Review: Marvel Feature #12
- Rick Moore
- 36 minutes ago
- 6 min read
We Interrupt this Blog to For a Special Treat!
I can already hear your questions. “What the heck?” “Where’s our review of Iron Man #65?”
Rest assured, I’ve have a written review of Iron Man #65 ready to go. Next Friday.
But let’s be honest. This Dr. Spectrum story isn’t all that exciting. So I thought I’d give us all a break so that we can enjoy another comic from August 1973 that included Iron Man. Keeping this one “in the family,” we also have Mike Friedrich as the writer and Jim Starlin doing the pencils.
Marvel Feature #12 was the second “pilot” for a Thing team-up series. Having had success with Spider-Man in the Marvel Team-Up series, it only made sense for Marvel to try out another book using their second most popular character at that time.
What immediately caught my young eye was seeing my two of my favorite superheroes duking it out with The Blood Brothers who I easily recognized from Iron Man #55. That told me that Thanos also had to be in the book. A peek at the credits sealed the deal! This puppy joined a few others as my 10-speed took me home as quickly as I could pedal. Once there, I planned to savor every panel with a bag of BBQ potato chips washed down by a tall glass of milk! A diet I fervently hoped would help me ward off, “The Bite of the Blood Brothers!”
Credits
Writer: Mike Friedrich
Pencils: Jim Starlin
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Colorist: Linda Lesserman
Letterer: Mike Royer
Editor: Roy Thomas
Cover Art: Jim Starlin & Joe Sinnott
Release Date: August 14, 1973
Synopsis
That terrific Starlin-Sinnott cover told readers exactly what awaited us inside. But before the fun begins, we have an outstanding splash page where a fuming Thing stomps through a burning desert - complete with a hissing rattlesnake. His ire serves as a good excuse to tell us all about his battle with the Hulk in the previous issue.
Ben Grimm finishes those thoughts just in time for a loud flyover from Iron Man who doesn’t even slow down.
Reason for that?
Our guy’s in hot pursuit of information regarding Thanos who’s making life quite exciting for Captain Marvel and the Avengers, using his thrall (and long-time Iron Man opponent) The Controller. Iron Man’s returning to the base where he met Thanos back in Iron Man #55. (Which clearly survived being blown up at the end of that issue.)
His arrival does not go unnoticed by our cover villains. But before the Blood Brothers take any action, they check with the big guy in charge. Holding the Cosmic Cube, a poorly drawn Thanos gives them the “green light” to eliminate Iron Man. (I won’t ask why Thanos doesn’t simply take care of that himself since the Cosmic Cube can make any thought a reality.)
That’s all the alien apes need to know as they immediately tackle our hero. To his credit, Iron Man gives both Jim Starlin and Joe Sinnott enough effort to earn a couple nicely drawn pages of him giving the Bros a good workout. Unfortunately, the two of them are more than Iron Man can handle. Once he gets free, the Golden Avenger shifts his boot jets to high gear to secure some serious help - only to slam right into the Thing who’d followed him to the base.
With both heroes down, Thanos offers them kudos as well as his approval to take down the rocky guy from the Fantastic Four. Poor Ben’s barely getting to his feet when we find out why those two guys go by their name.
Yep, it’s revealed that they’re … Cosmic Vampires!
Apparently, Ben’s skin is thick enough to ward off the fangs of his attacker. But being bitten does put both villains immediately onto his bad side. Of course that means “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” Messrs Starlin and Sinnott extend the same courtesy of their talents to the Thing as he puts up an impressive fight against the Blood Boys - including a wicked shot of being batted away courtesy of stout looking log! Unfortunately, like his armored co-star, Ben is also outmatched.
And speaking of the guy in the metal suit, being unconscious in the sun does wonders for a solar-powered suit. Iron Man takes full advantage of the full charge by hurling full speed into both, knocking the cute booties off one bloodsucker.
With both heroes now engaged, the Blood Brothers don’t last much longer. Iron Man swings the Thing into one to put him down and a double punch shuts the lights off for the other. At that point, Thanos teleports them away to whatever miserable fate he has in mind. (And again, let’s not ask why the Big T didn’t just take care of both heroes with that Cosmic Cube.) We can also note the slim, hooded figure with glowing eyes now standing with Thanos. She sorta, kinda figures into all of this as the story advances in Captain Marvel.
Back on Earth, we have our only “bullshit” moment with Iron Man telling Ben that the battle drained too much of his power for him to carry Ben back. Although it makes a humorous ending where that same opening shot is simply recycled, even as a kid I didn’t buy that for a second. Even discounting that his solar-powered suit would charge up in no time, why didn’t Iron Man contact someone to pick Ben up or at least give him some directions.
Anyway, ironic ending aside, we’re told that next up is the Man-Thing. True. But that story wouldn’t take place in Marvel Feature. Ben would be awarded his own book with Marvel Two-In-One #1.
Story
High fives to Mike Friedrich for incorporating this issue into the Thanos War in Captain Marvel in a manner that kept that complex story accessible to new readers and hopefully drove a few more eyeballs towards the good Captain. Outside of the nonsensical ending, I’ve zero qualms about Friedrich’s writing on this issue. It makes me wonder why he wasn’t given an opportunity to work on any titles beyond the second-tier books.
Bottom line - a thoroughly enjoyable read. 7/10
Art
This wasn’t quite the Jim Starlin I was hoping to see. That shot of Thanos on further up this post was particularly bland. Nor were there the wild, imaginative panels that I would see when Captain Marvel actually showed up in my area. Since it’s my understanding that Joe Sinnott works only from breakdowns, I’m guessing that is exactly what Starlin provided to the veteran inker. That would also fit what had to be a busy schedule for the talented, in-demand Starlin.
Still, all that said, this was a fine art job throughout the issue. 7/10
Wimp Factor
Other than that completely lame excuse about being out of power at the end, our hero did himself just fine in this story. Iron Man held up his end of the bargain working with the Thing, one of Marvel’s heaviest hitters. 1/10
Villain Rating
Are you kidding? This has freaking Thanos in it! I’m not risking him using that Cosmic Cube on me! 10/10. As for the Blood Brothers, that they’re not only strong, but also outer space vampires add another creepy point. 7/10
Overall Rating
What can I say? An excellent comic book - chock full of action from cover to cover. Only quibble is that the story could be confusing for anyone unaware of the Thanos War at that time. But if that were the case, then this issue should provide sufficient incentive to correct that oversight. 7/10
Additional Nuts & Bolts
Say so long to the Blood Brothers who remain in whatever limbo Thanos sent them to until they return in Iron Man #87. Unfortunately, absent Jim Starlin’s hand, they’re far less imposing in that issue and pretty much any other going forward.
As I said before, this is the final issue of Marvel Feature. However, Marvel Two-In-One goes on for a hundred issues. The series starts off with a stellar run by Steve Gerber who quickly and wisely ties it into stories going on two of his other books, Daredevil and The Defenders.