Marvelmania Catalog #2

Background

One quick look at Marvelmania Catalog #2 gives you the sense that things have gone downhill. The contents are black and white instead of color, the paper is rough instead of smooth, the inside cover come-on is written by “Uncle Don,” Donald Wallace rather than Stan, and the variety of merchandise has shrunk from the first issue.

Story Details

The cover is a nice Avengers pin-up by Sal Buscema. John Joshua at Comic Art Fans says it was “apparently originally Sal's try-out piece for the Avengers.” It later appeared in Foom #3, Autumn 1973 and Marvel Treasury Edition #7 (1975). The letters of “Marvelmania” are occupied by Marvel characters. Spidey is in the “L.”

In his letter, “Uncle Don” who calls himself “Leader-of-the-Bunch,” begins by telling us that “With this catalog, all previous lists and ads become obsolete…Some old items have been dropped and new ones added.” He then tells us that “On the opposite page, assuming the printer put everything in the proper place, you will see our new membership kit.” Not the cheeriest way to start this new catalog.

And, sure enough, the printer did indeed “put everything in the proper place.” The “New Membership Kit” is presented on the opposite page. The Kit includes this Club Catalog, a “Sample Issue of Club Magazine,” (Marvelmania Magazine (1970 Series) #3 is shown), “Club Certificate,” “Membership Card,” and “Six Marvel Art Masterpieces for your Collection.”

The next two pages plug the Marvelmania Magazine including a Steranko drawing of Spider-Man. “Late in 1969, when thousands of membership kits were shipped out to the new members of Marvelmania International, an extra was added to the first five thousand kits – a sixteen-page test issue called ‘Marvelmania Magazine’ (Marvelmania Magazine (1969 One Shot) #1)…Despite the fact that the test issue was produced from scratch in a matter of days, response was overwhelmingly in favor of such a project…it wasn’t long before a regular schedule was announced and loads of subscriptions began to pile in.” If the facing page is an indicator, three issues had been published at this point. There are 6 issues altogether.

The next two pages plug “Super Hero Portfolios” that promise to feature “Drawings, Articles, Checklists, Special Features.” The first of these is Marvelmania International: The Spider-Man Portfolio which, according to these pages “will include drawings of some of his most famous villains, a checklist of his magazine including info on writers, artists and story titles, and lots of other goodies.” The second portfolio is of Daredevil and these two, according to these pages, “are available only as a set,” although I’ve never seen the Daredevil portfolio. “And if you think they’re something, just wait and see what’s in store!” What was in store? Nothing.

Next are “Super-Hero Models” that were “recast from the 1967 Marx Super-Heroes plastic figurines,” according to Wikipedia. The catalog says that “these models are made from sturdy hard rubber which holds every detail of their costumes. You can paint them with ordinary model paints…or just leave them in their natural gray.” And they are gray. (The ad in the comics said, “Paint ‘em or just set ‘em around to form your own super-hero museum.) The six models are lined up at the top of the two pages and we are told that the pictures are actual size, making them about 6 inches high. The Carbon Scoring video The Story Behind the 1967 Marx Marvel Figures says that “while they were kinda just super-sized army men, the sculpting brought out that Silver Age vibe.” In its discussion of the Spidey figure, the video notes that the models are based on Marvel Art from 1965-1966 and that the costume elements are “incredibly Ditko in nature.” As for the odd “I give up” Spidey pose, Carbon Scoring suggests it “perhaps was done to highlight the underarm webs.” In both the comic ad and the catalog, they come in two sets. Set A is Iron Man, Spider-Man and Hulk. Set B is Daredevil, Thor, and Captain America.

The next four pages have items we saw in the first catalog only we saw them there in color. “Artist Self-Portraits,” “Comic Art Portfolio” (both previously part of the “Inking and Coloring Kit), and “Super-Hero Posters.”

But, here’s something new: Bullpen Foto Kit. “Photographs of all of the writers, artists, and Bullpen Buddies listed below. That’s SIXTEEN big photos.” Each name has a “Specializes in” associated with it. Neal Adams “specializes in drawing things nobody ever drew before.” John Romita “specializes in pretty girls, Spider-Man, pretty girls, last-minute touch-ups, pretty girls smiling super-heroes and pretty girls.” Jack Kirby had left Marvel by this time. His description includes “not currently with the Bullpen, but the memory remains” Only $1.50 with 50¢ postage.

The inside back cover plugs the “Official Club Stationary Kit” which is “the Official Marvelmania Pen Pal Program” from Marvelmania Catalog #1 but without the Pen Pals.

The back cover promises “’with every subscription for twelve issues of our magnificent monthly magazine, you may have your choice of either a FREE Comic Art Portfolio or a FREE Bullpen Foto Kit” and “Further details will be appearing, natch, in our classy club magazine and in forthcoming catalogs.” There will not be twelve issues of “our magnificent monthly magazine” and no “forthcoming catalogs.”

General Comments

I gave the first catalog a score of 2 and a half webs. This one is in black and white, has an intro by Donald Wallace instead of Stan Lee, and uses half of its pages to plug items we’ve already seen. On the other hand, the Marx models are cool, the Spider-Man Portfolio sounds interesting, and the tiresome Plastic Pillows are gone.

Overall Rating

This time, two webs.

Footnote

Marvelmania International: The Spider-Man Portfolio sounds interesting enough that we’re going to look at that next.