working on a mega-series of posts *, I came across a scene that, whenever I see it, always makes me wonder... "Whatever happened to that giant rabbit?"...

From Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 (01974), by Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner...

In order to take Strange's mind off of more serious matters, Clea performs a cute magic trick.


Afterwards, the villainous Silver Dagger, who had been hiding outside, casts a spell upon the rabbit causing it to grow in size...

... and bust through the Sanctum's sigil-window, breaking the mystic seals, the rabbit's egress allowing him ingress.

However, the rabbit is soon forgotten in the ensuing chaos of Silver Dagger's attack and his "killing" of Dr. Strange.

But, as an animal lover, (and obsessed comic nerd,) I always wondered... "Whatever happened to that poor 'little' rabbit?".

It seems, Kurt Busiek has also had that thought weigh heavily on his mind all these years, as we see in

MARVELS : Eye of the Camera # 2...

MARVELS : EYE OF THE CAMERA # 2
by Kurt Busiek & Jay Anacleto.

Kurt Busiek is such a comics nerd... how can you not love him?
Thanks, Kurt!

This, added to his cameo for Dr. Strange from issue # 1 (seen here), it seems to me that Doc might be treated as a behind the scenes "urban legend" that touches the periphery of this story.
If it is indeed to work out that way... that would be FANTASTIC!

***UPDATE***
There's also another cameo of Dr. Strange - AND the Man-Thing - in this issue, that was brought to my attention after making this post.
They're in a new blog-entry - HERE.
***END UPDATE***

By the way... if you haven't read the epic Silver Dagger story arc you really should!
And, for your convenience, you can do so in either of these volumes:

Doctor Strange : A Separate Reality trade paperback

(full color reproductions of the epic storyline - and more)

or

Essential Doctor Strange vol 3.
A TON of Dr. Strange stories, reproduced in black & white.

***UPDATE***
It seems that Steve Englehart had NOT left the poor "little" rabbit to an unknown fate.
In an updated post, I show what happend to the rabbit after the events of
Master of the Mystic Arts # 01.
Check that out HERE.
***END UPDATE***

*(This Clea / Silver Dagger "rabbit-trick" featured in part III of the mega-popular "Housing Crisis" series of posts - seen here in Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII & addendum)

They're Agamottoliscious!

SO awesome...I wish this was a crossover!

Now I want THIS as my new desktop wallpaper.
-at the END of the post-
(via BULLY the Little Stuffed Bull)

*don't forget to check the alt-text for extra yummi-goodness!

The 2008 SANCTUM AWARDS!

WELCOME to the 1st of what we hope to be ANNUAL
"SANCTUM AWARDS"*!
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These awards are now to be awarded to the BEST (and WORST) of what 02008 had to offer!

Let's get to it, shall we. We've waited a YEAR for these...


BEST DOCTOR STRANGE APPEARANCE:

Actually, not too many "good" appearances this year. So sad to be a Doctor Strange fan.

The runner's up:

- Marvel Zombies3 # 3 -
BAD. But funny. So... kinda good.
Basically, for those who didn't read it... Doc has been reduced to a nearly mindless lotus-position hovering, drooling, head-tilted-to-the-side "ohm"-chanting mystical doorman.
He's only in one or two panels, but his appearance in this book... sad as it is... is gold.

- Spider-Man Family # 7 -
Sitting down to tea with "The Looter". Nice, quiet and helpful Stephen Strange. A small appearance, but I liked it.

- Marvel Adventures : Hulk # 8 -
"Strangely" it seems many of the "good" appearances this year were "kiddie comix". Strange in this is NOT the 616 version, but another "Adventures" retooling. Not great, but nothing done to outright destroy the character. Nothing to HELP him either, really. But still, it held it's own for what it was.

- New Avengers # 37 -
Huzzah! Doc isn't treated as being useless! Conjures up illusions of other heroes and then tackles - and defeats - the Hood & his demon in a very cool scene.
Sadly, it leads to the utterly weak New Avengers Annual # 2 (and the even weaker revelation of the Hood's demon being DORMAMMU?!?, but none of that bull is shown in this appearance), but that can't take away from a decent appearance.

The Winner:
- Marvel Adventures Super-Heroes # 5 -
My write up for this comic can be found HERE.
I still have many "issues" with this comic (all can be found in my write-up - including another pointless retooling of his origin) and it is FAR from perfect, but even with those failings it handles Doctor Strange in a very positive and respectful manner - doing a lot to ADD to the overall strength of his characterization and abilities. I wish there was something BETTER, from the "616" Marvel Universe proper, to give the award to, but with nothing better having come out in 2008 (of course, after I publish this, I'll be reminded of that ONE fabulous issue of something)... the award goes to this issue.

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WORST DOCTOR STRANGE APPEARANCE:
Far, far too many this year. And I didn't even include ALL of the bad ones...

Runner's up:

- New Avengers Annual # 2 -
Killed. Then, brought back (via ZOM-energies - which was alright) then runs away after having a ZOM-trum. Leaving his Sanctum & all his talismans to whomever is going to snatch them up. weak.

- Giant Sized Avengers # 1 -
2 panels and "borrowing the physics of another dimension" to make a mind-meld/ history replay? Isn't that one of the uses for the EYE of Agamotto?

- Marvel Zombies3 # 3 -
OK. It was FUNNY (and good to see he didn't get killed outright by the car avalanche back in the first issue of the first series). But this? Braindead/undead Strange? Sad. So sad.

- Cable/Deadpool # 46,47,48 -
Having Deadpool KILL other-dimensional denizens for their mystical energies to bring another villain back to life? What??

- Amazing Spider-Man # 555 -
One spell & faints; "totally spent"? Beautifully DRAWN, but crap!

The "Winner":
- Giant Sized Astonishing X-Men # 1 -
Only a few panels but rendered UTTERLY USELESS! Knocked out (again!) without doing ANYTHING, and then slept through all the meaty part (where the Eye Of Agamotto would have allowed him to perceive the unreality and be the hero) and then forced back to consciousness by Spider-Man beating on him (thankfully off-panel) and then shown to be USELESS again! Better that he STAYED unconscious.

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BEST "6-dimensions" APPEARANCE (hero):

Runner's up:

- Brother Voodoo in: New Avengers # 29 & 30 -
oh? That was from 2007? Crap! I wasn't blogging then. And it WAS REALLY GOOD! Oh well... but the collected edition came out in 2008, right? Does that count? No? Damn.
OK then...
- Brother Voodoo in: Cable/Deadpool # 48 -
Treated with respect and given a little more than the usual background appearance.
Sadly, only a LITTLE more than that, I'm afraid.

- Man-Thing in: X-Men First Class # 8 or # 11 -
Both are good. # 8 is a nice full story guest-starring role, but # 11 has a cameo with the most adorably-drawn (by Colleen Coover) rendition ever seen. As a plus, that little cameo is an important part of the story.

- Nighthawk in : Last Defenders -
Not a good series, but Nighthawk is truly the heart of the team. That was emphasized here. He comes across as a bit whiny in places and ineffectual, but in the end he wins out and outmaneuvers Tony Stark and the Initiative.

The Winner:
- Clea in : King Size Spider-Man Summer Special #1 -
A competent, heroic showing! Able to discern the evil nature of the threat all by herself, and assemble the team to take down the Enchantress. No Dr. Strange involvement of any kind. No helplessness. WIN!

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WORST "6-dimensions" APPEARANCE (hero):

Runner's Up:

- Black Knight in : Captain Britain & MI-13 # 7 -
Fooled by a fake Ebony Blade? It might be too early to call on this, since that storyline continues in upcoming issues.
I'll give the writer, Paul Cornell, some leeway. He's earned it.

- Man-Thing in : Marvel Comics Presents # 12 -
Cute story idea (Man-Thing being given an order to join the "Initiative"), but not a good depiction of Manny. It shows him acting somewhat via conscious THOUGHT, and even aggressive behavior where he would normally just take the abuse, shrugging it off.
It is also one of the very few instances where he is shown to be able to utter SOUNDS (in this case a cry of pain).
I'm not averse to the occasional utterance. Once in awhile, it's alright. So long as it's not actual WORDS, I'm cool with it. Still, not a great appearance (but nicely drawn). I will say that I'm intrigued by the main antagonist being able to walk off with a dried up Man-Thing head (while the swamp would reconstitute him again in a new body). It adds a strange layer to the mythos to think that if one would just "add water" to that head, there's be TWO Manny's walking shambling around (at least until the two would merge perhaps).
Not bad enough to garner the "top" slot.

- Son of Satan in : - Last Defenders -
I'm on the fence with this one. It might even have been a "BEST OF" appearance, but it felt forced. He tried to be a student of the Ancient One before Strange? Fine. I'll go with it. Trying to atone and come to grips with himself and his powers? That's been a staple for him, so... OK. That final armored costume? Ghastly. Overall, not a great take on Daimon Hellstrom. As I stated, a bit forced. However, I will grant that with his good/bad personal schism, it might be true that he'd try his hand at the hero thing again.

The "Winner":
- Jennifer Kale in : Man-Thing : Dead of Night - Issue # 2
A retelling/updating of Manny's origin isn't necessary. Why does Marvel DO this all the time? You don't have to reinvent the damned wheel! And even though the entire Mini-series was just a wank-fest for gratuitous cheesecake and violence, it DID have a few redeeming parts. However, that just isn't enough to excuse the bad stripper-demon-witch-woman that they turned Jennifer Kale into with this.

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BEST "6-dimensions" APPEARANCE (villain):

Runner's Up:

- Master Pandemonium in : Young Avengers Presents # 3 -
I must say that this was a VERY GOOD issue from top to bottom. Wiccan & Speed (Scarlet Witch's sons) are on a road-trip to discover the whereabouts of their mother and fall into the "lair" of Master Pandemonium; who was once the whole big-bad to the "imaginary sons of Wanda" magilla.
Master P is given some depth and pathos here. A really good turn and almost the winner of this award.

- Magic Skrull in : Captain Britain & MI-13 # 3 (multiple consecutive issues) -
An awesome visual with nearly all the mystical swag and power-up items from the Marvel Universe. Still, pretty much JUST a visual though.

- Nightmare in : Incredible Hercules # 118 -
Taking a step from his 1990's mini-series wherein he used machines to extract fear, he is now using a variation on that in his domain. And finally, an appearance where he ISN'T trying to quit the job of "Lord of Dreams". As of late, that's all he's been trying to do - escape his role. However, with this issue, he steps up to the plate to take down Godlings.

- Dr. Doom in : - Mighty Avengers # 10 -
With the exception of a few minor false steps - character wise, it was a very good appearance for DOOM. Right down to the end with his double-crossing Iron-Man and trying to blow him (and the Mighty Avengers) up.

- Dr. Plokta in : - Captain Britain & MI-13 # 6 (multiple consecutive issues)
Plokta nearly wins if for no other reason, than that he's a cool new villain with an interesting look (in not wholly original - he's the "bad" Eternity lookalike). If he IS the creator of the Mindless Ones, that just adds to the mythos. However, his "dream corridor" is enough to garner him some serious attention.

The Winner:
- "Nisilette the Unimaginable" in : - Marvel Adventures Super-Heroes # 5 -
I DO truly like the addition of an other-dimensional entity who would surely spell the end of all things... IF she were to be "imagined" into existence from the void. A very nice, very welcome imaginative addition to Strange's gallery of mystic entities and possible adversaries.

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WORST "6-dimensions" APPEARANCE (villain):

Runner's Up:

- Yandroth in : Last Defenders -
Like Nighthawk & Son of Satan from this same series, this appearance and characterization just seemed a bit forced (to me, anyway). It certainly was head and shoulders above his LAST appearance, as a bulbous-headed troll-like "Sorcerer" from the last DEFENDERS "series". However, while bringing him back to his Scientific roots and Machiavellian scheming, it seemed a "quantum-jump" of ability (such as his "quantum-jumping" in the series). I approve of his newfound "strength of ability, but his whole "the Defenders as a cosmic recipe" left me cold - and not wanting to leave a tip. (Much less pay for the "meal".)

- Nightmare in : F.F. True Story (mini-series) -
Nightmare's been (mostly) lame for quite a while now. This didn't help him any. A bumbling loser who admits to himself (and all those around him) that perhaps that's all he's supposed to be?!? No. That's just the fault of Marvel writer's and editorial. Nightmare can and should be the creepiest bugaboo that makes you cower at every shadow and the thought of falling asleep should keep you awake.

- Dormammu in : New Avengers # 46 -
WHAT? Dormammu is the demonic "benefactor" of THE HOOD's... hood?
Where the hell did THAT come from?
Bad.

The Winner:
- Dr. Doom in : - Mighty Avengers # 11 -
With spoken dialogue and inner thoughts so totally WRONG to what Doom would normally speak/think. This is the issue with the internet-meme "Cow-Mouth" and "Whore's heart" rant that proves that writer Brian Michael Bendis is just in love with his OWN writing, no matter from WHOM he has the words emanate. Characterization epic fail.

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BEST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related (overall) TITLE:

Runner Up:

- Ghost Rider -
Honestly, this thing has become quite good the past year.
The "G.R. is and has always been an ANGEL" aspect is unnecessary, and seems to be mere plot-twist for the sake of change window-dressing, as the rest of the new direction is flat-out GOLD. The great stories could still be achieved with the old dynamic, however.

The Winner:
- Captain Britain & MI-13 -
The best little supernatural "Defenders" title out there!
Words can't describe it. The only thing that it needs is some DOCTOR STRANGE!
And, here's hoping for an appearance by Mortigan Goth in 2009!

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WORST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related (overall) TITLE:

Runner up:

- NEW AVENGERS -
This came SO CLOSE to "winning" the "Worst Title" slot. SO CLOSE.
However, the series as a WHOLE isn't bad (well... not always), just the portion that had Doc as a member (and not even ALL of that). Doc was just a bad fit from start to finish with this low-level team. It was nice to see him trying to help out the "underground" heroes, but the fact that he didn't just make all the other team-mates redundant by his sheer vast ability made me think back to the worst of the old Defenders series, where he's fighting the Sons of the Serpent and getting conked on the head to keep him from single-handedly solving the problem.
Low-level street thugs should NOT be the primary fight for the Sorcerer Supreme. Heck, not even for a Master of the Mystic Arts.
No. Brian Michael Bendis' ham-handling of Strange throughout (and in the Illuminati - which was itself a New Avengers spin-off) was not respectful to the character. Certainly, Bendis gave Strange a few nice touches; such as the mysteriously hidden Sanctum Sanctorum, and he had Strange pull out some cool spells; like ones to make the Mighty Avengers wet themselves, or to cause the HAND ninjas to zone out, as well as the "hide-and-seek" with Brother Voodoo. However many of his spells and abilities; such as his astral form going to detect if the"captured Captain America" was the real deal, or like the "Spell of Tartashi" which would detect if anyone had bad intentions was a failure, and fortunately for "Skruller-Woman" the spell to determine what the heroes "true natures" are was cast after she defected.
Those just seemed to be there to give merit to the Skrull's "total" genetic (mind & body) makeovers. While "Spider-Woman" is shown to be doubled over after the "good intent" spell, she obviously was able to thwart it.
The Eye of Agamotto would have been able to penetrate ANY disguise - no matter HOW complete. It "reveals TRUTH". End of story. Anything else is merely a writer's device to prop up their poor story structure.
The poor writing is also evident in the mock latin spell casting. Instead of coming up with good (or even rhyming) spells Bendis simply tosses "Miftana Fantadada"around.
While it might be fun to say that (or "Zanyatta Mondatta" or "Roseanne Rosannadanna" or "Bananarama") Strange ALREADY has a full list of entities and spells with which to perform his feats. If you don't want to get all rhymey ("Seven rings hath Ragadorr, indigo to deepest black, may Oshtur grant me something more; the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak!), then at the very least use his Mystical Entities and principalities in short-form; "By the Images of Ikonn", "By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!" or, since Bendis likes a good cuss-word, lift something from Brian K. Vaughan's 'The Oath'; "By the Hoary #@$%^ng Hosts!"

Still, there WERE some good points in the run and the series overall, and as such avoids the dubious "honor".

The "WINNER":
- LAST DEFENDERS (mini-series)-
I saw what Joe Casey was going for, but it didn't make it. Not even close. Add that to the fact that he makes the Ancient One pull the old "Stephen Strange is the CHOSEN ONE" bullshit... which is a peeve, and flat out wrong for the origin of Strange to really work. Still, the team members are weak and the passing of the Nighthawk costume (in a move that was broadcast from the first issue) is poor treatment of one of Marvel's great unsung heroes.

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BEST EASTER-EGG-type APPEARANCE:

Runner Up:

- Marvels ; Eye of the Camera # 1 - (as seen HERE)

The Winner:
- Amazing Spider-Man # 560-
Marcos Martin adds Dr. Strange to an art show at the MoMA, with an Andy Warholian print.

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WORST EASTER-EGG-type APPEARANCE:
- No such thing this year. They were ALL appreciated!

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BEST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related SWAG:

Runner's Up:

- Daniel Danger's SANCTUM SANCTORUM limited edition art print
(from the Gallery1988's "Tribute to Stan Lee" show - seen HERE.)
I love it and am still waiting to hang it prominently in my own Sanctum Sanctorum.

- Dr. Strange 'toon tumblers - (as seen HERE & HERE).

- Dormammu hand-painted lead figure -
From the UK's "Classic Marvel Figurine Collection".
A nice piece of swag that comes with a magazine that gives all the info on the Lord of the Dark Dimension.

- Dr. Strange hero-clix (from the Secret Invasion line) -
Shown seated in the "lotus position" with ASTRAL form emerging (which is something that I've been petitioning - really - to happen with an Action figure or statue). However, the face on the sculpt looks more Groucho Marx than Stephen Strange.


The Winner:
- CLEA HEROCLIX (from the Secret Invasion line) -
Just because it's ABOUT TIME she got some merchandise love! A good sculpt in a positive pose, holding a spell book (perhaps the Book of the Vishanti - or the personal spell-book she was given by Stephen Strange way back when). What's NOT to love?

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WORST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related SWAG:

Runner Up:

- Triple-A Baseball Heroes comic -
It's great to give some promotional goodies out for the masses - anything to bring in new readers who might not already be comic book readers, but at least try to make some SENSE. Doctor Strange is sent up against the Mole Man's hoards while protecting the minor league baseball park in Durham, NC.
He's only in one small panel... so maybe this would ALSO be "Worst Easter-Egg" as well? But still, it gets people to see comic heroes who might not normally do so... not all bad.

The "Winner":
- Marvel "MasterPieces" 2008 card sets (series 2 & series 3) - & - VS cards -
THIS is CRAP.
A baseless money-grab. Many cards reuse old artwork (many from OTHER older card sets as well!) and then have some sets be printed in three forms (regular, gold bordered & holofoil), so that if you're a collector, you have to get the same card(s) THREE TIMES - and some of them are NOT cheap.
Even if they didn't come in multiple formats, releasing two, nearly identical sets of cards (even WITH some differences and new subsets) is merely greedily preying upon the collector's mentality and good-will.

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BEST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related HOMAGE:

Dr. Orpheus - from THE VENTURE BROS. animated show on Cartoon Network.

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WORST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related HOMAGE:

I honestly don't recall seeing any this year. But, I hadn't looked all that hard.

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BEST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related NEWS:

Runner's Up:

- A new DR. STRANGE series -
Possibly to spin out of his recent misfortunes from New Avengers / World War Hulk? Anyone who has been reading of promised further exploits of Doctor Strange as long as I have will doubtless be wary of believing this outright.

- A DR. STRANGE movie -
A film to be put on fast-track with possible direction by Guillermo del Toro and a possible writer in Neil Gaiman and a possible star in Christian Bale.
I'll possibly believe this as it possibly gets closer to possibly being possibly real.
I've personally read at least 3 Dr. Strange "movie" scripts from projects that were "possibly" being made. (None of the scripts were any good, btw).

- ROM SPACEKNIGHT rights being filed / renewed by Hasbro -
As I blogged about HERE.
What this could mean is exciting! And yet... could just be a placeholder.

The Winner:
- Neither or ALL. -
Promises are all well and good, but BOTH of those DR STRANGE news-bits have been made several times over the past decade or so.
The ROM news is good. Let's hope for at LEAST an action figure!

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WORST DOCTOR STRANGE/6-Dimensions-related NEWS:

Runner's Up:

- No DOC in Secret Invasion -
After being promised that he WOULD play an important part. However, seeing as how S.I. was a freaking MESS that was nowhere NEAR what the hype would have led us to believe, it might have been for the best.
Sadly, the news came LONG after I ordered and paid for my multiple copies of the mini series and tie-ins. All on that flimsy promise that Doc would be a player,
WHEN will I learn?

- A New Sorcerer Supreme? -
DOC to be hobbled and having his title stripped from him?
ANOTHER tear-down of a character that doesn't NEED to be rebuilt.
Joe Q stated in a recent interview (HERE) that Strange is a character that could never support a series... unlike Moon Knight who is now in a series "for years".
(Moon Knight's only had his new series for 2 years, Joe. Let me know when Moon Knight EVER gets to 80 or 90 issues, which is pretty much what issue Doc has been rebooted or canceled. And even THAT doesn't count, since Doc's 2nd series ended with issue # 81 and was IMMEDIATELY swept into the 2nd Strange Tales series, which detailed his fall and rise from the dark arts (sound familiar?) and then went IMMEDIATELY into his 3rd series, which lasted another 90 issues. The best Moonie's ever done is 60 issues.)

"Definitely NOT the Winner":
- Steve Gerber died. -
Creator / Writer of Howard the Duck & one of the best to ever handle Man-Thing and the Defenders (and anything ELSE he lay his pen upon)... his passing was tragic.

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2009 PREDICTIONS:

- ULTIMATUM will bring about the demise of Doctor Strange "Jr". (At least I HOPE so.)
If not... get him to step up as a character. He suxx the way he is.

- The "New" Sorcerer Supreme will be a temporary storyline.
If Marvel was going to toss Strange out the window, they'd have done so by now without the past few years of wreaking total havoc to his status quo.

- Night Nurse will no longer be linked to Strange romantically.
A nice diversion and a really good idea (it added to Strange's supporting cast, which once was strong, but over the years had been culled by bad crossovers and multiple re-workings).
Sadly, IF she's seen again, it won't be as his girlfriend. At least, not for very long after his return.

- Man-Thing won't have a new series.
He WILL appear in a few guest shots.
Maybe a one-shot or special project will be released.

- ROM Spaceknight has had his rights re-registered by Hasbro.
That won't manifest in a new comic series (at least not in 2009).
And it might not be by Marvel.
ROM may very well get an action figure however.

- The Sanctum Sanctorum Comix blog will have a LOT of GREAT stuff here for all of 2009!
THAT's a prediction we all want to come true!


Thanks for stopping by.
Any thoughts, criticisms, agreeing and/or differing opinions?
Discuss them in the comments section.

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* Award image at top of the post is a re-tooled image from Strange Tales v1 # 117, by Steve Ditko.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is the sight that greeted DR. STRANGE at just past midnight on New Year's Day 1969
(in issue # 181, just after what occurred in last night's post).

As long as this didn't happen to YOU this morning, 2009 is off to a good start!

Especially, dealing with the "Dream Haunting Hoardes of [Nightmare's] Nether Regions" ... That is NO way to begin a new year.

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Instead, let's look at a DIFFERENT New Year's Day - 1974 - that was filled with laughter and celebration for life renewed.
(quite literally - since SeseNeg/Genesis destroyed and recreated the universe.)

This scene from Marvel Premiere # 14

(Steve Englehart & Frank Brunner)

So a HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!
Let's all hope and strive for a bigger and better year than the last.

Come back tomorrow for some new stuff!