December 18th: Seven days and counting…

Its simple and elegant, but speaks volumes.

The red block design features the Marvel Comics logo with super heroes on one side and villains on the other. Heroes include Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Hulk and Iron Man. Villains are Loki, Red Skull, Hela, Thanos and Ultron.

   Amazingly, these are the same heroes and villains featured in recent movies allowing both theater goers to enjoy as well as comic book veterans.

   This is part of the less expensive Hallmark ornaments produced for outlets like Walmart. It doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of adding this one to the tree.

Welcome to National Doctors Day.

National Doctors Day is celebrated on March 30 each year to commemorate the anniversary of the first ether anesthetic for surgery administered by Doctor Crawford Long in 1842.

Today’s master of ceremonies is Dr. Donald Blake, aka Thor. Marvel’s first Thor. Marvel’s first superhero Thor.

Journey Into Mystery (1952) 83

Contrary to his origin in Journey into Mystery issue 83, Thor is the son of all fathers Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby. He was also coming on the heels of the Hulk as Lee, Kirby and the soon-to-be christened Marvel Bullpen as they populated the Marvel Universe.

Readers were given a 13-page story and origin in which it was revealed Blake was not the human he believed himself be. Rather he was the punished son of Odin. The All Father had exiled his son to Midgard to teach him humility.

Thor dominated Journey into Mystery and the title was changed to reflect the stars status by issue 126. The book would showcase a talented group of artists and writers beginning with Kirby’s replacement, Neal Adams. John Buscema took over penciling chores after Adam’s two-issue stint.

Walt Simonson began guiding the book with issue 337. His run would last three years and showcase some of the Thunder God’s most memorable stories including the introduction of Beta Ray Bill and Thor as a frog.

Thor was rebooted following the Heroes Reborn saga. His second volume began in 1998 and ran till 2004. A third volume appeared in 2007.

He was given several new titles as the first Thor movie hit theaters in 2011. Thor would be part of the ensemble Avengers movies in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2019 as well as starring in his own films in 2013 and 2017.

The first National Doctors Day was observed in Winder, GA. Dr. Charles B. Almond’s wife, Eudora, wanted to have a day to honor physicians. For the inaugural event, greeting cards were mailed and flowers placed on the graves of deceased doctors. The red carnation is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctors Day.

Marvel Comics trumpeted its Marvel Value Stamps in the debut of the latest in-house promotional machine, the Bullpen in comic books covered dated March 1974.

Touted as an early holiday present the now (in)famous Marvel Value Stamps, an off-beat promotion mirroring the main stream’s Green Stamps or other bartering badges, readers were regaled with the wonders to come.

The article went on, in true Marvel idiom, “…one of these glitzy mini-posters—each featuring a different Marvel star or starlet—will appear in virtually every one of our mixed-up original-material mags—and in many of our collectors’-item reprints, to boot!”

Marvel Value Stamps ran in two series. The first offered renderings of readers favorite heroes and villains. The second, series B, were smaller pieces of a larger image to make up 10 different posters. Each were spread through various Marvel Comic Book titles.

Both series consisted of 100 pieces. The first could be pasted in an official 16-page Marvel stamp album offered in-house for 50 cents, to cover postage and handling. Included was a free, full-color poster.

What made the promotion so sinister was the fact anyone wishing to participate would need to cut up their comic books. Maybe the most infamous instance is Incredible Hulk 181. Philatelists traded the grade of their Hulk 181 to clip a Shanna stamp. Basically, the choice cost collectors an estimated 80-percent of what the unscathed book would be worth normally.

When all 100 stamps were collected, the album could be returned to Marvel Comics for a discount for entry to various comic book shows around the country. In addition, completists could take 10-percent off official Marvel merchandise sold by the company. This could be done in perpetuity.

And, in theory.

The two promotions ran from 1974 to 1976.

Visit Marvel Value Stamps The Unofficial Index for more information.

Marvel Stamp Album

For Father’s Day, let’s talk about the All-Father himself, Odin.

Thor’s daddy wasn’t part of the Thunder God’s initial Silver Age Marvel appearance in Journey into Mystery 83. Odin wasn’t even mentioned until Journey into Mystery 85 and, finally, revealed the following issue.

Journey into Mystery 86

He is the adoptive father of Loki and sired Balder by another woman. In addition to being the father of Thor, Odin is also ruler and protector of the Asgardian people. He has died three times in defense of Asgard.

Odin has incredible strength, stamina and extended lifespan. He is master of the Odin Force that can create illusions, force fields, levitat, molecular manipulation, telepathy, control of lightening and teleportation.

Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayed the All Father in all three Thor movies.

In the animated Marvel U he has been voiced by Bernard Cowan, The Marvel Super Heroes; Jess Harnell, The Super Hero Squad Show; Clancy Brown, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes; Frank Welker, Avenger’s Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.; Dwight Schultz, Ultimate Avengers 2; French Tickner, Hulk vs. Thor; and Christopher Britton, Thor: Tales of Asgard.

Father’s Day was first held July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, WV. It was not until the 1930s it began to gather national support, but it wasn’t until President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a presidential proclamation it became official in 1966. President Richard M. Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

Super Hero Adventures (2018) 1

Beyond the cover and the second story’s title, there’s no real Thanksgiving material to be found.

“Slice of Life” is the opening tale. Ghost Spider just wants some pie. Pure and simple. So does Venom. The difference is only one of the two have money to buy said pie.

In what appears to be the only pie shop in New York, or at least the most popular one, Ghost and Venom cross paths. A short battle later, Ghost Spider finds crime does pay; at least for the victor.

The two stories are interrupted by a swipe at the Sunday funnies. Page 12 offers a spread as it would appear in the Daily Bugle.

Next up is “Thankful.” Spoiler:  Loki is the guest villain.

Thor can’t find his hammer. Spidey happens to be nearby and the two team to search. The little Lord of Mischief proves to be the culprit. Spider-Man tricks the trickster and everyone goes off happily ever after – except for Spidey who can’t find his fries.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, sharing it with family and friends.

To mix it up a little, let’s toss in some Marvel “horror” for this Halloween ’19. Avengers Assemble Season Three, Episode Seven is worth a sit back in your most comfy chair with a bowl full of Halloween candy.

Comic book shops were common place by the beginning of the 1990s, but original graphic novels and trade paperbacks were not.

The Might Marvel holiday Wish List, sporting a caroling Spidey, Hulk and Cap, was a festive gift guide for the comic book fan. What could be simpler? Make a check beside the corresponding title, hand it to the gift giver and wait for Christmas morning.

Looking back at this pre-internet solicitation reminds me of how far the industry has come. Of course I forget this is 30 years ago.

The Mighty Marvel holiday Wish List (1990)

The year 1990 doesn’t seem that long ago. Saying 30 years does.

Anyway, 30-years ago trades and collections were not the norm. Marvel had its high-end Masterworks and DC its Archive editions. Those were available in most comic book shops and retail book chains. They were just pricey for the day.

Trades were much more reasonable, but still a novelty. That’s why it’s so odd looking at the ad paper and seeing so few story arcs collected.

Readers must also remember this was a time when stories were written from beginning to end with no worries about how they would fit in a trade.

As much as I love Neil Gaiman and Sandman, I blame the wordsmith for the advent of trade-length story arcs. He invented the four- to six-issue story arc with a few one-and-dones in between that seem to have become the industry standard for trades.

So, sit back and check out the Mighty Marvel holiday Wish List – in full – courtesy ComicBookDaily.com. It’s a nostalgic look at the not-so-distant past.

Marvel’s holiday card, circa 2010.

Sometimes it’s hard to look at the past. And, I’m not just talking about the issue in question.

Cover dated February 1992 the issue features a backdrop of the era that spawned it. “How the Groonk Stole Christmas” may be confusing for non-Thor fans, but maybe more so for those who missed the early 1990s in general.

By and large, this is a Christmas issue from the shadowy Dr. Seuss knock-off on the cover through holiday drama as bland as the era.