Marvel Team-Up #74Issue(s): Marvel Team-Up #74 Review/plot: ...but due to a mix-up in the mail John Belushi gets a magical ring intended for the Silver Samurai. The Samurai rounds up a bunch of goons and terrorizes the crew of SNL, trying to get his ring back. Spidey and the SNL cast team up to fight off the bad guys... ...but the Samurai does manage to escape with the ring, which gives him the power to teleport. Claremont is a great plotter and scripter, but this issue makes clear that he can't write humor to save his life. Despite the premise this issue is terribly unfunny. Rick Jones and Stan Lee are the guests appearing on SNL this episode, so they have cameos. Quality Rating: D+ Chronological Placement Considerations: One of the Saturday Night Live actresses wears a Ms. Marvel costume, and it's her new black one, so this has to take place after Ms. Marvel #20. The henchmen who are fooled by her costume say that they aren't paid enough to fight the Avengers, but it's unlikely that this takes place after her formal membership status is given to her in Avengers #183, since that hasn't been published yet. Ms. Marvel has been associating with the Avengers since Avengers #171. References: N/A Crossover: N/A Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: N/A Inbound References (4): showCharacters Appearing: Mary Jane Watson, Rick Jones, Silver Samurai, Spider-Man CommentsStatler and Waldorf in the first panel were characters on the 1970s Muppet Show. Posted by: Mark Drummond | August 29, 2011 1:28 PM FOOM#21 announced #74 to be a team-up with Iron Man against Dr. Synne from Captain Britain(maybe transplanted from an earlier announced possible X-Men story). I have no idea if Dr. Synne ever appeared in an American Marvel comic. Posted by: Mark Drummond | April 14, 2013 7:11 PM I had just discovered early SNL about the time I found this! I saved up and waited; I think it was $3.50 or $4. It has its moments and the cast is recognizable but it seems like a lost opportunity. The era seemed like a sweet spot for MTU, the more affordable back issues plus guest stars; I found most of the Nancy Rushman storyline and began to imagine untold bad issue gold. I sometimes dream of finding uncannily great old Marvels. Hate waking up and realizing the shop and comics were only a dream. Lol Things like that help explain the lasting appeal. Posted by: Cecil | February 5, 2015 5:26 AM I'll take Belushi fighting the Silver Samurai over Uri Geller anyday at least. Posted by: Ataru320 | February 5, 2015 8:30 AM The ring plot may have been inspired by the Beetles film HELP! Posted by: Luke Blanchard | March 17, 2016 6:23 PM Luke, I think Claremont was clearly acknowledging that when he had Belushi say (in page 30, panel 3), "Help! I need somebody!," which is a lyric from the title song of that Beatles film. fnord, I know Rick Jones was invoked, but couldn't find him actually on-panel; did you? Posted by: Matthew Bradley | July 11, 2016 2:42 PM Is that him on stage on the opening splash? Sitting, with the orange shirt/jacket? Or is that Bill Murray with his shirt miscolored? For character appearing purposes, he's said to be there, so i'm listing him, but you're right that he's possibly only "behind the scenes". Posted by: fnord12 | July 18, 2016 11:23 AM I wondered about that myself, and of course there's no way to tell for sure with his face turned away, but since all of the other Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time Players are shown onstage while their names are announced, I presumed the seated figure was Murray. Posted by: Matthew Bradley | July 18, 2016 3:17 PM Comments are now closed. |
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