#marvel 1977

FANTASTIC FOUR #185-186 (1977)

Reed learns the meaning of family when Franklin is kidnapped by witches.

Actually, Agatha Harkness is a big part of the problem.

She took Franklin because she thought his powers would protect her from the Salem Seven Witches.

Were there really black women in Salem Massachusetts during the witch trial days?  Yes.  There were three.  Mary and Candy Black, freed slaves, who were accused and…

The team fights a dude called “The Eliminator.”  That’s right, a villain named like a suppository.  But that’s not what’s important.  What matters is that the book is getting back to basics.  Although there are quite a few hanger-ons at this pont (Impossible Man, Thundra, Tigra), the core of this title has always been family: Relationships, the things families do together, the things they do to…

Today, an entire page.  This was a fill-in issue written by Gerry Conway, who was also editor, and illustrated by Don Heck (who draws like a cross between Carmine Infantino and Gene Colan), who was the Avengers artist back in the 1960s.  Swordsman “returns from the dead” as a stone statue.

This page exemplifies how pretty much everyone from the dawn of time has portrayed Vision: Constantly…

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #166-168 (1977)

Spidey fights Will O’ The Wisp in Times Square, on the famous smoking man sign.

Creators: Len Wein, Ross Andru Grade: C

For the complete history of the MU, year by year, go here. And see my Ratings of Runs on comics here.