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1976

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Continuing the EIC upheaval period, the July bullpen hints at "big news next ish about Gerry Conway and Marv Wolfman". However, the September issue just says that Marv Wolfman is stepping down but doesn't say who his replacement will be. The October bullpen announces that Archie Goodwin will be taking over, and mentions Gerry Conway as someone who held the position after Wolfman! The October issue of the Fantastic Four (#175) mentions that Roy Thomas was going to take over the EIC role again when Marv left, but then Roy decided to move to California.

The July bullpen mentions that Chris Claremont is stepping out of an editorial capacity and is being replaced by two new hires: Jim Shooter and Roger Stern. Ralph Macchio, a long time letter writer to Marvel, is announced in the October bullpen as a new hire, taking over Goodwin's responsibilities managing the B&W Magazine line.

SHAZAM awards:

Best Writer: Archie Goodwin
Best Penciler: John Buscema
Best Inker: Dick Giordano
Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
Best Continuing Feature: Conan
Best Individual Story: "Gotterdammerung"
Hall of Fame Award: Jack Kirby

Marvel also wins a lot of awards in Britain's "first annual, nationally organized awards polls" for Howard the Duck, Conan, Captain Britain, and the X-Men.

The price of comics rises to 30 cents (after several months of advertising "Still only" 25 cents). Inflation especially in printing, engraving, and paper costs, is blamed. Marvel claims to have held out longer than their competition in raising prices.

The June issue Bullpens has a note explaining what those strange new UPC boxes in the corner of the comic covers are for.

The July bullpen indicates that Marvel's subscriptions departments have started mailing issues flat instead of folded. And it puts up clarified rules for No-Prizes, saying that they will only be available to readers who spot major mistakes.

Creator notes: The lack of consistent management reflects on the quality of Marvel's output, with X-Men, Master of Kung Fu, and the Defenders balancing out a lot of mediocrity. The Claremont/Byrne Iron Fist is also above average. George Perez is getting more work, but unfortunately his writing partners don't match his performance for the most part. Jack Kirby returns to mainstream Marvel with Captain America, but it isn't very good. His failed Eternals epic also begins this year.
Notable events:
  • First Shi'ar (in the form of Eric the Red and some off-panel appearances by others)
  • Marriage of Betty Brant and Ned Leeds
  • Two crossovers, Dr. Strange/Dracula and Super-Villain Team-Up/Avengers
  • Formation of the Champions
  • Return of Wonder-Man, not seen alive since 1964
  • Death of Jarella
  • Introduction of the Eternals, Deviants, and Celestials. The more well known characters include: Ikaris, Sersi, Thena, Makkari, Gilgamesh, and Kro.
  • Jean Grey 'becomes' the Phoenix
New characters: Eric the Red, Bullseye, Omega the Unknown, Darkstar, Nova, Jigsaw, Black Tom, and, well... the Texas Twister

Power Man #29  
Eternals #1-19, Annual #1 The coming of the Fourth Celestial Host 
Master of Kung Fu #36-37  
Marvel Team-Up #43-44  
Marvel Team-Up #45  
Marvel Team-Up #46  
Power Man #28,30-31  
Marvel Two-In-One #13  
Marvel Two-In-One #14  
Marvel Two-In-One #15  
Marvel Two-In-One #16-17  
Marvel Team-Up #47  
Marvel Two-In-One #18  
Marvel Two-In-One #19  
Marvel Chillers #5-7  
Fantastic Four #166-167  
Defenders #31  
Howard the Duck #1-3  
Captain Marvel #42  
Jungle Action #19  
Ka-Zar #14  
Defenders #32-33  
Amazing Spider-Man #153  
Uncanny X-Men #97  
Marvel Premiere #28 Legion of Monsters 
Marvel Tales #100 (Hawkeye)  
Marvel Spotlight #26  
Master of Kung Fu #38-39  
Fantastic Four #168-170  
Amazing Spider-Man #154  
Jungle Action #20-21  
Black Goliath #1-3  
Defenders #34  
Avengers #145-146  
Amazing Spider-Man #155  
Daredevil #131-132 1st Bullseye 
Iron Man #82-83  
Fantastic Four annual #11  
Marvel Two-In-One annual #1  
Marvel Two-In-One #20  
Daredevil #133  
Master of Kung Fu #40  
Defenders #35  
Omega The Unknown #1-10  
Defenders #36-38  
Hulk #195  
Amazing Spider-Man #156  
Power Man #32  
Daredevil #134  
Iron Man #84-85  
Daredevil #135-137  
Amazing Spider-Man #157-159  
Amazing Spider-Man annual #10  
Amazing Spider-Man #160  
Hulk #196  
Tomb of Dracula #44  
Doctor Strange #14  
Tomb of Dracula #45-46  
Doctor Strange #15-16  
Hulk #197-198  
Amazing Spider-Man #161-162  
Hulk annual #5  
Iron Man #86-87  
Hulk #199  
Master of Kung Fu #41  
Iron Man annual #3  
Captain America #193-200  
Iron Man #88-91  
Marvel Treasury Special: Captain America's Bicentennial Battles
Captain America #201-203
 
Ghost Rider #14-15  
Ghost Rider #16  
Champions #1-10 1st Champions, 1st Darkstar 
Marvel Team-Up #48-51 1st Jean DeWolff & Wraith 
Ghost Rider #17-19  
Daredevil #138  
Ghost Rider #20  
Avengers #150-151 New Avengers lineup: Vision, Scarlet Witch, Beast, Captain America, Wasp, Yellowjacket, Iron Man 
Avengers #152  
Amazing Spider-Man #163-164  
Hulk #200  
Fantastic Four #171-175  
Doctor Strange #17-19  
Thor #240-245  
Super-Villain Team-Up #5  
Daredevil annual #4  
Super-Villain Team-Up #6-7  
Son of Satan #2-3  
Marvel Premiere #26  
Marvel Two-In-One #21-23  
Master of Kung Fu #42  
Thor #246-247  
Master of Kung Fu annual #1  
Iron Fist #5-7  
Defenders #39  
Marvel Spotlight #30  
Jungle Action #22  
Power Man #33  
Rampaging Hulk #1  
Howard the Duck #4  
Thor #248-250  
Son of Satan #4-7  
Doctor Strange #20  
Dr. Strange annual #1  
Marvel Two-In-One #26-27  
Marvel Spotlight #32 1st Spider-Woman 
Black Goliath #4-5  
Ka-Zar #17-18  
Master of Kung Fu #43  
Power Man #34  
Hulk annual #6 1st Kismet 
Master of Kung Fu #44-45  
Marvel Premiere #31 1st Woodgod 
Power Man #35  
Master of Kung Fu #46  
Nova #1 1st Nova 
Thor #251  
Master of Kung Fu #47  
Hulk #204-205  
Defenders #40  
Master of Kung Fu #48-51  
Marvel Two-In-One #29-32  
Marvel Two-In-One #33  
Iron Fist #8-10  
Nova #2  
Hulk #206-207  
Captain Britain #1-2  
Marvel Preview Magazine #8  
Marvel Premiere #32 1st Monark Starstalker 
Inhumans #7-8,10  
Hulk #208  
Defenders annual #1  
Nova #3  
Thor #252-253  
Defenders #41  
Avengers #153  
Avengers annual #6  
Captain Marvel #47  
Power Man #37-40  
Nova #4  
Thor #255  
Howard the Duck #5-7 / Marvel Treasury Edition #12  
Howard the Duck #8 Howard the Duck runs for President 
Jungle Action #24  
Tomb of Dracula #50-51  
Daredevil #139  
Thor #258  
Marvel Spotlight #31 Infinity Formula 
Defenders #42-43  
Super-Villain Team-Up #8  
Avengers #154  
Super-Villain Team-Up #9  
Avengers #155-156  
Uncanny X-Men #98-101 1st Phoenix, 1st Black Tom 
Marvel Team-Up annual #1  
Marvel Team-Up #53-54  
Uncanny X-Men #102-103  
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #31-32  
Fantastic Four #176-178  
Daredevil #140  



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