Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1974-07-01 00:05:30 |
| Previous: Ka-Zar #3-5 | Up: Main 1974 / Box 8 / EiC: Roy Thomas | Next: Giant-Size Creatures #1 |
Marvel Team-Up #25
Issue(s): Marvel Team-Up #25
Cover Date: Sep 74
Title: "Three into two won't go!"
Credits:
Len Wein - Writer
Jim Mooney - Penciler
Frank Giacoia - Inker
Review/plot:
First of all, you guys, you've got to give up this Unholy Trio thing. Your names are Ape Man, Bird Man, and Cat Man. There's nothing Unholy about that; it's just goofy. Embrace who you are, call up Frog Man and make amends, and call yourselves the Ani-Men like you know you ought to. I get that you were briefly working for a guy called the Exterminator and you thought working with him, and the name he gave you, would help your rep. But it's a total mismatch. And that guy is nothing but trouble; i recommend staying away from him in the future.
As for your actions this issue, well, i guess kidnapping the daughter of an industrialist for the ransom money is about your speed (although i notice you can't even get your brand out there properly since they're calling you the Unholy Three instead of the Unholy Trio; another reason to go with the much more intuitive Ani-Men).
But when you've collected the ransom and you're heading back to your base and you get attacked by one super-hero...
...and then another super-hero shows up to fight him instead of you?
That's a set-up. That should be setting off alarm bells in your head.
I know it's a Marvel Team-Up issue and they always start off with a Misunderstanding Fight, but at least watch your back and don't take a direct route home. Or you'll just lead the two super-heroes back to your base where they will whomp you and rescue the girl.
Quality Rating: C
Historical Significance Rating: 1
Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP place this between Daredevil #112-113 and Amazing Spider-Man #135-136
References:
- Daredevil last defeated the Unholy Trio in Daredevil #41.
- At the end of the issue, Spider-Man has to leave when the police show up since he's wanted by the law. There's no footnote, but it's because of the death of Captain Stacy from Amazing Spider-Man #90 and the deaths of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn from Amazing Spider-Man #121-122.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: N/A
| Previous: Ka-Zar #3-5 | Up: Main 1974 / Box 8 / EiC: Roy Thomas | Next: Giant-Size Creatures #1 |
Comments
"Unholy Three/Trio" is probably taken from the silent & sound Lon Chaney films.
The cover of the issue of Crazy Spider-man is reading doesn't correspond to any actual cover at the time. Is that supposed to be an observatory telescope or a Dalek?
The Ani-Men are actually decent Daredevil (or other low powered or inexperienced hero types)--you've got a mix of strength, speed, agility--they could have been DD's Enforcers!
Some weird bits in this one: the "Rash of pseudo-political kidnappings" thing early int he story seems like a Patty Hearst thing and Spider-Man drops an Amos 'N' Andy reference with his "Ruby Begonia" line. WTH, Len Wein?
It occurs to me that there could easily be a retcon 60s story where everyone thinks Spidey is another one of the Ani-Men since his codename is similarly constructed.
