Issue(s): Captain Marvel #42
Cover Date: Jan 76
Title: "Shoot-out at the O.K. Space Station!"
Credits:
Steve Englehart - Script
Al Milgrom - Plot
Al Milgrom - Penciler
Frank Giacoia & Mike Esposito - Inker

Review/plot:
This is an incredibly goofy story where Rick Jones and Captain Mar-vell have been transported to a mining planet with a single boom town that looks just like something out of an old western. The heroes befriend the kindly prospector and get into a fight with the local toughs.

Then "the boss" arrives, except he's the Stranger.

The Stranger is apparently amused by the western movie trappings of this planet, and he wants to have a showdown with Captain Marvel.

Then the Stranger gets bored and leaves.

Rick and Marv leave, too. On an electric mule.

There's an apology in the lettercol due to the fact that both this issue and Avengers #142, both published the same month, are "space westerns". The explanation is that Milgrom plotted this issue by himself, whereas normally he co-plots with Englehart, who wrote the Avengers issue. Tonally, they are entirely different stories, but it's worth noting that if Marvel really thought it would have been a concern, i guess there wasn't any editorial supervision at this point in Marvel's history.

All i can hope regarding this story is that it has something to do with the Supreme Intelligence manipulating things to affect Rick in some way. We are reminded this issue that Supremor is after Rick's mind.

But that doesn't explain the Stranger playing along with it (and he sure is getting off on this)...

...and it's a very, very silly story regardless of any possible explanations.

Rick creates a new costume for himself this issue. Mar-vell is impressed with Rick's creative use of the nega-bands.

Rick himself finds the costume, and everything else, faan-tastic!

Drax the Destroyer appears briefly, destroying an asteroid and yelling for Thanos.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: See the Considerations section for next issue regarding Drax the Destroyer's appearance here. Essentially i am positing that Thanos has revived around the time of this issue (even though he isn't shown until Warlock #9, which i have placed further ahead) and that's why he's going crazy.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A