Jim Starlin is the Eisner Award Hall of Famer who created Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Pip the Troll, and Gamora, and co-created Shang-Chi with Steve Englehart. He brought the Infinity Gauntlet into the Marvel Universe and took Jason Todd out of the DC Universe (for a little while anyway). His creator-owned epic, Dreadstar, is currently being collected in a series of beautiful softcover omnibus editions by Dark Horse Comics.

For TWO HOURS of bonus content — including 20 more minutes of our conversation with Jim Starlin where we talk about who owns Thanos, why Captain Marvel has stayed dead, and the infamous "1,000 Clowns" Warlock story, plus 21 more Marvel comics in the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of almost 200 extended and exclusive episodes. $10 a month lets you help pick the comics we cover in depth and gets you a shout-out at the end of the episode!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"The Final Threat" - Avengers Annual #7, written by Jim Starlin, art by Jim Starlin with Joe Rubenstein, letters by Tom Orzechowski, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Archie Goodwin, ©1977 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written and performed by Robb Milne. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Every other week, we focus on a Marvel series that sits on the fringes of mainstream Marvel continuity. The first episode of every new series that we cover is available on the public feed. The rest of the episodes are exclusive to our Patreon supporters.

Not a Patron yet? Support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth for just $5 a month to get instant access to our bonus feed of nearly 200 extended and exclusive episodes!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Weapon of the Soul" - Master of Kung Fu #20, written by Gerry Conway and Doug Moench, art by Paul Gulacy with Al Milgrom, letters by Dave Hunt, colors by George Roussos, edited by Roy Thomas, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Season of Vengeance..." - Master of Kung Fu #21, written by Doug Moench, art by Ron Wilson and Al Milgrom, letters by John Costanza, colors by Stan Goldberg, edited by Roy Thomas, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Death Masque!" - Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1, written by Doug Moench, art by Paul Gulacy, Dan Adkins, and Craig Russell, letters by Artie Simek, colors by Petra Goldberg, edited by Roy Thomas, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"Reflections In a Rippled Pool" - Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu #1, written by Doug Moench, art by Ron Wilson and Mike Esposito, letters by Dave Hunt, edited by Roy Thomas, ©1974 Marvel Comics

"MASTER (of Kung Fu) by the Month" theme written and performed by Robb Milne. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)

Mars aka ThatComicGirl has been delivering spicy comics takes since her days co-hosting Casually Comics with our dearly missed friend Jennifer (Comics Will Break Your Heart). Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for some of the most delightful comics commentary on the internet.

For TWO HOURS of bonus content — including our coverage of Doctor Doom's humiliation of Magneto in Super-Villain Team-Up #14, plus 22 more Marvel comics in the Mighty MBTM Checklist — support us at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth. $5 a month gets you instant access to our bonus feed of almost 200 extended and exclusive episodes. $10 a month lets you help pick the comics we cover in depth and gets you a shout-out at the end of the episode!

Stories Covered in this Episode:

"Doctor Bong!" - Howard the Duck #17, written by Steve Gerber, art by Gene Colan with Klaus Janson, letters by Annette Kawecki, colors by Janice Cohen, edited by Steve Gerber, ©1977 Marvel Comics

"Where No X-Man Has Gone Before!" - X-Men #107, written by Chris Claremont, art by Dave Cockrum with Dan Green, letters by Joe Rosen, colors by Andy Yanchus, edited by Archie Goodwin, ©1977 Marvel Comics

"Marvel by the Month" theme v. 4 written and performed by Robb Milne. All incidental music by Robb Milne.

Visit us on the internet (and buy some stuff) at marvelbythemonth.com, follow us on Bluesky at @marvelbythemonth.com and Instagram (for now) at @marvelbythemonth, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/marvelbythemonth.

Much of our historical context information comes from Wikipedia. Please join us in supporting them at wikimediafoundation.org. And many thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics, an invaluable resource for release dates and issue information. (RIP Mike.)