Marvel Team-Up #7
Published and © by Marvel, March 1973
Title: “A Hitch in Time!”
Synopsis: When Kryllk uses the Dark Crystal to freeze time, it’s up to Spider-Man and Thor to save the day.
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Ross Andru
Inker: Jim Mooney
Review: While not a great comic, Marvel Team-Up #7 is surprisingly good fun. The story suffers from many of the same problems that plagued other MTUs from this era: convenient coincidences to bring our heroes together, leaden dialogue and heavy narration, and a deus ex machina ending that just isn’t necessary. But the Gerry Conway’s story is goofy, good fun, and the art by Ross Andru and Jim Mooney is a pleasant surprise. Part of the art’s success comes from its use of negative images, but even some of the non-negative sequences are a cut above. Overall, an enjoyable early-Bronze book.
Grade: B
Second opinion: “Forgettable.” – William Schoell, “Superhuman: The Bronze Age of Comics Volume 1,” 2016 … “Unfortunately, the Watcher’s deus ex machina involvement in the story comes off as a bit forced.” – Jim Beard, “Walking the Wider Web: A Fan’s Journey Through One of Comics’ Greatest Series!,” 2024
Cool factor: This reviewer isn’t usually a huge fan of Ross Andru’s art, but this issue features some nice work.
Notable: This issue’s Dark Crystal has nothing to do with the Jim Henson/Frank Oz movie of the same name.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a National Diamond variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Prepare thyself for battle, monster – Thor doth call thee TO it!” – Thor, god of smackdown
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on June 21, 2013.
